September 11, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

09/27/2024 06:14:01 AM Page 149 to 152 of 180 38 of 71 sheets 149 application. In the Settlement Agreement there is an1 agreement to work with the homeowners association to2 implement a gatehouse and/or other traffic calming3 features. I don't know that there's a firm commitment4 to that, but that is what has been expressed in the5 Settlement Agreement. But that remains to be a6 cooperative working resolution between the owner and the7 homeowners association.8 THE PUBLIC: I thought I heard tonight a9 mention of it not being on Oval Road but it being on10 Warner Road?11 THE WITNESS: I was, I was --12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Plocker.13 MR. PLOCKER: I can address it. The14 discussion, the informal discussion pursuant to the15 Settlement Agreement between the applicant and the16 homeowners association of the Highlands is that the17 gatehouse would go on Warner Road not Oval Road. And to18 the extent that an approval would be needed after this19 job would be built and those improvements would be made,20 we obviously, if required, we would come to the board or21 go through the proper permitting process with the22 Township of West Orange.23 THE PUBLIC: And just where was it supposed24 to be on Warner Road?25 150 THE WITNESS: I don't think that's been1 determined yet.2 THE PUBLIC: But, okay. I'm just trying to3 understand if it's down near Oval Road or if it's up4 near this new proposed development?5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: They said it's under6 discussion with West Essex Highlands.7 THE PUBLIC: Okay. So, all right. So if8 it's a gatehouse for this new development then it would9 be, I'm assuming it would be up --10 THE WITNESS: It's not for this development.11 THE PUBLIC: It's not for this development.12 THE WITNESS: And it's not associated and/or13 needed for this development. It's a request by the West14 -- The Highlands at West Highlands Essex.15 THE PUBLIC: All right. The reason I'm16 asking the question, I don't know if the map depicts17 Oval and Warner, I can't make that out.18 THE WITNESS: It doesn't.19 THE PUBLIC: Okay. So I'm looking at a map20 of Oval and Warner and I went there today just to see21 and the idea of a gatehouse at Warner and Oval22 disregard, I think it's Bongart, Bongard Drive.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, listen to me a24 second. It's not part of this application that's being25 151 presented now. It's an agreement for a future facility1 based on a

it's Bongart, Bongard Drive.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, listen to me a24 second. It's not part of this application that's being25 151 presented now. It's an agreement for a future facility1 based on a Settlement Agreement that the two2 organizations will have to discuss and come back to the3 planning board with concept plans.4 THE PUBLIC: So should I limit my inquiry5 and not ask about something that was raised earlier?6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You can ask, but he didn't7 testify to it.8 THE PUBLIC: Okay. All right.9 So what is the reason for a traffic signal10 at Eagle Rock?11 THE WITNESS: To improve the operation of12 the intersection and the safety of the intersection as13 it exists today. You have the unsignalized14 intersection, there are delays on the stop sign15 approach. There's sight line concerns looking right.16 Making left's are difficult turning out and the signal17 obviates all that.18 THE PUBLIC: In a word, safety?19 THE WITNESS: Safety.20 THE PUBLIC: And is it because you'll be21 increasing the vehicular traffic at that location by at22 least double?23 THE WITNESS: Well, it's, you know, as was24 discussed earlier, it's been requested from the county25 152 in the past to deal with a signal at that location as1 the existing. So it's to deal with the existing traffic2 and, yes, certainly it's to address the additional3 traffic. So it's a combination of both.4 THE PUBLIC: Okay.5 And is my, I don't want to make the6 assumption. What is your assumptions by way of how much7 more traffic will travel on Oval and Warner Road to get8 to that development?9 THE WITNESS: As I testified to earlier, the10 morning hour we would expect about a 100 -- call it 16011 vehicles leaving this development traveling down to12 Eagle Rock Avenue. In the evening you're roughly13 looking at, call it 120 arriving back in and just under14 100 leaving. So two-way traffic.15 THE PUBLIC: And how does that change the --16 presently in that development, approximately how many17 vehicles travel?18 THE WITNESS: I can give you that data also.19 So coming in from Eagle Rock you have about 111 vehicles20 coming out in the morning, about 65 coming in the21 morning. In the evening about 109 coming in and about22 101 coming out associated with the 370 units, The23 Chateau and actually the paddle facility.24 THE PUBLIC: So it more than doubles?25