Recommended CPA Funding Allocations for the 2008 Town Meeting
On December 6, following months of site visits, project reviews and a public hearing, the Concord Community Preservation Committee (CPC) voted to recommend that Concord’s 2008 Annual Town Meeting award $2,357,233 of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. The funds are designated for a variety of projects or reserve accounts related to Community Housing, Open Space, and Historic Preservation. In addition to the CPA monies that are comprised of half state and half town funds, many projects will generate matching revenues derived from town, state, foundation and or other private funds.
Recommended CPA funding allocations for the 2008 Town Meeting include:
* $22,500 for the restoration of selected books from the Library’s Thoreau Books Collection, a 64 volume collection of books owned and used by Henry D. Thoreau. This is the first year of a two year project and the funding will conserve eleven of the most damaged titles in the collection.
* $30,000.00 for the Town-held Conservation Restriction Baseline Documentation Project, a pilot program initiated by the Natural Resources Commission. Baseline documentation is an important tool for monitoring and insuring the conservation value of restrictions and this project will provide a consultant to collect baseline documentation on ten Town-held conservation restrictions.
* $175,000 for the Concord Housing Development Corporation’s Affordable Housing Program. This funding will assist the CHDC’s initiatives to foster, preserve and support affordable housing in Concord.
* $750,000 for the Division of Natural Resources and the Concord Land Conservation Trust acquisition of the Hubbard Brook Farm Field, a 17.73 acre parcel of Prime Agricultural Soils located on Sudbury Road which is directly contiguous to already protected lands. The land will primarily remain in agricultural use and a conservation restriction will be placed on a portion of the property which allows for public access.
* $200,000 for the Concord Museum’s Climate Control Project. This funding will cover 46% of the costs to upgrade their climate control system by installing new humidification and dehumidification systems with digital controls for the long term preservation of their collections.
* $250,000 for the Concord Public Works Nashawtuc Bridge Preservation Project. This funding will allow for the granite parapets on either side of the ca. 1883 Nashawtuc Bridge to be reset and reinforced to meet current MassHighway “crash” standards using a moment rail system.
* $175,000 for Orchard House’s Phase II Restoration. This funding will allow the Louisa May Alcott Memorial Association to continue work on the next phase of structural repairs necessary for the future use and preservation of the structure.
* $450,000 for Concord Housing Trust’s acquisition of 335 Walden St. for Housing and Open Space and $160,000 for the construction of up to six units of Housing on the property. Conservation restrictions will also be placed on approximately 70% of the site which directly abuts other Town-owned lands.
* 50% of the remaining funds (approximately $57,500) will be designated to the Community Housing Reserve.
* 50% of the remaining funds (approximately $57,500) will be designated to the Open Space Reserve.
* $30,000 for the Administration of the Community Preservation Act in Concord.
The CPC received a total of $3,098,769 in requests for ten projects. Owing to funding limitations and other considerations, the CPC voted less than the full amount requested by two applicants and were unable to fund applications for the Save Our Heritage Barrett Farm House Restoration and the Concord Public Works Deed House Restoration.
The CPC is pleased with the quality of the applications, which fulfill the intent of the CPA legislation, and will help to preserve the Community of Concord. The public will have a further chance to comment on the projects at the Finance Committee Hearing on March 11. The 2008 Annual Town Meeting will make the final decision and may vote to approve, reduce or reject the CPC’s recommendations.
For further information on the projects and the CPA and CPC contact Lara Kritzer at 978-318-3293.
Community Preservation Act Background
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was signed into law in 2000. The legislation was enacted to help Massachusetts communities preserve and plan for their community's future and to raise funds to accomplish town goals. Adoption of the CPA allows towns that accept its provisions to levy a tax surcharge of up to 3% on property tax bills. This qualifies the town for state matching funds. The CPA funds can only be used to acquire, create, and preserve open space and land for recreational purposes, to acquire, preserve, rehabilitate and restore historic resources and to create, preserve and support affordable housing. Under the law, a minimum of 10% of revenues must be appropriated or reserved each year for each of the three interests of open space, community housing and historic preservation.
Concord adopted the state enabling legislation at the 2004 Annual Town Meeting and it was affirmed by the voters at the polls in November 2004. Concord voted to assess a 1.5% surcharge. The first $100,000 of assessed value of each property's assessment is exempt from the surcharge. In addition those taxpayers whose incomes are eligible for low and moderate income housing and qualified seniors may obtain exemptions to the tax surcharge. The revenues raised in Concord are augmented by state CPA funds. For 2005 the ratio of state to town funds is 1 to 1.
Following Concord's 2004 adoption of the Community Preservation Act, the Board of Selectmen established the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). As specified in the enabling legislation, the Committee is charged with the task of "studying the needs, possibilities, and resources of the town regarding community preservation." The areas of study are open space, community housing, historic preservation and recreation. The Committee is required to consult with town boards and commissions to ascertain the needs of the community and hold at least one public informational meeting per year. Finally, the Committee is to solicit applications for CPA projects and after review present funding recommendations to the citizens at Concord's Town Meeting.
The first task of the Committee was to write a Plan, which was completed in the early summer of 2005, was updated in the summer of 2006 and is presently being updated for 2007. It includes the following sections:1) The CPA in Concord; 2) How CPA Funds can be Used; 3) Needs Assessment, Community Housing, Historic Preservation, Open Space, Recreation; 4) General Selection Criteria; 5) Application Process; 6) Guidelines for Submission; 7) Application Requirements; 8) Application; 9) Funding Process and ten Appendices. The most up-to-date draft Plan is available here www.concordma.gov , at the Town libraries and in the Planning Department at 141 Keyes Road.
In writing the Plan, the Committee received input from the Town's boards, commissions and officials. They also utilized the most recentl Comprehensive Long Range Plan, the Open Space and Recreation Plan and the Playground Study. The Committee will conduced public informational meetings and hearings on the Community Preservation Plan on Tuesday July 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the first floor Meeting Room at 141 Keyes Road and on Tuesday September 11, 2007 at the Harvey Wheeler Center.
Community Preservation Committee
Meeting Schedule
2008
Day |
Date |
Time |
Location |
Wednesday |
January 2 |
8:30 a.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Thursday |
January 24 |
7:30 p.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Thursday |
February 7 |
8:00 a.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Tuesday |
March 4 |
7:30 p.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Finance Committee Public Hearing Tuesday |
March 11 |
7:30 p.m. |
Alcott School Auditorium |
Thursday |
March 27 |
7:30 p.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Wednesday
CANCELLED |
April 16
|
7:30 p.m.
|
2nd Floor
141 Keyes Rd
|
Thursday |
April 17 |
8:00 a.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
Thursday |
May 22 |
7:30 p.m. |
1st Floor 141 Keyes Rd |
| 
