Community Preservation Act

Community Preservation Act Approved to go on Watertown Ballot

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The Community Preservation Act in Watertown will be on the ballot in town this November when residents will get to vote on whether create a fund for open space, affordable housing and historical preservation by adding a surcharge to tax bills. This will be the second time the CPA has been on the ballot in Watertown. In 2005 the measure made the ballot but was voted down. This time a group called Invest in Watertown has resurrected the effort, and on Tuesday announce they had the signatures needed to get on the ballot. Even before the CPA officially made the ballot, the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association came out opposing adding to the town’s tax rates for the CPA (see the group’s letter here).

Elections

LETTER: Concerned Homeowners Group Opposes Proposed CPA

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We wanted to share with you the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association position statement on the Community Preservation Act (CPA) initiative. Let’s all try and remember-this is a TAX. We have heard from many about door knocking campaigns to obtain the required signatures to put the question on the ballot in November. Please find our reasons for opposing the CPA Tax. Reasons to Reject the Community Preservation Act (CPA):

1 – The School Committee reported that we are out of classroom space in our schools, and that means we have a high probability of having to raise taxes to meet that NEED.

Around Town

Forum Draws Attention to Need for More Affordable Housing in Area

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With housing in the Boston area one of the most expensive in the nation, the need for more affordable housing has become critical, said presenters at the Tri Community Coalition to End Homelessness event last week. Chrystal Kornegay, Undersecretary for the State Department of Housing and Community Development was the keynote speaker at the event organized by groups from Watertown, Belmont and Waltham, and was held at St. Joseph’s Church in Belmont. Kornegay said the Boston area has the fourth most expensive housing prices in the United States and the ninth highest rents. A person or family spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing is considered housing “burdened.”

Around Town

Group Backing Community Preservation Act Tours a Hidden Natural Area

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Invest in Watertown launched its effort to pass the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in town with a tour of an area that could be upgraded with funds from the CPA program. The group submitted the following account of the day:

On Saturday, Feb. 6, a hardy group of some 50 persons aged 2 to 82 gathered near Walker Pond in western Watertown. Guided by Leo Martin of the Watertown Conservation Commission, they had come to view firsthand some of the town’s few remaining open spaces and officially launch Invest in Watertown, a campaign to bring the Community Preservation Act to Watertown. The Community Preservation Act, enacted in 2000, enables Massachusetts municipalities to dedicate funds annually for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of open space, affordable housing, and historic resources.