[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6591894,"mediaKeyId","3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841","parentId",3001155,"title","Presenters outline modular homes as a faster, cost-competitive option for housing and storm recovery","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",1280000,"endMs",1563000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841&start=1280&end=1563","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841/thumbnail_1280000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6591894/North-Carolina/Presenters-outline-modular-homes-as-a-faster-cost-competitive-option-for-housing-and-storm-recovery","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591894-2f957f3c66951ffbb8c573359d101089/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=YcnxdwL9lrxS6cGnCRoSJtpiWUE5aWn0rMBshdneWPMEpNLfNXWj96bGQpHBgaBcpU9xSyMJ9rkHDbdxZW48jPO9zgr3n3W2NULAP97Sib0B1NmCf48nOvZ7PUQ95sOwYwgBuh7jchojsRPKsxdohe4I88oRKR09fTZLaqnc7VhHuOc8VkfiDCj3DsvptLnjqKD11XZS20Ka42kW3OEsB7uuQj1iQDEN-9KfWBVx4k9MoxUMGrtW72AQTyUOC4CTaAZyYqe8SDC3JVk-dvVBV-fHMd8i-4Rhb0brVUeVibv-atK9~-yiOoXkRIvdq-mfuOzlVz-t433-7dGuq9rXxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Woodfin, NC","date","2025-04-15T23:20:53.69Z","article","The council heard a presentation about modular homes and resilient building practices from Mary Love (Greenbuild Alliance) and Carla Parvin (modular-home builder/sales representative).

Parvin outlined how modular homes differ from mobile homes and tiny houses: modular and traditional stick-built homes are constructed to state and local building codes and are eligible for the same financing and insurance products. She described factory construction (two large modules delivered and set on a foundation), the on-site marriage-wall inspection that occurs before finish work, and the timeline: 8 to 12 weeks in the factory and generally another 3 to 12 weeks for site finish work, with a typical end-to-end delivery within six months or less depending on site-prep and permitting.

Parvin said modular homes can be 15-25% less expensive on the structure cost than comparable stick-built houses and stressed reduced weather exposure and waste in factory production. She described site considerations (foundation, crane access, road width and narrow bridges), inspection steps (footings/foundations locally inspected; framing/electrical/plumbing inspections at the factory plus a marriage-wall inspection after set), and common foundation and finish options including basements and decks.

The presentation included examples of modular single-family homes, duplexes and a Piedmont model adapted to basements and with roof pitches that enable upper-floor living. Parvin said her company had four units currently ready to deliver and represented a manufacturer in Boynton, Virginia. She also said, in response to council and audience questions, her firm had capacity to deliver up to about 30 units before September if the town or a partner committed to procurement.

Council members asked whether modular housing is treated as stick-built under local codes; staff said yes, modulars are treated the same as traditional stick-built homes under current Woodfin ordinances. Questions from the audience and council also covered site suitability, inspection timing, and financing and insurance comparability.

Speakers encouraged the town to consider modular construction as one tool for accelerating housing production after the storm and to engage with organizations such as the Greenbuild Alliance and local modular manufacturers when seeking attainable or rapidly replaceable housing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.04.15 Town of Woodfin Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Presenters at the April 15 meeting told Woodfin council members modular homes can cut construction time and structure cost, are built to state/local codes (unlike HUD mobile homes), and are a viable option for fast, resilient housing after storm damage.","taxTitle","Woodfin Town, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",71388,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6591913,"Woodfin council adopts updated flood damage prevention ordinance, raises freeboard to 4 feet",1318,4174000,5492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841&start=4174&end=5492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841/thumbnail_4174000.jpg","/articles/6591913/North-Carolina/Woodfin-council-adopts-updated-flood-damage-prevention-ordinance-raises-freeboard-to-4-feet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591913-5424f5d196e7d80933458e24dac4fb52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=J-XBvb2UlacIQqSm3bWyQ-igp9KnsVYKf6373CiHzDIbzq6-Lrrh96GRWwf7Bftg-jX44b1vkT3Bqmr6ILggqU19va6n8lGfF0IBFC4Cy4uaEDacF0dtOIagi57Kxb1nyymGdjmfCWh680pIWRC5XbSP1UBkRDC921xWA9hqBeVhfhcYW~WsgH1O3rGbJFZchA446SiaeemfarFR7wcEc-sbg~3n7vmnxE3Y5BJzCh9dmrbKGjfyU3RseCVlF-eS3jjdzsnSjaCFIl~3c3w3Uc1eRvtjiFgPm0do-Bb4x6dcCxYri1LRoPVeiVsaEsJ~h6ZjAiyuHmMuu-lVm3rVCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Woodfin adopted Ordinance 2025-03 on April 15, approving a comprehensive update to Chapter 14, the town's flood damage prevention standards.

The council vote followed a staff presentation and a public hearing; the planning board of adjustment had recommended approval 5-0. The ordinance raises the freeboard (the required elevation above the base flood elevation) from two feet to four feet, keeps the existing 50% substantial-improvement threshold, lengthens the non-flood-related improvement look-back period, and preserves a limited allowance for placement of fill in the flood fringe.

Town staff said the updates largely align Woodfin's ordinance with the State model and clarify many definitions and procedures used by permitting staff. Shannon (staff member filling in for the planning director) told the council that the majority of changes are reorganizing and clarifying language, but highlighted four provisions that staff treated as more substantive: freeboard (elevation) requirements, the substantial-improvement threshold, the look-back period used to aggregate improvements, and whether fill is permitted in the flood fringe.

Shannon said the town's review of buildings along the French Broad River after Tropical Storm Helene showed the existing two-foot freeboard was frequently insufficient. 'Buildings elevated two feet above the base flood elevation experienced water up to the threshold,' she said, and recommended increasing freeboard to four feet to reduce future damage.

The adopted ordinance retains the 50% substantial-improvement trigger, meaning repair or renovation work that cumulatively exceeds 50% of a structure's tax-assessed value requires the building to meet the updated elevation and other flood-proofing standards. Staff proposed lengthening the look-back period: standard (non-flood-related) renovations will be aggregated across a five-year period, while flood-related repairs will be measured across a 10-year look-back window to determine whether the substantial-improvement threshold is met.

The ordinance continues to allow limited use of fill in the flood fringe. Staff and council said fill can be a practical solution for certain small structures such as park restrooms where elevating the whole structure would be impractical, and that FEMA rules and the local context limit the potential for fill to cause additional downstream harm.

Council members discussed trade-offs. Supporters said higher freeboard reduces future damage and long-term costs; others noted increased elevation requirements can raise the cost of rebuilding and can leave some existing uses effectively nonconforming if owners choose not to elevate. The ordinance preserves statutory exceptions for designated historic properties.

After the public hearing closed with no speakers, the council found the update consistent with the Woodfin Together comprehensive plan and voted by roll call to adopt Ordinance 2025-03. The clerk recorded the roll call as: Owen ' yes; Edgerton ' yes; Herman ' yes; Hahn ' yes; Norton ' yes; Young ' yes.

The ordinance will change permitting and reconstruction obligations for properties in mapped flood-prone areas; staff said they expect to revisit the topic again during the town's larger comprehensive code update.

The council and staff emphasized that the update is intended to reduce future flood losses and to bring the ordinance in line with best practices and the town's recently adopted comprehensive plan.

For affected property owners, staff recommended contacting the planning office before beginning repairs so permit requirements and look-back aggregation can be explained.

The council packet includes the full ordinance text, the model ordinance comparison, and the planning board's review notes.

The town clerk recorded adoption at the April 15 council meeting.

","The Town of Woodfin adopted a comprehensive update to its flood damage prevention ordinance on April 15, increasing the required freeboard above the base flood elevation from two feet to four feet while keeping the 50% substantial-improvement threshold and tightening look-back periods used to calculate cumulative renovations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6591899,"Woodfin updates residents on Tropical Storm Helene recovery: FEMA work, debris removal and long-term recovery plan",284,2676000,2960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841&start=2676&end=2960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841/thumbnail_2676000.jpg","/articles/6591899/North-Carolina/Woodfin-updates-residents-on-Tropical-Storm-Helene-recovery-FEMA-work-debris-removal-and-long-term-recovery-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591899-312657a40c0457394b877095502a3447/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=SjLKjFEtuWabJ9hCLhxRnedeGYKNpV1ovGk8fwVgz9QKJPdAwZkbotp0B3Lwbeh4AqAaI3jJCQIc6PCNrfyVlHng70mJjgCoSXUxoXsP-oKMScopWm-0RVQ9Kk765uA~PO2FUFJ9FtZLrbDVYsznScYRcA~719OBRk5lGwFozhca1JUQRnt83yGIozOAvIihnvWwW7mmojvwn6orE~kgdhL09DYD8mhA7SGFfyOtfxSYJE6OOUbWYR8CwxLVBjU1Qf~ZM3IajNg~xouinRG0wzYtFQbcqPRNfWGyA8TI4Z2LSrCMPg-QsC0xVQP3q-dLHVcDqkqLkcBgCNWW1TeIKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff updated the council and public on recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene, covering FEMA public assistance, debris removal, park repairs and regional long-term recovery planning.

Staff said contracts for professional services are in place or forthcoming to produce construction drawings and permit packages for Silver Line Park and to provide engineering services for road and stormwater repairs. The town is working with FEMA public-assistance partners to adjust application scopes so repairs can be reimbursed and folded into improved designs (for example, modifying Riverside Park to replace the former gazebo with a new pavilion that matches the current park master plan).

Private-property debris removal intake had an additional drop-off day scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, after Buncombe County's intake outreach unintentionally limited applications to unincorporated county residents; the town staff said the extra intake day was added to capture residents within municipal boundaries who need assistance.

Staff described 'high-risk' private debris removal sites as very steep, hard-to-access properties with substantial debris above downstream properties; the methods and equipment needed for those removals are not covered in the state-approved contract and will likely require separate procurement so those sites can be safely cleared. FEMA and state partners inspected at least one high-risk site and indicated they consider such sites eligible, but the approach requires specialized contracting.

The temporary debris site located at the town athletic/soccer fields (below the community center) was scheduled to close this week. Contractors were completing stump-splitting work using specialized equipment and will reseed and grade the fields with an athletic-field-appropriate seed mix once removal is complete.

Right-of-way debris removal contractors have finished initial sweeps; staff said a punchlist remains to capture missed items or to revisit properties where residents added extra material. When the right-of-way work wraps up the town plans to resume its regular brush-collection program but emphasized the town is not equipped to pick up very large trees or stumps as part of routine collection.

Buncombe County is leading a countywide long-term recovery plan and soliciting community input; staff said all municipalities in the county will participate and that the county hopes to have a plan in place by the one-year anniversary of the storm in September 2025. The town will schedule a Woodfin-specific input session to inform the county-led plan.

Staff also described a debris site transition: once the athletic-field site is cleared, contractors will reseed and restore the fields and the town will coordinate with FEMA on reimbursements for mitigation actions (for example, building boulder walls where appropriate to protect streambanks).

The council asked questions about timing and staffing; staff said state and FEMA partners are discussing bridge-loan programs and other options to help municipalities with cash-flow constraints related to large upfront recovery costs, and staff said they expect more information on state assistance to be available soon.

","Town staff briefed the council on continuing recovery work from Tropical Storm Helene, including FEMA public-assistance coordination, private-property debris intake, special handling for high-risk debris sites, and Buncombe County's countywide long-term recovery planning effort.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6591904,"Woodfin council approves $176,000 contract for comprehensive development code update",391,3765000,4156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841&start=3765&end=4156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841/thumbnail_3765000.jpg","/articles/6591904/North-Carolina/Woodfin-council-approves-176000-contract-for-comprehensive-development-code-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591904-cab8bf6e92aedae7dd3900c14dd107e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=fMdq3We9DlavDh~6DOOaDekmTSZqZoLi7np6JqT8pbL1AErIN7cABlfyFwThEh0vKGEMfp6MdPs4vGzuhm0Kyxp2UvJq3~cU7UOq-d1HJwg9xp~xCE2uYT5JVXdp1K5f-IQXe2RuBcbyuFspMAPSayuWIGqyD5XleAeSz~92gLNgCrkXlcL4nwPDZFOLa5I0G-PE7R3lYDdu~Z0EdolGZU3lWwc09evHGFc4PSdWNJ3QJsWm8ZbvLEgEJJJ17PAZhc91O5a3SYv9lZCw3NF4rmLfpcWC1SUvnCfmqLT3Qe1WCOC75DTdLSd-XBC-YyyuOHTnWZsTWgfR4CXTFSBZrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Woodfin on April 15 approved a contract with Code Right Planners LLC for a comprehensive update of the town's development code and related ordinance provisions.

Town staff said the town last undertook a major consolidation and update of its development codes around 1995 and that many piecemeal amendments since then have led to inconsistencies. The contract, authorized under the town's purchasing policy because it exceeds $90,000, is for $176,000 and breaks the work into eight tasks with a proposed 16-month schedule from kickoff to adoption.

Shannon (staff) summarized the scope: code diagnosis and reorganization, stakeholder interviews (up to 10), public engagement including a project website, meetings with the planning board of adjustment and council, draft and review cycles, and testing the draft code on sample sites and development scenarios. The contract document includes an appendix describing responsibilities among staff, the consultant and a steering committee and includes a compensation schedule split by tasks to help budget across fiscal years.

Council members asked about public engagement and the consultant's plan to hold targeted stakeholder meetings and public forums. Staff said the work will begin as early as late April or early May with an adoption target in August of the following year.

The council moved to authorize the town manager to finalize and execute the contract. Roll-call votes were recorded as: Cohen? Yes; Edgerton? Yes; Herman? Yes; Hahn? Yes; Quonton? Yes; Young? Yes. The motion passed.

Staff said the contract will allow the town to align its development code with the 2024 Woodfin comprehensive plan and to resolve inconsistencies in the current code. The contract includes public engagement deliverables and site-testing to help ensure the new code achieves the town's stated policy goals.

","The council authorized a not-to-exceed $176,000 contract with Code Right Planners LLC for a 16-month comprehensive development code update, including public engagement, steering committee work, and an expected launch in late April/early May.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6591909,"Council approves conditional rezoning for 61-unit townhome cluster at Olivet; adds solar condition",1346,5544000,6890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841&start=5544&end=6890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001155-3d1af840cb95c13c7297935dedfcd841/thumbnail_5544000.jpg","/articles/6591909/North-Carolina/Council-approves-conditional-rezoning-for-61-unit-townhome-cluster-at-Olivet-adds-solar-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591909-cf97bc1d53086e1832fc9f91815b4d85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=Eujh~GTmy2bGeGjbuLO97-nZ2t2nGmDlD3jPKX8e7cEcs2HZG5bIMR39fFe8CWCTAHL-BgFIWHAEPSF0FAZlQJYQWUTRK2l8AmxV9WdgPJ29As9udCEYOgb8mcW-Ll~IqzrGEIZmK11bVz45UhdB6YSgpzDg13KdzPX5lfAuL1-rlhSwXHoHm6xFGSY22CBBYG3gFjV6e4sZVzf9RB5NxJkMd3EhQOzkc4VjG9kjDmWUgwrD9g-sZhKZ~K3dkaH38kuSFeCMeWTFrkQQm2eHhbqDkd8SsnwU6Uepb3NTjl-FN4pIbypiO-BqCy-oZD7HVcxsABFF76JstdzZXdaQOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Woodfin on April 15 approved Ordinance 2025-04, conditionally rezoning roughly 11.25 acres off Old Macedonia Road and Mayapple Bridge Road from Mountain Village to Mountain Village Conditional Zone (MV-CZ) to allow a clustered townhome development.

The conditional zone application from Red Tree Organization LLC proposed up to 61 townhome sites arranged along a new public road that will later connect to the larger Olivet spine road. The site plan includes sidewalks on public roads, a minimum of 30,500 square feet of qualifying open space, two large underground stormwater devices and retention features, and street-tree planting along the new streets.

Shannon (staff filling in for the planning director) presented the staff report. Planning staff noted the proposed townhome product is treated as single-family (attached) under the town's development standards and that the project aligns with the comprehensive plan's cluster residential future land-use designation. The planning board of adjustment voted 5-0 to recommend approval.

Developers Scott Austin and Brandon Bryant (Red Tree) described the project as a continuation of existing Olivet-area development and said the project is intended to create community-scale housing with green-building features. The developer said units would be modular construction and that rooftop solar and energy-efficiency measures are planned; they estimated completed-sale prices in the neighborhood of $800,000 to $850,000 per unit and said they were exploring battery storage to achieve better-than-net-zero performance.

A public speaker, Amy Miller of Olivet, told the council she supported townhome development in general but urged the council to consider cumulative density and the larger Olivet plan before approving high-density phases. The council acknowledged traffic concerns but noted the town's threshold for a required traffic impact study is 200 peak-hour trips and the staff estimate for this project (including prior development) does not exceed that threshold.

During deliberations the council added an additional condition to the project: the mover's proposed language stated that each unit would be constructed with incorporated photovoltaic (solar) systems. (The project materials described 61 townhome sites; during the motion the added condition referenced 62 units, an inconsistency in the meeting record.) The developer indicated the intent to provide solar at each home but requested flexibility on exact siting and the council allowed for alternative arrangements (for example a shared solar array) where rooftop orientation or shading would make rooftop installation impractical.

The council voted by roll call to approve the conditional rezoning and site plan subject to the project conditions in the packet and the additional solar condition. The clerk recorded the roll call as: Cohen? Yes; Benjamin? Yes; Urban? Yes; Khan? Yes; Thornton? Yes; Young? Yes.

The approved plan requires the developer to construct the public road, water and sewer extensions, sidewalks, stormwater devices and the open-space components shown in the approved exhibits. Staff said the site plan allows a mix of 'walk-up' (three-level) and 'walk-out' buildings to respond to the steep topography.

Council members and staff said future phases of Olivet-area development could require larger traffic or infrastructure reviews, but that this parcel and phase do not meet the study thresholds now. The packet contains the full conditional-zoning exhibits, proposed conditions and the planning board report.

","The council approved a conditional rezoning (Ordinance 2025-04) for about 11.25 acres off Old Macedonia Road to allow up to 61 townhome units clustered along a new public road. The council added a condition requiring photovoltaic systems for each unit; the developer and opponents discussed traffic and density during a public hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Presenters outline modular homes as a faster, cost-competitive option for housing and storm recovery

Woodfin council adopts updated flood damage prevention ordinance, raises freeboard to 4 feet

Woodfin updates residents on Tropical Storm Helene recovery: FEMA work, debris removal and long-term recovery plan

Woodfin council approves $176,000 contract for comprehensive development code update

Council approves conditional rezoning for 61-unit townhome cluster at Olivet; adds solar condition