FEMA is updating the Flood Maps for Dennis. There are going to be significant changes. The maps are now available for review in the Dennis Planning Office. These changes could affect you. You can obtain some grandfather protections on flood insurance if you act quickly. MORE INFORMATION TO COME. TO REVIEW THE MAPS CLICK Flood Maps Final
Updated August 2, 2009 4:33 pm
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I have received many comments and questions about the area along Old Wharf Road relative to the current status and future of the cottage colonies and RV Parks in this area. Take the survey below and let and let us know what you think.
Cottage Colony and RV Park Survey Link
If the survey has hit its 100 response limit, please respond to the poll at this link
Latest Posts From the Dennis Economic Development Blog
There are many wonderful things to say about the CAPE !
One has been the ability of everyday people to enjoy what is sometime only avaible for the wealthy…..
The RV Parks and Cottages on Old Wharf Road
have allowed generation to make lasting memories.
Please don’t allow that to be taken away from the generations to follow!
Dear Mr.Fortier,
I cannot find the words that can express just how much of a part of my life the Old Wharf Rd. and Dennisport area mean to my family. I have spent every summer for the last 39 years there, supporting the local economy and fueling the interest of others to enjoy what I have had the oppurtunity to expierience. I got this chance given to me by my parents and they still enjoy there spot at Cape Cod Rv park, the old Grindell’s. This truley is my second home and someday hope to make it where I retire with my wife. I ask please consider all of are pleas before making any decisions in zoning for the future of that area. We care about the town and citizens as much or more than anyone. I would like to continue to provide to my sons the memories and expierences that the “HEART” of Cape Cod has to offer. I appreciate your time in allowing me to write to you. Yours Truly Ed Nowers
Since 1973 the zoning board says these areas have not been zoned for RV Parks & colony housing, then why have they allowed this to continue? Only now after 36 years they feel this is something that needs to be addressed and changed!!! This is disgraceful to all the people that have enjoyed their “Homes” on Old Wharf Road for the past 70+ years! At this point in time why would the town require these changes???? It’s a quaint “Village” of it’s own and if they allow these changes I for one would never visit the area again!!!!
The process of thinking about the future is a necessary
exercise. I believe that if we are true to ourselves that we have to include issues which may or may not be popular.
Scientists agree that global warming is real. Most of
Cape Cod is a seasonal economy. Time shares are a part
of how resort properties are managed. If we want to have
a more year round economy, the retiring baby boomers are
a target market. We need to be aware of what they want–
I believe “cottage colonies” in smart growth centers. Our
efforts need to be focused on the places with the most up.
If we end up living in a cesspool, we have no future.
I have to be convinced that new resort zoning would do
anything for us. My ears are open. My gut reaction is to
let the Chase park situation be handled by the health
department: what passes-passes and what fails-fails.
There has been a community there that is special. We
should take the least aggressive approach.
my family has been at park for 35 yrs. i want it to remain as is for all the families tx. no hotels
The meeting on November 19th, which will be broadcast live on Channel 18 and over the internet, will attempt to discuss the history of this area. Zoning does not require change. Zoning helps to direct a future vision. No hotels have come into this area in 36 years. However, economic forces can sometimes force property owners to make changes that even they may never have considered. Zoning provides the opportunity to guide that change. Perhaps the town made a mistake 36 years ago. Perhaps an area should have been carved out and frozen in time to keep that area exactly as is. That is not what happened in 1973. The discussion on November 19th will address those issues. Such a “freezing of the area in time”, though would also need some support from the land owners.
Mr. Nowers, we are trying to listen to everyone and provide guidance for change. Presently a hotel could come into that area and the town could not deny it. While the focus has been on a vision I provided to a reporter, one aspect of the change is to give the town some ability to also deny a hotel that the town did not feel fit the area. We are also considering some level of condo-hotel arrangement that will also allow investor ownership in the future development. I hope the discussion can include a role for those who currently own some of the cottages to be a part of such a future. By the way, the old Grindell’s is not a part of this proposed rezoning effort. This may actually be unfortunate, as where Grindell’s sits a hotel will remain as a by-right land use. The people in Grindell’s may want to join the discussion simply to see if changes could occur that could extend protections to that area. Of course, waste water will be an important part of solving any long range land use plan for this area – even to keep the area as is.
Please join us whenever you can in this discussion. I will be using this blog and the Economic Development one to share information and get responses.
My family began our summer sojourns in Dennisport more than 30 years ago when we brought our first travel trailer to Grindell’s. This was the most economical way to vacation with our 3 children. The family atmosphere and respect shown by other campers living in close quarters was something we found to be exactly what we were looking for. Now the children have grown, my husband has died and yet I still feel the warmth and friendship of people who have been there even longer than me. The next generation – my grandchildren and children love to come to “Mimi’s beach” as much as I love to have them there. I am sure that my story is not at all unique and I also know that people would be cut off from the long enduring friendships that have been formed if this area is converted to large and impersonal resorts. Please consider the quaintness and history of Old Wharf Rd. that has meant so much to so many.
My thought is that the Old Wharf Road cottages are unique and charming. They should be part of the selling of Dennis instead of being a part of some type of redevelopment. Many Cape-type properties are being replaced with a CVS or Dunkin Donuts and a hotel would add to the banality of these type of businesses. Hotel (re)development would be more appropriate on Chase Avenue.
Thanks Dan for getting people to to discuss important issues relative to future of Dennisport.
Dear Mr. Fortier,
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the zoning issues at hand. I understand there is always a need for change and a vision for the future in Dennis. I am relieved that the Old Grindell’s park is not part of the rezoning effort. I am aware of the issue of the waste water and the need to address the matter by current owners/management.
There have been four generations of my family that have returned to this area for over 50 years. Many memorable vacations were enjoyed year after year at Grindell’s Park and in the Town of Dennisport. We look forward to many more vacations in the future along Old Wharf Road.
Thank you.
Sinncerely,
Linda Krajewski
GRINDELL’S Trailer Park has been our home for the past 30 ish year. As a child my mom and dad would take us to the Cape and my brothers and sisters grew up at Grindell’s with my dad coming weekends and we left the day before school started to go home. I have enjoyed raising and letting my neices and nephews enjoy the same loving family park that I enjoyed as a child. Please don’t take this away from us. There are so many people who would be devistated if you took this away from them. Many elderly come there for the summer as it is affordable and they feel safe and enjoy all their summers friends.
I again urge you not to take this away from us . Thank you
“Perhaps the town made a mistake 36 years ago. Perhaps an area should have been carved out and frozen in time to keep that area exactly as is. That is not what happened in 1973.The discussion on November 19th will address those issues. ”
I gather that “Should’a, Could’a, Would’a” is a significant element to your reasoning regarding this issue.
It’s sad that the future of that place might be subject to a political bureaucrat who pipes up once the summer season is over and most of the people he’s likely to engage have returned to their off-Cape homes to actually work for a living.
Enlighten us, educate us, please Daniel… What have you done in recent months, or years, to work with the owners and denizens of that area to allay your concerns? I’m sure you can detail a number of times you’ve made such efforts. (The local newspaper doesn’t count as out-reach.)
Those folks in the Grove held at least a dozen meetings since last May, attended by scores of people (tax payers, a chunk of your salary, alas, suckers). Where were you in that process?
A meeting in November? What courage.
Actually we have been working on this zoning issue for about three years. Many cottage owners have come in and discussed issues related to the cottage colonies since the sale of Curtis Pines nearly five years ago. Many have learned over those five years what the current zoning provides for. All who have discussed this with me have also been told that the only way to preserve what they have, under the existing zoning, is if they actually were to purchase the land under the cottages.
Also, over the past summer many tenants of the colonies have stopped in to discuss the flood zone changes and how the original set of revisions placed most of Campers Haven and Chase’s Ocean Grove into the flood zone. Many of these visitors have also engaged in a discussion of zoning during their visits.
It is not a case of coulda, woulda, shoulda. Thirty six years ago the town took a position that these land uses were not the desired direction for this part of town. The view of the residents and voters in town in 1973 was that the development density at 19 units to an acre or more was too dense. At that point, they adopted a zoning by-law that stated that some commercial uses were desirable in this area, but that residential uses should be restricted to one unit for every 20,000 sf. This was adjusted to today’s standards of one unit for every 40,000 sf in 1984.
The newspaper reporters (both local papers) are part of the distribution list for Economic Development Committee meetings. The Cape Cod Times only took an interest in the area in the past two weeks. The other paper has not written at all about this area – due in large part to very limited staffing assigned to the town. I have been using the blog for a year and a half to spread the word about what we are working on. I have posted on the importance of hotels to the Dennis Economy several times over the past 18 months. Unfortunately people do not worry about what the zoning is where they live until something happens that they were not prepared for.
I apologize. Had people been stopping by your office or, more importantly, been reading your blog, they may have been better prepared and attuned to the situation.
Perhaps you should consider setting up a “Myspace” or a “Twitter” account as well. In your idle time, naturally.
The town is blocked from Myspace. Twitter seems to be extremely time consuming and limiting with the 140 character limit. Getting people to know about the blog has been an ongoing thing. The CCT has helped with that by linking to us with several articles now. Perhaps I should put into the sidebar instructions on how to RSS the blog to get instant updates. (I would need to learn more about how to do this effectively)
I find the whole idea that the residents of these cottage colonies are somehow 2nd class citizens in the eyes of Mr. Fortier to be distasteful. These small cottage colonies are part of what makes Cape Cod – “Cape Cod.” Many of my visitors have remarked on the lack of resorts and high rise buildings and how charming it is to see the old fashioned cottage colonies.
It appears to me that Mr. Fortier has an idealized version of what Cape Cod and the town of Dennis should be, and would like to eliminate anything that he deems “substandard.” A high end resort area is not that charming – but it does limit access to the beach for people of less means. These cottage colonies are grandfathered. It doesn’t matter that the rules have changed since 1973 – they still have a right to be there now.
“The idea that someone would deem what an area ‘SHOULD LOOK LIKE” is reprehensible to me. And, the idea is to kick people out, no matter how much it is stated otherwise.
I tried to take the survey, but it stated that it was limited to 100 responses – and that quota had already been fulfilled. Does the town really want to listen to the people? No, not really.
To me, the planning board seems to think that it is above “the little people.” I do not live in these areas, but I think that they should be allowed to exist as they have for more than 50 years. I am really quite angry at the Mr. Fortier’s comments about these cottage areas. Is this not a democracy??
Patricia, this is a democracy, in 1973 the Town of Dennis, at Town Meeting voted to no longer allow cottage colonies in the Old Wharf Road area. In its place, the town created a zoning district that allows, by-right, hotels. The reason I have put this up on the blog for reaction is to gauge whether there is support to undo what was done in 1973. Ultimately, it will be up to the voters in Dennis to decide the future direction. At present that direction is for the area to transition to hotels or single family homes on acre lots. The current land use is out of character with zoning, or one could say that zoning is out of character with the current land use. Either way, under Massachusetts Law, the idea is for land use to ultimately come into compliance with zoning. The idea that if we ignore what is there, and what is happening economically in the area – and that includes the current discussions about whether the individual property owners must comply with state law on waste water (not the cottage owners by the underlying land owners) or the town should provide a waste water treatment plant all tie together. If the town of Dennis wants to keep the cottage and RV area as it is, that will require an act by town meeting. At present, the land owners have many other options under zoning.
As I have tried to point out to some of the other comments, the current proposal would actually give the town MORE control over changes. At present if a hotel or motel came before a board the board MUST approve it. If the changes to zoning we are contemplating were to occur, the board would actually have the ability to say no.
Over the past year the Board of Appeals had a request for changes at Campers Haven. This request brought out many neighbors concerned about the expansion of this RV park. There is clearly a need for balance. For the past three years most of what the Economic Development Committee has been hearing is from surrounding neighborhoods. In the past week the cottage owners have started to speak up.
As to the poll. Given the town budget we have been relying upon free services where we can. I put the poll up to replace the survey to continue to gather information. However, the number of survey responses is up to 134. The most recent response came just was processed.
Dear Mr. Fortier,
A few thoughts come to mind.
In response to your assertion that the Cape Cod Times only took interest in this area/issue in the past two weeks, I would like to point out that you are quite mistaken. Unfortunately CapeCodOnline.com offers a marginal archives search, but I do recall, have read, and have a copy of a cover story that ran in recent years. The piece featured Chases Ocean Grove, and at length discussed the history and charm of the place, and how when people think of a relaxing Cape retreat, these are the thoughts and friendly communities that come to mind. Not a new hotel or condos that offers clean towels, but no sense of community or charm.
I’m not sure if you’ve ever driven down Old Wharf, or the roads that run along the shore to Harwich, but there are dozens of hotels and condo-style spaces. Many of these condos have been for sale for years and rarely do you see No Vacancy signs at the dozens of hotels. The demand is not there, and the statements and suggestions I’ve read of this helping to attract people in the off season is absurd at best. The entire Old Wharf area, and much of the Cape, is shuttered in the off season. It’s cold, rainy, and a waterfront hotel is not going to suddenly spur interest for vacationers looking for a winter escape.
Of course the environmental issues are of concern to everyone, but in compliance with the Town’s request in the past few years every single one of the cottage owners was required to have their waste and septic systems inspected. This was done at the expense of the owners, and they passed town inspection. Planting the seed that a few hundred such systems that are in use four months a year, most of them hundreds and hundreds of yards away from the shoreline could somehow pollute Nantucket sound, with it’s currents and tides, is again absurd at best. Is the Sound currently polluted, or has it been polluted in the past 80 years that these communities have been around? And if you say yes, where’s the proof, and why haven’t residents been warned before? Raw sewage is not flowing into the waters, and I think we sometimes forget that plenty of fish and mammals do their business in the ocean everyday and this is just the way the world turns.
I don’t think anyone will argue against planning for the future, but the ongoing crusade by Town officials to push out the families who have been loyal to the Town of Dennis every summer, regardless of whether the economy tanks or the cost of gas skyrockets, is just not right.
And I too agree that the meetings that effect the lives of cottage owners exponentially more than year-round residents are always conveniently scheduled during the late fall and winter when cottage owners are unable to be present. The town did this with the vote to deny cottage owners with resident beach-permits, and this is yet another example of the Town’s efforts to railroad the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of families who have come to call their quaint Dennisport retreats a home away from home.
I too read that old article. It did not discuss the zoning status of the area, and that is what I was commenting on. Along the shore are many time shares standing empty. Part of our overall strategy is to try to shift away from time shares to bring back the hotels along Chase Avenue for instance. For much of the past three years that we have been working on these changes, there has not been too much input except from land owners. As I have stated in several other responses, I have met with many cottage owners over the past year or so. We have discussed their status. As tenants they have very limited control over their future. Just look at Curtis Pines. If the cottage owners can buy an interest in their land, then they will have protections for the long term status that they seek. If the land owners choose to change the use of the land, they only have to meet the requirements of the existing zoning – which is actually far more lenient for them than what the Economic Development Committee is considering.
Dan,
Next July, those of us who live in Chase’s Ocean Grove will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the grove. You may believe it or not, but there are people who have lived at the grove each summer for the entire time. Longer than some others of us have been alive, including you I suspect. One wonders if Mr.Richard Chase was still alive would you and the Cape Cod Times be dragging the grove into the paper every other day. The “other paper “as you cavalierly called it. has it right, there is nothing to say right now. This is redundant at best and down right disconcerting at least. It borders on sensationalism.
Chase’s Ocean Grove, since its inception as a campground. has been the highest tax payer in the town of Dennis. That being said, as the grove is seasonal there is no drain on the town’s budget for education. the children go to their hometowns to be educated.
Secondly, Chase’s ocean Grove, maintains it own beach, roads, electric poles and wires. Also, it provides and pays for its own security detail. This creates very little expense for services considering what they put into the tax coffers.
Furthermore, cottage owners shop, dine out and patronize all the local businesses. Besten’s is a good example of multi-generational shopping. The local churches do well from donations during the summer.
However, hotel guests would not be hurrying out to Stop and Shop, Shaw’s or any other grocery store. Nor would they be buying things at Mid-Cape or any other home improvement store.
Cottage colonies provide vintage Cape Cod. Exactly, what Patti Page sang about. Exactly what visitors expect to see.
Peg, actually you are right, the CCT has generated a lot of publicity for what could be no change, especially if the tenants of the Grove can successfully acquire an ownership interest in these properties. If that can happen, then the tenants can rest assured that they have secured, long term, their grandfathering. The wrecking ball comment, as well as the “deciding its fate” comment, are leaps.
I didn’t see any “wrecking ball” or “deciding its fate” comments on this page.
What are you referring to? Something you imagined, or something you edited out?
Thank You.
I honestly don’t want more condos or hotels in Dennis. I understand their contribution to the tax base, and their deep pockets when it comes to wastewater, but they don’t have a history of bringing in the properity to outweigh their negatives. We wouldn’t even be having this discussion if these cottages were north of 6A. Why should south of 28 be any different? Do we really want to be more like Yarmouth? Somewhere along the shores of Cape Cod, those without means must be able to have theirs. These colonies survived the greed of the 80’s and 90’s and still look as they always have. I doubt the zoning reg’s are going to foster future colonies, but these must be able to protect themselves. If they need to bite the bullet and upgrade their septic, then so be it. We all do. They don’t deserve anything more than someone living on the Northside, and certainly nothing less. The colony’s survival should depend on those that live there to maintain it. Zoning should be in place to ensure they have the power to do that, and defenses should someone try to take it away.
Those were part of the CCT articles. One was the print edition headline (not used on-line) the other was in the middle of their article.
This will all be brought into the discussion.
Thank you Daniel:
“Those were part of the CCT articles. One was the print edition headline (not used on-line) the other was in the middle of their article.”
“This will all be brought into the discussion.”
Daniel, I think your are working very hard and facing a lot of heat, under the circumstances, and doing the best that you can.
I wouldn’t come to come to any conclusions based on a dozen people who visit you, or a few that claim to “speak” on behalf of people that have cottages in that community.
That said, you might consider a way for the town to get these folks in accommodation with your septic needs, which, I gather they are very willing to comply with…and then maybe you can focus your attention on the Main Street area…you know, where the two main businesses are a second hand shop and a laundromat. Oh, and that empty
A&P building, and the upscale department store next to it.
You’re doing a real bang up job there Daniel, keep up the great work.
Main Street has its challenges. The economy and bankruptcy court has not helped it any. The Dollar Store will fill a vacancy, but it has a long way to go to get where the area needs to be.
I had no idea that that Dennisport only recently suffered an economic downturn.
Is there anyone who can recall the halcyon days? The 90’s, the 80’s? 70’s? When there were “Three Barbers”?
A Dollar Store.
A Dollar Store folks, that’s your town planner. Good luck with those cottages.
Ed, many things were looking up in 2004. We had several investors looking at properties in the village. The A&P site drew interest from several large companies. The lease that is controlled by Stop and Shop on the back building has proven to be a non-starter both for potential buyers of the property as well as name tenants. The block where the library use to be had a couple potential purchasers but no banks willing to invest. The most recent purchaser was a local who was unable to free up capital as other land he owned was not able to be sold when the banks started to fail. The national economic collapse of the last few years (depressed areas such as Dennisport are impacted before stronger markets) did Dennisport’s attempt at recovery any favors.
I am also the Town Planner, not an economic development director, the town does not have a budget for an economic development function, like Plymouth for instance. I am, however, very dedicated to trying to help the town move forward.
The scheduled meeting of the EDC on Nov. 19 at 9 am is an extremely inconvenient time for almost everyone in the audience. Dennis taxpayers who go to work, cottage owners who live off cape cannot make a 9 am meeting. I understand that a woman called and requested a Sat meeting and was rudely told “we don’t work on Saturdays”. That really is an irresponsible answer for a meeting that the sensational hype has raised the interest level so much. How about a late afternoon or evening meeting to accomodate those who work and/or live off cape? it seems like a marketing plan to have a meeting that people cannot attend. Further, the survey ???PLEASE
This is a standing committee. I have offered those who have asked, to ask the committee on the 19th (their regular meeting date) to schedule a future meeting at a different time and day – or to defer all discussion of this area after the 19th until next summer. The committee is made up of residents and business people of Dennis who have cleared the third Thursday of each month of their calendar for this meeting. I have suggested to those who have asked that a Monday morning or Friday afternoon time frame. A Saturday could be more difficult, but would be looked at. I am also looking into a web-based meeting.
I want to hear what people have to say. I also want to be sure people know that the present zoning does not protect the cottages and we will need to do something to do that if it is the desired alternative.
My summer visits to Dennisport began with my parents and two brothers approximately 40 years ago. I have many memories of days on the beach and nights spent in a little cottage in Salt Air Village.
Eighteen years ago my husband and I came back to Dennisport… and a new tradition was born with our own family. Every year we rent the same cottage in Chase’s Ocean Grove and for two weeks, we live on the ocean. Summers at the cape are a huge part of our family history. To be able to spend this amount of time as a family in such a special place is truly wonderful. Our children have grown up with Chase’s Ocean Grove being a part of their lives. They cherish these memories. Meeting up with the same children year after year. Relaxing together as a family. The wonderful familiarity of coming back to the cottage and to the Grove. We can’t imagine the Grove not being there.
We come back year after year for these reasons. These cottages are so important. Please do whatever needs to be done to preserve them.
I AM A COTTAGE OWNER AT CURTIS PINE GROVE I BOUGHT MY COTTAGE FOR 69,000 ABOUT 8 TO 10 YEARS AGO I AM A NEW YORKER I NEEDED FOR WORK REASONS I LEASED THE LAND I LIKE A FOOL NEVER LOOK AS DEEP INTO THIS AS I SHOULD HAVE I JUST WANTED TO RETURN TO SAME PLACE RATHER THEN RENT SOMETHING NEW EVERY YEAR I MET SOME REALY WONDERFUL PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS EVEN WHEN THE RED SOCKS WON OVER THE YANKS I WAS HAPPY BE CAUSE THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR IT! I NOW HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO BY OR EXIT AND TAKE A LOST I MUST PAY 45.000 OR A LITTLE LESS TO LEAVE A MY HOME I MUST WALK AWAY FROM. UNIT B5 CURTIS PINE GROVE OLD WHARF RD. I AM A HARD WORKING MIDDLE CLASS PERSON AN THIS LOST IS FINANCIAL DRAIN FAR MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER NO ALL I WORK FOR IS GONE TO THATMAYBE 2012 THE MOVIE ISN’T FAR MORE THAN WE REALLY NO MAYBE ALL THE BERNIE MADIOFF OF THE WORLD ARE ABOUT TO TAKE US ALL DOWN SOME OF US ARE KNOW BETTER THAN THE GUYS WHO FLEW INTO THE TWIN TOWERS THEY TOOK LIVES IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SADDDDD
Mary
All of you at Curtis Pine Grove have some tough decisions. Things change when new property owners come into play. What is happening at Curtis Pines illustrates what could happen at each of the camps on Old Wharf Road. I have had many discussions with neighbors of yours in Curtis Pines, unfortunately, I do not have any answers. I have hoped, and remain hopeful, that the cottage owners in Curtis Pines could come to a resolution with the owner over acquiring an interest in the property. Ownership by the cottage owners is the only long term solution. I think the cottage and RV owners on the other properties have been awakened by your plight, and are trying to position themselves to be more pro-active in controlling their future. The stories I have heard from Curtis Pines are sad, best of luck.
Dan