Barnstable LCP Existing Conditions Report-03-28-2023_Redline
DRAFT Local
Comprehensive Plan
Town of Barnstable, MA
Phase I
Existing Conditions
Report REDLINE
March 28, 2023
Town of Barnstable
DRAFT Local Comprehensive Plan Phase I (Draft 3/28/2023)
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Table of Contents
1. Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Community Engagement ............................................................................................................ 5
3. Natural Systems .......................................................................................................................... 6
Groundwater ............................................................................................................................... 7
Overview ................................................................................................................................. 7
Groundwater Protection .......................................................................................................... 8
Groundwater Pollution ............................................................................................................ 9
Marine Waters ............................................................................................................................. 9
Overview ................................................................................................................................. 9
Nitrogen and Other Threats to Estuaries and Embayments .................................................. 10
Aquaculture ........................................................................................................................... 12
Marinas and Harbors ......................................................................................................... 1312
Offshore Threats and Opportunities...................................................................................... 15
Enforcement and Capacity .................................................................................................... 16
Freshwater Lakes and Ponds ..................................................................................................... 16
Overview ............................................................................................................................... 16
Water Quality Impacts .......................................................................................................... 17
Freshwater Restoration Efforts ............................................................................................. 19
Invasive Species in Lakes and Ponds.................................................................................... 20
Pond and Lake Stewardship .................................................................................................. 21
Wetland Resources.................................................................................................................... 22
Overview ............................................................................................................................... 22
Wetland Protection............................................................................................................ 2322
Cranberry Bogs ..................................................................................................................... 24
Vernal Pools .......................................................................................................................... 24
Open Space ............................................................................................................................... 25
Overview ............................................................................................................................... 25
Stewardship and Collaboration ............................................................................................. 25
Greenways, Corridors, and Connectivity .............................................................................. 31
Sandy Neck Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) ........................................... 32
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Education and Public Awareness .......................................................................................... 35
Parks and Recreation............................................................................................................. 35
Habitat ....................................................................................................................................... 37
Overview ............................................................................................................................... 37
Critical Habitats .................................................................................................................... 38
Critical Natural Landscapes .................................................................................................. 43
Habitat Restoration and Fire Prevention ............................................................................... 45
4. Built Systems ............................................................................................................................ 46
Land Use and Development ...................................................................................................... 47
Overview ............................................................................................................................... 47
Current Land Use and Land Use Trends ............................................................................... 48
Development Trends ............................................................................................................. 53
Land Use Management ..................................................................................................... 5856
Water Supply ........................................................................................................................ 6362
Wastewater Management ...................................................................................................... 6664
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 6664
Stormwater Management ...................................................................................................... 7068
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 7068
Transportation Network ........................................................................................................ 7371
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 7371
Low-lying Roads ............................................................................................................... 7573
Congestion & Safety ......................................................................................................... 7573
Transit ............................................................................................................................... 7875
Alternative Transportation & Modes (Trains, Ferries, Airport) ....................................... 7977
Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrastructure .................................................................................. 8179
Public Services & Utilities .................................................................................................... 8482
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 8482
Public Schools ................................................................................................................... 8582
Libraries ............................................................................................................................ 8885
Public Safety ..................................................................................................................... 8987
Fire & Emergency Services .............................................................................................. 9188
Solid Waste ....................................................................................................................... 9289
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Private Utilities ................................................................................................................. 9289
5. Community Systems ............................................................................................................. 9491
Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................................... 9592
Overview ........................................................................................................................... 9592
Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................ 9693
Historic Resources ............................................................................................................ 9996
People ................................................................................................................................ 104101
Overview ....................................................................................................................... 104101
Population and Household Sizes ................................................................................... 105102
Population Age.............................................................................................................. 105102
Racial and Ethnic Composition .................................................................................... 108105
Educational Attainment ................................................................................................ 110107
Household Income ........................................................................................................ 111108
Environmental Justice Areas......................................................................................... 113110
Local Economy ................................................................................................................. 115112
Overview ....................................................................................................................... 115112
Labor Force ................................................................................................................... 115112
Employment Base ......................................................................................................... 119116
Jobs to Workers............................................................................................................. 122119
Commuting Patterns...................................................................................................... 123120
Economic Development Resources .............................................................................. 124121
Housing ............................................................................................................................. 128125
Overview ....................................................................................................................... 128125
Housing Types .............................................................................................................. 128125
Housing Trends and Needs ........................................................................................... 129126
Resources to Address Housing Needs .......................................................................... 139136
APPENDIX A ...................................................................................................................................
Natural Systems Maps ..................................................................................................................
APPENDIX B ...................................................................................................................................
Built Systems Maps ......................................................................................................................
APPENDIX C ...................................................................................................................................
Community Systems Maps ...........................................................................................................
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1. Vision
[Currently being developed]
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2. Community Engagement
[Summary forthcoming]
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3. Natural Systems
The Town of Barnstable is rich in natural systems and centers around water, water-dependent
resources, and habitat. High-quality natural systems are part of the Town’s attraction for
residents and visitors, but they are also susceptible to pollution from various land uses and
activities and are increasingly vulnerable to changes in climate.1 Barnstable residents’ and
visitors’ continued appreciation of natural systems requires active stewardship, protection, and
restoration of clean water and ecosystems.
1 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, February 22, 2019, 27.
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Groundwater
Overview
Groundwater on Cape Cod is derived solely from precipitation and the aquifer deposits are
generally very permeable, making them ideal for development of high -yielding water supplies,
but simultaneously vulnerable to contamination from land uses in their watersheds. The Cape
Cod aquifer is designated as a Sole Source Aquifer under the Safe Drinking Water Act by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a designation that requires Federally funded projects to
assess project impacts to the aquifer. 2
In general terms, the groundwater system can be described as the saturated zone of water -bearing
glacial deposits beneath the land surface. The upper surface of this zone, known as the water
table, lies at depths beneath the land ranging from more than 100 feet in the highest part of the
moraine to 0 to 10 feet along the shores and in the vicinity of ponds and lakes. In cross-section,
the groundwater body is shaped like a lens, with the highest elevations of the water table being
found along the groundwater divide, which in Barnstable roughly parallels the east-west axis of
the moraine. Groundwater flows from the higher water table contours along the divide north and
south to the lower elevations near the town’s shores and beaches.
The USGS, in cooperation with the Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife, is assessing the
potential effects of new water-supply withdrawals on groundwater levels in the Hyannis Ponds
Wildlife Management Area on Cape Cod. A groundwater-flow model is being used to simulate
the effects of several possible withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios developed by the
Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife on the groundwater-flow system.
The Town of Barnstable is evaluating options for developing new groundwater supplies to meet
current and future needs for potable drinking water. The Town of Barnstable Water Supply
Division of the Barnstable Department of Public Works operates the water system in the Village
of Hyannis.3
2 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, Effective February 22, 2019, 28.
3 Town of Barnstable Source Exploration Report (Volume I), by Weston & Sampson, April 2021.
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Groundwater Protection
Barnstable’s public drinking water supply source is its underground sole source aquifer. Public
wells draw water from wide surface areas known as Zones of Contribution to Public Water
Supply wells, which occupy approximately 30 percent of the land area of the Town.
Map 3.1 shows Wellhead Protection Areas, which include Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Approved Zone I, DEP Approved Zone II, and Interim
Wellhead Protection Areas (IWPA). DEP Wellhead Protection Areas Zone I means the
protective radius required around a public water supply well or wellfield. For public water
system wells with approved yields of 100,000 gpd or greater, the protective radius is 400 feet.
A Zone II is a wellhead protection area that has been determined by hydro-geologic modeling
and approved by the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Drinking Water Program
(DWP). In cases where hydro-geologic modeling studies have not been performed and there is
no approved Zone II, an Interim Wellhead Protection Area (IWPA) is established based on DEP
DWP well pumping rates or default values. Certain land uses may be either prohibited or
restricted in both approved (Zone II) and interim (IWPA) wellhead protection areas.
The Base Zoning map (Map 3.2) shows Barnstable’s three groundwater protection overlay
districts:
∙ Wellhead Protection Overlay District
∙ Groundwater Protection Overlay District
∙ Aquifer Protection Overlay District
The Aquifer Protection Overlay District consists of all areas of the Town, except those areas
within the Groundwater and Wellhead Protection Overlay Districts. The Wellhead Protection
Overlay District consists of the area within the five-year time of travel zone to existing, proven
future and potential future public water supply wells. The Groundwater Protection Overlay
District consists of all those areas within Zones of Contribution to existing, proven future and
potential future public water supply wells.
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Groundwater Pollution
The Town’s groundwater system, like the whole of Cape Cod, is replenished entirely by
precipitation. The level of the water table fluctuates seasonally due to evaporation, precipitation,
and water withdrawals. A major threat to the aquifer is from contamination due to land use
impacts, primarily from wastewater disposal (individual on-site septic systems).4 Barnstable’s
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) continues ongoing conversations with the Fire/Water
Districts about wellhead protection and open space acquisition, in order to meet the goal from the
2010 LPC that no development should occur within a 400 foot radius of a future public supply
well and lands within the 400 feet of wells should be acquired whenever possible.
Additionally, the Cape Cod Gateway Airport has achieved efforts to reduce the concentration of
PFAS in groundwater and to prevent the continued migration of the PFAS groundwater plume.
In Fall of 2020 the Airport mitigated PFAS-effected soils by capping the soils and installing
monitoring wells to monitor mitigation success. Additionally, the Airport has successfully
fingerprinted PFAS that is associated with Airport firefighting activities to assist in modeling
plume migration; allowing for identification of Airport impacts and those impacts attributed from
other off-Airport industrial sites not associated with Airport activities. The Town recently
constructed a groundwater treatment plant at the Maher Wells that utilizes greensand filtration,
advanced oxidation, and granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove PFAS from groundwater
and provides the Hyannis Water System with drinking water that meets state and federal drinking
water standards.
Marine Waters
Overview
Marine and shoreline systems in on Cape Cod include open ocean, sounds, estuaries and coastal
embayments, beaches, dunes, and salt marshes. Marine and coastal waters are vitally important
across the Cape and specifically in Barnstable, supporting rich marine life and complex
ecosystems such as shellfish habitat and spawning grounds for fish, as well as recreational
opportunities for fishing and boating. Salt water embayments and salt marshes are particularly
important in Barnstable, serving as spawning grounds and nurseries for a great variety and
quantity of marine life and regulating the environment through carbon sequestration . Local
aquaculture and fishing industries rely on these resources to stay in business. Dunes, barrier
beaches, and salt marshes provide storm protection to coastal banks and properties and provide
habitat for wildlife. Our marine waters and shorelines also help define who we are as a
4 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 40-41.
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community, shaping our character, adding to our beauty, and attracting visitors from all over the
world.
In brief, the sustained health of our marine waters and other coastal resources is absolutely
critical for our environment, our economy, and our way of life.
The Town completed a Coastal Resources Management Plan focused on the Three Bays and
Centerville River Systems over 13 years ago (2009). It covers, among other things, marine
services and facilities such as marinas, moorings, and other boating access; fisheries and
aquaculture; natural resources such as water quality and plant and wildlife biodiversity; and
potential impacts of sea-level rise. The Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, recently updated in
2022, is another important policy document for marine waters and coastal areas, emphasizing
protection of barrier beach areas and coastal dunes and mitigation against flooding, erosion, and
sea-level rise.
The Town is also working to balance existing
conditions map existing conditions and proposed
expansion areas for critical coastal habitat, mooring
fields, public and private navigation channels, docks
and piers, with the possible intent that water
dependent uses will be allowed or limited based on
this data.
Nitrogen and Other Threats to Estuaries and Embayments
Nearly 80 percent of the Cape Cod region’s land area drains to coastal embayments and
estuaries. All of Barnstable’s watersheds that drain to the south drain to nutrient-sensitive coastal
embayments and estuaries.
For coastal waters, the nutrient of concern is nitrogen. Development can be is a major
contributor of nitrogen to groundwater, either through wastewater from on -site septic systems or
What is a TMDL?
A TMDL is the maximum
amount of a pollutant that a
body of water can receive while
still meeting water quality
standards.
Formatted: Not Highlight
Formatted: Not Highlight
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other sources such as fertilizer and stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff from roads, parking
lots and other impervious surfaces contains a variety of contaminants, including hazardous
chemicals derived from oil, gasoline and other automobile fluids; heavy metals; fertilizer,
pesticides and herbicides washed off lawn surfaces; and bacteria from animal droppings. Such
pollutants ultimately travel to coastal embayments. Increased nitrogen often results in excessive
algae and degradation of water quality, posing a serious threat to coastal habitat that can result in
fish kills and depleted shellfisheries.
In the past, local coastal embayments and estuaries were able to naturally take in and flush out
nitrogen without significant environmental impacts. However, as developed areas have
increased, the amount of nitrogen has overwhelmed nature’s ability to assimilate it. Barnstable,
and most other communities across the Cape, are now required by the federal government to find
ways to remove excess nitrogen from coastal embayments and estuaries.
Through the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP), the Town, County and Common wealth
have mapped recharge areas for all major estuaries and embayments to identify areas where
development and land use have the most impact on coastal water quality. This effort has guided
the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs) for nitrogen. These TMDLs are a management tool to restore and protect
coastal water quality from the impact of septic systems, fertilizers, and runoff. Each embayment
has a TMDL. These critical nitrogen-loading rates should not be exceeded. Where they may be
exceeded, the Town is developing management strategies to reduce the nitrogen load on the
embayment. MEP reports have been completed for areas across Barnstable, including:
Popponesset Bay (2004), Centerville River (2006), Three Bays (2006), Lewis Bay (2008), Rushy
Marsh (2008), and the Barnstable Great Marshes (2017). Map 3.3 shows the four embayment
areas in the Town of Barnstable (Barnstable Harbor, Centerville River, Lewis Bay, and Three
Bays) and their subembayments.
Through its Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan, the Town has begun a town-wide
Nutrient Management Plan. This plan includes an assessment process to establish wastewater
alternatives to restore and protect coastal waters.
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Climate change can exacerbate this situation. For example, increased temperature can spur even
greater algal blooms and sea level rise is a threat to natural and built coastal resources. As the
Coastal Resource Management Plan is updated, the expected impacts of climate change should
be front and center in setting policies and planning for the future. The Town’s Hazard Mitigation
Plan, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) plan, and other planning documents are
important resources for guiding marine waters sustainably in spite of changing conditions.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is an important aspect of Barnstable’s ecology, culture, and economy, with a
particular emphasis on shellfish. Oysters, quahogs, softshell clams, mussels, and other bivalve
species filter our coastal waters to remove algae, cleaning up the water. They also provide food
for other marine animals and are a harvestable product for our commercial shellfishing industry.
Recreational harvest of shellfish in Barnstable has been a treasured pastime for Cape Cod
residents and visitors for hundreds of years. The Town of Barnstable Natural Resources team is
responsible for sustainable management of this vital marine resource.
Shellfish are abundant in the shallow, sheltered coastal embayments in Barnstable. Clams, both
soft-shelled and hard-shelled, scallops and oysters can be found in the saltwater embayments and
along the shore. Cotuit oysters, cultivated since the mid -19th century, are internationally
renowned delicacies. Shellfish resources require pristine water quality to thrive in the quantities
necessary to support these activities. In recent years, contamination of coastal waters has caused
a decline in harvests.
Road runoff is the principal cause of closure for shellfish beds and swimming areas. Many
existing stormwater drainage systems that discharge directly to coastal areas have been
prioritized for remediation. The Town actively monitors water quality in shell fishing areas and
maintains a map of open and closed areas.
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Marinas and Harbors
Town landings and ways to water are a vital part of Barnstable’s marine infrastructure and
support a variety of commercial and recreational activities. The Town operates four marinas, two
in Hyannis (Bismore Park and Gateway), one in Marstons Mills (Prince Cove) and one in
Barnstable (Barnstable Harbor Marina). In 2022, the Town issued 2,519 mooring permits. As
the year-round and seasonal population has grown, these resources are more heavily used and
some show the stress of this heavy use. Moorings and marinas are in high demand in town, and
on-going management issues include increasing the full utilization of existing mooring permits to
increase access to waterways and managing the environmental impacts of moorings and marinas.
The highly successful No Discharge Area (NDA)
designation obtained in 2001 has helped to curtail the
threat to water quality from the discharge of treated
boat sewage. Other environmental impacts from
boating include emissions from use of internal
combustion engines; accidental spillage of
petrochemicals; prop dredging; erosion impacts to banks and marsh caused by vessel waking;
Degraded water quality can
negatively impact coastal
property values.
Initial findings from a recent Cape
Cod Commission study evaluating
home prices in the Three Bays area
in Barnstable indicate a 1% increase
in nitrogen is associated with a
decrease in single-family home sale
prices in the range of 0.407% to
0.807% (average 0.61%), with a
95% confidence level. Source –
Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, 2018.
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and noise impacts from motorized vessels. Marinas around the world are working to make their
operations more sustainable, both for general environmental impacts and direct impacts to
neighboring water quality. Green infrastructure improvements have been used as a way to
capture and absorb stormwater before it reaches marine waters. Other strategies such as electric
boats and vehicles, renewable energy, and water recycling, can all help improve marine water
quality near marinas.
The Town maintains and regularly updates an inventory of public and private uses in its harbors
and needed repairs.
The Town is also actively implementing and updating its Comprehensive Dredge Plan, adopted
July 2017 and updated as of XXXXXXX. Historically, the Town had independently permitted
and performed dredging on a site-by-site, as-needed basis. Because of the significant costs
associated with this type o f work, dredging oftentimes has been postponed due to other
competing priorities. Consequently, this approach made it challenging to ensure that dredging is
addressed in a prioritized, effective, and efficient manner. Dredge and disposal management had
grown time consuming, inefficient, and costly for the Town.
Through the development of the Comprehensive Dredge Plan (CDP), a complete understanding
of Town-wide dredging needs and priorities were defined to implement a long-term dredging
plan for a total of 31 dredge sites. The CDP prioritizes dredging needs, estimates costs, and
provides additional recommendations for an effective dredging system. The identified dredge
sites are divided into three categories:
Category 1 – Beach Nourishment Sites: Those which have previously generated beach-quality
sediments suitable for the purpose of nourishing eroded shoreline areas. These sites are
collectively permitted under a 10-year Permit issued by local, state, and federal regulatory
agencies with dredging and nourishment activities performed by the Barnstable County Dredge
(BCD). This approach greatly simplifies and streamlines the required permitting process as well
as the overall management required for this type of dredging project. Beach nourishment is
prioritized for public coastlines but can also be used along privately owned coastlines.
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Category 2 – Standalone Sites: Those which have previously generated fine-grained sediments
not suitable for nourishment purposes. These sites will be addressed as stand-alone projects since
they require site specific sediment testing to confirm the appropriate disposal option(s) on a
project-by-project basis. Disposal methods for stand-alone projects may include unconfined
offshore disposal at the Cape Cod Bay Disposal Site (CCBDS), upland disposal or reuse, and/or
daily cover or disposal at a regulated Massachusetts landfill facility. Stand -alone projects are not
anticipated to be suitable for dredging by the BCD. Each project will therefore need to be
publicly bid and performed by a private contractor.
Category 3 – “To-Be-Determined” Sites: Those for which sediment characteristics and
associated disposal requirements could not be identified based upon review of available record
information. These sites will require that hydrographic surveys and sediment sampling and grain
size analyses be performed to determine if they are Category 1 or 2 sites.
Offshore Threats and Opportunities
Land under the ocean, seawater, and the space above the ocean surface are increasingly in
demand for new marine uses. Changes to the Massachusetts Ocean Sanctuary Act in 2008 made
renewable energy development and cable and pipeline installations possible in offshore
locations, and other changes in state policies have created incentives for these d evelopment
activities. The federal government’s creation of offshore wind leasing areas in federal waters
south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket meant interconnection may result in cables are
needed to make making landfall in Barnstable. on Cape Cod. Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first
commercial off-shore wind project, interconnects at Covell’s Beach. In 2023, the Vineyard
Wind project is in the implementation phase (under construction) and is complying with the
terms of the Host Community Agreement with the Town. The second project proposed to make
landfall is the Park City Wind project, with a proposed landing at west end of Craigville Beach.
In 2023, the Park City Wind project is in advances stages of permitting and the Town has a Host
Community Agreement in place for the project. A third offshore wind project, Commonwealth
Wind, is proposing to interconnect at Dowses’ Beach in Osterville. In 2023 the project
proponent, Avangrid did not have a Power Purchase Agreement in place with the state and the
Town has not entered into a Host Community Agreement.
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At this time there are three off-shore wind projects proposed to make landfall in Barnstable.
Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first commercial off-shore wind project, currently under
construction, makes landfall at Covell’s Beach with cables buried beneath public roadways
connecting to a new substation under construction off of Independence Drive. Park City Wind,
currently in the final stages of permitting, is proposed to make landfall at Craigville Beach with
cables buried beneath public roadways connecting to a substation to be constructed on
Shootflying Hill Road. Commonwealth Wind, currently engaged in the federal and state
permitting processes, is proposed to make landfall at Dowses Beach connecting to a new
substation to be constructed in West Barnstable.
Enforcement and Capacity
The Town’s Marine and Environmental Affairs staff is responsible for, among many other
things, the health and proper care of marine waters. Enforcement efforts are always on -going,
and staff compare their work to that of the Police Department. Marine and Environmental Affairs
staff have oversight of 107 miles of coastline with jurisdiction extending three nautical miles out.
They also maintain 89 ways to water and four marinas. While staff reports that speed and wake
enforcement is the greatest challenge, it can also be a challenge to enforce discharges (whether
intentional or unintentional). As is true for all regulations and policies, they are only as effective
as the Town has the capacity to enforce them and as residents and visitors alike are both
informed and care about these issues.
Freshwater Lakes and Ponds
Overview
The Town of Barnstable has 163 freshwater ponds, 90 of which are one acre or more. Twenty-
seven ponds are greater than 10 acres and are considered “Great Ponds'' under state regulations.
Collectively, ponds occupy 1,912 acres within the town. The Town has 70 ponds which are at
least two acres. They contain a total area of 2.9 square miles (1,846 acres).5 Many of these
smaller ponds are used for swimming, boating, and fishing. They also provide habitat for
waterfowl and fish.
5 Cape Cod Commission Open Data Hub, GIS Data, Ponds, November 23, 2022.
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Table 3.1. Town of Barnstable Summary of Ponds
Village # of Ponds Acres of Ponds # of Great Ponds
(>= 10 ac)
Ponds >= 1
acre
Ponds >= 2
acres
Barnstable 20 57.0 3 6 4
Centerville 21 850.7 5 10 9
Cotuit 14 93.6 2 6 5
Hyannis 46 147.9 3 29 19
Marstons Mills 21 562.8 7 13 11
Osterville 19 119.0 5 14 12
W. Barnstable 22 81.2 2 12 10
Totals 163 1912.2 27 90 70
Source: Cape Cod Commission GIS Open Data Hub, Ponds, November 23, 2022.
Water Quality Impacts
Development of water quality impacts in surface waters generally follow a progression from
higher nutrient concentrations to low oxygen conditions: More nutrients create more plants
(either algae or rooted plants), which in turn create more decaying material falling to the pond
bottom, where bacteria decompose the dead plants. Since the bacteria consume oxygen, more
decomposing plant material can remove oxygen from the water, which in turn produces chemical
conditions that allow nutrients in the decomposing plants to be regenerated back into the water,
creating the opportunity to start the cycle all over again by prompting more plant growth.6
As part of the regional aquifer system, ponds are directly linked to drinking water and coastal
estuaries. Freshwater ponds are particularly sensitive to additions of phosphorus, which is
associated with development and land uses close to a pond (such as wastewater, fertilizer, and
stormwater sources). Buffering pond shorelines from development is an effective strategy for
6 Barnstable Water Resources, Accessed January 2023.
Comment [KM1]: Total confirmed to be accurate
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protecting freshwater ponds and lakes by taking advantage of the soil’s ability to adsorb and
store phosphorus, thereby storing and delaying this nutrient from entering the pond. 7
Freshwater lakes and ponds in the Town of Barnstable are significant scenic, recreational, and
wildlife habitat resources. All the Town’s ponds and lakes intersect with the groundwater table.
The majority of these water bodies are located on the outwash plain, having formed in kettle
holes. They range from the 596-acre Wequaquet Lake, the third largest freshwater body on Cape
Cod, to numerous smaller ponds of just a few acres in size. A Great Pond is defined as any lake
or pond that is ten acres or more in size in its natural state. Permitting of structures such as a
dock or pier in a Great Pond is subject to review by MassDEP Waterways in accordance with
MGL Chapter 91.
Barnstable also has ponds identified as having
characteristics of Coastal Plain Ponds, a
habitat community of global significance. The
Hyannis Coastal Plains Ponds—Mary Dunn,
Lamson, Israel Pond and pondlets, Flintrock,
Campground and Lewis Ponds—have shores
and surrounding vegetation supporting habitat
for significant populations of very rare plant
and animal species. Most of these ponds are
shallow, with average depths from 0.6 to 3.4
feet, and several occasionally dry up in the summer. The inundation/desiccation cycle is part of
the coastal plain pond shore ecology. Seasonal fluctuations in the water level help to create and
maintain the special Coastal Plain Pond Shore, which provides habitat for some important rare
species. However, dramatic changes in hydrology can threaten these habitats. Groundwater
levels in the area of the ponds are strongly affected by nearby public water supply wells and are
subject to seasonal changes in groundwater levels of three to four feet.
Freshwater streams or rivers within the Town of Barnstable are shallow and are largely not
navigable. Several town rivers (for example, the Bumps, Centerville, and Marstons Mills Rivers)
7 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, February 22, 2019, 29 -30.
Hydrilla is a submerged, perennial
aquatic plant that has earned the
illustrious title “world’s worst
invasive aquatic plant.” Listed as a
federal noxious weed, it can grow up
to an inch and day, and can continue
to survive as a free floating mat at the
water surface. It was originally
brought to the US as an aquarium
plant in the 1950s.
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are groundwater-fed streams running north-south across the outwash plain, receiving drainage
from surrounding shallow watersheds and frequently connecting existing kettle hole ponds or
lakes, thereby creating runs for herring and other anadromous fish to gain access to the ponds
and lakes to spawn. In addition to the natural runs, several artificial channels have been
excavated to serve as herring runs, and two are still in use: a 2,000-foot channel running from the
outlet of Middle Pond to the Marstons Mills River, and channels connecting Wequaquet Lake,
Long Pond, and the Centerville River. A third run is currently undergoing restoration between
Lake Elizabeth and the Centerville River. Dry most of the year, these channels are opened by the
Town’s Marine and Environmental Affairs Division in spring and fall during herring migration
periods. They also provide a means of shunting stormwater flows to reduce high lake levels.8
Freshwater Restoration Efforts
Seven freshwater pond restoration projects are highlighted on the Cape Cod Commission
website. Santuit Pond, located in Cotuit (Santuit), is 171 acres and has algae blooms from
elevated phosphorus levels. The restoration technology is Solar Bee Recirculators and it was
deployed in 2012. The results are improved lake clarity. Hamblin Pond, 115 acres, in Marstons
Mills had an issue with algae blooms. An alum treatment was deployed in 2015 and the result is
it is now open for swimming.
Lovells Pond, 56 acres and located in Barnstable Cotuit (Santuit), has algae blooms from
elevated phosphorus levels. Alum treatment was deployed in 2014 resulting in lake clarity
improvement. Shallow Pond, 78 acres in Barnstable Hyannisport, has the issue of weeds which
has been addressed by herbicide treatment. Schoolhouse Pond, 4 acres in Barnstable, has algae
blooms from elevated phosphorus levels. The restoration technology is Solar Bee Recirculators
and it was deployed in 2016. Mystic Lake, 148 acres in Marston Mills, has algae blooms from
elevated phosphorus levels and hydrilla. The restoration technologies applied are alum treatment
and mechanical treatment in 2015. Long Pond, 51 acres in Centerville, has the issue of hydrilla
8 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 42-43.
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(invasive species). Sonar restoration technology was applied in 2003 and has been effective until
recently. Another treatment will be necessary.9
The redesign of a fish passage at Upper Marstons Mills Pond and Middle Pond in Barnstable are
two of 21 projects that are part of the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project that is
underway and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural
Resources Conservation Service.10
The Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC) has made its first land acquisition for the
Marstons Mills River Cranberry Bog Restoration Project . BCWC is working to restore 55 acres
of cranberry bogs to natural freshwater wetlands. This restoration would entail filling drainage
ditches, grading the bog surface, removing water control structures, reconstructing stream
channels, loosening the sand layer, and moving sediment. The goals of this restoration project
include:
Attenuate nitrogen and reduce the nitrogen flow downriver
Improve water quality in the Three Bays Estuary
Habitat restoration
Public recreation and education opportunities11
Invasive Species in Lakes and Ponds
The Town annually manages the growth of Hydrilla and Fanwort, two invasive non -native plants
in several freshwater ponds. While widespread across the country, very few municipalities in the
Commonwealth are challenged with managing these invasive species. Hydrilla is present in
Long Pond, Centerville (first discovered in 2001) and Mystic Lake and Middle Pond in Marstons
Mills (first discovered in 2011), as well as Lake Wequaquet/Gooseberry Cove. These water
bodies are also home to native and protected species of plants, mollusks, fish and other animals
which makes controlling the invasive weed crucial. Fanwort, another invasive weed, is present
and managed in Bearse Pond. The Town manages these species through a combination of
9 Cape Cod Freshwater Ponds Restoration Projects, Cape Cod Commission. Accessed February 28, 2023.
10 Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times. “$42.5 Million Coming to Cape For Water Resource Projects”, April 28, 2022.
11Marstons Mills Cranberry Bog Restoration Project, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition. Accessed March 10, 2023.
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mechanical means (diver assisted suction harvesting and mats) as well as controlled application
of aquatic herbicides. Figure 3.1 illustrates common sources of phosphorus entering fresh and
coastal water bodies.
Figure: 3.1 Phosphorus – Common Sources of Phosphorus Entering our Fresh and Coastal Water Bodies, Cape
Cod Commission.
Pond and Lake Stewardship
Barnstable has participated in the Pond and Lake Stewardship (PALs) Program that has helped
establish baseline water quality. Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC) is an active
participant in the Cape Cod Commission’s Cape Cod Pond and Lake Stewardship (PALS)
program. This monitoring program, established in 2001 in response to concerns over impacts of
excess nutrients on freshwater ponds and lakes, provides an annual “snapshot” of the Cape’s
pond and lake water quality.
During the month-long PALS snapshot event in August/September, water samples are collected
and sent for analysis to the Coastal Systems Program lab at the University of Massachusetts -
Dartmouth School for Marine and Technology (SMAST). The water samples are analyzed for
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total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and pH. Associated water quality data collected at
each site include dissolved oxygen, turbidity (water clarity), temperature, depth, water color and
vegetative cover.
Since 2018, BCWC staff and volunteers monitor 31 ponds and lakes in Barnstable. These ponds
and lakes range in depth from less than a half a meter (1.6 feet) to over 19 meters (62 feet).
Kayaks are used to access the deepest points to collect the water samples and data. Prior to
2018, only 9 ponds and lakes were monitored in the Three Bays Watershed.12
The Cape Cod Ponds Network was convened in 2022 as a response to growing concern over the
health of Cape Cod's 890 freshwater ponds. Coordinated through a collaboration between the
Cape Cod Commission and Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), the Network is targeted
towards pond stewardship organizations, but meetings are open to any interested parties. The
Pond Network includes more than 40 pond organizations.
Wetland Resources
Overview
The Town of Barnstable has 14,352 acres of wetlands subdivided into: pond/lake (5,520 ac.),
marsh (4,230 ac.), beach (3,205 ac.), wooded wetland (1,143 ac.), and cranberry bog (253 ac.).
Barnstable contains 163 ponds totaling 1,912 acres, and 37 certified vernal pools.13
The Cape’s groundwater and stormwater runoff discharge to surface waters in ponds, lakes,
rivers and streams, coastal waters, and wetlands. These wetland resources support much of the
plant and wildlife that makes the Cape such an environmentally rich and interesting place. In
addition, wetlands play a vital role in regulating the environment by absorbing and filtering
12 Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, “Pond and Lake Stewardship”, Accessed January 2023.
13 Town of Barnstable Online GIS Viewer, January 2023; * NHESP GIS Data shows 39 Certified Vernal Pools in
the Town of Barnstable.
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storm and flood waters, providing natural removal of nitrogen, recharging the aquifer, storing
carbon in wetland peat and vegetation, and providing vital habitat. 14
Wetland Protection
Critical to protecting wetlands and their natural functions are healthy, naturally vegetated
buffers. Buffers provide important habitat as well as assist in the management of pollutants,
trapping or arresting nutrients and sediment before they can flow into wetlands and clog or
impair them. Increasingly important, wetland buffers preserved from development will help to
store increased stormwater runoff as the climate changes and will allow wetlands to migrate as
changes in groundwater levels and increased precipitation events occur. 15
Wetlands in the Town are shown on Map 3.4. These include extensive areas of salt marsh.
Barrier beaches, coastal beaches, dunes and bluffs are among the coastal landforms that make up
the Town’s 170 miles of coastal shoreline. Freshwater wetlands also are a large-scale resource.
Wetlands total approximately 13,692 acres, 21.4 percent of the Town’s surface area.16 In
addition there are associated bordering vegetated wetlands, swales, creeks, and bogs. These vast
and varied wetland resource areas provide a number of important ecosystem services. They
provide habitat for terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals, they filter pollutants before they
enter water bodies or groundwater, and in many cases they provide a buffer against storm
damage.
Barnstable’s extensive coastal wetlands are an important resource requiring protection.
According to Barnstable’s 2010 Comprehensive Plan, more than a quarter of Cape Cod’s salt
marshes are located in Barnstable, mostly in the Great Marsh south of Sandy Neck. Salt marshes
are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, rivaling the productivity of rain forests.
In addition to providing vital aquatic and wildlife habitat, salt marshes filter pollutants, and
buffer shorelines from storm surge. Blue carbon represents another ecosystem service provided
by salt marshes. Blue carbon is a term used to describe carbon that is absorbed by salt marsh and
14 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, February 22, 2019, 30.
15 Ibid, 30.
16 MassGIS, “Wetlands”, updated 2022.
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other coastal wetlands. Salt marsh systems absorb large amounts of carbon that otherwise would
be released as carbon dioxide and contribute to global climate change.
The Town of Barnstable has a Wetlands Protection Regulation (Chapter 237 of the Town of
Barnstable Code) and Chapter 704 of the Town of Barnstable Code that regulates activity in the
100-foot buffer zone of wetlands.
Cranberry Bogs
Barnstable is home to over three hundred isolated wetlands, with many being cranberry bogs.
While some are an active part of the Cape Cod economy some are abandoned or protected as
open space. The Barnstable Land Trusts lists the Bridge Creek Conservation Area and Shaws
Lake Trail as locations to hike, bike, or ride horses near abandoned or privately-owned bogs.
These swale environments are distinct in their soil composition with excellent drainage that
alternates between sand, moss, and organic matter often identified as older cr anberry plants.
Cranberries are native to Plymouth and Barnstable County with a growing cycle of sixteen
months, with a dormant period during the freezing months.
Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are vulnerable wetlands found across natural landscapes from woodlands,
meadows, sandplains to floodplains across the state of Massachusetts. They naturally occur in
topographic depressions where snow melt, runoff, groundwater, or springs may settle
temporarily.17 According to the Cape Cod Commission GIS Data Hub there are 39 certified
vernal pools in the town of Barnstable, eight more than reported in the 2018 Open Space and
Recreation Plan.
These small environments are unique because they have the capacity to recharge local aquifers
and provide for a diverse set of animals with conditions ranging from saturated, dry, or frozen.
They are home to salamanders and frogs while acting as the breeding ground for amphibian and
17 Mass Audubon, “Vernal Pools”, accessed January 2023.
Comment [KM2]: For LCP Committee
Discussion: Consider adding language on sea level
rise and the possibility of having to amend wetland
regulations.
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vertebrate species like Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus vernalis) that thrive in environments without
fish as predators.18 Vernal pool habitats support the life cycle of insects and amphibians while
advancing the life cycle of their predators.
Vernal pools are often at risk and undetected due to long periods of dry conditions that allow
them to blend in with traditional wetland settings. The certification of vernal pools helps both
developers and local conservation commissions draft plans with proper safeguards for the land
and the animals that inhabit them. Identified and certified vernal pools are protected under the
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, and up to 100 feet past established boundaries in some
cases may be protected. Volunteers may assist in the certification process through surveying and
documenting of these habitats for review by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Open Space
Overview
The open space of the Town of Barnstable is critical to the health of the natural systems,
economy, and population. Open space provides habitat for the Town’s diverse species, and
protection of the drinking water supply as well as health benefits associated with quality of life
and social wellbeing. Wooded open space provides a carbon sink for mitigating the impacts of
climate change, both through the storage of carbon that would otherwise be lost to the
atmosphere through development, and through the carbon-absorbing capacity of trees. The
beaches, farms, woodlands, and marshes of the Town provide recreational outdoor activities that
attract visitors and residents and provide the necessary land and resources for agricultural
activities. 19
Stewardship and Collaboration
Barnstable has a strong history of protecting open space, whether for water supply and habitat
protection or preserving the character and beauty of the natural landscape. The Town has a state
approved Open Space and Recreation Plan (2018), which includes an inventory of existing
18 Ibid.
19 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, Effective February 22, 2019, 30.
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protected open space, community vision and goals, and priorities for future land acquisitions.
Table X.X reflects current values for open space and recreation lands as organized by village. Of
the sixty square miles or roughly 38,500 acres of total land in the Town, XX,XXX.XX acres
(XX%) is protected open space and X,XXX acres (X%) is other public open space, recreation
land or other public land.
Placeholder: Staff is finalizing an updated version of the 2018 OSRP Protected Open Space and
Recreation Land, Other Open Space and Public Land Table (shown below) to be incorporated
with this Existing Conditions Report.
Community Preservation Act
The Town of Barnstable and local land trusts work in concert to protect new properties as they
become available for purchase. Community Preservation Act funds have been critical in
generating dedicated funding for preserving land. Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects
that have been recently approved (2018-2021) include five open space projects and five
recreation projects in the Town of Barnstable (Table 3.2).
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Table 3.2. Community Preservation Act Projects, Open Space and Recreation, approved 2018-2021.
Project Name Description Approval
Date
Category
3600 Falmouth Road -
CR Acquisition
Acquisition of a conservation restriction for open
space and passive recreation.
6/7/2018 Open Space
CC Rail Trail - Alternate
Route Study - Phase IV
This complete study is required in order to submit
the project for inclusion on the state
Transportation Improvement Program for funding
the construction of the project.
8/16/2018 Recreation
0 Bumps River Road
Acquisition
Acquisition of 5.92 acre vacant lot in Marstons
Mills village for open space and passive
recreation, education, and nature study purposes.
Acquisition of this parcel will protect water
quality and wildlife along Bumps River, Scudder
Bay and Coombs Bog and provide connection to
27 acres of Town-owned land for opportunity for
walking trails.
1/17/2019 Open Space
Barnstable Hollow Field Rehabilitation of underutilized baseball field into
a multi-use green space for a variety of events,
functions and user groups including HP accessible
entrance.
8/15/2019 Recreation
Orenda - Great Marsh
Road Conservation
Restriction
Creation and acquisition of a conservation
restriction on 3 wooded lots addressed 150 and
180 Great Marsh Road and 55 Hayes Road,
Centerville.
5/7/2020 Open Space
28 Falcon Road
Acquisition
Acquisition of 28 Falcon Road, West Barnstable
for open space purposes with a conservation
restriction to be held by Barnstable Land Trust.
11/19/2020 Open Space
830 Wakeby Road
Acquisition
Acquisition of 15.8 acres of land in Marstons
Mills for open space/water resources purposes.
11/19/2020 Open Space
Pickleball Courts -
Osterville/W Barnstable
Rd.
Rehabilitation of town-owned existing tennis
courts to create 10 new pickleball courts and 2
tennis courts with pickleball lines overlaid for
dual purpose.
12/3/2020 Recreation
Centerville Recreation
Playground
Renovation of the town-owned recreation
resource Centerville Recreation Playground by
replacing existing outdated playground equipment
with ADA-compliant equipment, playground
8/19/2021 Recreation
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Table 3.2. Community Preservation Act Projects, Open Space and Recreation, approved 2018-2021.
Project Name Description Approval
Date
Category
surfaces, and pathway from parking area; and
landscaping.
Barnstable Hollow Field
Playground
Renovation of town-owned recreation resource by
replacing existing playground equipment with
ADA-compliant equipment, walkways,
playground surfaces. Installation of new seating
with shade and water bottle filling station.
8/19/2021 Recreation
Source: Community Preservation Coalition, CPA Projects Database
Level of Protection and Ownership
The amount of open space in Barnstable that is protected in perpetuity is 11,469 acres. This is an
increase of 524 acres from 2010 to 2022.20 Table 3.3 lists Open Space by Level of Protection and
shows 30 parcels totaling 570 acres with no open space protection. Thirty-four parcels totaling
189 acres have limited open space protection and are located in all seven villages a nd include
school playgrounds, cemeteries, nine privately held properties with conservation restrictions (see
Map 3.5). Barnstable contains 931 parcels totaling 11,469 acres of open space protected in
perpetuity. The vast majority of parcels protected in perpetuity are located throughout the town
in all seven villages and consist of Land Bank parcels, conservation areas, water department
land, fire district land, as well as private properties with conservation restrictions.
Table 3.3. Town of Barnstable, Open Space by Level of Protection.
Level of Protection # of Parcels Total Area (ac)
None 30 570
Limited 34 189
In Perpetuity 931 11,469
20 Town of Barnstable online Map and Data Viewer, acquired 1/18/2023.
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Totals 995 12,228
Source: MassGIS, “Protected and Recreational Open Space”, updated August 2022.
In addition to government entities, private land trusts have been critical in protecting open space
as well. Open Space classified by owner type can be found in Table 3.4 and illustrated in Map
3.6. Municipally owned land accounts for 77 percent of open space parcels, followed by 10
percent for land trusts. That leaves the remaining 13 percent of open space owned by the Town
of Barnstable Conservation Commission, Three Bays Preservation (managed by Mass Audubon),
DCR Division of State Parks & Recreation, Department of Fish & Game, Non-Profits, Private
Conservation Restrictions, and Private Recreation Clubs.
Table 3.4. Town of Barnstable, Open Space by Owner.
Owner Type # of Parcels Owners Total Area (ac.)
County 5 Town of Barnstable Conservation
Commission
90
Conservation
Organization
1 Three Bays Preservation (managed by
Mass Audubon)
91
State 11 DCR - Division of State Parks &
Recreation; Department of Fish & Game
418
Land Trust 233 Barnstable Land Trust; Compact of Cape
Cod Conservation Trusts; Mary Barton
Land Conservation Trust; Mass Audubon
Society; Native Land Conservancy; Orenda
Wildlife Land Trust; Nature Conservancy;
The Trustees of Reservations
1256
Municipal 643 Town of Barnstable 9422
Non-Profit 2 Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River (Pope
John Paul II H.S.; Cemetery)
3
Private 99 Barnstable Fire Tower; Private
Conservation Restrictions (CRs); Private
Recreation Clubs
948
Totals 994 12,228
Source: MassGIS Data, “Protected and Recreational Open Space”, updated August 2022.
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The Barnstable Land Trust has protected 620 acres in the Town of Barnstable.21 It worked
together with town leaders to protect large sections of Barnstable’s Great Marsh, Crocker Neck,
Bridge Creek, and many smaller parcels. Barnstable’s on-going commitment to open space
protection was demonstrated by strong public and private efforts.
Other major open space needs have guided preservation efforts. Lands held by the water districts
for drinking water protection represent a large portion of the undeveloped land in Barnstable.
Working landscapes, including local farms and cranberry bogs, also are an integral part of
Barnstable’s landscape.
Collectively, these properties represent a long history of conservation efforts in Barnstable that
have produced a varied and well-connected network of open spaces throughout the Town.
Chapter 61 Lands
The Chapter 61 statues offer property owners preferential tax treatment to assist with keeping
open spaces with natural and scenic value from being sold and developed. Individuals and
households that do not develop their land, for a defined period of time, could be eligible under
Massachusetts Chapter 61 Classification and Taxation of Forest Lands and Forests Products to
be exempt from having to pay property taxes. There are three programs that exist under Chapter
61 that focus on different land uses and have different regulations for stewardship.
Table 3.5 Chapter 61 Programs
Program Acreage
Minimum
Land Use Forest Management Plan Public Access
Chapter 61 10 Acres Undeveloped,
Forest Land or
Forest Products
10-Year Plan Required No
Chapter 61 A 5 Acres Agricultural 10-Year Plan Required No
21 MassGIS Data, Protected and Recreational Open Space, August 2022.
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Table 3.5 Chapter 61 Programs
Program Acreage
Minimum
Land Use Forest Management Plan Public Access
Chapter 61 B 5 Acres Open Space
Recreation
10-Year Plan Required
No
No
Access Required
Source: UMass Cooperative Extension and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Chapter 61
Programs: Understanding Massachusetts Ch. 61 Current Tax Programs (n.d.).
Most Chapter 61 programs require the completion of a ten-year management plan reviewed by a
state service forester with an inventory of the property’s resources, maps, and long-term
stewardship goals, with the exception of Chapter 61B land designated as recreational. Depending
on the program type, minimum acreage requirements range from five to ten acres. Chapter 61A
mandates land uses, requiring an owner to produce garden or agricultural products like produce,
timber, animal products, or decorative plants for a minimum of two years before application.22
Chapter 61B is the final program for tax relief with the least regulation and is best for property
owners who take a passive approach. Those who decide to apply for Chapter 61B can navigate
between an open space or recreation designation; open space uses require a management plan,
but do not mandate public access, while recreational designations do not require review plans but
mandate the public or members of a nonprofit organization have access to land.
If any land under Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B is intended to be converted to a non-chapter use
(either sold or retained in the same ownership) while enrolled or within one fiscal year of being
removed from the program, the Town has the option to match a bona fide offer to purchase the
property pursuant to a defined process and associated timeline.
Greenways, Corridors, and Connectivity
Over the past several decades the Town’s strong commitment to planning for open space and
recreation has been guided by a corridors and greenways strategy. The priority upland greenway
22 UMass Cooperative Extension and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Chapter 61
Programs: Understanding Massachusetts Ch. 61 Current Tax Programs (n.d.).
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is the east-west oriented glacial moraine, which roughly follows Route 6. This area is valued for
its hilly terrain, forest cover, and wildlife habitat. Many of the Town’s significant conservation
parcels are located along this greenbelt, including the West Barnstable, Old Jail Lane,
Hathaway’s Pond, Hyannis Ponds, and Otis Atwood Conservation Areas. The Town’s two golf
courses add to the significant open space acreage along the corridor. These acquisitions along
Route 6 make up the “backbone” of the Town’s conservation lands and contribute to regional
green infrastructure and Cape Cod Pathways goals. 23
Additional conservation efforts continue to focus on smaller corridors running north-south and
linking to the larger conservation greenway along the moraine. Numerous parcels along the
Marstons Mills River, Centerville River, Maraspin Creek, Little River, and other sensitive
riparian corridors have been preserved. Property acquisitions along Barnstable coastlines support
highly productive ecosystems, provide popular recreation opportunities, and preserve the scenic
quality of the seashore. Collectively, the conservation of these parcels is essential to the health of
Barnstable’s coastal resources.
Sandy Neck Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
An equally important long-range objective has been the preservation of the Great Marshes in
West Barnstable, which are part of the Sandy Neck Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC). Areas of Critical Environmental Concern are places in Massachusetts that receive
special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness and s ignificance of their natural and
23 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 71-72.
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cultural resources. Barnstable Great Marsh is an integral part of the ecologically significant
3,800-acre Sandy Neck salt marsh and barrier beach system. Along with the expansive salt marsh
views, the sanctuary features two open ponds, shady oak woodlands, and numerous wildlife.
Three species of owls commonly inhabit the sanctuary in winter, and five species of turtles nest
here in summer.24
In the Great Marshes, large tracts are held as town conservation land; the Barnst able Land Trust,
Orenda Wildlife Trust, and Massachusetts Audubon Society also have important holdings in this
area. Incremental parcel acquisitions north of Route 6A by the Town and private conservation
groups have contributed to the preservation of this environmentally sensitive area.
24 “Barnstable Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mass Audubon, accessed January 2023.
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Sandy Neck is a tremendous asset to the town as it is a protective barrier to the north and is
undeveloped land. Sandy Neck Park encompasses 4,700 acres of extensive barrier beach that is
accessible via boat or off-road vehicle (ORV), including the nine acres on the far west side of the
Park categorized by the Assessing Department as a beach. Sandy Neck Park is part of the Sandy
Neck Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) petitioned by the Towns of Barnstable
and Sandwich and designated by the State in 1978. Sandy Neck Park acreage is apportioned as
follows:
● Land Bank/CPA – 33.01 acres;
● Town Beach - 9.1 acres;
● Municipal Property - 135.95 acres;
● Private Open Space (Barnstable Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy) – 62.55 acres;
● Conservation – remainder.
Sandy Neck Beach Park allows ORV access with a permit and this activity occurs on the front
beach corridor, which is 4.5 miles long. However, the ORV corridor is reduced in length for
much of the summer season due to nesting Plovers and Least Terns that require protection under
state and federal law. Along the south side of the property is the Marsh Trail that runs east to
west. There are six trails that run north-south between the front beach and the Marsh Trail. These
trails are used by hikers and are also utilized for vehicular access to Sandy Neck cottages. There
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are 50 privately owned cottages. Some are on private lands and those that are located on town
owned land require a yearly property lease. These cottages are situated along the Marsh Trail and
within the Cottage Colony, which is also where the Sandy Neck Lighthouse is located.25
A management plan for the Park was developed in 2003. Management activities are overseen by
the Sandy Neck Board with staff support from the Town Marine and Environmental Affairs
Division. 26
Education and Public Awareness
The Barnstable Natural Resources Program provides educational and outreach opportunities for
local school groups, libraries, and community centers with such topics as wildlife, turtles, natural
resource officer work, and river herring. The Natural Resource Program staff also participate at
various wildlife, environment, and nature expos in the Barnstable area with a traveling animal
exhibit, shellfish tank, or live turtles. These classroom visits and outreach expos help the local
community and visitors become aware of natural resources, wildlife, habitat, and environmental
regulations in Barnstable.
Parks and Recreation
The Recreation Division manages the Town’s public swimming beaches, and the Hyannis and
Olde Barnstable Fair Grounds Golf Courses as well as numerous public playing fields and parks.
The town has implemented an environmentally sustainable land management plan at the golf
courses to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. The town is in the process of making
improvements to the golf course, including cart path improvements at Hyannis Golf Course.
25 Massachusetts Piping Plover Habitat Conservation Plan Certificate of Inclusion Request 2020 Sandy Neck Beach
Park, Barnstable Massachusetts, Prepared by Marine and Environmental Affairs Division, Town of Barnstable,
December 2019.
26 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 73-74.
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The Recreation Commission conducted a facilities assessment in 2012 that was used to set
priorities for facilities improvements. To date, there has been progress towards each project.
The Commission is considering another study to reprioritize needs identified in the 2017 Field
Study.
The Hyannis Youth and Community Center built in 2009 continues to serve as a focal point for
many community recreation programs and services. The center is a year -round full-service
facility with two skating rinks, two basketball courts, a ska teboard park, a cafe and a Youth
Center with after-school programming.27
Several goals of the 2010 LCP have been accomplished in the area of Recreation with field
upgrades throughout the villages including the pickleball complex in Marstons Mills that opene d
last year. Lombard Field improvements were completed with a combination of Community
Preservation Act (CPA) funding and Capital funds. The Osterville Bay Softball Field was
completed and funded through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The Barnstable Hollow
Playground improvements project was completed which included replacing existing playground
equipment with ADA-compliant equipment, walkways, playground surfaces, installation of new
seating with shade and water bottle filling station. The redesign of the Centerville Playground is
27 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 15 -16.
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underway. The Town is seeking CIP funds to redesign the HYCC grounds to expand
recreational opportunities.
Habitat
Overview
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens is the eco-region that the Town of Barnstable and
the entire peninsula of Cape Cod are located within. Pine barrens are a globally rare habitat type
composed of a unique mixture of plants and animals that thrive on the nutrient-poor soils and
variable climate found on Cape Cod. Within the pine barrens eco-region, there are many and
varied habitat types, including pitch pine-oak woodlands, transitional hardwood-pine forests,
streams and rivers, ponds and lakes, vernal pools, shrub and forested swamps, estuaries, salt
marshes, dunes, beaches, grasslands, and others.28
28 Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan, Cape Cod Commission, February 22, 2019, 32.
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Critical Habitats
Critical habitats in Barnstable have been identified by the MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and
Endangered Species Program (NHESP), Core Biomap, and Cape Cod Wildlife Conservation
Project.
Three major NHESP Core Habitat areas include and surround the Town’s three largest
conservation areas: West Barnstable Conservation Area, Sandy Neck barrier beach, and the
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Land.29
BioMap incorporates enhanced knowledge of biodiversity and habitats, improved information on
the threats to biodiversity, and new understandings of how to ensure that natural systems are
more resilient in the face of climate change. Core Habitat identifies areas that are critical for
the long-term persistence of rare species, exemplary natural communities, and resilient
ecosystems across the Commonwealth.
Core Habitat contains six components of biodiversity conservation:
Priority Natural Communities are two types of natural communities—groups of plant and
animal species that share common environmental conditions and occur together repeatedly on the
landscape—are priorities for protection: those that are rare and those that are exemplary.
Protection, management, and conservation of these communities will help to support the
persistence of characteristic common species as well as rare species throughout Massachusetts.
Barnstable has seven priority natural communities covering over 5,700 acres, the vast majority of
which is in the Great Marsh and Sandy Neck areas: Coastal Plain Pond Shore Community,
Interdunal Marsh/Swale, Maritime Dune Community, Maritime Forest/Woodland, Maritime
Juniper Woodland/Shrubland, Maritime Pitch Pine Woodland on Dunes, and Salt Marsh.
Rare Species Core captures areas critical to long-term conservation of our most vulnerable
species and their habitats. It includes habitat for more than four hundred state-listed animals and
plants protected pursuant to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA), based on
information contained in the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
29 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 51 -52.
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database. Barnstable has 10,391 acres of Rare Species Core habitat, including but not limited to
the West Barnstable Conservation Area, Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area, Skunkett
River Wildlife Sanctuary, Long Beach, Great Marsh, and Sandy Neck.
Forest Core represents the most intact forests of Massachusetts, least impacted by roads and
development. These forests provide unique forest interior habitat important for animals and
plants that depend on these remote sanctuaries. Barnstable does not have any land that is
classified as forest core habitat according to BioMap.
Aquatic Core encompasses those segments of rivers and streams and entire lakes and ponds
with the highest native fish and freshwater mussel species diversity, rivers with the strongest
anadromous fish runs, and occurrences of rare species. Floodplains are active parts of the stream
channel and so were therefore incorporated into segments of rivers and streams. Barnstable has
2,079 acres that are classified as aquatic core habitat, mainly consisting of the interior pond areas
throughout the town.
Wetland Core comprises the most intact, least disturbed wetlands—those with intact buffers and
little fragmentation or other stressors associated with development, like pollution. Wetlands
provide irreplaceable habitat for hundreds of unique plant and animal species found nowhere else
on the landscape. Barnstable has 198 acres of wetland core habitat, mainly along the Skunkett
Skunknett River and in Sandy Neck State Park.
Vernal Pool Core includes high quality vernal pools—small seasonal wetlands that typically fill
with water in the autumn or winter and dry up by the end of summer—along with surrounding
upland habitat for connectivity. These temporary wetlands provide important habitat for a variety
of species, including amphibians and invertebrates, that use them to breed. The Vernal Pool
Core habitats total 1,541 acres in Barnstable and are located in Sandy Neck, Great Marsh, Bridge
Creek Conservation Area, Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area, Sandy Hill Pond, and the
Water Department Land west of Hathaways Pond Conservation Area.
The Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) documents the
presence of plant and animal species protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act
(MESA) across the Commonwealth. Table 3.6 identifies plant Species of Conservation Concern
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(e.g., species protected under MESA or of significant regional conservation concern) found in
Barnstable. By protecting Species of Conservation Concern, Massachusetts communities can
help ensure the long-term survival of rare and other native species and maintain a high level of
biodiversity.
Table 3.6. Plant Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Common Name Scientific Name MESA Status
Adder's Tongue Fern Ophioglossum pusillum Threatened
Bristly Foxtail Setaria parviflora Special Concern
Commons' Rosette-grass Dichanthelium commonsianum Special Concern
Cranefly Orchid Tipularia discolor Endangered
Dwarf Bulrush Lipocarpha micrantha Threatened
Grass-leaved Ladies'-tresses Spiranthes vernalis Threatened
Heartleaf Twayblade Neottia cordata Endangered
Long-beaked Beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides Special Concern
Maryland Meadow-beauty Rhexia mariana Endangered
Mitchell's Sedge Carex mitchelliana Threatened
New England Blazing Star Liatris novae-angliae Special Concern
Papillose Nut Sedge Scleria pauciflora Endangered
Philadelphia Panic-grass Panicum philadelphicum ssp. philadelphicum Special Concern
Plymouth Gentian Sabatia kennedyana Special Concern
Pondshore Smartweed Persicaria puritanorum Special Concern
Purple Needlegrass Aristida purpurascens Threatened
Redroot Lachnanthes caroliniana Special Concern
Sandplain Gerardia Agalinis acuta Endangered
Short-beaked Beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens Threatened
Slender Bladderwort Utricularia subulata Special Concern
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Table 3.6. Plant Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Common Name Scientific Name MESA Status
Slender Marsh Pink Sabatia campanulata Endangered
Stiff Yellow Flax Linum medium var. texanum Threatened
Swamp Oats Sphenopholis pensylvanica Threatened
Terete Arrowhead Sagittaria teres Special Concern
Torrey's Beaksedge Rhynchospora torreyana Endangered
Wright's Rosette-grass Dichanthelium wrightianum Special Concern
Source: Rare Species Viewer, MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, acquired
1/18/2023.
Barnstable’s beach, dune, bay, wetland, and forest habitats support a range of fish and wildlife
species. Barnstable’s barrier beaches and ponds provide important quality habitat to migratory
shorebirds. Large, protected open space areas provide recreation opportunities for people and
connect habitat, facilitating the movement of wildlife.
However, encroachment by development, water quality impairments, invasive plants,
colonization of open areas by tree and shrub growth, and rising sea levels can negatively affect
fish and wildlife habitat. Table 3.7 lists fish and wildlife species identified by the NHESP as
Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Table 3.7. Fish & Wildlife Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Common Name Scientific Name Taxonomic Group MESA Status
Agassiz's Clam Shrimp Eulimnadia agassizii Crustacean Endangered
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Bird Special Concern
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bird Threatened
Bridle Shiner Notropis bifrenatus Fish Special Concern
Buck Moth Hemileuca maia Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
Chain Dot Geometer Cingilia catenaria Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
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Table 3.7. Fish & Wildlife Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Common Name Scientific Name Taxonomic Group MESA Status
Chain Fern Borer Papaipema stenocelis Butterfly/Moth Threatened
Coastal Heathland Cutworm Abagrotis benjamini Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Bird Special Concern
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina Reptile Special Concern
Eastern Pondmussel Ligumia nasuta Mussel Special Concern
Eastern Spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii Amphibian Threatened
Frosted Elfin Callophrys irus Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum Bird Threatened
Least Tern Sternula antillarum Bird Special Concern
Long-eared Owl Asio otus Bird Special Concern
Mustard White Pieris oleracea Butterfly/Moth Threatened
North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis Mammal Endangered
Northern Diamond-backed Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Reptile Threatened
Northern Long-eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis Mammal Endangered
Northern Parula Setophaga americana Bird Threatened
Pine Barrens Bluet Enallagma recurvatum Dragonfly/Damselfly Threatened
Pine Barrens Speranza Speranza exonerata Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
Pine Barrens Zale Zale lunifera Butterfly/Moth Special Concern
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus Bird Threatened
Purple Tiger Beetle Cicindela purpurea Beetle Special Concern
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Bird Endangered
Scarlet Bluet Enallagma pictum Dragonfly/Damselfly Threatened
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Bird Endangered
Tidewater Mucket Leptodea ochracea Mussel Special Concern
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Table 3.7. Fish & Wildlife Species of Conservation Concern in Barnstable.
Common Name Scientific Name Taxonomic Group MESA Status
Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum Dragonfly/Damselfly Special Concern
Water-willow Stem Borer Papaipema sulphurata Butterfly/Moth Threatened
Source: Rare Species Viewer, MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, acquired
1/18/2023.
Critical Natural Landscapes
Natural Landscapes support ecological processes and a wide array of species and habitats over
long time frames. BioMap identifies Critical Natural Landscapes (CNLs) encompassing 15,107
acres within the Town of Barnstable.30 CNLs include large landscape blocks that are minimally
impacted by development, as well as buffers to core habitats and coastal areas, both of which
enhance connectivity and resilience.
CNL contains several components of biodiversity conservation:
30 MassWildlife and the Nature Conservancy, BioMap, November 2022.
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Landscape Blocks comprise large areas of intact lands and waters that provide habitat for wide-
ranging species and support dynamic and resilient ecosystems. These landscapes allow species
to move freely among habitats and buffer smaller natural communities from development and
other stressors. There is one Landscape Block critical natural landscape in Barnstable totaling
6,136 acres in the Great Marsh and Sandy Neck area.
Coastal Adaptation Areas include salt marsh and other habitats along the Massachusetts coast
that support unique and important habitat, rare species, and intact coastal ecosystems of global
significance. These rich ecosystems provide abundant resources for species and also absorb
storm surges, protecting inland infrastructure and property. Barnstable has 4,650 acres of
Coastal Adaptation areas found along the northern coast of town as well as smaller areas located
across the southern portion of town.
Tern Foraging Habitat comprises coastal areas including sandy gravelly islands and barrier
beaches, bays, lagoons, estuaries, tidal marshes, ponds, and tidal inlets that are vital to the
survival of these migratory species. Three species—the common tern, least tern, and arctic
tern—are of special concern in Massachusetts, while the roseate tern is endangered. Great Marsh
and Sandy Neck along the northern coast of town, along with several areas along the southern
coast of town comprise the 9,513 acres of Tern Foraging Habitat in Barnstable.
Aquatic Buffers include both intact lands and wetlands that help to support Aquatic Core
habitats and functionality as well as provide important areas of connectivity for species that
move between habitats. Pond areas including: Mystic Pond, Middle Pond, Hamblin Pond,
Shubael Pond, Wequaquet Lake, Hathaways Pond, Long Pond, and Lovells Pond make up the
vast majority of the 2,079 acres of aquatic buffer.
Wetland Buffer comprises areas of intact habitat surrounding each Wetland Core. These
protective buffers support vital wetland habitat, water quality, and other functions as well as
provide important connectivity for species that move between upland and wetland habitats.
Mary Dunn Pond, Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, Skunkett River Wildlife Sanctuary, and
Sandy Neck Beach area account for the 859 acres of wetland bu ffer areas around the wetland
core areas.
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Ongoing development poses a major threat to the protection of significant habitats. Of particular
concern is the subdivision of large tracts of land for residences, which replace native vegetation
with impervious surfaces and lawns. The Town has undertaken measures that seek to address
this threat, including:
● Implementing the Resource Protection Overlay District which increased the minimum lot
size to two acres in most areas of Town;
● Promoting Open Space Residential Design subdivisions in place of grid subdivisions; and
● Mapping Sensitive Habitat Areas and using the map as a guide for review and permitting
development in affected areas.
Habitat Restoration and Fire Prevention
The Conservation Division also works on fire management improvements throughout the Town.
Improvements that have taken place since 2010 include controlled prescribed burns for wildlife
habitat restoration and forest fire fuel reduction, removal of dead pines on Old Stage Road,
maintaining 33 acres of fields for habitat protection and fire prevention at Seabury Farms
Conservation Area, West Barnstable Conservation Area, and Bridge Creek Conservation Area.31
31 Town of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2018, 14 -15.
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4. Built Systems
Barnstable is comprised of seven villages, unique landscapes, and an infrastructure network to
support it all. Early village-based development led to a rich local setting that continues to
respond to climate resiliency measures and strives for an increased sustainability consciousness.
The community continues to develop to meet the needs of year-round populations and tourists
while adapting to the physical environment as a coastal community.
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Land Use and Development
Overview
Land use and development lives at the intersection of natural, built, and community systems.
Decisions about land use directly impact the protection of our sensitive environmental areas and
waterbodies; the most efficient, effective, and resilient locations for development,
redevelopment, and infrastructure; and where people live and work, how they can travel from
place to place, and how they interact with one another in community.
This section is designed to be consistent with the minimum standards of the Cape Cod Regional
Policy Plan (RPP). While the most populous town on the Cape, Barnstable is home to a variety
of important water, coastal, wetland, wildlife, historic, and open space resources. In fact, being
the center of commerce and population on the Cape makes it especially important that Barnstable
protect, preserve, and where possible restore these resources and be mindful of how development
may affect them. A large part of this is promoting development and redevelopment where
infrastructure and drinking water can support it, where impacts from climate change, sea-level
rise, flooding, and other hazards are minimized. However, like many communities up and down
the New England coast, much of Barnstable’s historic population and economic activity is
located on the waterfront. Evaluation of the need to protect, accommodate, or in extreme some
cases, retreat existing development will be a future planning challenge. Particular consideration
may be applied to roads which were defined within the Cape Cod Commission’s Low Lying
Roads Project through which a vulnerability assessment of roadway segments, bridges, and
culverts was conducted to identify priority roadway networks impacted by flooding from effects
of sea level rise, storm surge and erosion. The top five roads identified within Barnstable
included Ocean Street, Pleasant Street, Bridge Street (Osterville an d Little Island), West Bay
Road and Craigville Beach Road. Another challenge is the nation’s housing crisis, which is felt
acutely on Cape Cod. Land use and development policies that increase housing affordability and
diversity will be critical to maintaining a sustainable local economy and the town’s sense of
community.
In brief, Barnstable has a tremendous duty to current and future residents to be good stewards of
its land, balancing human and environmental imperatives. Fortunately, Barnstable has a long
history of sound land use policy to build on, focusing more intense development in and around
Hyannis, investing in its historic village centers, and working to conserve and minimize
disturbances to natural areas. This LCP update continues that legacy.
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Current Land Use and Land Use Trends
The history of land use in Barnstable is very similar to other parts of New England. Village
centers initially huddled around harbors, rivers, and other natural features, with agricultural
lands, and working and wild forests beyond. While this pattern of village development remains,
over time, residential subdivisions, auto-oriented commercial corridors, and light industrial uses
have fanned out from the traditional centers. See Map 4.1, a map of Barnstable’s traditional
village centers.
Map 4.2. illustrates current land use. As can be seen, denser residential development is
concentrated in the central and southeastern portions of town with more conservation lands to the
north and northwest. Commercial uses are largely concentrated along the eastern end of Route
132 and in downtown Hyannis, with industrial uses mostly clustered along Independence Drive
between the Cape Cod Gateway Airport and Route 6.
Barnstable consists of many different and unique land use types; these areas serve as a
conceptual framework for future land use planning.
Natural Areas: Natural Areas are generally the Town’s least developed and most sensitive
areas. While Barnstable is the most populous and also one of the most built out municipalities on
the Cape, it has a wealth o f natural areas such as Sandy Neck, the Great Marshes, and other local
and privately held conservation lands.
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Rural Development Areas: Rural Development Areas are defined by a high percentage of open
lands and sparse building development patterns that contribute to the unique rural and scenic
character of the region. Areas such as West Barnstable, larger lot areas around village centers,
and the Town’s few remaining agricultural areas and farms all contribute to the Town’s rural
character.
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Suburban Development Areas: Suburban Development Areas include residential
neighborhoods built primarily between the 1950s and 1990s as well as automobile-oriented
commercial development established during the same time period. A great deal of Barnstable has
been developed in this manner, as seen in the many residential subdivisions and strip shopping
centers.
Regional Commercial Center: The Regional Commercial Center in Hyannis and Barnstable
Village is characterized by larger-scale commercial and light-industrial uses, interspersed with
higher density residential development. This area serves an important role in the regional
economy, providing goods and services, year-round jobs, and economic stability and
sustainability in a seasonal region. This area includes land designated as centers for industrial
activity, suitable for industrial uses and emerging industries. Continued multi -family
development in these areas is challenging the traditional characterization of these areas as
exclusively commercial and industrial.
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Historic Areas: Historic Areas consist of concentrations of historic structures, including local
and/or National Register districts located in a small-scale village setting. Particularly notable
historic areas in Barnstable are found in and around the village centers of Barnstable, Centerville,
Cotuit, Craigville, Hyannis, Hyannisport, Osterville, and West Barnstable. These areas include
not only historic buildings, but cemeteries, landscape features, and viewsheds.
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Maritime Areas: Maritime Areas are clusters of commercial and mixed-use development that
contribute to Cape Cod’s working waterfronts and harbors. Barnstable is home to some of the
most active maritime areas on the Cape, including productive fishing industries, commuter and
visitor ferry service, recreational marinas, and more. Barnstable Harbor, Hyannis Harbor, and
multiple other marinas and yacht clubs provide jobs, attract tourists, and are an integral part of
the local culture and quality of life.
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Transportation Areas: Transportation Areas consist of large land areas developed with and
devoted to infrastructure such as airports, transfer stations, waste disposal facilities, and Joint
Base Cape Cod. As noted, Barnstable is the most significant transportation hub on the Cape,
home to the Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Cape Cod Airfield, the Steamship Authority and Hy-
line Cruises, and the Hyannis Transportation Center which provides local and regional bus
services. These are great resources for town residents, visitors, and residents across the Cape.
Barnstable is also home to a large transfer station and recycling center for local use.
Development Trends
As is true across Cape Cod, development trends have slowed significantly in recent years.
Barnstable largely maintained its village-centered development pattern up until World War II.
After this time, as was the case in much of the country, residential development boomed, and
many farms, forests, and other undeveloped lands were developed into residential subdivisions,
commercial, industrial, institutional, and other uses. The rate of development peaked in the
1970s and 1980s, but generally continued throughout the 1990s, when building permits regularly
exceeded 230 per year.
The Town’s Growth Management Ordinance, adopted in 2001, sets an annual building permit
limit of 96 new market rate units permits and 36 new affordable units which may be adjusted
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should an excess amount of permits be issued in a calendar year. However, instituted at the end
of the construction boom, the limits of this ordinance have not been met or exceeded since their
adoption. At this time, most of the “easy” development parcels had been developed. Since 2001,
increases in conservation land, more stringent policies for wetlands, floodplains, and water
quality, the cost of land and construction, and limited regulatory opportunities for infill
development and denser housing alternatives have all combined to dampen development activity,
even though demand (particularly for housing) remains high.
Table 4.1. Building Permit Data
Calendar Year Residential New
Construction
Residential
Additions &
Renovations
Non-Residential
New Construction
Non-Residential
Additions &
Renovations
2000 201 527 19 132
2001 180 458 27 97
2002 111 573 17 119
2003 96 607 29 126
2004 67 693 17 148
2005 98 604 16 167
2006 73 607 10 157
2007 67 722 8 161
2008 50 775 21 220
2009 40 554 20 326
2010 58 681 10 226
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Table 4.1. Building Permit Data
Calendar Year Residential New
Construction
Residential
Additions &
Renovations
Non-Residential
New Construction
Non-Residential
Additions &
Renovations
2011 40 810 15 315
2012 50 1,066 14 325
2013 65 1,230 11 265
2014 83 1,421 17 288
2015 94 1,562 5 304
2016 58 1,796 17 217
2017 60 1,609 16 459
2018 43 1,587 19 570
2019 28 1,783 4 264
2020 33 1,664 14 239
2021 38 1,180 11 205
2022* 47 635 7 402
Source: Town of Barnstable
* 2022 YTD through 11-30-22
As the data above shows, new residential construction remains very low. In the seven years from
2015 - 2021, an average of just over 50 new residential units were permitted each year. This is
down from an average of 118 per year in the seven years from 2000 - 2006 leading up to the
Great Recession, and far below the peak construction rates from the 1950s through the 1990s.
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New non-residential construction has seen a similar though less sharp decline, with an average of
just over 12 new permits each year from 2015 – 2021, down from an average of just over 19
from 2000 – 2006.
Conversely, permits for additions and renovations to existing homes and buildings have been
booming, roughly doubling in an average year what used to be seen earlier in this century. This
suggests that as new construction becomes more difficult and expensive to build, housing and
development needs are being met by altering what we already have.
Another way Barnstable is meeting the changing housing needs of the commun ity is by
permitting more multi-family dwellings. While the data above does not differentiate between
types of residential units, Town staff have been tracking new multi -family housing development.
In recent years, according to the Barnstable Department of Planning and Development, the Town
has seen 356 multi-family dwellings completed in new and renovated buildings. Of these, just
over 10 percent are deed restricted affordable housing, most reserved for households with
incomes at or below 65 percent of the area median income (AMI). The table below shows the
projected multi-family dwelling development in permitting through final construction since
2017. over the next few years based on proposed and permitted projects and those currently
under construction.
Table 4.2. Multi-Family Unit Permit Data
Total Units Affordable 50% AMI 65% AMI 80% AMI 100% AMI
Proposed 481 39 (8.1%) 0 39 0 0
Permitted 326 39 (12%) 0 28 11 0
Under Construction 130 15 (11.5%) 29 126 126 126
Source: Town of Barnstable
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As can be seen, this pipeline is likely The multi-family dwelling developments will to
significantly bolster new housing opportunities in Barnstable, in terms of both housing type and
affordability.
Land Use Management
The Town has adopted many ordinances and other policies and procedures over the years to
ensure that land use and development are properly managed and consistent with Town goals.
Zoning and Other Land Use Bylaws
The Zoning Ordinance is the primary land use regulation in Barnstable. It contains provisions for
land use in all zoning districts, and provisions for nonconforming uses and use variances. The
Town of Barnstable’s Town Council form of government allows the Planning Board and other
entities to propose changes to the Zoning Ordinance to the Town Council, which acts as the
legislative body. This structure allows more frequent opportunities for zoning amendments than
the traditional town meeting form of government and allows the Town to be more responsive to
change.
The Town’s Zoning Ordinance is complex, with a wide array of zoning districts, subdistricts, and
overlay districts. Two maps (Map 4.3 Base Zoning and Map 4.4 Zoning Overlay Districts) that
depict these various zones and overlays. In summary, these include:
● 12 Residential Districts – These districts primarily allow single-family detached homes
at various densities, but also include provisions for open space residential development
and private-initiated affordable housing.
● 8 Business and Office Districts – These districts allow for a wide variety of commercial
uses and most also allow for residential uses, including multi-family housing.
● 4 Village Districts – These include special districts for Pond Village (Barnstable), West
Barnstable, and Hyannis, each with very different scopes and purposes.
o Marstons Mills – This district allows for mixed-use with an emphasis on retail
and office uses on ground floors and residential above.
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o Pond Village – This district is largely meant to retain the residential and rural
nature of this village, protecting freshwater pond quality, a portion of Barnstable
Harbor, and the historic and scenic character of the area.
o West Barnstable – This district is meant to retain a small-scale mixed-use village
character, with single-family homes, small-scale retail, and offices.
o Hyannis – This district is a collection of subdistricts, dividing Hyannis into zones
for business, medical, office, single-family residential, multi-family residential,
harbor uses, transportation uses, etc. Mixed-use is allowed in many of these
subdistricts, and there are special site development and design standards that
apply only within this district. This district also has its own overlay district that
manages certain open air parking lots south of Main Street.
● 4 Service & Distribution and Industrial Districts – These districts, as the names
suggest, allow for a range of commercial, warehousing and distribution, light industrial,
and industrial uses.
● 12 13 Overlay Districts – Overlay districts are designed to “overlay” as opposed to
replace the underlying zoning district. They can add additional standards to a property
and/or override certain standards of the underlying zoning district. They often account for
sensitive environmental areas that require extra protection but can also regulate complex
uses that may require extra scrutiny or more flexibility. The Town’s overlay districts
include:
o Adult Use
o Dock & Pier
o Floodplain
o Former Grade 5 School Planned Unit Development
o Groundwater Protection
o Medical Marijuana
o Registered Recreational Marijuana Cultivators, Research Facilities, and Testing
Laboratories Overlay District
o Medical Services (which includes a mixed-use subdistrictsubzone)
o Recreational Shellfish Area and Shellfish Relay Area Dock & Pier
o Resource Protection
o Senior Continuing Care Retirement Community
o Shopping Center Redevelopment Formatted: Font color: Auto
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o Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic
Town staff reviews the Zoning Ordinance after the adoption of each Local Comprehensive Plan,
to make sure that zoning is consistent with the plan. For example, since the 2010 plan was
adopted, planning staff worked with local village representatives to review and revise all four
village zoning districts . Zoning is supplemented by several other local land use regulations.
These include:
● Growth Management Ordinance - In 2001 the Town adopted a Growth Management
Ordinance that established a limit on the number of residential building permits that may
be issued in a single year. This ordinance remains in effect.
● District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) - A DCPC is a powerful planning tool
that allows a town or a group of towns to adopt special rules and regulations that will
protect natural, coastal, scientific, cultural, architectural, archaeological, historic,
economic, or recreational resources or values of regional, statewide, or national
significance. Barnstable has identified four DCPCs.
o In February 2001, Barnstable nominated the entire town as a DCPC to address the
rate of residential growth.
o A DCPC for the Pond Village area of Barnstable Village was designated in
January 2006 (see the Pond Village District above). Implementing regulations
were never adopted for this DCPC, but the Pond Village District was locally
adopted in response to the DCPC designation.
o A DCPC for Centerville Village was designated in 2009, with the purposes of
respecting its historic character and supporting neighborhood-serving mixed-use.
o A DCPC for Craigville Beach was designated in 2011, with the purposes of
minimizing inconsistent development, protecting scenic views and natural
resources, and preparing against flood hazards and sea-level rise.
● Subdivision Rules and Regulations (SRR) - The SRR provides regulations for dividing
land and laying out roadways.
● Wetland Regulations - The purpose of these regulations is to protect wetlands and
related water resources, and their values and functions.
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● Board of Health Regulations – These regulations are meant to preserve and maintain
the Town's public health standards and protect its environmental resources.
Growth Incentive Zone
A Growth Incentive Zone (GIZ) is a planning tool that allows communities to exempt certain
development activities from Cape Cod Commission regulatory review. The intent is to encourage
residential and commercial development and redevelopment in geographicall y defined economic
centers supported by community amenities and appropriate infrastructure and away from
sensitive environmental areas.
First approved in 2006, the Downtown Hyannis GIZ was reauthorized in 2018. Working in
concert with the Town of Barnstable, the Commission developed comprehensive changes to the
GIZ framework to ensure regulations promote and support a program of long-term iterative
investment in the place, in keeping with both Regional Policy Plan and Town goals.
Land use, housing production, infrastructure, social and demographic characteristics, and the
overall regulatory environment were reviewed during the latest renewal. The GIZ looks at
Hyannis holistically, reviewing connections between Downtown Hyannis and Route 132 to
better understand how both areas and the residential areas that surround them connect and
function. To achieve the goals of the GIZ, the Town will implement planning initiatives, develop
decision support tools, make planned infrastructure investments, and enact regulatory changes to
support continued public and private investment there.
In order to ensure holistic development throughout Barnstable, all significant development
outside the GIZ is reviewed by the Cape Cod Commission.
Downtown Hyannis Design & Infrastructure Plan
The Town of Barnstable has a longstanding effort to revitalize downtown Hyannis. The area’s
unique roots as a bustling Main Street, active harbor, and maritime village make downtown
Hyannis an ideal place to promote redevelopment. In July 2005, new zoning (described above)
was passed to encourage a more livable, mixed -use environment downtown while also balancing
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human and natural systems. The Downtown Hyannis Design & Infrastructure Plan is an
extension of that zoning. It establishes building and site design standards for all development
within the Downtown Hyannis Zoning Districts Hyannis Village Zoning Districts (with the
exception of single-family residences) and creates a set of guidelines to anticipate and direct
expected growth.
The Plan is a reference manual for developers, designers, town boards, and officials to guide
improvements to private properties and public infrastructure in downtown Hyannis. It includes
development guidelines for architecture and site design, procedures for establishing vehicle trip
generation, suggested redevelopment strategies to mitigate development impacts, and more. All
development within the Downtown Hyannis Zoning Districts Hyannis Village Zoning Districts
shall comply to the maximum extent possible with the design guidelines, recommended
development strategies, and other recommendations of the Plan.
Resource Protection Overlay District (RPOD)
The purposes of the RPOD include protecting groundwater quality, reducing nitrogen
contamination, and reducing development potential to be more in line with infrastructure
capacity. The boundaries of the RPOD include the recharge areas to the Centerville River,
Popponessett and Shoestring Bays, and the Three Bays area o f Cotuit and Osterville, together
with areas dependent upon private well water supplies. The only regulation related to the RPOD
is that minimum lot area is 87,120 square feet (approximately two acres) regardless of the
underlying zoning. Current land use planning and water protection practices, however, suggest
that there are many better ways to protect groundwater, and that two-acre zoning can even lead
to unintended harms due to sprawl, extensive lawns, fertilizer use, etc. The RPOD may be
reevaluated to make sure it results in outcomes more in line with its stated purposes.
Chapter 168 Regulatory Agreement Districts
A Regulatory Agreement is a contract entered into between a property owner who wants to
develop or redevelop their property, and the Town and/or the Cape Cod Commission, the
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primary purpose of which is to negotiate and establish the development regulations and
conditions that will apply to the property during the term of the agreement.
This is a flexible tool that can allow development in a way that the current zoning regulations
would prohibit and can streamline the permitting process. In return, the developer agrees to
provide certain benefits that contribute to the Town, such as improving Town infrastructure, land
preservation, community or recreational facilities, affordable housing, or other benefit that serves
the development and the Town. A Regulatory Agreement requires approval of both the Planning
Board and the Town Council.
Barnstable has three Regulatory Agreement
Districts. The primary district encompasses
downtown Hyannis from the Airport Rotary and
Iyannough Road to the north to just south of
South Street. Two much smaller districts are
located along Iyannough Road at Airport Road
and at South Main Street at Craigsville Beach
Road.
Water Supply
Barnstable’s water supply comes from the Cape Cod Aquifer, the underground layer of porous
soil through which fresh water can flow. A Sole Source Aquifer (SSA) provides at least half of
the drinking water for the area above it, but on Cape Cod, the SSA is truly singular: all of the
Cape’s drinking water comes from the same source.32 The aquifer is unconfined, which means
the area’s sandy soils allow water to filter through the ground and directly into the aquifer. Water
flows well through sand, which helps the groundwater system to be productive, but the quick
flow also means that the aquifer is vulnerable to contamination because there is less time and
opportunity for natural filtration.
32 “Learn More: Drinking Water on Cape Cod.” Cape Cod Groundwater Guardians. Accessed October 2022.
A Sole Source Aquifer (SSA)
provides at least half of the
drinking water for the area
above it, but on Cape Cod, the
SSA is truly singular: all of the
Cape’s drinking water comes
from the same source.
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To address community concern for the quality and supply of drinking water in the municipal
water system serving the Hyannis areaBarnstable, the Town contracted with an engineering
consultant Weston and Sampson in 2019 to evaluate locate alternative water supply resources
resulting in. tThe New Sources Alternatives Evaluation Report from 2019. This report
recommended to install treatment on existing wells and to construct additional, new water supply
wells. The initial test well drilling report projected deficits close to 1.87 million gallons per day
(MGD) in 2020, which are projected to increase to 3.32 MGD in 2040.33 These deficits were
based on DEP required redundancy and conservative growth estimates. After numerous test
wells and short-term pump tests, their recommendations include the development of one of three
potential well sites. Cost estimates for these sites are $25.4, $19.6, and $22.2 million
respectively, without a guarantee that any one of these sites will reach the projected demand gap
of 2.16 million gallons per day.34 The sites' test wells had flow rates of 500 through 5,000
gallons per minute at a well depth of 85 to 100 feet.
While Barnstable is connected by a single water supply source (sole source aquifer), the town is
divided into five independently governed districts for the provision of water and emergency
services known as fire districts. Today, three of these fire districts (Barnstable, Cotuit, and
C.O.M.M.) provide public drinking water. The Water Supply Division of the Barnstable
Department of Public Works is an enterprise-account funded municipal entity and manages the
assets of the former Barnstable Water Company (Town-acquired in 2005) and serves the
majority of Hyannis’s residents and businesses. The rate payers of the water system have been
carrying the majority of the cost of the capital improvements through substantial rate increases
over the years. The West Barnstable District is unique in that its residents primarily use private
wells for water provision, rather than village services. Voters in each fire district elect three
members each to a Prudential Committee, which oversees the budgets for fire and emergency
services, and a Board of Water Commissioners (except in Hyannis). The district breakdown
33 Weston & Sampson Engineers. Source Exploration Final Report. Prepared for the Town of Barnstable. April
2021.
34 Ibid.
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increases citizens' ability to dictate the services they desire from their division (Fire Chiefs
Interview September 9, 2022).35
Across communities on Cape Cod and throughout Barnstable, growing concerns about water
pollution factor into discussion of current and future water supply as the region struggles with
increased chemical detection, including polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which are
growing concerns throughout the Commonwealth and the nation. All three potential sites for a
new water supply sources must include a wells and water treatment to ensure current and future
quality. The gGovernor Baker's office recognized the swift response to PFAS in the water supply
by local water districtsepartments through additional grant funding. andThe governor’s
administration awarded the Barnstable and C.O.M.M. water districtsepartments a total of
$350,000 for initial remediation efforts. Protecting Barnstable's potable water requires continued
action and support against dealing with PFAS and emerging contaminants, in addition to
improving existing stormwater management and enhancing groundwater protections. Additional
emerging issues like population growth and climate change with more extreme weather will need
proper attention through the planning process.
35 Chief Francis M. Pulsifer, Organizational Analysis – 2019, Barnstable Fire Department, 2019, p 3-4.
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Starting in 2015 the Town of Barnstable has made a substantial effort to install carbon filtration
systems on all of the Town’s municipal wells and was able to comply with decreasing federal
and state PFAS standards, winning a DEP award in 2018. In 2020 the Maher Wells groundwater
filtration plant was constructed with state of the art technology that removes PFAS, 1,4 dioxane,
iron and manganese from groundwater and provides the Town with high quality drinking water
in accordance with all state and federal drinking water requirements.
Wastewater Management
Overview
Protecting water quality is vital to the health and future of Barnstable and the region, and
wastewater management plays a critical role. Infrastructure to handle and treat wastewater
(household, commercial, and industrial wastes) can protect embayments and groundwater for the
health of the community and natural environment. Barnstable collaborates with the Cape Cod
Commission on wastewater mitigation strategies highlighted in the Cape Cod Area-Wide Water
Quality Management Plan (also known at the 208 Plan), and Cape-wide cooperation is critical
due to the sole source aquifer. The 208 Plan was certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency in September 2015. The Town followed the Commission's planning by advancing
wastewater management mechanisms by completing a municipal Comprehensive Wastewater
Management Plan (CWMP) in January 2020. The CWMP was certified by the Secretary of
Energy and Environmental Affairs through the MEPA process on December 20, 2020.
The Water Pollution Control Program (WPCP) under Barnstable’s Department of Public Works
(DPW) is an enterprise-account funded and manages the Town’s wastewater and sewer
infrastructure including a secondary wastewater treatment plant, 30 sewage pump stations, and
55 miles of sewer collection lines, as well as a pretreatment program for industrial wastewater
and laboratory for wastewater testing. The CWMP calls to expand the Town’s sewer collection
system by approximately 190 miles of sewer lines over the next 20 to 30 years. The plan outlines
three phases of ten years each “to address… nutrient removal, pond protection, drinking water
protection, economic development, and other wastewater concerns.”36 During Phase I, the Town
is concentrating on the eastern Route 28 sewer expansion and additional sewer projects that
36 CWMP 2020, 5-1.
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reduce contaminants from septic systems.37 Figure 4.1 shows that most of the nitrogen
contamination across Cape Cod comes from septic systems, which are controllable sources. The
DPW is providing instructions and a sewer connection form to property owners along the Phase I
expansion route as construction gets underway.
Figure 4.1. Sources of Nitrogen on Cape Cod (Source: Barnstable CWMP)
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes total maximum daily
loads (TMDL) to limit daily contaminants in a watershed to levels compliant with the U.S. Clean
Water Act. TMDLs protect Popponesset Bay, the Three Bay System, the Centerville River
System, Halls Creek, and Lewis Bay. While the Town is monitoring wat er quality for their
working harbor, Barnstable Harbor and Rushy Marsh do not require a total maximum daily load
threshold as further elaborated within their respected Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP)
reports. due to their sizes. The 2017 draft MEP technical report for the Barnstable Harbor system
indicates that the system is not severely overloaded with respect to nitrogen and the majority of
sub-embayments have assimilative capacity to accept more nitrogen. The one exception is the
Millway sub-embayment which the modeling indicates is overloaded with respect to nitrogen
and requires a 65% reduction in nitrogen septic load. The 2006 MEP report states that Rushy
Marsh Pond presently has a relatively low nitrogen load from its watershed, due to its small size
and proportionally large undeveloped areas. However, it should be noted that while Rushy Marsh
Pond has a relatively low nitrogen load, it is still significantly impaired by nitrogen enrichment.
Septic systems are the largest source of nitrogen by percentage across Cape Cod and the most
addressable source. Barnstable’s efforts to expand public sewer connections, along with other
best practices, can decrease the amount of nitrogen leaching into the groundwater.
37 “Route 28 East Sewer Expansion Project Public Information Session August 15, 2022.” Barnstable Water
Resources. August 3, 2022, accessed October 2022.
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The CWMP process identified traditional and non-traditional techniques to manage pollutants’
total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and keep contaminants below harmful thresholds through a
watershed-specific approach. Barnstable manages the quality of its watersheds through further
collaboration with the EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP). Wastewater across Barnstable impacts eight watersheds, and three entirely within its
borders, including:
● Centerville River System Watershed
● Halls Creek Watershed
● Rushy Marsh Watershed
● Popponesset Bay Watershed
● Three Bays System Watershed
● Lewis Bay Watershed
● Barnstable Harbor Watershed
● Scorton Creek Watershed
Recent initiatives to lower nitrogen load include the Town expanding sewer lines in coordination
with the Vineyard Wind project installing offshore cables under public roadways.38 Sewer
extension projects include the Route 28 East, Attucks Lane, Phinney’s Lane, Long Pond,
Strawberry Hill, Old Yarmouth Road, and Merchant Way sewer expansions. Recent wastewater
system failures in other communities on Cape Cod also reoriented community concerns about the
location of sewer pumping stations relative to sea level rise and type of operating system. The
Department of Public Works identified the conversion of vacuum systems to low pressure pump
systems or gravity sewer systems in locations less prone to flooding during sea level rise as the
next step to maintain existing systems and expand sewer service.
Non-profit organizations like Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC) partnered with the
Environmental Protection Agency to employ innovative wastewater solutions. Non -traditional
solutions to mitigate excessive nutrients include innovative/alternative septic systems, dredging,
and bog restoration. Eight out of every ten septic systems across the Cape Cod region have
traditional septic systems that treat effluent while allowing nitrogen to leach into the
38 “Barnstable, Massachusetts.” Vineyard Wind. Accessed October 2022.
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groundwater.39 New innovative/alternative (I/A) systems include a denitrification chamber
between septic tanks and leaching that converts nitrates to nitrogen gas for a cleaner effluent in
the leaching process. Projects like the Shubael Pond Project are installing clust ers of I/A systems
to demonstrate nitrogen reduction impacts and adoption potential across municipalities instead of
sewering.40
Another initiative facilitated by non -profits and the Town of Barnstable is the three-phase
dredging project in the Cotuit Cut between Dead Neck and Sampson’s Island. Widening this
waterway aimed to improve navigation, safety, and water quality through enhanced tidal flushing
and dilution of nutrients in the water body.41 The restoration of bogs in the Village of Marstons
Mills also aims to use decrease nutrients in Barnstable ground water, but instead using the
denitrification properties of cranberry plants.42 Rather than carrying excess nitrogen into the
Three Bays, redirected water from the Marstons Mills River and restructured s tream channels
will naturally filter out nutrients through the cranberry plants lifecycle.
Additional efforts by the Town of Barnstable to reduce nitrogen from point source contamination
include a geographic information systems (GIS) tool that analyzes th e water conditions on a lot-
by-lot basis. The tool evaluates sanitary conditions related to public health concerns but can also
be used by the DPW and other municipal departments in the case of water supply protections,
nutrient enrichment concerns, aesthetic issues, and in economic development considerations.43
Multiple potential sources ranging from septic systems to landfills and stormwater will
continually need creative tools to solve.
39 “I/A Septic Systems,” Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, accessed March 2, 2023, https://bcleanwater.org/what-
we-do/mitigate/innovative-alternative-septic-systems/
40“The Shubael Pond Project,” Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, accessed March 2, 2023,
https://bcleanwater.org/what-we-do/mitigate/shubael-pond-project/
41 Dredging Dead Neck Sampson’s Island, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, accessed March 2, 2023,
https://bcleanwater.org/what-we-do/mitigate/dredging/
42 Marstons Mills Cranberry Bog Restoration Project, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, accessed March 2, 2023,
https://bcleanwater.org/what-we-do/mitigate/mm-cranberry-bog-restoration/
43 Barnstable Department of Public Works. Comprehensive Wastewater Management, FY2022 Annual Report.
Prepared for the Town of Barnstable. August 2022.
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Stormwater Management
Overview
The Town of Barnstable considers stormwater management an essential component of its
Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) due to stormwater’s potential impact on
the bays, watersheds, and groundwater. Stormwater includes all precipitation and snowmelt that
runs off surfaces such as roofs, pavement, and even lawns instead of absorbing into soil and
natural groundcover. This runoff picks up sediment, bacteria, fertilizers, oils, pesticides, and
other harmful chemicals from sources including but not limited to pet and wildlife waste, and
often carries them directly into existing drainage infrastructure or surface waters. Untreated
stormwater can lead to water quality, ecosystem, and public health degradation. Stormwater that
is infiltrated without proper pretreatment can also threaten groundwater. Groundwater quality is
a regional concern since Cape Cod has a sole source aquifer. In addition to water quality issues,
stormwater quantity (flooding) is an increasing concern due to our changing climate. More
frequent and larger storms are bringing more rain, wind, and waves that along with rising sea
levels are threatening infrastructure, particularly in coastal areas such as Barnstable. Cape Cod
organizations like the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), Mass Bays Program,
Barnstable County Coastal Resources Committee, and the Cape Cod Commission support
educational programs, new stormwater management systems, and the maintenance of existing
systems alongside municipal efforts.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Stormwater management is an ongoing effort in Barnstable through the assessment and
prioritization of sites to improve operation and maintenance (O&M) of existing systems and
install new green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). GSI uses natural processes to manage
stormwater quality and quantity, providing more resiliency to climate change impacts. GSI
includes a variety of practices to reduce and treat runoff that may range from installing rain
gardens, porous pavement, and constructed wetlands, to reducing impervious cover and installing
cisterns. Research has shown that GSI does a better job of treating and reducing stormwater than
traditional “gray” stormwater infrastructure and also provides other benefits such as shade,
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habitat, and beautification. Recent efforts in the Three Bays Watershed displayed a collaborative
effort between the Town of Barnstable DPW, APCC, private consultant Horsley Witten Group
and various other non-profit environmental advocacy organizations, to install and maintain a
variety of GSI systems.
MS4 Permit
The Barnstable (CWMP) identifies meeting the requirements of the national pollutant discharge
elimination system (NPDES) Phase II 2016 Massachusetts Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4) General Permit as a priority in the recommended 30-year implementation plan.
An MS4 permit from the EPA authorizes a community to discharge stormwater from its MS4
into waterways in accordance with regulations and conditions to protect water quality. An MS4
permit is required for communities with urbanized areas as identified with census data. Figure
4.2 shows that a majority of Barnstable is designated as an urbanized area. As such, Barnstable
has applied for and received an MS4 permit for discharging stormwater from its 207 outfalls into
waterbodies across several villages and watersheds as identified in Table 4.3.44 The Town is
actively working on regulations to assure future stormwater runoff meets and exceeds these
standards.
44 Barnstable Department of Public Works. Comprehensive Wastewater Management, FY2022 Annual Report.
Prepared for the Town of Barnstable. August 2022.
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Figure 4.2. Town of Barnstable NPDES Phase II Stormwater Program Regulated MS4 Areas .
Table 4.3. MS4 Stormwater Outfall Locations
Identified Stormwater Outfalls Watershed Location
59 Stormwater Outfalls Lewis Bay Watershed
15 Stormwater Outfalls Halls Creek Watershed
40 Stormwater Outfalls Centerville Watershed
36 Stormwater Outfalls Three Bays Watershed
1 Stormwater Outfall Popponesset Bay Watershed
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Table 4.3. MS4 Stormwater Outfall Locations
Identified Stormwater Outfalls Watershed Location
54 Stormwater Outfalls Barnstable Harbor Watershed
Source: Barnstable CWMP
Future upgrades to the storm sewer system were appropriated $750,000 annually with the
adoption of the CWMP; this includes the identification and improvements of failed catch basins,
leaching structure replacements, and additional best management practices.45
Existing GSI projects, including the Three Bays Stormwater project, will continu e as Barnstable
prioritizes the mitigation of nutrients, bacteria, and sediment in stormwater runoff. Barnstable
will also continue collaboration with its neighboring communities to address stormwater issues
on a watershed scale. Regional efforts are vital to the Cape Cod community as sea level rises on
an international scale and more intensive weather patterns further impact aspects of the built
environment.
Transportation Network
Overview
Barnstable has facilities for many modes of transportation for res idents and visitors, but mobility
throughout the town is largely car-centric. Automobile traffic may navigate Barnstable by three
east to west roadways: the transcontinental U.S. Route 6, Barnstable's Main Street Route 6A
(also known as Old King’s Highway), or state Route 28 along the southern harbor. These
highways comprise 37 miles under state jurisdiction, followed by 354 miles under Barnstable’s
jurisdiction, and 214 miles of private roads.46 While road jurisdiction determines the institution
45 Ibid.
46 US Federal Highway Administration. Road Function Classifications. November 2000.
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in charge of maintenance and upkeep, road function classification determines design standards
that impact mobility and land access depending on classification type. The main lateral roads in
Barnstable include different types of arterials with multiple lanes and varying speeds connecting
individuals to local roadways.
Figure 4.3. Functional Roadway Classifications.
Table 4.4. Functional Classification of Cape Cod Roadways
Barnstable Roadway Functional Classification
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Table 4.4. Functional Classification of Cape Cod Roadways
Barnstable Roadway Functional Classification
Route 6 Urban Extension of Rural Principal Arterial
Route 6A, Old King's Highway Urban Minor Arterial
Route 28 Urban Extension of Rural Minor Arterial
Source: Cape Cod Commission, Regional Policy Plan, 2002.
Low-lying Roads
Of these 605 miles of roadway, many along the north and south bays become impassable due to
their proximity to water during storm surge, culvert flooding, and sea level rise. The Cape Cod
Commission and the in collaboration with the Town of Barnstable recently conducted a
vulnerability assessment of roadway segments, bridges, and culverts and have identified twenty-
three low-lying roads identified.47 The top five roads identified within Barnstable included
Ocean Street, Pleasant Street, Bridge Street (Osterville and Little Island), West Bay Road and
Craigville Beach Road. Projections ten and forty years in the future show temporary flooding of
low-elevation roads increasing in occurrence and severity. The Town is pragmatic in their
assessment of sea level rise and intense weather patterns; they are actively looking for
adaptations to divert water and keep infrastructure operational.
Congestion & Safety
Barnstable's transportation and traffic trends are distinct due to the town's position as both a
destination and throughway. Seasonal travel trends through the mid-cape region increased
between 2008 and 2018, with 2.70% total growth over the ten-year period, 0.26% annual growth,
47 Cape Cod Commission.2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Technical Appendix G: Congestion Management
Plan. July 15, 2019.
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and a one-year growth rate of 1.26% from 2017-2018.48 Mobile counts through the Cape Cod
Commission show Barnstable consistently supports some of the highest volume-to-capacity
thresholds throughout Cape Cod year-round. Seasonal variability recorded on Route 28 by
monthly remote counts shows traffic volumes are relatively stable throughout the year. Volumes
for vehicles entering at the intersection of Route 28 and Lumbert Mill Road during the winter
months drop as low as 20,000 while the peak summer months climb gradually to 25,000.49
Route 28 is unique because it does not experience two daily travel peaks with morning and
evening commutes. Instead, vehicle traffic peaks with morning commuter travel and remains
constant through a typical evening peak. Intense travel densities span Barnstable by Route 6 ,
Route 149, and Route 28 year-round. In the case of intense congestion, local connector roads
under municipal or private jurisdictions take on additional wear and tear. Town infrastructure
bears a disproportionate impact from automobile travelers and additional hazards with a high
volume of travelers. Seven of the top ten crash locations in the region between 2012 and 2016
were in Barnstable on Route 28, with a total of 552 collisions occurring at those seven
48 Cape Cod Commission.2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Technical Appendix G: Congestion Management
Plan. July 15, 2019.
49 Ibid.
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intersections.50 Intersection and arterial maintenance as a result of increased throughput and
crashes bear an impact on Barnstable resident’s local travel and potentially the appropriation of
their tax funds.
The Barnstable Department of Public Works highway division currently maintains 218.19 miles
of public roads, seventy-four parking lots across town, six bridges, and 4,000 drainage systems
through methods like street sweeping, grading gravel roads, mowing and brush removal on road
shoulders, and litter control.51 Safety infrastructure, including 6,332 guardrails, and signage, is
also managed by DPW. When looking ahead at future capital improvements, this municipal
infrastructure maintenance will cost more than $11.5 million over the next three years, while
improvements are projected to amount to $16 million and pedestrian infrastructure $8 million.
FY2023 FY2024 FY2025
Pedestrian Infrastructure 4,395,000 2,575,000 1,090,000
Maintenance 3,750,000 3,850,000 3,950,000
Improvements 2,478,500 4,537,425 9,205,296
Source: Town of Barnstable FY2021-FY2025 Capital Improvements Plan. 52
Barnstable has a history of permitting private roadways to the extent that almost 50 percent of all
roadways or 200 miles in Barnstable are private. DPW highway division facilitates emergency
repairs, including drainage, through a petition process in which fifty-one percent of abutters
petition for the betterment of a road open to the public for more than five years. The betterment
process includes a deposit by abutters to cover the initial inspection and cost estimates compiled
by the municipal engineer.53 Private roadway maintenance as of the fiscal year 2023 is projected
to cost $975,000 and $375,000 in the fiscal year 2024. This privatization trend challenges long-
term infrastructural upkeep and consistent emergency response throughout town.
50 Cape Cod Commission.2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Technical Appendix G: Congestion Management
Plan. July 15, 2019.
51 “Town Roads,” Town of Barnstable, accessed March 2, 2023,
https://town.barnstable.ma.us/Departments/Highway/pageview.asp?file=Programs%5CTown -
Roads.html&title=Town%20Roads&exp=Programs
52 “FY 2021 Capital Budget and FY 2021 - FY 2025 Capital Improvements Plan,” accessed March 2, 2023,
https://town.barnstable.ma.us/Departments/Finance/Budget_Information/FY21 -Capital-Improvements-Plan.pdf
53 Town of Barnstable Zoning Bylaw: Article III "Temporary Repairs on Private Ways"
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Transit
Individuals looking for access throughout Barnstable and the region without automobiles can
turn to public transportation as an alternative. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
(CCRTA) and Barnstable Council on Aging fulfill the mobility needs of many individuals.
CCRTA service includes six full-time and seasonal bus routes, Dial-a-ride services, Smart
DART connector, and seasonal train service. Bus passengers may also elect to bring a standard
two-wheel bicycle on fixed route frontal bike racks. Year-round bus service routes and
connectivity are included in Table 4.5.
Table 4.5. Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Fixed Routes
Route Name Connection Route
Sealine HTC to Woods Hole Route 28 & Woods Hole Rd.
H20 Hyannis Hyannis to Orleans Center Route 28 & Route 39
Barnstable Villager HTC to Barnstable Courthouse Route 132 & Route 6A
Hyannis Crosstown Local Shopping in Hyannis
Sandwich Line Hyannis to Sandwich Route 28 & Route 130
Source: Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
Alternative CCRTA services include DART, a door-to-door ride by appointment service for all
residents and visitors seven days a week for a fixed fare.54 Smart DART is a new service that
operates like Uber and Lyft; riders may request fixed fare, private rides with free transfers to
54 Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority: “Overview, DART: Dial-A-Ride Transportation.” Cape Cod Regional
Transit Authority. Accessed October 2022
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CCRTA bus routes between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm Monday through Friday.55 Additional ADA
Paratransit service aims to close any accessibility gaps in service through their door-to-door
shared-ride service for those unable to use fixed bus routes.56
Elderly individuals in the community may choose to use CCRTA services to navigate medical
appointments, banking, or grocery shopping through the Council on Aging’s Silver Express.57
Fares on the Silver Express are suggested donations, and a Title IIIB grant subsidizes the service,
allowing users to ride who would otherwise be unable to pay. CCRTA offers additional
transportation for appointments at all major Boston-area Hospitals by reservation Monday
through Thursday from the Barnstable commuter lot on Route 132.58 Fixed bus routes run along
the main roads laterally through Barnstable, but still additional services are necessary to meet t he
more complex needs of the suburban villages. Routes like the Sealine, Sandwich line, and
Barnstable line serve arterial roads including Route 28 and Route 132, but leave the village of
West Barnstable, Barnstable, and Cotuit underserved with few regular bus stops aside from those
connecting Cape Cod Community College.
Alternative Transportation & Modes (Trains, Ferries, Airport)
Alternative, private transportation based in Barnstable includes a variety of options. The
Plymouth and Brockton bus line and Peter Plan bus line connects individuals in Barnstable
through services out of the Hyannis Transportation Center and public Park & Ride lots and
Boston, with stops at South Station and Logan Airport.59 Seasonal Cape-Flyer rail service allows
visitors from Boston and southeastern Massachusetts to avoid automobile congestion on
55 Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority: “Smart DART.” Cape Cod R egional Transit Authority. Accessed October
2022
56 Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority: “ADA Paratransit, Door-To-Door Service.” Cape Cod Regional Transit
Authority. Accessed October 2022
57 “Transportation.” Barnstable Council on Aging. Accessed October 2022.
58 Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority: “Boston Hospital, The Cape to Boston Hospitals.” Cape Cod Regional
Transit Authority. Accessed October 2022
59 “Plymouth and Brockton Daily Bus Routes.” Plymouth & Brockton. Accessed October 2022.
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weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Service extends as far north as South Station
in Boston and as west as Middleborough, offering free wireless internet and bicycle passage.60
Individuals may also leave Barnstable Hyannis bound for Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard on
Steamship Authority ferries and Hy-line Cruises licensed as a subsidiary of the Steamship
Authority. As the dominant mode of travel to the islands, the Steamship Authority offers both
high-speed and traditional services to Nantucket from Barnstable Hyannis Harbor with the
opportunity to reserve passage for vehicles. Hy-line Cruises offer high-speed passenger trips with
year-round passage to Nantucket, seasonal travel to Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard between
May and October, and recreational charter boats. Ferry service from Barnstable Harbor provides
convenient service for Barnstable residents. Still, it poses challenges to Hyannis congestion and
development due to the prioritization of through traffic and parking near Main Street Hyannis.
Travelers also elect to travel through the Cape Cod Gateway Airport, previously known as the
Barnstable Municipal Airport. It is one of two publicly owned active airfields in the Town of
Barnstable. Home to Cape Air and Southern Airways Express, there are daily flights to Boston,
New York, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard during the summer season. Additional
60 Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority: “CapeFLYER Schedules & Services.” Cape Cod Regional Transit
Authority. Accessed October 2022. https://capecodrta.org/schedules-services/capeflyer/
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destinations are accessible through the Cape Cod Gateway Airport through private partnerships
with JetBlue and other affiliated airlines.61 Recent trends show that despite the express service
offered between Cape Cod and Nantucket, the accessibility, frequency, and lower price point of
regular ferry travel is difficult competition.62 Despite the recuperation of airlines in the late
stages of the Coronavirus pandemic, corporate aviation including private flights and the
shipment of goods is more viable than commercial flights in and out of the Barnstable
community.63 Individuals seeking a getaway to the Cape have multiple options to get to
Barnstable, but the challenge of navigating the area without a car encourages many to drive to
the region.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Infrastructure
As of January 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) named the
Town of Barnstable a Complete Streets community. Barnstable sought the Complete Streets
designation to improve the experience of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The Town may
obtain up to $500,000 in MassDOT funding assistance to complete multi-modal projects that
improve safety and mobility. Current Complete Streets initiatives focus on extending and
improving the 101.7 miles of sidewalk across the seven villages to ensure ADA compliance and
pedestrian safety.64
61 “About the Airport.” Cape Cod Gateway Airport. Accessed October 2022. https://flyhya.com/airport -info/about-
the-airport/
62 Transportation: Katie Servis, Airport Manager, Cape Cod Gateway Airport
63 Ibid.
64 Cape Cod Commission: “Town of Barnstable, Local Comprehensive Plan: Map & Data Viewer.”Cape Cod
Commission.ArcGIS Web App Viewer.Accessed October 2022.
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Barnstable has limited protected infrastructure for cyclists. There are 11 miles of existing
pathways with a proposed additional 11.4 miles, along with efforts to extend the Cape Cod Rail
Trail through Yarmouth into Barnstable, expected to commence construction in 2024.65 There
are currently and 0.7 miles of existing, on -street bicycle lanes with consideration of an additional
bike lanes suggested through Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.66 Figure 4.4 shows the
proposed extension of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
Efforts are currently being coordinated to extend the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT) through the
Town of Barnstable to the Sandwich town line. The CCRT will be achieved through two phases,
Phase 3 and Phase 4, as shown on Figure 4.4A and Figure 4.4B. Phase 3 is anticipated to
commence construction in 2024 and will extend from the current trail in Yarmouth from Old
Town House Road to Mary Dunn Road in Barnstable. The trail will compose a distance of
approximately 4 miles to be installed within the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area. The
Town is currently seeking grant funds to design Phase 4 which will extend the trail from Mary
Dunn Road to Route 132. Based on an engineering study and public input, the Phase 4 trail route
is proposed to follow the path shown on Figure 4.4B to compose a distance of approximately 10
miles.67
65 Cape Cod Commission: “Town of Barnstable, Local Comprehensive Plan: Map & Data Viewer”, Cape Cod
Commission.ArcGIS Web App Viewer.Accessed October 2022.
66 Ibid.
67 “Cape Cod Rail Trail.” Town of Barnstable, Department of Public Works. Accessed October 2022June 2023
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Figure 4.4.A Cape Cod Rail Trail Phase 3 Barnstable Extension.
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Figure 4.4.B Cape Cod Rail Trail Phase 4 Barnstable Extension.
A lack of protected bicycle infrastructure often deters less experienced cyclists. West Barnstable
and Barnstable village attract recreational riders with various mountain biking trails and routes
across Cape Cod, but the trails do not facilitate connections throughout town or welcome casual
riders. Between 2010 and 2020, Barnstable saw a total of 6,783 vehicle crashes, with 281 bike
related collisions and 278 involving pedestrians.68 While these represent relatively few
collisions, cyclist infrastructure and education initiatives on sharing the road can increase safety
throughout the community.
Public Services & Utilities
Overview
Within the Town of Barnstable, public services and utilities are provided for people who live and
work in Town as well as it’s many visitors. Those services include schools, libraries, police, and
solid waste disposal and the utilities include household utilities such as electricity, natural gas,
heating oil, propane, telecommunication, and internet. Residents have a variety of choices
including an increasing number of environmentally friendly options.
68 Massachusetts Department of Transportation. “Operations Dashboard, Statewide Crashes by Severity and Year.”
Accessed October 2022.
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Public Schools
The Barnstable Public School District operates a local preK-12 school system with nine school
facilities. As of the 2022-2023 school year, the district educated 4,838 students. The student
body is comprised of a diverse population and educates many students recognized by the State of
Massachusetts as “selected populations” or those who may need additional educational support.69
Table 4.6 lists the public schools in the Town of Barnstable.
Table 4.6. Barnstable Public Schools
School Grades Location
Barnstable High School 8 - 12 Hyannis
Barnstable Intermediate School 6 - 7 Hyannis
Barnstable United Elementary 3 - 5 Osterville
Barnstable West Barnstable Elementary K - 3 West Barnstable
Barnstable Community Innovation School K - 3 Hyannis
Hyannis West Elementary K - 3 Hyannis
Centerville Elementary K - 3 Centerville
West Villages Elementary K - 3 Marstons Mills
Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center - Preschool Pre-K Ages 3 - 5 Hyannis
Source: Barnstable Public Schools
69 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), “School and District Profiles”,
Barnstable, Accessed January 2023.
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Support programs help a range of students including those for whom English is a second
language (ESL), English learners, students with disabilities to students with high needs due to
socioeconomic backgrounds or those deemed low-income. In addition to support programs for
higher-need students, the district maintains a low teacher -to-student ratio of 11.6 students per
teacher and focuses on educating the whole child through social emotional learning
opportunities.70 Figure 4.5 shows the percentage of selected populations in the Barnstable
School District.
Figure 4.5. Barnstable School District Selected Populations.
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) shows Barnstable students’
performance is “partially meeting expectations” in 2022 achievements.
Barnstable Public Schools have a strong foundation and leadership that plans to continue its
dedication to future generations. The Town welcomed a new Superintendent, Sarah Ahern, in
2022. Her early efforts include development of an entry plan focused on building relationships
to identify the district’s strengths and opportunities and collaborative development a multi-year
Strategy for District Improvement. Initial findings reflect the District’s diversity, dedicated staff
and faculty, and breadth of opportunities afforded to students as strengths. The regional high
cost of living and housing are recognized by the District as challenges in developing a recruiting
70 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), “School and District Profiles”,
Barnstable, Accessed January 2023.
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talent. After a District facility consolidation effort that closed three elementary schools in the
2000’s the District is faced with mounting space constraints and questions about long-term
enrollment trends. Further challenges include a portfolio of aging buildings, concerns about
adequacy of spaces and educational equity, as well as ongoing concerns about having two, two
grade schools (4-5, 6-7) and Grade 8 at the high school.
The region’s network of public and private schools also supplements the diverse needs with
school choice so Barnstable residents may elect to send their student out of district, to charter
schools, private institutions, or the regional technical high school. While not located within
Barnstable, Cape Cod Regional Technical School in nearby Harwich offers programs in trades
such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, horticulture, auto tech and collision repairs,
marine services, culinary arts, cosmetology, health tech, dental assisting, information technology,
graphic design, and others. Through these designated career pathways, students can earn OSHA
10-hour cards or state-level certifications and help students launch their career.
Higher education opportunities are also available in Barnstable and surrounding areas through
Cape Cod Community College located in West Barnstable through a variety of Associate’s
degree programs and the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School’s adult programming, with
the Community School. The Community School offers short-term courses in career-focused and
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enrichment areas like cosmetology, HVAC technology, bicycle repair, and even sewing. These
resources actively help individuals enhance technical skills, achieve career goals, and meet the
needs of the everchanging regional economy.
Libraries
The Town of Barnstable is home to seven independent libraries (listed in Table 4.7); with one
private, non-profit organization contracted with the town in each village to provide library
services to residents. Each institution has its own staff and board of trustees. The Town has
traditionally provided funding to each library in the form of grants for a portion of the libraries’
total operating funds.
Table 4.7. Libraries in Barnstable
Library Village
The Sturgis Library Barnstable
Centerville Public Library Centerville
Cotuit Library Cotuit
Hyannis Public Library Hyannis
Marstons Mills Library Marstons Mills
Osterville Village Library Osterville
Whelden Library West Barnstable
Source: Town of Barnstable
Each library varies in size, operating hours, and collections, but their resources ultimately
support the continued education of Barnstable residents and provide a space to exchange
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knowledge. While each mission is slightly different, each library is devoted to fostering civic,
intellectual, and cultural pursuits, curiosity, and literacy at all ages. They support the community
through abundant in-person and remote opportunities.
Among adult and youth programming, Barnstable’s libraries offer research resources like
computers, databases, catalogs, access to ebooks and audiobooks, museum passes, language
resources, and technological assistance, to name a few. The Barnstable public library network is
an asset to the community that provides opportunities for lifelong learning.
Public Safety
The Barnstable Police Department is currently led by Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend with close to
150 staff members including sworn in officers, civilians, and dispatchers with the mission to
protect the lives, property, and rights of citizens through proactive strategies. The department
faces seasonal fluctuations in community needs with an influx of tourists and seasonal
populations. As the dispatcher for police and fire calls, they are one of the busiest dispatch
centers in the State of Massachusetts.71 Aside from patrol and responding to emergencies, the
Barnstable Police have specialized resources and units to meet the needs of the community. Two
71 Public Services: Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend, Barnstable Police.
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canines comprise their K-9 detection unit focused on patrol and narcotics detection and help the
wider Cape Cod Community without canine resources.
Additional specialized programs include school resource officers, an emergency notification
system, college internship programs, and community resource officers that patrol Hyannis Main
Street as liaisons between sworn personnel, businesses, and tourists. There are clinicians on staff
designated to aid officers to mitigate community impact as the medical health hub of the region.
The Community resource program was extended as of 2022 as a year-round program.72
The Barnstable Police continue to advance their response techniques and technology to reflect
the needs of their community; still, challenges with new technology include long-term data
storage, licensing fees, and equipment maintenance are an obstacle to these efforts. Challenges
across the department include difficulty hiring and outgrowing their physical space. While the
headquarters in Hyannis are in good condition, the staff have outgrown existing office spaces
and now employ cubicles and village substations in Barnstable and Hyannis to supplement
facility needs. There will be more implications for these spaces once the department reaches full
capacity after surmounting challenges to hire officers with previous technical experience.
72 Public Services: Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend, Barnstable Police.
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Fire & Emergency Services
Fire and emergency medical services align under the same districts as drinking water. The
Hyannis Fire District was the first department formed in 1896 after Town Meeting rejected
petitions to create a town-wide fire department due to Barnstable’s size and number of villages.
In 1926, residents of Barnstable Village, Cotuit, and Centerville and Osterville together
petitioned the state legislature to establish three additional fire districts. The enabling legislation
for these districts provided for many powers, including village-level taxation.73 The Barnstable
Fire District in Barnstable Village, for example, allowed the village to fund and install
streetlights. However, it didn’t offer organized fire protection until 1935, following two 1934
fires that prompted the Barnstable Fire District to create and combine water and fire departments
that shared infrastructure.74 In 1949, the West Barnstable Fire District became Barnstable’s fifth
fire district with a majority volunteer base. Marstons Mills joined the Centerville-Osterville
district in 1956 to form the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills (C.O.M.M.) Fire District.
73 1926 Massachusetts House Bill 1433. An Act To Establish The Cotuit Fire District In The Town Of Barnstable.
74 Chief Francis M. Pulsifer, Organizational Analysis – 2019, Barnstable Fire Department, 2019, p 3-4.
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Solid Waste
Solid waste disposal in Barnstable is facilitated through a town -wide Solid Waste Disposal
Facility and a transfer station for households and independent commercial trash haulers. The
Solid Waste Disposal Facility located in Marstons Mills is overseen by the Department of Public
Works; it is specifically for solid waste generated within the town of Barnstable. Households
may purchase up to two transfer station stickers for weekly household waste and recycling, with
accommodations for households experiencing financial hardship.
Hazardous waste pickup is also available on multiple occasions throughout the spring, summer,
and fall at the Marstons Mills for households and local businesses.
Private Utilities
Households and businesses across Barnstable have a diverse set of needs, requiring a variety of
utilities. Eversource provides electricity throughout the town of Barnstable. Residents may
participate in renewable energy programs with Cape Light Compact, including no -cost energy
assessments for Eversource customers seeking more sustainable energy consumption. Cape Light
Compact supports the modernization of the current, single-source power grid which relies on
power plants.75 The expansion into microgrid systems diversifies energy sources to include
multiple renewable power sources to meet communities' needs and support environmental
options for businesses. Aside from electricity, households may differ in their utility needs such as
gas, heating oil, or propane due to internal heat or water systems. National Grid is Cape Cod’s
natural gas provider.
Additional utilities in Barnstable, such as wireless internet and other telecommunication services
for residential and business needs, are available through a larger market. Barnstable residents and
businesses may purchase wireless internet, cable, or telecom through various providers,
including Comcast, Verizon, HughesNet, Viasat, Ultra Home Internet, and T -Mobile Home
Internet. Comcast remains the most pervasive vendor for these needs, with the highest internet
speeds available. The Town could benefit from additional carriers. Fiber optic through Open
75 “2015 Grid Modernization.” Cape Light Compact. Accessed October 2022.
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Cape continues to expand infrastructure improvements throughout the region to homes and
businesses. Wireless internet service is available through a cable connection, satellite, and even
5G LTE. An overlapping list of companies also offers mobile telephone services in the region
with the addition of AT&T Wireless.
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5. Community Systems
Barnstable’s community systems include its cultural and historic resources, economic activity,
housing, and — most importantly — its people. Together these resources foster Barnstable’s
local identity while enhancing the community networks that serve and support those who live in,
work, and visit Barnstable. Healthy, sustainable community systems depend on the thoughtful
integration of built systems with the protection of natural systems.
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Cultural Heritage
Overview
Barnstable’s natural landscapes and built environment reflect its rich heritage. Many historic
buildings, structures, cemeteries, homesteads, and streetscapes within town represent community
assets that tell Barnstable’s story and create a strong sense of place. The Town’s cultural
resources, including two cultural districts, celebrate and enhance the Town’s vibrant arts scene,
maritime traditions, and historic assets.
Barnstable is comprised of seven villages each with their own history, identity, and character,
and each with a village center with its own unique historic and cultural assets. Barnstable
Village, which also includes the Cummaquid neighborhood, is characterized by its intact historic
resources and scenic roads, an active harbor and ways to water on the sheltered waters of
Barnstable Harbor, and the County seat. Centerville is a year-round community with popular
beaches on Nantucket Sound, beautiful historic neighborhoods, the third largest freshwater lake
in the region, and convenience shopping areas on Route 28. Cotuit, surrounded on three sides by
water, is a residential village with valued open spaces and historic buildings, and a commercial
area on Route 28. Hyannis, which also includes the Hyannis Port and West Hyannisport
neighborhoods, is the economic center of the region, defined by the presence of the regional
commercial center and a historic Main Street and working waterfront. Marstons Mills has a rural
village character dotted with cranberry bogs, freshwater ponds, and preserved open spaces.
Osterville is an attractive seaside residential community with a quaint and valued village center.
West Barnstable is home to the Great Marshes and Sandy Neck, historic resources along Route
6A, and a rural character.
Village Organizations
Each of Barnstable’s villages is represented by voluntary membership organizations that work
with Town officials on local projects, advocate for the unique needs of their village, host events
and resident meetings, produce educational materials, and more. These organizations include the
Barnstable Village Association, West Barnstable Civic Association , Centerville Civic
Association, Marstons Mills Village Association, Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association, Osterville
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Village Association, Osterville Village and Professional Association, Greater Hyannis Civic
Association, and Hyannis Port Civic Association.
Cultural Resources
Strong cultural sectors attract residents, tourists, businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs while
defining the community’s distinctive atmosphere. Barnstable promotes its cultural resources
through its Arts Barnstable program, a Town-sponsored directory of events, places to visit, and
resources for artists. Figure 5.1 shows a Town-wide map of cultural attractions, including
Barnstable’s cultural districts in Barnstable Village and Hyannis.
Figure 5.1. ArtsBarnstable Town-wide Map of Cultural Resources
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What are Cultural Districts?
A cultural district designated under M.G.L.
Chapter 10 § 58A acts as a hub of cultural,
artistic, and economic activity within a
community. Cultural districts are typically
easily navigable, compact areas that include
a concentration of cultural facilities ,
activities, and other resources. This
designation is awarded by the Mass Cultural
Council and serves to drive economic
growth; support arts, humanities, and
science organizations; and cultivate a local
sense of identity and character.
Sources – M.G.L. Chapter 10 § 58A
and Mass Cultural Council
massculturalcouncil.org/communities/cultural-districts
Cultural Districts
Barnstable has two established cultural
districts - the Barnstable Village Cultural
District and the Hyannis HyArts Cultural
District. Established cultural districts can
pursue a variety of resources, including
marketing opportunities and Mass Cultural
Council programs to develop cultural
economic development strategies, cultural
facilities planning and construction, and
more.
HyArts Cultural District
The first state-designated cultural district on
Cape Cod, the HyArts Cultural District in
Hyannis provides arts and cultural
experiences, outdoor activities, shopping, and
dining. Sites include the JFK Hyannis Museum,
Kennedy Legacy Trail, Cape Cod Maritim e
Museum, Mass Air and Space Museum, and the
Zion Union Heritage Museum. While unique
shops, boutiques, and galleries are available
year-round within the district, seasonal
opportunities to enjoy the arts include free
outdoor concerts and “Artist Shanties” where
local artisans sell hand-made or crafted work
(Figure 5.2).76
76 ArtsBarnstable, “Hyannis HyArts Cultural District.” Accessed February 2023 at
https://artsbarnstable.com/destinations/hyarts-district/
Figure 5.2. Artist Shanties, Hyannis
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Barnstable Village Cultural District
Located on the north side of
Barnstable, this cultural
district includes historical
buildings, restaurants, locally-
owned shops, artist studios
and galleries, and musical and
theater groups. The district
borders Barnstable Harbor,
where visitors can learn about
the working waterfront, enjoy
scenic views of Sandy Neck
Beach and Sandy Neck
Lighthouse, or partake in a
variety of educational tours.
The district also includes the U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Museum, the oldest wooden jail in the
United States (the “Old Jail,” Figure 5.3), and the Sturgis Library, the oldest library building in
the United States.77
Mid-Cape Cultural Council
The Mid-Cape Cultural Council is an affiliate of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and awards
grants to support community-based cultural proposals within the Towns of Barnstable and
Yarmouth. The Council particularly encourages “community programs that build awareness of
local heritage, multi-cultural awareness, natural resources or arts [e.g., public art, festivals or
concerts]” that fulfill a cultural need of the Mid-Cape region. In FY2023, the Mid-Cape Cultural
Council awarded over $27,000 to thirty-one projects, with grants ranging from $360 to $1,500. 78
77Mass Cultural Commission, “Barnstable Village Cultural District.” Accessed February 2023 at
https://massculturalcouncil.org/communities/cultural-districts/designated-cultural-districts/
78 Massachusetts Cultural Council. “Mid-Cape Cultural Council.” Accessed February 2023 at
https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/mid-cape/
Figure 5.3. The Old Jail, Barnstable Village
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Historic Resources
Barnstable has submitted documentation for over 2,400 properties to the Massachusetts
Historical Commission’s Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). These resources
date from 1644 to 1995 and include 2,249 buildings, 92 objects, 34 structures, 59 areas, and 18
burial grounds. Maps 5.1 and 5.2 show the distribution of these resources by type and area
throughout the Town. In addition to these identified resources, according to the 2010 LCP, there
are over 40 known sites of indigenous settlement activity that have archaeological value, and 70
recorded 18th- and 19th-century historic archaeological sites within Barnstable. As of May 2023,
the Inventory of Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth defines that there are 99 ancient to
early historical period (Paleoindian period through the early 17th century) archaeological sites in
Barnstable and 73 historical period (17th through 20th century) archaeological sites. 79
National Designations
National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are nationally significant historic places designated by the
Secretary of the Interior that illustrate the heritage of the United States. Approximately 2,600
historic places in the United States have been honored with this distinction and include historic
buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. The Kennedy Compound on Irving and
Marchant Avenues received NHL designation in 1972 and represents one of two NHLs on Cape
Cod.80
The National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is the official national list of
historic places deemed worthy of preservation. Categories of properties include buildings,
districts, sites, structures, or objects, and places. Listed places must meet criteria relating to age,
structural integrity, and historical significance at the local, state, or national level. The Cape Cod
Commission reviews significant changes to, or the demolition of, buildings listed on the National
Register, as well as buildings located within a National Register District. Barnstable has fourteen
National Register Districts within its borders, as well as 63 buildings, three objects, and two sites
79 Town of Barnstable, 2010 Local Comprehensive Plan, Section 6, “Heritage Preservation,” p.1. Massachusetts
Historical Commission May 26, 2023
80 The Louis Brandeis House in Chatham is the one other NHL on Cape Cod. National Park Service, “List of NHLs
by State.” Accessed March 2023 at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks/list -of-nhls-by-
state.htm#onthisPage-21
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that are individually listed in the National Register. Map 5.3 displays National Register listings
across the Cape and shows that Barnstable’s listings far surpass other Cape communities,
accounting for 40 percent of listings in the County. These listings include the portion of Old
King’s Highway/Route 6A that runs through Barnstable, which was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 1987. While the Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District
was enacted in 1974, this historic byway covering 34 miles from Sandwich to Orleans received
National Scenic Byway status from the U.S Department of Transportation in 2021.81
Local/Regional Historic Districts
Barnstable has two historic districts - the Old King's Highway Regional Historic District, which
includes all land north of Route 6A, and the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District.
Historic District Commissions review project applications relating to construction, demolition,
movement, or alteration of external architectural features.
The Old King's Highway Regional Historic District is the largest historic district in the nation ,
running from Sandwich to Orleans. Each Town within the district has their own Historic District
Committee. In Barnstable, the Old King's Highway Historic District Committee (OKH
Committee) serves this role and reviews applications for any change in the exterior of buildings
and structures, fences and signs, and applications for new construction or demolition within the
district. The Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District was created in 1996 as part of
ongoing efforts to address revitalization and historic preservation in downtown Hyannis. Like the
OKH Committee, the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission (HHDC) is
responsible for reviewing applications for new construction, demolition, and changes to the
exterior of buildings, structures, or settings within the district, and strives “to create a desirable
place to live, work and enjoy through the preservation, maintenance and improvement of historic
vernacular.”82
81 Cape Cod Commission, “Old King’s Highway Achieves National Scenic Byway Status,” February 22, 2021.
Accessed February 2023 at https://www.capecodcommission.org/about-us/newsroom/old-kings-highway-achieves-
national-scenic-byway-status/
82 Town of Barnstable, “Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission.” Accessed February 2023 at
https://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/HyannisMainStreet/default.asp?brd=Hyannis+Main+Street+
Waterfront+Historic+District+Commission&brdid=13&year=2023
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Barnstable Historical Commission
Local historical commissions (LHCs) established under M.G.L. Chapter 40, § 8D are the official
municipal agency responsible for historic preservation planning within the community.
Established in 1967, the Barnstable Historical Commission (BHC) assists the Town in preserving
and protecting historical buildings and settings throughout Barnstable. The BHC focuses on
educating the public about town history, inventories historic properties, serves an advisory role
to the Town Council regarding municipal policies affecting the town’s historic resources, and is
responsible for oversight of the Town’s Protection of Historic Properties Ordinance, described
below.
Since 2010 there have been 177 Demolition Applications approved collectively by the Old
King’s Highway Historic District Committee, Hyannis Main Street and Waterfront Historic
District Commission and the Barnstable Historical Commission as further defined within Table
X.X below.
Table X.X. Approved Demolition Applications
Year Barnstable
Historical
Commission
Old King’s Highway
Historic
District Committee
Hyannis Main Street and
Waterfront
Historic District Commission
Total
2022 9 3 1 13
2021 11 8 0 19
2020 5 9 0 14
2019 6 15 0 21
2018 5 3 0 8
2017 9 15 2 26
2016 4 5 1 10
2015 11 1 0 12
2014 7 5 0 12
2013 3 6 1 10
2012 1 8 2 11
2011 3 5 3 11
2010 0 8 2 10
Total 177
Formatted Table
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Historical Societies
Historical Societies are private, non-profit organizations that preserve a community’s historical
collections and records. Historical societies often operate local museums and undertake
educational programming. All of Barnstable’s villages have historical societies , and the Cotuit,
Barnstable, Centerville, and Osterville Historical Societies all operate museums from notable
historic buildings. The Barnstable Historical Society, founded in 1939 to represent all of the
Town’s seven villages, is located in the historic Phinney-Jones House on Main Street across
from the Sturgis Library. The Society’s collection is showcased in nine exhibit rooms and
focuses on the maritime and cultural history of the Town from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Protection of Historic Resources
Regulatory & Policy Protections
Article I of the Town’s Historic Properties Ordinance, Protection of Historic Properties, impo ses
a demolition delay of 18 months for “preferably preserved significant buildings.” This
designation applies to buildings outside of the Town’s two local historic districts but which: are
listed or in a pending application for listing on the National Register of Historic Places; are listed
on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places ; or are over 75 years of age and determined by
the LHC to be historically or architecturally important. This ordinance was recently amended in
2017 to increase the duration of the imposed delay from six months to 18 months.
Other regulatory or policy protections for historic resources include:
The Town’s local Wetlands Protection Ordinance requires identification of historic
resources located within the affected resource area.
The Town adopted a Scenic Roads Ordinance in 1983 and has sixty-two local roads
subject to the ordinance. This designation requires P lanning Board approval of alteration
or removal of stone walls and the cutting or removal of trees located within the public
right-of-way in accordance with defined thresholds. Roads receive this designation by
Town Council vote.
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Community Preservation Act
M.G.L. Chapter 44B, “Community Preservation,” was signed into law in 2000, granting
communities the right to raise local property taxes to fund land conservation, historic
preservation, and affordable housing efforts. The law also provides significant matching
funds to participating communities. Barnstable adopted CPA in 2005 and has allocated
over $31.3M in CPA funds from 2006-2021. Project applications are reviewed by the
Town’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC), which then makes
recommendations to the Town Manager and Town Council.
The Town’s Site Plan Review process requires information on historic resources in the
development parcel.
To encourage the preservation of larger, older homes, the Town’s zoning ordinance
allows the conversion of single-family homes to bed and breakfast establishments by
special permit within several of the Town’s residentially zoned districts .
In January 2022, the Town was recognized as a Complete Streets community with an
approved Complete Streets Policy that incorporates mindful consideration for
prioritization of character and scenic roads.
Planning Efforts
The Town’s most recent Historic Preservation Plan was completed in 2010 as an update to
previous efforts in 1990 and 1985. The Barnstable Historical Commission commissioned the
plan, along with a historic resource inventory of all historic structures within the Hyannis Main
Street Waterfront Historic District and the Growth Incentive Zo ne. The Historic Preservation
Plan includes recommendations relating to education and advocacy, regulatory protections for
historic resources, and municipal policy and management.
Funding for Historic Preservation
Between 2006 and 2021, the Town appropriated $11.4M in Community Preservation Act (CPA)
funds toward sixty-seven historic preservation projects. Historic preservation represents the most
funded CPA project type in Barnstable, with 36 percent of appropriated CPA funds from 2006-
2021 going toward this activity compared to 29 percent for open space preservation, 24 percent
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for community housing, and 11 percent for recreation.83 In addition, the Town received grants
through the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund
(MPPF), which was established in 1984 as a 50 percent reimbursable matching grant to support
the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in the National Register of Historic
Places. Barnstable MPPF-supported projects include the Unitarian Church, Olde Colonial
Courthouse, US Custom House and Carriage House, and Barnstable Customs House.
People
Overview
Barnstable is a growing community: it has seen population increases reported in all but one of
the last ten decennial Census counts. Most of this growth occurred between 1960 and 2000,
particularly the 1970s and 1980s where the population grew by over 10,000 in each decade .84 As
Barnstable continues to grow and welcome new residents, the Town has also become more
racially and ethnically diverse. In Downtown Hyannis, 48 percent of the population belongs to a
racial or ethnic minority as of the 2020 Census compared to 28 percent in 2010.85 The overall
concentration of minority populations has not shifted as much, with 41 percent of the Town’s
minority population living in Downtown Hyannis as of 2020 compared to 43 percent in 2010.
Town-wide, there has been a similar increase in diversity, with 24 percent of the Town’s total
population belonging to a racial or ethnic minority in 2020, nearly doubling from 13 percent in
2010. 86
83 Town of Barnstable Community Preservation Committee, “All Community Preservation Fund Appropriations by
Town Council Order Through 6/30/21 – DRAFT.” Accessed January 2023 at
https://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/BoardsCommittees/CommunityPreservation/CPC_Plan/All-CPA-
Appropriations-to-6-30-2021.pdf?tm=3/7/2023%208:09:27%20AM
84 US Census Bureau, Decennial Census, 1930-2020, via Massachusetts State Data Center/Donahue Institute, UMass
President's Office.
85 Census block groups used to define Hyannis/Downtown Hyannis in this section align with the Town’s
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA), designated under the Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) program. The NRSA includes Census Tract 152.02, Block Groups 2, 3, and 4; Census Tract 12 6.02, Block
Groups 2, 3, and 4, and Census Tract 153, Block Groups 2 and 3.
86 US Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2010 and 2020, via Social Explorer.
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Under 18
18%
18 to 24
7%
25 to 34
11%
35 to 44
11% 45 to 54
13%
55 to 64
17%
65 to 74
14%
75 to 84
6%
85+
3%
Figure 5.4. Barnstable's Age Composition
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B01001
Population and Household Sizes
Despite a population decrease of 5.5 percent between 2000 and 2010, the 2020 Census indicates
that Barnstable’s population has rebounded and once again exceeds the 2000 population. The
2020 Census reported a population of 48,916. The Town is Barnstable County’s seat and most
populous town, accounting for 21.4 percent of the total county population. The number of
households counted in Barnstable in 2020 also represents an all-time high at 20,613 households,
which is a 7.2 percent increase from Census 2010 counts and 5.0 percent increase from Census
2000 counts.87 The 2020 Census showed modest growth in household size, with an estimated
average 2.34 people per household up from 2.33 in 2010. The estimated average household size
for Barnstable County 2.17, and of all the Cape Cod communities, only Sandwich has larger
average household sizes than Barnstable.88
Population Age
Larger household sizes often
indicate larger proportions of
children in a community, and in
Barnstable’s case, this seems to
be true. Higher than the county
average of 14.3 percent, 16.5
percent of Barnstable’s
population is under 18, and only
Sandwich has a larger share of
87 US Census Bureau, Decennial Census 2000-2020, via Social Explorer.
88 At the time of this LCP draft, the complete 2020 Decennial Census was not released in its entirety. The
Demographic and Housing Characteristics File is expected to be released May 2023 and will include official average
household size. For purposes of this estimate based on Census 2020, the Group Quarters population (651 for
Barnstable and 4,423 for Barnstable County) has been subtracted from the Total Population (48,916 for Barnstable
and 228,996 for Barnstable County), with the result divided by the number of Occupied Housing Units (20,613 f or
Barnstable and 103,368 for Barnstable County).
Comment [KM7]: The Sub-Committee requested
defining how many vacationers visit Barnstable.
Staff has reached out the Cape Cod Chamber and the
Cape Cod Commission to confirm if any data exists.
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children (18.4 percent). Figure 5.4 shows age composition among Barnstable residents, where
the largest age groups are 55 to 64 and under 18.89 Between 2010 and 2020, the under-18
population dropped by 2.4 percent (198 children) in Barnstable and 12.2 percent (4,537 children)
across the county. While two communities had small gains in under-18 population (Eastham and
Wellfleet), every other Cape community had losses in this age group. Table 5.1 shows that by
comparison, Barnstable’s loss of population in this age group was relatively smal l. Enrollment in
the Barnstable school district reached a ten-year high in the 2019-2020 school year with 5,041
students, and then dropped 6.5 percent the following year. The effect of the COVID-19
pandemic on school enrollment is unclear, but all but one of the elementary schools saw
proportionally larger losses in student populations than the Intermediate and High Schools.90
Map 5.4 displays the concentration of households with children under 18 and shows that Hyannis
has the highest percentage of households with children throughout Barnstable.
Table 5.1. Under-18 Population on Cape Cod in 2010 and 2020
2010 2020 Comparison 2010 to 2020 Under 18 All Ages Under 18 / Total Under 18 All Ages Under 18 / Total Difference under 18 Difference All Ages % Change under 18 % Change All Ages Barnstable
County 37,249 215,887 17.3% 32,712 228,996 14.3% -4,537 13,109 -12.2% 6.1%
Barnstable 8,284 45,193 18.3% 8,086 48,916 16.5% -198 3,723 -2.4% 8.2%
Bourne 3,642 19,753 18.4% 2,922 20,452 14.3% -720 699 -19.8% 3.5%
Brewster 1,603 9,828 16.3% 1,432 10,318 13.9% -171 490 -10.7% 5.0%
Chatham 749 6,125 12.2% 610 6,594 9.3% -139 469 -18.6% 7.7%
Dennis 1,977 14,207 13.9% 1,620 14,674 11.0% -357 467 -18.1% 3.3%
Eastham 627 4,956 12.7% 652 5,752 11.3% 25 796 4.0% 16.1%
89 The US Census Bureau publishes the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). The Census
includes exact counts, and ACS uses a different sampling method to generate estimates based on a rolling five -year
average. This is why there can be discrepancies between these sources. Age data from the 2020 Census is not yet
available beyond over/under 18 years old.
90 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Enrollment Data, 2012 -2022.
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Falmouth 5,470 31,531 17.3% 4,566 32,517 14.0% -904 986 -16.5% 3.1%
Harwich 1,970 12,235 16.1% 1,856 13,440 13.8% -114 1,205 -5.8% 9.8%
Mashpee 2,697 14,006 19.3% 2,203 15,060 14.6% -494 1,054 -18.3% 7.5%
Orleans 650 5,890 11.0% 641 6,307 10.2% -9 417 -1.4% 7.1%
Provincetown 201 2,942 6.8% 175 3,664 4.8% -26 722 -12.9% 24.5%
Sandwich 4,986 20,675 24.1% 3,729 20,259 18.4% -1,257 -416 -25.2% -2.0%
Truro 263 2,003 13.1% 248 2,454 10.1% -15 451 -5.7% 22.5%
Wellfleet 369 2,750 13.4% 394 3,566 11.0% 25 816 6.8% 29.7%
Yarmouth 3,761 23,793 15.8% 3,578 25,023 14.3% -183 1,230 -4.9% 5.2%
Source: US Census Bureau, Census 2020 via Social Explorer, Tables T003 and T020; Barrett Planning Group.
Across the Cape, while numbers of school-age children are decreasing, numbers of older adults
are increasing. According to American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, between
2011 and 2021, there was an 18.8 percent increase in the population 65 and older in Barnstable
(1,792 residents) while the overall population increased by an estimated 3,070 residents, so 41.6
percent of Barnstable’s net population growth was among seniors.91 Table 5.2 shows that over
that same interval, the overall number of seniors on the Cape increased 30.4 percent (16,248
residents), and Map 5.5 shows the higher concentration of households with seniors within
Osterville.
Barnstable also has the youngest population of all its neighbors. The median age for all residents
is 47.5, with the median for men at 46.2 and women 48.3. The population age 65 and over is
correspondingly the lowest on the entire Cape, at 23.3 percent. The median age for all other Cape
jurisdictions is 50 or older, with four towns exceeding a median age of 60. For all other Cape
Cod towns except Barnstable, the 65 and above demographic composes a quarter of the
population or more. Despite being the youngest town on the Cape, Barnstable is still significantly
older than both the state (median age, 39.6; 65 and over, 17.4 percent) and New England overall
(median age 40.8; 65 and over 16.5 percent). The aging of the community presents both
immediate and long-term implications for the local economy.
Table 5.2 Population 65 and Older on Cape Cod in 2011 and 2021
91 Because the full 2020 Census data is not yet publicly available, age-related data (other than for the under 18
population) are not yet available. Table 5.2 instead uses American Community Survey data and should be reviewed
upon release of the full 2020 Census.
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2011 2021 Comparison 2011 to 2021 65 and Older All Ages % Older Adults 65 and Older All Ages % Older Adults Difference in Older Adults % Change Older Adults Barnstable
County 53,403 216,639 24.7% 69,651 227,942 30.6% 16,248 30.4%
Barnstable 9,532 45,486 21.0% 11,324 48,556 23.3% 1,792 18.8%
Bourne 3,732 19,632 19.0% 5,695 20,364 28.0% 1,963 52.6%
Brewster 2,679 9,853 27.2% 3,607 10,282 35.1% 928 34.6%
Chatham 2,170 6,177 35.1% 3,041 6,554 46.4% 871 40.1%
Dennis 4,176 14,392 29.0% 5,124 14,664 34.9% 948 22.7%
Eastham 1,545 5,011 30.8% 2,202 5,674 38.8% 657 42.5%
Falmouth 8,342 31,674 26.3% 10,390 32,526 31.9% 2,048 24.6%
Harwich 3,658 12,259 29.8% 4,662 13,329 35.0% 1,004 27.4%
Mashpee 3,212 13,900 23.1% 4,305 14,996 28.7% 1,093 34.0%
Orleans 2,552 5,946 42.9% 3,079 6,276 49.1% 527 20.7%
Provincetown 424 2,994 14.2% 1,075 3,582 30.0% 651 153.5%
Sandwich 2,852 20,635 13.8% 5,166 20,369 25.4% 2,314 81.1%
Truro 416 1,903 21.9% 591 1,575 37.5% 175 42.1%
Wellfleet 1,075 2,858 37.6% 1,182 4,305 27.5% 107 10.0%
Yarmouth 7,038 23,919 29.4% 8,208 24,890 33.0% 1,170 16.6%
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates 2007-2011 and 2017-2021, Table B01001;
Barrett Planning Group.
Racial and Ethnic Composition
Barnstable is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. According to Decennial Census
figures, in 2010, 89.3 percent of residents were White compared to 77.2 percent in 2020. The
population of residents who are of two or more races saw the most growth, accounting for 3.1
percent of residents in 2010 and 11.1 percent in 2020. The Black population grew from 3.0
percent (1,366) to 4.6 percent (2,235) of Barnstable residents. There was a modest increase in the
Asian population, from 1.2 to 1.8 percent of residents. The number of people who selected
“Other” for race climbed from 1,217 (2.7 percent) to 2,319 (4.7 percent) residents, and there
were even more who indicated that they were of more than one race including “Other” increased
even more, from 560 to 4,014. The only racial category that saw a decrease in representation
between 2010 and 2020 was “American Indian or Alaska Native” alone, which dropped from
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280 to 260 individuals.92 The Hispanic population grew from 3.1 percent of the town (1,418) to
5.4 percent (2,626).93 According to the ACS, the largest share of Hispanic residents is
Ecuadorian, followed by Dominican, Puerto Rican, and “Other.”94
Among children, these demographic changes are even more apparent: while 83.2 percent of the
under-18 population (6,895) was White in 2010, this figure dropped to 64.5 percent (5,215) in
2020. The population of children of more than one race increased from 582 to 1,543.95 Young
families choosing to raise their children in Barnstable are likely key to the Town’s increasing
diversity. Figure 5.5 shows the racial and ethnic demographics of Barnstable’s 18 and older and
under 18 populations.96
Nearly one in five Barnstable residents (8,374, 18.0 percent) were born outside the United States.
More than three-quarters (78.3 percent) of Barnstable’s foreign-born population is from Latin
92 US Census Bureau, Census 2020, Table T024.
93 US Census Bureau, Census 2020, Tables T004 and T021.
94 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B03001.
95 US Census Bureau, Census 2020, Tables T005-007 and T022-024.
96 The Census does not provide a race designation in these tables for Hispanic residents, so these residents are
included in their own category in Figure 5.6 for the purpose of illustration.
White
32,244
Black
1,638
American
Indian/Alaska Native
181
Asian
671
Pacific Islander
20
Other
1,106 Two or More Races
3,174
Hispanic
1,796
White
5,052
Black
519
American
Indian/Alaska
Native
45
Asian
178
Pacific
Islander
4 Other
282
Two or More
Races
1,176
Hispanic
830
Under 18
[VALUE]
Figure 5.5. Racial/Ethnic Demographics of Adults and Children
Source: 2020 Census, Tables T022-T023 and T026-T027
Total Under 18
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America.97 Brazil, Jamaica, and Ecuador are residents’ most common countries of origin, and
about two-thirds (68.2 percent) of Barnstable’s foreign-born population originates from one of
those three countries. While most Barnstable residents speak English at home, 20.3 percent speak
languages other than English at home, and 8.9 percent have limited English proficiency.98
Educational Attainment
On average, Barnstable residents have slightly less education than Barnstable County as a whole.
A high school diploma or equivalent is the highest level of education completed for 43 percent of
Barnstable residents, compared to 41 percent throughout the Cape. Just under 40 percent of
Barnstable residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, whereas throughout the county, that
figure is about five percentage points higher (44.9 percent). Figure 5.6 compares the educational
attainment of Barnstable residents and that of all of Cape Cod.
97 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B05006.
98 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B06007.
6.2%
25.7%
16.9%
11.7%
22.2%
12.6%
4.8% 4.3%
22.2%
18.5%
10.1%
24.8%
14.5%
5.5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Less than high
school diploma
High school
diploma or
equivalent
Some college Associate's
Degree
Bachelor's
Degree
Master's Degree Doctorate or
Professional
Degree
Figure 5.6. Educational Attainment for Barnstable and Barnstable County
Residents 25 and Older
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B15003
Barnstable
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Household Income
Household incomes in Barnstable tend to be very similar to those throughout Barnstable County.
According to the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, the median
household income in the past 12 months in Barnstable was $82,816, and $82,619 for the county.
Figure 5.7 illustrates the proportion of households in each income bracket (adjusted for inflation)
for the town and the county in 2011, 2016, and 2021. While the 2011 and 2016 data show very
similar distributions with higher numbers of lower-earning households, 2021 incomes show
significant growth in higher-earning households, both within Barnstable and across Cape
Cod. As incomes in Barnstable and across the Cape are very similar, the proportions of
households receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Cash Public Assistance, or Food
Stamps/SNAP in the last 12 months are also very close: 7.9 percent of households across the
county and 8.1 percent of households in town receive public assistance.99
99 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021,
Table B19058.
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Like other communities, Barnstable’s increasing share of adults over 65 is reflected in the
growing percentage of households with retirement income or social security income, as shown in
Figure 5.8. Nonetheless, Barnstable has one of the lowest percentages of households with
retirement income (28.5 percent) and social security income (39.3 percent) among Cape
communities, although both figures are still well above Massachusetts estimates (20.2 percent
with retirement income and 29.8 percent with social security income).
Barnstable
County Barnstable Barnstable
County Barnstable Barnstable
County Barnstable
2011 2016 2021
Less than $30,000 22.7%22.9%21.8%23.2%16.3%15.5%
$30,000-$49,999 18.6%17.0%16.8%15.3%13.2%12.7%
$50,000-$74,999 18.8%19.5%18.2%21.2%16.3%18.6%
$75,000-$99,999 14.4%15.2%14.0%12.4%12.9%11.0%
$100,000-$124,999 9.4%9.6%9.8%9.1%9.2%8.8%
$125,000-$149,999 5.1%5.0%6.9%6.3%8.6%9.9%
$150,000-$199,999 5.9%5.3%6.4%5.9%10.5%12.2%
$200,000 or more 5.0%5.3%6.2%6.6%12.9%11.3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Figure 5.7. Household Income Distribution 2011-2021
for Barnstable and Barnstable County (Inflation-Adjusted)
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021, Table B19001
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Environmental Justice Areas
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice (EJ) as “the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, culture, national
origin, income, and educational levels with respect to the development, implementation, and
enforcement of protective environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”100 The state of
Massachusetts uses demographic data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey
(ACS) to identify areas that meet one or more criteria: annual median household incomes are at
or below 65 percent of those statewide; racial/ethnic-minority residents make up 40 percent or
more of the community; at least a quarter of households speak English less than “very well”; or
incomes are at or below 150 percent of statewide annual household incomes and at least 25
percent of residents represent racial/ethnic minorities.101
100 US Environmental Protection Agency, “EJ 2020 Glossary,” updated August 18, 2022.
101 MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), “Environmental Justice Populations in
Massachusetts,” updated January 20, 2023.
Barnstable
County Barnstable Barnstable
County Barnstable Barnstable
County Barnstable
2011 2016 2021
With Social Security Income 41.1%36.9%44.1%39.8%46.1%39.3%
With Retirement Income 26.3%22.0%27.2%22.6%34.2%28.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Figure 5.8. Households with Social Security or Retirement Income 2011-2021
for Barnstable and Barnstable County
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021, Tables B19055 and B19059
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Greening the Gateway Cities in EJ Communities
In Spring 2022, Barnstable was selected as one of five
Gateway Cities to participate in the Greening the Gateway
Cities program, which is concentrated in Environmental
Justice neighborhoods, and targets areas within gateway cities
that have lower tree canopy, older housing stock, higher wind
speeds, and a larger renter population. The program plants
trees free of charge on eligible properties within active
Gateway City planting zones.
Source: DCR Massachusetts, “Greening the Gateway Cities”
Fact Sheet, available at https://www.mass.gov/doc/greening-
the-gateway-cities-program-fact-sheet/download
Of Barnstable’s 38 population-based statistical areas (called Census block groups), twelve meet
one or more conditions for EJ designation. These twelve block groups are all situated within or
include parts of Hyannis, and they are home to 32.4 percent of Barnstable’s total population.102
Map 5.6 displays Barnstable’s Environmental Justice block groups and identifies the criteria they
meet. Each of the
twelve block groups
meets the minority
population criterion;
six also qualify by
household income;
one also has a
population with
limited English
proficiency; and one,
the most densely
settled area of town,
south of Route
28/Falmouth Road
between Winter Street and Bearses Way and north of Stevens Street, meets all of these criteria.
Overall, 8.9 percent of Barnstable’s population identify as speaking English less than “very
well,” but in parts of Hyannis, this figure can be more than 300% higher.103 The two Hyannis
block groups flagged as EJ populations because of English isolation are Cape Cod’s only areas
that received that designation.
102 2020 Environmental Justice Populations, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA),
updated November 2022.
103 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B06007 and B16004.
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Local Economy
Overview
As the largest town on Cape Cod and often referred to as the “downtown” or “heart” of the Cape,
Barnstable features a strong and diverse economy year -round as well as during the peak summer
season.
Labor Force
A community’s labor force is defined as all residents aged 16 and older who are classified as
either employed or unemployed and actively looking for work. Members of Barnstable’s labor
force live in Barnstable but may work elsewhere. Labor force characteristics reflect a
community’s level of household wealth, which is a large driver of local economic conditions.
According to 2017-2021 ACS estimates, Barnstable’s labor force consists of an estimated 27,344
residents out of the population age 16 and older (40,769), for a labor force participation rate of
67.1 percent, significantly higher than the county at 59.9 percent.104 Barnstable’s higher labor
force participation rate makes sense because the share of retired households in Barnstable is
relatively low within the county. Table 5.3 shows that communities with higher labor force
participation rates tend to have a lower share of retired households, although this is not always
the case.
Table 5.3. Select Labor Force Characteristics across Cape Cod
Labor Force Participation
Characteristics
Employment
Characteristics Educational Characteristics
Labor Force
Participation
Rate
% Households
w/ Retirement
Income
% Working
in Town of
Residence
% Self-
Employed
Dropout Rate
for Population
Ages 16-19
Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher,
Ages 25+
Massachusetts 67.2% 20.2% 35.6% 8.7% 2.8% 45.2%
Barnstable
County 59.9% 34.2% 42.6% 15.1% 1.9% 44.9%
Barnstable 67.1% 28.5% 54.0% 15.1% 3.9% 39.6%
Bourne 63.2% 31.8% 31.8% 13.6% 2.4% 43.4%
104 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B23025 and B23027.
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Table 5.3. Select Labor Force Characteristics across Cape Cod
Labor Force Participation
Characteristics
Employment
Characteristics Educational Characteristics
Labor Force
Participation
Rate
% Households
w/ Retirement
Income
% Working
in Town of
Residence
% Self-
Employed
Dropout Rate
for Population
Ages 16-19
Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher,
Ages 25+
Brewster 54.6% 42.5% 24.7% 23.3% 0.5% 44.9%
Chatham 45.3% 39.3% 49.0% 19.0% 0.4% 62.6%
Dennis 55.9% 37.0% 32.1% 13.9% <0.0% 39.3%
Eastham 50.7% 43.5% 32.6% 16.9% <0.0% 47.2%
Falmouth 56.7% 33.3% 58.4% 15.2% 3.3% 50.1%
Harwich 59.4% 36.4% 34.7% 14.4% <0.0% 44.9%
Mashpee 61.0% 30.7% 34.2% 11.4% 0.8% 39.4%
Orleans 47.9% 38.7% 48.0% 8.7% <0.0% 60.4%
Provincetown 62.6% 26.5% 69.1% 23.4% <0.0% 57.6%
Sandwich 65.5% 36.8% 30.2% 28.9% <0.0% 48.1%
Truro 64.8% 31.7% 51.6% 11.3% <0.0% 56.5%
Wellfleet 52.4% 32.6% 44.8% 15.1% <0.0% 52.5%
Yarmouth 57.6% 38.9% 35.3% 21.6% 0.1% 39.5%
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B08008 and B15003, and Social
Explorer ACS Tables A10015, A12003, A17002, and A17009.
Employment Sectors
Like nearly all economies, the private sector provides the lion’s share of employment for
Barnstable residents, representing 61.2 percent of the employed labor force. Despite being both
the largest town on the Cape and the county seat, Barnstable has a lower percentage of workers
employed in the public sector (11.8 percent) as compared to the county (12.6 percent) and state
(12.4 percent). Barnstable is also an outlier when it comes to self-employment compared to its
neighbors; in Barnstable 15.1 percent of all resident workers are self-employed, higher than
adjacent communities and well above the state’s rate of 8.7 percent, although in line with the
county, also at 15.1 percent. 105 Table 5.3 above shows that some Cape Cod communities have
significantly higher rates of self-employment – most notably Brewster, Provincetown, and
Sandwich.
105 Social Explorer Table A17009 based upon the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year
Estimates 2017-2021.
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Education
While the “People” section of the Community Systems portion of this plan describes educational
attainment of Barnstable’s residents, Table 5.3 provides further detail by town. Barnstable is
among the lower end of residents age 25+ having earned a bachelor’s degree or higher as
compared to other Cape Cod communities. More significantly, based on ACS 2017-2021
estimates, Barnstable has the highest estimated dropout rate among the population ages 16 -19
compared to other Cape Cod communities and even the state.106
Industries of Labor Force
The top two industries Barnstable residents work in include “Educational Services, and Health
Care and Social Assistance” (23.8 percent) and “Construction” (12.5 percent), with the latter
representing a significantly larger share of the local labor force compared to the state (5.9
percent). Table 5.4 also shows that earnings by industry vary between geographies, although
Barnstable residents have lower median earnings across industries than the county and state
($40,276, $40,979, and $48,078, respectively).107 While residents in industries such as
“Information,” “Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, And Mining,” and “Wholesale
Trade” earn more than their counterparts statewide, for other industries earnings are significantly
less, particularly in “Finance and Insurance, Real Estate, and Rental and Leasing” and
“Professional, Scientific, Management, and Administrative and Waste Management Services .”
Table 5.4. Percent Labor Force and Median Earnings by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16
Years and Older
% Labor Force Median Earnings
Industry Barnstable Barnstable
County
MA Barnstable Barnstable
County
MA
106 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education district profiles indicate a 2020-2021 dropout rate of 1.8
percent for the Barnstable Public Schools and a 1.5 percent rate for the state. District profiles show a higher rate for
Dennis-Yarmouth in 2020-2021 at 3.1 percent, as well as Falmouth Public Schools at 2.7 percent. All other public
school districts on Cape Cod have lower dropout rates than these three districts. Profiles are available at
https://profiles.doe.mass.edu.
107 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B20017.
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Table 5.4. Percent Labor Force and Median Earnings by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16
Years and Older
% Labor Force Median Earnings
Industry Barnstable Barnstable
County
MA Barnstable Barnstable
County
MA
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, And
Mining 0.5% 0.8% 0.4% $63,633 $47,670 $50,705
Construction 12.5% 10.1% 5.9% $47,073 $55,103 $65,723
Manufacturing 5.5% 4.6% 8.9% $58,906 $68,789 $75,174
Wholesale Trade 2.2% 2.2% 2.1% $76,650 $71,496 $64,824
Retail Trade 11.0% 12.4% 10.0% $53,365 $49,585 $51,288
Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities 3.5% 3.8% 4.1% $64,795 $64,118 $63,973
Information 1.9% 1.8% 2.2% $122,716 $77,041 $88,210
Finance And Insurance, And Real Estate, And
Rental and Leasing 6.3% 6.1% 7.3% $60,592 $73,875 $88,086
Professional, Scientific, And Management, And
Administrative, And Waste Management Services 11.6% 12.9% 14.8% $60,841 $75,614 $92,228
Educational Services, And Health Care and Social
Assistance 23.8% 24.4% 28.1% $64,459 $65,486 $64,654
Arts, Entertainment, And Recreation, And
Accommodation and Food Services 10.0% 11.2% 7.9% $39,102 $43,727 $41,083
Other Services, Except Public Administration 5.8% 4.9% 4.3% $44,830 $50,712 $49,544
Public Administration 5.3% 5.0% 3.9% $78,967 $82,254 $81,646
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B24041 and C24050.
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Employment Base
A community’s employment base includes its wage and salary jobs. People counted in the
employment base may or may not live in Barnstable and the employment base does not include
self-employed people. Several industries dominate employment in Barnstable: Educational
Services and Health Care and Social Assistance (30.5 percent of local jobs); Retail Trade (17.3
percent); and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation and Accommodation and Food Services (14.2
percent). Leisure and hospitality service industries are among the strongest in Barnstable, but
also have the lowest average weekly wages. Compared to the weekly wage average of $1,187
across industries for Barnstable’s employment base, Accommodation and Food Services workers
earn $615, while Retail Trade workers earn $798.108 These sectors were also significantly
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are also susceptible to other economic shocks,
particularly those that have an outsized impact on tourism.
Location quotients (LQ) indicate the strength of local industries by comparing a community’s
employment base with that of a larger geographic area, called a “reference economy.” The
proportion of jobs in each industry in the community weighted against the proportion of jobs in
those industries in the larger reference economy results in a ratio that sheds light on the unique
employment characteristics of a community. Generally, a ratio between 0.90 and 1.10 means the
proportion of jobs per industry is similar between the compared geographies, and a ratio below
0.85 or over 1.15 points to a noteworthy difference. The higher the ratio, the stronger the
industry is in the community. Table 5.5 reports location quotients for Barnstable’s employment
base, considering two reference economies: Barnstable County and Massachusetts.
Table 5.5. Location Quotients for Select Industries
Share of Jobs (Average Monthly Employment) Location Quotients
Description Barnstable Barnstable
County MA Barnstable
to County
Barnstable
to State
108 Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), “Employment and Wages,” (ES -202), 2021
Annual Reports for Barnstable, Barnstable County, and Massachusetts.
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Table 5.5. Location Quotients for Select Industries
Share of Jobs (Average Monthly Employment) Location Quotients
Description Barnstable Barnstable
County MA Barnstable
to County
Barnstable
to State
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, And
Mining 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 0.93 0.95
Construction 6.0% 7.9% 5.1% 0.75 1.17
Manufacturing 2.9% 2.5% 6.7% 1.16 0.44
Wholesale Trade 2.0% 1.8% 3.4% 1.12 0.58
Retail Trade 17.3% 16.1% 9.6% 1.07 1.80
Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities 3.4% 3.2% 3.6% 1.08 0.94
Information 1.2% 1.3% 2.9% 0.89 0.42
Finance And Insurance, And Real Estate, And
Rental and Leasing 5.4% 3.8% 6.2% 1.41 0.87
Professional, Scientific, And Management, And
Administrative, And Waste Management Services 7.0% 10.3% 17.8% 0.68 0.39
Educational Services, And Health Care and Social
Assistance 30.5% 23.9% 28.5% 1.28 1.07
Arts, Entertainment, And Recreation, And
Accommodation and Food Services 14.2% 19.2% 8.8% 0.74 1.62
Other Services, Except Public Administration 4.6% 3.8% 3.1% 1.22 1.50
Public Administration 5.0% 5.7% 4.0% 0.87 1.24
Source: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), “Employment and Wages,” (ES -202), 2021 Annual
Reports for Barnstable, Barnstable County, and Massachusetts.
For Barnstable, the LQs show some local industries may be relatively weak compared to one
reference economy, yet strong compared to the other. For example, Finance and Insurance, Real
Estate, Rental and Leasing is a strong local industry in Barnstable compared to the county (LQ:
1.41) but weaker when compared to the state (LQ: 0.87). Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and
Accommodation and Food Services in Barnstable is weaker compared to the county (LQ: 0.74)
but strong compared to the state (LQ: 1.62).
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Seasonality of Employment Base
While these figures provide a yearly picture of employment and wages in Barnstable, seasonal
fluctuations occur — more significantly for some industries than others. Overall, there is a
marked increase in jobs within Barnstable during the summer tourist season based on ES202
Employment and Wage data from the Massachusetts Department of Economic Research. Figure
5.9 shows that January 2021 had the lowest level of employment that year at 23,776 jobs in
Barnstable. By the July peak there were 28,611 jobs, a 20 percent increase compared to January.
This seasonal trend is even more pronounced in sectors that are especially dependent on the
tourism industry, such as entertainment, retail, transportation, and hospitality. While the retail
industry sees a bump in employment approaching the winter holiday season, it does not match
the strength and growth of the peak summer season. Barnstable County sees similar seasonal
trends, with a 34 percent increase in jobs between a February 2021 low (79,019) and a July 2021
high (106,434).109
109 Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), “Employment and Wages,” (ES -202), 2021
Annual Reports for Barnstable and Barnstable County.
23,776 23,999 24,308
25,473
26,329
27,603
28,611 28,312
26,678 26,537 26,173 25,998
20,000
21,000
22,000
23,000
24,000
25,000
26,000
27,000
28,000
29,000
30,000
Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Nov-21 Dec-21Monthly Employment Figure 5.9. Seasonal Shifts in Local Employment within Barnstable, 2021
Sources: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD),
“Employment and Wages,” (ES-202), 2021 Annual Report for Barnstable
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Employers
The ten largest employers in town are:
Cape Cod Health:
2,548 employees
Town of Barnstable:
1,331 employees
Cape Cod Community College:
514 employees
Cape Air:
306 employees
Barnstable County:
250 employees
Macy’s (2 stores)
230 employees
The Cape Codder Resort & Spa:
200 employees
Stop & Shop in Hyannis:
185 employees
Stop & Shop in Marstons Mills:
161 employees
Cape Cod Times:
135 employees110
Collectively, these ten employers represent a quarter of the Town’s employment base, with Cape
Cod Health alone employing over 11 percent. 111
Jobs to Workers
The ratio of the employment base (i.e., jobs in a community) to the labor force (i.e., resident
workers) indicates whether a town serves as an importer or exporter of jobs within a particular
industry and provides insight as to how easily residents can find local employment in their
industries of choice. Where the ratio of available jobs to residents who work in that industry is
higher than 1.0, that industry is a net importer of jobs to the community; conversely, where the
ratio is less than 1.0, there are more resident workers in the industry than there are jobs available ,
making the industry a net exporter of jobs. Table 5.6 shows that most industries are net
exporters of jobs, meaning more residents leave town to work in their industry. The top three net
importers of jobs are Retail Trade; Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Accommodation and
Food Services; and Educational Services, Health Care and Social Assistance. These industries
largely align with Barnstable’s largest employers described in the previous section.
Table 5.6. Jobs to Resident Workers
110 Town of Barnstable Finance Department, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30,
2022, p.157.
111 Ibid.
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Description # Local Jobs # Resident
Workers Difference Ratio
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, And
Mining 181 143 38 1.266
Construction 1,559 3,311 -1752 0.471
Manufacturing 770 1,460 -690 0.527
Wholesale Trade 520 575 -55 0.904
Retail Trade 4,519 2,907 1612 1.555
Transportation And Warehousing, And Utilities 895 919 -24 0.974
Information 313 514 -201 0.609
Finance And Insurance, And Real Estate, And
Rental and Leasing 1,408 1,669 -261 0.844
Professional, Scientific, And Management, And
Administrative, And Waste Management Services 1828 3,056 -1228 0.598
Educational Services, And Health Care and Social
Assistance 7,973 6,295 1678 1.267
Arts, Entertainment, And Recreation, And
Accommodation and Food Services 3,701 2,633 1068 1.406
Other Services, Except Public Administration 1,211 1,543 -332 0.785
Public Administration 1,302 1,410 -108 0.923
Sources: Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), “Employment and Wages,” (ES -202), 2021
Annual Report for Barnstable; US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table
C24050.
Commuting Patterns
As shown previously in Table 5.3, Barnstable has a higher crossover between its labor force and
employment base than most Cape communities, with an estimated 54 percent of its employed
residents working in town. This is also reflected in commuter patterns shown in the Census
Bureau’s Commuting Flows, which are derived from American Community Survey data. While
the most recently available Commuting Flows data are based on the 2011-2015 ACS, they still
support this finding, showing that an estimated 51.9 percent of working residents commute
within Barnstable. The next largest destination for Barnstable residents is Yarmouth, where 13.0
percent of residents work, followed by Mashpee at 4.6 percent. Inbound commuters going to
work in Barnstable come from a similar profile of Cape and regional communities, reflecting
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Barnstable’s position as the Cape’s major hub. Barnstable residents make up an estimated 45.6
percent of the town’s employment base, with Yarmouth residents accounting for 11.6 percent
and Sandwich residents making up 7.5 percent.112 Barnstable residents and the workers
employed in Barnstable most commonly drive alone to work for transportation, as shown in
Table 5.7.
Table 5.7. Means of Transportation to Work
Out of every 100 working Barnstable residents… Out of every 100 workers in Barnstable…
74 drive alone 79 drive alone
10 carpool 8 carpool
1 take public transportation 0-1 take public transportation
3 walk 3 walk
1-2 take some other means of transportation 0-1 take some other means of transportation
10 work from home 9 work from home
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B08301 and B08406
Economic Development Resources
Education and Workforce Development
The Cape & Islands Workforce Board (CIWB) is a private non-profit corporation responsible for
overseeing all publicly funded vocational education and training programs serving the entire
Cape and the Islands. As their name suggests, CIWB covers all the communities in Barnstable,
Dukes, and Nantucket counties. The CIWB is one of sixteen workforce boards across
Massachusetts, all of which work in collaboration with the US Department of Labor’s One Stop
Career Center system. These workforce boards carry out the mandates of the federal Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).113 The CIWB’s Board of Directors includes a range of
members representing various affiliations, including the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Cape
112 US Census Bureau, 2011-2015 5-Year ACS Commuting Flows.
113 Cape and Islands Workforce Board, “About.” Accessed March 2023 at
https://masshire-capeandislandswb.com/about/
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Cod Community College, two regional technical high schools, the MA Department of
Transitional Assistance, and many more.114
The CIWB recently issued its WIOA Local Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2025, which identified
healthcare and social assistance; construction; professional, scientific, and technical services; and
hospitality/tourism as the industries most vital to the region’s economic health. The group also
highlighted the importance of the Blue Econom y, which refers to industries dependent or related
to the ocean like fishing, marinas, environmental conservation , and boat charters.115 The plan
also noted the following challenges of the Cape & Islands workforce area:
There is a lack of regional transportation options, with limited transit and bus service.
The Cape and Islands is the oldest regional labor market in the state; which can result in a
depleted workforce and limited possibility for the expansion of pipeline growth.
Housing costs remain high and inventory low.
The Cape and Islands region has a limited number of training providers within the
region.116
The CIWB’s 2018 Regional Workforce Blueprint is included as an appendix to the WIOA Local
Plan. This blueprint noted existing shortages in several industries: food preparation and service;
building and grounds cleaning maintenance; personal care and service occupations in the health
care sector; office and administrative support occupations in the health care sector; and
education, training, and library occupations.117 Looking into the future, the CIWB WIOA Local
Plan prioritizes hospitality, healthcare, and construction as three core industries given their
growth among regional occupations and their ability to support the Blue Economy.118
114 Cape and Islands Workforce Board, “Board of Directors.” Accessed March 2023 at https://masshire-
capeandislandswb.com/about/board-of-directors/
115 Cape and Islands Workforce Board, WIOA Local Plan, Fiscal Years 2022-2025, p.4-5. Available at
https://masshire-capeandislandswb.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MassHire-CIWB-FY22-25-WIOA-Local-4-
Year-Plan.pdf
116 Ibid., p.15
117 Cape and Islands Workforce Board, The Cape & Islands Regional Workforce Blueprint, 2018, p11. Available as
an Appendix within the WIOA Local Plan referenced above.
118 Ibid., p.18-19
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Business Barnstable
Like its cultural counterpart Arts Barnstable, Business Barnstable
(http://BusinessBarnstable.com) is Town-sponsored program supported by the Planning &
Development Department. This resource acts as a recruitment tool for drawing businesses to
Barnstable and includes an online directory of assistance, resources, grants, and incentives for
businesses, information about housing opportunities, and a GIS-based commercial site finder,
plans and reports. In Spring 2023 the website received roughly 4,000 visits per month and the
Business Barnstable Newsletter has more than 1,000 subscribers.
Regulatory Tools
Commercial Districts
Barnstable’s seven villages provide a wide range of commercial and industrial district settings
for businesses. The commercial and industrial districts are designated by the Town’s zoning
ordinances. All of the villages contain commercially zoned land parcels, though Cotuit only has
one commercial parcel in this classification, adjacent to Marstons Mills and connected to one of
its commercial districts. The main industrial zone is in Hyannis and Barnstable Village, centered
on an area near the airport north of Route 132 and south of Route 6, the Mid-Cape Highway. The
largest commercial district is in Hyannis, centered on downtown and westward down Main Street
toward Barnstable High School. Job intensity is strongest in Hyannis and along the Route
132/Route 28 corridor.
Growth Incentive Zone
The Downtown Hyannis Growth Incentive Zone serves to encourage a concentrated mix of
residential and commercial uses within Hyannis. Certain projects within the GIZ are exempt
from Cape Cod Commission regulatory review. The Town’s GIZ was enacted in 2006, extended
in 2016, and re-designated in 2018.119
119 Business Barnstable, “Growth Incentive Zone (GIZ).” Accessed March 2023 at
https://businessbarnstable.com/growth-incentive-zone-giz/
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Regulatory Agreements
Chapter 168 of the Town’s General Ordinances outlines the Town’s procedures for Regulatory
Agreements, flexible tools that allow development that would otherwise be prohibited by zoning
and streamline the permitting process. In return, developers agree to provide benefits to the
Town, including infrastructure, land preservation, affordable housing, or other resources that
enhance both the development and the Town. Regulatory Agreements require Planning Board
and Town Council approval and can occur in areas designated on the Regulatory Agreement
Districts Map, most recently updated in 2018.120
Business Improvement District
Established in 1999 as authorized under M.G.L. Chapter 40O, the Hyannis Main Street Business
Improvement District is a special assessment district whereby a common area fee is levied on
properties within its boundaries to finance supplemental enhancements above the baseline
provided by municipal services. The Hyannis Main Street BID has used these funds to organize
and sponsor events, support the addition of a police station to Main Street, work with homeless
social programs, leverage funding for new lights, support maintenance and beautification
projects including flower planters and seasonal street decorations, increase and improve signs
and banners along Main Street, and more.121
Taxes and Finances
In addition to offering a lower tax rate for commercial and industrial properties, Barnstable
enters into Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements on a case-by-case basis to support
investment for development and redevelopment projects. Participating businesses may receive
state tax credits or local property tax incentives in exchange for a commitment to new job
creation, existing job retention, and private investment in the project.122
120 Business Barnstable, “Regulatory Agreements.” Accessed March 2023 at
https://businessbarnstable.com/regulatory-agreements/
121 Hyannis Main Street, “BID Programs.” Accessed March 2023 at http://www.hyannismainstreet.com/hyannis-
main-street-business-improvement-district/bid-programs/
122 Business Barnstable, “Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP).” Accessed March 2023 at
https://businessbarnstable.com/economic-development-incentive-program-edip/
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In addition, the Hyannis Opportunity Zone provides federal tax incentives for private entities to
reinvest capital gains into projects within the federally designated area.
Housing
Overview
Barnstable’s housing environment is largely defined by its seasonal economy, natural resources,
demographic trends, and regional market forces.
Housing Types
An estimated 85 percent of Barnstable’s
housing stock is single-family units,
most of which are detached homes.
Because most of Barnstable’s
multifamily housing is in Hyannis, the
split there is more even, with 60 percent
of units being single-family and 40
percent multi-family.123 Map 5.7
displays housing units by type based on
Fiscal Year 2022 Assessor’s records and
shows the spread of single-family units
throughout town, and Table 5.8 shows
housing types by land use code.124 Many
of the properties with multiple homes on one parcel are in waterfront areas along the coast and
on major ponds, while multifamily housing is more concentrated in Hyannis.
123 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B25024.
124 Differences between the Assessor’s records and ACS estimates occur because the Assessor’s records are based
on individual properties, some of which have multiple units in multifamily buildings, whereas the ACS estimates are
based on the units themselves.
Table 5.8. Residential Land Uses by Parcel
Parcels Percent
Single Family 21,068 88.1%
Condos 1,746 7.3%
Two Family 248 1.0%
Three Family 25 0.1%
Multiple Houses on One Parcel 556 2.3%
Apartments 4-8 Units 69 0.3%
Apartments More Than 8 Units 29 0.1%
Mixed Use with Some Residential 93 0.4%
Housing Authority 82 0.3%
Total 23,916 Source: FY2022 Assessor’s Records, Town of
Barnstable, via MassGIS
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Housing Trends and Needs
Seasonal Housing
According to the Town’s assessing data, there is a total of 23,676 housing units in Barnstable,
excluding apartment units, as of June 2023. Of the total housing units, 11,631 residential
properties receive residential exemption. The remaining 12,045 properties do not receive a
residential exemption; the total percentage of homes in Barnstable that are not occupied by year -
round homeowners could be as high as 50.8 percent. The rate of second homes in Massachusetts
is 4.1 percent and the rate for all Barnstable County is 36.3 percent. About 22 percent of homes
in town are second homes that may or may not be seasonally rented. This is much higher than
the state rate (4.1 percent) but lower than all of Barnstable County (36.3 percent).125 This varies
significantly across communities on Cape Cod, as shown in Figure 5.9. All of the Outer Cape
(Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown), Orleans on the Lower Cape, and Dennis on the
Mid Cape all have more second homes than first homes. For purposes of reporting to the US
Census Bureau, these second homes are considered vacant, which means communities with a
higher share of second homes appear to have high vacancy rates. Thus, while Barnstable’s total
125 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Table B25004.
-100%
-75%
-50%
-25%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Figure 5.9. Percent Year-Round Housing Units vs. Second Homes
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2017-2021 Table B25004 Massachusetts Barnstable County Barnstable Bourne Brewster Chatham Dennis Eastham Falmouth Harwich Mashpee Orleans Provincetown Sandwich Truro Wellfleet Yarmouth Second Homes (Units for Seasonal, Recreational, or Occasional Use)
Year-Round Housing Units (Occupied and Vacant)
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
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vacancy rate is an estimated 27.1 percent, vacancy rates for year-round units are estimated at 1.2
percent for ownership units and 8.2 percent for rental units.126
As of May 2023, short-term rentals compose approximately 3.5 percent of Barnstable’s total
housing units, excluding apartments. In August 2022, the peak value for actively advertised
short-term rentals was 818 rentals. Of the nearly 800 rentals actively advertised in July 2022, 39
percent were in Hyannis, 22 percent in Centerville, 13 percent in Osterville, 10 percent in
Barnstable Village, 7 percent in Cotuit, 6 percent in Marstons Mills, and 3 percent in West
Barnstable. Since short-term rental taxes were implemented on July 1, 2019 the Town has
collected over $3million in tax revenue. Short-term rental tax revenues totaled $528,735 in
FY2020, $1,512,208 in FY2021, and $1,729,592 in FY2022.
Single Family Homes127
Table 5.9 includes information about the Town’s detached single-family homes, which represent
most of Barnstable’s housing stock. Seventy-one percent of existing single-family homes in
Barnstable were built between 1960 and 2000, coinciding with a boom in population growth on
Cape Cod during this time. The average lot size, building area, number of rooms, and building
height were at their smallest from 1940 until 1980 when these features began trending back
upward again as the Cape-style home became more popular than smaller ranch homes.
Assessed values on average are highest for older homes built before 1920 and again from 2000
onward. However, the source of the higher assessed values differs between the older and newer
housing stock; in older homes, the value tends to be associated with the land, as many of these
homes are built on larger lots closer to the coast while the buildings themselves may not hold
much value compared to newer buildings. Many newer homes built in the 2000s are much larger
on average (although very old 19th century homes also were quite large), and 90 percent of these
single-family homes have improvement value to land value ratios (IVLVR) over 1.0.
“Improvements” on assessed properties refers to everything but the land – buildings, structures,
driveways, etc. When the IVLVR is above 1.0, the value of the building and other improvements
126 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021,
Tables B25003 and B25004.
127 This section is based upon data from FY2022 Assessor’s Records for the Town of Barnstable, accessed via
MassGIS.
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is greater than the land itself; conversely, when the IVLVR is below 1.0, the land value exceeds
building value. The latter is fairly common on older homes located in desirable areas of a
community, as is true for Barnstable. In Barnstable, properties holding comparatively greater
land value are more commonly found among homes built before 1960, likely because these
homes would have been developed on the “easier” or otherwise desirable areas first, and are also
more common in coastal areas (see Map 5.8, Map 5.9, and Table 5.9).
Table 5.9. Summary of Single-Family Homes in Barnstable
Year Built Entries Average
# Rooms
Average
Stories
Average Res.
Building Area
Average Lot
Size (Acres)
Average Total
Assessed Value
Average
IVLVR
% Homes with
IVLVR <1.0
Most Common
Style
Pre-1865 404 8.3 1.8 2,501 1.22 $824,705 1.10 27% Conventional
1865-1899 269 8.3 1.8 2,398 0.87 $1,035,818 0.79 48% Conventional
1900-1919 392 7.4 1.7 2,188 1.11 $1,024,650 0.67 49% Conventional
1920-1939 1,041 6.7 1.6 1,810 0.68 $769,009 0.75 38% Conventional
1940-1959 2,282 6.1 1.3 1,544 0.53 $547,317 0.98 26% Ranch
1960-1979 7,473 6.3 1.3 1,598 0.53 $473,799 1.71 8% Ranch
1980-1999 7,491 6.6 1.5 1,931 0.75 $593,035 1.92 5% Cape Cod
2000-2021 1,712 7.4 1.7 2,843 0.94 $1,202,954 1.60 10% Cape Cod
Source: FY2022 Assessor’s Records, Town of Barnstable, via MassGIS
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Despite the apparent high number of “conventional”-style homes based on Table 5.9, the most
common styles among single family homes are Cape- and ranch-style homes due to the
popularity of the style during the times when population growth increased the most rapidly in
Barnstable. Figure 5.10 shows the popularity of different styles among Barnstable’s single-
family homes.
Unit Size & Household Size
Barnstable experiences a mismatch between the number of people living in a home and the
number of bedrooms in that home. On average, Barnstable homes currently have more bedrooms
than the number of people living within the homes. While Aan estimated 68 percent of
Barnstable households are one or two people, and 69 percent over two-thirds of its the Town’s
homes have at least three bedrooms, suggesting a need for more studio, one-, and two-bedroom
housing options. This discrepancy is more apparent among owner households; an estimated 70
percent of households are one or two people while 81 percent of the owner-occupied units have
at least three bedrooms.128
128 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2017-2021, Tables B25009 and B25042.
7,753 7,734
1,991
1,404
619 495 417 346 170 135
0
1,500
3,000
4,500
6,000
7,500
9,000
Figure 5.10. Styles of Single Family Homes in Barnstable
Source: FY2022 Assessor's Records, Town of Barnstable, via MassGIS
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Development
As discussed in the Land Use and Development Trends section, overall new residential
development has slowed since 2000, which matches a slower period of population growth in
addition to the Town’s 2001 adoption of the Growth Management Ordinance.129 Renovations
and additions remain popular, with an average of 1,490 building permits for renovations or
additions issued during the ten-year period from 2012-2021.130 In the five-year period from
2017-2021, demolition permits exceeded new dwelling permits each year, with an average of 58
demolition permits issued annually from 2012-2021. Rebuilds lag somewhat behind demolitions,
with an average of less than one rebuild permit for every two demolition permits issued from
2012-2021. Figure 5.11 displays these trends over a ten-year period from 2012-2021.
Tenure & Income
The Town saw an estimated 3 percent increase in renter-occupied housing between 2011 and
2021 based on ACS estimates.131 Across the Cape, about four of every five households own their
own homes (80.8 percent), whereas in Barnstable, three of every four households (75.6 percent)
own their homes. While renter households in Barnstable increased from 4,686 to 4,809
households, across the county, renter households dropped from 19,531 to 18,864.132
129 As noted in the Land Use and Development Trends section, the limit on building permits issued annually under
the Growth Management Ordinance has not been met or exceeded since its adoption.
130 Data provided by the Town of Barnstable Building Department
131 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021,
Table B25003.
132 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021,
Table B25118.
56 49
64
48 47
71 63
50
77
56
22
19
26 28
24
29
25 19
29
18
50
65
83
94
58 60
43
28 33
38
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Figure 5.11. Residential Building Permits, 2012-2021
Source: Town of Barnstable Annual Reports
Demolitions Rebuilds New Dwellings
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134
Barnstable incomes largely follow county trends, and that includes a stark contrast in the
incomes of homeowner and renter households. Figure 5.12 illustrates that in 2011, more than a
third of renter households had incomes less than $25,000; in 2021, the proportion of renter
households earning less than $25,000 has dropped between seven and eight percentage points for
the Town and county alike. In 2021, there were significantly fewer renters in the income groups
below $50,000 in Barnstable and throughout Barnstable County, but the Town saw gains of even
greater proportion in the highest income group. This suggests that low-income renters are being
priced out of the rental market. Growth in gross median rent confirms this trend: while the
county saw an average increase of 28.1 percent in gross median rent, Barnstable’s increase
notably outpaced the county’s at 40.3 percent.133 Median gross rent does not fully show the
strains placed on those renting market rate units, as the median gross rent includes rent paid by
those in affordable units or with other subsidies.
133 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2021,
Table B25064.
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135
What is Cost Burden?
Cost burden is defined as paying more
than 30 percent of one’s household income
toward select housing costs (including
utilities), while severe cost burden is
defined as paying more than 50 percent.
This metric is particularly important for
understanding the needs of low-to-
moderate income households, defined as
those earning no more than 80 percent of
the Area Median Income (AMI),
determined annually by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for the region.
Those looking to purchase a home in
Barnstable are similarly faced with rising costs,
with the median sales price of a single-family
home in Barnstable growing 26 percent
between 2020 and 2021.134 Nonetheless, renter
households are more likely to experience need,
with one in three Barnstable homeowners
considered cost-burdened compared to one in
two renters. In Barnstable, 35 percent of
households are spending more than 30 percent
of their monthly income on housing costs. For
low- and moderate-income earners, this number
jumps to an estimated 64 percent.135
134 Banker & Tradesman/The Warren Group. “Town Stats: Barnstable, MA – Median Sales Price – Calendar Year.”
Report pulled March 2023. The median sales price for a single -family home in Barnstable for 2020 was $539,500
compared to $680,000 in 2021 and $775,000 in 2022.
135 US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS)
data, 2015-2019.
Owner Renter Owner Renter Owner Renter Owner Renter
2011 2021 2011 2021
Barnstable County Barnstable
Less than $25,000 13.7%37.1%9.0%29.3%13.7%34.8%7.5%27.3%
$25,000-$49,999 20.6%31.9%14.4%25.7%19.0%29.0%13.4%23.4%
$50,000-$74,999 19.7%15.4%16.1%17.2%21.0%14.7%17.9%20.9%
$75,000-$99,999 16.0%8.4%13.2%11.7%16.4%11.2%12.1%7.6%
$100,000-$149,999 16.9%5.1%19.9%9.0%16.7%8.1%21.8%8.8%
$150,000 or more 13.1%2.1%27.4%7.0%13.2%2.1%27.3%11.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Figure 5.12. Household Income Distribution 2011 -2021 by Tenure for
Barnstable and Barnstable County (Inflation -Adjusted)
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates 2007-2011 and 2017-2021, Table B25118
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The Importance of the Year-Round
Housing Count under Chapter 40B
Communities with a high share of
second homes conversely have a lower
share of year-round units. For purposes
of calculating a community’s
percentage of affordable units under
M.G.L. Chapter 40B, the Department
of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD) determines the
year-round housing count by
subtracting units considered vacant
because they are for “seasonal,
recreational, or occasional use” from
the total housing unit count. In
communities that do not have a strong
tourism-based economy or a high share
of second homeowners, the year-round
housing count does not differ markedly
from the total housing unit count,
however, for much of Cape Cod, the
difference is significant.
Affordable Housing
Subsidized Housing Inventory
Under M.G.L. Chapter 40B, an affordable housing unit has its affordability secured for
households earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) by a long-term use
restriction and is made available to eligible households through an approved affirmative
marketing plan that meets Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
guidelines.
Upon approval by DHCD, housing that meets
these requirements is added to the Subsidized
Housing Inventory (SHI), a list of housing units
that “count” toward a community’s 10 percent
statutory minimum of affordable year-round units
under Chapter 40B. The percentage is determined
by dividing the number of SHI-eligible affordable
units by the number of year-round housing units
based upon the most recent decennial Census.
Because Census 2020 year-round housing counts
are not yet available, DHCD still uses 2010
Census figures.
In 2022, 7.23 percent (1,485 units) of
Barnstable’s year-round housing stock was
included on the Town’s Subsidized Housing
Inventory (SHI). A total of 103 properties are
single units permitted through the Town’s
Accessory Affordable Apartment Program. Under
this program, the Town permits the unit through a
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Comprehensive Permit through the Zoning Board of Appeals. That unit is rent-restricted and is
rented to low- and moderately low-income households via DHCD’s income guidelines.
Barnstable Housing Authority
The Barnstable Housing Authority (BHA), based in Hyannis, manages and operates local public
housing and housing voucher programs to provide safe and affordable rental housing for eligible
families, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities. Public housing programs include rental
units owned and managed by the BHA, as well as voucher programs that subsidize household
rents paid to private landlords. The Barnstable Housing Authority owns a total of 376 housing
units, with 103 affordable family units, 221 affordable units dedicated to elderly and young
disabled people, and 52 units for special needs housing throughout town. In addition to these
properties, the BHA also manages nine affordable family units for Cape Ministry and facilitates
over 650 subsidies for state and federal programs. Eligibility for the range of Barnstable Housing
Authority programs is determined through an application process that accounts for characteristi cs
including gross annual income, age, ability, and citizenship. Families are granted the highest
priority based on application criteria to direct limited resources to those experiencing intense
need. Residents may stay in public housing or voucher program s as long as they continue
meeting eligibility criteria and comply with leases but may choose to leave if affordable housing
becomes available through the private market.
During the recently completed consultation process for the development of Barnstable County’s
HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, the BHA reported that they had 845 applications for the local lists
they manage, with a need for all bedroom sizes and all ages. This is in addition to applicants for
BHA housing from the state’s online waiting list, which was up to 14,305 applicants, including
7,224 families applying for 1–4-bedroom units, 490 congregate applicants, 1,178 elderly
applicants, and 1,942 disabled applicants. There were also 6,904 applicants for BHA’s
Alternative Housing Voucher Program (for young disabled) at the time of the consultation
process.136, 137 Due to the state’s use of a centralized waiting list, these numbers could represent
136 Barnstable County HOME Consortium, HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, March 2023 Draft for HUD Submission,
p.45. Prepared for Barnstable County by Barrett Planning Group LLC.
137 The HOME-ARP program was authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and allocated $5 billion
to fund shelter, housing, and services for homeless and at-risk populations. Jurisdictions participating in the federal
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138
households from off Cape Cod, and there is no way to determine exactly how long applicants
will be waiting for a unit.
Homelessness
In February 2022, the Cape Cod & Islands
Continuum of Care conducted its annual
Point in Time (PIT) count, a HUD-mandated
one-night annual snapshot of homelessness
within a designated geography. The 2022 PIT
count identified 250 individuals experiencing
homelessness in Barnstable, out of a total of
397 individuals throughout the Cape &
Islands. While most of those counted were
either in emergency shelter or transitional
housing, there were 12 unsheltered
individuals in Hyannis (Figure 5.13).138
During the consultation process for the
HOME-ARP Allocation plan, numerous providers spoke to the challenges with the PIT count
and its unreliability as a measure of need. In addition to it only accounting for one night, it fails
to capture households who are “couch surfing” or doubling up with another family, nor does it
include those who are homeless but staying in a hotel or motel at their own expense. The
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) provides additional insight, as it includes
client-level data for participants enrolled in programs to support homeless or at -risk populations.
One such HUD program is called Street Outreach, which is designed to meet the immediate
needs of unsheltered homeless population by providing non-facility-based care. The Housing
HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a block grant program to fund low -to-moderate income housing, are
eligible to receive HOME-ARP funds upon successful HUD approval of an Allocation Plan. Barnstable County is
eligible to receive $1.5M under HOME-ARP.
138 MA-503 Cape Cod and Islands CoC, 2022 PIT Count Location Summary
10
74
73
81
12
Figure 5.13. Homeless Individuals in
Barnstable, 2022
Source: 2022 PIT Count, Cape Cod & Islands
Continuum of Care
Emergency Shelter - Motel
Emergency Shelter - Family
Emergency Shelter - Individual
Transitional Housing
Unsheltered
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Assistance Corporation (HAC) administers one of two Street Outreach programs on the Cape &
Islands, with Vinfen administering the second. HAC reported that their Street Outreach program
had 205 unduplicated clients from October 2021 to October 2022 – much higher than the 35
unsheltered individuals reported on the night of the PIT count.139 While presumably not all 205
clients were in Barnstable, the significant difference between the PIT and HAC’s Street Outreach
program indicate that the actual unsheltered count in Barnstable is likely much higher than
twelve.
School districts provide additional data on homelessness, as they are required to report the
number of homeless students to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education each
year to ensure compliance with federal laws relating to the education of homeless youth. Under
the McKinney-Vento Act, school districts must provide resources to ensure the education of
homeless youth enrolled in the district, including transportation to and from the district they were
enrolled in prior to becoming homeless. For the 2021-2022 academic year, there were 107
homeless youth enrolled in the Barnstable Public Schools. Under McKinney-Vento, students
who are doubling up with another family or staying in a hotel/motel without a voucher are
considered homeless. This definition does not qualify them as homeless for purposes of the PIT
count, which explains why the number of homeless youths reported by the school districts is
higher than the PIT count.140
Resources to Address Housing Needs
Barnstable has numerous local and regional resources for implementation of affordable housing
initiatives including Barnstable Housing Authority, Barnstable Council on Aging, Cape Cod
Commission, and multiple nonprofit organizations. Barnstable has access to a wide range of
affordable housing advocates and experts working with the homeless, seniors, victims of
139 Barnstable County HOME Consortium, HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, March 2023 Draft for HUD Submission,
p.27. Prepared for Barnstable County by Barrett Planning Group LLC.
140 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2021-2022 McKinney Vento Homeless Data
Report. Report shared by email from the Department on September 20, 2022.
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140
domestic abuse, and the disabled, as well as families and other individuals in need of affordable
housing.141
Local Resources
The Housing and Community Development Program and the Accessory Affordable Apartment
Program are housed under the umbrella of the Barnstable Planning and Development
Department. Specific initiatives of the Housing & Community Development Program
including affordable housing preservation and production, Community Development Block
Grant Administration, promoting home ownership opportunities, and administration of the
Housing Development Incentive Program, a Gateway Cities program offering tax relief for the
creation of market-rate rental units. Since its inception in 2000, the Accessory Affordable
Apartment Program’s main objective has been to use existing housing stock to provide
affordable housing. Other municipal housing strategies include zoning initiatives, such as the
adoption of a town-wide Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance and revisions to the Downtown
Hyannis zoning districts (the Growth Incentive Zone) to promote mixed use and multi-family
development. This Program also partners with other Town departments to explore appropriate
uses of municipal property for affordable housing.
Barnstable Housing Authority was established in 1948 and is not only an important partner in
developing in new units of affordable housing for individuals and families, but also managing
such units and administering important rental subsidies that enable lower -income families and
individuals to remain in the community by renting units in the private housing stock.
Barnstable Housing Committee’s purpose is to promote the production and preservation of
balanced housing resources that address the unmet needs of the Town of Barnstable. In addition
to the Local Action Unit work, the Housing Committee is currently working on an Inclusionary
Zoning Feasibility Analysis, partnering on updating the Housing Production Plan, and exploring
a tax exemption for those who participate in the Affordable Accessory Apartment program.
141 Ibid, p. 115.
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141
Barnstable Affordable Housing Growth & Development Trust Fund provides funding for
the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town of Barnstable for the benefit of
low- and moderate-income households.
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is charged with recommending the expenditure of
funds generated from the Community Preservation Act that was approved by the residents of the
Town of Barnstable in 2005. The CPC has priorities related to housing that including but not
limited to affordable rental projects in areas outside of Hyannis, projects that propose the
creation of affordable and community housing homeownership units in Hyannis, projects that
convert existing buildings and structures into new affordable/community housing units, and
projects that provide housing to vulnerable populations and offer supportive services.142
Barnstable Council on Aging is a Town department that supports the quality of life of the
community’s elderly through a wide variety of services.
Regional Resources
The Cape Cod Commission supports the advancement of regional efforts to create affordable
housing and support housing where appropriate through the facilitation of a Regional Housing
Market Analysis and by drafting model zoning (such as the model bylaw for ADUs).
Barnstable County HOME Consortium consists of the 15 communities on Cape Cod and is
eligible to receive and disburse federal HOME funds, which are federal formula grant funds
provided to state and local governments exclusively for the creation and preservation of
affordable housing for low-income households.
Housing Assistance Corporation was founded in 1974 to provide rental vouchers to year -round
workers on Cape Cod; it expanded over the years to include the Cape, Nantucket, and Martha’s
142 Town of Barnstable Community Preservation Committee Annual Plan, Fiscal Year 2022, p.11 -12
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142
Vineyard. HAC serves more than 6,000 households each year in three main areas: homeless
prevention, housing stabilization, and empowerment.143
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is an ecumenical, nonprofit Christian ministry dedicated to
building simple, decent homes in partnership with families in need.
Barnstable County Human Services coordinates regional work on homelessness and
administers grant-funded programs of regional impact. This County Department has recently
taken over administration and oversight of the HOME Program funds on behalf of the Barnstable
County HOME Consortium.
Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness carries out the responsibilities of the
HUD Continuum of Care Program.
The Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc. efforts are focused
primarily in the areas of access to health insurance and care, immigration resources, coordinating
subsidized food (SNAP) assistance, income tax preparation, emergency assistance, seasonal
assistance, and an emergency shelter for women and children.
Homeless Prevention Council’s mission is to provide personalized case management solutions
to promote stability for all those who live in the Lower Cape communities.
Located in Hyannis, Living Independently Forever (LIFE), Inc. is a private, nonprofit
organization that provides support and resources in the areas of vocation, education, social and
community involvement, and daily living, encouraging each resident’s aspirations, strengths, and
abilities.
CapeAbilities (formerly Nauset, Inc.) provides housing, jobs, and therapeutic services for
individuals with developmental disabilities on the Cape.
143 Housing Assistance Corporation, “About Housing Assistance Corporation.” Accessed March 2023 at
https://haconcapecod.org/about/
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The Cape Head Injured Persons’ (CHIP) Housing and Education Group provides support
and assistance for head-injured residents of Cape Cod and is committed to providing community-
based housing for these individuals.
Champ Homes provides multi-generational housing for individuals who are physically disabled,
in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse, mentally ill, or have other assorted needs.
APPENDIX A
Natural Systems Maps
Map 3.1. Wellhead Protection Areas
Map 3.2. Base Zoning Map
Comment [KM8]: Barrett Planning Group is
updating this map to accurately reflect the base
zoning districts per the recently amended Downtown
Hyannis Zoning Districts.
Map 3.3. Embayment Areas and Subembayment Areas
Map 3.4. Wetlands
Map 3.5. Open Space by Level of Protection
Map 3.6. Open Space by Ownership
APPENDIX B
Built Systems Maps
Map 4.1. Town of Barnstable Villages and Village Centers
Map 4.2. Current Land Use
Map 4.3. Base Zoning
Comment [KM9]: Barrett Planning Group is
updating this map to accurately reflect the base
zoning districts per the recently amended Downtown
Hyannis Zoning Districts.
Map 4.4. Zoning Overlay Districts
Comment [KM10]: Barrett Planning Group is
amending this map to accurate define current zoning
overlay districts.
APPENDIX C
Community Systems Maps
Map 5.1. Historic and Cultural Resources by Resource Type
Map 5.2. Historic and Cultural Resources by Areas
Map 5.3. National Registrar of Historic Places
Map 5.4. Households with Children
Map 5.5. Households with Someone 65 Years or Older
Map 5.6. Environmental Justice Populations
Map 5.7. Housing Types
Map 5.8. Age of Housing
Map 5.9.
Single Family
Homes
Improvement
Value to Land
Value Ratio