YMCA Rezoning Request Back Before Decatur City Commission
Decatur Metro | August 19, 2013
Back in May, the Decatur City Commission tabled the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA’s request to rezone two residential lots on Maediris Drive. As we reported back then, the commission cited “varying levels of and reasons for discomfort about the plan that would expand the institutional zoning into the residential neighborhood. This followed almost two hours of discussion and presentations from the applicant and residents, along with a lengthy discussion by the commission.”
Now the YMCA is back on the agenda for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting, with a plan similar to the previous version. However, there are a few notable tweaks/additions as mentioned in a letter to the city from the architect for the project…
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A Zoning and Development Agreement between the YMCA and the Westchester Neighborhood Association, which outlines the rezoning scope and prohibits construction of additional parking on YMCA property, and any YMCA development down Maediris Drive for 15 years. As part of this agreement, a representative of the WNA is to speak in support of the YMCA’s rezoning/amendment to the master plan proposal at the City Commission meeting.
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A Conservation Easement Agreement between the YMCA and the Westchester Neighborhood Association, which preserves the property at 223 Maediris Drive as an open space in perpetuity. The existing house will be demolished, and the YMCA will maintain the property for both party’s recreational use as outlined in the agreement.
It will be interesting to see to what extent the proposed LA Fitness with pool at the Suburban Plaza development will have on the busy factor at the Y.
You are clearly underestimating GGD. Be wary my friend
You mean because GGD is going to be totally consistent in their message and approach and will be protesting any redevelopment of the Y that might bring more traffic to the area? Or are they spread too thin with their efforts against the YDFM mega-expansion?
No, I was referring more to their inevitable success in permanently halting the re-development of Suburban Plaza. But, thanks for reminding us of those excellent points!
When’s GGD going to start standing up for Rainbow against the proposed natural foods store? Seems they would, being as how Rainbow was one of the only 3 businesses to put a GGD sign in their store window (the pawn shop and Sawicki’s were the other two).
*Proposed natural foods store is part of Fuqua’s plan.
(Where’s the ding danged comments editor– it’s not loading.)
You may have missed it: LA Fitness and Walmart are signed tenants.
I am at the ‘Y as I speak. This is one of the few times of the day that the Cardio room is not too busy. This place us too small to support many more people, parking or not.
I wonder about LA Fitness at Suburban as well. It will be interesting to see what happens when you put a Walmart and a fitness center in close proximity. Matter/anti-matter, anyone?
Oh, I don’t know, the people who work out will shop at LA Fitness and the people who shop at Wal Mart will work out at LA Fitness. What are you implying, Monty?
This seems like an unusually pragmatic case of a developer (in this case the Y) and the local neighborhood actually engaging in 2-way dialogue and coming up with some reasonable-sounding compromises. I like the conservation easement — clever thinking on someone’s part. I’m only commenting on what was posted – no idea if this reflects what the neighborhood really thinks …
M .