Morgantown 2033

Welcome! 

Please join us as we update Morgantown’s Comprehensive Plan!

The City of Morgantown has started updating its 2013 Comprehensive Plan—Morgantown's "blueprint" for the future. Community participation and stakeholder input are paramount in order to ensure that the updated plan envisions the full range of our community’s needs and values.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can stay involved in the planning process for Morgantown 2033. Progress updates and important notices will be posted here. Watch our consultant's presentation about the update by clicking here.

What is Morgantown 2033?

Morgantown 2033 is a year-long process to update the City of Morgantown’s Comprehensive Plan.  In accordance with State Code, municipalities in West Virginia are required to update their Comprehensive Plans every ten years. The last plan update was completed in 2013. To learn more about the 2013 plan document, please click here Version OptionsMorgantown 2033Headline What is Morgantown 2033? What is Morgantown 2033? What is Morgantown 2033? What is Morgantown 2033? What is Morgantown 2033?.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A Comprehensive Plan is a policy document endorsed by the Planning Commission and adopted by City Council. The Comprehensive Plan is a living document that local officials and community leaders use to guide decision making on development and prioritize projects, programs and initiatives in the community.  Because conditions change over time, the plan must be flexible and should be periodically reviewed and revised to address new trends, challenges, and opportunities.  

What’s in a Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan includes important aspects that will impact how Morgantown will look and function in the future. It provides recommendations on a variety of topics, including:

• Land Use
• Housing 
• Transportation
• Infrastructure
• Community Services and Facilities
• Recreation
• Economic Development
• Community Design and Character
• Financing
• Historic Preservation
• Preferred Development Areas
• Renewal and/or Redevelopment

For each topic area, the plan will describe the issues and goals to be addressed and then provide policy implementation recommendations.  Additionally, detailed implementation strategies such as future studies, public involvement and education, regional intergovernmental collaboration, and ongoing plan monitoring will also be outlined.

Get Involved!

What would like to see improved, enhanced, and retained in Morgantown? Morgantown 2033 is designed to be a community-driven process. The ability of the Plan to respond to the community’s needs will be dependent on the input that the Planning Team receives from the public. THIS IS YOUR PLAN!  

In accordance with the West Virginia State Code §8A-3-6, the Morgantown Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update (Morgantown 2033) at their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.  Due to renovations at Morgantown City Hall, the meeting will be held in the Monongalia County Courthouse - Commission Chambers (2nd Floor), 243 High Street, Morgantown, WV.

An electronic copy of Morgantown 2033 is now available for review by clicking here. Hard copies of the plan will also be available for review in the City’s Development Services Department (430 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505), and Morgantown Public Library (373 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505) during normal business hours.

Any written comments regarding the plan may be sent to the attention of Rickie Yeager, Development Services Director at 430 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 or by email to morgantown2033@morgantownwv.gov.  For further information, please contact the Development Services Department – Planning and Zoning Division at 304.284.7431. 

Please note the following schedule for the adoption process of Morgantown 2033:

•    September 21st – Planning Commission Public Hearing

•    September 26th – City Council - Committee of the Whole

•    October 3rd – City Council – Ordinance 1st Reading

•    November 7th – City Council – Ordinance 2nd Reading and Public Hearing

A special thanks to everyone who has participated in the planning process to date.  This includes Morgantown City Council, Planning Commission, Morgantown 2033 Steering Committee, and everyone who participated in a stakeholder interview, attended a public meeting (in-person and online) or took a survey to provide input. It is greatly appreciated.

Who Is Leading The Update?

The planning team is comprised of City staff, planning consultants and a Steering Committee. The team is responsible for pulling together technical information and input from the community. Your opinions and feedback are a vital part of the planning process.

The City’s update to the Comprehensive Plan is being done in collaboration with plan updates to the Long-Range Transportation Plan for the Morgantown Monongalia County Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as the Monongalia County Comprehensive Plan.

Morgantown 2033 Steering Committee:

Comprised of key representatives from the county, city, and WVU including the following members:

• Jennifer Selin, Mayor, City of Morgantown
• Sean Sikora, Monongalia County Commissioner
• Peter DeMasters, Morgantown Planning Commission
• Mark Nesselroad, Glenmark Holdings
• Russ Rogerson, Morgantown Area Partnership
• Michael Mills, Mills Group
• Ron Justice, West Virginia University
• Christal Crouso, Fairmont Morgantown Housing Authority
• Christopher Bailey, Rising Sun Construction
• Adelheid Schaupp, Empire 2000
• Benjamin Gerber, WVU Medicine
• Tim Stranko, Morgantown Planning Commission

Steering Committee – Advisors:

• Andrew Gast-Bray, Monongalia County Planning Commission
• Bill Austin, Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Dave Satterfield, WVU Asset Development and Morgantown Land Reuse and Preservation Agency
• Ryan Simonton, City of Morgantown

City Staff:

• Rodney Bahner, Senior Planner
• Barbara McDonald, Executive Assistant
• Rickie Yeager, Development Services Director

Planning Consultant Team:

• Rhodeside & Harwell: Project Management and Community Planning
• Brick & Story: Community Engagement
• JS Lane: Economic Development Planning
• Stantec: Transportation Planning
• City Explained: Infrastructure Planning