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

39 of 70 sheets Page 153 to 156 of 175 08/07/2025 02:56:42 PM 153 report and they have to raise their basin 15-feet, which1 then has impacts of building and stream, then that's an2 amended approval that they have to come back to the3 Planning Board for review. So if it's something very4 minor of its now 6-inches higher, than you have to raise5 your basin another 6-inches to comply with the6 regulations and then any upstream impacts you'll have to7 address as well.8 MR. KLEIN: Can I just follow up real quick.9 So what do they build first? When they're10 going to clear the site and clear the 30 acres, they're11 going to build the drainage system first and detention12 basin then the roads?13 MR. MacNEILL: Typically -- yeah. Typically14 --15 MR. KLEIN: Before they even start blasting16 rock?17 MR. MacNEILL: And that's all outlined and18 really defined in pre-construction meeting. So19 typically they're working on their BMPs, their subbase20 for their roadways. They're really focused more on21 rough grading for the pads, right. Doing their building22 pads then doing the roadways and the basin work before23 they're really coming back for anything with the24 building.25 154 MR. KLEIN: So sorry to get into the weeds1 but should they hold off on doing the building pads2 because the buildings might have to change elevation or3 change location?4 MR. MacNEILL: Yeah. I mean, that really5 will be on them to dictate on how they want to schedule6 their construction and taking that risk of if they do7 set a foundation and set a finished floor elevation and8 the basin is 10-feet higher than they would have to9 remove and elevate the building.10 MR. KLEIN: Okay. And what's the best time11 to get the most accurate elevation of the groundwater?12 MR. MacNEILL: So the wet season in the13 State of New Jersey is January through April.14 MR. KLEIN: And when did he do their --15 MR. MacNEILL: They have multiple testing16 done, I believe the report from Langan today they had17 testing done in April of this year. Again, they have18 borings that went 20-feet deep without ground water19 impound.20 And going back to the discrepancy that21 Princeton Hydro put out, so they essentially said22 there's no mottling found in a test pit that is adjacent23 to a wetland area. I do agree that it seems weird,24 right, that there's no mottling there and the seasonal25 155 high is higher than a nearby

here's no mottling found in a test pit that is adjacent23 to a wetland area. I do agree that it seems weird,24 right, that there's no mottling there and the seasonal25 155 high is higher than a nearby wetland area. But on top1 of that the geotechnical engineer who prepared the2 report reviewed his test pit and the soil composition3 and certified the seasonal high water table. It's --4 from a reviewing side you could have, maybe this doesn't5 look right, maybe that doesn't look right, but when a6 geotechnical engineer is signing that this is the7 seasonal high water table, we typically take that8 signature and take his license as him certifying to that9 seasonal high water table. Which is why soil testing,10 it's the hardest part of construction, in my opinion,11 for stormwater management. One geotechnical engineer12 could go out and call a seasonal water high table 1-feet13 higher and another geotechnical can go out and say it's14 4-feet lower. So geotechnical is almost subjective. I15 will say that is why DEP came out with the additional16 requirements during and post construction, because they17 know that initials just an idea of here's a rough18 seasonal high water table, this needs to be refined19 every step of the way to ensure compliance.20 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.21 Mayor McCartney? No.22 Vice Chair Guarino?23 VICE CHAIRMAN GUARINO: No questions.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Alper?25 156 MR. ALPER: Sure.1 Mayor, how many times has the 17 acre well2 field had flooding, say in the past five years?3 THE PUBLIC: I would say it's over a dozen.4 Not all 150 feet are in the floodplain but, and I would5 say it's definitely skewed towards the last five years6 in particular. Our experience with stormwater I think7 is similar to what West Orange experiences and the other8 towns in northern New Jersey, that's why regulations9 have been tightened. And so we are technically seeing10 heavier rainfall more frequent, significant rainfall11 events and we are seeing that on the ground and so as a12 result we are seeing some cases three times significant13 flooding where what I mentioned the one, it helps the14 board with a perspective of what I'm describing flooding15 of the buildings and floodplains. I do have, we could16 put on the board the video from December 2023 showing17 roughly like 150 yard breath of what I'm describing and18 sort of see Canoe Brook and see the

e buildings and floodplains. I do have, we could16 put on the board the video from December 2023 showing17 roughly like 150 yard breath of what I'm describing and18 sort of see Canoe Brook and see the property I'm talking19 about and how I got that, I'm told by some folks here20 they could give it to you guys.21 MR. FAGAN: You have to e-mail it to me and22 I have to have his permission.23 THE PUBLIC: Okay. We can do this manually24 if it helps the board see visually better than25