BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo has not approved a new Green Code since 1953, but after six years of planning and more than 230 community meetings, that's poised to change soon.

The city held its first of two public hearings Tuesday night on its 300-page development framework.

One of the main concerns regarded the height of buildings in the Elmwood Village. 

The Green Code would allow for buildings to be three stories in most of the Elmwood Village Corridor, but the city's executive director of strategic planning, Brendan Mehaffy, says there are currently two proposals for five story buildings that could receive area variances and move forward. 

Several residents voiced their worry that too many big buildings would diminish the charm of the Village.

"There seems to be this big issue with bigger is better," Buffalo resident Jerry M. said. "Progress is the more important thing. I always think about Robert Moses and how he was held up as the gold standard for development, and look what happened. "

Meanwhile, Laura Smith, Buffalo Niagara Partnership's vice president of economic development argues that the city shouldn't limit building heights in the Elmwood Village because it limits the amount of money the city can collect in taxes, and in turn, puts more of a burden on residents.

"The tax revenue per acre on a one-story single use building is $8,000 per acre," Smith said. "If you get to a three-story building that's mixed use, it goes up to $120,000 per acre, and a five-story mixed use building is up to $325,000 per acre."

Residents also voiced concern about gentrification, particularly in the Fruit Belt neighborhood. 

They say they want the Green Code's language to protect housing prices for people with low and moderate incomes.

"We have developers who are coming in and building market rate housing, and if we add inclusionary zoning, that says a developer cannot have housing unless they allot a certain percentage of it for low-to-moderate income folks," said India Walton of Community First Alliance.

"Some of the concerns that have been raised aren't necessarily addressed in the Green Code, and they can't be because the nature of what it is," Mehaffy said. "So, we're engaging in other efforts to try and address those other concerns."

Mehaffy says the city recently signed a contract with a national consultant that's an expert on inclusionary zoning. 

As Buffalo continues to grow, the consultant will advise the city on ways to protect affordability in neighborhoods all across the city.

Ultimately, while residents found issues to pick at, several of them came to the same conclusion.

"It is far, far better than the current system that we are living under," Buffalo resident Chuck Banas said. "It fixes virtually all the fatal flaws in the existing 1953 plan."

There will be a second public hearing on November 22nd.

Following any tweaks after that, Mehaffy says the plan will go before the common council for approval.