Board of Commissioners Meeting

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held its Regular Meeting on September 15, 2026, focusing on disaster recovery updates, affordable housing funding, transportation planning, and community appointments. Chair Amanda Edwards opened the session with a manager’s report marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Helene, highlighting ongoing recovery progress including FEMA funding, property buyouts, and road repairs. The Board also recognized several local milestones through proclamations, including the 50th anniversary of First Step Farms, National Manufacturing Month, National Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month, and the 75th anniversary of the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Key Decisions and Votes The Board approved the Consent Agenda without objection. Significant actions included authorizing the Chair to execute the FY28 NCDOT Community Transportation application for "Mountain Mobility" funding, which passed on a motion by Commissioner Sloan and second by Commissioner Whitesides. The Board also approved a master planning contract with Equinox Environmental for Deaview Mountain Park, moving forward with community engagement scheduled for fall 2026. Additionally, the Board approved conservation easement funding requests totaling approximately $311,300 from the annual budget and $2.2 million from the open space bond, covering projects such as the Reimer Davis Farm and Camp Sequoia. The Board made several appointments to advisory boards, including the Ag Advisory Board, Strategic Partnership Grants Committee, AB Tech Board of Trustees, Historic Resources Commission, and Board of Adjustments. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter closed session to consult legal counsel regarding three pending lawsuits; no action was taken following the session.

Discussion Highlights A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing disparities in federal disaster recovery funding. Commissioners expressed strong frustration that Buncombe County, despite being "wildly impacted" by Hurricane Helene, received less funding than other disaster-impacted counties. Commissioner Sloan stated, "I think the day of being polite about this... are over," characterizing the state’s handling of funds as either "incompetence or games being played." Commissioner Whitesides agreed, urging the Board to formally voice this opinion to state agencies. Commissioner Ball noted the "misalignment" of funding distribution, while Chair Edwards emphasized that delaying recovery for the county’s 150,000 unincorporated residents was "not acceptable." Regarding affordable housing, staff reported that the Cox Avenue project, despite being a top-scoring application, did not receive an award. Staff noted that the development partner is actively seeking alternative capital to close a $15 million gap, with a potential new application planned for January.

Community Input During public comment, Tom Desereaux of the Sandhill Community Garden expressed concern that stakeholders were not consulted regarding the design contract for a proposed indoor recreational facility, requesting a "seat at the table" to discuss traffic and access issues. David Greenson of GAP AVL requested that the Board direct staff to assess displacement risks associated with the Deaview Mountain Park project, advocating for a standardized anti-displacement analysis framework to monitor potential impacts on housing costs. During the public hearing for Mountain Mobility, Kim West praised the program’s technology but requested the adoption of tracking software to improve efficiency and highlighted an ongoing driver shortage.

Follow-ups and Staff Commitments Staff member William High stated that the county is "actively in progress of acquiring" the tracking software for Mountain Mobility, noting a meeting was held that day regarding the technology. Regarding the driver shortage, staff indicated they are leveraging penalties in operating contracts to address contractor failures. Staff member Matthew Cable noted that the Cox Avenue development partner is actively looking for alternative funding sources to close a $15 million gap, with plans to submit a new Low Income Housing Tax Credit application in the January pre-app window if alternative funding is not identified sooner. Staff also confirmed that the Deaview Mountain Park master plan is scheduled to begin by the end of summer 2026, with community engagement in fall 2026 and a draft plan by summer 2027.

Impact on Residents These decisions directly affect Buncombe County’s infrastructure and housing stability. The approval of the Mountain Mobility application supports public transportation services, while the conservation easement funding preserves agricultural land and open spaces for current and future residents. The ongoing debate over Hurricane Helene recovery funding underscores the county’s struggle to secure adequate resources for rebuilding, which impacts the timeline and scope of repairs for roads, parks, and affordable housing projects. The appointment of new board members ensures continued community representation on key advisory committees, while the master planning for Deaview Mountain Park sets the stage for future recreational development and potential neighborhood changes.