2021-12-00-CPC-rpt (Needs Assessment)

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Town needs and goals in light of the shared values of its residents. The Lexington Comprehensive Plan, the Open Space and Recreational Plan, and the Town's Housing Production Plan were created in this spirit. (For a complete list of Plans, Documents and Studies that are used as CPC sources, see Appendix A). In the fifteen years since the adoption of the CPA in Lexington, the CPC has strived to remain impartial while recommending worthwhile projects that fall within the purview of the statute to Town Meeting. The CPC expects that the CPA will continue to be a resource for carrying out the thoughtful community preservation recommendations contained in these studies. Subsequent sections of this Assessment discuss community goals and projects specific to preservation within each of the four designated purposes of the CPA. In addition to these goals, the CPC has articulated a set of guidelines that apply to projects generally. The CPC will use these guidelines in its review and decision-making process. They are intended to provide additional guidance to those preparing applications for funding. Not all guidelines will be appropriate for every project. Decision-Making Guidelines The CPC will only consider proposals that are eligible for CPA funding according to the terms of the statute (M.G.L. c.44B), specifically,proposals for: • The acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; • The acquisition,preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; • The acquisition, creation,preservation and support of community housing (including the creation of a housing trust for the purpose of preserving or expanding the affordable housing supply; support in the form of rental assistance, security deposit assistance, interest rate write-downs or other financial assistance for persons who qualify for community housing); • The acquisition, creation,preservation and rehabilitation and/or restoration of land for recreational use; and • The rehabilitation and restoration of open space and community housing that has been acquired with CPA funds. Preference will be given to proposals which meet as many of the following general criteria as possible, specifically those which: • Are consistent with current planning documents adopted by the Town; • Consider racial and other equity impacts; • Prepare for the impacts of a changing climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; • Integrate concepts of inclusion, equity, accommodations, and universal design; • Save resources that would otherwise be threatened; • Benefit a currently under-served population; • Serve more than one CPA purpose (for example, in linking open space, recreation and community housing, or the reuse of historic resources for community housing) or demonstrate why serving multiple needs is not feasible; 5