Stow Community Preservation Plan

Partial First Page - for the complete document click the link to download.

Background on the Community Preservation Act  

The Community Preservation Act (CPA), MGL 44B, was enacted into on September 14, 2000.  Under this legislation, municipalities may opt to participate in the CPA by adopting a property tax surcharge to create a locally controlled Community Preservation Fund.  The state will provide a match, up to a maximum of 100%, depending on what percentage surcharge is adopted in that municipality, and the number of communities participating statewide.  The Community Preservation Fund can be used to fund projects related to the acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes, the acquisition and preservation of open space, the acquisition and improvement of land for recreation, and the creation and support of affordable housing.  All decisions on expenditures are made by the community at Town Meeting.  The goal of the Community Preservation Act is to provide communities such as Stow with an alternative funding source and to expand their ability to pursue and implement projects in each of these three areas, to preserve or enhance the quality of life in those communities.   Unlike other state and federal grants, Stow maintain strong local control of all decision making under the Community Preservation Act.  There are no requirements to expend funds within any timeframe.  The law requires that at least 10% of the funds in any given year be allocated - expended, or reserved for use in a future year - to each of the three project areas (historic preservation, affordable housing, and open space).