April 30, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

05/12/2025 02:23:28 PM Page 53 to 56 of 116 14 of 48 sheets 53 the other hand if the soils already wet, we had giant1 floods in New Jersey a couple years ago because we had2 back to back to back heavy storms, so eventually the3 soil gets saturated, when the soil is saturated already4 it might as well be rooftop because it can't hold5 anymore water and if the soils to wet it can't hold any6 water, it only absorbs water when it's in that middle7 range where there's space between all the soil particles8 for water to go, but not so dry that it sheds water.9 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.10 THE PUBLIC: Hello. Faith Singelis. Thank11 you for coming, Dr. DeVito. I have two questions. One12 related to what the gentleman before me just asked and13 one about the watershed.14 So this forest, I believe, sits sort of15 saddling two watersheds and there's creeks that run off.16 Can you just speak to from you profession as a forest17 ecologist how diminishing that forest or getting rid of18 that forest might affect the watershed, how many gallons19 of water?20 THE WITNESS: I really can't. I am not, I21 believe that most of this property is in the Canoe Brook22 Watershed, I guess a couple separate streams.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I am going to stop you24 right there.25 54 THE WITNESS: This is not my field.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You didn't testify to2 that. He said he's not qualified. Ask another3 question, please.4 THE PUBLIC: That's fine.5 So just in general, how would you describe6 the State of new Jersey as opposed to our state of core7 forests remaining and how threatened are those areas8 from invasive species?9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay, I'm sorry, this is10 not about -- we really want to focus on this area. Can11 you ask another question. He didn't testify to that.12 THE PUBLIC: Okay. I have to think about13 how to rephrase my question.14 Can you just speak a little bit about15 invasive species and how this development might impact16 what is already happening in West Orange and greater New17 Jersey?18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I'm sorry.19 THE WITNESS: I didn't testify to that.20 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Stop. Stop. He didn't21 testify to this. Focus on West Orange.22 THE WITNESS: I will talk about this --23 MR. AFRAN: Can I make one point. He did24 address the notion that special concerns, for example,25 55 are declining. The witness did address the notion of1 special concerns declining throughout New

23 MR. AFRAN: Can I make one point. He did24 address the notion that special concerns, for example,25 55 are declining. The witness did address the notion of1 special concerns declining throughout New Jersey and2 then a follow-up said, why is that and the witness said,3 Dr. DeVito said because the fragmentation of forests.4 So he did get into this in his direct testimony. I5 wanted to point that out to you.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Very specifically about7 this project, that's what the Planning Board want's to8 hear, about this project and we want to focus on this9 project. So if you want to testify because you have10 direct knowledge of invasive species, go right ahead.11 Invasive species in other towns or the State of New12 Jersey, that's for another fight. We have to discuss13 what's on this lot.14 MR. AFRAN: Invasive species are not unique15 to West Orange life history no matter what town --16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: This application is in17 West Orange and that's what the Planning Board needs to18 hear. You want to testify to that because that's your19 direct knowledge, that would be fantastic.20 THE WITNESS: I think I can say one thing21 that bears on this, which is simply that this forest is22 on soil that has never been disturbed by agriculture and23 therefore it's somewhat resistant to invasive species24 because the root mass, the soil layers that have built25 56 up over thousands of years, the organic layer, the layer1 that rainwater leaches nutrients and then pods even2 deeper, those things have an impact since the end of the3 Ice Age because there's never been a plow on that4 mountain because it wasn't good for agriculture and so5 those soils are resistant to invasive species because of6 the low pH the low nutrients and they don't attract7 invasive species, which is more or less species that8 like gardens and farms, disturb ground and all the9 things that people do, right. So this forest has been10 logged many times. You're right, it's not a virgin11 forest, the colonists came here, cut down and cut down12 again, cut down again, probably hasn't been cut down13 since around World War 1 or something. And so -- and14 the soils have never been disturbed appreciably and so15 it's resistant to invasive species.16 THE PUBLIC: And how long does it take to17 create soil?18 THE WITNESS: I don't know. To long.19 THE PUBLIC: Hundreds of years. Thank you.20 THE WITNESS:

and so15 it's resistant to invasive species.16 THE PUBLIC: And how long does it take to17 create soil?18 THE WITNESS: I don't know. To long.19 THE PUBLIC: Hundreds of years. Thank you.20 THE WITNESS: Thank you.21 THE PUBLIC: Good evening. Margaret22 Cunningham and thank you Dr. DeVito for coming.23 My question is, can you clarify the24 difference between canopy, the core, because it seems25