Board of Adjustment Meeting | Aug. 13, 2025

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment held a regular meeting on August 13, 2025, in Commissioners’ Chambers. The agenda focused on the review and approval of three zoning cases: two Special Use Permits (SUPs) for residential developments and one variance for a single-family home. The Board also approved the minutes from its previous meeting on July 9, 2025.

Key Decisions The Board voted to approve the minutes from the July 9, 2025 meeting by a vote of 6-0. Following public hearings, the Board unanimously approved three zoning cases, with each decision passing by a vote of 6-0:

• ZPH2025-00014 (MHO Old County Home Road SUP): The Board adopted the Findings of Fact, approved the Special Use Permit, and approved the Order for a 159-unit multifamily residential development at 415 Old County Home Road.
• ZPH2025-00010 (Case Cove Road Residential SUP): The Board adopted the Findings of Fact, approved the Special Use Permit, and approved the Order for a 35-unit residential development on an unaddressed parcel off Case Cove Road.
• ZPH2025-00020 (Fillio Variance): The Board adopted the Findings of Fact, approved the Variance, and approved the Order for a single-family residential dwelling at 565 Southcliff Parkway.

Discussion Highlights The meeting began with a review of ex parte communication rules and the Board’s quasi-judicial role, emphasizing that decisions must be based on evidence. Board members confirmed they had no ex parte communications related to the cases being heard.

For the MHO Old County Home Road project, staff noted that while the project targets 60% affordability within the Qualifying Census Tract, the minimum requirement for the Community Oriented Development program is 15 years of affordability, whereas the applicants proposed at least 45 years. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including building and maintaining a sidewalk to the bus shelter on Old County Home Road (subject to NCDOT approval) and providing space for dogs to exercise and relieve themselves.

For the Case Cove Road project, staff noted that the property is zoned Open Use and that the project does not require deviations from zoning regulations, though it may not meet subdivision ordinance requirements if a subdivision is pursued in the future. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including a commitment to ADA accessible access to the nearest bus stop and a designated, enclosed area for pets to relieve themselves on the site plan. The applicant agreed to a condition of compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including ADA provisions, despite the project not being federally funded.

For the Fillio Variance, the architect noted that a large rock outcrop on the northern side of the lot influenced the design, necessitating the request to increase building width.

Community Input Public testimony was received for the two Special Use Permit cases. For the MHO Old County Home Road project, residents raised concerns about traffic, deforestation, buffering, and water runoff. For the Case Cove Road project, public testimony raised concerns about density, noise, traffic, light pollution, loss of tree canopy, and wildfire risk. The transcript summary does not record specific responses from Board members to these comments.

Follow-ups The transcript summary does not record any explicit agreements by Board members or staff to perform specific follow-up actions beyond the approvals recorded in the votes.

Impact These decisions authorize the construction of a 159-unit affordable housing development on Old County Home Road and a 35-unit residential development on Case Cove Road, both subject to specific conditions regarding accessibility, traffic, and pet facilities. The variance approval allows for a wider single-family home on Southcliff Parkway, accommodating the site’s natural rock outcrop.