1973-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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73 Preservation of Open Space One of.the Commission's major priorities is preserving the Cape's most vital natural resource—its unique natural beauty. The Cape's environmental quality and rural charm are the basis of its two major sources of income, tourism and construction. Throughout the Cape, rapidly expanding development has alarmed many residents, but a number of towns have responded with ambitious open space acquisition plans. In some cases, however, acquisition efforts have been concen- trated in only one or two large areas. A system of neighbor- hood parks or preserved areas could provide physical or visual access for every member of the community. The Commission has presented this neighborhood open space plan through a series of maps illustrating how the concept might work in each town. This proposed approach could involve 15,000 acres in addition to those areas that are now publicly pro- tected. I The Commission has also recommended that open spaces be protected privately through Open Space Villages. Most Cape towns now have some form of Open Space Village or Cluster Zoning Bylaw, but for the most part developers have not utilized these bylaws. In an effort to increase under- standing and utilization of the Open Space Village concept, the Commission sponsored a 6-week workshop at Cape Cod Community College this past fall. Some 80 real estate bro- kers, planning board members, developers, engineers and surveyors attended the sessions to learn the planning pro- 1 cess involved in designing an Open Space Village. 3 The largest area of open space remaining on Cape Cod is Otis Air Force Base - Camp Edwards. Commission repre- sentatives have actively participated in the Otis Task Force since the group was formed last spring. The Commission has recommended that the 20,000 acres of Otis be placed under local control to assure home rule. Improving Per Capita Income and Job Opportunities While the Cape's economy is dependent on the:preser- vation of its rural character, the tourist and construction industries alone are not providing adequate employment for Cape residents. !