Updates

Town of Barnstable Zoning Email Updates: Accessory Dwelling Units

The proposed zoning amendments, Town Council Items 2021-174 and 2021-175, as well as additional information on ADUs can be found on the Town’s Accessory Dwelling Unit webpage.

Public Hearing Date Change
The Town of Barnstable advertised a public hearing to consider zoning amendments allowing Accessory Dwelling Units for an in-person Town Council meeting on July 1st. On June 16th, the Governor signed a bill allowing public meetings to continue to be held remotely. In order to maximize the opportunity for public participation, the public hearing on the ADU zoning amendments has been rescheduled for July 15th and the hearing will be held remotely, via Zoom.

Town of Barnstable Town Council Public Hearing on Items 2021-174 and 2021-175 – Accessory Dwelling Units Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
Zoom Meeting ID 926 0239 8466 https://zoom.us/j/92602398466
888 475 4499 US Toll-free

You can submit comments on these items to the Town Council in the following ways:
 Attend the Town Council meeting on July 15, 2021 at 7 p.m. via Zoom
 Submit comments via email to Town Council staff, Cynthia Lovell, at cynthia.lovell@town.barnstable.ma.us
 Submit comments in writing to: Town of Barnstable Town Council, ATTN: Cynthia Lovell, 367 Main Street, Hyannis MA 02601
If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Jenkins, AICP, Director of Planning & Development:

Town of Barnstable Town Council

Public Hearing on Items 2021-174 and 2021-175 – Accessory Dwelling Units

Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. POSTPONED

Meeting at Town Hall, 2^nd Floor Hearing Room, 367 Main Street, Hyannis

You can submit comments on these items to the Town Council in the following ways:

·        Submit comments via email to Town Council staff, Cynthia Lovell, atcynthia.lovell@town.barnstable.ma.us

·        Submit comments in writing to: Town of Barnstable Town Council, ATTN: Cynthia Lovell, 367 Main Street, Hyannis MA 02601

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Jenkins, AICP, Director of Planning & Development:

Phone: 508-862-4678

Email: elizabeth.jenkins@town.barnstable.ma.us

View Planning Board Meeting HERE

At the May 6, 2021 meeting, the Town Council introduced proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as an accessory use to a single-family residential dwelling. The Town Council affirmatively voted to refer the proposed ADU zoning amendments to the Planning Board.

Item 2021-174 – Proposed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Ordinance

Item 2021-175 – Proposed relief by special permit for ADUs greater than 900 square feet 

On Monday May 24, 2021 at 7:00 pm, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning amendments.

The meeting will be televised live on Channel 18 in Barnstable and may be viewed via the Channel 18 website at http://streaming85.townofbarnstable.us/CablecastPublicSite/.

You can submit comment on these items to the Planning Board in the following ways: 

• Attend the Planning Board meeting on May 24^th at 7 p.m. via Zoom (Meeting ID 922 6816 9339) and speak at the public hearing (via telephone (888 475 4499) or Zoom);
•   Submit comments via email to Planning & Development staff, Karen Herrand, Karen.herrand@town.barnstable.ma.us
•   Submit comments in writing to: Town of Barnstable Planning Board, ATTN: Karen Herrand, 367 Main Street, Hyannis MA 02601

First Positive Case of Terrestrial Rabies on Cape Cod in 8 Years

June 10, 2021 – Barnstable, MA | The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment announced today that a rabies positive racoon was discovered through routine testing following a sick animal call in Hyannis. There was no human contact with the raccoon. This is the first known case of terrestrial (non-bat) rabies on Cape Cod in 8 years. Rabies in wildlife, primarily raccoons, skunks and foxes, has been effectively managed in Barnstable County due in large part to oral rabies vaccine distribution conducted by the Cape Cod & Southeast MA Rabies Task Force each spring and fall.

Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment (BCDHE) is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the Town of Barnstable’s Health Division and Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs to coordinate a targeted and comprehensive trap, vaccinate and release program. Sampling for rabies will be performed on wild animals that are injured, sick acting or found dead.

It is important for the public to keep themselves, children, and pets away from wild and stray animals. Pet owners are also reminded to keep their pets’ rabies vaccines up-to-date. Remember, you cannot tell if an animal has rabies just by looking at it. If you do see an animal behaving strangely, please call your local animal control official.

We would also like to remind the public that the capture and relocation of any wild animal is illegal and can cause harm to the animal. In the past, it has been determined that animals relocated to Cape Cod were identified as being infected with rabies. Please visit Moving wildlife | Mass.gov for more information.

For more information about rabies prevention and remediation efforts on Cape Cod, please visit BCDHE’s Rabie’s Awareness page at https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/programs-and-services/rabies-awareness

Press Contact:

Bethany Traverse, Health Communications Coordinator | (508) 375-6844 | bethany.traverse@barnstablecounty.org