Committee tables multiple zoning items, approves 128 Genesee sidewalk café and 3390 Main Street tobacco permit

At a Sept. 23, 2025 Buffalo City Council committee meeting, members voted on a series of zoning and business-license items, tabling several pending matters and approving a sidewalk café permit and a special-use permit for a tobacco, hookah and vape establishment at 3390 Main Street.

The committee moved to table agenda items 1 through 8 pending a public hearing set for Oct. 7, 2025. The committee also approved a sidewalk café permit for 128 Genesee and considered several other special-use applications, including a tobacco/hookah/vape shop at 3390 Main Street where the applicant described the business and hours of operation.

Why it matters: The decisions and motions affect neighborhood business operations in the University District and other zoning districts, including whether new or re-established tobacco and tavern uses may operate where they seek permits. The approvals and tablings determine which items will get fuller public hearings or additional review.

The committee’s actions

Item 12 (3390 Main Street) drew direct public testimony. Applicant Akram Alabadi identified himself and was joined at the microphone by Adel Munozar, president of the Arab American Business Association. Alabadi said the location previously operated as a smoke shop and that the proposed use would be a tobacco, hookah and vape business; he told the committee, "It was, originally a, smoke shop. It's gonna have tobacco hookah vape. It's currently being the same thing. We had to change the use of the property and there was a fire, so they had to do some remodeling. And, it's gonna be the same business." He also stated, "Hours of operation will be from, 9 to 11." The transcript does not specify whether those hours are a.m. or p.m.

Councilmember Wyatt spoke in favor, saying, "I'm gonna support this because he was already open, because I know we've had conversations about the smoke shops, but he was already open prior to a fire, has not caused any issue with the residents. And so we, motion to, approve." The motion to approve was seconded by Councilmember Rivera. The transcript records the motion and second but does not include a roll-call vote tally.

Item 10 (128 Genesee) — a sidewalk café application — drew a motion to approve that was seconded by Councilmember Glombek; the transcript records the motion and second but does not record a roll-call tally in the excerpt provided.

Items tabled or sent without recommendation

- The committee moved to table items 1 through 8 pending a public hearing on Oct. 7, 2025 (motion seconded by Councilmember Belumbach). The transcript records the motion and second; a formal vote tally is not included in the provided excerpt.

- Item 11 (timely updates on food-store compliance and license violations) was the subject of a motion to table, seconded by Councilmember Rivera; the transcript does not include a recorded vote tally in the excerpt.

- Item 13 (special-use permit for a tavern at 1202 East Delavan) was opened for hearing; no applicant appeared. Councilmember Wyatt moved to table the item; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rivera. The transcript shows the motions but does not include a vote tally.

- Items 21, 31 and 33 (including item 21, a special-use permit for a cannabis establishment at 1923 Seneca) were moved "without recommendation"; the motion to send those items without recommendation was seconded by Councilmember Glombek. The transcript records the motion and second; a vote tally is not included in the excerpt.

Procedure and next steps

Before considering item 12, a council member asked the chair to remove items 12, 13, 21, 31 and 33 from the table so they could be heard. That request was seconded by Councilmember Glombek and the meeting proceeded to open the public hearing on item 12. The transcript shows the committee opened and later closed the public hearing for item 12, and a motion to approve followed; however, the vote tally is not recorded in the excerpt.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in transcript)

- Motion to table items 1–8 pending public hearing on Oct. 7, 2025 — seconded by Councilmember Belumbach; motion recorded; vote tally not specified.

- Item 9 (Lodging House 1998 / 1996 South Park) — motion to "stand without recommendation"; seconded by Councilmember Rivera; vote tally not specified.

- Item 10 (Sidewalk Café, 128 Genesee) — motion to approve; seconded by Councilmember Glombek; vote tally not specified.

- Item 11 (updates on food-store compliance/license violations) — motion to table; seconded by Councilmember Rivera; vote tally not specified.

- Motion to remove items 12, 13, 21, 31 and 33 from the table — seconded by Councilmember Glombek; motion recorded; vote tally not specified.

- Item 12 (Special-use permit, 3390 Main Street; tobacco/hookah/vape in N3C zone) — public hearing opened and closed; applicant testimony received; motion to approve; seconded by Councilmember Rivera; vote tally not specified in transcript excerpt.

- Item 13 (Special-use permit, 1202 East Delavan; tavern in N3E zone) — no applicant present; motion to table by Councilmember Wyatt; seconded by Councilmember Rivera; vote tally not specified.

- Items 21, 31, 33 (including item 21: cannabis establishment, 1923 Seneca in N3C) — motion to send without recommendation; seconded by Councilmember Glombek; vote tally not specified.

Meeting close

The committee adjourned after the listed motions and actions. Several items were deferred for fuller public hearings or further consideration; others were recorded as approved or sent without recommendation in the committee’s proceedings as captured in the transcript excerpt.