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Commission hears public concern over HB2014 and notes data center entrance/intersection issues
Summary
A resident urged clarification of HB2014 and suggested restoring local review rights and FOIA access for data centers; commissioners heard a separate staff update about the Comprehensive Plan and a commissioner raised concerns about a proposed Bedington-area data center's interaction with the Bedington Road intersection and WVDOH entrance permitting.
At the start of the May 18 meeting, Brooke Gibson, a Berkeley County resident, raised concerns about HB2014 and local oversight of data centers. Gibson said she lives about three miles from the proposed Bedington data center site and thanked Commissioner John Hardy for seeking clarification from the state on HB2014. She said the community has seen "misinformation, speculation and conspiracy theories" and urged officials to help restore trust. She said local counsel (Steve New) told her he is willing to take legal action on behalf of residents if HB2014 cannot be amended or appealed to restore local rights and include West Virginia data centers under public-records access.
Later in the meeting, Laura Hoffmaster announced a virtual Comprehensive Plan work session for May 21. Commissioner Mike Bush noted that the footprint for a proposed data center near Bedington could affect the Bedington Road intersection and questioned whether the Planning Commission should engage with the West Virginia Department of Highways entrance-permit process to raise local capacity concerns.
The commission did not take formal action on HB2014 or the data center footprint at the meeting; staff scheduled the Comprehensive Plan work session and noted the commission may raise concerns through appropriate channels about transportation capacity and permit coordination.
