With all the growth that the area has experienced in the past couple of years do you think it's good or bad for the area? Also, do you think there should be a limit on how much Martinsburg can grow.

This is a tricky issue. On one hand I whole heartly believe that growth for Berkeley is good for Jobs because it attracts solid business' to the area. Growth is also good in the business competition field and allowing consumers more choices.

On the other hand. More people equals less school space, heavier road congestion, and more farm land being stripped away for homes/business.

Its a thin line to walk in reguards to population wants and want nots. I know some cities in Virginia debate on this issue often. For example , Berryville, VA is a nice little town off a main road (RT.7) to DC and suburbs. It remains a nice little town because of its slow growth policies.

All and all Growth isn't to awful bad, but you got to be careful.

You're right, the county/city needs a plan to control growth. I hate to see us end up like Fairfax and Loudon Counties. The thing I hate seeing the most is all the new subdivisions popping up everywherem, and some of them aren't organized in the best way either.

When I first moved to this side of Hedgesville it took only 15-20 mins. to get to Mart. Now it takes 30-35 mins.! It seems as if the growth around here has no rhyme or reason. I hate it!Silly "city people " stopping at every curve in the road and just this morning there was some woman who stopped to pick day lilies at the side of the road!! Bunch of S.U.V Goofballs!

I do wish some of the "city" drivers would learn how to drive in the mountains. I guess we're becoming the new suburbs.

Seen on the news yesterday that Mart. and Hag. are a metro area all on our little own! Oh,goodie!Glad I've got my 5 acres. Crazy "city people" can't over run me! (unless of course they catch me in my Echo on the back roads around here)

I just read where the City of Martinsburg is mad that they've got their own metro area (along with Hagerstown) because it means they'll recieve less federal money then if we were still in the DC/Balt metro area.

I think it would behoove the powers-that-be in Berkeley County
to re-examine the zoning issue and get something in place before
the area blows up without some control. There are new subdivisions
popping up all over South Berkeley....me and the missus are looking
for a bigger piece of land before it all vanishes into 1/4 acre lots.

Also, recently it seems like there is an accident/incident a day on
I-81 that closes part of the road and stacks up cars and trucks
for miles...I for one think that the speed limit on I-81 be dropped
to 60mph for the entire length in WV...there's no need to do 70mph,
especially right through town....most of the time, when an interstate
passes through a populated area, the speed limit drops at least 10mph,
but not here in WV....WHY ???? There needs to be more speed limit
enforcement on I-81, too....when's the last time you saw a trooper
with radar on I-81 ? Me....maybe 5-6 years ago...folks are barreling
through the construction area at 80mph !!! Especially those cars
from Ontario, Canada...you ever notice how many tags from Canada
you see on I-81 ? They should erect a sign warning those drivers
that fines are doubled if your not US citizens !!!