Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee (Virtual) (Dec 16, 2025)

Meeting Overview

The City of Asheville’s Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee held a virtual meeting on December 16, 2025. The session focused on receiving informational updates regarding three major city initiatives: the Transit Center/ART Place project, the Urban Forest Master Plan Update, and the Boosting The Block and Eagle/S. Market Enhancements project.

Key Decisions

The only formal vote taken during the meeting was the approval of the minutes from the previous session on November 18, 2025. Kim Roney moved to approve the minutes, and Sage Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 3-0 vote. All other agenda items were presented for information sharing only, with no additional votes or formal decisions recorded.

Discussion Highlights

Transit Center/ART Place RFQ Ashley Hare, Transportation Director, presented an update on the ART Place project, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development planned for two parcels of land between Ashland Avenue and Cox Avenue. The project aims to expand the Downtown Transit Center, include affordable housing in partnership with Dogwood Health Trust, and stimulate economic activity connecting downtown with the South Slope and Southside areas. The initiative is funded by a $300,000 federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration, matched by $65,000 from the city. Staff indicated that a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is being prepared to hire a consulting firm for a 12-to-18-month planning phase, which will focus on analysis and conceptual designs rather than final design. Kim Roney highlighted the need to consider how the project will integrate with other community initiatives, such as housing and neighborhood resilience.

Urban Forest Master Plan Update Stephanie Monson Dahl, Director of Planning & Urban Design, provided an update on the Urban Forest Master Plan, which seeks to establish a strategic vision for Asheville’s urban canopy using the city's tree canopy fee-in-lieu fund. The plan is currently in its public engagement phase, with roadshows and stakeholder group meetings scheduled for early 2026. Sage Turner emphasized the importance of including members of the Urban Forestry Commission in early discussions to ensure their expertise is utilized effectively. Staff noted that the committee is expected to receive recommendations on the plan in late 2026.

Boosting The Block and Eagle/S. Market Enhancements Dana Frankel, Downtown Planning Manager, presented a progress report on the Boosting The Block project, which implements recommendations from the Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan to improve connectivity and cultural visibility along South Market Street. The project is supported by a Mellon Foundation grant and includes community engagement and design-oriented visioning. Staff outlined that the city will initiate an RFQ in early 2026 to select a design and engineering team, with extensive outreach to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. Additionally, the city is leveraging transportation bond funds to improve pedestrian safety in the area.

Community Input

During the public comment period, Rachel Cohen from Sunrise Movement WNC spoke to the committee. She raised concerns regarding the availability of updated data on solar energy generation and the long-term funding for the transit system. She also suggested that the city review its green building incentives to ensure they remain relevant and effective for sustainable development. The transcript summary does not record any specific response from committee members to her comments.

Follow-ups

Staff members explicitly agreed to the following next steps during the meeting:

• Transit Center/ART Place: The city will release an RFQ to solicit proposals for the planning phase of the project.
• Urban Forest Master Plan: Staff will continue public engagement efforts, including roadshows and stakeholder group meetings.
• Boosting The Block: The city will proceed with hiring an artist or creative strategist to translate community input into design elements. A contract for a design and engineering firm is expected in early 2026.
• Green Building Incentives: Staff will investigate updating the city's green building incentives to reflect current market conditions.
• Economic Recovery Funding: The committee will receive an update on the status of economic recovery funding in January or February 2026.
• CPACE: Staff will bring a proposal related to Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE), a financing mechanism for renewable energy and efficiency upgrades, to the committee in the future.

Additionally, the committee agreed to prioritize discussions around missing middle housing and explore options for accelerating its implementation.