[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6518457,"mediaKeyId","5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc","parentId",5392230,"title","Council approves subdivision and right-of-way closure; reappointment to ABC board move passes 3–2","audioSeconds",687,"startMs",3359000,"endMs",4046000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc&start=3359&end=4046","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc/thumbnail_3359000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518457/North-Carolina/Council-approves-subdivision-and-right-of-way-closure-reappointment-to-ABC-board-move-passes-32","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518457-bb961afdbee77eea8c660b969f0e926f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140743&Signature=SYDhyUsEjA1YiMcLeB6p49uhpCfUK4qRoM~u4I3t7B5jyKpLFdC08lDe1zKCvUHSxCcHwW-DHYSjwMf9qebJfD2Fj6Yxg7GkVIzE~dltnHhhAsHCir2O2tANoaP6R~od2wS0PEeljKN55ST-za3fojhU6h-gk96ok0onB1ysgL5-QETJc6E1Fjnf3o1uErFjijXSMWAOWEAm4Fq73c~vQoj3CIiYir~eU7qLpsbJsSv3F4E8-51TMrV6Wg3qUyyQGs0bJXM5OXf8yePg59hyw9ojPaApBii6u~joq4TAp0epFe5A63QTRvHbJOAYQlFUfeod2dphKgsl8yedNryB8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Woodfin, NC","date","2025-07-15T20:56:08Z","article","The Woodfin Town Council conducted several formal actions during new business at its July 15 meeting.

Votes at a glance:
- Reappointment of Jackie Craig to the ABC board: Councilman Cohen moved to post the position and invite Jackie Craig to apply; the motion carried 3–2. (Motion carried; specifics of individual votes were not recorded on the public audio transcript.)
- Preliminary subdivision: Council approved the administrative preliminary plat for a 13-lot major subdivision off Riverside Drive (Black Tie Group, applicant Nicholas Bowman). The motion to approve applied the technical requirements of Chapter 46 (Subdivisions) and passed with no recorded opposition.
- Right-of-way closure: Council approved the petition to close the 150-foot right-of-way known as Desperate Lane (adjacent to the Crest Mountain/High Hopes area), finding the closure would not impede access or preclude further subdivision and would convert the land to taxable property. The motion passed unanimously at the hearing.

Background and key points: The ABC-board reappointment was moved from consent to new business after Councilman Cohen requested discussion. He said there was a split vote on the reappointment; his motion was to post the seat and invite Ms. Craig to reapply. The town clerk will execute the posting process.

The Riverside Drive subdivision received administrative approval after staff confirmed it met technical standards, including shared driveways per NCDOT preference to reduce conflict points along Riverside Drive. Planning staff noted the project abuts Greenwood Fields and includes required open-space and trail connections that satisfy Mountain Village provisions.

The Desperate Lane right-of-way closure concerned a 150-foot platted road that terminates adjacent to newly proposed single-family lots; planning staff recommended closure because all affected parcels already abut publicly maintained streets and the closure would not impair access.

Formal motions and outcomes are recorded in the meeting minutes and are summarized here from the council’s stated motions and roll-call procedure. Where transcript audio did not identify individual yes/no votes by name, the article records the tally and the motion outcomes as spoken at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.07.15 Woodfin Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 15 meeting the Woodfin Town Council approved a preliminary plat for a 13-lot subdivision, closed a short right-of-way known as Desperate Lane, and voted 3–2 to post the ABC board seat and invite the incumbent to apply rather than reappointing her automatically.","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},6518460,"Woodfin Water Authority outlines $22 million capital plan, seeks state funds after storm damage",705,1919000,2624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc&start=1919&end=2624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc/thumbnail_1919000.jpg","/articles/6518460/North-Carolina/Woodfin-Water-Authority-outlines-22-million-capital-plan-seeks-state-funds-after-storm-damage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518460-97cb1d06fcac85fd3e05941e288227d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140743&Signature=nRuqK~hlEreMg6leKp3NQ02HCk~J3YoCsJuiQ8wd8kH7cuiCANhQ~1MXK3cQXZ6PIGDSGKqCwuFtY-6jmjnenn8IVEpcdm~pJoQ-udwCfoTC-QYciYypVEnJkvyEO3Yfeeg9ebN7Oqui2bg~tce~W24k~bZt0T4SQ0ZpPdJLuLPY542BiY3Wl~Wnw15Uj~6oQHaP5kPyNp1Zv1eAaM6glgvNqR-H2qLujPe-f2Lqs~XrdVVt9yVKtgEk3ZKR6hs75VrWt-fpH8oEkK3V7Qa0lYGrPlOblrupLBrf0yLFF4wbIHLZiVGSzRtV4wDdHhXps9ZXFQ8dFuPMry-2v~4KgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seth Eckard, executive director of the Woodfin Water Sanitary District, told the Woodfin Town Council on July 15 that the utility serves “a population of just over 10,000” with about 4,000 residential and 150 commercial connections and has an operating budget of roughly $2.8 million.

Eckard described the district’s water sources and infrastructure: the utility owns about 2,000 acres of protected watershed, a reservoir with approximately 51 million gallons of storage and a water treatment plant built in 1995 that currently produces about 800,000 gallons per day. He said roughly 20% of the district’s supplied water is purchased from the city of Asheville to meet demand in parts of the service area.

Storm damage and recovery: Eckard said Hurricane Hilleen caused more than 27 leaks and breaks, erosion at the dam’s spillway, and generator failure; the district estimated nearly $5 million in storm-related damage, mostly for debris removal. Eckard credited mutual-aid partners and NC Water WARN participants — including crews from Durham and other utilities — for rapid help during recovery.

Capital plan and financing: The district recently completed a 10-year capital improvement plan with McGill Associates that identifies roughly $22 million in capital investments over the next decade. Eckard said the district currently carries no debt and expects to finance most work through state and federal grants, FEMA mitigation, and loans; he estimated about 80% of the plan could be covered by grants if funding is available.

Eckard said the district has applied for or will apply for a $5 million North Carolina State Revolving Fund loan that can include principal forgiveness under recent federal funding allocations aimed at storm recovery. He listed criteria that influence principal forgiveness decisions, such as median income and poverty metrics, and said the district and town likely meet two of the program’s qualifying metrics.

Operational notes and rates: The district bills bimonthly and uses four rate zones; Zone 1 customers pay the lowest rates in the comparison Eckard presented (about $19 per month, pre-July 1 changes). He explained a high bill runout this month stemmed from a vendor issue that delayed mailings, producing two months’ worth of charges on a single bill; the utility waived late fees while resolving the vendor problem.

Planned near-term work: Eckard said the district plans repairs to the dam’s spillway and the access bridge, generator and SCADA upgrades, pump and filter replacements within a ten-year horizon, and potential transmission-line work. He said the district will pursue state revolving funds, FEMA mitigation dollars and other grants, and noted no lead service lines were found in the district’s infrastructure during recent testing.

Council context: Several council members and residents asked technical questions about the transmission line under Craggy Bridge, connections to the west side of the river, and how purchased Asheville water is allocated; Eckard said geography and capacity determine water purchases and that expansion options may favor extending existing west-side mains rather than repairing an old under-bridge line.","Seth Eckard, executive director of the Woodfin Water Sanitary District, reported on service area, storm damage from Hurricane Hilleen, system stats and a 10-year capital plan that anticipates $22 million in investments and an application for a $5 million state revolving fund loan with potential principal forgiveness.",{"_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},6518465,"Town hears Walk, Bike, Woodfin plan; council to consider adoption in August",1699,159000,1858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc&start=159&end=1858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5392230-f9d47731b08bff73805bc2c1d07c47cc/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6518465/North-Carolina/Town-hears-Walk-Bike-Woodfin-plan-council-to-consider-adoption-in-August","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518465-298322a8922f33eeafabe5a158d79b9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140743&Signature=VdqNMrmtfatiVGRPT8SLYw~0eq8Jp~rX~riQ4PMz6g30OHKfUY4UOK89LGs36RzoWSSlNLAFjVAXb3jpatcRG1tkduYw7MzcGKFTne6hblUIy7fIPN3faNrnzBH9rWsSXSLURyqFNUKoydGyIT6pntOdD~AoJxbcvIo-xRzRGSzs8bT4B4~qCfTQEdW61z38IU11aSONpw1XzZcUCkBrHc09FkLV4lwc1kKtGWxbznxSRALrvAZLtYQHS77melj9rbVC3mZNVrAYwFJAaR3Eb62fNS9DCKrY~I~r0wmG~YSo8m9ch1QFxNkpwD4KwqkuRMcLx4~J5nUg4NTl5QNK-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rachel Bronson, a consultant with McAdams, presented the draft Walk, Bike, Woodfin plan to the Woodfin Town Council on Tuesday, July 15, describing it as “the purpose of this plan project is to provide a vision and a blueprint for the town of Woodfin to make it more walkable and bikeable for everyone.”

The plan sets a multimodal network of sidewalks, bike lanes, multiuse sidepaths and greenways, ranks projects by safety, equity and connectivity, and bundles local-priority projects separately from those that would require North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) action. Bronson said the plan was funded by NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division and that adopting a locally approved plan increases the town’s chances of securing DOT funds under the agency’s updated Complete Streets policy.

Why this matters: NCDOT’s Complete Streets policy and the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) generally prioritize projects that are identified in locally adopted plans; placing projects on that map can change the town’s cost-share and eligibility for DOT funding. Bronson told council that DOT projects tend to score higher in regional competition, so the consultants separated town-level projects from DOT-level projects to help Woodfin identify achievable, short-term “quick wins.”

Key details:
- Top local priorities identified in the presentation included Merriman Avenue, Weaverville Highway, Elk Mountain Road (Riverside Drive to Elkwood), a short Jonestown segment near Roy Pope Memorial Park, Riverside Drive crossing improvements, and West City View Drive connections.
- The plan groups recommendations into facility types: sidewalks for pedestrians, bike lanes for on-street bicycling, multiuse sidepaths (roadside greenways) for mixed users, traditional greenways and neighborhood shared streets with traffic calming.
- Consultants described ranking criteria that emphasize safety first, then equity (using DOT’s Transportation Disadvantage Index alongside local knowledge), connectivity to destinations, and public support gathered from surveys, in-person events and steering-committee input.
- Bronson noted certain projects would need to enter the STIP or be timed with NCDOT repaving (the Highway Maintenance Improvement Program) to be feasible; she said the DOT has about a three- to five-year paving cycle that can be used to advance low-cost improvements.

Council response and next steps: Council members asked about STIP timing and whether the document should be forwarded to NCDOT and the regional MPO. Bronson confirmed NCDOT has a 60-day comment window and recommended council approval to make it an NCDOT-reviewed plan; council agreed to place the plan on the August agenda for formal consideration after the DOT comment period. Staff were asked to collect questions and route them to town staff (Shannon was named during discussion as the contact for routing questions).

Community context: Consultants described outreach that included in-person events (5K races, food-distribution events, a New Bridal Baptist Church public meeting), online surveys and focus groups with Buncombe County Schools and Woodfin Elementary representatives. The plan also referenced the Beaver Dam Creek Greenway and the town’s Blueway/Greenway planning.

The council did not take a final vote on the plan at this meeting. The matter will return in August after the NCDOT comment period and staff follow-up.","Consultants presented a draft active-transportation plan that ranks sidewalk, bike-lane and greenway projects and explains how adoption would improve the town’s ability to compete for NCDOT funding. Council agreed to place formal approval on the August agenda after DOT comment period.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves subdivision and right-of-way closure; reappointment to ABC board move passes 3–2

Woodfin Water Authority outlines $22 million capital plan, seeks state funds after storm damage

Town hears Walk, Bike, Woodfin plan; council to consider adoption in August