Stop & Shop Expansion Unanimously Approved

The Westfield Planning Board unanimously approved the expansion of Stop & Shop on Thursday night after 12 public hearings.

Stop & Shop's expansion includes expanding the 24,860 square-foot sales floor to roughly 41,000 square feet, as well as adding 40 parking spaces.

The spaces would be located on the adjacent properties purchased by Stop & Shop at 203 and 195 Elm Street.

Few amendments were approved along with the site plan, including allowing deliveries until 10 p.m. Planning Board Chairman, Vincent Wilt, explained that if noise at this time becomes an issue to residents it can be reevaluated. 

The objector attorney, Ron Gasiorwski, addressed the board for a final time on Thursday and thanked them for not rushing their decision. He also explained his final points on noise issues and traffic. Stop & Shop's attorney, Henry Geneslaw, reiterated their points from the past several months just so they were all on the same page. He added that the witness and expert testimonies provided by Gasiorwski were lacking accuracy and thoroughness.

Board member, John Bennett, agreed with Geneslaw and said he felt the noise study provided by Stop & Shop's expert was much more reliable.

Wilt added that residents that live near Stop & Shop have said there is no noise issue currently, so adding the sound barriers and changing the traffic pattern and parking space angles should only reduce the sound that is already not causing an issue.

The plan will still need approval by Westfield's Building Department and the County of Union before Stop & Shop can begin construction.


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