Haywood County Slope proposal supported at hearing

A public hearing on a proposed slope development ordinance in Haywood County revealed what appears to be a shift in attitudes toward mountainside development. Several years ago, a public hearing of that sort would have drawn crowds of angry protestors insisting on freedom to do what they pleased on their land. But no such comments were voiced. Instead, one speaker after the other — many from within the development community itself — agreed that it was time to regulate steep slope development. The ordinance requires developers to submit a slope stabilization plan if a cut-and-fill slope exceeds certain thresholds. Currently, anyone with keys to heavy machinery can slice a road through the mountain or carve out a house site. The ordinance would require a certified professional — such as an engineer — to develop a slope stabilization plan for development that exceeds the threshold.