ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A UNC Asheville advisory committee is recommending the university continue pursuing long-term development of its Millennial Campus properties, including the controversial South Campus tract, but only after additional planning, environmental analysis and public engagement shaped by months of community opposition.
The recommendations, released this month in The Path Forward: Recommendations for UNC Asheville’s Millennial Campus Development, stop short of calling for permanent preservation of the South Campus woods, a key demand of residents and the “Save the Woods” movement. At the same time, the report does not recommend immediate development of the property, instead urging a phased planning process before specific projects move forward.
The Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee said the university should create a comprehensive master plan that balances financial sustainability with environmental stewardship and community priorities.
The report comes after months of public debate over potential development of the wooded South Campus property, where residents, students and environmental advocates have voiced concerns about the loss of mature forest, wildlife habitat and recreational trails.
According to the report, the committee received more than 2,500 public comments during its work. It said recurring themes included protecting forests and biodiversity, preserving public access to trails, maintaining the campus’s natural character and ensuring development decisions balance economic needs with conservation.
The committee incorporated those concerns into several guiding principles for future development.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for protecting significant natural features where possible, minimizing impacts to streams and steep slopes, incorporating green infrastructure into future projects, preserving wildlife habitat and maintaining public access to natural areas whenever feasible.
While emphasizing environmental protections, the committee reaffirmed that the South Campus property remains one of UNC Asheville’s primary Millennial Campus development opportunities, along with the Broadway/Zillicoa property.
Rather than endorsing a specific proposal, the report outlines a vision for projects that could include student housing, workforce housing, research and innovation space, retail and dining that support campus life, recreational amenities and public-private partnerships designed to generate long-term revenue for the university.
The committee said development should occur in phases and only after additional planning, environmental review and continued public engagement.
The report recommends the university prepare a detailed master plan before selecting development sites or advancing individual projects.
The committee said that approach would allow the university to respond to changing needs while incorporating community feedback and protecting environmentally sensitive areas.
For opponents of development, the recommendations represent a partial victory by delaying any immediate construction and placing greater emphasis on conservation and public involvement. However, the report does not recommend permanently preserving the South Campus woods, leaving the property under consideration for future development as part of UNC Asheville’s long-term Millennial Campus strategy.
The recommendations will now be considered by university leadership as UNC Asheville determines the next steps for planning and development of its Millennial Campus properties.