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

09/16/2025 06:29:53 AM Page 21 to 24 of 130 6 of 33 sheets 21 chance (500-year) FEMA floodplain; and1 WHEREAS, open space properties and parklands2 downstream from this property contain floodways, and or3 exist in the 1% annual chance (100-year) FEMA4 floodplain, and experience repeated flood events; and5 WHEREAS urban flooding can occur in places that are6 well outside of mapped floodplains and can be caused by7 rain falling on increased amounts of impervious surface8 overwhelming the capacity of drainage systems; and9 WHEREAS, this forest contains tens of thousands of10 trees, providing green infrastructure for stormwater11 management as well as providing for the absorption of12 carbon dioxide, the production of oxygen and relief from13 heat island effect and essential ecological habitat; and14 WHEREAS, the proposed removal of untold numbers of15 trees will exacerbate flooding, degrade the core forest16 and displace hundreds of native species; and17 WHEREAS, the applicant is not adhering to the most18 current stormwater rules and as such are not planning19 onsite stormwater management that would act to better20 protect all surrounding properties; and21 WHEREAS, waters from this forested land feed the22 Canoe Brook tributary and replenish critical aquifers23 that contribute to the NJ American Water, providing24 drinking water for 2.9 million25 22 New Jersey residents, in more than 190 communities.1 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Verona2 Environmental Commission does hereby urge the Township3 of West Orange to reject the proposed 496-unit4 development on said lands and to preserve the 120 acres5 of forested land in perpetuity.6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution7 shall be sent to the Township of West Orange Mayor8 McCartney and Council, Verona Township Mayor Tamburro,9 Verona Town Council members, and Township Manager10 O’Sullivan."11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.12 We'll go around the board. Any members of the board13 have any questions?14 Ms. Kapferer.15 MS. KAPFERER: I don't have any questions.16 Thank you.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Wilkes.18 MR. WILKES: No questions, Dr. Bagoff.19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Vice chairman.20 VICE CHAIRMAN GUARINO: No questions, Mr.21 Chairman.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Alper.23 MR. ALPER: I have no questions. Thank you,24 Mr. Chairman.25 23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Cardoza.1 MR. CARDOZA: No questions, Mr.

MAN GUARINO: No questions, Mr.21 Chairman.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Alper.23 MR. ALPER: I have no questions. Thank you,24 Mr. Chairman.25 23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Cardoza.1 MR. CARDOZA: No questions, Mr. Chairman.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. MacNeill.3 MR. MacNEILL: No questions. Thank you.4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Councilwoman Scarpa.5 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: No questions.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.7 Mr. Haizel.8 MR. HAIZEL: No questions at this time.9 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Do any members of the10 public have any questions, please raise your hand and be11 identified?12 Come right up.13 THE PUBLIC: My name is Lisa Saladino and I14 have question for you Jessica. I am not, I am not very15 knowledgeable about the environmental use of the forest16 for drinking water and I am just wondering if you could17 explain that a little more. Like what's an aquifer --18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I'm sorry. She's not an19 expert in drinking water, she can't answer that.20 THE PUBLIC: No, how it was helping the21 drinking water for the millions of people in the State22 of New Jersey. I just want a little more detail of what23 that forest is doing.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: She's not an expert in25 24 drinking water in the State of New Jersey. She can't1 answer that.2 THE PUBLIC: Even though she referenced it3 in her resolution?4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: She can reference it but5 she's not -- she needs to be an expert.6 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Can she explain aquifer7 forest. I don't know what they are.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Can you explain aquifer?9 MS. PEARSON: An aquifer --10 THE PUBLIC: Aquifer?11 MS. PEARSON: Yeah.12 THE PUBLIC: Okay.13 MS. PEARSON: Is basically a basin where14 water collects after it infiltrates into the ground.15 THE PUBLIC: Okay.16 MS. PEARSON: And it's held there basically17 and it actually gets cleaned as it runs over root18 forests, the wetlands and it gets filtered through that19 and filtered as it runs into the ground and that's where20 it sits. So it's never going to get polluted.21 THE PUBLIC: Okay.22 So nature is how this earth stays alive.23 That's basically what I get from you essentially.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.25