Westfield Adopts Final 4th Round Of Affordable Housing Ordinances

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield adopted the final six ordinances related to its fourth-round affordable housing plan at the Tuesday Council meeting.

The previous town council adopted this plan in December, and a program judge formally approved the Town's plan on Feb. 9.

"Adopting these ordinances is the final step required to meet our compliance deadline," said Mayor Jeremy Berman at the meeting.

The measures include amendments to Westfield's affordable housing regulations ordinance and its affordable housing development fee and trust fund ordinance.

Four zoning ordinances for fourth-round sites are also included. Each of these allows for inclusionary housing development at a density of up to 25 units per acre. This is consistent with the fourth-round housing element and fair share plan.

"It's important to remember that these ordinances simply provide property owners, not the town, the option to build housing that includes affordable units on these sites in the future if they choose to do so," said Berman.

The town's fourth-round plan also added protections by lowering permissible densities and increasing the required number of affordable units.

Questions have been raised about the zoning ordinance specifically affecting the Stop & Shop site on Elm Street.

"To clarify, residential development has been permitted at this site for many, many years, provided there is retail on the ground floor. That is not new. What is new in this ordinance is allowing a fourth floor," said Berman.

It also caps the density at 25 units per acre, a limitation that previously did not exist. The ordinance also requires the inclusion of affordable units in any future development.

There are no current plans that we know of to redevelop this site, and it continues to operate as a Stop & Shop," said Berman.

The Town has a deadline of March 15 to show compliance with the Fourth Round obligations.

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