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Developer seeks amendment to Muir Woods plan to allow 160 townhomes; board sets decision date
Summary
Simonelli Development asked the Amherst Town Board to amend a prior finding statement to allow 160 townhomes at 770 John James Audubon Parkway; developer says the new plan reduces traffic impact versus earlier options and can accommodate an NFTA station. The board set a decision date of Aug. 10, 2026.
Simonelli Development and site owner 770 JJAP asked the board to amend a previous finding statement for the Muir Woods area to allow a different mix of uses, including a proposal for approximately 160 ownership townhomes, the town board heard on July 27.
Mark Romanowski, representing Simonelli Development, said market demand has shifted away from commercial/student housing toward ownership townhomes and that prior traffic mitigation (stop signs, signal timing) put in for an earlier, larger proposal will more than cover this scheme’s traffic impacts. "My client is proposing to construct a 160 townhomes on the site," Romanowski said. He added developers have discussed accommodating an NFTA station at the site and are not seeking to block transit access.
A resident commenter raised walkability and sidewalk gaps along North Forest Road and urged the town and developers to require sidewalks that link to UB and surrounding neighborhoods. The board set a decision date of Aug. 10, 2026 and directed applicants to clarify details on sidewalks and pedestrian connections in subsequent submissions.
