Notice of Intent (NOI)

So you want to file an NOI?

Do you have a project that requires detailed plans, engineering calculations, and work win a resource area and/or the buffer zones?

NOI Submitting Application Steps

• Complete Application submitted to the Conservation Agent (1 physical copy, 1 PDF copy sent over email)
• Application must include: 
  • Wetland Protection Act (WPA) Form 3
  • Bellingham Wetlands Protection Bylaw Application
  • Wetland Fee Transmittal Form
  • Proof of Abutter notification via certified mail. You can obtain a 100' abutters list from the town assessors office and send the Abutter Notification to each abutter and submit an Affidavit of Service to the conservation department to certify that the notifications were sent.
  • Appropriate fees addressed to The Town of Bellingham (WPA and bylaw fee as separate checks)
  • One image of the check sent to DEP
  • Proof (ex. proof of certified mail) that both the owner of the property (if different from the applicant) and the DEP have been notified.
    •  Bellingham is served by the DEP Central Office. Their address is: MassDEP Central Regional Office - Worcester, 8 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606
    • DEP also appreciates if you send a copy to their email: cero_noi@mass.gov, but it is not legally required
  • Proposed Site Plan

*Fill out Bellingham's WPA Form 3A if it is an Ecological Restoration Project 

After your materials have been submitted and the office has confirmed all necessary materials have been submitted, what next?

• By mandated requirement, once the application is completely submitted it will be opened within 21 calendar days at the Conservation Commission meeting. You as an applicant can waive this requirement through a formal letter or email confirmation.
• You will also be contacted by the Conservation Office with a quote from The Call, the newspaper that will run the public hearing ad notice 7 days prior to the public hearing. We will request a check that must reach our office prior to the start of your hearing. Otherwise the hearing will be continued until a check is received. 

The Conservation Hearing Process

• Conservation Agent will release legal and public ads to notify the public for the public hearing
• Hearing will be opened within 21 days and the Representative/Applicant will present their project verbally and visually with site plans and any other related information
• The Agent/Commission will conduct a site inspection (or several) and decide if peer review is needed to investigate further
• In most cases the project will be conducted across multiple meetings through progression/suggestions on how the project can meet performance standards
• Once the Commission decides that all information has been received and is satisfied with the project under all Wetland Protection laws, they will vote to close the hearing 
• Once the hearing is closed the Order of Conditions, your permit for work, will be issued within 21 days of the closing date
• The Order of Conditions is then given to the applicant to be recorded at the registrar in Dedham
• Work must wait until the 10 day appeals period has abated. The 10 day period starts as day 1 after the Order of Conditions is sent by certified mail to the applicant.
• The project can begin, based on each Order of Conditions requirements, and has 3 years to be completed without having to renew for another permit
• When the project is complete, the applicant must apply for a Certificate of Compliance (WPA form Ba) which then the site will be inspected again and voted to release the COC by the commission 
• The COC form will then be recorded in the registry to officially close out the project