June 7, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes

surrounding properties, especially considering that all the lights on site shine in toward the property and they all have house side shields which will help minimize any lighting throw onto the adjacent properties. It should also be noted that the residential uses in the area are well distant from the site and wouldn't be affected by this 2-foot increase in the mounting height of the lights. Mr. Delaney introduced the landscaping plan for the new property and the new redevelopment. However, to facilitate this landscaping plan, he said that we will have to remove some of the existing trees from the site. At first, they are going to be removing 23 trees along the main entrance drive; he said that the removal of these trees is necessary because it will widen the driveway to 24 feet to provide proper circulation and allow the driveway to curve away from the sewer pump house. Mr. Delaney stated that a good portion of the trees are being removed in order to accommodate the new sidewalk that goes to Pleasant Valley. Mr. Delaney stated that, in addition to these 23 trees being removed on the main entrance drive, they are proposing to remove 19 additional trees scattered throughout the main lot itself. He said that it should be noted, however, that we are not proposing to remove any trees along the stream corridor of the Peckman River. In total they are calling for 42 trees to be removed; 21 of the trees will require replacement with a minor tree and 21 of the trees will require replacement with a major tree; he said that the reason they know that is because the West Orange tree removal ordinance specifies that based on the diameter of the tree either a minor or major tree will need to be replanted, so for trees between four and six inches in diameter that are removed a minor tree will need to be planted in its place and any tree greater than 6 inches will require a major tree. Mr. Delaney stated that the proposed landscaping plan calls for the planting of a series of new trees along the new entrance drive; he said that this will include a row of Valley Forge Elms along the southern side of the driveway and run the western portion of it. Mr. Delaney said that near the pump house they are proposing a row of red Cedars to provide screening to that pump house and then opposite that we're proposing a route of Norway spruces. Mr. Delaney stated that the perimeter of

the pump house they are proposing a row of red Cedars to provide screening to that pump house and then opposite that we're proposing a route of Norway spruces. Mr. Delaney stated that the perimeter of the proposed parking lot will be lined with a variety of tree species. These will include red maples, pine oaks and dura heat river birch. These perimeter plantings will then be supplemented with additional plantings in between these and will consist of arrow woods along with green leaf American Hollies. He said that the applicant is proposing additional plantings along the front of the building that will include some of the Valley Forge Elms and Cherokee Princess dogwoods; they will be accented by other winter gem boxwoods and north wind switch grass. Mr. Delaney stated that they are also providing a couple of three main areas where we can provide for annual plantings. In total we're proposing 74 new trees throughout the property and this does not include some of the smaller supplemental plantings or even the Evergreen trees that we're proposing. He said that as mentioned previously, the requirement is to replace 21 minor trees and 21 major trees and we're proposing 74 major trees overall. Mr. Delaney stated that this new landscaping plan will enhance the proposed development and increase the number of trees and the variety of species on site. He said one of the things that he thinks is important to understand about the landscaping plan, as it pertains to DEP approvals, is that the plantings along the stream were specifically chosen and selected while working with the DEP and they were subsequently approved by the DEP along that stream corridor. Mr. Delaney stated that the final set of plans are the turning templates. The first turning template that Mr. Delaney referred to is for the fire truck access to the property; he said that the fire truck can enter the main drive aisle from Pleasant Valley Way, go down the drive across the bridge and then circulate around the entire building so it can tackle an emergency on any side and then exit the property. Mr. Delaney stated that the next template is for refuse/garbage trucks; it shows that the garbage truck can enter the site from Pleasant Valley Way, go down the main drive aisle and circulate