Greater Monroe Chamber urges Village of Monroe to grant the YMCA access from Route 17M

Dear Mayor Dwyer and Trustees:
The Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Inc. works on behalf of many businesses interested in the Town and Village of Monroe. Our mission is to “Create a unique, vibrant business community through the development of relationships and resources.” Our main interest is to promote a better quality of life for our community while allowing businesses to grow and thrive.
The South Family Orange Family YMCA is a valued community resource that greatly enhances the quality of life for all residents in Monroe. They are an active and supportive member of the Village and work with many community groups to help benefit the Village of Monroe. Their ability to attract a growing membership and financial support from residents and businesses is evidence of their value to the community.
The “Y” is facing a serious and growing challenge. The current access on Gilbert Street is poor and as the traffic on Gilbert Street, Route 208, North Main and Forest Avenue increases it is only getting worse. The intersection is a growing bottleneck during the day and is dangerous in the evenings as visibility diminishes.
The “Y” is ready to make a significant investment in the Monroe facility but cannot do so without improved (safer), long term access. The “Y” has had several studies conducted and proposals put forth to the Town and Village. Both Town and Village have reviewed the proposals for several years. The “Y” has funding commitments dependent on gaining improved access to their site.
The GMCoC believes the safest alternative is to grant access from Route 17M and across the Heritage Trail (County and State DOT have approved this route). This route will reduce the amount of traffic on Gilbert Street and the intersection of Gilbert Street, Route 208, North Main and Forest Avenue; the second alternative forces traffic to move through the current intersection and does little to address the bottleneck or the safety issue of a poorly designed juncture.
The GMCoC urges the Village of Monroe Board to take positive action on the “Y’s" request; the “Y” is a significant component of the Village of Monroe’s quality of life and improved access is critical to retain this resource in the community.
Thank you for your consideration,
Edison Guzman
President of the Board
Greater Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Inc.