Planning commission backs WVU Medicine Eye Institute, parking garage and rezoning recommendation

The Morgantown Planning Commission unanimously approved a minor subdivision and a Type 3 site plan and recommended rezoning to allow WVU Medicine to build a new Eye Institute, a connected five‑story parking garage and related site work near the intersection of Van Voorhis Road and Elmer Prince Drive.

The project would include a four‑story medical clinic and office building of about 152,000 square feet with roughly 102 exam rooms and 44 testing rooms; a five‑story parking garage connected to the clinic by a two‑story pedestrian bridge; and a reconfigured surface lot. Combined, the garage and reconfigured surface parking would provide about 1,100 parking spaces, including 20 ADA‑accessible spaces. Planning staff recommended approval of the subdivision, rezoning recommendation, and the Type 3 site plan subject to conditions in the staff packet, and commissioners voted to approve each item.

Why it matters: The development will consolidate several parcels, change zoning for the clinic and garage to a B-2 designation and add a large medical facility and substantial parking close to the Northside Fire Station and existing WVU properties. The commission’s approvals advance the project to the Board of Zoning Appeals for requested variances and to City Council for formal rezoning action.

Staff overview and approvals Ricky (planning staff) presented the project overview and drawings, telling the commission the project site is split between multiple zoning districts now and that the applicant is asking that the clinic and garage parcels be rezoned to B-2. Ricky summarized the building program, circulation, pedestrian bridge and fire‑lane design and said the fire marshal has reviewed and supports the proposed dedicated fire lane and the pedestrian bridge.

“I’m happy to go into the… subdivision request first,” Ricky said as the commission moved through the three related applications. After a public hearing with no members of the public speaking for or against, staff recommended approval of the minor subdivision; a commissioner moved to approve subject to the staff conditions, and the motion passed unanimously.

Rezoning recommendation and site plan The commission then considered the zoning map amendment that would change two parcels (the clinic and the parking garage) to B-2; the parcel owned by the Morgantown Building Commission would remain OI. Staff recommended forwarding a favorable recommendation to City Council with the conditions in the packet; the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.

The Type 3 site plan (SP 24‑199) — the development permit for a project judged to be of significant impact — also received a staff recommendation for approval with conditions. Commissioners asked detailed questions about vehicular and pedestrian access, how the main entrances would function depending on travel direction, and coordination with the existing traffic signal. Commissioners also asked about landscaping, lighting, signage, tree species and trash handling. The applicant described plans for wayfinding signage and said a monument sign is planned near the main entrance; staff and the applicant said final landscaping and lighting plans will be submitted later for administrative review under the conditions. The commission voted unanimously to approve the Type 3 site plan with the staff conditions.

Variances and conditional uses to be decided by the Board of Zoning Appeals The applicant requested four variances and two conditional uses that must be decided by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). Variance requests include relief from required setbacks (one encroachment was described as right up to the property line, roughly a five‑foot variance) and relief from the city’s long‑term bicycle parking requirement. Conditional‑use requests include permission for off‑site parking for the clinic (the code requires off‑site parking to be within 300 feet of the building) and shared parking for the garage because it will serve multiple WVU Medicine uses. Staff noted the garage is permitted in a B-2 zone by right, but the conditional uses are needed because of how the parking will be structured and used. The planning commission record shows the applicant will appear at BZA next week for those items.

Site details and design issues discussed - Access and emergency response: The project includes a dedicated fire lane that will allow Northside Fire Station vehicles direct egress to Van Voorhis Road; staff said the fire marshal supports the lane and the pedestrian bridge connection. - Parking and circulation: Primary access points will include a new access drive off Van Voorhis Road, modified access at the existing Elmer Prince Drive entrance and circulation to the Mountaineer Station and adjacent parking. The applicant and staff said pedestrian signage and wayfinding will direct visitors to the garage and across the pedestrian bridge. - Landscaping and trees: Commissioners and staff discussed the landscape plan in the packet and asked the applicant to refine some planting choices; one commissioner asked that Bradford pears be removed from the plan because of problems with that species, and the applicant agreed to replace them. - Trash and service areas: The applicant said compactor and dumpster locations will be handled in a screened back‑of‑house appendage adjacent to the loading dock; staff confirmed those will be included in the final plans.

Votes at a glance - Election of officers: The commission approved keeping Pete DeMasters as chair and Bill Petros as vice chair (motion and second recorded). (procedural) - Approval of minutes: The commission approved the Dec. 12 minutes (unanimous). (procedural) - Minor subdivision / lot consolidation for the Eye Institute project (application C): Planning staff recommended approval with conditions; the commission approved with staff conditions (motion passed unanimous). - Zoning map amendment (Map 2053) to rezone the clinic and garage parcels to B-2: Staff recommended forwarding a favorable recommendation to City Council with conditions; the commission recommended approval unanimously. - Type 3 site plan (SP 24‑199): Staff recommended approval with conditions; the commission approved unanimously. The project will proceed to the BZA for variances/conditional uses and to City Council for final rezoning action.

Next steps and schedule Planning staff and the applicant said the conditional‑use and variance requests will go to the Board of Zoning Appeals next week; the rezoning recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for a decision. Staff noted additional detailed submittals (landscaping, lighting, final signage) will be required under the planning conditions before building permits are issued.

Sources: Morgantown Planning Commission meeting transcript (project presentation, staff report and votes).