[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6208334,"mediaKeyId","3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18","parentId",3748641,"title","City staff give quarterly update on capital projects and FEMA recovery process","audioSeconds",1249,"startMs",181000,"endMs",1430000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18&start=181&end=1430","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18/thumbnail_181000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6208334/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/City-staff-give-quarterly-update-on-capital-projects-and-FEMA-recovery-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208334-719e02e88816c68b61e458aca208c607/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198704&Signature=NQ4Ntc3ESwS0mR192h3JdzC~TSFza-sIRbo89aPG1USJOXxSHrqvaD~adMr00ox5iG9izQPrqfxQwlYsJ3B4BBA~0YmkMjlVpeoWXQsPWNfQPAl67QG5dGANp1QvZjAGU9ilpypQmpEw8qBZNRqHLmuJQWDSKJSxFOPssL7QprsR~6d3ciljPLQh5vo0-15Z9vHZOn0Hsk5uTwcHVmFFw8XVOXTizNDNqB4rPfbDk8Zbq9frQbUoTNY1oQHRrvKODcG8wldXyWVXv~n12PA9t~ZBc2y-RfjbT48I56uQhiVcqlHmxwqLBkdKd7LJLr4szucHFs-PiebxkmDHdB07Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Asheville City, NC","date","2025-06-05T18:37:41Z","article","City staff presented a quarterly capital-improvement program (CIP) update and reviewed the infrastructure recovery process following storm damage from Tropical Storm Helene, emphasizing that federal funding streams will shape project scope and timelines.

Walter Ear, the city's interim capital management director, summarized completed and ongoing work and highlighted a multi-pronged recovery approach that uses the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) program, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR). \"We'll take a moment to celebrate the capital project wins of the year so far,\" Ear said as he reviewed completed projects and work in progress.

Completed and in-progress projects
Staff noted completed or substantially complete items including the Memorial Stadium project (substantially complete late last year, with final completion earlier this year) and Roger Farmer Park sport courts (completed about a month ago). Ongoing projects listed were McCormick Field (work continuing through baseball season), municipal building structural repairs, and upcoming parking garage repairs for Wall Street and Rinken garages. Staff said roof replacements (Municipal Building and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) and the Southside connectivity/Greenway Connectors project are underway or planned; Southside connectivity faces contractor-related issues but is expected to complete next year.

Recovery funding process and project scoping
Staff said the city has delivered its damage inventory to FEMA and that FEMA is finalizing its review. The next formal step is project scoping, where individual damages are categorized as small or large projects and cost estimates are developed. Ear explained the approach to \"design it twice\": develop a baseline repair-in-kind estimate (including code updates such as raising to 2 feet above base flood elevation where required) and then design mitigation or \"build back better\" improvements that may be eligible for HMGP or CDBG‑DR funding.

Examples and timing
Staff reported 31 smaller projects already identified (examples included 8 River Arts Place, Wanford Park storage building, communication-tower repairs and roof replacements at the Municipal Building and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) and named large projects that will require integrated designs such as the French Broad River Parks Recovery Project, the Azalea Parks Infrastructure Recovery Project and the North Fork Water Treatment Facility. Staff said design contracts for large-project scoping will come to council later this fall.

Local concerns discussed
Councilmembers raised concerns about downtown parking impacts during the planned parking-garage repairs and asked about solar-ready roof replacements. Staff said the municipal building is a good candidate for solar and that they are coordinating with sustainability staff to integrate battery backup and other resilience features where structurally feasible.

Ending
Staff closed by reiterating that maximizing FEMA and other federal recovery funding is a priority, that funding sources and program rules will shape project scope and timing, and that the city will return with design contracts and more detailed scoping as projects move forward.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting – June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported progress on capital projects funded by bonds and recovery programs, outlined storm-damage project scoping with FEMA, and listed completed, ongoing and planned projects including Memorial Stadium, McCormick Field, municipal building repairs and Reed Creek Greenway.","taxTitle","Asheville City, Buncombe County, North Carolina","taxId",3915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208340,"Council approves conditional zoning for 19-unit multifamily building at 215 Glenbridge Road",659,1446000,2105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18&start=1446&end=2105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18/thumbnail_1446000.jpg","/articles/6208340/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Council-approves-conditional-zoning-for-19-unit-multifamily-building-at-215-Glenbridge-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208340-34b7cd484e2f17ef1ba7d888b656f0ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198704&Signature=h53qWAU3Z8LUO1NmkQtsOqBe-i~wJwvKvO-~0A9TGTMEdUtSkgDmsHQMYl3UyoNmrT0Wu2OiIja9fYvY65clj~gZGdMAW0btYJ-tKwyFRNjtmVw3huldUruzCsbxsGD91wXMChJ8IGcFYmM7-26Wc-0fIb8K5~Z674vX9aLBMYx3DNfCuh219z2wzUhavnBX0qHDxWT31la5nj8GveOrRoTgvuXg6Yd8v-yEqJpR2q6m9p4YUZjEsyeOxp2e8wDTG3ysc~qi03yAsch4wfsctwyUtEDcx-E5LIew~15jCkrPjPinjSFvjlPZRDh2XwPG0PgFlT8zuzuTLBEFWKjGIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Asheville City Council unanimously approved a conditional zoning request to rezone 215 Glenbridge Road from Commercial Industrial (CI) to Commercial Industrial Conditional Zone (CICZ) to permit a three-story, 19-unit multifamily building.

Will Palmquist, planning and urban design staff, presented the application and explained that the half-acre site is vacant and currently zoned Commercial Industrial. Palmquist said staff recommended approval, finding the project consistent with the Living Asheville comprehensive plan and noting that it \"supports a number of goals in the comprehensive plan, including to encourage responsible growth by prioritizing greater density development overall throughout the city as appropriate.\" The Technical Review Committee approved the project with conditions on April 7 and the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval on May 7.

Project details and zoning rationale
The proposed development, called Studios at Glenbridge, is a three-story structure containing 19 studio units with podium parking (20 spaces total: 12 surface and eight under the building). Palmquist explained that the existing CI district allows 8 units per acre; on a roughly 0.5-acre site the proposed 19 units translate to about 35.2 units per acre, which is why the applicant sought conditional zoning to obtain a technical modification for density.

Council questions and applicant responses
Councilmembers asked about solar readiness and stormwater. Palmquist said there are no project conditions that require solar; the applicant indicated they will work with a solar consultant and consider making the building \"solar ready\" where feasible. On stormwater, staff said the project meets the required stormwater and grading permits and is below the maximum permitted impervious surface; the applicant's engineer was present to address technical questions if needed.

Vote and context
After a brief public hearing with no speakers, a councilmember moved to approve the conditional zoning request and to find the application consistent with the comprehensive plan; council approved the motion unanimously.

Ending
With the vote, the applicant may proceed to permitting subject to the conditions recorded by the TRC and the standard permit review process; staff said they will provide follow-up information on specific engineering or stormwater techniques if council requests further details as the project advances.

","Asheville City Council unanimously approved a conditional zoning request to allow a 3-story, 19-unit multifamily building at 215 Glenbridge Road; staff found the project consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208344,"Asheville Council adopts $256.36 million FY 2025–26 budget with 3.26¢ tax-rate increase",1757,2063000,3820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18&start=2063&end=3820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748641-4fa28a55e9f8e7076bec2b794113ec18/thumbnail_2063000.jpg","/articles/6208344/Asheville-City/Buncombe-County/North-Carolina/Asheville-Council-adopts-25636-million-FY-202526-budget-with-326-tax-rate-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208344-f90907121bb89251e921d668a9d7e257/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198704&Signature=OljP60YIFerQQh6qOKlmecZ1oF8Cl~MbgBNmL3D7NWrECHdPNw0LLdtNKZrWKKsJVn8zvu4cbhM6xbUHuTdN9viV~ug9jVGeQqWDnU4fSBzZZb~xOlCaASRwWVUnFY49TCHALfy49L8opJglHKnDGY34PMyoQ3yv0PLvq-EGUIk29Wz0YQCndcJcLvwSRlhbRyKlgvHK1-S~8h~yfu32mppzDUOBMrF3MbAKTOZCAeI3CYDqStm2p1zyg8tEsjnnMkAANDEz6RvuebXC54AaXLAyjACl0tNJb1GjTD6Y1OUC3swQZ3DarjJaomX~PONbh8X4Kt-A473~j9KlOwHT0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Asheville City Council on a unanimous vote adopted a $256,360,000 operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that includes a 3.26¢ increase to the property tax rate, a set of employee pay adjustments and one-time funding to support storm recovery projects.

City Manager Deborah Campbell, presenting the proposal to council, said the budget \"maintains the city's core services to the community, restores the fund balance in a manner to maintain the city's strong credit rating, and utilizes one-time revenue sources, such as community development block grant, disaster recovery grant funds, and federal emergency management agency dollars to fund the community's recovery priorities to enable us to build back better.\" The increase is intended to cover continuing operations, pay adjustments and to preserve the city's financial metrics.

Staff and council emphasized the budget's role in disaster recovery and workforce retention. Lindsay Spangler, budget division staff, told council that \"the budget will include a 3.26¢ property tax rate increase, which will allow us to continue with current operations throughout the city\" and reviewed adjustments added since the manager's budget, including funding for three additional firefighters to begin in January 2026.

Why it matters: The budget funds core city services while directing one-time federal and grant revenues to recovery work after Tropical Storm Helene. It raises the tax burden for homeowners and businesses at a time when the city is also managing large recovery projects and aims to shore up fund balance that supports capital borrowing.

Most important facts
- Total adopted operating budget: $256,360,000 (presented as $256,100,000 in earlier slides, amended to $256,360,000 with two technical adjustments).
- Property tax-rate increase: 3.26¢ (cents per $100 assessed value).
- Employee compensation: Employees above the median on the general pay plan receive a 3% increase; employees below the median receive a $17.40 flat increase (equal to 3% of the median) to narrow pay disparity. Police and fire pay plans move to adjusted structures (police pay-plan transition; firefighters receive a 3% increase and funding for promotional steps).
- Fire staffing: Council agreed to add funding for three firefighters to start in the January 2026 academy; the budget includes $155,000 in one-time fund balance this year to support half-year costs, with an estimated recurring cost of about $248,000 in future years.
- One-time revenue: The proposed budget uses one-time sources, including a $5,000,000 loan from FEMA, CDBG‑DR and other recovery grants to fund storm-related capital and recovery priorities.
- Fund balance: Adopting the firefighter positions shifts the unassigned fund-balance estimate slightly (staff noted a reduction from about 15% to 14.9% of operating expenditures).

Other budget changes approved at the meeting
- A $100,000 general-fund budget amendment to provide the city's annual contribution to the Economic Development Coalition (funded from city manager's contingency) was adopted after a recusal motion for the mayor under state law.
- A $45,000 general-fund budget amendment to fund the city's annual contribution to the Sports Commission (also funded from city manager's contingency) was adopted after a separate recusal motion for one councilmember.

Council discussion and context
Councilmembers and staff described the budget process as lengthy and shaped by recovery needs following Tropical Storm Helene. Several councilmembers expressed concern about any tax increase while noting the constrained options without state revenue-replacement for storm losses. Councilmember Roni said she was \"deeply concerned about the property tax increase after the natural disaster of Helene,\" but indicated support for the budget, citing the need to maintain services and compensate staff who worked on recovery.

Implementation notes and next steps
Staff flagged that some one-time choices (for example, using fund balance to cover firefighter hires) will require future revenue decisions to sustain recurring costs. Departments will proceed with the projects and staffing included in the adopted budget; the city will return with program-level budgets for federal and community-development grant funds scheduled later in July.

Ending
Council adopted the budget unanimously and approved the two contingency-funded amendments after the required recusals were offered and recorded. Staff will implement the adopted plan while continuing to brief council on recovery-program spending and the capital-improvement program.

","City Council approved the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget that includes a 3.26¢ property tax-rate increase, employee pay adjustments, funding for three firefighters, use of FEMA and other one-time revenues for recovery, and several budget amendments approved during the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff give quarterly update on capital projects and FEMA recovery process

Council approves conditional zoning for 19-unit multifamily building at 215 Glenbridge Road

Asheville Council adopts $256.36 million FY 2025–26 budget with 3.26¢ tax-rate increase