City Council Meeting (Feb 25, 2025)

On February 25, 2025, the Asheville City Council held a regular meeting to address grant funding, emergency response contracts, transit programs, and land use decisions. The agenda included a public comment session on budget priorities and several public hearings regarding rezoning and conditional zoning requests.

Key Decisions The Council voted on eight items, with seven passing unanimously (7-0) and one passing by a vote of 5-2.

• Historic Preservation: The Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the N.C. Historic Preservation Office to accept a federal grant. A related budget amendment was also passed, allocating $7,000 in the Special Revenue Fund for grant monies and funds in the General Fund for Buncombe County’s Fiscal Year 2025 allocation.
• Emergency Lodging: The Council passed a resolution authorizing an amendment to the contract with Biltmore Farms Hotel Group. This amendment extends the contract period from 60 to 100 days and increases funding to support lodging for emergency responders and essential personnel during the Tropical Storm Helene response.
• Transit Grants: The Council passed three resolutions related to transportation:
  1. Authorizing the City Manager to apply to the N.C. Dept. of Transportation - Integrated Mobility Division for Section 5303 Metropolitan Planning Program funds.
  2. Ratifying the annual agreement with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2025 State Maintenance Assistance Program (SMAP) grant funds.
  3. Authorizing the City Manager to apply to the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for the annual Section 5307 Job Access Reverse Commute grant.
• Affordable Housing: The Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of a portion of an approved Housing Trust Fund loan allocation for the purchase of land at 99999 Oak Lodge Road and 99999 Dogwood Road for the Pine Lane Project.
• Zoning: The Council passed a resolution to approve the conditional zoning of 3183 Sweeten Creek Road from the Residential Multi-Family High Density District to the Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone. This item passed with a vote of 5-2, with Councilwomen Sage Turner and Maggie Ullman voting against.

Discussion Highlights The meeting included an agenda briefing work session where staff provided updates on ongoing initiatives. James Shelton, Community Development Manager, discussed the development of the CDBG-DR Action Plan, noting $1.3 billion in identified unmet needs. Councilwoman Kim Roney raised concerns about integrating food system security into the plan, while Councilman Sage Turner inquired about unit breakdowns for a proposed multifamily housing project and the impact of resilience maps on future development. Marcus Kirtman, Asheville Business Inclusion Manager, presented on the city’s efforts to increase competition by recruiting underrepresented firms, highlighting a recent disparity study and a significant increase in MWBE awards.

The Council also held public hearings on two rezoning requests: 94 Grandview Road (from RM-6 and CI to RM-6) and 1289 Sand Hill Road (from CI-CZ and IND to CI). Both proposals were supported by staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission, which had previously recommended approval. Additionally, the Council heard public comment on priorities for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, with a presentation outlining the budget development process and results from a community survey of over 6,900 residents.

Follow-ups Staff agreed to provide updated data on the status of the rental assistance program, including the number of families served and remaining funds. Staff also agreed to provide a breakdown of unit types for the proposed multifamily housing project and to explore incorporating resilience maps into future staff reports. The Council noted that a draft CDBG-DR action plan will be published for public comment on March 4, with feedback sessions scheduled throughout the month.

Impact These decisions secure funding for historic preservation education, support the city’s public transit system through state and federal grants, and ensure continued lodging for emergency personnel. The approval of the Housing Trust Fund land purchase and the conditional zoning for the Pine Lane Project moves forward the construction of 126 affordable housing units. The approval of the conditional zoning at 3183 Sweeten Creek Road allows for a 304-unit residential development, a decision that generated some division among Council members. The public comment session on budget priorities will inform the City Manager’s proposed budget, which is scheduled for presentation in May 2025.