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Parkersburg planning commission OKs new business site

File Photo The vacant house that once stood at 1004 Virginia Ave. in Parkersburg is shown in August 2016 as employees of West Virginia Roofing tear down a neighboring structure. The company received approval from the Municipal Planning Commission Friday to have the property rezoned so its new offices can be built there. The matter now goes to Parkersburg City Council.

PARKERSBURG — The city’s Municipal Planning Commission approved a request from a business owner to rezone the property where he tore down dilapidated houses to build a new headquarters.

Jon Barker, owner of West Virginia Roofing, razed three vacant houses at 1000, 1004 and 1010 Virginia Ave. last year in preparation for moving his business to that site. It’s currently located off Seventh Street where developers plan to build a Sheetz convenience store and gas station.

Barker said he plans to use the unique bricks and roofing from his current headquarters at the new site in constructing a three-stall garage on the lots where 1004 and 1010 Virginia Ave. stood. The commission voted 8-0, with three members absent and one abstaining, to approve his request to rezone those parcels from a residential to business designation.

The decision now goes to Parkersburg City Council.

Commission members complimented Barker on his proposed design, and he noted that his company does a lot of work restoring older structures.

Photo by Evan Bevins Jon Barker, owner of West Virginia Roofing, answers questions during Friday’s meeting of the Parkersburg Municipal Planning Commission. The commission approved Barker’s request to rezone 1004 and 1010 Virginia Ave. from a residential to a business classification.

“This is definitely my showplace,” he said.

City Planner Sam Tuten said that although the property is in a residential district, there are no other residential properties in the block. Barker did not include 1000 Virginia Ave. in the request because he hopes to acquire an adjoining parcel and get them both rezoned at the same time.

No residents of the neighborhood responded to registered letters or advertisements in the newspaper inviting them to the hearing.

“I’ve heard no objections” to the project in speaking with residents, Barker said.

Tuten recommended approval of the application, provided Barker directs lighting for off-street parking away from residences across the street and complies with other aspects of city code.

Parkersburg Development Director Rickie Yeager, a member of the commission, said the city appreciates Barker’s efforts.

“Instead of looking up and seeing three derelict, abandoned (houses), we’re hopefully going to see a business that’s thriving,” he said.

The houses Barker tore down are among 22 that owners have razed since the fall of 2015, to go along with 40 torn down by the city in that same period, Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce said earlier Friday. It’s part of an offensive against slum and blight introduced back in 2014 that sought increased demolition funds and established a vacant property registry that charges $100 a month on vacant structures that do not comply with city code.

“I think it shows a commitment to trying to clean up our neighborhoods,” Joyce said.

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