Category: Uncategorized

Greenway Trail Project Underway

Posted on by brotherhug

This spring the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway will launch a project to improve eight sections of the greenway path impacted by rainfall and erosion. The project area will include sections of trail from the Shelburne Road trailhead to portions of the trail near the “beach”.

The objective of the trail project is to redesign, improve, and reroute sections of trail to create a sustainable pathway that reduces erosion and improves the trail user experience.

The project is funded by a grant from Buncombe County Recreational Services and funds from members and donors of the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway.  Wildlands Engineering, Inc. is providing an in-kind donation to design and manage the project.  The City of Asheville, Asheville GreenWorks, and Asheville on Bikes will provide guidance and resources.

The estimated cost of the project is $25,000.

Construction will begin in April 2021 and continue throughout the summer.

The Problem

Over the last several years, heavy rainfall, gravity and increased traffic on the greenway has accelerated erosion. 2020 was Asheville’s fourth wettest on record. As a result, frequent wet and muddy trail conditions have blocked access and a network of unsustainable trails has formed.

Runoff from higher elevations tends to settle on sections of the trail. An increase in the volume of users over time causes the wet trail surface to pack and settle. The impact forms ruts on the trail that catch and hold water during rains. Rather than flowing across the trail, water rushes down the pathway. Over time, water channeling down the trail gains velocity and energy, washing away more soil and cutting deeper into the trail. The combination of forces compounds the rate of erosion. As trail conditions degrade, water is held on the path longer. The results are impassable sections of trail following heavy rainfall or periods of sustained precipitation.

The Solution

The Friends of Hominy Creek, in collaboration with Wildlands Engineering, has developed a plan that will improve sections of the trail, address drainage, and reroute sections of trail. FOHCG volunteer and civil engineer, Jake McLean of Wildlands Engineering, is the lead designer. In addition to Jake’s personal time, Wildlands Engineering is donating time and equipment to design and supervise construction.

The plan involves raising the trail in several areas; creating swales, levies, and other elements to capture, store and redirect rainfall and runoff. A portion of the project will re-slope the access road at the Shelburne trailhead and redirect runoff from the roadway. Several sections of the trail will also be resurfaced. 

Contact Information:

For more information about the project or concerns, contact former FOHCG president Jack Igelman. He can be reached at jack@igelman.com

Please welcome our new board members

Posted on by brotherhug

The Friends of Hominy Creek would like to welcome our new trustees: Alex Blue and Christopher Arbor. We would also like to express our gratitude to the service of two outgoing board members, Renee Fortner and Nancy Watford.

Nancy Watford is a founding board member of the FOHCG and played a leading role in securing a $25,000 grant from Buncombe County that funded invasive plant removal and the construction of kiosks, information signs, and our work shed. In addition, Nancy has helped bring the vision of the organization into function. Thank you for your service Nancy.

Among her many contributions to the Hominy Creek Greenway, Renee Fortner took charge of our volunteer program and led countless volunteer work days on the greenway. Among the volunteer projects she coordinated was improving the landscape surrounding the work shed by planting native species and removing invasive plants. Renee has also played a crucial role in keeping the vision of the organization alive. Thank you for your service Renee.

Alex Blue joined the board of trustees in November, 2019 and is from Eastern North Carolina. She came to Asheville to attend UNC Asheville and graduated in 2017 with a degree in environmental science. While attending school she completed a fellowship with the local environmental nonprofit, RiverLink. She later returned to Riverlink to complete a year service as the organization’s AmeriCorp Volunteer Coordinator. Alex currently works for the horticulture department at the Biltmore Estate where she removes non-native invasive plants and preserves native & natural landscapes. Alex also has the cutest hound dog in Asheville named Ruby. On a sunny spring day you can find Ruby and Alex floating down the French Broad River.

Christopher Arbor joined the board of trustees in November 2019.  He was born in the North Carolina Piedmont but knew from a young age that the mountains would always be his home. He attended summer camp outside of Brevard, enrolled at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, then transferred to UNC Asheville.  After graduating, he enrolled in AmeriCorps, and while he could travel anywhere in the United States; he opted to stay in Asheville. Since then he’s taught English at The Outdoor Academy and World Studies at the Asheville School. During breaks from work, you can find him fighting non-native invasive plant species, planting trees, and running through the woods.

Become a Member

Posted on by brotherhug

Become a member of the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway!

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER.

You will be redirected to the website of our fiscal agent: Asheville GreenWorks. Your membership or donation is tax deductible.

Membership supports our efforts on behalf of the greenway and demonstrates your commitment to Asheville’s greenway future.

 

Select the membership type that best suits your interest below.

Business Membership  $250

Annual Memberships for Individuals or Families $25-$150

Thank you for your support!

FOHCG Statement on Crossroads at West Asheville development

Posted on by brotherhug

The Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway has concerns about the scope of the Crossroads at West Asheville development and its impact on Hominy Creek and the Hominy Creek Greenway.

  • Our organization’s mission is to protect the 14 acre community green space and City of Asheville park we have managed and been the stewards since 2011.   
  • The overall size and scope of the development will have an impact on the viewshed due to the placement and height of the structures.
  • The development is on a unique parcel of land within the Hominy Creek watershed and will impact the water quality due to run off from parking lots and construction.
  • An increase in traffic flow in the surrounding neighborhood will impact public safety among pedestrians who use the Hominy Creek Greenway. 

The Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway seek the opportunity to work with the developer, the State of North Carolina, Buncombe County, and the City of Asheville to implement the following:

  • That the developer repair the eroding stream bank on their property and create a substantial buffer of woody plants along Hominy Creek to protect it from runoff and other impacts during and after construction of the development. 
  • That the developer examine how the size and placement of structures and parking lots will impact the viewshed of users of the Hominy Creek Greenway and adapt to minimize the impact on the viewshed.
  • That the developer use low-impact construction practices and building techniques to capture and filter stormwater runoff to minimize the impact on Hominy Creek.
  • That Buncombe County require the developer build a section of greenway that is open to the public. A new or established community group, such as the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway, could serve as stewards.
  • That Buncombe County and the City of Asheville add and improve pedestrian infrastructure to accommodate the potential increase in use of the Hominy Creek Greenway by the residents of the development and members of the community surrounding the Hominy Creek Greenway.  
  • That the State of North Carolina consider improvements to I-240/I-26 access ramps and an additional access ramp at Bear Creek Road and I-240/I-26 to minimize traffic flow onto side streets in the surrounding community.

Please contact FOHCG Inc. president Bryan Tomes for comment.

CONTACT: Bryan Tomes, 828-772-5542 or bryantomes@yahoo.com

Crossroads at West Asheville development

Posted on by brotherhug

Last week, several past and present FOHCG board members attended an open house at Crossroads Baptist Church to review plans for a development on the land on the opposite side of the Hominy Creek Greenway. The proposal includes 384 apartments,  50 low-rise apartments, 56 vacation rentals, 150 senior housing units, 64 single family units, 11,000 square feet of retail space and 40,000 square feet of office space.

The FOHCG have numerous concerns due to the size and scope of the project. The FOHCG Board of Trustees are in the process of developing a position statement on the development.

The developer will present at the Buncombe County Board of Adjustments meeting on Wednesday October 9 at 12:00 pm at 30 Valley Street in Asheville.

From the Board of Adjustments agenda:

Warren Sugg of Civil Design Concepts, on behalf of Catalyst Capital Partners, has applied for a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance of Buncombe County, Sec. 78-641(a), 678(b)(6), and 678(b)(9) Conditional Use Standards, to establish a Planned Mixed Use Development (Level 1) for multi-family residential, commercial, and vacation rental developments on tax lot PINs 9627-79-7125 and 9627-89- 6780 (20 S. Bear Creek Rd);

Click here to review the site plan: CrossroadsSitePlan.

Join us for a picnic on May 19

Posted on by brotherhug
Join us for a picnic on the Hominy Creek Greenway:
When: Friday May 19 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Cornbread Junction near the Sand Hill Road trailhead.

What: Celebrate the Hominy Creek Greenway with members of the FOHCG Inc. Board of Trustees and members of the community. 

BYO beverage and BYO chair. We’ll provide the grillables and sides.

Hominy Creek Greenway Master Plan 2013

Our Mission

Posted on by aei_dev

Welcome to the online hub for those who appreciate the Hominy Creek Greenway. 

The Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway (FOHCG) is a non-profit group committed to the preservation of the Hominy Creek Greenway. We have worked since 2010 with the City of Asheville and local residents in accordance with our mission statement.

The Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway (FOHCG) works with the community to manage the Hominy Creek Greenway (HCG) in order

  • to maintain its wild nature,
  • to preserve its rich history, and
  • to connect the HCG to the French Broad River, future greenways, and downtown Asheville. 

Our Vision

Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway works collaboratively with members, volunteers, neighbors, school groups and local organizations to restore native habitats along Hominy Creek as a place for community to recreate, commute, and connect with nature.  We envision the following:

  • Creation of a community greenway park by working with local artisans,  landscapers, and neighbors to create park facilities that support community gatherings, individual discovery, and alternative modes of transportation
  • Restored native habitats through the riparian zone and waterway
  • Partnerships that foster support for the greenway and encourage the involvement of local businesses and residents.
  • Established community gardens and edible forests in ideal places along the greenway/path
  • Interpretative signs and educational tools for teachers, students, and other visitors
  • Well-maintained footpaths to ensure its use as a trail for walkers, bikers, and other wanderers-raising source for the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway.

Join us as a member or volunteer.

Please contact board president Jack Igelman at jack@igelman.com if desired.