Westfield’s special permitting process could be revamped
The Westfield City Council’s ad hoc Business Development Committee has been revived under Chairman Michael Burns (Ward 4) and plans to revamp the special permit process. City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell is working with the committee and said most communities’ special permits go through the planning board. He said that makes sense because the planning board works with businesses every step of the process. But over the years, some Westfield councilors requested that special permits go before the council. “Different councilors felt it was their purview to issue special permits,” said Mitchell.