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

23 of 53 sheets Page 89 to 92 of 122 02/03/2026 04:49:05 PM 89 or 496 halfway houses to be built. This development1 does not belong here.2 Secondly, it is unfair that five people were3 able to decide the faith for not only 300 residents of4 the West Orange West Essex Highlands community but for5 all of West Orange and parts of neighboring towns. The6 main argument against what was just said is, oh well,7 you voted them in. They inevitably failed in their duty8 to protect the public and we did not vote for that.9 Tribal leader Vinny, a member of the Lenni10 Lenape tribe whose ancestors once lived on and walked11 this land once said, "The man who cuts down all the12 trees and kills all the animals will find that he has13 nothing left to eat." Nature sustains us. It feeds us.14 We have all grown as people over our involvement with15 this project. For me that time frame is four years. In16 extraordinary cases, such as Mr. Tractenberg, that time17 period is 25 years. Imagine that, 25 years. Think18 about who you were 25 years ago. What you stood for.19 What your life was like. Can you imagine fighting for20 something for 25 years. How special and important that21 land must be to want to preserve it for 25 years without22 wavering in that devotion. You will be raking the23 aftermath of this decision, your decision for years to24 come. Do the right thing, show that you care. Thank25 90 you for hearing me tonight.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.2 Any other members of the public have any3 other public comment? Please come up and testify.4 State your name and address for the record, sir.5 THE PUBLIC: Orin Knights, 19 Rosemont6 Terrace, West Orange.7 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to8 tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth.9 THE PUBLIC: Yes, I do.10 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.11 THE PUBLIC: I am going to use the light12 because --13 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead, sir.14 THE PUBLIC: Good evening, Mayor McCartney,15 Mr. Chairman and members of West Orange Town Council and16 Planning Board.17 As a resident of West Orange I'm profoundly18 concerned about the 496 unit four story housing19 development that is being proposed to be built on a 12020 acre forested acre on the Second Watchung Ridge forest21 area in West Orange. Sadly this development calls for22 the clearing of about 38 acres and deforestation of23 about 6,000 trees, not to mention the

forested acre on the Second Watchung Ridge forest21 area in West Orange. Sadly this development calls for22 the clearing of about 38 acres and deforestation of23 about 6,000 trees, not to mention the irreversible24 damage this project will have on the environment25 91 community. Thereby my family and I share the following1 personal concerns.2 This project can cause a substantial risk of3 soil erosion, rock slides, land subsidence and4 ultimately flooding in our homes and streets that are5 located around the Second Watching Ridge forest.6 In regards to flooding. I have in my hand a7 furnished picture of what can happen at the Second8 Watchung Ridge forest when we have heavy rains. I have9 a picture of it. A few years ago many homes in our area10 experienced flooding in our basements. Many suffered11 damages and personal loss. Our streets were also12 flooded. My wife and I stayed up until about 5:0013 o'clock in the morning bailing out water out of our14 basement.15 Secondly, I'm also concerned about Building16 D that's being built seven feet from the mountain ridge.17 An independent We Care expert sounded the alarm at a18 Planning Board meeting by reporting that it will be a19 tremendous risk to construct Building D within seven20 feet of the ridge line on the Second Watchung Mountain.21 I believe history is our best teacher. To refresh our22 memory, on September 1, 2021, 45 families were abruptly23 evacuated from the Ron Jolyn apartments on Northfield24 Avenue, West Orange due to a rock slide from Hurricane25 92 Ida. Unfortunately the building will ultimately be1 demolished. Thankfully no one got injured or died, and2 sadly 30 people in New Jersey died in that storm.3 On a personal note, my wife and I were in4 our home when we experienced on April 4, 2024 a5 magnitude 4.8 earthquake that shook our home. Soon6 thereafter on June 2024 we experienced another 3.47 magnitude earthquake, hence the proposed development on8 the mountain ridge, in particular Building D, causes a9 grave threat to the tenants and to our community.10 Lastly, we are immensely concerned about the11 stormwater drainage system. It was reported that the12 rock slide at the Ron Jolyn apartments was tied in part13 to a stormwater runoff issue. For the second -- for the14 record, Princeton Hydro commissioned by We Care New15 Jersey submitted a 43 page document on October 5, 202516 to Dr.

ments was tied in part13 to a stormwater runoff issue. For the second -- for the14 record, Princeton Hydro commissioned by We Care New15 Jersey submitted a 43 page document on October 5, 202516 to Dr. Robert Bagoff and the West Orange Planning Board17 explaining why building on the West Essex Highlands is18 dangerous because of flooding and other reasons.19 It is also -- it also questioned some of the20 methods that the applicants expert used in his21 investigation. Furthermore, the towns engineer CMEs22 plan is to address issues as they occur. How do you23 address a landslide that damages your home or does24 something worse, how does addressing things after the25