Swannanoa Resilience Plan Workshop Materials Posted, Additional Session Scheduled
Buncombe County has posted materials from the Dec. 3 Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan design workshop and scheduled an additional in person session for tonight, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The work is intended to shape housing, hazard mitigation, transportation and economic priorities across several nearby communities, and it connects directly to ongoing Helene recovery efforts that affect local safety and rebuilding.
Buncombe County announced that the Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan design workshop held on Dec. 3 at Owen Middle School is now available online, and an additional in person workshop is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. More than 145 community members attended the Dec. 3 session, working through exercises on housing, hazards, transportation, economic development, recreation and environmental topics. The plan covers Riceville, Lytle Cove, Oteen, Patton Cove, Buckeye Cove, Bee Tree, Lake Eden and other nearby neighborhoods.
County planners and residents used the design workshop to identify local priorities and to draft resilience strategies that will guide future investments and policy decisions. The effort is explicitly intended to advance resilience and hazard mitigation, and to coordinate local priorities with ongoing Helene recovery efforts. For residents still recovering from damage and disruption, the planning process seeks to align short term recovery needs with longer term measures to reduce future risks.
The local implications are practical and immediate. Housing exercises addressed options for rebuilding and strengthening neighborhood housing stock, while transportation discussions focused on access to evacuation routes and daily mobility for workers and students. Hazard mitigation and environmental sessions examined strategies to limit flood and landslide impacts in the steep, wooded valleys that characterize the Swannanoa corridor. Economic development and recreation conversations explored ways to support local businesses and preserve public spaces that contribute to neighborhood cohesion.
Residents who could not attend are encouraged to view the posted materials and to attend the tonight session to offer input that will shape final recommendations. Participation will influence how county officials prioritize projects, allocate funds and coordinate with emergency managers working on Helene recovery. The Swannanoa plan represents a localized step toward building safer, more resilient communities across Buncombe County.
