Pitch Your Ideas for the Next Community Preservation Projects

NEW BEDFORD — The City of New Bedford’s Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development announced that the city’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is hosting a community meeting solicit feedback from the public that will help update the Fiscal Year 2019 Community Preservation Plan. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the 3^rd Floor Meeting Room of the New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street.

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was adopted by New Bedford voters through a ballot question in November 2014. This statewide enabling legislation allows communities to create dedicated funding for:  Open Space, Outdoor Recreational Facilities, Historic Preservation and Affordable Housing activities in the city. Oversight of this process rests with the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), the body established by the city to oversee the CPA program in New Bedford.

The Community Preservation Plan identifies and establishes the city’s priorities in each of the four categories that CPA funding supports. Through an open and transparent process, the Community Preservation Plan guides the allocation of funds to projects that improve and benefit the community. The FY18 Community Plan is available for review at: www.newbedford-ma.gov/planning/community-preservation/  under “CPA Plan FY2018.”

Written comments will be accepted through Thursday, July 12th. Please send comments to: CPA@newbedford-ma.gov. CPA funding is derived through two sources: a 1.5 percent surcharge on local property taxes and a state match on local revenue. The CPC recently completed its first round of CPA project applications and has recommended for consideration to the City Council the awarding of funds to 17 projects totaling nearly $2.6 million for proposals located across all of New Bedford’s six wards.

Translation services in both Spanish and Portuguese for the meeting are available by request only. Please contact the Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development prior to the meeting if you require these services.

For more information on CPA, please visit the City’s website at: www.newbedford-ma.gov/planning/community-preservation/. Questions concerning the public meeting or the Community Preservation Plan can be directed to the Department of Planning, Housing & Community Development at 508.979.1488 or 508.979.1500.

-City of New Bedford