THE PROBLEM:

The rural communities of Truro and Provincetown are seeing the effects of a developing trend. Summer residents are tearing down modest homes in order to build larger, more expensive ones. The 2,000 year-round residents of Truro are being priced out, and are concerned about the loss of character once prevalent in their sleepy Cape Cod town. Many employed in the area have to commute even though some Truro houses sit empty all winter. Provincetown and Truro are both historic fishing communities with a summer tourist bent, however, as tourists begin to invest in vacation homes the layout and accessibility of the towns are changing.

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS:

In April 2017 Truro passed two zoning amendments aimed at preserving the year-round community’s access to housing. The first amendment limits the size of homes built in the town’s Cape Cod National Seashore zoning district. The second amendment allows for new construction or conversions of single-family dwellings for year-round rentals.

PROGRESS:

On November 13, 2018, Truro citizens voted to implement restrictions on house size in residential districts. The new bylaw limits dwellings based on lot size. The maximum size for a home built on a one-acre lot is 3,668 square feet; 3,968 square feet for a two-acre lot and so on.

Provincetown passed a bylaw aimed at preserving the character and charm of the community. The bylaw dictates that residential properties cannot be more than 25% larger than the average size of nearby homes.

— Cassie Dana, One Big Home Researcher

WICKED LOCAL:
Truro ZBA grants Solomont variance while Letendre withdraws

WICKED LOCAL:
Truro limits giant houses — just in time

WICKED LOCAL:
Truro OKs house size limits, pot regulations

WICKED LOCAL:
Holt blasts ZBA over big house dispute

WICKED LOCAL:
STM to vote on house size limits and pot bylaws

CAPE COD TIMES:
Truro town meeting approves restriction on house sizes in Seashore

UMASS LAW REVIEW: Cape Cod town rebels against "starter castles"

WICKED LOCAL:
Truro opens a debate
on limiting the size of houses

BOSTON.COM:
Mansion demolition order has Truro residents debating

CAPE COD TIMES:
Provincetown zoning bylaw decision faces SJC appeal

CAPE COD TIMES:
Truro to consider limits on house size

WICKED LOCAL:
Truro house size limit designed to prevent ‘viagratecture’

John Marksbury & Chuck Steinman

Land Conservation and Community Activist,
and Urban Planner and Historic Preservation Activist (respectively),
Truro, Massachusetts

“You need a clear vision that readily translates into a soul-stirring message. You need to do your homework, recruit a small core group of committed and talented people, and persevere to be one step ahead of the opposition. Finally, you need to educate the public through a steady output of information in a variety of formats, from media to meetings on both a small and large scale.”
View John and Chuck’s profile