WHEELING -- After many months in the making, a public hearing on a proposed special area plan and comprehensive plan amendment for GC&P Development is expected to take place.
Toward the end of a virtual planning commission meeting Monday night that lasted nearly four hours, members solidified a time, date and location for the long-awaited hearing that has been delayed several times over the past few months.
The public hearing on GC&P Development LLC's proposal for the site will take place at 6 p.m. on July 13 at Wheeling Park, preceded by a regular monthly planning commission meeting at 5 p.m.
"This is the one opportunity for people to have their voice heard, so we don't want to put a limit on the number of people who can speak," Tom Connelly, Wheeling's assistant director of economic and community development, said, noting that overflow will be arranged downstairs at the facility in case the upstairs reaches maximum capacity.
GC&P Development plans to develop a 50-plus acre site on the hilltop above Woodsdale. The plan calls for creation of a mixed-use development with residential and commercial sites, as well as office space.
The process of moving the plan forward has been in the works for years, and for the past several months, progress has been slowed as planning commission members have been awaiting data from studies related to a traffic impact analysis and geological matters related to site preparation.
Before the proposal can proceed, GC&P Development will have to successfully navigate through a number of additional stages to obtain approvals -- including site plan and zone change approvals after recommendations from the planning commission and final adoption by city council.
Officials have noted that the plan remains in very preliminary stages.
For several months, a special area plan and comprehensive plan amendment for the proposal by GC&P Development LLC have been on the top of the agenda at planning commission meetings as members have continued to await needed information about the project. Before making a recommendation to the amendment to the comprehensive plan for the property, a public hearing must take place.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing limits on public gatherings have prompted the planning commission to continue delaying the public hearing, as several residents in the Woodsdale and other affected areas are expected to participate, provide input and seek answers to concerns about the project.
Earlier this spring, a public hearing had been rescheduled to take place during Monday's meeting, but was scrapped with issues related to public gathering and other outstanding matters remained in the air.
At the end of last week, Gov. Jim Justice announced that the state's COVID-19 restrictions were continuing to be relaxed, noting that public gathering limitations were being raised from a maximum of 25 people to 100 people. This likely would help accommodate the long-awaited public hearing on the matter.
On Monday night, planning commission members heard from a number of guests during the meeting to answer questions city leaders have about the 800-plus page traffic impact study that was performed, as well as two geotechnical surveys -- one completed on behalf of the developer and another performed independently at the request of the planning commission.
Deputy Secretary Scott Mandirola of the West Virginia DEP was on hand to answer questions, as was several representatives of firms related to the traffic study and geotechnical reports.
Much debate centered around the site preparation process. In order to move a great deal of earth for site preparation, the developer can seek either a storm water permit or a quarry permit. Officials have indicated that a quarry permit would be a more efficient route to obtain authorization to move ground for site preparation. Additionally with a quarry permit, the developer could commercially sell materials -- such as limestone -- removed from the site to help offset the cost of site development.
Planning commission members have indicated that citizens have expressed concerns about potential blasting and increased truck traffic at the site if a quarry permit would be sought, among many other concerns about the project. If the quarry activity proceeds, some residents have expressed a concern that the developer could then back out of the project altogether without improving intersections, addressing storm water runoff and bringing the proposed development to fruition.
Any member of the public unable to make the July 13 public hearing but still wishing to comment on the matter can do so by emailing Connelly at tconnelly@wheelingwv.gov. Their comments will be made part of the record. A wealth of information from the developer's plans, the traffic study, geotechnical reports and other data will be made available for review on the city's planning commission website prior to the public hearing.
At the end of the marathon meeting, planning commission members and staff members thanked fellow member Wendy Scatterday for her service. Scatterday, a member of Wheeling City Council representing the 4th Ward, is not seeking reelection to her post and will complete her service at the end of the month.