Village of Orchard Park Comprehensive Plan

The Village of Orchard Park is a welcoming and vibrant community known for its charm, accessibility, and strong sense of place. Its historic, walkable downtown serves as a regional destination, offering a dynamic mix of local businesses, residences, cultural attractions, and community gathering spaces.

LaBella assisted the Village in developing its first comprehensive plan—a milestone effort that establishes a clear, unified framework to guide future growth, revitalization, and preservation of Orchard Park’s distinct small-town character. Supported by funding from the New York State Department of State Environmental Protection Fund and the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning Municipal Planning Grant, the plan provides a community-driven vision to guide the Village’s next chapter.

From the outset, the goal was to create a comprehensive plan that was both visionary and actionable, with well-defined strategies and projects the Village can realistically implement. Aligned with Smart Growth principles, the plan is organized around five core themes:

• Strengthening neighborhoods through diverse housing options, walkability, and enhanced streetscapes.
• Revitalizing the local economy by supporting a vibrant, mixed-use downtown.
• Improving mobility with safer streets and expanded pedestrian and bicycle networks.
• Investing in infrastructure and the environment through green infrastructure and climate-smart upgrades.
• Celebrating culture and identity by preserving historic assets, supporting community events, and enhancing placemaking opportunities.

Our team led the planning process from initial scoping through final recommendations. Chiuten Trowbridge Landscape Architects contributed design expertise, developing conceptual designs and visualizations for public spaces. State and county partners provided additional technical insight throughout the process.

The resulting comprehensive plan outlines a clear path forward, with defined goals and priority projects supported by design guidance, strategic zoning updates, and targeted investments. Priority projects include enhancing gateways and commercial corridors, improving the center of downtown, creating a civic square with public gathering space, and redeveloping the former Fuji Grill site into a mixed-use campus.

Since the plan’s completion, the Village has already begun implementing key initiatives, including pursuing grants, advancing sidewalk and mobility improvements, and preparing updates to zoning and development regulations.