Helping Hands lawyer objects to Ronceverte Zoning & Planning Commission agenda, meeting delayed 

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

The Ronceverte Zoning and Planning Commission met on Thursday night at City Hall to further consider a conditional use permit for WV Helping Hands. 

Amy Hubbard, who leads Helping Hands, previously shared her vision for the facility with the commission. “We are hoping to convert the old hospital into a residential education facility. Rural communities like ours don’t have anything in place to address these needs.” 

Practically, Hubbard says the facility will provide housing, job services, and a place for residents to “move from dependence to independence.” 

She added in an April 2024 meeting that it will serve people from five counties–Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Summers. 

At the conclusion of that meeting, Commission Chair Wayne Peer said to Hubbard, “We’re going to need you to sell this to your neighbors. Talk to them and get letters of support.” The issue hadn’t been on an agenda since. 

‘We object’

At Thursday’s meeting, the commission was set to consider granting a conditional use permit for the Helping Hands facility following citizen comments. 

However, a lawyer representing Helping Hands, Jennifer Mason, interjected just before citizen comments began. “The notice of this meeting was not properly published…We object to the meeting because of that.”

She then proceeded to voice a second objection, saying that citizen comments should not be allowed as the meeting was not a public hearing. 

“We were told that it was going to be up for discussion in the notice that was published, although not properly, that there was going to be citizen’s comments,” said Mason. “You’re not following the code of West Virginia or Ronceverte with respect to the proper procedure. It is out of order.”

“The only issue you guys should be addressing is whether the application is complete,” Mason said. 

“That’s what we’re here to do,” responded commission and city council member Leah Smith. 

“That’s not what was noticed,” said Mason. “We object to public comment tonight because it’s not proper.”

“If you’re going to object to anything we do, we’re not going to be able to do anything tonight,” Smith said. “I’m going to make a motion that we go ahead and continue the meeting another night. If they (Helping Hands) don’t want us to hear (their request), then we won’t hear it.”

The motion was approved unanimously and the meeting adjourned.  

‘Lack of communication’

At stake is a grant approaching $9 million which was awarded over a year ago by the WV Housing Development Fund. 

“If there is much more delay, there could be significant impact to the grants,” Mason said in an interview with RealWV following the meeting. “If we don’t do it the right way, though, it’s worse. We kinda made the decision, ‘We’ve gotta say this.’ We don’t want to be attacking. We want this to go through smoothly.” 

Amy Hubbard remains hopeful that each step in the process, even if it takes time, will be worthwhile. 

“We are trying really hard,” she said after the meeting. “We want to answer any questions people have. I think a lack of communication is still out there. We still have people that think we’re going to be offering housing to drug dealers or a halfway house to pedophiles. That’s just not the case.”

“We are listening to the concerns of the community and trying really hard to address those concerns, but they’re not hearing us,” she said. “They’re angry and they’re scared. I do welcome people that have questions and are so against it to reach out to me. I’d be happy to show you the real plans and see the building. It’s a mess right now because we haven’t done anything but you can see the possibility.”

Several dozen citizens came in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Those in support argue that it meets a need in the area, while those opposed question the location which is in a residential neighborhood. A petition currently circulating in town questions if the location will impact public health, safety, and property values. 

What comes next? 

Mayor Deena Pack, who attended the meeting on Thursday but is not a voting member of the commission, told RealWV after the meeting, “The city is grateful to the members…that have volunteered countless hours in service to Ronceverte and their fellow citizens. I am fully confident that they will continue to review all the presented information and make an informed and thoughtful decision.”

Stay tuned to RealWV for updates on this developing story.