A Review After 10 Years
The Shepherdstown Comprehensive Plan Review Steering Committee was organized by the town’s Planning Commission in July 2022. The members of the committee, chaired by Phil Baker-Shenk were appointed by the Town Council and included two Town Council members, a Shepherd University representative, and residents who live in or surrounding the incorporated area of Shepherdstown. The group held 16 monthly meetings (open to the public), and conducted hours of research through 10 informal working groups.
The all-volunteer committee has invested more than 1,100 hours of work to review and assess progress against the Shepherdstown Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in 2014. Baker-Shenk noted the group’s efforts during its final meeting, remarking how almost every meeting had 100 percent attendance by the committee members.
The review committee has completed its work and a 69-page report was provided to the town’s Planning Commission and elected leaders on February 26. This report assesses the 2014 plan — initiative by initiative — and provides specific recommendations for updates (click here to view & download the 2024 report from the review committee).
The 2014 Shepherdstown Comprehensive Plan included goals and specific initiatives for land use and community character, housing, cultural resources & economic development, transportation, public services & infrastructure, parks & recreation; natural & environmental resources, historic preservation, and intergovernmental coordination.
According to the committee report, the 2014 Comprehensive Plan was put “on the proverbial shelf” and many of its recommended initiatives were not implemented. In addition, the committee found that the town government did not put in place a “structure to foster accountability and responsibility” to implement the 2014 plan.
Next Up — State Law Requires Review & Update
State law (8A-3-11) requires the town’s Planning Commission to review and update the adopted comprehensive plan every 10 years. State law also requires the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing before making any recommendations to the Town Council.
At the review committee’s final meeting in February 2024, the members agreed to recommend that the town also hold a separate public hearing to present and discuss the specifics findings as a first step to the review and update process required by state law.
News & Updates
- Public Hearing on revised Comprehensive Plan (Observer – Mar 11 2025)
- Panel Discussion on Growth Around Shepherdstown (Observer – Apr 24 2024)
- Panel Discussion on Growth Around Shepherdstown (Observer video – Apr 24 2024)
- Shepherdstown Comp Plan Review Presented At Special Meeting (Observer – May 4 2024)
- Shepherdstown Looks at Comprehensive Plan (Observer – Aug 1 2022)
Resources
2024 Comprehensive Plan
- download – January 2025 draft (PDF)
2024 Review Committee Report
- download – 2024 review report (PDF)
2014 Shepherdstown Comprehensive Plan
- download – 2014 Comprehensive Plan (PDF)
- download – 2014 public input summary (PDF)
Published 2024 Feb 29. Updated 2025 Mar 10.