A new map from the Planning Commission shows a proposed Preferred Growth Area (above) that sits 1 mile south of the incorporated town of Shepherdstown.
The Jefferson County Planning Commission will hold its final public input meeting to accept public comment on the proposed Future Land Use Map and the action items to be included in the County’s updated Comprehensive Plan on Monday May 13 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Jefferson High School (4141 Flowing Springs Rd, Shenandoah Junction).
The May 13 meeting is the final input session for the land use map. The Planning Commission will be moving forward quickly after that meeting to finalize the Comprehensive Plan by the end of the year.
Key Documents For Comment
The public will be able to make comments on these draft maps and documents at the meeting:
- Future Land Use Map (draft revised May 10 2024) [download PDF]
- Future Land Use Classifications (draft for presentation at May 13 meeting) [download PDF]
- Comp Plan 2045 Action Items (draft for presentation at May 13 meeting) [download PDF]
There is also a comment portal (click to open) on the Planning Commission website to submit your comments and concerns about the draft Future Land Use Map, the updated land use classifications, the action items specified in the Comprehensive Plan, and general comments or questions about the text of the Comprehensive Plan. This comment portal will be open until May 26.
Two New Preferred Growth Areas Proposed
The Planning Commission published an updated draft of the Future Land Use Map on May 10. This new draft map shows two new preferred growth areas (circled in red below). The areas shaded in orange (with the crosshatch lines) are proposed to be classified for “residential or commercial” use. As the name implies, this classification would allow both residential as well as commercial development, to include single family homes, townhomes, gyms, convenience stores, and mixed-use projects that combine residential and commercial activities in the same structure or on adjoining lots.
The proposed Route 115 Preferred Growth Area consists of approximately 100 acres adjacent to an existing interchange with Route 9 and is located just to the west of the Rockwool industrial facility. The Fox Glen neighborhood and North Jefferson Elementary School are located just to the east.
The proposed Shepherdstown South Preferred Growth Area consists of approximately 500 acres adjacent to the elementary school that is currently under construction (for comparison, the size of this proposed growth area is double the land area of the incorporated town of Shepherdstown). During the Planning Commission discussion on May 7, it was noted that this area is not currently served by public water or sewer, which would complicate the development anticipated in the “residential or commercial” land use classification. Constructing new water and sewer lines to serve this area would potentially open the door for high-density development in the areas adjacent to these new lines as well (either the one mile corridor along Flowing Springs Road north to Shepherdstown or the two mile corridor south along Flowing Springs Road to Jefferson High School).
The Observer was alerted to this map update by several residents concerned about both the last-minute release on the Friday before the May 13 meeting and the specific designation that appears to contradict the action item in the Comprehensive Plan that calls for development to be contained to areas where public water and sewer are available.
Why Should You Attend The Meeting?
The Comprehensive Plan will guide development in the county for the next decade, with the map providing specific recommendations for each parcel in the county. While the Comprehensive Plan ultimately relies on appropriate zoning that matches the housing density proposed for specific areas, it is also the key foundation for creating that zoning plan.
[Read more about the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan]
By Steve Pearson