October 29, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

35 of 59 sheets Page 137 to 140 of 149 11/19/2025 04:42:31 PM 137 zoning ordinance, Ms. Klein.1 THE PUBLIC: Thank you.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.3 Any other member of the public have any4 questions on the testimony? Please come up.5 THE PUBLIC: Justin Goldsmith. I just have6 a question to you, you're with Heyer Gruel?7 THE WITNESS: Yes.8 THE PUBLIC: Last night at the council9 meeting a contract was renewed for Heyer Gruel for10 $14,800 as it relates to services rendered toward the11 Planning Board. I specifically asked last night at the12 council board -- at the council meeting what the role13 and -- can you say your name?14 THE WITNESS: Malvika Apte, you can call me15 Ms. Apte.16 THE PUBLIC: So in that agreement is that we17 would have two planners and I asked the differentiations18 of Malvika Apte and Megan Adam who would be the two19 designated coordinated people from Heyer Gruel to20 preside over this. My question is, can you shed some21 light on as to what your role specific to West Essex22 Highlands is, because I did not get an answer at the23 council meeting last night and why we're paying for the24 services of two members when I don't see the other25 138 member here? Those are my questions.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. Our attorney is2 going to answer that very quickly.3 MS. McGOVERN: So Megan Adam has the4 affordable housing forth round plan. She's not a5 certified planner so, I think at this point, I think her6 license is pending. She is assisting Mr. Gruel on the7 fourth round plan.8 THE PUBLIC: The contract last night9 respectfully was for a contract not related to the10 fourth round housing of it.11 MS. McGOVERN: She may do background work in12 terms of research, but the person who comes to testify13 has to be the licensed planner, and that's Ms. Apte.14 THE PUBLIC: Understood. So can you please15 shed some light, since I did not get an answer last16 night when I asked what is your role in helping with us17 moving forward or not moving forward on this project.18 Because it was outlined --19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: I don't know she was there20 last night. I don't know if she would have the answer,21 the information she's not privy to.22 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Can you please state for23 the record what your role is as a representative of24 Heyer Gruel related to the West Essex Highlands proposal25 139 and our zoning components?1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's fair

Can you please state for23 the record what your role is as a representative of24 Heyer Gruel related to the West Essex Highlands proposal25 139 and our zoning components?1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's fair enough.2 THE PUBLIC: Thank you. Thank you, I3 appreciate it.4 THE WITNESS: So I'm the consulting board5 planner for the Planning Board.6 THE PUBLIC: And that entails?7 THE WITNESS: That entails the review of8 this application, the testimony and providing the board9 with testimony that I provided.10 THE PUBLIC: Thank you. I was just asking11 because last night I did not get an answer.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Fair.13 Any other members of the public have any14 questions?15 Go on, please.16 THE PUBLIC: It's different testimony, I17 mean, I have two questions, they're thought out. I'm18 not going --19 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go ahead.20 THE PUBLIC: I'm going to ask straight21 forward questions.22 So you were talking about concept plan and23 site plans. Concept plan, you testified that it was24 attached to the settlement agreement, correct? So is25 140 this from -- is there mixed use allowed here, such as1 units and a business? Because during the testimony2 there was citing of a dog kennel which you said was not3 on the concept plan but now on the site plan.4 THE WITNESS: No, I believe I said that there5 was a dog kennel on the concept plan and I believe it6 has been shown on the site plan also. And in the7 ordinance it's permitted as an accessory use.8 THE PUBLIC: So it's permitted as a business9 use you're saying?10 MR. PLOCKER: I think I can clarify -- help11 move things along in response to Mr. Weisleder's12 question. May I --13 THE PUBLIC: You may, sure.14 MR. PLOCKER: -- Mr. Chairman?15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Plocker.16 MR. PLOCKER: The applicant will agree to a17 condition of approval, it was not meant to be used18 outside the development. It will not be a commercial19 use, it would be an amenity for on-site development20 that's the subject of this application.21 THE PUBLIC: Okay.22 My other question is -- thank you, Mr.23 Plocker.24 MR. PLOCKER: You're welcome.25