Zoning

Power truck hits school bus; 4 hospitalized Driver killed in fiery W.Va. crash Manitowoc to lay off 450 Pa. man gets life for first-degree murder plea Sheetz zoning decision upheld

Hagerstown: Allowed only in the Agricultural Transition zoning district. Funkstown: not allowed Smithsburg: not allowed Boonsboro: under review Sharpsburg: not allowed Keedysville: not allowed Williamsport: not allowed Clear Spring: not allowed Hancock: not allowed Washington County unincorporated areas: Currently allowed only in Agriculture, Residential...

The concept of implementing zoning hung over a public meeting Wednesday in Fulton County, Pa., where municipal officials were able to leaf through a comprehensive plan draft hundreds of pages long. When the process of comprehensive planning launched in early 2005, it seemed several of the townships were willing to proceed with enacting zoning, County Planning Director Mary K. Seville said. The idea initially garnered support following an informational meeting this spring, but that support waned, according to Timothy Staub, the plan's project manager through contracted engineering firm Rettew.

HAGERSTOWN daniels@herald-mail.com After some careful legal maneuvering, the Hagerstown City Council found a way Tuesday night to approve a developer's request to bring a 66.7-acre piece of land by Cedar Lawn Memorial Park into city limits for eventual conversion into a 250-unit housing development. The land, divided by Md. 144, will not immediately be used to build houses, however. The council voted 3-1 to approve the annexation and change part of the zoning of the land to R-2 residential, with the condition it complies with state law that will, essentially, prevent any construction for five years.

By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A local minister and unsuccessful Berkeley County Commission candidate who sued the The Herald-Mail Co. last week alleging the newspaper had printed a libelous story about his stance on zoning has withdrawn the case, according to court officials. John E. Wright said he decided to drop the lawsuit after reading the Bible. "I prayed for God to give me comfort and the indication I got was there would be no comfort in this lawsuit," Wright said.

Hagerstown's agricultural zoning classification will be added to the list of zones that allow Planned Unit Developments, also called PUDs. The City Council on Tuesday voted 3-2 to approve the change to city zoning law. A PUD is a special zoning designation that typically allows more building on a property than would be allowed under the existing zoning. PUDs are allowed in most residential and commercial zoning classifications. The council must approve PUD plans. Council members Kristin B. Aleshire and Penny May Nigh voted against the change.

marlob@herald-mail.com The Washington County Planning Commission on Monday voted 3-1 with one abstention to deny a special zoning designation for Emerald Pointe, developer Paul Crampton Jr.'s proposed Marsh Pike development. "I know Mr. Crampton is a fine builder but my concern is the density issue," said Paula Lampton, chair of the commission. Crampton's plan calls for between 3 and 4 units per acre while Lampton said she would like to see it down to between 11/2 and 2, like nearby Foxleigh Meadows.

GOP opening McCain office The Washington County Republican Central Committee is having a grand opening Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.for a local campaign headquarters for Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate for president. The office will be at 1561 Potomac Ave. in Long Meadow Shopping Center, near Port City Java. Williams added to GOP committee Dr. David Williams has been chosen to fill a vacancy on the Washington County Republican Central Committee.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin on Wednesday approved legislation that allows West Virginia counties with planning commissions but no zoning to regulate the location of strip clubs. Senate Bill 1010 essentially allows Berkeley County, which does not have zoning, to reinstate a 2004 ordinance for strip clubs that was deemed invalid last year in circuit court. SB 1010 was made effective upon passage June 2 by lawmakers who convened in special session to consider 15 bills.

HAGERSTOWN gregs@herald-mail.com The Hagerstown Planning Commission recommended Tuesday that a total of 74 acres be annexed into the city through two separate proposals near the Centre at Hagerstown and South Hagerstown High School, although the commissioners didn't completely agree with one proposal. One of the two annexation requests would draw 66.6 acres into the city's West End, off U.S. 40, south of the Centre at Hagerstown and straddling Md. 144. The proposal is called the Snook Annexation.