OBSERVER CORPS REPORT 2025
Mission Statement:
"The Falmouth Affordable Housing Committee assists the Select Board in its efforts to provide a full range of housing choices for households of all incomes, ages, and abilities. The Committee works to identify our workforce housing needs, to reduce the out-migration of our younger residents, and to minimize the displacement of our elderly on fixed incomes."
The Committee is chaired by Dave Garrison; Gina Torielli is Vice-Chair. Chinna Mapp, Pamela Harting-Barrat, David Sutkowy, Kelly McKeon, and Elizabth Klein are the Committee members. This committee serves in an advisory capacity to support the Falmouth Select Board, providing research, information, and recommendations to facilitate the Board’s decision-making process.
The shortage of available and fairly-priced housing in Falmouth is an ongoing problem. Single folks, growing families, young professionals, retired folks on a fixed income - these are the people who feel the impact of our housing crisis.
In the midst of this shortage, Falmouth has had two very good pieces of news this past year. First, the town’s Housing Production Plan was certified by the state. The HPP is a tool for a proactive approach to meet town needs. It includes demographic and economic profiles, the barriers to development, and a thorough needs assessment.
Second, Massachusetts has mandated that at least 10% of a town’s housing stock should be affordable; Falmouth has finally reached that goal! The combination of having the certified Housing Production Plan and the attainment of the 10% level of affordable housing has now qualified Falmouth for what is known as “safe harbor status.” Safe Harbor assures the town that developers of 40B projects can no longer bypass local zoning laws by appealing to the State. This gives the town a window of two years—which is the length of the Safe Harbor status—to galvanize future development projects with more flexibility. The Affordable Housing Committee is hoping to provide staffing and research to enable the Select Board to process an increased number of favorable development projects in these next two years.
In addition, the Cape Cod Commission—the regional land use planning, economic development, and regulatory agency—is looking to develop a Community Land Trust and Housing Land Bank “to facilitate swifter acquisition of opportune properties for affordable and attainable housing.”
The Affordable Housing Committee members are hard-working and forward-thinking. Besides hearing developers’ proposals, discussing the repercussions of various housing options, and working to support the procedures of the Select Board, the committee members are researching and identifying projects and initiatives for Falmouth’s future population.
In May, 2024, the Committee chose three strategies outlined in the new Housing Production Plan to follow and report on at each meeting to keep everyone informed on updates; these include monitoring deed-restricted units, exploring options for increased staffing, and making suitable town properties available for affordable housing. This approach worked so well for the Committee that this year they agreed to track an additional three strategies: conducting community outreach and education regarding fair housing, encouraging development for populations with unique needs, and exploring tax relief for property owners who offer year-round rentals.
Projects already in the permitting process include:
· 419 Waquoit Highway: 5 deed-restricted units
· 454 Main Street: 15 deed-restricted RENTAL units
· 809 Sandwich Road
· 464 Main Street
· 545 Main Street - the former Royal Nursing Home, which will become workforce rental units
· 85 Brick Kiln Road
· Habitat project at 48 Benjamin Nyes Lane
· Habitat project behind the Re-Store on Gifford Road
All of these projects have some or all of their units restricted for affordable and attainable housing.
The aim of the Affordable Housing Committee is to support, encourage, and advocate for the underserved and often unseen populations of Falmouth. They are to be lauded for their diligence and continuing community view.
—Respectfully submitted,
Lynne Rosza
