University Planner Steve Watson announced Penn State’s plans for expansions on the Intramural Building and an addition of an indoor tennis center on campus at Wednesday’s State College Borough Planning Commission.
The IM Building expansion is in the first phase of design, focusing on the entrance and fitness facilities, but no additional progress has been made as of right now, Watson said.
Watson also said a plan for an indoor tennis center is still moving forward with design within the athletics department.
This was the first time the planning commission heard about the new athletic expansions.
Evan Myers, chair of the planning commission, said he didn’t understand why State College community members would be interested in a new indoor tennis facility.
He said community members wouldn’t be able to use the facility, because of a new rule that took effect this summer. The rule states that all athletic and recreational facilities will only be accessible by those with a valid Penn State ID+ card, according to Penn State’s Policy Manual.
The next issue discussed by the planning commission was an update on zoning for the shopping areas at the intersection of Atherton Street and University Drive.
Myers said that a planning commission member would be available at a community meeting for the neighbors affected that will include focus group discussions and questions about the shopping areas.
Planning Commission Vice-chair Michael Roeckel stressed that he wants the community meeting discussions to continue to move forward.
"The questions, topics and comments can’t be limited to the questions [created by the planning commission] and should only be considered a starting point," Roeckel said.
Former Centre County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jon Eich suggested now that students are back, they can help move discussion forward by taking photographic evidence of the problems of the commercial and residential zones. This would make the problems more visual, he said.
Community Development and Planning Director Carl Hess said that these CP-3 commercial zoning efforts and discussions of the West End developments would be addressed before the State College Borough Council meeting on Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building.
