PB-24-01 West Essex Highlands Inc; Block: 179 Lot: 32 Zone: IH-1

51. 52: 53. 54. 5D: 56. Preliminary and Final Site Plan drawings indicate that the proposed roadway slopes are compliant with that standard. The Applicant’s geotechnical engineering expert, Mark K. Seel, P.E. of Langan Engineering, testified that he was retained to assess whether Building D, located close to the top of a slope, is safe to build. The Board acknowledged and accepted the testimony of Mr. Seel that the soil profile in the area of Building D is dense and overlays hard rock with a subsurface of dense vegetation cover. Mr. Seel considered the area of Building D to be a shallow slope of 10-17degrees and that it was stable as to where Building D would be built. Mr. Seel opined that the area where Building D was to be built is inherently stable now and he anticipated it would continue to be stable after the building is constructed. Mr. Seel testified that the closest part of Building D is about 13 feet from the top of the slope and there is low seismic risk. Mr. Seel further noted that controlled blasting techniques would be employed so that any blasting would be done safely without any risk to the slope. The Board considered the testimony of Sean Walsh, a Civil Engineer from Princeton Hydro who was presented by the Objectors in response to the testimony provided by the Applicant regarding storm water management of the project. Mr. Walsh testified that the testing done by the Applicant’s engineer did not demonstrate mottling (coloration in the soil that shows the seasonal high-water table) and therefore he questioned the sufficiency of Applicant’s soil testing. The Board’s engineering expert, John Hess, of CME, issued a report (August 15, 2025) in response to the testimony and report of Mr. Walsh and noted that based on their