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ELKINS - Elkins City Council has voted to adopt an updated Comprehensive Plan, the culmination of a planning and public-review process that began in 2023.
The newly adopted plan updates the city's 2015 Comprehensive Plan, reviewing progress made since then and identifying goals and recommendations based on current conditions and community needs.
"Comprehensive plans help local governments make decisions about land use, public investment, infrastructure, housing, transportation, economic development, recreation, and community services," a City of Elkins press release states. "They can also support grant applications by showing that proposed projects are based on an established planning process and identified community priorities."
The Elkins Planning Commission developed the new plan with assistance from the West Virginia University Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic.
"The process included 15 Planning Commission meetings open to the public, 166 community survey responses, and responses from 30 local organizations and other stakeholders," the release states. "Information from the city's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan was also incorporated."
The Elkins Planning Commission presented a draft of the new plan at a public open house April 16. The formal adoption process began in May, with a public hearing on July 30. City Council received a presentation on Aug. 13, and held its own public hearing before adopting the plan on Sept. 3.
The plan is organized around six main subjects: public safety; housing; infrastructure and transportation; economic development; land use, recreation and community character; and technology and city services.
The plan’s recommendations include supporting police and fire services; addressing unsafe structures; encouraging homeownership and housing rehabilitation; maintaining water and sewer systems; improving sidewalks and pedestrian safety; implementing the Downtown Streetscape and Riverfront plans; evaluating annexation opportunities; improving access to city information; and modernizing city technology.
City officials stressed that the adoption of the comprehensive plan does not fund or authorize the recommendations. "Projects, expenditures, ordinances, and policy changes will still be considered separately through the city's regular review and approval processes," the release states.
The plan can be viewed at cityofelkinswv.gov/comprehensive-plan.
The last comprehensive plan was adopted by Elkins City Council in January 2015.
The Elkins Planning Commission began working on that comprehensive plan in early 2013, guided by legal and planning staff of the West Virginia University Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic.