Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Provincetown are held in person, typically with an online-attendance option. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar at provincetown-ma.gov for a link to an agenda and details. All meetings are at Town Hall unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
- Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
- Historic District Commission, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 5
- Council on Aging, 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Community Center
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Voting
Voters who want to cast their ballots early for the Sept. 3 state primary election may do so in person in the clerk’s office at town hall on Thursday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. Or vote in the auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 3 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Zoning Changes
The “seasonal communities” designation in the state’s new housing bond law comes with many “carrots” that offer towns greater flexibility in adapting to their housing crises, along with one small “stick” — a requirement that towns adopt certain new bylaws.
Towns that receive the designation under state law must adopt bylaws or ordinances that allow for the construction of tiny houses and allow homes to be built on undersize lots, as long as all of the resulting units are deed-restricted as year-round housing only.
All towns in Barnstable County in which at least 35 percent of the residential inventory is second homes will automatically be designated “seasonal communities” by the state, though town meeting voters can reject the designation if they wish. All eight Outer and Lower Cape towns exceed that percentage and qualify for automatic designation.
“I think it’s something we need to look at from a zoning perspective, putting together a package for the next town meeting,” said select board member Austin Miller at the Aug. 26 board meeting.
“The tiny houses are interesting, and I think it will be very beneficial,” said board member Leslie Sandberg. “I just want to make sure it’s something people know to look at.” —Paul Benson
