Southtowns Record

Planning Board Regular Meeting, Aug 5, 2026 — Minutes

Government
Town of Hamburg
Board
Planning Board
Meeting
Aug 5, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Zoning and land use, Water, sewer and drainage, Public safety, Roads and traffic, Energy and data center siting, Budget and taxes, Housing, Parks and recreation

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 5 of 14

Town of Hamburg Planning Board Minutes  August 5, 2026

Member Quandt stated he would like to see a condition that states that no outdoor
seating maybe provided on the concrete patio to prevent any congregation or potential
outdoor consumption.

All board members were in agreement.

Chair Gronachan summarized the following:

  •  Since the first rule is that the building has to be completely enclosed, they will be
  putting that as a condition.
  •  The Applicant is to change the garage door and patio so that there is no false
  invitation.
  •  The garage door is not going to be installed, and it is going to be glass.
  o The Planning Board is not opposed to frosted or tinted glass.
  •  There will be notification outside that there is no use or outdoor consumption.
  •  The Planning Board will need the detailed security narrative with a breakdown of
  all cameras and security measures.

The project was then tabled to the August 19, 2026 Planning Board meeting.

Hamburg II East ESS, LLC and Hamburg II West ESS, LLC- Requesting Zoning
Board Approval of a Use Variance and Planning Board Approval for a Change of
Use and Site Plan Approval for a Tier 3 battery energy storage system (BESS) to
be located on a 2.7-acre site at 6433 Railroad Avenue

Attorney Sean Hopkins appeared on behalf of the project along with Jeremy Kauffman
the Project Manager at RIC Energy, Paul Rogers from Emergency Safety Response
Group (ESRG), Samantha Parker-Fann the Environmental Project Manager, and
Andrew Welch, Director of Development at RIC Energy.

Mr. Kauffman stated as requested, they have submitted the noise study, emergency
response plan, and hazard mitigation analysis for Planning Board review.

Mr. Hopkins explained that this project is simultaneously in front of the Zoning Board of
Appeals because this project does require a use variance. Prior to the Zoning Board of
Appeals being in a position to issue a decision on a use variance, they require a
SEQRA determination from this board. At this time, the Applicant is asking the Planning
Board to issue a Negative Declaration so that they may go to the Zoning Board of
Appeals. The reason for tonight’s meeting was to have the subject matter experts
present to answer some of the technical questions that had previously been asked. This
project was sent out to other agencies for comments and the only two (2) comments
that were received were from the New York State Department of Environmental

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