Latest news with #RiverwindRetreat
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fayette Commission approves one zoning change, nixes another
At Wednesday's regular meeting of the Fayette County Commission, the commission split in its decisions on recommendations from the Fayette County Planning Commission. The commission first addressed a request from Riverwind Retreat LLC for a change in land classification from R-R (Rural-Residential District) to B-3 (Business, Tourism District). After their discussion and public comments, commissioners unanimously voted down the recommendation. Nathan Thomas, speaking on behalf of the company, detailed Riverwind Retreat's plans for property along Browns Road, which included four one-bedroom cabins — that would be operated in Airbnb fashion — and a wedding event venue. The company's plan called for building along the back side of property adjoining Bridge Haven Golf Course on the Gorge, he said. There are currently no structures on the property, Thomas said. He also said the property would be constantly monitored. Commissioners and members of the public aired several concerns during the hearing, chief of which was how the project would affect traffic on a single-lane road in the nearby residential area. Upon questioning from commission president John Brenemen, Thomas said the plan called for the company to allow traffic to arrive one way and depart via another route. "One thing that's a sticking point for me is the road that you're going to be using ... to go on to your property," said Brenemen. While saying the commission embraces economic development, he said there also had to be concern for the way the project could potentially affect local residents. "If it were a two-lane road, we'd probably be having a different discussion right now." Commissioner Allison Rae Taylor said that, when debating zoning issues, commissioners "tend to look at the character of the neighborhood. That's a very rural area. People don't move to Gatewood to be around other people." A project such as Riverwind Retreat's would alter the characteristic of the neighborhood, she said. Commissioner Greg Fernett asked Thomas what would be done to prevent one-bedroom cabins from being populated by too many people. It will be monitored and there would be a check-in situation, Thomas said. Overcrowding, Thomas said, "would not be good for us, either, for that to happen." "Our road just cannot handle that kind of traffic, just can't," said local resident Christy Bryant, who said she has lived on Browns Road for almost 50 years. During her remarks, Bryant discussed an idyllic situation in which "I hear peepers, I hear children playing, I hear the click of a golf ball. I don't hear a lot of noise. Sometimes you can hear a little bit of the things over in Fayetteville. But, it's so peaceful and so quiet." She expressed concerns with heavier traffic affecting either local children out riding their bicycles or neighbors who have horses or individuals who are just out for a stroll. Bryant said she "vehemently opposes" the development of the property, and she implored commissioners to deny the request. Developers can appeal the county commission's decision through another county board, Brenemen said. The second zoning request met a better fate. Hobo House LLC sought a change in land classification from R-R (Rural-Residential District) to B-2 (Business, Local District) for property on 6.57 acres at 3279 Court St. For Hobo House, Ben Morgan said there have been businesses at the location before. Zoning officer Angela Gerald said the property has never been classified as B-2 but that businesses have been located there. "It is surrounded by businesses, but this lot was grandfathered in," Gerald said. Morgan said he aims to build a restaurant on the site "which perfectly fits into the B2 classification." City water and sewer are provided by Oak Hill, he said. Citing the prevalence of commercial businesses nearby, the commission unanimously upheld the planning commission's recommendation and approved Hobo House's zoning change. Also Wednesday, commissioners met with Jesse Richardson to discuss freshening up the Fayette County United Development Code, which was last updated in 2009. Richardson is a professor of law and the lead land use attorney at the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law. The commission had already approved utilizing the law clinic for the document process, Brenemen said. Commissioners discussed some issues that might need to be added to the UDC, including ordinances surrounding vaping and solar farms, as well as a planning commission issue. "We've had a couple solar farms reach out to the county and ask about zoning, and we don't have anything," said Brenemen. The overarching discussion revolved around making the UDC more easily decipherable by members of the public. Taylor called the UDC "cumbersome to understand." Richardson will be involved in training for planning commission and board of zoning appeals members in Fayette County in the coming months. Commissioners also approved contracts for improvement projects for the Fayette County Courthouse and the Fayette County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building. The commission will next meet on March 19.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fayette Commission approves one zoning change, nixes another
At Wednesday's regular meeting of the Fayette County Commission, the commission split in its decisions on recommendations from the Fayette County Planning Commission. The commission first addressed a request from Riverwind Retreat LLC for a change in land classification from R-R (Rural-Residential District) to B-3 (Business, Tourism District). After their discussion and public comments, commissioners unanimously voted down the recommendation. Nathan Thomas, speaking on behalf of the company, detailed Riverwind Retreat's plans for property along Browns Road, which included four one-bedroom cabins — that would be operated in Airbnb fashion — and a wedding event venue. The company's plan called for building along the back side of property adjoining Bridge Haven Golf Course on the Gorge, he said. There are currently no structures on the property, Thomas said. He also said the property would be constantly monitored. Commissioners and members of the public aired several concerns during the hearing, chief of which was how the project would affect traffic on a single-lane road in the nearby residential area. Upon questioning from commission president John Brenemen, Thomas said the plan called for the company to allow traffic to arrive one way and depart via another route. "One thing that's a sticking point for me is the road that you're going to be using ... to go on to your property," said Brenemen. While saying the commission embraces economic development, he said there also had to be concern for the way the project could potentially affect local residents. "If it were a two-lane road, we'd probably be having a different discussion right now." Commissioner Allison Rae Taylor said that, when debating zoning issues, commissioners "tend to look at the character of the neighborhood. That's a very rural area. People don't move to Gatewood to be around other people." A project such as Riverwind Retreat's would alter the characteristic of the neighborhood, she said. Commissioner Greg Fernett asked Thomas what would be done to prevent one-bedroom cabins from being populated by too many people. It will be monitored and there would be a check-in situation, Thomas said. Overcrowding, Thomas said, "would not be good for us, either, for that to happen." "Our road just cannot handle that kind of traffic, just can't," said local resident Christy Bryant, who said she has lived on Browns Road for almost 50 years. During her remarks, Bryant discussed an idyllic situation in which "I hear peepers, I hear children playing, I hear the click of a golf ball. I don't hear a lot of noise. Sometimes you can hear a little bit of the things over in Fayetteville. But, it's so peaceful and so quiet." She expressed concerns with heavier traffic affecting either local children out riding their bicycles or neighbors who have horses or individuals who are just out for a stroll. Bryant said she "vehemently opposes" the development of the property, and she implored commissioners to deny the request. Developers can appeal the county commission's decision through another county board, Brenemen said. The second zoning request met a better fate. Hobo House LLC sought a change in land classification from R-R (Rural-Residential District) to B-2 (Business, Local District) for property on 6.57 acres at 3279 Court St. For Hobo House, Ben Morgan said there have been businesses at the location before. Zoning officer Angela Gerald said the property has never been classified as B-2 but that businesses have been located there. "It is surrounded by businesses, but this lot was grandfathered in," Gerald said. Morgan said he aims to build a restaurant on the site "which perfectly fits into the B2 classification." City water and sewer are provided by Oak Hill, he said. Citing the prevalence of commercial businesses nearby, the commission unanimously upheld the planning commission's recommendation and approved Hobo House's zoning change. Also Wednesday, commissioners met with Jesse Richardson to discuss freshening up the Fayette County United Development Code, which was last updated in 2009. Richardson is a professor of law and the lead land use attorney at the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law. The commission had already approved utilizing the law clinic for the document process, Brenemen said. Commissioners discussed some issues that might need to be added to the UDC, including ordinances surrounding vaping and solar farms, as well as a planning commission issue. "We've had a couple solar farms reach out to the county and ask about zoning, and we don't have anything," said Brenemen. The overarching discussion revolved around making the UDC more easily decipherable by members of the public. Taylor called the UDC "cumbersome to understand." Richardson will be involved in training for planning commission and board of zoning appeals members in Fayette County in the coming months. Commissioners also approved contracts for improvement projects for the Fayette County Courthouse and the Fayette County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building. The commission will next meet on March 19.
