October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

35 of 80 sheets Page 137 to 140 of 203 11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM 137 the 212, it comes across as generosity. You're being1 generous, statistically speaking, in terms of the number2 of trees per acre, right? But if you go back a slide to3 the one we were discussing.4 THE WITNESS: This one?5 THE PUBLIC: Yeah. My question is, because6 I'm also not a mathematician unfortunately and I don't7 know what the ordinance that was based off of the8 settlement what that formula says. But by using the9 212, does that somehow give you, because you're using a10 maximum, that net required replacement credit over the11 requirement by using a bigger numerator, let's say,12 doesn't that give you a bigger credit as well?13 THE WITNESS: Yes, I've stated that. Look,14 the bottom -- the way I had to figure that is, as I15 stated, just to show you on that slide. As I said, this16 is a worse case scenario, the 212, when we're talking17 about tree removal. Well, as a matter of equity I can't18 say it's 212 per acre for removal but I'm only going to19 credit you 50 when you're deer fenced, because my goal20 in the negotiated section was to say, I want more21 acreage of deer fencing, therefore when you negotiate22 this, the way I've done it, is to negotiate and say,23 we'll give you 212 for that area too, so you get credit24 for it. So you give me more acreage.25 138 THE PUBLIC: Right, but by getting that --1 THE WITNESS: Which they did, by the way.2 THE PUBLIC: -- the developer does get a3 bigger credit as well?4 THE WITNESS: Yes.5 THE PUBLIC: Okay.6 Last question for now, because I really have7 so much, but going back to the three-year that you were8 looking at where you're looked at the new undergrowth.9 THE WITNESS: Yup. This one?10 THE PUBLIC: Yeah. Where you said those11 trees enhance the undergrowth. When I look at that12 picture, I walk that forest, it's right behind --13 THE WITNESS: It's beautiful.14 THE PUBLIC: I take my dog back there and15 it's a pretty heavily canopied forest, wouldn't you say?16 THE WITNESS: Oh, it's absolutely a heavily17 canopied forest. Mature canopy forest. No argument.18 THE PUBLIC: Okay.19 But when I look at that picture, it looks20 like it's open in the sunlight with not a lot of canopy21 cover.22 THE WITNESS: That's correct. That23 particular image, that's correct.24 THE PUBLIC: So my question is, is it really25 139 an apples to apples fair

n in the sunlight with not a lot of canopy21 cover.22 THE WITNESS: That's correct. That23 particular image, that's correct.24 THE PUBLIC: So my question is, is it really25 139 an apples to apples fair comparison about what will1 happen when we're talking about a heavily canopied2 forest versus an open air --3 THE WITNESS: Here's a heavily canopied4 forest. Here's a heavily canopied forest. So these are5 all deer fenced and show you that within -- that's about6 nine years to give context.7 THE PUBLIC: So deer fence there might -- my8 question is --9 THE WITNESS: Look here, this is a heavily10 canopied forest.11 THE PUBLIC: And those trees are new or the12 undergrowth is new?13 THE WITNESS: All of this, this is not.14 This is nine years, you have vines in here, you have15 young seedlings. This would have been here already,16 this would be typical of, by the way, the property, this17 is not that property obviously.18 THE PUBLIC: I see it slopes down.19 THE WITNESS: Yeah, this is a different20 thing, but you can see that within nine years I have21 young trees growing in there. Now, what will drive22 that, which goes to your question and it's a good23 question by the way. You did well in Botany 101.24 THE PUBLIC: I liked that class.25 140 THE WITNESS: The area here, I will get much1 more rapid undergrowth because I have more sun. That's2 your point, if I get you correctly. However, it doesn't3 matter whether I have a mature forest or not because I4 still get sunlight and trees are rather amazing in how5 they can come up with the right amount of light, so to6 speak. Those that survive will grow in that tall7 canopied forest. It's not that dark in there. Even8 though it's a mature canopy, it's fairly bright, which9 means there's enough light for these trees to grow.10 That's a very good observation on your point and you can11 see that even in this one. This is just a field that's12 now been deer fenced. But you can see here and I show13 you this only because, yes, is it an open field, you're14 correct.15 THE PUBLIC: Does that matter to your three16 to five-year estimate? In other words --17 THE WITNESS: Yes.18 THE PUBLIC: -- with a canopied forest --19 THE WITNESS: You won't see this in three20 years, that's not what I'm trying to tell you. What I'm21 trying to say is in three years or so, this is one year22 -- sorry, let me go forward. I'm going to blow

ITNESS: You won't see this in three20 years, that's not what I'm trying to tell you. What I'm21 trying to say is in three years or so, this is one year22 -- sorry, let me go forward. I'm going to blow this23 machine up again, that's my problem. This is one year24 of deer fencing in an open field. Before that there25