Mountain Landscapes Initiative wraps up
Approximately 150 community leaders from across the western tip of the state were on hand at Western Carolina University for the presentation, which ended up an intensive, week-long charrette. The charrette, also held at the university, came on the heels of several months of well-attended open community forums and interviews.
The over-arching title of the project is the “Mountain Landscapes Initiative”.
The purpose of the initiative is to move toward understandings of mountain land use planning challenges, and to provide a common “toolbox” of solutions with which to handle them.
The long-term project is funded by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and by the Southwestern Commission. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 to create a permanent pool of charitable capital that will always be available for the 18 counties of Western North Carolina. The Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission (The Southwestern Commission) is a 43 year-old governmental agency created to help multiple county and town governments avoid duplication of services, and to administer state and federal grants.
The Lawrence Group is a large planning and design consultancy based in St. Louis, MO. Its regional office in Davidson, NC, managed the initiative.
The months of meetings, interviews, forums and charrettes led the Lawrence Group to conclude that the “top ten” Western North Carolina planning concerns are these:
- How can mountainside and ridgetop development be done responsibly, safely, and in a visually sensitive way?
- How can new development respect the character of local landscapes?
- How can water quality be protected?
- How can the region’s natural beauty and open space be protected?
- How can quality jobs be created and sustained?
- How can quality, affordable housing be created?
- How can the region’s infrastructure keep up with the rate of growth?
- How can farmland and local markets for food be protected and enhanced?
- How can natural resources be protected?
- How can growing communities remain respectful of local cultural heritage
Follow-up stories from Colin McCandless at the Franklin Press here. Tony Wheeler at the Macon News here. Jennifer Daniel at the Cashiers Crossroads Chronicle here.
Broader coverage from the Smoky Mountain News here.
Tags: Cashiers, Cashiers Crossroads-Chronicle, Franklin Press, Smoky Mountain News, Western Carolina University
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I was asked to be interviewed on video by the Mountain Landscape Initiatives (maybe because my family has been here since the early 1800’s) and provide a local perspective on challenges and concerns we face. The process was handled professionally with a desire to be inclusive of folks from diverse backgrounds. I’ve participated professionally with other “initiatives” that was really a waste of time…but, this one is different. I applaud the organizations that are trying to get some consensus around the region on common problems. When I read some unenlightened comments in the SMN saying this effort is for “out of state consultants” to tell us what to do…I had to laugh. Clearly, these folks are side-liners and clueless. Don’t fear the Mountain Landscape Initiative, it’s just a way for community-minded voices to be heard.