HUNTINGTON Ƶ A zoning ordinance that would affect the residents along 9th Avenue in Huntington was delayed for the second time in two months.
The Huntington City Council voted to postpone indefinitely the second reading of a petition by Huntington Realty Corporation that would rezone three parcels in the 1500 block of 9th Avenue to a C-1 neighborhood commercial district from an R-4 two-family residential district. The rezoning would allow Huntington Realty to explore business opportunities in the area.
Petitioners are not required to reveal their development plans for a rezoning. Huntington Realty Corporation manager Sam St. Clair said during the original second reading of the petition last month that he has not determined what he wants to do with the three parcels as of yet. St. Clair said he wanted to get the rezoning before spending money on architects and other preparations that go into deciding the business model for the parcels.
Ebony Graves and Jessica Israel are both in the process of buildings homes either beside or close by the property proposed to be rezoned.
Both women said all they want is to know what kind of business would be constructed in the area. Graves said owning her own home has been a dream of hers for 17 years.
ƵI was raised in that area, so thatƵs where I really want to be,Ƶ Graves said. ƵI would just really like to know what it is that will be there right beside my home, because my house is going to be the one right beside whatever it is thatƵs coming or that theyƵre proposing to put there.Ƶ
Israel said she has been working to get her home built with Habitat for Humanity since 2018. The process was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Israel said ground has already been broken on the house and construction should start in March.
ƵIƵve waited for a long time for this opportunity so I would like to know what is actually being built in the area,Ƶ Israel said. ƵSomething positive hopefully because IƵm raising two boys.Ƶ
In an email to council members provided to The Herald-Dispatch on Friday, St. Clair said Huntington RealtyƵs intended use will be neighborhood commercial development that will respect the home owners in the vicinity. It has met with many of the adjacent property owners and did not receive a single negative response to the proposed zoning change, he said.
ƵHRC hopes to expand its commercial, tax paying footprint and increase access to food and other services lacking in this area,Ƶ St. Clair said.
In a Dec. 9 meeting, the council unanimously voted to send the ordinance back to the administration to come up with a solution after residents and a council member voiced concerns over the ambiguity of Huntington RealtyƵs plans for the rezoned parcels.
Other business
During his report, Mayor Patrick Farrell reminded the council of his first State of the City address that he will present during the next council meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10. The presentation will outline his fiscal goals for the city. Farrell said the city has been working with the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce on a business community survey to assist the city in understanding the struggles and needs of its business owners.
In other business, the council approved a resolution that will allow Farrell to enter into a contract with Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal in Charleston to furnish labor and materials for a roof repair at the Jean Dean Public Safety Building. The contract is for $28,171.
The council also approved a resolution that will allow the Huntington Fire Department to purchase two Ford 250XL trucks from University Ford in Huntington. Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller said one of the trucks will be used as a command vehicle and the other will be a utility vehicle. The total cost for the trucks is $108,866 for the two raw vehicles. Fuller said additional funds will be used in the future to furnish the vehicles with lights, sirens, radio and markings.
Fuller said providing the trucksƵ necessities will be a cost saver for the fire department and should not exceed an amount that would have to go back to the council for approval.
Fuller said he expects $20,000 to $22,000 more to be spent on decorating each vehicle with its necessities.
The council also approved a resolution that authorizes the mayor to enter into a contract to purchase tasers and taser cartridges for the Huntington Police Department.
The council moved an ordinance to second reading that would vacate, close and abandon a portion of an alleyway south of 10th Avenue, east of and parallel to 20th Street. The alleyway is 120 feet long and 10 feet in width.
The council moved an ordinance to second reading that would execute a deed transferring a right-of-way within the city to the West Virginia Department of TransportationƵs Division of Highways.
During the good and welfare portion of the meeting, Brian Bracey, Huntington Water Quality Board executive director, introduced himself to new council members and caught them up on the Water Quality BoardƵs efforts in upgrading the cityƵs infrastructure. Bracey invited council members to a tour in the near future of the water board infrastructure and plant, to better understand the needs of the projects. Bracey said he has conducted the tours for council members in the past.
Bracey also noted the 88-year anniversary of the Ohio River cresting at 69.45 feet that was marked on Jan. 27.
In the 1937 flood, five individuals lost their lives in the flood while 25,000 people lost their homes, Bracey said.
With a population of 75,000 residents in 1937 in Huntington, the flood left one third of the community homeless. Total loss and estimated value of the flood was $14 million.
ƵOf the 1937 flood on the Ohio River Ƶ devastating effect, but from that came obviously Huntington was selected as the most eligible project to immediately construct in West Virginia, the most eligible protected flood protection system was undertaken,Ƶ Bracey said.
