Tuesday April 10th was the first day of the new year of the West Asheville Tailgate Market.
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West Asheville news April 7th
New Belgium Brewing announces east coast location in West Asheville.
On April 5th New Belgium Brewing announced that Asheville, North Carolina will be the site for their new east coast brewery and distribution facility. Governor Bev Perdue and New Belgium Brewing CEO Kim Jordan confirmed the news at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce during a press conference featuring New Belgium Brewing beers and trademark bicycles. The future brewery will sit on a 17.5 acres brownfield site in West Asheville at the former WNC Livestock Market on Craven Street. Ground breaking is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2013 with the brewery expecting to be up and operational in the first quarter of 2015. The new facility will be 150,000 square-feet with a planned annual brewing capacity of 400,000 barrels and will be open to the public with a tasting room, tours and rooftop beer garden.
4th Annual Urban Plant Walk on April 14th
Come learn about the medicinal and edible plants growing in the sidewalks, gardens, and wild lots of downtown West Asheville at the 4th Annual West Asheville Urban Plant Walk. The event will be held Saturday, April 14th from 10:30 to 12:00, rain or shine. It will start at the Center for Holistic Medicine, located at 779 Haywood Road, in the heart of downtown West Asheville. The walk will be co-hosted by Nancy Hyton, Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Herbalist, and founder of the Center, and local herbalist Mary Morgaine Thames of Earth Dancers. The cost is $5 for adults and includes a useful handout of the plants they will talking about on the walk. Kids are free! Sign up in advance at the Center or just come by on the day of the event. You can also call 505-3174 or email info@centerholistic.com to be put on the list.
The Center for Holistic Medicine has been offering Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Therapeutic Massage, and Osteopathic Manual Medicine at 779 Haywood Road in downtown West Asheville for four years and has been voted best of WNC three years in a row in the Mountain Xpress reader’s poll. The Center was founded by Nancy Hyton, a Licensed Acupuncturist and Certified Herbalist, who has a special interest in working with health care practitioners from other fields. The Center’s can be reached online at www.centerholistic.com or by phone at (828) 505-3174.
City of Asheville adds bicycle repair station on Haywood Road in River Arts District
Kelly Ingram, area resident at newly installed bicycle repair station.
City of Asheville employees recently installed a “Fixit” bicycle service station at the Clingman Avenue roundabout. It is a repair stand with an attached air pump and hand tools, including screwdrivers, wrenches and a tire lever. The station provides an opportunity for a cyclist to make minor repairs and adjustments on the road rather than having to carry tools or walk an ailing bicycle home.
“The city consulted with members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force and other cyclists about whether they would thought this was a good investment in encouraging bicycling, and to find the best location to test one of these stations,” said City Transportation Planner Barb Mee. “This was the consensus.”
The River Arts District is a destination and a bicycle crossroads. It is at the bottom of two long hills that join West Asheville and downtown, and near the Lyman Street and Riverside Drive bicycle lanes. The location is also next to a transit stop that serves downtown and West Asheville.
People have already noticed the repair station. Area resident Kelly Ingram noted, “the bicycle service station is incredibly helpful! I can use it when I bike to and from work and when I’m commuting around town. It is at a very convenient location so I don’t have to worry if my tire gets low or I need a few tools while I’m in the River Arts District or biking to West Asheville!”
The station is an investment aligned with city goals of integrating non-motorized modes into the city’s transportation network and providing Asheville’s residents and visitors with transportation options. It also makes the city friendlier to bicycles, another City Council objective. According to Mee, “An area where bicyclists feel welcome is one where they will patronize area businesses and spend their money. This, along with good bicycle parking, is a way to make cyclists feel welcome.”
“The cycling community is thrilled by the fix-it station in the River Arts District. Cyclists can tune up their bicycles after a ride along the river and greenway. The fix-it station also strengthens Asheville’s commitment to multi-modal transportation as it’s located at a bus stop on the recently improved sidewalks of Clingman Ave. I’m proud of our city’s expansion of infrastructure that supports the many modes people use throughout the day. The fix-it is a winner,” said Mike Sule of Asheville on Bikes, an area advocacy group.
Bicycling for transportation is a way to incorporate physical activity into someone’s day. Studies have found that people who use active transportation are, on average, more physically fit and have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people who use only motorized transportation.
“Kudos to the City for the installation of the Bicycle Fix-It Station in the River District. People of all ages and sizes can reap the benefits of feeling good about their health and themselves by engaging in active transportation. Studies show that the risk of chronic disease is reduced and that individuals report greater vitality and a sense of well-being when they walk or bicycle regularly”. Vicki Rowe-Currence, Health Promotion Educator and member of the Asheville Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force.
These public bicycle service stations have been used in other cities, including Wilmington (NC); Cambridge, Mass., and Omaha, Nebraska. A full press release from the City of Asheville can be found here.
RiverLink continues cleanup at Karen Cragnolin Park
After years of soil and water testing and further grant writing, RiverLink has been able to hire D.H. Griffin to remove cement remnants and all rock and debris over one inch in diameter on the site in preparation of planting the entire site using a process known as “phytoremediation” — nature healing nature.
RiverLink is working with Dr. Ari Ferro, an expert in phytoremediation, to develop and document the phytoremediation that will clean the contaminated soil, known as Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC’s, from the old junkyards. One of the many benefits of using phytoremediation is that the cleanup can occur in-situ, that means in place, without removing and transporting the contaminated soils to another location. This cost-effective “green” technology uses plants to “vacuum” VOC’s from the soil through their roots. The project will use all native grasses which have been infused with a bacteria cultivated from the site that can only survive on the VOC’s found in the soil at the old junkyard.
RiverLink, using EPA grant funds, has hired phytoremediation specialist Dr. Ari Ferro, the Principal Environmental Scientist with URS Corporation to oversee the planting along with Dr. Daniel van der Lelie, Senior Director for the Center for Agriculture and Environmental Engineering at RTI International. Incidentally Dr. van der Lelie’s company has also been hired to grow the hops for the new Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River. Overseeing all the work and helping to coordinate schedules is Rindt-McDuff Associates, Inc.
Concrete and rock removal is scheduled to conclude mid-April. The team of specialists will start seeding the entire site with bacteria-inoculated native plants this spring. The soil remediation will take approximately three years to be complete.
RiverLink invites the public to use Amboy Road and the easement it donated to build the sidewalk funded by the NCDOT that crosses the project and connects the French Broad River greenway to the north and to Carrier Park to the south until the new park is open to the public.
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HRCC meeting Mar 14
The next Haywood Road Corridor Committee meeting will be on Wednesday March 14, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at the West Asheville Library meeting room. The agenda will include finishing up with the potential parking map for uses along the corridor (see meeting notes). Also, these discussion items will be taken to a wider community forum and the information has been generated so far will be summarized and put into a format that can be shared with the wider community.
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HRCC meeting notes Feb 8
Following are the notes from the Haywood Road Corridor Committee, Vision Plan meeting on economic growth and parking. A pdf of these notes is available here.
Haywood Road Vision Plan Meeting Notes 2/8/12
The meeting was held at the West Asheville Recreation Center located at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Haywood Road.
The focus of the meeting was challenges to economic growth especially a lack of parking at critical locations along the corridor.
The ability was discussed as a threat to using private parking lots without an official agreement. It was noted that for the customers along the corridor, it is confusing to know if parking in off-street lots is allowed. In downtown by specific ordinance language, if a private owners will tow unauthorized car from their lot they must post the site and provide information where towed cars can be retrieved. This requirement is not in place in all commercial areas and is not required by the current ordinance (Ordinance 3057) which is specific to the Central Business District and Biltmore Village. This was discussed as a useful wording amendment to include other commercial areas.
A map of the corridor was reviewed for potential parking lots that may be available after hours or during the week (in the case of churches). Upon reviewing a map there are quite a number of lots that could be investigated for interest on the part of the property owners. More work need to be done with the map to identify locations. Creating a database of potential lots for further research and discussion as the this issue progresses was noted as a next step.
The City has provided leadership in the parking issue especially for the downtown area, and would need the policy support from City Council to expand this role into other areas of the City. A case could be made for west Asheville and other pedestrian districts that long-term this could stimulate private expansion and business development just as the parking program has for the downtown area. Parking Services is an enterprise fund and it would be expected to operate at a profit at the beginning especially. The parking situation may not need City leadership however and a private entrepreneur may be able to secure parking lots for lease on a daily or monthly basis as a business.
Issues related to shared parking arrangements include liability and maintenance, signage (public parking) which were mentioned as items to be worked out. WABA was noted as a potential partner for this aspect of the shared parking arrangements.
It was also noted that since quite a number of the potential shared lots are currently residential zoned so a wording amendment would be needed to allow the shared use with a commercial entity or the general public. Depending on the location, additional landscaping may also be required.
Someone mentioned they use a biking benefits program among their customers since parking is a challenge for them. The bikers get a discount on the bill because they arrive by bike. It seemed that a program like that could have broader appeal among businesses along the corridor.
Also discussed as an idea is to not require off-street parking for Haywood Road businessesin a similar way the two sections of CBD (central business district) zoned areas are not required to provide off-street parking. The businesses will attempt to provide some parking for their staff and customers as is generally the case in downtown but they would not ‘have’ to provide it. This may encourage additional investment along the corridor. It was noted that a change like that of this kind of program would need the approval of the City Council and may be justified if additional shared parking lots were secured to alleviate the parking needs as was previously discussed.
The group discussed next steps which included additional work on the map to identify potential shared parking locations; decision-making on Plan priorities, and preparing for a large community meeting to share where the Plan is heading and to offer and opportunity for comment by the community.
Haywood Road Vision Plan update
An updated presentation on the Haywood Road Vision Plan is now available online. Included are current zoning maps, exisiting zoning within West Asheville and results from the survey that was sent out during the later part of 2011. To view a pdf of the Vision Plan update, you can download it here.
APD Announces Concern Regarding Solicitations by the “Police Protective Fund”
An organization known as the “Police Protective Fund” is currently soliciting donations in Buncombe County. This solicitation can occur by both direct mailing and by telephone (charities are exempt from the Federal Trade Commission’s “Do Not Call Registry”). The Asheville Police Department would like to take this opportunity to inform the residents of Asheville that no portion of the donations made to the “Police Protective Fund” are passed down to the Asheville Police Department. Residents should exercise caution when making charitable contributions. Recently, the Attorney General’s Office in North Carolina has been asked to review the practices and legitimacy of the “Police Protective Fund” so we may provide further guidance to those who are considering making a charitable contribution. Although the “Police Protective Fund” is a legitimate business, having a legal status as a non-profit charity does not mean the group is legitimate and some groups are really businesses run to provide salaries and other perks for their leaders and workers.
The Asheville Police Department offers the following tips regarding charities:
Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fundraiser will give out information about the charity’s mission, how your donation will be used and proof that your contribution is tax deductible. Research the organization via the internet or another source to see if there have been any complaints or concerns with their practices. Look at the percentage of donations they provide to organizations verses what percentage they retain for “administrative cost”.
Check with the North Carolina Secretary of State. Organizations that either solicit contributions from North Carolina residents or are located in North Carolina are required to be registered with the Office of the Secretary of State. Remember that most charitable organizations who solicit door-to-door in the City of Asheville must also be registered in accordance with the City’s Code of Ordinances.
Check with local recipients. If giving to local organizations is important to you, make sure they will benefit from your generosity. If a charity tells you that your dollars will support a local organization, such as a police department, fire department or emergency medical service, make a call to the organization to verify the claim.
Watch out for similar sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations.
Know the difference between “tax exempt” and “tax deductible”. Tax exempt means the organization does not have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return. Even if an organization is tax exempt, your contribution may not be tax deductible. If a tax deduction is important to you, ask for a receipt showing the amount of your contribution and stating that it is a tax deductible donation.
Refuse high pressure appeals. Legitimate fundraisers won’t push you to give on the spot.
Be wary of charities offering to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect your donation immediately.
For more information contact Asheville Police Department Officer Allen Dunlap, Crime Prevention Specialist at 828-259-5834 or adunlap@ashevillenc.gov.
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HRCC meeting notes Aug 10
Haywood Road Corridor Committee Meeting Notes August 10, 2011 West Asheville Library, 6:00 PM
These notes in pdf format are available for download here.
A variety of concerns and suggestions for enhancing transportation along the Haywood Road Corridor were discussed at the 8-10-11 meeting. Transportation safety and connectivity was a main concern for the group, as was the focus on ‘scale’ and the appropriateness of certain businesses and activities for the area. The group discussed the following items:
• It was suggested that funds be identified to improve the curb cut situation along the corridor, to improve pedestrian safety, and to expand the complete streets model. These funds could come for Federal and State funds, or there could be a West Asheville BID.
The Family Dollar and the adjoining parking lot were targeted as examples of continuous curb cuts and storefront parking that endangers pedestrians and cars navigating around that intersection. It was also pointed out how congested that area has become. It was suggested that the stretch of sidewalk in front of the store be replaced with an elevated sidewalk and landscaping to eliminate the continuous curb cut, and access to the parking lot be redirected to a side or rear street access point. This would also eliminate the dangerous intersection situation where cars exiting the parking lot currently exit in the middle of the intersection and cannot tell if the lights are red or green.
• The potential to create a special taxing district in the area was also discussed, as was the ability to use a non-profit group to manage any funds acquired for improvements. It was suggested that the City not manage these funds.
• The group determined that a Light Pole Replacement program was needed to remove poles that block pedestrian traffic, especially along narrow sidewalks. Incremental replacement of the poles would increase connectivity. It was also suggested that lines be buried instead of replacing poles in order to improve the attractiveness of the corridor.
• The group was concerned with high-speed cut through streets in residential areas, including Fairfax, Brevard, Swannanoa, Westwood, Burton, and Sand hill. They felt that these roads and others like them should be targeted for traffic calming measures to reduce the risk to pedestrians and property. Traffic calming methods for these streets and for the area as a whole was discussed. The prohibitive cost and questionable effectiveness of speed bumps was mentioned as well as the potential for on street parking and bike lanes as a way to slow traffic by narrowing lanes, the inclusion of “visual friction”, or the application of road images painted in the street to slow traffic.
• A new business will be opening in the old Rocket Club location, called ‘WALK’ (West Asheville Lounge and Kitchen). This business is not required to provide parking because of the existing zoning exemptions and could not anyway because of site constraints.
• To increase the visibility, safety, and attractiveness of bicycling along the corridor), the group discussed using painted bike lanes to distinguish them from the regular car travel lane. This has been done in other cities and is in the testing phase in other areas of Asheville where the pavement is newer and the painting has a better chance of being durable. Crosswalks were identified as an obstacle for connectivity along the corridor. The group felt that some existing crosswalks lack good visibility due to obstructions or parked cars, and/or cars are not inclined to stop to let pedestrians cross. It was suggested that signs be erected to remind cars to yield and to list the penalties for not yielding, to paint the crosswalks in bright colors, and/or to locate a pedestrian refuge island at the center of crosswalks. A painted bike lane/crosswalk program could be coordinated with similarly colored signs to provide an overall color theme for the corridor.
• Stormwater runoff was mentioned as a concern. The high level of impervious pavement in the area was discussed as an issue, and the group suggested that permeable pavements and vegetation be utilized in the future to reduce the amount of water going into local streams and the sotrm sewer system.
• The issue of trucks idling outside of the Builders First Source facility on the east end of Haywood Road was mentioned. The trucks park in the middle turning lane for long stretches of time, typically in the early morning hours, and block the lane completely. It was suggested that these large trucks are not appropriate for this stretch of road, and that Builders First may be out of scale in terms of its ability to operate effectively without blocking the roads. The long tenure of the business was mentioned as a positive side to their presence, and the group agreed that discouraging businesses from the area was not their intent; however, a remedy and enforcement for the issue of truck idling is needed. In addition, encouraging deliveries for all corridor businesses to occur at “better times” was also mentioned.
• The existence of the City-adopted Sustainability bonus along the Haywood Road corridor was mentioned. The corridor designation means that density and redevelopment are to be directed along the corridor especially for those residential areas close to the corridor. Additional services and streetscape improvements could be expected with future redevelopment.
• The group discussed the issue of parking along the corridor, and there were some concerns about business parking taking up residential on-street parking spaces and blocking driveways. Some participants pointed out that the urban nature of the neighborhood, and close proximity to the corridor means that residential roads will naturally be used for non-residential purposes, and that this is to be expected as one price of living so close to the urban core. Using church parking lots during the weekdays for customer parking was discussed as one viable option. Making sure that the scale of a site or building was in line with its parking abilities was also mentioned.
• The sale, service, and repair of recreational vehicles along the corridor was discussed. It was determined that scooters are not recreational vehicles, but should be classified similar to yard equipment, as retail items.
• Beechams curve re-design was discussed: Traffic issues on the east end of Haywood where it veers north towards downtown were discussed. This 4 way intersection is dangerous and confusing even for long-term residents. It was mentioned that a roundabout would not fit the area without requiring the purchase of land. The installation of a traffic light system that could be triggered by the presence of a car or bicycle was discussed as one solution (loop system). It was suggested that the high volume of left turns at the intersection made it impractical to turn it into a 4 way stop.
Some specific land uses were discussed as a part of the meeting using the Table of Uses adopted by City Council in 2011:
• Some business activities will be just too out-of-scale with the corridor including : call centers, recreational vehicle sales service and repair. The questions was asked whether Building First Source was by now out-of scale with the corridor.
• Some other business uses may be ok for the corridor including a business incubator; industrial uses-light with special standards to make it compatible with the character of the corridor; and live-work units in the CBD areas.
• A good amount of time was spent discussing the land use labeled studios, galleries and workshops for artists, artisans and craftspeople high impact and it was decided that with special standards to mitigate noise, dust, fumes etc, it could be compatible with the corridor.
• There was some discussion about categorizing land uses by the relative impact of the use versus by the specific type of use as is currently done. Focusing on the impact is the part of the activity that affects compatibility. Staff mentioned that in cases where a specific land uses is not listed on the use table but is ‘close to’ or alike another activity there is some consideration of that and the relative impact in this evaluation of an un-listed use.
Westside Wrapup August 1
West Asheville Community Watch meeting August 3
A meeting to discuss crime in West Asheville will be held on Wednesday, August 3, 7 pm at 278 Haywood Road. Representatives from the Asheville Police Department and the City of Asheville will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions. For more information see this Facebook group.
Asheville Police Department seeking assistance in Home Invasions
The Asheville Police Department has responded to and continues to investigate a number of Home Invasions; particularly in West Asheville. Detectives are seeking any information that may assist in identifying the offenders. In all the cases the offenders were asking for electronics, money and drugs. Anyone with information can call crime stoppers at 828-255-5050 or the Asheville Police at 828-252-1110. Below is information regarding locations and suspects:
386 Kenilworth Rd – May 13, 2011 around 1210 am – 3 black males all dressed in black clothing and wore black bandanas fitting the following descriptions:
1) 5`9 to 5`11 light skinned Black or Hispanic, with a five inch long ponytail at the nape of his neck, wearing a black bandana with white on it, a black hoodie
2) 5`8, 215 -225 pounds, black Nike tennis shoes with a white “M” shape or design, wearing a black shirt, black pants, chubby build
3) 6’-0 to 6`4 170-180 pounds, wearing a solid black ball cap, wearing Nike Air Force tennis shoes
A handgun displayed
*This incident is not believed to be related to those in West Asheville
20 Michigan Ave – June 7, 2011 around 12:30 am – 4 Offenders
Victim recalls only dark clothing, bandanas, and 2 handguns
102 Burton St – June 25, 2011 around 1245 am – 3 Offenders
The 3 Offenders are described as follows:
1) A “skinny” white male, 5`7“- 5`10“ tall with blonde hair wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans, light blue green eyes or bright blue.
2) Average build black male around 6`2“ tall with short hair, a red (possibly a Cardinals) baseball cap wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans.
3) A “chubby” black male 5`10“- 6`0“ tall with short dread locks with beads on the ends wearing a t-shirt and jeans also wearing a face covering.
*A handgun was displayed
436 Pearson Dr – June 29, 2011 around 4:27 am – 2 Offenders
2 Offenders described as having t-shirts wrapped around their faces. No weapon shown, believed to not be related to others in the city.
326 Riverview Dr – July 5, 2011 around 2:30 am – 3 Offenders
1) White male with blue or green eyes, green bandana, thin build
2) Black male, medium size, sunglasses, blue hat, light clothing
3) Dark skinned black male, wearing dark clothing
*A handgun was displayed
46 Logan Ave – July 6, 2011 around 3:15 am – 3 offenders
3 Offenders described as follows:
1) Black male subject with short dreads, a green bandanna covering head and face, wearing rectangular frame glasses and had a tattoo on right forearm of possibly a female’s name.
2) Black male subject short hair, wearing unknown color bandanna.
3) White male subject thin build, wearing a bandanna covering face and head.
*All three offenders were wearing t-shirts and baggy jeans. A handgun was displayed
These reported Home Invasions are being investigated as residential burglaries, robberies and assaults – which would be referred to as Home Invasions when occurring simultaneously. Residents are asked to contact officers if they would like to have someone speak to their group and/or if they see unusual activities taking place in their neighborhoods. Residents are also invited to attend the next Weed & Seed crime prevention meeting at noon in the Pisgah View Apartment complex in West Asheville on Monday, August 22. Call Weed & Seed Coordinator Rebecca Byrn for details 552-1311.
East and North Asheville:
CRO Brien Griffin (828) 552-1467
CRO Jeremy Woody (828) 552-9423
West Asheville:
CRO Josh Simpson (828) 251-4032
CRO Chad McCall (828) 251-4032
Central/South:
CRO Jackie Stepp (828) 337-7478
CRO Evan Coward (828) 777-4505
Non-emergency Police Department contact: (828) 252-1110
Haywood Road Corridor Committee meeting August 10
The next meeting for the Haywood Road Vision Plan will be Wednesday August 10, 2011 at the West Asheville Library starting at 6 PM until about 7:45. Please come join us and provide comment and input.
Agenda:
1. Provide input into transportation related topics for the corridor as a follow-up to the meeting we had in May.
2. Complete the land use discussion we started at the last meeting. We had questions about some uses and want to follow up
3. With remaining time discuss some of the site specific zoning issues and regulations as they relate to the corridor and new businesses come in along the corridor and when new buildings are constructed.
Please see the notes from the last meeting on Land Use which provides some background on these topics. Also visit the WABA website to see the archive of notes we have been posting to the site at west-asheville.com/category/haywood-road-corridor-committee/.
City of Asheville Greenway Commission meeting August 11
The City of Asheville’s Greenway Commission will host a public meeting to receive citizen recommendations pertaining to the implementation of municipal greenway projects via the Capital Improvement Project budget. The current City of Asheville Greenways Master Plan was adopted several years ago. The City of Asheville’s Greenway Commission welcomes recommendations pertaining to greenways already delineated in this Master Plan as well as potential new greenways. Comments regarding these greenways along with observations as to their implementation priority will be considered in the process of developing the Capital Improvement Project budget for 2013.
This meeting will occur in the Main Floor Conference Room in Asheville City Hall, located at 70 Court Plaza on Aug. 11, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Maps of existing plans and possible additions to that plan will be available for review at this time. The Greenway Commissioners and staff will outline and facilitate the process for prioritization of funding and the future direction of Greenway projects. Public comments will also be accepted by email or mail addressed via the addresses noted for Al Kopf until October 1, 2011.
For more information on the progress of the Greenway Master plan, visit http://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/ParksRCA/default.aspx?id=12914 , or contact Al Kopf, ASLA; Superintendent of Park Planning & Development, Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Dept., P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802. Al Kopf can also be reached at (828) 259-5838 or akopf@ashevillenc.gov .
West Asheville Garden Stroll sponsorships available
The Third Annual West Asheville Garden Stroll is scheduled for Saturday, September 10th! This popular event has brought almost 500 folks to the Haywood Road Corridor and it’s diverse neighborhoods; and the gardens aren’t the only highlights. This event is free thanks to generous support from West Asheville Businesses and the stroll flyers and website are a great way to advertise and show how community minded our West Side businesses are. We’re proud to be hosting this wonderful connective event and hope the West Asheville businesses will be interested in joining our Support Sponsors. To really highlight the businesses Sponsorship is just $25…with larger $100 sponsorship also available for those businesses that would like their logo on the Garden Stroll website and brochures. Call Leslie at 337-2952 for more info or download the sponsorship flyer here.
West Asheville Plant Walk September 10
Come learn about the medicinal and edible plants growing in the sidewalks, gardens, and wild spaces of downtown West Asheville! Due to popular demand and a terrific turnout at the Spring event, Nancy Hyton and Keri Evjy will be hosting their second urban plant walk this year on Saturday, September 10th at 10:30am. It’s a different season and different plants will be out, plus they will be taking a new route so there will be lots of different things to see. As an added bonus, the plant walk will coincide with the 3rd annual West Asheville Garden Stroll, a free event sponsored by the Center and other local neighborhood businesses that takes place on the same day from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
This West Asheville Urban Plant Walk will be happening Saturday September 10th from 10:30 to 12:00, rain or shine. It will start at the Center for Holistic Medicine, located at 779 Haywood Road in the heart of downtown West Asheville, and venture off into the immediate neighborhood. The walk will be co-hosted by Nancy Hyton, Licensed Acupuncturist, Certified Herbalist, and founder of the Center, and Keri Evjy from Healing Roots Design, an edible and medicinal landscape design and consultation business. The cost is $5 for adults and includes a useful handout of the plants covered on the walk. Kids are free! Sign up in advance at the Center or just come by on the day of the event. You can also call 505-3174 or email at info@centerholistic.com to get on the list.
Be a Local Leader
The boards listed below currently have vacancies. The deadline for receiving applications for these openings is Wednesday, August 3 at 5 p.m.
Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 259-5601 or by e-mail at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov for an application form.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE – The Committee will work in conjunction with City leadership and staff to implement the 2008 Affordable Housing Plan. The specific functions will be (1) to consider affordable housing policy issues and advise City leadership about those policies; (2) to develop concrete action steps to implement the highest priorities of the Affordable Housing Plan, and to update that Plan as appropriate over time; and (3) to advise City leadership and staff regarding affordable housing priorities for the investment of City-controlled funds.
CRIMESTOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE – The responsibilities of this committee is to review crimes and set awards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of felony crime offenders and to capture fugitives. The committee offers anonymity to persons who furnish information.
POLICE OFFICERS & FIREFIGHTERS DISABILITY REVIEW BOARD – The Board determines when supplemental payments should be made to members of the Asheville Policemen’s Pension and Disability Fund or their survivors when the disability retirement payment from the N. C. Local Government Employee’s Retirement System is less than the amount of monthly benefit which they would have been entitled to under the Asheville Policemen’s Pension and Disability Fund.
RECREATION BOARD – The Board advises City Council on various matters pertaining to the operation of park facilities and recreation programs within the City of Asheville, to make policy recommendations to City Council, and to carry out duties as may be assigned to them by City Council.
RIVER DISTRICT DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE – This vacancy is for a design professional. The Committee shall (1) promote Asheville’s riverfront as a vital economic development area for Asheville and WNC; and (2) review and make comment on major work projects within the River District in accordance with the River District Design Review Guidelines.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – This vacancy is for an individual who is involved in the tourist business and who has demonstrated an interest in tourism development but who does not own or operate a hotel, motel or other taxable tourist accommodation. The purpose of the Authority is to further the development of travel, tourism, and conventions in the county through state, national and international advertising and promotion.
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Land Use meeting notes June 22
Meeting Notes
6-22-11 West Asheville Library, 6:00 PM
Agenda for the Meeting:
- Mobile Food Vending
- Land Uses and review of the Table of Uses from the UDO
1. Mobile Food Vending:
There is an effort by the City to provide a clearer City-wide policy for mobile food vending (food trucks). The material was briefly discussed at the prior meeting of the group and was reviewed again. In summary there are generally two methods for permitting mobile food vending in most areas of the City:
Temporary Mobile Food Vending: Allowed in all commercial areas of the City and which puts a limit of a single temporary use on a single site at one time and with limited hours of operation. Mobile vending is not allowed as a temporary use in the Central Business District zoned properties and a part of the proposal is to allow them in the non-downtown CBD areas such as west Asheville.
Permanent Mobile Food Vending: The main body of the proposal is to allow mobile food vending on private parcels (not the street or on-street parking spaces) on a permanent basis for the trucks which come and go each day. There are specific rules proposed for the each parcel permitted for this use and also for the trucks themselves to address placement, setbacks, noise and hours of operation. Under the proposal mobile food vending on a permanent basis could occur in the downtown CBD areas and most commercial districts in the City. Currently it is being considered by the Downtown Commission because it is an area not available for Mobile Food Vending because of limitations in the Central Business District (CBD) zoned areas.
There were comments that mobile food vending may help the vitality for sections of Haywood Road by bringing positive traffic. It was also thought that the mobile food vendor use can be a incubator for restaurant businesses. It was also noted that churches may be able to fill a niche by sharing their kitchens as a requirement for mobile food vendors to be tied to an approved restaurant or commissary. It was also noted that church parking lots may also be useful for this purpose. Over-parking on a parcel that does not have sufficient parking for its primary use was noted as a concern.
2. Land Uses
The group also reviewed the Table of Uses in the UDO which defines a wide range of uses and what is generally allowed in different zoning districts. Many people have commented that the diversity of business activity is something to maintain to keep the West Asheville neighborhood vital. It was also noted that barriers to doing business in West Asheville should be identified and removed.
There are several zoning types located along the Haywood Road corridor at this time: the majority is Community Business II (CB II), Central Business District (CBD), Institutional, and Highway Business (HB located near Patton Avenue)
Table of Uses Listing of Uses and USSR standards Comments and Questions
| Use | Zoning District | Comment |
| Industrial uses, light | CB I, CB II | No standards noted in USSR |
| Industrial uses, light | HB, CBD | Not permitted |
| Business incubator | CB I, CB II, NCD, RB, CBD, INST | Not permitted |
| Call center | Most districts | Not allowed and can’t remember why |
| Recreational vehicle sales, service & repair | CB II, CB I, NCD, | Not allowed and where would scooter sales be categorized |
| Small engine service and repair | CB I, CB II | Repairs are limited to items that are allowed to be sold- so some questions |
| Studios, galleries and workshops for artists, artisans, and craftspeople- high impact | CB II, NCD | Not permitted; could have similar rules as described for CBD |
| Drive-through facilities | OFF I, OFF II, OB, CB II, CBD, RIVER, INST | No standards noted in USSR |
| Outdoor storage | Need clarification about the requirements | |
| Parking Decks, Garages, Structures | CB I, CB II, NCD | Could be made to comply with special standards if allowed as a USSR |
| Parking Lots | NCD | Not allowed? Need to review? |
| Live work unit | CBD | Clarify for CBD |
Question remain about the following items:
Business Incubator: definition because it seems like a use to encourage
Call Center: unique characteristics of that (not allowed on corridor based on zoning)
Home Occupation: have received a comment at an earlier meeting that the special rules for home occupations limit the area of the home used to 25% and with smaller homes in the west Asheville may put additional burden on the use
Flea Market: Agreed to maintain the status quo with the use as unavailable along the corridor (by district)
Where do scooter sales fall within the range of uses?
Motor vehicle repair: want to discuss further the requirement to operate within an enclosed building
Industrial uses light: what are the special requirements for it? May want to encourage more of this
Live work unit not allowed in the CBD? Why not?
Outdoor storage: What does the special requirement mean that outdoor storage is “only allowed as accessory to other uses in these districts”
Small engine service and repair: want to review the special requirement that ‘only items allowed to be sold as a permitted use within the district shall be repaired or serviced’ also wonder about storage in an enclosed building
Studios, galleries & workshops for artists, artisans and craftspeople- high impact: Could be an allowable use with special requirements in the CB II district
Billboard Ordinance: interest in understanding the ordinance
Drive-through facilities: need additional information about special use standards
There are a few businesses that are grandfathered in and would not be allowed under the current uses guidelines. Might want to look at those restrictions again.
Eliminating unwanted Graffiti in West Asheville
The side of the building where the graffiti was placed.
As a West Asheville property owner, I can’t emphasis enough how disturbing getting tagged with graffiti is. Thanks to The graffiti clean up program at Asheville Greenworks the most recent and difficult tagging incident at my property has been resolved. Please contact Asheville Greenworks as soon as you locate new graffiti. They will come out and facilitate abating the issue. In addition, do what you can to support this organization and this program. – Mimi Strang, West Asheville business owner
Building after Asheville Greenworks removed the graffiti
The West Asheville Business Association helped sponsor a meeting on June 28 to discuss graffiti issues in West Asheville. Many good suggestions were made and information was shared with everyone who attended. If you were not able to attend the important things to remember are:
1) Report it immediately to the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110.
2) Once an APD officer has taken a report and the graffiti has been photographed for their database remove the graffiti as soon as possible. Asheville Greenworks has a program for graffiti removal and can help in this step with their expertise. Asheville Greenworks can be reached at 828-251-1776. If the graffiti is not on private property, you can contact the City of Asheville Department of Public Works at 828-251-1122.
3) Notify the West Asheville Community Resource Officers that the graffiti has been removed. When they know this they can keep a watch on these spots for future graffiti activity. West Asheville Community Resource Officers are Josh Simpson and Chad McCall and they can be reached at 828-251-4032.
Posted in West Asheville News
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