What does the Commission do?

Lynnfield Conservation Commission has seven volunteer members who are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Lynnfield Conservation Commission (LCC) is the local permitting authority specifically charged with the protection of Lynnfield's natural resources. The primary role of the Commission is the administration and enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c.131, §40).
 
Under the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA), the LCC is responsible for reviewing wetland filings, holding public hearings on Notices of Intent, Requests for Determination and Notices of Resource Area Delineation, as well as issuing other documents. Each wetland application requires a site visit, which provides the Commission with a visual overview of existing conditions on the property. On-site visits are a valuable and essential part of the decision-making process involved when reviewing projects. Constant changes in regulations, including stormwater management and rivers protection, require ongoing training of the LCC members and the hiring of professional consultants, when needed. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also offers ongoing seminars for the members.
 
The Commission also engages in open space planning, and the active management of hundreds of acres of town owned conservation land. The Conservation Administrator provides many ongoing educational experiences for Lynnfield’s pre-school and elementary school students, coordinates activities with the science department of the Lynnfield Public Schools and conducts presentations to civic organizations promoting the value of Lynnfield’s natural resources. The Administrator and Conservation Commission members also facilitate community projects, such as “clean-up” days at several conservation areas in Lynnfield, pesticide awareness seminars, landscaping and water conservation seminars and  Pillings Pond Appreciation Day.