WINFIELD, W.Va. — The Putnam County Commission will hear arguments later this month about a proposed zoning change impacting the location of certain eateries.
The county’s Planning Commission on Tuesday agreed to recommend a change to allow fast-food restaurants and restaurants that serve alcohol to be built in suburban commercial districts more easily.
The businesses are allowed under the current zoning ordinance, but developers must go through a longer permitting process to meet residents’ standards.
Gary Sims put forward the proposed change. He told the commission the current policy hurts businesses by creating a longer process to be approved.
Tom Susman, a spokesman for a coalition of Putnam County residents called Keep the Promise, said his group does not oppose new restaurants, but the zoning change would put these businesses next to residential areas, creating traffic and pollution problems.
“These locations are right close to these residents. Those residents have invested lots of monies into their properties,” he said. “When they bought the property, they knew that they would have input to what goes next to them in special condition permits, and we think that promise ought to be maintained.”
Chris Wentz, of Teays Valley, was among the speakers at Tuesday’s meeting who opposed the change. He said screening is important to keep residents happy and communities healthy.
“We’re right in the middle of Teays Valley Road, and Teays Valley Road is as busy already. When you start adding more fast-food restaurants and other businesses in there, it’s going to be terrible,” he said. “It’s going to be Cross Lanes, and I never go to Cross Lanes because of traffic is so bad.”
Sims, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, declined an interview request.
The Putnam County Commission will discuss the proposal at its Oct. 24 meeting.