City unveils downtown activation pilots; noise ordinance change clears first vote, social-district proposal continued amid legacy-neighborhood concerns

The Asheville City Council heard a presentation on a suite of downtown activation pilot initiatives and took split action: staff previewed open-streets mini grants and a food-truck pilot that require no ordinance change, sought council approval for a temporary increase in allowable sound-exceedance events for certified performance centers, and proposed a pilot social district for the South Slope tied to specified special events in 2026.

Assistant City Manager Ben Woody presented four initiatives requested by the council’s Planning & Economic Development Committee: (1) open-streets mini grants to cover barricade and fee costs for event organizers; (2) a Central Business District food-truck pilot that places rotating vendors at PAX Square from Oct. 3 through Dec. 19 to test demand; (3) a change to the city’s 2021 noise ordinance to increase the maximum number of type-3 sound exceedance events for a certified performance center from 30 to 50 on a pilot basis with an automatic sunset of Dec. 31, 2026; and (4) a South Slope social-district pilot permitting consumption of alcohol in a defined outdoor district during specified events, pending ABC Commission approval.

Open streets and food-truck pilot

Woody described the open-streets mini grants as a mini-grant program administered with ArtsAVL to cover costs associated with temporary street closures and event logistics. He said $14,000 in funds are available and awards will be up to $1,000 per event through December 2026. Woody said the food-truck pilot is already running at PAX Square and staff will measure vendor feedback, foot traffic, and other metrics as the pilot concludes; the pilot runs through the end of the year and focuses on vendors in an area not in the Downtown Fire District.

Noise ordinance amendment (type-3 sound exceedance permits)

Staff presented a single-section amendment to text in section 10-88-2(c) of the city noise ordinance to increase allowable sound-exceedance events for performance centers from 30 to 50 on a pilot basis. The ordinance language proposed a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2026. The proposal drew comments from performing-arts stakeholders and neighboring residents; business owners downtown and venue operators testified in support, citing economic impact for nearby restaurants and retailers. Mike Rangel of Asheville Yards and representatives from local breweries and restaurants told council the change would help small businesses recovering from the hurricane by increasing event nights.

After public comment and council discussion, the council voted 4–3 in favor of the ordinance on first reading. City staff and the city attorney noted that under council’s rules an ordinance requires a supermajority (five votes) on first reading to adopt; because the vote was 4–3 legal threshold for immediate adoption was not met. The clerk notified council that the measure must be considered again at a subsequent meeting for final adoption.

Social district proposal and legacy-neighborhood concerns

The social-district proposal would create an event-based South Slope Social District for five specified events in 2026 and requires an ordinance plus final approval from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The draft included boundaries aligned with prior Fourth of July event footprints, event-specific hours tied to each organizer’s published special-event hours (not to exceed 11 a.m.–11 p.m.), signage requirements, branded cups, and a management and maintenance plan typically administered by the Asheville Downtown Association.

Public comment on the social district was substantial and divided. Several downtown business owners and event organizers — including representatives from Asheville Yards, Wicked Weed Brewing, and Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue — testified in favor, saying the pilot would drive foot traffic and revenue to struggling downtown businesses. At least one speaker estimated significant per-event economic impact in the neighborhood.

Representatives of the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition — including Sekou Coleman, who spoke for the group — urged council to slow the process and to pair any pilot with explicit equity commitments. Coleman asked the city to align the pilot with Urban Land Institute equity guidance, require participating businesses to perform history and cultural orientations, and track equity metrics such as local hires and neighborhood vendor participation. Other callers said community engagement had been too limited and raised concerns about cultural and social displacement when visitor-focused policies advance without clear neighborhood benefits.

Council action and next steps

After public comment, the council member who moved the social-district ordinance withdrew the motion and instead moved to continue the item to the first November council meeting (Nov. 18, 2025). Council approved that continuance. Staff and several council members volunteered to convene stakeholders between meetings and to return with revised language, additional community engagement, and proposals for measures that would track and report equity outcomes alongside sales and foot-traffic metrics.

Staff said the noise-ordinance amendment and social-district proposals are pilots with sunset dates and metrics to evaluate success. The open-streets mini grants and food-truck pilot will continue with staff reporting back at the end of their pilot windows. Council asked staff to work with neighborhood leaders, the Asheville Downtown Association, and other stakeholders while preparing materials for the November meeting.