Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter I, Introduction

1. Overview

Summers County, West Virginia has had many plans in the past, though never one comprehensive plan. This plan was drafted based on the input of many different people and with the assistance of many, many volunteers and organizations.

The comprehensive plan describes how, and at what pace, Summers County, West Virginia desires to develop physically, economically, and socially. It is an important tool that elected officials will use to guide future growth and development, manage natural resources, preserve prime agricultural land, protect historic resources, strengthen the economic base, provide efficient public services, improve the quality of the housing stock and preserve the quality of life.

The comprehensive plan is the only public document that describes a community as a whole in terms of its complex and mutually supporting networks. The Comprehensive Plan is considered the official statement for how the future of the county should be developed and shall guide all future regulation relating to planning and zoning.

The Summers County Comprehensive Plan was be prepared in accordance with the

West Virginia Code, Chapter 8A (2004).

In short, the Summers County Comprehensive Plan is:

• The general guideline for future development that will promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of all residents;

• A promotion of the public interest of all residents;

• A public policy guide to decision making regarding the physical development of the county;

• The collection of strategies for future land use, housing, economic development, natural, cultural and historic features, transportation, community facilities and services and parks, recreation and open space;

• A current statement of the past and present conditions of the county;

• A description of how, and at what pace, the county desires to develop physically, economically and socially;

• An expression of the county’s “vision” of its optimally desirable pattern of development for the future; and

• A public document adopted by the County Commissioners on the recommendation of the County Planning Commission.

2. Goals and Objectives

As a result of public meetings and the analysis of the data collected from public comments, several architectonic themes began to appear. Analysis of the issues raised during the meetings lead to additional topics not specifically addressed in the initial public meetings. These new topics have been examined during the course of some 50 committee and subcommittee meetings and in innumerable informal conversations between members of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and other members of the Summers County Community. The architectonic principles which must guide the development of the Summers County Comprehensive Plan were identified. The principles that emerged must inform not only the Summers County Comprehensive Plan but every function of every governing body in the county.

The overarching goal and objective which emerged from the community meetings and which has been adopted by the County Planning Commission and Summers County Commission is the need to promote growth that is economically sound, environmentally friendly and supportive of community livability to enhance quality of life.

The success factors for Summers County’s Comprehensive Plan have interrelated themes based on community discussions. For some residents, one issue may stand out above the others. For some, this issue may be employment. For others, the overriding issue is the continued protection of the environment, or farming, or forestry or any combination of all three. For some residents, education is the basic foundation for being able to achieve everything else. It is this diversity of priorities and of communities’ values that make Summers County a vital, complex community and gives it a unique character.

1. Quality of Life

In most respects “quality of life” is extremely subjective; the criteria can be so radically different between two persons or groups to be mutually exclusive. In spite of areas of discord in the criteria defining quality of life, there are broad areas of agreement among the residents of Summers County concerning those features which identify quality of life. The following elements represent only some of the components of a good quality of life as identified by residents during public meetings and are not meant to be exclusive:

1. A friendly community where people are welcoming and caring;

2. A community that functions like a “neighborhood watch”;

3. A community with low crime rates, especially violent and home invasion crimes;

4. Clean air and water;

5. Geographical natural beauty, i.e., our mountains, streams and rivers;

6. Abundant outdoor recreational activities;

7. Affordable housing;

8. A rural community;

9. Peaceful and laid back lifestyle;

10. A strong religious community.

2. Historic Preservation

Summers County is rich in history and, due to the relatively slow pace of development in the region, is blessed to have much of its long history still intact. As was noted in several of the public meetings, Summers Countians are often proud of their heritage and have identified many of the physical and social attributes of their communities worthy of preservation. Again, these elements were identified as prime examples of the historical attributes of the county, but are not intended to be exclusive:

1. Nationally identified Hinton Historic District;

2. History of the rail system;

3. The Legend of John Henry and the railroad workers;

4. History of Waterway travel;

5. The historic Graham House; and

6. Several individual structures on the National Historic Registry.

3. Environmental Integrity and Conservation

Summers County has unique environmental qualities. Though the citizens of the county do not always recognize the unique environmental features of the county, the citizens have identified environmental qualities worthy of recognition and/or protection. Non-exclusive examples of county environmental attributes are:

1. Good water quality;

2. Clean air;

3. Beautiful scenery;

4. Several rivers and streams;

5. Low rates of sprawl and undesirable development;

6. Undeveloped, wild and wonderful;

7. Abundant wildlife and good hunting and fishing opportunities;

8. Naturally beautiful; and

9. Lots of open space.

3. Economic Development

Summers County has seen prosperous times, however, the current economic conditions in the county are often considered less-than-favorable. Historically, the railroad created a boom in the Summers County economy and many residents of the county still remember that era. Though the railroad continues to be a driving force in the local economy, the more modern modes of transportation and technology have greatly reduced the economic effect the rail currently has on the economy. Other driving economic factors have been slow to move to Summers County but are beginning to make an appearance. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in tourism, technology-related industries, and retirees re-locating to the area. Citizens have identified a few areas worthy of preservation and growth as economic forces in Summers County, including, but not limited to:

1. Technology based businesses;

2. Tourism industry;

3. Service industry, particularly catering to retirees and tourists;

4. Relatively low cost of living;

5. Local businesses; and

6. Family oriented businesses.

3. Creating the Comprehensive Plan

2. Summers County Planning Commission

The Summers County Planning Commission was created on November 12, 2003 by the Summers County Commission pursuant to West Virginia Code §8A-24-1.

3. The planning process

The Summers County Planning Commission worked in collaboration with several other organizations in a series of public meetings to update the “Summers County 2020:A Vision Shared Plan.” That plan specifically addressed the need for a Comprehensive Plan in Summers County. The Summers County Commission engaged in a strategic planning process in 2003, the product of which is the Summers County Strategic Plan: 2020 a Vision Shared. To create this document, the County Commission solicited information from Summers County citizens. Several public meetings were held throughout the county. One of the elements identified during the course of that process was the need to create a framework for future development and growth in Summers County. In approximately the same time frame, the West Virginia Legislature adopted Chapter 8A of the West Virginia Code authorizing county governments to adopt comprehensive plans, zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use techniques.

The comprehensive plan began in earnest in 2007 when the planning commission employed outside assistance with the creation and drafting of this document. Several meetings were held throughout the county; a steering committee was appointed; several articles were published in the local paper; and a blog was created to engage the public in the development of this plan.

4. Notice and public participation

In the fall 2007 and winter 2008, several community meetings were held to solicit community input regarding the county comprehensive plan. These meetings were advertised in the local newspaper and via email communication (for community members who had previously provided an email address) and the drafting of the Comprehensive Plan was specifically identified as an item on the agenda. Meetings were held on December 10, 2007 at Talcott Elementary School; December 13, 2007 at Forest Hill Fire Department; January 3, 2008 at Meadow Bridge Community Center; January 8, 2008 at Sandstone Fire Department; January 10, 2008 at Jumping Branch Elementary; January 14, 2008 at Pipestem Ruritan Club; and January 31, 2008 in the Summers County Memorial Building. Based on the input and interest expressed from the community meetings, the Planning Commission convened a special meeting to identify possible interested persons in the community to serve on the steering committee. At this special meeting, the county was divided into smaller geographic areas and persons in each of those areas were identified. A letter, together with a response form, requesting participation on the steering committee was sent to all persons identified. Those interested in participating were named as members to the steering committee. The steering committee subsequently divided into several different sub-committees and tackled many of the substantive sections of this document. The steering committee members each brought their own unique experiences and community concerns to the process.

The steering committee meetings were held several times in 2008 and 2009. In addition to the community meetings and the regular steering committee meetings, the planning commission, through its intern, published several articles in the local newspaper soliciting public input. Newspaper articles or ads updating the public about the status of the comprehensive plan were submitted and/or ran on July 17, 20, and 21; August 7; November 17; December 29; all of 2009 and May 23 of 2010.

To solicit specific input scenic views and vistas in the county, the Summers County Planning Commission held a photo contest beginning on July 9, 2009 and ending on September 15, 2009. Seventy photos were submitted representing several areas throughout the county. The photos were vetted by an independent panel of judges and the top ten photos were placed on public display and the public was asked to vote for their favorite. The winning photo was purchased by the Summers County Planning Commission.

In June 2010 a blog was created and updated weekly to keep the public informed about the current status of the plan as well as to solicit input on the current plan draft. A QR code system was also created and purchased for future high tech linking to the blog via smart phones and other devices that can scan bar codes and connect to the web.

4. Jurisdiction

The Summers County Comprehensive Plan addresses issues throughout Summers County and on a countywide spectrum. In addition to Summers County as a whole, this plan also speaks to issues specific to the City of Hinton. On November 18, 2008 the Hinton City Council Meeting passed a resolution agreeing to participate in the planning process with the intention of reviewing and considering for adoption, the Summers County Comprehensive Plan. On ___________________ the City of Hinton, through its City Council adopted the Summers County Comprehensive Plan.

Summers County Commission and Planning Commission, along with the City Council of Hinton, acknowledge that there are areas in neighboring counties, communities and states which directly affect the goals identified in this plan. To the extent possible, it is the goal of the Summers County Planning Commission to promote the orderly development of land and reduce duplication of effort by working with other governmental and quasi-governmental entities in the planning and development process to the extent that the plans and ordinances are consistent with the Summers County Comprehensive Plan and subsequent land use regulations.