Newest Housing Report Brings Solutions to the Table

The latest housing plan from the Cape Cod Commission brings forth data, as well a suite of solutions ranging from zoning and permitting to a regional land bank and creative financing options.

What does the newest Cape Cod housing report show?

July 05 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - From data that shows a 60% increase in housing prices to a zoning analysis that allows just 2% of the Cape open for multi-family house, the new Cape Cod Commission housing strategy plan puts a stake in the ground with both data and actionable tools. It also brings forth potential regional solutions including from zoning and permitting changes, funding and financing program, and even a a community landbank.

Based in data and informed by a plethora of regional organizations, the new regional strategy lays out a game plan to tackle the growing gap in housing across the Cape, says the commission’s executive director Kristy Senatori.

What was the goal of the housing plan?

The document, which was released in June 2024, combines research and data, along with tools and specific regional strategy recommendations in order to better understand the dynamics of Cape Cod Housing. But, by design, it also went beyond data and created forward moving solutions. The Cape Cod Commission says the larger goal of Housing Cape Cod: The Regional Strategy lay in bringing together towns and regional organizations for deeper explorations, all leading to specific strategy recommendations and usable tools.

Activities like zoning and permitting can and should be talked about regionally - but the execution remains local, said Senatori. Part of the report includes tools for planning, as well as model by-laws which could help communities more quickly take action, using tangible elements.

What did research find about Cape Cod housing?

Housing challenges are hardly unique to Cape Cod; they represent both a state and a national issue as well. But on the Cape, seasonal use, property values that have soared far about year-round incomes, and a monoculture of housing style magnify the need.

For example the research found that single family home prices increased on the cape 60 percent between 2019 and 2022, while median household income increased just 7.5 percent. A household needed more than $200,000 in income in order to reasonably afford a house on Cape Cod. As part of a zoning analysis done for the project, hard numbers now highlight the strong emphasis on single family homes in the region, showing that only 2% of the Cape allows this type of housing by right. A housing monoculture  represents part of the challenge in responding to the region's housing crisis

What housing solutions did the report offer?

In addition to re-thinking zoning, some of the report's recommendations include streamlined permitting, setting up a community housing land bank, building a regional home-sharing program, developing various financial incentives and financing options, exploring housing development on Joint Base Cape Cod, and creating a regional housing services office.

Some of the activities, such as zoning and permitting, happen on the town level, while others such as a land bank and a home-sharing program regional different regional entities to collaborate together. Model by-laws and tools for exploring the permitting process can be put to use right away, while other regional efforts will take more time to flesh out and execute.

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Red Nun Talks Housing with the Cape Cod Commission

This 25 minute podcast is available as a video (click on photo below to watch) and digs more deeply into the regional housing plan.