UNCA's NEMAC Hosts Chocolate Friday on Land Use Planning

Chocolate Friday is a research and idea-sharing event sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC). Typically, each Chocolate Friday features presentations from NEMAC staff, UNCA faculty, student researchers, and visiting professionals. The event is open to anyone who is interested. This academic year, Chocolate Fridays are scheduled to be held from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce in their Board Room, located on Montford Ave. The spring schedule includes a variety of themes, and will attract individuals from our greater community.

And yes, chocolate is served!

The fourth Chocolate Friday of Spring 2008 is April 25 and features three presentations on Land Use Planning.

Beaches vs. Buildings: Coastal Management in North Carolina

Andy Coburn, Assoc. Director, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University

Andy’s presentation will focus on coastal development, beach erosion and how North Carolina manages its developed shorelines. He will discuss coastal storm impacts (including Katrina), structural and nonstructural coastal management alternatives, sea level rise, good and bad state coastal policies (more bad than good), current pressures and anticipated problems and issues. Andy will also discuss the PSDS (Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines), what we do and why a coastal science and policy center at WCU makes sense.

GIS in Support of Regional Planning

Tom Tribble, Manager, Asheville Field Office, NC Center for Geographic Information & Analysis (CGIA)

GIS and Geospatial Imaging Technology support a broad range of applications. This presentation will describe two applications by CGIA, the State’s lead agency for GIS. One is a joint project with NCDOT and USGS to map land cover to support water quality and transportation planning in the Upper French Broad river basin. The second describes GIS support to the Sustainable Sandhills initiative, an EPA funded effort to support sustainability planning in an eleven-county region including Fort Bragg.

A Hedonic Valuation of Open Space in Buncombe County

Christie Gonzales, UNC Asheville Math Major and Farmland Values Project Undergraduate Research Student

This research examines the value of open space to property owners in Buncombe County, North Carolina. A hedonic model is used to estimate the many factors that influence residential property values, including open space. This method can improve understanding of how differing types of open space, such as protected areas, farmland, and golf courses, affect the market value of neighboring homes. This research builds on open space variables from previous literature while also determining those factors that are important to the mountainous region of Western North Carolina. The results are useful for estimating the value of open space preservation.

Stay tuned for more Chocolate Fridays in fall 2008!

WHERE: The Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave , Asheville 28801

WHEN: 3:00-5:00 pm

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Susan Weatherford (250-3890)