Subdivision

A fire that destroyed a two-story home in Berkeley County Friday morning remains under investigation but was not considered suspicious, according to Bedington Volunteer Fire Department official. Jamie Hopwood and her two daughters, who reside at 182 Powell Lane in Hensell Heights subdivision, were not home when the fire was reported by a neighbor just before 9 a.m., according to a Bedington Chief William Markley and a family member. “We have no idea what caused it yet,” Markley said Friday afternoon.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - After a long delay in the courts, plans for the 392-home Harvest Hills subdivision are back on track. The Jefferson County Planning Commission on Tuesday night approved a request to reinstate a conditional-use permit for the subdivision, which has drawn criticism in the past for several issues, including the possible traffic congestion it could cause. A conditional-use permit initially was approved for Harvest Hills on May 22, 2001.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle on Tuesday received the first of two approvals it needs to start work on a 26-lot residential subdivision it hopes to build in Martinsburg. The city's Board of Zoning Appeals granted the nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization a special exception to requirements that an existing storm water management pond be expanded. The Martinsburg Planning Commission at 7 p.m. this evening is expected to hold a public hearing for the organization's request to subdivide 6.83 acres to create 26 single-family lots and associated rights of way off West Race and Boston streets.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A judge on Wednesday cleared the way for the controversial Murphy's Landing subdivision in Harpers Ferry, rejecting an appeal of the Jefferson County Planning Commission's decision to approve the development. [cont. from news page ] Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe Jr. said the appeal by the Harpers Ferry Conservancy "failed to establish error" in the Planning Commission's approval of a community impact statement. The conservancy filed the petition in May in Jefferson County Circuit Court, claiming the community impact statement for Murphy's Landing may have contained "misrepresentations" about the subdivision.

A proposed addition to the Washington County subdivision ordinance drew a mixed response Monday night from residents and those in the home building business. The Washington County Commissioners and the Planning Commission held a public hearing at the Washington County Courthouse on the proposed amendment. Residents said they supported the change, while those in the home building business opposed it. The proposed amendment would require that all subdivisions comply with the densities stated in the county's Comprehensive Plan.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A second organization has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review a controversial subdivision being planned next to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The state Division of Culture and History, using new regulations under the National Historic Preservation Act, is asking the EPA to determine if the proposed Murphy's Landing would have an impact on historical sites in the School House Ridge area. School House Ridge is where Confederate General Stonewall Jackson oversaw the capture of 12,500 troops in 1862, the largest capture of Northern troops in the Civil War. The Harpers Ferry Conservancy, which is battling the proposal, claims some of the homes will be built where artillery was placed for Stonewall's siege and at the conflict's main area of maneuver.

Habitat plans 20-home subdivision By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer WILLIAMSPORT - Local Habitat for Humanity officials said they are considering developing a "Habitat subdivision" on property off Sunset Avenue near Williamsport High School. The organization would like to build 20 houses for low-income people in the area to commemorate the year 2000, said Mike Dreisbach, who proposed the idea to the Williamsport Town Council Monday night. "If we don't build it in Williamsport, we are going to build it somewhere," said Dreisbach.

bonnieb@herald-mail.com GREENCASTLE, Pa. - A local developer has withdrawn an application to build a proposed 980-unit residential community in Antrim Township on the north side of Pa. 16, east of the Conococheague Creek, the township administrator said. Antrim Township Administrator Ben Thomas Jr. said Saturday that the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors received the written withdrawal of the preliminary plan from Buchanan Trail Creek Farm LLC of Mercersburg, Pa. Tuesday's public hearing on the proposal has been canceled, Thomas added.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Two proposed subdivisions in Jefferson County were given final approval Tuesday night despite traffic and school concerns raised by a local activist. Paul Burke, who studies growth-related issues in the county, cautioned the Jefferson County Planning Commission about giving final plat approval to the proposed Breckenridge subdivision because there is no more room for schools in the area. Burke also raised other concerns relating to the subdivision, such as traffic in the area and the fact that the city of Charles Town's sewer treatment plant is close to reaching capacity.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - All-terrain vehicles no longer are allowed in the Greenwoods subdivision, according to a petition request approved Friday by the Morgan County Commission. Commission President Glen Stotler said the subdivision's property owners' association met the criteria to allow ATVs to be banned. "Greenwoods will become part of the ban to be subject to the county ordinance effective immediately," Stotler said. Bruce Williams, treasurer of the Greenwoods Property Owners Association, said 21 of the 33 lot owners voted in favor of the ban. The subdivision has about two miles of roads, Williams said.

The Berkeley County Planning Commission Monday advanced the sketch plan for a residential development that proposes the construction of 170 single-family homes along Grade Road near Vineyard Road in the Falling Waters, W.Va., area. Bella Vista subdivision would be built on 120.71 acres, according to project documents. Neighboring residents who attended a public hearing held by the planning commission Monday voiced concerns about the project's impact on traffic, wildlife and stormwater runoff.

A fire that destroyed a two-story home in Berkeley County Friday morning remains under investigation but was not considered suspicious, according to Bedington Volunteer Fire Department official. Jamie Hopwood and her two daughters, who reside at 182 Powell Lane in Hensell Heights subdivision, were not home when the fire was reported by a neighbor just before 9 a.m., according to a Bedington Chief William Markley and a family member. “We have no idea what caused it yet,” Markley said Friday afternoon.

The Waynesboro Borough Council on Wednesday denied plans to subdivide the Brimington Farms development because of financial problems. In October 2005, final plans were approved for Brimington Farms, a planned residential development off State Hill Road. Gemcraft Homes became the homebuilder for the project with nearly 600 units. After Gemcraft Homes filed for bankruptcy, its assets were divided among several holding companies. The lots in Brimington Farms fell under one ownership and the roads' land another.

The Washington County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to schedule a public hearing on a potential change to the county's excise tax ordinance. The proposed change is to remove a provision in the ordinance that calls for doubling of the excise tax rate for fast-growing subdivisions. The excise tax — a base rate of $3 per square foot on residential construction — is used to help fund schools, roads, parks and other infrastructure. Currently, if building permits are issued for 25 homes in one fiscal year in a subdivision with school capacity or road capacity problems, subsequent permits issued that same fiscal year are charged double the excise tax. Last summer, the previous board of commissioners suggested changing or removing that requirement, saying it was not necessary in the current economic times.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- More than 70 sponsors contributed more than $70,000 in materials and labor to build Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle's 29th home in a blitz this week in Martinsburg. After Friday's dedication ceremony, Habitat for Humanity executive director Ashley K. Laton said builders had the home framed Monday evening after starting the day with only a brick-stamped concrete foundation. "I just could not stop saying, 'Wow!'," Laton said of the rapid pace of the construction.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- The Washington County Commissioners are considering changing part of the county's excise tax ordinance that can trigger doubling of the excise tax rate for fast-growing subdivisions. Currently, if building permits are issued for 25 homes in one fiscal year in a subdivision with school capacity or road capacity problems, subsequent permits issued that same fiscal year are charged double the excise tax. Based on a discussion with the commissioners in June, county attorneys are drafting some possible alternatives to that provision, Assistant County Attorney Andrew F. Wilkinson said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The Berkeley County Commission on Thursday adopted changes to the county's all terrain vehicle ordinance to clarify the sheriff's department's authority to seize ATVs that violate regulations on where they can be operated and the allowable amount of noise they generate. The amendment provides the sheriff's department the authority to confiscate an ATV that is used in violation of the ordinance for up to six months, unless there are pending criminal charges or civil forfeiture proceedings or both, according to the revised ordinance.

BUNKER HILL, W.Va. -- A Sunday morning fire that destroyed a rancher in the Bunker Hill Heights subdivision has been ruled accidental, Patrick Barker, assistant state fire marshal, said Wednesday. The cause of the fire at 311 Quarter Drive remained undetermined, but most likely was electrical, Barker said. The family did not have insurance for the home, he said. No one was hurt in the fire, which was reported at 3:24 a.m. Sunday, fire officials have said. -- Julie E. Greene

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Long-standing arguments about cleaning up a Washington Township, Pa., junkyard got a new sense of urgency Wednesday when a subdivision plan became further involved. The Washington Township Supervisors did not renew Bruce Neibert Jr.'s salvage yard permit for 2009. Now land owned by him, his father's estate and his siblings is being prepared for a Sept. 25 auction. The township planning commission recommended the supervisors reject the subdivision plan because Neibert lacks a permit.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- New rules for subdividing and developing land in Berkeley County will go into effect Sept. 1, the Berkeley County Commission decided Thursday. The commission voted 2-1 to approve the county's subdivision ordinance, which bring sweeping revisions to the county's subdivision ordinance after two years of review and numerous public hearings. Among the changes was a requirement that developers complete hydrogeological studies for projects of 15 lots or more.