Close your eyes and picture your ideal version of Buncombe County. How has the infrastructure improved? What do the parks look like? What public programs are offered?
As Buncombe County gears up to draft the 2043 Comprehensive Plan, local leaders want to use your input as the building blocks. Here’s how you can get involved.
How will this cityscape change in the next few decades? | Photo via @overlanddave
But first, what is a comprehensive plan?
Simply put, it’s a 20-year planning document — based on community goals + aspirations — that guides the long-term goals and actions of the county government. Topics include infrastructure, multi-generational needs, equity, land use, public health, the environment, affordable housing, and economic development.
If you’re a visual learner, we recommend watching this explainer video. There’s also a Spanish version available.
Who writes this plan and what’s the process?
The plan is technically written by County staff, but calls upon residents for input and feedback on various drafts before it’s adopted. There’s also an official steering committee that meets on the second Tuesday of each month and is open to the public.
Right now, we’re in the vision + goals part of the process. Buncombe hopes to hear from every single resident (or at least as many folks as possible), before moving ahead to the drafting phase. The draft will include specific policies and strategies, plus ample feedback opportunities. And in about two years (fingers crossed), the plan will be adopted and ready to implement.
How can I get involved?
TL;DR. There’s a ton of opportunities. Contribute to the Community Vision Word Cloud, have your kid submit a postcard, or attend an engagement meeting. There’s a virtual one on Jan. 25, 12-2 p.m., and in-person meetings are slated for February (dates are still TBD).
Wanna stay engaged for the long haul? Sign up for the Comprehensive Plan newsletter for frequent updates.
Help Buncombe reach its goal of hearing from every County resident. Use the buttons below to share with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
Today
- Thai Tacos and Agave Pop-Up | Mon., Jan. 24 | 5-9 p.m. | The Times Bar & Coffee Shop, 56 Patton Ave. | Free | Panang birria, red snapper tostada, mango flan, and specialty cocktails will grace the menu of this collaboration from Bun Intended and The Times Bar.
- Boy Harsher | Mon., Jan. 24 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $15 | Dance + electronic duo Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller debut their new album The Runner (Original Soundtrack). 🎶
Tuesday
- Chef J Chong Pop-up | Tues., Jan. 25 | 4:30-7:30 p.m. | plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St. | Cost of purchase | Enjoy small plates of Cantonese food from our local dumpling guru.
- For the Love of Waterfalls | Tues., Jan. 25 | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual | Free, registration required | Learn about the historical significance of NC waterfalls from naturalist, writer, teacher, and photographer Kevin Adams.💧
- Money Visioning & Goal Setting | Tues., Jan. 25 | 5:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join this online class by financial education + counseling business, OnTrack WNC.💰
Wednesday
- Scotch & Chocolate Tasting Event | Wed., Jan. 26 | 8-10 p.m. | Top of the Monk, 92 Patton Ave. | $25 | Explore the delicate, delicious pairings of Asheville Chocolate truffles and Glenmorangie single malt scotch whiskies. 🍫
- Ryley Walker | Wed., Jan. 26 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $15 | Durham-based musician Al Riggs will open for this unembellished, blue-collar rock show. 🎸
- Mikasa Nostra 6 Course Dinner | Wed., Jan. 26 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel, 32 Broadway St. | $110+ | Enjoy Peruvian-Italian flavors provided by Chef Santiago Vargas and pommelier Amie Fields.
Thursday
- WomanUP Celebration | Thurs., Jan. 27 | 8-10:30 a.m. | Crowne Plaza Resort – Expo Center, 1 Resort Dr. | $50+ | Honor the creativity of women in business and hear a keynote speech Deliberate Creativity: Innovate to Thrive from Dr. Amy Climer.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Weather
- 50º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Civic
- Asheville City Council will meet virtually tomorrow, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. On the agenda: a Climate Justice Plan update, discussion on public transit funding, and public hearings on conditional zoning agreements. Tune in.
Try This
- Asheville’s inaugural Adult Spelling Bee will take place at Noble Cider Downtown on Fri., Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m. The fun, fast-paced contest will quiz seven teams of three people + will be hosted by Mitch Fortune. Proceeds support Asheville’s chapter of Bee City USA and their mission to sustain pollinator populations in our community. Sign up your team via email. 🐝
Number
- 14.1 million. That’s how many folks visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2021, breaking the previous record by 1.5 million. Superintendent Alan Sumeriski says park visitation has increased by 57% in the last decade. (Asheville Citizen Times)
- 6. That’s how days remain to apply to UNC Asheville for the Fall 2022 semester before the Feb. 1 application deadline. Good luck, future Bulldogs. 🗓️*
Ashevillians
- The Tzedek Social Justice Fund has announced Renée White + Marta Alcalá-Williams as winners of the 2022 Tzedek Brilliance Awards. Both of these leaders have been recognized for their “impactful, intersectional efforts to further racial justice and LGBTQ equality,” and will receive a one-time, no-strings-attached grant of $50,000. 💰
Arts
- Want to help paint The Grey Eagle? The music venue + taqueria is looking for artists and muralists to work on a collaborative mural that will display on its patio fence. There are multiple 5x6 ft spaces available. If you’re interested, email samples of your work. 🎨
- Student artwork from Western Carolina University is now on display at the Asheville Regional Airport through March 18. The collection features the work of MFA candidates with an array of backgrounds that include sculpture, fabric, papier-mâché, and photography.
Cause
- The Safe & Warm Campaign, a winter assistance initiative from Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, kicks off Wed., Jan. 26 at Carolina Furniture Concepts. The goal of the campaign is to help keep folks warm. Drop off donations at the kickoff event or at one of the blanket drop-off locations. 🌡️
- Asheville Outlets + MANNAFoodBank are holding a Healthy Food Drive from Tues., Feb. 1- Mon., Feb. 14. Requested items include green tea, canned vegetables, lean proteins, shelf stable milk, whole grain pasta, and other health-conscious canned or dried items. Find collection bins in the Asheville Outlets food court or donate online.
Edu
- UNC Asheville has used ~$1.36 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding to wipe its students’ outstanding balances from the fall 2021 semester. This is the second round of funding received by students, who were also awarded emergency grants for textbooks during the fall 2021 semester. 🎓(Mountain Xpress)
Home
- Looking to save money + energy this winter while keeping your home toasty? Access energy-saving tips, resources and programs from The Blue Horizon Project.*
Featured Job
- Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine is looking for an Executive Assistant + House and Office Manager. The perfect candidate is responsible, creative, organized, and able to provide personal and administrative support in a well-organized and timely manner. Learn more and apply.*
*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.
Rejoice, lovers of handspun CBD cotton candy and fermentation-forward dishes. After a nearly two year long pandemic-related hiatus, Cultura AVL has announced it will reopen this spring.
In its downtime, the James Beard Award semifinalist has been renovating its kitchen and hosting a monthly Cultivated Community Dinner Series (which has its next meal on Feb. 17). We cannot wait to traipse over to the South Slope and see what other changes have been cooked up.
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Editor's pick: How do y’all feel about the record high visitation in the Great Smokies? Are you surprised? It will be interesting to see how the park service balances the rise in demand with ongoing conservation efforts.
Missed Friday's newsletter? Brush up on the DEI-certification process, plus the dish on local Valentine's Day-themed macaron hearts.
AVLtoday Team
Editorial: Brook, Laura, Sarah, Erin, Camille
Sales: Helen
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