A mixed-income housing project that’s been years in the making is now cleared for construction, following a unanimous June 27 vote by Asheville City Council. The conditional zoning approval will permit 221 units to be built at 311 and 319 Biltmore Ave., just south of downtown.
“As you view Orrin Melonas’ drawing, I hope you’ll agree that not every parcel of real estate is necessarily best suited to be built upon.”
“The thinking used to be, you put some architects on there. And you’d want to have a real estate investor, or a developer, or someone who’s a real estate agent, or you’d have some prominent business owner,” says Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “We’ve recognized that you need a Planning and Zoning Commission that’s more reflective of your community.”
“Many activists, citizens, eco-groups, the Urban Forestry Commission and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee are justly appalled by and formally opposed to PUDD’s machination.”
Dawn Chávez, the executive director of Asheville GreenWorks, found many threats to the region’s sustainability in 2019. She listed the top five of her worries for Xpress’s year-end review.
Community unrest continues over the Coggins Farm property, site of a highly disputed planned development in Riceville. Riceville residents and other conservation proponents have formed the Coggins Conversation Project, calling for 75 acres of the 169-acre site to be placed in a conservation easement.
After nearly eight hours of witness testimony, evidence and cross-examinations, the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment voted 6-1 to approve the proposed development of Coggins Farm in Riceville. During the hearing, the board had the opportunity to hear from neighbors concerned with the possibility of development affecting their own property values, flooding from Bull Creek and the increased traffic the project would create on roads that residents say are already dangerous.
The rezoning request for Coggins Farm, a mixed-use development planned for a 169-acre tract in Riceville known as Old Coggins Farm, has been withdrawn by the developer, Coggins Farm LLC. It was scheduled to go before the Buncombe County Commissioners on Feb.18.
