Variances for two businesses to move into the City of Bradford
were approved at a zoning hearing Wednesday evening.

One business, Family Video, will be building a new store at the
corner of West Washington and North Center streets, while the
other, Wasserott’s/Apria Healthcare, is relocating from Foster
Township to the Valu Home Center plaza.

The Zoning Hearing Board, made up of Richard Benton, Fred
Proper, Ron Paulter and David Anderson, approved granting a
variance to reduce the amount of space necessary behind a portion
of the Family Video building.

John Peterson, city clerk and zoning officer, explained that
current code requires a 20-foot space between the edge of the
building and the property line. However, with the plans for the
video store, there would only be five feet of space at the left
rear side of the building.

Peterson explained that the zoning variance was advertised, but
no one contacted his office to voice any opposition to the variance
being granted.

Bill Mohler, vice president of Family Video, addressed the board
to describe his business, and said that they are putting locations
in Olean, N.Y., and Jamestown, N.Y., as well.

Describing the Bradford location, he said, “The building is a
full span truss building. If the needs of the customer should
(someday) reduce, it becomes very easy for us to carve out another
space for lease.”

He added the company is in negotiations with a
sandwich/pizza-type shop to be a tenant in the lease space adjacent
to the video store.

Describing the area of the building where the variance was
necessary, Mohler said, “We anticipate putting in a 6-foot-tall
privacy fence to protect headlights and things like that that would
go into the other properties.”

The area around the building will be landscaped, and there will
be a parking area with larger spaces than are required by the
city’s codes, Peterson said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the variance.

“Welcome to Bradford,” Peterson said following the vote. Mohler
smiled and thanked him and the board. He said the video store
project will begin as soon as possible.

The second proposal heard by the board was successful as
well.

Benderson Development Co. LLC and Wasserott’s/Apria were seeking
permission to locate office space, an oxygen storage facility and
minimal medical waste disposal on the grounds of the company’s
proposed location.

Jeff Wereski of Benderson addressed the board, explaining Apria
wants to relocate from their South Kendall Avenue location to the
end space opposite Valu Home Center in the same plaza.

Mark Pascarella of Apria explained to the board that the only
medical waste the facility generates is oxygen tubing, and only on
a very limited basis. “In the course of a year, we would really
only have enough to fill a baggie.”

He explained the need for the move. “We want to become more
visible.” And the oxygen tank that would be installed in the new
facility will be moved from South Kendall Avenue.

The board moved to accept the variance to allow for the tank and
waste as long as all appropriate laws are followed.

Before the meeting adjourned, Peterson told the board that in
the development of a Master Plan for the Bradford area, the city’s
zoning code may be rewritten.

“An attempt to read and decipher this code is cumbersome,” he
said. “I just want you to know the possibility is there.”

He explained the codes currently in use were written in 1965 and
need updated.