Locunity/Asheville, NC·City Council
Elected city governing body; legislation, budget and policy.
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Rachel Cohen told Council the Q2 ALPR audit is five sentences and doesn't identify who ran over 2.7 million outside-agency searches.
Why it matters: The comment questions whether claimed safeguards on shared license plate reader data offer meaningful oversight.
Janice Rourdan asked Council to push a Buncombe baiting ban, add BearWise signage and require bear-resistant containers in high-conflict areas; the topic was referred to the Public Safety committee.
Why it matters: A new county feeding rule exempts legal hunting bait, and Asheville's bear cart program faces a waitlist of 400-plus.
Doug Curtis asked Council to adopt interim safety measures at the Amboy Bridge and bike path connection rather than wait for a spring interim fix.
Why it matters: He said permanent repairs of Helene damage are years away and cited a fatality and serious injury among runners.
Council accepted $6 million from Destination Home for the Right at Home prevention pilot while hearing about a HUD shift toward treatment-first funding.
Why it matters: The pilot aims to serve 250 households in year one while federal CoC funding shifts away from Housing First, reducing funds for existing projects.
Council approved the HOME-ARP allocation plan amendment after accepting Hess's friendly amendment for a public report on how nonprofit partners spend funds.
Why it matters: Council members said they typically stamp these consortium decisions; the report gives the public a view of administrative versus direct-assistance spending.
Council unanimously approved the Costco conditional zoning, including a 13% tree canopy preservation level and sandwich board signs, over traffic and fee-in-lieu objections.
Why it matters: It clears a 168,258 sq ft store with an estimated 225-250 starting jobs on a long-vacant brownfield, while setting a contested tree-canopy precedent.
Council unanimously approved a repeal-and-replace conditional zoning for 23 Habitat for Humanity lots in Shiloh, all affordable at or below 80% AMI, with Shiloh residents backing it.
Why it matters: It delivers new homeownership in city limits and aligns with the Shiloh Community Plan, with community support.
Public Works presented a phased citywide stormwater assessment, with a $900,000 Phase 1 in Town Branch Watershed partly state funded and Phase 2 planned for the FY28 budget.
Why it matters: The city's inventory dates to the late 1980s; updated data will reprioritize stormwater capital projects as storms intensify.
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Costco Clears Asheville Council Unanimously Despite Tree, Traffic Objections Asheville City Council handed Costco a unanimous green light Oct. 13 for a 168,258-square-foot store on a long-vacant Enka brownfield, accepti...
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Asheville Reworks $4.7M Homelessness Plan as Council Member Questions Nonprofits Asheville is retooling a one-time $4.7 million federal housing allocation to deliver rapid rental help for people pushed into homelessness...
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