The popularity of composting is growing in Buncombe County, and government-sponsored food-scrap collection programs are helping some residents divert food waste from landfills.
Tag: Buncombe County
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Letter: War and peace and Buncombe County
“And yes, there often are multiple causes of war, but that means the influence of defense contractors can’t be discounted, either.”
Top of the town: Conservancy may save Deaverview from development
The 342-acre tract atop Deaverview Mountain, just five miles from downtown Asheville, was purchased by an anonymous conservationist in March with the intention of selling the land to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. SAHC has three years to obtain federal and state grants to repay the buyer, then it plans to turn the property over to Buncombe County as a park or preserve.
Wellness roundup: Buncombe County reveals next steps for opioid settlements
According to the Opioid Settlement Strategic Planning Report, goals for fiscal years 2024-26 include reductions in overdose-related visits to area ERs, the jail population incarcerated for substance use-related charges and the number of behavioral health-related EMS dispatches.
Letter: We need a countywide tree ordinance
“I would like to see a new tree ordinance adopted countywide that increases the number of trees to be planted on property that is being developed.”
Is Western North Carolina ready for coming EV surge?
Electric vehicles are popular in Buncombe County, a trend that will continue for years to come. As more drivers enter the world of EVs, doe the area have enough places for people to charge?
Letter: Save our libraries — again
“Buncombe commissioners have so little regard for libraries and librarians that it’s OK to make our woefully underfunded system worse for both patrons and staff.”
Letter: Keep government’s hands out of short-term rentals
“I am concerned with the ‘power’ that the government would have to ‘regulate’ Airbnbs.”
Letter: No real need for more surveillance
“It would be an open invitation to violate people’s First, Fourth and 14th amendment rights.”
County properties identified for affordable housing
Nearly 480 affordable housing units could be built on property owned by Buncombe County, according to a new analysis shared with the county Board of Commissioners.
Buncombe considers preemptive zoning for crypto mines
The county has not received any applications for cryptocurrency mines, according to a staff presentation provided ahead of a briefing scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21. But commissioners are expected to weigh in on whether county zoning should be updated in anticipation of future development requests.
Report: Buncombe homelessness can be halved in 2 years
Much of the presentation focused on the shortcomings of how local governments and service providers currently collaborate to address homelessness.
Buncombe sets goals for state lobbyists
Buncombe first hired Ward and Smith last May, agreeing to pay the firm $72,000 annually to advocate for the county’s interests at the state legislature. A Jan. 30 gathering at the DoubleTree hotel in Biltmore Village marked the first extended public discussion of the lobbyists’ work since that contract was inked.
Development roundup: Northridge Farms proposes 577 units for Weaverville
The proposed development on 88.12 acres would include 118 single-family homes, 163 townhomes or casitas and 296 multifamily apartments across 11 buildings. The single-family homes would be for sale; all other units would be rented out.
Council to consider reparations commission audit request Jan. 24
The reparations commission unanimously approved a recommendation for the city of Asheville and Buncombe County to “stop further harm” to the Black community by “ceasing the repetition of institutional processes that lead to racially disparate outcomes.” The audit is meant to ensure that such harms have actually ceased and that local governments are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Letter: Where is help for people with disabilities?
“They waste money instead of building sidewalks on every state and city road.”
Reparations commission requests audit
The proposed audit, presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 17, would look at whether the city and county are complying with “federal and state laws, regulatory bodies, codes of conduct, court orders and consent degrees,” with a focus on damage caused to the Black community by noncompliance.
Development roundup: P&Z approves new Enka Commerce Park plans
The new plans call for three buildings with a combined total of 585,360 square feet, as well as 463 parking spaces and truck loading docks. The project is tentatively scheduled to come before Asheville City Council for final approval on Tuesday, Jan. 24, where the public will be allowed to provide further input.
Letter: Abortion funds are too dilute
“I am quite hopeful that if I give as an individual to Asheville Planned Parenthood, I can recoup my money in a few years in the form of local school tax savings.”
Commissioners to hear domestic violence update Jan. 17
The annual report and accompanying presentation were created by Buncombe’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, which was formed in 2018 to prevent domestic violence deaths in the county.
Buncombe prepares for trash collection fee increase
Waste Pro, Buncombe’s waste management contractor, will bump the rate it charges customers for trash pickup by $1.62 per month at the start of the year. On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the company will also ask the county Board of Commissioners to authorize an additional rate hike of 39 cents per month in light of higher recyclable processing costs.