MCDOWELL COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WVULAW Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic ADOPTED _ WVULAW Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic “McDowell County, West Virginia, a community on the rise, is INTRODUCTION rich in history, outdoor recreation, and friendly, hardworking, and ery few places in West Virginia have the history welcoming people. The county attracts visitors from all over the and mystique of McDowell County. The south- world to adventure, leading the way as the backbone of southern ernmost county in the Mountain State, McDow- Vell County has left an indelible mark on the region. West Virginia’s tourism industry.” With a past that often seems bigger than life, the tales of this beautiful and rugged place are now tempered by the challenges of today. Once the bustling epicenter —McDowell County’s Vision Statement of coal country, McDowell County now faces complex and longstanding issues. The vision statement serves as the foundation for Issues include high levels of substance abuse, lack future planning and decision-making in McDowell of infrastructure, a dwindling economy, lack of jobs, a County. The vision statement is forward-thinking and large number of abandoned and dilapidated structures, can help ensure that future decisions align with the and inadequate health care. While there are no easy goals and objectives set forth in the plan. Further- ways to address these issues, the community can de- more, recommendations and actions steps in the com- velop a plan that acknowledges the issues, identifies prehensive plan should be consistent with the vision methods to address the issue, and prioritizes the meth- statement. Developing a comprehensive plan would ods so there is structure and guidance moving forward. allow the community to determine how to address the Some of the recommendations that have been iden- most important issues facing McDowell County. tified during the comprehensive plan process include At the beginning of the comprehensive plan process developing a countywide inventory of abandoned and in 2016, county officials reached out to all the -mu dilapidated structures and continuing to seek resourc- nicipalities and asked if the municipalities wanted to es for water and wastewater service, upgrades, and ex- participate in the comprehensive plan process. All ten pansion. Other comprehensive plan objectives include (10) communities agreed to participate in the compre- exploring the use of public/private partnerships as an hensive plan process with the idea that each munici- option for responsible development growth, encourag- pality could adopt the county comprehensive plan as ing the growth of the tourism industry, and focusing on their own. As part of this process, the municipalities prevention and education related to substance abuse. have discussed strengths and weaknesses, and map- In order to have a roadmap for where the community ping that will help inform the entire plan. This Chap- wants to go, there needs to be a vision. As part of the ter highlights the framework of the plan and explains comprehensive plan process, McDowell County Offi- why the county and the municipalities are completing cials created the following vision statement: a comprehensive plan. 2 McDowell County Comprehensive Plan — 3 Berwind Lake ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The comprehensive plan is not one person or one group’s plan, the plan speaks for and represents the entire county. In fact, McDowell County will become one of the first counties in the state to develop a truly countywide comprehensive plan, as all ten municipal- ities participated in the development of the county’s comprehensive plan. While impossible to acknowledge all people, or- ganizations, and groups that participated in the comprehensive plan process, the following list identifies those who have provided significant in- Contents put into the plan’s development: McDowell County Commission McDowell County Planning Commission 2 Chapter One: Introduction Municipalities: Advantages of creating a comprehensive plan 12 Chapter Two: County and Town of Anawalt City of Keystone Prepares a community for the future Municipal Overview Town of Bradshaw Town of Kimball Promotes coordination between various levels of Town of Davy Town of Northfork government 64 Chapter Three: Critical Issues City of Gary City of War Helps establish short- and long-term priorities Town of Iaeger City of Welch Increases the chances for successful grant 104 Chapter Four: Action Plan applications Region I Planning and Development Council 136 Appendices McDowell County Citizens and Stakeholders WHY MCDOWELL The Land Use and Sustainable Development COUNTY DEVELOPED A Law Clinic, WVU College of Law COMPREHENSIVE PLAN McDowell County Public Library The comprehensive plan process provides an op- portunity for residents, business owners, and local McDowell County Planning Commission elected officials to examine the current conditions in their community and decide how to address identified Mr. Cecil Mr. Mack Davis issues. Over the last several decades, McDowell Coun- Patterson, ty has experienced a significant decline in population, President Ms. Emily Miller high unemployment rates, and high levels of substance abuse. Due to these challenges, and with an eye to the Mr. John Derek Mr. Harold future, the county decided to develop a comprehensive Tyson, Vice Patterson plan. Many studies and plans have already been gen- President erated for McDowell County. Therefore, the planning Mr. David Rudolph commission attempted to incorporate pertinent parts Mr. Jay Chatman of those studies and plans without causing overlap or duplication. 4 McDowell County Comprehensive Plan — 5 During the comprehensive plan process, county and terviews, and visioning exercises. The Land Use and municipal officials analyzed components such as land Sustainable Development Law Clinic at West Virginia LEGAL REQUIREMENTS PUBLIC HEARINGS use, transportation, housing, economic development, University College of Law (“Land Use Clinic”) has fa- The West Virginia Code, Chapter 8A: Land Use The West Virginia Code requires that the planning recreation, and community facilities. Preparing for the cilitated the comprehensive plan process and assisted Planning, establishes the requirements that local gov- commission give notice and hold a public hearing. Af- future via a comprehensive plan allows local govern- in drafting the comprehensive plan. ernments must follow when developing a comprehen- ter the public hearing, the McDowell County Planning ments to make informed decisions on issues that are Each municipality was involved throughout the sive plan. Chapter 8A, Article 3 details the required Commission must submit the recommended plan to relevant to its citizens. While numerous advantages planning process and provided input regarding their elements of a comprehensive plan. Tables 1.1 and 1.2 the county commission and present the draft to the exist for developing a comprehensive plan, one of the specific needs and goals. Upon adoption of the com- (pages 5-6) of Chapter 1 direct readers to where they county commission. The McDowell County Commis- greatest advantages is the creation of a blueprint for prehensive plan by McDowell County, each of these can find the components and objectives required un- sion is then required to hold another public hearing how McDowell County should move forward in the municipalities’ governing bodies can decide whether der Chapter 8A, Article 3 in the comprehensive plan. prior to adopting the comprehensive plan. Each of the next 10-15 years. Not only does the comprehensive to adopt the county comprehensive plan as their own. Chapter 8, Article 3, of the West Virginia Code municipalities must also hold a public hearing before plan provide guidance as to what to do, but the plan enables county comprehensive plans to include the consenting to the comprehensive plan. also recommends who will do the work, and how . planning of municipalities within the county. Munic- much the projects will cost to complete. ipalities can adopt a county-wide comprehensive plan As McDowell County prepares to move forward in as their own, but only with consent of the governing otherwise difficult economic times, residents, local of- WHAT INFORMATION body of the municipality. Each municipality needs to ficials, and business owners have an opportunity to be Town of Anawalt participate in the comprehensive plan process, which DOES A COMPREHENSIVE a force of positive change in their community. The in- includes meeting to analyze current conditions, dis- formation gathered throughout the planning process Town of Bradshaw cuss issues, mapping, and soliciting for public input. PLAN INCLUDE? has been carefully integrated into the comprehensive Each of the following ten municipalities in McDowell plan so that future decision makers will understand The Land Use Clinic ensured that the McDowell County will need to consent to adopting the McDow- the reasoning behind the recommendations of the Town of Davy County Comprehensive Plan fully complied with the ell County Comprehensive Plan as their own munici- plan. West Virginia Code. A comprehensive plan is required City of Gary pal comprehensive plan. to address certain components; however, a community may choose to focus on specific issues in their plan. Town of Iaeger This comprehensive plan focuses on the issues most WHO DEVELOPED THE important to McDowell County, while complying with the general requirements of Chapter 8A of the West COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? City of Keystone Virginia