Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Cheektowaga public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
26 issues
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.
McKesson Parkway Multi-Unit Residential Development
Four four-story buildings would bring 144 housing units plus a clubhouse to McKesson Parkway. The environmental review is on hold until a zoning variance is decided.
Union Road fellowship property request
The Table Family Fellowship and NL Ventures of WNY seek zoning relief at 2860 Union Road. The hearing is set for November 18.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.