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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExisting Conditions: Key FactsNatural SystemsTrends & Key Findings Groundwater The Cape Cod aquifer is designated as a Sole Source Aquifer under the Safe Drinking Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),a designation that requires Federally funded projects to assess project impacts to the aquifer. •The Town of Barnstable is evaluating options for developing new groundwater supplies to meet current and future needs for potable drinking water, which is served by the Water Supply Division of the Barnstable Department of Public Works. •The Town’s groundwater system is replenished entirely by precipitation. •The level of the water table fluctuates seasonally due to evaporation, precipitation, and water withdrawals. •Barnstable’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) continues ongoing conversations with the Fire/Water Districts about wellhead protection and open space acquisition, in order to meet the goal from the 2010 LPC that no development should occur within a 400-foot radius of a future public supply well and lands within the 400 feet of wells should be acquired whenever possible. Freshwater Lakes & Ponds Freshwater lakes and ponds in the Town of Barnstable are significant scenic, recreational, and wildlife habitat resources. •The Town of Barnstable has 163 freshwater ponds, 90 of which are one acre or more. Twenty-seven ponds are greater than 10 acres and are considered “Great Ponds'' under state regulations. Collectively, ponds occupy 1,912 acres within the town. •Freshwater ponds are particularly sensitive to additions of phosphorus, which is associated with development and land uses close to a pond (such as wastewater, fertilizer, and stormwater sources). •Buffering pond shorelines from development is an effective strategy for protecting freshwater ponds and lakes by taking advantage of the soil’s ability to adsorb and store phosphorus. •Pond and lake stewardship in Town includes the Conservation Division, Pond and Lake Stewardship (PALs) Program, the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC), the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and the Cape Cod Ponds Network. Marine Water The sustained health of our marine waters and other coastal resources is absolutely critical for our environment, our economy, and our way of life. •The Town’s 2009 Coastal Resources Management Plan focuses on the Three Bays and Centerville River Systems. •This plan addresses marine services and facilities such as marinas, moorings, and other boating access; fisheries and aquaculture; natural resources such as water quality and plant and wildlife biodiversity; and potential impacts of sea- level rise. •The Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, recently updated in 2022, is another important policy document for marine waters and coastal areas that identifies priority projects to help protect the most vulnerable locations like barrier beach areas and coastal dunes. Barnstable’s Community Resilience building workshop identified low-lying infrastructure, emergency access during weather events, wastewater and utility failures as some of the most concerning challenges related to climate change. Wetland Resources •Buffers provide important habitat as well as assist in the management of pollutants, trapping or arresting nutrients and sediment before they can flow into wetlands and clog or impair them. •Increasingly important, wetland buffers preserved from development will help to store increased stormwater runoff as the climate changes and will allow wetlands to migrate as changes in groundwater height and increased precipitation events occur. •Barnstable is home to over three hundred isolated wetlands, with many being cranberry bogs. Some cranberry bogs are an active part of the Cape Cod economy while others are abandoned or protected as open space. •There are 37 certified vernal pools in Barnstable; these small environments are unique because they can recharge local aquifers and provide for a diverse set of animals with conditions ranging from saturated, dry, or frozen. Habitat •BioMap identifies 15,107 of Critical Natural Landscapes (CNLs) within Barnstable. •The subdivision of large tracts of land can threaten significant habitats, replacing native vegetation with impervious surfaces and lawns.To address this, the Town has: o Implemented the Resource Protection Overlay District, which increased the minimum lot size to two acres in most areas of Town; o Promoted Open Space Residential Design subdivisions in place of traditional subdivisions; and o Mapped Sensitive Habitat Areas to guide the review and permitting of development in affected areas. Open Space •Approximately 28% of the area of the town is open space protected in perpetuity (11,469 acres). This is an increase of 524 acres from 2010 to 2022. •Areas held by the water districts for drinking water protection represent a large portion of the undeveloped land in Barnstable. •Land acquisitions along Route 6 make up the “backbone” of the Town’s conservation lands and contribute to regional green infrastructure and Cape Cod Pathways goals. •Conservation efforts continue to focus on smaller corridors running north-south and linking to the larger conservation greenway along the moraine. Property acquisitions along Barnstable coastlines support highly productive ecosystems, provide popular recreation opportunities, and preserve the scenic quality of the seashore. •Additional Open Space exists beyond the 11,469 acres held in perpetuity including other parcels without protection or limited protections. Natural Systems: Trends & Key Findings Wetland Resources Ponds & Lakes 5,520 acres Marsh 4,230 acres Beaches 3,205 acres Wooded Wetlands 1,143 acres Cranberry Bogs 253 acres Total 14,352 acres Level of Protection # of Parcels Total Area None 30 570 acres Limited 34 189 acres In Perpetuity 931 11,469 acres Total 995 12,228 acres Built SystemsTrends & Key Findings Land Use & Development Decisions about land use directly impact the protection of our sensitive environmental areas and waterbodies, locations for resilient development, redevelopment, and infrastructure while directly impacting where people live and work, how they can travel from place to place, and how they interact with one another in community. •Barnstable has promoted development and redevelopment where infrastructure can support it. •Conservation land and policies protect vulnerable land as building costs slowed development activity despite housing demand. •Current housing needs are met through the alteration or expansion of existing housing stock through permitted renovations. •A complex zoning ordinance ensures development is achieving intended results through zoning districts in tandem with supplemental regulations including: •Growth Management Ordinance •Districts of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) •Subdivision Rules and Regulations (SRR) •Wetland Regulations •Board of Health Regulations •Regulatory Agreements •Resource Protection Overlay District (RPOD), which covers the western half of the Town and requires 2-acre zoning to limit development. Wastewater Management Protecting water quality is vital to the health and future of the Barnstable community and the region, and wastewater management plays a critical role. Infrastructure to handle and treat wastewater (household, commercial, and industrial wastes) can protect our embayments and groundwater for the health of the community and natural environment. •Barnstable’s wastewater and sewer infrastructure include a secondary wastewater treatment plant, 30 sewage pump stations, and 55 miles of sewer collection lines, a pretreatment program for industrial wastewater, and a laboratory for testing. •The Town of Barnstable collaborates with the Cape Cod Commission to best mitigate the impact of wastewater through plans including the 2020 Complete Waste Management Plan and Water Pollution Control Program. •Additional efforts by the Town of Barnstable to reduce nitrogen from point source contamination include a geographic information systems (GIS) tool that analyzes the water conditions on a lot-by-lot basis. The CWMP calls to expand the Town’s sewer collection system by approximately 190 miles of sewer lines over 30 years. Drinking Water Supplies The Barnstable drinking water supply is provided by the Cape Cod sole source aquifer, an underground layer of porous soil through which fresh water can flow. Its sandy nature leaves the Cape Cod aquifer vulnerable to contamination since there is less time for natural filtration. •Barnstable is split into five independently governed districts for the provision of water and emergency services including fire and emergency medical response. •Barnstable Fire Districts are a separate entity to water supply and treatment, but the two are divided along the same geographic districts. Prudential Committees govern fire districts and Water Commissions allow for local democracy to direct district policy. •A projected drinking water deficit of 2.16 million gallons per day triggered a 2019 study completed by Weston and Sampson to determine additional well sites. Three alternate sites were proposed as potential well and treatment sites. •The Town also faces concerns of chemical detection in the water supply including polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). •The Downtown Hyannis Growth Incentive Zone is an additional planning tool that allows certain development activities to be exempt from Cape Cod Commission regulatory review enacted in 2006, extended in 2016 and re-designated in 2018. Built Systems: Trends & Key Findings Stormwater Management Stormwater management is an essential component of the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan due to the potential impact on bays, watersheds, and groundwater. •Runoff can contain sediment, bacteria, fertilizers, oils, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals, and often carries them directly into drainage infrastructure or surface waters. •Climate change brings more frequent and larger storms with more rain, wind, and waves along with rising sea levels that threaten infrastructure. •Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) reduces and treats runoff while also providing shade, habitat, and beautification. •Staff are currently pursuing Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) compliance through updated local standards and regulations. Stormwater includes all precipitation and snowmelt that runs off surfaces such as roofs, pavement, and even lawns instead of absorbing into soil and natural groundcover. Utilities & Services Public Schools •Barnstable Public Schools maintain a low teacher-to-student ratio of 11.6 students per one teacher and focus on educating the whole child through social emotional learning opportunities. •Regional education institutions including Cape Cod Regional Technical School and Cape Cod Community College also provide resources to help individuals enhance technical skills, achieve career goals, and meet the needs of the everchanging regional economy. Libraries •Barnstable is home to seven independent libraries, with one private, non-profit organization contracted with the town in each village to provide library services to residents. Public Safety •The Barnstable Police Department currently employs close to 150 staff members including officers and dispatchers. •Staff have outgrown existing office spaces and now employ cubicles and village substations to supplement facility needs. In addition, the Department has reported staffing/hiring challenges. •Barnstable is divided into five Fire Districts governed by elected Prudential Committees that oversee the budgets for fire and emergency services. •The Hyannis Fire District was the first one formed in 1896 after Town Meeting rejected the creation of a town-wide fire department due to Barnstable’s size and number of villages. Solid Waste •Solid waste disposal in Barnstable is facilitated through a town-wide Solid Waste Disposal Facility and a transfer station for households and commercial trash haulers. Household Utilities •Households and businesses across Barnstable have a diverse set of needs; Eversource facilitates electricity while National Grid supplies natural gas. Transportation Network Barnstable has facilities for many modes of transportation for residents and visitors, but mobility throughout the town is largely car-centric. •The Barnstable Department of Public Highway Division maintains 271.19 miles of town roads and provides emergency repairs on 200 miles of private roads. •Low-lying roads are a concern along the north and south bays of Barnstable as many as 605 miles of roadway become impassable during storm surge, culvert flooding, and sea level rise. •The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) and Barnstable Council on Aging fulfill the mobility needs of many individuals. CCRTA service includes six full-time and seasonal bus routes, Dial-a-ride services, Smart DART connector, and seasonal train service. •Barnstable became a Complete Streets community in 2022. Upon completion of an approved prioritization Plan, the Town will be eligible for funding to complete multimodal projects that improve safety and mobility. •Intersection and arterial maintenance as a result of increased throughput and crashes bear an impact on Barnstable resident’s local travel. Seven of the top ten crash locations in the region between 2012 and 2016 were in Barnstable on Route 28, with a total of 552 collisions. Community SystemsTrends & Key Findings People Barnstable is a growing community: it has seen population growth reported in all but one of the last ten decennial Census counts. As it grows, the town continues to become more racially and ethnically diverse. •According to American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, between 2011 and 2021, there was an 18.8 percent increase in the population 65 and older (1,792 residents) while the overall population increased by an estimated 3,070 residents, making 41.6 percent of Barnstable’s net population growth among seniors. •Higher than the county average of 14.3 percent, 16.5 percent of Barnstable’s population is under 18, and only Sandwich has a larger share of children (18.4 percent). •Nearly one in five Barnstable residents or 18 percent of the population were born outside the United States. Environmental Justice (EJ) Populations •Twelve of Barnstable’s 38 population-based statistical areas meet one or more conditions for EJ designation. •These twelve block groups are all situated within or include parts of Hyannis and are home to 32.4 percent of Barnstable’s total population. Environmental Justice Criteria for Barnstable 12 census blocks Minority Population Criterion 6 census blocks Household Income Criterion 1 census block Limited English Proficiency Criterion 1 census block Minority, Household Income, Limited English Proficiency Criterion Cultural Heritage Barnstable’s natural landscapes and built environment reflect its rich heritage. Many historic buildings, structures, cemeteries, homesteads, and streetscapes within town represent non- renewable community assets that tell Barnstable’s story and create a strong sense of place. •The Town’s cultural resources include two cultural districts - the Barnstable Village Cultural District and the Hyannis HyArts Cultural District that celebrate and enhance the Town’s vibrant arts scene, maritime traditions, and historic assets. •Barnstable has two local historic districts: Old King’s Highway Historic District and Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District. Structures over 75 years old located outside of these two districts are subject to Barnstable Historical Commission review for partial or full demolition. •Barnstable has one National Historic Landmark (NHL) designated by the Secretary of the Interior: the Kennedy Compound on Irving and Marchant Avenues. •Barnstable’s National Register listings far surpass other Cape communities and account for 40% of listings in the County. •Established in 1974, Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District was recognized as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S Department of Transportation in 2021. Community Systems: Trends & Key Findings Housing Like other Cape Cod communities, Barnstable’s housing environment is largely defined by its seasonal economy, natural resources, and demographic trends. •Town-wide, about three quarters of households own their homes; in Hyannis, the majority rent (55 percent). •At least a third of Barnstable homes are second homes, and at least 5 percent are short-term rentals. •Most homes in Barnstable have three or more bedrooms, but 70 percent of households are only one or two people. •The Town has a Residential Tax Exemption in place to reduce tax burden for full-time residents of moderately priced homes. •Barnstable has seen the Cape’s most dramatic increase in median gross rent since 2011 (40.3 percent). •As of 2022, 7.23 percent (1,485 units) of Barnstable’s year- round housing stock was eligible to be included on the Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). •37 percent of households spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing costs. Among low-and moderate-income households, 72 percent are cost- burdened. •There are currently over 2,000 people on the state-wide waiting list for elderly/disabled units while 4,084 families are on waiting lists for two-bedroom homes, 2,077 families waiting for three-bedroom homes, and 501 families waiting for four-bedroom homes. •The Barnstable Housing Authority owns a total of 376 units, in addition to managing nine affordable units for Cape Ministry and holding 650-700 vouchers for various state and federal programs. Local Industries Industry % of Jobs Educational Services and Health Care and Social Assistance 23.8% Construction 12.5% Professional, Scientific, and Management, and Administrative, and Waste Management Services 11.6% Retail Trade 11.0% Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation and Accommodation and Food Services 10.0% Local Economy As the largest town on Cape Cod and often referred to as the ‘downtown’ or ‘heart’ of the Cape, Barnstable features a strong and diverse economy year-round as well as during the peak summer season. •Over half of those working in Barnstable (54 percent) also live in town. For comparison across the County, 43 percent of Cape Cod workers live in the town in which they work. •The unemployment rate was extremely low in 2021 at 3.2 percent, lower than the state’s unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. •In Barnstable 15.1 percent of all civilian working residents are self-employed, higher than all neighboring Cape jurisdictions and well above both the state (8.7 percent) and New England rate (9.6 percent). •Employers have reported that the Town’s economic health is dependent upon the availability of more affordable housing because it has become increasingly difficult to staff positions. •The seasonal nature of Cape Cod’s economy adds to both the housing and economic challenges, as there is little housing to accommodate seasonal workers. •Several industries dominate employment in Barnstable: