Growth Incentive Zone

The Hyannis Growth Incentive Zone sets out a regulatory and infrastructure strategy for Downtown Hyannis to spur infill development of underutilized lands. It streamlines the permitting process for development projects downtown that meet green infrastructure and aesthetic goals.

Kate Kennen was hired by the Town of Barnstable to help town staff create the Growth Incentive Zone (GIZ) in downtown Hyannis. Because the area is already developed, there was a disincentive to go through a long and potentially costly permitting process when it is less expensive to develop on raw land outside of downtown Hyannis. The GIZ removes this hurdle, and maps out a strategy to accommodate infill and offset future growth in other areas of Town that do not have infrastructure to support new development. Kate Kennen managed existing Town staff and utilized the Town GIS department to obtain base information to get this complex planning document completed.

The thorough map-based planning document  includes the following:

• Build-out analysis to establish the amount of residential and non-residential development that is anticipated with new regulatory
• Coastal Flooding susceptibility analysis with hazard mitigation recommendations
• Analysis of future infrastructure needs downtown based on the build-out figures
• Wastewater improvements strategy, including green alternatives, to mee future development needs
• Capital improvements plan to identify public improvements that will be needed to service growth in the area over time
• Offset strategy to deter growth outside of the GIZ area

The full document can be found on the Town of Barnstable website