Tequila has, among the uninitiated, acquired a bit of a bad reputation. This is supposedly the stuff college students glug in their rotgut days or that’s simply shoved into legions of frozen margaritas on Cinco de Mayo. Unexpected delight: One of Curras Dom’s masterly concoctions, the surprisingly smooth and pleasing avocado margarita. Photo by Jonathan […]
Author: David Forbes
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Buncombe planning board begins zoning process (again)
In response to a court ruling that struck down the county’s zoning ordinance, the Buncombe County Planning Board met this morning to begin the approval process, which may take months and involve changing the zoning of dozens of properties, anew.
Buncombe Planning Board will hold special meeting on zoning
The Buncombe County Planning Board will hold a special meeting on zoning Monday, March 30, in the wake of a recent court decision that overturned the county’s zoning ordinance.
City unveils final Downtown Master plan
After months of debate and $170,000 in taxpayer money, the city of Asheville on Thursday unveiled the final version of the Downtown Master Plan, intended to shape the future direction of downtown economically, culturally and architecturally.
Buncombe Commissioners
Despite difficulties, Pack Square renovations on track, conservancy officials say County manager recommends delaying decision on new office facility Commissioners change meeting place The Buncombe County commissioners probably wished they’d had some luck o’ the Irish on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) as they heard a report from the Pack Square Conservancy indicating that the […]
Controversy looms over URTV board meeting
At the URTV board’s March 19 meeting, outspoken members Davyne Dial and Richard Bernier kept their seats—for now, at least—despite a recommendation from the public-access channel’s Executive Committee that the two be dismissed. The board also voted to increase the number of times it meets and scrapped a controversial oath board members had been required […]
State court rules Buncombe County zoning, multifamily condo ordinance invalid
The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that Buncombe County’s zoning and multi-family condominium ordinances are invalid, asserting that the Board of Commissioners failed to give proper notice for the public hearings on those matter. At press time, the board was scheduled to meet in closed session on March 24 to decide whether to […]
R.I.P. “Popcorn” Sutton
Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, the legendary moonshiner, died March 16 at his home in Cocke County, Tenn. Photo by Michael Stock According to his wife, Sutton took his own life to avoid going to jail for 18 months under a looming incarcerations for moonshining and weapons charges. She found him dead of carbon-monoxide poisoning inside his […]
Buncombe Commissioners will not appeal zoning lawsuit: will restart approval process
Buncombe County will not appeal an N.C. Court of Appeals ruling that overturned its zoning and multifamily condo ordinances, the Board of Commissioners decided after a closed session today. Instead, the county will restart the zoning-approval process — and pursue a moratorium on “undesirable” property uses in the meantime.
Asheville Fire Department: Richmond Hill blaze was arson
The fire that destroyed the historic Richmond Hill Inn early Thursday was intentionally set, according to a release from the Asheville Fire Department. There is no suspect at this time.
URTV board meets, addresses controversies, station operations
Outspoken URTV board members Davyne Dial and Richard Bernier kept their seats — for now — despite a recommendation from the public-access channel’s executive committee that they be dismissed. The board also voted to increase the number of annual meetings and scrap a controversial oath.
Court overturns county’s zoning, multi-family condo ordinances
The North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled that Buncombe County’s zoning and multi-family condominium ordinances are invalid, asserting that the Board of Commissioners failed to give proper notice for the public hearings on the matters. The board will meet in closed session next Tuesday, March 24, to decide whether to appeal the decision.
Help Xpress report on the URTV board meeting
Thursday’s meeting of the URTV board will deal with a number of controversial issues, and Xpress is inviting attendees to assist our reporting on the events by joining in on the MXNow Twitter feed.
The Buncombe Commissioners brief: March 17 meeting
For their St. Patrick’s Day meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners may have wished they had the luck o’ the Irish (or at least a stout beer), as the Pack Square Conservancy laid out their plans to raise the additional millions needed to complete the ambitious park renovations — and the state of the economy forced the county to delay consolidating their offices.
Burton Street residents urged to continue activism
At a March 9 forum on the controversial Interstate 26 connector, Mayor Terry Bellamy, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair David Gantt and representatives of local groups urged residents of the Burton Street neighborhood to keep fighting and petition state officials to spare damage to their neighborhood. Hey, neighbor: Vivian Conley, a resident of the […]
City looking to fill vacant URTV board seat
The city of Asheville is asking for applications to fill a vacant seat formerly occupied by Mark Wilson on the board of public-access channel URTV.
Flat Iron sculpture removed for repair, restoration
Passersby in downtown Asheville got another surprise today as the iconic Flat Iron sculpture — knocked off its base in a Feb. 28 car accident — was gone. The sculpture was removed for “complete restoration,” according to a release from the city’s Parks and Recreation department.
Buncombe Commissioners preview: Luck o’ the Irish edition
While everyone else is out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has manufacturer incentives, a rezoning and a whole bevy of reports — including one on consolidating county facilities — on its agenda.
Asheville’s big iron survives a big hit
It no doubt came as a shock to many a passerby to see the iconic Flat Iron sculpture, which sits at the intersection of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue in downtown Asheville, torn six feet off its base on Feb. 28. Just a bit of a wrinkle: The famous Flat Iron sculpture at the […]
Lewis Kyle Wilson: “I’m innocent of the charges”
Speaking to Xpress at the Buncombe County Detention Facility on Feb. 27, Lewis Kyle Wilson asserted his innocence in the face of charges of brutally assaulting and kidnapping a prostitute last November. Police have also named Wilson a “person of interest” in an unsolved 2006 murder and two other prostitute assaults in Asheville’s Riverside area. […]
Buncombe Commissioners
Pitchfork-wielding activists demand lower taxes Board chips in to preserve Reems Creek farm The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously gave staff the go-ahead to work out an agreement to transfer health-care services for indigent county residents from the Health Department’s clinic to Western North Carolina Community Health Services. The move, which came during the […]