Date:    March 5, 2008
Place:    Bradford Area High School
Project:        City of Bradford Master Plan
Client:        City of Bradford
Time:    1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
MCF No.:    44506002

Attendees:
2 classes of High School Students
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 and get input from the students.

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. The team is interested in knowing what Bradford students think about town, what businesses they patronize, what do they think is missing and what they would do to improve Bradford.  The group of students in the meeting represented all three municipalities and were primarily upper classmen who have their own car and have a computer at home.

3. Stores and restaurants that they would like to see in Bradford area – Pacsun, Sam Goody, Hollister, American Eagle and Olive Garden.  Although some complained that there are too many expensive stores in town and at the Olean Mall.  Students would also like a local place to play laser tag.

4. Overall, students commented that Bradford is a “great place to be raised” and they generally feel safe in the area, although some feel less safe at night.  Lots of students said that they use the trail by the University.

5. Students who moved to Bradford from other places said that the area is boring and they are disappointed in the lack of diversity and lack of cultural opportunities.

6. Students had positive things to say about Grace Church and negative things to say about the hospital.

7. There was a group of students very disappointed that the Evolution Pool and Arcade is going to be shut down soon.  There will be a benefit to try to save it, but the building owner is not renewing the businesses lease.  It is a place with a billiard hall and arcade, and it hosts concerts on the weekends with $5 entry fee.  The bands would rather play to kids than play in bars, and people come from other towns for the concerts.  It isn’t clear why this business is being kicked out, but it sounds like a big loss for the students who use it.

8. The Y isn’t a good place to go for fun.  It is general full of scheduled activities and the recreational areas have little to no open time.  You also have to be a member to use the facilities.

9. Students would like to see lighted athletic fields that could be used in the evenings, like tennis courts.  Local residents can’t always use University facilities.

10. When asked about cleaning up neighborhoods, a number of them named streets near their homes that need attention.


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