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

06/20/2025 06:55:03 AM Page 85 to 88 of 101 22 of 41 sheets 85 issues of, flooding issues that created or exacerbated1 by any problem.2 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.4 THE PUBLIC: Thank you. I was here in the5 fall and submitted pictures of the area to the rear of6 the street that I reside on. It's Fowler Drive. Have7 you had any opportunity to see those pictures of a8 merging wetland in that area?9 MS. McGOVERN: Could you put your name on10 the record.11 THE PUBLIC: Susan Small, like little.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.13 THE PUBLIC: I submitted pictures, I came in14 and talked to the planner here, I also had an15 opportunity to look at your myriad of heavy plans that16 no one in the office was able to assist me in opening up17 and looking at.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, ask him a question.19 THE PUBLIC: My concern is that, that you20 have, you haven't had an opportunity to see that merging21 wetland and I could not take pictures of that wetland --22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, ask him a question,23 please. You're testifying.24 THE PUBLIC: What time, if he hasn't seen25 86 that, than he can't answer a question. Let me1 complete -- please give me a little bit of leeway.2 Okay. I'm just at plain citizen.3 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Me too.4 THE PUBLIC: The wetland is -- you're an5 official.6 The wetland is larger now, the grass is7 growing in greater and spreading, and the deciduous8 trees are dying --9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, I'm going to ask10 you one more time. People in the audience have11 questions. You're taking their time not mine. I am12 asking you to ask a question of him.13 THE PUBLIC: I am asking the question. I am14 giving information.15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You're testifying. I16 don't want to argue with you, you are testifying.17 Please ask a question. I know you know what to do.18 Do you live anywhere on that street?19 THE PUBLIC: I can't even make clear exactly20 where Fowler Drive is on that and I have a hard time21 being able to open up all of the maps and looking at22 them when I came into the planning office and it was not23 very -- they were not very cooperative, not that they24 could be I guess. They don't know. They look like25 87 they've never been opened before. But I can't tell from1 this where Fowler Drive is. I am trying to draw your2 attention to that as the person who's looking to get3 drainage and planning for the safety of

've never been opened before. But I can't tell from1 this where Fowler Drive is. I am trying to draw your2 attention to that as the person who's looking to get3 drainage and planning for the safety of all the4 surrounding communities. So I am just openly asking5 you, we should be searching for solutions and possible6 problems, that's what we should be doing here. Not7 trying to stifle someone who doesn't have enough8 information to ask questions. But are you familiar with9 that area?10 MR. PLOCKER: To the extent that she's11 asking about off-site potential conditions, I would12 renew my objection from earlier.13 THE WITNESS: Well, I will point something14 out. You can see how this wetland comes down and hits15 the property line right here?16 THE PUBLIC: Yes.17 THE WITNESS: That's a large wetland area18 that ends at that property. What you will see here is19 there's a stream that kind of runs underneath this road20 and up this way, but this wetland, it can never --21 THE PUBLIC: Could you just show me where --22 show me with that little light where Fowler Drive is? I23 believe it's --24 THE WITNESS: I am not sure exactly.25 88 THE PUBLIC: The orange area on the right, I1 believe. I could be wrong.2 THE WITNESS: All I am pointing out is if3 you have what you believe is a wetland that's forming it4 probably has to, historically this wetland probably5 extended into that development area. From what I6 understand this is an older development that predated7 the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, so it's very8 possible that some of the homes and some of this area9 are what was historic wetlands.10 THE PUBLIC: Predated the Wetlands Act, I11 doubt it. The Wetlands Act to my recollection was way12 before these were built.13 THE WITNESS: 1988.14 THE PUBLIC: 1988, that's before the15 highlands was built, 1988. They were built in the16 '90's.17 THE WITNESS: I don't know the approval18 history.19 THE PUBLIC: All I could say is that I20 believe the Wetlands Act was in affect at the time. It21 was not a wetland 16 years ago when I moved in there.22 The trees were all deciduous and already Mother Nature23 is taking her action.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Ma'am, will you please ask25