Youth Development Center seeks downtown move to 302 South Lyon Street; staff backs CUP with conditions

At the April 1, 2025 work session, the Planning Commission reviewed CU25120, a request from Nancy Tilston Sendback on behalf of the Youth Development Center (YDC) to relocate and operate a youth activity center at 302 South Lyon Street, in the B-1 Central Business District and within the historic Winchester overlay.

Staff described the applicant’s current location at 3 Patel Drive on the city’s south side and said the proposed downtown site is more centrally located and better aligned with the service goals of the YDC. The site includes three parcels; the main building at 302 South Lyon Street is the portion for which a CUP is required because the youth activity center use is not a by-right B-1 use. Staff noted YDC’s existing programs — after-school activities, educational programming and athletics — and said the downtown location would not require exterior footprint changes at this time. The applicant also plans to co-locate an adult care center and to host partner nonprofits such as Timberlake Achievement Center.

Staff recommended conditions that would require a new CUP for any future expansions and make the CUP null and void if the use ceased or changed to a non-YDC use. Staff also noted the building will need to be brought into ADA compliance as part of the building-permit process.

Commissioners who spoke generally endorsed the relocation as improving access for youth. The commission asked about site details — parking, internal layout and the presence of gym or athletic space — and the applicant and staff clarified that the proposed interior work would remove nonstructural dividing walls to create larger activity areas but would not alter the building footprint.

No formal vote was taken at the work session; staff will return the item to a future meeting with recommended conditions.