Conservation Commission

Related Department: Conservation Department

Meetings and Agendas

The Commission generally meets twice a month on Monday evenings at 7:00PM via Zoom. Agendas for current meetings will be posted 48 hours in advance of the meeting date on the website. Meeting minutes will be posted following approval by the Commission. 

Meeting Schedule

View Meeting Agendas and Minutes | View Minutes 2011 and Older

Overview

The Hingham Conservation Commission is a seven-member volunteer board established under the authority of the Conservation Commission Act of 1957 (M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 8C) to protect the community's natural resources and acquire lands for conservation and passive recreation.  The Commission members are appointed to three-year overlapping terms by the Select Board. 

The Commission is active in advising other Town boards and committees on conservation related matters. and has representative members on the Climate Action Planning Committee, Community Preservation Committee, Comprehensive Trails Plan Committee, Master Plan Committee, Open Space Acquisition Committee, and Turkey Hill Management Committee.

Responsibilities

The Commission oversees approximately 1,000 acres of conservation land in Hingham that will remain protected open space in perpetuity.  Management of these lands requires the help of other town departments, caretakers, and numerous volunteers.  The Commission plans for natural resource protection by identifying parcels of interest and proposing the acquisition of important parcels for conservation and passive recreation purposes in coordination with the Open Space Acquisition Committee.  In addition, the Commission participates in developing and implementing important long range planning documents related to the Town’s open space including Hingham's Open Space and Recreation Plan and Comprehensive Trails Plan. 

The other primary responsibility of the Commission is to administer the state’s Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Chapter 131, Section 40) and the Hingham Wetlands Protection Bylaw (Article 22 of the Town Bylaws), laws established to protect wetlands and the values they provide including but not limited to wildlife habitat, pollution prevention, flood control, storm damage prevention, and protection of water supply.  The local Bylaw was adopted by Town Meeting to provide additional protections to wetland resource areas, expand permitting authority to include wetlands not protected under the state law, and to acknowledge additional values wetlands provide the community.  In administering the state Wetlands Protection Act and Hingham Wetlands Protection Bylaw, the Commission reviews applications for work within jurisdictional areas to ensure any proposed activities do not result in alterations to wetland resources. Jurisdictional areas in Hingham include coastal and inland resource areas such as isolated and bordering vegetated wetlands, buffer zones (area within 100 feet of wetlands), waterbodies, flood plains, salt marshes, coastal banks and beaches, and Riverfront Areas (area within 200 feet of perennial streams).  If proposed work is found to comply with state and local regulations, the Commission issues a permit with conditions to protect wetlands and the values that provide from detrimental impacts.  The Commission endeavors to balance the needs of development with the protection of these vital resource areas when reviewing projects within their jurisdiction.  The Commission is also responsible for pursuing violations and issuing Enforcement Orders for unauthorized activities within wetland resource areas, as warranted.