Asheville Realtors oppose steep slopes legislation

Southern B wrote:

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How many people have lost their lives in areas affected by the proposed ordnance? The peaks creek folks lived in a flat area. The slide was not caused by development on slopes. These houses were constructed on an historic debris flow deposit. Debris builds up over hundreds of years and is mobilized by a heavy rain event. There was someone killed in Maggie Valley a couple of years ago. I am not as familiar with that site, but I do know that Maggie Valley has a much higher percentage of land slide deposited soils. My point is (likely beyond your grasp) poorly written ordnance such as this one will not save lives. They may make you feel better but they will not accomplish the desired goals. In my 20 years living in this area there have been the above mentioned incidents and no other ones that I know of. So counting the Maggie Valley death then there is one. I wonder if the Haywood County inspected that foundation during construction. Likely they did. So Big Brother did not catch this.
How many people died in car accidents around Asheville in the last 20 years? Should we then not ban driving? I feel bad for anyone who loses their home by landslide or by fire (much more common). But emotional responses to engineering problems always miss the mark. Why not come up with ordnance based on standard practices in both engineering and construction. If less than 0.1% of the homes constructed in steep areas are constructed outside of the normal standard of care, should we assume all are. That’s what you and many politicians are doing on this issue.

Dionysis wrote:

"With proper engineering you can build nearly anywhere."
That doesn't mean it should be done, only that it could.

squidlyman wrote:

Not sure why everyone seems to be getting bent out of shape by this editorial. The person is (self-admitted) a Realtor. It goes without saying that they are going to say things that advocate the sale of land/houses, no matter whether there is common-sense arguments behind the sales.
It's like blasting a priest for preaching, or a teacher for educating.
So, let's all just relax, understand this this person has a strong personal bias on the matter (ie: they make their career bucks off of it), and appropriately discount their position on the matter in favor or more impartial opinions.

squidlyman wrote:

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As we look up and regard the now populated ridges and hills as "ugly" with the mega-homes, let us not forget to also look down and see the mess we've below. While I certainly do not support the silly "summer homes" being built in irresponsible areas like the ridge-lines, I find it tough to believe that anyone who has spent their outrageous sums of money on those homes is the kind that would then follow-up their investments by launching their Bud Light cans (or pick your favorite beer flavor) out the car window and onto the road.
Side note to this story, and moral of my rant is: the finger points both ways! We can't accuse others of "uglifying" our area while we ourselves do the same... just in a different spot.

Sell That wrote:

Because a realtor states the obvious that it is OK to build on a slope with all the proper engineering reports and disclosures what is your problem? Why blame the realtor? Maybe one day they will have to sell your little mobile home next to the creek in that little MH park you must live in.

Pro Nature wrote:

On behalf of the mountain slopes where homes are being built, anyone with half a brain knows you don't build on a slope or at the top of a slope.
Until the demand for a "view" at the top of a hill came about,people built their homes at the bottom of a hill. By chopping down trees and removing rocks on a slope, you are inviting Mother Nature to cause massive landslides after heavy rains because there is nothing to hold the dirt back. Not only are you destroying hills and slopes with slope housing development practice, you are destroying precious wildlife habitat and muddying mountain streams which many depend on for their well water supply. Slope development is a totally destructive practice and against Mother Nature! Need I remind you that Mother Nature ALWAYS wins! Lawmakers should legislate reasonable slope development legislation to make homes safer and to lessen the negative impact on the surrounding environment.

Jim wrote:

Sound like Kim Evans is more worried about her commission on the sale than the lives she may place at risk. It typical Realtor though, there only in it to make a sale and get there cut. There all a bunch of snakes in the grass.

call me Loco wrote:

what's new, only thing Realtors want is money. They cause bank failures by over pricing property.

call me Loco wrote:

what's new, only thing Realtors want is money. They cause bank failures by over pricing property.

Ravenz Moon wrote:

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Hey Loco Realtors dont price the properites. Owners do.