Southtowns Record

Village Board agenda — May 18, 2026

Government
Village of East Aurora
Board
Village Board
Meeting
May 18, 2026
Kind
Agenda
Topics
Zoning and land use, Public safety, Water, sewer and drainage, Budget and taxes, Roads and traffic, Parks and recreation, Audits and oversight, Moratoriums, Housing

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 56 of 67

Read the whole document on one page (all 67 pages, each with its own heading)

WHEREAS, the Village of East Aurora has taken extensive steps to preserve the historic
and landmark buildings throughout the Village, which only adds to the charm and building
values in the Village, and

WHEREAS, the history of any area has long been recognized as an important aspect of any
densely populated municipality, and

WHEREAS, historic and landmark buildings enhance the property values on the properties
upon which they are located and provide other benefits in a community, including enhancing
tourism, and

WHEREAS, certain property owners have systematically demolished properties not for
regular maintenance, but rather for capital investments for profit purposes, and

WHEREAS, partial demolitions have taken place, which substantially impair the quality of
the remainder of the buildings, and

WHEREAS, questions exist with respect to the rights of the respective parties to engage in
such work in the Village, and

WHEREAS, the preservation of historic districts within the Village, such as Roycroft, Fillmore Avenue,
and East Main Street, as examples, is critical to the life and fabric of the Village, and

WHEREAS, there is an economic value to the Village which has been used on multiple
occasions for purposes of movie and other theatrical productions, which may be harmed by
virtue of the unwarranted destruction of historic and landmark buildings in the Village, and

WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission is charged with the review of
structures within the Village to determine their status, along with the Building
Department, which must review all plans and contemplated work, and

WHEREAS, there exist provisions in the Village Code addressing Historic Preservation
which must be aligned with recent actions, and

WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission has requested that a local law be
developed to ensure Architectural Reviews prior to any work being undertaken that would
alter any building, whether in phases or not, in excess of forty (40) percent of the footprint
of the structure or its roof,

NOW, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Village of East Aurora, acting in the best
health and safety interests of the residents and property owners of the Village hereby
suspends the further partial or full demolition of any building within the jurisdictional
limits of the Village by any entity, except for emergency purposes and then only upon
prior notice to the Village, the Building Department, and the Historic Preservation