Date: March 5, 2008
Place: Bradford Township Municipal Building
Project: City of Bradford Master Plan
Client: City of Bradford
Time: 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm
MCF No.: 44506002
Attendees:
Steve Mascho, Bradford Township Supervisor
Don Cummins, Bradford Township Supervisor
Gayle Bauer, Bradford Township Supervisor
Roberta Sarraf, Zoning/Planning Consultant
Albert Filoni, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Ken Lee, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Amy Maceyko, MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Purpose: To discuss the master plan process, encourage supervisors to get more involved in the process, present preliminary ideas and get input from the township supervisors.
Items Discussed:
1. The planning team began by discussing the goals and the purpose of the master plan. Studies in the past have focused on specific challenges instead of being a comprehensive plan for the whole Tuna Valley. The goal of this process is to develop a series of actionable strategies that all three municipalities can endorse and to engage residents in the process so they will work together to improve the community after the planning process is over. The planning team is meeting with as many groups as possible to understand the myriad of issues that affect all three municipalities and determine the best group of strategies for improving the quality of life in Bradford. One of the major foci of all three municipalities is downtown Bradford and how to make it a more vibrant and inviting place for the benefit of the whole region, but there are multi-faceted issues to be addressed on a variety of topics. And there are committees focused specifically on economic development and zoning, as those are key topics that will influence the success of the plan.
2. Utilities, trucking, equipment and manufacturers have been moving into Bradford Township. Mr. Cummins would like to see more light manufacturing in the township and Mr. Mascho would like to see a restaurant by the Owens Way exit off of 219. A hotel at that location would work, too. Even with this desired development, they don’t have any desire to change the nature of the primarily residential areas of Bradford Township.
3. A 5-year plan for extending the sewer lines was created, but it has been help up by the DEP. Maybe a group effort to put pressure on the DEP from the Township, the city and the planning team could final break the project open. The Township is on the City of Bradford Sanitary System. There are new homes and lots available on Chelsea Lane, and Mr. Cummins company is looking at places to build apartments, including one location in the city.
4. The supervisors wouldn’t be opposed to a bigger commercial area or a ‘big box store’ in the Township, in the “South Bradford” area
5. The Bradford Water Authority owns most of the watershed, which is in the Forest / Slope zoning district. So this is a large area of the township that will remain green.
6. The supervisors see big roadblocks to opening businesses in both the City of Bradford and Bradford Township. The planning commission requirements, local ordinances and city taxes are all barriers to new local business.
7. Providing services for tourists should be a critical part of the plans for the future of Bradford.
8. Bradford Township shares a code enforcement officer with the city but the Township has its own Zoning Officer.
9. The Supervisors were strongly encouraged to send representative to master plan steering committee meetings in the future. It is important that the interests of all three municipalities be represented in the planning process.
With no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned. The foregoing constitutes the major items accepted by the attendees. If there are any additions or corrections to these minutes, please notify the Architect.
Respectfully submitted,
MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc.
Amy P. Maceyko, AIA, LEED AP