City Of Salem: CPA Draft Community Preservation Plan Available

Press release from the City of Salem:

November 12, 2021

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has released its Draft FY22 Community Preservation Plan and FY21 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. The plan also serves as an annual report – summarizing the status of funded projects and including copies of the required State reports.

The CPC is inviting public comment on the draft plan through November 29, 2021. Following the receipt of comments, the Plan will be finalized and proposals for CPA funding will invited. 

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, to be considered for the FY22 funding round, applicants are encouraged to submit their Eligibility Applications no later than January 3, 2022. 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 25, 2022. The goal of the CPC is to review proposals and submit funding recommendations to the City Council in May, 2022.

CPC Chair Bart Hoskins stated, "The Community Preservation Committee has previously recommended 79 public and private projects for Salem’s CPA funding. The Community Preservation Plan outlines the process that applicants should follow as we enter the next funding round.”

“Since its inception, CPA in Salem has helped our community leverage millions in state funds that we otherwise would not have received,” Mayor Kim Driscoll said. “The volunteer members of our Community Preservation Committee have served Salem diligently in developing recommendations for many housing, historic preservation, and open space and recreation projects made possible thanks to these funds.”

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 FY22 Community Preservation Plan and FY21 Annual Report and additional information can be found at http://www.salem.com/community-preservation-committee. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Planning and Community Development, 98 Washington St., Salem, MA 01970 by November 29, 2021.

This press release was produced by the City of Salem. The views expressed here are the author’s own.