Commission sets Feb. 5 public hearing for Economic Opportunity Development District near Exit 8

Summary

County staff asked the commission to advertise and hold a public hearing on creating an Economic Opportunity Development District (EODD) — a sales-tax-increment tool under West Virginia Code 7, article 22 — for about 275 acres off Exit 8 (Tabler Station); the commission set the hearing for Feb. 5, 2026, at 11 a.m.

The Berkeley County Commission voted to set and advertise a public hearing for Feb. 5, 2026, at 11 a.m. to consider creating an Economic Opportunity Development District (EODD) under West Virginia Code 7, article 22. Staff said the district — approximately 275 acres near Exit 8 in the Tabler Station area — would permit use of sales-tax increment financing to support infrastructure and public facilities inside a defined district and allow issuance of bonds backed by the district’s tax revenue, not the county general fund.

Staff emphasized that West Virginia law requires the public hearing and that the county would submit an application to the West Virginia Division of Economic Development for final authorization. Bond counsel Steptoe & Johnson will handle publication of the required notices. Staff and several commissioners described the project as a development tool meant to capture visitor spending and support local infrastructure without raising property or county sales taxes.

The commission adopted the resolution to advertise the hearing by voice vote.