Due to the pandemic, meetings are held remotely. Go to provincetown-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch.
Thursday, June 10
- Planning Board, 6 p.m.
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 14
- Bicycle Committee, 2 p.m.
- Select Board, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15
- Visitor Services Board, 1 p.m.
- Conservation Commission, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16
- Disability Commission, 9 a.m.
- Historic District Commission, 4 p.m.
Thursday, June 17
- Board of Health, 4 p.m.
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Car Hits Angel Foods
A motorist veered off Commercial Street and crashed into Angel Foods around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, according to store owner Liz Lovati and a witness at the scene. Lovati was not present when the crash occurred, because she was driving to Eastham for her son’s graduation from Nauset Regional High School.
“I got the call while I was en route, but I knew if I turned around and went back to the store, I was going to miss this milestone in my son’s life,” said Lovati. “Paul Fanizzi left his business and ran down the street to care for mine. The driver actually called his contractor, Bob Cameron, and he came and boarded up the places that were wide open, so we could close the business. It’s been an outpouring of support — this town has been amazing to me.”
Angel Foods was closed on Sunday but opened again on Monday. “I’m waiting for a call back from the town,” said Lovati. “They want an engineer to make sure the building is safe. The driver knocked down a post. I don’t own the building. I’m in contact with the insurance company. Somehow I think it might become a little bit of a nightmare.”
The Provincetown police responded to the crash and did field sobriety checks on the driver, said Lovati and the witness. “The police said it was an accident, vitals normal, no signs of impairment,” said Lovati. “The driver is a customer — I’ve done some catering for him before. I’m just thankful no one was hurt.”
One employee of Angel Foods was close to the impact site. She was monitored by first responders for very high blood pressure from the scare, but ultimately did not need medical transport. The vehicle was towed away, and the driver eventually ordered two sandwiches.
Ready for Bids at VFW
After the select board’s final comments on May 24, Provincetown issued a formal request for proposals (RFP) for an affordable or mixed-income housing development at the site of the former VFW hall on Jerome Smith Road. The location was the subject of three different public engagement sessions in 2019, and the RFP incorporates some material from those sessions as well as some new policy choices.
The document sets 44 units as the minimum number for the site, but specifies that projects with a higher number of units will be preferred. At least half must be legally affordable to people with incomes of 80 percent or less of area median income (for 2021, that is $54,450 per year for one person, or $62,200 per year for two people). Preference will go to proposals that also contain some “workforce housing incomes,” often defined as 80 to 120 percent of area median income, and some market-rate rentals. The VFW parcel will be conveyed to the developer, the RFP says, but “the affordable units must remain affordable in perpetuity.”
The RFP also notes that “there is a vacant lot adjacent to the property that is currently for sale that could be utilized by the developer to maximize the building area and provide an additional egress onto Captain Bertie’s Way.” The only lot that fits that description is 55-R Captain Bertie’s Way, owned by Paul and Victoria Mendes. It’s a half acre, and is listed on realtor.com for $1.75 million. The document also says that “town funding may include some portion of the acquisition of the adjacent lot.”
The VFW lot itself is 1.3 acres and was purchased by the town for $900,000 in 2013.
Developers must submit an inquiry by July 6, and proposals are due by July 29.
PLOVR Remembers Pulse
PLOVR, the Provincetown League of Visionary Revolutionaries, is collaborating with Gays Against Guns Provincetown to remember the victims of the Pulse Orlando Massacre. They will gather in front of town hall on Saturday, June 12 from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join.
More Restaurant Seats
The full agenda for the select board’s June 14 meeting was not available at press time, but one public hearing item was posted: economic development permit requests from the Mews, Victor’s, and the Red Inn. Mews is seeking 805 gallons per day, which would add 23 seats to the restaurant. Victor’s is seeking 630 gallons for 18 additional seats, and the Red Inn is seeking 700 gallons for 20 additional seats. Written comments were due by Tuesday, June 8, but spoken comments can be delivered when the public hearing starts at 7 p.m. —Paul Benson