September 3 2026 - Hendersonville City Council Meeting

Hendersonville City Council Meeting Recap Date: September 3, 2026

The Hendersonville City Council convened on September 3, 2026, to address a range of municipal issues, including infrastructure grants, public safety technology, zoning regulations, and community appointments. The meeting opened with the approval of the consent agenda, which included several routine items. A significant portion of the discussion focused on three Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery applications aimed at repairing and elevating critical infrastructure, such as the Paternoster Park pool and the Activity Center off Lily Pad Drive, to move them out of floodplains. The City Manager noted that no public comments were received regarding these specific grant applications.

A major focus of the meeting was the regulation of emerging technologies and infrastructure. The Council adopted a zoning text amendment to regulate small cell wireless facilities, establishing aesthetic standards and a 300-foot spacing requirement while complying with federal laws that prohibit outright bans. Additionally, the Council passed a 12-month moratorium on the development of hyperscale data centers, server farms, and crypto mining operations. This moratorium is designed to allow staff time to study the impacts on energy, water, noise, and local infrastructure before drafting permanent regulations. The Council also decided not to annex the "Orchards at Shepherd Street" property but granted the applicant the right to connect to the city sewer system, directing staff to implement traffic calming measures during planned resurfacing in early 2027.

Public comment periods highlighted strong community engagement regarding surveillance technology and infrastructure. Multiple residents expressed concerns about Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and "Flock" safety technology, citing privacy risks, data retention issues, and the potential for mass surveillance. Conversely, Police Chief Blair Myhand defended the technology as a vital investigative tool for solving crimes, such as missing persons cases, rather than a surveillance mechanism. He emphasized strict internal policies, including a seven-day data retention period and mandatory case numbers for searches. Regarding data centers, residents argued that such facilities strain local resources, create noise pollution, and offer minimal long-term job benefits, supporting the newly enacted moratorium.

The Council also issued two proclamations: one designating September 27–October 3, 2026, as Source Water Protection Week, and another designating September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, featuring remarks from advocate Dr. Elizabeth. The body appointed Lou Holloway as the City representative and Sam Hayes as the alternate on the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium. Furthermore, the Council approved a resolution urging the U.S. Forest Service to preserve roadless area protections for the Mills River watershed. A council member also raised questions about the local availability of kratom, prompting the City Attorney to look into existing local regulations, noting that state legislation on the matter is currently pending.

Several commitments were made by city staff and officials to address public concerns. Police Chief Myhand committed to publishing audit reports on a city website landing page and sharing the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) ALPR statement with the community. The City Manager agreed to work with staff to place the Flock contract on the city website to address public records requests, clarifying that this was a workload issue rather than an attempt to hide the contract. These actions aim to increase transparency regarding surveillance technology and data center regulations, providing residents with clearer access to city policies and operational data.