Parkersburg City Council advances water, zoning ordinances
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PARKERSBURG -- A proposal to rezone three parcels near 700 Rayon Drive advanced at Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting despite an attempt to send it back to the Municipal Planning Commission.
Council voted 6-2 to move the ordinance to a second reading, with Councilmen Roger Brown and Rob Moore opposed and Councilwoman Wendy Tuck absent.
The ordinance would rezone Parkersburg Tax Map 114, parcels C5, C6 and C7, from an R-3 residential district to a B-2 general business district. It returned after council split 4-4 on the proposal July 28.
Brown moved to return the ordinance to the Planning Commission, but the motion died for lack of a second. He said he supported constructing housing on the property, as the owner intends, but preferred an R-4 designation, which would allow additional residential development without permitting general business uses.
"If you sell that, somebody says, 'Well, it's a business,' then they can turn around and put a business in there," he said.
Larry Headlee, a financial adviser for the Bosley family, said the approximately 1-acre property has been listed for sale for about seven years. The current plan could include as many as eight two-story apartment units. Headlee said the development would not be income-based, senior housing or part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program. He acknowledged the B-2 designation could permit another use if the housing project does not proceed.
"There is always a risk that we can't build the apartments," he said.
Council President Andrew Borkowski supported the ordinance, calling it an opportunity to encourage development.
Council also unanimously advanced two ordinances related to construction of a filtration system to remove forever chemicals from the Parkersburg Utility Board's water supply.
One would authorize up to $12 million in a principal-forgiveness loan through the West Virginia Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund, which is expected to provide $5 million for the $25.75 million. The higher amount was included in case there are cost overruns and additional funding available. The other authorizes the design and construction of the project.
During the public forum, Parkersburg resident Ray Vannoy said he supported the proposed filtration improvements but questioned the timing. Vannoy said contractor bids are due Aug. 27, two days after council's next meeting, and asked council to delay its second reading vote until the bids could be reviewed.
"Let's invest the time to do our due diligence properly right now," Vannoy said.
Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said the project is managed and funded by the Parkersburg Utility Board.
"This is not a City of Parkersburg project. This is a PUB project," she said. "We are just authorizing them to do it."
Borkowski said a public hearing would be held and council is expected to consider a supplemental resolution after bids are finalized.
Sanitation and recycling also came up during the meeting.
Parkersburg resident Julia Monroe critiqued council and the administration's handling of sanitation and said residents' suggestions had not received sufficient consideration. She also questioned whether the city conducts exit interviews with departing employees.
"Exit interviews can tell if there is an issue with staffing, if there's an issue with gear, if there's an issue with management," Monroe said. "High turnover isn't always about pay - it's about basic support, equipment and the manager."
Mayor Tom Joyce later said all departing employees are offered exit interviews, although some do not participate.
"All employees are afforded the opportunity to have an exit interview upon their departure from the city," he said.
Councilman Mike Reynolds said feedback from about 10 residents was generally positive regarding Waste Management's larger carts and regular pickup schedule, as well as Rumpke’s no-sort recycling, although residents were not pleased about potentially paying more as a result of a recent court ruling. He said he would explore offering smaller carts.
Other speakers addressed traffic safety and the city's appearance.
Parkersburg resident Mark Hardesty cited speeding and drivers running a stop sign near 24th and Covert streets and requested crosswalks and flashing lights along Dudley Avenue in front of Parkersburg High School.
"I think we've got a dangerous situation there," he said.
Parkersburg resident Terri Miller asked the city to repaint traffic lines, directional arrows and curbs to make Parkersburg more welcoming.
"I think that we have a challenge, but I think that we can start small and end up big," she said.
Council unanimously approved an ordinance transferring vacant properties at 909 13th St. and 912 LaVerne St. to the Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority for neighborhood revitalization.