Community Preservation Committee

To view the current member roster for this committee, please visit their site on Hopkinton's Boards & Committee Database.

Helpful Links:

Overview: The Community Preservation Act

In 2001, the citizens of Hopkinton voted to adopt the Community Preservation Act (M.G.L. Chapter 267 of the Acts of 2000) and thereby approved a 2% surcharge to the annual real property tax.  Revenue from this surcharge is dedicated for the preservation of open space, historic sites, affordable housing and passive/active outdoor recreation.  Local revenue is supplemented through a state Community Preservation Trust Fund (state revenue raised through fees charged at Massachusetts Registries of Deeds).  The percentage of state disbursements changes from year to year based on the amount in the Community Preservation Trust Fund.  In 2012, an amendment to Chapter 267 added $25 Million to this fund.  The availability of funds depends on two factors, the number of deeds registered in a given year and the number of cities and towns competing for state CPA dollars. 

Under the provisions of the CPA, a Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee was established to identify the Town's needs, capabilities and resources with regard to community preservation.  The CPC considers proposals made by groups and individuals to ensure they meet the criteria of the law, benefit the community, and are financially feasible.  The Committee then makes recommendations to Annual Town Meeting.   The CPC may include in its recommendations a request to set aside for later spending funds for specific purposes that are consistent  with community preservation, but for which sufficient revenues are not immediately available.

The Community Preservation Committee has nine members including designees from the Planning Board, Open Space Preservation Commission, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, the Housing Authority and four At-Large members appointed by the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen.  Among projects partially or entirely funded with CPA dollars are the Fruit Street Athletic Complex,  the Mayhew Court affordable housing development, the Center Trail (part of the continuing Rails-to-Trails initiative), preservation of Town Hall, preservation of Town and Library records, and the acquisition of open space parcels to name a few. 

CPC meetings, public hearings and agendas are posted on the Calendar

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Historic Preservation: Train Depot Open Space: Phipps Property
Fruit Street Fields
Mayhew - Bldg 6
Active Recreation: Fruit St. Athletic Complex Affordable Housing: Mayhew Court

The properties pictured above are among many projects in Hopkinton financed in part through Community
Preservation Act funding.