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Westfield council adopts ordinances and resolutions to finalize fourth-round affordable housing plan
Summary
The Westfield Town Council voted to adopt a package of ordinances and resolutions implementing the town's fourth-round affordable housing plan, including zoning overlays and updates to affordable housing regulations, development fees and a trust fund; the measures were presented as the final steps to meet compliance deadlines.
The Westfield Town Council on a unanimous vote adopted multiple ordinances and accompanying resolutions to implement the town's fourth-round affordable housing plan, the mayor said was required to meet a compliance deadline.
Mayor Jeremy Berman and council members approved amendments to the land-use ordinance that update affordable housing regulations, revise the affordable housing development fee and trust fund, and create four zoning districts/overlays to allow inclusionary housing development at up to 25 units per acre. "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," Mayor Jeremy Berman said during the meeting.
Council members said the package also included administrative measures: endorsement of the round 4 housing element and fair share plan first amendment, an affirmative marketing plan and a related spending plan. Council votes and supporting roll calls showed the measures carried across the series of motions.
Why it matters: Council leaders said adopting the ordinances and resolutions is the "final step required to meet our compliance deadline" and is intended to protect Westfield from potential builders' remedy lawsuits while retaining that roughly 70% of the town remain zoned for single-family homes.
What the ordinances do: The package (adopted as a set of separate ordinances) updates the town’s affordable housing regulations (article 23), adjusts the development fee and trust fund (article 22) and establishes new affordable housing districts and overlay zones (ESAH, FRAHO, SAAH, SAWAHO) that modify the zoning map to permit inclusionary developments. Council language limited potential density to "up to 25 units per acre" and allowed a fourth floor in one zoning change while capping overall density.
Procedural notes: The council opened each ordinance for the required advertised hearing; most hearings drew no public comment. Two council members announced recusals before the roll call on one overlay ordinance; the meeting record notes those recusals and the motions still carried.
What’s next: The council approved related resolutions to endorse the town’s round 4 housing element and marketing/spending plans, which staff will implement as part of the housing program. The meeting record does not specify implementation timelines or which properties will be developed; specific project proposals would still require separate approvals if brought forward by property owners.
Sources: Statements and votes from the Westfield Town Council meeting record (advertised hearings and roll-call votes), and remarks from Mayor Jeremy Berman during the meeting.
