At their July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council voted to update the City’s Noise Ordinance with an aim to identify and prioritize noise concerns and develop clear and enforceable thresholds for noise generation. The vote followed a year-long engagement, then a year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID gathering restrictions were [...]
While the pandemic put a pause on the Noise Ordinance revisions it also allowed City staff to further engage Asheville’s music community and downtown residents and be part of the City’s Reimagining Public Safety conversation. And because this initiative began under a previous City Council, Development Services Director Ben Woody gave an update to the current [...]
To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...]
Update: The survey deadline has been extended to Dec. 11. The City of Asheville’s Noise Ordinance revisions are getting closer to Council consideration. But before staff brings them to Council, we want to bring them to you, our residents. Visit the City’s informational webpage about the Noise Ordinance to review the draft revisions [...]
At Asheville City Council’s Aug. 25 meeting, City staff presented an ordinance focused on the preservation, enhancement and expansion of the City’s tree canopy as it relates to private land development activity. The proposed changes will ask developers to consider the tree canopy and require that they keep a portion of the trees in place, plant [...]
The City of Asheville is committed to advancing ways of using space to support economic recovery and community needs while prioritizing public health and safety, and recognizes the importance of being flexible and nimble as needs and priorities evolve. In response to stakeholder input and public health guidance, the City is launching new initiatives to [...]
Beginning Monday, June 1, the City of Asheville will resume collecting regular parking fees for on-street, metered parking. Enforcement of fee payment will also resume. Garage parking in City and County garages will remain free until further notice. City monthly parking permit fees will also continue to be suspended until further notice. Buncombe county monthly parking [...]
The City of Asheville is modifying its operations until further notice to protect residents and City staff while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Development Services Department (DSD) requests that contractors maintain a clean and safe environment for City staff so we may continue to provide inspection services. Please follow CDC guidelines (
The City of Asheville is taking steps to increase access to safe dining options during the course of this COVID-19 public health emergency. To do so, on March 24, Mayor Esther Manheimer amended the City’s State of Emergency declaration to exempt food trucks and restaurants from certain portions of the City’s Unified Development Ordinance. These [...]
With a new year comes new programs, facility improvements and projects to improve our community. Here’s a look ahead at 10 Asheville City government initiatives as we ring in not only a new year, but a new decade in 2020. Civic Center gets Harrah’s Cherokee name The year 2020 will start with excitement for the newly named Harrah’s Cherokee Center — [...]
With 2019 nearly in the books, it’s time to take stock of City of Asheville projects and developments from the past year. Here are 10 initiatives that your City government advanced in 2019. Read about the Asheville Police Department’s accomplishments for 2019 at this link. We’ll have 2020 initiatives to look [...]
Learn about data collected through extensive public process and next steps As Asheville continues to develop and grow, the City has recognized the need to revisit and update the current municipal Noise Ordinance. Led by the Development Services Department, City staff have conducted extensive public engagement efforts this year. The public process included outreach to neighborhood groups, the [...]
If you have been to the Public Works building recently you likely noticed some changes. The Development Services Permit Application Center (PAC) lobby has gone through a complete remodel to better serve customers and improve efficiency in this work space. Improvements for customers and staff include: Creation of two self-serve kiosks where customers can access DSD’s online services [...]
In a time of development and growth, Asheville residents have asked how they can stay better informed about upcoming projects. We heard you and are pleased to roll out a new online tool residents can use to stay informed about upcoming development such as major subdivisions, apartment complexes, retail establishments and hotels. The site contains specific [...]
The City of Asheville’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee invites everyone to a second Neighborhood Issue Forum. The forum will provide an opportunity for neighborhoods to discuss and find possible solutions to a particular issue. The second Issue Forum is on the City’s Noise Ordinance revisions project. The Neighborhood Issue Forum is set for 10 [...]
Update: City issues Notice of Violation On July 26, the City of Asheville issued a Notice of Violation to New Day Properties, owner of 1010 Merrimon Ave., and the contractor HNH Construction Co. regarding offsite sedimentation from the sinkhole and failure to protect property. The NOV states that the parties cited have been “pumping stormwater and [...]
Updated information, July 9: The City of Asheville received confirmation that the sinkhole at 1010 Merrimon Ave. is definitely the jurisdiction of NC Department of Environmental Quality and the Army Corps of Engineers. City staff has contacted both agencies to ensure they are aware of the situation. On the City side, our Development [...]