Tag: Asheville City Council
Showing 232-252 of 1662 results
Letter: Say ‘no’ to city’s plan to gut open space requirements
“Many activists, citizens, eco-groups, the Urban Forestry Commission and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee are justly appalled by and formally opposed to PUDD’s machination.”
Council OKs Ramada proposal despite transparency concerns
With only Antanette Mosley opposed, Asheville City Council members voted Dec. 14 to approve the conversion of an East Asheville Ramada Inn into permanent supportive housing for at least 100 homeless residents — a project first floated to the public less than two weeks earlier.
Pavement or paradise? Asheville’s future is yours to decide
“The name of the proposal is the ‘open space amendment,’ and the goal is to dramatically slash, and in some cases, eliminate, the open space that developers are now required to provide with larger construction projects.”
Council to consider new Ramada shelter proposal, homestay updates
The city has been under contract to purchase the 148 River Ford Parkway property since August, and is now considering converting the hotel into permanent supportive housing.
Letter: Place public safety ahead of revenue
“I was surprised when I attended the concert that the vast majority of 6,500 people in attendance were not wearing face masks, and the city-owned venue is unable to enforce a face-mask requirement indoors.”
Repurposing vacant commercial property could help combat sprawl, create affordable housing
Countless existing structures of every shape and size remain vacant throughout the city, many in decrepit condition after years with no occupants. According to the National Association of Realtors’ Q3 2021 Commercial Real Estate Metro Market Report, 26% of Asheville’s currently available commercial space is vacant, including industrial, multifamily, retail and office properties.
Temporary Asheville space-sharing may become long term
The AVL Shares Space program expanded business operations onto public sidewalks and parking spaces, loosened minimum parking requirements so that businesses could use their own parking lots for expansion and created temporary curbside pick-up zones in downtown and West Asheville to accommodate increases in takeout sales.
Council to consider 911 services consolidation
Per the agreement, all city 911 dispatchers would be hired by Buncombe County, which would eliminate all transferring between the county and city, and the city would reimburse the county for the cost of its dispatches.
Letter: Ullman offers qualifications and experience
“In my years as a reporter, a Council member and a city voter, I’ve not seen a more qualified and experienced entrant to the Asheville political scene.”
Council approves funding for Haywood Street development
The proposed location for the affordable development is located in the West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood. All of the apartments would be reserved for people earning less than 80% of the area median income ($60,100 for a family of four); up to half of those units could be available for those earning 30% AMI or less.
Letter: Can Hippie Girl still wear Chanel?
“Why can’t we have both? Sensible development with a conscience?”
Council to review Haywood Street housing contract
Council will consider revising an agreement with the nonprofit after the group decided to drop one affordable housing proposal after significant community pushback.
Council to consider conditional zoning for 130 Charlotte St. development
The 186-unit project would also include roughly 4,500 square feet of commercial and retail space, 230 parking spaces in an underground garage and six parking spaces on East Chestnut Street.
Avian lovers committed to making Asheville bird-friendly
On an upper floor of Zeis Hall on the UNC Asheville campus is a small room containing many birds. None of these birds are alive. Each one is dead, preserved through taxidermy and stacked side by side in individual Tupperware containers. The room, smelling faintly of formaldehyde, is a biological specimen laboratory. The collection is […]
Letter: Why have land-use plans if they can’t be counted on?
“What is the point of envisioning the future if, when the future arrives, the plans are changed and can’t be counted on? People lose trust.”
How to make Indigenous Peoples Day mean something
“As we collectively move to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in Asheville, my hope is that actual Indigenous people and the issues they confront are at the forefront of what we do, how we reflect and how we acknowledge the deep responsibility we have to the land we inhabit.”
Business pushes back as Council OKs Urban Place Zoning
The zoning ordinance drew criticism from property rights advocates and lawyers representing some business owners whose properties are located in the newly rezoned areas.
APD announces policy changes in wake of 2020 protests
APD’s policy now states that officers “will not destroy personal or abandoned property unless it poses an immediate danger to officers” or the public — a change made in response to criticism over destruction of medical supplies and food at a protester medic station.
Urban centers zoning comes to Council Sept. 28
Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission narrowly voted to approve the proposed zoning amendment in a 4-3 vote Sept. 1. If the change is approved, they will hold a subsequent public hearing to consider rezoning several properties totalling 122 acres to the new district
Council approves COVID relief spending categories
Starting Friday, Sept. 24, local organizations can submit projects in the following categories for grants from the federal funds: affordable housing, care for aging residents, climate change, city infrastructure, domestic violence prevention and assistance, food systems, homelessness services, public engagement, revenue losses, small business recovery and workforce development.