September 11, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

09/27/2024 06:14:01 AM Page 125 to 128 of 180 32 of 71 sheets 125 THE WITNESS: There's no differentiation1 whether it's affordable or multifamily apartment. It's2 treated the same from a traffic standpoint.3 THE PUBLIC: Have you conducted a traffic4 study related to a multifamily affordable housing5 development?6 THE WITNESS: Most projects these days for7 multifamily include affordable elements.8 THE PUBLIC: So that's a yes?9 THE WITNESS: Yes.10 THE PUBLIC: Would you agree that affordable11 housing developments have a higher likelihood and12 incidence of the use of non auto alternative13 transportation, such as bus, pedestrian, bike or scooter14 than one without affordable housing?15 THE WITNESS: No.16 THE PUBLIC: Do you know how many projected17 affordable housing units are in this development?18 THE WITNESS: I haven't specifically looked19 at that.20 THE PUBLIC: Do you know what the minimum21 income level is in the Essex County area, according to22 the state for affordable housing?23 THE WITNESS: It's not --24 THE PUBLIC: Minimum income.25 126 THE WITNESS: It's not my expertise.1 THE PUBLIC: Would you normally take into2 account tenant use of hired cars, such as Uber or jitney3 service, as was mentioned earlier in the hearing?4 THE WITNESS: That is a typical part of5 todays traffic flow. It's incorporated in the traffic6 generation of facilities. It's baked in the numbers.7 THE PUBLIC: You say on Page 5, Item 10,8 that you reviewed the site plan for parking and on-site9 circulation, is that correct?10 THE WITNESS: I indicated that I did review11 the site plan, yes.12 THE PUBLIC: I just want to try to clarify13 because this has been talked about several times during14 the application hearing process.15 Are there any sidewalks or bike lanes16 planned for the development relative to the planned17 extension of Warner Road?18 THE WITNESS: From the property line into19 the site there is a sidewalk that extends along one side20 of Warner Road, yes.21 THE PUBLIC: Is there a continuous sidewalk22 between the extension of Warner Road and Building D?23 THE WITNESS: Yes, there is a sidewalk that24 extends up to Building D along Road D, yes.25 127 THE PUBLIC: What are the pedestrian safety1 implications of having no sidewalks on Oval Road, are2 there potential implications of no posted speed limits3 as you pointed out in your report on Oval Road?4 THE WITNESS: No, the

pedestrian safety1 implications of having no sidewalks on Oval Road, are2 there potential implications of no posted speed limits3 as you pointed out in your report on Oval Road?4 THE WITNESS: No, the de facto, quite frankly5 the state law in a residential neighborhood is 25 miles6 per hour, drivers should know that as part of their7 licensing. The existing roads don't have sidewalks and8 it's not part of our development and application to9 install sidewalks. Those were existing conditions that10 exist not only on Oval Road and Warner Road but11 throughout the township quite frankly and the state.12 THE PUBLIC: For Oval Road as well are there13 any plans for bike lanes?14 THE WITNESS: Not by this applicant, no.15 THE PUBLIC: Would you expect a higher16 likelihood of pedestrian accidents on a long relatively17 straightaway road such as Oval Road rather than one with18 traffic calming aspects or frequent bends?19 THE WITNESS: I'm not sure I understand that20 question.21 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Do you have any data as22 to the speed, speed history on Oval Road?23 THE WITNESS: No.24 THE PUBLIC: Did you analyze or estimate or25 128 project the impact of more frequent public and1 commercial passenger bus service or jitney service at2 Oval and Eagle Rock Avenue?3 THE WITNESS: No.4 THE PUBLIC: Appendix B of you report,5 traffic counts from May 14, 2024. On Page 33, 346 there's a data base of turning movement data for buses7 that includes Oval Road. What does a turning movement8 data search measure?9 THE WITNESS: Basically the turning movements10 at an intersection. So you have left turns, thru-lanes,11 right turns. So the traffic counts look to quantify the12 volumes making turns through an intersection.13 THE PUBLIC: Okay.14 This is the one that includes Oval Road.15 The measurements for the full day show that there are 7616 buses turning, making these turning -- excuse me.17 Turning movements at Oval Road and both sections -- both18 directions of Eagle Rock Avenue. Would you expect those19 numbers to increase over time to serve the affordable20 housing tenants over and above the statistical use of21 buses or the measurement of bus turns that you did in22 your data page?23 THE WITNESS: Yeah, I'm not absolutely sure24 that that's a correct interpretation of the data, but25