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

02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM Page 125 to 128 of 155 32 of 66 sheets 125 at 10 Kinzel Lane, West Orange, New Jersey.1 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to2 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the3 truth.4 THE PUBLIC: I do.5 So I'm reading the comments for Debbie6 Butensky, my neighbor, who lives at 11 Rappleye Court.7 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. You can do this as8 your comments, but you can't do it as her comments.9 THE PUBLIC: Okay.10 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: So if you say to the11 record it's your comments --12 THE PUBLIC: These are my comments that she13 wrote. How's that? Is that good?14 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Good enough.15 THE PUBLIC: Very good.16 She writes this in the first person so it17 might sound weird.18 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: That's okay.19 THE PUBLIC: My background is the sciences20 and I'm not a surgeon.21 My interest in this project began in May22 2024 when the West Orange town Mayor called a town23 meeting at the Wilshire Grand. The meeting with the24 Mayor was to inform the public about the project. Her25 126 designated slide presenter, Wayne DeFeo, misinformed the1 public saying that the forest was unhealthy and that got2 me interested. I've hiked forests in many mountain an3 ranges in upstate New York, California and New Jersey.4 This is a small forest. It is lush and it is thriving.5 My specific career in clinical management I maintained a6 strong interest in environmental sciences, ecology and7 all things salutary. I've, as you heard by many of the8 environmental experts, a forest is not designated9 healthy or unhealthy, that's a medical term. But we can10 accurately say that there is a lush forest canopy on11 this site. In my opinion the particular forest is an12 absolute treasure, it is a rare pristine area that has13 never been developed and it never ever should be14 developed.15 In 2010 this was part of the Master Plan for16 West Orange, to preserve it as open space. There is now17 focus on the medical community on the mind, body18 connection. Mindfulness maintaining our metal health as19 well as physical.20 The forest of Block 179 Lot 8 though21 privately owned, remains in a perfect location for open22 space. You, the Planning Board, should reframe from23 permitting the development of this site of ordinance24 that was signed by the Town Council board in 2020 with25 127 the Mayor and on legal advice.1 Deer fencing can keep deer from

hould reframe from23 permitting the development of this site of ordinance24 that was signed by the Town Council board in 2020 with25 127 the Mayor and on legal advice.1 Deer fencing can keep deer from eating2 immature trees, does not repopulate mature trees, but3 increases underbrush exclusively. The forest cannot be4 replaced once trees are bulldozed.5 Fair share housing was not meant to be6 located where construction mandates the destruction of7 pristine forest.8 You heard from the environmentalist that the9 development would effectively kill the entire forest,10 not just the 20 acres planned. 28 acres planned.11 Instead of preserving the land as an oasis, allowing the12 development causes destruction to the forest, would put13 the Planning Board on the wrong side of West Orange14 history, destroying thousands of trees, effectively15 killing a forest located at Block 179 Lot 32.16 Moreover, there is simply ambiguity as to17 the fill of the eastern slope. There is no water source18 at the top of this site and to create a sufficient water19 pressure to fight a fire a water tower 40 feet high or20 higher would need to be constructed. We are talking21 about a structural behemoth and an eyesore for miles22 around. Development would certainly pollute the water23 source to the residents of Essex Fells. Surely the town24 could find an alternative location for it's fair share25 128 housing. I feel that this project is like the Titanic1 and developer Wilf is the iceberg. You folks are ill2 prepared for the enormous disaster destined to happen3 for allowing this plan to proceed. The application is4 missing a sewer plan, there is a subpar emergency5 evacuation plan, inadequate stormwater recharge6 management and failure to heed the advice of experts,7 especially regarding the steep slope. Reminds me of the8 Titanic disaster. The blockade of a fire truck access9 to the apartment building could have easily occurred in10 a snowstorm. It puts lives at risk.11 Road blockage on Warner Road or Howell Drive12 would put all residents in the apartment at risk being13 trapped, perhaps losing multiple lives. Thank you for14 your time.15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you very much. Come16 on up and state your name for the record, please.17 THE PUBLIC: I'm Deborah Druce, D-R-U-C-E,18 15 Barbara Avenue, West Orange.19 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to20 tell the truth the whole truth

up and state your name for the record, please.17 THE PUBLIC: I'm Deborah Druce, D-R-U-C-E,18 15 Barbara Avenue, West Orange.19 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to20 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the21 truth.22 THE PUBLIC: I've been -- my husband and I23 and my family have been residents of West Orange for 3324 years. We live in the lovely neighborhood along25