Buffalo News Article On The One-Year Pause In Development

[mark blazejewski]

Lancaster seeks to slow growth as it halts new residential projects in town for 1 year

Natalie Brophy 2 hrs ago

Residential development in Lancaster is about to slow way down after the Town Board approved a one-year pause on new projects.

The recently passed law, sponsored by Supervisor Robert Leary, establishes a one-year moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of commercial residential development, including major residential subdivisions, apartment complexes, condominium buildings and townhome communities.

Lancaster considers 1-year pause on commercial residential development in town

The proposed law, sponsored by Council member and Supervisor-elect Robert Leary, would establish a one-year moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of commercial residential development, like apartment complexes, condominium buildings and townhome communities.

Construction of individual homes not part of large subdivision developments will not be affected by this law, Leary said.

The moratorium is necessary, according to the law, because Lancaster “has experienced significant and rapid growth” and its zoning code does not adequately address commercial residential development. The temporary halt is also needed to address issues such as “adequate water supply and sewer capacity, potential road improvements and the continued maintenance of green spaces.”


Leary stressed this is not the end of commercial residential development in Lancaster, rather a “pause to get things under control.”

“What I’ve seen is a lack of resources to deal with all the people coming in here,” Leary said in an interview with The Buffalo News. “So we’ve got to make some changes.”

Lancaster experienced slow growth for most of the 20th century, before its population shot up in the 1950s. According to census data, the town’s population grew by roughly 50% between 1980 and 2020. Just over 30,000 people lived in Lancaster in 1980, but by 2020, the town had more than 45,000 residents.

During the Town Board’s last meeting, on Jan. 16, members unanimously voted to approve the moratorium. Council Member Dawn Schroeder, who was elected to the board in November, was absent and did not vote, but previously expressed support of the law.

Council Member Melissa Studley, who was also recently elected, said she has seen the impacts of Lancaster’s overdevelopment firsthand.

In 2018, Studley watched a neighbor’s house on Pleasant View Drive burn down because firefighters couldn’t get enough water pressure from nearby hydrants. That incident, Studley said, is “directly associated with our infrastructure that’s incapable of keeping pace with the current rate of development.”

It’s not a secret that Lancaster is one of a handful of Buffalo suburbs whose population has boomed in recent decades, with a population that has grown by almost 50 percent since 1980. That growth has come with some of the problems that other communities have experienced, such as traffic volume and unexpected flooding.

Studley said she has also heard numerous complaints from residents about traffic jams at some of the town’s busiest intersections: Genesee Street and Harris Hill Road; Walden and Central avenues; and William and Aurora streets.

Leary said he’s seen the town’s zoning code “manipulated” by developers to build housing where it doesn’t belong. The pause will give the town time to make revisions to the zoning code and comprehensive master plan to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.

Additionally, the town has set up a new planning department, formed a committee and plans to meet with the county regarding the water pressure issues, Leary said. The town is also planning traffic studies at eight intersections throughout Lancaster.

Before he left office, former Lancaster Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr. voiced his opposition to the law. He said if the law passed, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win and will lose out on projects to other municipalities.

Leary said he believes this moratorium is what’s best for the residents of Lancaster and if that results in a lawsuit against the town, officials will “deal with it as it comes in.”

“We have to make a decision – a hard decision – that we represent the residents of the Town of Lancaster and we’re going to do what’s right for them,” Leary said.

Commercial development is not affected by this law, Leary said. The town is working with companies looking to expand in Lancaster and bring jobs.

Residential development projects that already have received all approvals from the town will be able to proceed, according to the law.


Reference: https://buffalonews.com/news/local/l...new%20projects.

[WNYresident]

The moratorium is necessary, according to the law, because Lancaster “has experienced significant and rapid growth” and its zoning code does not adequately address commercial residential development. The temporary halt is also needed to address issues such as “adequate water supply and sewer capacity, potential road improvements and the continued maintenance of green spaces.”

Why weren't these items monitored as the growth happened? Water supply. Sewer etc?... Wasn't anyone thinking ahead before?

[yaksplat]

There are no requirements for almost any jobs in town hall. An engineer would see the issues with most of the growth that has taken place. A clown that won a popularity contest would not.

[mark blazejewski]

Before he left office, former Lancaster Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr. voiced his opposition to the law. He said if the law passed, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win and will lose out on projects to other municipalities.

Just My Opinion:

The comments of both Council Member Studley and Supervisor Leary illustrate the weaknesses in the shallow, if not cold and uncaring, Ruffino position:

Council Member Melissa Studley, who was also recently elected, said she has seen the impacts of Lancaster’s overdevelopment firsthand.

In 2018, Studley watched a neighbor’s house on Pleasant View Drive burn down because firefighters couldn’t get enough water pressure from nearby hydrants. That incident, Studley said, is “directly associated with our infrastructure that’s incapable of keeping pace with the current rate of development...”


Leary said he believes this moratorium is what’s best for the residents of Lancaster and if that results in a lawsuit against the town, officials will “deal with it as it comes in.”

“We have to make a decision – a hard decision – that we represent the residents of the Town of Lancaster and we’re going to do what’s right for them,” Leary said.

I think that neither the threat of litigation, nor a less-than-prudent rush for business opportunities, transcend the absolute need to protect the lives, safety and health of the town's residents.

[Lee Chowaniec]

Moratorium: Lancaster seeks to slow growth
Buffalo News

Residential development in Lancaster is about to slow way down after the Town Board approved a one-year pause on new projects.

The recently passed law, sponsored by Supervisor Robert Leary, establishes a one-year moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of commercial residential development, including major residential subdivisions, apartment complexes, condominium buildings and townhome communities. Construction of individual homes not part of large subdivision developments will not be affected by this law, Leary said.

The moratorium is necessary, according to the law, because Lancaster “has experienced significant and rapid growth” and its zoning code does not adequately address commercial residential development. The temporary halt is also needed to address issues such as “adequate water supply and sewer capacity, potential road improvements and the continued maintenance of green spaces.” Leary stressed this is not the end of commercial residential development in Lancaster, rather a “pause to get things under control.”

Leary said he’s seen the town’s zoning code “manipulated” by developers to build housing where it doesn’t belong. The pause will give the town time to make revisions to the zoning code and comprehensive master plan to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.

Before he left office, former Lancaster Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr. voiced his opposition to the law. He said if the law passed, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win and will lose out on projects to other municipalities.

Leary said he believes this moratorium is what’s best for the residents of Lancaster and if that results in a lawsuit against the town, officials will “deal with it as it comes in.”

“We have to make a decision – a hard decision – that we represent the residents of the Town of Lancaster and we’re going to do what’s right for them,” Leary said.

Commercial development is not affected by this law, Leary said. The town is working with companies looking to expand in Lancaster and bring jobs.
Residential development projects that already have received all approvals from the town will be able to proceed, according to the law.

Comment

I have waited for decades to hear or see the words: “We represent the residents of the Town of Lancaster and we’re going to do what’s right for them. If that results in a lawsuit against the town, officials will “deal with it as it comes in.”

Tired of hearing: Former Lancaster Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr. voiced his opposition to the law. He said if the law passed, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win and will lose out on projects to other municipalities. His mantra has been growth at any cost to the residents or environment.

For too long developers and special interest groups have ruled in Lancaster. For too long developers have manipulated the codes, received rezones and even rezones of rezones that have adversely impacted Lancasters environment and infrastructure; adversely impacted resident safety and quality of life.

Commercial development is not affected by this law, Leary said. Many people miss that salient point.

Over the years codes have been amended / modified to address past segmentation, bogus wetland delineations, the filling in / destruction of valuable and functional wetlands / tributaries, rerouting of creeks, water pressure issues, etc. A Comprehensive Master Plan review is in order along with code review / amending if necessary to ensure Lancaster’s future development follows ‘smart growth’ principles, not sprawl policies that adversely impact community safety, health, and quality of life.

[mark blazejewski]

Kudos to The Buffalo News for recognizing the importance of this story and its subsequent publication. It serves to add balance to its December, 2023 report.

Reference: https://www.speakupwny.com/forums/sh...our-Supervisor

In that connection, my concerns about the Lancaster Bee's coverage still stand:

Why is it that I did not see one word about the adoption of the development moratorium in today's electronic edition of the Lancaster Bee?

Not even one of the Bee's famous journalistic sticky notes, come on man!

Unless I missed something, in the past, the Bee gave extensive coverage to the opposing views on a subject, which if measured by today's coverage, was not newsworthy to begin with.

What's with that???

[mark blazejewski]

The only thing that I see as lacking in the article, is the absence of any reference to Council Member Mark Burkard, who passionately clicked-off some rather compelling items, all of which were in support of the pause.

To further acquaint yourself with Burkard's remarks, I refer you to Mr. Chowaniec's previous posting of January 17, 2024:

Councilmember Burkard spoke on land and environmental issues - easements in the past that were sold to developers. Loopholes Will be searched for that are not in the best interest for Lancaster. Comprehensive Plan town traffic studies (not on state or county roads) will be investigated all in making Lancaster’s future growth in the best interest of the community.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZXo5NFS-Y

From the 45-minute mark.

Reference: https://www.speakupwny.com/forums/sh...ing-moratorium