The University Cabinet finalized the decision to cancel construction plans for an on-campus parking deck, which would have cost $12 million and created 600 new parking spaces. Instead, the university has opted to purchase more land off-campus to be used for another commuter lot.

“I’m personally disappointed because we spent a significant amount of time evaluating deck operations and planning the proposed facility, but I support the current university position not to increase students’ costs any higher than necessary,” Richard Fauson, director of auxiliary services, said.

Since UNCW’s parking operations are self-supporting, it was expected that students were going to have to pay $120 more per year for a parking permit.

“A deck parking space costs over five times of that of a parking space on the ground,” Fauson said.

Several other options have been considered. Among these include expanding the one mile radius to two miles, or moving resident parking to off-campus.

At this time, however, it appears that making students park off campus and ride the shuttle back to their dormitories is not a likelihood.

“Going to this option creates some nighttime security concerns that we would need to address through some type of shuttle service, security in the lot, enhanced lighting, etcetera,” Fauson said.

For legal reasosns neither the cost nor the location of the land to be purchased can be released at this time. But it will be significantly less expensive and result in a smaller increase in parking fees. The new off-campus lot will be ready for the Fall 2006 semester.

Plans to increase the number of shuttles, which service the commuter lots are being examined. Two shuttles will transport students from each lot, and there are plans to increase service hours by including an evening shuttle for all off-campus lots.

“I am glad that they cancelled the parking deck because I think it would have been a waste of money, we don’t need it,” student Emily Jones said.

Construction for 200 new parking spaces at the corner of Randall and Reynolds Drives, to replace the spaces lost to the new School of Nursing building, will begin Summer 2006.

Current plans to significantly increase enrollment at UNCW guarantee that the issue of a parking deck is far from over. The Campus Master Plan includes several parking decks to accommodate the rapidly growing student population.