Planning Board Meeting | June 15, 2026

Buncombe County Planning Board Meeting Recap – June 15, 2026

The Buncombe County Planning Board convened on June 15, 2026, focusing primarily on modernizing the county's regulations concerning street names, addresses, and address visibility. The meeting was attended by all board members, ensuring a full quorum for decision-making. This update is part of an ongoing effort to improve emergency response capabilities throughout Buncombe County, spurred by lessons learned from the recent Haleen incident.

The board's most significant action was a unanimous vote (aye) to approve an amendment to the Buncombe County Code of Ordinances, specifically Article 2 in Chapter 66. This amendment aims to clarify and update the rules surrounding addressing, road naming, and ensuring consistency with current county practices. The board determined that the amendment aligns well with the Buncombe County 2043 Comprehensive Plan, particularly its hazard and resilience policies and goals related to infrastructure and energy. This means residents can expect clearer guidelines for addressing new construction, ensuring emergency responders can quickly locate properties in the event of an incident.

Discussion centered on how to best ensure clear visibility of house numbers for emergency responders. While current zoning inspections enforce address visibility for new construction and address issues as they arise, the board acknowledged that many existing homes still lack clearly visible numbers. Currently, there are no penalties for this noncompliance. Staff clarified that addressing practices could be extended to other structures, such as buildings in parks, on a case-by-case basis, involving collaboration between relevant departments like the Fire Department and Parks & Recreation. Board Member Carl Kuhn raised an important question about how the county currently ensures existing homes have visible addresses, prompting a discussion of current zoning inspection practices and nonconforming uses.

There was an opportunity for public comment both before and after the discussion of the ordinance amendment, but no residents chose to speak on either occasion. This indicates a lack of immediate public concern or awareness regarding the proposed changes, though staff will likely undertake outreach to inform residents about the updated ordinance once it is finalized.

Looking ahead, the Planning Board will revisit revisions to both the watershed and manufactured home park ordinances at their next meeting. A rezoning matter, along with feedback on a draft small area plan, will also be discussed. Staff reminded board members to notify ILEA (the meeting coordination contact) if they anticipate being unable to attend the next meeting, ensuring a quorum can be maintained. While existing homes without visible addresses will not face immediate penalties, staff will continue to enforce address visibility during new construction zoning inspections. This ordinance update represents a proactive step towards improving emergency response times and ensuring the safety of all Buncombe County residents.