Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is my donation tax-deductible?
A: Your donation is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.
Q: What type of organization is the Hull Land Conservation Trust?
A: The Hull Land Conservation Trust is a Massachusetts Chapter 180 non-profit corporation. It is in the process of applying for federal 501(c)3 public charity status. TheTrust’s federal public charity status will be retroactive to January, 2007, when the Trust was formed.
Q: Who will own the land?
A: How land is protected is unique to every parcel, depending on the wishes of the sellers and the sources of funds. For properties that benefit from a State Self-Help grant, the Town will buy the land from the Trust and then be reimbursed by the Self-Help program. The Trust will then purchase a Conservation Restriction from the Town to cover the local match for the Town. The Conservation Restriction protects the land in perpetuity.
Q: How is the Hull Land Conservation Trust managed?
A: The Hull Land Conservation Trust is managed by a Board of Directors.
The Trust bylaws state, “The total number of members of the Board of Directors shall be a minimum of 9 and maximum of 13. The Trust membership shall elect a minimum of 5 and maximum of 13 members. The HLCT Board of Directors may include one appointed member each from the Town of Hull Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and Weir River Estuary Park Committee to a maximum of 4 Town-appointed members. The board shall choose its officers, including president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. All members of the board of trustees must have a residence in Hull.
“The members of the organization shall hold an Annual Meeting between June 1 and September 30 that will include the election of the members of the Board of Trustees. Members shall be given at least two weeks notice of the Annual Meeting. Vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled at the Board's pleasure throughout the year, and ratified by membership vote at the Annual Meeting.”
Q: How will the Chatham Street property be paid for?
A: The Hull Land Conservation Trust purchased the Chatham Street property with a mortgage from the Hingham Institution for Savings, private loans, and donations. Once the Town of Hull updates its Hull Open Space and Recreation Plan, it will become eligible to apply for a Massachusetts Self-Help 56% matching grant. When the Town is awarded a grant and the Trust raises the local match of 44%, the Town can proceed to buy the land from the Trust. The Trust will then pay off the mortgage. The State will reimburse the Town for 56% and the Trust will reimburse the Town for 44% by buying a Conservation Restriction from the Town,.
Q: What are the terms of the mortgage provided by the Hingham Institution for Savings for the Chatham Street property?
A: The Hingham Institution for Savings has provided a 2-year mortgage at 7% interest for the Chatham Street property.
Q: How does the Land Conservation Land Trust choose properties to protect?
A: The Land Trust is guided by the Hull Open Space and Recreation Plan, including the Weir River Estuary Land Protection Plan. The Estuary Land Protection Plan ranked 152 parcels of undeveloped land in Hull along the Estuary according to 1) current level of protection and 2) whether the land has desired features, including:
· Scenic value
· Being at the edge of the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) or a salt marsh
· On or along a connecting path
· Kayak access potential
· Near Estuary Center
· Salt marsh
· Contiguous habitat
· Geological or historical value
· Potential restoration of former marsh
· Fresh water wetlands
· Large property or part of a large property
The highest priority properties in the Land Protection Plan are privately-owned undeveloped parcels that are threatened by development and have five or more desired features.
Thank you for creating a network of people to care for Hull’s land,
including envisioning the Weir River Estuary forever wild.