The State Journal
16 June 2006
By Pam Kasey - pkasey@statejournal.com
WESTOVER - Although it lies just across a bridge from Morgantown's booming commercial and residential riverfront development, Westover's riverfront remains mostly abandoned industrial property.
But on June 5, Westover City Council gave conditional approval of North River Investments' plan to build a bridge across the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks separating the riverfront site from the rest of the city.
Attorneys for the city and the developers are negotiating legal questions now, said Westover Mayor Bob McCauley.
Once all parties are satisfied, the city formally will commit to adopting the bridge into its roadway system - a commitment the railroad requires before granting right-of-way for the bridge.
Approval of the bridge would open the way for North River Investments, a West Virginia company registered with the state by Patricia Sanderson, to purchase and develop the five-plus-acre site of the former General Woodworking.
Preliminary discussions about the bridge have centered on a concrete structure with an estimated life span of 70 years, McCauley said.
North River attorney Michael Novotny said plans for the bridge have not been finalized.
While development of the property still is in the early planning stages, Novotny said a mixed commercial and residential use was being considered.
The reason the bridge is needed, he said, is the current at-grade crossing to the property can be terminated on 30 days' notice by the railroad.
"That's just not sufficient for anybody to spend any money on development," he said. "This agreement provides for a permanent access right to the property."
While Novotny indicated that North River Investments' principals have experience with mixed-use development in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, he said he was not at liberty to disclose the names of specific projects.
Patricia Sanderson did not return a telephone call.
Novotny was unable to give an expected timeline for the development project.