Planning Commission elects officers, conducts business
The Morgan County Planning Commission held its first meeting of 2012 on Tuesday, January 24 and re-elected Jack Soronen as president and Scott Swaim as vice president.
Waiver and permit granted
Vernon and Doris Miller of Great Cacapon applied for a waiver of the access road width requirement of the Commercial and Industrial Improvement Location permit ordinance for lots they own where three residential trailers are located.
Commission member and Health Department Sanitarian Brian Carter said the placement of the three trailers on the lots meets the state health requirements for a mobile home park.
The commissioners voted to approve the waiver.
In other business, the commissioners approved the plans for construction of 42’x 60’ storage building at 4782 Valley Road, 300 feet south of Mesner Road on U.S. 522, for Mountaineer Quality Associates, contingent upon Mountaineer receiving an approved entrance permit from the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Watershed plan
Jim Michael and Lin Dunham, both representing the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District, met with the commission to update them on the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans that were recently released for public comment by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
The Watershed Implementation Plans are submitted to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency as part of West Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.
Michael outlined the additional regulations being considered for the farming community. Included in the discussion was a nutrient management plan for each farm, protection of streams from livestock using fencing and alternative watering systems, the problem of eroding stream banks and confined animal feeding operations.
Michael also discussed efforts of the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association and Warm Springs Watershed Association in managing stormwater with stream restoration projects, a porous-pavers demonstration site and planting trees along streams.
Grant awarded
The Planning Commission received a grant of $10,000 to fund an overall review of the county’s stormwater regulations and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration requirements being implemented by the EPA.
Consulting Engineer Richard Parks of Arro Consulting prepared a draft slide presentation on stormwater management and a brief background of the requirements in the West Virginia Watershed Implementation Plan.
When completed, the slide presentation will be used in future commission sponsored informational workshops.
