Planners hear about permits & violations
The Morgan County Planning Commission had its first meeting since July and was updated on the status of permits and violations by County Planner Alma Gorse.
The meeting took place Tuesday evening, October 23 in the Morgan County Courthouse.
President Jack Soronen began the meeting by introducing the newest member to the commission, George Didawick.
Didawick was formerly in charge of operations at the sand mine before he retired. He holds an engineering degree from West Virginia University.
“I really look forward to working with everyone on the Planning Commission,” Didawick said.
He told planners he grew up on a small farm in Morgan County and went to work for a plant in Tallahassee, Florida after graduating from college. U.S. Silica bought the plant and transferred him back to Morgan County.
“It’s a small world,” Didawick said. “But I love Morgan County, I always have.”
Permits and violations
Gorse reported she has issued a building permit to Food Lion in the Morgan Square Shopping Center. Food Lion will revamp the entire inside of the store and install additional outdoor lighting in the parking lot.
She noted construction has begun on the expansion of the building in the shopping center that will house an Advanced Auto store.
Gorse said she also issued a building permit to Robert Summers for a storage building on his property in the southern part of the county.
Summers had previously been denied a permit because he was in violation of the county’s savage yard ordinance, but has since removed the vehicles in question from his property.
Two property owners along the Cacapon River were found to be in violation for not having building permits. Gorse said both owners have stopped construction and are now cooperating with the planning office to secure permits.
Olde Town Holding is in violation of the county’s Commercial and Industrial Improvement Location permitting process for the fireworks container on their property at the north end of Berkeley Springs.
Gorse said the fireworks business was supposed to be temporary but has been there far too long.
She has turned the matter over to the county prosecutor.
Region 9 is working with the town of Paw Paw to develop a comprehensive plan. Gorse said she is working with Jenny Vincent of Region 9 to see what information can be taken from the county’s comprehensive plan to aid in the development of a plan for Paw Paw.
Bay report received
Arro Consulting delivered a draft report on the potential impact that state requirements regarding the Chesapeake Bay initiative will have on county ordinances. The report suggests ways of changing existing ordinances.
The report was funded by a $10,000 Chesapeake Bay Accountability Program grant.
Soronen instructed planners to review the report and be prepared to discuss the report with Richard Parks of Arro at the next meeting.
Because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the November and December Planning Commission meetings will be combined into one meeting December 4, planners agreed.
