H. B. 2662
(By Delegates Doyle and Manuel)
[Introduced March 21, 1997; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section fifty, article twenty-four,
chapter eight of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to planning
and zoning; removing exemption from certain provisions for
mining and manufacturing activities and uses.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section fifty, article twenty-four, chapter eight of
the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one,
as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 24. PLANNING AND ZONING.
§8-24-50. Existing uses safeguarded.
(a) A
Such zoning ordinance or ordinances
shall may not
prohibit the continuance of the use of any land, building or
structure for the purpose for which
such the land, building or
structure is used at the time such ordinance or ordinances take
effect, but any alteration or addition to any land or any
alteration, addition or replacement of or to any existing building or structure for the purpose of carrying on any use
prohibited under the zoning rules
and regulations applicable to
the district may be prohibited:
Provided, That
no such
prohibition shall apply the prohibition contained in this
section may not be construed as applying to alterations or
additions to or replacement of buildings or structures by any
farm, industry or manufacturer, or to the use of land presently
owned by any farm, industry or manufacturer but not used for
agricultural, industrial or manufacturing purposes, or to the use
or acquisition of additional land which may be required for the
protection, continuing development or expansion of any
agricultural, industrial or manufacturing operation or any
present or future satellite agricultural, industrial or
manufacturing use. If a nonconforming use has been abandoned,
any future use of
such the land, building or structure shall be
in conformity with the provisions of the ordinance regulating the
use in the district in which
such the land, building or structure
may be located:
Provided, however, That abandonment of any
particular agricultural, industrial or manufacturing process
shall may not be construed as abandonment of agricultural,
industrial or manufacturing use.
(b) The exemption from any zoning ordinance or ordinances
may not apply a non-energy producing mining operations in any
county which, upon the effective date of this section is a
growth county as defined by section three, article twenty,
chapter seven of this code and the county commission of that county has adopted a zoning ordinance regardless of whether the
zoning ordinance remains in effect.
(c) Nothing contained in this
article shall be deemed to
may authorize an ordinance,
or rule
and regulation which would
prevent, outside of urban areas, the complete use and alienation
of any timber and any and all minerals, including coal, oil and
gas, by the owner or alienee thereof. For the purpose of this
section, urban area
shall include includes all lands or lots
within the jurisdiction of a municipal planning commission as
defined in this article.
Note: The purpose of this bill is to remove the exemption
from certain planning and zoning restrictions for mining and
manufacturing activities and uses.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicated new language
that would be added.