January 14, 2026, Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

21 of 53 sheets Page 81 to 84 of 122 02/03/2026 04:49:05 PM 81 going to mention two that directly relate to West Essex1 Highlands.2 My first concern is flooding. Recently our3 community has paid tens of thousands of dollars to4 remediate a flooding issue in several buildings that5 have been ongoing for years with many attempts to6 correct incurring costs along the way. From what I have7 been advised, this issue has been ongoing since West8 Essex Highlands initial development, which I am sure you9 are aware this community was built by the same10 developer. My concern is that if this new development11 changes the land it will create flooding once again12 producing an even more harmful situation than it has13 been all these years. I am not sure those same14 buildings will tolerate increased flooding levels and15 believe that more buildings will fall into the same16 deteriorated condition. I am not an expert but I have17 personally experienced when a neighbor changes the land18 even remotely minor in nature it can change the water19 flow and in turn affect neighboring properties20 negatively. I question if the fail in the slope or a21 change in the water flow affects the neighboring22 communities who will be responsible.23 My second concern is infrastructure. There24 are 300 units with an estimated over 1,000 residents in25 82 West Essex Highlands, The Grand has roughly 70 homes1 with an estimated population of over 300 residents2 totaling 1,300 in total. Within the last year the only3 road into the West Essex Highlands was blocked due to a4 fire on the site of Oval Road. This incident lasted5 about two to three hours and thankfully no one needed6 immediate medical assistance nor any other life7 threatening emergency and our ability to exit or enter8 the community resumed. The year prior to The Grand9 incident there was fire with similar issues.10 Surprisingly this is not a rare occurrence. With the11 amount of additional housing the chance of yet another12 fire and blocking the roads certainly increases. This13 road is already a very precarious set up and I fear what14 will happen in the future will be catastrophic,15 especially given 500 units carrying at least a 1,000 to16 2,000 more residents resulting in a total of three to17 four thousand trapped residents.18 In addition, a potential equal amount of19 cars in the road creating an influx of traffic into

t a 1,000 to16 2,000 more residents resulting in a total of three to17 four thousand trapped residents.18 In addition, a potential equal amount of19 cars in the road creating an influx of traffic into and20 out of the community is not only creating noise21 pollution but with the current traffic patterns a series22 of accidents is bound to happen all by itself. Thank23 you.24 The timer. Can I finish?25 83 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead.1 THE PUBLIC: The current road design at the2 end of Oval Road which the 90 degree angle already is3 conducive to constant crashes and ultimately destroys4 our community brick wall causing West Essex Highlands5 thousands to repair. The West Essex Highlands is an6 aging community with a high concentration of retirees.7 We already have a single point of failure and I fear it8 is a death trap waiting to happen with the increased9 traffic and population. I implore you to allow Wilf to10 find another more reasonably, less negatively affecting11 property. I am sure he's happy to promise the same12 Mount Laurel contribution to fulfill the fair share13 housing requirements mandated by the state and I would14 be happy to help.15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.16 Any other member of the public have any17 comments? Please come up, be identified and state your18 name and address.19 THE PUBLIC: Justin Goldman, 14 Moran Road,20 West Orange.21 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to22 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the23 truth.24 THE PUBLIC: I do.25 84 So good evening Planning Board members.1 Thank you for your time tonight and Happy New Year.2 I want to start by saying the last council3 meeting on January 6 I requested an update on a4 stormwater ordinance that I had drafted for the town5 relating to missing stormwater data. At that meeting6 the update I received was that we still do not have7 accurate stormwater data and that the time line would be8 at least several months and I believe in good faith9 citing the number was at least six months before we have10 the data in order to "be in compliance with the new set11 of laws." And before someone asks if the missing data12 that we don't have is specifically pertinent to West13 Highlands, I'd say it's irrelevant where the missing14 data comes from because stormwater, as we know, has15 recipratory effects, that's why we have neighboring16 towns concerned with this issue as

13 Highlands, I'd say it's irrelevant where the missing14 data comes from because stormwater, as we know, has15 recipratory effects, that's why we have neighboring16 towns concerned with this issue as well.17 I believe this is a relevant update for this18 panel tonight because as it pertains, our town, in our19 council meetings, is acknowledging that it does not have20 appropriate or full data in which I would feel confident21 for our ability to ensure that we can safely handle22 exacerbated stormwater capacity and yet we are here23 knowingly acknowledging that we don't have that data and24 moving forward with the proposal in which that data is25