12 4 2024 WO PB Draft Minutes

7 for putting apartments there is obviously because the landlord is going to get a lot more money with more apartments but it doesn’t benefit us in any way. I am only saying to vote against it because none of us want it. It will be really bad for me because I live really close to the building. With the parking garage, it is only going to get worse because everyone is going to be backing up onto Main Street and I find it hard to believe that any legitimate traffic study couldn’t see that is going to be a huge issue. • Love Gaillard at 31 Park Drive North said I am concerned about the many questions that have not been answered. We have to consider what happens to our property taxes, how does this property benefit West Orange overall. I don’t think there is a benefit to West Orange. From what I heard from the people that have testified, it appears that they have openly lied or used deceptive language with non-everyday language speaking to us the public. The narrative of the testifiers used language that was way over most people’s heads, which made it difficult to ask questions and get answers. There is open documentation even with the county saying there is a safety concern in that area with increased traffic. There hasn’t been an estimate about how long the construction will take, how traffic will be rerouted and how it will affect residents going up the hill during the winter. This allowance of the variances is unnecessary and do not benefit the local residents. I am sure we would welcome a new smaller design with its own parking lot where everyone could fit. We are adjacent to a national park, where Mayor McCartney would give tours and tell us how strongly she feels about how quaint our town is, the history of our town, and the landscape of our town and to approve this, would be disrespectful to how everyone feels. In closing, this would be an interruption to the quality of life so vote no to the variances. • Ms. Adams at Park Drive South said 170 residents signed a petition to oppose this application, not for petty reason, but we are concerned about our safety and well-being. Most of the board members that visited the site understood our concerns right away. The setback variances created several hazards especially on Park Drive North. A setback of 5 feet is a dangerous situation as it creates a blind corner on Main and forces to wait on the street for the

The setback variances created several hazards especially on Park Drive North. A setback of 5 feet is a dangerous situation as it creates a blind corner on Main and forces to wait on the street for the garage door to open. The driveway proximity to Main Street poses several hazards. Collisions at this comer will increase and adverse consequences. With a 25-foot setback, it calls for cars to pull off the road and wait on the driveway and it also eliminates the need for intrusive pedestrian alarms. Residents of the loop should not bear significantly more traffic on roads that is not zoned in B2, that is an adverse consequence. Statistics from the census bureau, in West Orange 98% of household own a car, 79% own two or more, getting to work 54% resident drive, 15 % use public transit. West Orange households average 4 vehicle trips a day; 12 units can generate 48 additional trips a day around the loop not just 7 or 8 during peak hours. Most units will absolutely have more than one car. The parking variance will cause an indefensible adverse consequence. The pitch that tenants will park 600 feet away in an unmonitored and unsecured municipal lot is incredulous, even the Mayor noted that. There is no insurance that Bethany church will provide the additional parking. The resident parking permit system that has been thrown in as a condition, while encouraging, is not an easy fix and has no insurance that it will be implemented. The surveys submitted by the applicant’s traffic expert is grossly insufficient. The serious traffic hazards on Main Street must be controlled and be made safer before any large building is constructed. The building is not in the public’s interest. No variances should be granted when only the owner benefits. This building would be a substantial detriment to our well-being. • Barbara Toriello at 3 Park Drive North said the nightmare on Park Drive continues with the parking. From the insufficient traffic, parking and safety studies to the way the public