Tribal Council approves Cherokee master plan

By Rose Hooper

Revamping Cherokee into a family-oriented tourist destination is part of that plan, and a trolley system to alleviate traffic problems heads the list of Phase I elements.

Also included in the first phase are a river walk, picnic shelters, an amphitheater for the fairgrounds, three kiosks and public rest rooms, a new entrance to the reservation and to the ceremonial grounds, reconstruction of the Mingo Falls area, a new visitor's center and new signage. Other aspects of the plan include a theme park to be called "Cherokee Journey," a golf course and an outlet mall.

"It's an exciting time for Cherokee," said Susie Jones, executive director of Economic and Community Development for the tribe.

The plan was developed by Barge, Waggoner, Sumer and Cannon of Knoxville, Tenn., an architecture, engineering, planning and landscape architecture firm. A grant from the Administration for Native Americans funded the plan.

"The reservation is experiencing much expansion and growth. This plan will guide through orderly growth and development," said Principal Chief Leon Jones. "The plan incorporates the heritage and values of our people."

The goal of the plan is to enable Cherokee to grow in a manner that is functionally efficient and appealing to residents and visitors alike.

So what do residents and visitors want?

In a process similar to Jackson County's Smart Growth Initiative, a community visioning process began in Cherokee in June 2000. Meetings were held with tribal leaders, business owners, senior citizens and the general public.

Participants were asked two main questions - "What do you like most about Cherokee as it is today" and "What do you like least about Cherokee as it is today?"

Additionally, participants were asked what issues Cherokee will likely face in the future, as well as their vision for future planning.

From that came the consensus that Cherokee should be a unique, year-round tourist destination center developed in harmony with the natural environment, reflecting the traditional Cherokee culture and sustaining economic vitality. The Oconaluftee River should be the focal point and unifying element, participants agreed.

They also said that the mix of businesses and services offered should be diverse and appealing to the needs and desires of both tourists and Cherokee residents. It should be a place were people are able to move about easily using public transit and an extensive network of sidewalks and pathways. Public facilities (rest rooms, parking areas, parks and picnic areas, greenways, information centers) should be prevalent.

"We want Cherokee to be unified and well-defined through a combination of entrance features, uniform signage and cohesiveness in architectural design. How we look overall is very important," said Jones, who is leading the effort to end what she called "hodgepodge development."

"Scenic beauty is one of the most important reasons many of us chose to live here," said Jones. "That same scenic beauty influences how long a tourist will stay and whether he will return. We know our natural beauty ­ the river, the mountains and valley ­ is beyond compare. So we want to concentrate on maintaining the beauty as it pertains to development. If we provide a pleasurable and inviting place, economic development will come to us."

Maintaining the beauty includes preserving the Cherokee culture and history, she said.

"That can be as simple as the use of color," Jones said. "Color in all areas of life was and continues to be very important to the Cherokee; specifically the range of colors found in nature. The sky, water, soil and plants all contribute to the color palette incorporated into the clothing, crafts and painting of the Cherokee."

Red, brown, black yellow and blue are the base colors of Cherokee culture. The master plan will encourage new development to incorporate shades of these colors.

New buildings will adhere to the architecture specified in the master plan, which urges the use of natural materials found in the area. According to the plan, the general shape of buildings should reflect the natural shape of the mountain terrain. The facade height will be limited to a maximum of three stories in non-congested areas, with two-story height limited in congested areas. A flat/parapet roofline, a tacked-on roofline or a trademark franchise roofline will not be allowed.

Signs will also be regulated under the master plan.

"It is important to the visual image of Cherokee that our signage contribute to an overall, unified design, enhancing the image of our people," said Chief Jones.

The plan suggests using the Cherokee syllabary, as well as the English translation, on sign. It further suggests that the Cherokee syllabary be in the dominant position, with the English translation subordinate.

Planners hope the revitalization effort will remove many myths associated with the Cherokee, such as the use of wig wams (teepees) or full headdress, which the Cherokee never used. The plan is to replace those myths with the true culture of this historic nation.

Next week: On foot along the river and on the trolley through town.

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