City Clerk

The Downtown Commission provides City Council with recommendations on downtown policies and programs. In addition, Downtown Commissioners fill 4 out of 9 seats of the City’s Design Review Committee, which reviews development projects within the Central Business District, the River Arts District and hotel projects outside of those areas. The Downtown Commission provides input on development projects outside of the scope of Design Review, including impacts related to land use, economic development, parking, public space, safety, sustainability, etc. 

More information about the Downtown Commission’s role and duties is available here.

More information about the Design Review Committee, including agendas and materials for upcoming meetings, is available here. 

Regular Meeting Schedule

The Downtown Commission will meet in-person on the second Friday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of City Hall (70 Court Plaza). The typical length of each meeting is 1-2 hours. All meetings will be live streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel and the Downtown Commission’s Public Input Page.* 

Voicemail and written comments may be submitted before 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting and will be provided to Downtown Commission members prior to the meeting. The email address for public comments is AVLdowntowncommission@publicinput.com.

More information about submitting public comments in advance of the meeting is available here. Public comments during the meeting must be made at the meeting in-person. 

Upcoming Meetings & Special Notices

In-Person Meetings to resume in 2023 – At the Downtown Commission’s December 9, 2022 meeting, Commissioners voted unanimously to hold regular meetings in-person for calendar year 2023 with the exception of special meetings which may be held virtually. The meeting start time also moved from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

Friday, January 27, 2023 Annual Retreat/Work Session – The Downtown Commission will hold an in-person work session on Friday, January 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to set goals, priorities and recommendations for the year ahead. The meeting will be held at City Hall (70 Court Plaza) in the 6th Floor Training Room.  This meeting is being postponed. 

To receive meeting notices and agendas by email, please contact Dana Frankel at dfrankel@ashevillenc.gov.