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Northborough commission to require independent review after ‘large’ wetland fill discovered at 15 Settlers Road
Summary
Commissioners described what staff called one of the town's most severe wetland-fill violations at 15 Settlers Road and agreed to require the applicant to fund independent third-party assessments to determine the extent of fill and inform restoration and mitigation.
The Town of Northborough Conservation Commission directed staff to obtain independent third-party reviews after staff and commissioners described a substantial wetland-fill violation at 15 Settlers Road.
Conservation staff told the commission that the previously filed ANRAD/ORAD appeared to under-report wetland area and that site reconnaissance shows a much larger area of wetland that has been filled. Commissioners described the violation as "the worst violation we have," and discussed steps for an impact assessment. Staff said the typical process is to obtain estimates from three qualified wetland scientists, have the applicant deposit the review funds in accordance with local rules, and then proceed with an independent delineation of the filled area and an impact assessment.
One commissioner noted that findings would then be used to require a restoration plan and mitigation area sized to the extent of fill (for example, restoration at 1.5 times the area filled). The commission will provide the applicant a list of vetted consultants and require the applicant to agree to one of the consultants or to demonstrate that an objection is based on relevant technical qualifications. Staff will return with estimates and a recommended consultant list.
What happens next: the commission will solicit at least three consultant estimates, ask the applicant to deposit funds for the review, and proceed after the independent assessment to define the area of impact and required restoration/mitigation.
