November 13, 2024 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

21 1 MR. WEISLEDER: No, I -- 2 MR. DeFEO: There is, however, a lack of 3 undergrowth that is healthy. 4 MR. WEISLEDER: Correct. 5 MR. DeFEO: And there is a lack of new 6 growth. So, to answer your question, I think I just 7 answered it, is that when you have steep slope and you 8 have a lack of undergrowth on that steep slope, you 9 have more water flow. As the forest becomes healthier 10 and undergrowth becomes denser, it reduces water flow. 11 And there are multiple studies around the country that 12 would show that you can have as you have more growth, 13 more plants, you have more water absorption and you 14 reduce the flow of water. 15 So, to answer your question on the steep 16 slope, where it is proposed to be fenced, the deer 17 fencing, the steepest slope from the property have 18 proposed deer fencing on them, over time those steep 19 slopes would have new undergrowth because a deer would 20 not be able to browse it and, therefore, it would 21 decrease the flow of water. 22 Does that answer the question? 23 MR. WEISLEDER: I agree with what you’re 24 saying, but it’s not lining up. If we have a map, it 25 looks like the deer fencing is not on the slope, it’s 22 1 after the slope comes down to a plain at the bottom to 2 absorb the water like a sponge which was testified to 3 last time. So I’m confused that if you’re saying 4 there’s a lack of growth and a lack of new seedlings 5 that can grow, then how are we protecting the slopes if 6 that could be a problem. That’s my question. 7 THE CHAIRPERSON: Mr. DeFeo, if you could 8 identify for the record what we’re looking at now? 9 MR. DeFEO: Yes. This is one of the slides 10 from my original presentation of the 30th and this is a 11 rendering or, if you will, an SP-4, which was part of 12 the site plan submitted by the applicant. SP-4 has a 13 highlight of a deer fencing and is specifically 14 designed just to highlight where deer fencing would be. 15 This is not a topographical map, so bear with me. But 16 this is here, beginning roughly, of the steep slope. 17 MR. WEISLEDER: Okay. 18 MR. DeFEO: So, that entire area going down 19 the slope and across would be fenced. 20 MR. WEISLEDER: Okay. Can you show the 21 topographical map just -- 22 MR. DeFEO: Let’s see if -- 23 MR. WEISLEDER: -- if that’s there? 24 MR. DeFEO: Hang on. 25 MR. WEISLEDER: And, again, it was more maybe 23 1 a clarification. 2 MR.

the 21 topographical map just -- 22 MR. DeFEO: Let’s see if -- 23 MR. WEISLEDER: -- if that’s there? 24 MR. DeFEO: Hang on. 25 MR. WEISLEDER: And, again, it was more maybe 23 1 a clarification. 2 MR. DeFEO: Okay. 3 MR. WEISLEDER: Thank you. 4 MR. DeFEO: Yeah, so you can see here this 5 dark green line, this is the deer fencing. Okay, the 6 red line is an approximately location of the ridge, 7 meaning water flowing on this side of the red line goes 8 down the steep slope. Water falling on this side of 9 the red line goes this way. And you can see, this 10 being the steepest slope area, it is encased in deer 11 fencing which will allow for new growth. 12 MR. WEISLEDER: Okay. No, that’s fine. I 13 agree. We’re in agreeance. My second question would 14 be would you recommend any other areas of the forest to 15 be protected for growth based on you and your team’s 16 observations? 17 MR. DeFEO: Well, that’s a good question. 18 There are some areas that are just not feasible. One 19 of which is, of course, you know, in the wetland area 20 it just makes it very difficult. You can’t go into the 21 wetlands and disturb them. They are protected by state 22 law. So, there’s very little you could really do in 23 here. There is another wetland area here as well right 24 along here. 25 So, those areas, in a perfect world, while I 24 1 might deer fence the entire property in a perfect 2 world, it’s not feasible or necessary to do so. This 3 and this, the two areas that have been selected are 4 designed number one, because they are in the area where 5 there’s no disturbance. Number two, they’re selected 6 for the reason we just talked about in part. 7 And, number three, in part here, it’s 8 selected for the same reason in the other direction 9 because, again, I have steep slope and I’m trying to 10 increase the overflow or the goal is to increase plant 11 growth to decrease water flow from interrupting into 12 this area and that water flow is going to go this way. 13 The rest of this area is contained and controlled, 14 which is not my design, and this is something the state 15 will approve, by a professional stormwater management 16 system to minimize any flow impact. 17 So, this area as we’ve discussed in previous 18 meetings I believe, one of the explanations is this 19 area which of course in the disturbed area, this will 20 be replanted with native plants which will

, this area as we’ve discussed in previous 18 meetings I believe, one of the explanations is this 19 area which of course in the disturbed area, this will 20 be replanted with native plants which will act as a 21 seed bank for the entire property to allow for more 22 plant growth. Where we can control it, we are doing so 23 here and here because as these deer fenced acreage, 24 about 33 acres, begins to regenerate, it will then 25 become a reversed seed bank for the unfenced area.