2019-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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18, and public information is always available on the Planning Board page of the Town's website at www.mashpeema.gov. Respectfully submitted, Mary Elaine Waygan, Chair Report of the Planning Department To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: It is my honor to submit my first Annual Report as your Town Planner at the close of my second year of service to the Town. The Planning Department strives to provide consistent and reliable information to Town Boards, residents, business owners, and developers. We seek to be ardent problem solvers in an effort to make Mashpee a top notch community to live, work, and play for people and families at all stages of life. It is our goal to ensure Mashpee's planning practices and regulatory processes are consistent with identified best practices in the field. The Planning Department, as in the past, continues to manage and administrate the regulatory processes vested within the authority of the Planning Board including the Board's public hearing, permitting, performance bonds and inspection processes. We collaborate with property owners, developers, and other Town Boards and Committees in the review and permitting of a number of subdivision and Special Permit Development projects throughout the year. In 2019, the Planning Board approved three (3) Special Permits creating nearly 20,000 square feet of commercial space along Route 130 and Evergreen Circle. One for the expansion of Cape Cod Coffee's Coffee Roasting Facility at 10 Evergreen Circle and one for the expansion and relocation of Best Buy Beverage at 11 Evergreen Circle. A third special permit was approved to allow a shared driveway at a property located at 147 and 155 Old Barnstable Road. Further, the Board approved a modification of the Special Permit for Windchime after releasing funds held in escrow for the purposes of upgrading the wastewater treatment system that serves the condominiums. The Board submitted (two) zoning articles, prepared by the Planning Department that were approved at the May Town Meeting. These articles rectified conflicts within the newly created Light Industrial Overlay District relative to outdoor dining in the Industrial Districts and Limited Commercial Districts of the Town. Additionally, these articles required new construction within the Light Industrial Overlay District comply with design guidelines as approved by the Cape Cod Commission. At the October Town Meeting, the Board took bold action to address issues of housing affordability by amending the Zoning Bylaw to allow accessory apartments as a by -right accessory use whether they be attached or detached from the principal dwelling so long as the septic system is designed to handle the additional bedroom and parking is provided off-street among other dimensional and design criteria. The Board held one (1) public hearing relative to street naming and approved the name `Mendes Way' which will serve two newly constructed affordable homes developed by Habitat for Humanity. In addition to these notable actions, the Planning Board reviewed and approved a number of Approval Not Required Plans, released building lots from recorded Covenants, and recommended Road Taking Policies and Procedures to the Board of Selectmen. In coordination with the Affordable Housing Committee, the Planning Department played a significant role in drafting a Request for Proposals for the development of 950 Falmouth Road for affordable rental housing. Along with representatives from the Board of Selectmen and the Affordable Housing Committee, I evaluated the two submitted proposals and recommended the bid be awarded to Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC). The Affordable Housing Trust awarded the project in November 2019. This project will result in 39 additional affordable rental units on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). The Cape Cod Commission updated the Regional Policy Plan in early 2019 which has kicked off the Board's efforts to update the Town's Local 154