What to know
The Planning & Zoning Commission presented a preliminary report to the City Council on the special-use permit for the YC Foundation to operate a community center/food pantry at 27327 Robinson Road, Ste. 10, located near the Plaza District. The district is a redeveloped area along the intersection of Robinson and Hanna roads, and it will include multiple retail centers, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Maria Chaudhary, community relations manager for the YC Foundation, told the council the building will be a community center with activities for older adults as well as operate as a ZIP code-based food pantry for the 77385 and 77386.
“I know community is really important, especially to Oak Ridge North, to have a community center ... which is why we picked this area and why we feel this would be a great start [in] a small community,” Chaudhary said.
Digging deeper
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age as of 2023 in Oak Ridge North was 43 years old. Chaudhary said this median age was the reason why the organization chose the area, especially when Nourishment and Needy, another nearby faith-based food pantry based in Montgomery County, is closed. The center would be open Mondays and Wednesdays, she said.
“We do work with the Nourishment and Needy and the Montgomery County Food Bank that have a need for evening slots,” Chaudhary said.
The pantry will be based on ZIP code, while the center will serve residents of Oak Ridge North, she said.
What’s next
The opening date of the 3,400-square-foot center has not yet been determined, according to discussion at the meeting.
