Event Recap
Meeting Overview
On July 23, 2026, the Asheville City Council held a virtual Agenda Briefing Worksession presided over by Mayor Esther Manheimer. The meeting was attended by Council Members Antoinette Mosley, Maggie Ullman, Kim Rooney, Beau Hess, and Sage Turner, with Council Member Shanika Smith absent. City Manager DK Wesley, Assistant City Managers Ben Woody and Jade Dundas, City Attorney Brad Branham, and City Clerk Maggie Burleson also participated. As this was a discussion-only work session, no formal motions, votes, or public comments were taken. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review items scheduled for the upcoming Regular City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and to discuss committee agendas.
Key Discussions and Decisions
The Council engaged in detailed discussions regarding several items slated for the July 28 consent agenda and public hearings. Regarding Helene recovery efforts, staff presented a contract amendment obligating $22.2 million to the Renew NC program for house reconstruction. Assistant City Manager Ben Woody noted that actual demolition of damaged structures along the French Broad Riverfront is contingent on federal permits and is not expected to begin until fall 2026. The Council also reviewed bond-funded projects, including design-phase contracts for Walton Street Park and the Shallow and Tempe Avery Community Centers, as well as grants for bulletproof vest replacements and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.
Significant debate occurred regarding zoning matters scheduled for public hearings. The Council discussed the Sweet Creek Multifamily Project, a 130-unit affordable housing development. Planning Staff’s Will Palmquist explained that a dissenting vote on the Planning and Zoning Commission was due to concerns about cumulative traffic impacts on Sweet Creek Road. Council Member Beau Hess noted that the dissenter resides in the adjacent neighborhood.
The Council also addressed the proposed rezoning of the Asheville Mall from Urban Place to Regional Business. Planning staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial, citing inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan’s goal of 24-hour mixed-use neighborhoods. City Attorney Brad Branham clarified that the City is not legally bound by a prior settlement involving "Ingalls" and is free to treat this site like any other application. Council Member Sage Turner expressed concern about the long-term activation of the Tunnel Road corridor, while Council Member Kim Rooney questioned whether the current Urban Place zoning has failed to attract development.
Community Input and Committee Updates
No public comment was accepted during this work session. However, Council Members referenced external community input, including an open letter from the Asheville Black Community Coalition for Movement (ABCCM) regarding transit cuts and a community partner who was cut off during a previous Planning, Economic Development, and Environment (PEDE) meeting due to technical issues.
The Council reviewed upcoming committee agendas, including the Policy, Finance, and Infrastructure (PFI) Worksession and the Public Safety Committee meeting. Topics for these committees include Helene Recovery Board updates, concerns regarding unhoused residents, and the effectiveness of co-responder programs between the Asheville Police Department and Asheville Fire Department.
Follow-ups and Next Steps
Several follow-up actions were explicitly agreed upon during the meeting:
- Planning Staff: City Manager Wesley agreed that planning staff will provide a comprehensive analysis of projects in Urban Place zones and address Council questions regarding the Asheville Mall rezoning in a follow-up document before the July 28 meeting.
- City Manager’s Office: City Manager Wesley agreed to send the draft Anti-Displacement Resolution to the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition (LNC) after the call, following Council Member Kim Rooney’s note that the LNC was not proactively sent a draft.
- Planning Staff: City Manager Wesley confirmed that staff will include a list of high-profile sanitation cases in the follow-up document regarding the Sanitation Ordinance update, as requested by Council Member Kim Rooney.
- HR/Legal: Director Emily Provence agreed to clarify the language regarding administrative complaints in the Grievance Ordinance presentation materials, in response to questions from Council Member Beau Hess.
- Council Member Sage Turner: Agreed to source and share a map of current RS2 zoning locations with the Council for Vice Mayor Mosley’s upcoming discussion.
The Regular City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with the PFI Worksession beginning at 3:00 PM.