Raleigh Commission to table Shady Spring rezoning

Josephine Moore, The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.
·2 min read

Jan. 3—The potential rezoning of more than 700 acres in Shady Spring from residential to business is being put on hold indefinitely.

Raleigh County Commissioner Dave Tolliver told The Register-Herald Wednesday that the commission will not consider the proposal without additional information, including traffic studies.

"There's a lot of questions that we have that have to be answered before we can make any decisions on this," Tolliver said.

Raleigh commissioners were set to vote on rezoning a property in Shady Spring at their next meeting on Jan. 9.

The proposed rezoning was for a 721-acre property in Shady Spring along Flat Top Road/ U.S. 19.

The site is owned by Greenbrier Land Company. The company requested the property be rezoned from R1, Rural Residential District, to B1, Commercial Business District, at the behest of an unnamed company that planned to build a data center on the property should the rezoning pass.

In December, the Raleigh County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to send the rezoning proposal to the county commission with a favorable recommendation despite overwhelming objections from dozens of Shady Spring residents.

Residents expressed concerns that the new business, which was expected to employ hundreds, would lead to traffic issues as well as other safety concerns.

Hearing these concerns, Tolliver said the commission is requesting additional information from the state Division of Highways and the West Virginia Department of Economic Development.

"We will not be considering the rezoning for the data center on January the ninth," Tolliver said. "The county commission intends to table the decision indefinitely until we get more information. The commission will continue to work with the landowners to develop some future developments in this area of the county."

Jina Belcher, executive director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), said she agrees with the commission's stance on seeking additional information before moving forward.

"We've had extensive conversations with the landowners, county commissioners, members of the public, and state offices and agree that additional information is needed in order to determine the best path forward for the re-zoning for this potential company," Belcher said. "NRGRDA stands committed to supporting the Raleigh County Commission in their efforts to further develop the Shady Spring area of Raleigh County."

Belcher said the NRGRDA is involved as the "local intermediary" between the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and Raleigh County representatives.

To officially table the rezoning, commissioners will have to put the measure to a vote.

This vote will take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 9, in commission chambers on North Heber Street.

Email: jmoore@register-herald.com