The Mineral County Chamber of Commerce recently asked me to address this question: “How do you keep the county’s rural design in place while also planning future growth?”
“Rural by Design” is a concept that seeks to preserve the positive qualities associated with rural areas while carefully planning for future growth.
This requires active involvement from local planning commissions and development authorities and, just as importantly, participation from groups like local farmland protection boards, historical societies and land trusts. West Virginia Sustainable Communities, Create West Virginia, The Nature Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are other resources.
The key is to identify sensitive areas and important farmlands in advance of any significant development, in coordination with the planning and implementation of key infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer, and broadband.
This can all be done without zoning, but does include an active land use plan with rural and historical areas being identified in advance and protected by easements, land trusts, designated wilderness or special purpose areas.
Coordinated planning and delivery of services is the other major component of “Rural by Design.” The county and principle city must work hand-in-hand to embrace, support, and protect its smaller rural communities and municipalities.
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West Virginia should be assured that whom ever is chosen to serve in the Senate Friday that they will not vote for Cap and Trade until there is an amendment to the Cap and Trade Bill that requires a federal subsidy to be paid to West Virginia’s coal producing counties. These funds would be used to enhance their communities and facilitate economic diversification.