September 17, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting Transcript - WEHI

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 143 I have a question, back some months ago, April I believe it was, there was a fire on the golf course when a tree fell over and landed on Oval. I have a mother that lives in West Caldwell fairly close, 12 minutes, and she had chest pains and I could not get out. They would not let me walk out either way, Essex Fells or on Oval. I was trapped in my own house, the neighbors at my mom's house were not home, so what happens in a case like that? I mean, the fire was on the golf course, the fire engines were on the golf course. There was a fire engine down by Warner and the road continuing on to go into Essex Fells and they wouldn't even let me out by foot. So what happens? Things happen? THE WITNESS: That's correct. And this project is not going to change that condition with the exception of it does provide another point of emergency vehicle access to the Highlands, but it does not change that existing condition. THE PUBLIC: And by the time they came and opened the roads, people that were coming home had to walk from Essex Fells, my neighbor who's 86 years old was all out of breath and I stopped to walk her home because that's the only way she could get she home. She had to leave her car in Essex Fells to walk home. So