Swain nearly ready to vote on road rules
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer
Swain County’s first-ever planning board is nearly finished with its first project — drafting an ordinance to regulate road construction — and will send it on to county commissioners to review next week.
Maggie studies potential growth, regulations
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer
The surprisingly large crowd at a presentation on Maggie Valley’s proposed land-use plan seemed impressed with the details but questioned how applicable it was.
The land-use plan, created by Kannapolis-based firm Benchmark, would divide the town into districts where certain types of development will be encouraged. Residents got their first look at the proposal during a public hearing at town hall last Tuesday (June26).
Maggie Valley unveils new land-use plan
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer
After months of rigorous planning sessions, Maggie Valley town officials are finally ready to reveal to the public a new land-use plan they hope will help the town deal with anticipated growth.
Jackson planners consider open space for new developments
Developers in Jackson County could be asked to designate 25 percent of new developments as conserved open space under a provision the Jackson County planning board is weighing.
Improving the science of development
When Bob Brannon saw a newspaper announcement last spring seeking developers to participate in a pilot mapping project, he already had most of the planning for his development, Mountain Watch, in place.
Swain seats new planning board
One Swain County resident expressed concern last week that developers and speculators will rush to break ground on mountainside subdivisions in the next few months to beat out development regulations coming down the pipe.
Swain makes appointments to first planning board
Swain County leaders took the first step toward regulating unchecked growth and development this week by appointing the county’s first-ever planning board.
Franklin hires planner, GIS specialist
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff writer
The Town of Franklin is taking steps toward implementing its recently adopted Principals of Growth, hiring both a town planner and GIS mapping specialist.
Despite community pleas, Swain shelves planning board
It appears Swain County commissioners were out of sync with public consensus two months ago when they decided to postpone the creation of a county planning board.
Planning issues dominate Macon election
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer
Macon County commissioner candidates fielded several questions about growth and the county’s future during a forum conducted by the League of Women Voters last Thursday night (Sept. 28).