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

27 of 66 sheets Page 105 to 108 of 155 02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM 105 MS. McGOVERN: Spell your last name.1 THE PUBLIC: B-A-R-T-O-N.2 MS. McGOVERN: Okay.3 Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth the4 whole truth and nothing but the truth.5 THE PUBLIC: Yes.6 Before I begin, I want to strongly agree7 with almost everything I've heard here. I think that we8 have a piece of land that has been in development for9 like 200, 300 years, the echo system on this property,10 it's irreplaceable and it's only going to increase in11 value.12 Okay. I'm going to talk about something13 that hasn't been addressed here yet, so it'll a little14 bit different. I'm going to speak about the sanitary15 sewer main capacity on Pleasant Valley Way. I manage16 the building at 270 Pleasant Valley Way, I am concerned17 about the sanitary sewer main capacity on Pleasant18 Valley Way. According to the testimony before this19 committee, sewage discharge of the proposed development20 will be handled by the joint meeting in Elizabeth and21 probably and would likely pass through the sewer main22 which our buildings connect or compete with the23 buildings discharge further downstream.24 Congregation or Torah of West Orange25 106 purchased this building in 1998 from Americana1 Portraits. The building is located between the2 firehouse on Pleasant Valley Way and Pleasantdale3 Nursery. Our property actually surrounds the property4 on Woodland Avenue and adjoins the wetlands along5 Peckman Creek. Our buildings foundation is about ten6 feet below street level, so that as you pass by it on7 Pleasant Valley Way you mainly see the roof. Okay.8 Now, there is a sanitary sewer clean out at one corner9 of our building. Three times since COVID, in early 202010 on November 25, 2024 and on March 25, 2025 we have had11 sanitary sewer water running out of that clean out down12 our parking lot into the wetlands. Two of these events13 lasted for more than ten hours and consisted of hundreds14 of gallons of untreated sewer water entering the15 wetlands. All three times the overflow was stopped by16 the township water jetting the sanitary sewer main under17 Pleasant Valley Way to push the obstruction further down18 the line. The Township supervisor of public works has19 consented to water jetting this line twice a year to20 prevent further overflows.21 Our problem and the solution suggests the22 Pleasant Valley Way

line. The Township supervisor of public works has19 consented to water jetting this line twice a year to20 prevent further overflows.21 Our problem and the solution suggests the22 Pleasant Valley Way sanitary sewer main line, which23 would serve the new development, is already over24 capacity. Quoting Ms. Carballo, the township engineer25 107 from Page 3 of the Township of West Orange Planning1 Board meeting November 10, 2025 minutes referring to the2 sewer mains downstream of our building, "Will have to3 have a consulting company do the study and figure out4 how much those existing pipes can handle based on their5 slope size and whether or not it's even feasible." That6 is whether or not it is even feasible for the sewer7 mains to handle more sewage. Without increasing the8 size of the sewer mains it would appear that some sort9 of holding tank and pump need to be incorporated into10 West Essex Highlands proposal to control the timing of11 sewage release before connecting this project to the12 existing sewer mains. Therefore, I think that a13 proposal before this board lax fundamental structures to14 handle the sewage and should not be adopted.15 To summarize, the sanitary sewer main under16 Pleasant Valley Way could barely handle the current17 volume of sewage. Adding hundreds of homes to the18 system would require widening of the sanitary sewer main19 or construction holding tanks and pumps, neither of20 these options are included in the plan under21 consideration. I thank you for your time and your22 efforts. That is all. Thank you.23 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much.24 Please state your name for the record.25 108 THE PUBLIC: Rachel Klein, Howell Drive.1 Up until recently -- oh, sorry.2 MS. McGOVERN: It's okay.3 THE PUBLIC: Oh, actually I have a quick4 message from Mr. Afran. I forgot also. Oh, he just5 wanted to apologizes for not being able to be here. He6 was out of the country and got stuck in the blizzard and7 only just got back to New Jersey this morning.8 MS. McGOVERN: Okay.9 THE PUBLIC: Okay. Sorry.10 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to11 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the12 truth.13 THE PUBLIC: Yes.14 Rachel Klein, Howell Drive.15 Up until recently I was not on the board of16 We Care, but I am now on the board, as Mr. Plocker asked17 that we identify ourselves, I'm doing just that.18 Thank you for putting in so much time

ive.15 Up until recently I was not on the board of16 We Care, but I am now on the board, as Mr. Plocker asked17 that we identify ourselves, I'm doing just that.18 Thank you for putting in so much time and19 bearing with us all through this process. I hope you20 take into account what the public has to say about their21 current situations and take our fears and concerns22 seriously. I also want to implore you to read what Mr.23 Litwornia submitted for the record. When he was here24 before this board, he was treated rather harshly, and I25