In The News
Big win for historic preservation in battle at quaint Middleway, West Virginia
wvexplorer.com - Nov 10, 2025 - Clyde Craig
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — In what has been called a win for historic preservation in West Virginia, a Jefferson County judge on Monday upheld the county planning commission’s rejection of Sidewinder Enterprises’ proposal to build a water bottling plant and pipeline in the historic village of Middleway.
After nearly four hours of arguments among attorneys for Sidewinder, the Jefferson County Planning Commission, and citizen intervenors, Circuit Judge Bridget Cohee ruled that the commission “acted appropriately” when it denied the Mountain Pure concept plan earlier this year.
Cohee affirmed that the commission has the authority to reject proposals at the concept-plan stage when they do not meet zoning requirements.
Her ruling echoed major concerns raised during the review process. Cohee cited the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission’s assessment that heavy industrial traffic could damage historic properties and that excavation for the proposed pipeline could disturb unmarked Civil War–era graves.
She also agreed with warnings that Sidewinder’s plan to withdraw more than one million gallons of groundwater daily from production wells at Lake Louise could result in regional drawdown, threatening nearby properties and residential wells.
The decision follows months of legal maneuvering, including an initial hearing in July and a prominent 4-2 vote last week in which the planning commission rejected a proposed settlement with the company. Monday’s hearing drew a sizable crowd to the small courtroom, where audible sighs of relief spread after Cohee announced her ruling.
Among those celebrating was Danielle Parker, executive director of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. “This is a big win for West Virginia and historic preservation!” Parker said after the hearing, noting that Middleway’s unique landscape, archaeological resources, and early settlement history faced serious risks under the proposal.
Several planning commissioners and two county commissioners attended the hearing, including Cara Keys, the Jefferson County Commission’s representative on the planning commission. Keys has led both major votes on the Mountain Pure proposal: the March 11 denial of the concept plan and last week’s rejection of settlement negotiations.
“This decision affirms the planning commission’s ability to deny projects that are in direct violation of our zoning ordinances in the interests of public good,” Keys said. “I would like to thank my fellow planning commissioners who have worked so hard for this community in good faith regarding this matter.”
About Middleway, West Virginia
Middleway is a historic unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, located between Charles Town and Martinsburg in the state’s Eastern Panhandle.
Settled in the early 1730s, the village is one of the region’s earliest European-established communities and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Middleway Historic District.
Originally known as Smithfield, Middleway town developed as a crossroads settlement serving travelers along the early roads connecting Winchester, Virginia, with the Potomac River. Middleway flourished as a commercial center in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, supporting taverns, mills, blacksmith shops, and small industries.
Its rich folklore is tied to the “Wizard Clip,” a legendary series of unexplained events recorded in local tradition and associated with the town’s early Catholic presence.
Architecturally, Middleway preserves a significant collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings, including stone and brick residences, log structures, and vernacular commercial buildings.
The district reflects a blend of German, English, and Scots-Irish influences typical of the region’s early settlement patterns. Its intact streetscape and rural setting contribute to its distinction as one of West Virginia’s most historically significant villages.
About historic preservation in West Virginia
Rooted in efforts that began in the mid-twentieth century, historic preservation in West Virginia is shaped by its diverse historic landscapes, including early frontier settlements, industrial sites tied to timber and coal, and significant Civil War locations.
Statewide coordination began in 1967 with the creation of the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office within the W.Va. Department of Arts, Culture, and History. The office administers programs under the National Historic Preservation Act, including the National Register of Historic Places, survey and inventory initiatives, preservation grants, and rehabilitation tax credits.
Today, more than 1,000 properties and districts across West Virginia are listed on the National Register.
Nonprofit organizations have played a central role in preservation advocacy and public engagement. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, founded in 1982, serves as the state’s leading nonprofit preservation organization.
The alliance provides technical assistance, education, listings of endangered properties, and partnerships that support community-led revitalization efforts. Its West Virginia Endangered Properties List has become a major tool for drawing attention to at-risk resources ranging from industrial complexes to historic schools and rural landscapes.
Preservation in West Virginia often intersects with heritage tourism, economic redevelopment, and environmental conservation. Projects in towns such as Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, Charleston, and Lewisburg demonstrate how rehabilitated historic districts contribute to downtown revitalization and growth in tourism. The state’s industrial heritage, particularly coal and rail, has also gained attention through adaptive reuse and interpretive initiatives.
Together, state agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups continue to shape a preservation movement that reflects West Virginia’s distinctive historical narrative and its reliance on heritage as a cultural and economic asset.
Helping Hands lawyer objects to Ronceverte Zoning & Planning Commission agenda, meeting delayed
therealwv.com - Oct 25, 2025 - Stephen Baldwin
The Ronceverte Zoning and Planning Commission met on Thursday night at City Hall to further consider a conditional use permit for WV Helping Hands.
Amy Hubbard, who leads Helping Hands, previously shared her vision for the facility with the commission. “We are hoping to convert the old hospital into a residential education facility. Rural communities like ours don’t have anything in place to address these needs.”
Practically, Hubbard says the facility will provide housing, job services, and a place for residents to “move from dependence to independence.”
She added in an April 2024 meeting that it will serve people from five counties–Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers.
At the conclusion of that meeting, Commission Chair Wayne Peer said to Hubbard, “We’re going to need you to sell this to your neighbors. Talk to them and get letters of support.” The issue hadn’t been on an agenda since.
‘We object’
At Thursday’s meeting, the commission was set to consider granting a conditional use permit for the Helping Hands facility following citizen comments.
However, a lawyer representing Helping Hands, Jennifer Mason, interjected just before citizen comments began. “The notice of this meeting was not properly published…We object to the meeting because of that.”
She then proceeded to voice a second objection, saying that citizen comments should not be allowed as the meeting was not a public hearing.
“We were told that it was going to be up for discussion in the notice that was published, although not properly, that there was going to be citizen’s comments,” said Mason. “You’re not following the code of West Virginia or Ronceverte with respect to the proper procedure. It is out of order.”
“The only issue you guys should be addressing is whether the application is complete,” Mason said.
“That’s what we’re here to do,” responded commission and city council member Leah Smith.
“That’s not what was noticed,” said Mason. “We object to public comment tonight because it’s not proper.”
“If you’re going to object to anything we do, we’re not going to be able to do anything tonight,” Smith said. “I’m going to make a motion that we go ahead and continue the meeting another night. If they (Helping Hands) don’t want us to hear (their request), then we won’t hear it.”
The motion was approved unanimously and the meeting adjourned.
‘Lack of communication’
At stake is a grant approaching $9 million which was awarded over a year ago by the WV Housing Development Fund.
“If there is much more delay, there could be significant impact to the grants,” Mason said in an interview with RealWV following the meeting. “If we don’t do it the right way, though, it’s worse. We kinda made the decision, ‘We’ve gotta say this.’ We don’t want to be attacking. We want this to go through smoothly.”
Amy Hubbard remains hopeful that each step in the process, even if it takes time, will be worthwhile.
“We are trying really hard,” she said after the meeting. “We want to answer any questions people have. I think a lack of communication is still out there. We still have people that think we’re going to be offering housing to drug dealers or a halfway house to pedophiles. That’s just not the case.”
“We are listening to the concerns of the community and trying really hard to address those concerns, but they’re not hearing us,” she said. “They’re angry and they’re scared. I do welcome people that have questions and are so against it to reach out to me. I’d be happy to show you the real plans and see the building. It’s a mess right now because we haven’t done anything but you can see the possibility.”
Several dozen citizens came in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Those in support argue that it meets a need in the area, while those opposed question the location which is in a residential neighborhood. A petition currently circulating in town questions if the location will impact public health, safety, and property values.
What comes next?
Mayor Deena Pack, who attended the meeting on Thursday but is not a voting member of the commission, told RealWV after the meeting, “The city is grateful to the members…that have volunteered countless hours in service to Ronceverte and their fellow citizens. I am fully confident that they will continue to review all the presented information and make an informed and thoughtful decision.”
St. Albans residents express concerns over proposed zoning changes
wchstv.com - Oct 8, 2025 - Shelby Burrough
ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WCHS) — The St. Albans Planning and Zoning Commission met to discuss changes to a zoning code which could impact where people can park things like boats and trailers in their yards.
"What we're looking at today was a setback issue for campers, trailers, RVs and boats in St. Albans," committee member Kevin Pennington said. "It was brought to us to look at moving the current ordinance from four foot to 15 foot in the front yard."
It was a full house on Tuesday night, with people sharing their concerns with this proposed change.
"I didn't agree to an HOA," one St. Albans resident said. "I purposely moved to St. Albans to avoid an HOA, so for you to put more restrictions on something that's already in place is ridiculous and I disagree with it. I don't think you should move this forward, simple as that."
The committee approved a motion to request that city council rejects this proposed change, adding that it is "overly restrictive."
"Right now we need to ride the wave with this whole Hatfield and McCoy ATV thing," another St. Albans resident said. "We've got Airbnb's, there's at least 50 in this area that could utilize these trailers coming in with people with their side-by-side from New York and where have you.
"Let's ride the wave and make some money to get some businesses."
Zoning changes could still be made, but for now it's back to the drawing board to come up with something more suitable for the city.
Morgantown City Council reviews pensions, housing, zoning, and climate commitments
wvnews.com - Oct 1, 2025 - Chase Hughart
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — Morgantown City Council held its regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole session on Tuesday, where they weighed in on a wide range of community issues, from financial reports and environmental policy to zoning changes and affordable housing initiatives.
The meeting began with a proclamation recognizing Latino Heritage Month, followed by presentations on the financial status of the city’s police and fire pension funds. Finance Director Jonathan Furgison reported that both funds remain on track to meet obligations, with the city eligible to request nearly $1.8 million combined from the state’s surcharge tax on insurance premiums in the coming fiscal year .
Council then turned to policy discussions. Members reviewed a resolution reaffirming Morgantown’s commitment to greenhouse gas reductions in support of the Paris Climate Agreement. The city’s Green Team urged continued investment in sustainability projects, citing past measures such as solar installations and energy efficiency upgrades.
Several proposed ordinances were also introduced for discussion, including updates to the city’s approved street tree and shrub list adjustments to membership rules for the Land Reuse and Preservation Agency , and revisions to the Vacant Structure Code aimed at streamlining exemptions and appeals.
Two zoning map amendments were also presented. One would reclassify three parcels near Hartman Run Road from industrial to service business use, a step intended to open the door to future townhouse development. Another would change a parcel on East Brockway Avenue from single-family to two-family residential zoning.
Housing policy featured prominently as Development Services Director Rickie Yeager outlined recommendations from a yearlong affordable housing study. The report highlighted ongoing challenges in Morgantown’s housing market and suggested new policies and programs to preserve and expand access for working families.
Council also held an extended discussion on potential changes to its own committee structure, exploring models used in other cities that could provide a more efficient way to review legislation before it reaches the full council.
The evening closed with a review of the proposed Morgantown Mosaic Neighborhood Pride and Engagement Initiative, a program that would provide grants and support for neighborhood-led projects ranging from beautification and public art to branding and events.
Ordinances and resolutions will advance to future regular council meetings for consideration.
What comes next? Mayor Deena Pack, who attended the meeting on Thursday but is not a voting member of the commission, told RealWV after the meeting, “The city is grateful to the members…that have volunteered countless hours in service to Ronceverte and their fellow citizens. I am fully confident that they will continue to review all the presented information and make an informed and thoughtful decision.”
Parkersburg News and Sentinel - Aug 18, 2025 - Brett Dunlap
PARKERSBURG — The City of Parkersburg is looking at creating rules and guidelines to establish and enforce standards for safe rental properties within the city.
The Parkersburg Municipal Planning Commission approved a proposed ordinance, Article 1764, for amending the city’s municipal code to establish provisions for the regulation and inspection of residential rental units during a meeting Friday.
City Planner Calaya Rake said estimates are that the city has around 3,500 rental units within municipal limits.
The City of Parkersburg has the majority of rental units in the county, she said, adding that many of the rental units are currently occupied.
“The market is mostly full,” Rake said. “It is really competitive for someone to find a place to live.”
The city’s Code Division has encountered situations where the condition of rental units has raised concerns related to safety, maintenance and habitability, including fire hazards, possible structural deficiencies and other issues regarding inadequate living conditions, she said.
“We need to make sure these rental units are safe,” Rake said. “Rental housing really plays an important role in providing a diverse housing option for residents.”
The proposed ordinance details requirements people who own rental properties would be expected to follow in regards to its applicability; registration by property owners and obtaining a certificate of occupancy; penalties for providing false information and failure to register; landlord responsibilities and inspection requirements; other basis for inspections and reinspections; and more.
“We have devised a proactive approach to code enforcement which would improve the quality of this housing,” Rake said. “It would create a certified certificate of occupancy that we have so many units in the city of Parkersburg that are safe and compliant.
“(Renters) will know they are making a good choice and the rent they are paying will be for a safe and compliant home.”
The provision called for units to be inspected within 120 days after the article is passed by Parkersburg City Council and a landlord would be in possession of a valid residential rental unit license (which includes a $25 per unit fee). Commissioner John Reed clarified the 120 days would be used as a time frame for landlords to register and then have the inspections done afterwards within a two-year period.
Chief Code Official Andy Nestor hopes their office would be inundated with a lot of registrations in the beginning and then he can get his people scheduling inspections. He felt one person would be doing seven inspections a day for initial inspections which does not count any followups.
“It is going to be a long process,” he said, adding he hoped they could get the initial inspections done within a year.
City Development Director Ryan Barber said there were 15 cities in West Virginia with ordinances dealing with rental properties, with Martinsburg having one for 20 years and Morgantown for 30 years.
“No city has achieved 100% registration nor compliance and I don’t think people will expect that in the first two years,” he said. “I think if this ordinance had passed here 15 years ago the quality of our housing would be better today because of it.”
Property owner Alisa Prince asked about landlords who have multiple units if they will be slowed down in getting inspections done as well as the number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors required throughout a rental unit based on the wording of the ordinance.
Property owner Lynn Dodrill detailed a number of issues he has had to deal with where people have damaged things within the unit that due to federal regulations regarding homes with federal HUD (Housing and Urban Development) requirements he is required to pay for and fix. He talked about the disregard some people have for the property and damages they have caused that he has to deal with. He talked about tenants who were evicted and who purposely caused damage to the unit before leaving that he has to pay for. He has had others who do not tell him about maintenance needs which causes issues.
Dodrill said he no longer participates in HUD programs because “there are too many regulations.”
“Overall, the homeowners who have rental property within our city do a wonderful job,” he said. “I don’t think we need additional complications and additional expenses to keep our units in good shape.”
He feels these additional regulations will end up costing owners more which will also cost renters more.
“I don’t think we need more regulations in Parkersburg,” he said.
Commissioner Eric Gumm said he has a house he rents and feels a lot of what is being proposed is “long overdue and well intended.”
“We need to make the distinction between what we are trying to do with this is not going to be a substitute for failure to screen your applicants before you rent to them or failure to conduct your own inspections and keep an eye on your own properties and not let things get out of hand,” he said. “I think what we have here (the proposal) is pretty good.”
Before being sent to council for final approval, the commission agreed to send the proposal to the Building Code Appeal Board to have a public hearing with any possible changes made by the board referred back to the planning commission.