What You're Saying: Changes to the Catonsville 'Y'

Everyone in Catonsville seems to be talking about the proposed expansion of the Y and if a medical building on the campus would be a good or a bad thing for the community.

At Patch, we have been covering and sought out opinions from residents in Catonsville on their thoughts of the proposed plan. To foster some debate, Patch asked for letters to the editor from community members, who submitted them via e-mail.

Here's what you said:

"Everyone is looking at the Y expansion as a building or development issue. It is not about that – rather, it’s a community issue. The Y is a community forum – supporting Catonsville in health and wellness, connecting, forming friendships, learning . They provide a place for people to stay healthy, if they’re sick, regain their health, for children – young and old – to learn new skills. They create friends (if you’re ever in the locker room at 9 a.m. when all the – pardon my French – 'more mature' population comes in to take water aerobics, you’ll see.  Or if you’re there at 5:30 a.m. to grab that first pool lane, along with the 10 other people huddled in the 10X10 waiting area, you’ll also see.) 

"The Y is nothing but positive for this community. And so is the medical building.  An opportunity for an older person to not only get treated, but also fill their prescription (a huge gap and significant source of medical costs in today’s soaring medical expenses.) They can also actually follow their doctor’s orders to work out by walking across the parking lot.  The reason for the exorbitant expenses are the lack of 'connecting the dots' for people – especially the elderly – and this project supports them in connecting those dots. Most people forget to fill their prescriptions (just think, have you ever done this? My mother-in-law sure has.) They’re told by the doctor to exercise but don’t know where to start.  The medical building also supports this. 

So the medical building isn’t just a means for funding a nicer Y, but it is ALSO supporting the community.  This isn’t about development, it’s about a project that supports the community in multiple ways.  And Tom Quirk is not supporting it. Such a shame. And a missed opportunity for Catonsville."

-Leigh Ann Ruggles, South Rolling Road resident

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"1. the Y's own rec operations are actually a non-conforming use in a residential zone, and legally set NO precedent for any other use(s) not in conformance w the existing residential zoning.

"2. Conversely, expansion of the Y's rec facilities has no logical or supportable land use or land planning connection to construction of a commercial building for medical offices on a purely residential site, in an area zoned exclusively for residential use. (Remember: churches, golf courses, schools and assisted living facilities are ALL uses permitted in residential zones, either by right or by special exception; commercial office buildings are NOT permitted.)

"3. We understand they may wish/need to sell excess land to raise development funds. We have no problem with that. In other words, it must be appropriately RESIDENTIAL in nature. It is neither our fault, nor our problem, that appropriate residential use of the excess land will not bring the Y sufficient dollars to pay for the Y's DESIRED recreational expansion.

"4. While we are not sold on the importance of the proximity of medical offices to a Y rec facility, we do not claim to be experts on that relationship. If such proximity of rec and medical facilities is critical to either or both components, then the Y and the physicians should seek property in an area appropriately zoned for and compatible with such commercial uses. That area, unfortunately, is NOT on South Rolling Road.

"Another issue that concerns our community is the traffic volume along Rolling Road which is already far beyond reasonable. A commercial development would be unreasonable for this area of road and could set a precedent for other commercial developments along an otherwise residential/church/school roadway. Several large pieces of land are scattered along S. Rolling from the park and ride to Hillcrest Elementary School. If this PUD moves forward it can be used as precedent for future developers."

-Douglas Kaplan, College Hills, Catonsville

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"In the debate about the Catonsville Y and the proposed medical center what is not emphasized strongly enough are the benefits to Catonsville from a new and improved fitness center.

 "A few years back, I was interviewed for a high-level position at the Y of Central Maryland.  Although I did not end up working there, I did learn quite a bit about the organization.  The Y does really great things!  Besides the fitness classes, the Y also offers affordable childcare, Parents’ Night Out, classes for children struggling with weight issues—the list goes on and on.  The Y is a capital and labor intensive nonprofit that relies on membership fees and fundraising, both of which have declined over the past few years. 

"The Y is not asking for a handout to improve the Catonsville center; it is trying to sell its assets to deliver a direct benefit to Catonsville: a new and improved club, which we sorely need.  If you want to see a beautiful Y, check out the one in Howard County on Montgomery Road or the one downtown on 33rd Street.  They are better than a health club because they value community partnerships.

 I find it ironic that some of the naysayers live in neighborhoods that would not exist if we used a smart growth approach to Catonsville.  It seems that once people move in, they adopt a 'just say no' approach to all development.  The College Hills development is a good example. As a resident living nearby, I was saddened to see the beautiful land beside CCBC taken by yet another development. Now the residents there are actively combating the Y’s intention to sell its land.

"Traffic is always going to be an issue, but we need to think about how resources can be used to our best advantage.  The UMBC roundabout was openly opposed, but has turned out to be a wonderful solution. Perhaps a combination of a roundabout at the Y, and some open minded thinking about what Catonsville has to gain, will bring an improved Y to our neighborhood."

-Lil Hughes Knipp, Fairway Avenue, Catonsville