Provincetown votes to spend $1.4M for firefighters, police. May 13 election is next.
Provincetown voters approved $4 million for new affordable ownership housing on Shank Painter Road — at the former police station — as one of many issues discussed at the annual town meeting on Monday, April 7.
The annual town meeting was at the town hall auditorium at 260 Commercial St. There were approximately 400 people present, according to Town Clerk Elizabeth Paine.
Article No. 8 on the town meeting warrant asked voters to approve $4 million to purchase an affordable housing deed restriction on 30 units at the housing project planned by a private developer. The project, known as The Bellwether, is at 26 Shank Painter Road.
The Bellwether is the first project of its kind on Cape Cod and will create ownership opportunities for households across a broad income range — something otherwise unattainable in Provincetown's housing market, according to the town.
As planned, The Bellwether will consist of 40 condominiums. Of those, 30 units will be sold by lottery below the market price and remain under deed restrictions at resale. The affordable housing condos are intended for year-round residents.
The town-owned lot is under a purchase and sale agreement with Ecotekture Development & Design and Salient Development Corp, according to the warrant. As approved, the debt is to be paid off over a five-year period from the town's existing housing funds.
Article No. 2 passed, increasing the fiscal 2025 operating budget of $37,223,560 to $41,802,024 for the 2026 fiscal year. Residents voted to increase the budget for town departments such as general government, finance, public safety, public works, public services and public schools.
The town asked voters for $1.4 million to increase the funding for a combination fire and emergency medical services department to include four new full-time staff positions and for a fully staffed police department, according to the town's warrant. The annual tax impact for residents is $26.80 per $100,000 assessed value per year, or $262 per year on median residential property of $979,000.
Mark Bjorstrom, chair of the town Finance Committee, spoke on behalf of the majority of the committee in favor of the budget increase. Bjorstrom, a California native, outlined the importance of investing in the fire department, referencing the Pacific Palisades fires from earlier this year.
"You don't think it could happen to us, it could," Bjorstrom said. He then spoke about the importance of having a fully staffed police department for the safety of Provincetown residents. "An attack on any one of us is an attack on all of us," he said.
The approval of the $1.4 million public safety funds specifically is contingent on a vote of approval at the town election on May 13.
Article No. 9 was quickly passed, approving $1.3 million in funding to pay for an affordable housing restriction on 13 year-round apartment rentals to be built at the private housing development at 207 Route 6, known as The Barracks. The money will come from the town's existing housing funds.
Article No. 17, which asked voters to accept a seasonal community designation for Provincetown, was approved. The seasonal community designation in Massachusetts recognizes communities that have significant seasonal variations in housing demand, visitor populations and employment. A request by a voter to postpone the article was not approved.
State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown, spoke against postponement, and in favor of the article.
Under the state Affordable Homes Act, tourism hot spots can unlock new resources tailored for their needs once they are designated as "seasonal communities." Gov. Maura Healey signed the legislation into law in August 2024. The new law allows seasonal communities to increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence, create year-round housing for artists, and allow tiny homes to be built by-right and used as year-round housing, among other tools, according to the state website.
Article No. 32, a zoning bylaw amendment seeking to expand the Town Center Commercial District zoning district to allow for more commercialization between Dyer Street and Cook Street was met with pushback.
Some residents from the area spoke up against article, outlining the appeal of having a quieter, residential area near Commercial Street. The final vote was hand counted with 94 in favor, and 106 against.
Article No. 38, an amendment to the Provincetown zoning bylaws for the town's business district along Shank Painter Road to introduce form-based code, was approved.
Article No. 20, a citizen petition article requested by voter Michelle Axelson and others asked the town to vote in support of gender inclusive municipal restrooms. Voters approved the nonbinding resolution, which does not include any plans for how the town will incorporate gender inclusion in restrooms.
Staff writer Mary Ann Bragg contributed to this story.
Desiree Nikfardjam is a reporter covering breaking and trending news. She graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. You can reach her at DNikfardjam@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Here's what Provincetown voters said yes to at the annual town meeting
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