Planning and Zoning Commission (In-Person) (Jul 1, 2026)

The Planning and Zoning Commission held an in-person meeting on July 1, 2026, to review recent legislative actions, receive updates on citywide planning projects, and consider zoning amendments. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement recognizing the historical and ongoing connection of the Cherokee people to the land.

The Commission unanimously approved the minutes from the May 6, 2026, and June 3, 2026, meetings. Staff provided updates on recent City Council decisions, noting that the rezoning request for 99999 Deaverview Road was approved unanimously, while the South Tunnel Road rezoning request was continued to July 28. Additionally, staff reported that a consultant team has been selected to lead the Comprehensive Plan & Development Regulations Update project, with the contract expected to be presented to City Council on July 28 and the project beginning in August.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by Christopher Whitlock, Transit Division Manager, regarding the draft transit network. The presentation outlined plans to improve transit efficiency by increasing frequency on key corridors such as Biltmore, McDowell, Patton, and Hendersonville Road, while potentially reducing service in areas like Beaver Dam Grove Park and the Social Security Office to optimize the system. Whitlock noted that the city received 1,351 responses to a public survey, which will be summarized for City Council in July. Commissioners discussed the proposed "pulse" system for transfers at the ART station, with staff confirming the station has sufficient capacity to handle the changes. Concerns were also raised regarding the potential impact of route changes on Tunnel Road and the current transit provider's on-time performance, which averages around 66% against a 73% contract target.

The Commission reviewed a request to amend the conditional zoning for 301 East Chestnut Street, a property previously zoned for a 16-room hotel, a dining room, and staff apartments. Daniel Leslie, representing RCG Resource Capital Group, presented plans to renovate the building to incorporate additional commercial uses, such as retail sales, eating and drinking establishments, and barber shops and beauty salons, by repurposing the existing staff apartments. Staff recommended approval, citing alignment with the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan goals for mixed-use development and adaptive reuse. The Commission unanimously approved the conditional zoning request.

Several other zoning items were continued to future meetings. A request to consider a zoning text amendment regarding parking requirements, accessory dwelling units, and duplexes was continued to August 5 due to City Council's schedule. The rezoning request for 819 Patton Avenue and the conditional zoning amendment for 1 Wayman Boulevard were continued to a date uncertain, pending coordination between staff and applicants.

Commissioner Jonathan Anzollitto provided updates on the recently approved multimodal transit network plan and a collaborative effort between the Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust and the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County, which recently acquired and sold a home at 32 Crewell Street for $250,000 to ensure permanent affordability. Commissioner Anzollitto also discussed upcoming zoning amendments related to lot sizes, planning to meet with the Vice Chair to incorporate a presentation on the topic into the August agenda.

The Commission discussed the Climate Vulnerability Index data provided with project applications, expressing uncertainty on how to effectively utilize it. A suggestion was made to establish a citywide baseline score for comparison and to potentially invite sustainability staff to provide context and training. No public comments were reported as being spoken during the meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, with a pre-meeting at 4:30 p.m.