Turnover was the theme in election results Nov. 7. Among the 10 winners in three jurisdictions, only one had appeared on a ballot before. Two of the 10 had been appointed but were running for the first time. Another was running for a different position. All the rest will hold office for the first time.
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
On June 9, 1917, the city of Asheville gained 5,000 new residents with its annexation of West Asheville.
“People contacted [former Sen. Tom] Apodaca initially, and now Mr. Edwards, because they no longer expect those who destroy their quality of life to have any interest in restoring it. We’ve seen this before during City Council’s forced annexation crusade.”
Residents of unincorporated areas across North Carolina now have the ability to block forced annexations by a majority vote, thanks to a bill sponsored by Buncombe County Rep. Tim Moffitt that became law on June 11, after Gov. Bev Perdue took no action to veto it.
A proposed permitting process for the Occupy Asheville encampment (which the protesters have rejected), is the main issue on Asheville City Council’s agenda tonight. Council will also consider a 92-unit apartment complex in South Asheville and changes to the city’s annexation plans, among other issues.
On March 16, I had a letter published in favor of North Carolina’s annexation code and encouraging Asheville’s continuation in the battle to incorporate Biltmore Lake [“You May Need Annexation as Much as It Needs You,” Xpress]. My family has lived in North Carolina for several generations. In that time, it has evolved from the […]
It is a shame when North Carolinians must resort to annexation repeal bills to get their voices heard. It is time that we had meaningful annexation reform that provides for a vote for those wishing to be annexed and for those selected to be annexed. At no time should an annexation proceed without a vote […]
North Carolina's progressive annexation laws are constantly under attack and yet they are what have allowed our cities to stay at a healthy level not found in our neighboring states. Anyone driving on White Horse Road must think Greenville, S.C., one unattractive city, and yet, due to South Carolina's archaic laws, the city has no […]
In the Feb. 16 Xpress article “Hard Rocks, Few Places,” David Forbes [says] that Asheville should have used involuntary annexation as a greater source of income as it brings in significant new revenue. Picking pockets is also a source of revenue. Involuntary annexation is essentially the same thing. Asheville’s budget problems are the result of […]
I live in Asheville, and I have a couple of questions for the North Carolina League of Municipalities. The N.C. League website states, "we believe that a complete stop on all city-initiated annexations across the state is not a necessary or appropriate way to address annexation." When you say "city-initiated annexations," are you really referring […]
In limbo since 2008 due to a faltering economy, the 51 Biltmore project took a couple of steps forward at the Asheville City Council's Dec. 14 meeting. If the hotel/parking deck/retail development is approved, the target site — a large parking lot on Biltmore Avenue — could change dramatically. On a pair of 4-2 votes […]
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, Asheville City Council members held a short work session as well as a regular meeting (see below for a compilation of live dispatches from Xpress Senior News Reporter David Forbes). In one of several actions, Council moved one step closer to approving the hotel-and-parking-deck project proposed for 51 Biltmore Ave.
Hours before its last regular meeting of the year, Asheville City Council members warmed up for a work session on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The main topic — annexation. See below for live Twitter coverage from Senior News Reporter David Forbes.
Asheville City Council meets tonight at 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall — and our senior reporter, David Forbes, will be there in the front row bringing it to you live as it happens on the Twitter. Get all the latest goings-on by following @DavidForbes, by using the hashtag #avlgov, or by clicking through to the next page where you’ll see a live Twitter feed.
One might be forgiven for feeling like they’ve been here before when looking at the agenda for Asheville City Council’s Oct. 26 meeting. The major items — new rules for cellphone towers, an annexation, incentives for Montford Commons and incentives for sustainable and affordable housing — have all been before Council during the last few months.
In a marathon meeting that started with a 3 p.m. work session and wound through several public hearings that didn’t wrap up till about 11:30 p.m., Asheville City Council members voted 5-2 to table annexation decisions for the next 12 months. That puts the Royal Pines annexation on hold. For more meeting highlights, read on…
Photo by Jonathan Welch
At its meeting tomorrow, Aug. 10, Asheville City Council will take up the sale of city property to Habitat for Humanity, a security contract for its parks and proceeding with the annexation of over 700 people.
At its only July meeting tomorrow, Asheville City Council will consider beginning two annexations, an incentive for a Montford development and handicapped onstreet parking in downtown.
At tonight’s meeting, Asheville City Council continued its deliberations over next year’s budget and held public hearings on a number of annexations. Here’s Xpress Senior News Reporter David Forbes’ report, compiled from his live twitter-based coverage.
Tomorrow may see that rarest of all creatures come to Asheville: a short City Council meeting, as it begins early (4 p.m.) and has a short agenda, so Council members can meet with Southern Conference Basketball Tournament decision-makers. Before that, Council has to vote on a series of annexations and unveil next year’s budget.
