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

19 of 66 sheets Page 73 to 76 of 155 02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM 73 So all I can say is, I hope that you do the1 right thing as this board did 20 years ago in 20062 turning down a much smaller scale proposal for many of3 the same reasons. One way in and one way out,4 environmental harm and the like. So please look back at5 that, that's a good text for you to review as well as6 your own experts reports and I thank you for your7 attention and time.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.9 And just for the record, nobody's making10 anybody stand. People have the option to sit and get up11 any time they want. So everybody who's standing, this12 is totally up to you. You can be identified by standing13 up and coming up. Whatever's good for you guys is fine14 with us. Thank you very much.15 Go right ahead.16 THE PUBLIC: Hi. I'm Maxine Bock, Bakley17 Terrace, West Orange.18 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to19 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the20 truth.21 THE PUBLIC: I do.22 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.23 THE PUBLIC: So this proposed project has so24 many flaws. It's not only affecting West Orange, it's25 74 affecting surrounding towns as well, such as Verona,1 Essex Fells, Caldwell, etc. There's so many unknown2 questions that have not been answered, such as3 pre-blasting land survey, a soil capacity study, the4 environmental impact of the removal of 6,000 trees,5 flooding and displacement of wild life into our6 neighborhoods. The proposed project has so many7 potential issues with Oval Road being the sole access8 point to all 496 apartments with no plans to widen those9 sidewalks. Traffic issues will be unbearable when you10 add the additional volume to the traffic from the11 Highlands and the Grand. If there's any type of12 emergency, like there has been twice in the past two13 years, all residents in the proposed complex, the14 Highlands and The Grand will be trapped with no way out.15 I experienced that. There are safety issues in being16 able to maneuver fire trucks up to the top of the17 mountain in an emergency, which can put the residents of18 the proposed development in jeopardy. Putting a traffic19 light on Oval Road, while, yes, it is necessary to the20 proximity of the light on Oval Road will not alleviate21 traffic but will jut cause a large bottleneck on Eagle22 Rock Avenue and I'm sure on Pleasant Valley Way as well.23 The affordable

ary to the20 proximity of the light on Oval Road will not alleviate21 traffic but will jut cause a large bottleneck on Eagle22 Rock Avenue and I'm sure on Pleasant Valley Way as well.23 The affordable housing units are not24 identical to the other units in the proposed development25 75 which is certainly not fair to the residents.1 Last few issues. No one knows what will2 happen when blasting starts at what damage will occur,3 what damage will occur off-site and who will be4 responsible for the damages and there will be long5 protracted process to have damages paid for.6 As you can see by the handful of people in7 West Orange, not just a handful of people who have8 concerns of this project. The residents of other local9 communities as well as numerous local and state10 environmental groups who oppose the project.11 If this project is opposed -- approved. I'm12 sorry, if it's approved it would bring in more tax13 dollars for real estate taxes versus -- I don't know14 what that says. Sorry about that.15 Anyway, I do urge all you to think long and16 hard about this critical decision and urge you to vote17 with your heart and conscious to vote no.18 I do want to say that I guess I batted a19 thousand, I moved into Wayne Township in 1987 when the20 Mayor at that time was being indicted for some type of21 corruption. I moved into West Orange three years ago22 into The Grand with a development being built --23 proposed development being built behind us, which will24 just cause a great destruction and devastation.25 76 I thank the Planning Board very much. Have1 a good evening.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.3 Come right up and state your name for the4 record, please.5 THE PUBLIC: Hi. I'm Julia Flath, F-L-A-T-H.6 MS. McGOVERN: And your address?7 THE PUBLIC: 266 Tichenor Avenue in South8 Orange.9 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to10 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the11 truth.12 THE PUBLIC: Yes.13 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.14 THE PUBLIC: I'm here to express importance15 of preserving the health of our state for future16 generations to oppose this application. We should17 recognize that New Jersey has mechanisms for protecting18 important forests, such and this one should be19 considered here.20 In other areas of New Jersey, counties and21 municipalities are putting admirable effort into working22 with landowners and partners to preserve open

, such and this one should be19 considered here.20 In other areas of New Jersey, counties and21 municipalities are putting admirable effort into working22 with landowners and partners to preserve open space.23 There are grants such as Green Acres and there's also a24 brand new law, Essex 99 allowing for easements to25