Berkeley County Planning Commission advances Stonecrest concept, approves site plans and two subdivision waivers

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Planning Commission on May 4 approved a string of land-use actions, advancing a Stonecrest concept plan and clearing detailed and final site plans while granting waivers tied to private-road and lot-size requirements.

Linda Barnhart, presiding, opened the meeting at 6 p.m. and the panel unanimously approved the agenda. The commission advanced the Stonecrest Parcel A concept plan — a developer proposal for a 9,000-square-foot retail store and a 9,000-square-foot urgent care on about 2 acres to be served by public water and sewer — to the Detailed Site Plan stage after a public hearing and without public objection. Steve Cvijanovich represented the project.

Commissioners also approved a detailed site plan for District Concrete, a proposed concrete material storage facility on 1.10 acres. County Engineer Doug Smith said the site would include a patch plant that recycles water and would have no discharge; project representative John Eisenhower said "the mixing will be done on the truck." The commission closed that public hearing and approved the plan unanimously.

A final plat for Boyd's Crossing Phase 1, Section 3A, proposing four lots across about 127.57 acres to be served by public water and sewer, was approved after the public hearing. Justin Clark represented that project.

During a public comment period on a family-transfer plat for Carter Jones (Abe Myers Road), resident John Dellinger raised concerns about the apparent width of the paved cart path on Abe Myers Road, saying it is only 16 feet despite a recorded right-of-way. Deputy Director Laura Hoffmaster said "the right-of-way is 40 foot but the cart path is paved 16 foot," and noted the road is private and not subject to county enforcement absent a maintenance agreement. The commission approved a waiver to Section 302.1.D.1 of the Subdivision and Land Use Ordinance (2025) exempting the proposed family-transfer lots from the ordinance's 50-foot right-of-way requirement.

The commission granted two waivers for a separate administrative subdivision for Kevin and Gerald Butts: a waiver of the 50-foot right-of-way requirement and a waiver of Table 5-6's 60,000-square-foot minimum for residential lots served by private well and septic. The latter approval was contingent on the plat showing a 10,000-square-foot septic reserve area for the existing system serving the 1-acre lot.

Commissioners accepted staff recommendations to advertise public hearings June 1 for a final-plat consideration of Stoney Ridge Section 6 (17 single-family lots on about 5.3 acres) and for a detailed-site-plan hearing for Liberty Business Park Lot 22 (three commercial buildings on 5.31 acres). Deputy Director Hoffmaster said the county is still awaiting the draft Comprehensive Plan update and provided no further schedule.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn carried at 6:29 p.m. Sarah Sandri, Planner I, filed the meeting minutes.

Votes at a glance: agenda approval — motion carried unanimously; April 20 minutes — motion carried, Brandon Franklin abstained; Stonecrest concept advancement — motion carried unanimously (Franklin recused prior to vote); District Concrete detailed plan approval — motion carried unanimously; Boyd's Crossing final plat — motion carried unanimously; Chris Jones family-transfer waiver (Section 302.1.D.1) — motion carried unanimously; Kevin Butts waivers (ROW and lot-size contingent on septic reserve) — motion carried unanimously; motions to advertise hearings for Stoney Ridge and Liberty Business Park — motions carried unanimously; adjournment — motion carried unanimously.

Authorities and rules referenced in the meeting included Section 302.1.D.1 and Table 5-6 of the Berkeley County Subdivision and Land Use Ordinance (2025) and references to WVDOH (WV Department of Highways) right-of-way practice. The commission did not adopt any change to the Comprehensive Plan at this meeting.

Next steps: advertised public hearings for Stoney Ridge and Liberty Business Park are scheduled for the June 1, 2026 Planning Commission meeting; staff will return additional drafts and plats as required.