October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 21 to 24 of 203 6 of 80 sheets 21 growth into the forest. As I said to you, one of the1 sad parts of this forest is it's filled with invasive2 species, mostly from the backyards of neighboring3 properties, because they're planted there. It's4 nobody's fault, we allowed them to be planted in New5 Jersey, it is what it is. This growth will encourage6 two things. One, it encourages, as I said, the growth7 of new plants and absorption of water.8 And two, the new plant's over time in9 studies that have been done throughout the country can10 start to crowd out invasive plants. One of the beauties11 of native plants is given time and given the right12 conditions they can compete against invasives. It's13 good news going forward. That means we will preserve14 more land, we will preserve a number of trees, most15 importantly we will be reseeding by nature and allowing16 the trees that are still left in that forest after the17 beech and ash die out, which we know will happen, for18 new trees to come in. Which will be predominately old19 maple, but will be others as well.20 We will have native shrubs and native21 flowers able to grow in that area which are having a22 hard time today.23 The applicants design reduces the footprint,24 this was also part of the negotiation. How much more25 22 can you put under a building applicant, to save more1 forest. The applicant agreed to 100 percent native2 plants. We might choose to substitute indigenous, but3 nonnative. To give an example on that would be, if you4 want a particular type of evergreen that's been5 hybridized on the west coast of the species and you want6 that on this site, they wouldn't get credit for it per7 se, but it's not invasive. And the most important thing8 in landscape design today is to avoid invasive plants.9 If you've ever been to the High Line in New York, as an10 example, there are plants from elsewhere of the United11 States or from Europe but they're not invasive. So that12 can be done in a way that maximizes beauty, but doesn't13 hurt the environment.14 It can and includes passive recreation. 7715 percent of the property will be preserved. The passive16 recreation -- there are already trails in that property.17 They weren't cut by anybody, they were done by use of18 people over the years. And we also, of course in the19 settlement, as you have seen in the

ation -- there are already trails in that property.17 They weren't cut by anybody, they were done by use of18 people over the years. And we also, of course in the19 settlement, as you have seen in the applicants20 presentation, they include permeable parking areas to21 reduce runoff.22 So Chairman, that is the end of my23 presentation.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.25 23 Start off with the board, any members of the1 board have any questions for Mr. Defeo. We're going to2 start off with Mayor McCartney.3 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Mr. DeFeo, the slides are4 not numbered.5 THE WITNESS: I apologize.6 MAYOR McCARTNEY: But in one of the slides7 that you showed show the deer fencing on steep slope on8 the left-hand side. If you can go back to that.9 THE WITNESS: I'm trying. You're talking10 about the map, correct?11 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Correct.12 THE WITNESS: Okay.13 MAYOR McCARTNEY: That was it.14 THE WITNESS: That one or the next one?15 MAYOR McCARTNEY: There's another one.16 MS. MCGOVERN: Was it SP-11?17 THE WITNESS: I'm trying to get there, it's18 not listening to me. There you go. Sorry.19 Yes, ma'am.20 MAYOR McCARTNEY: So the question is, the 2521 acre steep slope on the right, but on the left where it22 shows the deer fencing there, will that be moved? I23 mean, it's just in that one space but it seems to me24 that that could even come in?25 24 THE WITNESS: You're talking about here?1 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Further. Yes.2 THE WITNESS: Yeah. The problem with coming3 in further I'm in wetlands and the stream corridor and4 it's going to be difficult to get permission to come5 into that area. You don't want it going into the6 wetland area. Just like even to go in here if I wanted7 to remove or wanted the applicant to remove the invasive8 barberry they would have to get a permit from the DEP to9 go in there to remove the invasive plantings. So we10 kept the deer fencing to avoid impacting the wetlands at11 all and that's why we didn't come in further.12 MAYOR McCARTNEY: And with the DEP there are13 setbacks also the DEP requires to stay as far away as14 you could?15 THE WITNESS: They want us to stay away from16 the wetlands. They would always want a developer to do17 that. Now, technically because those posts are not set18 in concrete, the way -- the wetland rules are kind of19 weird, they'll just be wooden posts in the ground. In20 theory they could be where they are, which is

hnically because those posts are not set18 in concrete, the way -- the wetland rules are kind of19 weird, they'll just be wooden posts in the ground. In20 theory they could be where they are, which is very close21 to the wetland, but the Department still has very big22 problems with you digging holes in wetlands. So really23 this is about as far out as it could go.24 MAYOR McCARTNEY: And on the other side you25