July 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

30 (Pages 114 to 117) Page 114 1 and that's the number that we used. 2 MR. AFRAN: Well, are these mature 3 trees; are they six-inch-minimum trees; what is the 4 actual data point that supports the number of trees 5 you calculate will be removed? 6 MR. ANDERSON: The data point that was 7 determined by the town is unknown. I don't know 8 what their standard was. It is likely to be 9 something on the order of six inches and above, but 10 I don't have that actual fact. It was determined 11 and given to the applicant to use. 12 MR. AFRAN: Well, saplings, for 13 example, are very numerous in many wooded area and 14 yet they're usually much less than six inches. 15 Would you agree with that general statement? 16 MR. ANDERSON: Yes, I would. 17 MR. AFRAN: So how many saplings are 18 going to be removed that are below this four- to 19 six-inch-diameter width? 20 MR. ANDERSON: I do not have an answer 21 for that. 22 MR. AFRAN: In other words, the number 23 of trees you've given is based on some minimum 24 diameter four to six inches, but you're unable to 25 tell us how many thousands of other trees will be Page 115 1 destroyed. Is that correct? 2 MR. ANDERSON: We only have the 3 formula that was given to us in the settlement 4 agreement and in the ordinance of 212 per acre of 5 trees that could be relied on. It was not a site- 6 specific study that we went out and counted every 7 tree out there, so we don't have the information 8 that you're looking for in terms of how many 9 saplings and so forth. So -- 10 MR. AFRAN: So no one actually knows 11 how many trees are actually going to be removed; 12 isn't that correct? 13 MR. PLOCKER: Mr. Chairman, I'm going 14 to renew my objection. These numbers are set forth 15 in the settlement agreement and the ordinance. This 16 is the Planning Board; for all the power that it 17 has, its job is to not revisit or re-litigate or 18 renegotiate that agreement or ordinance -- 19 MR. AFRAN: I'm -- 20 MR. PLOCKER: -- so I'm going to 21 respect -- 22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Wait, wait, wait. I 23 don't think he's renegotiating, he's asking what the 24 methodology was to get to that number, which is -- I 25 think that's a fair question. Page 116 1 MR. AFRAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And if there's no 3 methodology, then there's no methodology, that's the 4 answer, but you guys will have to provide that. 5 MR. AFRAN: Do you have

. AFRAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And if there's no 3 methodology, then there's no methodology, that's the 4 answer, but you guys will have to provide that. 5 MR. AFRAN: Do you have any further 6 information you can provide in answer to these 7 questions? 8 MR. ANDERSON: No. 9 MR. AFRAN: Has any examination been 10 taken with respect to other animal species whose 11 movement will be limited by the deer fences? 12 MR. ANDERSON: I have not undertaken 13 any such study. 14 MR. AFRAN: Are you aware of any? 15 MR. ANDERSON: I am not. 16 MR. AFRAN: Has your clients or you, 17 in connection with your client, consulted with any 18 experts to determine whether the placement of the 19 deer fences will have an adverse effect on the 20 movement of other fauna aside from you? 21 MR. ANDERSON: I am not aware of any 22 such inquiry. 23 MR. AFRAN: Has any environmental 24 impact statement been done in connection with this 25 project? Page 117 1 MR. ANDERSON: It has not been 2 required. 3 MR. AFRAN: That's not what I asked 4 you, I simply asked if it's been done. 5 MR. ANDERSON: It's not been done as 6 part of this application. 7 MR. AFRAN: Has any ecological study 8 of any kind been done as part of this application? 9 MR. ANDERSON: There's environmental 10 studies done with regards to the wetlands 11 application. 12 MR. AFRAN: I'm sorry, you'll just 13 have to speak up. 14 MR. ANDERSON: There's environmental 15 studies done with regards to the wetlands 16 application. 17 MR. AFRAN: Besides what you have 18 submitted to DEP, have any other ecological studies 19 been done? 20 MR. ANDERSON: No. I am not aware of 21 any other studies. 22 MR. AFRAN: Now, is there a credit 23 built into the formula under which a certain number 24 of shrubs for replanting are equal to one tree? 25 MR. ANDERSON: No.