Buncombe County seeks resident input for Swannanoa small-area plan as recovery continues after Helene

Leonard, from the Buncombe County communications team, said the planning department and a steering committee are developing a Swannanoa small-area plan to guide recovery and resilience following Tropical Storm Helene.

The plan focuses on the US-70 corridor and surrounding watershed communities including Riceville, Lytle Cove, Lake Eden, Beech Tree, Patton Cove and Buckeye Cove, Leonard said, and will ground recommendations in community input gathered through workshops and steering-committee meetings. He referenced a December design workshop and said the next engagement period will begin around May 4, 2026, with pop-up events in April to gather resident feedback.

County staff framed the effort as part of the county's comprehensive-plan work toward 2043 and emphasized that the planning process will consider rebuilding for resilience, not just restoring pre-storm conditions. Leonard encouraged Swannanoa-area residents to attend engagement events and provide input on recovery priorities.