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

7 of 66 sheets Page 25 to 28 of 155 02/26/2026 05:17:42 PM 25 Beyond the environmental loss the traffic1 and safety implications are deeply concerning. This2 development is designed with only one entrance and one3 exit. That means all traffic, residents, delivery4 vehicles, emergency services and construction equipment5 will be funneled through a single access point. Adding6 approximately 1,200 additional cars into this bottleneck7 will significantly increase congestion, delay emergency8 response times and create dangerous conditions during9 peak hours and severe weather events. This is not10 simply an inconvenience, it is a public safety issue11 for.12 Current residents evacuation during a fire,13 flood or medical emergency would be severely14 compromised. For first responders access would be15 slowed. For pedestrians, cyclists and children in the16 area the risk of accidents will rise substantially.17 I would also like to share how this project18 affects me personally and professionally. I'm an OB GYN19 in West Orange. I've been practicing fro over 17 years20 in the West Orange community. I am frequently on call21 and must respond to urgent and life threatening22 situations at the hospital, sometimes with only minutes23 notice. When a mother or baby is in distress every24 minute matters. Delays caused by gridlocked exits,25 26 construction traffic and increased daily volume would1 directly interfere with my ability to reach patients in2 time. This development would create unfair and3 unnecessary obstacles to my ability to provide emergency4 medical care. This is not hypothetical, this is the5 reality of what happens when dense development is placed6 beyond a single point or access with no redundant7 routes. We all understand the need for thoughtful8 growth, but thoughtful growth means placing development9 where infrastructure can support it, where traffic can10 be disbursed safely and where irreplaceable natural11 resources are not sacrificed unnecessarily. This site12 with its single access point and its role as a major13 forested buffer is not appropriate for a project of this14 scale.15 I urge the board to consider the long-term16 consequences not just the short-term gains. Once these17 trees are gone they are gone forever. Once traffic18 patterns are overwhelmed they cannot easily be undone19 and once safety margins are reduced, the risks fall on20 the

short-term gains. Once these17 trees are gone they are gone forever. Once traffic18 patterns are overwhelmed they cannot easily be undone19 and once safety margins are reduced, the risks fall on20 the people who already live here and serve this21 community.22 Please protect this land, protect the23 existing residents and prioritize safety, environmental24 stewardship and responsible planning. Thank you for25 27 your time and for your consideration.1 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.2 Please state your name for the record.3 THE PUBLIC: Yes. Sheelpa Patel, 104 Rappleye Court, West Orange.5 MS. McGOVERN: Do you swear or affirm to6 tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the7 truth.8 THE PUBLIC: Yes, I do.9 MS. McGOVERN: Thank you.10 THE PUBLIC: Good evening. My name is11 Sheelpa Patel and I live at 10 Rappleye Court in The12 Grand community and our backyard faces the Oval Road.13 My family and I moved to West Orange in14 March 2020 and into The Grand two years ago. In a short15 amount of time we have come to deeply appreciate this16 community and this town but we have also experienced17 serious safety concerns related to access and emergency18 impact. As unsettling as it sounds, twice in the past19 two years our family and our home have been directly20 impacted by fire. And in both cases the impact of21 having a single road access became frighteningly clear.22 The forest fire occurred at the home in The Grand.23 During that incident we were unable to leave our house24 for nearly nine hours. My husband was traveling that25 28 day and feel bad as the situation unfolded. His Uber1 was forced to drop him on Oval Road and he walked into2 the neighborhood dragging his luggage. Thankfully that3 worked out. But at the same time my 90 year old4 mother-in-law who has medical issues stayed with us.5 Had anyone in our home or nearby required emergency6 medical assistance that day, the situation could have7 been very different. Thankfully no one did.8 The second incident was a fire on the golf9 course, directly behind our home. During that fire we10 could clearly see families in the Highlands being11 prevented from traveling on Oval Road, effectively12 cutoff with no way in or out due to the single road13 access. Beyond emergencies, we regularly experience14 condition and disruption on Oval Road. When the Chateau15 holds events or the movie is filming is going

no way in or out due to the single road13 access. Beyond emergencies, we regularly experience14 condition and disruption on Oval Road. When the Chateau15 holds events or the movie is filming is going on,16 vehicles are parked on both sides of Oval Road behind17 our home, all the way up to the entrance of the18 Highlands, which increase noise and constant activity.19 This is already challenging and it will intensify even20 more with additional development.21 Other incidences when the town is doing22 maintenance or upgrade of the utilities. During the23 America Water pipeline work on Eagle Rock Avenue which24 went on for weeks. Oval Road the only point of entry25