ALERT REGARDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS: as of Friday, April 3, 2020, pursuant to Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, regulation, charter, ordinance or by-law to the contrary, during the Governor's March 10, 2020 declaration of a State of Emergency, the process for permit applications to permit granting authorities has been modified and timelines for permit application review have been extended.

Conservation Commission Members
  Craig Jernstrom, Chair -2021
            
  Jeffrey Bosworth, Clerk -2020
     
  Anthony Zampiceni -2021
 
  Thomas O'Brien -2020  
   
   Frances Corgnati -2020
   
   Erin Lynch- 2021

   Vacancy-

TENTATIVE 2020 MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Duties & Responsibilities

The Conservation Department administers East Longmeadow’s general by-laws chapters 10.010 through 10.02, conservation by-laws, and enforcement, as well as 310 CMR. The Conservation Commission is responsible for protecting East Longmeadow’s natural resources including wetlands and selected open space lands.

In cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the East Longmeadow Conservation Commission administers and enforces the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and the Massachusetts Rivers Protection Act.  These laws protect ponds, rivers, river banks, streams, wetlands, floodplains, vernal pools, and other sensitive environmental resources, which are part of our ecosystem.  This protection provides for clean water, nutrient-rich habitat, and wildlife feeding grounds.  Residential and commercial projects near these resources require review and approval by the Conservation Commission.

With few exceptions, the Conservation Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the School Committee meeting room at the rear of the East Longmeadow High School, 180 Maple Street.  Meetings begin at 6:00pm.

Any proposed alteration of Wetlands, Buffer Zones or Riverfront areas should be described in a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) Mass DEP form WPA 1 and submitted to the Conservation Commission.  In certain cases, a Notice of Intent (NOI) Mass DEP form WPA 3 may be required.  A public notice will be placed in a local newspaper at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing date.  Therefore, the applicant should file at least two weeks prior to the target meeting date.

Building permit applicants are advised that any projects within wetland buffer zones or within 200 feet of a perennial stream or river must be approved by the East Longmeadow Conservation Commission.  Map views of approximate wetland or river resources can be found on the Mass DEP website:  maps.massgis.state.ma.us/map_ol/oliver.php. Commissioners are also willing to review draft building plans and provide advice to applicants during a regularly scheduled meeting. The granting of a building permit does not confer or imply any approval with respect to wetland regulations.

For submittal requirements and other pertinent forms please refer to the section for Conservation Commission Submittals.

The applicant is responsible for sending a copy of the Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) or Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection office in Springfield as well as providing the original form and supporting materials to the Conservation Commission.