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Buncombe County parks master plan delayed as staff refine costs, integrate floodplain buyouts
Summary
County parks staff told the advisory board they are in a second review of the master plan, pausing the schedule to firm up cost estimates and fold in HMGP (FEMA buyout) properties; staff said accurate numbers are necessary because the plan will guide work for the next 10–15 years.
Buncombe County Parks and Recreation staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board they are pausing the master-plan schedule to refine cost estimates and incorporate recent hazard-mitigation property work.
"This plan is gonna speak to our department for the next 10 to 15 years, we kinda all sat down and said, these numbers need to be right," said Joseph Eastman, parks division manager. Staff said they are in a second review of the strategic section of the plan, covering open space, recreation, greenways and trails, and are responding to a consultant's questions before another revision cycle.
Why it matters: the master plan will guide where the county spends capital dollars and seeks outside matches. Staff emphasized the financial stakes and cited a recent greenway bid of about $3.3 million per mile as an example of how quickly costs can rise. They also said HMGP properties—FEMA buyouts of flood-prone parcels that become county property—are an important constraint that will shape priorities in the next five years.
What staff said they will do: the county has sent comments to the consultant and expects another draft after the consultant updates the plan. County management and multiple departments are reviewing materials now; staff said they prefer a delayed delivery over submitting an inaccurate plan. Joseph Eastman said staff aim to present a final plan for review in the coming weeks once numbers are reconciled.
Community input and technical limits: staff summarized public feedback from an Owen Park meeting and survey, saying many residents favored a more natural, wetland-forward design but also that some neighbors strongly supported restoring ponds and ball fields. Army Corps discussions indicate restoring man-made ponds in a wetland is technically and legally challenging, staff said.
Next steps: staff said the plan will return to the board and then be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for formal adoption once the final document meets county review standards.
