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Mayor clarifies camping ordinance

While it is true, as The Inter-Mountain reported, that the “Elkins City Council is considering an ordinance that would outlaw ‘unauthorized camping’ just as an influx of workers for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is expected to descend on Randolph County,” it is not true, as recent social media comments have suggested, that the city bears any ill feelings toward the ACP or its employees. In fact, the city has been in frequent contact with ACP representatives for a while now, discussing everything from housing to traffic to safety to community engagement.

As you can imagine, a project of this size takes an incredible amount of planning, including where the anticipated 1,200 necessary workers will live during their time in Randolph County. Over the last year, the ACP and its contractors have worked with city and county officials, local lodging companies and private landowners to arrange for a variety of housing needs. I personally have offered suggestions to contractors, both with the ACP and other projects, about places to stay. The multiple hotels and motels, Airbnb operators, bed and breakfast owners and rental property owners within the city limits have successfully reserved spaces as needed. Beyond this, however, the city doesn’t have other housing options, specifically any registered campgrounds, within its municipal boundaries. In addition, for as long as I have served on council and as mayor, no individual or company has ever approached the city about developing one, and the city is not in a position to create or manage a campground in competition with private industry. In the absence of a campground that meets all the safety, sanitary and zoning requirements, city officials did feel a need to take steps to prevent camper or tent cities from popping up around town. Since the late 1950s and early 1970s, the Elkins City Code has contained zoning regulations relating to the authorization and location of travel trailers, as well as building and sanitation codes. Even very recently, the Planning Commission has been working to update these policies, the purpose of which is to safeguard private citizen’s rights, protect public interest and promote the general welfare, while encouraging responsible growth.

City council members, in their discussions of the unauthorized camping ordinance over the last five months, worked hard to strike this balance by considering information collected through ACP representatives, law and code enforcement officials, the Elkins Planning Commission and the public. It was based on this input that they decided to move forward. Aside from temporary workers expected with the ACP and Corridor H projects, other considerations were discussed regarding camping in city limits as well, including backyard camp-outs, visiting friends and family and homeless individuals. It is not the intention of council to prevent children from enjoying the adventure and independence of pitching a tent in their own backyard; visitors to temporarily park a camper in town during festivals or events; or to criminalize homelessness. We feel confident that we took steps to protect these vital activities. The ordinance is a tool for the Elkins Police Department and Code Enforcement Officer to use in the protection of our citizen’s safety and property and we expect that great care and discretion will be used in the enforcement of it.

I own a camper and have only ever had positive experiences in the local campgrounds I’ve visited. They offer a friendly environment and are easy to access from town, providing the best of both worlds. As much as I enjoy my camper, I also recognize that parking it permanently at my house in city limits wouldn’t be the best situation for anyone, myself or my neighbors. The city of Elkins wants to welcome everyone to experience the beauty and hospitality of our town — tourists, temporary workers, seasonal or permanent residents, and so on, and we will work hard to achieve that goal. The second and final reading of the unauthorized camping ordinance will be on the council agenda March 1 at 7 p.m. If you have any ideas, concerns or questions about this, or any other matter, please call my office anytime at 304-636-1414 ext. 1110. My door is always open.

Van Broughton

Elkins Mayor

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