September 11, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

35 of 71 sheets Page 137 to 140 of 180 09/27/2024 06:14:01 AM 137 those as well?1 THE WITNESS: It's part of our resolution2 compliance with the engineer that we meet their3 requirements. So it's a, it's a post approval process4 we need to go through with the board professionals.5 THE PUBLIC: Okay.6 So you just talked a little bit, maybe I7 caught the end of it, about buses not changing at that8 Eagle Rock. The 496 units being built with two and9 three bedrooms, I don't know what the number of children10 that are going to be involved or in those units to begin11 with. That will increase the number of school buses12 that come into that, onto Oval Road and into the13 Highlands and all.14 THE WITNESS: It may or may not. The bus15 routes are established and viewed by the school system16 based upon the demographics and where things are17 located. The existing service to this area may just be18 expanded up into, up into the new community. But,19 again, that is a function of the school system. They20 establish that themselves.21 THE PUBLIC: Absolutely fair. But in, when22 you're looking at traffic patterns school buses are23 going to increase in that area. Based on --24 THE WITNESS: Maybe, maybe not. Depends25 138 upon how they run the routes and service they're already1 providing to our neighbors. So buses are already2 traveling into this area. They may just change how they3 service other areas so that there's capacity on the4 buses that travel into this area. But, again, if they5 had to add a bus or two, that's not going to change the6 result of the traffic analysis. That level of traffic7 is not a changer.8 THE PUBLIC: Yes. It's not a bus or two9 because we have multiple school systems bringing in10 buses. It's not just the West Orange school system. We11 have private schools that are coming in, we have a lot12 of Jewish schools that are bringing in students as well.13 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am. Ma'am, you're14 testifying. Ask your question, please.15 THE PUBLIC: Sorry. I'll stop.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.17 THE PUBLIC: Seth, S-E-T-H. Weisleder,18 W-E-I-S-L-E-D-E-R.19 I guess a question is on Howell Drive, that20 access road will be gated and I guess the news is it's21 going to be asphalt, where I thought it might be one of22 those concrete blended in with grass or is the whole23 thing going to be asphalt or just the beginning of it or24 the whole

the news is it's21 going to be asphalt, where I thought it might be one of22 those concrete blended in with grass or is the whole23 thing going to be asphalt or just the beginning of it or24 the whole length of it?25 139 THE WITNESS: The whole length, 15 feet wide1 with, with controlled gates.2 THE PUBLIC: Right. So how is, if someone3 who likes to venture up onto Howell Drive know not to4 drive through that gate and how penetrable will that5 gate be?6 THE WITNESS: I don't know if we have an7 actual detail of the gate, but usually it's a chain or8 bollards, removable bollards. But usually they're9 penetrable and they need to be maintained by the10 property owner. So if they do get damage or removed for11 some reason property management will be there to replace12 them.13 THE PUBLIC: And I understand through the14 Settlement Agreement that there will be no construction15 trucks entering or exiting Howell Drive?16 THE WITNESS: That's correct. My17 understanding from reading the Settlement Agreement is18 all construction access is from Warner Drive and no19 construction staging off-site.20 THE PUBLIC: And will the applicant be21 making improvements to Howell Drive in that area for22 emergency vehicles and usage of that area since you also23 own the other property surrounding it?24 THE WITNESS: Not to Howell Drive, just the25 140 connection itself. Howell Drive and the connecting1 roads are all established residential roadways. They're2 all 30 feet wide and they're all set to accommodate the3 types of vehicles that service residential communities,4 including emergency vehicles. There's no reason to5 change them.6 THE PUBLIC: Okay.7 Kind of a question that sitting through8 these hearings that I heard was the turnaround and I9 didn't hear any follow-up from anyone, maybe it's been10 resolved. But I'm not an engineer or a traffic person,11 but the turnaround for the fire trucks, has that been12 resolved and have you been able to speak with our fire13 department if those are met on this plan that was shown14 on the ovals?15 THE WITNESS: Mr. Anderson testified to that16 and I believe that they are in the process of17 coordinating with the fire official on his input.18 THE PUBLIC: A lot of the testimony was19 traffic can speak to that and then it was the engineer20 can speak to it and then traffic.21 THE WITNESS: Mr. Anderson specifically22 addressed it and showed how

E PUBLIC: A lot of the testimony was19 traffic can speak to that and then it was the engineer20 can speak to it and then traffic.21 THE WITNESS: Mr. Anderson specifically22 addressed it and showed how it works.23 THE PUBLIC: And with that, I know we are24 concerned about emergency vehicles, but what about25