Town Board minutes — September 14, 2026

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WHEREAS, Erie County Legislator Jeanne vinal, representing portions of the Towns of Amherst
and Cheektowaga, has recently contacted local officials regarding a renewed effort reinstate the
Erie county Planning Board; and

  WHEREAS, proposals of this nature have been opposed and rejected numerous times over the
past two decades

  WHEREAS, based on the version of a draft local law shared and referenced by Legislator Vina’s
communication, this Planning Board would derive its mission and purpose from a regional growth
plan adopted by Erie County in 2007; and

  WHEREAS, under this version of the law, only two of the nine voting members of this board
would reside outside the Cities of Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda or the Towns of Amherst,
Cheektowaga, Tonawanda and West Seneca leaving a large representation gap for communities
that make up a majority of the land area of Erie County and making no distinction between
suburban and rural communities outside of first-ring suburbs; and

  WHEREAS, according to New York State Law, this board could have authority to review and
reject certain local project proposals, or set conditions for the approval thereof, or set conditions
for the approval thereof, as well as act as lead agency under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act, stripping away local control of the environmental impact review process; and

  WHEREAS, creation of such a board would add an additional and unnecessary layer of
bureaucracy to the already daunting task of fostering constructive economic development within
our region; and

  WHEREAS, the oversight and control conferred upon such a board would reduce the voice of
local governments and the residents who would make decisions regarding land use within their
own communities; and

  WHEREAS, local municipalities and the residents who elect their government officials deserve to
retain autonomy and authority to determine their own development and zoning plans that best
suit their communities; and

  WHEREAS, the State of New York has already been encroaching upon local control by
proposing and enacting legislation that allows them to override local zoning regulations for various
types of projects; and

  WHEREAS, The Town of Collins desires to maintain the identity of our community and retain
control over its vision for growth through local representation: and

  WHEREAS, The Collins Town Board does not believe the establishment of an Erie County
Planning Board would be in the est interests of the residents of Collins or similarly situated
municipalities across Erie County.

  NOW, THEREFORE BE IT

  RESOLVED, That the Town Board of Collins believes it is crucial that local municipalities retain the
right to determine their own planning actions, and be it further

  RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution shall be sent to Erie County Executive Mark
Poloncarz, members of the Erie County Legislature and the Erie County Association of
Governments.

REGULAR MEETING  TOWN OF COLLINS  SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 6