One Westfield Place Moves Closer To Becoming A Reality

WESTFIELD, NJ — Once again, it came down to a party-line vote over the controversial One Westfield Place project on Tuesday night.

Two ordinances were introduced amending Westfield's redevelopment agreement and financial obligations with Streetworks. These ordinances would then be open to the public to review, and then a public comment session would be held on May 27 before a final approval.

"The redevelopment agreement, which we are voting on tonight, allows us to preempt any less than desirable outcomes and control what is built, what the details look like, and what improvements are required on this key and strategically important piece of privately owned property," said Mayor Shelley Brindle prior to the vote.

Brindle noted that the ordinances stemmed from the changes made to the One Westfield Place project in November. It came down to a party-line vote to approve the changes which includes a reduced scope in size of the project.

Some of those changes included reducing the amount of square footage of office space proposed.

Since that approval, Brindle said Westfield had been working to implement protections for the town. Some of those protections included a reduction in bond issuances from three to two.

The Town would also receive a $4.7 million non-refundable developer deposit made at the commencement of construction of the West Zone.

Additionally, there would be a "built-in Town termination option of the South Zone and the North Zone," according to Stephen Mlenak, Westfield's Redevelopment Counsel.

"We’ve built for the town an option to terminate both the South Zone and the North Zone if the redeveloper does not reach the triggers under this agreement within three years of this. So June 30, 2028. If they do not reach those triggers, this Town has the option to terminate them from both the North and the South Zones."

The project also included that the developers would make PILOT(Payment In Lieu Of Tazes) payments to the town:

• 13 percent of Annual Gross Revenue(AGR) years 1 to 5
• 14 percent of AGR years 6 to 15
• 15 percent of AGR years 16 to 30.

Public improvements would also be made throughout downtown including:

• Town Square North & Town Green South
• North & South Parking Garages
• Traffic Mitigation
• Environmental Remediation
• Parking Management Enhancements

Ultimately, the votes fell on party lines with Brindle, Linda Habgood, David Contract, Michael Dardia, and James Hely voting in favor of the introduction approving a first amendment to Redevelopment Agreement.

Councilmembers David Keiffer, Michael Armento, Michal Domogala, and Todd Saunders voted against it.

On the second ordinance, however, the vote was unanimous. The second ordinance focused more on the financial safeguards set up for the Town.

"I do appreciate there were changes to the project. I think the scope and size were obviously decreased... but my role here is to try and be the best steward in both our finances and the projects that we take on," said Domogala. "I do feel comfortable with the finance portion… but I as well will be a 'no' on the current amendment."

Habgood noted the financial benefits to the Town.

"We will get $4.7 million in our pockets the day the shovel goes into the ground," said Habgood who added the Town would also proceed over time to receive, according to in Nassau Capitol’s report, an estimated to be $165 million over 32 years and $42 million in public improvements. "And that all happens with no risk to the residential taxpayer. I wholeheartedly support this project in its current form."

The public comment session will be held at the May 27 Council meeting before a final approval.

• Related: Split Down Party Lines: Council Approves One Westfield Place Changes

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