As the city of Snoqualmie’s deal with the YMCA of Greater Seattle takes shape this spring, several Snoqualmie Ridge residents and business owners are focusing fire on the future Snoqualmie YMCA and community center’s location and parking options.
A half-dozen residents aired their concerns with the future Y site at a Monday, March 8, city council meeting.
Concerns over the $4 million project, to be leased and then operated by the YMCA, followed a briefing by Snoqualmie Parks and Recreation Director Gwen Voelpel.
On Feb. 24, the Seattle YMCA board authorized its chief executive to sign an agreement with the city. Contract negotiations remain in play, but a tentative agreement would give city residents a 15 percent monthly discount in user fees and a 50 percent joining discount.
“They’d pay lower rates, across the board,” Voelpel said.
Initial plans for the 15,000-square-foot facility, to be built at Community Park at the foot of Center Boulevard on Snoqualmie Ridge, would include 50 dedicated spaces, plus the 114 spaces at the park.
The parking count drew a number of concerns from the audience Monday night. Ridge resident Jason Wilmot led off, calculating that a successful YMCA could draw as much as 700 cars from the Ridge — and beyond.
“What are you going to do with 500 cars when they come at 5 p.m.?” he asked the council. “You’ve really got to think about more than the cost and benefit. This is about safety. Really take a hard look at this.”
“I’ve never known of a YMCA built without a generous parking lot,” added resident Tricia Donhowe. She said she was drawn to the Ridge by its meticulous planning, and told the council that she supports a Community Park location, provided it has more parking.
“You have so many things close together here,” Donhowe said. “People are not going to come if there is inadequate parking.”
Ridge real estate agent George Isaacs questioned whether the space alloted for a community center on the Ridge is already too small. Community Park fills during events such as the Snoqualmie Easter Egg hunt, and Isaacs raised concerns about the park’s role if parking is taken up by a YMCA.
“I wonder how it’s going to fit,” he said.
Ridge resident Marcus Morissette called on council members to give the project a thorough, transparent investigation before making a decision.
“There’s way more variables out there,” said Morissette, who dubbed inflation projections for YMCA funding as “voodoo economics.”
He was also among speakers who said that they expect a bond issue to hit voters on the project eventually, even though the planned first phase does not call for one.
“It’s going to sit there,” Morissette said. “It’s obvious.”
“We’re not considering a bond at this stage,” answered Councilman Bryan Holloway.
“We believe otherwise,” Morissette replied.
Voelpel cautioned residents that the community center’s design has yet to take final shape. The public, she said, will have a major role in the visioning process for the building later this year.
The Snoqualmie Planning and Parks Committee meets at 6 p.m. Monday, March 15, at the Snoqualmie Fire Station, in anticipation of more public comment.
“I want to give everyone a chance to be heard,” said chairman Kingston Wall.
