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

25 of 53 sheets Page 97 to 100 of 122 02/03/2026 04:49:05 PM 97 comments? Please come up and give your name and address1 for the record.2 THE PUBLIC: Sophia Joseph, 19 Cunningham3 Drive.4 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to5 tell the truth the whole truth nothing bu the truth.6 THE PUBLIC: I do.7 Good evening council members and thanks for8 the opportunity to speak.9 Unlike many other members of the public I10 did just move into the area in June of last year to11 Cunningham Drive. My name is Sophia Joseph, I live12 directly across the street from the forest on the Second13 Watchung Drive. Every morning my children and I watch14 the deer step out of that forest into our yard. It's a15 small beautiful part of our routine. One reason we16 chose to live in this house. But I'm here tonight17 because removing this forest for a 496 development would18 create serious permanent risks for both the people and19 environment of West Orange. And as a parent I am deeply20 worried about what those risks might mean for my21 children's future. This forest protects our safety,22 this ridge is not empty land, it's a natural protection23 system that absorbs stormwater, prevents flooding,24 stabilizes slopes and protects homes. The soil here25 98 acts like a sponge. If you replace it with asphalt and1 compacted dirt that sponge becomes a flood tunnel. On a2 steep slope like this that means faster runoff, flash3 flooding, erosion, property damage and higher cost to4 residents and the town. With storms getting stronger5 every year this is not theoretical, we are already6 seeing how quickly roads can flood. Removing this7 forest makes it dramatically worse. Climate change8 makes this even more dangerous. We are living through9 extreme rainfall, heat waves and unpredictable weather.10 Forests like this ridge help buffer those impacts. Tree11 carbon absorbs enormous amounts of water, cool12 neighborhoods and stabilizes soil during storms. Clear13 cutting a ridge in 2025 during a climate emergency is14 simply not responsible planning. We should be15 strengthening our natural defenses not removing them.16 As a mother I think everyday about the climate that my17 children grow up in. We cannot afford decisions that18 will make their world hotter, flood prone and less19 stable. Daily quality of life will decline.20 To be honest, everyone hates sitting in21 traffic, our roads are

n. We cannot afford decisions that18 will make their world hotter, flood prone and less19 stable. Daily quality of life will decline.20 To be honest, everyone hates sitting in21 traffic, our roads are strained already as they are.22 Adding 800 to a 1,000 more cars from this one23 development means more congestion, more frustration,24 slower emergency response, more emissions and pollution,25 99 extra heat radiating from the pavement. This affects1 physical health, mental health and basic quality of2 life. People move to this area of West Orange and the3 neighboring towns because it offers nature and4 community. Projects like this erase that balance.5 Soil health equals public safety. Forest6 soil takes centuries to develop. Once developers scrape7 away the hill, it becomes unstable, this leads to faster8 runoff and downstream flooding and more erosion. Higher9 landslides. You can plant new trees but you cannot10 create 100 year old soil. Once it's gone it's gone11 forever.12 And finally, wildlife matters because it13 affects us too. The deer that visit the yard come from14 this ridge. So do the fox, owls and countless small15 species. When a forest is destroyed the wildlife will16 spill into our roads, the tics will increase, predators17 disappear and car pollution increases. This is about18 echo system health, but also human health and safety.19 The cost to West Orange will be permanent. This project20 benefits only one party, the developer. Everyone else21 loses. Safety, flood protection, climate resilience,22 privacy, peace, property value, wildlife and the23 character that makes this town special. You cannot24 rebuild a ridge, you cannot rebuild the forest in our25 100 lifetime and once the wildlife is gone it's not coming1 back.2 My ask; I respectfully urge the council to3 reject this development or at a minimum pause until4 independent stormwater and environmental traffic studies5 are more complete and make it more public. This is an6 irreversible decision and we must treat it with the7 seriousness that it deserves. I live across from this8 ridge, I raised my children here, I breathe this air and9 sit in this traffic. My family and everyone here will10 live with the consequences of what happens to this11 forest. This ridge protects us from flooding, heat and12 climate extremes. It gives us peace, love, wildlife,13 clean air, sense of place. Please

0 live with the consequences of what happens to this11 forest. This ridge protects us from flooding, heat and12 climate extremes. It gives us peace, love, wildlife,13 clean air, sense of place. Please protect it. Once14 it's gone West Orange will never get it back. Thank15 you.16 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.17 Come right up. State your name, address for18 the record.19 THE PUBLIC: Marea DePalma, 61 Lapis Circle,20 West Orange.21 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to22 tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth.23 THE PUBLIC: Yes, I do.24 Back in April, April 27, I first handedly25