Berkeley County planning panel advances five development plans, schedules comprehensive‑plan workshops

The Berkeley County Planning Commission on an evening meeting advanced sketch, concept and preliminary plans for multiple developments and voted to forward its 2024 activity report to the County Commission while outlining public workshops for the county comprehensive‑plan update.

Staff recommended and the commission advanced the Cardinal Point Section 7 sketch plan to the preliminary plan stage; approved advancement of a concept plan for Berkeley Medical Center(BMC) overflow surface parking and a pedestrian bridge; granted final‑plat approval contingent on surety for the Seder Residential Development; and approved preliminary plans for a Marlowe Ice Cream shop and a Wawa convenience store and fuel station. Commissioners also approved moving the planning commissionactivity report for 2024 to the County Commission.

The actions clear the way for more detailed design and permitting on projects across several districts in Berkeley County. Staff repeatedly said the plans met the countysubdivision ordinance requirements and recommended advancement or approval at each step.

Cardinal Point Section 7: The commission voted to advance a sketch plan for Cardinal Point Section 7 (file 2401‑17), a Panhandle Homes project prepared by Fox and Associates, that proposes 80 single‑family attached ‘‘villa’’ lots on about 40 acres in the Falling Waters District. County staff told the commission the sketch plan meets the subdivision ordinance and recommended advancement to the preliminary plan stage; commissioner Darren Lewis moved to advance the plan and Commissioner Goff seconded. The commission voted to advance the sketch plan.

Berkeley Medical Center parking expansion and pedestrian bridge: Staff presented a concept plan (file 2412‑363) submitted by University Healthcare Foundation with Greenway Engineering as engineer for an overflow surface parking lot and an associated pedestrian bridge on property at 880 N. Tennessee Ave. in the Hedgesville District. During the public hearing, Dan Murphy of Greenway Engineering said the proposed lot "will be open to the general public" and that "there's no fee to park there." He said the addition is a surface parking expansion, "it is not a garage structure," and the pedestrian bridge is designed for pedestrians but could accommodate small vehicles in an emergency. Murphy told the commission the expansion will include pavement with new stormwater management areas, will meet ADA requirements and will provide lighting per county requirements; he said additional security measures beyond existing hospital security were not specified. After the public hearing, the commission voted to advance the concept to the detailed site plan stage.

Seder Residential Development final plat: The commission granted final plat approval for Seder Residential Development Section 1 (file 2409‑280), proposed by ILA Properties and engineered by Cheat Road Engineering, conditioned on receipt of a surety in the amount of $214,611.60 and a developeragreement. Staff said the final plat meets the subdivision ordinance for 81 single‑family attached lots on 17.9 acres in the Mill Creek District; a motion to approve the final plat contingent on the surety passed.

Marlowe Ice Cream Shop and Wawa Hedgesville: The commission approved preliminary plans for a proposed 1,000‑square‑foot Marlowe Ice Cream Shop (Happy Cow Ice Cream and Treats LLC; CEC Incorporated) on 1.15 acres in the Falling Waters District and a proposed 5,915‑square‑foot Wawa convenience store and fuel station (Wawa Inc.; Bohler Engineering) on 2.27 acres in the Hedgesville District. Staff said both preliminary plans meet the subdivision ordinance; both motions to approve preliminary plans passed.

Comprehensive‑plan update and activity report: Staff summarized the schedule for the countycomprehensive‑plan update, saying joint work sessions with the County Commission are planned to begin in July and public workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, May 8 in the multipurpose room. Staff said six focus‑group sessions with invited stakeholders will be held the same days as the public workshops. Commissioners approved forwarding the planning commissionactivity report for 2024 to the County Commission.

Votes at a glance - Cardinal Point Section 7 (file 2401‑17): Motion to advance sketch plan to preliminary plan stage; motion passed (mover: Darren Lewis; seconder: Mister Goff). Details: 80 single‑family attached villa lots; approx. 40 acres; public water and sewer; no waivers requested. - BMC parking lot expansion and pedestrian bridge (file 2412‑363): Motion to advance concept plan to detailed site plan stage; motion passed. Details: overflow surface parking, pedestrian bridge; property at 880 N. Tennessee Ave.; staff said no fee to park; design includes new stormwater management areas and required lighting. - Seder Residential Development Section 1 (file 2409‑280): Motion to grant final plat approval contingent on receipt of a surety in the amount of $214,611.60 and a developer agreement; motion passed. Details: 81 single‑family attached lots; 17.9 acres. - Marlowe Ice Cream Shop (file 24008243): Motion to approve preliminary plan; motion passed. Details: 1,000 sq ft ice cream shop on 1.15 acres; public water, private septic. - Wawa Hedgesville (file 2400415): Motion to approve preliminary plan; motion passed. Details: 5,915 sq ft convenience store and fuel station on 2.27 acres; previously granted a waiver to Article 5 Sec. 503(b) for the front setback at an earlier meeting.

Several motions were handled without roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript; minutes show each motion carried. Where the transcript included direct statements, the article uses verbatim excerpts attributed to the speaker.

The commission closed its meeting after approving the activity report for referral to the County Commission and scheduling workshops for the comprehensive plan update.