MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — While the Fairmont Morgantown Housing Authority waits for word from the state to approve a TIF district for a senior housing development, right-of-way and transportation impacts are questioned.
The proposed development off Route 705 and adjacent to WVU agriculture property will likely increase traffic in an already congested area.
“Access to 705 where they are talking about is a sensitive area given the proximity to the existing traffic signal with Stewartstown Road and with the roundabout, I think the Division of Highways has initially indicated they would give them (developers) right in and right out access to 705 there which would minimize the impact of any development,” explained Bill Austin, Executive Director of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Morgantown Council approved the housing authority’s request to seek financing for the new housing district targeted toward residents 55 and older and single-parent families in a singular community.
With plans dependent upon financing and the housing authority’s work with a developer, transportation impacts are just being discussed.
As the MPO has been studying alternative routes through and around Morgantown, Austin said it makes sense for the authority and MPO to work together.
“We are doing some micro simulation modeling of the development and how it would work with right in and right out access there. We’re also talking about alternative means to access the property.”
If the TIF application is approved, the authority is expected to return to council with more detailed plans for the development which council would have to approve.