Zoners Eye YMCA Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Kosciusko County YMCA will request two variances for the facility that may be built in Warsaw in a residentially zoned neighborhood.
Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the board Monday will hear from attorney Steve Snyder, representing the YMCA and YMCA officials.
Springhill residents who live adjacent to where the facility is being proposed to be built also are expected to attend the meeting to voice their concerns and opposition to the proposal.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall to hear the proposal. Zoning board members are President Tom Allen, Vice President Bruce Woodward, Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan, Rick Keeven and Diana Rhoades. Kyle Babcock serves as a non-voting member on the board.
The $26 million development is proposed to be placed on 30 acres located between U.S. 30 and the Springhill Subdivision. The proposal is to have vehicular and pedestrian access provided from Springhill Road, according to planning information.
Skinner said the board will review a proposal from the YMCA to develop a new facility on the property northeast of Springhill Subdivision and on the south side of U.S. 30 behind Missionary Church on Springhill Road near Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The YMCA facility is being proposed on the lot northwest of the Missionary Church at 1849 Springhill Road.
The site, about 35 acres, is owned by three different groups, Dan Robinson, Dinos Inc. and Warsaw Missionary Church, according to YMCA Chief Executive Officer Steve Jungbauer.
There are two variances the board will review Monday. One variance is a special exception to allow for an outdoor recreation facility for soccer and softball, and the other is a variance of use to allow an indoor recreation facility in a residentially zoned district.
The YMCA development consists of a new indoor recreation facility, outdoor recreational fields and courts, parking and a storm water detention pond.
"The board of zoning appeals is a forum for residents to air concerns and make remonstrance if they feel a site is not suitable for the use being requested," Woodward said.
The board will make a decision Monday night to determine if the use variance is acceptable for the benefit of the community based on information that will be provided to them at the meeting, Woodward said.
The criteria the board will use to determine if the use is appropriate as follows are: the approval will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the community, the use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner, the need for the variance arises from some condition peculiar to the property involved, the strict application for the terms of the zoning ordinance will constitute an unnecessary hardship if applied to the property for which the variance is sought and the approval does not interfere substantially with the comprehensive plan.
The Times-Union previously reported in its March 1 edition that the YMCA is looking to add a facility; and with its current location on Smith Street limited by space, sites for the new YMCA in Warsaw are being reviewed.
"The YMCA has not purchased the property and we are trying to evaluate the property to determine if it's feasible to build a YMCA there," Jungbauer said.
Jungbauer acknowledged opposition for the new site by some residents in Springhill Acres who are concerned with the proposed facility interfering with their residential neighborhood if it is approved.
Jungbauer said there is not room for expansion at the Smith Street location.
He also said the Smith Street site is designed for 3,000 members, but there are currently 6,500 members using the Smith Street location.
He said there is more parking needed at the Smith Street location and there have been challenges with facility issues because YMCA members have not been able to have the room to enroll in classes because they are full and there is not enough facility space to house additional students in classes.
"The board of zoning appeals will decide the best use of the property that serves the community," Jungbauer said.
The Smith Street facility was built in 1965, and in 1984 the YMCA board approved a major renovation campaign.
The new addition of a gymnasium, indoor running track, fitness center, offices, locker rooms and renovated pool was dedicated May 9, 1987.
The YMCA saw another expansion with the addition of a youth gymnasium, a larger fitness center and warm water training pool starting in 1997.
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Kosciusko County YMCA will request two variances for the facility that may be built in Warsaw in a residentially zoned neighborhood.
Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the board Monday will hear from attorney Steve Snyder, representing the YMCA and YMCA officials.
Springhill residents who live adjacent to where the facility is being proposed to be built also are expected to attend the meeting to voice their concerns and opposition to the proposal.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall to hear the proposal. Zoning board members are President Tom Allen, Vice President Bruce Woodward, Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan, Rick Keeven and Diana Rhoades. Kyle Babcock serves as a non-voting member on the board.
The $26 million development is proposed to be placed on 30 acres located between U.S. 30 and the Springhill Subdivision. The proposal is to have vehicular and pedestrian access provided from Springhill Road, according to planning information.
Skinner said the board will review a proposal from the YMCA to develop a new facility on the property northeast of Springhill Subdivision and on the south side of U.S. 30 behind Missionary Church on Springhill Road near Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The YMCA facility is being proposed on the lot northwest of the Missionary Church at 1849 Springhill Road.
The site, about 35 acres, is owned by three different groups, Dan Robinson, Dinos Inc. and Warsaw Missionary Church, according to YMCA Chief Executive Officer Steve Jungbauer.
There are two variances the board will review Monday. One variance is a special exception to allow for an outdoor recreation facility for soccer and softball, and the other is a variance of use to allow an indoor recreation facility in a residentially zoned district.
The YMCA development consists of a new indoor recreation facility, outdoor recreational fields and courts, parking and a storm water detention pond.
"The board of zoning appeals is a forum for residents to air concerns and make remonstrance if they feel a site is not suitable for the use being requested," Woodward said.
The board will make a decision Monday night to determine if the use variance is acceptable for the benefit of the community based on information that will be provided to them at the meeting, Woodward said.
The criteria the board will use to determine if the use is appropriate as follows are: the approval will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the community, the use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner, the need for the variance arises from some condition peculiar to the property involved, the strict application for the terms of the zoning ordinance will constitute an unnecessary hardship if applied to the property for which the variance is sought and the approval does not interfere substantially with the comprehensive plan.
The Times-Union previously reported in its March 1 edition that the YMCA is looking to add a facility; and with its current location on Smith Street limited by space, sites for the new YMCA in Warsaw are being reviewed.
"The YMCA has not purchased the property and we are trying to evaluate the property to determine if it's feasible to build a YMCA there," Jungbauer said.
Jungbauer acknowledged opposition for the new site by some residents in Springhill Acres who are concerned with the proposed facility interfering with their residential neighborhood if it is approved.
Jungbauer said there is not room for expansion at the Smith Street location.
He also said the Smith Street site is designed for 3,000 members, but there are currently 6,500 members using the Smith Street location.
He said there is more parking needed at the Smith Street location and there have been challenges with facility issues because YMCA members have not been able to have the room to enroll in classes because they are full and there is not enough facility space to house additional students in classes.
"The board of zoning appeals will decide the best use of the property that serves the community," Jungbauer said.
The Smith Street facility was built in 1965, and in 1984 the YMCA board approved a major renovation campaign.
The new addition of a gymnasium, indoor running track, fitness center, offices, locker rooms and renovated pool was dedicated May 9, 1987.
The YMCA saw another expansion with the addition of a youth gymnasium, a larger fitness center and warm water training pool starting in 1997.
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