YMCA Site Approved With Caveats for Improving Bike and Walking Safety

The implementation of Northfield's new land code, which favors foot and bike traffic and small-town growth, ran into its first big hurdle Tuesday night as city councilors voted to approve a permit for a suburban-style and its 45,000-square foot facility.

The construction of the —near the in southwest Northfield—was otherwise popular with councilors, who lauded the benefits it could offer. The Northfield Area Family YMCA, which has been planning the facility since 2009, said it hopes to break ground next year and open in 2013.

But most councilors voiced opposition of the plan's placement of the building's parking lot on the front of the 5-acre property—and with a sidewalk scheme that could encourage walking across the busy lot—citing concerns of safety and over violating the spirit of the impending Land Development Code. Passed later in the evening, the new LDC encourages growth that would have placed the parking lot at the street's edge to promote a small-town feel. 

To ensure safety, councilors attached several conditions to the Y's conditional use permit; changes include making each direction out of the lot one way to slow traffic, creating alternative paths to deter walking through the lot and addressing access to the site, which sits in a growing area of town with many young families nearby.

"We want to be sure that it's as safe as we possibly can get with what we have," said Mayor Mary Rossing.

Organizers of the Y site said the code, which does not become city statute for 30 days, could not have changed construction plans—the building needed to be placed at the back of the lot to allow expansion beyond its first swimming pool and gym. The facility will also include a walking track and wellness center.

After several months of research and discussion last year with the Northfield School District to put the Y facility on the high school grounds, the school board in October 2010 voted 5-2 to end negotiations.

The Y currently uses the Northfield Armory for many of its classes and camps.