A deadline for residents to complete a survey on what they want to see in Bradford Woods for the next decade has been extended to May 19.
The survey will help update the borough’s comprehensive plan, something usually done every 10 years, according to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Bradford Woods’ current plan was approved in 2017.
“We are updating our comprehensive plan and have initiated a survey to understand the residents’ current perspectives, desires and values,” said Kevin Rhule, chairman of the Bradford Woods Planning Commission.
The survey has been available since March with an original deadline of April 30. In an effort to draw in more responses, the Bradford Woods Planning Commission announced an extension at council’s May 11 meeting.
“We will compare the results against our 2017 comprehensive plan results to help us understand changes, needs and direction for the planning commission to create an implementable comprehensive plan for the next 10 years,” Rhule said.
The survey is accessible through a link on the borough’s website at bradfordwoodspa.org. There also will be an opportunity to complete it during the primary election on May 19 at the polling place for Bradford Woods, the Bradford Woods Community Church on Wexford Run Road, said borough Manager Rusti Null.
“The survey is important because responses will shape the development of the borough’s updated comprehensive plan, a document that will be used to guide the borough’s priorities for the next 10 years,” Null said.
As of May 12, about 18% of the adult population, or 163 residents, responded to the survey, according to Null.
“That is a higher response rate than some of our neighboring municipalities have achieved recently for comprehensive plan surveys, but we would like to give residents more opportunity to provide input,” she said.
The survey results will be shared in a communitywide meeting, which likely will be held in August or September.
The comprehensive plan update is being led by the Bradford Woods Planning Commission — a group of 10 residents, made up of seven members and three alternate members, who volunteer their time in this capacity.
The outcome of the comprehensive planning process is a document that guides public policy in terms of transportation, commerce, land use, recreation and housing, according to the borough’s 2017 document.