YMCA expands in Kennett; still wants CF facility

The Kennett Square YMCA held a ceremony for its newly expanded facility, but its parent organization still wants a home in Chadds Ford Township.

With members, dignitaries — including U.S. rep. Joe Pitts and state Rep. Chris Ross —and a dozens of others on hand, youngsters were asked to officially cut the ribbon of the expanded facility Friday, Sept. 6.

The Kennett Y now has an arts studio with pottery kiln, a new half-gymnasium, a warm water pool and expanded exercise and weight rooms. In all, the facility grew by 25 percent.

But the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley is still looking to build a new facility in Chadds Ford Township and is now working with the township Planning Commission to make that happen.

A plan for such a facility was revealed last year and was one of the considerations — along with a townhouse development by K. Hovnanian Homes — behind a possible overlay district along Route 1.

Hovnanian wants to build along Brandywine Drive near the Hannum’s Harley Davidson dealership and the Y wants to build in the Henderson-owned business campus at Dickinson and Hillman drives across from the Estates of Chadds Ford.

However, the Planning Commission put the overlay project on a deep hold so Hovnanian and the Y are seeking other forms of zoning changes.

YMCA attorney Bob Adams presented a proposed text amendment to the zoning code to the commission during its Sept. 10 meeting.

The property in question is zoned LI, Light Industrial. As such, a YMCA or similar use is not permitted. The text amendment, if it passes the Board of Supervisors, would allow for a non-profit community center if it received conditional use approval.

There was much discussion back and forth during the presentation, much of which concerned traffic flow and vehicular safety in the area.

Commission Vice Chairman Bill Gross was explicit in his concern regarding traffic congestion at the intersection of Route 1 and Dickinson Drive, where many people would be turning in to go to the Y.

It’s “a dangerous intersection,” he said, adding that increasing the amount of traffic there is “not acceptable.”

Other factors under consideration include the location of the main driveway entrance and the proposed southwest section of the loop road that’s planned to connect Route 202 at Hillman Drive with Route 1 across from Brandywine Drive. That leg is controversial in itself since it, too, brings traffic in front of the Estates at Chadds Ford and alongside the Painters Crossing Condominiums.

Adams said a traffic study would be done.

The wording of the proposed amendment is not yet final. Adams said he would work on a revision and return for the commission’s October meeting.

The proposed YMCA would be a two-story structure with a first floor of 53,630 square feet and a second floor of 12,920 square feet. There would be parking for 335 vehicles, based on one space for every 200 square feet of Y space.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion.
Everyone enjoyed the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Everyone enjoyed the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The aerobics machine area is larger and has a more open feel.
The aerobics machine area is larger and has a more open feel.

 

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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