Public Input on Bent Creek Greenway closing April 21

From Buncombe County:

Public Input Greenway Feasibility Study for Sections of the Bent Creek Greenway Corridor along Brevard Road

ASHEVILLE — Buncombe Greenways is nearing the end of its public comment period for the section of greenway that could one day connect the Asheville Outlets, the WNC Farmers Market and the current French Broad River Greenway (which spans between Hominy Creek Park and Carrier Park). This section of greenway would generally follow 191/Brevard Road and would be a key point of connectivity between existing greenways and the County’s larger master plan.

Online comment opened shortly before an in-person public engagement event held at the WNC Farmers Market on March 24, 2016 and will conclude at midnight on April 21, 2016. Buncombe Greenways is looking to understand public preferences regarding several route alternatives within the corridor. As a continued evolution in how Buncombe Greenways connects with the community, online options for input have been added to this project to expand the diversity of comments received and to ensure that a wider segment of the population is provided an opportunity for input.

The public input garnered from throughout the process will be used to inform the selection of a “preferred alternative” through a completed feasibility study. The feasibility study process is a more detailed level of planning that follows Buncombe County’s 2012 adoption of the Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan. Overall, the feasibility study will weigh known constraints such as existing infrastructure and topographic issues, costs, public input, safety, environmental impacts, and funding availability. The preferred alternative represents the potential route for the future greenway and will allow Buncombe Greenways to explore additional funding and further design efforts.

Public input is a critical component within each phase of greenway implementation efforts because it allows design to be informed by public desires while also offering an opportunity for Buncombe Greenways to communicate key issues to the public. Construction of greenways is a large community investment that requires a long-term outlook and substantial community support. Public input is key in building the long-term community vision and in creating the momentum that will carry greenways toward construction.

The feasibility study for the 191 corridor is a continuation of the Bent Creek – Lake Julian Greenway Feasibility Study engaged last year (available at buncombegreenways.org).

Buncombe County has been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts who have enjoyed the region’s trails and outdoor recreation for more than a century. As demand was growing for a countywide, comprehensive approach to greenways and trail planning, Buncombe County, through a variety of partnerships, undertook the task of developing a Greenways and Trails master plan, which was adopted by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2012. The County plan envisions a system of connected trails for public usage (pedestrian and bicycles) to foster and promote tourism, economic development, health, recreation, diverse and safe transportation options, and to connect the communities in Buncombe County so that everyone can enjoy and experience the cultural heritage and beauty of Buncombe County. The Bent Creek Corridor Greenway, one of eight priority corridors identified in the Buncombe Greenways and Trails Master Plan, includes approximately 10-12 miles of total greenway that will provide easy access to user locations such as the Asheville Outlets, the WNC Farmers Market, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Mountain to Sea Trails, the Bent Creek trails, the NC Arboretum, Ridgefield Business Park, the Biltmore Park Town Square and the new Mission Health and Park Ridge medical facilities.

Online options for public input and current project documents are available on the Buncombe County Recreation Services website buncombegreenways.org.