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Jefferson County Planning Commission looks at re-zoning Property adjacent to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park…and unanimously denies the petition!
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by Paul Wilson | 2007

Developers' try to get rural land re-zoned to allow their fanciful development priorities that sacrifice a Civil War battlement and create a real eyesore near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

The Jefferson County Planning Commission got an earful from local residents at a public hearing on a rezoning petition for the Old Standard Quarry, which includes approximately 411 acres next to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. More than 30 speakers urged the commissioners to give the petition a thumbs-down.

“Allowing for floodplain, steep slopes, Shenandoah River buffer, and the quarry lake, much of the property is unsuitable for development of any kind, let alone the intensive development proposed here,” said Paul Rosa, executive director of the Harpers Ferry Conservancy.


Don Campbell, superintendent of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, made a compelling presentation to the planning commission about the property’s significant Civil War history, and offered a high-tech visualization of how the proposed development would mar the park’s scenic views.

“We are in total support of (the park’s) efforts to protect the park boundaries and to maintain the view shed for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park,” said Bob O’Connor, vice president of the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The towns of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar each have sent a letter to the Jefferson County Commission in opposition to the re-zoning. The Old Standard Quarry owners have petitioned the county to re-zone the property to allow 2 million square feet of commercial, office, and flex-space; eg equivalent to more than 13 Charles Town Wal-Mart’s worth of space.  Previously, the owners tried to petition the Charles Town City Council to annex the property. The Harpers Ferry NHP borders the property on the east and west, and the Shenandoah River lies along its southern edge.

“With its current topography and forest cover, Old Standard helps convey the authentic setting of the Civil War battlefield for visitors to the park,” said Nell Ziehl, Field Representative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

While evidence of the land’s past industrial uses remains and needs to be remediated, Dennis Frye, Chief Historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and a recognized expert on Jefferson County Civil War history, pointed out that the overall landscape would be recognizable by the soldiers who fought here during the Civil War.

The Planning Commission scheduled its vote on the petition at the June 12, 7:00 pm meeting, at the Charles Town Public Library.  After discussion on the previous week’s public input and other information provided by the new County Planner, Tony Redland, the Chair entertained a motion on the re-zoning petition.  A motion was made to deny the re-zoning petition and it passed unanimously with very little addition discussion.

Special thanks go to National Parks Conservation Association staffers Joy Oakes and Erin St. John for organizing the opposition to this really bad idea in a West Virginia county that has for too long suffered under the heavy handedness of poor development decisions.

The next step is the County Commission meeting which will be held June 21^st after our Mountain State Sierran goes to the printer.  Look for action items on this Harpers Ferry issue on the Chapter website:  http://westvirginia.sierraclub.org/