Woodfin – Several Woodfin candidates for the town council answered questions posed to them by the Tribune. Here are their answers.
Question 1: What do you see as the main issue facing your town, and how do you plan to handle it?
Josh Blade
The main issue facing our town is the balance of environment vs. development. I plan on handling it by taking each development on a case-by-case basis and surveying its possible effects on the environment. I also plan to seek alternate ways to develop, other than cutting down trees and paving over undeveloped land. Some of those alternate ways could possibly be using previously developed land that has decrepit buildings that can be torn down or vacant buildings that can be used.
There are many issues that need to be fixed, but there are two that I believe need to be addressed immediately. Those are the stormwater fees and developments. The new stormwater fees are a point of contention. In this economy, people cannot handle more hardship. They need relief. If elected, I am going to fight to get the stormwater fees repealed and look for alternate ways to fund the fixing of the drains and infrastructure. There is always more than one way to do something. As far as developments go, I plan on handling it by taking each development on a case-by-case basis and surveying its possible effect on the environment. I also plan to seek alternate ways to develop, other than cutting down trees and paving over undeveloped land. Some of those alternate ways could possibly be using previously developed land that has decrepit buildings that can be torn down or vacant buildings that can be used.
Elisabeth “Betey” Ervin
The main issue facing the Town of Woodfin is the need for responsible growth and development. We are expecting considerable growth and recognize that our town should have housing available for anyone who chooses to live in Woodfin. Woodfin began as a mill town to supply workers for manufacturing, and our hope is our residents who work as teachers, artists, hospitality workers, and other service industry specialists can find affordable housing to purchase or for long-term rentals.
As a member of the Town Council since February 2022, we are making this possible through our updated zoning ordinances, short-term rental restrictions, and most recently through a plan for a new residential development where the developer agreed to build ten percent of the units as affordable housing.
Ken Kahn
Woodfin, like other towns in Buncombe County, is facing pressure from climate change and climate migration. On one hand, we’ll have more volatile weather; on the other, we are in one of the more climate-resilient areas in the country. Businesses and residents alike will be looking to this region as a desirable location.
“The resulting growth is both opportunity and challenge. Unmanaged growth results in poor outcomes and threatens both our way of living and the very infrastructure and environment. Erosion, stormwater, traffic – these are just a few of the issues on the table. I will work to help keep Woodfin Woodfin a great place for all of its residents and businesses while doing my part to manage growth as a responsible steward of the land and the town’s residents.
Johanna Young
The major challenge the Town of Woodfin faces is balancing the varied desires of the residents who live here. Many of us chose Woodfin because it is not Asheville–meaning it is small and has more of a hometown feel. Others chose Woodfin because they see the town as an extension of Asheville, its proximity to everything is undeniably important. As we move forward as a community, we will have to carefully transverse the opposing desires that naturally come from the different reasons people come to live in Woodfin. Foremost is finding a middle ground that allows Woodfin to be Woodfin while at the same time directing the natural growth that comes with progression into the future.
Personally, I will actively lobby for responsible, sustainable development within the town and its adjacent jurisdictions. This lobbying will include an eye for environmental and traffic impacts, will include an emphasis on green space access, and will work to ensure that long-term consequences are taken into consideration when looking at projects within the community.
Question 2: What is your vision for Woodfin?
Josh Blade
I want to see Woodfin’s economy grow so we have more local jobs. Tourism projects such as the White Water Wave can help create jobs in other industries, such as service or hospitality. I would also like to see public transportation so more residents of Woodfin can get to work, make doctor appointments, etc. My overall vision for the town is to keep it beautiful, safe, desirable, and prosperous. I plan to do this by working with the residents to ensure that developments are controlled and done correctly, crime stays down, and more jobs are brought into our local economy.
Elisabeth “Betey” Ervin
My vision for Woodfin is a safe, fun, and welcoming town where our residents and visitors can enjoy the incredible outdoor opportunities we currently have, along with the whitewater wave, greenway, and new Riverside Park, which are underway. We need to maintain the beauty and health of our mountains and the French Broad River for both our current residents and future generations to enjoy.
Ken Kahn
I believe Woodfin can retain its small town, river-friendly character while directing the path of inevitable growth and progress. With tools now in place like steep slope ordinances, conditional zoning, and managed short-term rentals, Woodfin can do a few things differently to become an affordable place for businesses and local workforce members alike. I am also interested in increasing our transportation options, both around Woodfin and to Asheville. This includes bicycles on the Greenway, but may include exploring other modes of transportation that are not just fossil-fuel-driven vehicles.
Johanna Young
Woodfin has always been a hidden gem. So much work has been done to bring the promise of the 9 square miles that is Woodfin to light. We have miles of French Broad access and are close to many desirable amenities found in WNC. Additionally, Woodfin is where you can have an opportunity to know your neighbors. So, aside from my vision of responsible governorship and sustainable development, I would like to focus on this community to see Woodfin embrace its motto of ‘Where Community Matters.’ Community engagement is something I would like to see abundant in Woodfin. This involvement would be not only seen in boards and committees but also in the creation of community gardens, volunteer projects with older adults, and school improvement opportunities. Woodfin’s citizens have experiences and talents that can and should be shared with neighbors to help build harmony and a better life for all within our borders. I intend to bring initiatives to the public that will facilitate this.
Question 3: How is your current council doing at addressing the issues?
Josh Blade
The current council is doing an admirable job addressing the issues, but more can always be done.
Elisabeth “Betey” Ervin
As a current member of the Woodfin Town Council, I will continue to work with town staff and residents to identify problems and put solutions in place. This involves research and study and a division of duties between council members to cover more ground. We have meaningful discussions and make the best, most informed decisions we can for our town.
Ken Kahn
I think the last two years of council effort have been very effective. They achieved the things they promised to do, which provides a much better foundation to manage upcoming growth and changes.
Johanna Young
Responsible, sustainable development is necessary for all municipalities, including Woodfin. Short-term economic gain should never be the focus for any government; instead, a long-term lens should be used with any item being considered by a council so that the true impact of a decision can be considered. Past Woodfin Councils have often not had the foresight to see how decisions could impact future Woodfin. In an attempt to gain a more significant tax pool to run the town, some ordinances were constructed that, in hindsight, can now clearly be seen as having hurt the town. I recognize that it is integral to look at the benefits gained today by development, but I also understand it is critical to consider the risks that come with progress. Recent town efforts have sought to correct ordinances that have, in the past, not served the future of the town. While I applaud these changes and efforts, more needs to be done to balance the need for economic development with the long-term impact to the community. For one, environmental impact studies need to be part of all developmental plans, regardless of size. These studies should be from vetted firms using at least a minimal set of required considerations. They should be in real-time. I understand this is not the general rule, and I would like to change it. I believe this would be a concrete step to ensure that what we approve of today will create long-lasting and sustainable developments for the future.
Question 4: How would your election change or reinforce the council’s actions?
Josh Blade
If I win the election, I plan on doing a lot more for our community, our residents, and our environment. I am going to enact policies that protect the rural landscape, and help preserve open space, protect air and water quality, provide places for recreation, and create tourist attractions that bring investments into the local economy.
Elisabeth “Betey” Ervin
My presence on the Woodfin Town Council would provide a continuation of the current dialogue, allow me to continue to address identified problems, question and reevaluate proposals and decisions, and look to the future in problem-solving.
Ken Kahn
As I serve on both the Woodfin Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and the Buncombe County Planning Board, I have been in frequent communication with the Council Members and the Town Manager. I agree with the direction they have taken so far and am very interested in now being a part of how the Comprehensive Plan will affect the town over the next several years.
Johanna Young
I possess a unique set of experiences that lend well to the issues facing Woodfin. I have environmental experience coupled with training in public administration. I have worked in both government and public sectors, giving me an understanding of how the two systems work, especially when it comes to conflicts that arise from governing laws and regulations. This background allows me to understand that sometimes what we wish to be may not be feasible for a governing body to do. My unique qualifications will present the board with a grounded viewpoint that will help to add to the progress that has been made in the past. Additionally, I am a natural collaborator who welcomes ideas from all stakeholders. My approach will be opinion-minded; I will work with all stakeholders to solve Woofin’s issues.
Question 5. What do the voters need to know about you as a candidate?
Josh Blade
The voters need to know that I am one of them. I have lived in Woodfin for 20 years, so I know exactly what they want. They want someone with the openness to talk with people in the community, the willingness to hear their thoughts, concerns, or ideas, and the boldness to follow through. If peace and prosperity is what you desire, then a vote for me is a vote for you.
Elisabeth “Betey” Ervin
I come from a public service-oriented family with over one hundred years of service provided to the State of North Carolina. Since my appointment to the Town Council in February 2022, I have not missed a single council meeting and come prepared to discuss and vote on any issue before the council. I dedicate myself to the tasks at hand and will continue to offer the best of myself to the Town of Woodfin moving forward.
Ken Kahn
I am a five-year resident of Woodfin, am part of the Woodfin Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and a member of the Buncombe County Planning Board that presented and received approval of the award-winning Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan from the County Commission.
Johanna Young
I want people to know I do not think I have all the answers, but when presented with an issue, I will work to find solutions. I am interested in improving the quality of life for all citizens in Woodfin, and I am not looking to change Woodfin to fit one group’s ideas of what Woodfin should be. We all live here, and I wholeheartedly believe that all citizen concerns should be heard and all ideas should be considered. I also want voters to know that I will come to this position with experience from the field, so anything that I do will be analytical and logical, but not without consideration of the real human impact.
Editor’s Note: Not all candidates for office responded to the questionnaire. Candidates are in alphabetical order.