History of Friends of Town Mountain

History of Town Mountain is here.
 
Friends of Town Mountain (FOTM) was incorporated October 5, 2006, with the primary mission of advocating environmentally responsible development in Western North Carolina and educating citizens accordingly.The first general meeting of residents of the Town Mountain Road area took place May 11, 2006, at the Governor’s Western Residence under the leadership of Susan and David Holcomb. The meeting was held in response to dangerous motorcycle racing on Town Mountain Road. Its purpose was to come up with ways to motivate law enforcement officials to enforce traffic laws.Shortly thereafter, because Buncombe County had failed to enforce numerous key provisions of the subdivision ordinance regarding a proposed large, steep slope development on the western side of Town Mountain Road (now known as Bartram’s Walk), a community meeting was organized by Joe and Frances Sechler and held August 24, 2006, at the home of Janet and Tom Weil. During and after the meeting, signatures were obtained and funds were raised to hire legal and geotechnical representation at the County Planning Board meetings. FOTM was then organized with a nine-member board of directors (Jerry Birdwell, Ted Campbell, David Holcombe, Joy Williams, Jeff Mendelson, Glenn Russell, Roy Borden, Bill Bumgarner and Joe Sechler). Joe Sechler was elected president.The FOTM challenge resulted in many, although not all, of the subdivision ordinance provisions being enforced thereby reducing the size of Bartram’s Walk from 121 lots to the lawful 74. FOTM was also successful in convincing the County to open up Planning Board meetings to public comment. This was accomplished despite the fact that County commissioners, unlike many other counties in NC and elsewhere, abdicate unilateral power to the commissioner-appointed Planning Board for approval of subdivisions. This arms-length relationship remains a pivotal concern of FOTM.FOTM continues as a viable citizen organization structured, funded and prepared to act for the benefit of all residents along Town Mountain Road.