Patrick Ryan

The meeting agenda included a proclamation honoring Earl Knauss for his community service and a resolution establishing Women Veterans Day. Public hearings were held regarding proposed local laws related to the Town of Hamburg Code, specifically regarding brush, grass, and weeds, and zoning amendments. The Board also addressed personnel actions across various departments, including the resignation of a court officer and the hiring of new staff in Engineering, Building and Code Enforcement, and the Justice Court. Additionally, budget amendments were approved for police department funding, youth program grants, and buildings and grounds projects. Other business included authorizing a right-of-entry request for sewage management, declaring an unsafe structure at 5036 Lakeshore Road, approving the arena sound system replacement, authorizing alcohol permits for Taylor Road, appointing members to the Zoning Board of Appeals, awarding a contract for the Town Beach Jetty Repair Project, approving a polling location lease agreement, and discussing zoning updates for the Buffalo Bills NFL Stadium Economic Impact Area.

The Planning Board held a work session and regular meeting to discuss zoning code amendments and two specific development applications. The board reviewed standards for site plan submissions, site plan revisions, and requirements for EV charging stations. A proposal for a new childcare center at 4090 Jeffrey Blvd was discussed, including special use permit standards and site layout considerations. Additionally, the board reviewed a site plan and special use permit application for a 2.5 MW solar project. Key discussion points for the solar project included landscaping and screening, noise levels, setbacks, property value concerns, and potential host community agreement considerations. The board decided to forward the solar project application to the Town Board for potential host agreement evaluation and initiated the coordinated SEQR review process.

The meeting included a work session to discuss zoning code amendments regarding Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, specifically addressing site plan processes, permit requirements, and parking percentage guidelines. During the regular meeting, the board reviewed a request from the Erie County Agricultural Society for site plan approval for a new building at Slade Park, scheduling a future public hearing. The board also extensively discussed a site plan proposal for shop warehouse buildings at 0 Lakeshore Road, covering environmental reviews (SEQRA), wetland and stormwater management, traffic and noise considerations, and the need for updated landscaping plans and project scope revisions. Several items were tabled for further assessment.

The board conducted a work session to review zoning code amendments and subdivision land code. During the regular meeting, the board held public hearings and granted minor subdivision approval for a two-lot subdivision on North Shore Drive. A site plan approval proposal for building demolition and new construction at 5600 McKinley Parkway was tabled until the next meeting. The board issued a negative declaration under SEQR for a warehouse building project at 0 Lakeshore Road and tabled the site plan approval. A request for a tree clearing permit at 4735 Southwestern Boulevard was discussed and tabled. Additionally, the board discussed a use variance for a rescue facility at 3747 Lakeshore Road and set a public hearing date, while a solar project proposal was tabled indefinitely.

The board discussed proposed zoning code amendments, including definitions for townhouses and new requirements for sketch plan submissions for subdivisions. The meeting also reviewed several development projects: a 2-lot subdivision request at 58 North Shore Drive, which will proceed to a public hearing; a use variance request for the expansion of rescue services by Ten Lives Club Inc., which was tabled; and a site plan application for six warehouse buildings at 0 Lakeshore Road, involving detailed presentations on environmental assessments, landscaping plans, and infrastructure requirements, which was also tabled for further review.