March 11, 2025Asheville City Council
From the minutes, not yet reviewedCouncil cuts the minimum number of cottages in a cottage development from five to two.
The change, asked for by residents, also drops the rule that cottage developments be 200 feet apart. It drops the rule that cottages face the main street, too. It does not apply to parcels in a new Appendix 7-F, drawn from a map of Legacy Neighborhood boundaries and areas most at risk of change. Staff had urged denial.
Watch this item, at 20:41(time from the video's captions)- Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Kim Roney, Sheneika Smith.
What this changes: The City expects the main effect in RS-8 zoning. Properties south of I-40 and north of the Blue Ridge Parkway keep the five-cottage minimum.
More from the minutes
- “The intention of the Cottage Development Ordinance is to permit smaller, single-unit dwellings to live in clustered communities oriented around common open space.”
- “The proposed text amendment has been reviewed against the recently-passed state legislation (SB 382) that limits municipal downzoning action.”
- “Staff presented an overall anti-displacement strategy and timeline for Council policy consideration at a Council work session on September 24, 2024 and had proposed to be able to present specific anti-displacement and housing updates in January.”
Official title: Council approved the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with the addition of Appendix 7-F-Other Parcels (outlined in Map 3 referenced) and applicability of the new regulations only to the parcels not listed within the new Appendix
Carried 4–3
From the minutes: This motion was seconded by Councilwoman Turner and carried on a 4-3 vote, with Vice-Mayor Mosley, Councilwoman Roney and Councilwoman Smith voting “no.”
Read the motion as recorded
“Councilwoman Ullman moved to approve the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with the addition of Appendix 7-F-Other Parcels (outlined in Map 3 referenced) and applicability of the new regulations only to the parcels not listed within the new Appendix, and find that the proposed amendments are reasonable, in the public interest, and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in that the request: 1) provides infill development in targeted growth areas; 2) increases the supply of affordable housing in proximity to schools and transit; and, 3) promotes the development and availability of affordable and workforce housing.”
Open the minutesMotion text in the minutes