Will 'The Sophia' Development Worsen Traffic In Westfield? Experts Explain

WESTFIELD, NJ — A redevelopment project set to take place at Prospect Street and Ferris Place was the focus of last week's Westfield Town Council meeting.

John Federico, the supervising transportation planner for engineering firm WSP, and Matthew Seckler of Stonefield Engineering Design presented a traffic impact study of "The Sophia" — a proposed multi-family development that will sit on the intersection of Prospect Street and Ferris Place.

Seckler explained that the development will include 64 units of housing, as well as 500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. It will also have 96 parking spaces below the structure that will not be visible from the street.

In addition, he said access to this parking lot will only be allowed through Ferris Place, and a drop-off and pick-up loading area will be designated along Ferris Place for deliveries.

Residents had previously voiced concerns about this development at past meetings, particularly in regards to the building's impact on traffic and pedestrian safety in the area.

Read more: Westfield Residents Voice Concerns Over Ferris Place Development

In Stonefield Engineering's traffic study, Seckler said the firm studied four major intersections — Broad and Prospect, Prospect and Ferris, Clark and Ferris, as well as North and Clark.

To conduct this study, Seckler said he examined the intersections during peak hours of traffic. This included morning rush hour during the week between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., afternoon rush hour between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., as well as Saturday peak hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

In looking at local data for Ferris and Prospect street, Seckler concluded that the new development would bring seven more cars during morning rush hour, 17 more cars during evening rush hour and 15 more cars on Saturday.

Seckler said this is about 1.5 to 3.5 percent more traffic going through the intersection during those busiest hours. To put it in perspective, he said this is about one extra vehicle every four minutes.

In examining the Clark and Ferris intersection, Seckler said there could be a 3.2 to 4.3 percent traffic increase.

Seckler later added that Ferris Place currently experiences about 112 vehicles at morning rush hour, 76 in the evening and 56 on Saturday.

As part of the redevelopment, Seckler suggested a few ways they would improve traffic patterns in the area. In the current Trader Joe's parking lot, which is essentially next to the proposed development, Seckler said there is a pedestrian safety issue, as parking spots are close to the sidewalk and there is a risk of people getting hit.

He said the developer would create an access lane within the parking lot, as well as push parking spaces away from the sidewalk to improve safety.

Councilman David Contract criticized the traffic engineers for not factoring in the upcoming Streetworks development at the old Lord & Taylor site.

Because exact plans have yet to be formalized for the project, Federico said they did not include it in the study.

Related: Westfield Councilman Leaks Plans For Lord & Taylor Redevelopment

"I do think it's going to add a lot of traffic," Contract said, in reference to the Lord & Taylor redevelopment. "We don't want to exacerbate existing conditions."

Members of the audience applauded Contract's comments, and Councilman LoGrippo said he agreed.

Resident Frank Fusaro pointed out that the traffic study mainly designated 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. as peak afternoon rush hour, but he said most kids get dismissed from school at 3 p.m. Fusaro said from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. many kids are then dropped off at the YMCA, which is near the proposed development.

Most of the traffic study was also conducted in October of 2021, and Fusaro questioned why the community is only hearing of it now.

In terms of the Trader Joe's parking adjustments, Fusaro said it will only eliminate much-needed parking spaces.

"It will be eliminating parking spaces from the Trader Joes lot, it will be eliminating parking spaces from the public [municipal] lot ..." Fusaro said. "In my opinion, you're just making the situation worse."

Resident David Zucker argued that the traffic study did not fully take into count the impact that the development will have on the surrounding area.

"[The traffic study] was really analytical, very matter-of-fact," Zucker said. "Everything is on an assumption. I find it somewhat insulting that people living in and around that area don't get to have a say."

"It's based on numbers; that's pretty much it," Zucker continued. "This town isn't based on numbers. People live there, people walk around there, people have children there."

Zucker further commented on the proposed plan for the redevelopment.

"It's too big, it provides no aesthetic value to the neighborhood, it's just going to increase traffic," he said. "It's going to create bad karma in the neighborhood."

Resident Susan Ferman also mentioned that a petition has been formed by the community that has already received over 500 signatures. The petition demands that the proposed development is downsized.

Ferman said the group plans to present the petition at an upcoming meeting.

The full Town Council meeting can be viewed on Westfield's Facebook page.

The full traffic presentation can also be viewed on the town's website.

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