# 2026.03.17 Woodfin Town Council Meeting **Body:** Town of Woodfin — Woodfin Town Council **Date:** March 17, 2026 4:59 PM EDT (2026-03-17T16:59:42-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802 ## Summary **Meeting Overview** The Woodfin Town Council held a regular meeting on March 17, 2026. The agenda included the approval of the meeting agenda and consent items, a public hearing on a zoning ordinance, and discussions regarding local infrastructure, public safety, and community identity. **Key Decisions** The Council voted to approve the meeting agenda, with Council Member Ervin making the motion and Council Member Parton seconding it; the motion passed unanimously, 5-0. The Council also voted to return to open session following a closed session, with Council Member Ervin making the motion and Council Member Parton seconding it; this motion passed unanimously, 6-0. As part of the consent agenda, the Council approved the minutes from the February 17, 2026, regular meeting and the March 10, 2026, budget work session. The Council also approved the tax collection report for the period ending January 2026 and Resolution 2026-01, which adds the Towns of Marshall and Mars Hill as members of the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium. In new business, the Council unanimously approved a conditional zoning request for a 16-unit multifamily apartment building. Additionally, the Council voted to hold the stormwater fee steady for another year. **Discussion Highlights** Allison Dains, Director of Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, presented an update on the Woodfin Greenway Blueway project. She outlined the project’s goals for transportation, environmental preservation, recreation, and economic growth, noting that the total project funding is approximately $16.3 million. Dains detailed the project components, including the Silver Line Park, Riverside Expansion, and two trail sections along Highway 251 and Beaverdam Creek. She noted that right-of-way acquisition is scheduled for August for the Highway 251 section and September for the Beaverdam Creek section. Chief Jacqui Boykin presented the Police Department’s annual report, highlighting that Woodfin recorded 100 Part One crimes in 2025, a rate of 12 per thousand residents, which is lower than neighboring communities. Boykin noted a case clearance rate exceeding 50% and reported a recent seizure of over 10,000 doses of methamphetamine. The discussion also covered the transition of I-26 crash response from the Woodfin Police to the Highway Patrol, potentially in exchange for drug interdiction support, and the development of a drug intervention strategy. The Council engaged in a significant discussion regarding the establishment of a unique zip code for the Town of Woodfin, separate from North Asheville. This item was presented by Vice Mayor Ervin, Council Members Kahn, and Young. The discussion centered on potential financial benefits, such as insurance rates and grant procurement, as well as community identity and historical context. Shannon Tuch, Town Manager, provided a report on various administrative matters, including updates on Tropical Storm Helene recovery efforts, where debris projects are expected to be fully reimbursed by FEMA. Tuch also discussed a pause in the code update process pending a consultant’s revision, with review scheduled for late March or early April. **Community Input** No residents signed up for public comment, and the floor was opened with no comments received. **Follow-ups** Town staff agreed to support Council Member Young and Johanna in pursuing the application for a unique zip code. If the Postal Service is unwilling to grant the request, the plan is to extend the conversation to congressional representatives. The Council also agreed to proceed with right-of-way acquisition for both Greenway sections and to continue outreach to property owners along the Greenway routes. Staff will develop a drug intervention strategy for budget discussions. **Impact** These decisions and discussions impact residents through the stabilization of stormwater fees, the approval of new affordable housing, and the advancement of the Greenway Blueway project, which aims to improve local connectivity and recreation. The police report provides transparency on public safety metrics and the department’s strategic direction, including accreditation efforts and personnel changes. The pursuit of a unique zip code may influence local business operations and community identity, while the pause in the code update process indicates a commitment to thorough review before finalizing local regulations. ## Agenda - [Meeting Call to Order](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19367) - [Consent Agenda- Staff Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21031) - [Approval of the February 17, 2026, regular meeting minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21032) - [Approval of the Agenda](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19368) - [Approval of the March 10, 2026, budget work session minutes.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21033) - [Approval of the tax collection report for the period ending January 2026. January 2026 Tax Collection Report, January Vehicle Tax Collection Report, January Vehicle Tax Refunds Pending.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19369) - [Approval of Resolution 2026-01 approving the addition of the Towns of Marshall and Mars Hill as members of the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21034) - [Public Comment – The public is invited to attend this meeting in person or view this meeting on YouTube Live: https://youtube.com/@townofwoodfinnc1104? si=JHD6vCmOzTqwfUKx. All documents related to agenda items not published on the website may be viewed in advance of the meetings in person at Town Hall, 90 Elk Mountain Rd, Woodfin.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21035) - [Presentations & Reports](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21036) - [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19374) - [Buncombe County Greenways -Allison Dains, Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Director](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19371) - [Police Annual Report- Chief Jacqui Boykin](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21037) - [Town Manager Report – Shannon Tuch, Town Manager](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21038) - [New Business](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/21039) - [Public Hearing - Staff Report-Consideration of Ordinance No. 2026-02, a request to conditionally rezone a 3.03-acre parcel located at 99999 Weaverville Road for the development of a 60-unit multi-family housing project. The proposed rezoning seeks to change the zoning designation from Community Shopping (CS) to Community Shopping 2 – Conditional Zone (CS2CZ2). The property is identified in the Buncombe County tax records under PIN 9730-78-2987. The property owner is Mark Richardson, on behalf of Greenway Housing Development LLC -Ricky Hurley, Planning Director](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19372) - [Discussion seeking support for an application establishing a unique zip code for the Town of Woodfin. Proposal & Documents- Vice Mayor Ervin, Council Members Kahn & Young.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802/item/19373) ## Votes - Council Member Ervin made a motion to approve the agenda. Council Member Parton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 5-0. — Passed, 5-0 - Council Member Ervin made a motion to return to open session. Council Member Parton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously, 6-0. — Passed, 6-0 ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIXpyePhupo - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1302/segments ## Documents - [agenda_2026-03-17.html](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802?document=14309) - [presentation_2026-03-17.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802?document=14310) - [minutes_2026-03-17.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1802?document=14311) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIXpyePhupo)