Cathedral of All Souls Wins 5-Foot Fence Over Staff Objection

Asheville's Historic Resources Commission let the Cathedral of All Souls build a taller security fence and cheaper, flood-raised mechanical platforms. To do it, commissioners read around staff's interpretation of Biltmore Village's aging design rules. The commission also stalled an urgent Albemarle Park wall rebuild over an undisclosed tree removal, all under an acting chair after the commission's new leader resigned a day earlier.

• Cathedral of All Souls amendment approved, including a 5-foot fence classified as "service-area screening." The church says the redesign saves $75,000.
• Collapsed 7 Cherokee Road wall continued to October after the owner disclosed a tree removal and power-pole move that weren't in the application.
• Montford porch enclosure approved on condition that a non-metal door replace the proposed metal one.
• Fairview's Ashworth House recommended for National Register listing. The nomination now goes to state reviewers.

The commission approved amendments to the Cathedral of All Souls' major-work certificate at 3 Angle Street in Biltmore Village. The package includes a 5-foot black metal picket fence around new mechanical equipment, a foot taller than staff said the standards allow.