December 10, 2025, Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

29 of 55 sheets Page 113 to 116 of 144 01/14/2026 10:36:25 AM 113 THE PUBLIC: Yes.1 THE WITNESS: And it was -- and I think in2 the discussion at the last meeting said that we could3 not find -- there was no explanation given as to why4 they identified the slope.5 THE PUBLIC: In your testimony you said, and6 I won't be quoting this, this is a condition that7 already exists.8 THE WITNESS: No, it's reported. This was,9 this was identified by the, I think, the USGS was10 working for the New Jersey Geological Survey and they11 identified an area which they said was a hazardous class12 B-3, slopes up to 15 degrees. And we said that we'd not13 discounted that because we had not been able to find out14 why it particularly identified, they identified it as a15 hazard, but they didn't say what the mechanism was.16 THE PUBLIC: Okay.17 But having that hazard here, and you said it18 existed for many years, and nothings happened, it's19 always been there. What would change that and make that20 slide occur? Let me rephrase it.21 Would digging a trench 800 feet wide by 2522 feet deep at the top of that mountain create or enhance23 the chances of having that slide on the western side of24 this, or eastern side of this property?25 114 THE WITNESS: Well, we made a recommendation1 in our report in order to minimize, that we feel should2 be, should be included as a requirement of the Planning3 Board so that the excavation is performed in a4 responsible manner that wouldn't lead to damage5 downhill.6 THE PUBLIC: But my point is, if you're on7 that ridge and you're digging on, I'm almost positive8 you said this in the last meeting, that you're going9 25-foot below grade for the footings of that building.10 Now, at that 25-foot mark --11 THE WITNESS: That's on the southern half,12 not as deep on the northern half.13 THE PUBLIC: On the eastern side I am14 talking about. At that base corner of 25-feet on the15 eastern side of that mountain, I will say dropping off16 the cliff, did anybody calculate where, if you went in a17 horizontal line down the mountain, exactly how far out18 that goes? Is it 100-feet, like, because then you're19 creating a triangle basically of an area of rock that,20 as you said, could slide down the mountain?21 THE WITNESS: I didn't say -- I said that22 the rock should be, the excavation should be supported.23 In other words, when you're digging rock you

that,20 as you said, could slide down the mountain?21 THE WITNESS: I didn't say -- I said that22 the rock should be, the excavation should be supported.23 In other words, when you're digging rock you evaluate24 the rock as you're going down and if it looks like it25 115 could loosen or has been loosened, you would install1 rock bolts, something like that. But, so we recommended2 it in the report that these requirements be set by the3 Planning Board for, you know, for the construction4 requirements.5 THE PUBLIC: But the area between the6 building and going down the slope, it comes to a point7 where the bottom of that building footings are equal8 with what point down the mountain? You're kind of9 creating -- not creating a weakness across the base of10 that. Now, on top of it, not to mention 30 years ago,11 40 years ago a trench was also carved out along the base12 of that mountain for a sewer easement that went from the13 property next door across that mountain to Howell Drive.14 Does that create a weakness in that, I'm going to say,15 triangle part of the mountain there?16 THE WITNESS: The applicants engineer did a17 slope stability calculation and their report is that it18 did not indicate that it led to an instability.19 THE PUBLIC: Okay.20 Now, with their calculation do they also21 calculate the, since you mentioned earlier you designed22 dams at some point, do they calculate the amount of23 hydrostatic pressure that's going to be added to that24 slope in that mountain? Now, I'm going to, I know25 116 you're not a tree expert, but several people said 6,0001 trees, earlier on in the report 7,500 trees, so that2 soaks up between 50 and a 100 gallons of water a day.3 So even if it's at 50 times 7,500, we're talking shy of4 400,000 gallons of water per day.5 Now, you mentioned the nine inch rainfall.6 If we get a nine inch rainfall any particular day, I7 know over ten acres of land, if you get a five inch8 rainfall you're close to 4 million gallons of water,9 multiply that by three, because there's 30 acres of land10 we're clearing, so does that amount of water put11 pressure on that building or put pressure on that lower12 mountain?13 THE WITNESS: I think in general the levels14 on the western side would be lower downhill, so that --15 THE PUBLIC: The topographic map does show16 the elevations continue upward on the western side of17 that D building, so

n general the levels14 on the western side would be lower downhill, so that --15 THE PUBLIC: The topographic map does show16 the elevations continue upward on the western side of17 that D building, so there is going to be added water18 coming back to that. So that's why I only mention 1019 acres and not the complete 30.20 THE WITNESS: Looking at the contours and21 they slope away from the building. I don't know what to22 say.23 THE PUBLIC: Clearing of that acreage you24 don't think adds hydrostatic pressure?25