The Community Preservation Actin Harwich – July 28, 2004

Who We Are

• Partnership of advocates for open space, affordable housing and historic preservation

• Worked for 15 years to help pass the CPA in the state legislature

• Helping communities to understand, adopt and implement CPA.

The Community Preservation Coalition

Open Space

Historic Preservation

Affordable Housing

Allows communities to establish a dedicated fund for:

The Community Preservation Act

MAP

Basics of the ActBasics of the Act

• Local adoption needed

• Establishes up to a 3% surcharge on local property taxes

• Requires 10% of monies to be spent on each of the 3 categories

• Allows flexibility for the remaining 70% in each of the 3 categories

• Establishes a Community Preservation Committee

If you adopt the new bill:If you adopt the new bill:

• CPA surcharge will replace Land Bank surcharge

• CPA fund will replace Land Bank fund• CPC replaces Land Bank OS Committee• CPA funds may go toward bonds

approved under Land Bank Act

CPA RevenueCPA Revenue

Current Land Bank surcharge revenue

$820,000

Additional CPA state matching funds

$820,000

Total Revenue $1,640,000

These additional funds come at no extra cost since residents are already paying the Land Bank surcharge.

Commissioner of RevenueDisburses Match

(October 15th)

State Matching FundsState Matching Funds

FY 2002$17.8 Million

Match Distribution

FY 2003$27.2 Million

Match Distribution

Fund balance is more than

$110 million

Repealing the CPARepealing the CPA

• The CPA must remain in place for the life of the Land Bank – until 2020.

• After that point, it may be repealed the same way it was adopted – Town Meeting vote followed by a ballot election.

Potential Uses of CPA FundsPotential Uses of CPA Funds

Open SpaceOpen 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 - APR

RecreationRecreation

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.

CPA HousingCPA Housing

• For residents earning up to 100% of area median ($61,800 for a family of four, $49,440 for a couple, and $43,260 for 1 person).

• Units count under 40B so long as inhabitants earn less than 80% of median.

• Other features:- requires a permanent deed restriction- Subject to zoning- Local CPC screens and recommends

projects; legislative body makes appropriations.

Historic PreservationHistoric Preservation

Community Preservation funds may be used for acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation or restoration of a building(s) or real property that:

• has been determined by the local historic preservation commission to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of a city or town; or

• is listed or eligible for listing on the state register of historic places

Historic PreservationHistoric Preservation

• Restoration of historic municipal properties• Adaptive reuse• Environmental mitigation• Grants to private non-profit groups, or individuals with a preservation easement

Community PreservationCommunity Preservation Committee Committee

• Membership: (one from each)– Conservation Commission– Historic Commission– Planning Board– Board of Park Commissioners– Housing Authority

Up to 4 additional members

Community Preservation Act Funding in FY 2002-2005

$-$2,000,000

$4,000,000$6,000,000

$8,000,000$10,000,000

$12,000,000$14,000,000

$16,000,000$18,000,000

$20,000,000

FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005

Recreation

Historic

Open Space

Housing

CPA MilestonesCPA Milestones

• 65 Adopting Communities

• 12-15 Communities voting in 2004

• More than $115 million appropriated so far

• More than 600 units of housing created

• 4,000 acres of open space protected

• More than 140 historic sites preserved

For Further InformationFor Further Information

www.communitypreservation.org