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Planning Commission approves Flood City Youth Fitness Academy playground plan; staff to probe taller fence rules
Summary
The Johnstown Planning Commission approved Flood City Youth Fitness Academy’s plan to demolish 237–239 Union Street and install an open-air playground for about 150–220 children, while asking staff to investigate whether building codes would allow a fence taller than the six-foot maximum in the city ordinance.
The Johnstown Planning Commission on Feb. 3 approved a plan from Flood City Youth Fitness Academy to demolish the vacant structure at 237–239 Union Street and convert the site into an open-air playground for the academy’s daily attendees.
Deacon Jeffrey Wilson, program director for Flood City Youth Fitness Academy, told the commission the site serves roughly 150 to 220 children each day and said outdoor play space with grass and shade is essential to the program. Wilson also said the organization has provided more than 155,000 meals over two years as part of its programming.
Why it matters: The project converts a vacant downtown parcel to a recreational use targeted at children in the neighborhood and required the commission to balance ordinance limits with program needs. The key outstanding technical question was fence height: Executive Director Oscar Cashaw Sr. said the plan included a nine-foot fence to help prevent basketballs from entering Union Street traffic, while Chairman James Carthew noted the city’s six-foot fence limit and urged staff to explore whether International Building Code (IBC) provisions or other standards cited by staff could allow an exception.
City Manager Art Martynuska said staff would investigate relevant code references, including whether IBC standards adopted by reference could permit a higher fence; surveyor Randy Cortez confirmed he had worked with the applicant and asked about parcel consolidation for fencing logistics. Commissioner Michael Grandinetti praised FCYFA’s work with youth and encouraged staff support for similar downtown-rehab initiatives.
Action taken: Commissioner Grandinetti moved to approve the FCYFA plan with the understanding staff would research alternatives in code (including IBC) that might allow a taller fence. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Thomas Casals and passed by roll call vote (Casals, Grandinetti, Buday and Chairman Carthew voting yes; no recorded no votes).
What’s next: Staff will report back on code options for fence height and any permitting or parcel consolidation steps required before construction can proceed.
