“We don’t often get this kind of crowd,” said Mary Losty, chair of Cambridge’s Planning & Zoning Commission, at the start of a meeting July 5. She was commenting on the attendance that exceeded the capacity of the City Council chambers. She then informed that crowd of the singular purpose of the public hearing: what will happen to the YMCA’s property on Talbot Avenue if the Y decides to move elsewhere in the city.

“We are not here to debate where the Y goes should they choose to go,” Losty said. “None of that is a topic for tonight.”

Her statement referenced the recent controversy over the Y’s announcement that they are looking to relocate their facility to Cambridge Harbor, the multiplex that is to be built beside the Choptank River near Route 50. Many local residents are opposed to the idea and have been vocal about it. Also, people have wanted to know the destiny of the building currently used by the Y. Hence the public hearing.

Losty briefly turned the meeting over to City Manager Tom Carroll, who said, “I haven’t had a chance to be in front of the Planning Commission yet, but I thought this opportunity was an important one.”

Before getting to the heart of his remarks, Carroll announced the retirement of Director of Planning Pat Escher, who has been in the position for eight years. He also introduced new director Steven Ziegler.

Then Carroll said the focus of the meeting should remain on whether the Planning & Zoning Commission is going to recommend an overlay on the institutional zone where the YMCA building sits, in the midst of an NC1 (residential) zone in the Historic West End. And he asked that the attendees not criticize the Y or its plans.

“You know we’re here as neighbors and friends with the intention of working together to come up with what works for everybody,” he said, adding that the attending residents were free to share any concerns, comments or recommendations they had.

Escher spoke next, relaying a brief history of the Y’s Talbot Avenue property, which had been institutionally used since becoming home to Cambridge High School in 1928. It was conveyed to Dorchester County in 1984 and took on a recreational use two years later with the YMCA.

“It’s been either or a school or recreational use,” said Escher. “And we think those uses are appropriate, and part of the recommendation of staff is those uses should continue.”

She specified that the property would not become a homeless shelter, boarding house, airport, hospital, nursing care facility or college. It could be a daycare center but only of limited size, because the city wants a use compatible with the small scale of the neighborhood. This decision-making process would hopefully result in a list of possible uses for the Y if and when they decide to vacate.

The meeting moved on to the public comment portion, beginning with a representative for the Nathan Foundation, who expressed his concern about the idea of switching the Talbot Avenue property from a conforming use (where it is in compliance with zoning laws) to a nonconforming one.

Losty stated that a recreation facility, which the Y is, is a permitted use in an institutional zone, so it would not be changing to a nonconforming use. The Nathan representative then admitted he was confused by the term “overlay zone,” and the chairperson explained that it is called an “NC1 overlay” because it is in an NC1 zone.

Chuck McFadden, president of the Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods (CAN), followed by saying that residents of the West End are worried that the YMCA would abandon their current building to become like the old Academy School structure at Mill and School streets, which has sat empty and deteriorating for years. He expressed a general preference for making the property on Talbot Avenue residential.

“People are nervous and they’re concerned, and waiting months to resolve this issue is not going to calm things down,” said McFadden. “So, I would urge the committee to act very fast, if you can, and let’s approve the city’s proposal.”

Next, Patsy Holtz, a lifelong resident of Talbot Avenue, said she hopes they can continue “with the sense of community we’ve all come to love” in the YMCA, which has “been a great, great resource for people from all parts of town to gather together.”

CAN board member Judd Vickers then stated that many of the permitted uses for the property are on a scale that would negatively impact the neighborhood.

“Last week the YMCA made statements as to their future plans, which include their belief that the property should transition to NC1 if they cease to operate at that location,” said Vickers. “I believe these statements were made in good faith. However, board members change and deliberative bodies move in different directions as time passes. The YMCA’s deliberations and fundraising could take years, and the neighborhood does not deserve a cloud of uncertainty, which could ultimately affect property values, neighborhood cohesion, and tax revenues to the city.”

He went on to say that the Y should ensure the eventual change of the property to residential use but that the NC1 overlay should be approved in the interim.

After a couple more speakers, Robbie Gill, CEO of the YMCA of the Chesapeake, rose to address the commission and audience. He said that his organization is not opposed to the overlay but that it wouldn’t be their preference, because it doesn’t address what ultimately would need to be done for the property.

“We believe the site should be zoned residential, and steps should be taken to put the city in a place to do that,” he said. “We will hold our property as long as necessary to ensure that that gets zoned appropriately.”

When asked whether the Y would demolish the current building after leaving it, Gill said that was a subject to be navigated should the need arise, but he promised they wouldn’t allow it to become derelict. He also emphasized that the building of a new facility could take five years, especially since the $25 million in funding has not yet been acquired.

Once the city staff officially made its recommendation to move forward with the NC1 overlay and apply specific compatible institutional uses, Chairperson Losty announced an Aug. 1 public hearing, and the commission closed the meeting.