Cheektowaga · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Cheektowaga public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
New retail building at 1345 Walden
A new 11,488-square-foot multi-unit retail building with on-site parking is proposed along Walden Avenue.
Commercial Rezoning and Retail Expansion on French Road
The lot would be redistricted from Light Manufacturing to General Commercial, opening it to a wider range of commercial uses.
McKesson Parkway Multi-Unit Residential Development
A proposal to merge two parcels and build 144 apartments — nearly double the 73 units zoning allows, with 50-foot buildings — has now been tabled three times because the applicant keeps missing meetings. The board warned it may withdraw the case if he doesn't appear in November.
Vehicle rust-inhibitor service at 3438 Broadway
A parcel subdivision and rezone to Motor Services would allow a 2,800-square-foot vehicle servicing building applying rust inhibitor for corrosion prevention.
Parking reconfiguration at 2523 Walden
A tenant expansion would come with reconfigured parking areas, new parking spaces and pedestrian walkways across the site.
UTECH Waterproofing Commercial Development at 0 Broadway
An 8,000-square-foot office building and 9,000-square-foot warehouse are proposed for UTECH Waterproofing's operations and storage.
Proposed wireless telecommunications tower at 760 French Road
The committee was scheduled to review a proposed 109-foot cell tower with ground equipment on leased land. Environmental advisory input feeds the town's decision on the special use permit.
Tadio Parkway Speed Limits
The board revisited lowering town speed limits from 30 to 25 mph but reached no decision. Members split on enforcement versus signage, discussed road diets, and flagged problem roads like William Street and Cleveland Drive.
West Herr dealership at 6700 Transit Road
West Herr wants to rezone the former Clarion Hotel site at 6700 Transit Road to build a 28,000-square-foot car dealership, paired with a related project over the line in Amherst. The hearing was continued for corrected notice; the rezone vote was pulled from the agenda.
Stiglmeier Park Casino Building Demolition
The town is moving toward demolishing the deteriorated, unused Losson Park Casino building, with a public hearing set for November 10. Grant money and a possible three-season shelter replacement are on the table.
Battery Energy Storage System Proposal at 3695 Broadway
Supervisor Nowak wants the town to finish and adopt its draft battery energy storage law quickly, as developers are pitching facilities across the region. Setbacks and fire suppression rules are the key issues.
Sanitation and Yard Waste Collection Challenges
Highway crews are catching up on missed yard-waste pickups, and the department is developing its own composting/mulching operation to save money and train operators.
Police Labor Agreement 2027-2031
A five-year contract with the police Captains and Lieutenants Association was scheduled for approval, affecting police compensation through 2031.
Commercial Expansion and Environmental Concerns at Carwell Corrosion
Carwell wants to subdivide, rezone and build a corrosion-protection service center at 3438 Broadway with zero-foot setbacks. A neighbor previously raised concerns about chemical exposure and property upkeep; the case was tabled again at the applicant's request while questions remain.
Fire Training Facility
The town is giving land off Walden Avenue to the Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Organization for a privately funded training facility serving all ten town fire companies. Construction could start next summer, improving in-service training without costing taxpayers.
Police Department Expansion and Community Advisory Council
The board approved a $14,419.59 grant-funded drone for search-and-rescue and crash response. One resident argued the money would be better spent on proven measures like lighting and fencing.
FY 2027 CDBG/HOME Annual Plan
The 2027 federal grant plan proposes helping seniors install grab bars and non-slip surfaces to cut 'lift assist' fire calls, which are up 13-17% a year locally. The hearing stays open through October 27.
2027 Municipal Budget and Tax Cap Override
The proposed 2027 budget carries a 9.8% tax increase, and the board adopted the tax-cap override law 5-2 to allow it. Residents — especially seniors on fixed incomes — pleaded for cuts, a pay freeze, and line-by-line spending review; the board will hold budget public hearings October 27.
Ambulance Services Code Amendment
Local Law No. 8 of 2026 would update the town code governing ambulance services and the EMS Board, following a September public hearing.
Borden Road neighbor privacy dispute
A homeowner sought to top his six-foot fence with mesh screening because, he said, a next-door neighbor has photographed and filmed his daughter and teenage grandson for two years. The board granted the variance with a condition keeping the screen 35 feet back from the street corner.
Walden Galleria Electric Vehicle Display and Test Driving
The mall can now park up to five Teslas outside near the old Sears wing for a year so shoppers can view and test-drive them on mall property. The board weighed holiday traffic and pedestrian safety against a new retail draw, and limited the permit to one year for review.
Neighborhood Traffic and Parking Regulations
Residents raised concerns about speeding and on-street parking around Living Water Fellowship during church services. Police patrols will monitor the area.
Library roof asbestos survey concerns
Library caretaker Eric Zemborski said he can't get the asbestos survey for the upcoming roof replacement despite being told it exists, and worries about material staged near the public park while staff remain in the building.
Highway Department Equipment Purchases and Paving Schedule
With an American Rock Salt shortage looming, the supervisor asked the board to approve buying and storing 2,000 extra tons of salt on town property. New plow trucks are on back order for equipment fitting; the board must decide soon.
Expansion of Flock Automated License Plate Reader Cameras
Residents presented FOIL'd event logs showing former officers retained access, joke hotlists tracking co-workers, and disabled multi-factor authentication, after three officers were suspended for misusing the system to stalk a town employee. Speakers demanded the cameras come down, an independent audit, and a local ALPR law; Supervisor Nowak said the board must seriously consider the system's future in 2027.
Cemetery Expansion and Sustainable Stormwater Management
Mount Calvary Cemetery is proposing a new above-ground columbarium and niche expansion using permeable pavers to reduce stormwater runoff.
Veterans Day Planning and Community Events
Committee members reported on ongoing community outreach, including nursing scholarships, book donations to Willow Lodge Bingo, donations to the Be The One veteran suicide prevention program, and efforts to rename a pedestrian bridge over Route 198.
Community Survey
Cheektowaga wants your opinion! The town is running a quick community survey to figure out what local projects and priorities residents actually care about.
Small Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Expansion
Two telecommunications projects—a new tower at 760 French Road and equipment upgrades at 3393 Union Road—aim to improve wireless coverage and network capacity.
Commercial Zoning Amendment and Motor Service Expansion on Transit Road
Young Development sought approval to add parking spaces close to Transit Road to address tenant turnover and leasing challenges caused by parking shortages.
Corporate Office and Warehousing Development at Union Road
Several commercial and industrial projects—including a corporate headquarters at 3150 Union Road, a rust-prevention shop at 3438 Broadway, and a zoning change at 6700 Transit Road—were reviewed and tabled for public comments.
Commercial Expansion and Residential Development Reviews
The town's conservation leaders are reviewing commercial and institutional expansion projects to ensure adequate landscaping and parking improvements. Recent reviews cover facility upgrades on Cleveland Drive and major tree plantings for a utility transformer project on Dale Road.
7-Brew Drive-Thru Coffee Shop on Walden Avenue
A proposed drive-thru coffee shop on Walden Avenue faced pushback over potential traffic backups, tight employee parking, and turning safety onto Peppy Place. The board wants state transportation officials to weigh in on the traffic study before moving forward.
Town Council Appointment Controversy
The town board is considering filling an open council seat with Parvez Rahman through the end of the year, but delayed the decision.
Legal Claim Settlements Disclosure
The town board adopted a formal report detailing closed legal claim settlements, including large payouts for motor vehicle accidents and police department claims.
Sanitation Department Leadership Appointment
The town board is interviewing candidates to fill the General Foreman position in the Sanitation Department, which oversees critical waste collection and neighborhood sanitation services.
Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center Expansion at 157 Cleveland Drive
Site improvements including a lot subdivision, accessible parking, and a new playground will enhance community and facility access.
Good Cause Eviction Law Proposal
Councilmember Nowicki introduced a discussion on opting into New York State's Good Cause Eviction law to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes and unjustified evictions, prompting debate over local housing stock and landlord impacts.
Harlem Villas Affordable Housing PILOT Agreement
Developers proposed a 15-year PILOT agreement for a $35 million mixed-use affordable housing complex on Harlem Road featuring 68 units, including 30 reserved for veterans, prompting concerns from residents regarding tax exemptions.
Board Vacancy
Cheektowaga needs a new member for the Board of Assessment Review, the crew that handles local property tax disputes. If you've been looking for a way to dive into local government, now is your chance to apply for the gig.
Research Committee for Highway Department Conversion to DPW
The town established a research committee to study whether transitioning from an elected Highway Superintendent to an appointed Department of Public Works would improve operational efficiency and cost savings.
Residential Driveway Encroachments and Setback Variances
The board addressed multiple driveway expansion requests, granting a second access point on Dubonnet Drive while reining in an oversized driveway on Temple Drive to preserve neighborhood aesthetics.
Home-Based Business Permit for Candle Manufacturing
A resident sought a special permit to operate a small-scale, part-time home bakery selling goods online without customer walk-ins.
Veterans Disability Tax Exemption Evaluation
The assessor reviewed the newly enacted state option providing 100% property tax exemptions for permanently and totally disabled veterans, noting an estimated $14.4 million in current assessment shifts.
Scajaquada Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project
The board discussed a $6.7 million federal and state aquatic ecosystem restoration project for Scajaquada Creek before pulling the resolution to review funding and bonding interest responsibilities.
Financial Disclosure Statement Review
The board went over returned financial disclosure forms from town officials, noting one was missing a signature.
Stormwater Management and Drainage Concerns on Transit Road Accessory Structure
A neighbor raised strong concerns about flooding and roof runoff from a proposed large 6,-bay accessory structure at 4832 Transit Road. The board approved the variance only after requiring the applicant to tie new drain tiles into existing storm sewer lines.
Industrial Expansion for Niagara Power Transformer on Dale Road
Niagara Power Transformer is investing heavily to expand its manufacturing footprint across multiple parcels on Dale Road and Anderson. The project will add over 50,000 square feet of manufacturing space, create dozens of new high-paying engineering and assembly jobs, and help meet surging national demand for power transformers.
Long-Term Temporary Permitting for School Bus Depot on Aero Drive
Student Transportation of America received another two-year temporary permit for its bus depot at 850 Aero Drive, continuing a decade-long arrangement due to M-2 manufacturing zoning rules that exclude bus storage. The board pressed the applicant to work with town officials on a permanent zoning fix.
Commercial Truck Restrictions on Residential Corridors
Residents on Dean Road, Hyland Avenue, and Standard Parkway reported that heavy commercial trucks are ignoring weight limits, leading to planned police monitoring.