The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 13, 2005

Under development

New River Gorge housing plan to take center stage

Steve Keenan

FAYETTEVILLE — The ‘build-or-not’ question will be revived this week.

The Fayetteville Planning Commission will have a public hearing Thursday to hear New River Ledges Associate’s request to zone nearly 1,000 acres of property owned by Gary Driggs and his family R-1 (residential) for the purpose of building about 550 upscale, single-family dwell-ings along a six-mile section overlooking the New River Gorge. Despite a legal battle, the acreage was annexed by the town in September. The FPC voted unanimously Oct. 4 to deem the NRLA application complete.

The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 205 W. Maple Ave. The town council will address the planning commission’s recommendation at a Dec. 1 meeting, also set for 6 p.m. at the Legion Hall.

Ralph Davis, the development’s project manager and former Fayetteville superintendent, says Driggs has gone above and beyond what is necessary to show that the houses will be built while every precaution is taken to protect the environment and scenic views.

Construction will “take care of the forest and assure that the viewshed is not destroyed or disturbed,” Davis said, adding “peekaboo windows” will be cut into the tree line and that clear-cutting will not be tolerated. “Mr. Driggs has proven to be environmentally conscious. He owns the property all the way down to the river but not the railroad tracks, but no house will be built below 1,600 feet elevation, they will be set back into the forest, and the forest will be maintained. There’s always going to be that buffer of trees.”

Not so, Cal Hite, superintendent of the New River Gorge National River, said at the October planning commission meeting. In particular, Hite questioned about 80 home sites which he and other National Park Service employees feel will leave a negative visual impact on the gorge viewshed. “Although trees would be there now to help screen future construction, we cannot help but wonder for how long, given the whims of multiple individual landowners over time.”

Hite told planning commissioners the park service has concerns in a variety of areas, including impact on the area’s natural resources, sensitive crest areas of the gorge, etc.

“Decisions made ... in the next few weeks will have a lasting impact on the future protection of this national treasure,” Hite said at the time. “Please continue safeguarding the New River Gorge, and the national river that runs through it.

“What better legacy than to preserve such an outstanding national resource in your back yards for the enjoyment of your children, grandchildren and visitors from throughout the country.”

Davis says the public needs to keep in mind the projected economic benefits of the 10-year scope of the development. The town and the county will both benefit, he stressed.

“Fayetteville stands to receive in excess of $2 million in one-time permits (such as sewage and water, contracting fees, etc.),” he said. Davis also said that land which now produces about $10,000 annually in real estate taxes will zoom upward to $1.6 million yearly for the county during the entire build-out process.

Also, Fayetteville will receive over $300,000 annually in B&O; taxes, as well as the water and sewer departments getting a major financial boost.

Opponents such as the National Parks Conservation Association argue that allowing houses in the gorge will result in money disappearing from local coffers, in the form of tourists deciding not to visit because they feel the region’s beauty has been marred. During past hearings, the NPCA and NRGNR officials presented figures that highlighted the impact of tourism to the area.

“This new development could be atop the rim of the gorge, within the view of millions of visitors,” the NPCA Web Site reads. “The fate of New River could be decided in a matter of weeks.

“Don’t let this development jeopardize so much of what the New River Gorge is to West Virginia and the nation.”

The NPCA’s Erin Haddix, the Mid-Atlantic field representative, and her boss, Joy Oakes, as well as NRGNR officials, got an ally recently in the form of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, which announced its list of West Virginia’s most endangered historic places for 2005. Modeled after a National Trust for Historic Preservation program, the list features 27 sites across the state, including the New River Gorge from Fayetteville to Hinton.

“This endangered properties list is an invaluable tool in directing public attention to the many cultural resources in our state that are under threat from neglect, development pressure, natural disasters or industrial changes,” said Commissioner Troy Body. “We hope to generate discussion about these and other endangered sites in West Virginia, with the ultimate goal of preserving some of them for future generations.”

Davis says about 90 percent of the 80 lots planned for the first two phases of Bridge View Estates have “been spoken for,” although no money has changed hands. Lots range from $75,000 to $275,000. Several of the potential homeowners hail from West Virginia, he said.

The development, to be known as the New River Gorge Preserve, will be divided into two segments, Bridge View Estates and The Ledges. The entire development is expected to take about 10 years to complete.

While the proposal has met stiff opposition in some corners, numerous local individuals and business owners support the project. In a recent letter to local newspapers, longtime Fayetteville resident and businessman Matt Edwards said the area should be embracing Driggs and his development because it will allow the town to move from “a stagnant past.”

“I think the citizens of Fayetteville need to cast accolades on Gary Driggs, and concentrate on holding him accountable for his plans being carried out as proposed,” Edwards said.

Davis says Driggs has “the ultimate respect for Fayetteville town officials, because he knows their proven track record shows they base decisions on factual information.”

— E-mail:

skeenan@fayettetribune.com

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