Mountain Landscapes Initiative

Many communities are responsibly managing development to preserve the inspiring landscapes and cherished lifestyles that help define our region.

A vehicle for smart growth is the Mountain Landscapes Initiative (MLI), a project of The Community Foundation that assists localities with land use planning. MLI was launched after Foundation research, conducted by the UNC School of Government, revealed that a top need among local communities is guidance with planning development.

The Foundation and the Southwestern Commission, a Council of Governments organization for North Carolina’s seven westernmost counties, partnered to start the MLI Toolbox project. The Toolbox (PDF, 125MB), offers best practices and guidelines to create community-determined standards for sustainable growth with the aim of vibrant, economically viable communities. The Lawrence Group coordinated the charrette process and developed the Toolbox.

It’s not just communities that have recognized the Toolbox’s usefulness. The Toolbox was selected for the 2009 Marvin Collins Planning Award in the regional comprehensive plan category by the American Planning Association’s North Carolina chapter.

CFWNC administered a special Next Steps Fund to provide grants for projects in Region A that were implementing recommendations from the MLI Toolbox. Funds were provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. The success of this program has inspired the Southwestern Commission to continue the Next Steps Fund program in Region A, with larger grants and under their management.