Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Large Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves first reading for 180‑acre Benton (Vincent) Hayes rezoning; developer answers traffic and utilities questions
Summary
Council approved first reading to rezone about 180 acres from urban reserve to neighborhood residential after a staff presentation and developer Q&A; Elm Street Communities said water and sewer capacity exists today and a traffic impact analysis with WVDOH will determine required road improvements, possibly including a signal.
At first reading, councilors voted 4–3 to approve rezoning nearly 180 acres (the "Benton/Vincent Hayes" parcels) from urban reserve to neighborhood residential, a move staff said would allow a mix of residential and commercial uses and could support up to roughly 900 units by density alone though practical build-out would be limited by terrain, stormwater and roads.
James Perry of Elm Street Communities, the applicant, told council the company has discussed water and sewer capacity with Charles Town utilities and the initial feedback is that the city has capacity today. Perry said the developer has been through traffic scoping with the West Virginia Division of Highways and that a traffic impact analysis will be required; he added, "We don't believe the development is feasible without a traffic signal" at the primary access point and that required improvements would be accounted for in the planning process.
Council members pressed for stronger commitments on commercial acreage, recreation connectivity to the proposed Augustine Avenue trail and assurances about stormwater management. Staff and the developer said those details are refined in the sketch-plan and planning-commission processes after the rezoning stage.
