October 22 2025, Planning Board Regular Meeting - WEHI Transcript

5 of 17 sheets Page 17 to 20 of 40 10/28/2025 12:18:39 PM 17 found, that they review the stormwater again and1 potentially have to revise the basins. But short of2 that, there's nothing else that we need to review, it's3 basically provided and that's what we'll go by.4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Number 1, when we review5 the application this will be a condition based on what6 you have reported for this application.7 MS. McGOVERN: How often should they look at8 it?9 THE WITNESS: During construction. So as10 they're building every basin we're going to have a11 condition or a comment that goes on the plans that12 they'll need to be testing at that time to make sure13 that that water table is accurate from what their14 original --15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So you will create a16 larger document that will describe exactly what you want17 in relation to the testing for mottling during18 construction?19 THE WITNESS: Yes, so we're asking the20 comment goes on the plans for the contractor doing the21 testing.22 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Great.23 THE WITNESS: At that point the contractor24 can do that.25 18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay.1 MS. McGOVERN: Okay.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mayor McCartney.3 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Can I ask a question?4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: When he's done.5 Go ahead.6 THE WITNESS: Number 2 talks about, on a7 similar note, the separation between the bottom of the8 basin to the seasonal high water table. Now, that needs9 to be at least two feet. Princeton Hydro's response was10 that there was three basins that show a separation less11 than two feet. Now, if it's indeed less than two feet12 it definitely needs to be fixed and if they do testing13 during the construction and it shows up that way it, it14 would have to be revised. The geotech engineer for the15 applicant basically took whatever, you know, they dug a16 hole, they took an estimate as far as what that ground17 elevation is and that's what they use. They dig it and18 they say, okay, we're X number of feet deep and that's19 what their elevation for the seasonal high water is. So20 that's what's been presented, that's what we reviewed.21 As far we can see it appears accurate. Of course it22 could be off by a little bit here and there, but that's23 why we're going to have them continue to do testing24 during construction to verify that.25 19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That would be a condition.1 THE WITNESS: Third point talks about2 comparison of

that's23 why we're going to have them continue to do testing24 during construction to verify that.25 19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That would be a condition.1 THE WITNESS: Third point talks about2 comparison of infiltration areas. Infiltration areas is3 the part of the basin where the water actually goes into4 the ground versus maybe like a side grass berm where the5 water doesn't necessarily infiltrate as well. We have6 like a sand bottom basin, that whole areas where the7 waters going to go down into the ground. So Princeton8 Hydro's comment is that the mottle area, which is in the9 stormwater mottle, differs from what the plan shows as10 far as the area for the infiltration. And in this case11 they highlighted three basins, one -- I'm sorry, four12 basins. 1, 8, 9 and 11 where the mottle infiltration13 area was less than the plan infiltration area. Indeed14 that's a discrepancy, however because the mottle area is15 less than what the plan shows it actually appears to be16 more conservative in nature. Whether that was17 intentional, possibly not, it might have been an18 oversight, but regardless it's actually a more19 conservative approach. We do recommend as a condition20 that those be updated to match. But we don't think21 that's going to present a problem because it's more22 conservative than less conservative, but we would like23 to see that updated.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay.25 20 THE WITNESS: The fourth comment talks about1 the frequency or quantity of soil testing. The DEP has2 a BMP Manual, you may have heard throughout the3 testimony. It's basically a recommendations on how to4 design and construct stormwater basins. They recommend5 a number of tests based on how big your infiltration6 area is. So if you have a small dry well you might have7 a lot less tests than if you have a 20,000 square foot8 basin. It's based on how big that area is. So9 Princeton Hydro put together a table showing that four10 basins have less tests than what would be required by11 this BMP Manual. Some may say that there's more tests12 provided, but their point is that there's four where13 there's less. Now, this BMP Manual is pretty much a14 guidance document prepared by the DEP. DEP is also the15 party who writes the stormwater regulations for the16 state. So while they have this frequency of tests they17 also say that alternative methods may be used to18 determine how many tests an

also the15 party who writes the stormwater regulations for the16 state. So while they have this frequency of tests they17 also say that alternative methods may be used to18 determine how many tests an applicant can dig and that's19 a little gray, but ultimately this applications been20 presented to the DEP, reviewed and approved by the DEP,21 so because the DEP approved it in essence they22 essentially accepted the number of tests that were23 prepared by the applicant.24 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Your estimation should25