Zoning Laws May Change To Spur Development Near Highmark Stadium

When officials from the Buffalo Bills, New York State, Erie County, and the NFL announced the intention to build the new football stadium in Orchard Park, across the street from the current stadium, many people all over Western New York wondered the same thing: Besides the stadium, what else is going to be built around the area?

While the area around Highmark Stadium is full of life and activity on game day, the general around Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard was pretty sleepy the rest of the week.

Yes, there are a couple of car dealerships, a few pubs and restaurants, and a community college. However, most of the area is residential without a whole lot of other amenities. The area is still pretty barren, even after nearly 50 years of football.

When spending more than $1 billion on a public works project, it's probably a good idea to ensure there are other developments around it. While that seems to have been an afterthought for the folks in Orchard Park, officials now see they may need to do something to help spur some activity.

According to the Buffalo News, officials from Orchard Park are trying to update their zoning rules to allow different types of development around Highmark Stadium.

If the proposed changes are approved, the town of Orchard Park will allow building heights to increase from 2.5 stories to 5 stories and change the area zone classification to allow things like bars, hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and more to move in.

It'd be interesting to see what happens, especially because the Bills are looking to hold the NFL Draft in Buffalo. Of course, this wouldn't be an issue if the stadium was built in the city where many folks think it belongs.