Wellsburg pursues development plan

 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