Event Recap
City Council Meeting Recap: September 10, 2024
The Asheville City Council held a regular meeting on September 10, 2024, focusing on significant updates to city operations, fiscal reporting, and development regulations. The agenda included a review of the Human Resources Department’s organizational assessment, the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, and public hearings on debt financing and zoning amendments. The council also considered appointments to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Key Decisions and Votes The council voted 6-0 to pass the public hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to revise cottage development standards. Similarly, the council voted 6-0 to pass the public hearing to consider an amendment to the UDO to revise flag lot standards. Regarding the Riverside Drive development, the council voted 4-2 to pass the continuation of consideration for an amendment to the conditional zoning of 179 and 144 Riverside Drive. Councilmembers Roney and Ullman voted against the amendment, which allows for the construction of 240 residential units and removes commercial uses from the project. Additionally, the council appointed Jane Margaret Bell and Anna Zuevskaya to the Planning & Zoning Commission and reappointed Geoffrey Barton.
Discussion Highlights City Manager Deborah Campbell and Learning & Development Specialist Maida Cummings presented an assessment of the Human Resources Department, which included 22 recommendations to shift toward a more people-centric approach. The presentation noted that a new HR Director, Emily Provence, is set to join the team on September 16. Finance Director Tony McDowell and Budget & Performance Manager Lindsey Spangler presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, highlighting progress in equitable housing, homelessness strategies, and community safety. Councilmember Kim Roney expressed concerns about the lack of affordable housing and potential implicit bias in merit-based pay systems, while Councilmember Sage Turner supported the need for more housing and acknowledged infrastructure challenges.
Community Input During the public hearings, several residents spoke regarding the Riverside Drive development and the proposed UDO amendments. Many speakers expressed concern about the lack of affordable housing units in the Riverside Drive project, while others voiced support for increasing housing supply and revitalizing the River Arts District. Barry Bialik, a citizen advocate, presented the proposal to amend the UDO for cottage developments and flag lots, arguing that current regulations hinder the creation of affordable housing and that the city’s aging water and sewer infrastructure poses a barrier to development. Some residents also raised questions about the design of the Riverside Drive development, specifically regarding public spaces and commercial activation.
Follow-ups and Next Steps The council continued the public hearings for the cottage development and flag lot standards to February 11, 2025. Staff will present an overall anti-displacement strategy and timeline at a council work session on September 24, 2024. A final vote on the debt financing to refinance $42 million in 2022 Limited Obligation Bonds is scheduled for the September 24, 2024 meeting. Furthermore, the council will vote on the amended conditional zoning request for 179 and 144 Riverside Drive at the September 24, 2024 meeting.
Impact on Residents These decisions impact housing availability and city finances. The approval of the UDO amendments for cottage developments and flag lots aims to streamline regulations to increase housing options, though the hearings were continued to allow for further review alongside anti-displacement strategies. The amendment to the Riverside Drive conditional zoning significantly alters the project scope, increasing residential density to 240 units and eliminating commercial space, which changes the character of the River Arts District. The debt financing hearing addresses the city’s long-term financial stability by refinancing short-term bonds used for capital projects such as the Broadway Public Safety Station and street resurfacing.