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Putnam County Commission tables two proposed Hurricane annexations after local objections
Summary
The Putnam County Commission voted to table two annexation petitions from the City of Hurricane after adjacent property owners raised concerns that the annexations would allow properties to skirt Putnam County planning rules; planning staff will review files and commissioners will revisit the requests at a future meeting.
The Putnam County Commission on an apparent unanimous voice vote on Thursday tabled consideration of two petitions from the City of Hurricane to annex parcels totaling roughly 10.3 acres after nearby property owners urged delay.
County legal counsel Larry told the commission the petitions assert compliance with “West Virginia code 864” and that each petition included signatures from the freeholders in the territory. Commissioners initially discussed approving the smaller petition, project 2026006, covering about 3.02 acres. That motion was later withdrawn and the item was tabled for further review.
Neighbors who spoke during the public-comment portion argued they received no notice and said the annexations look aimed at avoiding Putnam County planning and zoning standards. Blake Stevens, who identified himself as representing the owner of 3058 Mount Vernon Road, said a potential tenant alerted him via social media and that the annexation could enable the nearby property owner to “circumvent Putnam County planning regulations.” Gary Young, the adjacent property owner, showed commissioners photographs of parking in his lot and said the petitioning property has gravel parking, no stormwater retention, inadequate lighting and other noncompliant features. “We want him to comply with the county regulations just like the rest of us have,” Young said.
Planning staff told commissioners the parcel under challenge is a legal nonconforming property and that only a preliminary artistic rendering had been submitted by the property owner; staff said they will review the file to determine what, if any, permitted changes were proposed. Commissioners said they wanted more facts before making a decision and voted to table project 2026006 and a separate petition, project 2019102 (about 7.26 acres behind the Go-Mart/Taz Valley), until the next county commission meeting.
The commission’s action halts any immediate change to municipal boundaries and leaves both parcels in Putnam County for now. Planning staff will report back to the commission with file details and any outstanding permit or compliance issues before the items are returned for consideration.
