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Residents provide input for Weirton comprehensive plan

WEIRTON — Approximately 30 area residents provided their thoughts on priorities and objectives for the future of Weirton during a townhall meeting held Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to update the city’s Comprehensive Development Plan.

Amy Wiles, lead senior planner from Mackin Engineering, which has been contracted for the plan update, noted the comprehensive development plan is to set the tone for the community over the next 10 to 20 years.

As part of the update, Mackin and city officials have been seeking input from residents and business owners through a series of public meetings, focus groups, surveys and other outreach opportunities.

“It’s not Mackin’s plan for the city of Weirton,” Wiles said. “It’s the city of Weirton’s plan.

Wiles presented five goals, developed through input from residents, to be considered.

Those goals include:

¯ Revitalizing downtown with a streetscape plan, extending the Panhandle Trail, creating a cultural district and public art program, improving public spaces and encouraging businesses to reinvest in downtown.

¯ Creating a center for commerce and employment by attracting targeted industry clusters incorporating the Frontier Group properties, Half Moon Industrial Park and Park Drive; creating a mixed use corridor on Pennsylvania Avenue; developing Three Springs Drive as a modern office park; and developing Colliers Way as a medical campus environment.

¯ Having complete neighborhoods with a mix of housing types, sidewalks, preserving established neighborhoods, revitalizing at-risk neighborhoods and ensuring proper amenities are provided to each neighborhood.

¯ Improving connectivity by increasing accessibility, including rehabilitating the Lee Avenue Bridge, building a secondary road to Marland Heights, a private access road for industry and new park and ride lots. Other suggestions would enhance multimodal transportation options, such as bicycle lanes, increased transit services and improved sidewalks.

¯ Providing efficient city services such as “green” infrastructure and energy-saving plans, increased staff for parks, updating equipment for the fire department, replacing an aging utility infrastructure and street paving.

Wiles then encouraged the audience to offer their thoughts on the proposed goals, telling officials what they believe should be prioritized.

Dave Cline, a local entrepreneur, said he had looked at opening his business in Weirton, before locating it in Follansbee, saying he found it difficult to find agreeable arrangements for a site in the city. He also suggested the need for youth-focused activities and businesses.

“If you want something to revitalize downtown, have something for the kids,” Cline said.

Mark Tetrault, a New Cumberland resident, said he too previously attempted to locate a business in the city and faced difficulties.

Liz Baldt of Weirton said some property owners create an obstacle for development, requesting high rent or living out of the area and being unavailable to address issues with their properties.

“You can’t ask half-a-million dollars for something that really should be torn down,” she said.

Del. Mark Zatezalo, R-Weirton, asked about efforts to redevelop the land purchased in 2017 by the Frontier Group, saying it is critical for Weirton’s future. Wiles said a master site plan for that land is being developed separately.

According to Wiles, following Wednesday’s townhall, a final draft of the comprehensive plan will be completed, after which time public hearings will be held by the city’s planning commission and City Council, and then it will be presented for adoption by council.

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