Event Recap
Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment convened on January 14, 2026, in Commissioners’ Chambers to address zoning matters, including a mobile home variance and a special use permit for a solid waste facility. The meeting included standard procedural items such as the approval of previous minutes and the disclosure of ex-parte communications. Simultaneous interpretation services in Spanish were provided for attendees.
Villa Variance (ZPH2025-00032) The Board addressed a continued variance request from Walter Lucas of Titan Factory Direct, on behalf of owner Pilar Villa Chacon, to reduce the front setback for a manufactured home at 90 Hazelwood Road from 10 feet to 4 feet. Staff reported that the property is serviced by public utilities but has an encroachment into the setback line. Neighbor Chrissy Lytle, who owns properties at 96 and 92 Hazelwood Road, asserted standing to testify, citing yard damage, safety hazards related to power line repairs, and concerns about emergency vehicle access. The applicant explained that the property was purchased after site plan review and permit approval, but a surveyor had initially failed to include a legal right-of-way in the plans. The applicant also noted that the Homeowners Association had initially approved the project but later blocked construction due to disputes over access rights with Ms. Lytle. After reviewing the applicant’s good faith efforts and testimony regarding ongoing property line disputes, the Board unanimously approved the variance request. Staff was directed to draft an order consistent with the motion. The hearing for this case remains open and will be continued at a future meeting.
Leicester Stump Dump (ZPH2025-00039) The Board also heard a special use permit application from Shawn Ray of Riverside Stump Dump, Inc., on behalf of owner Daniel Nix, to establish a solid waste management facility to process vegetative brush. The initial focus of the discussion was granting standing to potentially affected property owners. The Board voted to grant standing to Ruckel, Hoffman, McDowell-Wall, Snelson, Lusk, and Morris. Several other applicants, including Morgan Curtis Boyd Jr., Angela Price, Leslie and Randall Tye, Francisco Rodriguez, Sam Pike, and Heather McCurry, withdrew their standing applications but will be allowed to testify as witnesses later. Following a staff report on the facility, the Board voted to continue the hearing until their next meeting in February. A community meeting will be hosted at the Newfound Baptist Church to provide additional information and address questions regarding the project.
Procedures and Follow-ups The Board approved the minutes from the December meeting and acknowledged the standing of Chrissy Lytle and the applicant Walter Lucas. Chair Ball emphasized the need for adherence to quasi-judicial hearing procedures, requiring decisions to be based on "competent, relevant, and substantial evidence." The Board closed the standing portion of the Leicester Stump Dump hearing, preventing further standing applications before the next meeting.
Several follow-up actions were assigned during the meeting:
- Mr. Ellison agreed to provide a summary of the applicant’s concerns regarding the mobile home variance to the Board.
- Staff agreed to clarify the date when the setback issue was discovered and notified to the applicant, confirming the building permit expired on April 11, 2025.
- Staff will prepare a paper standing application for an applicant who requested to be added to the list for the Leicester Stump Dump.
- Staff will send a reminder to all parties involved in the Leicester Stump Dump, requiring them to submit any planned documentation five business days in advance.
Impact on Residents The approval of the variance at 90 Hazelwood Road allows for the placement of a mobile home on the property, resolving a dispute that had previously blocked construction due to access and setback issues. The Leicester Stump Dump project remains pending, with the Board deferring a final decision to the February meeting to allow for further documentation and community engagement. Residents in the area may attend the upcoming community meeting at Newfound Baptist Church to learn more about the proposed solid waste facility.