Tonawanda · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Tonawanda public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 Tentative Town Budget and Tax Levy
The town's draft 2027 budget — including special districts and the assessment roll — is now the Preliminary Budget and will face a public hearing on November 5. This determines what residents pay in town taxes next year.
Overnight Parking Ban Delay
North Tonawanda is delaying its seasonal overnight street-parking ban, while nearby towns are still starting Nov. 1. If you park on the street overnight, don’t assume the old date applies—check your town’s rules before you get a ticket or tow.
Residential Property Variances
Homeowners requested zoning variances for property improvements including a generator placement, driveway widening, home addition, and an accessory structure.
Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome Storm Resiliency Bond
The town is moving forward with facility upgrades at the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome, receiving two competitive construction bids ranging from $1.5 million to $1.67 million.
Transition of Automated License Plate Readers to Axon
Residents raised concerns during public comment regarding data security, immigration searches, and oversight of the town's ALPR camera systems.
Youth Parks and Recreation Department Supply Bids
The town failed to receive any bids for pool chlorine supplies needed by the Youth Parks and Recreation Department, raising questions about how to source these materials moving forward.
Dollar Tree conversion of former Rite Aid
The Elmwood Avenue plaza's former Rite Aid will become a Dollar Tree, with the drive-thru removed, upgraded landscaping, and a new crosswalk for pedestrians.
Drive-up ATM at Sheridan-Eggert Plaza
A bank wants to add a stand-alone drive-up ATM in the plaza's parking lot at 2309 Eggert Road. The environmental committee found no significant environmental impact, but the Zoning Board may still need to weigh variances for vehicle stacking and setbacks.
Zoning Code Revisions and BESS Regulations
The town is finishing a broad update to its zoning code, but new State rules force removal of the battery energy storage (BESS) section. The rewrite is tabled until that's done.
Environmental Impact Review for River Road Concrete Plant
A proposed concrete batch plant at 4885 River Road could significantly impact water quality, air quality, traffic on River Road and the Empire State Trail, and the scenery near Niawanda Park. The board is requiring a full environmental impact statement before anything moves forward.
Tonawanda Rail Trail Enhancements Bidding
Residents expressed concerns regarding a proposed bike path entrance near Gettysburg Avenue and ongoing speeding and traffic enforcement issues at neighborhood intersections.
Commercial Retail Expansion at 2865 Elmwood Avenue
Benderson Development received approval to open a Dollar Tree retail store at the former Rite Aid site, bringing vacant commercial space back into use with upgraded landscaping and improved pedestrian access.
Driveway Vision Clearance and Traffic Safety
The board wrestled with balancing homeowner convenience against public safety when fences or equipment obstruct clear views near driveways and intersections.
Corner Lot Fence Regulations and Height Limits
Recent changes to town zoning code reclassify corner lots to have two front yards and two side yards, effectively banning tall fences. Homeowners are seeking variances to build 6-foot privacy fences.
E-Bike Safety and Regulatory Enforcement
Residents raised concerns about reckless e-bike riding, traffic speeding on residential corridors like Parker Boulevard, and issues with vehicle license plate readability.
Vacant Commercial Property Blight
A resident highlighted long-standing blight and safety hazards at the former Kenwell Manor nursing home at 2456 Delaware Avenue, which has been vacant since 2019, accumulated over $400,000 in back taxes, and failed to sell at tax auction.
Neighborhood Crime and Property Security
Residents voiced serious concerns about neighborhood safety, citing recurring car break-ins, recent home intrusions, and an armed robbery. Town officials discussed local law enforcement efforts, youth accountability challenges under state laws, and crime prevention measures.
Waterfront Development
Tonawanda is dropping $500,000 on a brand-new waterfront overlook, so you'll soon have a much nicer spot to hang out by the water. It's a quick win to make our local scenery a bit more enjoyable for everyday hangouts.
Highway Department Tree Supply Procurement
The town is buying about 250 new trees to plant this spring, and officials just opened competing bids from two nurseries to find the best price.
Kenmore branch roof replacement
The Kenmore library's roof replacement remains unresolved. Trustee Carl Szarek will keep pressing the Town Board on the issue.
Annual Patron Appreciation Picnic
The library's annual picnic is set for Friday evening, September 18, at the Kenilworth branch — free fun with a DJ, kids' games, and food.
Revised Rules of Conduct policy
The library board adopted updated rules of conduct that will be posted at both branches. It sets expectations for visitor behavior at the Kenmore and Kenilworth libraries.
Park and Downtown Upgrades
North Tonawanda just dropped $1 million to revamp Charles R. Fleischmann Park and Webster Street. Now locals have way nicer spots to hang out and enjoy downtown.
Industrial and Commercial Solar and Facility Expansions
General Motors is adding 21,000 square feet of office space at its Vulcan Street plant. After months of revisions on fire access and pedestrian connections, the project got the green light.
Financial Disclosure Compliance
The ethics board checked financial disclosure forms from local officials and found several missing submissions for recent years, prompting staff to send out follow-up notices.
State Audit FOIL Request
Staff informed the board about a public records request regarding the 2020 state audit and the town's adopted ethics action plan.
Sanitary Sewer Lining and Infrastructure Upgrades
A local resident spoke out about severe sewage backups flooding his basement during heavy rainstorms, urging the town to prioritize stormwater and sewer system repairs.
Nonconforming Use Extension at 971 Englewood Ave
The estate of a long-term collision shop owner requested an extension of the one-year nonconforming use limit to allow time to sell the property to another automotive business.
Residential Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Siting
Community Services for Every 1 sought permission to install a heat pump condenser in the side yard of a residential group home on Lorelee Drive due to piping constraints. The board approved the variance with a condition allowing slight placement flexibility up to the garage line.
Driveway Expansion Standards
Two residents received approval to widen their driveways beyond town limits to accommodate family vehicles and avoid street parking. One application prompted neighbor concerns over traffic flow near a school bus stop, but officials determined side-by-side parking actually improved sightlines.
Property Reassessment
North Tonawanda is shaking things up with a fresh property reassessment, which means your future tax bill could look pretty different soon. Keep your eyes peeled for updates as the city rolls out this new process.
Special Use Permit Hearings for Commercial and Telecom Projects
The board recommended approval for a new public café at 1530 Military Road, expanding dining and coffee options in a mixed-use industrial district.
Commercial and Industrial Site Plan Reviews
The Planning Board reviewed several commercial expansions and new businesses, ensuring proper landscaping, parking, and safety standards are met.
Proposed Data Center Moratorium
Residents strongly supported a one-year town moratorium on data centers, raising concerns about excessive water use, noise pollution, and electrical grid strain from large-scale facilities.
Police Contract
Tonawanda just locked in a fresh contract for its police force. You'll likely see shifts in local public safety spending and the town budget as a result.
Marina Concession Buyout
Tonawanda is ditching a failing marina contract at Riverside Marina to take better control of the waterfront. The city bought out the old deal so they can reset how the property is managed.
Environmental Cleanup
The cleanup of the Tonawanda Coke Superfund site is moving into its next phase this month. This means we're finally getting closer to clearing out that toxic land for good.
Lead and Copper Pipe Inventory Grant (Job 3095)
The Town is applying for a $2 million grant to map out lead and copper pipes and meet state Department of Health reporting rules.
Veterans Exemption Local Law
The town is enacting new tax legislation to provide an alternate property tax exemption for seriously disabled veterans.
River Road Apartment Development
Developer Giuseppe Holdings clashed with the planning board over how phase one of a 40-unit apartment project is presented on drawings. The board rejected the revised plans because they included future building pads and unapproved county parking.
Victoria Place Apartments Affordable Senior Housing
The town authorized a $1.04 million HOME grant agreement to help fund the construction of the Victoria Place Apartments, a 37-unit affordable senior housing complex in Kenmore.
Elmwood Avenue Waterline Improvements
The town approved a $151,982 change order to improve waterline meter pits using remaining federal ARPA funds.
Data Center Moratorium Proposal
The town is considering a proposed $2-3 billion transactional data center. The Supervisor noted that while the project could replace lost tax revenue from the Huntley plant closure, the board must address significant resident concerns regarding noise, energy consumption, and environmental impact.
Pool Renovation
Tonawanda just locked down state funding to renovate Kohler Pool, so get ready for a much better swimming season this summer. This grant means the community pool is getting the upgrades it desperately needs without draining local taxes.
Neglected Rental Properties and Code Enforcement
A resident brought attention to the growing issue of unmaintained long-term rental properties, citing overgrown lawns, garbage accumulation, and health hazards. They requested proactive rental registration and inspection ordinances.
Traffic Safety and Speeding on Creekside Drive
Residents of Creekside Drive raised urgent safety concerns regarding dangerous speeding and multiple severe accidents along the residential street, which runs adjacent to Ellicott Creek Park and the Empire State Trail. They requested a comprehensive traffic and speed study from the town.
Proposed Data Center Development and Town Moratorium
Residents and environmental advocates raised concerns about noise, heavy water and power demands, and potential pollution from a proposed massive data center at the former Tonawanda Coke site. Officials noted that environmental reviews with state agencies are ongoing.
Industrial Rezoning
Residents in North Tonawanda are fighting a plan to trade a bitcoin mine for a noisy, energy-hungry AI data center in their backyard. People living nearby are worried about the constant hum and the massive strain this new facility will put on the local power grid.
Kenney Field Military Aircraft Restoration
A local resident offered assistance to the town in properly repainting and restoring the historic Grumman Cougar fighter jet on display at Kenney Park Veterans Memorial.
2026 Town Operations and Organizational Setup
The town board approved its annual organizational resolutions, setting rules of order, meeting schedules, employee salaries, benefits, and board appointments for 2026. These foundational decisions keep town departments running smoothly and establish clear administrative guidelines for the year.