Board of Adjustment Meeting: Jan. 8, 2025
January 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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Event Recap
Board of Adjustment Meeting Recap: January 8, 2025
On January 8th, 2025, the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment convened to address zoning-related requests, primarily focusing on two significant cases: a proposed townhome development on Emma Road and a potential concrete plant facility on Goldview Road. The meeting, attended by Board members, applicants, and concerned residents, centered around reviewing these proposals and determining if variances from existing zoning regulations are warranted. This recap provides a clear overview of the discussions, decisions, and next steps for those interested in understanding how these developments might impact our community.
The meeting began with routine approvals, including the minutes from previous special meetings held in December. Following this, Board members disclosed any potential conflicts of interest or outside communications related to the pending cases; no immediate concerns were raised. A key decision involved a request from Civil Design Concepts, representing the Emma Road Townhomes project, to postpone deliberations for one month. The Board approved this continuance, indicating that further discussions with neighboring residents are needed before a final decision can be made. This postponement will carry the matter forward to their February meeting.
The bulk of the meeting was dedicated to a public hearing regarding SCM (Southern Concrete Materials)’s proposal for a concrete plant on Goldview Road. Residents voiced significant concerns about the potential impacts of the facility, focusing primarily on three key areas: air quality due to fly ash emissions, potential depletion of the local water table affecting private wells, and increased truck traffic posing safety risks on residential roads. Several residents, including Christina Sobin, Graham Gidley, Molly Zalewski and James Campbell, presented detailed testimonies outlining these concerns. Ms. Sobin specifically highlighted potential health risks associated with fly ash, while others emphasized the disruption to neighborhood character and questioned the necessity of a variance.
Ultimately, the Board did not reach a decision on the SCM Concrete Plant proposal. Recognizing the complexity of the issues raised, particularly concerning environmental impacts, Board members expressed interest in receiving testimony from Buncombe County environmental health staff regarding water usage and air quality. They also initiated a discussion about the legal concept of "standing," exploring whether residents who spoke during the hearing have sufficient grounds to participate in future proceedings. A separate variance request concerning the Hendrickson property was also continued, with Board members reviewing video from last month’s meeting and deferring a decision to the February meeting.
Looking ahead, several key actions are underway. The Board will continue reviewing the SCM Concrete Plant proposal and gathering additional information, including potential expert testimony. Residents who participated in the public hearing will have their “standing” to participate in future hearings evaluated. The Emma Road Townhomes proposal remains on hold pending further discussions with neighbors, and the Hendrickson variance will be revisited in February. For more detailed information, including meeting minutes and agendas, residents are encouraged to visit the Buncombe County Planning & Development Department website: https://www.buncombecounty.org/postTime/planning. The Board’s deliberations underscore their commitment to balancing property rights with community interests and ensuring decisions are based on “competent, relevant, and substantial evidence,” as required by state law.