YMCA Merger not to Impact Proposed Club at Shannondell Site

As reported on Patch, the Nov. 15 vote to allow a merger between Freedom Valley and Philadelphia YMCA regions passed.

And while contention remains among Freedom Valley YMCA members over potential effects of the merger, Freedom Valley YMCA officials state that the merger will have no impact on the proceedings for a proposed YMCA in Lower Providence.

First publically presented a special July 26 meeting of the Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisors, the new YMCA is proposed for The Club at Shannondell, located in Audubon.

Since then, proponents and opponents of the proposed YMCA location have voiced their opinions at several township meetings.

Among the major points opponents have made, concern those of increased traffic and the loss of township open space.

George Marks, of Kramer Marks Architects, gave the initial presentation on behalf of the Freedom Valley YMCA in July.

He confirmed that the merger will not affect proceedings and evaluations currently being conducted for the proposed YMCA location.

“All parties are working diligently to resolve outstanding issues and are looking forward to a successful project,” Marks told Patch in an e-mail.

At the last YMCA presentation, which took place during the Sept. 26 Lower Providence Planning Commission meeting, an engineer for the Freedom Valley YMCA presented preliminary sketch plans.

It was stated at that meeting that before the Lower Providence Board of Supervisors can decide on whether or not to proceed with the plans, the township must first work with Montgomery County to either give back the approximately $1-million county open space grant at the Club at Shannondell location, or find space elsewhere in the township equivalent to the open space loss.

According to Richard Gestrich, Lower Providence Township Manager, the township is currently speaking with the county about this issue.

“We recently met with the County and we are considering a strategy for valuing the open space displaced by the YMCA in accordance with the County’s parameters, as well as the potential for open space credits,” Gestrich said in an e-mail.

He added that he and the township’s solicitor will soon meet with officials from the Freedom Valley YMCA to discuss further open space issues.

 “We should have an update in a few weeks,” Gestrich said.

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For more on the proposed YMCA at the Club at Shannondell:

• Lower Providence Considering New YMCA Facility

• YMCA at The Club at Shannondell Proposed

• YMCA Sketch Plans to be Reviewed at Planning Commission

• YMCA Presentation Brings Up Traffic and Open Space Issues

• Lower Providence Township Supervisors & Planning Commission: Please consider alternate location(s) for proposed YMCA (Patch Blog)

• Proponents of YMCA in LowPro Speak Up at Supervisors’ Meeting

• LowPro Sewer Authority Responds to Rising Rates and Interceptor Dispute