October 2026 Town Council Meeting Part 1 or 2

Town of Montreat Town Council Meeting Recap Date: October 1, 2026

The Town of Montreat Town Council convened on October 1, 2026, at Town Hall for its regular monthly meeting. The session opened with the adoption of the agenda and the approval of a closed session to consult with legal counsel regarding ongoing litigation, Hainer Jones et al. versus the Town of Montreat. Following the closed session, the Council addressed administrative updates, community presentations, and several key appointments. The meeting concluded with the approval of a proclamation designating October 2026 as Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.

Key Decisions and Votes The Council took several definitive actions during the meeting. First, the body unanimously voted to continue the public hearing for the Planned Unit Development (PUD) application regarding 309 Collegiate Circle to the November 12, 2026 meeting. This decision was made to allow for further negotiation regarding pedestrian safety provisions and to address new information received in the preceding 24 hours. Additionally, the Council unanimously appointed three new board members: Larry Arne as an Alternate Member of Planning and Zoning, and Matt Horn and Tiffany Neville as Regular and ETJ Representative members, respectively, of the Board of Adjustment. All appointments carry three-year terms beginning October 8, 2026. Finally, Proclamation 26-10-001 was approved, officially designating October 2026 as Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.

Discussion Highlights A significant portion of the discussion focused on the PUD application for the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA). The MRA presented updates addressing five previous concerns, including master plan legibility, parking adequacy, and tree preservation. However, the most contentious issue remained pedestrian safety. The MRA proposed funding a pedestrian study capped at $25,000 but argued that the Town should decide if the study was necessary and conduct it. Council members, particularly Commissioner Woodman, expressed concern that the study must be certain to happen and that the MRA should share responsibility for off-site improvements. Mayor Helms noted that while she was ready to proceed last month, new developments warranted waiting to ensure the agreement was correct. Consequently, the Council voted to continue the hearing to allow for further negotiation on the language balancing these interests.

Administrative updates also covered operational issues within the town. Staff reported a significant increase in water consumption, noting usage was double that of the previous year, likely due to an active leak currently being investigated by Public Works. Regarding the convenience center, staff addressed a resident’s inquiry about a locked gate, explaining that a component had overheated. The fencing company is replacing the part with different wattage, and the repair is expected to be completed by the following week, with the gate remaining open in the interim.

Community Input Public comments featured presentations from local organizations and residents. Representatives from the Salvation Army, Sherry and Phillip Phillips, outlined their services in Buncombe County, including emergency assistance and the Center of Hope, an 80-bed homeless shelter. They highlighted that the Center of Hope will pause services starting November 1 due to budget constraints, with hopes to resume in April. Tanner Pickett of the Mountain Retreat Association announced upcoming "Support the Wilderness Day" events on October 17 and a film screening on October 18.

During public comment on the PUD, Priscilla Hainer raised concerns about potential damage to neighboring homes, specifically retaining walls, during construction and asked about the status of tree disturbance maps. Conversely, Betsy Schoenfeld and Helen Crone supported the lodge, citing its importance to the MRA’s mission of hospitality and stewardship, and praised the organization’s transparency and five-year engagement with the community.

Follow-ups and Next Steps Several action items were explicitly agreed upon or noted by staff during the meeting. The fencing company is scheduled to replace the overheated gate component, with staff indicating the repair should be done next week. The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope will pause services starting November 1, with a target resumption around April 1 once funding is secured. Regarding the PUD application, the Council and MRA agreed to continue negotiations on pedestrian safety language, with the matter scheduled to return to the Council on November 12, 2026. The terms for the newly appointed board members, Larry Arne, Matt Horn, and Tiffany Neville, officially begin on October 8, 2026.