[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6228218,"mediaKeyId","3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b","parentId",3477108,"title","Mayor says joint city-county letter to NCDOT on I-26 connector is signed; council members ask for full council review","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1553000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b&start=1553&end=1553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b/thumbnail_1553000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228218/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Mayor-says-joint-city-county-letter-to-NCDOT-on-I-26-connector-is-signed-council-members-ask-for-full-council-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228218-5cd6281e2d8fad71dcc787d36b637d33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202386&Signature=IAAoI37bOkliPkYkSH2pjQ-0Oyp-aMTLwE186wQ8gl2UIHDWG34VcjTGtunUxg5n~xYWpEnbvFDi7u6PR4RK~nZY7RnR-uL3fcIy0uT2VaNQishvzSjDOpUHmBN~P2HijFrtmUKkK3acu2JEQdA42wJ1KOu-O8X3EyBTrpsjgpciheYb~2sHx~bJajkemnAXL2V8WMd5FP36INwNhMRixqCtdrRmYSRR5FwTnw0EUma8PAPPBX8ib4MaCJbeGujz3R2stUjOjJZYCGlRcU3nTtqAet5g-zPCJwGwglcbWNOpxJcRWziCgENX00oxp6Q1Xs0-t1JsKKs5nPcP8AP7xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Asheville City, NC","date","2025-05-24T00:17:54.893Z","article","Mayor Esther Manheimer told the Asheville City Council on May 22 that a joint city-county letter to the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding design changes to the I-26 connector has been signed by the mayor and the chair of the county commission.

Councilwoman Kim Roney described community design activity over the prior weekend and said participants included neighborhood residents, design professionals and state officials. She asked whether the city would produce a letter similar to the county's and whether council would see the letter. \"I did get a draft letter sent by, council member Omen, but it it's become clear to me that we might be in a position of not everyone having access to that information,\" Roney said.

Manheimer said timing prevented adding the letter to the city's agenda in time for the county's action and that the joint letter is intentionally high level and signed only by her and the county commission chair because it had not been vetted by the full city council. \"It is signed by me and the chair of the county commission,\" Manheimer said, and said the letter requests a working relationship between DOT, community members and local governments to provide ongoing project updates through the MPO and a community-involved committee.

Councilwoman Antoinette Mosley said she had first learned of the letter from a county commissioner and asked that city information be circulated to the full council in advance of other bodies. Manheimer said the letter could be attached to the May 27 agenda under presentations so council members could review and discuss it.

What happens next: the mayor asked the clerk to attach the draft joint letter to the May 27 agenda for presentation and further council discussion; no formal council vote was recorded at the briefing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Agenda Briefing – May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Esther Manheimer told council a joint city-county letter to the North Carolina Department of Transportation on I-26 connector design changes is signed by her and the county commission chair, but some council members said they had not seen the draft and asked for the letter to be shared with the full council.","taxTitle","Asheville City, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6228222,"Council briefed on Malvern Hills Park improvements and pool design; survey results posted online",282,525000,807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b&start=525&end=807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b/thumbnail_525000.jpg","/articles/6228222/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Council-briefed-on-Malvern-Hills-Park-improvements-and-pool-design-survey-results-posted-online","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228222-b763e4892c13a190a70a1b9a368e6469/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202386&Signature=b5kVIZK0e~uwhHz2ivCXN0c8RXP-CJULXtfK67j8eryY5vv4IT1E-ycv5YIKF5RIXVz8m00yNPmS4Ls-qsuu-5jSm2gN2R5jqt~QWTgm40ksnBMMxQK~~vjRKqEraDkSaYQyRW2JeVwnNtPdKqbF-clwc4KVp7etOv2cxbwwarKs3NnRcINCFBi5x9IF4j3hVMHQf0RMgvb5RxaQoq8OUHyf8zPR4s1OiCFq8ir7JdzNx1NNcsYtPj30IbOy77NtJE69opb8EGu9AyKQW3B0vYKmbMn611b8Myq7zU6RG5go~dkxfM6KnwgnpR1k51s3oeuHfzShoqwxT4JcBZFZng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Asheville City Council on May 22 that Malvern Hills Park improvements, including a design contract for the pool, are on the May 27 meeting agenda and that public engagement will continue through the design process.

Interim Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas said the design contract is an important step and that public engagement will inform future improvements. Councilwoman Miller asked whether the public survey results had been shared. A staff member confirmed the survey has closed and that results are posted on the project page and are being used to inform the designer and contractor.

Staff also noted separate work planned for Weaver Park infrastructure and ball fields; that work will be scheduled to avoid impacts during the baseball season. The briefing also included mention of planned maintenance work on downtown parking garages (Wall Street and Rankin), with staff saying there will be impacts to access during restoration work and that staff are working to mitigate disruptions.

What happens next: council will consider the Malvern Hills Park design contract on May 27; staff will continue public engagement as the design proceeds.","City staff said the Malvern Hills Park pool design contract and other park improvements are on the May 27 agenda; staff confirmed the public survey has closed and results are posted to the project page.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6228227,"Council briefed on rezoning request for 46 Green Hill Ave. to allow residential development",248,1032000,1280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b&start=1032&end=1280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b/thumbnail_1032000.jpg","/articles/6228227/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Council-briefed-on-rezoning-request-for-46-Green-Hill-Ave-to-allow-residential-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228227-1d47abc9160325af7d702562cc385458/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202386&Signature=kw-U~69N54RnyPCmNGT6xjN~FAkVg6MknxltYrExEtPrcFeO5KA2c~qAah99R8IYsl3vbrj5HMbsy9q4dLN74GNx5eqxFGtrlQsSr29IebhyV6m9wPLBpg3fFSKfrBneC1NFoOh7qtSinX~FQq9rgQjoPkEHxhMa0EG76vQ5EHl8bSPNvx9lOUsc9SBRwqHQYSARGUkD~E~OwywTKMlDtX-2UFqUB9IZav0pTikHHM2Bf74nhv1OBEuUlEDkIaQ9ixf~JBFm9JZq2BRaZc2KTLI23iDyytiPYa5XFMTIv3iYq2t6qaKYJ64nwKFEbNad4~cY90IiWhbyhPhmPCLCUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff briefed the Asheville City Council on May 22 about a rezoning request for 46 Green Hill Avenue that would change the parcel from commercial/industrial zoning to RS-8 residential zoning.

Ben Woody, assistant city manager, said the rezoning is a straight rezoning (not conditional) and that RS-8 is consistent with the zoning pattern in the area. \"The principal reason for the rezoning is to facilitate residential development,\" Woody said. He explained the RS-8 district is almost exclusively residential and noted the district allows smaller lots and a range of residential development types, including single-family homes, subdivisions and townhomes.

Council members asked whether similar industrial-to-residential rezonings might be appropriate elsewhere. Woody said such changes are contextual: while the site in question fits a residential pattern, the city should preserve some industrial zoning to maintain nonresidential development and tax base.

No formal action was taken at the briefing; the item was presented as a public hearing matter on the May 27 meeting agenda.","City staff described a request to rezone 46 Green Hill Avenue from a commercial/industrial district to RS-8 to facilitate residential development; council discussed the implications for industrial land supply.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6228232,"Council committee recommends approval of additional loan for Fairhaven Summit; city interest totals about 10% of project cost",283,1202000,1485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b&start=1202&end=1485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b/thumbnail_1202000.jpg","/articles/6228232/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Council-committee-recommends-approval-of-additional-loan-for-Fairhaven-Summit-city-interest-totals-about-10-of-project-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228232-6dbed6f48ba83309a243bfd9ee724e02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202386&Signature=LbPaCQ~VD8fPjltpjLzD4-eHAUeproDrGY9O8tcjSgj7wCcxvk-rsCFwIkmqi7uKsLegXzN7feyL1XWrqJf~dNmdspcMBkMyTD7avD263YI4F-TnDQpNn3FDLwMFA-5-3hInrFQC5zeAKaNw~eF65mjzZAYhTHahWrkc9DIMbSOhh9EEgp~D69jvDCSBLKAVpoh0iwIH-FCdhSwtRlibHMFi2uawEAUeW1tnTqXNJYl8WfM5DyUMRD1O9WukQZdOScWkAAyTLrVultfVkj1~so8fTJwzUB3b-DdBL3xvVS0W1Cvs4g43cQKxFV331ztAs3f-Du~qPfZ064JEqEOUHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Asheville City Council on May 22 that Fairhaven Summit, an affordable housing development currently under construction, is requesting an additional $607,000 loan from the city's Housing Trust Fund to fill a financing gap caused in part by delays and cost escalation after Tropical Storm Helene.

Ben Woody, assistant city manager, told council the development was awarded 9% tax credits in February 2022 and will have 77 affordable units with a range of incomes from 30% to 80% of area median income; \"the majority of these units are gonna be at 60% or lower,\" he said. The project is under construction with an anticipated completion in November.

Woody summarized the city's prior commitments: $500,000 awarded in April 2023 and $375,000 in December 2023, which together equal $875,000 in existing HTF loans. The requested $607,000 would raise the city's HTF loan total to $1,400,000. Woody said the project previously received a land-use FINF grant with a maximum just over $1,000,000, and estimated the city's total financial interest is about 10% of the project cost. He provided the per-unit subsidy figures: about $19,000 per unit from HTF alone and roughly $32,000 per unit when land-use funding is included.

The Housing and Community Development Council committee voted 3-0 this week to recommend approval of the additional loan to full council. Woody said the loan increase is intended to keep the project moving and close the financing gap that followed the storm-related delays.

What happens next: council staff will include the item on the May 27 agenda for council consideration; no final council action was recorded at the May 22 briefing.","Council staff and committee members discussed a request to add $607,000 in Housing Trust Fund (HTF) loan to the Fairhaven Summit affordable housing project, bringing the city's HTF support to $1.4 million and the combined per-unit subsidy to about $32,000.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6228236,"Asheville council schedules public hearing on proposed FY 2025–26 budget, finance staff details compensation costs",839,382000,1221000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b&start=382&end=1221","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477108-828ac4d4846236536f76a05fcd35c54b/thumbnail_382000.jpg","/articles/6228236/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Asheville-council-schedules-public-hearing-on-proposed-FY-202526-budget-finance-staff-details-compensation-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228236-ccc746e01d5e8680943c1c16149abbd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202386&Signature=Zo~RQGCROsRiM8KUOf2wxl8RY8~ftSBGkgcD1lUkPsJ80xxlUTJxRVHbDcx32A8VUDBsw7AZCq9KMHmZBNac3oKMdRacbwK~HayUbdyg-UUYgga9S0C3d2eQ9wZWGHgxQ20eIkQLI0SQGYDkWejvIUzlwF0nsYHqdhGtQ1zMCBN2loX7uoLUu0xwHpq3AkyK0OElDUtSZj4bTiO52P57qoqJ0lIzdDjgu4qRHgMhL95NxMukZTGTX8UwbvnVnY5QF4MA-K6PlBM1CxKbae8YHgrHIUZNGgMUCHUprtzQ4dLaj8SFTpTVoWFiXqn1STDlAYElcxbcVQoK64INC~54xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Asheville City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget during its May 27 business meeting, City Manager Deborah Campbell and finance staff confirmed at the council's May 22 agenda briefing.

The hearing is the next-to-last formal step in the budget process; council members were told staff will return to the council on June 10 to seek final approval of the budget.

Tony, finance staff, told council the total cost for next year's police compensation adjustments is about $1,100,000 and that fire adjustments total a little over $800,000. The fire figure includes $205,000 for fourth-shift promotions and the 3% general salary adjustments, Tony said. \"The amount included for the fourth shift promotions, which is 205,000, we've shared that number with you all before,\" Tony said. Deborah Campbell said staff will follow up after the public meeting if additional concerns arise so council can be prepared for action in June.

Staff reminded council that any nonprofits that require separate votes to be included in the budget must be identified before adoption; City Attorney Brad Branham and finance staff offered to help council members sort through those items. Campbell said a brief presentation will precede the public hearing at the May 27 meeting to recap the process to date.

What happens next: the council will hold the public hearing on May 27 and, barring new issues, will consider final approval at its June 10 meeting. Staff said they will follow up with council after the hearing to surface any late concerns.","City staff confirmed the public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget for the May 27 business meeting and provided follow-up figures for police and fire compensation adjustments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor says joint city-county letter to NCDOT on I-26 connector is signed; council members ask for full council review

Council briefed on Malvern Hills Park improvements and pool design; survey results posted online

Council briefed on rezoning request for 46 Green Hill Ave. to allow residential development

Council committee recommends approval of additional loan for Fairhaven Summit; city interest totals about 10% of project cost

Asheville council schedules public hearing on proposed FY 2025–26 budget, finance staff details compensation costs