A series of Green Code meetings has been set up for the month of January. The meetings will give some additional insight into the code, as well as allow people to ask questions and comment. The process is nearing an end, as the Office of Strategic Planning will be reviewing all comments and concerns, before being adopted. The January meetings are being held by the Common Council. This is the first time in 62 years that the zoning code will be remolded (see more). The new guidelines will act as a blueprint for place-based economic development strategy. Buffalo is currently experiencing a crisis that allows just about anything to be built anywhere. Out with the old (historic), and in with the new (prefab). The Green Code will help guide this city’s planning and development arm.
Apparently this is the time to get down to the nitty-gritty. The City is planning on making some revisions. Once the Green Code is in place, there will be measures to ensure that the guidelines are adhered to. While the code does deal with construction, it is anticipated that there is room for additional anti-demolition measures that will hopefully come to pass. The code deals with everything from the city’s walkability to the design guidelines for Public Works, such as bridges.
Until this point, bland boxes and bridges are pretty much par for the course. It looks like bland box developers have been on a roll trying to squeeze projects in before the code is passed – sprawling parking lots, lame signs, blank walls, pro-car… that’s how the old zoning code was written… everything is fair game. Now it’s finally time to put an end to the madness. Now it’s up to us… and the Common Council to ensure that we live up to the design standards that this city was initially built upon.
Niagara District Green Code Meeting
Wednesday, January 6, 2016, 6:00 pm
West Side Community Services
161 Vermont St., Buffalo, NY 14213
Ellicott District Linwood Green Code Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 2016, 5:30 pm
Saturn Club
977 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14209
Niagara District Green Code Meeting – Grant St. Focused
Wednesday, January 13, 2016, 6:00 p.m.
Grant St. Neighborhood Center
271 Grant St., Buffalo, NY 14213
Delaware District Green Code Meeting
Saturday, January 16, 2016, 12:00 pm
Buffalo Seminary
205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222
Niagara District Green Code Meeting – Elmwood Focused
Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 6:00 p.m.
Richmond Summer Center
335 Summer St., Buffalo, NY 14213
Ellicott District Downtown Green Code Meeting
Monday, January 25, 2015, 5:30 pm
Buffalo Place
671 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Niagara District Green Code Meeting – Niagara St. Focused
Thursday, January 28, 2016, 6:00 p.m.
Niagara Branch Library
280 Porter Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213
Delaware District Green Code Meeting
Thursday, January 28, 2016, 6:00 pm
North Buffalo Community Center
203 Sanders Road, Buffalo, NY 14216
The Green Code is available at www.buffalogreencode.com, the Office of the City Clerk at Buffalo City Hall (#1302) and all Buffalo public library locations.