Barrett Planning Group assisting city with updated five-year action plan for housing, recreation, and historic preservation
CHELSEA, Mass. — The City of Chelsea is launching a new public engagement effort aimed at shaping how Community Preservation Act funding will be invested over the next five years, with support from Barrett Planning Group.
The Hingham-based planning and community development firm is partnering with Chelsea’s Housing & Community Development Department to update the city’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) five-year action plan. The plan will guide future recommendations for spending CPA funds on affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation projects throughout the city.
City officials said the updated plan is intended to reflect evolving community needs while ensuring residents play a direct role in determining future investment priorities.
Chelsea adopted the Community Preservation Act in 2016, creating a dedicated funding source through a local property surcharge matched annually by the state. Since then, the funding has supported a range of projects focused on housing, parks, recreation facilities, and preservation of historic resources.
As part of the planning process, Barrett Planning Group is leading a public outreach strategy that includes a bilingual community survey available in both English and Spanish. The survey is designed to gather resident feedback on community priorities and areas where preservation funding could have the greatest impact.
In addition to the survey, project teams will conduct outreach at community events over the coming months to encourage broader participation from residents, organizations, and local stakeholders.
“Public input is essential to ensuring Community Preservation Act funding reflects the priorities and needs of Chelsea residents,” said Jennifer Doherty, preservation planner at Barrett Planning Group. “The process is designed to make participation accessible and inclusive, and to give the community a meaningful voice in shaping how these resources are used.”
Chelsea officials said community participation will help guide future investments in areas ranging from affordable housing initiatives to park improvements and preservation projects.
“Chelsea is proud of our ability to meaningfully invest Community Preservation Act funds in affordable housing, parks, and historic preservation projects throughout our city,” said Lydia Malkemus, housing and community preservation manager for the City of Chelsea. “This survey gives our residents an opportunity to guide future investment decisions, and we encourage all community members to participate.”
The CPC plan update is part of Barrett Planning Group’s broader planning partnership with Chelsea in recent years. The firm has also assisted the city with zoning updates related to the MBTA Communities Act, revisions to the West Chelsea Urban Renewal Plan, and updates to Chelsea’s strategic housing plan.
