City Council Meeting (Jul 28, 2026)

Asheville City Council Meeting Recap – July 28, 2026

Opening and Community Context The City Council meeting began with the Mayor acknowledging a recent double homicide in the community, recognizing the collective grief and memorial events taking place. This somber opening set the tone for a meeting that addressed both immediate public safety concerns and long-term urban planning decisions.

Key Decisions and Votes The Council took action on several items, primarily through the Consent Agenda and specific zoning requests. The Council approved funding for bulletproof vests for the police department by a 6-0 vote. They also approved a resolution to accept a $160,904 federal grant from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program by a 5-1 vote; Councilwoman Roney voted against this measure.

Regarding zoning, the Council approved a conditional zoning amendment for 301 East Chestnut Street (Princess Anne Hotel) by a 6-0 vote, allowing mixed-use activities such as restaurants and retail. They also approved a rezoning for 3862 Sweeten Creek Road (Ardmore Apartments) by a 6-0 vote, which includes a condition limiting the project to no more than 180 parking spaces.

The vote on 3 South Tunnel Road (Asheville Mall) was contentious. A motion to deny the rezoning from Urban Place to Regional Business failed by a 4-2 vote. Subsequently, a motion to approve the rezoning passed by a 4-2 vote. The Council also unanimously approved a Home Repair Policy allocating $3 million from the 2024 affordable housing bond and adopted an Anti-Displacement Resolution by a 6-0 vote.

Discussion Highlights A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Transit Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). Transportation Director Ashley Hare and Assistant Director Jessica Morris presented a "Draft Network" that shifts the system’s focus from 50/50 coverage and ridership to 40/60 favoring ridership. This change proposes 15-minute frequency on key corridors but involves cutting service to several low-ridership routes, affecting access to the Outlet Mall, Mayhick, Social Security, and West Haywood. Staff recommended "Option 1" (the draft network), though "Option 2" and "Option 3" were offered as alternatives.

During the HIDTA grant discussion, Mayor Manheimer stated, "Voting against something because it's not perfect instead of voting for something because it serves the community that we live in, to me is what leadership requires," emphasizing the challenge of balancing the budget without raising taxes. Councilwoman Roney countered, "The city of Asheville has an opportunity to go upstream to prevent crime and violence if we make it a budget priority... until then, I have to use the lever I have for accountability and that includes my vote of no."

Regarding the transit changes, consultant Ricky Ngueda noted, "Something magical happens at 15 minutes where people... just don't have to live their lives around a schedule," citing an 18% ridership increase in Knoxville after similar shifts. On the Asheville Mall rezoning, Councilman Turner argued, "I don't think we need to wait for the UDO rewrite... We don't want to wait. We don't know what's going to happen with that," supporting the move to activate Tunnel Road. Councilwoman Mosley, speaking on the Sweet Creek development, noted, "I voted against some housing on this corridor because it's at a tipping point... It does always seem to fall on South Asheville and that's a problem for us."

Community Input Public comment on the Transit COA was extensive, with many residents opposing the proposed cuts. Commenters, including representatives from the Grove Park Inn, Just Economics, and local riders, argued that cutting service to locations like Mayhick, Transformation Village, and the Social Security office harms vulnerable populations, seniors, and essential workers. Some urged the council to pause and explore micro-transit or variable fixed routes. Conversely, some supporters argued that increased frequency improves reliability for the majority of riders.

Regarding the Sweeten Creek development, neighbors expressed concerns about traffic congestion on Sweeten Creek Road, stormwater management, loss of tree canopy, and a lack of pedestrian infrastructure. Other public comments included dissatisfaction with the renovation of Weaver Park’s playground and ball field, complaints about aggressive billing by Pivot Parking, and one resident urging the Mayor to step down due to inaction on public safety.

Follow-ups and Next Steps Transit staff agreed to continue working with the consultant to refine the final network plan based on council feedback and to engage with impacted stakeholders. A final plan is scheduled for action on August 25. Staff also agreed to clarify in writing how paratransit (Mountain Mobility) will operate if fixed routes are cut, specifically regarding service within three-quarters of a mile of a route. Additionally, staff agreed to explore potential partnerships with major employers, such as the Grove Park Inn, Mayhick, and Outlet Mall, to help fund or provide shuttle services for employees.

The City Manager was directed by the Anti-Displacement Resolution to include measurable milestones, expected outcomes, and a reporting structure in the organization’s strategic plan and to provide regular updates to Council on this work.