Westfield council introduces expansion of Northpointe Business Park economic revitalization area

The Westfield City Council introduced Resolution 25-129 on the proposed expansion of the Northpointe Business Park Economic Revitalization Area to include a recently annexed parcel east of East Street.

Claire Gelinas, Economic Development Strategist for the City of Westfield, told the council the expansion would cover the parcel at 2255 East 190 Sixth Street and is being aligned with a pending PUD. "This is a gradual next step in the process as we tee up the property for industrial traction and economic development projects," Gelinas said.

Gelinas said the ERA must be in place before any tax-abatement recommendations are introduced and that any abatements would be considered under state statute and would require the project to meet statutory requirements such as job creation, wages and investment. She told the council both personal and real property could be included for potential abatements but emphasized that an ERA does not guarantee abatements.

The council was told the timeline: the annexation ordinance was considered April 14, the PUD was considered May 12, the ERA was introduced May 28, and a public hearing and consideration for adoption is scheduled for the council meeting on June 9. No formal vote on the ERA was taken at the May meeting; the item was introduced for later public hearing and adoption.

The introduction packet did not disclose the prospective tenant; Gelinas said the city is "working with the client" and that details will be disclosed at the June 9 meeting. The council provided no direction beyond scheduling the public hearing.

The item will return to the council June 9 for public hearing and possible adoption.