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

02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM Page 93 to 96 of 155 24 of 66 sheets 93 Now, this development where it's placed is,1 the animals don't stay in one spot. Okay. They have to2 move. Their families grow, they have to move. They --3 they have to forage, they don't stay in one spot. Where4 this is located, it's part of the animal pathway that5 connects various wooded areas in this location all the6 way to the river on the north and all the way to the7 river on the south through our reservations and private8 land. It's not a great place to put a development9 because you're interrupting that.10 A forest, as you know, is not a single tree.11 Lie a single tree in your yard, it's great. You plant12 one, you don't live as long as it does, but it does not13 provide habitat for more than one species maybe. An14 intact forest on the other hand, a minimum time to grow15 is 100 years, but to get the mycelium networks, to get16 the thriving plant communities, you're looking at a17 thousands of years. That's 300 years times three. Your18 tree grows and dies three times.19 This forest, from what I'm hearing, has been20 here that long. So there are trees in there that are21 here before any European settler even came to this, you22 know, land. That was the forest. Most of the east23 coast was forest. It's all gone. West Orange has24 something that nobody else around here has, we have an25 94 intact, old growth forest that's not been developed.1 It's never been developed and if you guys choose to2 develop it this time, even though its been chosen not to3 be developed several times, that's going to be gone.4 None of us can replace a thousand year old forest. None5 of us can replace 100 year old tree. No one can bring6 me a 100 year old tree no matter how much money I have,7 right. You can't bring me a 300 year old forest. You8 can't build a 300 year old forest. How long does an9 apartment building last? Like how long before this town10 is going to have to pay to tear that apartment building11 down again. We might live to see that, but we will not12 live to see a 300 year old forest regrow. None of us13 will live to see that.14 So the reason why we moved here is because15 this is a small diverse town that cares about its16 environment. We have the reservations, you know, we're17 looking out for this kind of thing. It hasn't worked in18 the past, it's not going to work in the future.

l diverse town that cares about its16 environment. We have the reservations, you know, we're17 looking out for this kind of thing. It hasn't worked in18 the past, it's not going to work in the future. It19 doesn't matter how much you tweak the plan, it's not a20 good plan. It's throwing money down a rat hole, you21 know. Somebody's going to make some money off it, it's22 not going to be us. It's going to be short-term, it's23 going to be extracted, you know. The monies not going24 to stay in West Orange. I would urge you to think about25 95 these things. It's something we have that no one else1 has and once it's gone it's gone and all we have is an2 apartment building that's going to fall apart in 503 years.4 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Please state your name for5 the record.6 THE PUBLIC: Nancy Meyerowitz,7 M-E-Y-E-R-O-W-I-T-Z, 19 Howell Drive, West Orange.8 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to9 tell the truth the whole and nothing but the truth.10 THE PUBLIC: I do.11 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.12 THE PUBLIC: We are the original owners of13 37 years of our home on Howell Drive which was built by14 Garden Homes. The top of our property touches the15 cul-de-sac where the emergency access road will come in16 and we're at the bottom of steep slope by Building D.17 I'm not going to repeat what the experts have said, I am18 not an expert, but I want to address the real impact on19 us, and it's not just our story, it's the story of20 everyone on Howell Drive and the Highlands and every21 town surrounding the community. And we're asking that22 you deny this application. Not set conditions but deny23 the project for the many unknown questions that still24 remain and for the none impact on public safety.25 96 Regarding runoff and flooding. We've had1 continued flooding in or backyard since Garden Homes2 built our home 37 years ago. When it rains our backyard3 floods, the storm drains buckle I know Garden Homes had4 a water management, stormwater management plan then, it5 didn't work then, it doesn't work now and they were6 nowhere to be found when we had these issues. So you7 understand why we don't trust that the plan for this8 site will be upheld.9 And addressing these issues after they occur10 is to late, it's to late to save our homes or our lives11 in the event of a life threatening situation. You've12 heard for Princeton Hydro that the stormwater management13 plan is not

ter they occur10 is to late, it's to late to save our homes or our lives11 in the event of a life threatening situation. You've12 heard for Princeton Hydro that the stormwater management13 plan is not compliant with current state and local14 requirements. We -- you must require the developer15 conform with current stormwater guidelines, even if that16 means a delay or redesign of the project. To wave17 compliance on current regulations for a project hasn't18 even started is unconscionable.19 Regarding the steep slope. The development20 puts all our homes on Howell Drive and others at risk21 for landslides during heavy rains or during blasting.22 Building D is only 106 feet from our home and seven feet23 from the ridge line. We know we'll feel the impact of24 blasting. Not one expert you've heard has reassured us25