NOTE
CLEAR established a "Mt.Chateau Committee" at our meeting this past Thursday evening at the Cheat Lake Fire Hall. Jim Kotcon is acting as the Chair of this Commitee, and he is getting things going by requesting assistance and ideas. The intention here is to quickly do some background research on Mt. Chateau and on the information available on the status of this property within the State government.
We passed a motion at the CLEAR meeting that we seek to retain Mt. Chateau as public property for the use and enjoyment of all the people.
Please do what you can to assist and support this effort. You can contact the Governor, using the information provided below. You can contact your legislative representatives in the Senate and House of Delegates. The Monongalia County Commission has already sent letters to these asking for the preservation of the Mt. Chateau property, but more public comment and action will be needed.
If you wish to serve on this Committee or if you have information that could help, please let me know as soon as possible.
The full minutes from the CLEAR Meeting of June 22nd will be distributed this coming week
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MONT CHATEAU IS IN DANGER OF BEING SOLD FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Governor Joe Manchin has initiated an investigation into the economic potential of selling the remaining acreage of the former Mont Chateau State Park. These grounds, comprising approximately 13 acres, are the sole remnants of State-owned property on Cheat Lake and provide the only access to the Cooper’s Rock trail system from the lake. The buildings and grounds are owned by the WV Public Land Corporation and have been maintained and occupied by a State research agency since the property ceased functioning as a State Park in 1977. Presumably, the land would be sold to private developers, whose perception of “highest and best use” of the land would be to maximize their profit through the construction of multiple occupancy townhouses and/or condominiums, thus creating another unsightly scar on the shores of Cheat Lake. Once this scenic State land becomes private property, it will no longer be open for the public to enjoy.
The law affords some protection against an outright sale of State property. §20-1A-5 of the West Virginia State Code requires the Public Land Corporation to conduct a public hearing prior to the sale or exchange of any public property. This does not guarantee, however, that private developers and others who would profit from a sale would be dissuaded from pursuing ownership of this beautiful natural resource area, currently owned by the people of West Virginia, by whatever means practical.
If you wish to keep this property open to the public and safe from private development, please contact the Governor’s Office to voice your concerns.
Governor Joe Manchin III
Address: 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E. Charleston, WV 25305 Telephone: 1-888-438-2731 or 1-304-558-2000 FAX: 1-304-558-7025 Email: Governor@WVGov.org