Asheville City Council
February 28, 2023
Regular meeting
Streets and transitOther City businessHousing
The short version
10 decisions: 8 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 2 voted on separately.
- Council rezones 43 Redfern St from Institutional - Conditional Zoning (INST - CZ) to Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM-8).
Council voted to rezone 43 Redfern St from Institutional - Conditional Zoning (INST - CZ) to Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM-8).
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council rezones 234 Hendersonville Rd, with conditions, from Office (OFF I) and Highway Business (HB) to Highway Business (HB).
Council voted to rezone 234 Hendersonville Rd, with conditions, from Office (OFF I) and Highway Business (HB) to Highway Business (HB).
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
The short version is picked by a fixed rule, never by the order of the minutes: split votes and failed motions first, then changes to a program, a service or who qualifies, then the largest amounts, then budgets, zoning, laws and fees. Schedules, appointments, event permits and tax refunds come last.
The recording and the record
What residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- need to have critical thinking in how we implement the roll out the infrastructure for broadband wi-fi
- history of City Council
- the need to prioritize the water infrastructure above the baseline
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to rezone 43 Redfern St from Institutional - Conditional Zoning (INST - CZ) to Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM-8).
- What the City says it's for: “The purpose of the RM-8 zoning district is, “to permit a full range of medium density multi-family housing types along with single-family detached and attached residences.””
- “The rezoning petition consists of a single property totalling 0.29 acres located at 43 Redfern St (PIN 9628-95-4517).”
- “The property is currently zoned Institutional - Conditional Zoning (INST - CZ) per a Conditional Use Permit adopted April 2004 (Ord.”
- “The land use of the property is currently a single-family detached house that is used for activities associated with the West Asheville Baptist Church.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to rezone 234 Hendersonville Rd, with conditions, from Office (OFF I) and Highway Business (HB) to Highway Business (HB).
- What the City says it's for: “The purpose of the Highway Business (HB) zoning district is, “to address the needs of commercial development along major thoroughfares.”
- “The rezoning petition consists of a single property totalling 1.19 acres located at 234 Hendersonville Rd (PIN 9647-77-5785).”
- “The property is currently zoned Office (OFF I) and Highway Business (HB) and is in the Hotel Overlay District allowing large and small hotels.”
- “The land use of the property is currently a hotel operated by Clarion Inn.”
What that means
- Conditional zoning:
- Zoning for one property with conditions the owner must follow, such as a site plan or a cap on size.
Approved together on the consent agenda
8 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- What the City says it's for: “The project will include an advisory working group of the Planning & Zoning Commission that will be made up of 14 individuals to provide broad-based review and feedback to staff during the project.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Opticos Design, Inc. in the amount of $115,000 for a missing middle housing study and displacement risk assessment.”
- “On February 2, 2023, staff provided an update to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC).”
- “CED is funding the displacement analysis using a budget initially planned for an Affordable Housing Plan, and will seek grant funding to supplement the remaining budget for that plan.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Approval of a budget amendment to HCCA Operating Fund in the amount of $900,000 to reflect updated Fiscal Year 2022-23 (FY23) revenue and expenditure projections. 2-28-23 Page 7 Background:”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- Budget amendment:
- A change to the City's spending plan after it's passed. It adds money that came in, or moves money to a new use.
- Fiscal year:
- The City's budget year runs from July 1 to June 30. Fiscal year 2027 runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
More
Council voted to approve a contract with Steri-Clean NC for Biohazardous Waste Cleanup and WNC Landscaping LLC for Roadside Litter & Hotspot Collection.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The resolution will authorize the City Manager to execute change orders to move funds into and out of each contract if needed, while maintaining the total not-to-exceed project amount of $500,000.”
- “The Public Works Sanitation Division proposed to fill a current service gap by providing services for roadside litter and hot spot litter collection, including cleanup of sites containing biohazardous materials.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council changes a contract for Wilma Dykeman Greenway landscape maintenance.
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Council voted to change its contract with Rivertop Contracting Inc. for Wilma Dykeman Greenway landscape maintenance.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
Council voted to change the name of the Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy & the Environment to Sustainability Advisory Committee; and that all nine seats on the committee be at-large appointments.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council changes its contract with MHG Asheville MX, LP.
More
Council voted to change its contract with MHG Asheville MX, LP to temporarily close the Biltmore Avenue Parking Garage to pour a new slab at the top of parking structure that will replace the existing slab that is being demolished and removed.
- “The Moxy Hotel, a 115 unit, 7-story building, is currently being constructed on the south side of the Biltmore Avenue Parking Garage by MHG Asheville MX, LP.”
- “Temporary loss of 1,122 square feet of Parking Services’ office and storage space.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Everything on the agenda
From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.
CONSENT AGENDA
8 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to rezone 234 Hendersonville Road from Office District and Highway Business District to Highway Business District
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to rezone 234 Hendersonville Road from Office District and Highway Business District to Highway Business District.”
Public hearing to rezone 43 Redfern Street from Institutional District/Conditional Zone to RM-8 Residential Multi-Family Medium Density District
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to rezone 43 Redfern Street from Institutional District/Conditional Zone to RM-8 Residential Multi-Family Medium Density District.”
Public hearing relative to adoption of the south slope: a southside neighborhood vision plan
“Councilwoman Mosley moved to continue this public hearing until March 28, 2023.”
NEW BUSINESS
Public comment on Fiscal Year 2024 budget priorities
“City Manager Campbell said that tonight is kind of a milestone for us in that we have never had an opportunity for public input this early in the budget process.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
Summaries are written by hand from the minutes, and every number and name in them is checked against the minutes' own words. An item not written yet shows a summary built by fixed rules from its official title. Every item shows its official title. Procedural motions, like approving the agenda or adjourning, are left out.