ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Buncombe County is poised to make its biggest commitment yet to protecting open space.
County commissioners next week will consider allocating a combined $10.7 million of bond funds to protect 337 acres of native forest and wildlife habitat on Deaverview Mountain, and to create a greenway and trail system surrounding a planned housing development between the French Broad River and Ferry Road.
The commission meets at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at 200 College Street in downtown Asheville.
If commissioners agree to allocate $7.7 million to the Deaverview Mountain project, it would be the single biggest commitment to date from the $30 million open space bond county voters approved in November 2022.
Located on what’s now private land near the top of Deaverview Road, just past Candler Knob Road, it’s meant to conserve natural habitat with a spectacular view overlooking the city of Asheville.
The plan would protect 16 headwater streams and include hiking trails, scenic overlooks and outdoor gathering areas.
Jill Carter, open space bond project manager for Buncombe County, said it has “high conservation value,” because it protects habitat and priority waterways. It also would provide access to outdoor recreation for low-to-moderate income communities in the nearby area and people from across the Asheville area.
“It will really provide access to so many people in our community to these outdoor opportunities,” Carter said.
“I know it’s a very exciting project for the community. We hear from the community all the time: ‘Protect this land from development,'” Carter said.
Nearly $1.5 million of the requested bond funds would go toward land acquisition requirements, planning, design and permitting, with $6.2 million set aside for construction.
The project still is in an early planning stage. The current timeline calls for a park to open in early 2029.
Before then, the Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy hopes to complete a purchase of the land and transfer to the county.
The project is seeking a $4.4 million grant through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) toward land costs and awards are not expected to be announced until February 2026.
Meanwhile, commissioners will consider allocating $3 million of bond funds to the Ferry Road Open Space project, which would create clearly-defined conservation areas surrounding a development planned to include a mix of market-rate and affordable housing.
Combined with $4 million in TDA LIFT funds, the overall $7 million project calls for creating two miles of paved greenway trail, two miles of natural surface trails, a parking area and wetlands access with a boardwalk.
According to a staff report, the county has multiple goals for its open space bond funds — protecting natural resources, providing recreation and also enhancing equity by locating quality amenities that traditionally-underserved, lower-income communities can access.