Executive Orders

Town Board Meeting Videos

The video of the Town Board meeting from Wednesday March 25, 2020 has been uploaded to the Town website and is now available for viewing. Please click the link below to view this and other Town Board agendas, minutes, and meeting videos.

Erie County, NY Department of Health: Coronavirus Information

NOTICE:

All Town of Amherst Board and Committee meetings (with the exception of the Town Board) will be cancelled for 30 days through April 14, 2020 or until further notice. In addition, Amherst Town Hall at 5583 Main Street is closed to the public and public access will be by appointment only.

  • Town Clerk: 716-631-7021 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (until further notice)
  • Assessor: 716-631-7038
  • Building Department: 716-631-7080
  • Planning Department: 716-631-7051
  • Purchasing/Contracts: 716-631-7007
  • Bids: 716-631-7007
  • Human Resources: 716-631-7025

For all other appointment requests, please call 716-631-7013 or 716-631-7032.

Town of Amherst Courts and Village of Williamsville Courts

All non-essential Town and Village of Williamsville court functions have been POSTPONED and all Town and Village Court buildings are CLOSED. Please see this Press Release for details

Bid Openings

Town of Amherst bid openings will be live streamed and recorded. The public will not be allowed to attend bid openings in person. Please see the links below for either the live stream or recordings. All bids are due according to their published times. The bid openings for Tue., March 23, 2020 will begin at 12:30 PM.

Amherst IDA

Amherst Schools & Education

** Cancellations, Postponements, and Contact Information **

Home  /  Departments /  Planning Department  /  Community Development

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Community Development /  Community Development

Homeowner Rehabilitation Program

Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 Emergency situation the Amherst Community Development Program has to limit our staff activities and therefore are reducing our Homeowner Rehab Program activities to emergency situations only. If your rehab situation is considered an emergency we will work with you and a contractor in order to oversee the work as best possible for everyone’s health and safety. The following situations are considered to be an emergency, but other situations may be considered. Please contact the Community Development main line (716) 631-7082 if you think you have an emergency situation.

  • loss of heat
  • loss of hot water
  • plumbing emergency
  • sewage or stormwater flooding in the basement
  • significant roof leak

For non-emergencies, you may still submit electronically and by mail any application materials that are still outstanding in order to approve your application. Please be advised that staff does not have access to application files at this time and therefore cannot tell you what your application is missing/holding up approval.

If you were already approved/mid-construction and some or all work has been completed by the contractor, our building inspector may complete final inspections for any work easily approved from the outside of the house (i.e. roofs, driveways, etc.). Interior inspections will not be completed for non-emergency situations at this time. As the program re-opens and full functionality is restored, please know that we will contact clients.

At this time no new clients or applications will be received unless they are emergency situations. Homeowners interested in the program who are not already on the waiting list, may still submit the request to be on the waiting list form to rboerschig@amherst.ny.us

Contractors: may submit invoices to the Town of Amherst for completed work, however invoices may not be paid by the town until work has been inspected and approved by the Program building inspector and, if required, lead clearance testing is performed and passes. Please note, that we encourage contractors to still submit invoices for completed work, as we will use the dates of the invoices to prioritize inspections and approvals when staff restrictions on building inspection are lifted. In other words: the invoices will provide your place in line for approval to be paid.  

**Contractors invoices should be submitted to rboerschig@amherst.ny.us or mailed to Attn: Community Development, Amherst Town Hall, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville NY 14221

First-time Homebuyer Program

Amherst Community Development will still receive and approve first-time homebuyer applications for closing cost assistance at this time. The application form can still be found online and documentation can be submitted via mail and/or email to sfitzpatrick@amherst.ny.us. The requirement for the applicant to take a first-time homebuyer course will remain, however staff will work with applicants to find a HUD-certified online program. If you have a property in mind for purchase at this time it is strongly recommended that you call and discuss your situation first with Sue Fitzpatrick first at (716) 631-7053.

The Community Development division of the Amherst Planning Department offers information and guidance for residents, homeowners and potential homeowners in the Town of Amherst. Find more information about services, housing assistance programs, rental assistance programs and weatherization programs in this area.

If you are in need of housing assistance or counseling on a housing matter, you can contact us at (716) 631-7082 or explore some of the links below.

On April 11, 2015 Amherst submitted its Five Year Consolidated Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, on behalf of the Amherst-Cheektowaga-Tonawanda HOME Consortium. The 2018 Annual Action Plan for Amherst covers the fourth year of the Five Year Consolidated Plan for 2015-2019; the Program Year runs from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

Below is a copy of the Draft 2019 Annual Action Plan. This Plan is based upon the goals and objectives determined to meet the priority needs of the low-to-moderate income residents in the community. The Draft 2019 Annual Action Plan is available for public review and comment until January 15, 2019. Comments may be submitted in writing to Amherst Community Development, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221 until that date.

The Draft 2019 Annual Action Plan is available to the public in the Town's four libraries and Town Clerk's and Village Clerk's offices starting on December 14, 2017 for a thirty day public comment period. The first Public Hearing was held on this proposed Plan on October 1, 2018. The second Public Hearing will be held at the Town Board Meeting scheduled for January 22, 2019. Copies of the final Five Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Plan are also available on the Town's website, the Town's libraries, and the Village and Town Clerks' Office.

If additional copies of the Plan are requested we will be most happy to provide them. Please contact the Community Development Office at (716) 631-7082.

Community Development

Community Development Housing Assistance Programs

Affordable Housing

Senior Housing

Multi-Family Housing

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Click here for more information.

Planning Department

5583 Main St
Williamsville, NY  14221
(716) 631-7051
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Fri)


Community Development

Department, Community Development
    Community Development (General Number)
    631-7082

Stillwell, Laurie
    Associate Planner
    631-7050

Boerschig, Rachel
    Clerk Typist
    631-7082

Fitzpatrick, Susan
    Community Development Assistant
    631-7053

Klein, Jeffrey
    Code Enforcement Officer
    631-7057

Planning Department

Howard, Daniel
    Planning Director
    631-7055

Kost, Ellen
    Assistant Planning Director
    631-7056

Allaire, Joni
    Clerk - PT
    631-7052

Amplement, Kimberly
    Planner
    631-7103

Andrzejewski, Brian
    Zoning Enforcement Officer
    631-7104

Carrato, Amy
    Clerk Typist
    631-7051

Department, Planning
    Planning Department (General Number)
    631-7051

Marshall, Scott
    Associate Planner
    631-7074

Rappoccio, Roberta
    Associate Planner
    631-7071

Szatkowski, Jeffrey
    Landscape Architect
    631-7054

Ulatowski, Daniel
    Principal Planner
    631-7058



There are currently no active announcements posted by the Planning Department

About Amherst

The Town of Amherst was established in 1818 and celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2018. The town has a geographical area of 53.6 square miles and a population of greater than 122,000.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Town of Amherst ADA Coordinators are Robert McCarthy (Director of Human Resources) and Mark Berke (Commissioner of Buildings).

Click for more information about ADA.

Website Contact

The Town of Amherst takes great pride in providing useful, timely and accurate information through its official website. We encourage public participation in our website and ask that you provide your feedback to help us make our site even better. Contact the website administrator at toawebsite@amherst.ny.us.

Get in Touch

  • General Information:
    (716) 631-7000
  • Email:
    toainfo@amherst.ny.us
  • Address:
    Municipal Building (Town Hall)
  • 5583 Main Street
  • Williamsville, NY 14221


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