Harpers Ferry News and Events

At the Town Council meeting on Monday, 10 December 2018, planning consultant Steven Ball delivered a memorandum outlining fee estimates for the Hill Top House Hotel construction project. The estimate, including conditional use and site plan review, as well as construction management and inspection fees, totals $364,798.10. The memorandum and supporting figures can be accessed here.

During a special meeting on Wednesday, 22 August, the Town Council heard from a number of residents of Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas concerning the proposed Rockwool production facility in Jefferson County. Following action by Council, an official statement was released and sent to stakeholders, including Roxul USA, the Jefferson County Commission, the City of Ranson, the City of Charles Town, the Corporation of Bolivar, the Corporation of Shepherdstown, the Jefferson County Board of Education, and the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA). In addition, Council directed the Corporation of Harpers Ferry's official representative on the JCDA Board to vote in opposition to any proposed bonds that would support infrastructure to the proposed facility site.

The official statement from the Corporation of Harpers Ferry can be read in its entirety here. A summary statement has also been released, which can be read here.

The Corporation of Harpers Ferry is actively seeking volunteers to serve on the following boards of the Town government:

• Tree Committee (one vacancy)
• Municipal Charter Committee (ad hoc, one vacancy)
• Board of Zoning Appeals (up to three alternates)

Those individuals interested in seeking appointment to either of these committees should send a letter of interest to Recorder Kevin Carden (recorder@harpersferrywv.us).

During the Planning Commission's special meeting that was called on 15 May, SWaN Legend's project and design team presented the formal Concept Plan for the Hill Top Hotel reconstruction project. This submission included three key components:

• A written Concept Plan, plus an addendum to the Concept Plan;
• A 3D model of the concept; and
• A Historic Resources Plan (note large file size: 38.9 MB).

Additionally, SWaN Legend's project and design team presented a Ground Level Landscape Enhancement Plan in August, which included the following documents:

• The initial landscape plan submission from April 2018
• The August 2018 Landscape Enhancement Plan
• A narrative discussing the proposed changes

The individual submission items may be accessed by clicking the links above. They are also available for review at Town Hall in hard copy. Contact staff at 304-535-2206 for more information on reviewing these items at Town Hall.

After conducting a public hearing on 22 February 2018, the Town Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2017-09, which increases water rates in two steps. The first step of an increase of 5% on water service rates only (not sewer service) went into effect at the 1 June 2018 billing.

The second step, a 29% increase on water service rates, will take effect 60 days prior to the closing on the USDA loan for the water system infrastructure project, expected to occur in the spring of 2019.

Ordinance 2017-09 can be read in its entirety here.

Harpers Ferry has instituted three paid parking zones to improve safety and better regulate the very limited parking within the Corporation. Two of the zones, 7510 and 7520, are on Washington Street (Alt. U.S. 340). The third is on Potomac Street in Lower Town. The cost for parking is $1.00 per hour in Zone 7510, $2.00 per hour in Zone 7520, and $3.00 per hour in Zone 7515. Parking may be purchased in half-hour segments. Payment may be made using the Parkmobile cell phone app. To use Parkmobile, open the app, enter zone number, select amount of time desired, and pay by major credit card or PayPal. Visitors may find it easier to download the app to their cell phones before visiting Harpers Ferry to simplify their parking experience at the following link: http://us.parkmobile.com/mobile-apps.

Paid parking is strictly enforced in all three zones between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Violators may be fined and /or towed. Parking is free in all paid parking zones after 6:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Saturday.

All sides streets within the Corporation of Harpers Ferry are parking by residential permit only. Violators may be fined and / or towed. Permits for residents and their guests may be purchased at Town Hall.

Harpers Ferry Water Works customers can pay online.  To learn more, click here.

The Corporation has released a list of operators and companies licensed to perform business in Harpers Ferry. These businesses have volunteered to appear on this public list. To review the list, click here.