News & Updates
Below are the three projects that the CPC has voted to recommend for funding to 2022 Town Meeting.
- Town Common Guideboard Restoration (historical funds)
- Purchase and recreational development of Lot R-15 on Pelham Hill Road (open space and recreation funds)
- Development of Trail and Parking at Ames Pond property owned by Kestrel Land Trust (previous owner Julian Janowitz) = Phase 1 (recreation funds)
About the Community Preservation Act (CPA)
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was passed by the State Legislature in 2000 and is designed to help Massachusetts’ cities and towns preserve and plan for their communities’ futures and to raise funds to accomplish their Historic Preservation, Open Space, Recreation, and Community Housing goals. Shutesbury adopted the CPA at its May 2008 Annual Town Meeting.
The CPA authorizes Shutesbury to levy a 1.5% surcharge on property tax bills to raise funds to address our Historic Preservation, Open Space, Recreation, and Community Housing needs. Notably, the Town elected to exempt from the surcharge the first $100,000 of assessed value of each property’s assessment. By raising local funds, Shutesbury is eligible to receive state funds that match a percentage of the funds raised by the town each year.
Projects proposed for CPA funds are reviewed, and then recommended, when appropriate, by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The spending of CPA funds is only approved by Town Meeting. To guide the use of CPA funds, the CPC is required to develop a Community Preservation Plan each year.
Copy of current Community Preservation Plan
About the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is compromised of seven members. This includes representatives from the Planning Board, Open Space or Recreation committee, Conservation Commission, and Historical Commission, one member representing the interests of affordable housing, and one member of the Select Board or its designee to perform the duties of a Board of Park Commissioners. There is also one At-large community member seat. Terms are one year, renewable.
The committee tends to meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month from Sept to May/June. For upcoming meeting notices please visit the Town Calendar. All meetings are currently being held virtually.
All of our meetings are public and the public is always welcome.
Apply For a CPA-funded Project
Interested in applying for a CPC grant. Click here for current application dates and information about the categories of funding.
Community Preservation Funded Projects
Find out more about current and past CPA funded projects.
Committee Related Documents
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Most recent Shutesbury Community Preservation bylaw
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History of the CPA in Shutesbury for the period 2008-2011