The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD SHOULD CONSTRUCT TWO PARKING DECKS WITHIN THE “SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT” (BUSINESS DISTRICT).

One on the South Avenue lot at the train station and one on the Prospect lot extended (or Prospect and Elm lots) on the Northside.

The deck at the South Avenue train station should add at least 400 to 500 spaces. It would be an attractively landscaped parking deck plus retail shops along South Avenue. This deck would provide for current and future commuter demands and for some Northside owners/ employees who meterfeed on Northside streets. Contrary to some expressed opinions, we believe you can attract these owners/ employees to the Southside deck with subsidized rates, jitney service, convenient parking locations in the deck as it will help their business. This deck would keep Westfield the premier commuter town on the Raritan Valley Line.

The deck at Prospect should add at least 400 spaces. It would serve expanded businesses, restaurants, theatre, apartments, etc., which have been brought into town by the Downtown Westfield Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce.

The Town of Westfield should implement a Comprehensive Parking Management Plan... simultaneously, with the added decks, and as recommended by the parking consultant – new onstreet spaces, modern meters, higher meter rates, stricter collections, improved parking signage, jitney service. These changes combined with appropriate timing of a bond issue can enable both decks with minimal tax effect.

DON'T STUDY IT FURTHER! It has been studied 4 or 5 times over 35 years!

DON'T OVERREACT TO LOCAL INTERESTS. Do what is right for the town as a whole.

DON'T HURT REAL ESTATE VALUES BY DELAYING! The decks can only enhance them.

PLEASE BUILD TWO ATTRACTIVE DECKS FOR THE GOOD OF THE TOWN.

DO IT NOW! TO: The Westfield Town Council

Councilman Greg McDermott Councilman Carl Salisbury Councilman Neil Sullivan Councilwoman Janice Weinstein Councilman Matt Albano

Councilman Larry Goldman Councilman Jim Gruba Councilwoman Claire Lazarowitz

WILLIAM J. SHEPHERD LEE M. HALE Mayor Tom Jardim