City of Buffalo officials received an open letter from the Western New York Environmental Alliance, an umbrella group that represents over 65 local groups concerned with environmental issues, putting forth a list of expectations for the city’s zoning rewrite and land use plan, Buffalo Green Code, last Friday.
The letter, which runs seven pages, explains the many measures that the city and its consultants will need to include in the code for it to be successful in the eyes of the Western New York Environmental Alliance.
The group’s expectations include the use of clean energy, the repurposing of the city’s abundant vacant land for public spaces such as parks and community gardens, and continued and enhanced methods of community outreach, particularly in distressed areas of the city.
Brendan Mehaffy, the executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning, appreciates the input, he said.
“It’s helpful to us, especially so early in this process, to make sure that we are meeting the expectations of groups like the Environmental Alliance,” Mehaffy said.
The letter gives the city something to work towards, but Mehaffy is unsure of what environmental measures will make it into the code due to the breadth of the issues being raised, both in this letter and by other community groups.
“If we can’t meet any of those expectations I’ll have good reasons,” Mehaffy said. “But it gives us something to shoot for, that we address those issues.”
The city and its consultants on Buffalo Green Code have been putting in a great deal of work in preparation for the upcoming community meetings that will take place between February 28 and March 5, Mehaffy said.
The city has called over 800 designees from every block club in the city. They are appearing at community meetings around the city on an almost nightly basis to plug Buffalo Green Code. They’ve sent out a press release, bought radio advertising and sent fliers and posters out in several languages around the city, Mehaffy said.
The city will even conduct a rehearsal meeting in preperation for the upcoming round of community meetings where a group of citizens selected by the Community Advisory Committees. Those citizens will give the city and their consultants feedback, Mehaffy said.
“We’re taking it very seriously,” Mehaffy said, “and only time will tell. But, we are certainly doing a tremendous amount of work as far as outreach is concerned.”
The Western New York Environmental Alliance sent the letter as a response to the city’s request for input said Robert Knoer, the chair of the alliance’s standing committee.
“This green code cuts across many of our groups,” Knoer said. “Water issues, urban regeneration issues, energy issues, transportation issues. So we felt it appropriate to submit a letter from the alliance, from the environmental perspective, issues that should be taken forward in the code.”
Knoer and the alliance are glad to see the city addressing the many issues that the city’s outdated zoning codes cause. Not every city is spending their resources to be forward-thinking about these problems, he said.
As a lawyer dealing with development over the years Knoer has been frustrated by the outdated code, a patchwork of regulation that some downtowners refer to as a Frankenstein, he said.
The alliance is excited to be participating in a process that could change the future of Buffalo, Knoer said.
“The fact that they’re even spending resources and trying to be forward-thinking,” Knoer said, “should be applauded.”
