Asheville Planning Director Scott Shuford resigns

Scott Shuford, Asheville’s sometimes embattled planning director, has submitted a letter of resignation to City Manger Gary Jackson, effective “on or before June 30.”

“He submitted the letter yesterday,” Jackson said in a phone conversation with Xpress today.

Council members confirmed to Xpress that five of seven of their number had told Jackson that they felt a lack of confidence in Shuford’s management and enforcement decisions.

Council member Jan Davis said he disagrees with those five, but confirmed that for the majority of council members, “There are several issues on which they fall on different places than Scott.”  Davis said, “I’m supportive of a lot of Scott’s decisions. There were a small number of issues that have been controversial and his effectiveness has been compromised by those issues. Otherwise, he has done an outstanding job.”

Shuford has been in the position for eight years.

— Cecil Bothwell, staff writer

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About Cecil Bothwell
A writer for Mountain Xpress since three years before there WAS an MX--back in the days of GreenLine. Former managing editor of the paper, founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, Heartstone, member of the national editorial board of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, publisher of Brave Ulysses Books, radio host of "Blows Against the Empire" on WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, co-author of the best selling guide Finding your way in Asheville. Lives with three cats, macs and cacti. His other car is a canoe. Paints, plays music and for the past five years has been researching and soon to publish a critical biography--Billy Graham: Prince of War:

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One thought on “Asheville Planning Director Scott Shuford resigns

  1. wjell

    Good riddance, but about 4 years too late to undo the damage he has done to this city.

    At least now he can officially show up in front of Council on the side of the developers he represents and not have to pretend he is working for the City. And the name on the top of his paycheck may reflect his true allegiance.

    Please Scott… don’t hang out till June…clean you office out tomorrow. Asheville will be a better place.

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