Page 22 - High Knob Master Plan

PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT USING THE
ASSET CATALOGUE & MAPPING TOOL
Regional leaders and private developers can use the asset catalogue and mapping tool to identify and create economic development opportunities. The compilation of regional assets into an accessible database and the visualization of these assets through mapping allows for the strategic selection of future projects. Recommendations for initiatives related to the asset catalogue and mapping tool include:
1.Online Asset Catalogue and Mapping Tool- Make the asset catalogue and mapping tool available online through the Friends of SWVA website on the High Knob webpage. Visit http://friendsofswva.org/ for more information.
2. Guide for Stewards & Project Managers- Develop a guide for stewards and project managers outlining various considerations to take into account when planning future projects. Considerations might range from developmental impacts on sensitive environmental resources and scenic viewsheds to engaging property owners and managing agencies early in the development process. A draft guide is in the Appendix.
3. Stories of High Knob- Interpret regional history and folklore through storytelling. The asset catalogue contains an archive of stories based in the region. Establish a program to train tour guides or develop a series of self-guided tours using QR codes.
4. Visitor Maps- Create visitor maps specific to various outdoor attractions and activities using the mapping tool. User-friendly maps are instrumental to helping visitors navigate the region.
5. Private-Public Partnerships- Use the asset catalogue and mapping tool to facilitate private-public partnerships (PPPs). PPPs play an important role in regional development. PPPs allow local governments to lead the development of outdoor recreation assets in accordance with the regional priorities established in this master plan, while channeling the efficiency and creativity of the private sector. By providing the supporting infrastructure—such as water, sewer, transportation networks, and services—local governments lay the groundwork for private development. The High Knob Regional Initiative (HKRI) can use the mapping tool to plan for future shared infrastructure improvements to promote economic development across the region.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR STEWARDS AND PROJECT MANAGERS
The aforementioned mapping tools will provide an easily-accessible digital home for viewing the various natural, environmental, and cultural assets of High Knob. However, since so much of the High Knob project area contains an abnormally high concentration of rare and/or sensitive species and habitats - some found nowhere else on Earth - some special considerations may apply for projects targeted towards parts of the project area. This is especially true for higher- elevation (3000 feet above sea level and higher) portions of the project area, areas containing cliffs, bluffs, or cave systems, and locations along the Clinch and Powell Rivers and their tributaries. These areas are especially susceptible to high-impact development activities, particularly those that involve forest clearing and/or ground disturbance, and are critical areas for ensuring the preservation of the unique natural resources of High Knob.
Specifically, stewards and planners should consider not only accounting for resources shown in the mapping tool but also consulting with a broad range of stakeholders at the outset of developing a project to ensure that potential impacts to sensitive environmental resources are identified and minimized as much as is possible. These stakeholders should ideally include representatives of state (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and federal (USDA Forest Service) agencies, as well as nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy. Each of these groups is a key partner in the High Knob Regional Initiative and works with the conservation of natural resources on properties under their management on and around High Knob.
Although these agencies and organizations may not have regulatory jurisdiction over lands that they do not own or manage, they may be able to provide valuable guidance on what sensitive resources may occur within the project area, as well as advice on how impacts to those resources can be minimized. These groups may also have insight into any applicable regulatory considerations or permitting with other agencies related to sensitive resources that may be legally required as part of any planning or project development processes.
LAND OWNERSHIP CONSIDERATIONS
The High Knob project area is also unique in that it contains a diverse blend of properties with respect to ownership types spanning private lands to publicly-owned lands managed by state or federal agencies. Since each type of property may have differing constraints with respect to future development, it is crucial to contact relevant managing agencies prior to developing a project and consulting with them on considerations relative to their respective properties. Specific considerations for landownership types are described below:
1. USDA Forest Service Lands (Jefferson National Forest)- Consult with the Clinch Ranger District Office in Norton prior to the onset of planning activities. The Clinch Ranger District is governed by numerous laws, policies and regulations, including a Forest Plan which outlines the development and management of activities on national forest lands that occur within the project area. District staff will be able to consult on how or if individual projects fit within the existing Forest Plan. In addition, special events and commercial activities taking place on national forest lands require prior consultation and permitting. Consult with District Office staff prior to planning such events to determine how such considerations may apply.
22 CHAPTER 4: REGIONAL ASSETS
HIGH KNOB REGIONAL INITIATIVE