Notice of Public Meeting and Comment Period: Proposed Rules and Regulations to the Westfield Wetlands Protection Ordinance

The Conservation Commission has extended the Public Comment Period indefinitely until the Rules and Regulations to Ordinance No. 1773 are promulgated. The Conservation Commission welcomes feedback at anytime during the revision process on the proposed DRAFT Rules and Regulations. It is encouraged to upload comments via the submission portal at the bottom of the page with the title containing the revision date to which comment is being provided, in order to distinguish between different versions. 

*NEW* September 24, 2025

Draft Rules and Regulations - Revised September 23, 2025

At the September 23, 2025, regularly scheduled meeting, the Conservation Commission reviewed and revised Section 4.7 Lands Subject to Flooding of the Draft Rules and Regulations to Ordinance No. 1773. Minor corrections were made and approved for posting. The links below may be used to view a red line of the complete Draft Rules and Regulations updated on September 23, 2025, and a clean version of the revised Draft Section 4.7 Lands Subject to Flooding.

Red Line DRAFT Regulations - Revised September 23, 2025

Clean DRAFT Regulations - Section 4.7 ONLY - Revised September 23, 2025

REVISED Anticipated Schedule of Review

• §4.8 Intermittent Stream Frontage – 8/12
• §4.10 Buffer Zone – 9/2
• §4.11 Wetland Protection Zone – 9/2
• §4.9 Seasonal Wetlands – 9/9 (combined with §4.6 Isolated Vegetated Wetlands)
• §4.6 Isolated Vegetated Wetlands – 9/16
• §4.7 Lands Subject to Flooding – 9/23
• §4.1 Introduction - 9/30
• §4.2 Purpose - 9/30
• §4.3 Waivers - 9/30
• §4.4 Conditional Exceptions - 9/30
• §4.5 General Provisions (now includes Limited Projects; previously on agendas as “General Performance Standards for Freshwater Wetlands”) - 9/30

September 12, 2025

DRAFT Rules and Regulations - Revised September 9, 2025

At the September 2, 2025, special meeting, the Conservation Commission reviewed and revised Section 4.10 Buffer Zone and Section 4.11 Wetland Protection Zone of the Draft Rules and Regulations to Ordinance No. 1773. The two sections were combined into one section, revised further, and approved for public comment during the September 9, 2025, regularly scheduled meeting. The links below may be used to view a revised red line of the complete Draft Rules and Regulations and a clean version of the revised DRAFT Section 4.10: Buffer Zone and Wetland Protection zone (formerly the sections titled §4.10 "Buffer Zone" and §4.11 "Wetland Protection Zone).

Red Line DRAFT Regulations - Revised September 9, 2025

Clean DRAFT Regulations - Section 4.10 ONLY - Revised September 9, 2025

REVISED Anticipated Schedule of Review 

At the August 26, 2025, Conservation Commission meeting, the Commission voted unanimously to hold meetings dedicated only to their review of the Performance Standards of the DRAFT Rules and Regulations to Ordinance #1773, in addition to the regularly scheduled meetings in the month of September. These additional meetings will take place on 9/2, 9/16, and 9/30 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. The posted agenda for the meeting will include the order in which sections are scheduled for review and the anticipated meeting dates. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and dates may change subject to meeting length. 

• §4.8 Intermittent Stream Frontage – 8/12
• §4.10 Buffer Zone – 9/2
• §4.11 Wetland Protection Zone – 9/2
• §4.9 Seasonal Wetlands – 9/9 (combined with §4.6 Isolated Vegetated Wetlands)
• §4.6 Isolated Vegetated Wetlands – 9/16
• §4.5 General Performance Standards for Freshwater Wetlands – 9/16
• §4.7 Lands Subject to Flooding – 9/23
• §4.4 Conditional Exceptions – 9/23
• §4.3 Limited Projects – 9/30
• §4.2 Discretionary Waiver – 9/30
• §4.1 Introduction – 9/30

August 13, 2025

DRAFT Rules and Regulations - Revised August 12, 2025

At the July 8, 2025 regularly scheduled meeting, the Conservation Commission revised Section 4.8 of the Rule and Regulations to Ordinance No. 1773. This section was revised further and approved for public comment during the August 12, 2025 regularly scheduled meeting. The links below may be used to view a red line of the section, within the complete DRAFT Rules and Regulations and to view a clean version of only the revised DRAFT Section 4.8: Rivers and Streams (formerly the section titled "Intermittent Stream Frontage").

Red Line DRAFT Regulations - Revised August 12, 2025

Clean DRAFT Regulations - Section 4.8 ONLY - Revised August 12, 2025

Anticipated Schedule of Review

The Commission will dedicate time at each regularly scheduled meeting (2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month) to review portions of the First Draft. The posted agenda for the meeting will include the order in which sections are scheduled for review and the anticipated meeting dates. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and dates may change subject to meeting length. 

• §4.8 Intermittent Stream Frontage – 8/12
• §4.10 Buffer Zone – 8/26
• §4.11 Wetland Protection Zone – 8/26
• §4.9 Seasonal Wetlands – 9/9
• §4.6 Isolated Vegetated Wetlands – 9/9
• §4.5 General Performance Standards for Freshwater Wetlands – 9/23
• §4.7 Lands Subject to Flooding – 9/23
• §4.4 Conditional Exceptions – 10/14
• §4.3 Limited Projects – 10/14
• §4.2 Discretionary Waiver – 10/28
• §4.1 Introduction – 10/28

The Commission's review during open meetings will follow this format:

1. During open participation, members of the public may share comments or concerns on the First Draft. 
2. The Commission will review comments on the First Draft received and reviewed prior to the meeting
3. The Commission will then review the scheduled section. Changes may be proposed at this time; however, this discussion is primarily among Commissioners rather than a back-and-forth dialogue with the public. We encourage the public to attend and listen to the discussion for greater insight into the Commission’s perspective.
4. After the meeting, the Conservation Office will revise the section of the First Draft based on the Commission’s requested changes. Making the revisions offline saves time during the meetings, as well as helps to improve clarity and cohesiveness. During this time, the public is encouraged to submit additional concerns on the proposed revisions via the portal, mail, or emailing anna.meassick@cityofwestfield.org
5. At the following meeting, public comment is again welcome during open participation for those who wish to address the revisions discussed at the previous meeting. The Commission will then review the updated section and vote either to approve it as part of the Second Draft or to make additional changes.
6. This process will repeat until all sections of the First Draft have been reviewed, revised, and approved. When a section is approved, it will be posted to this webpage. Comment on the sections is welcomed at any time throughout the revision process.

Once the Second Draft is completed, it will be posted to this webpage for further public comment; a public information session will be held, likely followed by additional revisions, before the Final Draft is presented to the Commission for promulgation.

May 30, 2025

In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 13, Article V, Division II: Wetlands of the City of Westfield Code of Ordinances (Ordinance No. 1773), Section 13-179 – Regulations, notice is hereby given that the City of Westfield Municipal Conservation Commission (Commission) will hold a special public meeting on JUNE 3, 2025, at 6:00PM in Room 315 of City Hall 59 Court Street, Westfield, MA.

This meeting is being held for review of the Draft Rules and Regulations to accompany Ordinance No. 1773, adopted May 6, 2025. The Commission is proposing these regulations to define and clarify the terms and procedures set forth in Ordinance No. 1773. 

Ordinance No. 1773 and the Draft Rules and Regulations may be viewed by clicking links below.

Ordinance No. 1773

Rough Draft Ordinance Regulations

Rough Draft Appendices