January 29, 2025 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

29 of 57 sheets Page 113 to 116 of 143 02/13/2025 11:25:53 AM 113 an expert basis, do you? That's not a planning opinion.1 THE WITNESS: A planners charge is to look at2 land development, land use comprehensively. We consider3 technical testimony, technical reports, plans. If this4 plan did not work we wouldn't be here. This has gone5 through a well thought out engineering process and the6 plan before you has been based on sound engineering7 principles.8 THE PUBLIC: Is it your belief that this9 board cannot consider impacts on stormwater quality,10 potable water in Essex Fells or other impacts from an11 environmental standpoint or quality of life standpoint12 downhill?13 THE WITNESS: Yes, the board can, again,14 with consideration to how it's articulated in the15 ordinance.16 THE PUBLIC: But you haven't looked at any17 of that?18 THE WITNESS: I've looked at the ordinance19 from top to bottom.20 THE PUBLIC: What are the types of21 conditions, if you looked at stormwater, on neighboring22 property?23 You haven't looked at adjacent to this24 property?25 114 THE WITNESS: I have not studied engineering1 aspects of the stormwater management plan, times of2 concentration, runoff coefficients, recharge, two year,3 10 year, 50 year. Only relied upon the conclusions.4 THE PUBLIC: So you're relying on other5 expert testimony saying it's sound planning?6 THE WITNESS: Yes, I am.7 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.8 THE WITNESS: That's my job.9 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.11 THE PUBLIC: Seth Weisleder.12 You mentioned at the beginning of your13 testimony, you said the setbacks conform and can you14 expand on that a little bit. What do you mean by15 setbacks conform?16 THE WITNESS: No relief is being sought with17 respect to the positioning of the buildings, parking,18 the roadways or any other structures with respect to19 setbacks from property lines.20 THE PUBLIC: Okay.21 THE WITNESS: Those are light and air22 controls and the application is not asking for any23 relief in that regard.24 THE PUBLIC: Do you feel that the buildings,25 115 that the plan of setbacks to adjacent neighborhoods are1 all equal?2 THE WITNESS: I don't understand the3 question.4 THE PUBLIC: You said the setback is, I'm5 sorry, I'm just trying to --6 THE WITNESS: It's okay.7 THE PUBLIC: I'm not a planner.8 But the setbacks, are they, you said they're9 adjacent to the property,

THE PUBLIC: You said the setback is, I'm5 sorry, I'm just trying to --6 THE WITNESS: It's okay.7 THE PUBLIC: I'm not a planner.8 But the setbacks, are they, you said they're9 adjacent to the property, correct?10 THE WITNESS: To the property line. To the11 outbound of the property.12 THE PUBLIC: Okay.13 You also mentioned lighting conforms. Can14 you expand on how lighting conforms and what constitutes15 conforming and not conforming for lighting?16 THE WITNESS: I'd have to go back and look17 at the specifics of the ordinance. But, again, the18 applicant is not asking for any relief with respect to19 illumination levels, light heights, light temperature,20 color of the lights, dark-sky compliance. No relief in21 that regard.22 THE PUBLIC: So with regard to dark-sky23 compliance, I'm not familiar with the terminology, can24 you explain what you mean by dark-sky compliance?25 116 THE WITNESS: Sure. These are downward1 directed lights cutoff in the back, so the spillage will2 not go beyond the limits of the property or up into the3 sky to intercept with what we call the dark-sky.4 THE PUBLIC: So like light pollution?5 THE WITNESS: Yes.6 THE PUBLIC: So you think -- does that7 conform to all neighboring neighborhoods, whether a8 little closer or further away, would you say that those9 conform?10 THE WITNESS: Yes.11 THE PUBLIC: Can you expand a little bit,12 I'm sorry. You gave like a one word sentence, but can13 you expand on what you mean by, from a planning point of14 view, that it's well designed and well laid out. I15 mean, that's, that's your opinion based on other expert16 testimony but can you expand on what you define what17 well laid out is versus not well laid out?18 THE WITNESS: Sure. There are many accepted19 design principles with respect to, for example, roadway20 construction, horizontally, vertically, geometrically,21 to ensure safe circulation. Start with that, that's22 sort of the backbone of the development. And then of23 course the positioning of the buildings, access into the24 buildings. You heard extensive testimony through Mr.25