"The state has decided to provide communities with a look at how it would be if everything was built to the zoning maximum," David Begelfur, head of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, tells GlobeSt.com. "But it's not a realistic picture. It becomes a sticker shock and the downside is communities could close their doors to development for fear of onslaught."

The state environmental office has insisted that the studies are meant to help cities and towns plan for the future but many developers were surprised when the study projected 67 million sf of commercial space being built on Cape Cod. "That is structurally and virtually impossible," contends Begelfur. "If the studies are going to be used as planning tools they need some historic information and some perspective."

The state has set aside $3 million dollars to conduct these studies and many of the smaller communities where the study is being done could not afford to do it on their own. Another state initiative is also providing $30,000 for each community to put together a more extensive growth plan.