Our viewsheds, valleys, waterfalls are natural gifts, and there is a specific sense of community,an uncommon blend of neighborliness with “cultural progressive” verve. Here the heritage of the indigenous peoples is woven into the kilts of those who followed. Like the Big Laurel River, a beautiful,” intact example of a healthy high mountain riparian ecosystem” where children play and churches baptize , and fisherman, paddlers, and grandparents converge, Asheville holds the promise of welcoming celebration of life to all.
Yet, of late, others…maybe not motivated by a desire for quality of life, by a hunger not akin to stewardship…..have begun to arrive on the scene.Outside developers’ interest in Western North Carolina has increased.And there are issues raised by the development happening across the Mountains;some related simply to not knowing the terrain.
Building on Western North Carolina’s steep slopes has (sadly) a proven potential for dangerous landslides and erosion. Landslides are most common in the western region of North Carolina because of its mountainous landscape. In the past two years, 120+ landslides occurred in western North Carolina, claiming five lives and destroying 27 homes. A lack of understanding of the significance of underlying soils and geology is partially to blame.This is of concern to REALTORS® in the Greater Asheville Area where we are seeing much new development that is not regulated by slope ordinances– and where very attractive acreage just 20 minutes north is especially steep.
With this concern, ECO certified real estate professionals here in the Greater Asheville area are working to facilitate the transfer of information as a resource to professional resources….i.e. land trust professionals, county planners and assessors, who have deep knowledge of both conservation tools and land use regulations for responsible land use and the preservation of quality of life and environment.
We are ready to inform landowners and investors of tools they can useto conserve and steward forests, farms, open space, and wildlife habitat.We can point the way to ecoconscious participation across the landscape…from the mountains, rivers and streams, to the wild lands and urban places.We can help our clients get good information on environmental impacts.
Landowners and investors play a vital role in the management of the natural resourcesthat define our region.
The stewardship measures our clients undertake can have a critical impact on agriculture and forest production, water quality, soil erosion,fish and wildlife habitats, rivers, streams, and groundwater resources.
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