Got A Project? Belmont Has Some Money Waiting For You

Belmont has $2.3 million waiting to be used.

And all the Community Preservation Committee is waiting for is a few residents or organizations with a few good projects to come asking, according to CPC Chair Paul Solomon at a public meeting at Town Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 28. 

But time is running short for those who might want to use the money – which is funded by a 1.5 percent surcharge on town property taxes and revenue from the state Registry of Deeds – as applicants must submit a one-page preliminary application to the committee by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6.

View an application for CPC funds here. 

So far, just a limited number of applicants have gone public including the Board of Selectmen putting in an application – with no price tag as of yet – to help fund a new pool at Underwood Playground and one for money to fund a feasibility study that will look at the White Field House and Viglirolo Skating Rink. 

In addition, there is likely to be an application to fund a home buyers assistance program as well as a study for a tunnel under the MBTA commuter rail line that would connect the Winn Brook neighborhood to Belmont High School and the Concord Avenue area.

The funds, which was established when town voters approved a Community Preservation Act ballot question in November, 2010, are available to protect open space, historic preservation, affordable housing and outdoor recreation, with at least 10 percent of the total amount spent on each of the above items, said Solomon. 

This year's applications is the second round of CPC funding after Town Meeting – which has final approval of each proposal – accepted nine projects with a total cost of nearly $1 million in April. 

See the nine projects here.

In the initial round of applications, the committee will determine if the proposals are eligible for CPC funds by reviewing information on the item's goals, the community need it serves and support it has as well as project documentation, budget and time line.

Applicants will present their projects to the CPC at a public meeting on Oct. 10 with a final application will need to be submitted by Nov. 1 with final selections on Dec. 13. After a few more public meeting and reviews by the town's Warrant and Capital Budget committees, the applications will be presented to the spring Town Meeting. 

For more information, call the Community Preservation Hotline at 617-993-2774 or CPC staffer, Michael Trainor, at mtrainor@belmont-ma.gov