The Southborough Conservation Commission closed the public hearing May 1 on a Notice of Intent for a proposed 60-unit apartment building at 120 Turnpike Road and moved to issue an Order of Conditions that contains several special conditions addressing wetland replication, plantings and invasive-species management.

Applicant presentation and changes: Mitch Maslanko, a wetland scientist with Goddard Consulting, told the commission the team had submitted revised sheets addressing prior comments, including updated cross-sections for the intermittent vegetated wetland (IVW) replication area with added elevations. He also said stewardship reviewers had requested minor changes to the landscape/plant list and that the applicant agreed to provide revised sheets and to revise any plan language that had indicated use of excavated IVW soils.

Commission decision and conditions: Commissioners and stewardship representatives agreed to three principal conditions: (1) the replication area and landscape plan must use straight native species (no cultivars/nativars) and the proposed planting list must be reviewed and approved by the commission's agent prior to planting; (2) soils excavated from the IVW shall not be reused in the replication area and must be disposed of off-site; and (3) invasive-removal and planting areas shall be monitored for a minimum of two growing seasons with annual reports and an 80% survival success rate required before a certificate of compliance may be issued. The commission also included a condition that replication construction be supervised by a qualified wetland scientist and that the replication area be maintained in perpetuity as required by the project's comprehensive permit.

Why it matters: The conditions aim to ensure the replication area establishes as functioning wetland and is free of invasive propagules that could undermine restoration efforts. Stewardship committee members flagged three plant entries on the proposed list that were non-native or cultivars; stewardship asked for replacement with straight natives and offered to re-review the final plant list.

Outcome: The commission moved, seconded and passed the motion to issue an Order of Conditions as amended. Staff said draft special conditions would be circulated and provided to the applicant early the next week.