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Council adopts UDO amendments changing downtown sign size, siren easement rules and GO district uses
Summary
The Westfield City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 26-35, updating the Unified Development Ordinance to increase maximum downtown wall sign area from 12 to 36 square feet, tighten projecting-sign illumination standards, add outdoor warning-siren easement requirements for certain new developments, and close a General Office (GO) district loophole allowing by-right multifamily dwellings.
Westfield City Council on a unanimous 6-0 vote adopted Ordinance 26-35, making several targeted amendments to the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
Lauren Gillingham Teague of the Community Development Department told the council the measure contains several unrelated, procedural fixes combined for adoption consideration. She said the changes include raising the maximum downtown wall-sign area from 12 square feet to 36 square feet to better align downtown standards with market expectations; tightening illumination standards for projecting (hanging) signs to narrow an unintended allowance for internal illumination; and adding standards to require developers to grant outdoor warning-siren easement areas (roughly 25-by-25 to 30-by-30 feet) in new developments that the fire department deems not adequately served by existing sirens. Teague also said the amendments close a longstanding loophole in the General Office (GO) zoning district that had permitted multi-family dwellings by right in a district where such uses were inconsistent with other permitted uses.
Council President Patrick Tam and other members praised the thorough presentation. Councilor Victor McCarty moved to adopt the ordinance, a motion seconded by Councilor Hough; the roll-call vote recorded six yes votes and no dissent, carrying the measure into effect as adopted by the council.
The amendments were presented as adoption consideration after receiving a favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission. Teague said the siren-easement requirement places the obligation on developers only to provide the space; installation, maintenance and payment for equipment would be the responsibility of the fire department or other designated authority if and when a siren is sited.
The ordinance text and effective dates were not read into the record during the meeting; staff indicated the changes are aimed at clearer administration of downtown sign standards, public-safety planning for outdoor warning sirens, and preventing unintended multi-family development in the GO district.
