July 31, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

13 (Pages 46 to 49) Page 46 1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I'm going to ask you 2 to ask a question, please. 3 MR. STOLOFF: So the question is, Mr. 4 Anderson was talking about the water control, but 5 since it's bedrock, most of the water issues happen 6 underground and taking away the trees does affect 7 those underground water flows, so how -- I'm curious 8 how the plan addresses those underground water flows 9 that will definitely be altered by the removal of so 10 many trees. Question, there you go. 11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you. 12 MR. ANDERSON: So the analysis is 13 studies using the existing conditions using the 14 appropriate parameters to develop what the discharge 15 is. 16 MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC: Speak up. 17 MR. ANDERSON: Sorry. 18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Anderson, you 19 want to hold it. 20 MR. ANDERSON: I will, I'm sorry. 21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you. 22 MR. ANDERSON: I backed up an inch. 23 So we did the redevelopment study that 24 indicates what the stormwater discharge is from the 25 site under the existing conditions, with the Page 47 1 requirements that the law requires in terms of it 2 being a forest in good standing and so forth. And 3 then we do borings or test pits throughout the site, 4 we identify areas where it's deeper soil area, 5 deeper to bedrock, and that there's no groundwater 6 present or there's groundwater at a deeper level. 7 And then we design systems that retain the water, 8 some of it recharges back into the ground and back 9 into the bedrock that is probably below, as you 10 indicated -- 11 MR. STOLOFF: Um-hum. 12 MR. ANDERSON: -- and then some of 13 that goes away in the way of groundwater recharge. 14 The rest of it is controlled with an outlet 15 structure that slowly releases the water out to its 16 ultimate discharge, which is either one of the 17 streams that are on site. 18 MR. STOLOFF: Okay. Some of my time, 19 you took away from me having to -- 20 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Keep going. 21 MR. STOLOFF: Okay. There was 22 something brought up Mr. Anderson also said -- 23 seemed to reference that there was no data about the 24 bedrock and I want to point out the thing with the 25 garden homes, what I was going to say is that was Page 48 1 built in the mid to late '80s, so there should be 2 some data about the amount of -- 3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Bedrock? 4 MR. STOLOFF: -- bedrock and what was 5 involved because my understanding, it was

48 1 built in the mid to late '80s, so there should be 2 some data about the amount of -- 3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Bedrock? 4 MR. STOLOFF: -- bedrock and what was 5 involved because my understanding, it was excessive 6 and caused quite a bit of disruption because in the 7 process of building those homes. Okay? So I would 8 suggest looking at that. 9 My other question is -- it's more 10 actually for the Planning Board, if that's possible. 11 Okay. So I attended the Latino action network's 12 legislative conference in March. There, there was a 13 housing expert and I asked them specifically about 14 having affordable housing and where affordable 15 housing should and shouldn't be built, and my 16 understanding is from talking to this person and 17 reading up, is that this area is not a good location 18 for affordable housing. Generally, you want 19 affordable housing near -- 20 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Let me stop you 21 right there. 22 MR. STOLOFF: -- near downtown -- 23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Time out, time out. 24 MR. STOLOFF: -- public access and so 25 forth? Page 49 1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You're testifying. 2 I'm going to stop you. So there is an agreement -- 3 MR. STOLOFF: So my question is, I 4 guess: Why would you be focusing on a project like 5 this with affordable housing when I'm sure there are 6 many vacant areas that are more -- that are closer 7 to the downtown that would be better suited for 8 affordable housing, that's my question. 9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: It's a good 10 question. There's a settlement agreement and the 11 Court adopted it with a Special Master specifically 12 for affordable housing. That's it. Thank you. 13 MR. STOLOFF: Okay. 14 MR. FAGAN: Just hand him the mic. 15 MR. STOLOFF: Oh, sorry. 16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Yes, sir, can you 17 state your name and spell your last name for the 18 record, please, sir. 19 MR. TENKATE: My name is Peter 20 T-E-N-K-A-T-E. 21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I couldn't hear 22 that, I'm sorry. 23 MR. TENKATE: My name is Peter 24 Tenkate, T-E-N-K-A-T-E. I am from Boswell 25 Engineering, I'm township engineer in Verona. The