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Barnstable: Hyannis Harbor Master Plan

FY24 MVP Action Grant led by the Town of Barnstable: The Town of Barnstable developed a master plan for Hyannis Inner Harbor to better understand the current and future challenges and opportunities of this working and recreational waterfront and create a cohesive strategy for the mix of land uses that activate the harbor area daily. The Town also sought to review and plan for the growing development pressures immediately around Hyannis Harbor and better align its current zoning to meet today's needs, while also making the Harbor and associated development areas more resilient to the threats of climate change. The master plan considers the interaction between public open spaces and private development parcels, ensuring the entire area is designed to cohesively consider people, the environment, and the economy.
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Project Details

Project Title

Hyannis Harbor Master Plan

Municipality

Barnstable

MVP Region

Southeast

Award Year

FY2024

Grant Award

$199,000 

Project Length

One Year

Community Overview

  • Barnstable’s population is 48,916 and the town is centrally located on Cape Cod (Barnstable County)
  • There are 12 environmental justice block groups in Barnstable, including in the project study area. The town also has a large Portuguese speaking population where English is not the first language.
  • Barnstable, like most communities on the Cape, is very seasonal which brings challenges during both the busy season (strains on infrastructure) and off-season (lack of economic vitality and year-round housing). However this is also combined with being the year-round center of commerce and social services for the region. Barnstable is also uniquely situated as one of the only towns to border both Cape Cod Bay to the north and Nantucket Sound to the south.

Project Description and Goals

  • Where was the project located?
    • Around the Hyannis Harbor area
  • What climate change impacts did the project address? 
    • Sea level rise
    • Increased flooding risks
    • Storm surges 
  • What were the specific goals and tasks of the project? 
    • Public engagement to announce the project and obtain initial feedback
    • Develop existing conditions report for the area
    • Conceptual coastal flood resilience recommendations
    • Land use and design guidelines recommendations
    • Harbor economic development recommendations
    • Public engagement to present materials and solicit feedback
    • Final story map describing entire project in digestible manner 
  • Did your project meet the goals in terms of:
    • Employing nature-based solutions:
      • Yes – renatured shoreline recommendation a part of the final plan
    • Improving equitable outcomes for and fostering strong partnerships with EJ and other Climate Vulnerable Populations:
      • Yes – retained community liaison for English second language communities throughout project
    • Providing regional benefits:
      • Yes – Hyannis Harbor is a regional hub of transportation
    • Implementing the public involvement and community engagement plan set forth in your application:
      • Yes – multiple community meetings held and community liaison hired
    • Finishing the project on time:
      •  Yes – completed by the end of June 2024

Results and Deliverables

  • Describe, and quantify (where possible) project results (e.g. square footage of habitat restored or created, increase in tree canopy coverage, etc.).
    • Engaged with over 50 local project stakeholder to solicit feedback and discuss future of area.
    • Developed recommendations on topic areas outlined in application. 
  • Provide a brief summary of project deliverables with web links, if available.

Lessons Learned

  • What lessons were learned as a result of the project?
    • This project helped identify priority municipal properties that need to be addressed for future flood proofing. It also helped plan for future flood mitigation efforts by suggesting nature-based solutions such as green stormwater infrastructure. Exciting economic development opportunities were also outlined, such as the possibility of a fishing pier relocation and addition of a market, which can set the stage for future projects or studies.
    • In terms of process, we learned that the best way to engage the public is to go out to the community at various stages of the project to solicit feedback and cultivate buy-in. Our environmental justice consultant was very helpful to assist in reaching underserved communities, but in the future we will try to engage her earlier in the process so she can help develop initial outreach efforts.
  • What is the best way for other communities to learn from your project/process?
    • Read the Project Story Map, which is an easily digestible document that outlines the process and lessons learned from the project.

Partners and Other Support

Natalia Frois of International Business Relations served as the project’s Environment Justice Community Liaison/Consultant and helped translate and communicate news of the project to the Spanish and Portuguese speaking communities in the area.  

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