October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

45 of 80 sheets Page 177 to 180 of 203 11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM 177 THE PUBLIC: I'm good. Thank you.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.2 Come on up.3 THE PUBLIC: Rachel Klein again. Howell4 Drive. I remember my question.5 In the settlement ordinance, in that6 document it mentions, it's Page 14, Paragraph 257 specifically talks about the deed restriction and8 there's a line in it, maybe I -- maybe I misunderstood9 it, it talks about to the benefit of the town. And so10 my question is, how, if this areas going to be deed11 restricted to the benefit of the town, how is fencing12 off from use benefit the town, unless there's another13 definition to that?14 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Plocker.15 MR. PLOCKER: The intent of the deed16 restriction is to alleviate anybody's concern that there17 could be future development on anything other than the18 maximum of the 30 acres that was contemplated by the19 settlement of the ordinance.20 THE PUBLIC: Yeah, it mentions that too.21 It's just the line about being, because there's a part22 about the benefit of the residents, trying to open the23 trails specifically in the western part and then it just24 mentioned that, you know, questioning why it would be in25 178 there if it's clearly not to the benefit of the town.1 And then my other question is, when you come2 back with the reports next time we meet, some of the3 pictures you took with the chair, that's like not4 officially an easement, but that's always been like a5 naked wide area going straight from Howell Drive6 straight to, like a fork in the road that leads off the7 Highlands. So it always looks pretty empty of trees, so8 if you have pictures of other areas, specifically the9 eastern part of the ridge line and other areas of the10 forest, that might help people understand what you mean11 by undergrowth.12 THE WITNESS: In answer to your question,13 that's just a representative photo, it wasn't meant to14 be a photo survey, but I can tell you that that is, in15 my opinion, what the whole forest looks like. Now, I16 did not do a photo survey of the entire property but17 that is what it looks like. But, yes, would more photos18 show the same thing, they would and in our walk-through19 finding on my secondary report of 2024 we state 80 to20 100 yards is the visibility throughout that forest. So21 it wouldn't change where I was in the forest22 necessarily. There might be small pockets

inding on my secondary report of 2024 we state 80 to20 100 yards is the visibility throughout that forest. So21 it wouldn't change where I was in the forest22 necessarily. There might be small pockets where the23 wetlands are -- sorry. Where the wetlands are, where24 there are a lot of barberry growing, I can't see through25 179 the barberry. But that doesn't indicate a healthy1 forest.2 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.4 Come up and state your name for the record,5 please.6 THE PUBLIC: Hi. How are you. Justin7 Goldsmith. I just want to say I'm not opining on this8 project in any way I just have questions for my9 edification.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead, sir.11 THE PUBLIC: So I keep hearing the word12 offset and I keep hearing the word about storm water and13 flooding, and I guess my first question is, how do we14 compare impacted zones to nonimpacted zones? Based on15 this project what would you define as something that's16 impacted versus not impacted by this project?17 THE WITNESS: I'm not sure I understand the18 question.19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Can you define the word?20 THE WITNESS: Yeah, what do you mean21 impacted?22 THE PUBLIC: Impacted?23 THE WITNESS: I know what impacted means but24 how does it relate to what I testified. I just don't25 180 understand.1 THE PUBLIC: I don't understand your2 question back to me. Okay. So --3 THE WITNESS: Describe -- can you give me4 more of a description.5 THE PUBLIC: Is there -- how do you define6 what zone areas have an environmental impact based on7 the construction of the development of this project?8 MS. MCGOVERN: Are you saying the word9 impact instead of the word disturbed and undisturbed10 area?11 THE PUBLIC: Sure. Oh, is there an12 environmentally disturbed area versus undisturbed area?13 THE WITNESS: Okay. Now I understand your14 question. Thank you. The area that is not shaded in15 either the ugly green as it's been called correctly or16 the dark green --17 THE PUBLIC: No, I asked how do you define,18 not what you define.19 MS. MCGOVERN: How do you define --20 THE WITNESS: Oh, disturbed would mean that21 this areas going to have tree removal, it's going to22 have construction activity, buildings, roads, utilities,23 et cetera.24 THE PUBLIC: Okay. How would you --25