Elkins planning commission unveils draft comprehensive‑plan update, seeks public comment

The Elkins Planning Commission presented a draft update to the city’s comprehensive plan at a public meeting, outlining priorities on public safety, housing, infrastructure, economic development and technology and opening a public comment period ahead of formal hearings.

Christy Demuth of the West Virginia University College of Law Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic, which helped prepare the draft, told attendees that “the comprehensive plan is a policy document. Nothing in this plan will mandate the city do anything,” and that the update builds on the 2015 plan rather than starting from scratch.

Why it matters: Planning‑commission members and clinic staff said the plan is intended to guide city investments, strengthen grant applications and set priorities for the next decade. Demuth noted that the West Virginia Code requires comprehensive plans to be updated every 10 years, which is why Elkins undertook this review.

Key priorities and recommended actions

Public safety: Presenters said surveys and stakeholder interviews flagged drug activity, homelessness and limited mental‑health resources as top public‑safety concerns. Recommended steps include coordinated planning among the Elkins Police Department, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Randolph County EMS and local fire departments; establishing a detective division (which would require additional staff); continuing needed repairs and equipment upgrades at the fire station; and exploring a strategically located public‑safety substation at Beverly Pike. The draft also recommends continuing a regional task force on addiction, homelessness and mental health and pursuing opioid‑settlement funding.

Housing: The draft highlights a shortage of affordable, quality and downtown housing. Presenters reported that about 63% of occupied homes are owner‑occupied and 37% are rentals; they also said roughly 60 housing units were reported vacant. The plan cites a $300,000 award from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for demolition of 11 properties and identifies 13 more structures for potential demolition pending funding. Action steps include prioritizing demolition funding in the annual budget, pursuing partnerships to develop affordable housing, exploring loan programs and supporting homeownership programs.

Infrastructure and stormwater: The update flags combined sewer/stormwater vulnerabilities in heavy rain, silt buildup in the Tigard River and a statewide shortage of certified operators. Recommended infrastructure goals include expanding public water and sewer to underserved areas (for example, North Randolph Avenue and Corridor H), maximizing retention capacity (including potential river dredging), and considering a stormwater utility fee and an accompanying stormwater ordinance to fund and manage stormwater systems. The plan also calls for updating GIS mapping through a regional partnership and implementing streetscape improvements such as sidewalk repairs, striping, parallel parking and lighting.

Economic development and land use: Presenters emphasized maintaining and expanding economic assets — the industrial park, rail yard and courthouse — while improving downtown wayfinding and branding. The draft identifies four potential annexation areas (Route 250 corridors, Corridor H and two city “donut holes”), recommends evaluating targeted zoning (including a standalone industrial zone for a new industrial park and limited overlay zoning for neighborhood businesses) and notes the recently enacted TIF district as a partial funding source for streetscape projects.

Technology and organizational efficiency: The plan adds a new technology chapter recommending modest “smart city” measures appropriate to Elkins’s scale: targeted traffic‑signal control, road‑condition monitoring, improved internet efficiency and data storage improvements to support service delivery and public safety.

Process and next steps: The Planning Commission said the draft and supporting matrix of action items (with priorities, time frames, responsible parties and funding sources) are available online and at City Hall. The public comment period is open through Friday, May 8; the Planning Commission will meet Thursday, May 14 to review comments and revise the draft as needed; the process then calls for an official public hearing, a 30‑day notice period and a City Council public hearing and adoption consistent with West Virginia Code requirements.

Public response and technical questions: Residents asked for more data linking increased density and impervious cover to stormwater impacts; presenters said relevant technical data had been collected during stakeholder interviews and would be shared. Attendees recounted past deluges and urged creek cleanup, early‑warning systems and improved emergency planning. A representative for a congressman offered the office’s assistance with federal funding and letters of support.

What’s next: Residents may review the draft plan online, submit comments by the May 8 deadline and attend the Planning Commission meeting on May 14. The Planning Commission will schedule an official public hearing and forward the plan to City Council for consideration and potential adoption.