Amherst · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Amherst public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Town E-Bike and E-Scooter Regulations
Town officials discussed ongoing public input for new regulations regarding electric bicycles and e-scooters. The board decided to keep public comments open and delay any final voting decision until November 30 to gather more feedback from local cyclists and residents.
2027 Town Budget and Tax Levy Increase
The town board is reviewing the proposed 2027 town budget and capital improvement program, along with a local law to override the tax levy limit if necessary. These financial plans will guide municipal spending and public investments for the upcoming year.
Senior Center Operational Policies and Restrictions
The town addressed temporary inconveniences at the senior center caused by canopy painting and parking lot maintenance happening right during early voting. Staff and senior center members are actively helping guide voters around the construction.
2190-2200 Wehrle Drive Multi-Family Development Variances
Young Development sought four area variances for setbacks and parcel size to split their 270-unit multi-family project into two financing phases. The site plan and building designs remain unchanged, featuring extensive landscaping and townhome-style units.
2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program
The town reviewed its multi-million dollar capital plan focused heavily on essential infrastructure like wastewater treatment and highway paving.
Proposed Lodging Occupancy Tax Request to State Legislature
The town established a 2.5% bed tax on short-term lodging to generate revenue for capital improvements and general town services.
Palmdale Drive and Neighborhood Speeding & Cut-Through Traffic
Residents across Halston Parkway, Royal Parkway, and Lafayette Boulevard are worried about speeding cars cutting through their residential streets to avoid main thoroughfares. They want the town to install speed humps, radar signs, or road closures to protect children and pets walking in areas without sidewalks.
Lafayette Boulevard Speeding and Traffic Calming
People living on Lafayette Boulevard are frustrated by drivers speeding to beat the traffic light at Main Street. The board suggested that neighbors could look into organizing a pilot program for speed bumps if they want to slow drivers down.
Pending Town Landmark Nominations
Two local landmark nominations, including the Architect Building and One Poster Court, are moving forward for town board review on July 27.
Crown Road Community Center Historic Oversight
The commission stepped in to ensure that exterior masonry and stone replacement at the Crown Road Community Center matches the historic character of the building, even though the project is exempt from standard permits due to using federal grant funds.
Highway Department Fleet and Salt Costs
The highway department is grappling with aging plow trucks past their service life and a jump in road salt prices from $56 to $93 a ton due to state sourcing laws.
Storm Sewer and Sanitary Interceptor Infrastructure Bonds
The town is advancing major bond-funded improvements for sanitary sewer repairs and equipment upgrades to maintain core municipal infrastructure.
North Amherst Fire Company Storage Building
The North Amherst Fire Company is looking to build an 80x60-foot storage building for trucks. The board approved the project with conditions to ensure the building's exterior matches the area's rural aesthetic.
Worley Avenue Multi-Family Housing Development
Young Development is proposing a 270-unit apartment complex at 2190 Worley Avenue. While scaled down from previous office and apartment proposals, neighbors are raising serious concerns about local water pressure, traffic, and lighting.
MacArthur Drive Home Business Special Use Permit
Neighbors raised concerns about traffic, parking near a busy intersection, and precedent-setting commercial activity in a residential neighborhood when an applicant requested to run a home hair salon.
Neglect of Historic Property at 22 Chateau Terrace
Residents complained that a historically significant home on Chateau Terrace has been neglected and damaged by adjacent construction.
Retention Pond Erosion Mitigation and Private Costs
A long-time resident asked the town to contribute financially toward expensive erosion repairs next to a town retention pond that threatens his driveway.
Adoption of the HELPS Civil Service Program
Residents raised concerns that adopting the state's HELPS program for emergency civil service hires might bypass traditional testing and merit-based hiring.
Demolition of Abandoned Property at 790 Dodge Road
The town is moving forward with demolishing a severely damaged and abandoned property on Dodge Road that has become a haven for squatters, rodents, and fire hazards.
Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemptions
A disabled veteran inquired about the town's plans to opt into the new New York State 100% veterans property tax exemption.
Historic Preservation Code Amendments for Building Alterations
Commissioners are working with planning staff to strengthen code enforcement and clarify procedures for historic properties.
Eggert Road Reconfiguration and Paving
Erie County's upcoming 2027 paving project on Eggert Road opens the door for lane diets, parking changes, and bike lanes. The board is planning a dedicated public session in November to gather resident input.
Auxaire Drive Traffic Concerns
Residents are worried about drivers rolling through stop signs and speeding near children playing on Auxaire Drive. Data shows speeds are mostly under the limit, but the board plans to request police patrols.
Dodge and North French Intersection Turn Arrow
Drivers turning left from Dodge Road onto North French Road face long delays and hazardous conditions during peak hours. The board voted to recommend applying for a county permit to install a protected turn arrow.
Audubon Golf Course Improvements and Bond Allocation
Residents debated the allocation of $500,000 in bond funding for Audubon Golf Course, suggesting funds would be better spent on cart paths, driving range drainage, and dispensing equipment rather than a par-three building.
Economic Development
Amherst just broke ground on a massive $50 million sports and entertainment complex. This huge new 716 Sports Complex is going to completely shake up the local recreation scene.
Proposed Changes to Town Board Rules of Order
The Town Board reviewed its upcoming schedule of over 80 resolutions, transitioning to a new software system called Civic Plus that temporarily altered standard numbering formats.
Bornhava Early Childhood Center Expansion
The board reviewed and denied a major site plan for a massive expansion at Bornhava Early Childhood Center due to missing traffic and parking data.
Childcare Facility Development on Transit Road
A developer wants to demolish an older home on Transit Road to build a new 10,000-square-foot childcare facility, which will bring more early childhood services to the area.
Town Divestment of Former Eggertsville Community Center
The Town of Amherst is rezoning 4110 Bailey Avenue from community facilities to general business so it can sell the former community center via an RFP while placing covenants on prohibited uses.
Multi-Family Residential Development at 4795 Sheridan Drive
LMK Realty Associates is seeking to rezone 3765 Sheridan Drive to build two three-story apartment buildings. Nearby residents voiced concerns about potential tree removal, building height, and loss of green space buffering.
Special Needs Preschool Expansion at 25 Chateau Terrace
Bornhava sought variances to expand its special needs preschool facility to accommodate a waiting list of over 175 children, drawing minor neighborhood questions regarding drainage and parking.
Kingsgate Park Playground Removal
Residents expressed deep frustration and heartbreak over the sudden removal of the neighborhood playground equipment at Kingsgate Park. Town officials apologized for the lack of communication and pledged to work on restoration and funding.
New York State Comptroller Audits
Drescher and Malecki presented the 2025 financial audit, giving the town a clean, unmodified opinion and noting strong operating fund balances and sales tax revenues.
Historic Landmark Designation for 4467 Main Street
The historic preservation commission and property owners clashed over proposed local landmark designation for the historic Bank of Snyder building at Main and Harlem.
Starbucks Mill Street Driveway Operations
Property representatives for the Starbucks site presented proposed signage upgrades to address sidewalk blockages and illegal left turns at the Mill Street driveway.
Uptown Apartments Site Plan Review
The board rejected a multi-family apartment complex plan on Wehrle Drive over severe traffic delay concerns and missing street connections.
Lennox Avenue Parking Restrictions
Residents debated whether to restrict overnight parking on one side of Lennox Avenue. Neighbors argued that parked cars help slow down speeding traffic and that no safety issues warranted the change.
North Forest Road Multi-Family Development Rezone
Developers are seeking to rezone several parcels on North Forest Road to allow them to be combined with an adjacent parcel for a three-building, 144-unit multifamily residential project.
Battery Energy Storage System Regulations
Residents and firefighters raised severe safety, fire hazard, and toxic smoke concerns regarding utility-scale battery energy storage systems, prompting the board to enact strict safety standards and 500-foot setbacks.
Sidewalk Repair Citations and Town Trees
Residents criticized the town's removal of an ADA curb ramp near local schools without installing a corresponding ramp, forcing children and walkers into the street.
Town Term Limits and Public Referendum
The town board considered a commission recommendation to update the 2006 term limits law and place a revised version on the November ballot, sparking a heated debate over incumbent term resets and taxpayer trust.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Zoning Regulations
The town is proposing a new zoning rule to allow large-scale battery energy storage facilities in industrial districts to support the electrical grid, raising questions about fire safety and technology safeguards.
Harlem Road Community Center Historic Front Door Restoration
The town is restoring the historic front entryway and doors at the Harlem Road Community Center using federal grant funds. The project involves careful wood restoration, hardware replication, and transom window preservation.
America's 250th 'Paint Amherst' art contest
The board planned an art contest for the nation's 250th birthday but has pushed it to February 2027 to get the contest process right — and maybe launch its own Facebook page.
Traffic Box Art Notification
The board is painting utility traffic boxes around town with patriotic and local designs. Eight of twelve locations are done, but state-owned boxes can't carry logos without Engineering approval. This is the art you see at intersections like Main & N. Forest and Sheridan & Sweet Home.
Budget error on board's 2026 budget
The comptroller's office charged a 2025 expense to the arts board's 2026 budget. The treasurer will get it removed so it doesn't shrink this year's spending power.
Kite Day moved to Harvest Fest
With the Great Lakes Kiteflyers unavailable, Kite Day becomes part of Harvest Fest on September 26, 1–4 p.m. Kids will decorate and fly DIY kites the board plans to buy.
Comprehensive Plan Update Award
The town awarded the Comprehensive Plan update contract to Interface Studio LLC for over $726,000 to guide future town development and land-use policies.
Boulevard Central District SDGEIS Review
The town opened a public hearing on environmental impact reviews for the Boulevard Central District before adjourning it to July.