Smart Growth Guides
The Association to Preserve Cape Cod is the region’s leading nonprofit environmental organization, working for the adoption of laws, policies and programs that protect and enhance Cape Cod’s natural resources and quality of life.
A central focus of APCC’s efforts is to direct growth to our existing town centers and villages and away from critical natural resource areas. Promotion of compact village centers and protection of natural resource areas is also a primary goal of the Cape Cod Business Roundtable, a group of about 25 civic leaders who meet regularly to address regional issues.
During the past several years APCC and the Roundtable have worked collaboratively to advocate for revitalization of town centers and protection of natural resources. Over the course of our work, we determined that although towns’ local comprehensive plans call for compact development and protection of natural resources, the provisions of towns’ bylaws often preclude this pattern of land use. As we advocated for bringing zoning bylaws into alliance with local comprehensive plans, we discovered that the public was concerned about density and additional height in villages and that there were multiple impediments to changing zoning bylaws in general.
“A Guide to Town Center Revitalization” and “Overcoming Impediments to Smart Growth on Cape Cod” provide information, insight and guidance for towns and concerned citizens who seek to establish a pattern of development that results in vibrant town centers and protection of natural resources areas. The “Guide to Town Center Revitalization” is largely based on our experiences in several towns on Cape Cod where we have worked with partners to effect zoning changes to promote village revitalization. “Overcoming Impediments to Smart Growth on Cape Cod” is the result of an analysis of the problems related to reforming zoning bylaws.
Funding for these projects was generously provided by the Barnstable County Economic Development Council to APCC on behalf of the Business Roundtable.
