Plan establishes annual allocations of Community Preservation Act funds

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is holding their annual Community Preservation Plan public hearing on Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the 3^rd floor Community Room at the Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell St. The Community Preservation Plan establishes the annual funding priorities and allocations for the three categories that Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds can support.

From fiscal years 2015 to 2018, the annual funding minimums were 45% for affordable housing, 15% for historic resources, and 15% for open space/recreation land. In fiscal year 2019, the minimums were adjusted to 50% for affordable housing, 15% for historic resources, and 20% for open space. The draft plan is available at the CPA website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa.

CPA funding comes from three sources: Somerville residents, through a 1.5% surcharge on local property taxes, optional additional funding from the City of Somerville, and a state match on local revenue. To date, over $23.8 million in CPA funds have been awarded to 63 projects across all seven of Somerville’s wards. These projects have included the stabilization of Prospect Hill Tower and improvements to the surrounding park, conservation of the tombs and gravestones at Milk Row Cemetery, construction of the new Hoyt Sullivan Playground, and the acquisition of the 5 Palmer Ave. parcel for open space. CPA has also supported the creation of 81 new affordable housing units, including the conversion of the historic Mystic Water Works pumping station to affordable housing and the Somerville Community Corporation’s 100 Homes Program.

Individuals and organizations interested in applying for CPA funds for a project on City owned land or who have an idea for a feasibility study are invited to attend a workshop at 6 p.m prior to the meeting, also at the VNA, to learn about the CPA application process.

Written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, April 17, which you can send to the CPA Manager, Kristen Stelljes, at kstelljes@somervillema.gov or by mail to:
Kristen Stelljes, CPA Manager, Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143.

For more information on the CPA, sign up for the CPA Email Newsletter by visiting the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa and clicking “Sign Up Now for CPA News.”

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at NSalamoun@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2323.