Elmwood Village residents talk "green"

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Elmwood Village Association met with residents to talk about a new code that could change the look of their neighborhood.

The City’s Green Code was discussed at Saturday’s meeting, which is a new city-wide zoning ordinance.

This code will replace the Elmwood Village’s current design standards.

One of the main issues for residents at the meeting was keeping big box stores out of the village.

Carly Battin, Executive Director of the Elmwood Village Association said, “We feel there are a number of businesses in the Elmwood Village that really contribute to the nature of the street, Cole's being one. Cole’s is about 11,000 sq. feet, Spot Coffee is greater than 5,000 sq. feet. We don’t want to make them non-compliant with the new laws.”

The Green Code would also change rules for signs and reduce off- street parking requirements for businesses.

Brendan R. Mehaffy the Executive Director of the City of Buffalo's Office of Strategic Planning said, “The Elmwood Village design guidelines already have the restriction in them for 2,500 sq. feet. A number of the major businesses here are already in violation of that. They are allowed to continue to exist, but if they were to close down and someone else were to try and move in, it could be a problem for that.”