Southtowns Record

Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting, Jun 2, 2026 — Minutes

Government
Town of Hamburg
Board
Zoning Board of Appeals
Meeting
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Zoning and land use, Energy and data center siting, Public safety, Budget and taxes, Water, sewer and drainage

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 8 of 11

problem they have is the rats. He has called the county and they put bait boxes out, and they
checked it a month or two later, and none of the rats took the bait. Neighbors have seen rats
running across Butler’s lot to feed on multiple occasions. Once rats find feed it’s very hard to
get rid of them.

Daniel Voit, 3765 Fifth Street, spoke on the variance. His dog killed two rats and brought them
in the house. He mentioned that Butler built a one car garage without a permit and wants to
know why the building inspectors did not do anything. It is a coop but it is the size of a one car
garage. He believes Butler is making a mess of the neighborhood.

Denise Reiford, 3684 Sixth St, spoke on the variance. She lives right next to the Butlers. The
Butler’s believe that she is the one who wrote the complaint but she said she did not. They are
retaliating against her. She mentioned a study from Cornell University that shows the negative
impact loud music has on birds. The fires he burns in the barrels have an awful smell and it is
right by the bird coop. She stated that scented candles are fatal to pigeons so she believes
those fumes are much worse and must be fatal as well. One of the neighbors informed her that
Butler had the fire barrels for one of the fires near her house. There is a camper near there as
well with propane tanks. The fire and propane tanks are within 4ft of her home. She does not
feel safe. She is concerned about her dog coming in contact with rats. The shed that he was
given a permit for sits 2 inches from her property line and 6 inches from his garage. There is a
shed, there is a garage, there is a camper that does not move, there is a storage trailer, and a
trailer that he pulls behind his car. She is saying this because he already has plenty of storage
and does not need another shed.

Ira Butler spoke again. He stated for the record that he has never burned a rat in his fires. He
has never burned a dead bird. He only burns wood. He does not burn during burn bans.

Jess Butler stated for the record that all of the pigeons are seen by an avian vet in Clarence and
get proper care.

Commissioner Yoder asked why they play the loud music if they are pigeon enthusiasts and care
about their birds. Jess Butler stated that her birds are very happy and their vet will attest to
that. She believes they can find a study for anything. Homer pigeons live under bridges with
cars constantly going past. She said birds are loud in general. She does not wish to talk about
the volume of the music further, they have an attorney handling that, and they thought they
were just here tonight for the birds.

Ira Butler stated that he is a firm believer in everything natural to eliminate and deter
everything. They keep on solar animal deterrents to keep bees, skunks, cardinals, etc. out of the
yard. They face in towards their property. During the day it makes a buzzing sound that you can
hear if you have a hearing aid in. At night it has a blinking light. Jess has an extensive garden
and they do everything they can to keep rats out.

Commissioner Adrian asked Jeff Skrzypek if they obtained a permit for the shed that is
alongside the property line. Skrzypek said yes, they have to replace the existing shed and move
it over. They are in the process of doing that. Commissioner Adrian asked if anything else was in