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Parkersburg’s Planning Commission approves alley abandonment

By Evan Bevins 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Municipal Planning Commission referred an alleyway abandonment to Parkersburg City Council over the objection of a nearby business owner.

During its regular meeting Friday, the commission voted 6-3, with two members absent, to approve the request by Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc. to abandon part of the alley between 13th Street and Pearcy Avenue that borders property they own on either side. Some nearby property owners supported the move, which a representative of Coca-Cola said is intended to improve safety and security at the facility.

But a representative of City Perk, whose property begins where the abandonment would end, said plans to close and fence in that segment of the alley will have a negative effect on their operation.

"By closing this road, the city would, in effect, be closing our business," said Charles McKay, with City Perk.

Sean McCarthy, director of security for Coca-Cola Consolidated, cited criminal activity in and around its facilities, including the theft of tools, and said the move will protect employees and the company's assets.

"Closing off the alleyway will curtail unwanted vehicular and pedestrian traffic," he said.

The company plans to install new lighting and video cameras, footage from which would be made available to police upon request for incidents in the area, McCarthy said.

McKay called closing the alley an "extreme" measure and said security could be improved with motion-activated lights, a higher fence on one of the sites and the installation of security cameras. The alley is a primary means of access to the parking lot behind City Perk, with the only ingress from Seventh Street a smaller alley between City Perk and the Coca-Cola facility, he said.

Closing one end of the alley will also present a challenge to garbage trucks since they won't be able to simply pull through, McKay said.

Planning Commission member Sherry Dugan asked if Coca-Cola officials were willing to sit down and discuss the issues with representatives of City Perk. McCarthy said they would.

The measure now goes before City Council as an ordinance that must be passed on two readings to go into effect.

In other business, the commission voted 9-0 to forward to council revisions to four related ordinances defining and setting rules for accessory structures. City code only allows such residential units as quarters for "domestic servants," language City Planner Connor LaVelle said dates back to at least 1973 and likely before that.

"When we're talking about accessory units, we're talking about in-law suites, granny flats, garage apartments," he said.

If approved by council, the new ordinances would allow for accessory structures attached to or separate from the primary structure. The accessory unit could not be larger than the primary structure and could not reduce the amount of off-street parking, although it would not require additional spaces, LaVelle said.

"We think this helps address affordable housing," said city Development Director Ryan Barber, a member of the commission. It could also provide an additional revenue stream for property owners, he said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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