Buffalo's Planning Board is the agency controlling the local housing boom, new buildings, rehabbed buildings, expanded buildings. On Monday, the board dealt with two industrial expansions.
The board dealt with a major expansion on Exchange Street for Graphic Controls and more loading docks for a building on Babcock Street.
Graphic Controls wants to move support for a medical supply firm it bought into its expanding complex on Exchange. It is adding 30,000 square feet of space to service the company moved from Vermont, with 30 jobs.
"It's my understanding that this doesn't add jobs," said Architect Doug Scheid. "The jobs were added last year when they moved a company here. This allows them to do on-site storage and warehousing."
It is a complicated project because it has to deal with drainage and a stormwater retention system.
Midstate Bakery Distributors needs more space for an added Walmart contract and another building tenant has a private label contract with Walmart. The bakery company is changing the layout of its property and adding a series of loading docks to deal with the increasing merchandise that will be coming through the Babcock structure.
"It's part of the growing economy in Buffalo, the revival of Buffalo," said Architect Brian Louis. "Can't do everything with loft apartments and high-end retail and restaurants."
The Planning Board approved site plans for both projects, but more board action is still needed.
