The City of Asheville is undertaking a 15 to 17 month process to update its Comprehensive Plan. The plan will act as a resource for policy decisions by reflecting the community’s vision for the location and form of future development, while ensuring sufficient infrastructure, parks and other community services.
Asheville City Council is seeking members for a citizen committee to help shape this process. The deadline to apply for a position on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee has been extended to 5 p.m. July 20. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 828-259-5601 or by e-mail at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov for an application form.
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan Update is to set forth goals and policy opportunities for sustainable growth and development over the next 10-20 years and beyond. The plan will include strategies related to land use, multimodal transportation, economic development, social equity, infrastructure, housing, livability, placemaking, open space, climate change adaptation, and sustainability.
The City has retained the services of Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) to lead this effort. SOM will work with City staff to facilitate the planning process, which will include extensive public engagement.
Scope of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
SOM will work with city staff to form an Advisory Team to provide input and feedback on the planning and public engagement process. The Advisory Team will represent a broad diversity of interests on topics relevant to the Comprehensive Plan and will have representation, at minimum, from the following committees/organizations (in no particular order), plus three at-large members:
- Planning and Zoning Committee;
- African American Heritage Committee;
- City of Asheville Recreation Board;
- Asheville Downtown Commission;
- Historic Resources Commission of Asheville & Buncombe County (HRC);
- Public Art and Cultural Commission (PACC);
- Buncombe County liaison;
- Downtown Commission;
- Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment (SACEE);
- Asheville Multi-modal Transportation Commission;
- Asheville Affordable Housing Advisory Committee;
- Neighborhood Advisory Committee; and
- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
With respect to the at-large member seats, preference will be given to candidates who broaden the diversity of interests represented on the committee.
The Advisory Committee will be involved throughout the community visioning process. The scope of the Advisory Committee includes, at a minimum, the following tasks:
- Attend a workshop with SOM’s Planning Team and City staff during the Assessment Phase of the project to review deliverables related to data collection, benchmarking and public/stakeholder engagement.
- Attend 2 workshops with SOM’s Planning Team and City staff during the Strategy and Vision Phase of the project to provide input on strategies related to public engagement, economic development, physical opportunity scenarios and the establishment of Asheville’s Principles and Goals.
- Attend a teleconference with SOM’s Planning Team and City staff at the Draft Comprehensive Plan Phase of the project to review a draft progress package and attend a follow-up workshop with SOM’s Planning Team and City staff to review and comment on the Final Draft of the Plan.
- Attend a workshop with SOM’s Planning Team and city staff for a presentation on the Final Comprehensive Plan.
Additional responses to the questions below MUST BE included with each application:
- What do you see as the major challenges facing Asheville in the next 10 years?
- What do you see as the major opportunities available to Asheville in the next 10 years?
- Do you have any affiliation with an existing City of Asheville Board or
Commission? If so, please indicate the Board or Commission.
To apply
Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 828-259-5601 or by e-mail at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov.
For more information
Visit the City of Asheville’s Comprehensive Plan webpage.