Extensive housing on our slopes will adversely impact the natural beauty of this valley. Large-scale developments of apartments, condominiums, and small-lot, single-family dwellings will progressively erode the feeling of peaceful solitude.
The water of the Upper Riceville Valley is supplied mainly from wells. Each new development project will increase the pressure on available water resources. Grading land for roads and houses greatly increases rainfall runoff, reducing infiltration recharge of groundwater supplies. Increased runoff also degrades stream banks and increases erosion and sedimentation. These harmful processes continue even after development is completed.
Finally, over-development in the valley could set in motion the extension of Asheville city water and sewer services, with the unintended consequences of environmental degradation, cost of living increases and annexation.
