2024.09.17 Woodfin Town Council Meeting

Woodfin Town Council Meeting Recap – September 17, 2024

The Woodfin Town Council convened on September 17, 2024, with Vice Mayor presiding due to the absences of the Mayor and Council Member Young. The meeting covered a wide range of topics impacting Woodfin residents, from ongoing infrastructure projects to updates on community programs and significant changes to the town's zoning regulations.

A major focus of the meeting was the approval of a significant zoning text amendment (Ordinance 2024-017) after extensive review and recommendations from the Planning Board. This amendment modernizes Woodfin’s zoning ordinances, streamlining permitting processes and clarifying land use regulations. Key changes include consolidating industrial and manufacturing uses into lighter or heavier categories, eliminating "homestay" as a permitted use (due to enforcement difficulties), and removing the “group development” special use permit requirement. The amendment also adds new uses like solar farms, state prisons and fuel oil dealers to the definitions within the zoning code. Council members acknowledged the substantial effort involved in this update, recognizing its importance for future development and ensuring consistent application of zoning regulations.

Beyond the zoning amendment, the council received a comprehensive report from Town Manager Shannon detailing several ongoing initiatives. Notably, positive news arrived regarding the Riverside Park & Taylor’s Wave project – Buncombe County has recommended a $2.2 million grant, bringing the town significantly closer to completing this popular community amenity. While challenges remain with dewatering the cofferdam, potentially impacting the wave portion's timeline, this grant represents a major step forward. The council also approved contracts supporting employee wellness through the YMCA Wellness Program and bolstering volunteer coordination with AmeriCorps. Discussions were held regarding a potential emergency home repair grant program, ultimately agreeing to develop an application process and establish a review committee (including Councilman Cohen) to evaluate proposals from local non-profits, aiming to leverage town funds with matching contributions.

Community input was limited, as no residents signed up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. However, council members engaged in robust discussions regarding several key issues. The possibility of Woodfin taking over the Buncombe County stormwater permit closeout process was debated, given ongoing delays. The council also considered implementing a Flock camera system (license plate reader cameras) to assist law enforcement, a topic that will likely see further discussion in future meetings. Finally, the council approved and submitted an application for grant funding from the Pigeon River Fund to support the Adopt-a-Drain program.

Looking ahead, several action items were identified: Interviews will continue to narrow down candidates for the Police Chief position. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the code update will be posted soon. Work on addressing stormwater infiltration issues at the Town Hall basement is slated to begin this week. The council will continue discussions and potentially vote on taking over the stormwater permit closeout process, and they are moving forward with plans to implement an emergency home repair grant program.

This meeting demonstrated the Woodfin Town Council's commitment to addressing key community needs, from improving recreational facilities and supporting employee wellness to modernizing land use regulations. Residents can expect further updates on these initiatives in upcoming council meetings and through town communications channels.