South Slope Last updated or reviewed on February 28, 2022 South Slope Vision Plan Happening Now February 2022 The draft plan of the South Slope Vision Plan has been released. You can view sections of the plan and give feedback by visiting the Public Input Site https://publicinput.com/M5084 You can view or download the entire plan here (12 MB file). Timeline February 28, 2022 Release of the Draft Plan February 28 – March 28 Public Comment period open March – April Staff review of comments and edits to plan Spring 2022 Final draft released Downtown Commission review of the plan Spring/Early Summer Planning & Zoning Commission review of the plan City Council review of plan Frequently Asked Questions How will the Vision Plan be used once it’s adopted? The South Slope Vision Plan provides a visionary framework to help guide continued long-term development, and provides an essential tool that will be used across the City’s departments. Some pieces of the plan are aspirational and the specific visions may not necessarily come to fruition based on the available funding and priorities of the community and City Council. What happens to the comments I make? Staff will collect all comments during the public input period, February 24 – March 24. After that, we will take all comments into consideration, and our staff will balance the comments to revise the plan. What is the approval process for the plan? The Vision Plan will be reviewed by several bodies. The Asheville Downtown Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission will review the final draft plan and make a recommendation to City Council. City Council is the final reviewing body and will hold a public hearing on whether to adopt the plan. Why is this called the South Slope Vision Plan? The City of Asheville took the name of the South Slope that has been coined by the businesses and residents in a part of the study area. However it is clear that the mixed-use area of focus is a part of the larger, historical Southside community and many continue to identify it that way. Community members in the residential portion of Southside are beginning a planning effort and will eventually have a plan for that area. Consequently, to avoid confusion with the planning efforts underway in the Southside residential neighborhood this plan is called “South Slope: A Southside Neighborhood“. Background The South Slope Visioning process is a planning process led by the City of Asheville with the community and business stakeholders in the South Slope study area to develop a long term vision for the area. The process started in late 2017, and is now coming to completion. Once the plan is finalized, it will be presented to City Council for adoption. Staff will then work with the community to implement the community’s vision for the South Slope. The objectives of the South Slope Vision Plan are to: Assess and prioritize multimodal transportation and streetscape and intersection improvements (in coordination with the Asheville in Motion Plan). Promote quality development by identifying preferred land uses, strategies for encouraging innovative and sustainable forms of development, and evaluating city-owned property for its highest and best use. Contribute to a strong local economy by facilitating private investment, job growth, small business and entrepreneurship. Preserve and encourage a unique sense of place by celebrating the people and culture of the area, past and present. Ensure the safety of all who work, live and visit the district. Assess existing and needed infrastructure that will support a growing tax base. Community representatives on the South Slope Advisory committee are: Rae Adams, Wehrloom Honey & Meadery Greg Benton, NC-DOT Brent Campbell, Downtown Commission Brian DeWine, Asheville Tourists Roy Harris, Southside neighborhood Craig Jeffries, Asheville Downtown Association, Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors (DARN) Pat Kappes, Explore Asheville CVB Rhea Lidowski, Chemist Spirits Chris Medlin, NC-DOT Gillian Phillips, Buncombe County Robin Raines, Downtown Commission Leah Rainis, Asheville Brewers Alliance Crystal Reid, Lee Walker Heights Paul Roberts, NC-DOT Meghan Rogers, Asheville Downtown Association Austin Tyler, Mission Hospital Jason Walls, Duke Progress Contact Information Sasha Vrtunski Urban Planner and South Slope Project Manager 828-259-5560