Statement of Need

Henderson County is seeking proposals from qualified, professional consultants who will assist the County in creating a land use recovery plan for the area of the county hit hardest by Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and ensure a proper recovery. This area mainly represents the far most northeast corner of the county that is somewhat isolated, and has significant frontage on Hickory Creek, Reedy Patch Creek and the Broad River, typically referred to as the Rocky Broad. For this project, these areas, which include Gerton, Bat Cave, and a small portion of the US 64 corridor in Edneyville, will be called the Hickory Nut Gorge.

Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and numerous landslides in the area. Over 100 individuals had to be rescued via helicopter from the Hickory Nut Gorge, and two people's lives were lost. Many homes and businesses were destroyed or uninhabitable due to water damage or landslides. Through this plan, the County wishes to partner with residents of the area to understand their vision for long-term recovery, especially if some property owners take buyouts, which would create patches of public land.

Given the scale of the disaster, Henderson County has an aggressive schedule to complete this work. Every day that passes, more residents are forced into a decision that may or may not meet their needs.

Overview of Henderson County and the Hickory Nut Gorge

Henderson County is located in the mountains of western North Carolina. The County borders South Carolina to the south and Buncombe County to the north; the City of Asheville is approximately 30 minutes from the county seat in Hendersonville. The County is approximately 375 square miles and has five incorporated municipalities.

According to the 2020 US Census, the county's estimated population is 116,281. For this area (Census tract 9301), there are approximately 4,622 residents. This number does not include the number of second-home owners located in the Hickory Nut Gorge area.

During Hurricane Helene, major thoroughfares like US 74A and US 64 were severely damaged or destroyed in some areas. For weeks after the storm, access to get in and out of the area was very limited. To re-establish access, NCDOT built a temporary road to connect Bat Cave with Chimney Rock in Rutherford County. Engineering is ongoing for the final road design. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) permitted the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to rebuild US 74A to a more resilient standard. Construction of this project is planned to be completed by Spring 2027. Residents of the area are still experiencing difficulties getting to the grocery store, church, work, or school.

Expectations of Consultant

Throughout the process, the selected consultant will be expected to utilize their experience in disaster recovery as well as land use planning to drive the process. The County will require the following expectations to be met and identified within the consultant's proposal:

1. Initial meeting with County staff to review a project timeline, schedule meetings, and begin data acquisition.
2. Review all existing plans, maps, documents, data, and other materials relevant to the project. County staff will provide the consultant with all available documentation and GIS data. The consultant will study and consolidate applicable materials into the plan.
3. Plan and possibly conduct meetings with key elected and appointed officials.
4. Plan a targeted public outreach process using various methods to inform and involve stakeholders, citizen organizations, and the Hickory Nut Gorge residents. County staff is prepared to conduct the various public outreach activities to ensure the consultant can focus on data analysis and document creation.
5. Develop plan goals, objectives, and action steps based on technical data and public input with guidance from the Community Partners Group formed for this planning effort.
6. Draft materials for the county's review and comment in accordance with a schedule developed at the beginning of the planning process.
7. Prepare a draft document for public review and comment. The plan should be presented in a userfriendly format with language easily understood by the public and which can be edited or amended by County staff in the future.
8. Prepare a final draft document for adoption.
9. The Consultant shall provide the county with all data created for the project, including GIS layers, map documents, and an editable version of the final plan.
10. Provide at least bi-weekly updates, primarily via e-mail or virtually and occasionally in person, to update County staff on project status, discuss issues, and review drafts. Periodic written status reports and status update presentations may also be required.
11. At least three (3) meetings should be held with the Community Partners Group, which will consist of community leaders and residents from the hard-hit Hickory Nut Gorge planning area. During these meetings, the group will be presented with progress updates and will give feedback on draft materials and recommendations to ensure they align with the community's vision. County Staff will work with the Consultant to determine which meetings are appropriate for the Consultant to conduct. Staff will be prepared to lead any additional meetings with the Community Partners Group.

Scope of Services

The consultant will be expected to conduct the following tasks. The County strongly encourages proposers to expand on these tasks, emphasize tasks, and suggest additional tasks not identified in this RFP that may be necessary or beneficial.

• Project Meetings: The consultant is expected to meet regularly with staff. When appropriate, these meetings may be via telephone or video conference.
• Public Engagement and Communications: Public Participation is essential to this planning effort and must include an outreach and public participation process designed to engage the public and specific stakeholders in envisioning the Gorge's future. A Community Partners Group will be created for this planning effort, which will be comprised of Hickory Nut Gorge residents, business owners, or property owners who serve as community leaders and will help guide the vision and goals of the plan to ensure it meets the needs of those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Significant public input will be required throughout the process. Public meetings will be held to seek the opinions and views of the Hickory Nut Gorge community, report on progress as the plan develops, solicit comments on specific ideas or concepts, and identify problems or barriers that must be acknowledged and overcome. Public involvement in the planning process and acceptance of the final plan is critical to the success of this effort, and respondents should explain their approach and public participation plan in detail in their responses.
  • The consultant's public participation approach must include methods for reaching residents in the Hickory Nut Gorge area.
  • Experience with ArcGIS StoryMaps and other online engagement platforms.
  • Consultants should propose creative ways to engage the public virtually.
  • Staff will work with the Consultant to prepare a Community Survey.
  • To help with cost, County staff are prepared to conduct the public meetings and outreach efforts with guidance and materials supplied by the consultant.
  • Consultant should work with the Community Partners Group to create the vision and goals guiding the plan.
• Plan Development: The consultant will serve as the primary drafter of the plan and shall perform research and develop materials for the plan, including but not limited to:
  • A baseline review of the disaster and its impact on the area. This should include personal testimonies to help residents feel ownership of the plan.
  • Develop an inventory and assessment of issues and opportunities based on work with staff, stakeholders, and the public participation process.
  • Develop a vision for the Hickory Nut Gorge that will serve as a focal point for goals, action steps, policy, and strategy decisions.
  • Draft the plan for adoption.
  • Provide digital, editable, working, and printable copies of all final documents, including reports, maps, and the final plan.
  • Provide presentation materials for County Staff to present to Boards and Committees on plan development progress.
• Plan Content. The document will include assembling and analyzing data regarding existing conditions before and after the storm. Utilizing that data to develop policies, actions, and an implementation plan to guide the county's recovery efforts. It is anticipated the plan will cover the following content:
  • Natural Resources, Resiliency, and Hazard Mitigation –The consultant will use much of the plan to lay out steps for increasing resiliency in rebuilding, new development, or buyouts.
  • Economic Development – This includes general analysis, particular attention to projected job growth and tourism pressures, and new outdoor recreation opportunities. This should include river conceptual deigns that may recommend restoration and river access points.
  • Land Use – Including historic preservation, agriculture preservation, conservation easements, and analysis of areas where zoning can be changed to enhance the natural progression of land use.
  • Transportation – Inclusion of how the new roadways may impact the area regarding land use, etc. Opportunities for bike/ped infrastructure, multi-use path, and/or river path, if applicable, based on public comment.
  • Public Health – Based on public comment and opportunity, make recommendations on if the County should consider extending utilities into this area and how they could accomplish this.

Submittal Format and Deadline

Interested firms shall submit six (6) paper copies and one electronic copy (thumb drive) of the complete proposal either in person to the Henderson County Planning Department or mailed to:

Henderson County Planning Department
Attn: Janna Bianculli, Senior Planner
100 N. King St. Hendersonville, NC 28792

Please email any questions to Janna Bianculli at jbianculli@hendersoncountync.gov by March 28th, 2025 at 4pm EST.

All proposals are due to Henderson County by 4pm EST on April 4, 2025.

Please review the Full RFP, including scoring criteria, on our website: https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/county/page/hickory-nut-gorge-land-use-recovery-plan