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As a result of our re-qualification for LAND or Town Manager, assists other boards, committees 1
<br /> grants, we were able to prepare and submit a success- and departments with their activities and responds to
<br /> frequent requests from developers, appraisers, attor-
<br /> ful application for an $83,200 grant to help the
<br /> Conservation Commission purchase the Shields prop- neys, landowners, planning students and the general
<br /> erty on Meetinghouse Road as an addition to the public for information and assistance.
<br /> Mashpee River Woodlands Conservation Area. With
<br /> this latest grant, we have brought our Self-Help / During 2008, the Town Planner continued to
<br /> LAND grant total to $4.4 million over the years. We serve on the Plan Review Committee, Mashpee
<br /> also worked on the Town's acquisition of the Camp National Wildlife Refuge Management Committee,
<br /> Vinhaven property and negotiation of a $500,000 APCC Cape Cod Business Roundtable, County Smart
<br /> Mass. Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation Growth Working Group and DEP Popponesset Bay
<br /> Restriction on the property. Pilot Project Working Group. The latter group com-
<br /> pleted its work, defining a basis for cooperation
<br /> Regarding the update to the Town's Local between Mashpee, Sandwich and Barnstable on meet.
<br /> Comprehensive Plan, originally adopted in 1998, a ing the EPA's nitrogen reduction targets for the
<br /> draft Open Space element was completed by Tom Popponesset Bay Watershed. The final Pilot Project
<br /> Fudala and a preliminary draft of the Human Services report is scheduled to be published by DEP in early
<br /> element was done by Charlotte Garron, our former 2009 after approval by the EPA.
<br /> Administrative Assistant, working with former
<br /> Human Services director Louise Patrick. Both should The Wildlife Refuge Management Committee
<br /> be completed in 2009, along with an Affordable focused its efforts this year on planning for public
<br /> Housing element, but work on the other dozen ele- safety,particularly wildfire hazard protection,with the
<br /> ments of the Plan will be dependent on available development of a Wildland Fuel Hazard Assessment
<br /> staffing and other competing work items. of the Refuge properties,prepared by Northeast Forest
<br /> and Fire Management LLC with funding from the US
<br /> We continued to maintain a Town lands database Fish & Wildlife Service. The same company,funded
<br /> and provided our annual housing, land use and popu- by the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension,also prepared
<br /> lation estimates and projections. a draft Wildland Fire Protection and Preparedness
<br /> Plan for the Mashpee River Woodlands Conservation
<br /> As staff to the Planning Board, the Department Area, which lies outside the Refuge.
<br /> was involved in the review and permitting of a number
<br /> of subdivision and commercial development projects The Planning Dept. / Planning Board pages of
<br /> during the year, along with input to the Zoning Board the Town's web site provide Planning Board agendas,
<br /> of Appeals when requested, with much of the minutes, notices, decisions and forms, planning-
<br /> Department's time again spent on modification related links,the Town's Zoning Bylaw,project check
<br /> requests to previously approved projects. Much time lists, the Board's Subdivision and Special Permit
<br /> was also spent with the Planning Board, Cape Cod Regulations and other planning-related documents.
<br /> Commission staff and Mashpee Commons on initial Television broadcasts of the Planning Board's meet-
<br /> steps towards a long-term Development Agreement ings can also be viewed on the Town's web site at
<br /> for the remaining portions of the Commons project. http•//www.ci.mashpee.ma.us.
<br /> Three of four proposed zoning articles were The Planning Department sincerely appreciates
<br /> approved at the October Town Meeting, including the support and encouragement we have received
<br /> minor changes involving the organization and powers from Mashpee's citizens. We welcome your opin
<br /> of the Zoning Board of Appeals and a clarifying ions on the planning issues that face the Town and
<br /> amendment to the front lot line definition, as well as a encourage you to participate actively in meetings
<br /> major simplification of the permitting process for and community debates about our town's future.
<br /> docks and piers, most of which will no longer require Please feel free to contact me with any opinions or
<br /> a special permit. An amendment intended to facilitate suggestions at (508) 539-1400 x521 or via e-mail at
<br /> development of assisted living facilities, hotels, nurs- townplanner@ci.mashpee.ma.us.
<br /> ing homes and similar facilities, particularly in the C-
<br /> 3 zoning district, was not supported by Town Meeting. Respectfully submitted,
<br /> In addition to assisting the Planning Board with F. Thomas Fudala
<br /> permit reviews and other tasks, the Department under- Town Planner
<br /> takes other assignments from the Board of Selectmen
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