Orleans Planning Board Directs Design Review to Architectural Committee on Governor Prence Project

ORLEANS -- May 26, 2026, Orleans Planning Board sends design-accountability letter to ZBA on 78-unit Governor Prence affordable housing project. The board voted to direct Planning Director George Meservey to finalize a comment letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals before the ZBA's June 24 continuation hearing on the comprehensive permit for the Governor Prence Motel redevelopment at 66 and 76 Route 6A, a project totaling 78 units, 62 deed-restricted rental apartments in two buildings at income levels from 30 to 80 percent of area median income, seven Habitat for Humanity ownership homes, and 10 attainable-rate townhomes. Regular Member Lynne Eickholt summarized sharp criticism of the rear rental building at the ZBA's May 20 hearing, including an architect who called it "as ugly as it could possibly be," while Assistant Director Elizabeth Jenkins said the project is "generally consistent with the intent" of the town's recently adopted Downtown Housing Overlay District. The board agreed to add language directing the ZBA to address specific architectural details through the Architectural Review Committee, which met May 14 and will meet again May 28, and to note that design review should follow the Planning Board's adopted guidelines. The board also heard that the Orleans Comprehensive Plan, approved at the May 11 Annual Town Meeting, goes before the Cape Cod Commission for certification review on June 22.