Tree Report Complete File Updated 101524

October 16, 2024 Ms. Geneice Gary-Adams, Director/Zoning Official Township in West Orange Planning and Development 66 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 Re: Supplemental Report re: Environmental Conditions per Settlement Agreement: West Essex Highlands with Recommendations for Site Plan Improvements Related to that Agreement Via Electronic Mail zoningofficial@westorange.org Dear Ms. Gary-Adams, After comments received at the hearings conducted on July 30; August 14 and September 11, 2024, an additional site visit and a follow up review, DeFeo Associates hereby submits the following supplemental report with recommendations related to the environmental conditions at the West Essex Highlands (Applicant) site. This report contains a FAQ section based on comments made during the public hearings with answers to those questions. Additionally, I have attached the power point presentation and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) High-Tensile Woven Wire Deer Fencing Design and Installation Specifications. Additional information on native plant selection is provided for use by the Applicant in selecting plants for cosmetic and pollinator installations. A. Summary of Findings; Forest Condition: 1. Field observations performed in 2019 and 2024 show virtually no change in overall understory growth. There is a severe lack of understory growth consisting of shrubs, seedlings or wildflowers. a. The primary understory growth consists of invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii). This shrub is not browsed by deer, is not native and displaces native species. b. Field observations indicate that the forest is very open with viewing distances of 80-100 yards. 1