Our update of the Dennis Housing Production Plan (HPP) is currently underway. The Town of Dennis has a history of supporting the creation of affordable housing and is taking steps to continue making housing affordable for Dennis residents. The local affordable housing bylaw itself has resulted in the approval of 58 developments totaling over 400 units, 164 of which are deed-restricted affordable units.
Since the previous 2021 HPP, twelve developments have been approved under this local bylaw. The Town also adopted the Seasonal Communities Designation earlier this year and has repeatedly proposed amendments to its affordable housing bylaw to promote more affordable housing. The Dennis Community Preservation Committee additionally funded a rental assistance program that offers direct subsidies to low-income families, highlighting other community efforts to support housing.
This HPP update seeks to continue and support these Town-led initiatives and incorporate community input in recommendations for creating affordable housing opportunities for the next five years.
Over the past few months, the project team facilitated several public outreach activities to involve Dennis community members in shaping the plan: stakeholder interviews, tabling events, a survey, and in-person community meetings. Residents identified priorities to include, but not limited to, support for year-round housing, housing opportunities for all income levels, and helping families stay in their homes. However, the HPP must identify ways to overcome limitations related to infrastructure and the preservation of natural resources.
The project team drafted the Housing Needs Assessment and Development Constraints sections for the HPP. The full draft, including draft Affordable Housing Goals and Implementation Strategies, is anticipated to be available and posted for public comments in mid-October.
Drafts and project materials can be viewed at the Town Planning Department’s HPP webpage: https://www.town.dennis.ma.us/1225/Housing-Production-Plan-Update-2026
