Comprehensive Plan Community Input Meeting – 7/10/08
Madison County Middle School
What do you love about your community and about Madison County?
· Diversity and inclusiveness
· Active Farms
· Appreciation for individuals and community
· Old and new residents working with each other
· Rural community near urban area
· Darkness, quiet, dirt roads, ability to get lost, no pretensions
· Natural beauty with open space, still clean
· Community feeling
· Interaction between locals and transplants
· People here for community reasons, as opposed to monetary
· Rich history
· Landscapes, game/wildlife, gardens
· Freedom – like that people are doing and can do lots of different things on their property
· Real potential for self-sufficiency
· Going to Laurel River for hiking, swimming (knowing it’s open to all)
· Music and other traditions; valued and showcased, part of everyone’s lives
· Respect – people respect people for who they are
What is your vision for Madison County 20-30 years in the future?
· Affordable homes that retain value (no restrictions on type of home)
· Good balance between opportunity for children and future growth
· Diversified economic development
· Public transit between Mad. Co. and Asheville area and between 3 towns
· Diverse economic opportunities – people making livings in different ways
· Strong, small, local farms
· Tax base large enough to take care of all infrastructure needs
· Home-based ways to make a living
· 20% of working population commuting outside county to work (>50% today)
· Architectural code to preserve county’s character
· Land-based businesses
· Formalize political-supported institutions, policies, and regulations that perpetuate values stated here and in “loves” section
· Community centers and hubs for communication and cooperation
· Development lands parceled back out to full-time residents
· Maintain lack of light, sound, water pollution
· Clear redefinition from tobacco farming into some other home-based viable way to make a living
· Sustainable agriculture
· Balanced economy (arts, commerce, industry)
· Building codes reflective of WNC Madison history and architecture
· Three vibrant towns
· Greater ethnic diversity
· Similar/same values and traditions still (and alive and well)
· Vibrant community centers
· Clean water
· Population is primarily full-time residents
· Farms here still have major role
· Greater integration between old-timers and newcomers
· New residents included in vision
What are your concerns about the future of Spring Creek and/or Madison County?
· Water supply – need to understand capacity issues better
· Consider quantity of water available before new development
· Septic capacity issues and placement
· Not protecting farmlands and bottom lands from development
· Gated communities – antithetical to community (separates/segregates people, not enough oversight during construction, supports bedroom community mentality, too much opportunity for mayhem)
· Influx of chain stores and big box stores
· Trimming practices along roads and power lines
· Losing wildness/uniqueness and becoming too much like other places
· Decisions made for economic reasons rather than community needs
· Short-sighted decisions
SUGGESTIONS:
· Tax/impact fees to help pay for affordable housing and a new development, public services, parks
· Codes and code enforcement to encourage pride in properties
· Strict county-wide zoning, rare variances and dense commercial zoning
· Residents more active in community decisions with politicians
· More people running for office (more diversity)
· Homestead exemptions to provide relief for elderly and long-time residents