Board recommends amended Muir Woods finding to allow 160 townhomes; neighbors press for updated studies
June 19, 2026 | Amherst, Erie County, New York
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The Amherst Town Planning Board voted to recommend an amended finding statement for the John James Audubon Parkway (Muir Woods) site that would allow a change in the development mix to 160 townhomes rather than additional student housing. The board’s recommendation includes conditions requiring the petitioner to submit drafts of required easements to planning staff and to record those easements prior to the Town Board decision.
Mark Romanowski, the applicant’s representative, said the change reflects current market demand and that the proposed townhome development would be lower density than previously studied scenarios. “What we're proposing now...is to do a 160 townhomes rather than additional student housing,” he said, and noted accommodations in the plan for a possible future NFTA station and on-site bike-path connectivity.
An adjacent resident, Long Nguyen, urged the board to require site-specific environmental and traffic reviews before advancing the amendment. Nguyen said that a smaller unit count “does not mean fewer impacts,” pointing to 7.3 acres of new impervious surface, wetlands signage on the site and the fact that part of the parcel lies within 100- and 500-year floodplains. He asked the board not to rely solely on an older generic environmental study.
Romanowski replied that a 2020 traffic study exists and will be reviewed and updated as part of the site-plan process and that stormwater would be addressed through on-site biotreatment prior to discharge to the existing pond. He also said that wetland areas would not be disturbed by the portion of the project before the board that evening.
The board approved the recommendation to the Town Board and attached conditions requiring submission and recording of required easements and the usual site-plan review steps, including updated traffic and stormwater review as appropriate during site-plan processing. The recommendation was forwarded by roll call vote, recorded as 6–0.
Mark Romanowski, the applicant’s representative, said the change reflects current market demand and that the proposed townhome development would be lower density than previously studied scenarios. “What we're proposing now...is to do a 160 townhomes rather than additional student housing,” he said, and noted accommodations in the plan for a possible future NFTA station and on-site bike-path connectivity.
An adjacent resident, Long Nguyen, urged the board to require site-specific environmental and traffic reviews before advancing the amendment. Nguyen said that a smaller unit count “does not mean fewer impacts,” pointing to 7.3 acres of new impervious surface, wetlands signage on the site and the fact that part of the parcel lies within 100- and 500-year floodplains. He asked the board not to rely solely on an older generic environmental study.
Romanowski replied that a 2020 traffic study exists and will be reviewed and updated as part of the site-plan process and that stormwater would be addressed through on-site biotreatment prior to discharge to the existing pond. He also said that wetland areas would not be disturbed by the portion of the project before the board that evening.
The board approved the recommendation to the Town Board and attached conditions requiring submission and recording of required easements and the usual site-plan review steps, including updated traffic and stormwater review as appropriate during site-plan processing. The recommendation was forwarded by roll call vote, recorded as 6–0.
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