Brother Land Developers Skyler and Shane Humphrey will be able to develop the 22 acres they planned above Spruce Street near Blackberry Lane. They City of Parsons will grant access from a disused alleyway by constructing a bridge across the creek. The decision came as part of the City of Parsons Council’s September 2nd meeting.
City Manager Michael Simmons reported that he had recieved the survey of the area and the plat back and that the City now knew exactly where the old alleyway lay, as well as where the creek ran. Simmons also said that to develop the area, the City would likely incur the cost of the placement of two wing walls, “a couple of sections of pipe and cementing it into place.” Simmons said he is soliciting bids from a couple of companies for part of the work with City crews to complete part of the work.
“We are basically talking a bridge across the creek,” City of Parsons Council Member Seth Rosenau said.
Skyler Humphrey spoke on behalf of the brothers at the meeting. He said that they had recently bid on a project in Thomas where 36 town homes are being constructed on 3.5 acres near Davis-Thomas Elementary Middle School.
“We have 22 (acres) up there,” Humphrey said. “It kind of shows you what’s possible of what can go up there.”
Humphrey said that the brothers plan to construct a lot of housing on the acreage. Of what type, however, has yet to be decided, he said. Humphrey said that if the project goes to plan, the City could use the project as a blueprint for development of the mountainside near the waterplant.
“I don’t know what housing yet,” Humphrey said. “Whether that be multifamily or single family, but if this goes well as we see it going, potentially you guys could do the same thing business model below the water plant out there now that you have the paved road, there’s lots of lots in that area that I’d love to see developed.”
“Imagine seeing that whole mountainside with housing,” Humphrey said. “Even if its multifamily, single family, residential.”
Humphrey said that the project intends to have City utilities installed and utilized.
“We intend on all water utilities and sewage being with the City and hopefully if it gets to that day, maybe granting the road to the road to the City,” Humphrey said.
City of Parsons Council Member Melissa Jones had only one concern. Jones asked if the brothers were willing to sign an agreement that if the City invested the money into construction of the bridge and access to the alleyway and there was damage incurred from logging of the area, that the brothers would pay for restoration. Humphreys did not hesitate to agree. City Manager Simmons pointed out that logging companies are required to carry insurance.
“Most logging companies are insured anyways,” Simmons said.
City of Parsons Council Member Tim Turner said that expansion in the City had been stifled and this project presents an opportunity for growth.
“Its a good opportunity for the City,” Turner said. “Its the only way we are going to be able to expand. Everything around here you can’t build on it because its FEMA or there’s a house there.”
During the brother’s initial October 15, 2024 request for access to the 22 acre property, Humphrey had stated, “Currently only 19.69% is privately owned in the County of Tucker and if you compare that to the State of West Virginia, 88% of property owned across the State is privately owned. So we’re at quite the deficit there compared to the rest of the 54 counties in our State.”
Simmons said that following the discussion of the Council, he would collect bids and start crews on the project.
“I guess where we stand is I will get some bids and we will get someone on that,” Simmons said.
