photo by: Eric Ayres

Wheeling Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis, right, speaks about proposed projects pending before the Wheeling Planning Commission in the area of Clator – a neighborhood in Ward 4 which Sklavounakis represents – as Mayor Denny Magruder, left, listens during Tuesday night's meeting of Wheeling City Council.

WHEELING — Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis on Tuesday night commended members of the Wheeling Planning Commission for vetting new business proposals in a neighborhood that already experiences significant traffic congestion.

During Tuesday night’s meeting of Wheeling City Council, Sklavounakis spoke in support of the careful consideration being taken by the planning commission, which has been subject to some public criticism for seemingly being unaccommodating to private business owners willing to invest in the community by bringing economic development on property that is properly zoned as C2-Commercial.

The Wheeling Planning Commission last month had pumped the brakes on two separate projects on adjacent parcels of property along Mount de Chantal Road in Clator because of concerns over traffic volume and stormwater runoff in this area.

Officials requested more information for both proposals by way of a traffic study and for plans for stormwater management. A proposed 6,200-square-foot, one-story new location for the Eye Care Center of Wheeling was given preliminary site plan approval pending the result of a traffic study, which would have to be funded by the applicant. A proposal for a new Wash-Rite Express Car Wash was not given preliminary site plan approval for many of the same reasons.

Sklavounakis on Tuesday night applauded the Wheeling Planning Commission for the action they have taken regarding these matters. The vice mayor noted that the commission is made up of volunteers in the community who provide their “time, energy and talents” for free.

“They’re not getting paid for what they do, but I know that they take their job very seriously,” Sklavounakis said. “Taking into consideration traffic patterns is part of their jobs. They should absolutely take that into consideration when they’re making determinations. That’s not the only thing they should take into consideration. There are many variables.”

Sklavounakis noted that water runoff and sewer separation projects should also be factors considered by the planning commission when making decisions that will impact the neighborhood, including the residential neighborhood in Clator that has been challenged not only with storm water issues but also with traffic congestion on Mount de Chantal Road and the Washington Avenue exit off of Interstate 70.

“A lot of members of my community in that ward have voiced their opinions regarding that,” Sklavounakis said of the proposals for the new eye care center and car wash. “That area is a congested area in the city of Wheeling. That, I think the Wheeling Planning Commission should absolutely take into consideration. It’s not like it’s a road that leads to nowhere – it’s a road that leads to the only hospital we have in the tri-state area one way.”

In the other direction, two-way traffic on Mount de Chantal Road has to narrow to one lane under a viaduct closer to the area of Kroger.

Sklavounakis said traffic patterns and storm sewer management are real issues faced by this neighborhood. Many residents of Clator have had flooding problems in their basements when storm water systems get backed up in the area. Engineering studies show that relief to the storm water backflow problem in the neighborhood could cost around $840,000, according to Sklavounakis.

“That’s something that we, as a city council, need to take into consideration,” he said. “It’s absolutely in the purview of the Wheeling Planning Commission to take that into consideration moving forward. I commend those volunteer citizens for all the time, energy and talents that they provide and bring to the table, and I want to let them know that we appreciate what they do for our community.”

During Tuesday night’s meeting, council also approved a $653,808 street resurfacing contract with Semper Fi Paving LLC of Bridgeport for this year’s paving of streets and alleys throughout the city. The work is expected to begin in early June and be completed within 90 days after work begins.

In other action Tuesday night, Mayor Denny Magruder proclaimed May 4-10 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week and recognized Wheeling City Clerk Jessica Zalenski for playing a key role in helping to keep all aspects of city business running smoothly.

Magruder also proclaimed May 1-7 as Youth Week in honor of America’s Junior Citizens, recognizing Wheeling Elks Lodge No. 28 for its efforts to support the program. The mayor also issued a proclamation honoring Kathie Brown for her years of service to the community, noting that Brown is retiring as the longtime executive director of Wheeling Health Right this week.