Historical Commission

**SCAM WARNING*** We have received reports from Wellesley residents that they have been contacted regarding an outstanding balance owed to the Planning Department. Many of these claims are false. If you have received any such notification, please contact us to confirm whether the balance is legitimate. We will never ask for cash or wire transfers, we only accept payment via check.  Please click here to see an example of a fraudulent invoice. 

The Historical Commission was created pursuant to Article 17 of the Town Bylaws, as authorized by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 8D.  The mission of the Town of Wellesley Historical Commission is the preservation and protection of the tangible evidence of the architectural, aesthetic, cultural, economic, political and social history of Wellesley.

In fulfilling this mission, the Historical Commission does the following:

• Educates the community on the economic, cultural, and aesthetic values of historic preservation, through working collaboratively with Town boards, owners, developers, realtors, and residents, through our signature Historic Plaque Program, and through articles and letters in the local press;
• Advocates for local ordinances, bylaws, and public actions that encourage the preservation, restoration, and reuse of historic properties both public and private; and
• Addresses major development and growth issues, such as promoting smart zoning, encouraging renovation and adaptive reuse as alternatives to demolitions of historic properties, and providing technical assistance and support to ensure that growth can coincide with the protection of the historical assets of the Town.

Preservation Determination Application

FY26 Submittal & Meeting Calendar

Open Historical Commission Member Positions

Historical Commission meetings are typically held on Zoom on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00pm. Details for viewing and participating in meetings are posted on each agenda. Meeting materials can be found here. 

If you have questions about the Historic Preservation Demolition Review process or would like to get in contact with any member of the Historical Commission, please reach out to the Planning Department at planning@wellesleyma.gov or 781-431-1019 x 2232.