PB-19-08C-WOPB TBZ Signed Conservation Pavillion Resolution AND Memo

OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE Hall of Records, Room 405, Newark, New Jersey 07102 973.621.4400 --- 973.621.6343 (Fax) WWW.essexcountynj.org Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive January 10, 2020 Ron Weston Chairman, Planning Board Township of West Orange 66 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 Dear Chairman Weston: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to discuss the Conservation Pavilion proposed for Essex County Turtle Back Zoo during your meeting on Wednesday, January 8". We always appreciate input from the Planning Board; your recommendations provide an alternative view of and fresh look at our plans. We take the Board’s recommendations seriously and always try to incorporate them into our projects so that local concerns are addressed. At the conclusion of the meeting, there was a list of recommendations that were made by the board. We believe these will contribute greatly to the success of the Conservation Pavilion and | have already directed our County staff and contracted professionals to incorporate them into the project. We are going to increase the ratio of replacing trees by doubling the amount of new trees that we will plant. Instead of planting at a 2-tio-1 ratio, we will plant at a 4-to-1 ratio, meaning 540 new trees will be planted in South Mountain Reservation. Our architects have been including white roof designs in many of our recent projects, including our new Public Works Building in Cedar Grove and the Leopard Exhibit and Education Building at Turtle Back Zoo. We have found that the white roof absorbs less heat which results in less energy being needed to cool the building in the summer. Our architects definitely will incorporate this design feature into the Conservation Pavilion and its support building. Designing the water retention basin as a rain garden and incorporating it into the exhibit as an educational feature is a great idea. As part of the water management system being designed to control runoff, a 25-by-25 foot area adjacent to the Conservation Pavilion will be Putting Lessee County First ESSEX COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER