CPA Draft Community Preservation Plan Available for Comment

From:Robert K McCarthy

Councillor Ward One

Subject: CPA Draft Community Preservation Plan Available for Comment

CPA Draft Community Preservation Plan Available

Public comment can be submitted by January 6, 2015

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has released its Draft FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report. The Community Preservation Plan is used to guide the CPC’s decision-making when reviewing and recommending projects for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding. 

The Plan includes an overview of the CPA in Salem, evaluation criteria, and a timeline. It also references several planning documents that have been vetted through public processes and summarizes some of the relevant needs, goals, and recommendations of those plans. Finally, the plan also serves as an annual report, summarizing the status of funded projects and including copies of the required State reports.

The CPC invites public comment on the draft plan through January 6, 2015. Following the receipt of comments, the Plan will be finalized and proposals for CPA funding will accepted. Comments should be submitted to:

Jane A. Guy

Assistant Community Development Director

Department of Planning & Community Development

120 Washington St., 3rd Floor

Salem, MA  01970

(F) 978-740-0404

jguy@salem.com

 The CPC uses a two-step application process for reviewing funding proposals, beginning with an Eligibility Application. This application enables applicants to know if their project is eligible under CPA regulations prior to submitting the more comprehensive Funding Application. Eligibility Applications may be submitted to the CPC at any time. However, in order to be considered for the FY15 funding round, applicants are encouraged to submit their Eligibility Applications no later than February 6, 2015. For projects that are determined eligible, applicants will then be invited to submit a Funding Application. The CPC’s tentative deadline for the receipt of Funding Applications is March 20, 2015. The goal of the CPC is to review proposals and submit funding recommendations to the City Council in May 2015. 

CPC Chair Helen Sides stated, "This first year of CPA has been exciting, and I am pleased with the extremely positive feedback the CPC has received regarding the projects that were selected for funding. I look forward to beginning the next round of CPA funding, which starts with this release of the Draft FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report.”

 “The CPC has done a terrific job of developing the materials and process needed to create Salem’s CPA program. The projects vetted by the CPC and approved by the City Council for funding during the first round exceeded everyone’s expectations and I’m very much looking forward to what the FY15 round will bring,” said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

The CPA was adopted by Salem voters in November, 2012. It established a local dedicated fund for the purpose of undertaking open space, historic preservation, outdoor recreation and community housing projects. It is financed by a voter-approved property tax surcharge along with annual matching funds from the statewide CPA Trust Fund. The CPC is composed of representatives from the City’s Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Planning Board, Park & Recreation Commission, and Salem Housing Authority, along with appointees from the Mayor and the City Council.

The Draft FY15 Community Preservation Plan and FY14 Annual Report and additional information can be found at http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_CPC/index.