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

02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM Page 117 to 120 of 155 30 of 66 sheets 117 away, and see what happens, okay, in the spring. All1 right. See what happens in the late fall when it's2 hurricane season, all right. You will find, okay,3 waterfalls going back through my backyard, through all4 my neighbors backyards, every time there's even a5 moderate rainfall. Go look into the streets, look at6 the storm drains, you will see geysers, literal geysers7 popping up out of the storm drains every time there's8 moderate rain fall, right. And they want you to9 believe, all right, that they're going to mitigate all10 these problems, right. Again, use your common sense.11 Okay. And think, okay, is that really going to happen,12 all right. They're telling you, all right, that you13 should ignore, you know, the steep slope, it's going to14 be completely safe, all right. Ignore the current15 regulations, we predate them, right. Again, use your16 common sense, is that a good idea. Is that where you17 would choose to build a building, right. Is that smart,18 right. Is that something that West Orange wants to put19 its name on. That we allowed a building seven feet away20 from the steep slope, right.21 They tell you, don't worry about traffic,22 sure there will be one way in and out, okay. Don't23 worry about it, we're going to put a stoplight over24 there, right. Just this week, okay, I was driving down25 118 Pleasant Valley Way towards Eagle Rock, went up Eagle1 Rock towards Livingston, there was traffic nonstop.2 Bumper to bumper all the way from Pleasant Valley3 Way/Eagle Rock all the way up to Laurel Avenue. Okay.4 What's going to happen when there's a thousand or plus5 more cars coming through, all right. They tell you,6 don't worry about it, the lights going to solve it.7 Okay. Again, use your common sense. Tell them to go,8 at the very least tell them to go back to the drawing9 board. That this is a terrible idea. Okay. If it10 shouldn't be denied outright, all right, you don't want11 to take away their property rights, you want to, you12 know, abide by the settlement agreement. All right.13 The settlement agreement doesn't force you to vote for14 this, all right. It allows you to say that this is a15 bad idea and to tell the developer to go back to the16 drawing board. I urge you to tell them that.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much, sir.18 State your name for the record,

say that this is a15 bad idea and to tell the developer to go back to the16 drawing board. I urge you to tell them that.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much, sir.18 State your name for the record, sir.19 THE PUBLIC: Ben Steiner, S-T-E-I-N-E-R, 4420 Inwood Road, Essex Fells.21 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to22 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the23 truth.24 THE PUBLIC: I do.25 119 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.1 THE PUBLIC: Mr. Chairman, Lady Mayoress,2 members of the Planning Board, thank you for this3 opportunity.4 I've watched a good number of these meetings5 on zoom, I listened to the expert testimony, I heard6 lots of questions from this room and I can't help but7 wonder who else is going to speak up in favor of this8 application. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but is anyone else9 going to speak in favor, can you raise your hand if10 you're going to speak in favor. Okay. Pretty clear.11 So I see a large group of people who don't like the idea12 and I see one person sitting in front me here, Mr.13 Plocker, who does like it. And I'm thinking to myself,14 why isn't anyone else speaking up in favor of this. Is15 it really that bad. Now, if this were a democracy, lots16 of people want to stop it, one person wants it, the17 result would be clear. But this isn't a democracy,18 let's call it what it is. It's capitalism. It's about19 profits for Garden Homes and risk for local residents.20 Now, my funny accent obviously isn't from21 New Jersey, I'm English and I am an American citizen22 now. So I did the whole citizenship test thing and they23 checked I could read and write English. I passed that24 bit. And they also gave me a test on US history and a25 120 civics test, which focused on government and democracy.1 So I'd like to start by thanking the Planning Board2 because you guys are living local democracy. Now,3 you're volunteers, you're all volunteers I assume.4 Maybe I didn't pass that one. You all give your time to5 your community as public servants, so thank you all for6 your service. And all of us making comments this7 evening recognize that. That you, like all other8 Planning Boards, are volunteers and you give your time9 freely to serve your community but you live in the10 community too. So you like other Planning Boards will11 be impacted by traffic congestion. You and your12 families will be impacted by overcrowded schools. You13 and your

mmunity but you live in the10 community too. So you like other Planning Boards will11 be impacted by traffic congestion. You and your12 families will be impacted by overcrowded schools. You13 and your families will be impacted by risk of public14 safety, by threats to the public water supply and on and15 on and on.16 Now, after all these meetings, obviously you17 have a choice. Do you choose the safety and welfare of18 the community or do you choose the profits of Garden19 Homes. It's about choice between increasing the profits20 of a billionaire, who by the way, doesn't live here, or21 protecting the safety and welfare of those that do.22 Now, I know what people say, that the little23 people never win in a situation like this, that there's24 always a billionaire with deep pockets who always gets25