October 30, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

11/06/2024 03:21:43 PM Page 29 to 32 of 203 8 of 80 sheets 29 woods.1 MR. KLEIN: But then the deer would able to2 get in there?3 THE WITNESS: The gate would have to be4 locked behind you. This is not uncommon. Normally when5 you want to use a deer fenced area we use what's called6 a double gate. You've been to a dog park. The same7 concept as a dog park. You lock the outer gate, then8 open the inner gate. Could people make mistakes, I9 can't -- I can't attest for human behavior, but it would10 be a management company issue or they could of course11 say, I'm going to lock it up and that's it. We just go12 in for maintenance. As part of the settlement agreement13 you should be aware this fencing must be maintained in14 perpetuity by the applicant. This is not municipal15 land. This is all going to be private property.16 MR. KLEIN: That's it for me.17 Thank you.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Counsel President19 Rutherford.20 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: Thank you,21 Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. DeFeo. I have a few22 questions.23 So in the report you mentioned something24 about the number of deer in the forest or something that25 30 you observed. Can you just refresh my recollection of1 what that number was?2 THE WITNESS: I said in the few times -- in3 the time I've been in that forest I have personally4 counted, although I did not do a deer population survey,5 but I did see more than ten deer during my observation,6 which does not mean there aren't more, it just means7 that when I was there that's what I saw.8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: So --9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ladies and Gentleman, we10 are trying to listen, please. Thank you very much.11 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: So that, you12 determined the number in the forest by just walking in13 the forest and observing the number that you saw?14 THE WITNESS: No, I did not make a15 determination. I stated that was my observation during16 my visits to that forest. That's different than making17 an actual statical survey. I did not do a deer18 population survey.19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: So we don't20 know how many deer are here?21 THE WITNESS: No.22 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: Okay.23 The deer fencing, you mentioned that it is,24 this is designed to encourage more area to be fenced in25 31 or you made some testimony about that. Can you refresh1 my recollection on that?2 THE WITNESS: Yes. The statement was

ntioned that it is,24 this is designed to encourage more area to be fenced in25 31 or you made some testimony about that. Can you refresh1 my recollection on that?2 THE WITNESS: Yes. The statement was during3 negotiations, the question was, how can I get, and work4 with the township to maximize preservation of the forest5 and encourage regrowth of that forest. Having seen its6 health status in this first time I went through it the7 best way, as I know to go to, to regenerate a forest is8 deer fencing. But as I stated, deer fencing on a linear9 footage basis is very expensive to install and it's10 often considered the last thing you want to put in11 because of cost. Not because it doesn't work, but12 because people don't want to spend the money, especially13 for this style deer fencing. This isn't like what you14 put in a backyard. Advice was to encourage the15 applicant to fence more area. The negotiations -- in16 the negotiations the recommendation was made and17 accepted to give more credit for more acreage of deer18 fencing.19 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: So the, do we20 have any data on the cost of the deer, to install this21 deer fencing versus the cost to replace or replant the22 trees?23 THE WITNESS: The cost of the deer fencing24 that I have calculated is about $20 per linear foot. I25 32 did not calculate the total linear footage on 33 acres,1 but the cost to replant the forest I will tell you most2 likely would be less on the initial planting depending3 on the saplings and seedlings you plant. However, you4 would be doing that every year and every year they would5 be eaten and destroyed, as they have been now. That's6 why there are no seedlings in the forest, or very7 little.8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: All right.9 Just a moment ago the Mayor asked a question10 about the net number of required trees to be replaced.11 It's one of your slides. Top of the slide says, Tree12 Preservation Restoration Plan.13 THE WITNESS: Yeah, this one.14 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: It says, net15 required replacement is 1498 trees over the requirement.16 THE WITNESS: Correct.17 COUNCIL PRESIDENT RUTHERFORD: I didn't18 understand that answer.19 THE WITNESS: The answer was, I don't have,20 it was based on your tree ordinance. I just don't have21 what the required calculation is based on that ordinance22 at the time of negotiation, which is how this came23 about. I

r was, I don't have,20 it was based on your tree ordinance. I just don't have21 what the required calculation is based on that ordinance22 at the time of negotiation, which is how this came23 about. I don't have that baseline in front of me, but24 that's what it is based on.25