More than 30 residents who live on the west side of Woodfin showed up to send a message to Town Council on Feb. 1: “Let us go.”
County to consider conservation of more than 360 acres
If authorized, the county will spend $400,000 on two conservation easements — the first easements funded by the 2022 open space bonds, according to a staff presentation.
City might pause development program over equity concerns
With rising rents and a growing population, local leaders are using every tool they have to encourage more affordable developments, including the City of Asheville Land’s Use Incentive Grant program. City Council members say the program designed to encourage developers to offer affordable housing is good in theory, but in practice it might be shutting out minority families, perpetuating decades of racial discrimination in housing.
Council delays consideration of 24-hour downtown restroom
Asheville City Council postponed a vote on the installation of a prefabricated 24-hour restroom outside of the Rankin Avenue parking garage at its Jan. 23 meeting over concerns regarding the project’s cost and maintenance. Council previously voted to allocate $650,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the new facility in May 2022.
Short-term rental listening session yields conflicting views
The proposed regulations would ban future short-term rentals, both whole-house and rentals within the owner’s primary residence, in unincorporated parts of Buncombe County unless they were located within commercial zones or in an open-use district, among other changes. Existing short-term rentals would not be impacted by the changes.
Reparations commission hears preliminary results of harm audit
The Stop the Harm Audit’s key overall findings revolve around the availability of data, equity training, affordable housing and hiring practices, according to the presentation by Adrian Carter, project lead and founder of the Carter Development Group.
Council to discuss new 24-hour restroom downtown
At its Tuesday, Jan. 23 meeting, Asheville City Council is slated to vote on the installation of a prefabricated 24-hour restroom outside of the Rankin Avenue parking garage. Council previously voted to allocate $650,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project in May 2022.
Sheriff’s Office to start new downtown patrols Jan. 26
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a $56,000 budget amendment 6-0 on Jan. 16 to fund a proposal from Sheriff Quentin Miller to send four deputies downtown between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Buncombe County’s first homeless-program manager discusses goals, misconceptions
Lacy Hoyle spoke about the local priorities for addressing homelessness, how she incorporates the views of those who have different beliefs than she does about its causes and misconceptions about the homeless population.
Council approves Starbucks drive-thru on Brevard Road
Asheville City Council approved a zoning amendment to allow a drive-thru Starbucks on the corner of Brevard Road and South Bear Creek Road at its Jan. 9 meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the amendment at its Dec. 6 meeting.
Civics 101: How to get involved in local government
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to learn more about local government and how you can help steer the ship, both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County applaud, encourage and welcome your interest.
Sheriff’s Office requests funding for downtown patrols
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is seeking funding from the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to add downtown patrols between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on weekend nights. The requests for either $56,000 or $88,000 is a revised version of a proposal unveiled at a Dec. 5 commissioners meeting, just before Asheville Police Chief David […]
Council to discuss proposed drive-thru on Brevard Road
At its Tuesday, Jan. 9 meeting, Asheville City Council is slated to consider a proposed zoning map amendment that would allow for the development of a Starbucks on the corner of Brevard Road and South Bear Creek Road. The amendment was previously discussed during the Dec. 6 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where it was unanimously supported.
City plans to shore up buildings, parking structures
After two studies assessed the condition of 82 city-owned buildings and four parking garages, giving Asheville’s buildings an overall ‘C’ grade, local officials are working on a long-term plan to address critical needs. However, the city’s $1 million annual budget for maintaining facilities isn’t going to cut it.
Buncombe considers a pay raise for elections director
The Buncombe County Board of Elections thinks Director of Elections Corinne Duncan deserves a pay raise, but county staff isn’t so sure. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners said they need more time to consider the request for a less than $6,000 raise — about 5% — and put it off until its Jan. 16 meeting.
Year in Review: An ‘Around the region’ special
From Canton to Hendersonville and Woodfin to Brevard, it was a newsworthy year in cities and towns throughout Western North Carolina.
WTF: How a library gets its books
Some parents have made frequent appearances at school board meetings to argue that various books — usually related to sexual health or depicting LGBTQ+ students and families — don’t belong in libraries accessible to children. The latest edition of Xpress’s WTF — “Want the Facts?” — series looks at the policies and procedures that determine how books are chosen for school and county libraries.
Council approves two affordable housing developments
Asheville City Council approved zoning requests for two housing developments at its Dec. 12 meeting, including a 279-unit apartment complex on Lake Julian in Arden and a 281-unit development on Fairview Road in South Asheville.
Council to reconsider Arden development
The Asheville City Council is slated to reconsider a zoning request for a proposed 279-unit apartment complex in Arden at its Tuesday, Dec. 12 meeting. The development was previously discussed at the Nov. 14 Council meeting but was delayed due to concerns regarding family-sized housing and renewable energy.
County Commission approves controversial rezoning request
Despite over an hour of public comment opposed to the proposal, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to rezone 764 acres owned by Biltmore Farms adjacent to the Pratt & Whitney plant.
Reparations Commission discusses proposal for Black education resource campus
A joint recommendation drawn up by education and economic development focus groups from the commission focused primarily on what facilitators called an “education resource campus” to provide a place where Black folks know they could access resources.