Erie County lawmakers have completed the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. The recommendation for the new stadium remains the same, but now that the review has been finalized, the legislature can move forward with the approval process. According to Majority Leader Tim Meyers, all draft documents have been updated and every detail has been taken care of. The full legislature is expected to vote on the approval of the new stadium during their meeting on Thursday, January 19th. This is a major step forward in the construction of a new home for the beloved team and it is likely that the county vote will be held soon.
According to Majority Leader Tim Meyers, the process of constructing a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills is moving forward as planned. During the latest meeting of the county legislature’s Energy and Environment Committee, Meyers expressed his confidence that a vote on the construction of the new stadium will take place and pass successfully. This is a significant step forward in the efforts to provide the beloved team with a new home.
It has been several weeks since the summary of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) findings was presented to the committee. At the time, the committee had many questions and concerns but it seems that they are now ready to accept the report’s recommendation. The SEQR process is an essential step in ensuring that the construction of the new stadium will not have any significant negative environmental impacts. The report found that there were no significant environmental impacts that would hinder the construction of the new stadium. This means that the legislature can proceed with the approval process with confidence that the construction of the new stadium will not harm the environment.
This is a significant development in the construction of the new stadium and it is likely that the county vote will be held soon. The community is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the vote and the construction of the new stadium which will not only provide a new home for the beloved team but also bring economic benefits to the area.
Erie County and Phillips Lytle LLP were at the forefront of the team that conducted the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) for the proposed new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. The SEQR was done to compare the environmental impact of the existing Highmark Stadium to that of a potential new stadium located across Abbott Road. A comprehensive range of factors were considered during the review including light pollution, storm runoff, aesthetics, traffic, utility demands and more. The vote on the proposed new stadium was initially set to take place on December 15th, a week after the report was first presented to the committee members, but it has been delayed twice.
The proposed new stadium for the Buffalo Bills has undergone several changes during the delay of the vote. These changes include revised environmental assessment forms, responses to comments made by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), an updated traffic management plan, and a final letter of resolution that binds all parties involved to historic and archeological standards.
Adam Walters, an attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP, informed the committee that “additional fieldwork” was done by the Bills for archeological investigation, and that update has been filed with the committee. He also explained that these were mainly administrative tasks and have no impact on their recommendation to the lawmakers. However, several committee members, including Legislator John Bargnesi, asked for clarification on these changes.
The archeological investigation is a critical aspect of the SEQR process as it ensures that any potential construction does not disturb or harm any historical or cultural sites. The updated traffic management plan also ensures that the construction and operation of the new stadium will not cause any undue traffic congestion in the area. The responses to comments by the NYSDOT ensure that the construction and operation of the new stadium will comply with all state regulations and standards. These revisions and updates were necessary in order to ensure that the construction of the new stadium will be done in a responsible and sustainable manner.
“Is it your recommendation to this board that we approve the negative declaration?” Legislator John Bargnesi asked Adam Walters, an attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP.
Walters responded: “After conducting a thorough review of all the available information, it is our recommendation that the board approve the negative declaration. We have conducted a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) and based on the findings, we can confirm that there are no significant adverse environmental impacts from the development of a new stadium.
The baseline for comparison is the existing stadium, and in many ways, the new stadium will be an improvement as it will be built to modern standards and state-of-the-art. This means that the new stadium will be more energy-efficient, sustainable and will have better facilities for the fans and the team. The new stadium will also be designed to minimize any potential negative impact on the surrounding environment and community. We believe that this new stadium will be a positive addition to the area and will bring many benefits to the community.”
As the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process appears to be headed towards approval, 2 On Your Side reached out to Majority Leader Tim Meyers to inquire about the progress of the overall stadium deal and the Community Benefits Agreement. In response, Meyers stated, “This is an enormous project, but I believe that once the SEQR process is approved, it will be a good indication that everything is moving closer to being finalized. The SEQR process is a crucial step in ensuring that the project is environmentally sound and that the community’s concerns are taken into consideration. We are committed to making sure that this project is done right and that the community benefits from it.” He went on to say, “This project has the potential to bring a lot of positive change to the area, and we are working hard to make sure that happens.”
