During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the classification and implications of a proposed development of 35 townhouses in the city. A council member sought clarification on whether these townhouses were categorized as \"missing middle housing,\" a designation that aims to ensure new construction benefits the community. The response clarified that the townhouses do not fall under this classification, which raised concerns about their potential impact on local residents.

Scott Adams, representing the housing advocacy group Asheville for All, emphasized the need for diverse housing types in the city, arguing that townhomes should indeed be considered missing middle housing. He pointed out that current zoning regulations primarily allow for single-family detached homes, which limits housing options and affordability.

Another speaker, Pam Hepp, raised safety concerns regarding the proposed entrance to the development and advocated for preserving more trees in the area. She questioned the decision-making process behind the buffer zones and tree canopy preservation, calling for more time and attention to these issues.

The developer responded to inquiries about pricing, projecting that single-family homes would range from $450,000 to $550,000, while townhomes would be priced between $300,000 and $350,000. This pricing was framed as potentially affordable, especially with available down payment assistance programs, highlighting the need for more townhomes in the community to address the housing crisis.

Council members expressed a consensus on the necessity of increasing the availability of townhomes to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in the area, underscoring the importance of this development in the broader context of the city's housing strategy.