Members of the Campus Parking Committee said Monday they are exploring options to increase campus parking, including the expansion of Lot S located behind Gabel Hall.

Committee Chairman Bill Parker said Sasaski and Associates, a group doing campus-wide planning, recommended expanding Lot S from 30 spaces to 200 spaces. Committee members looked at tentative plans at Monday’s meeting.

“We need to look at short-term options that have long-term feasibility. The committee is looking at possible sites for parking lots on the outer edges of campus,” Parker said.

Lot S is designated with a brown permit, given to students who live within the Huskie bus system. The lots are located away from campus, a spokesman for the NIU Parking Division said. Brown permit lots also can be used by the four other types of stickers when those lots are full.

Parker said he does not know if Lot S would be designated differently if it is expanded.

Students at Monday’s meeting expressed concern about the conversion of student parking lot D, near Neptune Hall, to faculty/staff parking. Neptune resident Laree Smith said many handicapped students live in the Neptune complex and need their cars to get to class. If Lot D was changed to faculty parking, Neptune residents would have to park by Anderson Hall or the Student Recreation Center.

Parking Division Manager Lynn Fraser said the needs of handicapped individuals would be met. “We are obligated to help handicapped students and faculty. If Lot D were changed, we would make provisions for the handicapped residents.”

Smith said loading and unloading belongings at the beginning and end of the year is a serious problem. “It would be tough to carry stereos and suitcases across campus, and as it is (Neptune) North and (Neptune) East are inaccessible.”

Dave Stern, co-chairman of the Student Association Ad Hoc Parking Committee, asked the campus committee about the feasibility of a multi-level parking garage.

Parker said when a structure is put up “you are committed to using the space as parking.” He said a parking garage would cost about $6,000 per space to construct, and NIU does not have the money.

Stern said if the money needed to be there it could be found through bond revenues. “I don’t think most students would mind taking a fee increase if it were to benefit them.”

Parker said the university would need to see a majority of students support an increase specifically for a parking garage.