ST. CLAIRSVILLE — After two years of reviewing laws, the Belmont County Planning Commission is looking forward to 2023 and expects to announce new subdivision regulations.

J.P. Dutton, a member and Belmont County commissioner, said the group looks forward to presenting results.

“We definitely want to have a draft for the public this year, fall at the latest and hopefully sooner than that,” Dutton said. “We wanted to have one out already, but the board only meets monthly and it’s a pretty substantial look at the past regulations and substantial changes because they haven’t been looked at in so long. That’s a good thing because the board’s taking its time.”

The commission was created to address subdivision regulation as well as regulations for paving, along with stormwater and flooding in low-lying areas. Incoming developers will adhere to these requirements.

Chairman Mark McVey, former mayor of Powhatan Point with experience working with planning and zoning, said the group is making progress after holding monthly meetings for about two years.

“This thing hasn’t been updated since 1961. The committees are moving slowly because they want to do it right the first time,” McVey said. “When you talk about roads, you talk about how wide. You talk about water, you talk about where it’s going to go.”

He said in 2022 the board established committees and began work “streamlining” the numerous regulations while maintaining their effectiveness.

“It’s in its infancy and it’s a slow-moving process,” McVey said.

“The goal of this committee is to make sure that the subdivisions are built in such a way as to protect the integrity of that subdivision. So if you have a $500,000-$600,000 home or even a $100,000 home and you have a nice driveway to your garage or to your property, coming in off an old, dusty, muddy road, you want something you can make sure you have a road, sidewalks if necessary and your water and sewer being done properly. … It’s a subdivision that someone will be proud to live in.”

They began January’s meeting noting that a goal this year is to hire an executive director. One application has been received so far, and the hiring committee will review it.

“We want someone who will give all the committees a go-to person,” McVey said.

He said the commission benefits from the help of membership from local engineers. Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively also attends meetings.

“It’s an easy statement, but it’s going to be difficult because it’s lengthy, and it’s why we have two engineering firms (represented),” he said. “A lot of this stuff is very, very technical.”

Jim Graham, former Ohio Department of Transportation engineer, said roads had to take priority.

“This road issue is Number 1. Your power, your sewer, your draining, you do that right the first time, you don’t have to worry about it. This road situation is dynamic,” he said. “We’re trying to make the leap from a dirt road to a chip seal.”

McVey commented on the need for progress.

“With the township trustees and their budgets, most of the time if not all of the time unless the subdivision wants to stay private, once it becomes a public road the township trustees assume responsibility,” he said. “Their financial assistance for that is limited because of the budget. They just can’t maintain all of the roads in a fashion that some people would be happy with. Some people don’t care about slab roads. Others want concrete, others want asphalt.”

Pultney Township Trustee Frank Shaffer said the commission looks forward to releasing the new regulations.

“This has been a long, tedious project here, and we’re trying to get these rules correct and right for development in this county. We’ve been moving along at a slow pace according to most people, but it does take a lot to go through this to do it right. We’re coming along. We’re getting closer to the end, and I think we’ll see some rules in place within this year,” he said.

“Some of the new subdivisions will have rules set in place that will help out the townships,” Shaffer said. “When those subdivisions come into place, the roads will be in place, so it won’t hurt the townships’ small budgets to repair those subdivisions after they receive them.”

Members include Belmont County Commissioners Dutton, Jerry Echemann and Josh Meyer, Mcvey, Graham, Jay Goodman, Shaffer, developer John Jefferis, engineers A.J. Smith and Brian May, and Richard Myser, area attorney.

The planning commission meets the last Monday of each month at the courthouse annex building. The Belmont County Courthouse is located at 101 W. Main St., St. Clairsville.