Buffalo is closer than it has been for decades to having a new code to control zoning and planning.
For decades, City Hall has tinkered with the zoning code adopted in the 1940s and modified again and again. Six-years ago, the Brown Administration began to prepare the Green Code and it has been going through a very long process since. That includes around 100 changes since the last version was presented at public meetings.
Now, there is a final version and the Council is starting the final approval process with the 2 p.m. Tuesday meeting of the Legislation Committee to talk about the code. Fillmore District Councilmember David Franczyk says the public has been very involved and interested in the plan.
"Citizen came in with something he wanted to see changed in my district, regarding a residential area which he thinks should remain light industrial. So people are still coming forward," Franczyk says. "But a lot of yeoman's work was done because of the Council, including everyone having district meetings about this process. We had three in Fillmore. Other Council members had a number of meetings. We had general meetings at various venues."
There are likely to be some more public meetings on the final plan.
There has already been some public approval of major changes, like limiting buildings in the residential areas of the Elmwood Village and Fruit Belt to three stories instead of the proposed five.
South District Councilmember Chris Scanlon says strong public opposition to some provisions also led to changes in plans for the Outer Harbor.
"Originally, it called for the parcels out there where you could develop on 25 percent of the land out there. That's been scaled back to 10 percent," Scanlon says. "Also there's been creation of basically an overlay district where this gives us an added layer of protection against development. So virtually any use out there is going to need a Special Use Permit."
That development would require final approval by the Council.
