Westfield Residents Demand 'The Sophia' Is Downsized With Petition

WESTFIELD, NJ — More than 750 Westfield residents have signed a petition that demands the Town Council to downsize its proposed redevelopment plan for "The Sophia" — an apartment complex slated to have 64 housing units on Prospect Street & Ferris Place.

The online petition, created by "Concerned Westfield Residents," asks Mayor Shelley Brindle, Town Council and the Planning Board to consider reducing the scale of project.

Specifically, residents are requesting fewer stories, fewer residential units and fewer parking spaces for the building, as well as more open space and a "setback compatible with surrounding neighborhood."

Currently 754 residents have signed the petition. This redevelopment project has been debated at several town meetings in the past few months.

Read more: Debate Over 'The Sophia' Redevelopment Continues At Westfield Meeting

In the petition description, it argues that the redevelopment needs to be downsized to "maintain the transitional aesthetic" of the neighborhood. Because the complex will be surrounded by one and two-family homes on Prospect Street and Ferris Place, signees argue that the proposed structure is higher — at four stories — and more massive than most downtown buildings.

The petition argues that downsizing the property will also prevent additional traffic and congestion in an already busy area, which would also help protect the safety of pedestrians and drivers.

Signees believe the town needs to provide a sufficient loading zone area for trucks and daily deliveries like Amazon, FedEx and UPS.

"Ferris Place is a narrow one-way street," the petition states. "Without ample loading zone space, such trucks will create significant additional congestion and safety concerns on both Ferris and Prospect."

The petition also argues that the town should limit the amount of impervious land cover to prevent potential flooding and storm water buildup in the area.

Moreover, the petition calls for actions that would accomplish the following things:

1. "Result in a reduced scale structure with fewer stories, fewer residential units, fewer parking places, but more open space and a setback compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

2. "Result in an environmental review of the development plans (will [a] green roof be sufficient to compensate for the proposed drastic increase in impervious ground cover).

3. "Result in a fully transparent and careful third-party review of the developer-commissioned traffic study. This review should consider and ensure that the study:

• Was not conducted during times of reduced traffic, e.g.,COVID
• Includes traffic impact due to future development of the nearby 7-acre Lord & Taylor properties
• Was conducted after full occupancy of the commercial building at 133 Prospect Street (directly across from the proposed apartment complex)
• Reflects the history of traffic related accidents in the area."

Engineers conducted a traffic study of the area at a previous meeting, but many residents believe it was not sufficient.

Read more: Traffic Experts Present Study On 'The Sophia' Westfield Development

The full petition can be viewed on change.org. Currently, it has a goal of 1,000 signatures.

More information about the proposed development can be viewed on the town's website.

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