Problem is, Jackson County may not be the best model for CJ reported that Smart growth fever had hit Jackson County in June 2007. After a contentious public hearing and a building moratorium
Property rights advocates will be wise
and decided among other things that Jackson County?s ordinances should be
duplicated. ?We’re working to copy
Jackson and other counties to preserve what we have,? said David Gantt,
chairman of both the Mountain Resources Commission and the Buncombe County
Commission.
those interested in preserving property rights.
that forced some small building supply businesses to close, they passed
egregious land use ordinances in August 2007. Those included a requirement that any
major new, nonfamily subdivision, (more than eight lots), must set aside 25
percent of the land as open space.
which a CJ exclusive report describes: ?A two-acre minimum lot size is required
for land with an average slope of 30 to 34 percent, and only one dwelling can
be built. Required lot sizes grow with the slope, culminating in a minimum
10-acre lot for land measured at a 45 percent slope or higher.?
?best management practices? for things such as land disturbance and grading;
vegetation, landscaping, and habitat; historic and archaeological resources;
sensitive natural areas; outside lighting; and building colors. The ordinance
goes so far as to dictate the color you can paint your house, encouraging
strongly dark or earth-tone colors be used to make the home less conspicuous. They have even used
biased, pro-smart growth planning workshops in the schools directed as schoolchildren.
to keep an eye on the Mountain Resources Commission work. Although the commission does not have
regulatory authority, they will be providing advice and guidance to local
planning boards and government officials who do have regulatory authority.
