Commission selects West Virginia University Law Clinic to update county Unified Development Code; training and timeline discussed

The Fayette County Commission confirmed West Virginia University Law Clinic will assist the county in rewriting or updating its Unified Development Code (UDC). Jesse Richardson, representing the clinic, described the work and confirmed the clinic will review the county’s comprehensive plan to align code changes with commission priorities.

Commissioners and staff said the UDC has not had a comprehensive update for many years and is difficult for laypersons to follow; sections date back to 2009 or earlier. Commissioners asked the clinic to emphasize plain-language drafting and to provide training for the Planning Commission and board of zoning appeals. Jesse said the clinic will include training in the timeline and will send a schedule to Angela for coordination. Staff and commissioners agreed training should happen in the coming months.

Why it matters: The UDC governs zoning, subdivisions and development standards; an updated, clearer code could reduce disputes about required materials for applications and align Planning Commission decisions with county planning priorities. Commissioners raised concerns that the Planning Commission had asked applicants for materials beyond what the code requires; they asked for explicit guidance in the UDC and training to prevent inconsistent application of requirements.

Next steps: Jesse will send a project timeline to Angela, who will distribute it to commissioners and schedule initial meetings and training. Commissioners voted to schedule a follow-up or administrative item for March 19 to continue work on related agenda items.