Downtown Master Plan Updates Happening Now Downtown Public Space Management – Thank you for your input! Staff is working with a Committee of the Downtown Commission on the development of Downtown Public Space Management Guidelines as the first section of updates to the Downtown Master Plan. The Public Space Management Committee is chaired by Andrew Fletcher and generally meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. More information about the Downtown Commission and its Committees is here. A survey was available between August 12 and September 23 to get feedback on how downtown public spaces (most specifically streets and sidewalks) are currently used and experienced, and to get input on what priorities should be considered in the guidelines. On October 22, the Committee participated in a workshop to review survey results, rank priorities and identify focus areas to be addressed by the Guidelines. Notice: summary of survey results Notice: full survey results Informed by survey feedback and guidance of the Committee, staff is currently drafting the Public Space Management Guidelines. Once a draft is complete, the Committee will reconvene to review and provide feedback (anticipated early Spring). The Guidelines will then go to the Downtown Commission for review before getting approval from City Council. Background The Downtown Master Plan Updates will build on the Downtown Master Plan and Appendices (completed in 2009), to take a deeper dive into specific topics of focus related to the public realm. The Master Plan Updates will help address concerns about management of public spaces, enhancement of community character and expanded options for place-making. The Updates will respond to the growing popularity and number of people experiencing downtown, with goals to expand downtown vitality, facilitate local business and enhance livability while managing growing demands on downtown services and competing interests for use of space. The Downtown Master Plan Updates will result in policy statements, best management procedures, possible UDO changes and downtown corridor/district studies to create better management guidance for downtown. There will be three sections of the updates. Public Space Management Public space management guidelines Management framework Urban Design and Ordinance Updates UDO amendments Zoning map amendments Design Guideline updates Preservation Plan recommendations Corridor and District Placemaking and Streetscapes Downtown-wide development/streetscape standards (such as lighting, signage, seating, crosswalks) Consideration of sub-district areas that may have unique elements/standards that pertain to the character area/neighborhood of downtown such as sidewalk patterns, trees, seating and other enhanced place-making Planning for additional green spaces in downtown in order to enhance quality of life and quality experiences Contact Information Dana Frankel, Downtown Specialist 828-251-4051 Todd Okolichany, Planning and Urban Design Director 828-259-5840 Updated 01/27/2020 Related Services Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city. Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks. Cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...] Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm. Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business. Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business. More Related Services Downtown Master Plan Updates News Mayor’s Committee for Veterans’ Affairs to host virtual Veterans Day Ceremony Posted on October 19, 2020October 16, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville Mayor’s Committee for Veterans’ Affairs invites everyone to join us online for a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony, to be streamed live on the City’s YouTube channel at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 from Council Chambers, Asheville City Hall. While City Hall is open in a limited capacity to provide [...] Community Development to hold informational meetings about Block Grant program Posted on October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville annually awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of a federal grant program through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides funding for a variety of projects and programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents. The City of Asheville Community Development Division administers these funds and has set informational meetings on [...] Halloween guidance: Lower your risk for COVID-19 transmission with alternative activities Posted on October 6, 2020October 19, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Halloween is going to look a little different in Asheville this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But you can still celebrate with family and friends safely with this guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: Remember that Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 163 limits mass gathering to no [...] More Downtown Master Plan Updates News
Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city.
Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks.
Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks.
Cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...]
Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm.
Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business.
Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business.
Mayor’s Committee for Veterans’ Affairs to host virtual Veterans Day Ceremony Posted on October 19, 2020October 16, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville Mayor’s Committee for Veterans’ Affairs invites everyone to join us online for a virtual Veterans Day Ceremony, to be streamed live on the City’s YouTube channel at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 from Council Chambers, Asheville City Hall. While City Hall is open in a limited capacity to provide [...]
Community Development to hold informational meetings about Block Grant program Posted on October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville annually awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of a federal grant program through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides funding for a variety of projects and programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents. The City of Asheville Community Development Division administers these funds and has set informational meetings on [...]
Halloween guidance: Lower your risk for COVID-19 transmission with alternative activities Posted on October 6, 2020October 19, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Halloween is going to look a little different in Asheville this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But you can still celebrate with family and friends safely with this guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: Remember that Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 163 limits mass gathering to no [...]