Asheville City Council
March 10, 2026
Regular meeting: City Council Meeting (In-Person)
HousingOther City businessWaterPublic safetyHelene recoveryBudget and taxes
The short version
15 decisions: 11 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 4 voted on separately.
- Council rezones 383 N. Louisiana Ave for 89 affordable homes.
Council voted to rezone 383 N. Louisiana Ave for 89 affordable homes.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council rescinds the Stewart Street Cottages loan.
Council voted to rescind the Stewart Street Cottages loan.
- Council rezones 230 Sardis Rd, with conditions.
Council voted to rezone 230 Sardis Rd, with conditions, from Industrial (IND) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ) as well as amend the Future Land Use Map from Industrial/Manufacturing to Residential Neighborhood.
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 changes
Only what the record supports for each item, and what's still pending.
- Council rezones 383 N. Louisiana Ave for 89 affordable homes.
This allowed an 89-unit development with every unit income-restricted, on land zoned for offices. The city's findings cite housing supply near transit, schools, and parks.
- Council rescinds the Stewart Street Cottages loan.
This recovered $1,052,850 of Housing Trust Fund money after the developer's requested changes did not comply with the fund's policy. The developer kept building two homes, with affordability funded from other sources.
- Council approves applying for the funding from the NC Department of commerce Small Business Infrastructure grant to extend a sewer line in Enka Commerce Park.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- Council approves applying for the department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance fiscal year 2025 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative grant.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
What residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- spend more money on the Walton Street pool to return it to the way it was
- concern that the City put a dog park in Aston Park
- concern of the redesign of our public transit network and the human costs of removing routes
- need to have resilient development
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council rezones 383 N. Louisiana Ave for 89 affordable homes.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More
Council voted to rezone 383 N. Louisiana Ave for 89 affordable homes.
What this changes: This allowed an 89-unit development with every unit income-restricted, on land zoned for offices. The city's findings cite housing supply near transit, schools, and parks.
Council rezones 230 Sardis Rd, with conditions.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to rezone 230 Sardis Rd, with conditions, from Industrial (IND) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ) as well as amend the Future Land Use Map from Industrial/Manufacturing to Residential Neighborhood.
- What the City says it's for: “The proposed project would result in a total impervious area of 37%.”
- “Compatibility Analysis: The proposed multi-family project is compatible with the surrounding land uses, including: Existing multi-family residential uses to the south, known as Greymont Village.”
- “Proposed multi-family development across from the project site, known as Sardis Apartments, which received a conditional zoning approval in 2022 for 297 residential units.”
- “The maximum building height of the proposed project is approximately 52’ as measured to the ceiling of the highest floor.”
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.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to rezone 383 N. Louisiana Avenue, with conditions, from Office (OFF I) to Office - Conditional Zone (OFF I-CZ).
- What the City says it's for: “The proposed project would result in a total impervious area of 54.3% or 1.7 ac.”
- “Some building impact landscaping is also being proposed as open space and tree canopy preservation.”
- “The maximum building height of the proposed project is approximately 48’, as measured to the ceiling of the highest occupiable floor of the apartment building.”
- “Maximum density in the OFF-I district is 50 units/acre for projects meeting affordability criteria, which would be 186 units total for the proposed project site.”
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.
Official title
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
- “The 2025-2029 Asheville Area Housing Needs Assessment (the Bowen Report) indicated a profound need for new affordable rental units.”
- “Currently, the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan does not include Affordable Rental Construction as a goal and priority need, meaning no such projects, like multifamily new construction, may be undertaken.”
- “On January 14th, 2026, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium voted unanimously to recommend amending the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to add Affordable Rental Construction as a goal and priority need.”
Approved together on the consent agenda
11 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council rescinds the Stewart Street Cottages loan.
More
Council voted to rescind the Stewart Street Cottages loan.
What this changes: This recovered $1,052,850 of Housing Trust Fund money after the developer's requested changes did not comply with the fund's policy. The developer kept building two homes, with affordability funded from other sources.
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 adds $2.49 million to the budget for the azalea park recovery project.
More
Council voted to add $2.49 million from Office of State Budget and Management - Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program to the budget for the azalea park recovery project.
- What the City says it's for: “The program funds capital projects to repair, renovate, or replace damaged infrastructure that is ineligible or denied for FEMA Public Assistance.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion: Motion to adopt a budget amendment in the General Capital Projects Fund in the amount of $2,487,500 from the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) - Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program for the Azalea Park Recovery Project ORDINANCE BOOK NO. 36 - PAGE 389”
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.
Council adds $10 million to the budget for Water Resilience Improvements.
More
Council voted to add $10 million from N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to the budget for Water Resilience Improvements.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion: Motion to adopt a budget amendment in the Water Capital Projects Fund in the amount of $10,000,000 from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for Water Resilience Improvements ORDINANCE BOOK NO. 36 - PAGE 390”
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.
More
Council voted to change its contract with GHD Engineering for the Task Order 8 - Debruhl Water Treatment Plant chemical bulk storage project.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City entered into a Supplemental Professional Services contract/ Change Order with GHD Engineering for Task Order 8-Debruhl Water Treatment Plant Chemical Bulk Storage Project as approved by City Council Resolution No. 24-30 on February 13, 2024 in the amount of $145,000.”
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 approves the Community & Economic Development Director to be an authorized signatory.
More
Council voted to approve the Community & Economic Development Director to be an authorized signatory on behalf of the City of Asheville as the Responsible Entity for U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development compliant environmental reviews that do not require a formal Request for Release of Funds, and ratify such signature authority for all prior environmental reviews.
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 approve applying for the funding from the NC Department of commerce Small Business Infrastructure grant to extend a sewer line in Enka Commerce Park: to accept said grant funds. It also lets the City accept the money if the grant is awarded.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- “To restore and provide reliable sanitary sewer service to the park, the sewer line must now be extended approximately 3,000 linear feet along Hominy Creek, exclusively due to the storm-related damage.”
- “The sewer infrastructure will serve over 100,000 square feet of existing, completed speculative industrial space that is currently available for lease.”
- “The extension also unlocks approximately 30 additional acres of industrial land, planned for more than 500,000 square feet of future Class A industrial space designed to accommodate small businesses.”
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 approves the alcoholic beverage commission’s updated pay range for the general manager.
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 an agreement for the Employee Health Services clinic through June 30, 2026.
More
Council voted to change its agreement with Marathon Health LLC Through June 30, 2026 for the Employee Health Services clinic through June 30, 2026.
- What the City says it's for: “This amendment will extend the current contract through June 30, 2026 and allow those discussions and negotiations to continue.”
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 approve a contract with Global Public Safety LLC to install police equipment and lighting to 45 new Asheville Police Department vehicles.
- “Fleet Management alongside the City’s Purchasing Division is working on the purchase of twenty-one (21) additional SUV units expected to arrive this calendar year.”
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
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- What the City says it's for: “This grant allows personnel expenses to be funded.”
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.
- 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
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.
Everything on the agenda
From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation proclaiming March, 2026, as “Red Cross Month”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming March , 20 26 , as " Red Cross Month " in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
11 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report - recovery progress update: recovery
“Coordinator Bridget Herring provided the following key takeaways from her presentation as follows: (1) Project development work is being completed to ensure that cost recovery is maximized and that infrastructure is rebuilt to be more resilient; (2) While availability of recovery funds remains…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to conditionally rezone 230 Sardis Road from Industrial District to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally rezone 230 Sardis Road from Industrial District to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone.”
Public hearing to conditionally rezone 383 n. Louisiana Avenue from Office District to Office District - Conditional Zone
“Project Location and Contacts: The project site totals 3.13 acres on one parcel addressed as 383 N Louisiana Avenue, and identified in the Buncombe County Tax Record as PIN: 9638-29-1363 Owner(s): Betty Hampton, Marlisa Faris, John Drake, and Mark Drake Applicant: Civil Design Concepts/Warren Sugg,…”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution regarding 2025-29 Consolidated Plan amendment to add Affordable Rental Construction as a priority need and goal: community development
“Division Manager James Shelton said that this is the consideration of a resolution approving the proposed amendment of the City’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to add affordable rental construction as a priority need and goal and submission to the US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development; and further…”
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.