General Information
A Brief History of Sandwich
Historic Marker Program
Important Links
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The Community Preservation Act
On September 14th, 2000, Governor Paul Cellucci and Lieutenant
Governor Jane Swift signed the Community Preservation Act into law.
From the CPA Website:
The Community Preservation Act is statewide enabling legislation to allow cities and towns to exercise control over local planning
decisions. This legislation strengthens and empowers Massachusetts communities:
All decisions are local.
Local people must vote by ballot to adopt the Act.
Local legislatures must appoint a committee of local people to draw up plans for use of the funds.
These plans are subject to local comment and approval.
If residents don’t feel the CPA is working as they expected, they can repeal it.
The Community Preservation Act provides new funding sources which can be used to address three core
community concerns:
Acquisition and preservation of open space
Creation and support of affordable housing
Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes
A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues of the fund must be used for each of the three core community concerns,
and up to 5% may be used for administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee. The remaining funds
can be allocated for any combination of the allowed uses, or for land for recreational use. This gives each
community the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan for its future, and have the funds to make those
plans happen.
Property taxes traditionally fund the day-to-day operating needs of safety, health, schools, roads, maintenance.
- and more. But until the CPA, there was no steady funding source for preserving and improving a community's
quality of life and character. The Community Preservation Act can give a community the funds needed to control
its future.
View the entire text of the act here.
View a list of Sandwich CPA projects here.
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"Our mission is to protect and preserve the unique early American character of Sandwich through the acquisition,
restoration and enhancement of our historic resources, not only for the cultural benefit of the residents of
Sandwich, but to encourage and increase the heritage tourism that is so crucial to our economy."
- Sandwich Historical Commission
"Whenever an historic district is established as provided in
section three an historic district commission shall be established which shall consist of not less than three
nor more than seven members."
- Mass General Law, Chapter 40C. Section 4
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