GENESEE ST. RESIDENTS from #151 to #312

The Village of Avon Dept. of Public Works is scheduled (weather permitting) to grind the existing pavement on Genesee St. from #151 to #312 the week of Mon., Sept. 28th at 6 a.m.

Please be advised that there will be increased truck traffic on the street. We ask for you to use caution when utilizing the roadway during the time work is being done. Please do not park on the street from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on this day.

We are scheduled to pave the road (weather permitting) the following WEEK on Mon., Oct. 5th at 6 a.m.

Please use caution when utilizing the roadway during the time the paving is being completed. Please do not park on the street from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. during this week.

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact Supt. of Public Works Ken Farrell at 585-303-7065.

FAIR HOUSING IN THE VILLAGE OF AVON

Fair housing is the legal right to obtain, rent, or finance housing free from discrimination. The federal The Fair Housing Act (FHA) (US Code) prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), familial status, or disability.

The Village of Avon is committed to ensuring fair housing practices in our community by:

·         Ensuring safe, affordable housing for individuals who have the greatest chance to be affected by housing shortages – communities of color, people suffering from disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, and other segments of our community facing housing challenges;

·         Strategies for addressing and preventing segregation arising from race, ethnicity, the presence of disability, and socio-economic status in access to housing and resources.

For more information click on the following links:

Fair Housing | Department of State

Fair Housing Protections Archives - New York Housing Resource Center - NYHRC

About Us | New York Housing Resource Center (NYHRC)

Fair Housing Information | Homes and Community Renewal

Summer ‘26 - Sewer Smoke Testing in Your Neighborhood

Sanitary sewer smoke testing will be conducted in the Village THIS week. Smoke testing is a routine maintenance procedure used to help identify sources of stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. This process assists the Village in locating illegal or unintended connections, damaged pipes, and other defects that can lead to increased treatment costs. During the testing, Village crews or authorized contractors will introduce a non-toxic, non-staining smoke into the sewer system. You may see white or gray smoke coming from sewer manholes, roof vents, yards, or other locations. This is normal and temporary and typically dissipates within a few minutes.

Residents will be notified by a flyer to their homes, alerting them to the date that smoke testing will happen in their neighborhoods.

What Residents should Know:

• The smoke is harmless, odorless, and safe for people, pets and plants.

• Pouring water into floor drains, sinks and unused plumbing fixtures before testing may help prevent smoke from entering your home.

• Smoke entering a building usually indicates faulty plumbing traps, dried-out drains, or improper connections.

• If smoke enters your home, contact the testing crew immediately. Open windows & doors to ventilate the house. The smoke should clear quickly.

Please contact the Village at 585-226-8118 if the following occurs:

• Smoke continues inside your home for an extended period

• You experience sewer odors after the testing

• You have questions or concerns about the process

For additional information, please contact Supt. of Public Works Ken Farrell at

585-303-7065 or kfarrell@villageofavonny.gov

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain and improve the Village’s sewer system.

UPDATE – Flood Response

Our crews were out throughout the night and are back out again this morning continuing response and cleanup efforts across the Village.

Sandbags remain available at the DPW facility (11 Farmers Road). If you need them, please stop by and take what you need to help protect your property.

A couple important notes:
• Crews are actively deployed in the community, so you will need to transport sandbags yourself.
• Please take only what you need so we can support as many residents as possible.

We appreciate everyone working together during this. We’ll continue to stay on this and provide updates as conditions change.

The Genesee River, at 8:15 this morning, crested to 33.66 ft (a level not seen since a previous crest of 33.4 feet on 03/06/1979

March 31st rain events

This morning’s rain hit us hard, and we know some areas of the village are dealing with flooding... again!

Our DPW crews, Police, Fire and Village leadership are monitoring conditions and responding where needed.

Things have calmed down FOR THE MOMENT, but we have an active severe thunderstorm watch and the potential for more damaging rain later, so now is the time to prepare.  The Village has a sandbagging machine set up at the DPW facility on Farmers Road.  If sandbags would help protect your property, we encourage you to stop and get what you need during this break in the weather.  

We’ll continue working throughout the day and will keep the community updated as conditions change.  

Stay safe.

Mayor Hayes

February 2026

Village of Avon Awarded $196,500 State Grant for Pro-Housing Technical Assistance

Avon, NY — The Village of Avon has been awarded $196,500 through New York State’s Pro-Housing Communities Program.

The grant was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul who stated that “the Pro-Housing Communities Program is a true partnership between the State and localities that tackles the housing shortage, makes it possible for people to live in the communities of their choice and serve as an effective vehicle for aligning housing and local economic development.”

Village funding will be used to complete zoning analysis and zoning map update, market study, housing needs assessment, and a review of building applications and forms, including the special use permit, variances, site plan and subdivision plan reviews.  Together, these projects will provide the Village with a comprehensive understanding of its housing needs and how the Village can facilitate more housing availability. The review of applications will help streamline the process for potential developers and ensure the applications gather the most pertinent information to facilitate approval of developments. The Village of Avon is a highly desirable place to live thanks to its many large employers and convenient location within driving distance to larger cities; however, a lack of available housing is currently limiting growth. Conducting these Pro-Housing studies will allow the Village to identify solutions to this problem.

Hello Avon friends!

I want to share an important public service message from the Village water department:  

With the extreme cold predicted for the weekend, PLEASE take a moment to make sure your basement where your water meter is located is protected against freezing.  Last week we had a few that had odd situations where their service lines froze.  Opened basement windows and doors, and uninsulated joist bays are just some examples.  

Please take a moment to check.  If you are concerned about freezing, you can run a drip from your cold-water supply at any household sink!  The moving water will keep lines from freezing.  While that may cost about $.50 per day, it's a better alternative than a burst water line.  

Thanks, and stay warm!

Mayor Rob Hayes

February 6, 2026 - Important Weather Update for Village of Avon Residents

The extreme cold combined with strong winds will lead to dangerous wind chills this weekend. The lowest feels-like temperatures are expected Friday night into Saturday morning for Western New York, but these conditions will stay with us Saturday night into Sunday morning. Parts of our region will see wind chills of -10 to -20 degrees. Wind gusts of between 30 and 40 miles per hour are expected Friday night through Saturday. Additionally, light snow is possible across the state Friday into Saturday, with the potential for isolated snow squalls Friday afternoon and Friday night. With the extreme cold, any snow accumulation could cause slick roadway conditions making for hazardous travel, particularly during the Friday evening commute. Please use caution!!
~~~~~~
Once again, in the event of power outage I encourage all residents to:

~~ Monitor local weather forecasts and emergency alerts
~~ Avoid unnecessary travel if conditions worsen
~~ Check in on neighbors, especially seniors and those who may need assistance
~~ Prepare for the possibility of power outages by charging devices and having essential supplies on hand
~~ Don't leave pets out too long

If we experience a widespread or prolonged power outage, the Village will open Village Hall as a warming shelter for residents who need a safe, heated place to go. Additional details, including hours of operation, will be shared if activation becomes necessary.

Village staff, DPW, and emergency services are coordinating and remain ready to respond as conditions evolve.

Please continue to follow official updates from the Village and Livingston County, and do not hesitate to call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Stay Warm!
Mayor Rob Hayes

January 23, 2026 - Important Weather Update for Village of Avon Residents

Earlier today, Governor Hochul issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of severe weather that may impact our region. While conditions may vary locally, we are taking this situation seriously and preparing out of an abundance of caution.

I encourage all residents to:

• Monitor local weather forecasts and emergency alerts

• Avoid unnecessary travel if conditions worsen

• Check in on neighbors, especially seniors and those who may need extra assistance

• Prepare for the possibility of power outages by charging devices and having essential supplies on hand

• Pay extra attention to parking regulations on Village streets to allow our snow plows safe passage.

• Keep your pets indoors!

If we experience a widespread or prolonged power outage, the Village will open Village Hall as a warming shelter for residents who need a safe, heated place to go. Additional details, including hours of operation, will be shared if activation becomes necessary.

Village staff, DPW, and emergency services are coordinating and remain ready to respond as conditions evolve.

Please continue to follow official updates from the Village and Livingston County, and do not hesitate to call 911 for any true emergency situations.

Thank you for your cooperation, and please stay warm and safe!

Mayor Rob Hayes

January 2026

Village of Avon Awarded $1.75 Million State Grant for Triphammer Watermain Project

Avon, NY — The Village of Avon has been awarded up to $1,750,000 through New York State’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant (WIIA) program to support the Triphammer Watermain Project, a critical investment in the Village’s drinking water system.

The grant was announced by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation on behalf of Governor Kathy Hochul and will help fund the replacement and improvement of aging water infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for Avon residents and businesses.

“This is a major win for the Village of Avon and a direct investment in our residents’ health, safety, and quality of life,” said Mayor Robert Hayes. “Replacing aging water infrastructure is not glamorous work, but it is essential. This grant allows us to move forward with the Triphammer Watermain Project while minimizing the financial burden on local taxpayers and positioning Avon for long-term growth.”

The final grant amount will be determined upon completion of the project based on eligible costs, as verified by the Environmental Facilities Corporation. Village officials will continue working closely with EFC, the New York State Department of Health, and project engineers to meet all program requirements and advance the project toward construction.

“This funding reflects strong state confidence in Avon’s planning, stewardship, and commitment to smart infrastructure investment,” Mayor Hayes added. “We are grateful to Governor Hochul, the Environmental Facilities Corporation, and our project partners for their support.”

The Triphammer Watermain Project is part of the Village’s broader effort to modernize essential infrastructure, protect water quality, and ensure reliable service for current residents and future development.

 For more information, please contact:
Office of the Mayor
Village of Avon
74 Genesee Street
Avon, NY 14414

Have you lost a bicycle? Did you find a bicycle? Please contact the Avon Police Dept. at 585-226-3720.

Apply for a Loan/Grant Program to Protect Your Home from Flood or -Rain Damage

Through New York State Homes and Community Renewal, a loan/grant program of up to $50,000 is available to help homeowners at risk of flooding or who have sustained property damage due to heavy rainfalls or other flooding events.

Who is eligible:

• Owner-occupied, 1-4 unit buildings.

• Low to moderate income (120% of area median).

Projects can include:

• Repairing Flood Damage

• Floodproofing Interior Systems

• Elevating Electrical Equipment

• Improvements:

  • High-efficiency windows

  • Insulation to walls and/or ceilings

For more information, including how to apply, visit the NYS Homes and Community Renewal - Resilient Retrofits webpage.

A new bottle-filling station, pet water station, and dog waste receptacle was installed by our DPW crew at the Erie-Attica Trail, thanks to a Parks & Trails NY grant.

The Village was awarded a Northern Border Regional Council grant in the amt. of $1M in December ‘25 for improvements at the Water Treatment Plant.

The Village was awarded a Local Govt. Efficiency grant in the amt. of $500K in July ‘25 for the Triphammer Rd. watermain project.

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Mayor’s Corner

Thoughts on Growth, Development, and the Village Planning Process

At a recent meeting, the Village Board opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Taco Bell development.

After listening to some of the comments made, I want to clarify a few things about the process, and perhaps provide some additional context about the Village’s role in development.

First, I want to be clear: I don’t go out looking to recruit a Taco Bell, McDonald’s, or any other national chain or small business Avon.

But I absolutely DO believe it is my responsibility, and the responsibility of the Village Board, to cultivate economic development and create an environment where people and businesses want to invest in Avon.

I’ve often talked about what I describe as a virtuous cycle of economic development.

Investment creates opportunity. Businesses create jobs and choices for residents and add taxable value. A stronger tax base helps support the infrastructure and services we all depend on. Investment can encourage housing. Housing brings families. Families support our schools and become customers for our existing businesses — including our locally owned businesses.

Does one Taco Bell accomplish all of that? Of course not.

Neither does one new house, one new business, or one development.

BUT…Small things add up.

It’s investment upon investment, home upon home, business upon business, and family upon family that, over time, helps create a vibrant and sustainable community.

At the same time, economic development should never simply mean growth for the sake of growth. It should mean smart growth, and balancing opportunity with Avon’s history, culture, character, infrastructure and quality of life.

So Let’s talk about our Comprehensive Plan…

A Comprehensive Plan is our community’s long-term roadmap. It establishes a vision for land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic development and preservation.

What it is NOT is a list of specific businesses the Village wants to recruit. It doesn’t say “bring us a Taco Bell,” and it doesn’t dictate what restaurant belongs on a particular parcel.

The Comprehensive Plan establishes broader vision. Our zoning and development regulations help translate and codify that vision into actual land-use rules.

And I want to emphasize this:

We ARE working within the guardrails established by Avon’s planning framework.

This area has been contemplated for commercial development for decades. The proposed site is an outparcel associated with the Tops plaza, much like the O’Reilly Auto Parts parcel. This isn’t a situation where the Village recruited a national chain and then changed the zoning or created a new commercial district to accommodate it.

A private developer identified an opportunity on property already within an established commercial area and brought a proposal forward through our existing process.

Our own General Business zoning language captures the balance we’re talking about. It contemplates larger-scale commercial activities serving Avon residents, travelers and visitors while also calling for development that respects Avon’s traditional character and walkability, Village-scaled site design, pedestrian and bicycle access, greenery, landscaping and an attractive gateway into our Village.

Our planning framework doesn’t tell us to choose between economic development and community character. It asks us to consider BOTH.

And let’s also talk about the actual proposal and the review that has taken place.

This is a site of less than one acre, and more than 50% of the site is proposed to remain green space.

Traffic has absolutely been considered.

Representatives of the business and the developer’s architect attended our meeting and were available to discuss the project and answer questions.

And stormwater has received particular attention.

Anyone who has followed Village government over the past several years knows that stormwater and flooding are issues we take very seriously. Our Planning Board has therefore applied heightened scrutiny to stormwater considerations associated with this proposal.

While the size of this parcel does not trigger certain state stormwater requirements, the plans will nonetheless include an upsized bioretention stormwater facility designed to capture site runoff, allow it to infiltrate gradually, and provide for excess flow to be directed north toward the stormwater system.

That’s an example of the review process doing exactly what it is supposed to do: identifying an issue important to our community and working collaboratively to improve the plan.

I also heard concern that this process has moved too quickly.

The process of moving efficiently is not evidence that the process was inadequate.

The applicant met its deadlines. Our Planning Board did its work. The applicant, its professionals, and our Planning Board worked collaboratively through the issues that needed to be addressed. And you can’t compare the timeline of one project to another.

Quite frankly, I find the criticism somewhat mystifying because municipal government is frequently criticized — sometimes by some of the very same voices — for being too cumbersome and taking too long to accomplish things.

We should expect a thorough process.

But we should also expect an efficient one.

If an applicant provides the required information, responds to questions, meets deadlines, and our boards perform their due diligence, we shouldn’t intentionally slow a process simply for the sake of making it take longer.

That’s not good government either.

There has also been a suggestion that the public wasn’t notified.

That is simply not accurate.

The Village followed the applicable public-notification requirements. Meeting agendas were posted. Meeting minutes were posted. Required public notices were advertised.

Now, does that mean every resident saw every agenda, read every set of minutes, or noticed every legal notice? Of course not.

And we should always look for ways to communicate better.

But there’s an important difference between someone not being aware of a meeting or proposal and the Village failing to provide required public notice.

The latter did not happen.

And the public process continues right now.

The public hearing remains open. People still have an opportunity to comment, ask questions, raise concerns and have those comments included in the record.

That’s how the process is supposed to work.

Finally, I want to come back to the larger question.

We can fiercely support our historic downtown and locally owned businesses while recognizing that other commercial areas of Avon have different purposes and different development opportunities.

Those things are not mutually exclusive.

Avon’s small-town charm isn’t determined solely by the name on a business sign.

It’s our historic downtown. Our neighborhoods. Our parks. Our traditions. Our local businesses. Our architecture. And most importantly, our people.

Those things are worth protecting.

But communities also evolve. Residents’ needs change. Families change. Businesses change. Opportunities change.

We can respect our past without standing still.

And we can welcome opportunity without losing sight of who we are.

Our job isn’t to decide where people should eat or which businesses they should patronize.

Our job is to establish a thoughtful framework for how Avon develops, apply that framework fairly, scrutinize proposals where scrutiny is warranted, and listen to our residents throughout the process.

That’s what we’re doing here.

And because the public hearing remains open, we’re still listening.

If you’re supportive, opposed, concerned, or simply have questions, I encourage you to submit your comments to the Village Clerk so they can become part of the public record.

We may not all agree on every development proposal.

But I believe we start from the same place:

We care about Avon, and we want to make thoughtful decisions about its future.

— Mayor Rob Hayes