How does CPA work Basics of the Act for Communities Considering Adoption Presented by: Jennifer M' G

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How does CPA work? Basics of the Act for
Communities Considering AdoptionPresented by
Jennifer M. Goldson, AICPJM Goldson community
preservation planning
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The Community Preservation Act
Allows communities to establish a dedicated fund
for
Open Space (and recreation)
Historic Preservation
Community Housing
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Basics of the Act

• Local adoption needed
• Establishes up to a 3 surcharge
• on local property taxes
• Requires 10 to be spent on
• each of the 3 main categories
• Allows flexibility for spending the
• remaining 70
• Not a permanent commitment
• Includes matching funds!

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Exemptions to the CPA Surcharge

• Any existing exemptions apply to CPA.
• First 100,000 of property value exempts the
  first 100,000 of residential property value from
  the surcharge.
• Low-moderate income exempts any household that
  earns less than 80 of area median and any senior
  (60) who earns up to 100 of the median.

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What does that mean for the a sample taxpayer?
Avg Assessed Home Value 415,767 Less 100,000
exemption 100,000 Net House Value Surcharged
315,767 Municipal Tax Rate (per 1000) x
12.11 _______ Amount Subject to
Surcharge 3,827 CPA Surcharge Rate
x 2 _______ Amount paid toward
CPA Fund 77
Based on this scenario, 77 would be paid into
the local Community Preservation Fund annually
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Sample CPA Revenue (Before State Match)
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Amending or Repealing the CPA

• The CPA must remain in place for at least five
  years.
• After five years the Act can be repealed at any
  time.
• Amendments to surcharge percentage or exemptions
  can be made at any time.

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Community Preservation Committee

• Required Members (one from each)
• Conservation Commission
• Historic Commission
• Planning Board
• Recreation Board
• Housing Authority
• Up to 4 additional members (optional)

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CPC Responsibilities

• Assess community preservation resources, needs,
  possibilities
• Many also create CPA goals and/or selection
  criteria
• Hold at least one public hearing
• Solicit and screen projects
• Recommend CPA expenditures to
• the Local Legislative Body
• Track CPA spending

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Potential Uses of CPA Funds
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Open Space
Community Preservation funds may be used to
1. Purchase land 2. Purchase easements or
restrictions on land 3. Protect drinking
water 4. Protect nature preserves 5.
Restore polluted land to its natural state 6.
Protect farms and farmland
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Carter Hill North Andover Open Space Project
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Coes Hill, Southwick
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Angino Farm, Newton
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Farmland preserved in Stow
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Rice Nature Preserve, Wilbraham
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Recreation
Land can be purchased for 1. Active and
passive recreation 2. Community gardens
3. Trails 4. Non-commercial sports 5.
Parks, playgrounds or athletic fields
Focus is on outdoor recreational facilities
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Clipper City Bike Trail, Newburyport
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New Soccer Field, Sudbury
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Splash Park, Bedford
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Riverwalk Park, Peabody
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Boat Ramp, (under construction) Grafton
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CPA Recreation Projects
Other CPA-Funded Recreation Projects
Skateboard Park, Bedford
Town forest, Rowley
McGrath Park, Agawam
Stearns Park, Newton
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Historic Preservation
Community Preservation funds may be used for
acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation or
restoration of historic resources that are

• listed or eligible for listing on the state
  register of historic places, or
• determined by the local historic preservation
  commission to be significant in the history,
  archeology, architecture, or culture of a city or
  town

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Historic Preservation

• Restoration of historic municipal properties
• Adaptive reuse
• Accessibility and other code improvements to
  existing sites
• Grants to private non-profit groups, or
• individuals in return for a preservation
  restriction

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Revere Bell, Plymouth
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Pratt Library Housing Cohasset An adaptive
reuse CPA project
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Preservation of Historic Town Documents - Boxford
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CPA Housing

• For families and individuals earning up to 100
  of area median income
• Springfield MSA - 62,900 for family of four
• Units count toward 10 housing goal if
  inhabitants earn less than 80 of median.

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Housing Projects

• Comprehensive housing plans
• Conversion of existing stock
• Programs
• New construction
• Friendly 40B
• Housing Trusts

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Needs assessment, comprehensive housing plans,
feasibility studies Chilmark, Dartmouth,
Harvard, Hingham, Holliston, Nantucket, Wareham
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Patriot Place Affordable Housing, Bedford,
Massachusetts
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CPA-funded Affordable Housing in Bedford
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Forte Property
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Pilot Grove Housing Complex, Stow
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State Matching Funds
Match Distributed Every October 15
FY 2002 17.8 Million Match Distribution
FY 2003 27.2 Million Match Distribution
FY 2005 46.3 Million Match Distribution
FY 2004 31.4 Million Match Distribution
FY 2006 58.6 Million Match Distribution
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Using CPA to Leverage Other Funding
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CPA Milestones

• 119 CPA communities (just over 1/3 of state)
• Other states using MA CPA as a model
• More than 212 million appropriated so far for
  CPA projects
• Over 870 units of affordable housing created
• More than 7,300 acres of open space protected
• Over 300 historic sites and resources preserved
• 154 recreational projects

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For Further Information
www.communitypreservation.org 617-367-8998 Jenni
fer M. Goldson, AICP JM Goldson community
preservation planning jmgplanning_at_aol.com 617-9
90-4971