Published: March 17, 2008 02:49 pm            

Commission gives OK to rezoning request

FAYETTEVILLE — An application for rezoning of property near Minden was unanimously approved by the Fayette County Commission during its regular meeting on March 7.

The 237-acre property, known as The Lakes at New River Gorge, is located near the current ACE Adventure Center and contains 99 low-impact, primarily second-home lots, each greater than 1 acre in size, according to property owners Gauley Outdoor Center Inc.

“The developer has made every effort to comply and do this in a way that is respectful to the other uses of the New River Gorge,” Commissioner Matthew Wender said.

The county’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the proposal by a 9-1 vote, officials added.

The property was zoned PD (planned development) on the Gauley Outdoor Center property and LC-1 (public land conservation district) on the Rush Creek trade area. In the submitted land plan, 67 lots are in the PD zoned area, while 32 are in the LC-1 area. Developers asked for the area to be zoned RR (rural residential) with PUD (planned used development overlay) because of commercial activities that will occur on the property in the form of cabin rentals and lake functions, such as canoeing and scuba diving.

“By voluntarily asking for this area to be zoned RR with PUD, even though over half is currently zoned PD, would mean the entire project would fall under the latest Fayette County zoning guidelines, not just the LC-1 area,” said Doug McKenzie, who made the rezoning application presentation to the commission.

McKenzie said traffic is not an issue because the subject property is at the end of Minden Road from one side and the end of Wonderland Road from the other.

“The addition of 99 lots is not significant, considering current rafting operations are the largest in West Virginia,” he said.

McKenzie added the Fayette County Board of Education is being contacted for its input into the plat process.

“Since these are primarily second or rental homes, there should not be a negative impact on the school system, only the benefit of additional property taxes,” he explained.

McKenzie said the lots are not view lots, so a view study was not done.

“Power is currently provided by AEP,” McKenzie said. “They are currently working on the design of the additional facilities needed for the housing units.”

ACE Adventure Center currently has 40 rental cabins, offices, a conference center, dining area and restaurant, shops, maintenance areas and a large campground being serviced by American Electric Power, according to McKenzie.

“This is just a small expansion of the current power,” he said.

Wastewater appears to be the biggest concern.

“Water is currently being provided by Arbuckle Public Service District to the area,” McKenzie said. “But they, at the current time, do not appear to be capable of providing the additional potable water needed for 99 lots. So discussions have begun with West Virginia American Water to provide water from its Salem-Gatewood Road water line, which has the capacity to provide water for the 99 lots as well as all of ACE Adventure Center’s current facility.”

McKenzie says serious questions were raised recently at a Fayette County wastewater meeting about Arbuckle PSD’s facilities capability to even continue operation, let alone expand service for 99 additional lots.

“In light of this information, ACE Adventure Center has begun the process of permitting a wastewater treatment plant, should this become necessary,” he said. “This will be covered in great detail during the plat approval process.”

McKenzie said developers have placed deed restrictions on tree removal and light pollution or night sky impact.

Erin Haddix-St. John with the National Park’s Conservation Association, a nonprofit group that advocates for the parks, said she believed viewshed concerns could be mitigated with deed restrictions on tree removal.

“We are concerned with any development near the park,” she said. “But we think we can work it out with this development.”

Haddix-St. John recommends the county place a moratorium on new development applications until it can upgrade its approval process, which should include a community impact statement.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.