Buncombe Commissioners vote to lease soccer fields to ABYSA

Posted on by Jake Frankel

This is a short summary of the Oct. 18 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting. Look for a full report in the Oct. 26 issue of Xpress.

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 18 to lease seven soccer fields at the Buncombe County Sports Park in Enka-Candler to the Asheville Buncombe Youth Soccer Association.

Under the agreement, the nonprofit will be charged with maintenance and scheduling for the seven tournament quality soccer fields, which are located off Sand Hill School Road near U.S. 19-23. The county will provide a five year lease for $1 per year, and will allow ABYSA to use its field maintenance equipment. The county will continue to be responsible for maintenance and scheduling at the rest of the park. County officials estimate the move will cost the county roughly $130,000 per year.

In other actions at the Oct. 18 meeting:

• The board voted unanimously (Commissioner K. Ray Bailey was absent) to make a change in the county’s zoning ordinance that will require developers to submit visual plans of retaining walls. Commissioners said they hope the change will help the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment and the Buncombe County Planning Board make more informed decisions regarding the approval of development projects.

• The board agreed to hold a Nov. 1 hearing on the county’s decision to condemn and demolish the contaminated former CTS of Asheville plant on Mills Gap Road. The hearing had originally been scheduled for Oct. 18 but was rescheduled at the request of the property owner, Mills Gap Road Associates, which is in the process of appealing that decision.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.
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