LIVE @ Asheville City Manager Development Forum 11/15/19

Asheville City Manager Development Forum Recap: Shaping the Future of Our City

On November 15, 2019, the City of Asheville hosted its Fall Development Forum, bringing together developers, design professionals, contractors, and neighborhood representatives to discuss ongoing city initiatives and regulatory changes. This forum provided a valuable overview of key projects impacting Asheville’s growth and development, with a focus on fostering collaboration between the city and its development community. While no formal votes were taken during the meeting, several important discussions laid the groundwork for future decisions and actions.

A significant portion of the forum centered on several key development areas. Attendees received updates on the newly rebranded Business Inclusion Office (BIO), formerly known as the Minority Business Program. The BIO is now focused on building relationships and supporting businesses of all backgrounds, with the recently launched Community Capital Fund already facilitating loans for minority-owned enterprises. The city is also actively addressing concerns surrounding hotel development through a temporary moratorium, partnering with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to analyze impacts and gather community input in early 2020. Perhaps the most ambitious initiative discussed was the Urban Centers Rezoning project, aiming to rezone up to 145 acres across four commercial corridors (Patton Avenue, Merriman Avenue, Tunnel Road, and Bleachery Boulevard) to encourage mixed-use development with an emphasis on affordability and walkability. Residents can find the draft code for review on the city website, with ongoing community input being actively sought.

The forum also highlighted the city's efforts to tackle Asheville’s affordable housing crisis, a challenge acknowledged by officials as stemming from the significant gap between wages and housing costs. City staff outlined various strategies, including funding incentives, regulatory changes like density bonuses, and leveraging city-owned land for development. Discussions around permanently affordable housing proved particularly engaging, with the city recognizing this as a complex issue requiring collaborative solutions. Finally, updates were provided on the Haywood & Page Project, showcasing conceptual renderings and a visioning report with a master plan and design expected by spring 2020.

Community members actively participated in the forum, raising questions about funding criteria for the Business Inclusion Office and business credit requirements for loan eligibility. Concerns were also voiced regarding achieving permanently affordable housing solutions, prompting an open discussion about the challenges involved. City officials responded thoughtfully, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and ongoing engagement with residents.

Looking ahead, several key action items emerged from the forum. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the new Development Notification Tool, which provides email updates on major development projects. The city will continue to collaborate with the ULI to analyze hotel impacts, culminating in a public workshop planned for early 2020. The Urban Centers Rezoning project will continue to solicit community input, and the Haywood & Page Project is expected to see further progress with conceptual renderings released in the coming months. The next Development Forum is scheduled for May 15, 2020, providing another opportunity to stay informed and contribute to the shaping of Asheville’s future.

This forum underscored the city's commitment to a transparent and collaborative approach to development, ensuring residents have opportunities to understand and influence the changes impacting their community.