The Sidewinder project would construct a water pipeline beneath East Street (shown here during Middleway Day 2025)
The Jefferson County Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, November 5, at 6 pm in the new County Commission building at 393 North Lawrence Street in Charles Town (behind the clock building).
The special meeting was called to allow the Planning Commission to potentially finalize and vote on any agreement resulting from a mediation session that took place earlier this week.
A Day-Long Mediation Session
The Planning Commission spent the entire day on October 29 in mediation with Sidewinder LLC. Both parties had previously agreed to explore a possible settlement of the lawsuit filed by Sidewinder after the Planning Commission rejected its proposal to build a large-scale water bottling facility and pipeline through Middleway. The parties have not disclosed any details of what was discussed or negotiated.
Local Intervenors Left Out
Several local landowners, along with the Jefferson County Foundation, who were granted intervenor status in the lawsuit, were present at the mediation site throughout the day. According to community members who were observing the proceedings, it did not appear that the intervenors were included in the negotiations between the Planning Commission and Sidewinder; the mediator reportedly made only two brief visits to their room — once before noon and once after the commissioners and the Sidewinder representatives had left the building.
By Steve Pearson