Commission reappoints Joe Panico; planning director warns state law compressed zoning timeline for MA0012026

The Monongalia County Commission reappointed Joe Panico to the Mon County Planning Commission and received a first reading on planning case MA0012026, which seeks to rezone several Union District parcels from low‑density residential (R‑1) to general commercial (C‑2).

County Administrator reported receiving a request from Joe Panico and commissioners approved his reappointment "until we can find another person." Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the reappointment and the motion passed on voice vote.

On the first reading for case MA0012026, Chair read the case description (Union District tax map 21, parcels 20, 21, 202, 23, 23.1, 24 and 25). Andrew Gasparais, director of planning, asked commissioners to note a new state timeline he described as caused by "Article 13 to West Virginia 8A," saying the legislation tightened processing deadlines and constrained staff time for reaching collaborative solutions with applicants and stakeholders. "It has really made it very hard to do the traditional work where we try to come out with a great solution together," Gasparais said, and urged commissioners to raise the issue with state legislators.

Commissioners indicated they would not take action on the zoning case at this meeting and that the timeline required action next week; multiple members said they were concerned about being "rushed" and asked for additional information from planning staff ahead of next week's hearing.

Next steps: planning staff will provide more information to commissioners ahead of the required next meeting; no final vote on MA0012026 was taken during the July 4 session.