What happens after I submit my application?
Applications are submitted by the applicant to the Monterey Conservation Commission and to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. In the case of an NOI, the DEP will issue a file number and their comments as guidance to the Commission. The Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting within 21 days of the file number notification. In the case of RDA’s, no file number from DEP is needed, and the Commission will rule on the application at its meeting.
Any information needed in consideration of an application coming before the Monterey Conservation Commission must be received by the Commission at least two Mondays prior to the meeting at which the Commission will discuss the application, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Commission or chair.
Regular Commission meetings are scheduled on the 2nd Monday of the month. In certain circumstances the Commission may hold a special hearing sooner than the next month’s regular meeting.
The Conservation Commission will schedule a visit to your site prior to acting on your application. Please note that your property must be identifiable from the road so that Commission members can locate it. Project sites should also be well marked with flagging and/or staking for any structures and wetlands clearly visible, easy to interpret, and corresponding to the plans that are submitted. If your site, the location of any proposed work area, or resource areas are not clearly marked, the Commission may not be able to make a determination on your application and may issue against your proposal or defer your hearing to its next meeting.
After the site visit, you may be contacted for additional information that should be provided before or at the Commission meeting. Keep in mind, however, that the Commission reserves the right to require more time to review such additional information (especially if it is extensive or highly technical or requires another site visit to understand or verify), and may decide to continue your public hearing to a later date.