Weaverville Council Narrows Merchants Alley Task Force, Rejects Paid Facilitator

Weaverville's Town Council spent most of its Oct. 13, 2026, workshop on a small downtown alley with big stakes: whether businesses keep any parking once fire and police access rules are enforced. No formal votes were taken, but members gave staff informal direction. They want a tighter, deadline-driven Merchants Alley task force, no paid facilitator and no study of a permanent Florida Avenue closure for now.

• Merchants Alley task force told to define goals, deliverables and deadlines, with paid facilitation rejected

  • Without changes, the alley will be striped with no parking except loading zones

• Permanent Florida Avenue closure set aside; temporary event closures remain on the table

• Council outreach to major employers yields contacts after Thermo Fisher's departure announcement, though some calls went unanswered

Merchants Alley: Council Wants Focus, Not Facilitators

Why it matters: Fire and police access concerns are forcing a change in how Merchants Alley works. Unless the task force finds an option that meets those rules, businesses that rely on alley parking will lose it.

Where things stand: Town Manager Scottie Harris reported that 10 people have signed up for the task force and two more businesses have asked to join. The group still needs a representative from Alabama Avenue.

Staff proposed three supports:

• Technical help from McAdams, formerly Traffic Planning and Design

• A study area bounded by Florida, Alabama, Central and Merriman

• A neutral facilitator, Sherry Adams

Harris pressed members on whether a Florida Avenue closure is in scope, how much public input they want and what they expect the group to produce.

Members answered with a call for defined goals, deliverables and due dates. Councilmember Phil Barnett criticized the process so far. "This seems to be kick the can down the road," said Barnett.

Councilmember Mark Endries framed the stakes plainly: "If nothing changes, the street will be marked and striped." Endries also urged a narrow scope while acknowledging that Florida Avenue is the alley's access point. "But the focus should strictly be on the function of Merchants Alley," he said.

No to paying a facilitator: In an informal poll, several members opposed paying for facilitation. Councilmember Andrew Nagle joked the Vice Mayor didn't event need to vote because the idea would lose 5 to 2. "I think we have enough brains on this committee that can figure this out without having to hire somebody to do so," said Councilmember Jennifer Young. One member said a facilitator would be acceptable if payment isn't required. Another suggested the group may have grown large enough to need one.

The other side: The businesses themselves want the status quo. A council member said emails from Merchants Alley residents asked for no change, while the police and fire chiefs object to current practices. "Basically, the people in Merchants Alley said don't change anything, it's been working for 40 years, leave it alone," the member said.

Young cast the choice as binary. "So either change it and follow the ordinance or change the ordinance," she said.

Public commenter Mr. Shepherd pressed for a wider lens. He asked how much public input the study will allow and disputed the roadway width near his property. He said blocking his property could leave roadways of about 16 feet. He also argued that any plan must include Court Avenue, citing truck traffic and blocked deliveries. Members promised to include him in the process.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. The informal consensus favors defined goals, a Merchants Alley focus and no paid facilitator.

• Alley businesses: face the clearest risk. The status quo they defend is the outcome public safety officials oppose.

• Fire and police: their access concerns drive the timeline.

• Nearby property owners, including Mr. Shepherd: want adjacent streets such as Court Avenue considered alongside the alley.

• Staff: must now return with a tighter charge without a paid facilitator to manage a growing group.

What's next: The council did not set a formal timeline. Readers should watch for staff to bring back a defined scope, deliverables and due dates for the task force.

Florida Avenue Closure: Events Yes, Permanent Study No

Why it matters: A permanent closure of the one-block section of Florida Avenue could disrupt deliveries and property access. By declining to study it, the council keeps staff focused on Merchants Alley.

Where things stand: Staff asked three questions:

• Whether to use temporary closures for events like the Candlelight Stroll

• Whether to study permanently closing the block

• What input and outside resources to use

Vice Mayor John Chase favored a trial approach. "Maybe for the short term we do some temporary closures for special town events here and there and just see how it goes," the member said.

Young cited access concerns for a nearby property owner. She said the council is not prepared for a permanent closure without extensive study. "I agree that I think at this time we should not be looking into closing Florida Avenue," she said.

Councilmember Andrew Nagle traced the idea back to the state's social district law, which lets towns designate areas where alcohol can be carried outdoors. "I was never in favor of closing Florida Avenue as a street," Nagle said.

During the discussion, the town attorney reminded the council of the meeting's format: "This is not a question-answer format. It's not a public hearing."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. Members appeared to support temporary event closures only. That outcome protects delivery routes and property access. It also leaves event organizers with a case-by-case path rather than a permanent pedestrian block.

What's next: Temporary closures for town events remain possible. A permanent closure study is off the table for now.

Business Outreach: Building Ties After Thermo Fisher Surprise

Why it matters: The outreach began after Thermo Fisher told Asheville's mayor it was leaving, catching Weaverville officials off guard. Members want relationships with top employers and taxpayers to get earlier warning next time.

Where things stand: Barnett described the goal simply. "Can we actually develop a personal relationship with some of these managers?" he said.

Members reported the following contacts:

• Barnett visited Conrad Industries and Dodge. A Dodge manager is interested in reviving summer internships with schools.

• One member reported regular contact with schools, a limited response from Walmart and no response from Arvado.

• Young described work on the Ball Crank property survey and an AdventHealth luncheon on Oct. 22.

• Barnett said the town is awaiting licensing of 92 hospital beds around Thanksgiving. He also noted a new Publix manager.

Another member admitted he had not reached his assigned contacts. He offered a lighthearted "soft motion" to hand them to Young and Barnett. No vote was taken.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This item was informational only. Early relationships could help the town prepare for job and tax base shifts. Results so far are uneven, and several large retailers have been slow to respond.

What's next: Members will continue their outreach, including the AdventHealth luncheon on Oct. 22.

Minor Items

• Fire Chief John Coffey starts Oct. 19. He was the second choice in a spring 2026 recruitment, and the town hired him rather than restart the search.

• Fire staffing: Five of 30 authorized positions are vacant: one captain, two engineers and two firefighter EMTs. Four of five recent hires have started.

• ISO ratings held steady at 2 for Weaverville and 3 for the North Buncombe District. ISO ratings measure fire protection and can affect insurance costs.

• Fire apparatus: A new engine entered service Aug. 20. Another engine is due in December 2026, and a heavy rescue truck is expected in 2027.

• Closed session grounds recited: The town attorney cited attorney-client privilege, contract and employment compensation terms, and personnel matters. No motion to enter closed session was recorded. The council then adjourned by voice vote.

Looking Ahead

Fire department assessments for the five open positions are planned for late October or early November. The Merchants Alley task force's goals, deliverables and timeline remain to be formalized by staff.