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1. What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA)?

Community Preservation Act (CPA) legislation was designed to help Massachusetts towns and cities plan ahead for sustainable growth and provide funds to achieve their community preservation goals. The CPA (MGL. c. 44B) was enacted by state legislators in 2000 allowing any Town in the Commonwealth to adopt a property tax surcharge of up to 3%, the revenues from which and any matching state funds could be directed to community housing, historic resources, open space, and recreational projects.

2. When did Yarmouth adopt the CPA?

In January 2005, the Town of Yarmouth voters adopted the CPA with a 3% surcharge, and simultaneously withdrew from the Cape Cod Land Bank (CCLB).

3. What is the Community Preservation Committee?

The Yarmouth Community Preservation Committee (CPC) was created in April 2005.

The CPC consists of nine voting members. Seven members represent existing committees from the Affordable Housing Committee, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Open Space Committee, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, and the Yarmouth Housing Authority. The two remaining seats are citizen-at-large positions appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

The Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to Town Meeting for funding for community housing, historic, open space, and recreation projects.

4. How may I obtain a CPA application?

The Community Preservation Act application is available online or at Town Hall in the Department of Community Development.

Click here to view the CPA application.

5. Who decides how to spend the revenue?

You decide! The legislative body of Yarmouth (Town Meeting) ultimately approves any CPA expenditures, based on the recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee.

The Committee is required to study the community preservation needs of the city or town, hold a public hearing, consult with relevant boards and committees and make recommendations to the legislative body for the expenditure of CPA funds. The legislative body may approve, reduce or reject the recommended appropriations, or it may reserve CPA funds for future projects.

6. When are applications due for the FY20 grant round?

Complete applications must be submitted by October 4, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. to be eligible for consideration at Annual Town Meeting 2020.

Twelve (12) copies and all accompanying documents must be hand-delivered or mailed to the Town Hall at the address below.

Town of Yarmouth
Department of Community Development
1146 Route 28
South Yarmouth, MA 02664

Applications not received by the deadline, may be eligible for consideration at a Special Town Meeting. Please note that Special Town Meetings are not a regular occurrence.

7. Are restrictions placed on properties which receive Community Preservation funds?

Most projects are subject to permanent deed restrictions that meets the requirements of M.G.L c. 44B §12 and M.G.L. c. 184 §23 to 31.

Types of restrictions may include affordable housing deed riders, historic preservation restrictions, and conservation restrictions. Restrictions run with the land in perpetuity and are enforced by a governing agency.

8. What constitutes "community housing"?

Housing for low to moderate income individuals and families, including low or moderate income seniors.

Moderate income is less than 100%, and low income is less than 80%, of U.S. HUD Area Wide Median Income.

9. What constitutes "historic resources"?

A building, structure, vessel, real property, document or artifact listed or eligible for listing on the State register of historic places or determined by the Yarmouth Historical Commission to be significant in the history, archeology, architecture or culture of Yarmouth.

10. What constitutes "open space"?

Land to protect existing and future wellfields, aquifers and recharge areas, watershed land, agricultural land, grassland, fields, forest land, fresh and salt water marshes, and other wetlands, ocean, river, stream, lake and pond frontage, beaches, dunes and other coastal lands, lands to protect scenic vistas, land for wildlife or nature preserve and land for recreational use.

11. What constitutes "recreational land"?

Land for active or passive recreational use including, but not limited to, the use of land for community gardens, trails, and noncommercial youth and adult sports, and the use of land as a park, playground or athletic field.

Does not include horse or dog racing or the use of land for a stadium, gymnasium or similar structure.