Residents in Tonawanda are raising serious concerns after city officials approved a zoning change allowing a cannabis facility to operate in a residential neighborhood. The decision by the City of Tonawanda Zoning Board of Appeals has stirred controversy, with many residents saying they were not properly informed about the project’s approval process.
The proposed cannabis facility will occupy a building on Mill Street near the Twin Cities Memorial Highway. Many people living nearby claim the Tonawanda zoning board moved too quickly and failed to communicate openly with the community. According to residents, the zoning variance was approved late last month despite multiple public hearings where neighbors voiced opposition.
Heather Lamar, a lifelong Tonawanda resident, says she first learned about the potential cannabis facility only four days before a scheduled hearing. “We felt blindsided,” she said. “There was not a lot of communication from the zoning board. It feels like our voices were ignored.” Lamar and other residents believe financial incentives, including potential tax revenue from the cannabis facility, may have influenced the board’s decision.
While some Tonawanda residents acknowledge the city’s need for new business development, they argue that a cannabis facility should not be located near homes. “We want to protect our sense of community,” Lamar added. “Bringing a commercial business like this into a residential area changes the entire neighborhood dynamic.”
Several Tonawanda residents worry about potential issues such as increased traffic, odor, and security concerns surrounding the cannabis facility. Eight other neighbors who spoke off camera echoed those fears, saying the move sets a dangerous precedent for future zoning decisions in Tonawanda.
The Tonawanda mayor has stated that the city followed all legal procedures in approving the cannabis facility. Still, opponents insist that the decision reflects a lack of transparency and respect for residents’ input.
The controversy highlights the growing tension across New York communities grappling with how to integrate the legal cannabis industry. For Tonawanda, the arrival of this cannabis facility could signal both economic opportunity and social friction.
As debates continue, many in Tonawanda are calling for stricter zoning rules and more public involvement in future cannabis-related projects. Whether the cannabis facility ultimately benefits or harms the neighborhood remains to be seen, but one thing is clear the people of Tonawanda plan to keep their voices heard.
