Three projects that have previously come before the city’s Planning Commission fall under the same Waterfront Development Overlay District – and required a second round of approvals.

Being in the Waterfront Development Overlay District led the commission has to review the projects as a requirement for them to move forward under the state’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The three projects; Powerhaus Fitness, Buzz WNY, and TJ’s Plumbing, were reviewed and discussed by the Planning Commission during their most recent meeting. Before the meeting the projects were approved at a staff level and the county level as needed.

“The reason that the LWRP requires the planning commission review is just to make sure we’re not building things in the Waterfront Development Zone that maybe shouldn’t be there or might have a negative impact on the water quality,” said Jason Kulaszewski, city planner, during this week’s Planning Commission meeting”All three of these projects are basically reuse projects and existing facilities, so we’re not really building anything new or disturbing a lot of the ground.”

All three projects have elements that are happening outdoors, which Kulaszewski said is the main reason the commission needed to review them. Essentially, the required review is to show that the projects will not have any negative effects on the environment.

The commission first heard from Powerhaus Fitness owner Zachary Davis, which is set to take over 834 Monroe Street. The building is getting a full remodel, with plans for locker rooms, having the floors and loading dock redone, and working on redoing the parking lot. They are also looking for help from the city for drainage options.

“Basically, we’re looking to put a new parking lot in with a new curb that is steep enough so water isn’t pooling into our parking lot,” Davis said.

The project is also a part of the area of the city recently changed from an R-2 to C-1 neighborhood commercial district. There will be access to the building 24/7 for people, and the commission briefly discussed lighting and security, with final parking lot plans still in the works.

The second project looked at by the commission, Buzz WNY, is located at 34 Scott Street. Their project updates included an ADA compliant ramp and other building improvements.

“The main thing that triggered this review was an ADA ramp that’s being put in,” Kulaszewski said. “Your plans have site drawings for parking and everything, but ultimately the building and the ADA ramp are the only things getting updated.”

The location is set to be used as a retail building for Buzz WNY’s dispensary. The parking lot was noted to be all paved with eight drainage locations. The railroad track runs behind the building, making it so the river is relatively close but the building is still completely separated.

The third project, TJ’s Plumbing, is looking to make parking lot improvements, including adding drainage at the 1005 Allen Street location. The parking lot will be milled and expanded for additional parking, along with plans to excavate to fix a dip in the parking lot that causes trucks to bottom out at the apron. There is a hold up due to a National Fuel line being there, which is on course to be dealt with towards the end of the month to allow for work to be done. A drain will be installed, before paving work and replacing the sidewalk will be done. Everything will flow away from the river into the installed drain, and very little greenspace will be removed.

A negative SEQR declaration showing that all three projects would have no negative impacts on the environment were approved by the Planning Commission for each project.