Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchases 83 acres adjoining Richmond Hill Park

News release from Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy:

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) has purchased 83 acres for permanent conservation, adjoining Richmond Hill Park overlooking the French Broad River. This purchase ends a 4-1/2 year long legal battle over a permit for an intensive real-estate development on the property.

“This is a great outcome for this prominent forested bluff above a big bend in the French Broad River, especially in light of the shared desire among locals to support the river’s recovery from Hurricane Helene,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. “The scale of the proposed development in this sensitive location sparked acute opposition. We’re proud that SAHC could provide a solution supporting the community, while meeting the developer’s financial need.”

This property was on SAHC’s wish list for conservation for the past 20 years, and now it can eventually be added to Richmond Hill Park. The tract is one of the last undeveloped parcels along the French Broad River in Asheville. Residents and visitors to the waterfront and motorists on multiple roads have a clear view of the promontory, which slopes down to a major bend in the river. This section of the French Broad is popular for tubing and paddling.

“Seeing hundreds of landslides as well as businesses and homes washed away in Hurricane Helene underscored the importance of protecting our floodplains and forested slopes to soak in and filter stormwater, protect important riparian species, and help reduce future flooding risk,” said Hartwell Carson, MountainTrue French Broad riverkeeper.

Adding the newly conserved property to Richmond Hill Park would increase the size of the park from 180 to 263 acres. Important ecological features include a vernal pool at the lower elevation property edge and designation within the French Broad Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area. Wetland areas in the vicinity host a variety of salamanders, including spotted and marbled salamanders as well as the Southern Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon ventralis), which is a state species of special concern.

“Richmond Hill Park is a popular place for people who enjoy outdoor recreation,” said Josh Kelly, resilient forests director with MountainTrue and a member of SAHC’s land protection committee. “It is home to rare species like the mole salamander, nodding trillium, and the Eastern Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus holmanii), and it is Asheville’s largest forested park. Adding 83 acres to the boundary of Richmond Hill Park will provide habitat for birds and countless other species, while protecting water quality in the French Broad River. Large, forested areas are especially important for combating the urban heat-island effect and, in this case, for providing wildlife habitat and clean water. Looking to the future, there is a unique opportunity to restore the forest on the tract and create an urban ecological preserve.”

SAHC sought to buy the property several times since 2013, but the owner always held out for a higher price from developers. In 2020, developers contracted to buy the property and filed an ambitious plan that provoked intense opposition and litigation by multiple parties.

In 2022, the property was transferred to another development group, which scaled down the proposed development. However, it still proposed 692 units, which was felt to be too intensive for the fragile forested slopes above the French Broad and too dense for the narrow roads that provided only one way in and out of the property. Community members along with Town of Woodfin officials continued opposing the permit. Eventually the developer became willing to end the conflict by selling the property to SAHC for conservation.

“What a delight to hear this heartwarming news,” said Shelli Stanback, CEO of OM Sanctuary. “The parcel connecting to Richmond Hill Park will remain protected, preserving aspects of the French Broad River, wildlife habitat, and our neighborhood’s quality of life. Deep gratitude to all who stood together to make this possible!”

Neighbors and other private donors contributed funds and made a loan to SAHC to make the purchase possible. SAHC will hold the property until it can eventually be added to Richmond Hill Park. For now, the tract is not open to the public. SAHC will assess damage to the land due to Hurricane Helene, which will be addressed according to the property’s land management plan.