Steep Slope Development - Social Perspectives

I saw a message on a hotel sign here in Candler that reflects my own opinion: Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

The trends of our communities reflect a continued growth in the number of residential units on steep slopes. The changes in our demographics demonstrate a shift to a larger percentage of people over 65 years of age. In all the reports that I have read the population of several mountain counties will range from 30 to 45 percent people over 65 years of age by the Year 2020. (I will be one of those people.) Should this population live in the rural areas on steep slopes, there is reason to be concerned about the access to services such as medical care. Emergency service personnel are already expressing concern accessing homes on steep slopes.

The NC Geological Survey is creating maps that show historical landslides and areas that are prone to slope movements due to a number of variables. I have and continue to be an advocate for this mapping effort. However, I am concerned that areas associated or identified as higher risk may lessen in value and create a shift in how land is valued economically. Left to market forces alone, high risk steep slopes could be the only places where the poor can afford to reside. We need to continue mapping high risk areas but we also need to ensure that we don't force people out of areas of lower risk due to increased property values.