Brevard Council Rejects One-Way Couplets for Downtown Broad, Caldwell Streets

Brevard's downtown business, tourism and college leaders filled City Hall on Oct. 5 to oppose turning Broad and Caldwell streets into one-way pairs. The City Council answered with an amended resolution putting the city on record against the option, while keeping it in a grant-funded study so the money isn't put at risk. Council also funded speed humps for Carolina Avenue, dropped public hearings for traffic rule changes and eliminated parking minimums ahead of a state deadline.

• Council formally opposes one-way pairs on US 64 after more than a dozen speakers objected.

• Up to $14,000 approved for six speed humps around Carolina Avenue.

• Stop sign and speed limit changes will now skip public hearings and go to the consent agenda.

• Parking minimums eliminated to comply with a new state law taking effect Jan. 1, 2027.

• New building height rules adopted, measured from average finished grade.

Downtown Draws a Line on One-Way Streets

1 big thing: Brevard will not support converting Broad and Caldwell streets into a one-way couplet. Council adopted the amended resolution by voice vote with no audible opposition. All members were present, and all five councilmembers spoke against the one-way option during debate.

The basics: US 64 already runs through downtown as an "unbalanced couplet" on Broad and Caldwell. About three years ago, city, county, NCDOT and Land of Sky Rural Planning Organization officials discussed freight, through-traffic and pedestrian-crossing pressures on the corridor. That led the RPO to seek funding for the In the Loop circulation study. Consultant McAdams must study a one-way pair as one of three scenarios.

Why it matters: Speakers framed the fight as a defense of downtown's economy. "Visitor spending in Transylvania County generated $188 million in economic impact last year. 1 in 10 jobs here depends on tourism dollars," said Dee Dee Perkins, chair of the Tourism Development Authority Marketing Committee.

Where things stand: The Downtown Master Plan Implementation and Downtown Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Sept. 9, 2026, to recommend opposing the option. "That committee felt very strongly that the one-way couplet option was a non-starter for the community," said Councilmember Lauren Wise, the committee's vice chair.

The public comment period ran as an organized coalition. Heart of Brevard President Adam Perkins said festivals depend on closable two-way streets. Brevard College President Brad Andrews warned that one-way traffic heading "out of town" on Broad works against the college's efforts over the past five years. Other opponents included Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Clark Lovelace, Transylvania Economic Alliance Executive Director Burton Hodges and several downtown merchants. Opie Taylor's owner John Taylor proposed a center turn lane on Broad instead. No speaker supported the one-way option.

The other side: Vicki Eastland of Land of Sky Rural Planning Organization said the study is funded 80% federal and 10% state, with 5% local matches each from the city and county. "This is not an NCDOT initiative," she said. She added that the study will make no recommendation and that removing the option from the scope would jeopardize this and future funding. "Project won't get submitted, it won't get funded without support from the local governments that it falls in," Eastland said.

Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Baker acknowledged the source of community anxiety. "In looking at the study in a very quantitative way, the one-ways score really well," he said. He also noted that 90% of the study is paid for by others. Brevard Transylvania Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tamika Hunter said the chamber is still learning about the options, but she flagged the Christmas Parade route on Broad Street.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: City Manager Wilson Hooper pointed out that the resolution still asked to remove the option from the study's scope of work. Councilmember Pamela Holder amended her motion to strike that clause. The final resolution asks that the one-way pair option be removed from further consideration. "Whatever the study shows, we're not going to be in favor of one-way pairs," said Councilmember Gary Daniel. Councilmember Dean Lytle argued the study started with its answer: "The solution can't be the goal."

What's next: Daniel pressed for the next best alternative and asked whether signal timing could change without one-way pairs. Expect that question to shape the remaining scenarios.

Six Speed Humps for Carolina Avenue

Why it matters: Multiple speed studies have confirmed dangerous speeding on Carolina Avenue, a known cut-through. The fix is paid for from Fund 82, the Rosenwald Fund.

Where things stand: Hooper requested up to $14,000 for seven sets of humps: four on Carolina and one each on McMinn, Washington and Silverstein, the last three meant to deter traffic from diverting onto side streets. The vendor quotes are lower but exclude shipping and tax. Carolina resident Beth Kramer supported traffic calming but asked for three humps instead of four. "Eliminating one hump would also free up over $2,000 that could benefit more people in the Rosenwald area," she said.

Baker, who lives on McMinn, proposed six humps and deferring Silverstein because of a new three-way stop at the Tannery Skate Park. Traffic engineer Christy Stout said optimal spacing is 300 to 600 feet and that the mapped locations are approximate.

The other side: Holder favored Kramer's three-hump idea. She moved to send placement back to the Public Safety Committee, but the motion died without a second.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Wise moved the funding, which passed by voice vote. A second voice vote approved six humps: four on Carolina, plus one each on Washington and McMinn. Staff will first study whether three humps on Carolina would suffice. Hooper noted that six installations leave a seventh set in inventory. Mayor Maureen Copelof closed the meeting with a plea to drivers: "We can't put speed humps on every single street, but people need to pay attention."

Traffic Rule Changes Lose Their Public Hearings

Where things stand: Every change to Brevard's traffic schedule, the code chapter listing stop signs, speed limits and parking zones, has received an advertised public hearing. "The process we used, which we thought had a legal requirement, really didn't," Hooper said. Aligning with Transylvania Times advertising schedules delayed changes by one to two months.

Under the new process, the Public Safety Committee will vet changes and send them to the council's consent agenda. "We are trading off a little bit of transparency for a lot of efficiency," Hooper said.

The other side: "I kind of like the component of continuing the public hearing," Holder said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Baker noted that committee meetings are public, that public comment precedes the consent agenda and that items can be pulled or tabled. Lytle called it "the definition of cutting red tape." The motion passed by voice vote, and no individual "no" vote was audible. Residents who care about a stop sign or speed limit should now watch Public Safety Committee agendas.

Zoning Rewrites: Parking and Height

Parking minimums: Council adopted amendments to Unified Development Ordinance Chapters 2, 8, 10 and 17 removing all off-street parking minimums. The change complies with Session Law 2026-39, adopted July 1, which bars local parking minimums starting Jan. 1, 2027. Senior Planner Emily Brewer said "parking requirements have become a trigger point for some of our nonconformities and for certain development regulations," so the rewrite also removes those triggers. The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval in August, and a public hearing was held in September. No member had questions, prompting Holder to remark that someone should ask one.

Building height: Council also adopted amendments to Chapters 2, 6 and 19. Buildings of one or two stories will be regulated by story count, with a 14-foot maximum story height. Buildings of three or more stories face limits on both building height and exposed wall height, measured from average finished grade. Brewer's example, the three-story Mantiques building, measures 29 feet under current rules and 32 feet under the new method. The Planning Board recommended the change Aug. 25. Both items passed by voice vote.

• P-card report: Finance Director Dean Luby reported 12 cards and about $300,000 in purchases, roughly 4% of operating spending. Staff plan to move to a less paper-driven card system.

• Pinnacle Mountain: Morris Young Sr. and James Beale said trail infrastructure blocks road access to Black-owned properties. Beale cited a pending lawsuit and again asked for a special meeting.

• Acosta Trail: Baker said existing grants will cover construction. Nancy DiPippo warned that throttle e-bikes, which are illegal on the trail, are being rented downtown.

• Consent agenda: Approved a Veterans Day road closure, a Mini-Brooks exemption for Headwaters Engineering's two streambank restorations and an ABC Board appointment.

• Proclamations: A free clinic pledged 120 free mammograms for uninsured and underinsured residents and a weekly clinic in the county.

Looking ahead: Hooper will bring a proposed ordinance to a public hearing Oct. 19. It would let the city reimburse developers who build public infrastructure, with council approval required for every agreement. Baker also noted that early voting begins Oct. 15.