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Editor, News-Register:
There have been a few editorials of late in the Wheeling newspaper supporting business in Wheeling, no matter the location and how it affects the neighborhoods and residents. I am referring to the area along Mount de Chantal Road and the Morningside (near Clator) neighborhood.
Wheeling suffered in the past for too long with poor leadership and lack of a concrete plan or vision for the future. As industry is difficult to be developed in our area, we have turned our attention to promoting our town as a retirement community, a great place to raise a family, or a tourist attraction. The recent improvement of the streets, sidewalks, and buildings downtown and in Center Wheeling is to be commended by those responsible, with hopefully continued positive results for our citizens with the growth of more businesses and restaurants.
By locating a car wash, as recently proposed, so near a residential neighborhood may make a good profit and make some car owners happy, I doubt that others in our community, including the editor of the recent editorials, would want a car wash so near his residence. The car wash would produce several cars every few minutes per washing bin, certainly affecting traffic on and off Mount de Chantal.
I am in favor of being "business friendly" but it must be done with more in mind than just approving or disapproving an establishment based on meeting the requirements of zoning codes alone. These decisions affect those who live next to proposed businesses which may include safety, traffic, health, water use and sewer/drainage, noise, unwanted after hours use, accidents, nuisance issues, use of and possible speeding on our side streets, possible crime, quality of life of the residents, and property values. It is easy to applaud new businesses when they are not in your neighborhood.
What is most concerning about the whole procedure is that these decisions are made by non-elected officials plus a representative from City Council and the public was not permitted to express its concerns at the meeting when these proposals are made by a business. If not a zone change, the public is not allowed to speak. I am not blaming the Planning Commission in any way as their hands are tied through how they are required to operate. Their time, effort, and concern are very much appreciated as they serve without pay for our community. Reaching out to them with emails via Brenda Delbert and through phone calls and texts may help when decisions are made. Our Vice Mayor and councilman for our neighborhood, Jerry Sklavounakis, recently commended the Planning Commission at a City Council meeting and we appreciate his support.
I do not believe my neighbors are against all new businesses (as with the recent Eye Care Center) but we should have a voice in future businesses, no matter the zoning of the proposed area.
Mike Witt
Wheeling