West Virginia Attorney General issued the following announcement on Jan. 13.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is applauding the Jefferson County Circuit Court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit against the town of Harpers Ferry and the Hill Top House Hotel project in Harpers Ferry.
The case centered on whether Harpers Ferry could exercise powers under the state’s Municipal Home Rule Program to sell certain undeveloped streets to the Hill Top House. The sale was needed to facilitate the development of the project.
The Attorney General joined the suit in support of the dismissal and in defense of the constitutionality of the state statutes relied upon by Harpers Ferry and the Hill Top House.
“The judge made the right decision in dismissing this case and upholding the constitutionality of the State’s statutes,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “Frivolous lawsuits like this one cannot be allowed to stop West Virginia from reaching her full potential. Cities and towns such as Harpers Ferry must have the flexibility to make the necessary moves to enable economic development within their borders.
“As I have stated before, this project has been delayed long enough by forces who are opposed to the state’s economic progress. With this ruling, the Mountain State can finally move forward with a vital commercial development that will increase tourism and create needed jobs and tax revenue in the Eastern Panhandle.”
The Municipal Home Rule Program is a statute the legislature passed in 2007 and made permanent in 2019 to give municipalities the flexibility to improve urban and state development within their borders.
Since its enactment, 48 cities and towns have taken advantage of this expanded authority and have seen increased revenue and development as a result.
Original source can be found here.