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Council reviews downtown activation pilot: food trucks, social district and sound‑exceedance change on the Oct. 14 agenda
Summary
City staff outlined a four‑part downtown activation package that includes food‑truck pilots, Open Streets mini‑grants, a proposed special‑events social district and a targeted amendment to the noise ordinance to allow more sound exceedances at one venue. Council members questioned enforcement, cup waste, outreach and timing.
City staff told the Asheville City Council on Oct. 9 that a four‑part downtown activation package will appear on the Oct. 14 regular meeting agenda, including two pilot programs already under way (Open Streets mini‑grants and a food‑truck pilot in front of the municipal complex) and two items that require council action: a targeted noise ordinance amendment and a downtown social district pilot for the South Slope.
Assistant City Manager Ben Woody described the package, saying the food‑truck pilot in front of City Hall drew lines from municipal employees during the initial run. He noted that the chosen pilot location is outside the Downtown Fire District and was permitted via the city’s own special event permit to avoid some permitting constraints that apply downtown. Woody said adding longer late‑night food‑truck hours downtown would require an ordinance change.
Staff also explained an ordinance change to Section 10‑88 of the city noise code to expand the number of permitted level‑3 sound exceedances — a change staff said would apply to a single operator (Asheville Yards) because of the ordinance’s requirements. Mark (city staff) described the amendment as narrowly focused on level‑3 exceedances and not intended to alter other parts of the noise code. Council members urged a careful approach: Councilwoman Roni said a smaller incremental change could be preferable, and several council members asked staff to pursue a separate committee review of late‑night noise issues and measurement methods.
The proposed downtown social district would be event‑based, confined to the South Slope pilot area and active only during up to five special events. Staff said statutory requirements for social districts require labeled cups and that event organizers would be responsible for cup management, labeling and compliance; the city would not provide the cups. Staff noted organizers could pursue reusable or recyclable cup solutions and promised follow‑up with the sanitation department to confirm which materials local recycling accepts.
Council members pressed staff on enforcement and liability. Woody said social‑district events must include a management and maintenance plan; police and fire presence that already attends permitted events would handle nuisance enforcement. Staff also said event organizers must demonstrate a plan for waste and staffing in the management plan attached to the ordinance.
Next steps: staff will provide additional details in the Oct. 14 staff report, including the management/maintenance plan and follow‑up answers on recycling and enforcement. The noise‑ordinance amendment and the social‑district ordinance are on the Oct. 14 consent/regular agenda and will require council votes to take effect.
Ending: Council members expressed support for piloting activation tools to help downtown recovery but repeatedly requested more public outreach and clarity on compliance, waste management and how changes would affect late‑night residents and workers.
