Area affected by Text Amendment adoption.

Commission Approves Text Amendments; Action makes way for US 35/I-64 Interchange Development

The agenda for the February 10th Putnam County Commission meeting listed four items of seemingly routine business. The most routine and least significant agenda item, in appearance, was consideration and action upon two proposed text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for the Zoned Unincorporated Areas of Putnam County. The proposed amendments addressed permitted principal uses in Highway Interchange (H-I) Districts and a definition of the term, Truck Terminal. The actual significance of the text amendments became evident in the county commission’s discussion of the matter.

In his presentation to the commission, Planning Director David Coll stated that the Planning Commission voted to make “truck stop” and “warehousing” permitted principal uses within H-I districts and to continue “truck terminal” as a special permitted use in H-I districts at Planning’s December 18, 2025 meeting. Coll stated that the Planning Commission received three letters of opposition to the proposed changes prior to the meeting.

A review of the minutes of the December 18 meeting reveals that additional voices of opposition to the text amendments were also expressed by members of the public at the meeting. The December 18 minutes, additionally, reveal statements of opposition to zoning changes requested by The Depot Development Group that were part of the December 18 meeting agenda. The zoning changes requested would result in four parcels located near the junction U.S. 35 and I-64 receiving (H-I) designation, and consequently, qualifying for “truck stop” and “warehousing” uses without need of a special permit. The event that the county commission will consider Depot Development’s rezoning request at the commission’s upcoming meeting on February 24th.

The Planning Commission approved Depot Development’s request to rezone Tax Map 214, Parcels 21 and 37 from “C-2” High Density Commercial to “H-I” Highway Interchange and voted to table action on a request to rezone Tax Map 214, Parcels 2.1 and 3 from “R-R” Rural Residential to “H-I” Highway Interchange.

The December 18 Planning Commission minutes include a description of Phase 1 Development of the property to be rezoned. Jeff Hoops informed those in attendance that 50 acres would be developed as a Travel Center & Truck Stop and 60 acres would serve as home to a Commercial Hub featuring a big-box retailer, hospitality services (hotel), and dining establishments.

Prior to approving the text amendments as recommended by Planning, the commission acted upon a request by Putnam Public Service District to issue a letter of support that the PSD can use to obtain funding for an alternative water intake. The PSD is proposing a project which would bring water from the Kanawha River at Winfield (above the city’s sewer plant) to Larck Reservoir via Rocky Step Road and Harmons Branch.

The project would allow Putnam PSD to maintain adequate reserve during drought years. During the drought of 2024, the PSD was not able to provide supplemental water to the City of Hurricane, causing the Hurricane utility to be dependent solely upon West Virginia American Water.

In other business, the commission authorized the transfer ownership of the 1997 65-ft Ladder Truck from the Putnam County Fire Service to the Hurricane Training Center. The truck previously served as Hurricane Fire & Rescue’s ladder truck but is no longer suitable for road use.

The commission reappointed Tony Hodge and Jesse Parker to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The commission next meets on Tuesday, February 24th, at 5 p.m.