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New YMCA Planned on Steele Creek Road South of Sledge Road
The new YMCA is part of a larger development planned along the south side of Sledge Road between Steele Creek Road and Shopton Road West. The petitioner plans to build a residential community with up to 697 dwelling units, which is 6 units more than would be allowed by right under current R-3 zoning. The single family for-sale units will have a mixture of lot sizes. Detached housing is planned but the site plan allows up to 200 townhomes. The requested UR-2(CD) zoning will allow for flexibility in lot sizes. The development will include up to 120 units in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (a nusing home made up of both independent and dependent living facilities) on a five-acre site on Sledge Road. The petitioner is requesting MX-3 for the residential area and YMCA and UR-2(CD) for the continuing care units. See Petition 2019-128.
The YMCA has an option to buy the site for the new YMCA through a gift from Ken Gill, founder and CEO of CPI Security. The gift is subject to the rezoning approval. The YMCA has begun fundraising and must raise from $8.5 to $9 million for the facility. They have no timeline since construction is dependent on raising the funds. The YMCA has not decided on the future of the Express YMCA at Ayrsley and will evaluate whether to retain it as further plans for the new YMCA develop. The YMCA sponsors STEM programs at Olympic High School and provides a STEM Learning Center, After School Programs, Summer Camp, Y Without Walls, and other programs at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, Christ the King Church, and other locations throughout Steele Creek. They plan to continue these programs after the new YMCA is built. The petitioner had planned to create an entrance on Steele Creek Road across from Hunting Meadow Lane and install a traffic signal, but this is inconsistent with North Caroliina Dopartment of Transportation plans for widening Steele Creek Road and will be reevaluated. See U-5766 Steele Creek Road Improvements. The developers are working with the Steele Creek Residents Association and the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department to ensure that property along a creek that connects to the future Walker Branch Greenway is reserved for a future greenway, possibly extending to the McDowell Nature Preserve, To comment on this story, please visit the Steele Creek Residents Association Facebook Page.
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(October
2, 2019) Pulte Group has submitted a rezoning petition for property along
Sledge Road that includes a 13,000 square foot Family Branch YMCA
with an outdoor pool. (The petition says up to 15,000 square feet
for indoor recreation uses.) This compares to the 14,000 square foot
facility at Ballantyne. The YMCA site has 30 acres and is
comparable in size to that of the Harris YMCA on Quail Hollow Road at Sharon
Road. It includes room for future expansion and plenty of open
space.
