[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6637660,"mediaKeyId","2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e","parentId",2580252,"title","Town updates on parks and river repairs, FEMA applications and river-replanting proposals","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4664000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e&start=4664&end=4664","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6637660/North-Carolina/Town-updates-on-parks-and-river-repairs-FEMA-applications-and-river-replanting-proposals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637660-f4452be6c448c4fe2a566becc1d6d950/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207702&Signature=lyq5f0zwMiYa~kdQ5cYA49gaT-FZBltAYfNd9y4oNvyV2gf4diY~NHzRM1DAm~-u3kzygR3GehJVWuzCa1QDfCePUWB2h6d5~jhn0IRxh-hgWvsyticRClf1uQi5DVNVxzx~tWKndJkj~y4H1vfYMem5cTC8GxRR2lSAa4PkkdkJW1AdAO-U3rcHWjWuivR0HhV6k1qCJB--W20Oy2fnON7kjZbM5giHJQ9U1nZCFFY8DHWTHcTIITstPkkewr-r5li8sHrr4N4kf9smeC9Zn9sqfyBYBeO3ZPa0CDVRTxx4MW4oIgr4Y-RDA34nZO-rtDTlGrjlMNLeG96ZxAqplQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Woodfin, NC","date","2025-03-12T20:50:36.33Z","article","Town staff updated the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee on post-Hurricane Helene recovery work, FEMA applications and proposals to support river cleanup and riparian replanting.

Staff reported that site visits and FEMA application submissions for Riverside Park and Silverline Park repairs are complete and the town is waiting FEMA’s responses. Riverside Park work includes streambank repairs; staff said the contractor has begun some repairs and that the project work will continue as FEMA processes claims. For Silverline Park the town plans to draft bid documents and expects to start reconstruction work, including new restrooms, by the summer.

Staff also updated the committee on the river wave (an engineered river feature): survey and monitoring following the storm indicated channel widening during the flood, but subsequent data showed surface water levels similar to pre-storm levels. Staff said a recommended modification to improve long-term resilience will be incorporated and that a coffer dam will be used during repairs so crews can inspect the riverbed and remove debris that may pose hazards before work proceeds.

Asheville Greenworks submitted two proposals the town requested: one for additional river cleanup (volunteer coordination and on-the-ground cleanup) and one for start-up costs to create greenhouse propagation infrastructure to grow native material (including river cane) for bank restoration. Staff said the town council supported the river-cleanup proposal and supported providing the town-leased \"Craggy Motors\" property as a propagation site but expressed reluctance to use the town general fund for the roughly $53,000 startup cost; staff said they will pursue grant and partner funding.

Volunteer activity and cleanups were also discussed: the most recent volunteer weekend drew about 51 people on Saturday and 45 on Sunday and filled a town-provided dumpster. Staff and volunteer coordinators said they are scheduling more cleanups, including sessions focused on accessibility and invasive-species removal, and will create a volunteer database to streamline future events.

Committee members asked about reopening parks and commercial river use. Staff advised that Silverline Park will not be officially reopened while construction is planned and that commercial river operators had permits but had not yet decided to use Silverline this season. Staff said public notices and coordinated outreach through partners such as MountainTrue and Greenworks will be used to publicize volunteer opportunities and recovery milestones.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.03.12 Woodfin Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Staff briefed the committee on Riverside Park repairs, Silverline Park reconstruction bids, FEMA applications, and two Asheville Greenworks proposals for river cleanup and native-plant propagation; council supported cleanup funding but was reluctant to fund $53,000 in startup greenhouse costs.","taxTitle","Woodfin Town, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",71388,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6637664,"Town staff outlines draft landscape and open-space standards; steering process to continue",687,2804000,3491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e&start=2804&end=3491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e/thumbnail_2804000.jpg","/articles/6637664/North-Carolina/Town-staff-outlines-draft-landscape-and-open-space-standards-steering-process-to-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637664-3b9500f917e44161032fc7e65d2f1db4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207702&Signature=l9xUoTlsANZtB3W3aTnCYXZ1lFi5WMZT9efVnTmn5TGqTt7qMGhB5ib8VyrmrJxSwnQPQEjdYupU~lp2oIfP2rWfo7-e4Tbbktrw9XYogiAjIMfTECBfUh6ehzJNcppWbpC3TG3OVMbGXq2vkpuX~5JEIQnCybUQrMAyKHSEy8r58RPit~VXIj1cpqgfV3CWiV0U6hIQHYm-cld72oIsaC6OutCnNsPgAZ9Cev2yzAnHKHXUJsphdEr-0k3gIDxMTdB55h4I6-t5q5luyXRkIKBZW0fJYtTIwwulbiUPB0usxNKwquCZUF0T2sEmHsuiW8wMJiN9apgFjFRu1KZFgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town planning staff told the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee that the town is drafting new landscape and open-space standards to better align the development code with the Woodfin Together comprehensive plan. Staff said this effort is a targeted code amendment that will move forward more quickly than the full comprehensive code update, which is expected to take 14\u000016 months.

The draft standards the town is testing include:

- Street-tree requirements for road frontage and new streets, with trees placed within 20 feet of the pavement edge where feasible.
- Buffer yards between residential and commercial zoning, with planting rates expressed as a number of trees and shrubs per 100 linear feet and a mix of large- and small-maturing trees and evergreens/deciduous varieties.
- Vehicular use area landscaping (parking lots, driveways, outdoor display and maneuvering areas) and screening requirements for dumpsters and storage.
- Open-space set-asides based on project and property size, with explicit exclusions (for example, a plain stormwater retention pond does not qualify as open space unless designed for public interaction or constructed as a wetland).

Staff said they have tested the draft standards on four active or recently permitted sites in Woodfin to confirm they are achievable and to reduce the need for frequent variance requests. The proposed thresholds include applying subdivision open-space and street-tree requirements to subdivisions of five lots or more; staff noted statutory limits on regulating individual single-family home lots.

On species selection, staff said recommended plant lists will be provided as an appendix to the code and will encourage native species suitable to the local plant community, with special attention to riparian areas, flood zones and steep slopes. The town plans to adapt Asheville’s recommended species list for local use.

Staff described next steps: another subcommittee meeting in early April, review and recommendation by the Planning Board of Adjustment, and a targeted Town Council adoption in June. The comprehensive code update consultant will review the new standards during the larger update process and may recommend refinements within the next 12\u000016 months.

Committee members asked about fee-in-lieu options and sidewalk requirements. Staff said the subcommittee discussed fee-in-lieu and chose not to pursue it because of statutory and legal ambiguity; sidewalk standards already exist in the code and are applied to larger projects and new streets. Staff also confirmed the code will include new definitions, enforcement and maintenance provisions, and tree protection and incentive language. No formal vote was taken by the committee on the draft standards at this meeting; staff asked the committee for high-level feedback and for volunteers to participate on the broader code update steering committee.","Town staff described draft landscape and open-space standards to the advisory committee, including street-tree, buffer, vehicular-use landscaping and open-space requirements; the subcommittee plans further testing, Planning Board review and a June council adoption target.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6637668,"Parks and Greenways advisory committee approves procedural updates and names vice chair",402,2348000,2750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e&start=2348&end=2750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e/thumbnail_2348000.jpg","/articles/6637668/North-Carolina/Parks-and-Greenways-advisory-committee-approves-procedural-updates-and-names-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637668-57bd93336485e7603c363f511347e281/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207702&Signature=eoLIUb7iV9AK8cyU9aJNF3fltA7pe6TcFqaEyFcvBov-FvEYcRgipwwr5AaeKwsQEpSc1rR1XFUxMPJNOKBslHwIeKnqjF27EMEaWaKSC7GuO34mnHhI3Zuuwv2uMnUDLAVTdAK0OupHWHeuRFlwlADNBnMsrxh~2lxUPuMQ8WmXHyNsSU4n-1WXgu7KM-QrgPukRH1gfZRUGCdQC-nQCU45cODqjrFNIJHkThQmQZ9zX17uyoO3NG8JIasXJAv4oiiGfwxSz0sRrgbXKfwT34VEL0wwNkgclAyxQeuXzNwMIPt4Iy9nEwSx6lFMDp5~-fUomsYopQD5tVvkGQTJOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee voted to recommend several changes to its rules of procedure and elected a vice chair at its meeting.

Committee members approved a motion to recommend edits to the rules of procedure that update membership and residency language. The proposed changes include increasing the committee size from seven to nine members, raising the number of members who must reside in Woodfin (or work in/own a business in Woodfin) from four to five, updating references from \"board of commissioners\" to \"town council,\" and removing a prior requirement for alternate members. Committee member Coral Darby moved the recommendation; another member seconded the motion and the chair called for a voice vote. \"All in favor? Aye,\" the transcript records, and the motion passed by voice vote.

The committee also appointed Eric Barsotti as vice chair. A motion was made to appoint Barsotti, was seconded and carried by voice vote. Committee leadership said the vice chair will run meetings when the chair is unavailable.

The committee discussed renaming itself to reflect a broader scope (suggestions included variations on \"enrichment,\" \"public improvement\" and \"community engagement\") and agreed to solicit name suggestions by email to the chair, then compile and vote on options at the next meeting. Staff reminded members that public bodies should avoid deliberating by email and suggested members reply only to the chair so the discussion remains one-way outside meetings.

The transcript records the motions and unanimous voice votes for the rules recommendation and the vice chair appointment; the meeting also recorded routine approvals of the meeting agenda and minutes by voice vote at the start of the session.","The committee voted to recommend updates to its rules of procedure to expand membership and changed residency requirements, and the committee appointed Eric Barsotti as vice chair.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6637671,"Woodfin committee hears plan for free eco-art workshops; organizer seeks committee recommendation to council",469,1050000,1519000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e&start=1050&end=1519","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e/thumbnail_1050000.jpg","/articles/6637671/North-Carolina/Woodfin-committee-hears-plan-for-free-eco-art-workshops-organizer-seeks-committee-recommendation-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637671-dea941b43b715eb9b1edfcd17683b6a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207702&Signature=mZUyGkH9azX5KWa25ngk30~uC~gUYgQjqNzIn~-x79nl56qV9xQWYTANab1CtUuyD5DOK~5HwpzUO2zzA9ELbCXvzpJQDZaLn3OGf4vaK~HZ6kLPboOTfO-DJDWXAUW~S6cfpmbqv29AGTruJ9KVZpbMVpP8Gcg2hpHP3NDusnJ-~WP~8s7PezV16ejbj8MjjV49Y6X1xR4f6ZR8qpsTMYjoBfnh5~nbQBR~CcjN~Z9wx-LEGJ0fHBIwz5opVqOT2TsJW3dtASzkcDxkBeDuWshUZHjxaOo0NuzYFTHafUfjvCF6-Qy80TzpdxFxFcS2MCw42wlDG6zvC7ZWP6Zwrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Zoe (AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator) presented a plan for a free, multi-week eco-art workshop series aimed at community healing following Hurricane Helene. The proposed program would run as a series of monthlong \"series\" (each comprised of roughly four weekly sessions plus a wrap session), start as early as the first week of April and reuse storm debris alongside purchased materials.

Zoe said she plans to lead the initial sessions herself and estimated materials costs at about $800 to $1,000 to cover supplies for the first three series; the estimate excludes potential facility rental and fees for future outside instructors. \"Overall it'll be around, from 800 to a thousand altogether,\" she said. She also said she is participating through her AmeriCorps stipend and will not take an additional leader payment for the initial sessions.

Committee members discussed logistics and venues. Staff offered conference/meeting spaces that could be used in the evenings and cautioned that the spaces are office-oriented (tarps and setup will be needed for mixed-media work). Zoe said she had a wait list for a YMCA-hosted session and expected demand: she estimated 10–20 participants per series and suggested an age threshold of about 14 and up.

Committee members asked whether the town needed to approve a budget allocation or formally recommend funding to Town Council. Shannon, a town staff member, said the project falls within Zoe’s existing role and the materials budget is small enough that it does not require a formal budget amendment; staff said a committee endorsement would be sufficient to move it forward to council for final allocation if needed. No formal committee vote to recommend the program was recorded in the transcript.

Organizers said the workshops could dovetail with upcoming town events (the Woodfin 5K on April 27 was suggested as an opportunity to display participant work), and staff and local partners such as Greenworks and MountainTrue were cited as potential outreach partners. Zoe said she would circulate detailed lesson plans, the full Excel budget and handouts to the committee.","AmeriCorps member Zoe presented a free, eco-art workshop series using storm debris for communal healing and requested the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee recommend a small materials budget to Town Council.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6637673,"Resident urges greater transparency on Woodfin greenways partnership with Buncombe County",446,53000,499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e&start=53&end=499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580252-a7fd9d95b2e13381ff7ca39c4166d49e/thumbnail_53000.jpg","/articles/6637673/North-Carolina/Resident-urges-greater-transparency-on-Woodfin-greenways-partnership-with-Buncombe-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637673-08e9fcb007904753ac600e866a34eefb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207702&Signature=EAQlyQgSVyEw1xDNjJEyA6-JU4QDcGQBCDdN96ErWMMJ0GTM9AYlKi7OjPHgM9RjMAfvIFVUqzjv8-aOv8zb3jRoRMgkGkL0kOAv2QBGYfIBIQ~aGmCtM28vRbyl0ozDlfiKvERvfBTE8927ILu2y6BPfNpXUZ~mdnJKqESMA4ffe70aJcJDxUPHDZXCpxdvl~ucuty9v0yW3wvR87F-VRNCwX34mQOOG9oMZObEx1-c9OeRntikeaoncz5WhX8XCYhu99ImOQ3l4wOPKF7~N4Om7XLFK6GYWT6911DlO5AaDHj5j0Bsx3AZbmDsA3lTayXlLQuL7vn8qoPH-FDyIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilson Sims, a Woodfin resident, told the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee that citizens need clearer reporting and local oversight for two greenway projects being delivered in partnership with Buncombe County. Sims said he had raised six questions with town leaders and read those questions to the committee, asking specifically about the status of federally committed funds, construction guidelines after Hurricane Helene, and Buncombe County’s reporting on construction progress and budgets.

\"What is the status of the federally committed funds? Who's checking and reporting if they're still committed?\" Sims asked. He also asked whether the Woodfin–Buncombe County agreement from 2017 is being updated and whether the county provides regular construction progress and budget updates to the town.

Shannon, a town staff member who responded to Sims before the meeting, is reported in the record as having answered many of his questions but Sims asked that the town share the written responses with the committee and the public. Committee members asked staff to share Shannon’s responses with the committee.

Sims said Buncombe County currently aggregates greenway data across multiple projects, which makes it difficult for Woodfin residents to see details for the two local greenways (named in the public record as the \"Bow Catcher\" and \"French Bridal\" projects in his remarks). He called for more project-level data on timeline, objectives, budget and business performance practices and asked whether auditing or regular performance reviews have been done since 2017.

Committee Chair and staff acknowledged the request and agreed to share the material Sims referenced. No formal motion or vote on the greenways reporting issue was recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript records a request from Sims and a staff promise to circulate the responses he previously received from Shannon.

The discussion occurred during the committee’s public forum; committee members noted they had asked Buncombe County for updates in other venues and that the town’s ability to require separate accounting depends on the terms of the interlocal agreement.

Looking ahead, committee members said they would forward staff-provided answers and encouraged the town to maintain clear lines of communication about multi-jurisdictional projects so residents can assess progress and costs.","At the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee meeting a Woodfin resident asked town staff to provide clearer reporting and oversight about two Buncombe County-managed greenway projects and the status of federal funding and project budgets.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town updates on parks and river repairs, FEMA applications and river-replanting proposals

Town staff outlines draft landscape and open-space standards; steering process to continue

Parks and Greenways advisory committee approves procedural updates and names vice chair

Woodfin committee hears plan for free eco-art workshops; organizer seeks committee recommendation to council

Resident urges greater transparency on Woodfin greenways partnership with Buncombe County