Thu Oct 03 13:34:16 UTC 2024: ## Orchard Park Moves Closer to Entertainment District Around New Stadium

**ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.** – The Orchard Park town board has taken a significant step towards creating an entertainment district around the new Highmark Stadium, voting 4-1 to approve new zoning laws for three areas surrounding the stadium.

The rezoned areas include the immediate vicinity of the stadium, a section around South Benzing Road, and a site at the northwest corner of Milestrip Road and Southwestern Boulevard. These areas will be designated as “Development and Research 2” zones, allowing for buildings up to four stories, exceeding the current height limit of 2.5 stories.

This move opens the door to a development similar to Patriot Place outside Gillette Stadium or Titletown outside Lambeau Field, with the potential for hotels, bars, and other entertainment venues. “We need to start laying the groundwork now for an environment that attracts the kind of growth we want to see in Orchard Park,” said local resident Cheri Carducci.

However, the proposal has not been universally welcomed. Some residents voiced concerns that the new zoning would change the character of Orchard Park, a small town with a population of around 30,000. “Orchard Park isn’t Las Vegas. It’s not New York City,” one resident said.

The approved plan is the original proposal that was first presented in August, with some modifications. 86 homes have been excluded from the rezoned areas, and further changes to the South Benzing zone are expected to be reviewed and voted on within the next 2-4 weeks at another public hearing.

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