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

**Body:** City of Asheville — Design Review Committee
**Date:** October 16, 2025 12:30 PM EDT (2025-10-16T12:30:00-04:00)
**Location:** 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801, USA - 6th Floor Conference Room

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70

## Summary

The City of Asheville’s Design Review Committee held an in-person meeting on October 16, 2025, to review proposed development projects and approve administrative records. The session focused on two primary agenda items: a formal design review for a proposed office building at 16 Pearl Street and an informal design review for a proposed multi-family building at 290 Depot Street.

The committee began by voting to approve the minutes from the September 18, 2025, meeting. The motion passed with a 7-0 vote. Following this, the committee voted to recuse Robin Raines from both upcoming project reviews, a motion that also passed with a 7-0 vote.

The first major item on the agenda was the Level I Formal Design Review for the Mountain Housing Opportunity Offices at 16 Pearl Street. The proposal involves a two- and three-story office building totaling 15,256 square feet, which includes retail space and a 37-space surface parking lot. Staff presented the project’s compliance with Unified Development Ordinance regulations and Downtown Design Review Guidelines, noting that a previous informal review had taken place in August 2025. After discussion, the committee voted to approve the project with a 6-0 vote. The approval was subject to several conditions, including the screening of mechanical equipment, addressing the extent of the building’s parapet, considering innovative stormwater solutions such as green roofs, and exploring pedestrian access from Pearl or Ann Street.

The second item was the Level II Informal Design Review for a proposed five-story, 72-unit multi-family building at 290 Depot Street. The project, spanning approximately 1.3 acres, includes mixed-use development with retail space on the ground floor and residential units above. The committee reviewed architectural elevations, floor plans, and site plans detailing grading, drainage, and stormwater management systems. As this was an informal review, no formal vote was recorded for this item during the meeting.

The meeting concluded at 3:00 p.m. with the adjournment of the session. No specific next steps or future meeting dates were announced during the recorded proceedings.

## Agenda

- [Approval of minutes from the September 18, 2025 meeting.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2675)
- [16 Pearl St - Mountain Housing Opportunity Offices - Level I](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2677)
- [Motion to recuse Robin from both upcoming items.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2676)
- [290 Depot St - Level II](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2678)
- [Public Comment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/21607)
- [Meeting](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2679)
- [adjourned](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70/item/2680)

## Votes

- Approval of the September 18 minutes with some revisions. Since Kate was absent at the September meeting, update the minutes accordingly. — Passed, 7-0
- Motion to recuse Robin. — Passed, 7-0
- Approval with the recommended condition of mechanical screening for the project, applicant address extent of parapet on south and west portion of stairtower, applicant consider innovative stormwater solutions such as green roofs for the project, applicant consider pedestrian access to the site from Pearl St and/or Ann St — Passed, 6-0

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1euzuKIufD9TolV4joqrrcJqHGIAcLHrK/view?usp=sharing
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/737/segments

## Documents

- [DRC Action Minutes 9-18-25.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=280)
- [Site Plans.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9524)
- [DRC Action Minutes 10-16-25.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=1788)
- [minutes_2025-10-16.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=1534)
- [DRC Agenda 10-16-25.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=1540)
- [DRC Meeting Recording 251016 (No Audio).mp4](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9176)
- [16 Pearl St - Design Review Committee.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9520)
- [DRC Staff Report - 16 Pearl St.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9521)
- [agenda_2025-10-16.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=1532)
- [Site, Architectural, and Civil Plans.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9523)
- [Level I Comment Letter 10/10/25.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9522)
- [Architectural Elevations, Floor Plans, and Renderings.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9525)
- [eferrari email.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/70?document=9519)

## Sources

- [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/design-review-committee-in-person-oct-16-2025/)