Published: October 07, 2008 09:30 pm         

Some against proposed MSU parking lot

Drexel Harrah of Virginia Street and Robert White of West Virginia Street appeared at Tuesday’s Beckley Planning Commission meeting to protest Mountain State University’s plan to construct a new 129-space parking lot at the corner of Minnesota and Grove avenues.

“Will this new parking lot become the new party lot?” Harrah asked planning commissioners. “I’m opposed to this parking lot if it is going to be done the way the house that the college uses for its basketball players on West Virginia Street.”

According to Harrah and White, the house is nothing more than a party house with trash in the front of the property.

“The school leaves that to the neighborhood to clean up,” White said.

The commission approved the site plan and advised Harrah and White to seek help from the proper authorities.

“I sympathize with your complaints,” planning commission president A.K. Minter said. “But we do not have the authority to enforce any of your concerns.”

The men were asked to contact MSU campus security, other MSU officials, Beckley police and the city council person that represents their district.

“We plan to tell everyone we can on what’s going on at this house on West Virginia Street and also wanted to opposed the parking lot if it was going to become the new party lot,” Harrah said.

The commission approved the site plan contingent on final review of the site plan and stormwater runoff review.

Meanwhile, the commission unanimously approved the rezoning of 77 parcels fronting Hartley Avenue, Lauren Avenue, Bostick Avenue and Hager Street from R-3, Multiple Family District, to R-1, One-Family District. There was no opposition to the rezoning, planning officials said.

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