November 10, 2025 Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

01/05/2026 03:19:18 PM Page 77 to 80 of 112 20 of 28 sheets 77 from other issues, there must be no excavating equipment1 on that eastern part of the ridge?2 When you're talking excavation, talking about big3 A. front-end loaders, so they exceed the loads of fire4 trucks.5 No, I'm not talking about fire anymore. Mr.6 Q. Klein is correct, we talked about that early on, we7 wouldn't have it in the drop zone, so I withdraw that8 question.9 So I want to be clear, so there should be no10 bulldozer, no excavating equipment --11 No heavy.12 A. No heavy.13 Q. Well, how do you define heavy?14 Well, there are bulldozers of certain seizes that15 A. are not heavy and there are bulldozers designed to16 reduce the bearing -- the pressures on the ground that17 they operate on.18 So all this should be a condition of approval,19 Q. that these types of vehicles should not be on that side20 or at least on the excavation plan?21 That's what we said.22 A. Okay. Thank you.23 Q. MR. AFRAN: I have a few more questions, Mr.24 Chairman. Sorry to go so long.25 78 What about the weight of the structure itself so1 Q. close to the ridge line. I mean, if you can't have2 heavy earth moving equipment right there what impact3 does the weight of the structure itself potentially4 have? Because I am very puzzled, on the one hand you5 say Langan says there's no danger to the stability of6 the slope over there from the building and all this7 blasting and all that, then you said, nearly putting8 some heavy equipment on that side is a danger. So it is9 very puzzling to me how you can accept Langan's10 statement there's no danger of stability of the slope by11 putting this massive building there, but somehow there's12 danger to the stability of the slope by putting a13 bulldozer there. Can you explain this dichotomy?14 Yeah, the building stresses are reduced to a15 A. bearing pressure that's less than the weight of the16 heavy equipment.17 You mean at any given point?18 Q. At any given point.19 A. You're displacing it?20 Q. They use footings to distribute the load and if21 A. they extend the footings to rock then the bearing22 capacity is there.23 Have you seen an engineering plan showing24 Q. displacement of weight?25 79 No, I have not.1 A. So you have no idea whether they're going to2 Q. build it correctly or not?3 I assume they're going to follow the codes.4 A. We assumed the Titanic's watertight

ent of weight?25 79 No, I have not.1 A. So you have no idea whether they're going to2 Q. build it correctly or not?3 I assume they're going to follow the codes.4 A. We assumed the Titanic's watertight section --5 Q. CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Whoa, whoa.6 MR. AFRAN: You got a problem with that?7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Well, it's a story in8 itself.9 MR. AFRAN: It's a valid point. Engineering10 crisis happen because we make assumptions.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. So we're going to12 assume that all the correct procedures would be13 followed.14 MR. AFRAN: Without an engineering plan15 before the board, so the board can see that.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We are going to assume17 that the building department will have the correct18 engineering plan and all things will be done according19 to the ordinance and the law.20 MR. AFRAN: With respect, that is not how21 the process can work legally. This board has to satisfy22 itself that this --23 MR. PLOCKER: And it's a building department24 issue.25 80 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And we will see1 everything, I am sure, before we get to that point.2 MR. AFRAN: I certainly hope so because3 right now the expert says these possible crisis can4 happen. Says he doesn't know if it could be protected5 against.6 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Well, we're going to find7 out.8 MR. AFRAN: I hope so. And it can't be sent9 to the building department after this is approved. This10 board has to satisfy itself that these issues are11 addressed in the plan. We don't have a complete plan.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And we will.13 MR. AFRAN: Well, when are we getting that14 complete plan?15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Keep going, we'll find16 out. The stories unraveling.17 MR. KLEIN: Quick question. So you're18 saying we should be looking at footing designs and19 foundation designs at the Planning Board level?20 MR. AFRAN: When you're building on a ridge21 line that an expert says could collapse if the weight is22 not properly displaced.23 MR. KLEIN: I don't think he said that. I24 don't think he said that.25