PUBLIC INVITED TO SHAPE PLANS FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDING

SOMERVILLE
– Want to help determine how the City of Somerville should spend at least $1.5
million on affordable housing, open space, outdoor recreation and historic
preservation projects? The Somerville Community
Preservation Committee will gather public feedback at two public hearings
in May that will assist in finalizing the criteria the Committee uses to
determine which projects are recommended for funding through the Community
Preservation Act (CPA).

Residents are invited to learn about the CPA and offer their
input to the Committee at the hearings, which will take place on Wednesday, May
7, in the West
Somerville Neighborhood School cafeteria, 177 Powder House Boulevard, and Monday,
May 12, in the East
Somerville Community School cafeteria, 50 Cross St. Those unable to attend
either meeting may also submit written comments through May 31 by email to emonea@somervillema.gov or by mail to
Emily Monea, SomerStat, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143.

At each hearing, the Committee will present its draft
priorities for CPA-funded projects, such as preserving expiring-use affordable
homes and expanding access to and use of the Mystic River and Alewife Brook
corridors. These draft priorities are based on the City’s comprehensive SomerVision plan, Housing
Needs Assessment, Open
Space and Recreation Plan and other current planning documents, including
the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s “Dimensions
of Displacement” report.

The Committee will then listen to the public and use the
feedback from both hearings to finalize the priorities, which will guide the
Committee’s decisions about which projects it will recommend to the Board of
Aldermen for funding through the CPA. Once the prioritization plan is
finalized, the Committee will begin the application process for receiving CPA
funding, which is open to all. Residents will also have the opportunity to
provide feedback on eligible project proposals once all applications are submitted.

Somerville voters overwhelming approved adopting the CPA in
November 2012, which will raise at least $1.5 million in funding annually via a
property tax surcharge and state matching funds for affordable housing, open
space, outdoor recreation and historic preservation. In November 2013, an unprecedented
open and transparent process yielded four appointees for the public
positions on the Community Preservation Committee, submitted by Mayor Joseph A.
Curtatone and approved by the Board of Aldermen.

The
Committee members are public members Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, Ezra Glenn, Courtney
Koslow and Uma Murugan; and ex officio members Michael A. Capuano of the Planning
Board, chairman; Dick Bauer of the Historic Preservation Commission, vice
chairman; Tanya Cafarella of the Somerville Housing Authority; Michael Fager of
the Conservation Commission; and City Parks and Open Space Director Arn
Franzen. Committee members serve three-year terms, but initial appointments to
the committee have been staggered.

For
more information on the CPA, visit the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/CPA. Please
contact Emily Monea at 617-625-6600 x2118 or emonea@somervillema.gov with comments
or questions.