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Lowell CPC approves higher affordable-housing set-aside in annual CPA budget
Summary
The Lowell City Community Preservation Committee voted to set aside 25% of Community Preservation Act funds for community housing in its annual budget, raising the housing pot from the statutory minimum of 10% and leaving specified amounts for administration, open space and historic preservation.
The Lowell City Community Preservation Committee voted to set its fiscal-year appropriation, assigning $62,600 for administrative expenses, $125,200 for open space, $125,200 for historic preservation and $313,000 (25% of projected receipts) to community housing, with the remainder placed in the budget reserve.
The vote puts an explicit marker on housing funding: Member Baez proposed increasing the housing allocation to 25%, saying, “I am suggesting 25% for affordable housing specifically,” and the committee approved the motion after discussion and a roll call.
The decision matters because the Community Preservation Act (CPA) requires at least 10% of funds be used for community housing, but leaves flexibility above that minimum. Supporters said a larger annual set-aside will let the city build a predictable funding stream for housing projects over multiple years; opponents urged caution to preserve flexibility for open-space and historic-preservation projects.
During debate, members discussed whether funds set aside now should be transferred immediately to a forthcoming Affordable Housing Trust or held by the CPC until that trust is operational. Member Baez said the motion only sets the CPC budget and “does not necessarily translate to we’re gonna give it to the affordable housing trust” and recommended reserving the funds now and, if the trust is running by the grant application cycle, considering a transfer later.
Several members said they favored the larger housing commitment as a policy signal; others urged sticking to the 10% minimum now and revisiting allocations later. After discussion the committee proceeded to a roll call and the motion carried.
The allocation will guide how the CPC and city staff review and accept project applications in the coming grant cycle. Members also asked staff to provide comparative analysis about the advantages of routing housing dollars through an Affordable Housing Trust versus continued direct CPC administration.
The committee’s approval sets the funding “pots” that will be drawn on when the city opens the next round of CPA applications and does not authorize transfers to particular projects or to an outside trust without follow-up votes.
