2007-12-00-CPC-rpt (Needs Assessment Report)

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• The acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic resources. • The acquisition, creation, and preservation of land for recreational use. • The creation, preservation, and support of community housing (including items such as annual payments to the housing authority to preserve or expand the affordable housing supply). • The rehabilitation and restoration of open space, land for recreational use, and community housing that is acquired or created using monies from the fund. Preference will be given to proposals which meet as many of the following general criteria as possible: • Are consistent with current planning documents that have received wide scrutiny and input and have been adopted by the town; • Preserve the essential character of the town as described in the Comprehensive Plan; • Save resources that would otherwise be threatened; • Benefit a currently under -served population, • Either serve more than one CPA purpose (especially in linking open space, recreation and community housing) or demonstrate why serving multiple needs is not feasible; • Demonstrate practicality and feasibility, and demonstrate that they can be implemented expeditiously and within budget; • Produce an advantageous cost/benefit value; • Leverage additional public and/or private funds; • Preserve or utilize currently owned town assets; and • Receive endorsement by other municipal boards or departments. The general guidelines stated above apply in combination with category -specific goals outlined below in the next four sections of this plan. Process The Town Manager, Town boards and departments, civic organizations, and residents may bring proposals for funding to the CPC. In some instances, the CPC may be the catalyst for projects which meet the goals of this plan. The CPC will give favorable consideration to those proposals which best meet our guidelines and are consistent with Lexington goals in the areas of open space, recreation, historic resources and/or community housing. The CPC does not have the power to appropriate funds for particular projects, only to make recommendations to Town Meeting. Under the law, the power to appropriate CPA funds is reserved solely for Town Meeting, acting only upon the recommendations of the CPC. For these reasons, we want to provide a strong and consistent rationale for our recommendations. The CPC seeks a Town -wide and long-term perspective. It expects to recommend projects that will have a significant long-term impact on the Town. We may choose to recommend to Town