A newly formed Community Preservation Committee will oversee Chelsea’s allocation of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.
In November 2016, Chelsea voters endorsed adoption of the CPA, which will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for affordable housing development and acquisition, historic preservation efforts, open space initiatives, and recreational facilities.
The Committee comprises nine appointed members: Bea Cravatta, Judith Dyer, Caroline Ellenbird, Jose Iraheta, Michelle Lopez, Yahya Noor, Ron Robinson, Juan Vega, and Tuck Willis. Five positions are statutorily reserved for representatives of City boards and commissions. The City Manager appoints the remaining four members according to specific criteria: one position demands expertise in open spaces, housing, and/or historical preservation; another requires expertise in development, business, finance, and/or construction; the final two seats go to residents with demonstrated community involvement.
Members of the Community Preservation Committee serve three-year volunteer terms and must reside in Chelsea. Their core duties include establishing an administrative budget for the municipal Community Preservation program, preparing an annual Community Preservation Plan, and evaluating project applications to recommend funding decisions. Additionally, CPC members must meet regularly and coordinate with community organizations throughout Chelsea as circumstances warrant.
John DePriest, AICP, Director of the City of Chelsea Department of Planning and Development, oversees the Committee’s operations. A Professional Planning consultant has been sought through an RFP process to develop the Community Preservation Plan. The Committee solicits and evaluates proposals for Community Preservation Act funding, issuing recommendations on appropriate fund allocation. Any project must receive a committee recommendation before funding can be approved.
Additional details are available at: https://www.chelseama.gov/community-preservation-committee.