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MountainTrue Member Spotlight: Ross & Bess Baird

MountainTrue Member Spotlight: Ross & Bess Baird

MountainTrue Member Spotlight: Ross & Bess Baird

Rod and Bess Baird (pictured above) moved to Western North Carolina in the 1970s, working as caretakers for a farm in Weaverville. From there, Rod began a career as an entrepreneur in the medical industry. Bess has always had a passion for education, working as a teacher for young children and leading workshops to help teachers incorporate nature and the environment into their curriculum. 

Like many MountainTrue members, the Bairds love nature and the outdoors. Rod is the adventurer, while Bess is more of a naturalist. Over the years, they’ve enjoyed our region’s fantastic whitewater paddling, biking and hiking trails, and fly fishing. 

The Bairds have been MountainTrue members for more than a decade. Recently, they’ve focused on supporting the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC program. When asked why this project has inspired them to give, they said, “We want to support systemic work that makes an impact at the local level. Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC is promoting dense development that can reduce sprawl in WNC counties. We’re currently crowding single-family homes onto smaller acreage with little to no erosion controls and building outwards rather than upwards. In the process, we’re destroying farmlands and forests. We want to treat the cause of suburban sprawl, and MountainTrue is working to do that.” 

The Bairds went on to say how important it is “for all of us to work together as part of a grassroots effort to get people to think differently about density. Cities are intended to be cities. If we had the choice to remove trees in the city or remove even more trees for a large development in a rural area, I’d choose to remove them in the city and replant them. I want our neighbors to see that we support this work, and MountainTrue is bringing a new perspective. We hope our neighbors will take the time to learn more and consider supporting this important work.”

“No matter what we wish, WNC is going to continue being a relocation magnet for the foreseeable future. Let’s acknowledge that the only viable strategy to manage this growth is ‘harm-reduction’ – which means focusing growth on urban areas.”

MountainTrue is incredibly thankful for the support of the Bairds and for all MountainTrue members who are helping protect our forests, waters, and mountain communities. 

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC is an expansion of our Healthy Communities program, and we hope you’ll join us in supporting policies that protect and create homes for our neighbors in places that reduce our collective carbon footprint. To learn more about Neighbors for More Neighbors, please visit moreneighborswnc.org

Rein in Buncombe County Short-Term Rentals

Rein in Buncombe County Short-Term Rentals

Rein in Buncombe County Short-Term Rentals

This Monday, March 18th, the Buncombe County Planning Board will be discussing the issue of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) for the second time. MountainTrue strongly supports the proposed text amendments to regulate short-term rentals. Mitigating the loss of year-round housing to short-term rentals is a top priority for our residents. 

In particular, we join our community partner, PODER Emma, in strongly supporting the proposal to prohibit short-term rentals in mobile home communities, as their residents are particularly vulnerable to displacement. 

Take Action:

1. Monday, March 18: attend the Buncombe County Planning Board Meeting and let them know you want the regulation of short-term rentals in Buncombe County.

Buncombe County Planning Board Meeting
Date: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Where: AB Tech Ferguson Auditorium
Tech Dr, Asheville, NC 28801

2. Email the Planning Board and let them know you support the regulation of STRs in Buncombe County.

Background:

It is no secret that Buncombe County, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing an acute housing crisis. More people are struggling to find an affordable place to live due to the cost of living and the dearth of housing options. There are an estimated 5,000 Short-Term-Rentals (STRs) in Buncombe County – that’s 5,000 potential homes that have been removed from the market.

During the county’s comprehensive planning process last year, thousands of community members voiced their concerns about STRs and their impact on affordable housing. It is clear that reducing the loss of year-round housing is a top priority for residents. 

Buncombe County faces a significant housing gap, particularly for low-income individuals and families. The proposed text amendments offer a proactive approach to bolstering affordable housing options. Coupled with potential conversion incentives discussed by the Board of Commissioners, these measures have the potential to make a meaningful impact on our housing crisis.

By ensuring that short-term rentals are appropriately regulated and located, we can create more opportunities for long-term rental and owner-occupied housing in our county. MountainTrue recognizes the connection between the built and natural environment. With less long-term housing, people are pushed away from the schools, jobs, and services that they rely on. This increases miles traveled and destroys more habitats. 

The steps that are being taken are crucial for increasing the housing stock in Buncombe County. We must ensure that short-term rentals are appropriately regulated and located. Please consider taking action: attend Monday’s listening session and email the Planning Board to express your support for the proposals. Thank you for your attention to this issue and making change in our community.

TAKE ACTION to Protect the North Fork of the French Broad River in Transylvania County, NC!

TAKE ACTION to Protect the North Fork of the French Broad River in Transylvania County, NC!

TAKE ACTION to Protect the North Fork of the French Broad River in Transylvania County, NC!

Email Transylvania County Commissioners to encourage their support of the designation of the North Fork of the French Broad River as a Wild & Scenic River!

There is a once-in-a-generation chance to protect the North Fork of the French Broad, which is eligible for designation under the Wild & Scenic River Act. Congressman Chuck Edwards has indicated that he would introduce legislation for the North Fork with the support of the Transylvania County Commissioners. The Commissioners need to hear from Transylvania County residents, business owners, and property owners. Please take the time to send them a message.

Wild & Scenic River designation requires an act of Congress and typically enjoys broad popularity and bipartisan support. A Wild & Scenic designation for the North Fork of the French Broad would ensure that this section of the French Broad River is never dammed, and it would guarantee critical water quality protections and management by the US Forest Service to protect its biodiversity and recreational values. Transylvania County citizens defeated proposed dams in the past, and their hard-won success should be made permanent. 

The North Fork is the headwaters of the French Broad River, a recreation staple in Brevard and Asheville. The French Broad River is responsible for over $3 billion dollars of economic activity annually. Good water quality in these headwaters is essential for local agriculture and recreation economies. Maintaining the health of the North Fork of the French Broad River is also critical to the protection of aquatic wildlife, including hellbender salamanders, musky, and trout. 

The 3.2 mile-long river corridor proposed for protection (pictured below) is owned and managed solely by the US Forest Service. Therefore, no private lands would be affected by designating this stretch of river as Wild & Scenic. The Wild & Scenic Rivers Act has no effect on private lands, including any private lands upstream or downstream of the designated reach. 

Support The REDUCE Act to Cut Down on Plastic Waste and Encourage Recycling

Support The REDUCE Act to Cut Down on Plastic Waste and Encourage Recycling

Support The REDUCE Act to Cut Down on Plastic Waste and Encourage Recycling

Contact Congress to let them know that you support The REDUCE Act, introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Lloyd Doggett. This important bill outlines a strategy to reduce plastic production and plastic waste by limiting the use of new, non-recycled plastic in everyday items. 

Take action: Ask Congress to pass The REDUCE Act and take a crucial step towards eliminating unnecessary plastic usage and incentivizing more eco-friendly practices.

Once passed, the legislation would impose a fee on the production of new plastics designated for single-use items. This fee would not apply to plastics that have been recycled, making the use of recycled materials more financially appealing. This approach is designed to motivate companies to either recycle more plastics or opt for recycled materials over new ones, thus keeping more plastics from ending up in landfills and incinerators.

Anna Alsobrook, MountainTrue’s lead in the Plastic-Free WNC coalition, explains that plastics are a growing threat to both our environment and public health. “Plastic waste has become ubiquitous. MountainTrue has sampled every water basin in Western North Carolina, and we found microplastics in every single sample. And there is a growing body of evidence that plastics and the additives used to make them are harmful to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We need to take action to address this growing problem, and the REDUCE Act can be a part of that solution.” 

The production, distribution, disposal, and incineration of plastics exacerbate climate change, harm public health, and contaminate our communities and natural environment. The REDUCE Act is a means to curb our waste production and encourage the use of recycled plastics by manufacturers.

Take action today.

TAKE ACTION to Protect Madison County Ridgetops

TAKE ACTION to Protect Madison County Ridgetops

TAKE ACTION to Protect Madison County Ridgetops

Let Madison County Commissioners know that our mountain ridges should remain pristine!

Responding to the desires of a single landowner, the Madison County Planning Board put aside the best interests of the wider community and recommended doing away with the rule that would prevent the construction of homes and buildings within 50 feet of ridgelines. This change would completely undercut Madison County’s Mountain Ridge Protection ordinance and open the door to unfettered home construction along the tops of our mountains. 

Allowing development on our ridgetops would threaten our county’s irreplaceable natural beauty, environmental health, economic vitality, and the overall well-being of our community. The move by the Planning Board has sparked widespread public opposition. 

Email Madison County Commissioners now and let them know you want them to protect our mountaintops!

We need you to take action today to let Madison County Commissioners know that we want them to vote to REJECT the Planning Board’s irresponsible recommendation. If you’ve emailed them already about this issue, we urge you to email them again to let them know we’re still watching.   

Bad for Public Safety:
Allowing development on our ridgetops would directly increase the risks of natural disasters like landslides and wildfires, consequences we cannot afford. These disasters, fueled by deforestation and soil disturbance, pose a significant threat to the safety and security of our residents. It is imperative that we stand firm on this ordinance to safeguard our community’s lives and properties.

Bad for Our Economy:
Madison County’s mountains are more than just natural features; they are the backbone of our regional identity, drawing visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, and residents seeking a peaceful, scenic living environment. These mountains bolster our local economy and tax revenue by attracting tourism and promoting local businesses. Compromising on this ordinance would not only tarnish our community’s allure but also strike a blow to the economic heartbeat of our region. We cannot allow our mountain landscapes, a cornerstone of our heritage and economy, to be compromised.

Bad for Our Environment:
Preserving our mountain ridgetops is critical for broader environmental initiatives, including combating deforestation and protecting vital water sources. These areas play a crucial role in water filtration and biodiversity conservation. Upholding this ordinance is key to Madison County’s leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Email Madison County Commissioners now and let them know you want them to protect our mountaintops! 

Background:
The county has received an application from a private citizen to amend the county’s Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance and do away with a 50’ setback requirement, a key provision that protects mountain ridges from development.

In 1983, following the construction of the Sugar Top Resort in Avery County, the State of North Carolina passed a law protecting the mountain ridgelines of our state. Madison County then took the additional step of putting in place further safeguards to protect one of Madison County’s greatest assets: its natural beauty. One key rule that Madison County added was a 50’ setback on either side of a protected ridge. This simple rule makes protection of our ridgelines and enforcement of these rules relatively easy.  

For 40 years, this ordinance has ensured that Madison County landowners, residents, and visitors would be blessed with visually stunning and natural mountain views and have the confidence that those views would be protected for future generations.

Now, a single landowner wants to do away with the setback requirements in order to develop on a ridgeline. This change in the law would affect ridgelines throughout the county, even though the applicant could simply seek a variance for their individual property. 

Join us in opposing the proposed amendment to the Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance. Learn more by checking out these resources:

  • Click here to read MountainTrue’s letter to the Planning Board. 
  • Click here to read Clear Sky Madison’s letter to the Planning Board.
  • Read more about the proposal in this article from the Asheville Citizen-Times, published November 10. 

Join MountainTrue’s Board of Directors!

Join MountainTrue’s Board of Directors!

Join MountainTrue’s Board of Directors!

MountainTrue seeks a diverse board representing its service areas, including different areas of expertise and life experiences.

If interested, please complete the board member application and attach your CV/bio. Click here to apply. The Governance and Equity Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and the full board considers new members at its August meeting. Click here to view the board member job description.

We look forward to hearing from you!