Morgan County briefs

June 03, 2006|by TRISH RUDDER

Citizens recommend nuisance ordinance

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Noise and nuisance laws are lacking in Spruce Pine Hollow subdivision, and a state Senate bill allows county commissions to create laws to eliminate them, subdivision resident Marvin Miller said at Friday's Morgan County Commission meeting.

Miller said in Spruce Pine Hollow, a resident's tied dogs continuously bark until 2 a.m., another resident plays music so loud it makes dishes vibrate, and people ride dirt bikes on the subdivision's private road.

Miller requested the commissioners consider an ordinance.

"It won't be simple to put an ordinance in place, and it would be hard to enforce it," Commissioner Bob Ford said.

Miller said concerned residents met with the commission in September 2002, "and you said you would look into it," he said. Miller also said the Morgan County sheriff will support the law.

"We will take another look at this again," Commission President Glen Stotler said.

Janice Fox, also a Spruce Pine Hollow resident, said the loud music is coming from a house more than 500 yards away, and it is played past 11 p.m.

Fox said her husband has a lung disease and has to avoid dust. The ATVs are driven so fast and stir up so much dust that it causes them to close the windows, she said.

Fox said it has been difficult with "dogs, ATVs, dune buggies and booming music."

"If we create an ordinance, folks have to come forward and file a complaint," Stotler said.

Hearing scheduled for subdivision ordinance

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - New subdivision regulations will be proposed at a Morgan County Commission meeting in July.

Morgan County Commission President Glen Stotler said the county Planning Commission should include a regulation that it must receive notification of any application regarding new subdivisions.

Currently, the first step for the developer is to apply for a subdivision entrance permit from the West Virginia Department of Highways (DOH), Morgan County Planner Alma Gorse said.

Stotler said the regulation would require the developer to "give us notice before making an application to the DOH." Stotler said the county needs notice "to plan for impact of future growth."

Gorse said a copy of the Planning Commission's rule changes will be available on Morgan County's Web site at www.morgancountywv.info.

The meeting will be July 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the Morgan County Circuit Courtroom at the county courthouse.

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