11-14-2024 Letter: No Solution For One Westfield Place Traffic and Commuting Woes
Westfield's only hope for retaining its charm is for a change of leadership
11-13-2024 Divided Council Narrowly Approves Changes to One Westfield Place Plans
“Much of the public comment that followed centered on whether the changes represented a reduction in the scale of the project or an increase. “
11-09-2024 Amended Plans Make One Westfield Place Bigger, Westfield Advocates Say
Added above ground parking makes the redevelopment project worse, some argue.
11-05-2024 Planning Board Advances One Westfield Place Amendments
The amendments would reduce the scale of the redevelopment project by 25%.
10-28-2024 Letter: Westfield is Rushing Into Revised Downtown Redevelopment
Westfield residents deserve more than 21 days to consider the significant physical and economic changes to the downtown redevelopment plan, and how they impact our new affordable housing obligation
10-23-2024 Changes to One Westfield Place Plans Could Shrink Development by 25%
Acrimony marked discussion at Tuesday's town council meeting before a party line vote.
06-12-2024 Westfield Council Approves 1st Floor Office Space on ‘Fringe’ of Downtown
The party-line vote followed debate and vigorous public comment Tuesday night.
05-08-2024 Letter: Westfield Town Council and Climate Change
One thing is for sure, One Westfield will change the climate of Westfield
04-01-2024 Quimby Street Future Teased at Westfield Town Council Conference Meeting
A potential permanent one-way design for Quimby Street with expanded parking was discussed.
03-04-2024 Letter: Westfield Mayor Has Her Own Conflicts of Interest
Mayor Brindle has made it quite clear that she will foster as much hostility as possible with the sweep of the four council seats to those from the Republican Party.
02-28-2024 Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against One Westfield Place Development
The lawsuit claimed that the redevelopment plan of One Westfield Place was inconsistent with the town’s master plan and failed to analyze the potential impacts of increased density, exorbitant costs, environmental drawbacks, traffic congestion and reduced parking.
“The mayor and council chose to use redevelopment law to circumvent all the town zoning, period,” Frank Fusaro, WARD President
02-28-2024 Westfield Town Council Approves Redevelopment Agreement for American Legion
..the project, which was approved by the council on Sept. 19, 2023, includes the construction of a new, three-story housing facility for homeless and at-risk veterans.
02-21-2024 Letter: Request for Cumulative Impact Study of Town-Wide Construction
There have been approximately 950 new dwelling units approved for construction which is in addition to approximately 350,000 square feet of approved non-residential use space.
The Westfield Advocates are unaware of any coordinated investigation which takes a cumulative, all-inclusive approach to identify and establish the combined impacts of all planned and approved construction
01-05-2024 Letter: New Westfield Council Member Appointees Disrespected
Lack of democracy continues with tyrannical mayor and four incumbents, he writes.
01-03-2024 Westfield Council Starts 2024 with Discussion Over OWP, Town Attorney
11-27-2023 Letter: What do the Recent Westfield Election Results Mean for the Year Ahead?
The citizen group W.A.R.D. sparked the Westfield push-back against overdevelopment, he writes.
11-09-2023 The Real Winners of the Election in Westfield are Our Townspeople
The majority were finally allowed to speak. More changes to come, he writes.
11-5-2023 Time for Change
“I have been a registered Democrat from the time I became eligible to vote.”
“Despite claims that the whole town was made aware of the scope of OWP since the beginning of 2020, unless one was a professional planner able to comprehend the many technical terms included the 100s of pages of documents voted on by the Mayor’s Council, this is nonsense. “
“We need fresh diverse views on the Council to fact-check and provide alternate voices for truly engaged, transparent, smart development.”
11-5-2023 Letter: The Doctor Is In!
I proudly and wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Michael Armento for Ward 2.
11-04-2023 Letter: VOTE in Responsible Leadership Westfield Deserves
“Westfield is grappling with excessive development, risking the transformation of our charming suburban town into a traffic nightmare.”
“...let us unite as a community to address the overdevelopment of colonial Westfield. Strong leadership should embody the values of transparency, honesty, integrity and accountability.”
11-02-2023 Letter: It’s Time for a Change
New Voices are Needed.
“I am a registered Democrat and have voted for the Democrats in all the local elections since 1998. That changes on Nov. 7th! “
11-01-2023 Letter: Do We Like Current Governance in Westfield?
“The Edison Fields project was imposed on one residential neighborhood already with a sports complex, until a town wide referendum got it on the ballot for Nov. 7. OWP was largely presented as a done deal.”
“...it is suggested that "governance" is also on the ballot. If we do not like how we have been represented, by being excluded from both the process and decision-making, Nov. 7 is the day to make our voices heard.”
10-31-2023 Letter: PILOT Financial Agreements Have a Long-Term Negative Impact on School Tax Rates
PILOT agreements re-allocate tax payments from schools to municipal budgets for 30 years.
10-31-2023 Letter: Why I'm Voting for Mike Domogala
“Mike genuinely cares about his neighbors, our neighborhood, and our community as a whole.
I strongly urge you to join me in supporting Mike Domogala as our next 3rd Ward Councilman. His dedication and commitment make him the ideal candidate to represent our community's interests.”
10-31-2023 Letter: Government Works Best With Diverse Ideas and Opinions
Councilman Mark LoGrippo Endorsement
10-30-2023 Letter: Welcome to The Shelley Show — It's Going To Be A Bumpy Ride
Your show ticket is going to cost you in the town ambiance you once knew and your taxes, he writes.
10-28-2023 Letter: Do Your Homework, Westfield
“If after examining the positions and reflecting on the tenor of each of the candidates, you decide to vote all Democrat or all Republican then so be it and good for you. But if you do that, please do it because you took the time to examine each candidate and picked the candidate who you believe will best represent your views and not simply the view of our mayor.”
10-26-2023 Candidate Statement: Response to the Mayor’s Claims of ‘Misinformation’ From Our Campaigns
“Putting aside for a moment whether it is appropriate for our Mayor to use her elected office to insert herself into the ongoing campaigns for Town Council, the comments she made were misleading and inaccurate”
10-26-2023 Letter: Process Matters: Vote Kiefer
“In order to function in the best interests of all residents, a town council needs multiple viewpoints and healthy debate. … As an Independent, my vote will be going to David Kiefer for Ward 4 on November 7.”
10-24-2023 Letter: It's Not About Party, It's About the Future of Westfield
”Todd Saunders, ….. is wholly invested, enthusiastic and committed to the success of Westfield….. He will be that council member who appreciates the value of residents' input, recommends thorough and transparent decision-making, encourages discussion and welcomes opposing ideas. “
10-23-2023 Letter: This Westfield Election is a Choice Between Suburban Versus Urban Visions
The author says new voices and checks and balances are needed on the town council.
“Be prepared for a building boom over the next decade. The downtown building sell-off has already begun with a number of properties recently advertised as redevelopment opportunities. ..”
“A new Council will have the power to return the zoning to a 40 feet height limit, and to remove the “blighted” designation from each of the remaining Town parking lots.”
10-22-2023 Letter: Mike Domogala. Sensible Leadership In Ward 3.
“For those of us who believe that the size of One Westfield Place is too large, yet are not opposed to development, and for those concerned about no-bid contracts and the concentration of our downtown being owned by one corporation, there are candidates willing to step up and represent your views. Mike is one of them.”
10-19-2023 Letter: The ‘Artificial Intelligence’ of Voting
“We elect officials to represent us. We don’t elect officials to totally enforce only their interpretations. “
10-19-2023 Letter: Vote for Mike Domogala for Councilman in Ward 3
“Mike has the best interest of our town and its growth in mind as he runs for Ward 3 Council — not only for his own family, but for all of us.”
10-18-2023 Letter: Will Westfield Remain a Charming Town?
“The current administration has decided that Westfield citizens should not be allowed to be a part of the decision-making process and have chosen instead to not disclose that they have essentially, removed ongoing citizen input in zoning regulations.”
10-17-2023 Westfield Planning Board Approves Mixed-Use Building on Elm St.
10-16-2023 Letter: Vote for David Kiefer Councilman Ward 4
“....his campaign is based on fairness and choosing the best outcome not on a particular party affiliation but what is best for the overall good of our town.”
10-07-2023 Letter: The Me Generation (or is it ONLY me?)
Westfield, NJ Residents — Is It Really “all about me”?
10-03-2023 Candidate Statement: Everything You Need to Know About One Westfield Place
Todd Saunders: A 5 minute summary and my point of view
09-20-2023 Letter: Westfield Residents, Open Your Eyes
It's important to know your candidates.
06-12-2023 Press Release: Petition for a Referendum Filed in Westfield
Residents protest ordinance for $11.8 million to fund the Edison Field Project
The CEO of NJ Business and Industry says that Westfield is a very vibrant community, he writes.
06-08-2023 Letter: Westfield Residents Should Get to Vote on $11.8M Borrowing for Turf Fields
The Westfield Crossing PILOT revenues will pay for only 50% of the debt service, he says.
06-06-2023 Westfield Advocates Host Festive & Informative Community Dinner for Residents
05-26-2023 Westfield Advocates Serving Up Some Fun at The Italian American Club
June 1 Dinner & Fundraiser Open to Residents
05-11-2023 Westfield Advocates Continue to Inform Residents About Upcoming Developments
Many sought information at Spring Fling booth.
04-18-2023 Westfield Low on WalletHub List of ‘Best & Worst Small Cities’ to Start a Business
The personal finance website compared more than 1,300 cities with fewer than 100,000 residents.
03-31-2-23 Lawsuit Challenges Westfield’s Lord & Taylor, Train Station Redevelopment
Westfield Advocates claims the project is inconsistent with the town's master plan.
02-27-2023 Letter: If Westfield Builds it, Will They Come, Spend? 3 Important Questions
Resident questions the evidence and research for the One Westfield Place project
02-20-2023: Letter: A Resident's Concern About One Westfield Place Redevelopment
Residents never mentioned any desire to increase building heights nor to add more apartments. Quite the contrary, in response to survey questions – large structures and additional apartments in town received the lowest ratings.
02-15-2023: 02-15-2023: Westfield Lord & Taylor, Train Lot Redevelopment Gets Council’s OK
02-14-2023: Letter: Let's Take a Pause on One Westfield Place Redevelopment Plan, He Says
02-9-2023:Survey Results: Here’s What Westfield Readers Said About Major Redevelopment
The Westfield mayor and HBC | Streetworks said the results clash with their own findings.
02-09-2023: Letter: Lack of True Democracy Heads for Vote Tuesday
“..isn't a real representative democracy one where you vote for what your constituents want and NOT what you want?”
02-07-2023: Westfield Planning Board OKs Controversial Redevelopment, Sends to Council
02-05-2023: Letter: Listen to the Concerns of Your Citizenry on One Westfield Place
Westfield has an educated and well-informed citizenry that should not be dismissed. Take the time to consider all options and listen to their input.
02-02-2023: Letter: Resident Details His Concerns About One Westfield Place Financials
02-02-2023: Letter: One Westfield Place Project - The Numbers Matter
“...citizens should not have to become their own experts to understand what is really going on and not be heard no matter what they do.”
02–02-2023 Westfield Council Moves on Lord & Taylor Redevelopment as Residents Debate Plans
Financials and the desire for a referendum were dominant topics of the public debate.
02-01-2023: TAPinto Westfield Poll: Do You Support One Westfield Place Redevelopment?
01-30-2023: Protesters Rally in Westfield as Council Action on Redevelopment Nears
The town council will take an initial vote on a plan for One Westfield Place Tuesday night.
01-26-2023:Letter: Unease Over PILOTS & School Funding in Westfield
01-22-2-23 Letter: Resident Urges Westfield to Slow Down, Rethink Redevelopment
01-18-2023 01-18-2023 Letter: When it Comes to Referendums, Westfield’s Attorney is Comparing Apples to Oranges
01-12-2023 Developer Details Changes to Westfield Lord & Taylor, Train Lot Plans
01-11-2023 Letter: One Westfield Place — PILOT or PLOT?
01-11-2023 Letter: One Westfield Place Will Impact Taxpayers for Generations, Resident Warns
01-10-2023: Letter: Mayor Brindle Says Residents Need to Learn The Facts
01-06-2023: Opinion: We Deserve a Referendum to Decide the Future of Westfield
01-05-2023: Letter: Westfield Council Using Flawed Interpretation of Law to Deny Residents Opportunity to Voice Opinion
01-05-2023: Redevelopment Debate Dominates Westfield Council Reorganization
01-04-2023: Let’s not Botch Westfield, Resident Says
01-02-2023: Letter: Westfield Wonderland
12-20-2022: One Westfield Place: Town Talks Financials for Lord & Taylor Redevelopment
12-20-2022 Letter: Smart Development for Westfield Means Balancing Progress, Preservation
12-15-2022: Westfield Residents Ask Town To Scale Down Lord & Taylor Redevelopment
12-9-2022 : Developer Says Sweeping Project Comes With Traffic Benefits. Residents Not Sure
11-30-2022: What’s the Timeline for Approval of One Westfield Place Redevelopment?
11-29-2022: Letter: Let’s Right the Ship for Westfield
11-28-2022: What’s the Timeline for Approval of One Westfield Place Redevelopment?
11-16-2022: Letter: The Proper Way to Develop Westfield for its Residents
11-14-2022: Letter: Streetworks Development is Oversized for Westfield, He Says
11-03- 2022: Lawsuit Claims Westfield’s Approval of Apartments Constitutes ‘Spot Zoning’
10-28-2022: Letter: One Westfield Place is a ‘No’ for Me, He Says
10-26-2022: Westfield Council Fields Questions on One Westfield Place Redevelopment
10-11-2022: Westfield Planning Board OKs 20 Unit Mixed-Use Development on South Ave
8-2-2022: The Sophia in Westfield Gets Planning Board OK, Sees Objections From Public
7-30-2022: Everything We Know Now About Westfield’s Prospect + Ferris Redevelopment
7-27-2022: Commission in Westfield Cautions Developer on Moving Historic House
6-9-2022: Westfield Historic Preservation Commission Members Correct ‘Misrepresentations’
6-8-2022: Letter: Why Weren’t The Voices of 1,200 Citizens Heard by Westfield Mayor & Town Council?
5-24-2022: Letter: Oversized Sophia Development Compounds Westfield Traffic Snafu
5-16-2022: Letter: Traffic Professional Weighs in on Proposed Prospect-Ferris Development Traffic Impact Study
5-19-2022: Letter: The Sophia is Too Bulky, Not Supported by Master Plan, Zoning or Public, She Says
5-18-2022: A Letter From Westfield Citizens For Right Sizing The Prospect Street & Ferris Place Development
5-11-2022: Residents Petition Against Plans for Westfield Apartments. See New Renderings
5-10-2022: Letter: Stop Westfield’s Proposed Ferris Place ‘Abomination’
5-5-2022: Letter: Westfield Redevelopment Plan Shouldn't Mean Reneging on Zoning Laws
5-5-2022: Letter: This Westfield Developer is NOT a 'Good Neighbor'
5-3-2022: Westfield Planning Board Approves 10 Housing Units on .41 Acres
4-6-2022: Letter: An Objection to the Direction of Prospect Street's Proposed Redevelopment
3-8-2022: Letter: Westfield's Prospect Street, Ferris Place Development Plan Raises Street Safety Issues
3-4-2022: 64 Apartments Planned for Corner in Westfield. Neighbors Ask: What About Traffic?
12-8-2021: Controversial Plan For Apartments, Retail in Westfield Moves Ahead
11-13-2024 Split Down Party Lines: Council Approves One Westfield Place Changes
Residents and council members voiced their opinions on the ordinance during a 2.5-hour discussion, which got heated at times, on Tuesday.24
05-23-2024 More Ground-Floor Businesses May Be Allowed In Westfield
“.... the ordinance will now allow for a variety of office-type businesses on the ground floor including offices of high rates of visitation such as physical therapist offices and the like.”
01-04-2024 4 Republicans Sworn In, Tensions Rise On Westfield Town Council
Four new Republicans joined the Westfield Town Council on Tuesday and have already started to shake things up.
10-31-2023 Westfield 2023 Election: Who's Running, Where To Vote
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Check out our voter guide before you cast your ballot.
10-28-2023 Early Voting Begins: Cast Ballots In-Person At 7 Union Co. Locations
04-13-2023 Virtual Candidates Night For Westfield Board Of Education Is Thursday
02-15-2023: Planning Board Approves One Westfield Place, Council To Vote Next Week
02-02-2023: Tensions High At Westfield Meeting As Lord & Taylor Vote Nears
The redevelopment plan for One Westfield Place was presented at Tuesday's meeting, which ran nearly five hours long.
01-25-2023 'Westfield Advocates' To Hold One Westfield Place Rally On Sunday
Opponents of the proposed Lord & Taylor redevelopment project will rally outside of the North Side Train Station this weekend.
01-19-2023 Updated Plan For One Westfield Place Provokes Debate Among Residents
01-04-23 Residents Voice Concerns About 'Overdevelopment' At Westfield Meeting
12-16-2022 Residents Push Back Against One Westfield Place Development At Meeting
12-14-2022: 4 Take-Aways from the One Westfield Place Traffic Impact Study
12-12-2022: Residents Launch Petition To 'Rethink' One Westfield Place Development
11-6-2022: Letter to the Editor: The Proper Way To Develop Westfield for its Residents. By Westfield Advocates
09-06-2022 New Financial Advisor To Be Selected For Summit Broad St. West Project
7-5-2022: Westfield Planning Board To Informally Review 'The Sophia' Project
5-25-2022: 'The Sophia' Complex Gets The Green Light After Westfield Council Vote
5-18-2022: Letter To The Editor: 'The Sophia' Is Unnecessarily Bulky
5-18-2022: Westfield Residents Demand 'The Sophia' Is Downsized With Petition
5-16-2022: Letter to Mayor Brindle & Town Council
5-11-2022: Debate Over 'The Sophia' Redevelopment Continues At Westfield Meeting
5-2-2022: Traffic Experts Present Study On 'The Sophia' Westfield Development
02-28-2024 Judge Rules In Town’s Favor In One Westfield Place Suit
01-15-2024 Expressing Concerns About the Size And Scope of One Westfield Place
As newly elected members of the Westfield Town Council, we, Councilmen Todd Saunders, Dr .Michael Armento, Michal Domogala, and David Kiefer, are writing to you in our individual capacities as advocates for the residents of Westfield.
11-02-2023 It’s Up to You - Vote!
Election eve is nigh. Candidate statements, biographical information, advertisements, endorsements and residents’ opinions fill these pages. Now it’s up to you, the voter, to decide.
08-09-2023 Westfield OKs Multi-Family Building on South Avenue
Monday evening, the Westfield Planning Board approved an application for a three-unit, multi-family home that included parking and “related improvements” at 211 South Avenue East.
07-19-2023 Planning Board OK’s Next Phase Of South Ave. Redevelopment
04-05-2023: Residents File Suit Against Westfield As OWP Moves Ahead
03-15-2023: Westfield Council Grants Final Approval to OWP
03-08-2023: Town Representatives Break Down One Westfield Place Financials
03-01-2023: Westfield Council Approves OWP Redevelopment Agreement
02-15-2023: Westfield Council Advances One Westfield Place Development
02-08-2023: Westfield Planning Board Advances Redevelopment
“Overall the Redevelopment Plan is substantially inconsistent with the values and goals of the master plan,” (Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development)
02-01-2023: Westfield Council Moves Redevelopment Plan Ahead
….after several hours of public testimony, the governing body voted to introduce the redevelopment plan for official adoption.
01-25-2023: HBC|Streetworks Discusses Planning and Design Elements
Westfield residents got their first looks at some of the proposed design concepts surrounding the One Westfield Place (OWP) redevelopment project on Thursday
01-11-2023 Town Responds to Resident Queries on One Westfield Place
12-21-2022: Westfield Prepares to Bond $29MM For Parking Decks, Improvements
12-14-2022: Residents Voice Concerns on Westfield Redevelopment
11-30-2022: HBC|Streetworks Offers Look At Traffic-Impact Study
11-9-2022: Citizen Group Files Suit Against Planning Board, Ward
10-12-2022 Town Officials Clash over Redevelopment Plans
10-5-2022 HBC|Streetworks Unveils Preview Center for One Westfield Place
9-21-2022 Westfield Unveils Redevelopment Plans
5-25-2022: Westfield Council OKs Prospect, Ferris Redevelopment Agreement
5-12-2022: Westfield Appoints New Clerk; Reveals Prospect Street Renderings
4-27-2022: Westfield Hears Prospect, Ferris Traffic-Impact Study
12-8-2021: Public Feedback Mixed as Ferris Redevelopment Project Advances
11-16-2023 8 Small & Underrated Towns In New Jersey That Are Great Alternatives To Cape May
Discover hidden gems in New Jersey! Uncover charm beyond Cape May in 8 small, underrated towns. Your next adventure awaits off the beaten path.
06-30-2023 Morristown council defies Planning Board, pushes stricter height limits on new development
06-26-2023 Westfield pushes ahead with sweeping downtown redevelopment, despite opposition
4-16-2023 “Affordable” Housing Sprawl: Part 1 - exmayor.com
04-16-2023 “Affordable” Housing Sprawl: Part 2 - exmayor.com
4-15-2023 “Affordable” Housing Sprawl: Part 3 - exmayor.com
4-13-2023 A new model to fight sprawl: Citizens sue their own towns - exmayor.com
04-13-2023 A new model to fight sprawl: Citizens sue their own towns
“A recent action in Westfield, NJ provides a simple model for citizens opposing sprawl ordinances” - exMayor.com
04-12-2023 Residents sue N.J. town over plan to redevelop shuttered Lord & Taylor site - NJ.com
02-02-2023: My Central Jersey: Westfield moves forward with downtown redevelopment plan despite opposition
01-31-2023: My Central Jersey/Yahoo Finance: Battle lines drawn over Westfield downtown redevelopment plan
01-26-2023: NJ.COM Resident group raises concerns about plan to redevelop former Lord & Taylor site in N.J. town
01-09-2023: Bloomberg: Rental Housing Is Suddenly Headed Toward a Hard Landing
12-22-2022 Worcester struggles under Polar Park debt
12-21-2022: Lyft/Uber Rideshare Program Renewed By Summit Council Despite Debate
The council voted to continue its rideshare program for commuters, as parking spaces become more limited in the city.
12-06-2022 Crain's NY: SL Green wants to pivot from offices
Student Interview of Westfield Advocate’s Alison Dallenbach-Carey
Preserving Westfield: A Journey in Historic Advocacy
Written by Jacqueline Carey
When one calls to mind the suburban northeast, images of colonial homes, picturesque downtowns, and a close-knit community may come to mind. These towns and their historic charm are what entice thousands of residents and prompt them to settle in and call these communities home. What happens when this idealistic life is suddenly disrupted?
When nonstop urbanization turns what was once a placid town into a hub of overdevelopment? Alison Dallenbach, a resident of Westfield, New Jersey was faced with this very dilemma. However, instead of sitting back and watching negative change take place in the town she cherishes; she acted. In a long-form interview, we dissected the intricacies of the Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development (Westfield Advocates) and the issue of overdevelopment and the future of historic preservation.
Historic preservation is incredibly necessary in a town like Westfield. The pre-colonial town was founded in 1720 and is home to numerous historic sites including a graveyard from the Revolutionary War. This historic lineage extends into the homes of the town with some dating as far back as the early 1700s. Naturally, the preservation of these homes and their rich history is a key priority of the town itself.
The Historic Preservation Commission is an official commission within the town that aims to “designate and regulate historic sites and historic districts”. It was here that Dallenbach first began her journey of preservation. “I’ve always had an appreciation for historic buildings and what they stand for.” she states, “But I really became interested in preservation when I observed the sharp increase in historic homes being torn down in our town.”.
It was this continuous destruction of non-designated homes that led to Dallenbach leaving the Historic Preservation Commissions and founding the non-profit organization Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development with two other members, Frank Fusaro and Carla Bonacci. Together, they formed a grassroots citizen organization that aims to give a collective voice to the residents of Westfield in decisions regarding development within the town. The inciting incident for the group’s formation was the approval of an oversized apartment complex in the residential neighborhood with “no regard to residents’ objections.”
Throughout the years, the group has seen great change and development. What started as a small group of concerned citizens has grown into a larger collective effort, with a regular group of 25 volunteers. The group has put forth multiple petitions to be presented to the local town council which have accumulated over 3,000 signatures and approximately $70,000 has been raised through different fundraising events. “We’re extremely grateful and proud of the community support we have received and for our residents and volunteers who are passionate about our cause.” Dallenbach says “This isn’t possible without the help of our community.”.
While the group has seen significant growth, they have still faced challenges. Founding and maintaining a nonprofit is a strenuous process and the sensitive subject matter has presented some obstacles. “Being a grassroots organization striving to be heard can be challenging; we’ve faced issues with both the local government and a multinational corporation that owns property in town. There have been several conflicts with marketing and public relations organizations within said company, resulting in the filing of two lawsuits.”. This continuous limitation has presented its own set of struggles, with the Advocates having a fixed ability to speak on certain matters- an issue that is very disheartening given that the main goal of this organization is transparency. However, the wide-reaching positive impacts have made the minor struggles rewarding.
The Westfield Advocates have played an instrumental role in surrounding towns forming their preservation groups. This has allowed for their message to spread into surrounding communities and the state, allowing for increased education and awareness. The true highlight of the group's efforts was engaging with state senators. The Advocates were able to discuss state legislation to resolve loopholes in overdevelopment laws within New Jersey. Currently, New Jersey fair housing laws require a certain amount of affordable housing to be present in each town. While this law addresses and attempts to solve a very pressing issue, it also provides a loophole for developers. Within this law, developers can “disregard local zoning laws and construct buildings that are oversized in terms of height, density, and bulk.”. The explanation of this loophole has wide-reaching negative impacts on all parties, especially those it claims to help. These apartments are mainly available for rent, a situation that de-incentivizes home ownership and does not provide economic stability. Not only does this negatively impact those who may be trying to move upwards from a lower-income household, it has detrimental impacts on current residents of Westfield. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, with a large percentage of this population consolidated in the metro New York area.
This concentration of people means that there is little to no room for additional development. When this unnecessary development does occur it “severely impacts traffic patterns, current town infrastructure, local environment, property values, and overall quality of life.”. It diminishes the “suburban nature” of the town, a factor that initially is what draws many future residents to Westfield.
Through her advocacy work, Dallenbach has learned a plethora of valuable lessons. “I’ve gained a lot of knowledge about local government and how municipalities run, specifically about zoning laws. I’ve become aware of how much truly happens behind the scenes that regular citizens aren’t aware of.”. This newfound knowledge is part of what fueled her desire to push the Advocate's message, no matter how strenuous it can be. “I’ve learned about the amount of time it takes to educate yourself. We’re spreading information to the public. It must be accurate, and this can be a very time-consuming process. It’s disheartening and frustrating at times, but I’ve learned resilience for the cause I believe in.”. Having lived in Westfield for over 15 years, Dallenbach knows just how important the preservation of her town is. “I love this town.’ She states “I moved here to raise my family and be a part of the community and I want that to be preserved for generations to come. We need to be able to balance progress and community not just in Westfield but in all suburban New Jersey.”. Being an active member of the Advocates has also helped Dallenbach become a better citizen of Westfield. “Throughout this process, I’ve become a more educated citizen and feel that I can better benefit my community.
That’s the goal of the Advocates; to hold local officials accountable and make our citizens aware of what is happening around them.”
The future of the Advocates is limitless, and their goals are ambitious. Their goal is “for local governments to truly engage with the community and reach consensus on the many new development projects, and to practice complete transparency.”. Through their educational efforts, the Advocates will continue to spread their message and educate their fellow townspeople. They will never cease in the fight to preserve the truly special place that is Westfield.