PARKERSBURG - Wood County commissioners have contracted with Gannett Fleming, the firm that updated the county comprehensive plan, to look at area interchanges and recommend potential land-use regulations that might be applied to future development in those areas.

The finalized contract price was $11,000. The original cost estimate was more than $17,000.

"The discussions to do the interchange work arose back during the comprehensive planning meetings and that was when the original fee was proposed. After the firm contracted with the city of Parkersburg and was going to be in the area anyway, the county was able to work out the lower fee," County Administrator Marty Seufer said.

The commissioners approved a new comprehensive plan in 2007. The plan was compiled by the Pennsylvania-based Gannett Fleming.

The Legislature requires an up-to-date comprehensive plan be completed in counties that have a planning commission and land-use ordinances. Wood County's plans had not been updated for more than 40 years.

Although there is no countywide zoning, the county does have several land-use ordinances, including ones for subdivisions, salvage yards and regulations pertaining to the location of video lottery and adult entertainment businesses.

County officials said earlier, the plan and any recommended legislation would relate to interchanges, including along Interstate 77, West Virginia 47 and Corridor D (U.S. 50).

"It's difficult for businesses to succeed if an interchange is not laid out well. You need to look at traffic patterns and other factors," noted Commissioner Blair Couch. "We need to have the ability to plan."

"We don't know what the future holds. We need to have it for the big picture," said Commissioner Wayne Dunn.

County commission President Rick Modesitt noted earlier, the areas around the interchanges were ripe for development and the county needs to have the ability to regulate the development there. He noted special concern for "gateway entrances" to the county.

"I know that development along the interchanges was one of the priorities in the development of the (comprehensive) plan. This work (the interchange plan) will provide tools to allow you to control and direct development at interchanges along both U.S. 50 and I-77," Richard Koch with Gannett Fleming told commissioners in a letter.

Koch told the county officials a meeting would be scheduled with the commission and county planning commissioners in November. He said a meeting with the assessor would also be set up to coordinate mapping.

The work is to be complete by July 1, 2010.