Press release from office of Buncombe County:
Buncombe County’s innovative programs continue to garner national recognition. The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized Buncombe County with three Achievement Awards. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs across the country that strengthen services for residents.Community Oriented DevelopmentThe Community Oriented Development (COD) program received Best in Category for Planning. According to NACo judges, one program in each of the 18 categories receives the Best in Category distinction and the COD program was chosen for this outstanding distinction due to its exceptional results and unique innovations.The COD program was designed, drafted, and administered by Buncombe County Planning & Development staff, and adopted by the Board of Commissioners in 2015. It was originally developed to address a critical shortage of quality affordable housing and seeks to incentivize density and design flexibility (based on a points based system menu), in exchange for affordable or workforce housing units, sustainability features, and community amenities. “As a gateway community rich in natural beauty and splendor and one in which has been discovered by the nation and increasingly the world, developable land in Buncombe County is a scarce resource. Great care through innovative products like the COD program, which make effective use of our scarcest resource and bring affordable and equitable housing opportunities to our citizens are paramount,” comments Planning Director Nathan Pennington. “We are humbled by this recognition, and we will continue to work with the community and our elected officials on future endeavors.”This program has been featured in the NACo Counties Futures Lab September 2018 publication, titled Planning Ahead, was a finalist for the Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability Innovation, and Buncombe County staff presented information about the COD program at a housing symposium held at theJoint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard in November 2019.Farm Heritage TrailJust four years after the creation of Buncombe’s Farm Heritage Trail, it receives national recognition with an Achievement Award in the category of arts, culture, and historic preservation. Spearheaded by Farmland Preservation Coordinator Ariel Zijp, the Farm Heritage Trail is a scenic driving and cycling route through the rural agricultural communities of northwest Buncombe County. The Farm Heritage Trail highlights the agricultural heritage of Buncombe County and takes a pioneering approach to sharing and promoting history for generations to come.“This award will provide fuel to power the expansion of the trail to further highlight Buncombe County’s commitment to our community’s farmers and ranchers, while preserving the beautiful landscape that makes visiting Buncombe County a must for travelers far and wide,” says Ag and Land Resources Director Jennifer Harrison. “We thank NACo for their recognition of our efforts.”Learn more at farmheritagetrail.org. or click here for an interactive map.Energy Innovation Task ForceThe Energy Innovation Task Force (EITF) received an Achievement Award in in the category of county resiliency: infrastructure, energy, and sustainability. The EITF is a joint initiative between the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Duke Energy to research and recommend energy efficiency and demand-side management programs in Buncombe County. Members of the task force are appointed from local government, environmental and clean energy advocates, large and small businesses, local institutions, and Duke Energy Progress. “I think this award is really a reflection of what can happen when we collaborate with our public partners and our community to achieve a common goal,” says Buncombe Sustainability Officer Jeremiah LeRoy. “I’m so grateful for all of the citizens and local organizations, as well as Duke Energy, which helped make this possible.”NACo President Mary Ann Borgeson said, “We are seeing firsthand now more than ever that counties work tirelessly to support our residents. This year’s Achievement Award-winning programs showcase how counties build healthy, safe and vibrant communities across America.”Nationally, awards are given in 18 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, county administration, information technology, health, civic engagement and many more. Learn more here.
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