Each Small Area Plan is unique due to the characteristics of the specific community, but the process to initiate, create, and adopt a plan follows a similar path. Read more about the process in the SMALL AREA PLAN GUIDE. Or read a summary below:

1. Select a planning area, identify needed planning resources, and create a budget and schedule.
2. Design the planning process, create a public engagement plan, notify the community, and select a Steering Committee. 
3. Identify and collect data about the study area, existing conditions, and existing plans.
4. Host kickoff events with the public and collaborators. 
5. Work with the community to create the vision, goals, policies and actions for the study area. 
6. Write the Plan, and present the draft for public input and changes. 
7. Review the final draft at public hearings at the Planning Board and then the Board of Commissioners for adoption.

Read about the draft budget, timeline, and planning process:

• Commissioner Briefing - 2/18/25 Process Update

A tenative timeline for the planning process is broken into 2 phases. This timeline is likely to change as more information becomes available:

• Phase A: Pre-budget phase - Allows staff to begin certain work tasks prior to having funds allocated.
• Phase B: Budget allocated phase - includes tasks that require funding, such as: public engagement; language translation and interpretation; document printing; etc. 

Once adopted, the Swannanoa Small Area & Recovery Plan can be used in a variety of ways to direct future change, such as by:

• Recommending changes to Buncombe County regulations, policies, and ordinances
• Identifying capital investments needed in the study area
• Outlining partnership opportunities
• Providing County staff and Boards with guidance for making development decisions
• Recommending zoning changes or overlay districts
• Directing County staff to work on specific actions and projects
• Outlining the community's priorities for service providers
• Identifying work priorities for the County's 5-year Strategic Plan
• Triggering changes to the 2043 Comprehensive Plan's future land use G.E.C. map

ATTEND A MEETING:

The planning process will include outreach to the community to gather information, learn what the community is already working on, and get feedback. The County will hold public meetings, and will also be present at events happening around the community. A calendar of events will be available under the GET INVOLVED tab on this website. 

TAKE A POLL:

Throughout the planning process, County staff will ask the public for ideas, information, and feedback. In-person and online Polls will be used to help gather information from large numbers of different people. Active polls will be posted on the TAKE THE POLL section of this website.

APPLY TO BE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE:

A Steering Committee consisting of Swannanoa residents and other collaborators to help guide the process to create the Plan. Members provide guidance to staff, review data and public input, and work to ensure that the planning process is representative of the community. 

The Board of Commissioners will select Steering Committee members after a public application process. This process has not yet begun, but will be advertised in different ways to reach as many people as possible who may be interested in applying. Please check back soon for updates. 

The following existing plans include information related to the Swannanoa area. Check back for updates as new information becomes available and more data and plans are identified. 

General Plans

• Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan

Hazard Mitigation and Environmental Plans

• Buncombe Madison Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Flood Hazard Mapping of the Swannanoa River Watershed
• Upper Swannanoa River Watershed Management Plan

Recreation & Transportation Plans

• Fonta Flora State Trail Map
• US 70 / Swannanoa River Greenway Feasibility Study

In 2025 Buncombe County Government is engaging in planning processes for several different focus areas, including the Swannanoa Small Area Plan, 2030 County Strategic Plan, Envision Buncombe Helene Recovery Plan, Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and the Pedestrian Plan. Many of these plans were in development or nearing completion before Tropical Storm Helene struck our community.

In addition, there are two community-led planning processes starting which are related to Swannanoa’s recovery. These include a redevelopment plan for the Beacon Village area being led by the Beacon Foundation, and a recovery action plan for Swannanoa being led by MountainTrue.

Buncombe County recognizes the incredible work that is already happening in the community through local organizations and residents, and will seek to learn from and partner with those efforts when possible.

Below is a graphic summarizing some of the planning processes happening in 2025.