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Home > Leadership > Mayor > Archive Press Releases > 2008 Archives > February 2008 > Action Follows Brown Administration’s Inspection of Decrepit Lake Barge

Action Follows Brown Administration’s Inspection of Decrepit Lake Barge


Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Cutler
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

MAYOR BROWN INTRODUCES CITY CODE AMENDMENT RESTRICTING DOCKING OF UNSIGHTLY AND DERELICT VESSELS IN CITY’S COASTAL SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICT

BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown today filed a communication with the Buffalo Common Council calling for an amendment to the Buffalo Coastal Special Review District in the City Zoning Code that would require the review and approval of restricted use applications for docking or mooring vessels within that zone. The Mayor’s action is designed to prevent the docking or mooring of unsightly and derelict vessels along the Buffalo waterfront.

On Friday, February 1, 2008, Mayor Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins went to the site of a docked former lake barge known as the Lansdowne, which is located within the Buffalo Coastal Special Review District. The decrepit vessel was docked without any prior city review or approval. At the time of the Mayor’s visit, city Building Inspection and Public Works officials conducted an inspection of the vessel and the docking area. It is anticipated that the formal inspection results will be served on the dock property owner by tomorrow, Tuesday, February 5th.

“Having visited this site with Congressman Higgins this past week, it was clear that this vessel, which is a piece of junk, should be removed from the Buffalo waterfront as quickly as possible,” said Mayor Brown. “With the progress we continue to make along Buffalo’s waterfront, placing these types of vessels – or any other dilapidated objects on water or adjacent parcels of land – will not be tolerated. The Buffalo waterfront is not a dumping ground. This amendment will further strengthen the Buffalo zoning code and prevent future actions like the improper docking of this old, useless lake barge.”
 
With the filing today of the Mayor’s proposed amendment, the Common Council is now expected to take action on this item over the next month.
 
The Buffalo Coastal Special Review District is bordered generally by the Buffalo River to the north, Lake Erie to the west, the City Line to the south and Hopkins Street and South Park Avenue to the east.