For decades, Buffalo’s use-based zoning code reinforced auto-oriented development patterns, discouraged mixed-use neighborhoods, and limited the city’s ability to translate planning goals into on-the-ground change. As Buffalo sought to reinvest in its neighborhoods and waterfronts, a fundamentally new regulatory approach was needed. To help the city align zoning with its long-term vision, Fisher Associates played a key role in developing the Buffalo Green Code—a citywide, form- and place-based zoning ordinance designed to support walkability, transit-oriented development, and neighborhood reinvestment. By integrating land use planning, transportation analysis, build-out modeling, BOA planning, and SEQRA compliance, Fisher ensured the Green Code was not only visionary but also implementable at scale. The result is a zoning framework that advances equitable development, unlocks redevelopment potential, and supports Buffalo’s transition toward more connected, resilient communities.
