NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio – The city-owned North Royalton Family YMCA may convert to a 24-hour-a-day operation.
The North Royalton Planning Commission has voted to allow the YMCA, at the southeast corner of State and Wallings roads, to keep its exterior parking-lot lights on for 24 hours.
However, when and if that will happen is uncertain. An anonymous source at the North Royalton YMCA has told cleveland.com that the transition to a 24-hour operation may not take place.
Jeff Jacko, executive director of YMCA of Greater Cleveland, and Richard Batyko, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the organization, did not answer questions about the project earlier this week.
“We’re still working on the details related to 24/7 operation, so we’re not ready to talk about it,” Batyko told cleveland.com in an email Tuesday (Sept. 17). “We hope to be able to do so in the near future.”
On July 17, Jacko appeared before the planning commission, asking for a conditional use permit that would allow the North Royalton YMCA to keeps its exterior lights on between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
According to its website, the North Royalton YMCA’s current hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Jacko told the commission that several Greater Cleveland YMCAs, including those in Akron, Lorain and Stark County, have successfully converted to 24-hour operations, according to meeting minutes.
Jacko said the most popular off-hour times among YMCA members are about 90 minutes before 6 a.m. and about 90 minutes after 9 p.m. on weekdays.
As for security, Jacko said having exterior lights on continuously would help. The North Royalton YMCA would also add security cameras inside the building.
Also, the North Royalton YMCA would install new magnet door locks, which use electricity to lock doors and which are considered stronger than traditional mechanical locks.
In addition, a new camera system would take photos of everyone walking into the building. Only YMCA members would have access.
Jacko said that other YMCAs that have transitioned to 24-hour operations have experienced no major crime incidents thanks to the new security measures.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy and will be reviewing cameras daily to make sure non-members are not gaining access,” Jacko told the commission.
North Royalton City Planner Ian Russell said the YMCA doesn’t need city approval to remain open 24 hours, only to keep its exterior lights on overnight.
Residents living near the North Royalton YMCA expressed concerns.
Jeff Hanrahan, who lives on State Road just south of the YMCA, said people cutting through the rear of the YMCA property have littered on his property. He said he has posted “private property” signs in his yard but someone has been taking the signs down.
Also, Hanrahan worried that exterior lights on all night outside the YMCA would disturb him. He asked for additional screening between his property and the YMCA.
Joseph Egnor, Hanrahan’s neighbor, said YMCA’s lights are already shining through his window at night. He said his security cameras have shown adults from the YMCA entering and destroying his property.
Egnor asked for a fence between residential properties on State and the YMCA.
Russell, the city planner, asked that the YMCA ensure that its lights are shielded from State residents.
Russell said children or teenagers are hanging out and drinking beer in a dark area next to the YMCA near Hanrahan’s property.
Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said he would talk to North Royalton police about possibly increasing patrols around the YMCA to look for littering and trespassing.
Antoskiewicz added that he would explore posting larger no-trespassing signs to protect homeowners on State.
