The document outlines the GroWNC initiative, a regional planning effort led by the Land-of-Sky Regional Council to develop an integrated vision and strategies for sustainable growth across Western North Carolina through extensive public engagement and coordination across areas like transportation, housing, economic development and the environment. A consultant team will work with multiple local government and stakeholder workgroups to analyze data, develop alternative growth scenarios, and create a long-term regional plan to guide coordinated decision-making across the five county region.

1. Land-of-Sky Regional Council
GroWNC:
Western North Carolina’s
Livable Communities Initiative
December 15, 2011

2. Project Overview

3. What:
• The creation of a regional vision and
Overview
strategies for economic prosperity, quality
growth, sustainable development
How:
• Build on existing plans and strategies and
ensure extensive public involvement
• Recognize that choices related to land use,
energy, natural & cultural resources,
health, housing and transportation support
the vision.
Who:
• A Consortium of local governments,
economic development entities, non-profits,
businesses, and other organizations will guide
the process
Where:
• The five county region of Western NC that
includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson,
Madison & Transylvania counties.
Why:
• So that Together, We Create Our Future.

4. Project Goals
• Develop future scenarios and alternatives
• Gather widespread, unprecedented community input
on future scenarios and existing, combined
plans/strategies
• Ensure that planning for transportation, housing, jobs,
energy, land use, health, and cultural and natural
resources is integrated
• Seek implementation opportunities throughout the
process
• Ensure that the Regional Plan is a “living document”

5. Project Outcomes
• A regional plan that can be a platform for elevating local
strategies and needs to a regional level
• A coordinated regional vision for economic prosperity,
quality growth, and sustainability that allows the region to
achieve more by working together than can be
accomplished separately
• Coordination of needs/planning across various subject
areas so that limited resources can be used more
effectively
• Positions the region well for future funding opportunities
(through Preferred Sustainability Status or by qualifying for
funds contingent upon completion of this process)

6. Project Team

7. Consultant Team
• LandDesign, Lead Consultant
• Allison Development Group, Public
Engagement & Outreach
• UNC Asheville’s National
Environmental Modeling &
Analysis Center, Scenario Modeling
& Outreach
• The Little John Group, Housing
• BBP, Economic Development & Job
Growth
• Martin Alexiou Bryson, Multimodal
Transportation
• ERM, Energy & Natural Resources

8. Land-of-Sky Team
• Joe McKinney, Executive Director
• Ron Townley, Director of Local
Government Services
• Carrie Runser-Turner, Senior
Planner - GroWNC Project Manager
• Linda Giltz, Senior Planner - Land
Use & Growth Management
• Karen Kiehna, Senior Planner -
Community Development

9. Project Logo

13. GroWNC Process

14. Steering Committee Meeting
Process Overview Work Group Meeting
Public Meeting
2 months 3 months 4 months 2 months 3 months 2 months
Phase Two: Phase Five:
Phase One: Phase Three: Phase Four: Policy Phase Six:
Project Data Collection Alternatives Framework and Production of
Initiation & Initial Analyses Modeling Implementation Final Plan
Assessment Strategy
•Project •Data Collection •Housing •Definition of •Policy •Land-of-Sky/
Orientation •Mapping •Economic Alternatives Framework •Consortium
•Kickoff Meeting/ Regional Development •Selection of •Implementation Review Draft
Study Area “Snapshot” Job Creation Indicators Toolbox •Final Regional
Tour •Plan Evaluation •Transportation •Alternatives- •Action Plan Plan
•Draft Goals & •Energy Development & •Executive
Values •Natural & Testing Summary
•Business- as- Cultural •Technical •Regional Plan
Usual Concept Resources Memo: Land Presentation
•Technical •Health & Use Model •Maps and GIS
Memo: Existing Wellness Results Data
Conditions •Land Use
Public Engagement Process

15. Communications & Outreach Strategy
• Messaging & Talking Points
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Meeting Protocols
• Record Keeping Protocols
• Communication Tools
• Templates
• Graphic Standards

16. Communications & Outreach Strategy

17. Consortium, Workgroup
s and Steering
Committee

18. GroWNC Governance Structure
Consortium
LOSRC staff
Steering Committee support
(14 Voting Members, 3 Ex-Officio (Non-Voting) Members)
Consultants
1 representative
5 1 per workgroup
Workgroups
Local City of
Governments Asheville
Housing Transportation Energy Jobs/Economic
Development
Natural &
Communications Land Use Health &
Cultural
& Outreach Wellness
Resources
Federal & State Partners
(3 Ex-Officio (non-voting) members, one from each NCDOC, NCDOT,
NCDENR)

19. Workgroup Launch
• Agenda:
– Large group: Project overview
and update, review workgroup
tasks
– Small groups: form initial
workgroups, participate in
facilitated worksession, review
input from kick-off meeting

20. Discussion