If you live in Asheville, NC, or are relocating here, you reside in "WNC"- Western North Carolina , a region 
of about 10,000 square miles from the state line of Virginia to that of Georgia. There's much going on here in the mountains in the Asheville area, and it is not all about the cultural arts for which Asheville is celebrated.
There is also a Big Discussion going on around proper development and the sustainability of real property here in the WNC ‘s mountains- - discussion between "newcomers" and descendants of pioneers-- and between contractors and stewards of the Land.
Some look at the mountain slopes, once dotted only here and there with an occasional light in the late hours, where now the human-influenced trails of street lights mark the slopes and see the obliteration of a priceless landscape. Others see the ridgetops as private property and extol the engineering feat it took to build there....
"Demand from second-home buyers and retirees...is pushing houses closer to the summits of the state's tallest peaks and up mountainsides long considered unfit for buildings.
Geologists fret over houses and condos being built in landslide zones and flood plains. Soaring land ... tempt owners to sell long-held family land, " reports BusinessNC.com.
In Asheville, WNC, we have adopted height limits on buildings. At elevations of more than 2,500 feet, buildings can't be taller than 35 feet, and at 4,000 feet, they can't be more than 25 feet tall, or two stories.
A Land Broker in the Greater Asheville, WNC area, I chose to broaden my understanding of the environmental factors around development. I completed a 36-hour hands-on certification as a eco real estate consultant.
I had the privilege of spending the better part of an eye-opening day with Rick Wooten, a senior geologist with the N.C. Geological Survey. Rick heads a project for mapping landslide and debris flow zones in Western North Carolina.
Here are severalof the posts that have arisen as a result:
Landslides, the Steep Slopes - (Information forBuyers/Sellers of Asheville Area LAND)
Caveats, the Steep Slopes- (Information about Building or Investing in Asheville Mountain Property)
BEFORE You Build in Asheville's Mountains - ( Asheville Eco Resources and Information)
RESOURCES: "information on steep slopes." ...LAND OF SKY- Another source of information ...
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(*)/'(*) ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- - Asheville NC Real Estate © 2011. " On the Road HOME, CONTACT ME : I hold: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant.
LAND::: When buying mountain real estate do your homework. Asheville area mountain environmental factors such as slope stability can only be determined by state licensed engineers and geologists:Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS® are NOT qualified to make these assessments. Complete site specific analyses are available and advisable. I am happy to refer you to our team of experts
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Asheville NC Real Estate Journal for Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- Asheville 1031 Realty© 2012.. Designations: NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant, ePRO®. Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos and graphics on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.
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I've been through that area a few times and it is beautiful That's why people want to move there. I've watched from Seattle as housing tracts slide up the foothills of the Cascades. Good luck there. I hope the careful planning helps preserve the beauty.
Glenn~
Yes..I too watched as Seattle's hillsides became developments...and then we relocated to Asheville...
As fellow WNCarolinians we hope there is very careful planning for placing properties on our gorgeous mountain slopes and maintaining the beauty of the region. There already have been tragic landslides and loss of life due to the ground going out from under buildings or landslides smacking into them from something further up the summit.
A great post and information and hopefully many in the industry and buyers pay heed. Thanks for sharing.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Sue~ GREAT to know you are in WNC...and thank you for appreciating the beauty and stewardship features of our Land...
Hello Ricardo...Wish I could be of help...but I am in Ashevile ...