Commission approves YMCA pavilion revision despite commissioner concerns over reduced brick

The Planning Commission approved a revision to the YMCA pavilion addition that reduces the amount of brick on certain facades and substitutes fiber-cement board for cost reasons, a YMCA representative said.

Keith Free, lead planning staff, explained the YMCA had received staff-level approval for pool, restroom and community pavilion buildings but returned asking to reduce brick after cost estimates exceeded the organization’s budget. Cal Gentry, identified as a YMCA board member, said the change was a cost-saving measure and emphasized the replacement material would be vertical Hardie (fiber-cement) board, not vinyl. An architect (identified in the discussion as Julia) told commissioners primary street‑facing elevations would see about a 10% reduction in brick while secondary elevations might see reductions closer to 30%.

Commissioner Hasty expressed concern that the city was trending toward excessive use of non-brick materials, but said he would support the application because the most substantial reductions are on interior elevations and staff will require increased screening and buffering along Bluegrass Commons Boulevard. The chair and other commissioners echoed that view and moved to approve the request with staff comments. The motion passed electronically with seven yes votes.

The approval allows the YMCA to pursue the lower-cost materials on the pavilion provided it meets the planning staff’s screening and design‑guideline conditions. Commissioners said they expect staff to ensure visibility from primary public fronts remains within design standards.