November 13, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

141 1 A I know that’s what it says in the report, but I 2 can’t answer as to the sequence of the way things 3 occur, we don’t know. 4 Q Well, wouldn’t that occur only after the plan 5 is approved if it’s a condition of approval? 6 A I don’t -- I’d be guessing, I don’t know, you’d 7 have to ask counsel or someone else, I’m not familiar 8 with the procedural sequence that they would follow. 9 Q So, no survey of specimen trees in terms of 10 the area of disturbance has been done as of yet, is 11 that correct? 12 A Correct. My recommendation is that we do one. 13 Q All right. Now, if the specimen trees are 14 identified where the buildings are or where the roads 15 are going to be or the detention basin or other 16 structures, you’ll have a conflict between your goal of 17 preserving them and the plan which would allow them to 18 be destroyed, is that -- how will you then build this 19 project if the specimen trees are going to be in the 20 middle of building deeper. 21 A Specimen tree, a specimen tree or a creative 22 interest in note of size is found where there’s a 23 building, that tree is not going to be considered for 24 preservation. The goal is try to find those trees that 25 might be within the area of disturbance, that might be 142 1 in such an -- in an area in such a way that he could 2 preserve them. For example, and I don’t have an exact 3 tree here, just bear that in mind with me. So, could 4 you zoom in on that for just a moment for me please? 5 UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I’m sorry, I was 6 dozing. 7 THE WITNESS: I have that affect on people, 8 I’m sorry. Sorry. It’s that time of night. So, just 9 by illustration, okay, if you have an area where it’s 10 going to be unmade, but still theoretically in the area 11 of disturbance, let’s say right here just for argument 12 sake. Let’s just say hypothetically we, with our GIS 13 plotting and everything else, say hey, we’ve got a 36 14 inch white oak sitting here, that would be a point of 15 negotiation with the builder, saying we’ve got this 16 really nice specimen tree, we got it marked and tagged, 17 can we work around it and fence around it? Some of 18 that tree would live, hard to say, you never know, but 19 if the builder is willing to work with us on it, that’s 20 what we would do. It’s the same with big trees around 21 this complex. If there’s a tree here, for example, 22 that might provide shade and

9 if the builder is willing to work with us on it, that’s 20 what we would do. It’s the same with big trees around 21 this complex. If there’s a tree here, for example, 22 that might provide shade and it happens to be a 23 specimen tree and we work to save it, that’s what we’d 24 be identifying. Where trees are in the middle of 25 roadways, there’s nothing we’re doing. They may be 143 1 there, but they’re not going to be saved. 2 Q And where they’re in the middle of buildings, 3 for example, the same would apply. 4 A Of course, yes. 5 Q Don’t you think this survey should be done 6 before the plan is approved, to know whether some large 7 number are specimen trees or valuable trees to be of 8 interest are about to be destroyed? 9 A Yes. 10 UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: That’s fine with us. 11 MR. AFRAN: Mr. Chairman, I think it’s ten 12 o’clock. 13 THE CHAIRPERSON: Time. 14 MR. AFRAN: Thank you. 15 THE CHAIRPERSON: Thank you. Okay. The next 16 special meeting of the planning board will be held 17 December 11th, 6:30 p.m. in council chambers. No 18 additional notice will be required and that will be for 19 application PB-24-01 West Essex Highlands, Inc., Block 20 179, Lot 32, Zone IH-1, where Mr. DeFeo will continue 21 with cross by Mr. Afran. Mr. Afran is going to have 22 something on the website tomorrow or the next day. 23 MR. AFRAN I’d rather if I could do it 24 Monday, I tend to doubt I’ll get if of by Friday. 25 THE CHAIRPERSON: Monday? 144 1 MR. AFRAN: Yeah, is Monday all right? 2 THE CHAIRPERSON: Monday. One other thing, 3 Mr. Afran just housekeeping. Are the people that you 4 represent, they know they’re not to speak and they 5 haven’t come up to the microphone to questions, is that 6 correct? 7 MR. AFRAN: I don’t believe they have at this 8 point. There was one individual who did want to raise 9 an issue personal to her property not in terms of the 10 group interest. So, I was going to raise that special 11 before she did. But, one or two of those individuals 12 or some of those individuals might be called as 13 witnesses by me, but that decision hasn’t been made 14 yet. 15 THE CHAIRPERSON: That’s different. 16 MR. AFRAN: I have instructed them not to 17 speak in the public portion. 18 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay, thank you. And -- 19 UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Mr. Chairman, there’s 20 no further notice required for -- 21 THE CHAIRPERSON: I did, I did, no further 22

k in the public portion. 18 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay, thank you. And -- 19 UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Mr. Chairman, there’s 20 no further notice required for -- 21 THE CHAIRPERSON: I did, I did, no further 22 notice to be required. Absolutely. And the next 23 regular planning board meeting will be held, Wednesday, 24 December 4th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Do I have a 25 motion to adjourn?