Eastham Planning Board Unanimously Adopts Inclusionary Zoning Regulations

Planning Board · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Eastham Planning Board unanimously adopts Inclusionary Zoning Regulations and continues two contested site plan cases. The board voted 8-0 Wednesday to adopt regulations supporting the town's Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw, which was amended at the May 6, 2026 town meeting under Article 8F. Town Planner Paul Lagg explained that projects of five to eight units must set aside at least 10 percent of units as inclusionary, while projects of nine or more units must set aside at least 20 percent, with workforce units capped at 50 percent of that requirement to ensure some deed-restricted affordable units reach the state's Subsidized Housing Inventory.

The rules, which can be updated by the board without a town meeting cycle, allow fee-in-lieu payments calculated against the median assessed value of comparable properties, reset each July 1. Zoning Task Force Chair Mary Nee noted that 65 percent of Eastham residents earn below $100,000, underscoring the urgency of both affordable and workforce housing production. The board also continued a site plan application at 35 Maria Road for a six-bedroom, 4,721-square-foot home over strong neighborhood objection, and a second application at 11 Bayberry Lane pending revisions before the Zoning Board of Appeals, both to June 17.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.