Ray Smith, county Economic Development Authority executive director, and WVU land use planner Christy DeMuth listen to Michelle Gum during April 8’s open house about Lewis County’s comprehensive plan.
Land Use Planner Christy DeMuth emphasized the importance of the county’s comprehensive plan during the first open house.
Staff photo by Jonathan Weaver
Ray Smith, county Economic Development Authority executive director, and WVU land use planner Christy DeMuth listen to Michelle Gum during April 8’s open house about Lewis County’s comprehensive plan.
Staff photo by Jonathan Weaver
The first open house about the comprehensive plan was held at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Camden.
Staff photo by Jonathan Weaver
Dylan King graduated from Lewis County High School and is currently a law student at West Virginia University.
WESTON, W.Va. (WV News) — More opportunities for Lewis County residents to give the Lewis County Commission input for the 2024 comprehensive plan are planned during the next few weeks.
After surveys were available in March, open houses will be available from 7-8 p.m. Thursday at the Jane Lew Park Building, from 7-8 p.m. April 30 at the Ireland Community Building (located at 65 Community Drive in Ireland) and from 6-7 p.m. in the Hampton Inn meeting room (76 Hospitality Way in Weston).
“We’ll go out into the community and ask people their opinions of what they think is important, what needs to be changed, what needs to be focused on,” Ray Smith, county Economic Development Authority executive director, said during the first open house held April 8. “This is very important. I’ve seen the studies in the past, but this is with a different mission in a different atmosphere than before.”
Last fall, the Lewis County Commission unanimously voted to enter into an agreement with the WVU Law Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic for the plan.
“A comprehensive plan is a document (that), in this case Lewis County, will use to prioritize their issues and concerns that they see in the next 10 years,” land use planner Christy DeMuth said. “The county has an idea what those issues and concerns are, but they really want to hear from the public.”
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.
King is set to graduate the weekend of May 10. The Jane Lew resident hopes to work with contract law in Lewis County and said he would emphasize the need for tourist attractions throughout the county if he could give input toward the plan.
“I’ve been focused on this a lot this year,” King said.
Lesley White, a teacher at Lewis County High School, wrote on poster boards during April 8’s meeting.
“I think we have great community spirit, a lot of opportunities at Lewis County Park and support at the Lewis County Senior Center,” White said. “But I’d like to see a recreation center that families can go to or so that kids who don’t have parents can have a healthy place to go.”
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.
Senior Staff Writer Jonathan Weaver can be reached at 304-626-1446 or jweaver@theet.com
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