Laurelmor and Landslides

    /24-7PressRelease/ - MARS HILL, NC, March 30, 2008 - This Ginn Resort Property, a 6,000 plus acre mountain residential/resort community, was approved in 2006 before its location could be mapped for landslide hazards. The Western North Carolina mapping program was mandated after the region was declared a federal landslide disaster area in September 2004.

In 2006 the North Carolina Geological Survey identified Watauga County, the primary location of Laurelmor, to be at extreme risk for future landslides. The landslide probability maps show that 20% of the county is rated high hazard and 41% of the land lies in the track of previous debris flows.

Considering the evidence, Laurelmor building sites should have been inventoried for landslides and other slope instability factors before the applicant received his permit. But since North Carolina has no regulations governing the development of hazardous land, this project was approved.

The Laurelmor web-site shows a site plan but it does not disclose the resort's location on the Watauga County landslide maps. Finalized hazard maps were released in January 2008.

Laurelmor/Ginn provides a list of featured home builders for their clients. These individuals are not qualified to assess the safety and stability of building sites. Anyone buying Laurelmor mountain slope property should visit the North Carolina Geological Survey and take a serious look at the Watauga County landslide maps. North Carolina geologists warn that all slope property should be investigated for landslide probability. The costs for a professional site specific study are reasonable, generally less than $2,000. Caveat: Slope stability tests should only be performed by independent state licensed geologists and engineers.

Laurelmor investors should note that they will be self-insuring for all earth movement property loss. Homeowner policies will not cover landslide damage, regardless of the cause.

About Carolina Concerns
Carolina Concerns is a Western North Carolina landslide advisory company

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