reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WV Code § 8-25-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-4. Delineation of Regions and Recommendations of Governor Thereon; Publication of Statement Fixing Regional Boundaries; Public Hearings; Certification of Regional Boundaries; Change in Boundaries

(a) Within sixty days after the effective date of this article, the Governor shall define and recommend for the purposes of this article regional boundaries embracing each municipality and county within the state.(b) In delineating boundaries of the regions, the Governor shall consider such factors as the units of local government shall express by proper resolution, including community interest and homogeneity; geographic features and natural boundaries; patterns of communication and transportation; patterns of urban development; uniformity of social and economic problems; special problems, boundaries of existing metropolitan and other substate planning and administrative areas; and utility of the proposed boundaries for efficient provision of governmental services. Municipalities shall not be divided when forming a region, except insofar as it is necessary to keep multicounty municipalities within a region.(c) The Governor shall, within six months after the effective date of this article, certify to the Secretary of State the boundaries of each region.(d) Not less than sixty days prior to the certification of the boundaries of any region, the Governor shall cause a statement setting forth the counties to be included within the boundary of the proposed region to be published as a Class I-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the proposed region. The Governor shall forward a copy of the statement to the principal executive officer or officers of each municipality and county located within the proposed region.(e) Prior to the time that the Governor shall certify the boundaries of a region, he or his designee shall conduct at least one public hearing at a convenient place within the proposed region. The Governor shall advertise the meeting by means of a Class I-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of said article three, and the publication area for such advertisement shall be the proposed region. All public and private organizations located in, and all individuals residing in, municipalities or counties within or adjacent to the proposed region shall be permitted to appear and testify on matters pertaining to its boundaries.(f) At any time following the certification of the boundaries of any region, the Governor may change such boundaries, pursuant to the criteria and procedures set forth in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section.
WV Code § 8-25-7 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-7. Contracts for Services, Materials, etc.; Publication of Notice for Bids

Each regional council is empowered and authorized to contract for services of consultants to perform planning, development, engineering, legal or other services of a professional, specialized or technical nature; and such consultants shall be persons appropriately qualified under state statutes dealing with the applicable profession or occupation. Each such contract must have the express approval of the regional council or the executive committee. Such contracts shall not be subject to any law relating to public bidding: Provided, That every contract of the council for the purchase of merchandise, materials or supplies in the amount of $1,000 or more shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice requesting such bids has been published as a Class I-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for this publication shall be the region in question.
WV Code § 8-25-9 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-9. Review of Applications for Loans or Grants

Each regional council shall review all applications of governmental units or independent agencies within the region for loans or grants from the federal government or any of its agencies or the State of West Virginia or any of its agencies. All recommendations and comments on applications for the aforementioned funding programs shall be forwarded to the Governor. Each council shall establish and maintain a clearinghouse for the purpose of establishing required review procedures in compliance with the "Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-557)," and the "Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (Public Law 87-754)," and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto, as promulgated by the United States office of management and budget. The state review agency designated by the Governor shall inform regional councils of state review findings relating to applications submitted from within the jurisdiction of each council.
WV Code § 8-25-10 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-10. Cooperation of Regional Council and Other Planning or Development Agencies, Governmental Units and Officials

To effectuate the purposes of this article, regional councils shall cooperate with planning agencies or development agencies within the region or within other regions, with the governing bodies and administrative officials of any municipality, county or any other political subdivision, including those in other states, or with any other entity, private or public, whose interests are in harmony with the purposes of this article, in order to coordinate and harmonize planning and development for the cooperating units. All state departments and agencies shall cooperate with regional councils established under this article and shall make available for the studies conducted by such councils, reports, data and other informational and technical assistance within financial and personnel limitations. Each regional council may appoint such committees and may adopt such rules and regulations as may be proper to effect such coordination and integration. The governing bodies and administrative officials of municipalities, counties and other political subdivisions within this state are hereby empowered and authorized to cooperate with such planning and development agencies and with the governing bodies and administrative officials of political subdivisions and planning and development agencies in other states for the purpose of such coordination and integration in accordance with the provisions of this article.
WV Code § 8-25-11 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-11. Appointment of Citizens' Advisory Committees

Each regional council may appoint advisory committees of interested and affected citizens to assist in the review of plans, programs and other purposes of this article referred for review by the regional council. Whenever a special advisory committee is required by any federal or state regional program, the regional council chairman shall, with approval of the executive committee, appoint such committees as advisory groups to the regional council.
WV Code § 8-25-12 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-12. Annual Budget of Regional Council; Contributions by Governmental Units; Deposits and Disbursements

Each regional council shall adopt an annual budget, to be submitted to the participating governmental units which shall each contribute to the financing of the council according to a formula adopted by the council and approved by a majority of the counties and a majority of the municipalities participating in the regional council. All such contributions shall be fair and equitable and shall be based on the population of each participating governmental unit as determined on the basis of the latest decennial census, or such other criteria as may be determined by each respective regional council. Each participating county and municipality is hereby directed and empowered to pay over and contribute to the operation of said councils in accordance with the formula adopted as hereinbefore provided. Such sums, as are appropriated hereunder, may be transferred to the regional councils for deposit and disbursement as the regional councils may designate and direct. By such transfer, the governing body designates the regional council as its disbursing agent.
WV Code § 8-25-13 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-13. Annual Report of Regional Council

On or before July thirty-first of each year, each regional council shall prepare an annual report. The regional council shall submit copies of the report to the participating governmental units and to the Governor. The report shall include the following:(a) A consolidated statement of the regional council's receipts and expenditures by category since the preceding report.(b) A consolidated, detailed regional council budget for the year in which the report is filed and the following year including an outline of its program for such period.(c) A description of any comprehensive plan adopted in whole or in part for the region.(d) Summaries of any studies and development progress and the recommendations resulting therefrom made for the region.(e) A listing of all applications for federal grants or loans submitted by the governmental units within the region together with the action taken by the regional council in relation thereto.(f) A listing of plans of local governmental units submitted to the region and actions taken in relation thereto.(g) Recommendations of the regional council regarding federal and state programs, cooperation, funding and legislative needs.
WV Code § 8-25-14 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-14. Effect of Article Upon Pending Projects and Applications

Any of the provisions of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, no pending application for federal or state grants, loans, mortgages or other types of funding nor any application for grants, loans, mortgages or other types of funding intended to supplement a pending project shall be required to be approved by any such regional council nor shall any such pending application be delayed or disapproved by reason of the provisions of this article.
WV Code § 8-25-15 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 25. Intergovernmental Relations -- Regional Planning and Development|§8-25-15. Construction of Article

The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed to accomplish its objectives and purposes.
WV Code § 8-26-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26. Intergovernmental Relations -- Interstate Regional Planning Commissions|§8-26-1. Creation of Commission; State May Be Ex Officio Member

§8-26-1. Creation of commission; state may be ex officio member.Any municipality or county or any two or more municipalities or counties, or any combination thereof, may cooperate with the political subdivisions of other states bordering on this state for the purpose of creating, by an agreement, an interstate regional planning commission, whenever such political subdivisions comprise a region which would benefit from cooperative planning. The agreement entered into by the several political subdivisions shall specify the extent of the region included within the jurisdiction of the interstate regional planning commission; and shall fix the membership comprising the commission, the terms of office and method of appointment of the members thereof, the duration of the commission, the method for terminating the commission, the method of disposal of all property belonging to the commission, the distribution of the proceeds, and the apportionment of the costs of maintaining the planning commission to be borne respectively by the various political subdivisions included within the agreement, such apportionment to be based on the population of the various participating political subdivisions. Any such agreement shall be executed on behalf of any municipality by the governing body thereof and on behalf of a county by the county commission.The state of West Virginia may be an ex officio member of any such interstate regional planning commission formed under the provisions of this article. The Governor or a representative designated by him shall represent the state in the deliberations of any interstate regional planning commission or its agencies or instrumentalities but this state shall not be a voting member of any interstate regional planning commission or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
WV Code § 8-26-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26. Intergovernmental Relations -- Interstate Regional Planning Commissions|§8-26-2. "Region" Defined

The term "region," as used in this article, shall mean a specific metropolitan interstate area designated by the proper federal agency pursuant to the "Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966" and any amendments thereto, as well as all other interstate areas which would benefit from cooperative planning. Before any area in this state is included within an interstate region for interstate planning, it shall be approved by the Governor: Provided, That no territory within any municipality or county not having a planning commission shall be included in an interstate area.
WV Code § 8-26-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26. Intergovernmental Relations -- Interstate Regional Planning Commissions|§8-26-3. Membership and Organization of Commission; Reports and Audits

Any member of an interstate regional planning commission may hold any other public office, appointive or elective, if not prohibited by some other statute or Constitutional provision, and a member thereof may also serve as a member of a municipal, county or regional planning commission. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the discharge of their commission duties. The commission shall elect its own chairman or other officers from among its members and shall establish its own rules and regulations and bylaws, schedule of meetings and such committees with such powers as it may deem necessary to carry on its work.Any such commission shall make a quarterly report to the governing body of each municipality and to the county court of each county contributing to the financial support of such commission, containing an itemized account of its receipts and disbursements during the preceding quarter. Such report shall be made within thirty days after the end of each quarter. At the end of each fiscal year, any such commission shall arrange for an independent audit of its financial affairs and within thirty days after the end of such fiscal year, such commission shall furnish a copy of the report of such audit to any such governing body or county court and shall cause a copy thereof to be published as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be each municipality and county which contributed to the financial support of such commission.
WV Code § 8-26-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26. Intergovernmental Relations -- Interstate Regional Planning Commissions|§8-26-4. Powers and Duties of an Interstate Regional Planning Commission

§8-26-4. Powers and duties of an interstate regional planning commission.(a) An interstate regional planning commission may make studies, maps, plans and reports relative to the region and shall recommend procedures and policies to the appropriate authorities, based on physical, social, economic and governmental conditions and trends, to promote the coordinated development of the region and the general health, welfare, convenience and prosperity of the people of the region. Such planning and coordination may reflect the following planning criteria:(1) Goals, objectives, standards and principles for the development of the region;(2) The distribution and intensity of general land use and open space;(3) The general circulation pattern for the region, including land, water and air transportation and communication facilities, and continuing comprehensive transportation planning;(4) The general location, character and extent of public and private works and facilities which are of area-wide or regional, as distinguished from purely local, concern; and(5) Long-range programming and financing of capital projects and facilities.(b) The commission shall:(1) Review plans and proposals for projects and programs of interstate or regional significance which may be proposed by others;(2) Review and make recommendations concerning administrative and regulatory measures to implement area-wide or regional plans;(3) Review and make recommendations concerning effective utilization of such federal and state assistance as may be available on a regional basis or as may have a regional impact;(4) Collect, analyze and report on statistics and other information concerning traffic, housing, population and social, economic and physical conditions of the region;(5) Make recommendations to governmental bodies within such region for such actions as are necessary and proper to further the coordinated development of the region; and(6) Conduct necessary investigations and research and cooperate with other public and private agencies or persons to conduct such investigations and research on planning problems affecting the region.
WV Code § 8-26-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26. Intergovernmental Relations -- Interstate Regional Planning Commissions|§8-26-5. Appropriations, Receipts and Expenses

(a) Any political subdivision which becomes a member of any interstate regional planning commission may contract each fiscal year with said interstate regional planning commission to pay a proportionate part of the expenses properly chargeable to the planning services rendered to such political subdivision, and any funds budgeted for interstate planning may be paid over by the political subdivision to the interstate regional planning commission.(b) An interstate regional planning commission may accept and use funds, grants and services from the federal government or its agencies, from departments, agencies and instrumentalities of any adjoining state, and from any municipality, county or other political subdivision of this or any adjoining state, including municipal, county, regional or other planning commissions of this or any adjoining state, or from private sources, or services from departments, agencies or instrumentalities of this state, and may contract with respect thereto and provide such information and reports as may be necessary to secure such financial or other aid. Within the amounts thus agreed upon and appropriated or otherwise received, any commission may employ such engineers, planners, consultants and other employees as are necessary and may rent or own such space and make such purchases as it deems necessary to its use.
WV Code § 8-26A-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26A. Municipal and County Historic Landmarks Commissions|§8-26A-1. Legislative Determinations

It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination:(a) That the State of West Virginia is richly endowed with numerous historic buildings, structures, sites and districts which represent the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of this state;(b) That West Virginia heritage, represented by such historic buildings, structures, sites and districts can best be identified, studied, preserved and protected for the general welfare of residents of this state and this nation by authorizing and empowering action for this purpose at the local level;(c) That the preservation and protection of such historic buildings, structures, sites and districts aid economic development through revitalization of this state's central business districts, improvement of property values and enhancement of this state's historic attractions to tourists and visitors; and aid the development of education of this state by preservation of such heritage for future generations;(d) That the preservation of this heritage is essential to the promotion of the prosperity, education and general welfare of the people; and(e) That the Legislature hereby finds that it is the public policy and the public interest of this state to engage in a comprehensive program of historic preservation, undertaken at all levels of government, along with the private sector, to promote the use and preservation of such heritage for the education and general welfare of the people of this state; and, accordingly, this article shall be broadly construed in order to accomplish the purposes herein set forth.
WV Code § 8-26A-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26A. Municipal and County Historic Landmarks Commissions|§8-26A-2. Definitions

As used in this article:(a) "Exterior architectural features" include the architectural character and general composition of the exterior of a structure, including, but not limited to, the kind, color and texture of the building material and the type, design and character of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs, other appurtenant elements and natural features when they are integral to the significance of the site, all of which are subject to public view from a public street, way or place.(b) "Historic district" is a geographically definable area possessing a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of sites buildings, structures or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.(c) "Historic landmark" is a site, building, structure or object designated as a "Landmark" either on a national, state or local register.(d) "Historic site" is the location of a significant event, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing, ruined or vanished, where the location itself possesses historical, cultural or archaeological value regardless of the value of any existing structure.
WV Code § 8-26A-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 26A. Municipal and County Historic Landmarks Commissions|§8-26A-3. Legislative Intent; Conflict Between Regulations of Zoning District and Historic District and Properties

The historic district and property regulation provided in this article is intended to identify, study, preserve and protect historic buildings and structures, sites and districts, some of which are located in zoning districts. Historic properties and districts lying within the boundaries of a zoning district are subject to the regulations for both the zoning district and historic district and properties. If there is a conflict between the requirements of the zoning district and the requirements of the historic district or property, the zoning district requirements apply.