Community Preservation Committee (CPC)

Click on one of the links below for more information about the Hanover Community Preservation Committee.

About the Community Preservation Act (CPA)
Current Membership
Solicitation of Project Proposals
Committee Meeting Schedule - Agenda & Minutes
Contact the Committee
CPC Plan 2010
November 2012 Application Form

About the Community Preservation Act (CPA)

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a tool to help communities preserve open space and historic sites, and create affordable housing and recreational facilities.
 
The Act in Brief

The Community Preservation Act is statewide enabling legislation to allow cities and towns to exercise control over local planning decisions. This legislation strengthens and empowers Massachusetts communities:

• All decisions are local.
• Local people must vote by ballot to adopt the Act.
• Local legislatures must appoint a committee of local people to draw up plans for use of the funds.
• These plans are subject to local comment and approval.

The Hanover General Bylaws, Section 4-19 provides further information about the Community Preservation Committee.

The Community Preservation Coalition has a wealth of information on the Community Preservation Act in Massachusetts.

CPA Funding

Property taxes traditionally fund the day-to-day operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance. - and more. But until the CPA, there was no steady funding source for preserving and improving a community’s infrastructure. The Community Preservation Act can give a community the funds needed to control its future.
The Community Preservation Act provides new funding sources which can be used to address three core community concerns:

• Acquisition and preservation of open space
• Creation and support of affordable housing
• Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes

A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be used for each of the three core community concerns; Community Housing, Open Space Acquisition and Historical Preservation. The remaining 70% can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or for land for recreational use. This gives each community the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan for its future, and have the funds to make those plans happen.

The Town of Hanover passed the CPA (3% surcharge) at the May 2005 Town Meeting. Please click here for a flowchart of Hanover’s CPA funds for FY 2010.

Current Membership

Click here to see the current membership of the Community Preservation Committee.

CPA Projects Update

Click here to see a list of projects completed or currently underway which have been funded by the Community Preservation Committee.

Click here for a list of Applications Received and Recommendations for Town Meeting 2009.
Click here for a list of Applications Received and Recommended for Town Meeting 2010

Solicitation of Project Proposals

The Community Preservation Committee welcomes new project proposals that may contribute to community preservation in Hanover. Please submit such proposals to the Committee using the form and guidelines.  You can download the Application Form and Instructions here.

Committee Meeting Schedule - Agenda & Minutes

Community Preservation Committee meeting times are posted at Town Hall and are added to the Town Website Calendar whenever possible along with agendas as they become available.

Available Meeting Minutes:

December 5, 2012
November 14, 2012
December 14, 2011
November 9, 2011
October 12, 2011
September 14, 2011
June 8, 2011
May 2, 2011
April 13, 2011
April 5, 2011
March 9, 2011
February 9, 2011
January 26, 2011
January 19, 2011
November 10, 2010
October 13, 2010
September 14, 2010
August 2, 2010
July 14, 2010
June 9, 2010
May 3, 2010
April 14, 2010
March 10, 2010
February 24, 2010
January 13, 2010
January 20, 2010
November 18, 2009
October 14, 2009
August 12, 2009
July 8, 2009
June 10, 2009
May 20, 2009
May 5, 2009
April 8, 2009
March 11, 2009
February 11, 2009
January 14, 2009
January 7, 2009
December 17, 2008
December 3, 2008
November 12, 2008
October 8, 2008
September 3, 2008
August 6, 2008
July 9, 2008
June 3, 2008
May 5, 2008
April 9, 2008
March 12, 2008
January 29, 2008
January 15, 2008
January 10, 2008

Contact the Committee

Margaret Hoffman
Community Preservation Act Coordinator
550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Tel: 781-826-7730
Fax: 781-826-5950

We encourage you to fill out the CPC Feedback page and give the Committee your thoughts, suggestions and questions regarding Hanover's preservation of Open Space, Recreation, Affordable Housing, and Historic Resources for future generations.  Your comments will be forwarded to the Committee Chairman.