Norman Restaurants Want To Move Homes For Businesses

Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- In Norman the city has a vision for development along Porter Avenue, but so do some of the businesses that line the street.

Van's Pig Stand in Norman hopes the city will OK its plan to expand its parking lot. Tuesday night the barbeque restaurant will ask the Norman City Council to consider allowing it to remove two houses next door that it owns to make room for a larger parking lot.

Co-owner Mark Shuman said currently parking is limited and there's always congestion in the drive-through lane. Shuman estimated over the last four years, the congestion has cost him a quarter of a million dollars in lost sales.

"We currently have a congestion point right here," said Van's Pig Stand Owner Mark Shuman. "People in the parking lot can't go through the drive-through and have easy access to leave when they get ready to leave because people are in the drive-through trying to get something to eat."

Last summer the Council allowed a popular Mexican restaurant to remove three houses it owned to create space for a parking lot.

Shuman said Van's will help the people renting the houses it owns to find new lodging.

No decision is expected from the Council Tuesday night.