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Cheektowaga board hears Tim Hortons proposal at Cleveland Drive; neighbors warn of traffic problems
Summary
Benderson Development proposed a 1,600‑sq‑ft Tim Hortons with a drive‑through at 397 Cleveland Drive; the planning and traffic advisory committees recommended approval, but residents and several council members warned left‑turn access and nearby roundabout congestion could create safety and queuing issues.
Matthew Oates of Benderson Development presented a special‑use permit request to the Cheektowaga Town Board on Dec. 10 for a 1,600‑square‑foot Tim Hortons with a drive‑through at 397 Cleveland Drive.
Oates said the site is just under 1 acre in a commercial zone and that the developer met with adjacent neighbors and agreed to remove a fence and replace it with a board‑on‑board fence and to pave a small gravel section on Woodcliff Terrace at neighbors’ request. He told the board the project has been reviewed by the town’s traffic safety committee, planning board and Environmental Advisory Committee, and that two variances were granted by the zoning board — one for a building setback and one for a reduction in required parking.
The proposal drew questions from multiple council members about vehicle access, safety and regulatory permits. Oates said curb cuts and other roadway work would be new construction and fully permitted and that the site plan includes a gated Woodcliff exit with keys held by the fire department and the restaurant manager for emergency access. “The drive‑through handles most of the business,” Oates said, noting the submitted traffic study and that the developer would keep most stacking within the drive lane and provide overflow parking on site.
Residents and some board members pressed for limits on left turns and additional signage after warning that the nearby roundabout and peak‑hour congestion could create hazardous conflicts. “That left‑hand turn is gonna be a disaster,” one resident said, urging a restriction or a no‑left‑turn sign and use of the roundabout instead. Another resident told the board the Cleveland/Harlem corridor is already congested and that adding a drive‑through could worsen queuing and safety risks.
Several council members suggested options that have been used elsewhere, such as forcing right turns out of the site or installing barriers that channel traffic to the roundabout. Oates said Benderson would review signage and consider a condition requiring a traffic re‑evaluation after the site opens if the board desires.
The public hearing was closed after board discussion. No final board action on the special‑use permit was recorded at the Dec. 10 meeting; town staff noted additional county and state permits may be required for curb cuts and any work on the county highway.
