The Berkeley County Comprehensive Plan
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Berkeley County Comprehensive Plan Update June 2006 Berkeley County Planning Commission TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – The Role and Purpose of Planning ....................................1 What the Comprehensive Plan does:.................................................2 Relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and Other Plans in Berkeley County..................................................................................2 Recommended Review Process..........................................................2 Chapter 2 – An Introduction to Berkeley County..................................5 Location and Regional Setting ............................................................5 A Brief History of Berkeley County........................................................5 Quick Facts About Berkeley County ...................................................7 Chapter 3 – Key Trends and Issues ..........................................................9 Demographics ......................................................................................10 Housing...................................................................................................10 Land Use.................................................................................................11 Transportation .......................................................................................11 Community Facilities and Services ....................................................11 Economics .............................................................................................11 Natural Resources.................................................................................12 Historic and Cultural.............................................................................12 Chapter 4 – Values, Visions and Goals .................................................15 Public Involvement Process ................................................................15 Planning Advisory Committee........................................................15 Project Website.................................................................................16 Public Outreach – Issues Identification.........................................16 Public Outreach - A Vision of the Future ......................................17 Public Outreach - The Community Survey...................................22 Chapter 5 – Action Plans and Implementation ..................................25 Planning Strategies and Population Forecasts................................25 Available Projections .......................................................................26 Conclusion.........................................................................................27 THE BERKELEY COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The Growth Management Plan......................................................... 29 Background....................................................................................... 29 Creating a Framework for Future Growth.................................... 29 The Growth Management Map ........................................................ 31 Growth Management Land Use Categories .............................. 31 Growth Areas.................................................................................... 31 Planned Community........................................................................ 33 Rural Areas......................................................................................... 33 Action Strategies for Growth Management.................................... 34 Effective Land Use Implementation Tools ........................................ 36 Town Centers- Martinsburg and Hedgesville............................... 38 Rural Planning Strategies................................................................. 40 Annexation........................................................................................ 41 Implementation – ............................................................................. 41 Conclusion......................................................................................... 43 The Housing Plan .................................................................................. 45 Current Housing Characteristics .................................................... 45 Future Housing Needs...................................................................... 46 Action Strategies for Housing ............................................................. 47 Growth Management Housing Strategies ................................... 47 Housing Revitalization Strategies ................................................... 48 Neighborhood Preservation Strategies ........................................ 49 Affordable Housing Strategies for Berkeley County................... 49 Housing Choices Strategies ............................................................ 50 Implementation Strategies ................................................................. 51 Conclusion......................................................................................... 52 The Transportation Plan ....................................................................... 55 Action Strategies for Transportation.............................................. 55 Community Facilities and Services Plan ........................................... 65 Public Safety...................................................................................... 65 ii June 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Educational Facilities .......................................................................68 Health Care Facilities .......................................................................69 Parks and Recreation ......................................................................70 Public Sewer Facilities and Services ..............................................73 Wastewater Service Action Strategies..........................................78 Public Water Facilities and Services ..............................................78 Solid Waste Management ..............................................................79 Litter Control and Abatement........................................................81 Economic Development Plan ............................................................89 Economic Development Action Strategies .................................90 Natural Resources Plan........................................................................97 Natural Resources Action Strategies.............................................97 Historic and Cultural Resources........................................................105 Historic and Cultural Action Strategies .......................................105 Chapter 6 - Consistency and Interrelationships of the Plan Elements ...................................................................................................................109 Chapter 7 – Implementation Schedule ..............................................115 Appendices Technical Background Studies Geographic Information Systems Mapping* Community Survey *With the exception of the Growth Management Map, all maps were created by the Berkeley County Planning Department. Berkeley County shall not be held liable for any damage, loss, or liability, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, which arises or may arise from use of map products, or the use thereof by any person or entity outside of the context of this plan. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Berkeley County Commissioners Howard L. Strauss, Commission President Steve Teufel, Commissioner Ronald K. Collins, Commissioner Berkeley County Planning Commission and Staff Ronald Collins, County Commission Donald G. Fox, President H. Daniel Gantt Eric W. Goff John Jeans Gary H. Matthews Gary Poling Bonnie Stubblefield, Vice President Richard Talbott Patrick G. Henry III, Legal Counsel Berkeley County Planning Commission Staff Stefanie Allemong, Acting Planning Director Matthew Mullenax, GIS Coordinator Harry “Sonny” Carter, Planner II Megan Clark, Planner I Melinda Stoner, Executive Administrative Secretary Debbie Laing, Clerk/Secretary Wendy Shaffer, Clerk/Secretary Leah Ann Blakenship, Scanner/Secretary Jamie Rogers, Intern Planning Advisory Committee Steve Allen Jon Applebaum Carolyn Bohrer Ted Bostic Steve Catlett Berniece Collis THE BERKELEY COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Tina Combs Ross Curtis Jeff Feldman Joe Hankins Rick Hertges Scott Honsaker Ray Johnston Curtis Keller Greg Kennedy David Kenney Alecia Knupp Clarence “CEM” Martin III Jerry Mays Nancy Myers, Planning Advisory Committee Secretary Charlotte Norris Randy Rankin John Reisenweber Hoy Shingleton, Jr. Tracy Smith Bill Stubblefield, Planning Advisory Committee Chair Joanne Wadsworrth Bill Weis Jimmie Williams Ed Wilson Hunter Wilson Don Wood Consultant Gannett Fleming, Inc. vi June 2006 TO THE RESIDENTS OF BERKELEY COUNTY March, 2006 To the Residents of Berkeley County What does the future hold for Berkeley County? Berkeley County continues to be the fastest growing county in West Virginia as well as one of the fastest growing in the United States. How will we continue to grow and where will growth take place? What are the major concerns and problems that need to be addressed in Berkeley County? Over the past year we have been asking these questions and getting input from the Berkeley County community. The results have been incorporated into this Comprehensive Plan for Berkeley County. This plan fulfills a state mandate but more importantly provides policies and plans