WELLSBURG – Wellsburg officials want to replace unused former industrial sites with new businesses and remove dilapidated structures that create a hazard or eyesore.
And their first step in doing that is to establish a comprehensive plan for development.
“We need a blueprint – what the citizens think the city should be – moving forward,” City Manager Mark Henne told members of the city’s planning commission Monday.
Jared Anderson, an attorney and professor with the West Virginia University Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, told the group a comprehensive plan not only helps cities and counties to prioritize improvements and measures needed to support various types of development.
Anderson noted cities and counties with zoning also are required under state law to adopt a comprehensive plan by June 2014.
Henne said the law clinic was recruited to assist the city in developing a plan because federal money enables it to offer free services as a consultant.
Anderson said the clinic is working with about 15 counties and cities to develop plans through the efforts of its staff and about a dozen second- and third-year law students at the university.
He said two law students have been assigned to assist him in working with Wellsburg and will attend future meetings. He said the plan shouldn’t be confused with zoning as it doesn’t limit use of land, including private development.
But it does identify potential areas for development while including elements supporting that, such as infrastructure, housing and financing, Anderson noted.
Read the full story at the Weirton Daily Times
West Virginia Receives $1 Million in EPA Brownfields Grants
On May 28th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1,000,000 in 2014 EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants for five West Virginia communities. Assessment grants provide funding to ...
Read MoreNew EPA Brownfields Videos Highlight West Virginia Partnerships and Projects
The Environmental Protection Agency has released two Brownfields Partnership videos highlighting successful projects and partnerships in the Mountain State. The videos showcase the value of partnerships in navigating the ...
Read MoreNBAC Accepting Applications for BAD Buildings Program Associate
The West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVURC) seeks to hire a Program Associate in the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University. This position performs various ...
Read More