Crossroads YMCA proposes 15,000 sq ft addition, drop-off redesign and parking variance to BZA

Jay Buckmaster, president and CEO of Crossroads YMCA, and the project team presented a development-plan review to the Schererville Town Plan Commission on Aug. 18 outlining a 15,000-square-foot addition to the YMCA campus at 221 US 41.

The proposal would relocate and expand fitness space, add basketball, volleyball and pickleball courts, enlarge family locker rooms and renovate other interior spaces. Civil engineer Russ Posen of DVG Team Inc. described site work that includes milling and repaving an area on the west side of the property, shifting a pedestrian path to the south to create a seven-foot concrete walkway, narrowing a wide drive aisle to a 25-foot two-way lane, and creating two improved drop-off areas to separate drop-off circulation from other parking.

The YMCA team said the facility shares parking with nearby Franciscan and that, with shared access, the combined available supply is about 590 spaces, even though about 369 are on the YMCA lot alone. The YMCA will seek a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) because the overlay-district ordinance’s strict parking calculation would otherwise require roughly 730 spaces for the combined facility occupancy. The project team said similar YMCA facilities operate successfully with comparable parking supplies.

Architect Justin DeFields and project manager described façade improvements that replace the pre-engineered metal panels with masonry on the first floor and storefront glazing at the new main entrance. The team said new YMCA signage would replace existing Jack’s signage on a roughly one-for-one basis.

Commissioners and the project team discussed circulation and pedestrian safety. One commissioner suggested a raised crosswalk to slow vehicles at drop-off; the project team said they prefer push-button pedestrian signals and noted they have used similar treatments on other YMCA projects. The applicant said they intend to present engineering and landscaping plans and the parking-variance request at the Sept. 8 meeting and aim to begin interior work this year.

No formal votes were taken during the study session. Staff and commissioners indicated they would see the applicant at the Sept. 8 public hearing for final consideration of any variances and to review final engineering and landscape plans.