3.0 Land Use and Development - Town of Amherst

TOWN OF AMHERST BICENTENNIAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Types of Mixed-Use Centers
• University-Related Center
• Special Use Centers
• Highway/Intersection Centers
• Urban/Village Centers
University, while helping to achieve Comprehensive Plan
objectives and policies for land use and related elements.
• Special Use Centers contain a mix of ancillary uses related
to a major civic or institutional presence. The scale and types
of land uses in these centers should complement their
purpose and function while complimenting and reinforcing
the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
• Largely suburban, automobile-oriented in nature,
Highway/Intersection Centers typically occur at major
roadway intersections. At these locations a mixture of office,
retail and higher density housing is appropriate, but requires
greater attention to design, relationships between uses,
pedestrian linkages, and access management.
• Urban/Village Centers are intended to promote a compact,
pedestrian-friendly development pattern that reflects the
character of Amherst’s traditional commercial centers.
Included are established centers serving neighborhoods in the
Williamsville, Eggertsville, and Snyder areas; two of Amherst’s
original hamlets (Swormville and Getzville); and a proposed
new “Urban/Village center” in Northeast Amherst.
University-Related Center: This area is located on the east
side of Millersport Highway across from the UB campus in the
University Focal Planning Area (see Section 10.3). It is envisioned
as accommodating a mix of residential and non-residential
development with a variety of activities serving both the
University community and private businesses and residents. Open
space and recreational trails should be an integral part of the
development. Examples of other potential uses include:
• Off-campus student /faculty housing
• Other housing facilities catering to groups interested in living
in a University environment
• Technology, research, and development functions
• Business development incubators
• Life-long and community outreach education programs
• Conference facilities
• Arts and athletic venues
• Hotels and other commercial uses typically found in a
community center serving both the University and the Town
As proposed by Economic Development Policy 5-7, the Town
should actively engage the University in planning for the
appropriate development of this property. This should include
shifting some present and planned activities from the campus
academic core to off-campus, mixed-use edges where businesses
and the community can benefit from the presence of the
University.
Town Board Adopted Plan (Amended March 2009) – Land Use and Development 3-39