The following came out over the Paradise City Forum listserv the other day. Apparently Northampton is near the top of the heap when it comes to its sustainability efforts. It is not clear what the highest achievable score is, but Northampton efforts are outpacing the other 130 Massachusetts cities and towns that applied to the Commonwealth Capital program. A majority of towns, that is 221 municipalities, did not apply. I am reminded of the now ancient grading system that prevailed when I was in grade school. One could achieve a C- in a class, but an A for effort, which means that one was trying if not necessarily succeeding. Nonetheless, ranking number one in the state, of those that applied, is a laudable distinction, though Northampton's score has slipped from 131 in 2008 to 118 for 2009.
Click here for full listing of Commonwealth Capital scores.
Below the announcement is the criteria used by the state in its judging (apologies for formatting problems in item 30) and below that is the 2009 Summary. Curiously, it appears that Northampton gets credit for creating a water supply protection district, but it is unclear whether exempting its own landfill from the district is considered. Of course a program of this nature raises the question, is Northampton planning to the test so to speak, a criticism of MCAS requirements in the schools? Do you think that there is anything missing from the criteria? In any event this micromanaging of funds is an example of a state government providing cash incentives for communities if they comply with an established set of criteria, a known and reliable method for achieving compliance.
Check out or comment on the Commonwealth Program here.
"We are proud to announce that we have just been notified that our Commonwealth Capital score for FY2009 is 118. This is the Commonwealth's score card for municipal smart growth and sustainability efforts.
Northampton remains, as we have for all five years the program has been in effect, the highest scoring community in the state. The next closest communities (the others above 100) are 101, 103, 104, meaning that our score is 13% highest than the next highest score.
Commonwealth Capital is not a measurement of how sustainable Northampton is, but it is a measurement of how hard we are trying to become more sustainable.
Besides being an honor when the Commonwealth agrees that we are doing a pretty good job, it also helps many of our grant applications because many state grants use the Commonwealth Capital program as a major part of their evaluation of requests for state grants. For example, the 30% of the scoring system for the LAND grant we received a month ago for open space on the corner of Sylvester Road and Ryan Road is based on our Commonwealth Capital Score.
Wayne Feiden, FAICP
Director of Planning and Development
City of Northampton"
Criterion #1: Current Master Plan or E.O. 418 Community Development Plan
78% Existing, 9% Commits, 12% Neither
Criterion #1a: Funding or regulatory actions (2) of plan implemented since 1-1-06
59% Existing, 7% Commits, 34% Neither
Criterion #2: Adoption of Community Preservation Act
41% Existing, 12% Commits, 47% Neither
Criterion #3: Zoning for mixed-use in an applicable location
85% Existing, 3% Commits, 12% Neither
Criterion #3a: If mixed-use zoning is a 40R District or TOD
22% Existing, 11% Commits, 67% Neither
Criterion #3b: Building permit issued for a mixed-use development since 7-1-05
48% Existing, 52% Neither (Commitment not available for #3b)
Criterion #4: Zoning for accessory dwelling units (ADU)
68% Existing, 5% Commits, 27% Neither
Criterion #4a: Occupancy permit issued for at least one ADU unit since 7-1-06
44% Existing, 56% Neither (Commitment not available for #4a)
Criterion #5: Zoning allowing by-right multi-family dwellings (not age restricted)
75% Existing, 2% Commits, 24% Neither
Criterion #5a: If zoning allows by-right multi-family dwellings of 4 or more units (not age restricted)
48% Existing, 2% Commits, 50% Neither
Criterion #6: Zoning for clustered development / Open Space Residential Development (OSRD)
78% Existing, 8% Commits, 14% Neither
Criterion #6a: If cluster is mandated, by-right, or includes a density bonus
41% Existing, 5% Commits, 54% Neither
Criterion #6b: A cluster development has been permitted since 7-1-05
39% Existing, 61% Neither (Commitment not available for #6b)
Criterion #7: Zoning for Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
9% Existing, 7% Commits, 84% Neither
Criterion #7a: Utilization of TDR since 7-1-05
3% Existing, 97% Neither (Commitment not available for #7a)
Criterion #8: Current housing plan
91% Existing, 4% Commits, 5% Neither
Criterion #8a: Achieved municipal goal for production of new units
39% Existing, 61% Neither (Commitment not available for #8a)
Criterion #9: Zoning requiring the inclusion of affordable units (IZ)
41% Existing, 12% Commits, 48% Neither
Criterion #9a: Building permit issued for affordable units under IZ since 7-1-06
19% Existing, 81% Neither (Commitment not available for #9a)
Criterion #10: Increased housing stock 50% or more of state goal
68% Existing, 32% Neither (Commitment not available for #10)
Criterion #10a: 50% or more of new units produced using mixed use technique
35% Existing, 65% Neither (Commitment not available for #10a)
Criterion #11: Actions that promote fair housing choice since 7-1-06
40% Existing, 1% Commits, 59% Neither
Criterion #12 Attainment of Planned Production certification (75%) or 40B 10% threshold
31% Existing, 69% Neither (Commitment not available for #12)
Criterion #13: Funding for the rehabilitation of housing units since 7-1-05
62% Existing, 38% Neither (Commitment not available for #13)
Criterion #14: Production of housing units on municipal land or with funding since 7-1-05
41% Existing, 19% Commits, 38% Neither
Criterion #15: Planning: (a) inventory, (b) remediation, revitalization, or reuse strategy, or (c) site planning)
63% Existing, 8% Commits, 28% Neither
Criterion #16: Incentives: (a) financial, or (b) regulatory
55% Existing, 12% Commits, 33% Neither
Criterion #17: Current DCS-approved Open Space and Recreation Plan
65% Existing, 30% Commits, 5% Neither
Criterion #18: 15% or more of town area protected [by a Chapter 184-type restriction or Article 97]
63% Existing, 37% Neither (Commitment not available for #18)
Criterion #19: Land protected via a restriction or fee acquisition alone or with a land trust since 7-1-05
68% Existing, 32% Neither (Commitment not available for #19)
Criterion #20: Clean energy for municipal functions
40% Existing, 12% Commits, 48% Neither
Criterion #21: Clean energy: regulations and incentives
18% Existing, 18% Commits, 64% Neither
Criterion #22: Water resource plans: One of four types of plans
35% Existing, 10% Commits, 55% Neither
Criterion #23: Water resource protection: zoning, enterprise accounts, or other innovative measures
89% Existing, 5% Commits, 6% Neither
Criterion #24: Implementation of the 2006 Massachusetts Water Conservation Standards
59% Existing, 3% Commits, 38% Neither
Criterion #25: Existence of an agricultural commission
30% Existing, 8% Commits, 62% Neither
Criterion #26: Approved stewardship plan for a municipal forest
18% Existing, 7% Commits, 75% Neither
Criterion #27: Bylaw/ordinance affirming the right to farm
17% Existing, 19% Commits, 64% Neither
Criterion #28: Zoning for agricultural and/or forestry preservation
8% Existing, 4% Commits, 88% Neither
Criterion #29: Action to facilitate bicycling and walking since 7-1-05
59% Existing, 12% Commits, 29% Neither
Criterion #30: Traffic calming actions since 7-1-05
35% Existing, 12% Commits, 52% Neither
2009 Summary
The Commonwealth Capital Policy coordinates state capital spending programs in order to invest in projects that are consistent with the Commonwealth’s Sustainable Development Principles and to partner with municipalities seeking to advance our shared conservation and development interests. Commonwealth Capital explicitly endorses planning and zoning measures that are consistent with Administration policy and encourages local implementation by linking state spending programs to municipal land use practices. Municipal smart growth / smart energy consistency is assessed through a Commonwealth Capital application that examines municipal implementation of 32 land use planning and regulatory practices. Resulting scores are part of the proposal evaluation process for each grant or loan program.
Programs Included. For fiscal year 2009 the Commonwealth Capital policy will apply to the following grant and loan programs offered by the Executive Offices of Administration and Finance, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, and Transportation and Public Works. All municipalities seeking funding from these programs will need to submit an FY 2009 Commonwealth Capital application in order to receive points associated with their smart growth / smart energy consistency:
- Public Works Economic Development Program (EOTPW)
- Transit Oriented Development Bond Program (EOTPW)
- Water Transportation Capital Funding Program– (EOTPW)
- Small Town Road Assistance Program– (EOTPW)
- Community Development Action Grant Program (EOHED-DHCD)
- Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital Program– (EOHED-MOBD)
- State Revolving Fund (EOEEA – DEP)
- LAND (formerly Self-Help) Program (EOEEA- DCS)
- PARC (formerly Urban Self-Help Program) (EOEEA – DCS)
- Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program (EOEEA)
- Coastal Pollutant Remediation Grant Program (EOEEA – CZM)
- Alternative Energy Property Program– (EOEEA – DOER)
- Municipal Sustainability Grant Program (formerly the Solid Waste Management & Recycling Technical Assistance & Regulatory Development Program) – (EOEEA- DEP)
- Off-Street Parking Program (EOAF)
How to Apply: Grant applicants will continue to apply directly to each of the Commonwealth Capital programs. In addition, municipalities need to apply annually for a Commonwealth Capital score.For FY 09, Commonwealth Capital applications will again be submitted electronically. The application and guidance to assist applicants can be found at http://www.mass.gov/commcap. As before, the application will be accessible via a log-in system. While anyone can visit the site and view the application each community has been assigned a username and password that will be required to submit a municipality’s official application.A sheet containing the community’s username and password, plus instructions on how to log-in and register has been enclosed with letters mailed to Chief Elected Officials. Note that local officials in more than 275 communities have already established individual passwords which remain effective. Each municipality will have one official application, but may have multiple users accessing it. The system will allow applicants to submit the application only once, although changes and updates may be requested later via e-mail.
Timing: Communities should electronically submit their Commonwealth Capital applications for scoring by the due date of the program to which they are applying. Exceptions are the LAND (formerly Self-Help) and PARC (formerly Urban Self-Help) programs for which program applications are due 7/15/08 and Commonwealth Capital applications a month later, 8/15/08.
Only one application is needed annually; the resulting score will be used for all Commonwealth Capital programs to which a community applies that year. If circumstances change and a community has earned additional points relevant information should be sent to commcap@massmail.state.ma.us.
Criteria: Project proposals to any of the Commonwealth Capital grant and loan programs will be evaluated using two sets of criteria:
- Program-Specific Criteria: These criteria are related to the purpose of the particular program and evaluate the merits of a proposed project against the housing, environmental, transportation, or other goals of that program. These criteria will account for 70% of the possible points for the grant and loan programs.
- Commonwealth Capital Criteria: A community’s Commonwealth Capital score is a measure of the consistency of a municipality’s land use planning and regulatory practices with the Sustainable Development Principles. The Commonwealth Capital score will account for 30% of the possible points for the grant and loan programs. Communities are not required to submit a Commonwealth Capital application to be eligible for funding, but their proposals will be significantly less competitive without one.
Results: A letter will sent to the Chief Elected Official or their designee once the review of a community’s submission is complete. In addition, the score and application as approved will be posted on the Commonwealth Capital website.
New for 2009: Modifications were made to this year’s Commonwealth Capital application reflecting Patrick Administration priorities, “lessons learned,” and feedback received from municipalities and other stakeholders. New criteria address clean energy, transportation, permitting, environmental equity, and regional planning. Changes were also made to some of the existing criteria, so please read the guidance document carefully when completing the application.
Like the last application, many of the criteria will not require any documentation, with compliance verified through lists accessed through the on-line application. “Bonus” points may be earned for commitments implemented at any time since a community’s 2008 application. As in 2008, commitment letters will not need to be signed by the various local boards as the password will serve as the signature of the Chief Elected Official.
Financial and technical assistance to improve Commonwealth Capital scores: The Massachusetts Smart Growth / Smart Energy Toolkit provides model bylaws, case studies, and other materials municipalities can use to implement 22 different smart growth / smart energy techniques. In addition, funding is available through DHCD’s Priority Development Fund for measures that will lead to housing production and technical assistance grants are available for implementation of expedited permitting measures pursuant to Chapter 43D.
For More Information: Visit our website http://www.mass.gov/commcap
Questions/Comments: Email: commcap@massmail.state.ma.us
Call: (617) 626-4949
