The City of Bradford Zoning Board approved several motions Thursday, allowing the YWCA’s plans for demolition of the former Second Ward School and construction of a new facility to move forward.
Board President Ross Neidich recognized Ceegan Danielson, who was present for Thursday’s meeting and gives the board a full contingent, as they now have five members and two alternates.
Thursday’s meeting was divided into two separate hearings to hear motions for variances for the YWCA project.
The first meeting was for a “use by special exception” designation and two variances for a single story office building. One variance was for the front setback to be adjusted from the stipulated 25 feet to 20 feet, while the second variance was for the side variance to be adjusted from the stipulated 18 feet to 14 feet for this specific structure.
Zoning officer John Peterson explained that there have not been any phone calls or inquiries regarding the project, despite legal ads printed in The Bradford Era on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 and posting on the property itself beginning on Nov. 7.
The architect from Larson-Karle Architects of Warren, the firm working with the YWCA on the project, explained that the main concern for these variances is allowing room for sufficient parking. There are two wings, which are intended to provide aesthetic appeal to the one-story structure. These areas cannot be moved back five feet to meet the zoning requirements because it would cause issues for the “double-stacked parking” that the project includes.
She did note that the building will meet the requirements on the diagonal but not on the horizontal, as that measurement tends to be taken.
Board members unanimously approved these requests.
In the second hearing, which was in regard to the same project, the requests were to forego the 500 feet separation requirement and adjust the rear setback from the stipulated 20 feet to 10 feet. These requests are in regard to a two-story shelter to provide transitional housing. Legal ads were printed and posting on the property itself in regard to this was also done, with no calls or concerns voiced to Peterson or any other official.
This structure will provide two separate shelters with 14 to 16 beds in each, separated by floor, to homeless individuals and to victims of domestic violence. Each floor will have a laundry area, main living space, an area for children, a kitchen, bathroom facilities and the aforementioned sleep space.
The requests for variance for this project also relate to an issue with space to allow parking.
Board members voted 5-0 in favor of these measures as well.
When asked, YW Executive Director Vanessa Castano said that demolition of the former Second Ward School, located on Congress Street, could begin within the next two weeks.
With sufficient funding, construction on the site would begin in 2021, with hopes that the YWCA could complete the move and begin using the new facilities by the end of 2021. Meanwhile, the building currently housing the YWCA at 24 W. Corydon St. will be demolished once it is no longer in use.
Castano explained to the board that the building “is not salvageable,” but other properties owned by the YWCA in that area will continue to be utilized in the future.
