Planning Board Approves One Westfield Place, Council To Vote Next Week

WESTFIELD, NJ — The highly controversial One Westfield Place redevelopment is running full steam ahead, as the town's Planning Board green-lit the project at its meeting on Monday.

Despite hours of testimony from residents voicing their opposition to the project, the Planning Board voted unanimously to refer the Lord & Taylor redevelopment back to the Town Council for final review and adoption.

The Planning Board determined that the plan is "consistent with the Master Plan."

At the meeting on Monday, a representative from the group "Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development" read a memo they had sent to the Planning Board, arguing that the redevelopment plan is "substantially inconsistent with the values and goals of the master plan."

The memo further argued that the redevelopment goes beyond the town's 2021 Unified Land Use and Circulation element, reduces parking in the town and will increase traffic congestion. Westfield Advocates also argue that the size and scope of the development is too large.

The group recently held a rally at the North Side Train Station where developers plan to build two large parking garages.

According to the redevelopment plan, three public parking lots that comprise a total of 801 parking spaces will be impacted by the new development.

The new parking structures will provide the following number of spaces, as per the redevelopment plan:

• North Zone Structure: 320 spaces
• South Zone Structure: 208 spaces
• North Zone Surface Parking: 68 spaces
• South Zone Surface Parking: 93 spaces

The redevelopment plan also details minimum parking requirements recommended by THA Consulting for the residential, commercial and retail aspects of the project.

Streetworks proposes between one and two spaces for each new residential unit, 2.5 to four spaces for each 1,000 square feet of retail space and eight to 12 spaces for each 1,000 square feet of restaurant space.

In terms of next steps in the process, the Town Council is set to conduct a formal vote and adoption of the project on Valentine's Day — Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.

Residents were encouraged at the Planning Board meeting to attend the scheduled hearing if they have lingering questions or concerns.

Check out previous Patch coverage of the project below:

Tensions High At Westfield Meeting As Lord & Taylor Vote Nears

Updated Plan For One Westfield Place Provokes Debate Among Residents

Residents Launch Petition To 'Rethink' One Westfield Place Development

Mayor Brindle Talks Misconceptions About One Westfield Place