By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SYMMES TWP. - A proposal to build a YMCA with Deerfield Township gained support from residents despite talk of a possible tax increase and questions about how much the venture might cost.

About 50 residents turned out Thursday night at a public hearing. An 80,000-square-foot structure is proposed for half of a 27-acre site that Deerfield owns next to Meijer on Montgomery Road.

Trustees say it is a cost-effective way to provide a top-notch recreational outlet for their residents. They said they could also eventually develop the rest of the property for a shared skate park or ball fields.

Steve Boland, president of the Ralph J. Stolle Countryside Y in Lebanon, said a satellite YMCA could open in early 2006 if the communities and Countryside agree on the project, and if the organization can raise $2 million in corporate and private donations as a show of support.

Trustees called the meeting to gauge public support for the project and the Y's involvement. A show of hands indicated that only one resident was opposed.

The crowd was evenly split between Symmes and Deerfield residents, but Symmes residents did all of the talking.

"Bringing a recreation facility into this area would be phenomenal," said Mary Biegger, a former Sharonville resident who moved to the township six months ago. She said she was frustrated after trying to join recreation centers in other communities, only to be turned away because she didn't live there.

"Don't take five to 10 years to build it," urged Barry Levine, an avid runner. "Let's get this thing off the ground."

However, some, such as Bill Demaree, expressed concern about being taxed to build the recreational center while also having to pay a membership for the Y.

Bonnie Brotzge said she approved of the Y but questioned: "Why is Symmes involved if Deerfield has the land and the money?"

Deerfield paid $3.25 million for the site in 2001, and it was unclear how the townships would split project funding. Symmes trustees said they might need to ask voters for a levy, but Deerfield officials said they won't need to raise taxes.

Boland and trustees refused to say how much the proposed center would cost, calling it premature because the Y is still negotiating a letter of intent with Deerfield. But Symmes Trustee Eric Minamyer said the amount would be less than $10 million.

By comparison, a 37,000-square-foot Y that eventually fell through three years ago in Loveland was estimated to cost $5 million. The Y would lease the building for 20 years, making that organization responsible for any shortfalls in operating costs, Deerfield Trustee Randy Kuvin said.

Symmes and Deerfield would decide what goes inside the building, although the proposal includes a six-lane indoor pool, as well as an outdoor pool and might offer a cardio-strength program, Boland said.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com