12 12 24 PSEG West Orange BOA ZB 24 06 PSEG 35 Mt Pleasant Ave Full Size

Page 25 1 Q. And with respect to the trees that are 2 the subject of that tree removal application, are you 3 familiar with generally those trees in that -- the 4 areas in which those trees are located? 5 A. Yes. 6 Q. Okay. So starting off with -- or going 7 into the ordinance itself, you were asked questions 8 about your -- the current zoning -- tree preservation 9 ordinance. 10 Can you please give the board the 11 benefit of your understanding of the ordinance and 12 how it impacts the decisions to remove trees on 13 properties in town? 14 A. Well, the West Orange Ordinance is 15 probably the strictest ordinance I have ever seen. 16 It has -- the opening statements in the findings and 17 purpose are quite extensive, and that is indicative 18 of the fact that the town council has a high 19 importance of preserving trees and recognizing that 20 the contributions they make to the West Orange 21 community. 22 And so the -- stronger than the prior 23 ordinances, there is now a requirement for the 24 replacement of trees by residents and property 25 owners, whereas before there was a diminishing tree