March 11, 2025Asheville City Council
From the minutes, not yet reviewedWhat it does
Changes City law, Chapter 7 of the City Code.
- Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Kim Roney, Sheneika Smith.
- Who it's for: Households earning 60% to 80% of the area median income: $61,440 to $81,920 a year for a family of four (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
- Why it matters: City ordinances are local laws. Changing one changes the rules people and businesses must follow.
More from the minutes
- “By setting a new baseline for Level III projects at 100,000 sq. ft. for all project types, instead of 50 residential units, this effectively raises the threshold for residential projects which would otherwise require a conditional zoning.”
- “Further revisions of the project level thresholds focus on raising development thresholds for Level III projects only for parcels located in commercial corridors and mixed-use districts, as well as incentivizing affordable housing by further increasing the Level III and conditional zoning threshold, as proposed below.”
- “The proposed text amendment has been reviewed against the recently-passed state legislation (SB 382) that limits municipal downzoning action.”
Official title: Council approved amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with the following adjustments: (1) Baseline Tier of the affordability and development thresholds shall be removed; (2) Tier 4 of the affordability and development thresholds table shall be removed; (3) Tier 1 affordability levels shall be changed to 5% at 80% AMI or 3% at 60% AMI; (4) Tier 3 affordability levels shall be changed to 15% at 80% AMI or 8% at 60% AMI; and (5) The Level III Thresholds for review shall be as follows: Tier 1 - Non Mixed Use: above 100,000 sq
Carried 4–3
From the minutes: This motion was seconded by Councilman Hess and carried on a 4-3 vote, with Vice-Mayor Mosley, Councilwoman Roney and Councilwoman Smith voting “no.”
Read the motion as recorded
“Councilwoman Turner moved to approve the proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with the following adjustments: (1) Baseline Tier of the affordability and development thresholds shall be removed; (2) Tier 4 of the affordability and development thresholds table shall be removed; (3) Tier 1 affordability levels shall be changed to 5% at 80% AMI or 3% at 60% AMI; (4) Tier 3 affordability levels shall be changed to 15% at 80% AMI or 8% at 60% AMI; and (5) The Level III Thresholds for review shall be as follows: Tier 1 - Non Mixed Use: above 100,000 sq.”
Open the minutesMotion text in the minutes