THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996              TAG: 9606190384
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   41 lines

SUFFOLK BOARD VOTES TO KEEP YOUTH GROUP FROM PROPOSED PARK

The Planning Commission voted 8-4 Tuesday against including YES - Youth Entertainment Studios - in the city's plan for the former Radio Transmitting Facility near Driver.

Instead, the advisory board wants the City Council to help find YES another home - at the former Suffolk High School downtown.

City officials have struggled for months to form a plan for the vacant, 597-acre Driver facility.

Consultants first excluded YES, then amended the plan to include 32 acres for YES/Regent University. The plan also marks 150 acres for an environmental center for Old Dominion University, 208 acres for a wildlife refuge and 63 acres for little league use.

Some citizens protested giving any land to YES, a Virginia Beach-based, nonprofit organization that seeks to get at-risk youth involved in media and entertainment professions.

YES' relationship with Regent concerned some of the commissioners.

``I support what YES is trying to do for youth,'' said Commissioner Charles H. Rose Jr. ``If Regent University . . . were as interested in the property as it should be . . . I haven't seen any of (its representatives) up here.''

Regent Film Professor Andrew Quicke attended Tuesday, but the commission said that wasn't enough.

``I would like to see YES find a home,'' said Commissioner E. Brian Pritchard. ``I think it is inappropriate for us to be giving free land to an entity such as Regent University.''

YES President Harry Young said after the meeting that he would not reject other Suffolk land, but that his organization wants to be included in the Driver plans.

``I'm very disappointed in their decision,'' Young said. ``But I'm hopeful that the City Council will see benefits. I'm hopeful that we will find our place on that site.''

Consultant H. Cale Givens said if the city decides not to include YES, the 32 acres could be used for more park space, as his firm initially recommended.

The plan needs approval of the City Council. The Navy ultimately will decide who gets the property. by CNB