Asheville and Buncombe County have worked for several years on plans to reduce the area’s solid waste stream, but implementing “pay as you throw” and municipal composting programs remain in the realm of good ideas rather than reality or even future plans. But the city says it hasn’t given up on initiatives to divert more waste away from the landfill.
Asheville City Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations presented by a volunteer citizen panel as the basis for soliciting design services on on Tuesday, March 28. But the community vision presented by the Haywood Street Advisory Team leaves a lot of room for interpretation — and possibly for future controversy about the long-debated best uses for the site.
Expanded bus routes and hours could help more Asheville residents gain consistent access to healthy food. But a more effective city transit system may be a little way down the road.
Through their elected leaders, Asheville voters will now have more say-so over development projects downtown and new hotels citywide.
Asheville
The Council of Independent Business Owners returned to the topic of district elections for seats on Asheville City Council at its monthly Issues Meeting on Feb. 10. Unsurprisingly, opinions on the wisdom of making a change were mixed.
City Council voted unanimously to deny the zoning request for a 185-room hotel at 192 Haywood St. at its Jan. 24 meeting. Police Chief Tammy Hooper gave an update on policing in the city in 2016.
New transportation options are changing the ways locals and tourists get around town. How will the popularity of services like Uber and a new downtown shuttle called Slidr affect the transportation landscape? And what will that mean for parking, traffic and public transportation as the region adapts?
While July was marked by a series of protests, rallies and demands for changes to the APD’s approach to policing in the city’s marginalized communities — especially its 11 public housing neighborhoods — August saw a shift in tone, with the outline of a collaborative process arising out of discussions among the APD, City Council and a wide range of community groups convened by the Racial Justice Coalition.
In an election year that has many people looking for more choices, come November three presidential candidates will be on North Carolina’s ballot. Xpress looks at what it takes to gain ballot access in the Tar Heel State.
“Cecil Bothwell’s leaving the Democratic Party because he is a Bernie Sanders supporter seems to echo his candidate’s behavior.”
“To old friend Cecil Bothwell, I’d like to suggest heeding some lines from the country tune ‘The Gambler.'”
“Remember that politics is the art of compromise, and the fact that that word is so reviled by many congressmen explains why nothing has advanced there. Will Bothwell be one of those, too?”
Regulations intended to provide more city control over street musicians and performers are once again on the Public Safety Committee’s agenda. The committee will host a Downtown Public Space Management Forum on Wednesday, June 22 at 3 p.m. in the U.S. Cellular Center Banquet Hall.
At its June 14 meeting, City Council approved a conditional zoning request for a 290-unit apartment complex off Long Shoals Road that will displace 55 low-income families from a mobile home park located on part of the project site.
Asheville City Council weighed concerns about private property rights, environmental impact, equitable access to public lands and “selfies with bears” before authorizing the Parks & Recreation Department to move forward on soliciting bids for the construction of the Beaucatcher Greenway.
At its regular meeting on April 12, Asheville City Council passed a strongly-worded resolution calling for the repeal of House Bill 2. Citizens and Council members reflected on the impact of the law on many aspects of life in North Carolina, striking a chord of near-unanimity in wholehearted dissent.
To make way for the planned Beaucatcher Greenway, how many trees must be cut to preserve the forest? And does significant construction on steep sections make sense to begin with? Those are among the questions being asked by residents at both ends of the planned greenway route — and they say the city’s answers have been few and far between.
The Asheville Police Department trails the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office in rolling out police body cameras — but the city is trying to catch up. Police Chief Tammy Hooper outlined a draft policy for the cameras at a recent panel discussion, and says the first cameras will be deployed by summer. We look into what needs to happen between now and then to make that schedule happen.
