The CPA requires that 10-percent of the funds go to open space, 10-percent to historic preservation and 10-percent to affordable housing. The other 70 percent is up for grabs. I've suggested - several times - that we use the bulk of the Communnity Preservation Act funds to get a grip on the affordable housing issue so we can control 40B development.
Except that I erred...I forgot that we're using the bulk of the CPA funds (I think about 50-percent) to service our Land Bank debt. You see, Falmouth used bonds to agressively buy open space under the Land Bank such that over the course of just 6 years, we managed to spend 20 years worth of Land Bank funds. Now we're paying for it.
So there's not as much money available for affordable housing as I originally suggested, but there's probably still about 30-percent - I'm digging around for the exact figures. It's a start.
As I've previously stated, my job is about solving problems. I look to fix the root cause of an issue - not treat the symptoms. Every issue we face comes down to development and 40B is development over which we have little control. Want to preserve open space? Concerned about traffic? Is the nitrogen pollution of our salt ponds your issue? If we can get a grip on the 40B issue, these will be easier to address. Until we do that, these other issues will just get worse.
We CAN do better!
1 comment:
Thanks for explaining the need to service the Land Bank dept from the CPA funds. Boyer and then Clark mentioned this in an oblique way and in short phrases in their CPA presentations at Town Meeting. Somehow I wasn't paying attention at the time the money was spent.
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