The appointment of two members to Asheville’s powerful Planning and Zoning Commission and a slew of reports are on the agenda for Asheville City Council’s meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 28.
Several locals — current board member Holly Shriner, current chair Mark Brooks, urban planner Joe Minicozzi, and planning consultant Abigail Emison — are vying for spots on the board, which has taken an increasing role in approving development in recent years.
Two years ago, the appointment of Shriner — a homemaker with no formal planning experience — was controversial. Minicozzi has also applied for the board multiple times, but hasn’t mustered enough votes to secure an appointment. Council will interview the applicants before the meeting, beginning at 3:10 p.m. The city will livestream the interviews, as well as the meeting.
Council will hear reports on a variety of major topics, including the fire last year that claimed the life of Capt. Jeff Bowen, the ongoing study of the water system in preparation for a possible merger with the Metropolitan Sewerage District (a budget amendment to hire consultants to study the matter further is also on the agenda), and quarterly updates from Council committees.
Other items on the agenda include:
• A possible agreement with Pope Golf LLC for the management of the municipal golf course. According to the staff report on the issue, the move will save the city money. “The contractor will be committed to pay the municipality a performance payment, pay all operating expenses, supply equipment, and likely provide some capital funds for investment in the golf facility. The City is guaranteed positive income from performance payments,” the report reads.
• Approval of a new Public Housing unit of the Asheville Police Department, with four full-time officers at a cost of $217,000. The money will come from Asheville Housing Authority funds.
• Lease space for the Renaissance Computing Institute in the Grove Arcade. Funds for the move are provided by UNCA.
The regular meeting begins at 5 p.m. in Council’s chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
City council is privatizing the golf course! City council is privatizing the golf course! Run for the hills.
……………………….
We have a planning and zoning commission? Where were these people when plans were coming together for three busy grocery stores all in a row on the busiest section of Merrimon Avenue?
David – Five applicants for P&Z? There are only four on the agenda. Albert Brooks is not among them.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan – but the fact that he doesn’t take anything seriously might disqualify him from P&Z.