One Westfield Place Advances Again, Clears Latest Legal Hurdle

WESTFIELD, NJ — A new attempt to stop the One Westfield Place project has failed in court.

"This marks the fourth time the courts have ruled in favor of the Town on redevelopment matters initiated by the Advocates: once regarding The Sophia, twice on the original One Westfield Place plan, and now on the amended plan," said Mayor Shelley Brindle. "In each case, the judges have unequivocally sided with the Town, affirming both the integrity of our process and its consistency with the Town’s Master Plan."

This latest challenge brought forth by the Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development was against the center's amended redevelopment plan that provides the Town with financial protections and a reduction in the amount of bond money needed. The total drops from $57 to $45 million in a move that Councilman Michael Armento says was "prudent" and puts less of a burden on future administrations.

Brindle outlined a few of the Superior Court of New Jersey's key points in striking down this latest round of litigation, emphasizing:

• The Advocates' claim that the plan fails to meet the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law is inaccurate
• The Advocates left out portions of the law they relied on to argue that the plan "circumvents the statutory requirements of the disposition of municipal property"
• The claim cannot be brought against the Town again after Westfield's actions were not ruled arbitrary, capricious, contrary to law or unconstitutional

"As I said after the last ruling in June, these meritless lawsuits, brought by four residents, have cost taxpayers not only legal and professional fees, but also significant opportunity costs," Brindle added. "Delay tactics have kept the Lord & Taylor site, which has now been vacant for over five years, from delivering the substantial community benefits promised by One Westfield Place."

Officials have still not announced a date for breaking ground on the project, one that Brindle says will infuse $375 million into the downtown economy and another $42 million in infrastructure and streetscape improvements. Continuing, she highlights the "$165MM in PILOT revenue will diversify and stabilize our tax base, benefiting all taxpayers."

In her reaction on Wednsday to the court ruling, she also further emphasized the expectation that the developer deliver on the project's improvements for the public in the area, including safety surrounding traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.

Patch reached out to the Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development for a response. See their statement here.

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