Fletcher Downzones Steep Mills Gap Road Site; Red Cross Details Helene Aid
Town Council • FletcherNovember 9, 2026
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Fletcher Town Council on Nov. 9, 2026, took 16.45 steep acres on Mills Gap Road out of manufacturing zoning, a downzoning the owner requested and no one spoke against. The rezoning was the night's only binding policy vote. Most of the meeting went to the American Red Cross, which detailed more than $1.1M in Hurricane Helene aid in Henderson County and pitched free preparedness programs the council wants to host.
- 16.45 acres on Mills Gap Road rezoned from M-1 manufacturing to R-1A residential by unanimous voice vote
- Red Cross reports more than $1.1M in direct Helene aid in Henderson County, plus grants to 49 organizations
- Fanning Bridge Road comments due Nov. 18, and public input can affect the project's state scoring
- Town Center developer update targeted for December, with two firms still interested
- STEEP's 300-foot mural draws council design changes, and funding and NCDOT approval are still pending
Mills Gap Road Parcel Shifts From Industrial to Residential
The basics: The owner, Dirt and Sticks Incorporated, asked to rezone the 16.45-acre parcel from M-1, a manufacturing district, to R-1A, a low-density residential district. Because the request lowers how intensely the land can be used, staff called it a downzoning.
Why it matters: The change reduces what can be built on steep land that sits between Fletcher's industrial park and nearby residential areas. It creates a transition between the two uses rather than letting industry extend toward homes.
Where things stand: Planning staff told the council that the request is consistent with goals 3 and 6 of the town's Land Use Plan. Staff also said the terrain would constrain the land under any zoning.
"The site's significant topographical constraints and applicable development regulations would likely limit its overall development regardless of its zoning designation," said Tyler Morrow, town planning staff.
The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval on Oct. 20. No one spoke when the council opened the public hearing, and the hearing was closed without testimony.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council adopted the ordinance amending the zoning map, including findings that the change is consistent with the Land Use Plan and reasonable. The motion passed by voice vote, and Mayor Preston Blakely declared it unanimous. Individual tallies were not recorded.
The owner gets the zoning it asked for. Neighbors in the adjacent residential areas get a lower-intensity buffer instead of potential manufacturing uses next door. Because staff said the slopes limit development under any designation, the practical change on the ground may be modest. Even so, the parcel's legal ceiling is now set by residential rules rather than industrial ones.
What's next: The ordinance took effect with the vote. No further council action was mentioned.
Red Cross Details Helene Recovery, Offers Free Programs
Why it matters: The presentation showed how much Hurricane Helene recovery money has reached Henderson County households. It also flagged free resources Fletcher residents can tap now, from smoke alarms to disaster training.
Where things stand: Adrian Mines, executive director of the American Red Cross Western North Carolina chapter, laid out the scale of local aid:
- Bridge assistance reached 274 households and 685 individuals, totaling more than $575,400.
- Expanded recovery assistance reached 130 individuals, totaling more than $585,000.
- Grants went to 49 organizations, including United Way of Henderson County and Housing Assistance Corporation.
Taken together, direct household aid topped $1.1M, separate from the organizational grants. That grant network is how much of the longer-term recovery reaches people in the county.
The programs on offer: Mines described Sound the Alarm, the Red Cross smoke alarm program, along with youth and community preparedness courses and a train-the-trainer model. That model builds local capacity rather than relying on outside instructors.
"Delivery is from community members," said Mines, describing how the community preparedness training is taught.
Blood supply: Fletcher's most recent blood drive collected 53 units against a goal of 50.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. Council members discussed hosting a blood drive and preparedness training, asked for a copy of the presentation and offered to help publicize the programs.
Because the programs are free, the town's cost is mainly space and promotion. That makes this a low-cost way for Fletcher to strengthen its disaster readiness after Helene. The beneficiaries would be households that need smoke alarms, residents who want emergency skills and local organizations that could take on a training role.
What's next: No dates were set. Watch for the town to announce a blood drive or training session.
Town Center, Fanning Bridge Road and Speed Limits
Why it matters: The Town Manager's report previewed two decisions with real stakes: who builds Fletcher's Town Center, and whether Fanning Bridge Road scores well enough to win state funding.
Where things stand: Town Manager Mark Biberdorf said Lewis Real Estate Group and Southeast Capital Partners remain interested in the Town Center project. An update on a developer partner is targeted for December.
Biberdorf said Fanning Bridge Road is Fletcher's only "division needs" project moving through the French Broad River MPO, the regional transportation planning body. Public comments are due Nov. 18, and they can affect how the project is scored.
Speed concerns: Biberdorf said traffic surveys found average speeds below posted limits. He also told the council the town does not use speed bumps.
"We don't have any on our town-maintained roads, any speed bumps anywhere," said Biberdorf.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council agreed to have staff look into lowering a speed limit to 20 mph in the Livingston/Reserve area. No action was taken on the Town Center.
The developer choice will shape what gets built in Fletcher's core and who controls it. That makes it the item for business owners, nearby residents and civic groups to watch closely.
What's next: Comment on Fanning Bridge Road by Nov. 18. Expect the Town Center developer update in December.
Council Reworks Proposed 300-Foot Mural
Why it matters: The STEEP mural would face about 22,000 drivers a day. Its imagery would effectively become a billboard for how Fletcher sees itself.
Where things stand: Karen Eve Bain, chair of STEEP, presented a mural about 300 feet long and 10 feet tall near Foam and Fabric. It needs approval from NCDOT, the state transportation department. Funding depends on a pending Community Foundation grant decision and an application to the Arts Council of Henderson County, and the design must be final before that application goes in.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. Council members suggested replacing the old airport image, possibly with Veritas, the former Fletcher Elementary, and adding children playing.
Late in the meeting, public commenter Elena Miller, a longtime Dogwood Terrace resident, backed artwork that teaches people about Fletcher's story.
What's next: STEEP will send a revised draft to Amber McKinney and the council.
Minor Items
- Consent agenda approved by voice vote: It included park ordinance amendments and a joint library interlocal agreement with Henderson County.
- Minutes approved: The council approved prior meeting minutes by voice vote, with no opposition stated.
- Public comment: Joe Black backed removing a dam, raised e-bike limits in the park and asked about citing drivers for cellphone use at intersections.
- Closed session: The council voted by voice to enter closed session for contract negotiations. No action was reported.
Looking Ahead
Fanning Bridge Road comments are due Nov. 18, and the Town Center developer update is expected in December.