Ripley City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 1301
Comprehensive Plan
1301.01 ADOPTED, PURPOSE.
(a) The general purpose of a comprehensive plan is to guide a governing body to accomplish a coordinated and compatible development of land and improvements within its territorial jurisdiction, in accordance with present and future needs and resources.
(b) A comprehensive plan is a process through which citizen participation and thorough analysis are used to develop a set of strategies that establish as clearly and practically as possible the best and most appropriate future development of the area under the jurisdiction of the planning commission. A comprehensive plan aids the planning commission in designing and recommending to the governing body ordinances that result in preserving and enhancing the unique quality of life and culture in that community and in adapting to future changes of use of an economic, physical or social nature. A comprehensive plan guides the planning commission in the performance of its duties to help achieve sound planning.
(c) A comprehensive plan must promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.
(d) The purpose of a comprehensive plan is to:
(1) Set goals and objectives for land development, uses and suitability for a governing body, so a governing body can make an informed decision;
(2) Ensure that the elements in the comprehensive plan are consistent;
(3) Coordinate all governing bodies, units of government and other planning commissions to ensure that all comprehensive plans and future development are compatible;
(4) Create conditions favorable to health, safety, mobility, transportation, prosperity, civic activities, recreational, educational, cultural opportunities and historic resources;
(5) Reduce the wastes of physical, financial, natural or human resources which result from haphazard development, congestion or scattering of population;
(6) Reduce the destruction or demolition of historic sites and other resources by reusing land and buildings and revitalizing areas;
(7) Promote a sense of community, character and identity;
(8) Promote the efficient utilization of natural resources, rural land, agricultural land and scenic areas;
(9) Focus development in existing developed areas and fill in vacant or underused land near existing developed areas to create well designed and coordinated communities; and
(10) Promote cost-effective development of community facilities and services.
(e) A comprehensive plan may provide for innovative land use management techniques,
including:
(1) Density bonuses and/or density transfer;
(2) Clustering;
(3) Design guidelines, including planned unit developments;
(4) Conservation easements;
(5) Infill development;
(6) Consolidation of services; and
(7) Any other innovative land use technique that will promote the governing body's development plans
By reason of the foregoing, Council does hereby adopt in principle, the Ripley, West Virginia, 2024 Comprehensive Plan, as adopted by the Ripley Planning Commission, presented to the governing body of the City of Ripley, West Virginia, at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripley, Jackson County, West Virginia, held on the 17th day of December, 2024, and will be presented for a hearing, second reading and adoption at a regular meeting of Council to be held on January 21st, 2025. (Passed 1-21-25)
1301.02 CHAPTER 8A OF WEST VIRGINIA CODE ADOPTED.
There is included, and incorporated, by reference, into Article 1301 of the Official Code of the City of Ripley, West Virginia provisions of Chapter BA of the West Virginia Code, as amended, which pertain to the subject matter of Article 1301 of the City Code, as and when the provisions of Chapter BA of the West Virginia Code pertain, where reference is made in Article 1301 of the City Code to provisions of former West Virginia Code Chapter 8, Article 24.
Further, all provisions of the Official Code of the City of Ripley, West Virginia which refer to provisions of the former Chapter 8, Article 24 of the West Virginia Code are repealed to the extent the same are contrary to the provisions of Chapter BA of the West Virginia Code.
(Passed 1-21-25)