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

03/11/2026 06:15:33 AM Page 93 to 96 of 136 24 of 54 sheets 93 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Alper.1 MR. ALPER: I don't want to get too far into2 geotechnical because there was so much on but I think3 it's worth asking if there are unresolved geotechnical4 controversies, or if there are unresolved geotechnical5 comments that you think need to be resolved, one or the6 other, before we make a decision as opposed to things7 that would have to be dealt with in, you know, like8 blasting plans, would obviously be a post approval thin,9 sort of things that we need to deal with before10 approval?11 MR. MacNEILL: Yeah, so just to clarify, I'm12 not an expert in geotechnical engineering. But in13 consultation with Sam Kleinberg of my office, he is14 comfortable with the board going to a decision with what15 was currently presented. However, the project should16 be, we recommend those conditions that I outlined17 previously. Nothing currently open prior to a decision,18 but obviously additional reviews that would be needed19 prior to any construction on-site.20 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Mr. Cardoza.21 MR. CARDOZA: Yeah. So to my mind22 everything -- well, all questions that I've had,23 whether, you know, I asked them or another member of the24 board did and there was discussion, there's been either25 94 a resolution of some sort, or someway to address them,1 or they require further investigation. Everything2 except for the one road aspect of Oval and Kuzak, which,3 again, Mr. Alper did such a great job summarizing it, so4 I would say personally that I would benefit from hearing5 that again, not necessarily now, but at some point6 today, you know, tonight before we conclude, because I7 just want to hear that again. And that's it for me.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.9 Council President Scarpa.10 COUNCILWOMAN SCARPA: Yeah. The other area11 that I had difficulty with was all of the testimony we12 heard from our surrounding communities about the impact13 on them, you know, everything from the flooding, the14 Canoe Brook and the water quality and all of these15 issues, you know, we have a responsibility to our16 neighboring communities and to maintain the public17 trust. Residents have shown up, they've done their18 homework. They raised legitimate, well documented19 concerns and when a community engages at this level I20 think it's our duty to actively listen and synthesis21 this information

they've done their18 homework. They raised legitimate, well documented19 concerns and when a community engages at this level I20 think it's our duty to actively listen and synthesis21 this information and to act with integrity. I'm just,22 you know, we can't forget we have to be good neighbors23 and we can't destroy or negatively impact our neighbors24 properties. I think about that all the time. You know,25 95 about community. Putting a capital C back in community,1 instead of just thinking from our own selfish points of2 view, we need to think about the impact we have on the3 world around us, on our neighbors, and I am still not4 sure that this won't negatively impact our neighbors,5 particularly with the Canoe Brook and the water quality6 concerns and all those things we've heard and all the7 environmental groups that testified.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: Thank you.9 So I'd like to speak last -- oh, I'm sorry.10 Mayor, go right ahead and then Ms. Kapferer.11 MAYOR McCARTNEY: I feel like I'm playing12 jeopardy now, I want to go to a new category. And this13 one is about landscaping. So this in the ordinance that14 we're asking, the ordinance reads, "A developer shall15 plant new trees and landscaping along the near southern16 border of the tract for the purpose of supplementing and17 buffering the nearest residential units to the north."18 However, I don't know if this is for Mr. MacNeill. What19 we talked about there are 212 -- again, in the ordinance20 in says 212 trees, the number of trees that are coming21 down, where did we talk about the replacement of those22 trees, not just in this one provision, that said there23 would be additional trees. So, you know, so many trees24 are coming down how many are being replaced?25 96 MR. MacNEILL: So I will say the tree1 replacement was outside say CME's purview with Wayne2 DeFeo is handling that, so I don't want to comment on3 tree replacement. Yeah, I don't want to comment on4 something that I'm not an expert in.5 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: We had testimony, I just6 don't recall.7 MAYOR McCARTNEY: I just wanted to find out.8 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: There is a tree9 replacement plan.10 MAYOR McCARTNEY: I, all right. I need to11 know.12 CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And we can condition it,13 we can condition it based on whatever we found in the --14 okay. While Ms. McGovern looks, let's go on.15 Ms. Kapferer.16 MS. KAPFERER: One other question,

CHAIRMAN BAGOFF: And we can condition it,13 we can condition it based on whatever we found in the --14 okay. While Ms. McGovern looks, let's go on.15 Ms. Kapferer.16 MS. KAPFERER: One other question, Mr.17 MacNeill, for you. I think, is there any concern where18 the development will come out on Oval Road, there's a19 culvert there. Is there any concern about like the20 capacity of the culvert, condition of the culvert,21 anything like that or if that was looked at?22 MR. MacNEILL: So it was -- it' off-site23 improvement. So it's currently not on this site. What24 they are required to do is reduce the flow to that point25