The Cape Cod Commission Act was signed by Governor Michael S. Dukakis in January 1990 and ratified through a county-wide ballot in March 1990. The Act identifies the region as possessing unique natural, coastal, scientific, historical, cultural, architectural, archaeological, recreational, and other values that are threatened and may be irreparably damaged by uncoordinated or inappropriate uses of the region’s land and other resources. The Act charges the Commission with protecting, preserving, and enhancing these unique values.
The Act authorizes the Commission to:
- prepare and oversee the implementation of a regional land use policy plan for all of Cape Cod;
- recommend for designation specific areas of Cape Cod as districts of critical planning concern (DCPCs) requiring special protections; and
- review and regulate developments of regional impact (DRIs); that is, developments that meet minimum criteria pertaining to size, location, or character and affect more than one municipality.
Read the text of the Cape Cod Commission Act, updated and amended.
