Protecting our Streams and Rivers

Hartwell Carson, Riverkeeper over at RiverLink, wrote an excellent op-ed for the AC-T the other day.  Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Board will consider changes to the stream buffer rules.  The current rules call for a 30 foot buffer, and only two requests for variances have been made in the two years that these rules have been in effect.  The proposed changes are confusing and will create much more subjectivity in their interpretation.  I’ll let Hartwell explain:

The City of Asheville is proposing rules that would reduce stream buffers, one of the most vital protections for the river. The City of Asheville, has until recently, been mired in a very severe drought and the threat of additional flooding is always around the corner. Streamside vegetation is currently protected to prevent harmful pollution from entering the river. It also soaks up flood waters and allows rain to soak into the groundwater. This vegetation ultimately improves water quality and reduces drought and flooding. The proposed rules would slash those protections, leaving the French Broad River increasingly vulnerable.

The current storm water ordinance specifies that if you are developing or significantly redeveloping a property, there is a 30-foot vegetative setback on all mapped streams. The proposed rule would not only reduce those protections, but would require a great deal of time and expertise to interpret them. Buffers on the stream would be based on slope, disturbed area, and stream type. This would mean you could possibly have two different setback widths on one piece of property. The proposed regulations would be too confusing to enforce, too time consuming for many developers to understand and ultimately a reduction for the protection of our streams.
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The 30 foot setback rule has been in place for almost two years. When it was passed, there was ample noise about how many businesses and home owners would be negatively affected. The setback rule only applies to property owners that are developing or redeveloping. In the two years since the 30-foot rule was passed, out of the over 70,000 people in the city, there have only been two property owners that had to apply for exemptions to this rule, and both were granted. With over nine pages of exemptions, there is ample flexibility so that property owners are very rarely impacted by the 30-foot rule.

Sign RiverLink’s petition to preserve the current rules by clicking here.

Attend the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on October 22nd at 4pm to learn more and to speak your peace.