October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 5 to 8 of 203 2 of 80 sheets 5 degree in biology from Montclair State. I don't say1 college or university because it's to confusing and2 don't want to admit my age. I have a masters degree3 from Montclair State as well in environmental studies.4 I have a teaching certification of science K through 125 from Montclair State, which is a lifetime certification6 because of the time it was received. I have taught at7 New Jersey School of Conservation where I received my8 masters degree. I have concentrations in study on9 environmental science, biology, botany and orthology10 with a focus on the entire environment as part of the11 masters program.12 For the past almost four decades I have13 worked in the environmental field and currently work and14 have worked since 1995 running my own consulting firm,15 DeFeo Associates, which is an environmental consulting16 firm which focuses on sustainability, green building and17 environmental sustainability in terms of development.18 I am a LEED accredited professional as well19 with a concentration in building design, B, D and C it's20 called, Building, Design and Construction. That means21 that that concentration focuses on new construction in22 different areas. As part of a LEED accredited23 professional, excuse me, I will have worked on projects24 where we work on virgin sites and also sites that are25 6 existing with renovations to buildings from a1 sustainability standpoint. I have worked on buildings2 with regard to wellness and I have worked on landscape3 designs and currently most recently volunteered or was4 volunteered, I'm not certain which, working on the5 development of a rain garden for one of our local6 schools.7 I also serve as chairman of my environmental8 commission in my town and I have also served as vice9 chairman of the Interstate Environmental Commission from10 1992 to what, I can't remember what year, which is a11 tri-state environmental commission authorized by12 congress with jurisdiction in New York, New Jersey and13 Connecticut.14 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Are your licenses current15 in the State of New Jersey at this time?16 THE WITNESS: I am not per se licensed, but17 my LEED accreditation is, yes.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Are you familiar with this19 site and the application?20 THE WITNESS: I am.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And have you visited the22 site yourself?23 THE WITNESS: I visited

reditation is, yes.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Are you familiar with this19 site and the application?20 THE WITNESS: I am.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And have you visited the22 site yourself?23 THE WITNESS: I visited the site on numerous24 occasions since prior to the settlement agreement being25 7 signed to most recently in 2024.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. Great.2 Mr. Plocker, after Mr. DeFeo presents would3 you like to question him about his report?4 MR. PLOCKER: I guess it all depends on what5 he has to say.6 I guess, just for the record, Bryan Plocker7 on behalf of the applicant.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Afran.9 MR. AFRAN: Good evening.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Would you or Mr. Afran11 want to ask about his credentials?12 MR. AFRAN: Well, I was going to raise that13 issue. Often boards do this and then later the cross14 can raise that. So I'm happy to do it that way if15 that's the boards pleasure.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's fine.17 MR. AFRAN: So after their cross we'll raise18 our questions.19 Good evening, Mr. DeFeo.20 THE WITNESS: Good evening. How are you?21 MR. AFRAN: I wanted to say, I want to22 apologize for being late if I delayed the beard.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I was late too.24 Mr. DeFeo, you have the floor.25 8 THE WITNESS: When you're ready.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Yes, sir. You have the2 floor, sir.3 Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the4 A. audience, I'd like to present to you tonights overview5 of the site and the environmental conditions related to6 the trees in particular, which of course is concern of7 this group.8 What I have done in this presentation are a9 couple of things. First, I have done a historical10 satellite survey of the site and you can see here this11 site in 2002, roughly in the same area, this is the12 forest in question. Even down to the fact that there is13 this remaining site of soil. The site here is West14 Essex Highlands. Just as a point of knowledge, this15 would have been contiguous as forest to this forest at16 one time in history.17 You can see as I go through these sides in 200918 of course a winter slide and then in 2016 of course the19 difference in color is just seasonal. Be aware of that,20 it's a seasonal change.21 And now we have in 2019 a more detailed slide,22 but to go back and quickly note that over these slides23 you will see very little difference in the overall24 canopy of the forest. Now, that's because the forest25