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South Charleston TIF District plan heads to Legislature following public hearing

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new economic development project in South Charleston is one step closer to becoming a reality.

South Charleston City Council approved two resolutions during a public hearing Thursday which would create a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District at what’s called the South Charleston Park Place Economic Opportunity Development District.

The project would be a $150 million investment and would be paid for by the taxes of new businesses brought into the City of South Charleston.

The proposed South Charleston TIF District would cover much of the city.

A TIF District is a specially designated area that allows the tax money from that spot to be reinvested in the community.

Most people spoke in favor of the plan Thursday. Several others spoke out against it.

“Some of the things that they’re concerned about like parking lot level and the permitting for the wild life — all of those things will be taken care of in due time through the committee process,” Mullens said. “I’m comfortable that everything will be done to the satisfaction of all our concerns.”

The state Department of Commerce, the state Legislature and the governor will have to sign off on the project. A bill regarding the proposal could be introduced in the state House of Delegates as early as Friday, according to South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens.

Mullens said there is support from lawmakers.

“Every lawmaker that we’ve spoken to has signed off in support of us. We’ve spoke to pretty much all the delegates and senators in Kanawha County,” he said. “I haven’t spoke to the governor himself, but I have spoken to his chief of staff and he was very excited.”

Establishing the district will not mean new taxes for residents and businesses, Mullens said.

Public projects that would receive funding include the Jefferson Road expansion project, an access road to the Trace Fork Shopping Center and a new school at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park. Another site being discussed for development includes the FMC fly ash pond that has nearly 80 acres of land.

Mullens said the Jefferson Road project is their top priority.

“That’s obviously the number one thing — get it up and running by early 2018 under construction,” he said. “Hopefully the pond itself will be remediated and ready for construction sometime in early 2019.”

The project will create jobs and spur economic developmentĀ –not just in South Charleston, Mullens said.

“This thing is really going to be good for a lot of folks. It’s not a South Charleston thing. It is us, but the fact of the matter is it’s going to benefit the whole reason, so I think it is a game changer,” he said.





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