At their Feb. 18 meeting, Buncombe County Commissioners will consider a $90,000 incentive package for Moogfest. The music and innovation festival is requesting $50,000 in donated services and $40,000 in cash from the county to help produce the event, which will run April 23-27 at venues across Asheville.
The proposal mirrors a similar deal approved by the city of Asheville last week. Officials with Moog Music are touting the festival as an economic development boon, projecting it will have a $30 million impact on the area. However, the city’s deal drew criticism from Council member Gwen Wisler and others who didn’t feel it was right to provide public funding for a private event.
Tickets for Moogfest range from $199 to $299, though some discounted tickets were offered to locals and an allotment of free tickets were distributed as “scholarships” to local educational institutions. Some associated events, such as a technology job fair, will be open to the public free of charge.
If the county approves the request, it will bring the total public economic incentives for the festival to $180,000.
In other business, commissioners will consider tweaks to the county’s zoning ordinance concerning the setbacks between new buildings and public utilities.
A controversial rezoning request to allow a major new mixed use development in Riceville was withdrawn and will not be considered Feb. 18 as planned. Instead, commissioners will consider rezoning small parcels of land in Bent Creek and Woodfin to allow more development.
The board will meet at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the commissioner’s chambers, located at 200 College Street, suite 326. A short pre-meeting review of the agenda will begin at 4:15 p.m.
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