February 25, 2026 Planning Board Special Meeting - WEHI Transcript

03/20/2026 06:14:03 AM Page 69 to 72 of 154 18 of 68 sheets 69 know, there was once a pristine old growth forest right1 in the middle of West Orange and we destroyed it. How2 do we answer that question.3 Now, are you convinced from the evidence you've4 seen, that Mr. DeFeo is right or that the experts the5 objectors marshaled have the better argument. If you're6 convinced that objectors evidence has the better case,7 you have to recognize the economic -- the ecological8 destruction of this site that will ensue. And therefore9 the only answer has to be, no.10 That's a satellite -- here, we're going to get to11 some aerial photos.12 I'm actually getting close to the end. I13 don't know, Mr. Chairman, when it's appropriate for a14 break. I'll leave it in your hands.15 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Keep going.16 MR. AFRAN: Okay.17 This is a 2024 satellite view. This is part of18 Dr. Hasse's presentation. Remember, he's basically the19 states cartographer. He maintains all of the data for20 the state on all of this collection of information.21 This, he testified, is a 2024 satellite image of the22 site. I think it's a beautiful picture. It shows the23 intense development in this area. And you can see the24 site is surrounded literally by thousands of buildings.25 70 And we have, and you can actually see a little bit of1 that connectivity corridor developing. I'm sorry. You2 can see it right here, that one area. You see over here3 above Ms. McGovern there. And then you see the center4 area. There's one, two, three. We are in the center.5 This is a vital point of connectivity for many species,6 particularly bird species that migrate and move from7 place to place. Take this away, destroy it and we wiped8 away one of the last remaining pieces of natural area in9 this community. Really in the whole northern area of10 the state. And you can see the intense development,11 that little bit, plus a little bit elsewhere, is all12 that's left of this. That's 1930 era. Again, our site13 Dr. Hasse placed in the center. This is most likely a14 winter or late fall picture. And you could see in 193015 there's very little development. And if I use above Ms.16 McGovern as a guiding point, right above there is some17 subdivision development back in the '30s. Some sand18 mining it looks like here. That may be why there's an19 open area shown, because it may be the remnants of that.20 And

right above there is some17 subdivision development back in the '30s. Some sand18 mining it looks like here. That may be why there's an19 open area shown, because it may be the remnants of that.20 And basically there's a little bit here, but most of21 it's open. This whole area. And if you go back you can22 see that this whole area is mostly developed. 1930 it23 was mostly undeveloped.24 Now, if we go further to what's known as25 71 Vermule Maps, those are done by the US Geological Survey1 back in the 1880s by a man named Vermule, the entire2 area was undeveloped. Now, the brown areas generally3 deemed farmland. The green areas are forested. So you4 can see where our project is in the center. Sorry. Our5 project is in the center and it's surrounded by woods.6 Those woods have largely disappeared over time. So what7 we have from Dr. Hasse is a demonstration of what there8 was and what there is left. And you're being asked to9 decide whether to literally destroy what is left, or10 large part what is left. There's very little of this11 left.12 Now, we're not talking about the destruction13 of an endangered species per se. We are talking about14 something equally rare. The destruction of old growth15 forest in the middle of central northern New Jersey.16 This is a rare entity and what's at stake is whether it17 survives or is destroyed. And as I said, Dr. -- the18 environmental evidence offered, and I won't say the19 applicant offered Dr. DeFeo, he's really mandated by the20 town as a board expert, but the only other environmental21 evidence offered was Dr. DeFeo. All he spoke about was22 if you put deer fences up you'll get some regrowth. He23 never got back on the stand and rebutted his testimony,24 nor could he. He didn't have the background. And no25 72 other witness came forward. None of this ecological1 evidence, the forest evidence, the hydrology, the loss2 of wetlands, the injury to wetlands, the loss of3 species, none of it was refuted by the applicant, or Mr.4 DeFeo.5 I'm not sure if this is the end of this6 exhibit or not.7 These are more of the documents submitted by8 the different towns.9 I do want to speak now about Mr. Litwornia.10 Now, you recall Mr. Litwornia, he was a11 traffic engineer. He's actually a very knowledgeable12 man, but he was very ill. So if you recall his testimony13 he had difficulty physically speaking at times, and

u recall Mr. Litwornia, he was a11 traffic engineer. He's actually a very knowledgeable12 man, but he was very ill. So if you recall his testimony13 he had difficulty physically speaking at times, and he14 couldn't always be heard and he couldn't always hear.15 He has a serious illness, but he testified and issued a16 report. When you read the transcript, his report and17 testimony, it's quite logical. He was a little hard to18 follow at times, but he made some very salient points.19 And the primary point he raised is, is that this project20 is a cul-de-sac.21 Now, this is -- let me just go to my notes22 for a moment, if I can. I just want to scroll through23 to make sure there's nothing else before I end the, I24 may shut this for a moment, but this is Chief Mann's25