Volume 18.2 Western North Carolina (1993)

With this issue of Carolina Planning, we have chosen a geographic rather than a topical boundary for these articles. As noted by David Quinn, the Blue Ridge Mountains have traditionally divided the mountain residents from those from “off the mountain.” It is doubtful if any of our authors would agree on a single boundary for the mountain region, nor is that of critical importance here. We focus on issues that, while not unique to this area, are heightened by its history, culture and topography.

Western North Carolina’s riches, from mountain vistas to rich mineral deposits and timber stands, have differentiated it from the rest of the state and driven its development over the past two centuries. The mountain region remains relatively isolated from the rest of the state, despite the building of rail lines in the 1880s and the federal highway system in this century. State interest in the development of the region remains high, however, as evidenced by attempts to institute land-use planning in the mid-1970s and the recent formation of a study commission to again look at both state-wide and mountain-area land use planning.

Editors: John Anton, Dan Broun,  Patricia McGuire, and Steven Stichter

A digital version of this issue is available here.

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Boggs, Bruce

The experience of Western Carolina University’s Regional Economic Strategy Project, applying planning methods to stimulate local development, is discussed. The project’s Business Task Force, Solid Waste Task Force, Tourism Task Force, and Leadership Development Task Forces are described.

THE MAY COALITION: INNOVATORS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION

Weeks, William

MANAGING WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S NATIONAL FORESTSSmith, WaltonA former U.S. Forest Service employee discusses management techniques in forest preservation and use in Western North Carolina.
PLANNING AS AN HISTORIC RESOURCE: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

Hartley, Michael O.

North Carolina’s planned origins from colonial times to the mid nineteenth century are described.

Special Focus: Land Use

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PLANNING POLICIES: A DECADE IN REVIEW

Caldwell, Frank; Smith, Susan

The authors review a 1981 report on land-use planning in the mountain region and provide updates on the status of each of the reports recommendations.

TO PLAN OR TO CONTINUE NOT TO PLAN IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Cooper, Garry

EXPLORING OUTDOOR RECREATION IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Ahman, Brian

THE CHALLENGE OF LAND-USE PLANNING IN HAYWOOD COUNTY, OR REAL PLANNERS NEVER USE PLAN ‘A’

Faust, Ginny

PLANNING CHALLENGES FACING WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Smith, Susan M.