Thank you to the Xpress for covering the important issues of slope and ridge-top development and land-use planning (or lack thereof) in Asheville and Buncombe County.
While recent piecemeal, stopgap ordinances (steep slope, storm water, subdivision) are good starts, what we really need is a comprehensive plan for the county, regulations on slope and ridge-top development, and some “teeth”—impact fees and enforcement of regulations. While we’re at it, let’s have real zoning, not the sham that’s currently on the county commission’s docket (81 percent of the county zoned “open use,” otherwise known as no zoning).
It will take time to accomplish truly sufficient planning and regulation of growth in Asheville and Buncombe County. In the meantime, our county commissioners and City Council should enact a moratorium on large-scale, steep-slope and ridge-top development. This would be a temporary pause—a chance for those of us who live here to plan for the future of our community. It wouldn’t affect construction already in progress, or single-family homes. This would be aimed at the out-of-state McMansion-building profiteers who are gobbling up our mountains, not at small-scale builders or landowners. We need affordable housing for people who live and work here, not second and third homes for wealthy out-of-towners. Let’s put a hold on these gated communities in the sky until we can plan and regulate growth.
Several local citizens groups are sponsoring a petition to get local officials to enact a moratorium. You can sign the petition for a moratorium online at www.saveourslopes.org. I hope Xpress readers will join me in calling for a pause to plan.
