Implementing the recently approved 2045 Comprehensive Plan
The planning department briefed the Commissioners at their Wednesday, April 17thBoard of Commissioners meeting regarding next steps in regards to the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Planning department director Autumn Radcliff provided an overview and schedule of the implementation plan for the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Among other things, she discussed how existing subdivision plans and new plans will be treated moving forward. This briefing was repeated for the Planning Board at its meeting on April 18th.
The briefing with a brief Q&A can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/935846516 The presentation starts at the 55:24 minute mark and iswell worth listening to.
During a discussion at the April 18th,Planning Board meeting the following week, the question was asked how the County will bring Henderson county citizens into the process. One of the Planning Board members complimented Etowah's organization efforts and suggested the planning department should take advantage of the Etowah organization.
We are extremely thankful that the County listened to the concerns of the citizens of Etowah when it passed the 2045 Comprehensive Plan and associated Future Land Use Map (FLUM.) Etowah will no longer be zonedR1 (which allows up to 12 units per acre), instead will be designated as a Transitional Area (see note 3 on page 52 in Part 2 of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.)
The definition of Transitional Area is that it encompasses residential areas of limited density. Conservation subdivisions should be encouraged in these areas to provide and protect open space. The maximum allowable density range istwo to four units per acre(gross density.) Potential uses are as follow: Single family residential, potentially some appropriately sized multi-family as part of planned developments, agricultural uses.
Flooding
Portions of the south course of the Golf Club are in a flood plain. Flood plain maps are supposed to be updated every five years, but the last time the map was updated for Etowah was November 2008. We will be seeking to have the floodplain maps updatedbecause rainfall and river crest data suggest there is a need. Development shouldn’t occur in areas prone to significant flooding.
We have been reviewing both cooperative observer and Government rainfall records and French Broad River river crest data. In January, we made a video of the flooding on the south course of the Etowah Valley Golf and Resort during the five-inch rainfall event on January 8thand 9thto document how the course floods during such an event. A recent reanalysis of cooperative observer records revealed that five-inch rainfall events are more frequent than we noted in our briefing to the Planning Board last summer.
The National Weather Service monthly rainfall totals by year for Asheville show that almost all of the monthly records have been set in the last 30 years. The records can viewed athttps://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gsp . Scrolling to the bottom of the table displays the monthly records by year. (Note you can select the period of record for consideration if you select Monthly Summarized Data.)
Historical French Broad River crests are available for Blantyre, NC online:
iver crests are categorized as: minor flooding (16 to 19 feet), moderate flooding (19 to 23 feet), and major (greater than 23 feet).
The length of the record for this site extends back to May 1901 and can be viewed if you scroll down to “Show more recent crest” under “Recent Crests.” Note the fact that three of the top five historic crests have occurred in the last 30 years. The record crest of 27.1 feet occurred in July of 1916. This is almost 20 feet above the normal river height.
Millennials and Golf Communities
We have heard for some time now that golf is a dying sport and golf clubs are struggling to maintain membership. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article stating that there has been a surge in popularity of golf since COVID and millennials are seeking out golf communities. Here is the article.
Those living in developments off of Brickyard Road have certainly seen the large number of cars in the Club’s parking lot, the line of golf carts ready to move on to the course, and the players out swinging their clubs regardless of the weather, all of which lends credence to the Journal article. Golfers note the course is in the best shape it has been in years.
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