In The News
Resident input sought to help draft Lewis County (West Virginia) Comprehensive Plan
The Exponent Telegram - 03-16-2024 by Jonathan Weaver
WESTON, W.Va. (WV News) — Ideas from Lewis County residents, its youth and town of Jane Lew residents specifically are sought before the end of the month to help the county update its comprehensive plan.
County Administrator Tina Helmick said community surveys are available both online and in-person.
“A comprehensive plan is a document (that), in this case Lewis County, will use to prioritize their issues and concerns that they see foresee in the next 10 years,” Land Use Planner Christy DeMuth said.
DeMuth has worked with the county planning commission since the West Virginia University Land Use and Sustainable Law Clinic was contracted for the assistance in November.
“The county has an idea what those issues and concerns are, but they really want to hear from the public,” she said.
WVU officials have helped develop more than 50 comprehensive plans with communities and counties throughout the Mountain State since the clinic’s development 12 years ago. DeMuth, project manager, and third-year Law Student Dylan King (a Lewis County native) meet regularly with local officials.
“A comprehensive plan is really important in that it helps a community or county establish what their vision is moving forward, but it is also really helpful in grant applications,” DeMuth said. “If communities have a land use ordinance, a comprehensive plan is required by West Virginia code.”
Surveys are available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lewiscountycompplan, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JaneLewCompPlan or https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LewisCountyYouth or via hard copy at the Lewis County Courthouse (located at 110 Center Ave. in Weston).
Officials will close the survey March 31.
The town of Jane Lew will adopt the county comprehensive plan, according to DeMuth, but action items in the plan will specifically assist the community.
Community visitors are also going to be surveyed.
Lewis County Schools officials are collaborating with County Commission on the effort, according to School Superintendent Melinda Stewart.
“We are working to gather information on how to plan for our community. We have a large constituency of the youth population, so we want them to have a voice,” Stewart said. “The Commission has been a good collaborator with the school system and we want to continue to foster that relationship.”
Commissioner Agnes Queen said after the Law Clinic’s agreement that youth involvement is “definitely” valued.
“This will be a working document that we work with every day, so we wanted to make sure that we have the right people. We’re very excited to have this done,” Queen said. “I think it’s going to be great.”
The Law Clinic also worked with the city of Weston for its comprehensive plan a decade ago and for its zoning ordinance in 2019.
Prior to the completion of the draft comprehensive plan in 2013, local residents prioritized cell phone communication problems, water and sewer infrastructure, transportation, land use and housing.
Officials hope for the updated plan to be submitted for potential adoption as soon as late 2024.
State Broadband Plan Approved
WV Public Broadcasting - 02-29-24 by Chris Schulz
West Virginia has taken another step to improving broadband access for all.
West Virginia is one of four states, as well as Puerto Rico, to have its Digital Equity Plan accepted by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Acceptance of the plan will allow the states to access the $1.44 billion Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program when it launches in the coming months.
According to the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council, more than a third of all West Virginians do not have access to high-speed internet, and many of those with access cannot afford the price of a connection or face other barriers to effectively use the internet.
The Digital Equity Plan proposes to realize affordable connectivity for all West Virginians, secure device access and affordability as well as improve the population’s digital skills.
Public meetings scheduled for electric vehicle infrastructure plan
https://transportation.wv.gov/ - 02-26-24
Public informational meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Cross Lanes; Wednesday, February 28, 2024, in Morgantown; and Thursday, February 29, 2024, in Shepherdstown to discuss West Virginia’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan.
The federally mandated NEVI Formula Program will provide dedicated funding to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. The West Virginia Department of Transportation's Division of Highways has developed the "West Virginia EV Infrastructure Development Plan" as required for West Virginia to access this funding. This plan will serve as the state’s road map for investment of NEVI Formula Program funds and will be updated annually.
Phase one of the plan would establish charging stations approximately 50 miles apart along the state’s interstate highway system. Phase two would add additional community-based charging stations around the state.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) has proposed construction of 15 charging stations along Interstate 64, Interstate 70, Interstate 77, Interstate 79, and Interstate 81.
Public meetings will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at the Cross Lanes Branch Library; 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the Marilla Park Center in Morgantown; and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the Shepherdstown Library.
For more about West Virginia’s NEVI plan, visit transportation.wv.gov/highways/programplanning/NEVI.
Contact:
WVDOTCommunications@wv.gov
Putnam County Planning Commissioner releases statement on proposed delivery center
WOWK TV - 02-16-2024 Isaac Taylor and Sam Decoste
UPDATE (10:33 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16): Putnam County Planning Commissioner Dave Hobba has released a statement on the proposed 123,000-square-foot delivery center in the Fraziers Bottom area.
Hobba is the owner of the property that is being sold to build the delivery center off of Winfield Road between Agate Lane and Alexanders Avenue. He said he has had the property for sale for “several years.”
The statement said in part, “I’m confident most people in Putnam County want the best for our residents. They want good jobs close to home, safe and well-built homes, and recreational activities for their families. In the past, the motto for Putnam County has been ‘a great place to live, work, and play.’ It takes growth in all areas to achieve this goal.”
Original — A new 123,000-square-foot delivery center in the Fraziers Bottom area of Putnam County is being planned, according to documents and proposals.
The project is called “Project Kanawha” and will be off Winfield Road between Agate Lane and Alexanders Avenue. The documents confirming this were provided to 13 News after a Freedom of Information Act request was submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The project proposal includes a 30-acre parcel for the 123,943-square-foot delivery center. There will be parking and stormwater management infrastructure, according to the proposal.
There is also no tree clearing, building rehabilitation, renovation or demolition in the proposal, and no building or cultural resources are in the project, according to a letter from CESO, Inc.
What company will work out of this delivery center was not provided.
Lawsuit filed against Putnam County Commission after zoning change
WOWK TV - 02-14-2024 Sam Decoste
A lawsuit has been filed against the Putnam County Commission on behalf of residents living in Fraziers Bottom.
Attorney Max Gottlieb tells 13 News that a lawsuit was filed on Feb. 8 in response to a motion to rezone a portion of the unincorporated community of Fraziers Bottom to a C-2 high-density commercial district.
While no building plans have been made public, the rezoning status means businesses like movie theaters, hotels, hospitals, warehouses, and anything in between could head to Fraziers Bottom.
The decision makes the town available for new businesses to build in the area, which would create higher noise and traffic congestion and allow them to operate at a 24/7 capacity.
The county commissioners voted the decision through as a way to maximize their land to create new jobs.
Gottlieb says the lawsuit was filed on behalf of three plaintiffs who are surrounding property owners in the area.
Putnam County Commission President Andy Skidmore declined a request for comment.
‘We don’t need jobs:’ Fraziers Bottom residents against district rezoning
WOWK TV - 01-23-2024 Sam Decoste
A Putnam County community is asking new businesses to stay away after their town was rezoned.
On Dec. 28, the Putnam County Commission unanimously approved a motion to rezone the unincorporated community of Fraziers Bottom to a C-2 high density commercial district. That decision makes the town available for new businesses to build and open, and made accessible for anyone living in the county.
The county commissioners voted the decision through as a way to maximize their land to create new jobs.
While no building plans have been made public, the rezoning status means businesses like movie theaters, hotels, hospitals, warehouses, and anything in between could head to Fraziers Bottom.
However, the people who live in the town say they want no part of it.
Sherry Wells and her family have lived in Fraziers Bottom for more than 60 years, and she says the rezoning could change their ways of life for the worse.
“It raises an existential question. Will we even be here in two years? Will we be paved over? This is a do or die moment,” Wells said. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. I think that sums it up.”
Jimmy Thaxton says this is the last thing they want in their neighborhood.
“We want to grow as a rural and housing community. Putnam County doesn’t need jobs. I’m wondering is the Putnam County Commissioner sending out a message that they don’t want anyone moving to Putnam County anymore unless you got a big business? I just don’t get it,” Thaxton said.
Putnam County Commission President Andy Skidmore and Planning Commission Director Dan Coll were unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
The Planning Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday January 25 at 6 p.m. and the County Commission will meet Tuesday January 30 at 5 p.m.