Barnstable

 

Barnstable is one of the two towns chosen as exemplary by those researching communities experiencing the fastest growth in population. Between 1990 and 2000, Barnstable experienced a 17% growth rate according to the U.S. Census. Barnstable is located in eastern Massachusetts on the "bicep" of the Cape Cod arm. The town is bordered by Cape Cod Bay to the north and Nantucket Sound to the south.

Land Area: 76.26 square miles
Population: 41,000
Town: Seven villages

Barnstable is one of the largest towns within our study group with an area of 76.26 square miles, and a population of just under 41,000 people. There are seven villages within the town, among them Hyannis, the municipal and commercial center.

Barnstable is a town with a rich history. Each of the seven villages contained within its borders has unique and significant historical and cultural qualities. Hyannis and its harbor provide steamship access to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Islands. The ocean, beaches, and recreational lifestyles can easily be associated with Barnstable and promote its tourist economy. Barnstable is home to many museums, including the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis.

Some of the exemplary planning practices within the town of Barnstable include a program of tax incentives designed to encourage specific types of development within designated regions, specifically the Central Business District. Barnstable has an extremely comprehensive capital budget that is impressive in its level of detail and is in many senses comparable to a master plan. The town boasts a high level of citizen participation and currently has over 300 volunteers sitting on 51 planning oriented committees. Barnstable has enacted a building cap ordinance that limits both the number of new buildings and assures that a full quarter of them be constructed as affordable housing. Finally, it was felt that Barnstable demonstrated a very strong recognition of regionalism and regional planning. The town is an active member of the Cape Cod Commission and takes part in numerous regional planning projects, including an extensive trail system. Barnstable also has a regional policy plan that includes growth on a regional level as a central issue.

 

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Created in 2002 by Alexandra Proshina. Maintained by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. Last  modified on 28th November, 2002
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