HENDERSONVILLE - Time is running out for residents to give input on a major plan that will shape the future of Hendersonville — from growth and development to conservation and projects — for the next 20 years.
The city is putting the finishing touches on its Gen H Comprehensive Plan, which could be approved next month by the City Council.
A presentation and public hearing are planned for the council’s July 10 meeting. Final revisions will be made if needed, and a vote is set for Aug. 1. The Hendersonville Planning Board recommended adoption of the plan during its June 24 meeting.
The plan, named “Generation Hendersonville” due to the impact it will have on shaping the city for the coming decades, will be used as a tool to guide land use, growth and development, infrastructure, community character, natural resources, parks and recreation, and economic development for the next 20-plus years, the city says.
Created from public and staff visioning and community engagement and feedback, the plan will guide growth and development while considering how to manage and protect sensitive areas.
The plan has been in the works since June 2023, and has included stakeholder interviews, community surveys, open houses, roundtables and meetings. Matthew Manley, strategic projects manager, said the planning process included “really exhaustive outreach” to gather feedback.
“I’m very excited about it. It’s been a long process, but it’s really just the beginning,” Manley said. “It’s a clear path forward that’s fresh. We’re just over a year in, which is an aggressive timeline for a comprehensive plan. We’re hopeful we’re able to keep the momentum going forward.”
Manley said the plan hasn’t faced a lot of opposition, but feedback shows that residents generally don’t want a lot of change and development.
The Gen H Comprehensive Plan will replace the city’s current 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2009.
The new plan includes or references other city plans, including the Downtown Master Plan, Parks and Greenspace Plan, Walk Hendo pedestrian plan and Strategic Housing Plan. The Gen H plan ties them together and aligns city priorities, Manley said.
How to get involved
Residents still have time to review the plan on the website, ask questions and give feedback.
A public hearing will be held during the July 10 City Council meeting, and staff will be on hand an hour before the 5:45 p.m. meeting to explain the plan and answer questions. A presentation on the plan is on the meeting agenda as well, and residents can participate in the meeting via Zoom. Written comments will also be accepted.
“We want people to feel comfortable and informed,” Manley said.
The plan and associated links and information are available on the city’s website at www.hendersonvillenc.gov under the “Gen H - Comp Plan” tab at the top center of the homepage.
The plan is lengthy and detailed, yet colorful and easy to read with maps, photos and charts. The plan is broken into 6 chapters and has an appendix.
For those looking to catch up with the plan but have limited time, Manley suggests looking at two key chapters — Chapter 4, which details the city’s vision for growth, development and conservation and includes the critical future land use map, which will guide future growth. And Chapter 6, which discusses projects to be implemented and answers the question of what the plan is going to do.
Chapter 6 includes 10 goals, with each goal listing projects and action items, for a total of 70 potential projects. A list of projects that can be completed in the first three years after the plan’s adoption has also been created.
“It gives us some real tangible next steps for going forward,” Manley said.
The plan and related documents will continue to live on the city’s website after adoption, but will be more focused on implementation than on the planning process.
About the Gen H plan
The first chapter, “About the Plan,” details the six chapters, shares maps and a policy analysis, and describes previous plans and studies, ordinances, boards and committees. The second chapter, “The Planning Process,” describes the plan for public engagement and promotion.
The third chapter, “Hendersonville Today,” looks at demographics, existing conditions, a market analysis, issues and opportunities, and big ideas for the future.
“The land within the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction totals 9,630 acres. Over half of that land (60%) is developed, within right-of-way, and not likely to redevelop. Less than 1% is protected through conservation easements and other land protection mechanisms,” the plan says in this chapter.
“The remaining land is either undeveloped (vacant) or underdeveloped (and ripe for redevelopment). The ‘land supply’ is comprised of these two areas, which in combination encompass 3,832 acres, and it is the area of land to be considered for future development or conservation.”
The big ideas include transforming gateways and corridors; connecting people to the outdoors,; supporting creative spaces and providing small-business assistance; collaborating with Henderson County and farmers to protect the working landscape; creating a multi-pronged approach to provide more housing options; strengthening the area around 7th Avenue, downtown and other locations; and enlarging the tree canopy and enhance natural systems.
The fourth chapter, “The Vision for the Future,” looks at defining and creating a vision for growth and development, the vision itself and plans for focus areas such as the Ecusta Trail, Blue Ridge Mall, Spartanburg Highway, Downtown Edge and 7th Avenue areas.
“Assuming Hendersonville maintains its proportion of Henderson County’s population (13%), the city might expect a population increase of 4,264 people by 2045,” the plan states in this chapter. “Applying Hendersonville’s current household size of 1.91, the number of housing units needed to accommodate new residents would be a little more than 2,200, or approximately 110 units annually over a 20-year period.”
The fifth chapter, “Downtown Master Plan,” looks at character districts, focus areas and downtown design guidelines. It includes goals of vibrant neighborhoods, abundant housing choices, safe streets and trails, accessible community services, and a welcoming and inclusive community, among others.
Four “character districts” (7th Avenue, Lower Trailhead, Main Street and Downtown Edge) and opportunities for each are detailed in this chapter.
Chapter 6, “The Action Plan,” discusses implementation strategy, implementation projects and operational policies.
A Short-Term Project List in this chapter details projects that can be completed in the next three years, such as “better connect neighborhoods to green space amenities by making public investments,” “develop city land bank to clear dilapidated properties and promote redevelopment,” and “develop urban forestry plan.”
“We are having a conversation across Hendersonville about change, where we are, and where we want to be twenty years from now… and beyond,” the plan states.
“Gen H is a visionary, strategic blueprint that is designed to provide guidance to city leaders, aid in the facilitation of informed decisions that will steer future development, growth and conservation in alignment with the community’s goals and intentions.”
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