Design Review Committee (In-Person) (Oct 16, 2025)

Recap of Asheville Design Review Committee Meeting - October 16, 2025

The Asheville, NC Design Review Committee (DRC) convened on October 16, 2025, at City Hall (70 Court Plaza) in a public meeting that ran from 12:32 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The meeting, preceded by a brief pre-meeting for committee members at 12:15 p.m., focused on reviewing two proposed development projects, a formal review of a new office building and an informal review of a multi-family residential project. The committee is comprised of Christina Roush (Chair), Bryan Moffitt, Kathryn Ancaya, Jeremy Goldstein, Steven Lee Johnson, Michael McDonough, Thomas McLaughlin, Robin Raines, and Ricardo Seijo.

The meeting began with the approval of minutes from the September 18, 2025, meeting, which were approved with revisions to reflect Kate's absence. A notable procedural point occurred when Robin Raines, the project contact for both projects under review, recused herself from further discussion and voting due to a potential conflict of interest.

The primary focus was the formal review of a proposed two- and three-story office building located at 16 Pearl Street, intended for use as Mountain Housing Opportunity Offices. Following public comment and deliberation, the committee approved the project with several conditions. These include requirements for mechanical screening to mitigate noise and visual impact, further consideration of the parapet extent on the stairtower, exploration of green roof implementation for stormwater management, and investigation into enhanced pedestrian access from either Pearl or Ann Street.

The second item on the agenda was an informal review of a proposed 5-story, 72-unit multi-family building at 290 Depot Street. While public comment was solicited and the committee engaged in discussion, no formal action or vote was taken due to the informal nature of this review.

For those seeking more detailed information, including meeting recordings and supporting documentation, the Asheville Design Review Committee webpage (ashevillenc.gov/drc) is recommended as a comprehensive resource.