What is the purpose of a steep-slope ordinance?
Buncombe County’s version concerns public safety, aesthetics and the control of what is perceived as overdevelopment.
Asheville’s version embraces all of the above in more detail and, in our opinion, is more restrictive.
The state’s version is apparently concerned with public safety and overdevelopment. There is no reference to aesthetics.
Why do our politicians feel obligated to create laws that are designed to protect people from themselves? We all know it’s impossible. In the end, [attempts] will be outmaneuvered by better ways to accomplish a better end. Good developers build good developments; bad building is simply bad, regardless of the ordinance. The more simple answer: If you want to protect slopes and ridges, buy them.
Why do we need three [slope-development] versions? Can we get our elected officials to work in concert on anything? Like Reynolds Mountain became the poster child for our local ordinances, this debate should become the focus for government consolidation. Do we really need county and city ordinances? Is there such a difference between an elevation of 2,220 feet and 2,500 feet?
There have been some widely publicized tragic incidents [regarding slope movement], but why is it necessary to affect over 8 million people with a law that may or may not reduce the tragedy of so few people? We don’t believe there have been any incidents in Buncombe County. Moreover, there were 1,534 deaths on the N.C. highways last year. Where is the outcry for more traffic lights, slow-down zones and stop signs? What are the odds of getting killed by your house sliding off the mountain, as opposed to getting killed in a vehicle accident? We would like to have this debate with as much passion as was generated by the slope ordinances.
As for overdevelopment, the number of single-family-home starts in 2006 in the 10-county WNC region that includes Buncombe was just over 5,900. Although the percentage of increase is dramatic, I couldn’t help but wonder if 5,900 single-family homes spread out over 10 counties qualified as overdevelopment. I looked at upstate South Carolina’s single-family-home starts, and there were over 10,000. [They have] slopes as well, just not as many. Where is overdevelopment actually taking place?
In the final analysis, the Realtors and the home builders embraced the steep-slope ordinance process, particularly in Asheville. Why? Because our organizations also want to protect ridge tops, and we want our customers to feel protected. However, we want it to be done correctly. We believe that the city’s version is far too restrictive and will increase the cost of building. Everyone agrees buyers will pay more money under these new rules, but no one is sure how much more. Our next debate should be what effect these ordinances will have on affordable living in our area.
We believe all sides are well intentioned. However, is this another version of the government robbing Peter (developers and/or future buyers) to pay Paul (politicians who draft and vote for these kinds of laws)? One thing is for sure—the politicians can always count on Paul.
When we proceed down the path of political placating and the mission is not clear, we can easily proceed down the slippery slope of more controversy.
— Mike Butrum
Government Affairs Director
Asheville Board of Realtors
Asheville Homebuilders Association
The Asheville City Council will hold the following meetings in Council Chamber on June 12, 2007:
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Budget Worksession
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Steep Slope Discussion
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm – Formal Meeting (partisan elections vote)