Flournoy Development Co. will host a drop-in Q&A session 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, to present plans for a new apartment complex the company proposes to build on Fairview Road, the Oakley Community Association announced last week. The public may stop by any time during the scheduled hours to view site plans and renderings and ask questions. The session will take place at the Murphy-Oakley Recreation Center, 749 Fairview Road, on the lower level of the Oakley/South Asheville Public Library.
Residents of the East Asheville community have voiced numerous concerns about the proposed development, which would include more than 300 rental units in 5- and 6-story buildings with 2 percent of the project allotted to retail space. Members of the Oakley Community Association have met several times since early December to discuss the proposal, and the group invited members of the Asheville City Council and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce to a neighborhood walk on Jan. 15 to point out worrisome issues, including traffic and safety considerations.
Katie Hicks, who lives across Fairview Road from the site, says many Oakley residents are not in favor of the project. “Most neighbors I’ve spoken to feel this development as proposed will harm rather than help the Oakley neighborhood,” says Hicks.
“I’ve heard concerns about the lack of commitment to including affordable housing units or retail space, the out-of-place character of 5- and 6-story buildings and a 40-foot retaining wall and the addition of more traffic to already-dangerous Fairview Road,” she continues. “We plan to bring these concerns up to City Council hoping they’ll agree this project simply isn’t a good fit for the location or the proposed rezoning.”
Asheville City Council will vote at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, on whether to grant a conditional zoning request from the developers. The company is asking that the council change zoning for the complex from an “Urban Village” designation to “Urban Place Conditionally Zoned” designation. That means Council will also decide on whether to give the go-ahead for the project.
To view the plans for the Biltmore Apartments, click here.
To view a resolution drafted by the 9.1 Precinct Committee of the Buncombe County Democratic Party outlining specific concerns the neighborhood has about the planned development, click here.
Flournoy Development will host its drop-in Q&A session 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, Murphy-Oakley Recreation Center, 749 Fairview Road, on the lower level of the Oakley/South Asheville Public Library.
Asheville City Council plans to hold public hearings on the developments Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall. The meeting begins at 5 p.m.
Connect with the Oakley Community Association here.
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