Conservation Commission
Protects Mansfield's wetlands, rivers, and open spaces. Reviews any construction projects near sensitive natural areas.
49 items across 5 meetings.
May 18, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine call to order at 6 PM.
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing on building a home with paved driveway and grading within 100 feet of Back Bay Brook at 40 Cobb St.
📋 Proposed
Wetland boundary review and vegetation management along AMTRAK ROW as part of a renewed five-year Vegetation Management Plan.
📋 Proposed
New England FC seeks to modify its 2/15/24 permit to change the access road, fill a Bordering Vegetated Wetland with replication, add stormwater structures, and regrade for a parking lot and artificial turf field.
📋 Proposed
Three-year extension requested for the 2/15/24 permit covering access driveway construction and wetland fill with replication; current permit expires 2/15/27.
📋 Proposed
Three-year extension sought for a land-disturbance permit covering clearing of over 1 acre at 19 Knight Way; current permit expires 10/9/27.
💬 Discussed
Status update on six active enforcement orders for ongoing wetland violations at 120 Forbes Blvd, 130 Forbes Blvd, 505 West St, 509 West St, 493 West St, and O'Reilly Tree Service.
💬 Discussed
Commission will review proposed changes to its fee schedule.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of prior meeting minutes.
✅ Approved
Next Conservation Commission meeting set for June 29, 2026 at 6 PM.
• Status unclear
Routine adjournment.
April 27, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Approved Order of Conditions for a single-family home, utilities and paved driveway within 100 feet of Back Bay Brook, after plans were revised to split the driveway into two lots and add a protective split-rail fence.
📍 35 Cobb St.
🔄 Postponed
Hearing for a single-family home and driveway near Back Bay Brook continued to May 18, 2026 at the applicant's request.
📍 40 Cobb St.
✅ Approved
Granted full Certificate of Compliance for a 1997 project after final paving of the Cobb St. cul-de-sac and stormwater catch basins were confirmed complete; updated as-built requested.
📍 Cobb St.
🔄 Postponed
Ongoing illegal filling, tree clearing and disturbance of an intermittent stream and detention pond buffer at 505/509/493 West St. and spilling onto 120/130 Forbes Blvd.; continued to May 18 with restoration plan due May 6 or the town pursues litigation.
💰 Restoration and potential litigation costs; possible third-party reviewer paid by violators
📍 120 & 130 Forbes Blvd., 505/509/493 West St.
💬 Discussed
Commission fees, unchanged since 2015, will be compared to other towns and proposed new amounts shared next meeting before going to the Select Board.
💰 Potential higher conservation permit fees
💬 Discussed
Commission wants Mansfield to adopt a moderate tree bylaw requiring replacement trees or payment into a tree bank.
✅ Approved
Approved up to $100 from the Wetland Protection Fund to buy new waders for the Conservation Planner.
💰 Up to $100 from Wetland Protection Fund
✅ Approved
Approved prior meeting minutes.
April 27, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine opening of meeting at 6 PM.
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing on building a single-family home with utilities and paved driveway within 100 ft. of Back Bay Brook; continued from 3/30/26.
📍 35 Cobb St.
📋 Proposed
New hearing for a single-family home with driveway and grading within 100 ft. of the inland bank of Back Bay Brook.
📍 40 Cobb St.
📋 Proposed
Owner seeks full COC (closure of wetlands permit) for a 1997 order; partial COC issued 2004, remaining stormwater structures and cul-de-sac paving now reportedly complete.
📍 Cobb St.
💬 Discussed
Commission reviews status of six active enforcement orders for ongoing wetlands/conservation violations at five properties and one tree-service business.
📍 120 Forbes Blvd., 130 Forbes Blvd., 505 West St., 509 West St., 493 West St.
📋 Proposed
Commission reviews proposed changes to Conservation Commission filing/permit fees.
💰 Fee changes TBD
💬 Discussed
Early-stage discussion of a potential town tree bylaw.
📋 Proposed
Minor reimbursement of up to $75 for waders from the Wetlands Protection Act fund.
💰 Up to $75
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of prior meeting minutes.
• Status unclear
Routine meeting close.
March 30, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Meeting opened at 6:06pm.
✅ Approved
Five-year vegetation management plan (2026-2030) for MBTA railroad right-of-way approved with a Negative Determination; involves one chemical treatment per year plus occasional cutting.
📍 MBTA railroad right-of-way (Purple Lines)
✅ Approved
Single-family home, garage, and driveway approved near Back Bay Brook with a Negative Determination and conditions including a water infiltration trench for roof runoff.
📍 43 Cobb St.
🔄 Postponed
Single-family home and driveway near Back Bay Brook continued to April 27 for revised plans, after discussion of a possible shared driveway with Lot 2 and a split-rail fence.
📍 35 Cobb St.
✅ Approved
Commission ratified enforcement orders against 120 & 130 Forbes Blvd., 505/509/493 West Street, and O'Reilly's Tree Experts for unauthorized stream filling and wetland disturbance ongoing since 2022.
📍 120 & 130 Forbes Blvd., 505/509/493 West Street
✅ Approved
Approved minutes from November 24 and December 17, 2025, and executive sessions of January 30 and February 27, 2023.
💬 Discussed
Staff continues working on fee edits, with an update expected next meeting.
💬 Discussed
Open Space and Recreation Plan draft submitted to the state for review; revised draft to follow once state comments are addressed.
💬 Discussed
Mallory Aronstein started as Town Manager on 3/23/26; staff will meet to discuss Conservation Department projects.
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 7:05pm; next meeting 4/27/26.
March 30, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Meeting opens at 6 PM.
📋 Proposed
RDA (wetlands applicability review) for vegetation management along the MBTA Purple Line right-of-way as part of a five-year Vegetation Management Plan renewal.
📋 Proposed
Wetlands applicability review for a new single-family home, utilities, and paved driveway at 43 Cobb St., within 100 ft. of Back Bay Brook intermittent stream.
📋 Proposed
Formal wetlands permit hearing for a new single-family home, utilities, and driveway at 35 Cobb St., within 100 ft. of Back Bay Brook intermittent stream.
📋 Proposed
Commission to discuss and ratify new enforcement orders against unauthorized filling of an intermittent stream and disturbance of wetlands and buffer zone at five properties on Forbes Blvd. and West St.
📋 Proposed
Review and approval of minutes dated 11/24/26, 12/17/26 (dates appear to be typos in the agenda), and executive session minutes from 1/30/23 and 2/27/23.
📋 Proposed
Commission to review fee schedule (no details provided in the agenda).
📋 Proposed
Review of draft update to the OSRP (Open Space and Recreation Plan), the town's long-range conservation guide.
📋 Proposed
Next meeting set for April 27, 2026 at 6 PM; staff update on departmental matters.
• Status unclear
Meeting closes.