Asheville City Council
September 10, 2024
Regular meeting
Other City businessHousing
The short version
2 decisions, each voted on separately. 1 vote split.
- Council changes the zoning conditions for 179 and 144 Riverside Drive.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman.
- A motion to approve the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances regarding flag lot standards was withdrawn.
A motion to approve the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances regarding flag lot standards as proposed with a delayed effective date of January 31, 2025, and find that the proposed amendments are reasonable, in the public interest, and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and will have an effective date of January 31, 2025, to allow for community input and anti-displacement strategies to be adopted was withdrawn before a vote.
Put off to a later meeting.
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.
- missing middle housing, support for International Day of Peace
- racism, support for ceasefire resolution
- invitation to the 2nd Annual Festival of Neighborhoods
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council changes the zoning conditions for 179 and 144 Riverside Drive.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman.
More
- “The parcels are currently zoned Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone (COM EXP-CZ) and RAD-OSP CZ per Ord.”
- “At this time, staff finds that the proposed changes are reasonable improvements in addressing concerns outlined in the staff report and therefore concurs with the Planning and Zoning Commission approval of this request for an amendment to the existing rezoning.”
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.
Put off to a later meeting.
More
A motion to approve the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances regarding flag lot standards as proposed with a delayed effective date of January 31, 2025, and find that the proposed amendments are reasonable, in the public interest, and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and will have an effective date of January 31, 2025, to allow for community input and anti-displacement strategies to be adopted was withdrawn before a vote.
- “In general, staff believe this to be an ineffective tool for increasing housing supply because it incentivizes single-family homes and tends to create disorganized development patterns.”
- “Promote the Development and Availability of Affordable Housing and Workforce Housing”
- “After considering the proposed text amendment at two meetings, the Technical Review Committee did not approve the text amendment as initially proposed (i.e. 5 foot flagpole).”
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
0 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s Report - Update on the Human Resources department organizational assessment Report
“City Manager Campbell outlined the following key takeaways from her presentation as follows: (1) In the Fall of 2023, the City’s Human Resources Department (HR) underwent an assessment to explore and assess performance issues; (2) The City Manager’s Office (CMO) initiated the assessment to ensure…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to pursue and negotiate on behalf of the City debt financing associated with the refunding of the $42 Million 2022 Limited Obligation Bonds
“Finance Director Tony McDowell said that this is the consideration of a public hearing to pursue and negotiate on behalf of the City debt financing associated with the refunding of the $42 Million 2022 Limited Obligation Bonds.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to a conditional zoning of 179 and 144 Riverside Drive for the purpose of making Changes to the project conditions and site plans to allow for construction of 240 residential units and remove…
“Mayor Manheimer said that this public hearing was held on August 27, 2024, and continued to this date in order for the applicant to consider the concerns expressed by City Council at their August 27 meeting, and bring back a project that adheres to the existing plans we have.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to change the development regulations related to cottage developments
“This is the consideration of a resident-led text amendment to Section 7-16-1 (b) (20) to change the development regulations related to cottage developments.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance in order to update regulations for Flag Lots
“This is the consideration of a resident-led zoning text amendment to revise Section 7-11-2 (j) of the Unified Development Ordinance in order to update regulations for flag lots.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution appointing members to the Planning & Zoning Commission
“Vice-Mayor Kilgore, Chair of the Boards & Commissions Committee, said that this is the consideration of appointing members to the Planning & Zoning Commission.”
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.