Southeastern Mass CPA Workshop November 10, 2007 1
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Presentation Overview The History of CPA What is CPA How Does CPA Work/How is CPA Adopted How are Communities using CPA Funds 3
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History of the Community Preservation Act 20-year effort led to creation of CPA Cape Cod Land Bank (1998) and NJ inspired CPA CPA went into effect in Dec. 2000; 1 st adopters in 2001 Unprecedented rate of adoption 127 communities have adopted CPA (over 1/3 of state) Other states have turned to CPA as a model, esp. deed recording fee (CT and NH) 5
What is the Community Preservation Act CPA is a 2000 state law that forges a partnership between the state and local governments for: Open Space (and Recreation) Historic Preservation Affordable Housing CPA enables local governments to raise funds via a property tax surcharge (up to 3%); adopting communities can receive state matching funds ($20 document recording fee) 6
State Matching Funds Match Distributed Every October 15 FY 2002 $17.8 Million Match Distribution FY 2003 $27.2 Million Match Distribution FY 2004 $31.4 Million Match Distribution FY 2005 $46.3 Million Match Distribution FY 2006 $58.6 Million Match Distribution FY 2007 $68.1 Million Match Distribution 7
What is the Community Preservation Act CPA provides great flexibility to municipalities to spend CPA funds 10% minimum must be spent annually for each use category (open space, community housing, historic preservation) The state provides matching funds each year (Oct. 15 th ) All funds are spent and controlled locally Not a permanent commitment 8
Goals of the CPA: CPA Allows communities to control the way they grow: Protect valuable undeveloped land Restore historic sites and resources Create affordable housing Create new recreational opportunities 9
Local Adoption of CPA Two Routes Legislative (2 steps) Approval by majority of Town Meeting or City Council Approval by a simple majority at next regularly scheduled municipal or state election (whichever comes first) Initiative (2 steps) Petitions signed by 5% of electorate Approval by a simple majority at next regularly scheduled municipal or state election (whichever comes first) Town bylaw approval establishing CP Committee may precede or follow adoption of surcharge 10
Possible Exemptions to the CPA Surcharge Any existing exemptions apply to CPA. First $100,000 of residential property value. 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 11
Amending or Repealing CPA The CPA must remain in place for at least five years. After five years the Act can be repealed at any time by the same procedures used for passage of the Act. Amendments to the surcharge percentage or the exemptions can be made at any time by the same procedures used for passage of the Act. 12
CPC Responsibilities Assess community preservation needs Solicit and screen projects Recommend CPA expenditures to City Council Hold at least one public hearing Track CPA spending 13
Spending Procedures for CPA funds Community Preservation Committee (5-9 9 members) makes recommendations to Legislative Body (TM or City Council) Legislative Body has sole authority to spend CPA funds, but only upon CPC recommendation 10% minimum must be spent for each category annually Municipality may issue bonds backed by CPA locally raised revenue 14
History of CPA Adoption Fiscal Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 # Munic 34 54 61 82 102 113 127 15
Surcharge Summary CPA Towns Summary of CPA Town Surcharges Summary of CPA Town Surcharges 2001 -- Spring 2007 Successful Measures 2001 -- Spring 2007 Failed Measures Surcharge # Towns % of Total Surcharge # Towns % of Total 0.5% 3 2% 1.0% 12 18% 1.0% 21 16% 1.5% 2 3% 1.1% 1 1% 1.9% 1 1% 1.5% 20 15% 2.0% 10 15% 2.0% 14 11% 3.0% 42 63% 3.0% 71 55% Total 67 100% Total 130 100% Avg. surcharge = 2.27% Avg. surcharge = 2.43% 16
CPA in the National Context 17
How are Communities using CPA Open Space/Recreation Historic Preservation Affordable Housing 18
Open Space and CPA 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 19
Farmland preserved in Stow 20
Bradstreet Open Space Project - Rowley 21
Rice Nature Preserve, Wilbraham 22
Cole Property - Carver 23
Plymouth Fish Ladder 24
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 25
Clipper City Bike Trail, Newburyport 26
New Soccer Field, Sudbury 27
Splash Park, Bedford 28
Riverwalk Park, Peabody 29
Other CPA-Funded Recreation Projects Skateboard Park, Bedford Special Needs Playground, Peabody McGrath Park, Agawam Boat Ramp, Grafton 30
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 have been determined by the local historic preservation commission to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of a city or town 31
Historic Preservation Historic Preservation Restoration of historic municipal properties Adaptive reuse Capital improvements to existing sites Grants to private non-profit groups, or individuals with a preservation easement 32
Thatcher s Island Historic Preservation Project, Rockport 33
Revere Bell, Plymouth 34
Pratt Library Housing Cohasset An adaptive reuse CPA project 35
Preservation of Historic Town Documents - Boxford 36
CPA Housing Efforts include: Comprehensive housing plans Conversion of existing stock Homeownership programs Friendly 40B New construction Partnerships: Habitat, Housing Trusts, other non-profit developers 37
CPA Housing For families and individuals earning up to 100% of area median: (varies by town) Units count toward 10% housing goal if inhabitants earn less than 80% of median. CPA Housing is different than 40B: Subject to local zoning Approved locally Permanently affordable Copyright 2006 The Trust for Public Land 38
Patriot Place Affordable Housing, Bedford, Massachusetts 39
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Pilot Grove Housing Complex, Stow 41
Using CPA to Leverage Other Funding Town Project CPA $ Other $ Peabody Rail-trail $162,000 $1.36 million federal grant Bedford Archeological $10,000 $15,000 from MHC survey Easthampton Restore Town Hall $50,000 $50,000 from MHC Newton Elderly housing $850,000 $3.167 million from HUD Grafton Hassanamesitt Village open space/historic preservation $250,000 $1.85 million from state, federal and private sources Hampden 166 acres open space $100,000 $400,00 from state and private sources 42
Summary of CPA Accomplishments More than $335 million appropriated so far for CPA projects More than 8,000 acres of open space protected Over 1,000 units of affordable housing created Over 700 appropriations made to restore and preserve historic resources Over 350 recreation projects funded 43
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CPA Revenue Projections (FY2007) Based on Exemptions: 1st $100k and Low/Moderate Income Surcharge Level 1% 2% 3% ATTLEBORO $ 332,148 $ 664,295 $ 996,443 BERKLEY $ 50,930 $ 101,860 $ 152,790 HALIFAX $ 81,366 $ 162,732 $ 244,098 HANSON $ 93,571 $ 187,143 $ 280,714 LAKEVILLE $ 100,739 $ 201,479 $ 302,218 SEEKONK $ 203,232 $ 406,464 $ 609,696 SWANSEA $ 147,792 $ 295,583 $ 443,375 TAUNTON $ 424,845 $ 849,691 $ 1,274,536 WEST BRIDGEWATER $ 110,182 $ 220,363 $ 330,545 WESTWOOD $ 378,242 $ 756,484 $ 1,134,726 45
For more information, go to: www.communitypreservation.org 46