Community Preservation Committee

General Responsibilities and Duties

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is charged with reviewing proposals from the community for the use of Southampton's Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.

CPA is a state law passed in 2000 that allows Massachusetts communities to conduct a referendum to add a small surcharge on local property taxes. When combined with matching funds from the statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund, this dedicated fund is used to build and rehabilitate parks, playgrounds, and recreational fields, protect open space, support local affordable housing development, and preserve historic buildings and resources. CPA helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources.

10% of Community Preservation Act funds are ear-marked for each of three categories: Open Space/Recreation, Historic Resources and Community Housing. Up to 5% may be used for the Committee’s expenses. The remainder is Undesignated Funds and may be used in the three categories or for obtaining recreational lands. Recreation includes the development of lands, fields, parks, etc.

• Open Space: this includes land to protect existing and future well fields, aquifers and recharge areas, watershed lands, fields, forest land, fresh water marshes and other wetlands, river, stream, lake and pond frontage, beaches land to protect scenic vistas, land for wildlife and nature preserves.
• Recreational Land: this includes land for active or passive recreation use such as parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, community gardens, hiking trails, and non-commercial youth and adult sports.
• Historic Resources: include buildings, structures and/or real property listed or eligible for listing on the state register of historic places or has been determined by the local Historical Commission to be significant in the history, archaeology, architecture or culture of the municipality. It may include historical materials which are important to the Town.
• Community Housing: housing for individuals or families whose annual income is less than 100% of the area wide median income, including housing for citizens above the age of 60. The area wide median income is determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Community Preservation funds not used one year remain with the Committee and can be used in any category as long as the required 10% is reserved for the required areas.  
 

 

 

 

Community Preservation Plan

2024 Community Preservation Plan

 

Call for Community Preservation Projects

The Community Preservation Committee welcomes applications for CPA funds from any individual or entity, for projects that are eligible according to this chart: CPA Allowable Uses

If the majority of the CPC votes in favor of the project, it will be advanced for inclusion on the next Town Meeting Warrant. The residents of the Town of Southampton have the final authority to award Southampton CPA funds.

Southampton’s Annual Town Meeting is generally in May. Sometimes, a Special Town Meeting is scheduled in the Fall or Winter.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their projects a minimum of 60 days prior to the next scheduled Annual Town Meeting or Special Town Meeting. Submitting applications well in advance of a Town Meeting increases the likelihood, but does not guarantee, that the Community Preservation Committee will vote in time to advance the project to the next Town Meeting.

Please find the instructions and application for CPA projects here:

CPA Projects - Instructions and Application Form (Word document for editing)

CPA Projects - Instructions and Application Form (PDF - for viewing)
 

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Meetings

Please check the MyTownGovernment website for meeting announcements.

Contacting the Community Preservation Committee

Email: cpc@townofsouthampton.org
Phone: (413) 529-0106 Town Administrator
(413) 527-8392 Town Clerk Office
Fax: (413) 529-1006 fax

Mailing Address:
Town Hall
210 College Highway
Southampton, MA 01073

Members of the Community Preservation Committee

Select Board Liaison-Dan LaValley

Position	Name
Chair / Housing Authority Rep	Sierra Simmons	2025
Vice Chair	Mark Kassis
Clerk	Janet Brown
Select Board Rep	Dan LaValley	2025
Parks Commission Rep	Randall Kemp
Historical Commission Rep	Robert Kozub
Conservation Commission Rep	Kathleen Haley
Planning Board Rep	Mark Darnold
Finance Committee Rep	Doug Hamel