Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Cheektowaga public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues with medium priority
New retail building at 1345 Walden
An 11,488 sq-ft multi-unit retail building with parking is planned on Walden Avenue. Action was pushed back to let the 30-day comment period finish.
Proposed wireless telecommunications tower at 760 French Road
A 109-foot cell tower is planned on leased land at 760 French Road. The environmental committee found no significant environmental impact and recommended approval.
UTECH Waterproofing Commercial Development at 0 Broadway
A local waterproofing company would build an 8,000 sq-ft office and a 9,000 sq-ft storage warehouse at 0 Broadway. Recommended for approval.
Parking reconfiguration at 2523 Walden
An existing shopping plaza would expand tenants and rework its parking and walkways. The committee recommended approval with no significant environmental impact.
Commercial Rezoning and Retail Expansion on French Road
A lot currently zoned for light manufacturing would shift to general commercial, but the item was tabled because no one showed up to represent it.
Vehicle rust-inhibitor service at 3438 Broadway
A parcel would be subdivided and rezoned to Motor Services for a shop applying rust inhibitor to vehicles. The committee saw no significant environmental concern.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Support for New York Health Act
The board debated a resolution supporting a single-payer state healthcare system, with proponents citing major town budget savings and opponents raising tax and government-run care concerns.