Southtowns Record

HPC.02.04.2026.Minutes.Approved (full text)

Town of West Seneca Historical Preservation Commission Feb 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m. 3 pages

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WEST SENECA COMMUNITY CENTER WEST SENECA HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION 1300 UNION ROAD MEETING MINUTES WEST SENECA, NY 14224 FEBRUARY 4, 2026 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the West Seneca Historical Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Lang at 6:35 PM. ROLL CALL Present: 1. Paul Lang, Chairperson 2. Ray Ball 3. Fran D’Amico 4. Michael Siuta Absent: 5. Maureen Berbary (excused) APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Mr. Ball, seconded by Ms. D’Amico, to approve the minutes of the January 7, 2026 meeting. Ayes: All Noes: None Abstain: None Motion: Carried OLD BUSINESS • Review of CLG Grant Outcome & Next Steps Chairperson Lang reported that the Commission was not approved for the Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application submitted in October. The New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) cited a high volume of strong applications for the decision. Chairperson Lang reported on a discussion with the CLG coordinator, who confirmed that it is common for CLGs to rely on grant cycles and that the Commission is not unusual for not having a dedicated budget for such projects. A key factor in the grant denial may have been the lack of a direct cash match from the Town of West Seneca, as only volunteer hours were leveraged. Mr. Ball suggested the Commission request a line item in its budget to be used exclusively for matching funds for future grant applications. Chairperson Lang agreed, noting the need to invest now to secure future funding, and will prioritize a discussion with Councilmember Robertson to advocate for the budget request. 1

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WEST SENECA COMMUNITY CENTER WEST SENECA HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION 1300 UNION ROAD MEETING MINUTES WEST SENECA, NY 14224 FEBRUARY 4, 2026 • 919 Mill Landmark Nomination Review / Process Review Chairperson Lang reported that to have a public hearing for the 919 Mill Road landmark nomination at the March 4th meeting, the notice must be advertised in the newspaper by February 12th and the agenda given to the clerk’s office by February 4th. Chairperson Lang stated he would submit the agenda and nomination packet to meet this deadline, allowing for the public notice period and subsequent vote at the March meeting. • Demolition Ordinance Update Chairperson Lang reported that he spoke with the Town Attorney, who is actively working on the demolition ordinance. The attorney anticipates presenting it for adoption in February or March and expects the entire process to take approximately 60 to 90 days. NEW BUSINESS • Review of 555 Meyer Rd for SEQR Compliance Chairperson Lang presented a SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) notice regarding a proposal for a new commercial storage building at 555 Meyer Road. The Commission is a required commenting agency. Mr. Ball reported that the site is undeveloped and largely consists of a sand pit with no structures of historical significance. After discussion, the Commission concluded that the project would have no impact on historical resources. Motion by Mr. Ball, seconded by Ms. D'Amico, to authorize Chairperson Lang to draft and send a letter to the appropriate Town department stating that the Historical Preservation Commission has no objection to the proposed project at 555 Meyer Road, as the site contains no historical significance. Ayes: All Noes: None Abstain: None Motion: Carried ISSUES OF THE PUBLIC None. COMMUNICATIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Mr. Ball, seconded by Mr. Siuta, to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 PM. 2

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WEST SENECA COMMUNITY CENTER WEST SENECA HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION 1300 UNION ROAD MEETING MINUTES WEST SENECA, NY 14224 FEBRUARY 4, 2026 Ayes: All Noes: None Abstain: None Motion: Carried Respectfully submitted by Matthew Fincel Secretary to the Historical Preservation Commission 3

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