“Green” CPA Projects

Working with CPA to Create Sustainable Communities

By Jennifer M. Goldson, AICP

July 2009

As momentum grows for global environmental solutions and sustainability, our national and state governments, as well as many forward-thinking private businesses, are beginning to focus more on green initiatives. Likewise, in many Massachusetts communities, Community Preservation Committees (CPCs) are becoming more focused on how to encourage green CPA projects, and are placing more of an emphasis on sustainability.

CPA itself is inherently green, in that it encourages smart growth and incorporates elements of sustainable development- such as preservation of open space, and rehabilitation and reuse of existing historic structures.  But many CPA projects can be more green if a conscious effort is made to incorporate green-design elements and sustainable practices.

This article provides an overview of green CPA projects and describes how CPCs can incorporate sustainable practices into their work.

What is "green"?

The term "green" has no precise definition.  It is used in many contexts and has multiple meanings, but typically refers to practices or usages that protect the environment, promote sustainability, and reduce the stresses on natural resource systems caused by human activity.

Nationally-recognized green programs include LEED certification, which provides third-party verification that a building incorporates design features to increase energy and water savings, improve indoor environmental quality, reduce CO₂ emissions, and promote sustainable stewardship of natural resources; and Energy Star, a program that promotes the use of energy efficient products and practices.  There is also a growing variety of sustainability initiatives in Massachusetts (see links provided at the end of this article).  These initiatives work to support the Commonwealth's ten Sustainable Development Principles, as does CPA. 

How can CPA-funded projects be more green?

One way to increase the number of green projects in your community is to make sure your CPA funding criteria and/or community preservation plan states that the CPC will give higher preference to projects that incorporate green principles such as:

• fostering smart growth/smart energy use
• protecting natural resources
• achieving high standards of energy efficiency and best green building practices
• maximizing use of renewable energy sources
• revitalizing and reusing existing buildings and structures

· emphasizing construction with reusable and sustainable building materials

More specifically, projects in each of the four CPA purpose areas can incorporate green design principles.  Below, we discuss general methods of making CPA projects green, and list specific examples from each CPA purpose area.

Community Housing: Section 5(b)(2) of the CPA statute incorporates a key smart growth principle in encouraging the reuse of existing building stock or location of new housing projects on previously developed sites, rather than breaking new ground. CPC members should consider both the macro (location and siting of development) and micro (size, design, building materials, efficiency and energy sources) elements of a housing project to encourage the incorporation of green practices and features.

• In Cambridge, CPA funds helped redevelop a former MBTA trolley yard into a mixed-use, mixed-income development consisting of eight affordable homeownership units and 32 affordable rental units. Incorporating a multitude of green features, the Trolley Square development has earned several awards: the American Institute of Architects' "Show You're Green" award, the Home Depot Foundation's "Award of Excellence", the Boston Society of Architects' John M. Clancy award for socially responsible housing and a "Green Communities" award from the Enterprise Foundation.

• A green affordable housing project including photovoltaic roof panels generating electricity for each unit, Energy Star certification, and rain barrels to collect water for irrigation was recently completed in Wayland.  The effort to develop 16 units of affordable housing at 89 Oxbow began when the Town purchased a former Nike Missile site.  CPA funds were also used for predevelopment work, acquisition, and demolition of existing structures to prepare the site for construction.

• Housing Nantucket has committed to create all of its new units as "Affordable & Green", stating that new construction will meet at least the LEED for Homes certified standards.  The organization is constructing Nantucket's first "LEED for Homes" certified house with the help of CPA funds.

• On Martha's Vineyard, the Island Housing Trust is building eight affordable homes in West Tisbury that use green technology, are designed with high-performance building standards, and include solar-electric systems.  This project has been granted $570,000 in CPA funds, in addition to other funding.  

Historic Preservation: CPA funds can help make historic buildings more energy efficient, retrofit historic structures for new uses, and make buildings more functional for their current uses.  As reported in the May/June 2009 issue of CPA Update, restoring (rather than replacing) parts of historic buildings, such as windows, is often the most environmental and economical choice.  For more information about sustainability and historic preservation, check out the "Green Issue" of Preservation from March/April 2009 and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Principles on Sustainability and Historic Preservation.

• The Marion CPC worked to restore the historic Marion Music Hall for community use.  As part of the extensive renovations, the original 1891 windows were replaced and repaired in a green manner to provide energy efficient windows while maintaining the historical integrity of the building.  

· This spring, Town Meeting in Belchertown voted down a proposal to replace Town Hall windows with vinyl replacement windows, after the CPC researched the environmental and cost savings features of replacing versus restoring historic windows.  The CPC is formulating a plan for restoring the windows in a green, historically appropriate manner over the next several years.

Open Space: Strategic protection of land from development is one crucial way to protect natural resources and wildlife habitat, and reap benefits in the form of ecosystem services (such as water purification, waste treatment and flood mitigation effects of open space), natural goods (such as fish and farm products), and outdoor recreation activities. 

Your local Open Space and Recreation Plan, Community Development Plan, or Comprehensive/Master Plan in addition to your local planning department and regional planning agency are helpful resources for determining open space conservation priorities. 

Recreation: Green CPA recreation projects might include a playground built with sustainable materials; a bicycle or walking path that reduce automobile emissions and connect people to commercial areas or public transportation; and community gardens that both preserve open space and produce locally grown and harvested produce.

• In Medway, the town used CPA money to purchase open space property, which was then leased to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) nonprofit.  CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters that provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food.  Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget.  In return, the farm provides local, seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season.  Becoming a member strengthens the relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which their food is grown and those who grow the food.

• The Town of Ashland recently approved using CPA funds to create a community garden on town-owned land.  Community gardens are publicly-accessible properties that are gardened by a group of people.  Community gardens can produce vegetables and fruits to feed the gardeners, their families, and even a larger local market - selling produce at farmer's markets or donating to local food banks.

Our Opportunity to More Actively Foster Sustainability

By recognizing CPA's interlocking role with other sustainability initiatives, we can stay true to CPA's primary mission - to preserve, enhance, and strengthen the characteristics that make our communities special - and play our part in shaping sustainable communities. 

Jennifer M. Goldson, AICP, is a freelance planner who focuses on helping communities implement the Community Preservation Act.  Contact Jennifer at jennifer@jmgoldson.com or 617-990-4971.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author, are not intended to be used as legal advice, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Community Preservation Coalition.