More than two years have passed since Asheville City Council last held a regular meeting at the downtown art deco building.
The ripple effects of downtown Asheville parking costs
Downtown representatives, transit experts and Montford residents discuss the various impacts of Asheville’s parking woes.
Council considers grant for Hilliard microhousing development
According to planning documents submitted with the city, the units will be no larger than 250 square feet.
Short documentary humanizes local homeless population
Diana Wortham Theatre hosts a screening of “Homeless: A Human Story,” plus music, poetry and a panel discussion, on June 10.
Q&A with Safi Martin on gardening, social justice and life as an introvert
Xpress speaks with Safi Martin about her behind-the-scenes role as COO of Hood Huggers International, how she balances business and home-life while working with her spouse and Blue Note Junction — a new project the couple is launching to teach people in historically marginalized communities how to grow their own businesses.
Green in brief: MountainTrue turns 2022 Bioblitz into friendly competition
“By expanding the blitz to four counties and making a game of it, we hope to be able to engage more people and find more species,” said MountainTrue Public Lands Biologist Josh Kelly. “We might even find some that have never been recorded in our region.”
Buncombe’s Comprehensive Plan 2043 enters third phase
When complete, the document will be a nonbinding, advisory blueprint of where residents and county officials want the county to be in 2043 and will outline the goals, objectives and policies needed to achieve that vision.
Development roundup: Affordable housing complex proposed for Sweeten Creek Road
Fairhaven Summit Apartments would bring a 77-unit multifamily affordable housing complex to 7.68 acres off Sweeten Creek Road. All of the 12 one-bedroom units, 25 two-bedroom units and 40 three-bedroom units planned for the development would be guaranteed as affordable for households earning between 30% and 80% of the average median income for a minimum of 30 years.
Merrimon ‘road diet’ to move forward after Council approval
The plan would reduce the section of the avenue between Midland Road and W.T. Weaver Boulevard from its current four-lane, two-way configuration to one lane in each direction, along with a center turn lane and bicycle lanes.
Five takeaways from Buncombe’s 2022 primaries
The Buncombe County Board of Elections won’t officially certify the results until Friday, May 27, and the N.C. Board of Elections will issue its own certification Thursday, June 9. But even with those steps still to come, there’s plenty to learn from the unofficial results.
Council to consider rezoning for Patton Avenue Ingles
During their meeting of Tuesday, May 24, members of Asheville City Council will consider a conditional zoning request that would allow Ingles Markets to construct a grocery store, gas station and other retail space on the 14.45-acre site of a former Kmart.
Buncombe approves $17 minimum wage for county staff
The move comes after a two-year long examination of employee compensation across 16 other government agencies comparable to Buncombe County.
Development glossary
When lawyers, planners and elected officials get into the weeds of jargon and legal minutiae, it can seem like they’re no longer speaking English. Here’s a list of some of the most commonly encountered — and commonly confused — terms that come up in development discussions.
How to request development records
Development projects leave obvious marks on the world around them. But every building that goes up in Western North Carolina also leaves a paper trail in local government archives that, as public property, residents have the legal right to inspect.
High-level land-use discussions shape neighborhood decisions
Deciding what gets built on an empty lot down the street should, according to state law, begin with decisions about what gets built across an entire city or county. Counties and municipalities that want to have zoning in their jurisdiction first need to write a comprehensive plan that looks at big questions like which areas are best for growth.
‘Quasi-judicial’ procedures govern some development
People who go to a meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment might not realize the bland room where the board gathers is a first cousin to a court of law. Learn more about how quasi-judicial bodies work to govern development in North Carolina.
Who handles development in municipalities beyond Asheville?
While Asheville city and Buncombe County leaders govern the bulk of local development, other municipalities set zoning rules and approve projects within their own borders. Here’s the key information about when and where those decisions are made, as well as how you can weigh in.
Buncombe County development boards
Buncombe County is a relative newcomer to land use regulation, and many outlying areas still remain under open use zoning. For parts of the county where development is more regulated, these three boards have the greatest say.
Buncombe County development process
Learn more about the different types of development review in Buncombe County and the government boards responsible for each.
City of Asheville development boards
Three governmental bodies are critical to the fate of large-scale development in the city: Asheville City Council, the Design Review Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Find out more about what each group does and how to weigh in on its decisions.
City of Asheville development process
Learn more about the different types of development projects in the city of Asheville and how local government reviews each of them.