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…

As the Decatur City Commission annual retreat starts today, here’s an item from last week’s meeting that is worth passing along.

The Monday before last, the Decatur City Commission unanimously tabled the YMCA’s request to rezone two residential lots on Maediris Drive, covered HERE, citing 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.

Mayor Baskett first suggested tabling the item “indefinitely”, but then amended his motion to say that it would be tabled until the applicant again requests to come before the commission.  The mayor stated that he’d like to see any revised plan exclude any rezoning of the two residential lots on Maediris Drive.

You can view the full video of the item on the city’s website.

From the Staff Report for tonight’s Decatur City Commission Meeting…

YMCA, Inc. wishes to modify the existing master site plan to build a roughly 3,500 square foot addition onto the building and expand the current parking lot to add 56 new parking spaces. The new building will have approximately 51,000 square feet of gross floor area. They propose to rezone two lots [on Maediris Drive] developed with single family houses that are adjacent to the site so that they may demolish the houses to build parking, an expanded detention facility and play area.

As part of the project they will install landscaping and new sidewalks on Maediris Drive. The existing parking lot will be reconfigured to provide additional handicapped parking near the entrance.

In approving this land use change and rezoning, there are many questions that the commission must consider, most or all of which are listed out in the meeting materials.

The Planning Commission already approved these changes in their meeting earlier this month.

Lynne writes in with details about a new annual Decatur/DeKalb YMCA 5k run/walk in Oakhurst, branded the “Fall Five”, which will help provide funding for College Heights’ after-school and camp scholarships.  Here are many of the details, straight off the website.

The Decatur-DeKalb YMCA will host its first ever Fall Five, a 5K and Tot Trot on September 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. to benefit it’s Partner With Youth program with proceeds going directly to College Height’s Early Childhood Learning Center in Oakhurst.

The YMCA Fall Five will provide partial funding for College Heights’ after school programs and scholarships for sending children to camps.

Race route begins and ends at Harmony Park at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Oakview Road in Oakhurst. The route runs through residental streets in Oakhurst and is mainly flat with rolling hills. Water stations are located along the route.

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