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Cashiers, NC - Advisory Services Panel
March 22, 2022
The ULI Advisory Panel was asked to provide strategic advice regarding sustainable economic expansion and preservation of the quality of life and character of place sought by businesses, full- and part-time residents, and visitors.
Photo By ULI
The panel was led by Senior Fellow Emeritus Ed McMahon ULI long-time Charles Fraser Chair for Sustainable development. Panelist included Jonathan Bartlett, Senior Consultant, Business and Real Estate Strategy, Advance Planning Group – Jacobs, Decatur, GA; Meredith Byer, Director of Planning, Dewberry, Washington, D.C.; Tom Murphy Senior Resident Fellow, the Urban Land Institute, Pittsburgh, PA ; Ralph L. Núñez, NÚÑEZDESIGN, INC, Southfield, MI ; Rick Reinhard, Principal, Niagara Consulting Group, Rockville, MD; Lisa Rother, Community Planner, Montgomery County, MD; Ross Tilghman, President, Tilghman Group, Seattle, WA. ULI staff members Tom Eitler, Grace Hill and Barbra Gustis supported the panel.
Date: February 20-25, 2022
Location: Cashiers, North Carolina
Sponsor: Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and Jackson County
Panel Chair: Ed McMahon, Senior Fellow Emeritus, the Urban Land Institute
Cashiers is an unincorporated resort community in the highlands plateau of North Carolina located approximately 45 airline miles southwest of Ashville. In recent years, real estate in the Cashiers has been subject to unparalleled development interest and sales transactions. Significant growth in residential, commercial and institutional sectors is expected in the coming years. Anticipating growth, in 2019 the Jackson County Board of Commissioners adopted the Cashiers Small Area Plan sponsored by the Cashiers Area Community Planning Council, financed by the County, and created with widespread community input. The report provides a general framework for residential and commercial activity within the Cashiers area village footprint.
The community was interested in further advice to help implement the elements of the small area plan. The ULI Advisory Panel was asked to provide strategic advice regarding sustainable economic expansion and preservation of the quality of life and character of place sought by businesses, full- and part-time residents, and visitors.
The panel provided strategic recommendations on how Cashiers can:
- Create a long-range conservation plan to protect key natural areas, slopes and scenic vistas
- Build a robust network of pathways, trails and sidewalks in the village core to increase walkability
- Work aggressively with state and county government to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure including broadband, sewer & water infrastructure and a roundabout at the crossroads to reduce congestion & increase mobility
- Create and organization focused on bringing in a greater diversity of housing to address critical workforce & affordable housing needs
- Consider specific locations to build workforce/affordable housing.
- Work closely with major landowners to insure that new development proposals respect nature and community character.
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