Cheektowaga Zoning Board approves 35-space parking variance at 6386 Transit Road with screening and bumpers

Cheektowaga — The Cheektowaga Zoning Board of Appeals on the board’s March meeting granted a variance allowing 35 additional parking spaces in front of the principal buildings at 6386 Transit Road and attached conditions intended to preserve the site’s landscaping.

Joe Young, representing Young Development, told the board the extra spaces are intended to address leasing and turnover problems at two 36-unit buildings. “Were asking for these 35 additional spots because of parking issues with building two and 400 at the property,” Young said, adding that on-paper parking counts did not reflect residents behavior once the buildings began leasing.

Board members discussed existing conditions: there are roughly 14 front spaces now near each building, and each 36-unit building includes 12 attached garages (six on each side) that are currently rented, the record shows. Members pressed the applicant on how landscaping would be protected and whether screening could reduce the visual impact of cars close to the right-of-way.

The board approved the variance with conditions that call for wheel bumpers for each new parking space and dense vegetation or screening between the parking and the road; trees that would be disrupted must be replaced or supplemented. The motion passed unanimously.

The applicant said any damage to existing landscaping would be corrected. Board members and the applicant agreed to work with county recommendations for parking bumpers and to install additional shrubs as necessary. No additional public comment was recorded on the item.

The board did not set a separate timeframe for implementation; the applicant indicated the change is part of a site-plan amendment that has been revised following input from the towns engineering and fire departments.