February 26, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

27 of 46 sheets Page 105 to 108 of 115 03/03/2025 06:36:47 AM 105 the plan that you see, if they're not wider what1 happens?2 THE WITNESS: You're going to have increased3 flow rates. You're not going to meet the required4 reduction. You're going to have increased flood storm5 runoff coming from the site and you're going to risk6 flooding downstream.7 THE PUBLIC: And then in your opinion,8 looking at the overall plan, of course porous pavement,9 basins, is there enough of that or does there need to be10 more? We're talking about widening things but does11 there need to be more porous pavement and things in12 different areas?13 THE WITNESS: Need to see more volume,14 larger basins and more basins, more porous pavement. In15 general you need to hold more water back to meet your16 flow reduction requirements to make sure you're not17 flooding others. You're going to have a lot more water18 coming so you're going to hold it back and slowly19 release it over time.20 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We're going to close that22 portion of the meeting and we're going to take a23 five-minute break.24 Thank you.25 106 (Whereupon, a short recess is taken.)1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Back on the record.2 Mr. Afran.3 MR. AFRAN: Mr. Chairman, I do have one4 follow-up question for my clients witness, but I don't5 know if the members of the public concluded.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We're done with public.7 You're up.8 Mr. Walsh, you --9 Q. THE PUBLIC: We got a member of the public.10 MR. AFRAN: We'll defer to the, Chair.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I'm sorry, ma'am. Come12 up.13 Go right ahead.14 THE PUBLIC: Sarah O'Farrell, Verona.15 Mr. Walsh, good evening. I heard all the16 trees would be cut down and also heard natural runoff17 will be diverted to wetlands on-site. So does that mean18 that wetlands will then cease to exist in their present19 state as natural stormwater management surrounding20 neighborhoods?21 MR. PLOCKER: I'm just going to object. I22 don't think there was any testimony that all the trees23 would be cut down.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I think you can clarify25 107 what he testified to answer the question.1 MR. AFRAN: I don't recall the witness spoke2 to cutting down trees, but in the record there was other3 witnesses, there has been testimony about trees being4 cut down and we offered our own tree --5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Right now we're focused on6 the wetlands and Mr. Walsh

t in the record there was other3 witnesses, there has been testimony about trees being4 cut down and we offered our own tree --5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Right now we're focused on6 the wetlands and Mr. Walsh did testify to wetlands and7 what's happening to them and the amount of water,8 stormwater. He said --9 MR. AFRAN: We're not pointing out, it's in10 the record from other witnesses testimony about trees11 being cut down, so I don't know what the focus is of12 this member of the publics question, but there is other13 information in the record that trees are being cut down,14 so I think it's proper for a question to incorporate15 that, even if this witness didn't necessarily testify to16 it, depending on the nature of the question.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: She can review the18 previous questions. Right now Mr. Walsh is talking19 about stormwater and you should direct your questions to20 stormwater only.21 MR. AFRAN: Should she reask it or repeat it22 because --23 THE PUBLIC: I can repeat it.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Please.25 108 THE PUBLIC: I saw that the water on one of1 your slides will be diverted from the wetlands on-site.2 So does that mean that the wetlands then will cease to3 exist and in their present state as natural stormwater4 management for the surrounding neighborhoods?5 THE WITNESS: So I showed that on the left6 side of the plan 55 sanitary and right side about 327 percent. I'm not a mathematician, I'm an engineer guy,8 so I can't speak specifically to the logical results of9 that. I think we have testimony coming later that will10 speak directly to your question. So I don't know that I11 can speak to that.12 THE PUBLIC: I understand. Thank you.13 So Mr. Walsh, if this is built in a14 neighborhood -- okay.15 With the property of this size consisting of16 wetlands and high seasonal high water tables in addition17 to removing all those trees, is it really possible to18 design a stormwater management system that will retain19 enough water for this large scale project and not20 negatively effect the surrounding homes? Homes down the21 street and the surrounding wetlands.22 THE WITNESS: I am not doing the design of23 this. I just reviewed someone's design itself and I24 wouldn't go as far as to say they couldn't do this, but25