Consultant Jeff Bag from BSC Group joined the meeting via Zoom to provide a detailed overview of the open house scheduled for September 26, 2024, at the senior center. The event is designed to facilitate community involvement and reaffirm the goals established in the 2021 Vision Plan. Attendees will engage with four thematic stations covering the Vision Plan’s introduction, town demographics, and different aspects of the LCP, such as natural systems, community systems, and built systems.

Each station will display written goals and objectives, and facilitators will be present to assist attendees. A crowdsource map will enable residents to add location-specific comments. Concerns were raised about the accessibility of the crowdsource map, prompting suggestions for printed instructions and a live projector display to aid attendees unfamiliar with the technology.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on outreach strategies to ensure community participation. Besides email notifications, Jeff noted that a press release had been distributed, flyers were shared at community events, and announcements were made on social media. Despite these efforts, some board members expressed concerns about reaching a wider audience, emphasizing the need for diverse marketing strategies.

The logistics of the open house were planned, including the layout of stations, the flow of attendees, and the inclusion of town staff to address specific queries. Board members discussed the potential gap in expertise if additional town departments, such as building or IT, were not represented. Jeff acknowledged this concern but assured that the planning board could manage broad questions, with the January meeting planned to include more staff for deeper discussions.

Beyond the open house, the meeting touched on other topics. Notably, the board discussed the implications of a new state law on zoning and accessory apartments. A particular case involving a 700-square-foot accessory apartment highlighted the potential challenges and anticipated influx of applications once the law takes effect. Members voiced concerns about ensuring that the zoning board of appeals staff could handle the expected increase in applications and suggested gathering real data to inform future meetings.

Officer elections and committee assignments were also conducted during the meeting. Will Rubenstein was elected as clerk, Jim Saben as vice chair, and Joanne Crowley as chair, all by unanimous vote. The board authorized these officers to sign documents related to subdivision control regulations. Committee assignments were reviewed, with members expressing their preferences and noting the importance of rotating through different committees to gain diverse perspectives.

The board also discussed the selection process for a new planning board member, emphasizing the need for high-caliber candidates. Concerns were raised about finding suitable candidates who demonstrate engagement with town affairs. The board encouraged public interest in filling the vacancy and called for individuals to complete talent bank forms.

Updates on various projects and committees were shared, including the Local Comprehensive Plan, the Route 6A project, and the hazard mitigation plan. The Route 6A project is progressing with stakeholder meetings, and the town is preparing to present a preferred concept design to the select board. The hazard mitigation plan is being coordinated with the Cape Cod Commission, with further input gathering planned.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the importance of public awareness regarding road work on Route 28. Members suggested improving communication through various channels, including social media and navigation apps, to keep residents informed about road closures and construction activities.