Proposed Subdivision Can be a Win, if Process Followed

Thursday, April 25, 2013 - 00:02 by Tony Rutherford HuntingtonNews.Net Reporter

Concerned neighbors presented Huntington City Council and Williams Administration members with photos and data concerning  a 33 acre development site on a hill above Memorial Park Drive, Westview Avenue and Edgemont Road. 

Neighbors have concerns that clearing vegetation and trees on the property, as well as road widening, could adversely impact storm water flow and initiate further ground slippage on their residences below.

Prior to the Thursday Work Session of council, a verbal cease and desist order had been issued to developer Scott Hutchinson, who had not obtained state or city permits.

At Monday’s council meeting, Rebekah McComas, who lives in the 800 block of Memorial Park Drive, spoke on behalf of residents living down slope on the aforementioned areas.

Ms. McComas told council that the developer had told residents that he planned to connect to what she called an “overburdened sewer” which would “exacerbate” water runoff that has already lead to slippages.

“We are very concerned that the area over N. Edgemont has been disrupted without professional insight resulting in a hazardous situation. The residents of N. Edgemont already live with a closed, crumbling road in front of their homes and now they must worry about the steep embankment giving way above them.”

Ms. McComas continued, “We all win if the project is done properly,” adding, “We all lose if it’s done carelessly.”

Mayor Steve Williams had previously told council members at the work session that Hutchinson must follow “engineering and building” standards, which include storm water, erosion and sediment approvals from the Department of Environmental Protection.

As councilman Gary Bunn stressed at the work session, the Huntington Planning Commission must grant approval too.


They provided a July 1989 memorandum by then public works director, George Burgess, which related to slippage at Whittaker Square and Edgemont Drive. A copy of the MEMO and the residents’ concerns can be downloaded below.

  1. Neighborhood Concerns (955.69 KB)