July 31, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11 (Pages 38 to 41) Page 38 1 having, you know, the pre-blast survey and the 2 conditions associated controlled by the municipal 3 engineer and the building department, whoever is 4 appropriate, and to do those studies at the time of 5 construction, which is when those studies are 6 typically done. We do have borings all over that 7 hillside that indicate the depth of the bedrock. I 8 don't recall the nature of the bedrock itself, 9 whether they classified it as a specific rock type, 10 but they do have an understanding of where it is, 11 how deep it is, and I think with the safeguards that 12 were just requested and indicated that would be a 13 condition of approval, you know, if this project 14 moves forward, then I think you're -- you're safe in 15 terms of having the safeguards that you need. So 16 now that's -- 17 MS. BENYO: And at what point are 18 those assessments going to be made and who's 19 responsible to do them? Are you hiring someone to 20 do that? 21 (Multiple speakers at once - court reporter 22 instruction) 23 MS. BENYO: Claire Benyo, B-E-N-Y-O. 24 MR. ANDERSON: All right. Claire, I 25 am the site engineer, I design the project site. Page 39 1 I'm not the contractor. There is a contractor and 2 there will be a blasting contractor associated with 3 it that would take care of those type of things on 4 site when they're going to construction. When they 5 plan on blasting the site, if it requires blasting, 6 then they would do their pre-blast surveys, 7 coordinate with the town engineering department, as 8 we just agreed to, and it would be done at that 9 time. It's not done as part of their approval 10 process, it's part of the implementation of 11 construction. 12 MS. BENYO: I was under the impression 13 that there would be someone here this evening that 14 could expand on the specifications of that plan. 15 MR. ANDERSON: So the project 16 architect will have some exhibits which may clarify 17 how these buildings sit in the hillside so that you 18 can physically see that it is not teetering at the 19 top of the hill and would not likely fall down. 20 You'll -- you'll get a better feeling when you see 21 his exhibits of the stability that is involved. 22 MS. BENYO: I was under the impression 23 that that person was going to be here this evening. 24 Last night, it was confirmed that the questions that 25 we asked of this topic last night were

olved. 22 MS. BENYO: I was under the impression 23 that that person was going to be here this evening. 24 Last night, it was confirmed that the questions that 25 we asked of this topic last night were pushed to Page 40 1 this evening specifically because that person was 2 going to be here to -- 3 MS. McGOVERN: Yes. 4 MR. ANDERSON: Which person, the 5 architect? 6 MS. BENYO: The architect. 7 MR. ANDERSON: The architect, he's 8 right here. 9 MS. BENYO: We will have an 10 opportunity to hear him? 11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Yes. 12 MS. BENYO: Thank you. Never mind. 13 Then I have just a couple of other unrelated things. 14 I mean different things. 15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We're finishing up 16 Mr. Anderson's testimony and questions -- 17 MS. BENYO: Got it. 18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: -- and then the 19 architect will testify. 20 MS. BENYO: Excellent. So I have just 21 a couple of more questions and then back to my 22 favorite topic, the environment. 23 So, Mr. Chairman, I have a question. 24 You mentioned two environmental specialists would be 25 engaged, so that's going to be one by the Township Page 41 1 of West Orange and one by the applicant; is that 2 correct? 3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Well, we have an 4 environmental expert. I'm not sure if the applicant 5 will put everything, you can ask the applicant what 6 they propose presenting. 7 MS. BENYO: I thought you had 8 mentioned a few moments ago that there was going to 9 be two. 10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We have -- the Board 11 has hired an environmental expert -- 12 MS. BENYO: And -- 13 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: -- who will be 14 evaluating the site. 15 MS. BENYO: -- will the applicant hire 16 an independent environmental specialist? 17 MR. PLOCKER: If and when we make that 18 decision and they issue a report, we'll obviously 19 put the report on file with the Board. 20 MS. BENYO: And what conditions would 21 be if and when that would be happening? 22 MR. PLOCKER: That's going to be up to 23 my client's decision and we don't have an answer for 24 that today. 25 MS. BENYO: And what are the