November 13, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

117 1 A Yeah, that’s it isn’t it? 2 Q SP-11 -- 3 A That’s it. 4 Q Now, I’m just going to just illustrate the 5 area. 6 A Sure. 7 Q Now, is there a survey of the different 8 species that were lost due to the 27 acre clear cut 9 that will comprise the area of disturbance? 10 A We did not do an analysis by number of each 11 species of tree. We did identify many of the species 12 that were present, but not by saying there were 57 13 white oak and 32 of this or the other thing in the 14 study area. What we did do is, we surveyed the area 15 and identified the fundamental number of trees that 16 were in the -- I’m sorry the fundamental types and 17 species of trees that are there to verify that this was 18 a mixed part of the forest. 19 Q Did you do any analysis as to the diameter of 20 specific species present in the area of disturbance? 21 A No. We didn’t look at a specific area and say 22 this white oak is 16 inches or four inches or something 23 of that note. 24 Q We don’t see a calculation of white oaks, 24 25 inches and higher, white oaks 12 inches to 24 inches or 118 1 anything like that? 2 A Correct. That wasn’t part of the parameters of 3 the study. 4 Q Now, who set the parameters? 5 A We set the parameters to calculate tree density, 6 so I set those parameters. Identified the general 7 species in the area and confirmed the type of forest. 8 Our concern was density and numbers of trees that would 9 be lost. That’s what we focused on. 10 Q Okay, thank you. Now, the undisturbed area 11 on this site that will not be fenced in relative to the 12 surrounding area or the new buildings that will be 13 built, is that correct? 14 A The undisturbed area will be comprised of two 15 sections. The undisturbed -- the deer fence area is 16 undisturbed area. So, there are two areas of 17 undisturbed property, one is deer fence here, here, 18 approximately 33 acres and the remaining undisturbed 19 area which is in green on this map, is just as it is 20 today. It will be undisturbed and not taken out or cut 21 down. 22 Q And when we say undisturbed you mean it will 23 undisturbed by means of construction or engineering 24 works? 25 A That’s correct. 119 1 Q Now, I appreciate the clarification, I was 2 referring to the undisturbed area not to the sides 3 where the fencing will be but, to the undisturbed area 4 that’s surrounding the area of disturbance. Now, that 5 area

te the clarification, I was 2 referring to the undisturbed area not to the sides 3 where the fencing will be but, to the undisturbed area 4 that’s surrounding the area of disturbance. Now, that 5 area will not be fenced in for deer protection, is that 6 correct? 7 A That’s correct. 8 Q So, since deer are prevalent in the area and 9 will be attracted to the woods, you will be typically 10 concentrating the deer presence on the unfenced 11 undisturbed area, isn’t that fair to say? 12 A Well, it’s presuming that the deer don’t move, 13 they will have less land to move within than they did 14 before because of the deer fencing, so I can’t say 15 they’re going to be concentrated it’s not as if they 16 live here exclusively, but when they come into this 17 area, they’ll have an area they can walk through. 18 Q Well -- 19 A When you say concentration you want to be clear 20 and say this is -- it’s not like this whole area is 21 fenced, let me put it to you that way, if this entire 22 property were simply fenced in, they put fencing and we 23 left the deer in here, then clearly they would be 24 confined and their population concentration would 25 increase, but we’re not doing that, they’ll be free to 120 1 leave the property. 2 Q We live in a free society, we don’t tell our 3 deer where they go. My question simply is, is by 4 fencing in the wooded area to the right and left of SP- 5 11, we will be allowing the deer to concentrate to the 6 extent they’re on this property, to the unfenced area, 7 isn’t that correct? 8 A They will be more confined in their movement, that 9 is correct. 10 Q And, therefore, they will be able to have a 11 greater browsing impact on that forest than they do 12 today, isn’t that correct? 13 A Well, we’ve had this conversation I think from the 14 residents asking the same question and the simple, the 15 answer is, certainly the deer will have less room to 16 browse in this area and they could have a negative 17 impact as we talked about part of the goal of having 18 the deer fencing plus the planting of native plants in 19 the disturbed area, is to begin to get a higher 20 concentration of feeding in these areas with the 21 hopeful growth of greater plant numbers here because 22 we’ll have so much more coming from this area, the 23 undisturbed area, will have so much more 24 transplantation if you will, of the feeding and the 25 plant

of greater plant numbers here because 22 we’ll have so much more coming from this area, the 23 undisturbed area, will have so much more 24 transplantation if you will, of the feeding and the 25 plant movement than we did before.