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

15 of 70 sheets Page 57 to 60 of 175 08/07/2025 02:56:42 PM 57 it so that it does not exceed the safe standards that1 are available for this project.2 THE PUBLIC: Well, what I'm trying to get at3 --4 THE WITNESS: I understand. You're asking5 me to speculate. I don't know.6 THE PUBLIC: We're trying to get across to7 you, see I'm not an expert in construction, you are the8 expert in geology, you see there are four buildings, you9 just said it's on the bedrock, the basalt which is very10 dense. How many weeks are we going to hear the11 blasting? What's the level of blasting? Are you aware12 that there are standards that are about, actually the13 Mayor should be interested, for children what's toxic.14 And there are new standards that are coming out which15 are more and more stringent. We got kids living around16 the neighborhood, even light noise machines continually17 --18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: You're testifying. Ask a19 question.20 THE PUBLIC: I asked. I'm not getting --21 THE WITNESS: I don't have an answer. I22 tried to explain that, with all due respect, that the23 amount of noise that's created and vibration due to the24 function of the blasting itself, which I am not doing,25 58 so.1 THE PUBLIC: But you looked -- certainly you2 looked at a project like this and the scope of the3 project and the amount of blast, how many blasts, how4 many weeks are we going to expect to have this in our5 neighborhood? That's the question. And you're saying6 you can't estimate.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's the answer at this8 time. He doesn't know.9 THE WITNESS: I don't know.10 THE PUBLIC: So there's the concern as the11 resident that lives in the neighborhood, what am I going12 to be encountering should this project be permitted and13 all the kids that live in this neighborhood?14 MR. MacNEILL: Mr. Chair, if I could jump15 in. If I could offer this.16 Making it a condition of potential approval17 that the applicant, any construction activity on-site18 would have to comply with Township, state and federal19 regulations for that construction activity should, I20 recommend, be made a potential condition on the21 approval.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay.23 MR. MacNEILL: It will ease the residents to24 ensure that all construction work would follow the noise25 59 -- the allowable noise decibels based on the Township1 and the state code.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That was in the January3 meeting.4 MR.

s to24 ensure that all construction work would follow the noise25 59 -- the allowable noise decibels based on the Township1 and the state code.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That was in the January3 meeting.4 MR. PLOCKER: That was acceptable to the5 applicant then and it is now.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And Mr. Afran.7 MR. AFRAN: Obviously there's nothing wrong8 with such a condition if the project is approved. But9 with great respect, all that says is that the applicant10 has to obey the law. So it doesn't add any additional11 layer of protection. It does not actually add any layer12 of protection. Simply says the applicant agrees to obey13 the law, which I assume he will have to in any case to14 the best of its ability. But that does not address the15 question of the harm potentially arising from it.16 Simply says you will adhere to the conditions of the --17 that exist. So while it is admirable to have the18 applicant say he will adhere to the law, that doesn't19 add anything. I want to make that point. It looks like20 it does, but it does not.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We'll have Mr. MacNeill22 come up with a solution and brief the applicant for the23 next meeting and that will end the layer of protection.24 MR. AFRAN: We'll see. Thank you.25 60 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.1 Next.2 MR. KLEIN: So --3 THE PUBLIC: Rachel Klein --4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: First Mr. Klein.5 MR. KLEIN: So Mr. Seel, is there a way to6 design the blast to control the decibels at a certain7 distance at the property line let's say? Is it the same8 noise rules that we have for all kinds of other noises9 at the property line?10 THE WITNESS: Correct. There are methods11 that are available for contractors to use to limit the12 amount of noise and amount of vibration.13 MR. KLEIN: Do you design it and show it to14 someone and someone says, okay, if I'm looking at the15 calculation this is the proper way to do it and it looks16 like you're going to be below this decibel level at this17 location and if not they can look and say you got to18 take away some dynamite to make it quieter because it's19 like going to violate this noise rule?20 THE WITNESS: Certainly for the vibration21 end, yes, that's the case. And if -- I can't speak to22 the sound aspect of it. How that's dealt with, if it's23 calculated for, you know, to reach those certain levels,24 but they're, within the blasting there has to be25