Barrett Planning Group, as Program Consultant for Barnstable County’s Shared Regional Housing Services Program (BCSRHS), recently hosted two virtual webinars focused on affordable housing tools. We appreciated the opportunity to share this information and look forward to hosting future webinars as part of the Shared Regional Housing Services program!
Webinar #1: Inclusionary Zoning on Cape Cod
Date: Wednesday May 27, 2026
Speakers: Chloe Schaefer (Chief Planner, Cape Cod Commission), Alexis Lanzillotta (Principal Planner, Barrett Planning Group), and Judi Barrett (President, Barrett Planning Group).
This webinar covers inclusionary zoning and other local regulatory tools that encourage the creation of affordable housing. Topics include:
- An overview of the Cape Cod Regional Housing Strategy, which includes inclusionary zoning among its zoning best practices for affordable housing;
- Examples of inclusionary housing strategies from across the region; and
- Considerations for adopting, implementing, and refining a local inclusionary housing bylaw.
This webinar program briefly explores the relationship between local zoning and the state’s Subsidizing Housing Inventory, which is the primary focus of our second webinar – see Webinar #2 details below!
👉 Watch the recording here: CLICK HERE
Webinar #2: Understanding Local Action Units (LAU)
Date: Wednesday June 3, 2026
Speakers: Alexis Lanzillotta (Principal Planner, Barrett Planning Group), and Elizabeth Rust (Director of the Concord-based Regional Housing Services Office serving ten communities in the MetroWest region).
This program focuses on Local Action Units (LAU), a component of the state’s Local Initiative Program (LIP) that enables communities to include affordable housing created without a comprehensive permit on the Subsidized Housing Inventory. Topics covered:
- Connection to SHI: Overview of requirements for inclusion on the Chapter 40B Subsidizing Housing Inventory, the state’s list of low- or moderate-income housing units by community.
- Project Types: Examples of local actions that can create LAUs, e.g. zoning incentives, special permit conditions, donation of Town-owned land, and local funds.
- Creating LAUs: Coordinating local milestones with the LAU application and approval process.
- Monitoring LAUs: Roles and responsibilities for ongoing compliance.
👉 Watch the recording here: CLICK HERE
