Asheville City Council
February 14, 2023
Regular meeting
WaterOther City businessHousingStreets and transit
What it did
- Approves the Land Use Incentive Grant application for Cohen-Esrey Development Group at 157 New Leicester Highway.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Rezones 157 and 99999 New Leicester Hwy, with conditions, from Residential Multi-Family High Density (RM-16) and Highway Business (HB) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Signs a contract with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and the asheville-buncombe community christian ministries to provide thee agencies grant…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Lets the Purchasing Division execute purchase orders with Gillig for 4 new 30-foot diesel buses for the Asheville Rides Transit System…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Votes recorded
- 14
- Voted on separately
- 4
- Routine items, one vote
- 10
- Votes that split
- 0
Why it matters
Regular meetings are where Council votes on laws, the budget, contracts and zoning. Routine items pass together in one vote, called the consent agenda.
The recording
Everything on the agenda
From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.
PROCLAMATIONS
Introduction of new Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools dr. Rob Jackson
“Mayor Manheimer introduced the new Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools Dr. Rob Jackson.”
Proclamation proclaiming 2023 as “Year of the Trail”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming 2023, as "Year of the Trail" in the City of Asheville.”
Proclamation proclaiming February 20-26, 2023 as “Invasive Species Awareness Week”
“Councilwoman Turner read the proclamation proclaiming February 20-26, 2023, as "Invasive Species Awareness Week" in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
10 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
MANAGER’S REPORT: Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Report
“Budget Manager Taylor Floyd provided Council with a brief review of revenues, personnel expenses, operating expenses, and next steps.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to close an unopened Right-of-Way connecting to the east side of Buncombe Street between Commerce Street and Aston Street 2-14-23
“Page 19 RESOLUTION NO. 23-29 - RESOLUTION TO CLOSE AN UNOPENED RIGHT-OF-WAY CONNECTING TO THE EAST SIDE OF BUNCOMBE STREET BETWEEN COMMERCE STREET AND ASTON STREET Assistant Transportation Director Jessica Morriss said that this is the consideration of a resolution to close an unopened right-of-way…”
157 New Leicester Highway
“Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said this is the consideration of adopting a resolution approving a land use incentive grant to Cohen-Esrey Development Group for 141 residential units 157 New Leicester Highway.”
- Vote: Approves the Land Use Incentive Grant application for Cohen-Esrey Development Group at 157 New Leicester Highway.
- Vote: Rezones 157 and 99999 New Leicester Hwy, with conditions, from Residential Multi-Family High Density (RM-16) and Highway Business (HB) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).
Resolution approving a Land Use Incentive Grant to aston flats LLC for 46 Aston Street
“Councilwoman Turner moved to continue this public hearing until May 23, 2023.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a Funding letter to the N.C. dept. of Transportation Regarding the City’s betterments and aesthetics treatments for the I-26 Connector Project Sections b & d
“Director of Transportation Ken Putnam said that is the consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a funding letter of commitment to the N.C. Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) regarding the city betterments and aesthetics treatments for Project I-2513B and I-2513D. The…”
Boards & Commissions
“Regarding the Audit Committee, since no one applied for the vacancies, it was the consensus of the Boards and Commissions Committee and City Council to have the Clerk’s Office readvertise for the seats.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- concern around funding McCormick Field renovations
- suggestion to build theaters in the downtown area
- concern of Plugged-In Productions holding amplified musical events at Hazel Robinson Theatre
- support for change in our current election system
- disconnect in conversations between citizens and City Council
- support for housing
- need to spread the creativity in Asheville
- request to allow food trucks in downtown between 11:00 p.m
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The proposed project will provide twenty-nine (29) affordable units (20% of the total units) to individuals and families earning at or below 80% AMI, with 19 (50% of the affordable units) accepting rental assistance, for an affordability period of thirty (30) years.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “For 16 years and 29 affordable units at or below 80% AMI, the city will grant back a total of $1,688,299 over the 16 years of the LUIG which equals $58,217 per unit of subsidy which is lower than the estimate of up to $80,000 in subsidy for 80% AMI homes as noted in the LUIG Policy.”
- “able units is 15 one bedroom units and 14 two bedroom units.”
- “Affordable Rental Housing”
- “The proposed project will accept 15 Housing Choice Vouchers / Rental Assistance in the community, and possibly consider more.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The proposed project would result in a total impervious area of 51%.”
- “Based on the proportion of these classifications and the existing tree canopy, a total of 26,240 square feet of tree canopy preservation is required, which the project is meeting through preservation on-site.”
- “Open Space is required at a rate of 20% of the site as the project meets the incentive requirements for enhanced stormwater management, resulting in 42,863 square feet of required open space, which the project is providing.”
- “Regarding conditions, he said 28 units (20%) will be designated affordable at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) for a minimum of 20 years - 14 of these affordable units (50%) will accept housing choice vouchers.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “The length of the proposed closure is approximately 152 ft long by 25 ft wide.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Routine items, passed together
The consent agenda: items Council approves in one vote, without separate discussion. A member can ask to pull an item out for its own vote.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “At the September 13, 2022 Council meeting, City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with Dogwood Health Trust; and approved the associated budget amendment from the Dogwood Health Trust ARPA Advantage Affordable Housing funding in the amount of $1,600,000.”
- “Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign contracts with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries to provide these agencies grant funding the city received from the Dogwood Health Trust’s ARPA Advantage Affordable Housing funding.”
- “In May 2022 the City of Asheville responded to a request for proposals from the Dogwood Health Trust to leverage the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the City is investing in affordable housing.”
- “Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity (AAHH) and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries (ABCCM) applied for City of Asheville ARPA funding for affordable housing projects.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The plan would analyze routes, ridership demands, various fleet sizes and fuel sources, necessary infrastructure investments, emissions and carbon production, and the short and long term financial investments (capital and operating) required for each.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Execute purchase orders in the amount of $2,139,722, for four (4) 30-foot diesel Gillig buses utilizing the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Cooperative Purchasing Agreement approved by the Washington State Department of Enterprise on October 20, 2021. 2.”
- “At this time, the City has 5 buses past the recommended useful life of a bus, given that they have over 500,000 miles and have been in service for 13 years.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The requested amendment provides further clarification and standardization in the assessment of the prior Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Study provided by IBI Group in 2020.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with Creech & Associates, PLLC up to a revised amount of $391,070 for the Comprehensive Facilities Study. 2-14-23 Page 10 Background:”
- “The previous O&M study included the proposed relocation of the Public Works Department.”
- “The City owns more than 1.6 million square feet of facilities, of which about 900,000 square feet are occupied or operational.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The Historic Resources Commission/City of Asheville has been awarded a Historic Preservation Fund grant in the amount of $9,000.”
Adopts the revised Water Shortage Response Plan 2022 (drought Plan).
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This contract amendment will allow for construction design documents and project oversight to be completed for the stormwater portion of the Municipal Golf Course project.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Amends Sec. 3, ART. i, Ch. 3 of the Asheville City Code to enhance the regulation concerning…
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Changes the dates of Council meetings.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “This is another opportunity to tell the story of the hard work we are doing and sharing the successes together.”
The plain-language lines are written by fixed rules from each item's official title, which is on each decision's page. Every vote the minutes record is listed; procedural motions, like approving the minutes or adjourning, are left out.