Council approves two conditional rezonings, adopts HUD consolidated‑plan amendment to prioritize affordable rental construction

Asheville City Council on March 10 approved two conditional‑zoning petitions and adopted a resolution amending the city's consolidated plan to prioritize affordable rental construction.

The votes: Council approved a conditional rezoning for 230 Sardis Road to a Residential Expansion conditional zone to permit a proposed four‑ to five‑story apartment building of roughly 180 units and amended the future land use map from Industrial Manufacturing to Residential Neighborhood. Council also approved a level‑two conditional‑zoning request for 383 North Louisiana Avenue to permit an 89‑unit multi‑family project under Office 1 Conditional Zone with affordability conditions. Council then adopted a resolution amending the 2025–2029 consolidated plan to add affordable rental construction as a priority need and goal for HUD submission. All actions were approved by voice votes recorded on the transcript; no opposing voices were recorded.

What the council heard about 230 Sardis Road: Will Palmquist of Planning and Urban Design described the site as a roughly 9‑acre parcel on the city boundary with Buncombe County and presented plans for an L‑shaped, four‑ and five‑story building with about 180 units and on‑site amenities. Staff recommended approval with two technical modifications: reducing some sidewalk widths from 10 to 5 feet and allowing street trees to be located outside the NCDOT Sardis Road right‑of‑way. Applicant counsel Derek Allen said no rooftop solar is part of the current plan but that HVAC placement could allow future solar readiness; he also provided an estimated incremental property tax increase of about $120,000–$130,000 above current industrial use.

What the council heard about 383 North Louisiana Avenue: Planner Sam Star Bomb said the proposed 89‑unit project would include a three‑to‑four‑story split and that the conditions document (Exhibit E) commits 100% of units at 80% AMI or below; staff noted the project's Low Income Housing Tax Credit application indicates a deeper mix of affordability tiers (30%, 50%, 60% and 70% AMI) and a unit breakdown of 31 one‑bedroom, 36 two‑bedroom and 22 three‑bedroom units. The project requests a height modification (48 feet where 40 is allowed in the office district) and sidewalk reductions to 5 feet; Planning and Zoning recommended the applicant work with transportation staff to explore widening external sidewalks to 6 feet where feasible.

Community response and neighborhood engagement: One public speaker supported the Sardis Road rezoning as a means to add housing near schools. For the North Louisiana project, neighborhood organization Beloved Emma and its director Andrea Golden reported months of engagement and a neighborhood‑council consensus in support of the project, citing negotiated commitments to limit displacement and meet community concerns.

Consolidated plan amendment: Staff noted the public hearing and comment period were complete and that one supportive email had been received; council adopted the amendment and authorized the city manager to submit required documents to HUD.

What’s next: Staff will finalize condition language, coordinate LIHTC timelines for the affordable project, and return to council as required on entitlements and program manuals. The LIHTC application process for one project carries a mid‑May timetable noted by staff.