June 4, 2025, Planning Board Regular Meeting Transcript - WEHI

06/20/2025 06:55:03 AM Page 77 to 80 of 101 20 of 41 sheets 77 MR. AFRAN: Far left.1 THE WITNESS: So this is what I am pointing2 out, the western most tributary, the eastern tributary3 as well. And their confluences south of the site.4 THE PUBLIC: Okay.5 So does all of this water currently work its6 way into the Canoe Brook or is it just on the left?7 THE WITNESS: No, both. They're both8 tributary's of Canoe Brook.9 THE PUBLIC: They're all tributary's of the10 headwater of Canoe Brook. Okay. So after the, assuming11 that construction occurred, and with this plan and with12 the basins the way they are designed, the water would13 flow out ultimately back into the brook?14 THE WITNESS: Yes.15 THE PUBLIC: Okay.16 So am I understanding correctly, that give17 or take 30 percent of the coverages, the natural18 coverages removed from a rain of any voracity, and19 natural percolation and everything, and then it goes20 through the system, is it absorbed into and retained21 into a basin and then it goes back into the natural --22 the Canoe Brook. Okay. And then it makes its way down23 into the Canoe Brook which runs for approximately, I24 don't know, whatever it is, you may know, but half a25 78 dozen miles or whatever. It runs through, at least in1 Roseland where I am, it runs --2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Sir, is there a question3 in there somewhere.4 THE PUBLIC: It floods -- I am concerned5 about the way a rush of water might from a flooding6 perspective, since there's no ground percolation, is7 the, based on what you've testified today when we get8 these heavy storms, which I am no expert, but is it fair9 to say that it becomes more severe in general10 occasionally over the past 20 years?11 THE WITNESS: Yes.12 THE PUBLIC: Okay.13 Will the flooding as it goes from a lack of14 percolation, natural percolation into any retention15 system, at least as you're seeing it, it's going to16 become worse?17 THE WITNESS: I'll answer your question18 again by saying, if the systems aren't designed to19 completely satisfy the NJ BMP manual and New Jersey20 stormwater rules, then yes, it's going to change21 downstream flooding.22 MR. PLOCKER: I am going to object to this23 testimony. I believe it was outside the scope of his24 testimony. I acknowledge that his colleague, Mr. Walsh25 79 with Princeton Hydro, testified as to the issues, but1 they weren't testified to here tonight. They

elieve it was outside the scope of his24 testimony. I acknowledge that his colleague, Mr. Walsh25 79 with Princeton Hydro, testified as to the issues, but1 they weren't testified to here tonight. They weren't2 part of his testimony and I would object to this line of3 questioning.4 MR. AFRAN: Well, I would just add though in5 response --6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Afran.7 MR. AFRAN: -- that the question of the8 accuracy of the high water table leading to flooding9 because of the detention basins can't support it, is10 directly related to the subject matter. And if water is11 going to flood any part of the system because12 inaccuracies, he did testify to those inaccuracies and13 it naturally flows from, no pun intended, from his14 testimony. Therefore it's relevant for members of the15 community to ask questions.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: In his opinion.17 MR. AFRAN: Of course. All in his opinion.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: As long as you say that.19 MR. AFRAN: And his opinion is relevant20 because of the predicate coming from the original21 examination.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Did you get your answer,23 sir?24 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Thank you very much.25 80 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Any other members of the1 public have any questions of Mr. Gallagher? Please come2 up and be identified.3 THE PUBLIC: Seth Weisleder, Howell Drive,4 West, New Jersey.5 I think my question, and thank you for the6 education this evening and for sharing, you know,7 definitely a course for me tonight. So thank you, but I8 would like to ask in layman's terms the design of the, I9 forget the vocabulary, the design of the stormwater10 system, you testified tonight that it's not 100 percent11 correct or up to par as it should be. So in layman's12 terms, if there is that 100-year storm that we mentioned13 several times in different testimony, what is the14 effects of this actual property and what could be the15 effects of the properties around it?16 THE WITNESS: To avoid --17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I'm sorry, Mr. Gallagher.18 Testify about this property and water collection on this19 property. You didn't testify about surrounding20 properties.21 THE WITNESS: That's correct.22 THE PUBLIC: But --23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: He testified about this24 property. So he can --25