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

02/03/2026 04:49:05 PM Page 101 to 104 of 122 26 of 53 sheets 101 witnessed the fire on the golf course and I was trapped1 in my complex. I had an emergency with my mom who lives2 only 12 minutes away and I couldn't get to her. I3 couldn't leave by foot, I couldn't leave by the Essex4 Fells. They wouldn't let anybody out either way. I was5 told to stand back by the fire captain, that it was a6 safety hazard. I was not permitted to leave my property7 for over two and a half hours. In the meantime I had to8 call 911 for my mother. There is no one else for my mom9 to call or go to. Ironically both neighbors were not10 home at that time, so she was in a panic. She is 9311 years old and I am only 12 minutes away and I was12 trapped and could not get to her. Thank God it wasn't a13 fatality, but it is such an uncomfortable feeling when14 there's so much space and I couldn't leave by foot, even15 escorted by the fire captain. I could not get out of my16 complex and that's all I wanted to say about feeling17 trapped.18 With the traffic, I witness this every19 single day. Yesterday and today it was atrocious. It20 was only ten to five and the traffic was backed up Eagle21 Rock all the way to almost one block before the22 Highlands and there is nothing even built yet. In the23 past three years -- I am living in the Highlands 3224 years. You can feel the congestion, you can feel it25 102 certain times of the day. You turn around there is no1 more, there's no space. No matter which way you turn2 there's cars jutting out. To leave my daughter off for3 school in the morning I am now the ninth car back just4 getting out of my complex. It used to be maybe two or5 three sometimes none. But nine cars back and there is6 nothing even in there. That's coming from The Grand and7 where I live and it was a different time, she's going to8 school an hour later this year. So the traffic on9 Laurel Avenue is backed up. No matter which way you go10 it's backed up. You could see the red lights this way11 and the white lights that way and I can't understand how12 consciously this project could go forward. If any of13 you live in this neighborhood are you going to feel the14 impact of it or are you all free from it. Is it just us15 that are complaining, but if you felt it and it was your16 home and it was what you're used to and you bought where17 you are for the beauty of the grounds,

r are you all free from it. Is it just us15 that are complaining, but if you felt it and it was your16 home and it was what you're used to and you bought where17 you are for the beauty of the grounds, that's all going18 to be taken because of greed. And that's all I want to19 say, but it is unhealthy on every different level for20 the Highlands, The Grand, the neighboring town Essex21 Fells. I haven't heard one person say that they agree22 with this project. Not one single person. Everybody is23 affected by it in some way. There's people in my24 complex that walk their babies, the kids ride their25 103 bikes, that will all be taken away. That's what we1 moved there for. We moved there for this openness, for2 this airiness, for this pure air more or less and that3 is all going to be taken away by greed by these big ugly4 monstrous buildings that do not belong there. It's an5 area of beauty. It's the only piece of land left. Does6 that mean anything to anybody. It does to me. Thank7 very much for your time.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.9 Anybody else from the public have any10 comments? Please come up and be identified. State your11 name for the record.12 THE PUBLIC: Hello. Bill Slezak and I live13 in West Orange for the past 46 years. My wife and I14 raised our three kids --15 MS. McGOVERN: What is your address.16 THE PUBLIC: 14 Marie Terrace.17 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to18 tell the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth.19 THE PUBLIC: I do.20 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.21 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Go right ahead, sir.22 THE PUBLIC: Okay.23 Yes, so I am about a mile from the proposed24 development. I have a masters degree in ecology from25 104 Rutgers and environmental engineering from NJIT. I also1 obtained a professional engineers license in 1987. I2 worked for 37 years with the Army Corps of Engineers,3 mostly out of the New York office. After retiring from4 the Corp in 2013 I joined AECOM, a private architect5 engineering firm where I worked until 2023. All though6 I have casually followed the development application7 concerning this property over the years I have never8 been a member of any group nor taken part in these9 hearings. I have several friends though that have been10 involved in the project for many years, one of them who11 asked me to review the reports submitted by Langan12 Engineering, Princeton Hydro, CME, as well as the Army13 Corps

ds though that have been10 involved in the project for many years, one of them who11 asked me to review the reports submitted by Langan12 Engineering, Princeton Hydro, CME, as well as the Army13 Corps Manuals that are referred to in the reports. To14 be clear, I am not representing myself as an expert15 witness in geotechnical engineering, but rather a16 concerned citizen who happens to be familiar with17 engineering principles and procedures related to my18 career in engineering. As a result I have some concerns19 that I would like to share with the board.20 First, I thought CME did an excellent job in21 their review of the Langan and Princeton Hydro reports22 and in identifying deficiencies in the Langan submittal.23 I also listened to testimony provided by CME, Princeton24 Engineers, Mr. Kleinberg by video. Among the CME25