November 13, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

73 1 A That’s the answer I can give you. 2 Q You mentioned that if trees were replaced, 3 they’d be eaten by the deer and we wouldn’t get 4 anything out of it anyway. That’s the summary of what 5 you said, right? 6 A Not exactly. But I said if trees were simply 7 replaced with trees which, of course, would be small 8 trees, relatively speaking, that there’s a good chance 9 that those trees might not survive. With deer fencing, 10 a natural receding of the forest and the natural growth 11 of seedlings have a much higher probability of 12 survival. 13 Q You said that in the area of disturbance 14 there are going to be native plants planted by the 15 developer, correct? 16 A The developer is limited to using native plants in 17 the area of disturbance -- in their landscaping plan, 18 let me be more specific. 19 Q And you said well that will help, 20 potentially, re-seed areas with native plants? 21 A Correct. 22 Q Now, deer eat native plants, right? 23 A Yes. 24 Q So, the developer is going to put these 25 native plants in the landscaping plan in the unfenced 74 1 area where the deer will congregate, won’t the deer eat 2 those native plants? 3 A Well, first you’re making several presumptions. 4 One, that the deer are immediately going to congregate 5 just in the paved areas of the property, which is 6 unlikely. They will certainly come there -- 7 Q Don’t deer walk down sidewalks, streets, all 8 over town? 9 A They do. They walk up my driveway. They will 10 walk around -- 11 Q Okay. So why do you think they won’t go to 12 plants in the paved areas? 13 A You did not listen to my answer, but I’ll try 14 again. What I am saying is, the deer can, in fact, go 15 to the landscaped area. There are precautions that the 16 developer can take with the trees that they plant in 17 that area because they are limited in number. There 18 are a number of protective measures they could take for 19 those young trees. 20 For the other plantings -- shrubs, et cetera, 21 and flowering plants, as I testified to on several 22 occasions, they can use a deer repellent system and 23 that repellent system can be applied on a regular 24 schedule if they so choose. It really is their call. 25 I can’t say what they would do, but if I was 75 1 investing that kind of money in plantings, I might 2 consider investing in a monthly repellent system which 3 will significantly reduce deer browse. It

can’t say what they would do, but if I was 75 1 investing that kind of money in plantings, I might 2 consider investing in a monthly repellent system which 3 will significantly reduce deer browse. It does not 4 eliminate it, but it can significantly reduce it. 5 They could also use small and limited fencing 6 criteria around areas. If they have congregated 7 shrubs, they could put a mild -- I call it deer fencing 8 light -- but basically small fencing which you’ve 9 probably all seen around plants in certain areas. Any 10 combination of their actions would help to reduce the 11 damage to their horticultural plantings. 12 Q Is there presently a landscape plan that 13 you’ve seen that contains the repellent measures? 14 A The landscape plan would not include something 15 like that. 16 Q Are you aware of any deer repellent measures 17 the developers yet committed to? 18 A Again, nothing in the plan would reference that, 19 that I am simply answering your question is can 20 plantings be protected and the answer is yes, they can 21 be, but it is not part of the application. 22 Q Thank you. That answers my question 23 actually. Thank you. Now, it’s fair to say that you 24 proposed the deer fencing plan, correct? 25 A No. 76 1 Q Who proposed the deer fencing plan? 2 A I proposed the concept of deer fencing. The plan 3 was ultimately developed by the planner. 4 Q But the idea of the deer fence as a measure, 5 a remedial measure for lack of a better word, came from 6 you, initially, is that right? 7 A I think the concept -- yes, I can safely say the 8 concept was mine, yes. 9 Q Okay. Now, let me ask you a question. 10 Looking at the site as it is today, not the developed 11 site that appears in SP-11 on the screen, what 12 proportion of this 120 acre forest is core for interior 13 forest versus edge? 14 A I’ve not done that calculation. I can’t answer 15 that. 16 Q Thank you. What is the effect of creating an 17 edge in the interior of a forest on the health of the 18 forest? 19 A I’m not quite sure what you’re asking. Could you 20 clarify? If you’re asking what is an edge zone -- is 21 that what you’re asking me? 22 Q Well, why don’t you start off by saying what 23 you understand in the question, what is an edge zone? 24 A If you’re asking me what an edge zone is, an edge 25 zone is the border between a forested area and an un-