Hingham Clears Major Hurdle for Active Living Center as State Confirms Replacement Land Meets Environmental Standard
HINGHAM - October 21 - The Hingham Select Board received critical state approval for its proposed Hingham Center for Active Living project on October 21, with the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs determining that replacement parkland near Plymouth River School meets all environmental requirements under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution.
The Full Story
The determination, issued in a letter dated October 3 and received by the town on October 10, marks a significant milestone in the multi-year effort to build a new senior center on a portion of the former Naval Depot land at Bare Cove Park. The project now awaits a two-thirds roll call vote in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate before construction can proceed.
Town Real Estate Counsel Susan Murphy presented the findings to the board, explaining that the state’s top environmental official confirmed the replacement land possesses “greater or equal natural resource value” compared to the proposed H-Cal site on Bare Cove Park Drive. The determination also addressed concerns about the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), concluding that the project “does not demonstrate the potential to adversely affect the ACEC.”
“The Secretary for the top environmental agency in the state has made a determination that the HCAL project would not adversely impact the ACEC,” Murphy stated, calling the finding “really important because there are probably a lot of residents in the town that may have had concern about that.”
The approval process required the town to submit comprehensive information to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 3, Section 5A, including an alternatives analysis and detailed information about replacement land. The statute requires replacement land to equal or exceed the impacted land in three ways: natural resource value, land area, and monetary value.
According to Murphy, the replacement land site near Plymouth River School is “significantly larger” than the proposed HCAL site and an independent appraisal determined its monetary value also exceeds that of the Bare Cove Park location. The legislative bill, House Bill 4314, has been reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and has completed three readings in the House.
Much of the meeting focused on addressing alternative site suggestions that have generated public discussion. Murphy provided detailed analysis of why several alternative locations would not be suitable for the project, including the Union Street property and the Hitchcock Shoe building on Beale Street.
The Union Street site, which encompasses approximately 11 acres with only 3.4 acres currently cleared, faces substantial environmental constraints. Murphy displayed GIS mapping showing that over four acres of the site lie within floodplain, more than two acres are wetlands, and the Weir River runs along the northwestern boundary, requiring a 200-foot setback. The entire parcel sits within Hingham’s Aquifer and Interim Wellhead Protection District.
“The EEA Natural Resource Tool for the Bare Cove Park Drive site mapped zero core habitat areas of any kind and this is four acres of aquatic core habitat,” Murphy said of the Union Street property, contrasting it with the proposed HCAL location.
Additional complications at Union Street include its location outside the Hingham North Sewer District, which would require complex special legislation and MWRA approval to connect to sewer. The site also abuts single-family homes with septic systems and sits adjacent to the high school and its heavily-used athletic fields.
Regarding the Hitchcock Shoe building on Beale Street, Murphy outlined multiple legal and financial obstacles. Massachusetts procurement law under Chapter 30B typically requires the town to conduct an RFP process for real estate acquisitions, though exceptions exist for “unique acquisitions.” Murphy explained that justifying such an exception would be difficult and would require submission to the state’s central register.
The building, assessed at approximately $4.5 million, would likely command a significantly higher market price, as commercial properties typically appraise 45 percent or more above assessed values. Murphy noted that when the town acquired the public safety facility site, the appraised value was 45 percent higher than the assessed value.
The existing 25,000-square-foot warehouse with a 7,000-square-foot mezzanine would require extensive retrofitting, Murphy explained. Built in 1991, it does not comply with current stretch code requirements and is heated by natural gas, necessitating a complete HVAC system replacement to meet the town’s climate goals. The site has only 60 parking spaces, requiring significant modifications to accommodate the center’s needs.
Murphy also confirmed that the building is currently under a purchase and sale agreement with a third party, removing it from consideration. She noted that all previous feasibility and design work conducted for the Bare Cove Park location represents funds already spent that would not transfer to an alternative site.
Town Administrator Tom Mayo addressed questions about Plymouth River School, confirming that the school department has no plans to close or reduce use of the facility. In fact, the school added a kindergarten class this year due to increased enrollment, making it unavailable for alternative use.
The town hall site option also received attention during the meeting. Mayo explained that the building committee evaluated multiple configurations at the town hall location throughout 2024, using a scorecard methodology to rank over 20 site evaluation criteria across approximately 15 public meetings.
Select Board Chair Bill Ramsey elaborated on why the town hall option proved infeasible, noting that proposed parking solutions involving Cronin Field or Haley Field generated strong opposition from youth baseball advocates, abutters, and the Recreation Commission. Questions about the legality of converting Cronin Field, which was gifted to the town under the care, custody, and control of the recreation department specifically for baseball, also arose.
“There was only one person in the world that wanted town hall more than me because I really wanted that to happen,” Ramsey said. “And that was Tom Carey, who was the chair of the committee and he advocated to keep it at town hall for an entire 12 months. And finally, even Tom came around and said, you know, it’s not feasible, it’s not gonna work.”
A significant portion of the discussion addressed whether the Bare Cove Park area constitutes a legally designated wildlife sanctuary. Murphy clarified that while town meeting voted in 1985 to establish a wildlife refuge, the vote included multiple conditions that were never fulfilled, including obtaining an act of the General Court and concurrence from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
Murphy confirmed that she contacted the state archives and legislators, finding no evidence of legislation ever being filed. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife maintains an interactive map of all designated wildlife sanctuaries in Massachusetts and confirmed in writing in 2017 that no land in Hingham has ever been officially designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
“The statute states that the director may acquire in fee, by purchase, gift, or devise, or may lease, or with the consent of the owners, may control land, water, or shore rights for the purposes of a wildlife sanctuary,” Murphy explained. “That’s how you establish a wildlife sanctuary under Massachusetts state law. It’s through the director, and it’s land that the state acquires or controls, none of which ever occurred with any land in Hingham.”
A sign identifying the area as a wildlife sanctuary was erected in 2004 by the DPW at the request of the Bare Cove Park Committee, which operated under the mistaken belief the designation was official, Murphy said.
Murphy also addressed public benefit from removing the existing dilapidated building on the proposed HCAL site. The structure, dating to the original Naval Depot, is not maintained and currently sees minimal use for temporary storage. A preliminary Phase I environmental assessment indicates contamination likely exists from historic railroad operations, including creosote-soaked railroad ties, though not in reportable quantities. The building itself contains asbestos, lead paint, and other hazardous materials that would be remediated during demolition.
Public comment included Anita Ryan questioning the legal interpretation of the 1985 town meeting vote and raising concerns about the assessment process. John Borgia commended Murphy for her “extraordinarily detailed due diligence assessment” and suggested the information be published in The Hingham Anchor to address public concerns. Hillary Hosmer disputed the wildlife sanctuary analysis and questioned whether alternative sites received sufficient consideration. Tom Carey, former building committee chair, emphasized that extensive analysis of all alternative sites occurred before the 2023 meeting often referenced in public discussions.
In other business, the board approved minutes from three previous meetings and made appointments to the Council on Aging and the Weir River Water System Citizens Advisory Board. The board continued two alcohol license applications to future dates at the applicants’ requests.
Why It Matters
The state environmental approval represents a critical step toward providing Hingham’s growing senior population with a modern facility designed to meet their needs. The determination validates the town’s selection process and environmental analysis while addressing concerns about potential impacts to protected areas. For residents who have questioned alternative locations, the detailed analysis provides transparency about why those sites presented insurmountable obstacles. The project now depends on legislative approval, which requires support from two-thirds of both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve minutes dated September 16, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:40)
Motion: Approve minutes dated September 25, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:52)
Motion: Approve minutes dated September 30, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 3:03)
Motion: Continue application for restaurant license for Salty Days Hingham until November 18, 2025. Outcome: Granted. Vote: No objection. (Timestamp: 3:05-4:26)
Motion: Continue application for restaurant license for Cove Club until October 28, 2025. Outcome: Granted. Vote: No objection. (Timestamp: 4:26)
Motion: Appoint Megan Hansen to Council on Aging for term ending June 30, 2028. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:08:01)
Motion: Appoint Jim Broderick to Weir River Water System Citizens Advisory Board for term ending June 30, 2028. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:08:19)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:10:22)
Public Comment
Several residents offered comments and questions regarding the Hingham Center for Active Living project. Anita Ryan questioned the legal interpretation of the 1985 wildlife sanctuary vote and sought details about the environmental approval letter. John Borgia praised the detailed analysis of alternative sites and recommended publishing the information more broadly. Hillary Hosmer disputed the conclusion that the area is not a wildlife sanctuary and questioned whether alternative sites received adequate consideration during the 2023 selection process. Kevin Freytag asked clarifying questions about the legal effect of the 1985 town meeting vote. Tom Carey, former building committee chair, emphasized that extensive work analyzing alternative sites occurred before the August 2023 meeting.
What’s Next
House Bill 4314 must receive approval by a two-thirds roll call vote in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate. The bill has completed three readings in the House and awaits placement on the docket for a full session. After House approval, it will move to the Senate for a similar process. The Town Administrator mentioned that full House sessions may occur this month. The MBTA Water Transportation Study will hold an open house on October 23, 2025, at the ferry terminal to discuss potential ferry improvements and new routes.