Resident asks for review of permit denial; advocates urge anti-displacement analysis

Two members of the public used the board’s three-minute public-comment period to press the county on housing-related process and policy.

Gary Bruno described a multi-month permit dispute between his contractor and the Bunkham County Permits and Inspections Office over framing and spray-foam insulation for a “barnaminium” house near Old Lyster Highway. He said construction has been on hold for over three months, increasing loan interest, temporary housing and storage costs, and asked the commissioners to ‘‘direct an independent re-evaluation of the framing method and facilitate a meeting between Kyle (the contractor), qualified county inspector representatives and . . . engineering resources to resolve all remaining questions.’’

David Greenson of the Government Accountability Project told commissioners that Bunkham County already recognizes displacement as a challenge in its comprehensive plan and recovery briefings, but he urged the county to build ‘‘the infrastructure needed to address displacement systemically’’—an anti-displacement analysis tool that can identify where risks are growing, measure whether residents are actually being displaced, and track the effects of recovery and development investments. Greenson extended an invitation for the county to partner with Asheville staff and local stakeholders on that analytic tool.

Action and follow-up: The board accepted public comments and directed staff to take written submissions from commenters. Mr. Bruno was told he could leave supporting materials with the clerk or county manager for administrative review. Commissioners did not make immediate policy changes during the meeting; staff follow-up was requested to review the permit correspondence and any technical letters submitted by the contractor.