[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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],{"_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",6486347,"mediaKeyId","5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5","parentId",5601230,"title","Council approves zoning changes, right‑of‑way closure, grant renewals and park funding designation","audioSeconds",585,"startMs",5097000,"endMs",4512000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5&start=5097&end=4512","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5/thumbnail_5097000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6486347/North-Carolina/Council-approves-zoning-changes-rightofway-closure-grant-renewals-and-park-funding-designation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486347-7cbe3c0e65742feafd013084fc410e90/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607325&Signature=gYD9b2duLbiY-QtVGlntrLbng1lk5Zb44ghQ12IqB0rhf78EAcsZMu3K~wK-tGZxx4qmWSduP7LDc2NxcjnW4HjvUCx5yGqbAdLkJNNwrj0frKZ8aECLWw5pX-tmfAJT2aZVHq8EYRwUo3BER8bCwTv6zTVXpuiJqu75vz7gRW-DN1AUPde7j-yR6ayb5Zdrwoqd2SMgDQGnF2hd61fZ~4h07rQSrMk3jvB4iyxkG12K9~zmmjLoGZR-LyG2vXgtePpN6l95KYaUlMknTNg0iWX~yAdH6D5RU~JPXNeICMKYyUUoN8o5Mv5EnhJ0JxaotZxmOZXunxCTSBx-w4KDCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Woodfin, NC","date","2025-08-19T23:25:28.34Z","article","The Woodfin Town Council voted on a series of land‑use and funding items at its Aug. 19 meeting. All motions passed unanimously (five‑zero) as recorded by the mayor. Key actions taken were:

Rocky River Apartments (Ordinance 2025‑14) — Conditional zoning modification approved
The council held a public hearing and approved a modification to a previously approved conditional zoning for the Rocky River Apartments project on Reynolds Mountain Boulevard. The modification breaks the originally single 120‑unit affordable building into three smaller buildings, adjusts parking and retaining walls, and carries forward previously adopted conditions. Planning staff reported the site remains largely a previously disturbed area; staff recommended approval and the planning board had recommended approval.
Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as unanimous). Applicant representatives Andrea Gonzalez and Charles Stittrick were on the line and staff indicated the project had secured initial county bond funding.

Puffin Lane property rezoning (Ordinance 2025‑15) — R‑10 to CS (conditional) approved
The council approved a conditional rezoning for a 0.92‑acre parcel at 3 Puffin Lane (near Kirby) from R‑10 residential to community shopping conditional zone, subject to conditions that narrowed permitted uses (for example, excluding day‑care and higher‑traffic uses) and imposed buffer requirements. Planning staff said the request would convert an abandoned/foreclosed property to a limited commercial use intended to buffer nearby residences from more intensive commercial uses on Weaverville Road.
Outcome: approved 5–0.

Crescent Avenue right‑of‑way closure — approved
Council approved closing an unopened section of Crescent Avenue between 74 and 86 Crestfield Avenue. Staff said the 25‑foot strip is a steep cut slope that currently provides no practical future public connection and recommended closure; the petitioner(s) will be required to recombine any resulting nonconforming lot that would otherwise be landlocked.
Outcome: approved 5–0; motion included a condition requiring recombination of any lots made nonconforming by the closure.

Community Partners grants (FY2026 allocations) — renewals and reallocation approved
Council renewed grant funding agreements for 2026, including:
- ABCCM emergency assistance: $50,000 (renewal)
- Newbridge Baptist Church: recommended allocation $8,500 (previously Catholic Charities; $6,000 plus $2,500 surplus) for non‑food and supplemental food items
- Asheville Greenworks: extension of prior grant window into FY2026 for river cleanup work and to allow delayed work due to Helene
Staff told council that two previously allocated 2025 grants (Catholic Charities and a RiverLink program) had not been drawn and proposed reallocating or not renewing those specific line items.
Outcome: motion approved 5–0.

Designation of Woodfin ABC proceeds — directed to parks and greenways
Council voted to allow the Woodfin ABC store to advertise that its allocations to the town will be directed to support parks and greenways; the motion designated ABC proceeds for town parks and related greenway/blueway needs.
Outcome: approved 5–0.

Consent agenda approval
The council approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; council also noted a correction requested to a Walk/Bike plan item where staff clarified a STIP listing is only conceptual and not yet funded.
Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as unanimous).

Several items required no roll‑call vote in the minutes and were approved by voice vote as recorded; staff will finalize ordinance numbers and record the required map amendment for the Puffin Lane parcel.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.08.19 Woodfin Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Woodfin Town Council approved multiple land‑use actions, grant renewals and a parks funding designation at its Aug. 19 meeting; all votes were recorded as unanimous.","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},6486352,"Resident warns council that proposed nearby development could overload narrow Riverside Drive area streets",269,266000,535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5&start=266&end=535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5/thumbnail_266000.jpg","/articles/6486352/North-Carolina/Resident-warns-council-that-proposed-nearby-development-could-overload-narrow-Riverside-Drive-area-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486352-775081fd735a9b2acc9b6837d5ca918c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607325&Signature=FcbGeUGNjEymCbF8ldCoZsFcInZYzn4R3L~MwIUXwb42RvxxLvWV-6iwlFJUUKaREfcy2X1I-EZMkwOQzz2jelVV0iUwbFhrF29Y2NbFCiDbOKcoi7~zgvUFOw-zwrq9H69EWa8Xkfd-Bnmn3GFfC9OunJb8sJaATxtS6bPJ3quYyAdPdiRVK6N-yJWdh3ctGOl8Vbi5mlTFIdCqDGT72GJMNeffnwwFDFCrvY~dawE4MrQvgq7d1~~fLC~uj8CK9cRNLZ~WCd2~mwaUt4-v8ZrcZ6spGpcMlSO1l490Glu9M5fWHFC0EsowHaxXhKKezd~txxTPQPw7FL9ZHNvlPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public‑comment period, resident Eleanor Floyd of 49 Audubon Drive presented a map and urged the council to consider traffic and fire safety concerns related to multiple proposed developments draining to the same roadway network near Riverside Drive.

Floyd told council the map she distributed counts structures and apartments in several nearby developments (she cited Charter Mountain, Altura, Wind Whisper, Firethorne Drive and Newbridge apartments) and warns that traffic from those sites will funnel onto Stillview and Mills Place and then through narrow connector streets. She said parts of the local street network are 17 to 21 feet wide and noted that fire‑code clearances generally call for 24‑foot streets with gutters and curbing.

“Wind Whisper is 21 feet wide,” Floyd said, and she recounted measurements showing Running Ridge at 11 feet in places. She said those narrow sections, combined with concentrated new traffic flows, raised a public‑safety concern because a typical fire engine is 8 to 10 feet wide and the town code and fire access requirements may not be met.

Floyd also said she has met with the state Department of Transportation about the Exit 23 intersection and was told no improvements are expected for about 10 years.

Mayor and staff thanked Floyd for the material and confirmed the town had the comments on record. Shannon and staff said the item will return for future agenda items if necessary (public hearing and more formal consideration) and noted that the council can consider traffic engineering and safety as part of future planning reviews.

","Eleanor Floyd, a Woodfin resident, told council she mapped local streets and data showing several proposed developments would funnel traffic onto narrow two‑lane residential streets that fall below fire‑code width standards, raising concerns about emergency access and safety.",{"_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},6486357,"Woodfin Council gets six‑month update on strategic plan; communications subcommittee launches emergency card and 'Text My Gov' rollout",4245,560000,4805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5&start=560&end=4805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5/thumbnail_560000.jpg","/articles/6486357/North-Carolina/Woodfin-Council-gets-sixmonth-update-on-strategic-plan-communications-subcommittee-launches-emergency-card-and-Text-My-Gov-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486357-b17897a5594af5b4de500224bffbbfba/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607325&Signature=RQGtR~n06sUWzEOKALoay8l2Tm4g2pVLEuUNhxqhlQbPWmonEKuo4vrZBf-JmPApQLGlHLDUzCEyl~KmAYfSqFjEYG5dvtYgNNYEHJNhltvGDq5gEW5OYHT8AC-MBzTfrheYfHtLJe7KCQErYiABWcGttBTpQZd2YO72ljOBrLwzXbyQ3901rxcJcnvnZXOcqymVRgf1aBaH0PW6WR6lTOXVs5pEQyzgZVrl-E-eTh38jfsp13kM8Q76xPmNGg06CPoxPndzH3uU8T7adA4~JOgFjG4Z9pvlNMhfBVqAp6mnP032jPHUUYkEUYAXKz2Rnw94-gXv4c8BZtGIbTB1ZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Shannon gave the council a six‑month progress report on the Woodfin strategic plan adopted earlier in the year, highlighting work across six goal areas including town services, affordable living, transportation and infrastructure, police/community relations, facilities, and community partnerships.

Shannon summarized accomplishments and next steps across multiple objectives: policy updates, communication and outreach work, initial steps toward affordable‑housing options and manufactured housing outreach, restoration and mitigation work at parks (including Silver Line and Riverside), and work on town‑level emergency and resilience planning linked to potential redevelopment of town facilities.

She noted the town had not yet added or permitted new affordable units in the preceding six months, but staff are exploring funding sources such as CDBG disaster recovery funds and working with regional nonprofit partners. She also said the town is exploring options to redevelop town hall or the community center and to consider resilience features if reconstruction occurs.

On public safety, Shannon confirmed a new school resource officer is in place at Woodfin Elementary and that the department is pursuing accreditation under the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program and reviewing defensive‑tactics training.

Separately, councilmember (subcommittee chair) presented the communications subcommittee’s first work product: a mission statement and an emergency resource card intended for household distribution. The subcommittee reported benchmarking the town website, making initial website updates, and that the town is implementing a mass notification and two‑way system (Text My Gov) to push emergency alerts and allow residents to opt in for further updates. The subcommittee also identified longer‑term improvements — social media strategy, mobile presence, and promotional opportunities tied to parks and the Greenway/Blueway project — and said it will revisit the website and communications plan periodically.

Council members asked about distribution and reach for the emergency card and raised questions about whether partner organizations (for example, Newbridge Baptist Church and ABCCM in other agenda items) serve primarily Woodfin residents; staff said some partner usage data is not currently collected but agreed to track and report where possible for transparency.

Shannon said staff will return to council with refinements and possible budget implications for expanded communication projects.

","Town Manager Shannon reported progress across six strategic goal areas at the half‑year mark and council’s communications subcommittee described work on an emergency resource card, website benchmarking and a text/alert system to reach residents.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":92,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":95,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6486362,"Woodfin manager reports FEMA denials, engineering delays in Helene recovery work",180,740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601230-e6ee822ba85c132aa26bef4bf15a3cf5&start=560&end=740","/articles/6486362/North-Carolina/Woodfin-manager-reports-FEMA-denials-engineering-delays-in-Helene-recovery-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486362-a1cb6224ab9e1975f49312b230df77f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607325&Signature=fFVFTvNBoGDGxXxj1aWUwHmL-ulpSI-RW--zYSbWy23DSk4eLUxqnxQ5oRRDbrqa~ZDX6f6M2G3axNNVorCsD2iQYL000IMsfWEPMnYU6E-nD39Mlvveg~kvd73tGHRZwqakoszWQ2qPSkGTxi2A2L3ywDeKE6XlEtXasFtQTdvO7AJ6VQ~EbkBhrQ14zc3wyoh4Mk~N1ZzKISS5gP8bzV8aZqvFcLJFOzofj7nEx4MK~dkaC36L8Lb2iU6IBNRb7DjgZKW-1x1fOfgoyteWWK3IqwYJTddu-~YMNkttBmdmNb1k~AX08yZh6V8JANmxrL~zM-VmzemaNeXgqJ1DSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Shannon told the Woodfin Town Council on Aug. 19 that recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Helene had mixed results: contractors finished work in the French Broad River that freed Silver Line Park for reopening, but engineering for roads and culverts is taking far longer than expected.

Shannon said the town had been told the engineering work now looks to be about 10 to 12 months from completion for the design needed to go to bid, a timeline that staff found “a shock” because it may complicate FEMA reimbursement deadlines. She said staff has asked the engineering firm to re‑examine the schedule to identify any possible acceleration.

Shannon said FEMA also denied seven road failure items in the town’s public assistance application because those failures were judged to be upslope slides and therefore categorized as erosion control rather than damage to public infrastructure. That distinction, she said, was why the work for those seven sites was not approved for FEMA repair dollars.

The town manager described complications with the state’s PPDR (private property debris removal) reassessment after the state moved applications into the SMART program. Of an initial list of 75 reassessed PPDR applications in Woodfin, 24% were deemed ineligible and “more than half of the remaining are eligible, but with conditions,” Shannon said. The most common reasons she cited for ineligibility were that trees were not in maintained areas or were not judged to threaten infrastructure, life or property.

Shannon also described a temporary pause on some waterway debris removal extensions while the state reviewed eligibility; the state later lifted the suspension but limited contractor removals to debris within 1,000 feet of “threatened infrastructure.” She said the state has indicated it is handling the questions about some river sections and extensions.

Shannon said one piece of good news is that Silver Line Park is now open after river contractors finished the portion of work in that area. She said the town had paused planned bidding for construction at Silver Line while staff, design professionals and FEMA representatives explore additional mitigation opportunities that might be folded into the project scope.

On hazardous tree removal, Shannon said work on Running Ridge — where large dangerous trees required closing a dead‑end road — was completed after the contractors notified affected property owners and isolated the road during the work.

Shannon gave an estimate of the town’s overall public assistance ask, saying “our total ask is somewhere around $3,100,000” while noting that individual project cost estimates vary and that an engineering cost estimate for one project was “just over a million” but the engineers expect the actual cost to be higher. She and council members repeatedly expressed concern about the risk of missing FEMA time limits and said staff is pursuing extensions and will push the engineering firm to review its timeline.

The town will continue to monitor eligibility questions and reimbursement schedules with state and federal partners and update council as the engineering and FEMA processes progress.

","Town Manager Shannon told the council that recovery from Tropical Storm Helene has seen progress at Silver Line Park but also setbacks: engineering for roads and culverts may take 10–12 months, seven road repair claims were denied by FEMA as \"upslope\" erosion, and about 24% of the first 75 PPDR applications were found ineligible.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves zoning changes, right‑of‑way closure, grant renewals and park funding designation

Resident warns council that proposed nearby development could overload narrow Riverside Drive area streets

Woodfin Council gets six‑month update on strategic plan; communications subcommittee launches emergency card and 'Text My Gov' rollout

Woodfin manager reports FEMA denials, engineering delays in Helene recovery work