Chili · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Chili public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
O'Reilly Auto Parts at 3300 Chili Avenue
A proposed auto parts store at a congested corner drew pushback over front-yard parking, a big red corporate facade, delivery trucks on weight-restricted Rose Road, and cut-through traffic. The plan was tabled so the applicant can redesign.
2027 Preliminary Budget and District Assessments
The board president and director will present the preliminary 2027 budget to the Supervisor and Town Board on September 2 — the funding decision that shapes library services next year.
2027 Chili Public Library budget
The library's 2027 budget request keeps its ask of the town at a conservative 2 percent. Trustees approved it and it heads to a September 2 workshop with the Supervisor and Town Board, who will make final funding decisions.
XLI Manufacturing warehouse expansion at 50 Jetview Drive
XLI will add a 109,100-square-foot building, parking, loading docks, and stormwater facilities to its existing manufacturing campus. The approval hinges on Zoning Board variances and a structural analysis addressing a nearby monopole cell tower's fall zone.
Highway Department Equipment Upgrade
Vehicle #58 needs a fuel pump repair costing over $15,000 — more than the aging truck is worth, with known transmission issues looming. The board was scheduled to authorize scrapping it and recovering whatever value it can.
Ban on apartments above ground floor in business districts
Local Law #1 of 2026 closes the special-permit loophole that allowed apartments above retail in Neighborhood and General Business zones. Three North Chili residents backed it, saying it protects the town's suburban character — and Supervisor Dunning confirmed it would block the proposed Titan Rock mixed-use building on Berry Lane if adopted. Councilwoman DiFlorio noted incentive zoning remains a path for such projects elsewhere in town.
2025 Financial Audit Results
The town's independent audit came back clean, with a $16 million general fund balance — more than a year of spending — and only about $12 million in debt. That strong position helps keep borrowing rates low for future projects.
Titan Rock three-story mixed-use development at 4348 Buffalo Road
A developer wants to replace a long-vacant lot with a three-story building holding about 10,000 square feet of retail and 26 apartments, plus 11 garage bays. Neighbors packed the hearing to object to the nearly 47-foot height, a parking shortfall, multiple variances, and the project's fit with North Chili's character; the board tabled the applications.
North Chili neighborhood character and rental saturation
Several speakers argued North Chili already has 38 apartment vacancies, roughly 900 rental units within a mile, and a 37% rental share, saying a three-story building would erode the historic hamlet's character near the Stage Coach Inn, the cemetery and the Edward Jones building.
North Chili Sidewalk Grant Application
The town is applying for state funding to build sidewalks from Ramblewood along Buffalo Road and up both sides of Union Street to West Side Drive, connecting neighborhoods to the business district.
Industrial warehouse buffer with McNair Drive neighborhood
A 96,000 sq. ft. warehouse is coming to land zoned industrial for years, directly behind homes on McNair Drive. The developer added a 12-13 foot landscaped berm, restricted truck traffic to 8-5 weekdays, and added drainage culverts to protect neighbors' yards — but residents still worry about property values, lighting and future shifts.