Zoning
About Zoning as a Conservation Mechanism
The zoning laws can be used as a means of conservation.
Currently, Buncombe County will receive and review
petitions from land downers to have their land zoned in
a particular classification. Many in Riceville valley
have petitioned successfully to have their property
removed from the "Open Use" class--which, as the label
suggests, provides no use restrictions whatsoever--and
designated instead as "Residential Low-Density (R-LD)."
They judge that the R-LD classification, especially if
many neighbors adopt it, will help deter any plans that
might be contemplated to engage in commercial or
industrial development in the area as well as plans for
small-parcel subdivision. It would do so by signaling
to anyone contemplating such development that the task
of buying up multiple adjoining properties for
development purposes is not likely to be successful.
R-LD specifies "single-family homes and mobile homes
with minimum lot size of one acre."
To Petition for a change in zoning
classification
Contact the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, at
the County Planning Office, 250-4830.
Contact
SRA Contact for Zoning: Joyce and Ron Sousa at joyce@scenicricevilleadvocates.org