Acknowledgements 1
Kanawha County Commission (2014) 1
Kanawha County Planning Commission (2014) 1
Comprehensive Plan Committee 1
Community Planning & Development Staff (2014) 1
B-C-K-P Regional Intergovernmental Council (2014) 1
Masood Akhtar, Transportation Engineer 1
Executive Summary 2
Central Mission 2
Central Mission 2
Public Review and Comment 2
Public Review and Comment 2
Completion of the 2014 Updated Vision Comprehensive Plan 3
Completion of the 2014 Updated Vision Comprehensive Plan 3
Recommendations 6
Arts & Culture 6
Arts & Culture 6
Building, Housing, & Development 6
Building, Housing, & Development 6
Transportation 7
Transportation 7
Economic Development 8
Economic Development 8
Education & Training 9
Education & Training 9
Farms & Agriculture 10
Farms & Agriculture 10
Human & Family Services 10
Human & Family Services 10
Natural Resources, Environment & Conservation 11
Natural Resources, Environment & Conservation 11
Planning, Management & Governance 11
Planning, Management & Governance 11
Public Health, Fitness & Safety 12
Public Health, Fitness & Safety 12
Public Health and Physical Fitness 12
Public Health and Physical Fitness 12
Public Safety and Emergency Services 12
Public Safety and Emergency Services 12
Recreation, Entertainment & Tourism 13
Recreation, Entertainment & Tourism 13
Utilities & Infrastructure 14
Utilities & Infrastructure 14
Development and Organization of the Comprehensive Plan 15
Plan Organization 15
Plan Organization 15
Legislative Guidance 16
Legislative Guidance 16
Citizen Participation 17
Citizen Participation 17
2014 Updated Vision Comprehensive Plan for Kanawha County, West Virginia 18
Arts & Culture 19
Arts & Culture 19
Vision 19
Mission 19
Goals, Objectives and Strategies 19
Discussion of Arts & Culture Issues in Kanawha County 19
Summary of Recommendations 20
Building, Housing, & Development 21
Building, Housing, & Development 21
Vision 21
Mission 21
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 21
Discussion of Building, Housing & Development Issues in Kanawha County 23
Development Patterns 23
Residential 23
Residential 23
Commercial 23
Commercial 23
Industrial 24
Industrial 24
Agricultural 24
Agricultural 24
Barren Land 24
Barren Land 24
Forest Land 24
Forest Land 24
Topography 24
Subdivision Regulations 25
Rules and Regulations 25
Rules and Regulations 25
Final Report 26
Final Report 26
Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan 26
Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan 26
Development within a Subdivision Plan 26
Development within a Subdivision Plan 26
Land Redevelopment Plans 26
Land Redevelopment Plans 26
Urban Services in Rural Areas 28
Urban Services in Rural Areas 28
Water and Sewer Service Related to Developments Planning 28
Water and Sewer Service Related to Developments Planning 28
Subdivision Regulations 29
Streetscape Design and Construction 29
Stormwater Management Guidelines and Requirements 30
Special Area Plans 30
Neighborhood Plans 33
Gateways 34
Scenic Highway Corridors 34
Design Principles 35
Landmarks 35
Neighborhood Conservation 35
Tree Protection 35
Landscaping 35
Public Art 36
Historic Preservation 36
Historic Preservation Ordinance 36
Housing 37
Summary of Recommendations 37
Transportation 37
Transportation 37
Vision 38
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 38
Discussion of Transportation Issues in Kanawha County 39
Highway System 40
Existing Conditions 40
Existing Conditions 40
Existing and Projected Deficiencies 41
Existing and Projected Deficiencies 41
Highway Recommendations 42
Highway Recommendations 42
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) 45
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) 45
Public Transportation 45
The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority (KVRTA) System 45
The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority (KVRTA) System 45
Other Services 47
Other Services 47
Air Service 48
Plans and Recommendations 49
Plans and Recommendations 49
Rail Transportation 50
Freight Rail 50
Freight Rail 50
Passenger Rail 51
Passenger Rail 51
Rail Deficiencies 51
Rail Deficiencies 51
River Transportation and Port Facilities 52
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities 52
Current Initiatives 52
Current Initiatives 52
Summary of Recommendations 53
Economic Development 55
Economic Development 55
Vision 55
Mission 55
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 55
Discussion of Economic Development Issues in Kanawha County 57
Economic Development Organizations 57
Economic Development Initiatives 58
Business Retention and Expansion 58
Summary of Recommendations 61
61
61
Education & Training 62
Education & Training 62
Vision 62
Mission 62
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 62
Discussion of Education & Training Issues in Kanawha County 65
Summary of Recommendations 67
Farms & Agriculture 68
Farms & Agriculture 68
Vision 68
Mission 68
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 68
Discussion of Farm & Agriculture Issues in Kanawha County 68
Summary of Recommendations 68
Human and Family Services 70
Human and Family Services 70
Vision 70
Mission 70
Goals, Objectives, Strategies 70
Discussion of Human & Family Service Issues in Kanawha County 71
Summary of Recommendations 72
Natural Resources, Environment & Conservation 73
Natural Resources, Environment & Conservation 73
Vision 73
Mission 73
Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 73
Discussion of Natural Resources, Environmental & Conservation Issues in Kanawha County 74
Flood Hazard Areas 74
Special Flood Hazard Areas 75
27.Brownfields 76
36.Summary of Recommendations 76
39.Planning, Management & Governance 78
39.Planning, Management & Governance 78
41.Vision 78
44.Mission 78
47.Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 78
50.Planning, Management & Governance 78
50.Planning, Management & Governance 78
84.Creating More Livable Communities 79
84.Creating More Livable Communities 79
89.Leadership 79
89.Leadership 79
117.Discussion of Planning, Management & Governance Issues in Kanawha County 80
121.Kanawha County Commission – Administration 80
129.Community Planning and Development 80
140.Regional Development Authority 81
144.Kanawha County Housing and Redevelopment Authority 81
148.Kanawha County Building Commission 81
152.Summary of Recommendations 81
153.Public Health, Fitness & Safety 82
153.Public Health, Fitness & Safety 82
155.Vision 82
159.Mission 82
163.Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 82
165.Public Health & Physical Fitness 82
165.Public Health & Physical Fitness 82
195.Public Safety & Emergency Services 83
195.Public Safety & Emergency Services 83
239.Discussion of Public Health, Fitness & Safety Issues in Kanawha County 84
251.Public Health and Wellness 84
268.Physical Fitness 85
285.Hospitals, Clinics, and Mental Health Centers 86
291.Emergency Ambulance and Medical Services 86
302.Enhanced 9-1-1 System Mapping and Addressing 87
311.Fire Protection and Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) 87
338.Law Enforcement 89
347.Air and Water Pollution 90
354.January 2014 Elk River Chemical Spill: 90
364.Summary of Recommendations 92
365.Public Health and Physical Fitness 92
365.Public Health and Physical Fitness 92
367.Public Safety and Emergency Services 92
367.Public Safety and Emergency Services 92
396.Recreation, Entertainment & Tourism 94
396.Recreation, Entertainment & Tourism 94
398.Vision 94
401.Mission 94
404.Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 94
416.Discussion of Recreation, Entertainment & Tourism Issues in Kanawha County 95
421. 96
423.Kanawha State Forest 97
436.Summary of Recommendations 97
437.Section-Utilities & Infrastructure 98
437.Section-Utilities & Infrastructure 98
439.Vision 98
443.Mission 98
447.Goals, Objectives, and Strategies 98
471.Discussion of Utility & Infrastructure Issues in Kanawha County 99
473.Public Water Supply 99
484.Public Wastewater Collection and Treatment 99
488.Public Service Districts 100
734.Summary of Recommendations 104
740.Funding Suggestions 105
740.Funding Suggestions 105
799.Action Plan 107
799.Action Plan 107
Figure 1. Map of Kanawha County Page 4
Jack Lavender, President
Kenneth Miller, Vice President
Robert Ritenour, Secretary
W. Kent Carper, Commissioner
Martin W. Castleberry, Commissioner
Jerry Childers, Commissioner
Pam Eder, Commissioner
Mark Shamblin, Commissioner
David Fletcher, Commissioner
Jean Gibson, Commissioner
Bobbie Howard, Commissioner
Barry Kemerer, Commissioner
S. K. Miller, Commissioner
Steve Reynolds, Commissioner
J.D. Stricklen, Commissioner
Mark A. Felton, AICP, Executive Director
Dick Callaway, Chairman
Scott Ferry, Transportation Engineer
Doug Rice, Special Projects Manager
Masood Akhtar, Transportation Engineer
Terry Martin, Special Projects Manager
Executive Summary
2014 Updated Vision is a 2014 update and revision of
the Twenty-Twenty Vision Plan, the Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of Kanawha County, West Virginia.
(Figure 1) (Figure 2) It has been developed in conformance with the guidelines and requirements cited in West Virginia State Code, Chapter 8A, Article 3, Section 1.
The current
2014 Updated Vision is an update of the Twenty-Twenty Vision
. The Twenty-Twenty plan was designed to serve the needs of the community during a planning period of approximately 20 years. This plan will undergo an additional revision within 10 years (by 2024) or as needed.
The Comprehensive Plan is meant as a guide to assist officials with decisions about the future development of Kanawha County. It establishes countywide goals and recommends strategies to achieve those goals. It sets policy directions that will help design developmental tools such as subdivision regulations, transportation plans and options, and other future projected projects. It does not consist of legislative mandates or new ordinances.
Modern comprehensive planning can be defined as follows:
A systematic way of anticipating, causing, preventing, or monitoring change related to the provision of public and/or private facilities and programs. It is a continuous process of change in response to new social values, funding, lifestyle patterns, trends, technology, legislation, and availability of resources…