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Depew board approves 40,800-square-foot Benderson addition at 2911–2951 Walden Ave amid DOT questions
Summary
The Village of Depew Board of Trustees on May 20 approved a site-plan concept from Benderson Development for a 40,800-square-foot addition at 2911–2951 Walden Avenue.
The Village of Depew Board of Trustees on May 20 approved a site-plan concept from Benderson Development for a 40,800-square-foot building addition at 2911–2951 Walden Avenue.
The project drew questions from trustees and members of the public about whether New York State Department of Transportation review or permits were required. Matthew Oates, representing Benderson Development, told the board that NYSDOT would be an "interested and not an involved agency" because no state permit is required, and said Erie County Highway reviewed the proposal and concurred with a right‑in/right‑out curb cut onto the adjacent road.
The approval on May 20 covered the site‑plan submission as presented to the board; it was described at the meeting as a conceptual submission rather than final construction approval. A representative noted the village will require further information and that building permits, plumbing permits and other regulatory reviews remain before any construction can begin.
Why it matters: the addition is among the larger commercial proposals in recent years for the village and prompted public comment on traffic and procedural transparency. Mayor Kevin Peterson acknowledged social‑media complaints but said those were complaints rather than legal challenges: "When the mayor says challenge, he doesn't mean legal challenge. No. I think it's more complaint." The board approved the site plan by voice vote.
Details recorded at the meeting indicate the matter will return with more documentation. The developer and village staff said they had provided information to NYSDOT and to Erie County Highway; Oates said county engineers reviewed and were "in concurrence with adding the right in, right out." The board and staff emphasized that additional permitting, plan submissions and inspections remain as the project moves toward construction.
The board approved planning- and board-level minutes and other items earlier in the meeting before taking up the site plan; trustees said the file before them that night represented an initial concept and that additional details would be requested and reviewed in subsequent steps.
