Residents urge clearer process, more studies before Maurice’s Campground moves forward

Several residents told the Wellfleet Select Board on Aug. 18 that the town needs a clearer, more transparent process for deciding the future of Maurice’s Campground.

At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, a resident who asked the board for a formal update on "the Maurice Cam project" said she had not seen evidence the town’s newly formed administrative task force or the promised stakeholders’ group had met or produced minutes. "Back in July it was openly discussed that this group would lead a team and enable a stakeholders group," she said, and asked, "Are you meeting? What is the status?" The commenter said she was concerned that overlay zoning could be advanced too quickly and that the planning committee’s earlier proposal had been rejected by voters.

Lauren Armano, who identified herself as a member of the Maurice’s planning committee, said the project has missed two key pieces of information this summer: a survey of seasonal residents living at Maurice’s and a comprehensive traffic study, both of which she said should inform redevelopment decisions. "A survey of the seasonal community living at Maurice's has not been conducted and a comprehensive traffic study has not been completed," Armano said, urging the board to ensure "meaningful community engagement."

Jeffrey Saxs, who said he is also on the Maurice’s Campground redevelopment committee, pushed the opposite point: that the town should move quickly to capture available housing funding. Saxs noted that "the town's already spent millions of dollars on this" and warned that delays could mean missing federal, state and local resources for housing projects.

Board members and the town administrator responded that staff were preparing materials and a plan of action for a future Select Board meeting. The town administrator told the board Maurice’s would be discussed at the Sept. 8 Select Board meeting and staff would try to provide materials before that date so members and the public could review them. The board did not take action on the project at the Aug. 18 meeting.