Residents of Western North Carolina concerned about a proposed hike in their electric bills could have to wait a bit longer to see just how much their bills will go up. A filing on Friday, Nov. 17 with the North Carolina Utilities Commission pushed the final hearing in the case from today to next Monday […]
Asheville finds itself confronting a slew of pressing and interrelated issues — short-term rentals, gentrification, parking, affordable housing — and many of them got hashed out at City Council this week. Council approved a new zoning code for the River Arts District as well as a 133-unit apartment complex.
Asheville City Council could finally make a decision on approving a new form-based zoning code for the River Arts District at its Nov. 14 meeting. It is also slated to hear a proposal for the 133-unit Stoneyard Apartments project.
Asheville voters turned out in relatively high numbers on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to reelect two incumbents and significantly increase the diversity of City Council.
Voters went to the polls on Nov. 7 to fill seats in a number of local municipal races, including Asheville mayor and City Council. Xpress will post updates as election results come in.
In the wake of controversy over early retirement, retention bonuses and discretionary raises paid by and to former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene and other highly paid county employees, the city of Asheville wants to reassure residents that its compensation practices are on the up-and-up.
Homeowners on Vermont Avenue in West Asheville see their neighborhood as a quiet, special residential pocket of the city — and they intend to keep it that way. Residents implored the Planning and Zoning Commission to stop a property owner from opening an art gallery in a house on the street. That issued tied into a discussion of short-term rentals and whether Asheville wants tourists “in every nook and cranny.”
A City Council candidate forum called into question how progressive Asheville really is when it comes to rights and protections for those in the LGBTQ community. All six candidates said they are in favor of the city of Asheville implementing a nondiscrimination ordinance, which is specifically disallowed under House Bill 142.
As Asheville enjoys the benefits of a bustling economy, it also confronts challenges that come with growth, including concerns over housing, tourism, budgeting and certain segments of the city getting left behind. Xpress asked all the candidates for mayor and City Council to share their thoughts on these topics and more prior to the Nov. 7 general election.
Asheville City Council continued its quest to crack down on whole-house and whole-unit short-term rentals at its Oct. 24 meeting, as it also approved a 70-room hotel project in the River Arts District and showed warm support for giving more staff time to the Energy Innovation Task Force.
City Council will shine a spotlight on the River Arts District at its Oct. 24 meeting, with agenda items including a proposed 70-room lodging reuse, parking problems and adoption of a zoning code intended to encourage vibrant mixed use in the area.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting primary election results, the ballot for Asheville City Council and mayor for the Nov. 7 general election is set.
It’s primary Election Day in Asheville, where voters will winnow the field of candidates for mayor and City Council before the Nov. 7 general election. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today for all residents of the city of Asheville. On the ballot for City Council are: Pratik Bhakta, Cecil Bothwell, Andrew […]
Asheville City Council appears committed to holding the city’s line on any potential expansion of short-term rentals. Council members put the kibosh on a proposal to allow short-term rentals on a stretch of Haywood Road in West Asheville, while also instructing city staff to explore banning the practice in all areas of the city, including the River Arts District and downtown. Homestays, a type of accommodation where the primary resident is home during a guest’s short-term stay, would remain legal.
In keeping with the autumn harvest season, Asheville City Council will feast on a cornucopia of topics at its Oct. 3 meeting, including dam improvement, Haywood Road development and the business impact of special events.
A banner drop across from a Sept. 27 public hearing of the N.C. Utilities Commission signaled Asheville’s rejection of Duke Energy Progress’ plan to raise rates almost 15 percent. “Go 100% renewable. No rate hikes for Duke’s dirty energy,” read the banner. A lineup of 44 speakers echoed those sentiments over the course of a nearly four-hour hearing.
The Asheville City Council primary is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10. Early voting is already underway and Xpress’ voting guide has Q&As with all the candidates along with other voting resources.
The three candidates for mayor of Asheville put forth their views on race, sustainability and affordability at a forum hosted by the Student Government Association and the Political Science Club at UNC Asheville on Sept. 18.
Who can afford to live here and how can we all live together? Those questions formed the crux of the conversation among Asheville City Council candidates at a Sept. 18 forum where two issues garnered strong and varying viewpoints: the lack of affordable housing and persistent racial tensions in Asheville.
In the seven months since the city of Asheville altered its regulations to give City Council more oversight over large building and hotel projects, Council has approved two proposed hotels. Xpress takes a closer look to see what it looks like when hotels try to pass muster before Council.
A proposal to provide more parking prompted a plethora of public comments at the Sept. 12 Asheville City Council meeting. Council also considered a subdivision in the Shiloh community and learned about the possibilities and pitfalls of bond refinancing.
