4 steps to zoning

Dear Editor:

The Morgan County Commission has made a commitment to put a zoning ordinance on the ballot to enable citizens to voice their views. The four steps in preparing such an ordinance are:

1. Comprehensive Plan — already completed.

2. Land Use Study — already completed.

3. Zoning Study — in process. The planning commission has a Draft Zoning Study prepared jointly by a subcommittee of the Morgan County Planning Commission and the Citizens Land Use Advisory Committee. Now, the planning commission is taking public comments. A finalized study will be presented for acceptance at their next meeting, and then will be presented to the county commissioners. When, and if, approved by the Morgan County Commission, work on Step 4 can begin.

4. Zoning Ordinance. The planning commission must adhere to guiding principles in the Zoning Study to: prepare the technical details and maps for a Draft Zoning Ordinance; conduct public review of the Draft Zoning Ordinance and finalize it, and present the Zoning Ordinance to Morgan County Commission for approval. When and if the Zoning Ordinance is approved by the Morgan County Commission, it will then be put on the ballot for voters to accept or reject. Only if voters accept the Zoning Ordinance will it be signed into law by the county commissioners.
The Draft Zoning Study should show in simple terms which and where, land uses are appropriate for Morgan County. Based on these Zoning Study guidelines, the Zoning Ordinance should lay out the technical details and maps of how to achieve that vision.

Nina Schwartz
Berkeley Springs