October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

21 of 80 sheets Page 81 to 84 of 203 11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM 81 be done in those areas. They're not wetlands so they1 can be disturbed. And let me be clear, when I say2 disturbed, I mean take out the invasives.3 MR. HESS: No, I understand.4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you, Mr. Hess.5 Mr. Haizel, you have a question for Mr.6 DeFeo on his testimony?7 MR. HAIZEL: Yeah, quick question.8 I thought it was actually very fascinating9 as well because I'm not familiar with any type of10 development done in this manner. So I did some11 research, but question. Looking at the slides that you12 have at the start of the session, the slide show showing13 no variation in the vegetation, is that normal for a14 terrain that is, you know, you have a wetland area, you15 have a fairly inclined area, is that normal that it16 would be that consistent across?17 THE WITNESS: You're talking about the line18 of sight being so clear?19 MR. HAIZEL: Not just the line of sight, but20 just looking at the canopy and things of that sort. I21 would suspect there's going to be, in the wetland area22 for instance, there may be greater density there, even23 by the standards of little density that it would be24 relatively greater density in the wetland area maybe25 82 more or less of a --1 THE WITNESS: It's a very good question. The2 answer is, no, I would have expected a higher density in3 the wetlands but unfortunately the higher density in the4 wetlands would be observed with barberry. It's an5 extraordinarily aggressive plant. Obviously very6 successful but not in the means that I would like to7 see. But we did see higher density but nothing of the8 native variety that we wanted.9 MR. HAIZEL: So I think one of the10 commissioners did ask before, is there anything else11 impacting the commission of the forest? Would it be12 then that the deer are a major contributor but that this13 invasive vegetation is also having a significant impact?14 THE WITNESS: Yes. The invasive plants15 normally have an impact. But number one, since there16 isn't a high density of native plants because the deer17 are eating those, the invasive plants are left, the deer18 don't go there. You won't find deer resting and19 sleeping in barberry, it's not very comfortable and so20 they leave it alone. The barberry simply reproduces.21 The birds will eat those seeds and spread them further22 and barberry will also spread itself by

in barberry, it's not very comfortable and so20 they leave it alone. The barberry simply reproduces.21 The birds will eat those seeds and spread them further22 and barberry will also spread itself by seed drop and it23 just, since nothing eats it, it continues on its24 spreading. The same is true of Japanese stiltgrass,25 83 where we saw open areas where trees have come down,1 going back to Ms. Kapferer's question, where I had open2 areas was mostly Japanese stiltgrass. Now, that will3 die, it's an annual, but it will come back by seed.4 But, again, deer don't eat it. I keep trying to train5 the ones in my yard to eat it, but they don't listen.6 MR. HAIZEL: And just out of curiosity, this7 may be beyond your scope, but this process by which this8 is done in terms of cording off an area and fencing it9 and as far as you know is this considered humane in10 terms of the --11 THE WITNESS: It's -- yes, in my opinion it12 is because we're not killing the deer. We're not13 harming the deer. We're simply driving them out of a14 given site. Now, I -- question of hunting and not15 hunting is a whole separate question. But as I've said16 in other areas, for example Duke Farms is the largest17 area deer control that I've seen lately, they hunt it.18 And I don't mean that they brought in sport hunters,19 these were, similar to what you have in South Mountain20 and other deer control areas, these are marksmen.21 They're not there hunting for sport, they're baiting and22 killing deer quickly. You can say that's inhumane, I'm23 not going to make that argument one way or the other.24 That's the single most effective way to reduce deer25 84 population. Again, basic math. Is the deer fencing1 humane, we're not hurting the deer. We're not doing2 anything. They're going to be scared that one day when3 they're driven out, but deer aren't really, I mean, I've4 walked through there a few times, the deer were looking5 at me, they weren't really afraid of me. They just kind6 of looked at me and I looked at them.7 MR. HAIZEL: Thank you.8 No more questions.9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Plocker.10 MR. PLOCKER: Very briefly.11 Thank you, Mr. DeFeo, I just wanted to12 confirm for the record that the IH-1 zoning ordinance13 which applies to this application, there is a section14 called, Tree Removal and Replacement. Are you familiar15 with that?16 THE WITNESS: I didn't read the

the record that the IH-1 zoning ordinance13 which applies to this application, there is a section14 called, Tree Removal and Replacement. Are you familiar15 with that?16 THE WITNESS: I didn't read the ordinance17 lately.18 MR. PLOCKER: Lately. But is it fair to say19 that the calculations that you discussed and the 21220 trees per acre are contained in the ordinance?21 THE WITNESS: Yes, because that's part of22 the way -- was part of what I negotiated for settlement.23 MR. PLOCKER: Okay.24 And does the application, based upon your25