A greenway, explained McMahon, is a corridor of protected land managed for public use. Currently there are some 6,000 greenways projects under way in the United States, with 300 of those being developed in North Carolina communities.
"Everyone understands the need for upgrading 'gray' infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer, and utilities, to support growth," he said. "But more are beginning to understand the benefits of green infrastructure."
Increases in property values of land adjacent to greenways are one obvious indication of the economic benefits of this type of development, he said. For example: People pay more to live on a golf course, but only about 35 percent of those play golf.
"Ask them why they pay more to live on a golf course but don't play, and most will say they enjoy the view across the fairway," McMahon said. "Then some savvy developers figured out it was cheaper to not build and maintain a golf course but just provide the open space."
Another example, he said, is the price people will pay for a view. Hotel rooms facing the beach are exactly the same as those facing the parking lot, except for the price.
Other economic benefits that come along with greenways include business opportunities, such as more bike shops in areas with bike paths and trails. Other commercial ventures found near greenway development include recreation equipment rental, shops and restaurants.
On the subject of tourists, McMahon pointed out that the two fastest growing forms of tourism are heritage tourism and eco-tourism. On average people traveling to historic sites or to view natural settings stay longer and spend more money, he said. For this reason, McMahon strongly suggested preserving a community's physical links to the past.
"It's good for the heart and soul, and more importantly, it's good for the pocketbook," McMahon said.
While most people understand the need to preserve the past, they are not building today anything worth saving for tomorrow, he said.
"A lot of what is being built today is junk," he said, specifically citing "off-the-shelf" fast food franchise buildings. All a community has to do to prevent such building styles is ask for something different, he said, illustrating his point with pictures of McDonald's restaurants from around the county that fit in with their surroundings, such as the Dutch colonial McDonald's in Pennsylvania and the adobe McDonald's in the Southwest.
With some 400 plant relocations a year and tens of thousands of communities vying for them, industrial park development pales in comparison to developing a unique space for the purpose of economic development, McMahon said.
"The most important question to ask is not 'How much does it cost?' but 'What should we do?" he said. "Money will follow a good idea."
Sylva has already "done some terrific things," said McMahon, noting especially the restoration of the old county courthouse and the Main Street project. But now is not the time to quit, he said.
"Change is going to happen, but unmanaged change will destroy everything you love about Jackson County, North Carolina," McMahon said. "If you don't plan for the future, then you'll end up with 'Any Place, USA'; you'll end up with New Jersey with mountains."
A task force made up of Jackson County leaders and chaired by Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver has been working since January to explore the possibility of constructing a greenway of bike and walking paths connecting several area towns. A conceptual plan designed by Cullowhee architect Odell Thompson shows what could be eventual links between Cullowhee, Sylva and Dillsboro with a system of parks, bike and foot trails.
McMahon praised the plan and suggested work should begin on the easiest parts of the project first.
"Nothing succeeds like success," he said, "and nothing gets people excited and in favor of a project as much as seeing it succeed."
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Herald photo by Lisa Majors-Duff