Southtowns Record

PB Agenda Packet

Government
Town of West Seneca
Board
Planning Board
Meeting
Oct 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Posted by publisher
Oct 7, 2026
Kind
Agenda packet
Topics
Zoning and land use, Roads and traffic, Water, sewer and drainage

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 3 of 56

New Businesses

SPR 2026-008: Rusty Nickel, 4350 Seneca Street, West Seneca — Site Plan Review for
expansion on the right side of the building.

Who spoke from the business:

  •  Jason Havens, Civil Design Director, Waves Architecture & Engineering (Waves AE)
  and owner of Rusty Nickel Brewing Company.
  •  Christopher Panaro, Lead Architectural Designer, Waves AE.

Project Summary (Applicant statements):

  •  Sustained growth and partnership with Lily Bell Meats have outgrown current production
  space.
  •  Supported by a New York State expansion grant awarded 50 facilities for production area
  expansion.
  •  Proposed two-story addition:
  o First Floor: Production-focused; streamline canning line (currently moved daily),
  add a small lab for quality control, install a walk-in cooler on slab-on-grade;
  improve safety by separating production from other operations; enable increased
  distribution and larger accounts.
  o Second Floor: Open-office and storage for management (GM, events coordinator,
  brewer); printers, desks, fireproof storage for records; replaces outdoor shed and
  former Conex box; supports bulk purchasing (glassware, toiletries).
  •  Occupancy & Use: No increase in public occupancy; second floor strictly office, not an
  event space; lacks public-facing amenities like bathrooms.
  •  Architectural Details: Glass bay doors to showcase brewing operations from street; east
  wall gabled roofline to match existing building; retain “log cabin vibe” with wood beam
  components; front elevation largely unchanged; exposed beams are wood; matching
  existing board-and-batten; intentional aged “old barn” look; regular washdown/pressure
  wash (typically every two years), with cleaning/replacement to match new installation.
  •  Site Plan & Variances: Requires side yard setback variance (from 25 ft required to 5 ft at
  closest point); closest corner 5 ft from property line, extending to ~22 ft at other corner;
  building cuts into hill; structure acts as retaining wall, with small vegetated knee walls;
  additional retaining walls tentatively concrete, not full height—approx. 6 ft above grade
  with ~4 ft footing (total ~10 ft section); rear wall of building ~12.5 ft above grade;
  retention ~5 ft off building for egress/maintenance; 5.14 ft side yard provides access for
  condensers/compressors and vegetation maintenance; operational layout drove footprint
  (brew house longer than wide).
  •  Adjacent Parcels: Rusty Nickel acquired adjacent residential parcel to the west; intent for
  beautification and gardens, not commercial expansion; maintain as regional asset. House
  parcel to the west already zoned commercial; town coordinating path forward for vacant
  parcel behind it; may come before board in future.
  •  Parking: No increase in occupancy or seating; operational expansion only. Peak parking
  ~40 cars on weekends; daily occupancy cycles quick; ~140 people/day total; within

  Page 3 of 56