Orleans Select Board Backs Kent's Point Seasonal Sticker Parking, Advances Warrant Articles

ORLEANS — March 25, 2026 — Orleans Select Board backs seasonal sticker parking at Kent's Point conservation area in 4-0 vote. The board voted Wednesday to support the Orleans Conservation Commission's proposal to require parking stickers at the 27-acre Kent's Point property from June 15 through September 15, citing a Cape Cod Commission traffic study showing peak-day counts of 250 cars cycling through a 20-space lot and an LEC Environmental report documenting erosion and trail damage. The vote was contingent on Town Counsel review after resident Carl Oaks, citing the Massachusetts SJC case Smith v. City of Westfield and Article 97 of the state constitution, argued in public comment that the town holds Kent's Point under a public easement that may make sticker requirements unlawful. In a joint session with the Finance Committee, the board also heard a 4.5 percent FY27 budget increase from Cape Cod Regional Technical High School — setting Orleans's combined assessment at $842,000 — and a 5.27 percent increase from Orleans Elementary School, bringing its operating budget to $5,260,344. Nauset Regional Superintendent Dr. Glenn Brand confirmed the combined Nauset operating and capital assessment to Orleans at $8,734,864. The board advanced warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting including a $2.7 million Phase 4 wastewater preliminary design appropriation over Finance Committee objections to the timeline, with Director of Public Works Richard Waldo arguing a fall special town meeting vote would miss the July 2027 SRF project evaluation form deadline.