Stay up to date with projects working their way through the Asheville and Buncombe County development processes — as well as when and where to comment on them — through the Xpress development roundup.
Tag: City of Asheville
Showing 106-126 of 663 results
Adding consult to injury
Letter: City acts to punish, not lead on homelessness issue
“Asheville city government appears to be failing its responsibilities as the custodian of homelessness funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
Letter: Let’s really talk about homeless encampments
“It’s not enough to just ask for suggestions about ‘what to do with ‘these’ people.’ We’re talking about human beings with diverse needs and circumstances.”
Letter: The city’s crusade against the homeless
“The homeless, their dignity, their civil rights and their belongings are regularly being bulldozed by those with power in Asheville.”
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.”
Letter: Why should city residents pay extra taxes?
“Paying taxes to the county for services which it does not provide city residents and paying twice for some of them is outrageous.”
WNC wrestles with light pollution
With the notable exception of the IDA-certified dark sky park at the PARI in Transylvania County — one of only two such facilities in the state — no sky in Western North Carolina is untouched by light pollution. Central Asheville can reach as high as a 6 on the Bortle Scale, in which 1 is complete darkness and 9 is the Las Vegas Strip.
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.”
Green in brief: Asheville falls behind carbon reduction targets
In fiscal year 2019-20, the most recent year for which data is available, the city emitted the equivalent of roughly 18,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Its target for the year was approximately 15,600 metric tons of CO2, about 15% less than the actual figure.
Letter: Where are government’s priorities?
“I would like to know why North Carolina, Buncombe County and the city of Asheville don’t help people with disabilities.”
Asheville works to partner with women- and minority-owned businesses
The city’s Minority or Woman Business Enterprise Certification, a process that officially went into effect on Jan. 1, is designed to help entrepreneurs build their businesses and get more opportunities for government contracts.
Letter: Why did property taxes go up so much?
“The overall tax rate did go down some, but due to my taxable value going up — my total taxes are up 13.76%, and I’m sure theirs also significantly went up.”
Asheville Motor Speedway’s legacy endures
More than two decades after the speedway closed, some of its most passionate supporters gauge the historical significance of “The River,” as well as the opportunities available to modern racing fans and drivers.
Buncombe revisits indoor mask mandate, COVID emergency Aug. 17
Currently, Buncombe recommends indoor masking as a response to COVID-19 but has instituted no legal mandate. The city of Asheville also plans to reinstate a similar requirement, while rules in other county municipalities would be left to their governing bodies.
Asheville floats zoning changes to boost dense development
The city’s urban centers initiative, as well as updates to open-space requirements for new projects, are meant to encourage denser development patterns, supporting less car-dependent communities and increasing the city’s tax base.
Noise ordinance changes come before Council July 27
Scheduled for a vote at Council’s regular meeting is a series of revisions to the city’s noise ordinance that would set specific decibel levels for downtown, as well as commercial and industrial areas, as measured from any property away from the source of the noise.
Letter: Support citizen safety efforts first
“Should not the county/city focus on supporting citizen safety efforts before looking at marketing programs targeted at tourism?”
Letter: Thanks for River Arts District greenway and more
“I am so grateful to all the DOT and city of Asheville employees who worked day after day through a pandemic on this project to beautify our town.”
Electric bikes poised for larger role in WNC transportation
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 0.2% of workers in the four-county Asheville metro area commute by bike, less than half the national average. But the owners of Asheville’s first electric bike dealership, as well as and regional transportation planners, think e-bikes are likely to change that number.
Low-barrier shelter may fill temporary housing gaps
Newly formed Asheville nonprofit Accessing Needed Crisis and Critical Help Outreach and Resources is proposing a low-barrier, high-access shelter that would forego many of the usual rules for tenants. Start-up costs could reach $6.5 million, with annual operating costs of $3 million, and would initially be funded through Asheville’s approximately $26.1 million in federal coronavirus relief.