Attendees:

The first meeting of the Committee was called to order by the facilitators, Roberta Sarraf and Albert Filoni. Each member of the Committee introduced themselves and described their interests in the project. The following issues were identified as impacting planning for the downtown and the neighborhoods.

• City has high percentage of tenant occupancy
• Kiwanis housing is a negative influence; tenants aren’t screened
• Public housing is in good condition; tenants are screened
• Large Victorian homes lend themselves to rental properties
• Bulk of problem is related to building conditions
• Aging housing stock – almost impossible to bring up to current Code compliance
• Historic slumlord problem is being resolved; properties in estates are being sold; OECD is buying some
• City has undertaken scattered site demolition program; 25 foot lots are not large enough for infill housing; most are sold to adjacent property owners
• Elm Street Program is active in one of the more blighted neighborhoods
• Single owner of residential properties on West Washington; should be converted to commercial corridor; West Washington is main entry to University
• Residential development surrounding Orchard Park originally designed as "luxury housing"

• Main entry is West Washington Street
• Campus Drive functioned better when there was a supermarket located at the end of the street
• Location of public housing makes a more direct connection not possible; Emery Towers was originally University property

• First zoning ordinance adopted in mid-60’s
• 2001 multi-municipal Comprehensive Plan recommended multi-municipal approach to zoning
• Need to set higher design standards for development in all three communities
• PA Wilds standards were introduced in September

• City has staff of 1-1/2 persons for Code Enforcement; funding is limited
• Enforcement involves a lengthy process
• Landlords have learned to use code enforcement as a basis to evict undesirable tenants
• Landlords don’t call for inspection before renting to new tenants; utility companies were cooperative in providing information to the City in the past, but now are concerned about privacy issues
• City does annual inspection regardless of whether tenants change or not
• Most properties in the City have lead paint
• Proximity of houses in City limits off-street parking; properties are not competitive with the Townships that provide larger lots, more open space, off-street parking

• There has been a renewed interest in Main Street with more local ownership
• Under the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), some latitude is given to historic properties
• Historic tax credits are available
• OECD has an incentive program- low interest (2-3%) loans
• OECD owns 4 buildings in the historic district; one has 2^nd & 3^rd floor residential; parking is included with the rent; City pays taxes on these properties
• Caution that OECD isn’t viewed as a competitor with the private sector
• Parking is a problem for converting 2^nd & 3^rd floors to residential; a potential office suite would require 6 dedicated spaces; they are not available on-site
• A suggestion is to look at streets behind Main Street to encourage use of 2^nd & 3^rd floors
• Angled parking on Main Street could address the "fear’ of parallel parking and provide more spaces close to businesses
• Shared elevators may address access to the upper floors of building on Main Street

• Foster Township has enough retail; need more manufacturing jobs; Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park should be a priority
• County Comprehensive Plan shows employable people are employed; need training to help the underemployed
• University is source of trained employees
• Need vocational training at High School that is related to local industries

• The City is the commercial and service center and should remain so
• The City provides police and fire protection to the Townships; there is the potential to share these services; City residents currently shoulder the entire tax burden for these services
• Recreation is another potential shared service

The meeting was adjourned at 6 PM.

Respectfully submitted,