January 28, 2026, Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

11 of 66 sheets Page 41 to 44 of 155 02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM 41 THE PUBLIC: My name is Judith Stark,1 S-T-A-R-K.2 MS. McGOVERN: And your address.3 THE PUBLIC: And I live in South Orange.4 332 Lenox Avenue, South Orange.5 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to6 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the7 truth.8 THE PUBLIC: I do.9 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.10 THE PUBLIC: My profession is a philosopher,11 and not just a philosopher, I'm an environmental12 philosopher. I have taught environmental ethics and13 environmental philosophy at Seton Hall University for14 over 35 years. I have devoted my teaching, research and15 community activism to the environment since the first16 Earth Day on April 22, 1970.17 Other speakers this evening covered many18 areas, but I will take a different approach. I come19 here before you as a representative of that wonderful20 Dr. Suess character, the Lorax. Because the Lorax21 speaks for the trees and now so do I.22 What do trees provide? Beauty, shade,23 habitats for other living beings. We have heard about24 the process of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide is25 42 taken out of the atmosphere by plants and then they emit1 oxygen for us and for every living being. A 30 acre2 forest emits 660,000 pounds of oxygen every year. This3 supports the breathing needs of 540 people per year.4 That -- this same forest can absorb up to 450 metric5 tons of CO2 annually. These prothesis, as we have6 heard, are particularly important as we tackle the7 serious challenges of climate change.8 What are trees? We know they're members of9 the plant kingdom with all the classifications that we10 learned in biology class, but this is only part of their11 story. A more comprehensive account sees trees as12 living beings with capacities that basic biology hardly13 recognizes. A German forester by the name of Peter14 Wohlleben has written a wonderful book called, The15 Hidden Life of Trees. See, Professors bring books to16 things like this. The Hidden Life Of Trees, what they17 feel, how they communicate. He analyzed a wide range18 capacity of trees. For example, trees communicate with19 each other through a vast network and intricate20 underground network through which they share news about21 insects, drought and other dangers. The term for this22 network was first coined by Dr. Suzanne Seymard of23 British Columbia, Canada. She called this

und network through which they share news about21 insects, drought and other dangers. The term for this22 network was first coined by Dr. Suzanne Seymard of23 British Columbia, Canada. She called this complex24 underground network, the Wood Wibe Web.25 43 I hardly need to remind us of the human1 population density here in our beloved New Jersey. In2 fact New Jersey ranks number one in the US in population3 density. Some things you're known to be number one in,4 this one we are. 1,292 people per square mile. Because5 of this density New Jersey experiences both habitat loss6 and habitat fragmentation. These facts support the7 argument to maintain as much forested open land in our8 state as possible.9 Finally, there's a great deal of research10 about value for us human beings to be in nature and this11 is sometimes called, forest bathing, it's a wonderful12 Japanese practice.13 I often give my students the assignment to14 go out into nature and to describe what they see. A few15 years ago one of my students conducted her nature16 experience while driving on the Garden State Parkway.17 No, I told her, this was not acceptable. But I can tell18 you it was highly revealing. She was so removed from19 nature that she thought she could count this as her20 nature experience. I told her she needed to get out of21 her car and take nature in, but don't do it on the22 Garden State Parkway.23 My last point, be very quick, is an ethical24 one, and that is, there's a wonderful ethical system25 44 called, The Land Ethic, that was developed by Aldo1 Leopold about 30 years ago in a wonderful collection of2 essays, I should've brought that book, Sand County3 Almanac, so I recommend that book, it's wonderful.4 Considering all these points, I urge the5 Planning Board to reject this development as a violation6 of these fundamental principles. Therefore, I urge7 everyone to consider that if ten year old children and8 my undergraduate students can listen to the Lorax and9 speak for the trees, so can this Planning Board. Thank10 you very much.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.12 Come right up. State your name for the13 record, please. And your address?14 THE PUBLIC: Names Elizabeth Bicente,15 B-I-C-E-N-T-E. I live in 320 15th Ave, South Street,16 Morristown.17 MS. McGOVERN: What was the town?18 THE PUBLIC: Morristown.19 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to20 tell the truth the whole

,15 B-I-C-E-N-T-E. I live in 320 15th Ave, South Street,16 Morristown.17 MS. McGOVERN: What was the town?18 THE PUBLIC: Morristown.19 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to20 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the21 truth.22 THE PUBLIC: Yes, I do.23 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.24 THE PUBLIC: Okay.25