T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Mark McVey, chairman of the Belmont County Planning Commission, and other commission members mark the completion of new subdivision regulations.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County officially has a new set of subdivision regulations.

After two years of meticulous work, the Belmont County Planning Commission submitted updated regulations to the commissioners Wednesday. The commissioners approved the new regulations and commended retired assistant prosecutor Dave Liberati for overseeing legal matters associated with the new regulations for much of the process and to Assistant Prosecutor Jacob Manning for continuing through the conclusion.

Liberati said the original code dated from the 1960s and was only five pages long. He described the newly approved code as a “notebook,” adding it is available for viewing at the Belmont County Recorder’s Office.

“There’s a chapter on roads. There’s a chapter on utilities. There are chapters on suitability. A whole set of definitions. It’s a good step forward,” he said after the commission meeting.

“This board recognized that development required a lot more detail, and most of the changes aren’t from a legal standpoint at all. They’re from a technical standpoint in what are the requirements today to have a good, solid road? What are the requirements today to have good road width?”

Other issues addressed include fire safety and suitability of lots for septic systems in the future.

“Those are the kinds of things addressed in much more detail in these subdivision regulations than in subdivision regulations from 1961,” he said.

For example, he said lots will be reviewed before subdividing to ensure they are the proper size and slope suitable for a septic system.

“There will be adequate fire protection, adequate access,” Liberati added.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton said the extensive technical knowledge of the board members made a thorough revision possible.

The board consists of Ohio Department of Transportation Engineer Jim Graham, former Powhatan Point mayor Mark McVey, Pultney Township Trustee Frank Schaffer, realtor Jay Goodman, surveyor A.J. Smith, contractor John Jefferis, civil engineer Brian May and attorney Richard Myser. Commissioners Dutton, Josh Myer and Jerry Echemann are also on the board.

Echemann also thanked Engineer Terry Lively for acting as a source of input, though not as a member of the board. He said agencies such as the health department and water and sewer also assisted.

Commissioner Josh Meyer thanked the committee members for volunteering their effort as part of the main body as well as the various subcommittees.

Cumberland Trail Fire Chief Tim Hall said one advantage of the new regulations will be standardization of new fire hydrants for ease of access.

McVey, who serves as chairman, spoke about the work and said he was proud to be part of the effort.

Shaffer said the new regulations would be valuable going forward, serving to protect homeowners, developers, local government and utilities.

The county also hired Lance Schultz as executive director. He is originally from Shadyside and with a background in municipal planning. Dutton said Schultz will work on a contract basis for a maximum of $45,000 for 2024.