County officials hear plans for Balsam Mountain Preserve

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Jim Chaffin, co-founder of Chaffin/Light Associates, addressed the group during a luncheon at the Balsam Mountain Inn, just minutes away from the tract previously known as Sugar Loaf. Under the direction of Chaffin and his staff, the area will in a matter of years be transformed from a near wilderness into a residential community of 350 single-family homes.

The goal of the Balsam Mountain Preserve, Chaffin said, is "to create a community within a park, not a park within a community.² This will be accomplished, he said, by his company's commitment to "balancing the natural, cultural and physical attributes of the area."

Chaffin praised local leaders for their efforts toward economic development, Smart Growth and revitalization of Sylva's Main Street. The people who eventually purchase homesites in Balsam Mountain Preserve will be looking for some place "real" and a sense of community.

"The leaders of Sylva, Dillsboro and Waynesville will be challenged with growth management issues in the coming years because you've made these communities so wonderful that people want to come here," he said.

Developer of Spring Island, near Beaufort, S.C., Chaffin said it was the homeowners there who asked him if he'd be interested in creating a similar living environment in the mountains. The search for property began, with certain criteria in mind, including access to a viable surrounding community, significant acreage, and an altitude to make a difference in temperature during the summer months.

Champion International, Sugar Loaf's previous owner, sold the property a couple of years ago to a development company in Atlanta, which then sold the property to Chaffin/Light in September for about $9.5 million.

Plans for Balsam Mountain Preserve call for 50 retreat cabins in addition to the 350 homes. In excess of 1,500 acres will be set aside as a permanently-managed nature preserve where hiking trails will be cut. Recreational facilities, including a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, equestrian stables and dinning facilities, will also be a part of the development.

The Balsam Mountain Trust, a non-profit organization, will be created to manage the property and to ensure the preservation and protection of the environment and cultural history, Chaffin said. The trust will be funded by a self-imposed sales transfer tax, which will require that 2 percent of all property sales and 1 percent of all home sales be contributed in perpetuity.

The trust will have three major functions - to manage the nature preserve and other open spaces; to provide educational programs for property owners, guests and those participating in outreach opportunities; and to consult with the developer and property owners about how to best manage the land, Chaffin said.

"This is the type of development that will hopefully set a trend in the mountains," said Jackson County Manager Jay Denton. "I think this could take care of a lot of problems. For example, water conservation. Less pavement means less runoff."

Denton, as part of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, voted earlier this year to adopt a resolution calling for Sugar Loaf to be preserved. The action was taken in response to requests from Jackson and Haywood county residents who felt their access to the property for fishing, hiking and hunting would be limited if it were sold. Champion International had allowed sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts to use the property for years, they said.

If the area is going to be developed, Denton said Tuesday, Chaffin's plan is a way to do it with minimal earth disturbance. As a member of the county board, Denton said he had no real problem with the plans.

Balsam Mountain Preserve President Jim Anthony has opened an office in downtown Waynesville to serve as a contact point. The phone number is (828) 456-8033.

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