KINGWOOD — Kingwood Council has referred four structures to the condemnation committee.
Council voted unanimously Tuesday to begin the process of condemning the structures.
They are at 114 1/2 Chestnut St., 211 Jackson St., 169 N. Sigler St. and the sweet Annie’s building at 145 S. Price St.
According to the city, the structures are falling down. Kingwood is also working with the Preston County Economic Development Authority, which received a grant to do pre-demolition work on the Sweet Annie’s building.
But it takes so long to go through the condemnation process that this shouldn’t interfere with the grant work, Councilman Mike Lipscomb said.
In other building related business, council talked with Christine McDonald, who is awaiting a variance or change in zoning for 107 1/2 Pleasant Ave.
McDonald first came before council in February. She has an application pending with the state to put a medical marijuana dispensary at the location, but it appears part of the building is zoned residential and part commercial.
It’s the only application for a dispensary in Preston County, according to the state, which is reviewing applications. Up to 100 dispensary applications will be issued statewide.
“It is the opportunity of a lifetime,” McDonld said.
Last week the State Office of Medical Cannabis announced the 10 grower permits in the state. None are in Preston County.
In February, council referred the matter to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to seek a variance. The board rejected the request and said council would have to rezone it.
“I apologize. I thought it was already taken care of,” Recorder Bill Robertson said. “I hadn’t heard anymore and thought it was done.”
“I don’t see any problem with granting a variance,” Mayor Jean Guillot said.
Council agreed to set a meeting with the BZA.
Remembering Corky
At the beginning of the meeting, council observed a moment of silence for 51-year Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department member and former chief “Corky” Thomas, who died recently of cancer.
Thomas was many things to many people, Councilman Josh Fields said. “He was fun loving and jovial, and the first to crack a joke. But when the situation called for it and he spoke, you listened, because his words carried weight.”
Thomas served “both his country and his community,” Fields noted. “The countless hours he devoted to service in our community should be a model to others to follow.”
The loss of Thomas is a blow to the Kingwood community, “but his legacy will pay it forward for years to come,” Fields said.
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