Community Preservation Act Projects & Proposals
The Community Preservation Committee received five applications for funding for the year 2010.
Preservation of the Ames Shovel Works Complex
Updated May 5, 2010.
Town Meeting approved several warrant articles related to redeveloping the Ames Shovel Works. For updated information, click here.
The proposal calls for a combination of loans and grants to support the restoration and redevelopment of the Ames Shovel Works site as a new residential community.
Read the full proposal, here or see the presentation to the CPC (1/28/2010).
Proposal to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan
On February 11, the CPC voted to recommend funding the Affordable Housing Trust's application to use CPA Community Housing funds to support the Affordable Housing Trust’s efforts to accomplish the initiatives outlined in the Easton Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan. This proposal will be reviewed at the Annual Town Meeting, Monday, May 17, 2010.
The $425,000 will be used to fund the first year of the Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan, which identified 6 initiatives targeted to meet the housing needs of the Town. See the 5-year budget of the Affordable Housing Trust.
- INITIATIVE 1: Establish a local homebuyer assistance program that provides mortgage assistance subsidies.
- INITIATIVE 2: Connect qualifying residents with housing assistance programs.
- INITIATIVE 3: Create an Easton Housing Office to implement the town’s affordable housing goals and programs and to support the work of the Housing Trust and the Community Preservation Committee.
- INITIATIVE 4: Promote adoption of an Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw to create affordable units in private residential developments.
- INITIATIVE 5: Establish a Small Grants Program to allow low-income homeowners to stay in their homes
- INITIATIVE 6: Develop affordable rental, homeownership, and/or special needs housing through reuse of existing buildings (possibly historic buildings) and/or new construction on infill properties.
The CPC has received letters of support on this proposal from:
Read the Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan, here.
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Update the Easton Affordable Housing Production Plan
A Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a community’s proactive strategy for planning and developing affordable housing. Under M.G.L. c.40B, communities can deny unwanted Comprehensive Permit Applications if they are certified as being in compliance with their approved Housing Production Plan. Easton’s HPP was approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in November of 2005; this approval will expire in November, 2010 if the plan is not updated.
Much of the work to update this plan has already been done as part of the Affordable Housing Trust Action Plan process; however, DHCD has updated its HPP guidelines to include additional requirements which were not addresses in the original HPP nor relevant to the AHT Action Plan.
The Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership is seeking $10,0000 funding assistance to obtain professional support to update the plan in accordance with the new HPP Guidelines.
Read the letter from the Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership.
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Pocket Park at 80 Center Street
On January 28, 2010, the CPC voted to recommend, with conditions, 
Former Easton resident Joe Povoas's proposal to construct a "pocket park" at 80 Center Street. The land, commemorative plaques, and a bubbler are proposed to be donated to the Town; CPA funds have been reccomended to fund landscaping and permanent fixtures, excluding benches, the bubbler, and the plaques.
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Open Space, Recreation, Historical Preservation and Affordable Housing at 31 Williams Street
The proposal submitted by the Williams Street Neighborhood Assocatiaion to use CPA funds purchase the rear portion of 31 Williams Street for open space and reacreation, and purchase and/or acquisition of deed restrictions related to affordable housing and historic preservation on the front portion of the property has been withdrawn.
Questions? Contact Planning Director Alice Savage at 508-230-0643.