The Westport Conservation Commission will require the proposed builder of an independent living subdivision in the north end of town to pay for an independent review of the 56-unit plan’s impact on groundwater, runoff and other environmental factors.

At the commission’s Tuesday, July 18 meeting, a consultant with Blue Wave LLC told commission members that the plan is to build the condominium-style development on a large parcel of wooded land near Westport Lakes Drive. The development would have its own feeder road leading to 30 new structures, with a mix of single family and duplex structures, and would consist of 56 units. There would be a clubhouse with parking, a community garden and walkways, all the homes would be serviced via wells and wastewater management systems with nitrogen reducing technology are being planned.

The land on which the development would sit covers 143 acres but that property would be subdivided, with the development covering approximately 30 acres.

The area contains wetlands, and the representative told commission members that all the work and construction will take place in buffer zones adjacent to those wetland areas — “there are zero wetlands impacts,” he said. “The design was ultimately prepared to maximize the buffer zones ... and push the development away from the wetlands.”

The plan has not yet been officially submitted to the planning board, nor the board of health, but the representative told commission members that that will happen within the next couple of weeks.

Westport Conservation Agent Chris Capone visited the property a week earlier, and said he later heard from an abutter that wetlands might possibly extend into areas of the property that aren’t marked as such in the developer’s plans.

For that reason, he said, one of his recommendations was that the town select an independent firm to examine where the wetlands lie, and also look at drainage.

“I think with the magnitude of this project, it would not hurt for us to consider a third party review,” Capone said. “Whether it’s redundant to what the planning board needs (when its review starts) or not, I think it would be beneficial to us. I would feel more comfortable if the board would consider that.”

His recommendation was echoed by resident Bob Sykes, whose father-in-law is an abutter, as well as another Grand Pine Lane resident.

“I think the wetlands go further than the plans say,” said abutter Jim Pimental.

Conservation commission members voted unanimously to require a third party review.

“I think that makes sense,” member Philip Weinberg said. “I don’t think it would be excessively costly ... but at least we would have our own set of eyes on it when the project comes before us for final review.”

Capone said he will try to find interested parties for the commission’s next meeting on August 1, and commission members voted to continue discussion on the development itself until their August 29 meeting.