Housing, Neighborhoods, and Walkable Communities

Session Topic:
Housing, Neighborhoods, and Walkable Communities
Name of convener:
Kimberly Marland

Email/Phone:
marland2008@charter.net
Participants:
more than fits in this box... J. Phoenix, K. McFadden, A. Burgess, J. Bond, R. Brantz, L. Mason,

Main points from the conversation:

Private Development or public initiatives?
Affordable housing needs and definition?
Model needed for non-profit land development for mixed housing
Boone's town government is restricted by State laws in funding, incentives, etc. for affordable
housing initiatives.
Town & Gown Committee important to work through issues of student housing and faculty/staff
housing needs.
Neighbors are important to community success.

Action steps:
Provide education opportunities for the public to learn about housing possibilities, federal and
state tax incentives for improving and building new energy efficient housing.
Create a variety of zoning possibilities for residential construction.
Recognize the importance of the human environment and caring.
Have a "Get to Know Your Neighbor Day" where everyone meets their neighbors.
Encourage reduction and reuse of construction waste to reduce amount dumped in the landfill.
Create an example of desireable high density single family housing in Boone as a showcase.
Evaluate setbacks, height req's, parking, landuse buffers, etc. in development requirements to
encourage better land use.
Encourage public input and opinion about potential housing options.
Explore a Watauga based manufactured housing business to produce a variety of well-built, energy
efficient, good looking housing options for area residents.
Be involved in the process. It won't happen by itself!

Historic Preservation

Session Topic:
Historic Preservation
Name of convener:
Rennie Brantz
Participants:
Email/Phone:
brantzrw@appstate.edu

Nancy Spann, Angie Pate, Kathleen Janowiak, Mark Kirkpatrick, David Williams, Kate Colester, John Bond

Main points from the conversation:
Barn Again Project- use unemployed to help restore historic barns in the county. "Habitat for
History" WPA project? Hickory Ridge Homestead- use for a new cultural museum, open it
up for Appalachian crafts. Blair Farm off Bamboo use for cultural museum? Mary Henson home off Bamboo could that become a new visitor center? Walking tours throughout town, in ground
markers designating historic sites. DVD of walking tours set up on continious loop @ Jones
House, possibly a class project of ASU students to provide the map . Year around Farmers market on the old Shadowline property.

Action steps:
Need historical markers in town
Historical walking tours
Appalachian crafts site needed

Healthy Individuals, Healthy Interdependence, Healthy Communities.

Session Topic:
Healthy Individuals, Healthy Interdependence, Healthy Communities.
Name of convener:
Deborah Tallarico
Email/Phone:
datallarico@yahoo.com
Participants:
Jo Ann Orr, Crystal Simmons, Patrick Beville, Deborah Tallarico

Main points from the conversation:
*The concept of resiliency originates with people in their ability to overcome hardship. Studies
conducted on individuals in community going through difficult times recognized 40 "protective
factors" that contributed to their resiliency. Some of these factors include personal attributes, the
environment, spiritual attributes, and parental involvement. The number one contributing factor
to resiliency for an individual is to have at least one consistent caring adult in their life.
- more information on this research can be found by googling : resiliency and protective factors
*The individual being is a microcosm for the macrocosm of community. As we individually create
health/ sustainability within and around ourselves, we contribute to the health/sustainability and
well-being of our community.
*Integrative medicine (allopathic medicine in conjuntion with complimentary, alternative , and
world cultural health practices) is seen and experienced as a holistic factor contributing to
individual and community sustainability and resiliency.
*The benefits of individual Mind-Body-Spirit connecting practices were discussed and suggestions
were made that when one is connected deeply to one's own body, one is simultaneously connected
more deeply to the Earth and to the present moment (where action is possible).
*An analogy was made of an individual to be rooted in one's own body as a tree in the earth for
optimum health/ resiliency.
*A comprehensive list/ resource /coalition of integrative health practices/ practitioners is deemed
important for community well-being.
*A suggestion was made that perhaps Boone could create and sustain a Holistic Healing Center/
A Healing Resort.
*Resources suggested: the book - "Healthy Organizations"

Action steps:
Identify a network of Integrative Health Practitioners and create a comprehensive list for public
access.
Continue caring for ourselves and each other.
Practice sustainable and healthy living.
Support each other in our healthful living practices.
Be the change.

Environmentally Responsible Economic Sustainability

Sssion Topic:
Environmentally Responsible Economic Sustainability
Name of convener:
Jim Deal
Participants:
Jim Deal, Glenda Short, Debbie Golembieski, Mark Kirkpatrick, Kathleen McFadden, Chris Joyell, Kimbe

Main points from the conversation:
Improve Environment; Emphasize Green Businesses/Entrepreneurialship; Cottage Industries;
Arts as a Business; Ecotourism/historic markers; Windmill Farms; Build and Support local
Communities; Build Green Homes: Conservation and Energy Efficient with Green Space;
Partnerships with University; Appalachian Enterprise Center...new Business Start-ups; Energy
Audits...retrofits old homes; Incentives for programs to build all building with energy efficient
considerations and water use restrictions; Interface wtih Home Builders Association Green
Building Committee; Local Foods System and year round farmer's market; Water Conservation
Issues and Study in relation to Todd Community water intake; Green spaces in planned
communities to include outdoor recreation (mountain biking, etc.); Encourage Cluster
Developments that incorporate green space and smaller lots.

Action steps:
* Funding for study and action on expanding Watauga County and the region's ecotourism-to
include trails and recreational opportunities.
* More outreach and community education from ASU Appropriate Technology and Energy
Center, etc.-better utilize University resources in our community - helping people understand the long-term savings.
* Education on many topics, expecially Green Building Certification, LEEDS, and others; tax
incentives and tax credits; developing codes for new government buildings (county & town lead by example)
* Explore and support Cottage Industries - help with startup funding.
* Encourage with incentives cluster development.
* Local government support for local food system (year-round farmer's market) and local cottage
industry retail spaces.
* Building a green collar workforce - local green businesses such as a windmill manufacturing &
installation.
* Revolving fund to loan money for green building, energy efficiency retrofits - pay back with
savings on energy costs over time.

Economic Development

Session Topic:
Economic Development
Name of convener:
Rob Taylor
Participants:
Melissa Hanson, Bunk Spann, Gary DeLuke, Patrick Beville, Tim Futrelle, Kathleen McFadden,
Elif Kars

Main points from the conversation:
- Keep jobs local
- Reuse of shadowline facility as manufacturing facility
- Reuse of high school as renewable R & D facility
- Community wind power
- Research Triangle Park Model - Boone being mini research park
- University is a fundamental Strength
- Appalachian Enterprise Center
- not just train green jobs, create local green jobs
- Community Colle involvement
- NC State model of green job training - 2-3 weeks
- New High School facility gets kudos for using the facility as a future training tool for students
- Need housing for lower paid locals
- Need jobs beyond ASU, tourism, second homes
- Migrant workers are important and should be considered
- Budget cuts give opportunity to lead by example.
- Local food, agriculture a important possibility - Viticulture - Ginseng
- Products for local consumption supplied by local labor
- New industry should be sustainable - not just jobs for jobs sake - (i.e. company makes platic
widgets)

Creating Job Opportunities

Session Topic:
Creating Job Opportunities
Name of convener:
Virginia McCleod
Email/Phone:
jscharns@bellsouth.net
Participants:
Judi Scharns, Virginia McCleod, Kendall McDevitt, Karen Baughman, Kristen Cockerell

Main points from the conversation:
Brain stormed ideas for new jobs in Watauga.
Make Affordable Recyclable bags (maybe Watauga Opportunities)
Purple Piping link waste water to making clean drinking water. Link with Watauga RiverKeeper
Training for re-localization of food systems (food) teaching gardening
Expanding Service learning into community and for profit ASU and Watauga High.
(Watauga/High Country Corps. Employ coordinator
Policy coordinator for green jobs, remove barriers
Community Life coordinator for off campus housing (like dorm RA)
Affordable pet sitting/animal care
Resource Recovery - (10 jobs) Talk to legislators about barriers
Storage for Don't Throw it Away, expand the program off campus. Coordinator for RETHINK,
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Service to those in need.
Coordinate wiht Senior Center & other outreach organization like Social Services
Community Exchange/Community Money - Like Boone Bucks - Keep it local Include
transportation
Network and link farmer's and buyers Publications & Directories online sortable
Year round farmer's market
Affordable, quality childcare for all times of day.
In home Senior or single person health care and assistance.

Action steps:
Continue to explore what exists and develop plans to address areas of need.

Creating and conserving healthy water systems

Session Topic:
Creating and conserving healthy water systems
Name of convener:
Wendy and Andrea
Email/Phone:
wendy_patoprsty@ncsu.edu
Participants:
Donna Lisenby, Donna Duke, Crystal Simmons, Erin Singer, Kristin Cockerill, Wendy Patoprsty,
Andrea G

Main points from the conversation:
Storm Water
Waste water Land application systems
Pharmaceuticals in Water
Sustainable Water Use

Action steps:
Storm Water:
develop ordinance concerning storm-water runoff and reuse/building code
find models from other mountain communities
financial sustainability for the new storm water solutions i.e. creating jobs and funding
educate contractors
Waste water Land Application System
Support State Law concerning a change in the 100,000 gallon per day withdrawl for private entities
Educate citizens concerning the reporting of massive water withdrawl from their streams and
creeks in their communities.
Use "purple piping" technology to create a new system which would redistribute and recycle
treated water from the WWTP to use on golf courses/ski resorts etc... and as a result creating
green jobs for a more sustainable community.
Pharmaceuticals in the water
create a take-back protocol
research drug company programs, if any
media campaign to educate and address: pharmaceutocals are bad in our water, don't flush them, use take-back program if available.
Sustainable Water Use:
not allowing water infrastructure to generate urban sprawl
get a statistical study or analysis of how various water conservation measures can conserve water.
exactly "how much" water can be conserved by what means. (if everyone had to install a dual
flush toilet how much water would be conserved and how much would it cost and who would pay
for it and compare to other alternatives)