Harwich residents have been pushing back hard against Pine Oaks Village IV — a proposed 242-unit development on Queen Anne Road that neighbors say would overwhelm local roads, strain the town’s infrastructure, and threaten the Herring River watershed and private wells. The NoPOV4 movement has been fighting for local control over how that decision gets made.
For years, Barnstable County government has steadily expanded its role in shaping how Cape Cod grows. Regional institutions have moved beyond coordination and shared services into questions that were once primarily decided by towns themselves: zoning, density, land use patterns, and long-term development policy.
Join Eric Schwaab and members of NoPOV4 for an honest conversation about the role of county government in Harwich, what it actually controls, and why those decisions matter for Harwich’s roads, its water, and the character of its neighborhoods.
Supporters often describe this as necessary modernization. Critics are dismissed as resistant to change. But somewhere along the way, an important question stopped being asked: What is county government actually supposed to do?
We’ll discuss the role of county government in Harwich and how Barnstable County can do more to help blunt the impact of large 40B developments on our towns. We’re looking forward to a great discussion with a fabulous group.
Eric will walk through a short presentation covering:
- What Barnstable County does and where its authority begins and ends
- How regional planning shapes growth decisions for generations
- Why housing, infrastructure, and environmental capacity have to be planned together
- What it looks like when residents have a real seat at the table – and what happens when they don’t
This isn’t a campaign rally. It’s a conversation. Bring your questions.
All are welcome — regardless of party affiliation.
To RSVP: Please email eschwaab@gmail.com or text/call 508-419-2239.
