Event Recap
Meeting Overview The Woodfin Town Council held its regular meeting on September 17, 2024. During the session, the council addressed several administrative items, reviewed ongoing town projects, held a public hearing on zoning changes, and established a new grant program for emergency home repairs.
Key Decisions The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda (5-0) and the Consent Agenda (5-0), which included the approval of the minutes from the August 20, 2024, regular and closed session meetings, the Monthly Tax Collection Report for July 2024, and Resolution 2024-010 certifying the North Carolina Great Trails State Program grant application.
In New Business, Council Member Edgerton moved to approve Ordinance 2024-017, a zoning text amendment, subject to specific modifications including changes to the definitions of "governing board" and "Group Care Home" and the removal of "Group Development" as a use. This motion passed unanimously (5-0). Additionally, Council Member Kahn moved to recommend the Town Manager Performance Evaluation Instrument & Process documents as presented by the Performance Plan Subcommittee; this motion also passed unanimously (5-0). Finally, Council Member Kahn moved to authorize the Town Manager to post the Community Partner Grant application, inform area nonprofits, establish a review committee, and enter into an agreement with a selected nonprofit. Council Member Cohen will serve on the review committee. This motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Discussion Highlights Town Manager Shannon Tuch provided a report on various ongoing initiatives. She noted that the Riverside Park & Taylor’s Wave project received a $2.2 million grant recommendation from Buncombe County, though dewatering challenges in the cofferdam may impact the timeline for the wave portion. The report also covered the approval of an $11,000 contract with AmeriCorps to support the volunteer coordinator and a contract with the YMCA to subsidize staff memberships for employee wellness. Regarding public safety, the town received 50 applications for the Police Chief position and is moving forward with interviews. Other updates included the commencement of Town Hall basement repairs to address stormwater infiltration, the finalization of the code update Request for Proposals (RFP), and the submission of the Adopt-a-Drain Program for grant funding from the Pigeon River Fund.
The council held a public hearing on Ordinance 2024-017, which updates Chapter 54 of the town code. The amendment consolidates industrial and manufacturing uses into lighter or heavier categories, eliminates "homestay" as a permitted use due to enforcement challenges, and removes the "group development" special use permit requirement. It also adds definitions for new uses such as solar farms, state prisons, and fuel oil dealers. The Woodfin Planning Board of Adjustment had previously voted to recommend approval, and staff also recommended approval.
Regarding the Community Partner Grant, the council discussed allocating $25,000 for an emergency home repair program. The plan involves soliciting applications from area non-profits, with four providers identified: Mountain Housing Opportunities, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Cima/Emma PODER, and United Community Development. Repairs under the program range from $1,500 to $20,000 and include accessibility modifications, heating/cooling systems, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, and exterior repairs.
Community Input No members of the public signed up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Follow-ups The council authorized the Town Manager to post the Community Partner Grant application and inform area nonprofits. Council Member Cohen agreed to serve on the review committee that will evaluate applications and select a partner. Staff indicated that work on the Town Hall basement repair would begin that week, and the code update RFP would be posted soon. The council noted that further discussion and a potential vote on taking over the Buncombe County stormwater permit closeout process would occur in the future.
Impact These decisions impact residents through updated zoning regulations that streamline permitting and clarify land use standards, as well as through a new financial assistance program for emergency home repairs. The approval of the zoning amendment reduces the number of uses requiring a Special Use Permit from 80 to 28, potentially simplifying the process for property owners and developers. The emergency home repair grant aims to provide targeted assistance to residents facing urgent housing issues, leveraging town funds to support local non-profit partners.