Departments Present Potential CPC Funding Requests

BREWSTER – Late last month the community preservation committee hosted a public hearing for department heads to come forward with potential future funding requests. While some looked to the future, there were a number of upcoming housing projects that gave a clear indication of what voters can expect at town meeting in May.

Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds come from the 3 percent surcharge on the town’s real estate tax revenues, approved by voters in 2005. The distribution schedule allocates 10 percent of funds for open space and recreation, 10 percent for community housing, 10 percent for historic preservation, and the remaining 70 percent spread among all categories.

A 2022 town bylaw established a non-binding target allocation policy from 2023 to 2027 for the CPC’s spending that designates 30 percent to open space, 30 percent to community housing, 10 percent for historic preservation, 10 percent for recreation and 20 percent for any CPA-eligible project. 

All of the community housing proposals are set to submit applications for town meeting in May. 

The affordable housing trust presented an application for $550,000 that would cover a number of necessities for the upcoming fiscal year. Although Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick and Housing Coordinator Jill Scalise brought a specific monetary amount, they said modifications regarding use of the funds may be made after the financial forecast for the upcoming fiscal year is complete. 

The idea is that the trust can use the funds for any CPA-eligible projects. Kalinick said it would lessen the burden for the trust and the CPC as they go through the application, which is due Dec. 1. 

The application will likely include a request for $75,000 to fund the preservation for affordable housing project, which seeks to save homes on the subsidized housing inventory and preserve their affordability. 

The trust is asking for $200,000 to continue funding the town’s rental assistance program which currently helps 20 households in Brewster. Additionally, they are looking for $100,000 to contribute to the buy-down funds used to make homes more affordable. The homes require a universal deed rider. 

The housing coordinator position has historically been paid through CPA funds, which will continue. This year, the trust is seeking a little over $83,000 for the position, which is now full-time. 

Brewster recently became part of the Barnstable County Shared Regional Housing Services, which offers a number of different services including compiling data, looking through short-term rental information, and identifying homes that have deed restrictions which are about to expire. The two-year pilot program was deemed a success and the trust believes it should continue. To participate, the town will likely have to contribute $12,000 to $15,000. The funds are CPA-eligible. 

In 2027 the housing production plan will expire. The trust is requesting around $30,000 to start work on a new plan in 2026, which will last for five years. 

Finally, the trust will be requesting $42,000 for the housing opportunity fund, which looks to purchase undeveloped land in town for affordable housing. It will also be seeking $5,000 to cover legal expenses that come along with affordable housing projects. 

Development company Pennrose is requesting $300,000 in CPA funds to help finish three mixed-income housing projects. One will be in Harwich while the other two are in Chatham. Pennrose will be requesting additional funds from other surrounding town CPCs. 

The last potential request related to housing is from the Housing Assistance Corporation for a project located in Hyannis that will help support the creation of an emergency overnight homeless shelter run by Catholic Charities. Although it is located in Hyannis, the shelter would serve all Cape towns. HAC is seeking $100,000 from the Brewster CPC, as well as funding from 14 other towns on Cape. 

Although the upcoming recreation projects won’t be seen by voters this May, Mike Gradone, recreation director, said he wanted to make sure the programs are top of mind for the CPC. 

Gradone said there is a potential that he would request CPA funds for improvements to the tennis courts located near Stony Brook Elementary. Currently the community recreation area includes four adult-sized courts and four junior-sized courts. He said they are lined for pickleball, but they are mainly tennis courts. 

“Although the [community] courts are used for tennis and pickleball, Brewster does not have one single dedicated pickleball court in town,” he said. 

By 2028, he is hoping to use the footprint of the community courts to invest in pickleball courts. This could potentially look like a reconstruction of the courts. Depending on a number of factors and variables, Gradone said the price tag could range from $100,000 to $750,000. He also mentioned that parking has been an issue in the area, with some users parking on Underpass Road. They would have to decide if creating more parking would be added to the scope of the work, which would push the cost towards the higher end or even over it.

With over 300 people participating in the pickleball program, it is the second-largest program the recreation department runs, just behind youth sports, he said. 

Gradone also mentioned two potential playgrounds that have been brought up before: Drummer Boy Park and the bay property. Town Manager Peter Lombardi said the current Drummer Boy Park playground is nearing the end of its life and has been in line for an update. He also said that playground is the only unrestricted one available to kids throughout the year. The playgrounds located at Stony Brook Elementary and Eddy Elementary are not accessible while school is in session. 

Lombardi said there have been discussions about adding a playground to the bay property. 

Decisions on the two playground locations won’t be happening anytime soon. Lombardi said the Drummer Boy Park playground is likely still three to five years out. Gradone said the bay property playground, if approved, will probably not be needing funding until after 2030. 

The final recreation project that was discussed was the tennis courts that will be added to the bay property. The current ones on the property are located in a sand dune and will be removed to help elevate erosion to the beach area. The special town meeting happening on Nov. 17 will have a Sea Camps article that includes funding for the tennis court design. Lombardi said if those funds are approved, a CPA request could be in front of voters at the fall special town meeting next year. 

While not many departments involved in historic preservation and open space were present at the hearing, two organizations came forward with potential future projects. 

Brittany Taylor, the Brewster Ladies’ Library director, went before the CPC to remind members of the facilities condition assessment that is currently being done at the library. She said once finished, the assessment will help to create a capital plan for the library. With that being said, she mentioned there will likely be multiple repair and maintenance requests, some of which could be CPA-eligible. This November, voters will have the option to approve a roof design for the library, as the current roof is not up to building standards. 

Amy Henderson, executive director at the Brewster Conservation Trust, went before the board to request they keep open space foremost in their thoughts. She said the trust is currently working with several landowners about the possibility of acquiring new land for conservation, but it should remain a top priority for the CPC and Brewster as a community.