State Review Clears Key Hurdle for Hingham Senior Center

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Hingham’s proposed Center for Active Living (HCAL) project at Bare Cove Park moved a step closer to reality after state officials confirmed the town’s environmental review meets legal standards under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution.

Special Real Estate Counsel Susan Murphy told the Select Board on Oct. 21 that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) determined the town’s replacement land near Plymouth River School is “of greater or equal natural resource value” than the impacted Bare Cove Park site. The finding satisfies one of three requirements needed for legislative approval.

“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 said, referring to the Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Murphy explained that the determination is a major milestone in a process that began with a two-thirds Town Meeting vote authorizing the Select Board to petition the legislature to repurpose a small portion of federally protected park land for the new senior center.

House Bill 4314, filed by Hingham’s state delegation, has been “reported favorably out of the joint committees on municipalities,” she said, adding that the bill “has made it through the third reading and the next step is that it will be put on the docket for a full session of the House.”

Both the House and Senate must approve the measure by a two-thirds vote before it can become law.

Murphy addressed renewed public interest in alternate locations, including Union Street and the former Hitchcock Shoe building on Beal Street. She said neither is suitable for the project due to environmental, legal, and logistical issues.

On Union Street, she said, “Over four acres of this site is within the floodplain and over two acres of it is wetlands. The entire parcel is within Hingham’s aquifer.” The property also lacks access to the town sewer system, making development difficult.

Regarding the Beal Street site, Murphy said the building “is under a purchase and sale agreement with a third party” and would require extensive renovations, new design funds, and compliance with state procurement laws.

Town Administrator Tom Mayo added that the Plymouth River School and Town Hall sites were also ruled out. The school remains in full use, and Town Hall lacks parking and open space needed for expansion.

Murphy also addressed a long-debated claim that Bare Cove Park is a designated wildlife sanctuary.

“It is not a wildlife sanctuary or a wildlife refuge,” she said. A 1985 Town Meeting vote authorized the Select Board to explore such a designation, but “none of the conditions were met,” including a required act of the state legislature.

Murphy said the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed that no land in Hingham has ever been designated as a state-recognized wildlife sanctuary.

Several residents spoke during public comment, questioning the interpretation of the 1985 vote and the town’s environmental review. Murphy maintained that the project complies with all applicable laws and that the proposed site is not currently used for public recreation.

Select Board Chair William Ramsey thanked Murphy for her detailed review, saying, “I know it’s a big step in the process… happy to get that letter and good to see the process moving forward.”

The project now awaits legislative action on Beacon Hill.