Staff outlines Swannanoa small-area plan timeline, engagement gaps and draft policy map

Buncombe County planning staff briefed the Planning Board on Oct. 20 about progress on the Swannanoa small-area plan, the county-led planning effort that began in January 2025.

Staff said the county is working with the Land of Sky Regional Council as the planning consultant, has secured a $10,000 grant and up to 80 hours of technical assistance from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for conservation-focused inputs, and is collaborating with the Appalachian Design Center for community-based recovery planning. The planning timeline anticipates continued engagement through spring 2026 and final public hearings in August 2026.

Staff reported outreach to date included 19 in-person advertised events (about 76 staff hours at events), approximately 273 e-news subscribers, 103 participants in an initial boundary poll and roughly 397 responses to a strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats (SWOT) poll. Staff said 80% of boundary-poll respondents and 43% of SWOT respondents did not answer demographic questions; about a quarter of survey takers did not indicate their relationship to Swannanoa (resident, worker, etc.). Staff noted participants under age 26 were almost completely underrepresented in the responses.

The boundary poll showed a majority preference for using the Swannanoa Township boundary as the study area; staff said that boundary gives access to consistent census data for the existing-conditions analysis. The steering committee has drafted a policy-area map that separates a resilience area (the Swannanoa watershed and flood-prone basins) from a growth/focus area along the main transportation corridor; staff said resilience areas will guide hazard mitigation and flood-resilience recommendations while growth areas will be the focus for land-use and design guidance.

Staff summarized the SWOT results and said 72% of respondents indicated the county should make "major changes" in Swannanoa to prepare for future disasters, while 26% preferred moderate changes. Top resilience priorities identified by respondents included early warning systems, parks and recreation, safer roads and bridges, wetlands protection and stronger stormwater rules.

The steering committee is developing three candidate vision statements based on the engagement results and comprehensive-plan themes; staff will open a third public poll for the community to pick a preferred vision and to comment on the draft policy map. Steering-committee and design-workshop dates include November 10 (preparation) and design workshops in December, with follow-up on Dec. 15 before continuing work in 2026.

Board members asked targeted questions about gaps in representation, whether Duke Power is coordinating resilience work in north county, and whether the plan will change comprehensive-plan policy work; staff said Duke Power has been engaged through the technical expertise committee and that countywide comprehensive-plan updates occur periodically and may place additional emphasis on resiliency in future updates.

Staff requested additional targeted outreach to fill demographic and geographic gaps (notably northern Riceville and areas south of Interstate 40) and to reach younger residents through schools and college contacts. The board did not take action on the plan update; staff will return with additional engagement materials and draft policies for further review.