The property is located east of Holly Springs Road, east of the intersection of Winding Oaks Way and Holly Springs Road, approximately 2,100 feet south of the intersection of Ten-Ten Road and Holly Springs Road. The plans propose a YMCA facility that would contain:

• A main two-story building containing 59,200 square feet that will house an indoor pool, a gym, locker rooms, multi-purpose rooms, a nursery, and offices.
• A two-story youth gym with restrooms and offices, containing 7,819 square feet.
• A one-story pool house containing 1,662 square feet.
• A pool equipment building, a "fun pool", lap pool and kiddy pool.
• Two one-story park shelters; two large multi-purpose fields; one small multi-purpose field; and, related parking areas.

The property contains 34.3 acres, is zoned Residential-30 (R-30), and is inside Cary’s town limits.

Public recreation centers are allowed in the R-30 zoning district as a permitted use. Private recreation centers, however, are only allowed as a major special use when accompanied by a site plan. All major special uses and associated site plans must be approved by the Town Council.

The plan would also include roadway improvements, with sidewalk to Holly Springs Road and a public greenway easement along the southern property line for a future public greenway connection. The site would be accessed by one primary drive that would align with Winding Oak Way located on the west side of Holly Springs Road and by a secondary drive located approximately 500 feet south of the primary entrance drive location.

ACTION:

1. That shrubs screening the eastern side of parking areas be allowed to grow to a minimum height of four feet.
2. Based on field observations once the site has been graded, additional plantings may be required to screen the storm water impoundment pond and vehicular use areas.
3. That the applicant contact Colonial Pipeline to explore options for the installation of fencing across the gas pipeline easement to eliminate trespassing from the YMCA site into the Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

4. Construct a westbound right turn lane on Ten Ten Road at Holly Springs Road with the necessary traffic signals revisions as required.

5. Construct a center turn lane on Holly Springs Road between Pierce-olive and Arthur Pierce Roads.

6. Limit traffic movements at the secondary access to right-in/right-out only.

Phone:

Email: bbenfiel@ci.cary.nc.us

The plan complies with all zoning requirements.

The site would be surrounded by 40’ "A" (opaque) type buffers. Much of the eastern portion of the property varies in width from 180’ to 340’ and would remain as natural forest area, supplemented as needed to create an opaque screen from the adjoining single family dwellings. A traditional 30’ streetscape would be provided along Holly Springs Road and supplemented with a two to three foot high berm and intermittent evergreen plantings.

The evergreen screen normally located in the buffer area would be located at the top of the slope, thus providing more screening capability on the northeast and southeast sides of the site. The evergreen screen will also serve to screen the vehicular use areas on site. In order to ensure positive screening of on-site vehicular headlights, staff has recommended that this evergreen screen be maintained at a minimum height of four feet instead of the normal height of three feet.

There may also be a need for the installation of additional evergreen shrubs along the southern side of the site to screen the storm water runoff impoundment and parking areas from off-site views. Staff feels that this is a determination that must be made in the field. Therefore, staff recommends that a note clarifying the possible need for additional plantings on the southern side of the site be added to the plan.

Description:

The proposed buildings would be constructed of concrete block, and the primary color would be medium gray. The building trim color would be a dark gray. Window frames and building entry areas would be framed in off-white aluminum, and all roofs would be dark green standing seam metal.

The buildings will utilize traditional residential building materials and colors and should be quite compatible with the adjoining single-family neighborhoods.

Dick Moore Phone:462-3937

Email: dmoore@ci.cary.nc.us

A Traffic Impact and Access Study was prepared by Wilbur Smith Associates dated November 2000. The study concludes that the intersections of:

Holly Springs/Ten Ten Roads and Holly Springs/Pierce-Olive Roads will operate at level of service "E" during the morning peak hour.

Staff Conclusion:

1. Construct a westbound right turn lane on Ten Ten Road at Holly Springs Road with the necessary traffic signals revisions as required.
2. Construct a center turn lane on Holly Springs Road between Pierce-Olive and Arthur Pierce Roads.

Tammy Mitchell Phone:462-3933

Email: lmitchel@ci.cary.nc.us

The Town of Cary Thoroughfare Plan designates Holly Springs Road to have an ultimate cross-section consisting of a 65’ back-to-back street section (5 lane roadway) centered within a 90’ right-of-way. The YMCA plan proposes to widen Holly Springs Road and dedicate right-of-way along their property frontage in accordance with the Town’s Thoroughfare Plan requirements.

The plan proposes two full service drives to Holly Springs Road. The primary drive is proposed to align with Winding Oak Way located on the west side of Holly Springs Road and the secondary drive is proposed approximately 500 feet south of the primary entrance drive location. Staff feels that the secondary access should be restricted to right-in/right-out movements only. Staff is of the opinion that the single access point opposite Winding Oak Way will adequately serve the needs of the YMCA without creating the potential for increased frequencies of crashes and increased delays along Holly Springs Road.

Staff Conclusion:

Staff feels that the plan should be approved with the secondary access limited to right-in/right-out movements only.

Tammy Mitchell Phone:462-3933

Email: lmitchel@ci.cary.nc.us

The plans propose to extend an existing 16" water main in Holly Springs Road, which currently ends at the Ten-Ten Road intersection, to the YMCA project’s southernmost property line. The water main extension is in accordance with Town requirements.

Staff has asked the developer to install public sanitary sewer along the eastern property boundary verses the center of the site as currently shown on the plans. Properties on the eastern side of Holly Springs Road, north of the YMCA site, drain to the south/ southeast and therefore would best be served by a public sanitary sewer line extension along YMCA’s eastern boundary. The developer has agreed to revise the sanitary sewer main as requested by staff.

Tom Horstman Phone:469-4347

Email: thorstma@ci.cary.nc.us

Southwestern Wake YMCA is not located in a protected watershed and would have no requirement to provide watershed protection devices. The proposed watershed pond has been shown as the applicant feels it is the environmentally appropriate thing to do.

The Southwestern Wake YMCA project meets all Town of Cary stormwater requirements.

The Appearance Commission:

1. Supports staff’s recommendations.

2. Supports a homeowner’s request that the applicant install a barricade and/or signage that would prohibit trespassing onto private property from the existing sewer line easement at Holly Springs Road.

3. Recommends that light poles be reduced in height to 20’ in the southeastern parking area and that the lights be relocated as needed to project light away from the Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

4. Recommends that additional evergreen screening be provided to screen the southeastern air naseum from view from Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

5. Recommends that the applicant pursue obtaining approval from the gas pipeline company for the installation of fencing across the gas pipeline easement to eliminate trespassing from the YMCA site into the Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

Recommends that evergreen screening be added along the eastern side of the eastern-most parking areas, to screen or block light from the parking areas into the Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

With regard to recommendation 2, the applicant should work through the Town’s Public Works & Utilities Department to obtain permission to erect a barricade across the existing sewer line easement located along the southern border of the site.

With regard to recommendation 5, The applicant has stated that they will contact Colonial Pipeline to explore options for the installation of fencing across the gas pipeline easement in order to eliminate trespassing from the YMCA site into the Orchard Knoll Subdivision.

The plan complies with all other recommendations.