The town of Canton has scored several small victories of late in its effort to diversify its economic base and improve services and amenities available to residents. 

Children, the elderly, the ill, the mentally challenged and the incarcerated in Haywood County all have at least one thing in common: in the event of an emergency or evacuation, they might not be able to move to safety quickly or efficiently.

Although the closure of Ghost Town in the Sky several years back has left many Maggie Valley businesses struggling just to keep their doors open, others like the half-century-old Joey’s Pancake House and the 15-year-old Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum have continued to succeed despite slowly climbing tourism numbers amidst the lingering aftertaste of the worst recession in living memory.

• Affordable housing issues on Haywood County’s horizon
• Habitat houses give people hope
• Old hospital’s rehab into low-income housing falls flat
• Affordable housing development looks for resources
• Self-build program empowers low-income families
• Some look to downsized housing for personal freedom, financial security

Passersby probably don’t give a second thought to seeing news houses being built on the hillside when traveling up Jonathan Creek Road, but the development has quite a story to tell.

Haywood County commissioners are considering an ordinance that would ensure that certain types of developments do not pose adverse effects to residents.

The sleepy village of Forest Hills could look a good bit different over the coming years if a handful of development concepts under discussion come to fruition.

Phones in Jackson County’s planning department have been buzzing lately with people interested in developing property in Cullowhee, and that news has spurred county commissioners to work toward getting a planning council in place to handle requests that might come their way.

Plans for a brand new residential subdivision in Franklin will move forward after the town board of aldermen approved a special-use permit for Scenic Ridge Properties.

After plugging along for seven months without one, Jackson County will welcome a new planning director when 2016 begins.