Buncombe County Commissioners: Crumbling walls, affordable housing, new parks and more

Here’s a summary of this evening’s Jan. 4 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners:

• The board heard a report from Buncombe County Engineering Inspections Coordinator Matt Stone, who explained that a stop-work order had been issued against the ongoing construction of a large retaining wall along Charlotte Highway in Reynolds. Stone cited concerns over visible cracks in the structure, and emphasized that an in-depth analysis was needed to determine whether it was safe. The wall is part of an apartment complex being built by the Greensboro-based Carroll Investment Properties.

• The board unanimously passed a new work-force rental housing policy that is designed to give developers incentives to build affordable housing. The policy outlines a variety of tools for encouraging such projects, including grants, tax breaks and deferred construction loans that would be funded by the increased annual tax revenues resulting from the construction of the new rental housing. The incentives would be considered on a case-by-case basis, and applicants would have to provide at least 50 residential units that only full-time county residents could rent.

• Commissioners voted to support the efforts of the Buncombe County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services Department to apply for a state grant that would allow it to purchase a 30 acre tract of land in the Mills Gap area. If the grant is won, the county would then be responsible for providing approximately $125,000 to $170,000 in matching funds to help convert the site into a public park.

• The board approved a rezoning request to allow more varied residential use on a .70 acre parcel of land located at 904 Riceville Road. The tract will now be zoned to allow for a mobile home or mobile home park. Both the County Planning Department and the Planning Board recommend approving the request, saying it would be consistent with other housing in the area.

• Commissioners passed revisions to the county’s property naming policy. The changes allow buildings to be named in honor of living people as well as the deceased. The new policy also allows the commissioners to name rooms and portions of buildings, in addition to buildings in there entirety.

Pick up a copy of the Jan. 12 print edition of Xpress for a more detailed report. Click here for a preview of the meeting’s agenda.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

2 thoughts on “Buncombe County Commissioners: Crumbling walls, affordable housing, new parks and more

  1. rjwalleye

    Well done to the Buncombe County Commissioners. Thank you for a good decision on the Mills Gap park property. If you let me know where to write the state letters of support, I will get the neighbors to begin the process of contacting our legislators and people involved in the grant process. Those of us who live near the CTS site really need this boost for our neighborhood.

  2. Aaron Penland

    In response to rj, now you come out. where have you been while the citizens that live around the CTS site have been fighting for almost 4-years trying to bring light to the “CRIMINAL” acts that have happened there over the last 25 years?? How can you say “Good Job”? The Commissioners have had probably a dozen opportunities to do the “Right” thing. Why have they not acted?? Could it be Because The County is Part of the Cover-up that starts with the EPA and trickles all the way down to the county in the form of the Zoning Board that the “Citizens Monitoring Committee” that was commissioned by BCC gave proof and evidence of Malfeasance and has yet to be acted upon by Buncombe County Commissioners?????????

Leave a Reply to rjwalleye ×

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.