[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6657637,"mediaKeyId","5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f","parentId",5069892,"title","Town board keeps rezoning hearing open for proposed Empire 1 Credit Union office on William Street","audioSeconds",1177,"startMs",1887000,"endMs",3064000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f&start=1887&end=3064","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f/thumbnail_1887000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6657637/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Town-board-keeps-rezoning-hearing-open-for-proposed-Empire-1-Credit-Union-office-on-William-Street","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657637-979a219915253e3514eaf204281ed61a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198724&Signature=V0csZwjqyW9~4d4PP~AiWCcbRDfa2zFZ9iD-NRqptsGLZTXmkM2eVgeOViy4yXJS~G8CLf1~3F1Pcf9b8dpSt8aKjCfWO7Zj5lIfo71~7OIr1V2YS4u5iz3XJLMLVGZbuf9DCTgaXLITF9K1LwxsNmZ8RaaKVhUXGQu2TcBu550s1yaEFB3AP2NmtGPSq0CHvp69WxNOtcPFe60AeswdksmNF2zCwuK5wTeyz0ovZGdsaOgpKqlQFDJvx-d4-iU2-YUATmXmjGHb9BM6GywhpMtnPkCd1goGd8vIvExuXMNckiTLAfHdFg8dLF5gWF78np-mf1i~xKbTv6basivIIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cheektowaga, NY","date","2025-06-25T11:58:39Z","article","Representatives for Empire 1 Credit Union presented site plans and a rezoning request on the Crisfield frontage of a larger property tied to 2345 William Street, and the Town Board kept the public hearing open to allow more neighborhood review.

Sean Hopkins, attorney for the applicant, said the submission (filed April 30) seeks rezoning of two parcels at 282 Crisfield and 0 Crisfield from residence to C retail business so the parcels match the existing credit union site. He described a single-story, 3,920-square-foot administrative and records building, 14 parking spaces, landscaping, sidewalks and two additional light poles. “It will be a low-intensity use,” Hopkins said, and the proposed peak height is 25 feet or less.

The town’s planning board issued a positive recommendation by unanimous vote, Hopkins said, and the project was referred to the Environmental Advisory Committee, which will continue review tomorrow. Dan Young, town project lead, confirmed corrected mailed notices and website links after an earlier notification error and said the planning department had placed supplemental information on file.

Nearby residents pressed for additional clarity and screening. Melissa Golan told the board that the online record, a set of 12 downloadable documents, did not present a single clear project description and “the facts aren’t clear,” saying many neighbors were confused by overlapping drawings, multiple PDFs and an apparent strike-through in one referral document. She asked for plain-language, consolidated materials that show what will be demolished, what parcels will be acquired and whether the new building is purely records storage or a staffed administrative office.

Wally Carrier urged caution about granting long-term special-use permissions, saying such approvals can persist “for generations” and recommending conditions to limit future conversions to more intensive uses.

Board members asked technical questions about lighting, screening and vehicular access. Jason Utzig, the applicant’s project engineer, showed elevations and a landscape plan the team said includes a 6-foot fence and a buffer of honey locust and Colorado blue spruce along the Crisfield property line; Hopkins said the nearest neighboring house sits about 56 feet from the proposed building footprint. The applicants said the two new light poles will be about 15-foot mounting height with LED dark‑sky fixtures and that lighting levels are intended to be “decorative residential” rather than commercial parking-lot illumination.

Supervisor Brian Nowak emphasized the board was not voting tonight and recommended continued dialogue. “We’re not asking for a decision this evening,” Hopkins said; the board accepted that approach and, after discussion, left the public hearing open so neighbors and the Environmental Advisory Committee can complete their reviews and so the applicant can meet on-site with adjoining property owners.

The hearing opening and the decision to keep the record open were recorded on the public record; the board directed staff to circulate the corrected materials and encouraged the applicant to meet with concerned neighbors before the next meeting.

What happens next: the Environmental Advisory Committee will continue review at its next meeting; the town board left the hearing open and said it will revisit the application at its next meeting so additional public comments and any revised materials can be considered.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Board Meeting 6.24.25","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives for Empire 1 Credit Union presented site plans and a rezoning request on the Crisfield frontage of a larger property tied to 2345 William Street, and the Town Board kept the public hearing open to allow more neighborhood review.","taxTitle","Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York","taxId",56246,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657623,"Resident says town-directed garbage-truck plugs caused street pollution; supervisor says plugs are being reinstalled and schedules cleanup",143,248000,391000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f&start=248&end=391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6657623/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Resident-says-town-directed-garbage-truck-plugs-caused-street-pollution-supervisor-says-plugs-are-being-reinstalled-and-schedules-cleanup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657623-7072a59ea711505ef5a033ba8a87b653/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198724&Signature=Qq4PO8XJOVNHk0Dk6dznxcdFIHeU0Y-YQNX-kis2tWOARXH8GwrbjItZMhWLvFkOhIXOrBQqkfQxIhfIF2FPp42QOmsEOJRt5fF9OmrwZwFQi8ik7F0gh74ns9AtDD3nvSTRwjIkshii-L8ic~gnf4~MqbD81rMGdlb9Ic~XMQJYr7cK~nKBGSLzh~fcqGENwDOZ5J1jTfEg6pd5Bb1t~oCLuj8QD9Tgb3ClTdugfDPFUL67xLTTNzSp834DprZOk~RV6S0HSI-r3MyDw6mZ5G44Ab4uCqEH3wa5mC3XATiS-pbjravUOG8zXgXOTdRCK2~7u3-PpwCsamRWeN3ikg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Cheektowaga resident told the Town Board that removal of drain plugs from municipal garbage trucks caused extensive mess and potential environmental harm along local streets.

The resident, identified at the meeting as a long-term town resident, described receiving photos showing “well over 10 gallons of paint” and other materials spilled along a street and said he had filed complaints with town sanitation, the county health department and the DEC. He said residents reported concerns about medicines, chemicals and pet or human waste on streets where trucks had been operating.

Supervisor Brian Nowak responded directly and said he had directed sanitation staff to reinstall the plugs. “I did talk to our sanitation department about getting the plugs in. Those are going back in,” he said on the record. Nowak said he would work with the highway superintendent to schedule street sweeping for the worst-affected streets and try to address others as resources allow.

The resident asked whether fines or charges would be pursued; the meeting record shows no immediate enforcement decision, but multiple town officials suggested the environmental advisory and conservation committees and the highway and sanitation departments would coordinate follow-up. “I'll make every effort to get as many done as possible,” Nowak said regarding cleanup scheduling.

The exchange was logged in the public-comment record; no formal citation, fine or enforcement action was enacted at the meeting, but officials said the issue would be discussed with the highway superintendent and the town’s environmental advisory committee.

","A resident accused the town of causing street contamination by removing drain plugs from garbage trucks; the town supervisor acknowledged the instruction and said plugs are being put back and that cleaning will be scheduled.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657628,"Local resident urges clearer terms on taxes, decommissioning and reporting for proposed solar farm",227,498000,725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f&start=498&end=725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f/thumbnail_498000.jpg","/articles/6657628/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Local-resident-urges-clearer-terms-on-taxes-decommissioning-and-reporting-for-proposed-solar-farm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657628-5a5ccb8ca26f79f75d2ace0ad9a20362/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198724&Signature=ZYE-ZFQsT0OGkqk9D0kV0nNLB~MmoS8j-qZspdTHL2mLH7GFM7rkZGVVePuGVQVcmIPtXsehqQYHz2q6pqua13~8N9jmI5PVfP1XOC00D1o1dEQG1D6WkSz5uyt1tUWwQ6fdN4AyIa2Z2QKT-cuaCBeatfcIfY3MGjaNOFLLlFxQB7Az25D2nFDd7PNL2TyiUAJLDgAmY3MonebdU0ANvzSpnVZ2XsAdlAEDmVcMgicdSMxBGHlSKnwEo6MbC3lm6nlHI0WGKe64Dv-NS48AsV4EncPXWlqyt1g-eXzGtaW3MxHtrEjbnGQfW14u-7slAKunEhfHn8pEqf28H9kiPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Cheektowaga resident used public comment time to press the town for clearer written commitments about taxes, decommissioning and reporting for a proposed solar installation on a large site.

The speaker identified several concerns: whether the remainder of a 41-acre parcel (approximately 17 acres not used for panels as presented) would continue to be taxed at current rates or placed under an in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement; who would be financially responsible for site restoration at the end of the array’s life; and whether the town would receive and publish annual maintenance reports and the project emergency‑response plan.

“Anybody who thinks it will only cost $298,000 to restore this site in 25 to 30 years is probably pretty crazy,” the resident said, referring to a decommissioning cost figure found in supporting paperwork. The resident also said the contract paperwork did not specify which party would carry the decommissioning obligation and that residents feared being left with cleanup responsibility if the developer disbands.

The commentator raised a separate concern about fences and visual buffering, noting that a homeowner who installs a fence on their property “is not going to be able to block your view of that solar farm” and asked why the town-sourced funds would pay for fences rather than the developer. She asked that annual maintenance and emergency plans be provided to the town and posted publicly so neighbors can monitor ongoing compliance.

Town officials did not make any formal commitments on these points during public comment; the remarks were recorded for the public record and residents requested the town and applicant clarify taxes, decommissioning guarantees and reporting requirements in written documentation prior to any approvals.

","A resident asked the town to clarify in-lieu-of-tax arrangements, decommissioning cost responsibilities and reporting requirements for a proposed 24-acre solar installation on a 41-acre property, and raised concerns about visual impacts and fence funding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6657633,"Town board approves site plan for 3.25 MW solar array on capped landfill; one abstention recorded",407,6983000,7390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f&start=6983&end=7390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5069892-aaa21ed7455a5f8a88cf5546425fb75f/thumbnail_6983000.jpg","/articles/6657633/Cheektowaga/Erie-County/New-York/Town-board-approves-site-plan-for-325-MW-solar-array-on-capped-landfill-one-abstention-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6657633-f90febfffa1cb6853c4b8cb2c73e86ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198724&Signature=AQGRsn5pTwHj3BwS6rIM71YrV2HbsLW8JBN8ce-JgQiryNeU~wCQgnAxSNdj97V0ygCCxyKUA83yVMx3rFA-43IJYGnibgm2OHeGbCuw8wa~MIcAf8Kf0YbFi~2v5-1vA2sGdDTOLvo3jMvDGXT2vnKMh~k5QxzpZ9e61M0um3L3wLDeAiufG-1rDRWBjcjZyMWeFZU7x6DEVm4oN~7ebh5igXXEQXDnjoSWa~KdZPEeskGn1qflw9gtUWwT4Y8oGfgjB2wV22XCeuzJPPPcBSIPwYPW7~n75pQjGsb~gH22ujFVgfgDgKmrI3pnSYgemBonJ-vH7ZSBpicZjEz0Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Board voted to approve a site plan for a commercial solar generating facility proposed on a capped landfill in Cheektowaga.

According to the resolution, the applicant—AC Power (represented at the meeting by Gina Wolfman) on behalf of BFI Waste Management of North America LLC—filed development-review materials for local project 20241534 for a 3.25-megawatt alternating-current commercial solar system covering up to 20 acres of landfill. The application included a use-variance request and a site-plan submission dated May 8, 2024.

Supervisor Brian Nowak moved the resolution to grant site-plan approval; the motion was seconded by a council member and the board recorded the approval. The resolution language notes the project is on a capped landfill that is not part of the New York State Superfund program and that the application satisfied the town’s site-plan review requirements under the local zoning code.

Meeting remarks were procedural and focused on confirming the completeness of the town’s review. The board recorded at least one abstention on the vote; the resolution carried and was entered into the public record.

The approval directs the town’s planning staff to finalize any outstanding development-review conditions and to coordinate necessary permitting steps with the applicant prior to construction.

","The Town Board granted site-plan approval to a 3.25-megawatt commercial solar generating system proposed on a closed landfill, after staff confirmed required development-review materials had been filed. The project applicant is AC Power on behalf of BFI Waste Management; the board recorded an abstention and approved the site plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town board keeps rezoning hearing open for proposed Empire 1 Credit Union office on William Street

Resident says town-directed garbage-truck plugs caused street pollution; supervisor says plugs are being reinstalled and schedules cleanup

Local resident urges clearer terms on taxes, decommissioning and reporting for proposed solar farm

Town board approves site plan for 3.25 MW solar array on capped landfill; one abstention recorded