January 29, 2025 Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

5 of 57 sheets Page 17 to 20 of 143 02/13/2025 11:25:53 AM 17 from building Building D on the homes on Howell Drive?1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: He didn't speak about2 water runoff.3 THE PUBLIC: I'm not talking about water.4 I'm talking about Building D and stability of the slope5 below Building D, because slope has two sides.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: What aspect -- I'm sorry.7 What aspect? He's a geotechnical expert so is there8 something he's testified to?9 THE PUBLIC: Well, did you look at -- you10 said you did soil samples for the slope down on that11 side, did you do any on Howell Drive and the impact of12 Building D on Howell Drive?13 THE WITNESS: That - there's no analysis in14 our report for that. We took borings at accessible15 locations along a few different places behind Building D16 and we found all that material to be generally very17 consistent. So I'm expecting that the same would apply18 elsewhere. But, no, nothing in specific was analyzed19 between Building D and the location that you're20 referencing.21 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Step up to the mic and23 give us your name for the record, please.24 THE PUBLIC: Hi. My name is Victor Misarti,25 18 M-I-S-A-R-T-I. My properties right at the bottom of1 that hill and I'm familiar with quite a bit of rock.2 There's a little bit of soil and then a lot of rock. So3 my question is about the rock and the blasting and the4 geotechnical, I'm not sure, you tell me, maybe it's5 construction related, but how are, I mean, can this rock6 up on top be blasted? I mean, we've got underground7 utilities, these large detention basins for the8 buildings. I mean, is this capable of being blasted?9 All this to remove all that rock.10 THE WITNESS: Blasting as a method of11 excavation is, is one of the preferred methods of12 excavating this type of material. The material can be13 very, very hard, it's not easy to excavate. Blasting is14 a relatively more rapid form of excavation and it's15 appropriate to use for this rock material that are at16 the site.17 THE PUBLIC: And then it all has to be18 carted away or removed or something from the site?19 THE WITNESS: Yes, be either reused somewhere20 else on-site or removed. I don't know what the plan is.21 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.22 My second question is, will the blasting23 cause any harm to the neighboring houses, neighboring24 properties right over there? Does it affect

I don't know what the plan is.21 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.22 My second question is, will the blasting23 cause any harm to the neighboring houses, neighboring24 properties right over there? Does it affect their25 19 foundations for instance.1 THE WITNESS: So what I testified to earlier2 was the use of controlled blasting techniques, this is3 limiting the amount of charge per delay as shots are4 produced. The amount of burden or amount of material5 that gets blasted, things of that nature. So as long as6 these are properly implemented, those types of methods7 that we expect, and there's also a monitoring program8 implemented along with any blasting program that9 ensures, that provides understanding what the impasse10 would be and then ensures the safety of the program.11 THE PUBLIC: I'm sorry, you said monitoring?12 THE WITNESS: Monitoring, correct.13 THE PUBLIC: Okay.14 So it's not going to be disruptive?15 THE WITNESS: Well, what we would expect,16 what I would recommend for any blasting, there's always17 a monitor associated with it. So vibration monitors18 will be set up to understand what energy is getting19 behind the line of excavation.20 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.22 State your name, sir.23 THE PUBLIC: James White.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you, sir.25 20 THE PUBLIC: I live at 1399 Pleasant Valley1 Way.2 Hello Mr. Seel. How are you today?3 THE WITNESS: Very good.4 How are?5 THE PUBLIC: Very well.6 Mr. Seel, are you aware that there was7 historic flooding approximately two years ago that8 caused severe amount of damage to town?9 THE WITNESS: I am not familiar with it, no.10 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Reason why I ask this, I11 am curious if, in your analysis you had mentioned that12 the fault line and the stability was tested for all13 expected weather patterns. Well, we have had some14 pretty severe aberrations in weather, not just here in15 New Jersey, not just here in West Orange, but throughout16 the country. Storms dropping multiple inches per hour,17 that kind of event would you analysis be able to18 guarantee the stability of that slope if such a storm19 were to arrive?20 THE WITNESS: Well, as part of our analysis21 we did look at raising of the water table. So in our22 findings, in our borings and test pits showed no water23 table present. And despite that, and despite there was24 lack of evidence that there even was a seasonal

aising of the water table. So in our22 findings, in our borings and test pits showed no water23 table present. And despite that, and despite there was24 lack of evidence that there even was a seasonal water25