Westfield Mayor Brindle Gives Address At Reorg Meeting

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Town Council held its annual reorganization meeting on Tuesday night. At the meeting, three new council members were sworn in, and the mayor and council made appointments to boards and committees (the list is here).

Mayor Shelley Brindle gave a State of the Town address and highlighted three goals, making reference to the future of the Rialto theater, as well as parking downtown, development, and historic preservation:

Revitalizing Our Downtown: While there are many different studies, indicators, and opinions on what makes a great downtown, all agree that successful downtowns don’t just happen. They require hard work, proactive planning, a concrete vision for the future, and the courage and willingness to make that vision a reality. To that end, this council, in collaboration with the Planning Board and DWC, and incorporating the input we’ve received from downtown property owners and merchants, is prepared to prioritize and advocate for the following:

• Address parking deficiencies for commuters, shoppers, and employees by reevaluating capacity of all municipal parking lots and seeking sensible opportunities for expansion
• Identify a plan for developing downtown space that attracts a broader variety of commercial tenants, thereby increasing downtown foot traffic while also expanding our tax base
• Create new open spaces, public meeting places, and culture and arts opportunities, while continuing to drive productive discussions about the Rialto’s future and its hopeful re-opening as a performing arts center
• Diversify our housing stock through zoning changes that enable more downtown housing options for young couples, downsizers, and seniors
• Reenergize the Downtown Westfield Corporation by prioritizing economic development, adding new highly engaged board members, and hiring a permanent executive director

Increasing Parks and Recreation Opportunities

• Implement initial Parks Strategic Plan recommendations, prioritizing the addition of new fields in partnership with the Board of Education
• Improve maintenance of existing parks, optimize open spaces, and plan to add trails, water fountains and restroom facilities where needed

Prioritizing Quality of Life Issues

• Continue to fight for RVL peak one-seat ride service to improve commute and increase property values
• Establish circulation and traffic management plan to mitigate congestion and pedestrian safety issues associated with existing and new development
• Strengthen our historic preservation ordinance to protect the historic character of our town, and build upon the momentum of the recent historic designations
• Expand sensible investment in infrastructure, including accelerated road paving, addressing storm water issues, and automation of town services
• Continue to strive towards becoming a leader in sustainability by expanding the Green Team and their initiatives.

The full text of the address is available here. A video of the meeting can be found on Facebook here.

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