WILLIAMSVILLE, NY (Sept. 8, 2020) – With a 4-3 vote during its meeting on Sept. 8, the village’s Planning and Architectural Review Board approved an updated site plan for for 135 Evans St., allowing People Inc.’s mixed-income housing project to move forward in Williamsville.
People Inc., a nonprofit organization, is planning to renovate and expand the current Blocher Homes building, currently located at 135 Evans St., to construct new one-and two-bedroom apartments. People Inc. first introduced the project to the planning board in August of 2019.
In addition to the site plan, the board also approved, by a 5-2 margin, two waivers to increase setbacks on the north and south portions of the property. Another condition of the site plan approval is that the developer agreed to meet with the property owner on the east side to discuss placement and construction of a fence.
The planning board also approved an architectural review of the proposal. The review passed by a 6-1 margin after the developer agreed to update several of the project’s aesthetic features.
To view the presentation offered by the developer’s attorney, Sean Hopkins, click here.
Further information, including the updated site plan renderings, can be found by scrolling down to the “Proposal Files” section.
A recording of the meeting, which was held via Zoom, can be viewed by clicking here.
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The Planning Board during a special meeting on May 18 approved, by a 4-3 vote, a negative declaration of the State Environmental Quality Review. With the determination, the majority of the board agreed that the proposal for 135 Evans St. would not result in adverse environmental impacts.
A recording of the Planning Board’s May 18 meeting is available by CLICKING HERE.
As a way to provide transparency, access to all of the proposal’s files, including images, studies, and reports, as well as correspondence from the public, lead agencies and the responsible boards, can be found in the first bullet point below.
A link to access meeting minutes is provided in the second bullet point.
- PROPOSAL FILES: Click here to view all of the proposal’s files and documents.
- MEETING MINUTES: Click here to view minutes from previous Planning Board or Zoning Board meetings. Use the appropriate drop-down menus to narrow your search.
The village Board of Trustees is stressing to the public that the project is only being reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board:
“While the Blocher Homes project is in the village boundaries, the mayor and trustees have no influence or decision-making ability as it pertains to the project,” Mayor Deb Rogers said on Oct. 28, 2019. “These decisions lie within the parameters of the village’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.”