October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 133 to 136 of 203 34 of 80 sheets 133 We will certainly, when I review their plans, I will1 make emphasis to those plants. You can't always find2 some of them but, you know, you do the best you can.3 THE PUBLIC: Okay.4 Can we move to the formula.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sir, last question please.6 We have other people that want to ask questions.7 THE PUBLIC: My question is, if we could go8 to another side.9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Excuse me.10 THE PUBLIC: My question was, can we go to11 another slide so I can ask a question.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sure, one more question.13 Go right a head, sir.14 THE WITNESS: This one?15 THE PUBLIC: No. Well, it's sort of this16 one.17 THE WITNESS: This one?18 THE PUBLIC: Yeah, yeah.19 THE WITNESS: Okay.20 THE PUBLIC: This one. I don't know, I'm21 not saying it was intentional but because of the number22 of questions that were asked about it by the planning23 board and my own sort of, it just came across as24 misleading, so for all those on zoom, I just want to25 134 make sure I'm getting this right. The net requirement1 replacement of 1498 over the requirement is not actually2 a replacement. No trees are actually -- like in other3 words, after all the discussion when I read this,4 basically what it's saying is 5803 are being removed,5 zero saved, I get the credit. That's from the next6 slide or something, right?7 THE WITNESS: Yeah.8 THE PUBLIC: But because of the credit it9 comes across, right, as if they're plant -- replacing10 1498 over when actually, just to make sure I'm clear,11 there's nothing being replanted here?12 THE WITNESS: No, that's not true. There are13 trees, there's 279 native trees being planted. So let14 me explain how the number comes about.15 THE PUBLIC: Real quick, but the 149816 replacement is not actually a replacement. The 279 I17 get, but that's not a replacement of replanting, it's a18 credit.19 THE WITNESS: Correct.20 THE PUBLIC: Okay.21 Can we go to the next slide because that22 talks to this slide. So this is what's actually being23 planted?24 THE WITNESS: This is as proposed. This is25 135 not final.1 THE PUBLIC: Okay. This is what is2 proposed?3 THE WITNESS: Yes.4 THE PUBLIC: So the 5803 removed, zero5 saved, 279 trees, right?6 THE WITNESS: Yes.7 THE PUBLIC: My question is, I see that8 there' a lot of shrubs and things like that, but the9 shrubs and the perennials and things,

the 5803 removed, zero5 saved, 279 trees, right?6 THE WITNESS: Yes.7 THE PUBLIC: My question is, I see that8 there' a lot of shrubs and things like that, but the9 shrubs and the perennials and things, those seedlings10 aren't going to create more trees. I don't know, I'm11 not a botanist, but those don't, eventually seeds drop12 in the ground and a tree grows. Seeds go in the ground13 and make another shrub or perennial grows, correct?14 THE WITNESS: You've explained it very well15 botanically. You're right on point.16 THE PUBLIC: Botany 101.17 So, I mean, really your losing about 550018 trees?19 THE WITNESS: All right. So let me -- I'll20 explain that and let me point out again. The tree loss21 at 5800 trees is maximum potential loss based on the22 tree survey. I can't tell you with 100 percent23 certainty there are exactly 5800 trees in the disturbed24 area. Nor do I know that there will be that many fully25 136 removed. That is a worse case estimate that I can come1 up with, there could be less. There could be more, a2 little, but not much, but probably less. The other side3 of that coin is, going to your point, you described it4 very well. If I plant a shrub I'm going to get shrubs.5 Shrubs don't turn into trees. But trees can turn into6 trees and most importantly in the deer fenced area I7 have large healthy trees and those large healthy trees8 are dropping seeds today, acorns, maple leave seeds,9 etc., etc., etc. The problem is the seedlings that do10 come up get eaten. So the trees will come from the11 trees that are already in the forest, including in the12 undisturbed area, those seeds with travel by animals, et13 al.14 THE PUBLIC: Unless the deer eat them.15 THE WITNESS: Well, deer will eat acorns.16 If you have a good year they eat lots of acorns, you17 have healthy deer. Squirrels will take those acorns and18 move them into the fenced areas. So --19 THE PUBLIC: I just really wanted to clearly20 understand --21 THE WITNESS: You absolutely explained it22 correctly.23 THE PUBLIC: -- the formula.24 Because the other thing, my question about25