If all goes according to plan, a zoning change being considered by Asheville City Council Sept. 9 could eventually help lead to a more walkable and densely developed West Asheville — all while maintaining its historical feel.
At least that’s the goal of new rules called “form-based zoning” that have been in the works for more than a year. The plan regulates based on size, scale and design instead of use, making it more friendly to mixed-use development and, its advocates contend, a more adaptable way of setting predictable rules for an area. It’s a very different approach from the city’s previous development rules and, if city officials think it’s a success, could provide a model for overhauling other neighborhoods as well.
Also on the agenda: Council will consider a rezoning request that would help pave the way for a 356-unit apartment complex on 41 acres on Sardis Road behind the Industries for the Blind facility. The Planning and Zoning commission recently voted narrowly to support the proposal, but city planning staff recommend denying it.
The land is currently zoned for industrial use, and a staff report raises concerns about losing such industrial spaces as well as the developer’s plans not to rent the apartments at rates the city defines as “affordable.”
In addition, Council will hear a presentation on an updated Riverside Drive Redevelopment Plan.
Asheville City Council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, in room 209 of City Hall. Read the meeting agenda here.
This is great news. Form based codes, and the mixed use development, they encourage, have done great things in other locales as far as making them more liveable.