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Comprehensive Plan Amendment

The Town entered into a contract with NYSERDA and Code Studio for this project in late 2015. Project organization and initiation of consultant work began in February 2016.

A select number of commercial centers identified in the Comprehensive Plan were studied during a public workshop called a “Charrette” in late September 2016. Multiple events were conducted such as a hands-on workshop, open design studios, a lunch and learn, and an open house where residents and other stakeholders provided their input and ideas that helped shape the future vision for the centers in the Plan and Code. The centers studied during the Charrette became examples of how to implement new planning and zoning ideas to other similar centers throughout the Town.

Also, with the help of the consultant, two Committees made up of local stakeholders and community members were formed at the beginning of the project – a Working Committee and a Technical Committee. Over the course of about eighteen months, Code Studio and Town staff worked with the Committees, residents, developers, and business owners to analyze the Charrette information, examine characteristics of existing centers and the current Plan provisions, and learn about other communities which exemplify the types of centers desired in Amherst. This work informed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that improve policy and design guidance for development of commercial and mixed-use areas in the various neighborhoods throughout the Town. Two forms (traditional and suburban) and four types (center, corridor, medium-scale node, and low-scale node) of development for commercial and mixed-use centers were created in order to distinguish these centers by their scale, location, and neighborhood character so that they fit better within their surrounding context. This Plan Amendment was adopted by the Town Board on December 11, 2017.

Adopted Comprehensive Plan Amendment – December 11, 2017

About Amherst

The Town of Amherst was established in 1818 and celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2018. The town has a geographical area of 53.6 square miles and a population of greater than 122,000.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Town of Amherst ADA Coordinators are Robert McCarthy (Director of Human Resources) and Mark Berke (Commissioner of Buildings).

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  • General Information:
    (716) 631-7000
  • Email:
    toainfo@amherst.ny.us
  • Address:
    Municipal Building (Town Hall)
  • 5583 Main Street
  • Williamsville, NY 14221