Stung by community criticism, Towson University officials said yesterday they would delay for at least a year a plan to add seating to Minnegan Stadium -- and could scrap the expansion entirely if opposition continues.

The university will go ahead with a $5.4 million request for state funding to repair the 5,000-seat stadium and to conduct impact studies to address resident concerns, said Towson President Hoke L. Smith.

"This seems like a win-win," Smith said. "The neighborhood wanted a delay, and we're able to give them that without delaying the parts we need to accomplish, which weren't controversial."

But in a measure of the suspicion that the $28 million project has generated, community groups opposing the expansion called the university's move insincere because the school also would use state funding to continue design work on the proposed 11,000-seat sports complex.

"I don't believe [Smith's] statement at all," said Susan Gray, president of the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations. "I don't think the community will have the final say on whether it gets built or not.

"I also don't see anything different in their proposal at all," Gray said. "It seems that they're going to keep doing what they wanted to do. Build their new stadium."

Since July, residents have aggressively campaigned against the university's efforts to expand Minnegan Stadium's capacity to about 11,000 seats. University officials say expansion of the stadium -- home to lacrosse, football and track and field programs -- is necessary to attract better athletes and prepare the school for increased enrollment.

But residents, who worry that the expansion would increase traffic and noise, make parking more difficult and reduce property values, have inundated state legislators with calls, petitions and letters opposing the project.

Most recently, the Greater Towson Council voted to ask legislators to deny state funding to Towson for the stadium.

"We are doing what we can," said Smith, who was on his way to Annapolis yesterday for legislative meetings. "They can choose whether to believe it or not, but we are sincere in this.

"I was not expecting this much opposition when we consulted with the community about our plans," Smith added.

The project also would replace grass with artificial turf, add a four-level field house and expand the concession area. The university will raise $8 million from private donations and request $20 million from the state.

Towson's original funding request to the General Assembly indicated that construction work to add north-side seating was expected to start in fiscal 2000, which starts in July. The new proposal would push that construction date to 2001.

Smith, who worked on the new proposal with state Sen. Andrew P. Harris, a Republican who represents the area, said officials were prompted to change their plans because of "legitimate concerns" raised by residents.

Should the university receive state funding this year, that money would be used to renovate dilapidated seats in the stadium, the crumbling infrastructure and old water and drainage pipes under the stadium.

Janice Moore, a resident of Rodgers Forge, said that while she was pleased that the university is listening to resident concerns, "It still sounds like it's business as usual. To me, if it's a concession, they withdraw the 11,000-seat stadium proposal completely."

But Harris, who represents the area, said, "I think it is clearly a concession. Adding more seats was the most controversial part of that project. I say we give the community a year to communicate with the university and find answers through the impact studies."

Pub Date: 3/02/99