March 4, 2026, Planning Board Regular Meeting - WEHI Transcript

03/11/2026 06:15:33 AM Page 53 to 56 of 136 14 of 54 sheets 53 very concerned about that.1 MR. MacNEILL: Yeah, so all valid concerns.2 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. MacNeill, why don't3 you start with stormwater management because, and we'll4 take it piece by piece. I think that would be the best5 way to do this.6 MR. MacNEILL: So for stormwater7 management, so for stormwater management the controlling8 regulations NJAC 78, New Jersey administrative code 78.9 In that they outline the requirements to control10 quantity, stormwater quality, stormwater quality11 treatment, groundwater recharge and having green12 infrastructure. Using more items that are more BMP's,13 they're called, or basin stormwater systems that will14 facilitate infiltration of runoff right to the subsoil15 and groundwater below.16 So in this case DEP did review and approve17 it and indicate it complies with NJAC 78. That doesn't18 remove the burden from the board engineer to also review19 and comment on the stormwater, which we do have open20 stormwater comments that the applicants engineer21 previously indicated they can address.22 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: I mean, I found the23 Princeton Hydro testimony, which is really an unbiased,24 it was very, very credible.25 54 MR. MacNEILL: And as a board member I won't1 comment on how you should weigh different testimony,2 that's really on you to weigh what you think is credible3 testimony or not. My role as the board engineer is to4 try to facilitate and help guide you through.5 COUNCIL WOMAN SCARPA: You're kind of -- the6 engineering calculations to me appear to be something7 like the trades statistics. The government statistics.8 You can massage them, depending on who you're working9 for to be whatever you need them to be. Princeton Hydro10 is the gold standard and they don't have any bias, other11 than to look at, you know, what's best. So they were12 the most credible to me.13 MR. MacNEILL: Yeah. And, again, no comment14 on credibility. That's how you see it, I won't have any15 comment on that. I will say that DEP does prepare and16 outlines those requirements down to municipalities for17 them to adopt in their code. So always my opinion that18 DEP created these regulations, when you have a project19 that DEP is reviewing, they're reviewing approval it's a20 very important component for that project.21 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: Yeah. And the other22 thing was,

ese regulations, when you have a project19 that DEP is reviewing, they're reviewing approval it's a20 very important component for that project.21 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: Yeah. And the other22 thing was, you know, a lot of what we heard from Mr.23 Weislander, you know, the flooding and the stench from24 the sewer line that runs through Howell Drive. I mean,25 55 this is lived experience of our residents. And, you1 know they told us they've been reporting this for ten2 years. So, and, you know, instead of really addressing3 it, I kind of heard well, okay, it's not really a4 problem. You know, we'll do various different privacy5 issues, it didn't really address that point. And the6 developer really hasn't shown us that they have an7 interest in maintaining this infrastructure once they8 put it in place and that is my concern. It's the lived9 experience of the residents that to me, you know, it's10 outweighing technical analysis that can be massaged to11 meet, you know, many different standards.12 MR. MacNEILL: Yeah. And, again, if that's13 how you want to weigh the testimony that was provided14 that would really be your prerogative as a board member.15 Every testimony, everyone that provided testimony with a16 license, obviously obtained that license by getting the17 necessary experience and education. Obviously you hear18 a lot of different testimony from licensed individuals,19 so, again, it's kind of, it is up to you to weigh that20 testimony and determine which you -- which appears to be21 more credible in you opinion.22 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: Well, we teach the23 kids look at the primary source. Always do that. Look24 at the source. Look at the source and motivation of25 56 whoever's writing something or giving the information1 and I think that's an important way to evaluate2 information.3 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Chairman. This is a4 discussion can we do this at a discussion.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mayor McCartney.6 MAYOR McCARTNEY: Okay. About the stench.7 We did hear about that public comment. I would like to8 find out from our engineer, because I believe that that9 was taken care of years ago, and we should get a10 confirmation on that.11 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. We will hear our12 engineer as to that. I believe she -- there was13 testimony about that and it was remedied. Does the14 zoning official have any comment on that?15 MS. GARY-ADAMS: On the stench,

ay. We will hear our12 engineer as to that. I believe she -- there was13 testimony about that and it was remedied. Does the14 zoning official have any comment on that?15 MS. GARY-ADAMS: On the stench, that's16 engineering.17 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Okay. So we'll get that.18 Ms. McGovern.19 MS. McGOVERN: I did ask, I'm not giving20 testimony on this but I did ask Dr. Beth about this and21 she was out during, I guess when those complaints were22 made, she was out on disability and apparently the23 individual who dealt with that is no longer with the24 town. So I don't know that there is someone currently25