ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After years of debate, change is officially coming to Orchard Park.
The Orchard Park town board voted 4-1 Wednesday night in favor of new zoning laws in three areas around the new Highmark Stadium that will allow for new development in the town.
The rezoned areas include an area immediately surrounding Highmark Stadium and the new stadium from Southwestern Boulevard to Route 20A as well as two others — one northeast of the stadium around South Benzing Road and one at the northwest corner of Milestrip Road and Southwestern Boulevard.
The proposal would rezone them into “Development and Research 2” zones, allowing for buildings up to four stories, surpassing the current limit of 2.5 stories in the town.
The move opens the door to a dream many have had for years to create an entertainment district outside the new stadium with hotels and bars similar to Patriot Place outside Gillette Stadium or Titletown outside Lambeau Field.
“We need to start laying the groundwork now for an environment that attracts the kind of growth we want to see in Orchard Park,” Orchard Park resident Cheri Carducci said.
While some neighbors at Wednesday’s meeting share that dream, many also expressed it’s not theirs.
“Orchard Park isn't Las Vegas. It's not New York City,” one resident said.
“This is not a Field of Dreams. Orchard Park is not a destination. It is a 30,000 person town of residents,” another resident added.
The plan that was approved Wednesday isn’t final. It is the original plan that was proposed in August. There have since been alterations to exclude 86 homes from being inside the zone.
The board plans to review those changes as well as make some more to the South Benzing zone and will vote on them in 2-4 weeks at another public hearing.