Eastham Planning Board Continues Zoning Hearing to March 30 Without a Vote

Planning Board · Meeting of March 18, 2026

Eastham Planning Board opens hearing on eight zoning amendments, defers vote to March 30. The board heard presentations Wednesday from Community Development Director Paul Lagg, Community Development Planner Jackie O'Rourke, and Zoning Task Force Chair Mary Nee on proposals that would, among other changes, reduce the maximum net floor area for homes from 6,000 to 4,800 square feet, shift site-coverage calculations from a "greater of" to a "lesser of" floor area ratio formula, prohibit commercial shipping containers on residential properties, ban formula businesses and drive-throughs in the District E commercial zone near Town Hall, restrict short-term rental signs to May 15 through October 15, and authorize a zoning administrator to handle day-to-day determinations currently requiring the building commissioner's sign-off. A Select Board member identified in the transcript only as Simi raised the board's reservations about the shipping-container prohibition, calling the containers "the ultimate in recycling," while Zoning Board of Appeals Vice Chair Martin Ridge countered that the containers are "industrial by nature" and urged proactive action.

The board voted unanimously to continue the zoning bylaw hearing to March 30 at 1 p.m. and to defer a companion hearing on inclusionary zoning regulations to May 20, pending the Select Board's warrant review on March 23.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of March 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.