Annexation

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The city of Ranson grew by 214 acres and the city of Charles Town expanded by 52 acres under two annexations approved by the Jefferson County Commission Thursday. The Ranson property, on W.Va. 115 near the Golden Horseshoe lounge, is owned by Thelma Lloyd, said Ranson City Manager David Mills. Mills said Lloyd wanted to become a part of Ranson since other properties around her have been added to the city. The 52 acres added to Charles Town are south of the city near Huyett Road.

A petition for annexation for approximately 1 acre along Dual Highway between Emmert Road and Interstate 70 was accepted by the Hagerstown City Council. The council voted 4-0 Tuesday to accept the petition submitted by land owner Oak Hill Investment. The company is requesting the property be zoned for commercial uses upon annexation. A public hearing and final vote on the request probably will be scheduled for within the next several months. Council votes to buy property The Hagerstown City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to pay $17,000 for property at the intersection of Eastern Boulevard and Dual Highway, which will be used to make a right-turn lane.

After postponing a vote on a resolution to annex 95 split parcels, the Hagerstown City Council Tuesday landed right back where it was a month ago, with a majority of its five members favoring total annexation. Council members and Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II attempted to compromise Tuesday, offering numerous annexation alternatives to satisfy the interests of the city and property owners. However, the only option three members could agree upon was annexation of all 95 split parcels with no special conditions.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Charles Town City Council members unanimously approved a 5.5-acre annexation Monday night that generated concern from one council member last week. During an emergency council meeting May 14, council member Matt Ward complained that there was not enough information about the annexation proposed by Spruce Hill LLC. Ward said he thought the annexation was being rushed through the approval process before Thursday's city election. Ward said Monday night that he now believes the annexation is fair, and he voted for it. The land is adjacent to a new high school being built along Huyett Road.

BOONSBORO - A critic of a proposed annexation has invited the Boonsboro Town Council members to come to her property for a free picnic and a walk. Sondra Shaffer began her remarks to the council, during its Monday meeting, with a compliment, saying she wishes national politics were "this warm, this fuzzy, this competent. " Perhaps she will try to get Mayor Charles "Skip" Kauffman Jr. or council members elected to national office, she said. "This is public enough," Kauffman said.

KEEDSYVILLE, Md. - Keedysville Town Council approved the annexation of 91.8 acres of land Monday evening, giving one of the property owners the go-ahead for a 69-home subdivision. The annexation involves the property of three landowners: Victor Peeke, John Burtner and Paul Williams. Peeke owns a 53-acre site south of town. Burtner owns 14.9 acres south of Wyand Drive and Williams owns two parcels, one 8.8 acres, the other 14.4 acres, east of the city limits, adjacent to Wyand Drive.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Annexation - specifically a type of annexation commonly called "shoestring" or "pipestem" - was the main topic of discussion Thursday between legislators and Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan county commissioners. Vivian Parsons, executive director of the County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia, led the two-hour meeting, held Thursday afternoon at the Charles Town Library. Parsons told the 25 people in attendance that she hopes a bill will be passed in next year's legislative session that permits revisions to one of the ways a city or town can annex land into its borders.

Mt. Aetna rezoning, annexation appealed By DAN KULIN / Staff Writer A Washington County Circuit Court ruling upholding the annexation and rezoning of almost 37 acres along Mount Aetna Road in Hagerstown has been sent to the state Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis. A group of 21 neighbors to the property are seeking to overturn Judge Fred C. Wright III's Nov. 14 decision, which was seen as a victory for the developer who owns the property. Wright ruled that the City of Hagerstown acted properly in zoning the property R-1, because the residential zoning does not permit substantially different uses for the property than the uses outlined in the Washington County master plan.

Editor's note: This is the final story in a three-part series on growth in the Jefferson County, W.Va., community of Ranson. charlestown@herald-mail.com RANSON, W.Va. - Concerned about how thousands of acres of newly annexed land into the city of Ranson will affect growth patterns in Jefferson County in coming years, county officials are going to the state for help. Ranson has annexed about 3,800 acres under a new state law controlling annexations. Before the law change, annexations could be accomplished through a petition from landowners or a city election, said Ranson Mayor David Hamill.