Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Residents Identify Top Ten Issues/Concerns with Watauga County’s Future

Story by Kathleen McFadden

The first phase of developing a comprehensive plan for Watauga County is complete, and consultant Dennie Martin of Martin-McGill presented the phase one report to the Watauga County Board of Commissioners on Monday night, April 14.

The primary purpose of phase one was to involve the community in the planning process. At ten public sessions throughout the county and with a survey, the consultants and the Plan Oversight Group—seven community members, including Commissioner Winston Kinsey—collected input from residents.

Martin acknowledged that participation in the surveys and in the public meetings was low and disappointing, but maintained that the residents who attended the meetings became engaged and participated in brainstorming sessions. More than one dozen or more ideas were typically expressed at the meetings, he said.

“In reading through the comments,” said Board of Commission Chair Jim Deal, “I think you heard from every constituency in the county.”

Planning and Inspections Director Joe Furman said, “I would have liked there to have been more people at the meetings, but I think we got good comments and good participation.”

According to the report, the data shows a high degree of consistency among the importance rankings on the survey (where residents rated issues on a scale of 1 to 5), the written comments on the survey (where residents made three comments about the county as they saw it in the future) and the discussions at the community meetings.

Most issues were tied to rapid growth and development, but not always in a negative way. However, the data reflects two primary fears associated with change: that natural resources and county services cannot keep pace and that change will bring loss of farmland, woodland, mountain heritage and culture, and regional identity.

From the meetings, the following top ten issues emerged: traffic congestion, water availability, protection of natural resources, famland/large tract preservation, clear land use divisions, preservation of unique community identities and mountain heritage, economic development/employment/affordable housing, emergency services keeping pace with growth, educational opportunities and widespread recreational opportunities.

At Monday’s meeting, Martin told the commissioners that the Plan Oversight Group unanimously recommended moving forward with phase two—the actual development of a comprehensive plan based on the issues and concerns identified in phase one.

The board unanimously approved the phase two contract. Martin-McGill will bill on an hourly rate plus expenses, with a contract cap of $105,000.

Included in the phase one report is a draft outline for the comprehensive plan that, in addition to an introduction and statement of scope, includes the following sections:

• Demographic Analysis

• Assessment of Factors Influencing Growth

• Managing Change in Watauga County

• Economic Development Strategy

• Transportation Planning

• Water and Sewer Services

• Affordable Housing Program

• Recreation and Open Space Planning

• Preservation of Unique Community Identities/Heritage

• Enhancement of Key Community Services

• Managing the County’s Natural Resources

• Plan Implementation Strategy

To see a copy of the phase one report, contact the county Planning and Inspections Department at 828-265-8043.

Watauga’s Top Ten Issues and Concerns

During the first phase of developing a comprehensive plan for Watauga County, residents—through surveys and group meetings—identified their top ten areas of concern with regard to the county’s future.

These top ten issues will form the basis of the comprehensive plan that will be titled the Citizens Plan for Watauga.

1. Traffic Congestion

2. Water Availability

3. Protection of Natural Resources

4. Farmland/Large Tract Preservation

5. Clear Land Use Divisions

6. Preservation of Unique Community Identities and Mountain Heritage

7. Economic Development/Employment/Affordable Housing

8. Emergency Services Keeping Pace with Growth

9. Educational Opportunities

10. Widespread Recreational Opportunities