6 3 26 WO PB Draft Minutes

18 - Mr. Sharenow asked what the agreement required. Ms. Cancellaro stated it stemmed from the earlier 2020 Township agreement requiring installation of the traffic signal. Crestmont agreed to cooperate by allowing use of a portion of its property. The agreement also enabled Crestmont to utilize the Garden Homes development team's engineering and construction resources to build additional parking and realign the club's exit with the new traffic signal. PRESENTATION - The traffic engineer, Karl Pehnke, entered on the record; he was sworn under oath. He testified to the following: - Mr. Schkolnick asked Mr. Pehnke to provide an overview of the project’s traffic and traffic safety issues, challenges, and benefits for both Crestmont Country Club and the community. - The aerial exhibit previously admitted as Exhibit A-1 would be used. - Mr. Pehnke began by explaining the long history of the project: ○ Planning has spanned many years. ○ He became involved approximately 2½ years earlier, retained by West Essex Highlands LLC to advance: ■ Eagle Rock Avenue roadway improvements. ■ Installation of the traffic signal at Oval Road. ○ Prior to his involvement, the retired traffic engineer had worked extensively on: ■ The West Essex Highlands project ■ Coordination with Essex County ■ Coordination with West Orange ■ Development of the settlement agreement ■ Early concepts for Eagle Rock Avenue and Oval Road improvements ○ Mr. Pehnke stated he inherited and continued that design effort - He explained that the roadway design and Crestmont site improvements have been closely coordinated: ○ His partner, John Cote, coordinated the related site engineering for Crestmont. ○ The public improvements and private site improvements were intentionally integrated because the roadway widening directly affects the Country Club property. - Mr. Pehnke described the engineering process: ○ One of the first tasks was evaluating existing conditions ○ The analysis focused on: ■ Existing traffic operations ■ Existing safety conditions ■ Whether improvements were warranted ○ The overall goal was to develop the safest and most effective operational solution. ○ Traffic signal decisions follow established engineering guidance rather than preference alone. - He explained the governing engineering standards: ○ New Jersey Department of Transportation design manuals. ○ Essex County roadway design

tablished engineering guidance rather than preference alone. - He explained the governing engineering standards: ○ New Jersey Department of Transportation design manuals. ○ Essex County roadway design standards. ○ The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for traffic signal evaluation and design. ○ The MUTCD contains multiple types of signal warrants, including: ■ Traffic volume warrants