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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBarnstable Community Engagement Plan DRAFT - for LCPC ReviewCommunity Engagement Plan Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan A Local Comprehensive Plan is a process that acknowledges complex community systems, relationships, and decisions and that culminates in a document toguide Barnstable's future. As the largest town on Cape Cod,the Town of Barnstable is a unique community, comprised of seven villages. The Local Comprehensive Planning Committee supported by Town Planning & Development staff aim to facilitate equitable outreach opportunities throughout the process. This Local Comprehensive Plan update will invite community members to reflect onnatural, built, and community systems at work locally, in the context of the Town of Barnstable and the Cape Cod region, as well as global trend and challenges. In addition to overarching inclusion through engagement opportunities, the Local Comprehensive Plan Processis concerned with these related issues: Equity:all groups may impact the Local Comprehensive Plan through an iterative, collaborative process so that it may include year-round residents, seasonal residents, and individuals employed in Barnstable. Sustainability & Responsibility:the needs of today'sBarnstable residentswill not compromise the lives of future residents. Purposes of Community Engagement Community engagement will be iterative while developing theBarnstable Local Comprehensive Plan. Data and information frominstitutionsand agencies areessentialin this project; still,the personal knowledge of people familiar with Barnstableand its villages matters even more. The engagement process will occur through community outreach and activities established bythe Local Comprehensive Planning Committee (LCPC)with the following purposes in mind: Evaluate the goals and accomplishments of the 2010 Local Comprehensive Plan and additional local plans. Identify and involve individuals who are passionate and invested in the future of Barnstable. Listen to Barnstable residents and those familiar with the Town about thecommunity'scurrent and anticipated needs. Incorporatedisproportionately affected groups, such as people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), people with disabilities, or low-income individuals, in community conversations about ongoing decisions and projects. Consult institutions of Barnstable that offer social services and resources, including faith-based organizations, housing agencies, and community organizations. Engage youth and children and recognize the importance of their voicesin informing our future Analyze the community's feedback and discussions gathered through various participation methods, including in-person, online, and hybrid means. Convey the results of community engagement to the community, organizations, and the Town'sdecision-makers. Stakeholders, Advocates, Advisors, Decision-Makers People with interest in theBarnstable Local Comprehensive Plan and its results will have opportunities to participate in the planning process. Stakeholders As used in this Local Comprehensive Planning Process, "stakeholder" means: Individuals who live or work in Barnstable. Village Civic Associations Active businesses, storefronts, and vendors. Home and landowners who maintain their properties as second homes or rental properties. Faith-based communities. Community groups and organizations Advocates and EstablishedCommunity Relationships These are organizations or individuals who can assist with outreach and communication throughout this process. All Town Departments Barnstable Public Schools Barnstable Adult Community Center, Hyannis Youth & Community Center Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions, including Youth Commission Town Councilors Village Civic Associations Organizations serving low- or moderate-income people, Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, people of all abilities, senior citizens, and other members of protected classes in Barnstable. Agencies and non-profit organizations that promote justice,equity, and inclusion in their mission. Institutions and not-for profit organizations including lakes and ponds associations, Barnstable Land Trust,Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Housing Assistance Corporation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Historical Societies, Chambers of Commerce,Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District, and othersidentified through the community connections effort. Advisors, Contributors, Decision-makers The Local Comprehensive Planning Committee (LCPC),a steering committeeappointed to leadthe Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan process, is comprised of residents from the seven villages of varying ages, backgrounds, and interests. The BarnstableTown Managerassembled this group through an extensive application and interview process. Local Comprehensive Planning Committee representatives meet monthly (or as necessary) in Barnstable Town Hall(or other locations open and accessible to the public) with interested residents, Planning & Development Department staff, and the consulting team to review progress and plan opportunities for public outreach throughout the project timeline, and ultimately recommend a local comprehensive plan. Barnstable municipal staff act as guidance throughout this plan. The Local Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee is a flexible group of engaged residents who expressed early interest in participation in the local comprehensive planning process. Those individuals who were asked to participate on an LCP Advisory Committee level will be kept informed of all meetings and engagement activities.The Advisory Committee will play an invaluable role as ambassadors for the Local Comprehensive Plan and contribute to outreach efforts by keeping their networks informed and assisting at events when needed. The Barnstable Town Council has final approval of the Local Comprehensive Plan. The Town also seeks to submit the final Local Comprehensive Plan to the Cape Cod Commission for certification. Resources, Scale of Engagement, Project Schedule Resources The BarnstableDepartment of Planning and Development shall assist the Committee bycoordinating this Local Comprehensive Plan to envision and acollective and conscious future of Barnstableunder the guidance of theLocal Comprehensive PlanningCommittee. The Town of Barnstableis funding Phase I with local resources and hasengaged a team of consultants led by Barrett Planning Group. Should the Local Comprehensive Planning Committee identify the need for additional resources to carry out their work, those resource requests should be made to the Town Manager, via designated staff, for consideration. Scale of Engagement Engagement opportunities will draw the participation of full-time and seasonal residents and individuals employed in Barnstable as well as visitors, stakeholders, and community organizations. LCPC members will seek to begin and guide conversations about the community's future by elevating voices in Barnstable and transforming individuals' vision into action. Project Schedule Community engagement will be iterative, continuous, and often conducted through both in person and virtual communication methods due to some residents' difficultly or inability to attend in person meetings or seasonal residence. The first phase of this effort includes raising education and awareness of the Town’s existing condition and assessing the needs of the residents and villages. The product of the initial phase will be a summary of existing conditions and a vision statement or statements. A vision statement expresses the shared values of the community for future growth and development and resource protection and represents a growth policy for the community. Task Timeline Description of Task Kickoff & Outreach Strategy July - August Engagement Plan Social & Organizational Network Exploration Local Comprehensive Plan Existing Conditions Assessments and Public Participation September - October Community Forums & Village Civic Association Meetings Community Comment Walls & Display Boards Site Visits, Coffee Hours, & Tabling Events Connect to Religious Institutions Saturdays on Main Street Pop-Up Community Surveys Second Round Interviews: Deeper Dive Vision Statement November December-January Visioning Breakout Discussions Draft Vision Statement(s) Released Final Vision Statement(s) Communications Communication Venues Information about the Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan will be made available through the website hosted by the Town of Barnstable: https://barnstablelcp.com/ In addition: The Local Comprehensive Planning Committee and Barnstable Planning &Development staffwill receive the consulting team's materials with consistent branding elements for print and online publication. Barnstable Local Comprehensive Planning Committee members will display information about meetings, engagement opportunities, and community survey opportunities through flyers, posters display boards, email communication, and social media. Display locations include associated institutions, including Barnstable Town Hall, public libraries, Town community buildings, Hyannis Youth & Community Center and the Barnstable Adult Community Center. Meeting agendas and signs will be arranged and posted by the Town in advance of all community forums and engagement opportunities in the form of: Official Flyer Announcements Locationsroutinely used by the Town for public service announcements Sandwich Boards Postcards or other direct mailings to residents at landmarks and major town-wide efforts Organizations identified in the ‘Advocates and Established Community Relationships’ section with regular newsletters will also receive periodic newsletter content in electronic form, or printed materials as requested. Social Media: Twitter/Instagram The Town of Barnstablewill convey information regarding Local Comprehensive Plan meetings, events, and engagement through the following social media accounts: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/townofbarnstable/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarnstableMA Social media content may include videos and recorded messages in other languages. Barnstable Local Comprehensive Plan Newsletter The Town of Barnstablewill use its Local Comprehensive Plan newsletteremail to inform interested partiesof Local Comprehensive Planupdatesand outreach events. Individuals may sign up onthe Local Comprehensive Plan website through the following link: https://barnstablelcp.com/stay-connected/ The Town will have other Town Departments, Boards, and CommitteesconveyLocal Comprehensive Plan information in their newsletters and emails, including: Barnstable Weekly e-news Barnstable Public Schools Barnstable Council on Aging Discover Barnstable Podcast Translation of Phase I materials inviting participation and public involvementwill be facilitated inBarnstable's top languages as directed by the Town of Barnstable and resident feedback. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Approach Overview Principles important in the Local Comprehensive Plan include: An equitable approach considersfuturegenerations and all development methods in this process. Pursuit of active and constructive input from stakeholders, advocates, and participantswill be soughtand reflected in the planafter attentive outreach. The development of community knowledge and leadership that strengthens the Town'scapacity to lead responsible future development. The consistent monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment of community engagement to ensure effective planning and representative participation. The community engagement approach was designed withseveral considerations: Equity.A Local Comprehensive Plan process aims to advance equity by intentionally including and elevating the voices of seasonal and full-time residents. The consulting team will analyze participation to identify barriers to community contact and overcome hindrances with a defined strategy. Community Health Considerations.Cognizant of the COVID-19 pandemic, LCPC members and municipal planning representatives will facilitate in-person, hybrid,and asynchronous means for varying degrees of participants' comfort. Barnstable Planning and Development department will enable the dissemination of project materials and relevant past plans through a project website and with the help of local institutions. Institutions with consistent newsletters and notice boards will assist in overcoming digital and language barriers across Barnstable. Barriers may cause people todisengage from the Local Comprehensive Plan process. To help bridge these gaps, community members andthe project team will employlinguistic specialists to assist in the case of language barriers. Translation of Phase I materials inviting participation and public involvement will be facilitated in Barnstable's top languages as directed by the Town of Barnstable and resident feedback. Access to Information.Town staff will post interim draft documents and the final Local Comprehensive Plan on the project website:barnstablelcp.com/ The Town of Barnstable will make all meetings available for public attendance, live broadcast whenever possible, and recorded so they may be accessible online and included in the final plan appendix. Community meetings hosted by the Town will offer a child-friendly environment and include refreshments whenever feasible. Multiple Opportunities.There will be various engagement opportunities accessible to the public so they may attend outreach events as their schedules permit. Engagement by Activity& Mode of Participation Social & Organizational Network Exploration This phase aims to orient Barnstable's existing social and organizational networks withinthe Local Comprehensive Planning process. Representatives, advocates, and individuals will participate in interviews about existing infrastructure, economic drivers, resource networks, and perceived challenges. Participants will be asked for referrals to additional stakeholders to uncover the existing resource infrastructure within Barnstable. Anticipated Schedule: August 2022 Second Round Interviews: Deeper Dive Underrepresented groups will be sought during this second round of organizational interviews. Interviews with hard-to-reach residents may best occur in centralized locations where disenfranchised individuals may already gather, including the public library, senior center, or sports league complexes.Difficult-to-reach populations include: Low-income Households Households with Children Older Adults Renters (large multi-family buildings and smaller units) Populations with English as their second language Newcomers to Barnstable BIPOC Individuals Anticipated Schedule: September-October 2022 Community Forums & Village Civic Association Meetings Comprehensive plans can be intimidating to a community; the idea of planning actions that impact the next generation may apply pressure through unclear expectations on citizens and the process. Community forums may act as an introduction to the Local Comprehensive Planning process, alleviating some stress by starting the conversation and clarifying how the public may participate. Additional community forums may also allow for presenting existing conditions to the public. Anticipated Schedule: September 2022 Community Mapping Exercises Community members form associations with locations daily; understanding where individuals label different neighborhoods in communities opens the door for storytelling and familiarizes the consulting team with the community. After distinguishing neighborhoods, individuals may also determine areas that are personal treasures, full of potential, or a perceived challenge in this planning process. Anticipated Schedule: TBD Community Comment Walls & Display Boards A public location for asynchronous comments keeps residents engaged in the Local Comprehensive Plan process between general forms and outreach events. The comment wall may prompt individuals with a variety of visioning and more specific questions that align with the planned timeline. Display boards will be in central locations such as Town Hall, the Adult Community Center, Hyannis Youth and Community Center, other community buildingsand various public libraries. Anticipated Schedule: September-October 2022 Site Visits, Coffee Hours, & Tabling Events Reaching individuals in a large community with a village orientation and seasonal population can be complex, especially when competing with the area'sspecial events and landscapes. It is crucial to meet residents where they are during the most prominent season and establish a consistent event presence. Site visits, tabling events, coffee hours, and other outreach activities may include: Public Libraries Main Street Events Village Civic Association meetings & events Homeowners Associations & Block Parties Community Centers Yacht & Sailing Clubs Popular Beaches Hyannis Youth & Community Center and Village community buildings Youth Sporting Events Farmer's Markets Anticipated Schedule: Fall 2022 Connect to Religious Institutions Religious institutions offer their spaces as settings for gatheringand worship in communities. Many may allow representatives from the Local Comprehensive Plan to spread awareness about the process or collaborate on visioning outreach. Religious institutions in Barnstable include, but are not limited to: West Parish of Barnstable Our Lady of Hope First Lutheran Church Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod Christian Congregation in the United States St. Mary's Episcopal Church Cape Cod Church of Christ Unitarian Church of Barnstable Christ Chapel Gateway Christian Center Cotuit Federated Church New Day Ministries Community Church St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church St. Vincent de Paul Society St. Jude's Chapel First Pentecostal Church St. Peter's Episcopal Our Lady of the Assumption Church Anglican Church the Good Osterville Baptist Church United Methodist Church New Beginnings Foursquare Church Marston's Mill Community Church Islamic Center of Cape Cod Cape faith Church Seventh-Day Adventist Church Mosque in Cape Cod South Congregational Church Our Lady of Parish Agape Ministries Craigville Tabernacle Dominican Fathers St. Andrew's by the Sea Union Chapel St. George Greek Orthodox Harbor Church Chabad Lubavitch of Cape Cod South Congregational Church Faith Church Fairmount The House by the Cherry Tree Fall River Diocese Maranta Christian Church Hyannis Living Hope Family Church St. Vincent de Paul Society Jewish Federation of Cape Cod First Baptist Church Christian Science Church Faith Assembly of God Cape Cod Synagogue Cause Church Inc Calvary Church First Born Tabernacle Unity on Cape Cod The Rock Victory Chapel St. Anthony's Church Blood the Currency of the Spirit World Flagstaff Meadowbrook Church Victor Chapel Brazilian Assembly of God Grace Harbor Church Saturdays on Main Street Pop-Up Barnstable is known for its many "Main Street" events that occur through the late spring, summer, and autumn months. In partnering with Hyannis Main Street and additional Business Improvement Districts, members of the LCPC may remain in the minds of citizens and attract individuals to larger community forums. Anticipated Schedule: Fall 2022 Community Surveys Surveys are an essential part of the planning process for individuals who cannot attend or participate during in-person outreach opportunities, especiallywhen keeping seasonal residents incorporated in the process. The consulting team will aid in the creation and launch of a visioning survey during the fall season to continue engagement with full-time and seasonal residents. Anticipated Schedule: October 2022 Visioning Breakout Discussions Aftercompletinga community introduction, forums, and surveys, theLCPC, and consulting team will facilitate visioning breakout sessions to reflect on community feedback and participation. Anticipated Schedule: December – January 2022