Development: Land Use Controversies Put Lawyers' Kids Through College

Facetious title, although not entirely untrue. Amherst, the little cluster of nice houses (Williamsville) and shopping centers (the UB area), is one of those "towns in name" with a six figure population that has never been incorporated into a city. After many years of being receptive to whatever planned development was presented to the board, apparently there has been a sea change in recent months as the town board composition has changed and the available space is running low.

Land use controversies tend to be complex and to drag on forever, in part because there's no "right" answer but instead competing ideologies and predictions. Amherst will make a nice case study for future studies of comprehensive planning and local politics.