Welcome to Buncombe Beat, Xpress‘ coverage for the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. Here you will find schedules, previews, agendas and recaps for various city and county government meetings. Once an agenda, preview or recap is live it will appear as a link. The “Latest news” section features current stories, previews and recaps, and below you will find City of Asheville and Buncombe County sections with meeting schedules and archives of past reports.
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Buncombe County
City of Asheville
For agendas, meeting schedules, contact information and more click here.
Contact city reporter Carolyn Morrisroe: cmorrisroe@mountainx.com
February 2018
Feb. 28 — Bridge over troubled water: Asheville hears from McGrady
Feb. 27 — City Council to weigh in on gun violence
Feb. 18 — City Council prioritizes equity, environment, economy at annual retreat
Feb. 14 — Asheville City Manager Gary Jackson to retire this year
Feb. 12 — City Council could reject DOT’s Merrimon plan
January 2018
Jan. 24 — City leaves light on for hotel on Airport Road
Jan. 22 — Transportation projects roll into City Council
Jan. 10 — Asheville shuts door on short-term rentals
Jan. 8 — Asheville poised to strictly limit vacation rentals
Jan. 4 — City moves toward major crackdown on short-term rentals
December 2017
Dec. 20 — Asheville to get another layer of audit oversight
Dec. 18 — City could create audit committee
Dec. 6 — Asheville’s new City Council takes office
November 2017
Nov. 25 — Rentals in Haywood Road corridor to get review
Nov. 19 — City bans most lodging along Haywood Road
Nov. 15 — Council weighs concerns of gentrification, affordability in RAD
Nov. 13 — RAD lodging, apartment project to take center stage
Nov. 8 — Diversity, experience win Asheville City Council contest
Nov. 5 — City details pay increases, nepotism policy
Nov. 4 — Neighborhood battles against business intrusion
October 2017
Oct. 25 — Council wades into rental fray, looks to future of RAD
Oct. 22 — Council to consider development in the RAD
Oct. 6 — City gets look at proposed 70-room lodging in RAD
Oct. 4 — Council talks tough on short-term lodging
Oct. 2 — Council to re-evaluate Haywood Road development rules
September 2017
Sept. 16 — City passes two hotel projects under new policy
Sept. 13 — City Council paves way for temporary parking lots
Sept. 11 — Asheville City Council to look at Shiloh subdivision
Sept. 8 — P&Z retains short-term lodging in RAD plan
August 2017
Aug. 23 — City stands against white supremacy
Aug. 4 — P&Z sends infill development changes to City Council
July 2017
July 26 — Council: Yes to RAD zoning, no to short-term rentals
July 14 — Edwards rails against Buncombe news coverage
July 10 — Candidates vie to lead Asheville equity and inclusion efforts
July 9 — City Council hears update on comprehensive plan
June 2017
June 28 — Smaller project, bigger budget, approved for RAD
June 28 — Asheville Council passes resolution supporting medical cannabis
June 26 — Asheville Council to vote on spending $6 million more for RAD roadways
June 14 — Asheville sets property tax rate, passes budget
June 12 — Asheville City Council to vote on budget
June 9 — City appoints interim leaders, struggles to fill key positions
June 9 — P&Z votes in favor of new RAD zoning code, 133 apartments
May 2017
May 25 — Activists speak out against proposed police department expansion
May 22 — Public to weigh in on Asheville budget Tuesday, May 23
May 7 — City budget and policing on tap for May 9 session of Asheville Council
May 4 — P&Z approves its final big hotel
May 3 — Lines in the sand: Fight brews over Asheville districts
April 2017
April 26 — Asheville traffic stop data show racial inequities
April 26 — Asheville voters could choose: Council districts or status quo?
April 12 — City launches district election referendum push
April 9 — Council to puzzle over district election survey results
April 6 — Sweeten Creek LaQuinta Inn & Suites gets in under the wire
March 2017
March 30 — Council approves JCC expansion plans
March 29 — Council vote could mark new phase in struggle over ‘Pit of Despair’
March 27 — Di-vision? City Council to hear report on Haywood Street property on March 28
March 14 — Mayor to Bothwell: don’t interfere in work of Haywood Street task force
March 14 — Asheville property tax rate down, bills up?
March 14 — Asheville City Council meeting: Preview, recap
March 2 — P&Z says yes to Asheville Art Museum expansion, 117-room hotel in Biltmore Village
February 2017
Feb. 28 — Asheville City Council: Preview, recap
Feb. 24 — Bothwell to seek reelection to Asheville City Council
Feb. 21 — Manheimer to seek second mayoral term
Feb. 18 — City Council gets personal, celebrates successes at retreat
Feb. 15 — Developers to face more scrutiny on hotels, big buildings in Asheville
Feb. 14 — Asheville City Council: Preview, recap
Feb. 10 — CIBO panel explores Asheville City Council district elections
Feb. 9 — Chamber of Commerce opposes downtown development rule changes
Feb. 8 — City Council to study three sites for affordable housing bond funding
Feb. 7 — Rich Lee announces second run for Asheville City Council
Feb. 7 — Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commissioners joint meeting: Agenda, recap
Feb. 2 — P&Z approves 61-room downtown hotel
Feb. 2 — Parking rates likely to go up on street, in city garages
Feb. 1 — Parks & Rec on the hot seat at Southside Town Hall
Feb. 1 — Hooper gives overview of 2016 crime, police department activities
January 2017
Jan. 26 — Former Asheville City Council member announces push for district elections at CIBO lunch
Jan. 25 — City Council denies 185-room hotel
Jan. 24 — Asheville City Council: Preview, recap
Jan. 22 — Haywood Street hotel back on Council’s agenda for Jan. 24
Jan. 13 — City hosts luncheon for board and commission chairs
Jan. 12 — Asheville events celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan. 11 — Don’t panic over new Asheville boil water advisories
Jan. 11 — Council approves annexation, hears good news about Housing Authority program
Jan. 10 — Council likely to postpone hearing on Haywood Street hotel
Jan. 10 — Asheville City Council: Preview, recap
Jan. 9 — City lays out what’s next for bonds
Jan. 9 — Asheville’s Development Services Department loses another director
Jan. 8 — 185-room downtown Embassy Suites hotel on Jan. 10 Council agenda
Jan. 3 — New Asheville HR director to start Jan. 4
December 2016
Dec. 21 — N.C. Supreme Court rules taking of Asheville water system unconstitutional
Dec. 13 — Asheville City Council: Preview, recap
Dec. 13 — City of Asheville acknowledges lack of public notice for ADU task force meetings
Dec. 9 — ADU task force recommendations clouded by process concerns
Dec. 8 — City residents weigh in on comprehensive plan
Buncombe County
For agendas, meeting schedules, contact information and more click here.
Contact county reporter David Floyd: dfloyd@mountainx.com
March 2018
March 3 — County looks for tangible ways to accomplish sustainability goals
February 2018
Feb. 22 — McGrady talks regional water systems at County Commission
Feb. 19 — County to consider bonds to pay for school projects
Feb. 7 — County raises fees for ambulance service
Feb. 6 — County to hold hearing on structuring $75M in construction debt
Feb. 5 — County to ask public for input on traffic studies plan
Feb. 3 — Buncombe explores barriers to early childhood education
Feb. 2 — County could require traffic studies for some residential projects
January 2018
Jan. 31 — Opioid abuse takes center stage at town hall
Jan. 29 — New $5.25M bid submitted for Ferry Road property
Jan. 17 — County finances in good shape despite Greene investigation
Jan. 17 — Mission aims to build facility near Swannanoa
Jan. 15 — County Commission steps up internal controls
Jan. 10 — County approves $5M sale of Ferry Road property
Jan. 8 — County could sell Ferry Road property for $5M
December 2017
Dec. 14 — Board approves 296-apartment complex off Aiken Road
Dec. 13 — County receives clean opinion from external auditors
Dec. 6 — Buncombe County sets renewable energy goal
November 2017
Nov. 22 — Ambulance service gets initial thumbs-up from county
Nov. 9 — Stop and go: Apartments stall, townhomes get green light
Nov. 8 — No agenda: Newman stripped of procedural power
Nov. 2 — Developers look to build more than 350 housing units
October 2017
Oct. 20 — Buncombe residents call for brake on traffic growth
Oct. 19 — Commissioners sign off on economic incentive changes, more preschool space and opioid lawsuit
Oct. 18 — Newman proposals stall as Dems split on renewable energy, county pay cuts
Oct. 16 — Newman pushing for changes amid ‘eroding public trust’
Oct. 11 — Buncombe’s female inmate population nearing tipping point
Oct. 6 — Take the money and run: Greene nets $500K payday over 6 months
Oct. 5 — Commissioners take aim at nepotism, workplace retaliation
Oct. 4 — Family Justice Center sees 50% rise in victim intake, commissioners expand preschool offerings
Oct. 3 — DA warns of new opioid danger, announces diversion program
September 2017
Sept. 27 — Buncombe commissioners study preschool expansion
Sept. 21 — Commissioners OK reorganization, put weight behind medical marijuana
Sept. 20 — Buncombe opioid emergency cases rise 173%
Sept. 19 — County moves to give internal auditor autonomy
Sept. 17 — Raising questions: Past pay increases present puzzles
Sept. 14 — Community traffic concerns yield to apartment complexes
Sept. 10 — Nonprofits not making grade still get funding
Sept. 9 — BOA to consider nearly 700 apartment units in South, East Asheville
Sept. 7 — Solar farm moves forward, rezoning stalls out
Sept. 6 — DA tech request sparks jail finance concerns
August 2017
Aug. 30 — County looks at audit protocols in wake of Fed probe
Aug. 25 — Controversial South Asheville project looks to pivot
Aug. 18 — Feds probing former Buncombe County Manager Greene
Aug. 17 — FBI can ‘neither confirm nor deny’ probe of former County Manager Greene
Aug. 16 — Commissioners OK early Sunday alcohol sales, punt on medical marijuana
Aug. 10 — Duke’s no-coal goal moves forward
Aug. 4 — Phoning it in: Commissioners negotiate tax rate in private
Aug. 3 — Unincorporated Sunday alcohol sales on hold; transfer station $1.5M over budget
Aug. 2 — Buncombe OD calls on track to eclipse last year
July 2017
July 26 — Fix it: Commissioners tell Mission, BlueCross to end dispute
July 21 — Buncombe County candidates file for municipal offices
July 13 — BOA unanimously denies group home permit amid concerns
July 12 — Commissioners get peek at debt transparency project, unpack budget process
June 2017
June 22 — County pledges $4.2M to Lee Walker Heights, aims for 100% renewable energy
June 21 — Property tax rate up, nonprofit funding down as Buncombe commissioners close out budget
June 15 — Board of Adjustment approves vacation complex, 17-home subdivision
June 10 — Frustration mounts over proposed South Asheville development, construction in general
June 8 — Sales tax, solar farm deal change course; development frustrations arise
June 7 — County manager, commissioner chair: revenue-neutral tax rate unlikely
June 4 — Solar farm redo, sales tax diversion and budget on deck for commissioners
May 2017
May 31 — County nonprofit funding at odds with resolution guidelines
May 30 — County Manager Greene offers letter of resignation
May 17 — Schools may be key to property tax relief
May 17 — Commissioners debate Duke solar farm: ‘smug’ or smart
May 12 — Blunt talk: Medical marijuana takes root
May 11 — Rowdy, marathon BOA meeting highlights development, traffic frustrations
May 3 — Budget talks spark old beef, new tax rate discussion
May 1 — Budget, tax talks and Duke Energy rezoning top commissioners’ agenda
April 2017
April 15 — $7 million in grants, incentives on commissioners’ agenda
April 5 — Commissioners shelve anti-opioid efforts, approve preschool expansion
April 1 — County preschool push likely to get boost
March 2017
March 31 — Records requests shed light on city, county travel reimbursements
March 23 — Overview of nearly $11 million requested by nonprofits
March 23 — A Q&A with Buncombe County’s new sustainability officer
March 22 — 20 recent overdose deaths sparks $750K commitment from Buncombe
March 17 — Nonprofits to request nearly $11 million from Buncombe County
March 8 — Commissioners move to create new sustainability office, solar farm; A-B Tech spending freeze remains
March 5 — Sustainability issues, A-B Tech funding headline Board of Commissioners meeting
March 3 — A-B Tech, Buncombe commissioner diverge on diversity efforts
February 2017
Feb. 22 — Commissioners unanimously agree to support prison diversion, community investment programs
Feb. 17 — Buncombe County Commissioners retreat: Preview, recap
Feb. 8 — South Asheville vacation rental rallies support, gets unanimous approval
Feb. 8 — Whitesides questions commission, Fryar sees window for criticism at county-city meeting
Feb. 7 — Buncombe County Commissioners and Asheville City Council joint meeting: Preview, recap
Feb. 5 — Contentious vacation complex back on Board of Adjustment agenda
Feb. 3 — County, city to hold joint meeting to discuss partnerships, goals
January 2017
Jan. 25 — Buncombe County property values see $6.8 billion increase
Jan. 18 — Commissioners hear opioid report, vote along party lines on rezoning requests
Jan. 14 — Planning board asking commissioners to deny two rezoning requests at Tuesday’s meeting
Jan. 11 — Board of Adjustment gives nod to 232-unit apartment complex, Wicked Weed expansion
Jan. 3 — Fryar officially sworn in as commissioners breeze through 2017’s first meeting
Jan. 3 — Buncombe County Commissioners: Preview, recap
Previous county stories
January 2017 — Cure for pain: Preventing opioid-related deaths in Buncombe County
January 2017 — Buncombe County’s first African-American commissioner talks economic justice
November 2016 — Spending takes off in Buncombe commissioner races; Chair candidates loan campaigns big bucks
October 2016 — Search for documents leads to reform at A-B Tech
September 2016 — Party crashers: A look at ballot access in Buncombe County
July 2016 — Local climate science industry primed for takeoff
June 2016 — The long road home for veterans with PTSD
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