Planning Board hears Community Preservation Act overview from Sheffield consultant
Planning Board hears Community Preservation Act overview from Sheffield consultant. Acting Chair Jon James, Christian Stovall, and Becky Wilkinson heard Rene Wood explain that the CPA allows towns to impose a 1 to 3 percent property tax surcharge for affordable housing, land conservation, outdoor
Planning Board · Meeting of March 10, 2026
NEW MARLBOROUGH — Planning Board hears Community Preservation Act overview from Sheffield consultant. Acting Chair Jon James, Christian Stovall, and Becky Wilkinson heard Rene Wood explain that the CPA allows towns to impose a 1 to 3 percent property tax surcharge for affordable housing, land conservation, outdoor recreation, and historic preservation, with state matching funds currently around 20 percent for communities that adopt the 3 percent rate. Ms.
Wood cautioned that a CPA must remain in effect five years before state funding arrives and that current state payouts run approximately 12 percent. The board expressed concern about the timeline and return on investment, with Tara White of the Select Board highlighting the operational burden on the town; the board directed Stovall to circulate additional information from the Community Preservation Coalition and to consider outreach to Becket.
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Source: the Planning Board meeting of March 10, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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