Moulder on parking concerns

The more construction that takes place at or near Oconee County government facilities in Walhalla raises the question of whether parking will be adequate. In a 96.3/WGOG interview, the Oconee County Administrator Scott Moulder addresses parking for the new proposed location for the jail and a new motel nearby. Adequate parking was a major concern for city of Walhalla when its zoning board said no in 2011 to a variance the county needed to build the jail on the left side of the Law Enforcement Center. As the result of the favorable reception to Sheriff Mike Crenshaw’s presentation this week, the county now will move to attempt to make reality a 192-bed jail to the right of the LEC, bordering West View Cemetery. That could mean another application to the Walhalla Board of Zoning Appeals. Moulder also says the developers for the proposed motel in the former courthouse building are aware of off-street parking limitations. Moulder says at this week’s public hearing on the project Susie Cornelius raised a legitimate concern. But, contrary to what 96.3/WGOG NEWS has been led to believe, Moulder says, the replacement courthouse next door won’t lose parking. The deal approving the transfer of the 1956 courthouse building and property to the company Oconee Courthouse Venture awaits one more vote by county council.