WICU12

Mercyhurst College officials attended a zoning hearing at Erie City Hall on Tuesday.  CLICK FOR VIDEO  There were a lot of empty seats. Just a few years ago, the chamber was filled with neighbors. They opposed an expansion project near Parade Boulevard where a couple of private homes were purchased off-campus.

Tuesday's meeting was about the building of a new freshman dormitory on-campus.  It would be built on a piece of land called "The Orchard" which is just east of the football stadium.   Zoning rules state that the dorm would have to have anywhere from 80 to 320 new parking spaces.

But the college requested a variance citing limited space. Even members of the zoning board believed that neighbors would protest, thinking students would park on neighboring streets. But the college made it clear that this would be a freshman dorm, and freshmen are not permitted to have cars, no matter where they would park.

The zoning board gave it's approval to the plan. The college is happy that it's neighbors like it too.

One college official said it was a result of improved communications.

"Part of this was having a strategic plan debuting recently so that people could see it. Being mindful of the sensitive areas of the neighbors, which is preserving their neighborhood and keeping a beautiful neighborhood." said Tom Billingsley, VP of Administration.

The new dormitory is needed. The last new dormitory was built in the 1970s.

John Last