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West Carrollton Council Hears Y Plan

1 January 2002

 Dayton Daily News

BYLINE: Alexandria Dietz
Cox News Service
DATE: 09-26-2002
PUBLICATION: Dayton Daily News
EDITION: SOUTHWEST SECTION: Neighbors PAGE: Z8-1

Engineer says drainage OK, but neighbors still concerned about flooding, as well as traffic, 'undesirables' WEST CARROLLTON - A review of the preliminary site plan for the proposed YMCA on Alex Road was presented at a recent West Carrollton City Council meeting.

Tim Helm, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Dayton, said he had heard of the numerous concerns that the Y will be in a flood plain. `We have been working hard with the city to confirm that it is not in a flood plain,' Helm said.

Civil engineer John Burkhart of Burkhart Engineering said that any runoff from the building will flow into catch basins in the parking lot. The basins will include four 6- by-9-foot dry wells.

`The actual runoff will be less,' he said. `It will be dissipated into the water table.' Burkhart also said that he performed a soil study and found high permeability, which will also help soak up water.

In addition, West Carrollton Services Director David Brown helped to answer some concerns about whether the Y will cause an increase in traffic congestion. He said that a traffic study found that Alex Road is a level service A, which is the best-case scenario.

`With the YMCA, I do not anticipate traffic to increase much,' Brown said. John Roll, an architect with Roll and Associates, showed detailed plans for the facility.

He said the proposed West Carrollton YMCA, the third full-scale YMCA his company has done in the Dayton area, will follow the pattern of its predecessors. Roll said the building will be set up with a view to future additions. Also, the entrance to the parking lot will be off Liberty Lane, where traffic is lighter. The parking lot will contain 226 spaces.

Residents voiced approval and concerns about the Y during the meeting. Bill Marsh, a resident of South Alex Road, said he had five major problems with the proposed building.

First, he said, the city is spending $1 in taxpayer money for the land. `Apparently taxpayer money doesn't mean much to you,' he said.

Second, Marsh said there will be an increase in traffic, while, third, he asked what happens if the water wells do not work to catch the rain runoff. His fourth concern was that Alex Road is busy and that the YMCA would attract `undesirables.' `Wilson Park wouldn't be subject to this,' Marsh said.

His last issue was if Alex Road developed as a business area. He said that some of the same concerns would still be there, but others would not. `Council members voted the way they did because they didn't want it (the Y) in their neighborhood,' Marsh said.

Bill Thomas of Glenada Court said that Alex Road is a good parcel. `I see the Y as a positive thing and positive growth,' he said. `When a business looks at a community, they look at what the city can offer.'

Thomas also said that he believes the Y will be an improvement to the community. `I don't think it will bring the value of homes down,' he said. `It is a purchase well done and money well spent.'

Bridle Lane resident Bill Saurman said that if people see nonstop traffic seven days a week, that will affect property values. `I ask council members, would you want that in your back yard?'

Robert Hemming, who lives on Bridle Lane, said the flood plain is in the wrong place on the plans and that the Y is a nice building, but it, too, is in the wrong place. `Let's not take the consideration of a few, let's take the consideration of the whole community,' he said.

James Elliott, a resident of West Circle Drive and a West Carrollton High School student, presented the City Council with a petition containing 170 names of students wanting the Y. `I know they're not of voting age,' he said. `But if the students are willing to sign, I really do believe the parents would double the number of names wanting it to go up.'

Linda Elliott of West Circle Drive said the Y cannot be blamed for the flooding, but the blame should be put on the creeks.

Donald Ferguson said that he believes the Y will be a great thing, not only for him, but for his children and grandchildren. He said this way he will have somewhere to work out and not have to pay a nonresidential fee.

Wade Brewer of Primrose Drive said the city should let the citizens vote on a location and the council should stay out of it. William Clark, an East Circle Drive resident, handed council members a petition with names of more students who want the Y. He also brought up the issue of traffic. `Most Y members live within four miles of it,' he said. `Most of the people that will use it already use Alex Road.' He also said that if property values drop, it is not because of the Y.

Clark said he spoke with three real estate agents about the Y and they told him that people have been calling because they have been reading about the Y and want to know about nearby property. `I have faith in this city and I have faith in this Y,' Clark said. `People voted the council in; we have to have faith and trust that the city officials will do the right thing.