Planning Board Meeting | Oct. 19, 2026

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Planning Board held a briefing and review session for the Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan on October 19, 2026. The meeting served as an informational review of the plan’s content, engagement history, and implementation timeline. Because a quorum was not established, no official business was conducted, and no votes were taken. The primary objective of the session was to review the materials in preparation for scheduling a public hearing and subsequent vote in November.

Key Discussions and Plan Details The board reviewed the background of the Swannanoa Small Area and Resilience Plan, which was initiated in 2025 following Hurricane Helene in 2024. The scope of the project expanded from a simple corridor plan to a broader resilience plan covering the entire Swannanoa area, incorporating a community vision statement focused on heritage, safety, natural resource protection, and belonging. The planning process involved over 1,800 community responses across six phases, utilizing methods such as design workshops and outreach at local businesses.

Key recommendations included over 100 actions categorized by regulatory, partnership, and funding types, with 40% designated as near-term actions within five years. Proposed land use changes include a new "River Corridor" category for floodplains, an expansion of the "Walkable Destination Center" in downtown, and a new "Neighborhood Center" category for commercial areas outside downtown. Staff also presented infrastructure maps for sidewalks, bike paths, and transportation improvements to guide grant applications.

Staff Commitments and Legal Context Staff provided updates on ongoing text amendments related to stormwater, watershed, parking, and transportation codes. A staff presenter noted that the state’s model ordinance was simplified to make the development process smoother for the public, developers, and staff. The presenter also clarified that the "downzoning provision" embedded in the Helene Recovery Bill was included because legislators did not want to face political consequences by voting against the broader recovery bills.

Council Member Carl Coon remarked that he was unaware the downzoning bill was connected to Helene, noting that Woodfin is currently undergoing code rewrites where this issue has not yet arisen. Staff indicated they are working with the legal department to navigate these regulatory complexities and are researching whether the "River Corridor" designation should be a zoning district or an overlay district, with the latter potentially offering more flexibility regarding flood delineation changes.

Decisions and Next Steps No official motions, seconds, or votes were taken due to the lack of a quorum. However, the board agreed to schedule a public hearing for November 16, 2026, followed by a Commissioners’ public hearing and adoption vote on November 17, 2026. Staff committed to continuing to update the steering committee and keep them informed about adoption and upcoming changes. Additionally, staff indicated plans to introduce the "parking and statement of district intent" text amendment at the Planning Board meeting following the Swannanoa vote.

Community Input No public comment period was held, as the meeting was structured as a staff briefing and review. Board members asked questions of the staff regarding specific details of the plan, such as the location of existing wayfinding signs, but no public testimony was recorded.