West Seneca at a glance
West Seneca sits southeast of Buffalo, between Cheektowaga to the north and Orchard Park to the south, with Lackawanna on the west and Elma and Lancaster to the east. It has no incorporated villages, so the town government handles local streets throughout.
Residents still use older place names. Ebenezer, in the center of town, is named for the German Lutheran Ebenezer Society that settled there in the 1840s. Gardenville is on the northern border, shared with Cheektowaga. East Seneca lies along Route 16 on the east side.
Two creeks shape the town. Buffalo Creek flows west through West Seneca and becomes the Buffalo River as it leaves. Cazenovia Creek also runs through. The Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center sits along Buffalo Creek.
Town trees: West Seneca's specific rules
West Seneca is unusually direct about trees in its right-of-way. According to the Highway Department:
- Trimming of town trees is still done by the Highway Department.
- Removal: town trees "will no longer be removed by the Highway Department."
- Owner-paid removal is allowed only in limited cases. The tree must be dead, dying, diseased, or causing sewer problems. You need written approval from the Highway Superintendent before any work.
- The request goes on a Hazardous Tree Removal (HTR) form with photos and one of three supports: a certified arborist's letter, a certified plumber's letter about sewer interference, or a handwritten request verified by the Highway Superintendent.
- Unapproved removal may lead to a court appearance or fine.
- Replacement in the right-of-way is at your expense, and the tree must come from the town's approved list. The town reminds residents to call 811 first.
The town's page talks about trees rather than stumps. If you have a stump in the tree lawn, treat it the same way: contact the Highway Department before anyone grinds it. If you're getting approval to remove a town tree, ask whether stump grinding is part of what's approved.
Creekside yards
Homes near Buffalo Creek and Cazenovia Creek have dealt with flooding, including ice jam flooding on Buffalo Creek in February 2019 that led to evacuations on School Street. If your stump is in a low or creekside yard:
- Expect soft ground in spring. Ask how the provider will keep equipment from rutting a wet lawn, or plan the job for a drier stretch.
- Think about the hole. A ground stump leaves loose fill. Near a creek bank, ask whether it's better to leave some root mass in place. Roots help hold soil, and full stump removal disturbs more ground.
- Chips and water. Don't leave a pile of loose chips where high water can wash them downstream.
Storm and ash history
In the October 2006 lake-effect storm, the National Weather Service recorded about 14 inches of wet snow in West Seneca, on trees still in leaf. Emerald ash borer, confirmed in Erie County in 2011, has killed ash across the region, and the NYS DEC says most infested ash die within two to four years. A dead or dying ash in a West Seneca yard or tree lawn is a common reason for a stump job.
Next steps
How grinding works and what to agree on: stump grinding. What affects price: stump grinding cost. Filling and reseeding afterward: after stump grinding.
Common questions
Will the Town of West Seneca remove a tree or stump in front of my house?
The town's Highway Department says town trees will no longer be removed by the Highway Department. The department still handles trimming. Owners can request permission to remove a dead, dying, diseased, or sewer-damaging town tree at their own expense through the Hazardous Tree Removal process.
Can I remove a town tree in West Seneca myself?
Only with written approval from the Highway Superintendent first, and only if the tree is dead, dying, diseased, or causing sewer problems. The town warns that removing a tree without approval may lead to a court appearance or fine. Treat a tree lawn stump the same way and ask before grinding.
Can I plant any tree where the old one was?
Not in the right-of-way. West Seneca allows residents to plant a replacement tree at their own expense, but it must be chosen from the town's approved list. The town also reminds residents to call 811 before digging. On your own property, the choice is yours.