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.
Thursday, March 28
- Animal Welfare Committee, 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Community Center
- Planning Board, 6 p.m.
Friday, March 29
- School Committee, 5 p.m., Fanizzi’s Restaurant, 539 Commercial St.
Monday, April 1
- Town Meeting, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2
- Town Meeting (if needed), 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3
- Historic District Commission, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 4
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Advisory Article
Two voters who put a measure to limit consolidation in Provincetown’s hotel industry on the town meeting warrant by citizens petition, Elias Duncan and Brent Daly, told the select board on March 25 that they were preparing an amendment that would make it an advisory measure to the select board rather than a general bylaw.
“After talking with Alex Morse and Austin Miller today — and thank you both for speaking with us — I think we’re going to make Article 24 a nonbinding resolution,” said Duncan. “That would allow the town to vote on the idea but not necessarily commit to the language” that is in the current version of the proposal, Duncan said.
The select board had expressed enthusiasm for the idea, which would prohibit any one person or company from owning more than three hotels, motels, or licensed lodgings in town, with an exception for existing licenses. Select board members had worried that without sufficient “vetting,” however, any errors in the bylaw language could open the town to lawsuits.
Soft Commitments
The select board approved two “soft commitments” on March 25 to developers who are putting together financing for market-rate rental housing in town: one at the site of the town’s old police station at 26 Shank Painter Road and the other at 207 Route 6, a parcel belonging to the family of Patrick Patrick.
“This is a sign from the town that there’s an intention to be a partner financially” on these projects, said Town Manager Alex Morse.
Christine Barker and M. Tatiana Eck’s project to build 40 year-round rental apartments at 26 Shank Painter received a “soft commitment” of a $1 sale price for the land and “good faith efforts” from the select board “to obtain town funds in the amount of $4 million,” or $100,000 per apartment.
Patrick’s project, which combines 28 seasonal dormitory rooms with 15 apartments, received a “soft commitment” of $1.3 million, or $100,000 for each of the 13 apartments that Patrick was willing to deed-restrict to year-round rentals.
“This is all subject to appropriation at future meetings,” Morse said. —Paul Benson
