Wellfleet Select Board hears proposal to move Maurice's Campground redevelopment to town staff; no decision made

Wellfleet's Select Board on June 30 heard more than a dozen public speakers pressing elected officials to move forward on housing at Maurice's Campground and reviewed a staff-drafted plan to shift primary leadership of the redevelopment to town staff, but made no decision and left the proposal for further consideration at the board's July 7 meeting.

The meeting opened with public comment, where several residents and committee members urged the Select Board to provide leadership and avoid stalling the project. Bill Gordon, an alternate on the Maurice's planning committee, said the town has already invested significant time and money and asked the board to "please untie our hands and let the process continue." Mary Ann Basso, a member of the Maurice's committee, urged a "reset, not abandon" approach that leans on town staff before paying for outside consultants.

Those comments were echoed by Dan Sullivan, speaking as a private citizen and longtime town moderator: "the town… was very divided," he said, adding that the town is looking for clear leadership. Zoom participant David Ager cited the recent town meeting results and told the board the vote margins left no clear mandate: "the vote was 258 to 234," he said, arguing that narrow margins mean the Select Board must provide direction. John Shuster urged exploring smaller alternatives and procurement options, including models such as Habitat for Humanity.

After public comment, board members discussed options for next steps. Several members said they favored a staff-led approach while also asking staff to present multiple alternatives rather than a single plan. Member Cardona said staff—specifically the planner and housing coordinator—should be placed in a leadership role, and that the board should ask for an "alternatives analysis" comparing different development scenarios.

A draft proposal read at the meeting recommends "transitioning primary leadership of Maurice's planning committee to direct management by town staff led by [the] town planner and housing coordinator," with town departments supporting project delivery, quarterly updates to the Select Board, and continued public engagement. The draft emphasizes leveraging prior work from the planning committee and grounding redevelopment in the town's planning framework, including the local comprehensive plan and the housing production plan.

Board members raised implementation concerns that staff would need to address, including wastewater and water supply issues on the site, the feasibility of phased development, design guidelines and procurement strategy, and funding constraints tied to state rules. A town staff speaker summarized that the site currently supports roughly 200 trailer sites plus additional campsites and that wastewater and DEP permitting will be central to any final design—details that will require design-level work and may affect timelines.

No formal action was taken. The Select Board agreed to continue the discussion at its July 7 meeting, asking staff to refine the draft, outline alternatives for development (including smaller-scale options), and propose a role for a stakeholder advisory body if appropriate. The meeting adjourned following a motion to adjourn.

What happens next: The board will consider amendments to the staff-led proposal and whether to adopt it at the July 7 meeting. Staff were asked to prepare an alternatives analysis, further detail on water and wastewater feasibility, and a proposed stakeholder/engagement structure.