September 11, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

09/27/2024 06:14:01 AM Page 69 to 72 of 180 18 of 71 sheets 69 K, Pehnke. P-E-H-N-K-E.1 MS. MCGOVERN: Mr. Pehnke, please raise your2 right-hand.3 Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the4 whole truth and nothing but the truth.5 THE WITNESS: Yes, I do.6 MS. MCGOVERN: Thank you.7 K A R L P E H N K E, having been duly sworn8 under oath testifies as follows:9 Thank you, Karl. Can you briefly give the board10 Q. the benefits of your qualifications?11 Yes.12 A. Again, for the record, my name is Karl Pehnke.13 I'm vice president with Langan Engineering and14 Environmental Services. I'm a registered professional15 engineer in the State of New Jersey. My license is in16 good standing. I've been practicing for over 38 years.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Do any members of the18 board have any questions for Mr. Pehnke?19 Seeing none.20 You have the floor, sir.21 Okay.22 Q. Mr. Pehnke, just before you get going, I just23 would like to state for the record Mr. Chairman, if I24 may, Mr. Pehnke is testifying here as a traffic engineer25 70 and I just want to make clear for the record that1 legally the planning board, because we are zoned,2 because the density is permitted, the planning board is3 without authority to deny the application because of4 off-site traffic concerns. And I will let Ms. McGovern5 correct me if I'm wrong, I'll cite to you Dunkin Donuts6 of New Jersey v. Township North Brunswick case which is7 193 NJ Super 513, 1984. That being said, as an8 accommodation and a curtesy to the board and everybody9 here, Mr. Pehnke did prepare a Traffic Impact Study10 which he will reference and testify to here tonight.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.12 Mr. Afran.13 MR. AFRAN: I would like reserve the14 objectors position on this issue. We do not necessarily15 -- so sorry. Hang on. I will start over.16 The microphone is now turned on. I am reserving17 the objectors position on this issue. We do not agree18 that off-site impacts necessarily are barred to the19 boards consideration. In fact there are times when20 safety issues concerning the egress/ingress may well be21 based on the road construction outside of the project22 site. So we do not agree that in fact all of that23 evidence is not within the jurisdiction of the board.24 We believe that it is and I just want to reserve our25 71 position on that issue.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So noted, Mr. Afran.2 MR. AFRAN: Thank you.3 CHAIRMAN

is not within the jurisdiction of the board.24 We believe that it is and I just want to reserve our25 71 position on that issue.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So noted, Mr. Afran.2 MR. AFRAN: Thank you.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Pehnke, you have the4 floor sir.5 THE WITNESS: Thank you.6 Good evening. So with regard to this7 A. application, as just stated, I was retained by the8 applicant really to provide services associated with a9 couple of aspects. One of the aspects is the design of10 the traffic signal located at Oval Road and Eagle Rock11 Avenue. The requirement to work with the township and12 design and construct that traffic signal is a13 stipulation in the Settlement Agreement, and the14 applicant is proceeding forward with that.15 Associated with that effort I did prepare a16 Traffic Impact Study for use and design of the traffic17 signal. And also it had been submitted with this18 application and is in the record with the board and has19 been reviewed by your board professionals.20 In preparation for this hearing I did have an21 opportunity to review the Settlement Agreement, the site22 plan. I've been here for the prior testimony of Mr.23 Anderson and Mr. Appel. I did have an opportunity to24 review the boards traffic engineer professional review25 72 letter and, and take that into account in preparation1 for this evening.2 The Traffic Impact Study that was prepared is3 dated June of 2024. The traffic study is prepared4 basically following standard traffic engineering5 industry standards. The traffic study, for those that6 have reviewed it, basically incorporates and summarizes7 the results of several aspects that we look at as8 traffic engineers. It incorporates an inventory of the9 roadway system, lane arrangement, traffic control10 devices that are within the project area and access area11 to the project. Incorporates a sampling of traffic12 volume data on the adjacent roadway system. It then13 uses a methodology established by the State of New14 Jersey to project that traffic forward to represent15 growth that may occur in an area absent or separate from16 the project. And then with regard to the project17 itself, it incorporates traffic projections, estimates18 of the amount of traffic that may be generated by the19 introduction of this residential community on the20 adjacent -- on the roadway system and add the access.21 And we do that by referencing a

es18 of the amount of traffic that may be generated by the19 introduction of this residential community on the20 adjacent -- on the roadway system and add the access.21 And we do that by referencing a document that's known as22 Trip Generation, that's a by the Institute of23 Transportation Engineers, it's now it's 11th Edition.24 That is a document that is used by all transportation25