Community Preservation Committee

• Phase One: Project Eligibility Determination
• Phase Two: Application Submission and Committee Review
• Phase Three: Project Recommendations to Town Meeting
• Phase Four: Town Meeting Vote

 The CPC reviews project eligibility on a rolling basis between August and November. All prospective applicants must submit the one-page Project Eligibility Determination Form to the Planning Department. 

1. Applications are reviewed by CPC and Planning staff to determine eligibility.
2. Applicants will be invited to a CPC meeting to explain the purpose and extent of their project and to respond to any questions or comments the Committee members may have. The committee will then vote to confirm the project’s eligibility.
3. Projects deemed eligible will have to complete a full application to be considered for funding (See Phase Two). Projects deemed ineligible are welcome to submit a new Eligibility Determination Form to be included in the next round of funding. 

1. Applicants must submit a full application (One (1) hardcopy as well as a digital copy – see Application Requirements and Attachments below for more details) to the Planning Department and filed with the Town Clerk by December 31^st to be considered for CPC funding. 
2. Applications should include letters of support from relevant town departments, commissions, or boards. Where possible, the applicant should provide a quote for the proposed work or, if a quote is not available, estimate costs to the best of their ability.
3. The CPC reviews project applications between January and February to determine funding priorities. Applicants shall attend CPC meetings to present their application and respond to any Committee questions or concerns. Where appropriate, a site visit can be scheduled. 

1. The CPC will vote on project funding recommendation to include in a warrant article for Spring Town Meeting between February and March.
2. A public forum may be held prior to the Committee voting to allow for public input in the project recommendation process. 
3. Notification shall be sent to applicants of the funding recommendation decisions. 
4. The CPC may recommend a project as proposed by the applicant, may modify the project, or may recommend partial funding or funding for only a portion or phase of the proposed project. The CPC’s recommendation to Town Meeting may include detailed project scopes, conditions, and other specifications as the CPC, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate

1. The annual Spring Town Meeting starts on the first Tuesday of May every year and may 
2. The CPC chair presents the Committee’s funding recommendations to Spring Town Meeting for final approval.
3. The Applicants are not required to attend but observe in person or watch on BATV/livestream if they so choose. 

Purpose  

For any use eligible for CPA funding, under special circumstances as determined by the CPC, the CPC will consider a special application outside of the Standard Application Process on Page 10 if it meets the criteria listed below. By way of example, the most common of these circumstances might be the imminent placing of real property on the market, but they could include time-sensitive stabilization or restoration of an historic asset damaged by flood or fire, or other emergency situations. The principle warranting special consideration outside of the Standard Application Process is that a unique opportunity is presented that, if missed, is likely to remove or make unavailable to the Town and its citizens a valuable resource within the Town.  

In all such cases, the CPC will adhere to the procedures applicable under the Standard Application Process, except for the submission and hearing deadlines outlined in that process, and in all such cases, the CPC will hold a public forum to review such an application. If the timing of the application is such that the CPC cannot meet the deadline for the Spring Town Meeting, the CPC may consider bringing the application forward at Fall Town Meeting by a Committee vote or the applicant or the Selectmen can commit to calling a Special Town Meeting. The only purpose would be to consider the appropriation of CPA funds for the project described in the application. The CPC will consider such an application as expeditiously as possible but will itself not recommend holding a Special Town Meeting or making any other changes in the Town’s calendar. The proponents and supporters of such an application will be responsible for calling a Special Town Meeting or securing other necessary changes in the Town’s calendar.  

The CPC will consider a proposal under the Special Application Process only if the project meets the Qualifying Historic Projects for CPA Funding, the Specific Criteria referred to in the Needs Assessments, and as many as possible of the following additional criteria:  

The project holds a high priority in Billerica’s Master Plan, Open Space and Recreation Plan, Housing Production Plan, or in other planning documents currently accepted and utilized by the Town.  

• The proponents were previously unaware of the unique circumstances or opportunity to undertake the project at the given time; or the proponents did not have authority to identify such opportunity prior to the Standard Application Deadline (for example, the potential sale was still confidential).  
• The proponents have either: (a) a letter of intent signed by the current owner of the real property expressing an interest in selling to the applicant; or (b) legal control (an option, signed purchase and sale agreement or legal title) of the real property.  
• The project is supported by one or more Town Boards with responsibility for projects of a similar nature.  
• Failure to secure CPA funding will create a high likelihood that the project will not be able to be carried out for the benefit of the Town, because the opportunity is unique or of very short duration.  
• Appropriation of CPA funding will contribute materially to the likelihood of success for the project.