YMCA drops plan to build camp in Chesapeake park

By Mike Saewitz
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 10, 2010

The YMCA is abandoning its plan to build a summer camp in Northwest River Park.

Chuck Harris, CEO of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, said Tuesday that the decision was made after his organization learned it would have to build a sewage treatment system, which would violate a promise not to create any negative environmental impact to the park.

"We're going to live by that promise," Harris said. Building a sewage treatment center "would not be consistent to our commitment to being environmentally friendly."

The YMCA planned to spend $3 million to build a swimming pool and other facilities on about 5 acres of rezoned land. The City Council approved it last year despite opposition from neighbors and residents who said the rezoning happened without proper notice. A petition to overturn the council vote fell short.

"I am ecstatic," said Lesa Miles, a Chesapeake resident who led the attempt to overturn the vote. "These were issues we brought up. If they had listened to our concerns from the beginning, maybe it would have saved some of their money and problems."

The YMCA already invested $350,000 in the Chesapeake summer camp, one of several planned for South Hampton Roads, Harris said. Consultants initially told the YMCA that only a standard septic system would be required, he said. It was only in the p ast few months that the YMCA was told otherwise. "We're in the evaluative stage of what went wrong and how it went wrong," he said of the consultants' advice.

The YMCA is still looking for a location to build a summer camp in Chesapeake and is working with city officials to identify other properties that might work, Harris said.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com

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IT doesnt matter,

Submitted by gmarlie223 on Wed, 02/10/2010 at 10:00 am.

It is always about the Money.. I have a friend who works for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads and they do deceitful stuff all the time they have prerequisits for employment and will alomst always bend those to save a few hundread dollars a week for payroll! There was a recnet hire at the Taylor Bend Y the New director of Maint, now their rules say any director must have a college degree. this guy does not. They gave him the job with the promise he would keep quiet and take a huge paycut from the original posted price for the position. THey are oneof the most corrupt organizations in the country!