ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the University of North Carolina Asheville continues to eye development of their Millennial Campus, woodland acreage surrounding the college, a structured public engagement system for community feedback has been announced.

The public engagement effort was designed by the UNC Asheville Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee, a group of community leaders and UNC Asheville alumni spearheading recommendations for the project. Read more about them in our story here.

Until the recommendations deadline at the end of this spring, members of the community will have the opportunity to engage with the Committee through:

• Virtual conversations with “invited participants representing neighborhood, environmental, business, civic and campus viewpoints”
• Individual interviews conducted by Committee members and the HR&A Advisors and Parks PR consultation teams
• A community survey open to the broader public

The efforts to widen the scope of community input follow months of protest from public advocacy groups like Save the Woods, who are concerned that the Millennial Campus development will negatively impact the natural environment and neighborhoods surround the school. Read our latest story about Save the Woods here.

“From the beginning, we have said this process must be informed by the people who care about UNC Asheville and who will be affected by its future,” said Committee co-chair Peter Heckman in a press release. “Our responsibility is to listen carefully and ensure the Committee’s recommendations consider the breadth of perspectives in our community.”

For more information about the Committee and opportunities for public input will be shared at go.unca.edu/millennial-campus/.