Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority approves sale of lots, time change
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PARKERSBURG - The Urban Renewal Authority voted this week to sell property on Latrobe Street to a local businessman with a record of building houses on vacant lots, despite a late plea by a local church for a chance to bid on the property.
Your Hut Inc. owner O.B. Epling offered the authority, consisting of all nine Parkersburg City Council members, $2,000 for five lots at 1113, 1117 and 1121 Latrobe St. His application said he plans to consolidate the lots and build two structures on the property.
Representatives of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church said during the public hearing at Tuesday's authority meeting they'd been hoping to acquire the land, combine it with other property near the church and build a modular two- to three-story apartment building. Linda Crocker, a member of the church staff, said they had previously spoken with officials in the city Development Department but only found out someone else was interested in the property the day before the meeting.
"We did not recognize the urgency of the matter," she said. "We don't want to lose this opportunity."
Councilman Chris Rexroad asked how much time they would need to make an offer. Crocker said at least a month, adding after Christmas would be better but she didn't want to be unfair to Epling.
Councilwoman Wendy Tuck praised the church's commitment to improving the neighborhood and wanting to address the shortage of available housing in the city. She supported tabling Epling's offer to allow time to weigh both proposals.
City Planner Calaya Rake said an application must be received three to four weeks before a URA meeting for requirements like legal advertisements to be met to place it on the agenda, limiting the window the applicants would have to submit information in time for the November meeting.
URA Chairwoman Sharon Kuhl said Epling has proven himself to the city by paying fair prices for lots and building houses on them.
"I just feel that if we table this, we may lose him," she said. "It would literally break my heart."
The authority voted 6-2 to accept Epling's offer, with Tuck and Councilman Zak Huffman opposed and Councilman Mike Reynolds absent.
In other business, the authority unanimously approved changes to its policies and procedures, including moving its regular meeting from after council on the fourth Tuesday of the month to 6 p.m., an hour-and-a-half prior to the council meeting.
Council President Andrew Borkowski initially suggested slating URA meetings for 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month, citing the late starts to meetings after long council sessions. Tuesday's meeting began after 9 p.m. and ended around 10.
Rexroad noted he had already made plans based on meetings happening on Tuesdays, so a suggestion was made to have the new changes go into effect in January. Councilman Roger Brown suggested having the meetings earlier on the fourth Tuesday.
Borkowski's motion for Thursday meetings failed in a 4-4 tie. A motion by Councilman Dave McCrady to use Brown's suggestion passed 6-2, with Kuhl and Borkowski opposed.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.