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View of Asheville from over Bartram's

The Bartram's Walk developer originally planned 148 home sites on this steep slope between Town Mountain Road and Wolf Cove, but it was reduced to 74 under the watchful eye of the Friends of Town Mountain. The process took more than a year as the developer returned time and again to the Buncombe County Planning Board with inadequate plans that did not meet existing codes. (It is the FOTM technical consultant's opinion that the number should have been slightly less.)

This view shows the Town Mountain entrance (clear-cut by the previous owner) with Patton Mountain rising up between it and the City of Asheville in the background. In the lower right corner of the photograph is the Beaverdam valley entrance from Wolf Cove Road. Other photos below will show greater construction detail.

All photographs in this aerial series were provided by:
SouthWings--Conservation through Aviation
www.southwings.org

Harrison Shull, photographer;

Appalchian Aerial Images

Town Mountain Road entrance to construction

The rise from Wolf Cove to TMR is slightly more than 700' over 156 acres.

This photo shows homes in the Beverdam Community at the top and several on TMR at the bottom of the photo. A stream flows down the cove to the edge Wolf Cove Road.

A high resolution image of the area is provided below which may be enlarged in your browser, but for best viewing you will need a photo editor for cropping and changing the image size.

All aerial photos were taken

Nov. 28, 2007

Closer view of clear cut at TNR entrance
Here is a closer view of the Town Mountain Road entrance on a blind curve. During the first 30 days of construction local traffic often had to stop abruptly as large tractor-trailers transporting construction equipment to the site, blocked both lanes. Initially, no traffic control was offered but later flagmen were observed occasionally.

The clear cut area was done some three years ago, and as these photographs show, the tree cutting so far has been limited to the proposed streets and storm water control basins (through Nov. 28, 2007.) That will change.

Far left: SouthWings pilot Cindy Carter receives takeoff clearance.

Stream bed within the development
This photograph shows more of the street construction and storm water control basins. You can track the stream bed between the arrows at the top and bottom of the photograph. The water flow can be seen glistening through the trees, beside the road and alongside the two water control basins. A blowup of this same image will be found below. An image from yet another angle is also below.

These photographs will be used to monitor the developer's compliance with the storm water control regulations which have been adopted by the State, but intended to be enforced by the County.

Compliance and enforcement is one of the remaining concerns for the FOTM Board of directors. It has been a weak area for the county planning department, and there has not been sufficient staff additions to make regular inspections. It is important that residents observe the development as construction progresses and advise the Buncombe County Planning Department Erosion Control (Tel. # 828 250-4848) of suspected violations. Violations may be indicated by muddy water, mud and other material washing from the construction site.

This is a crop and blow-up of the photograph immdiately above. Water reflections from the stream clearly show it flows very near the foot of the storm control basin and the street.

This well may be a violation of the Storm Water Control regulations.

Road and storm water basins under construction
Rains since construction of Bartram's began have been light, yet some storm water has been retained in this basin. The stream bed and its flow of water runs along side the basin which may indeed be too close to the natural stream bed to comply with the relatively new regulations.

This photograph focuses on the lower area of the development, very near the Wolf Cove road entry.

Other questions surround the slope requirements for the streets and the cul-du-sac shown in this photograph. The next picture (below) has been taken from a different angle and shows greater detail.

Two storm water basins near natural stream bed

All aerial photographs by Harrison Shull; Appalchian Aerial Images

Streets and storm water basins are the main features under construction in this view of the Bartram Walk Development in this Nov. 28, 2007 photo.

Additional Photos
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		This photograph shows more of the street construction and storm water control basins. You can track the stream bed between the arrows at the top and bottom of the photograph. The water flow can be seen glistening through the trees, beside the road and alongside the two water control basins. A blowup of this same image will be found below. An image from yet another angle is also below. These photographs will be used to monitor the developer's compliance with the storm water control regulations which have been adopted by the State, but intended to be enforced by the County. Compliance and enforcement is one of the remaining concerns for the FOTM Board of directors. It has been a weak area for the county planning department, and there has not been sufficient staff additions to make regular inspections. It is important that residents observe the development as construction progresses and advise the Buncombe County Planning Department Erosion Control (Tel. # 828 250-4848) of suspected violations. Violations may be indicated by muddy water, mud and other material washing from the construction site.
		This is a crop and blow-up of the photograph immdiately above. Water reflections from the stream clearly show it flows very near the foot of the storm control basin and the street. This well may be a violation of the Storm Water Control regulations.
		Rains since construction of Bartram's began have been light, yet some storm water has been retained in this basin. The stream bed and its flow of water runs along side the basin which may indeed be too close to the natural stream bed to comply with the relatively new regulations. This photograph focuses on the lower area of the development, very near the Wolf Cove road entry. Other questions surround the slope requirements for the streets and the cul-du-sac shown in this photograph. The next picture (below) has been taken from a different angle and shows greater detail.