Weaverville council denies two Reagan Lane C1 rezonings, urges conditional zoning route

The Weaverville Town Council denied two separate applications to rezone Reagan Lane parcels to C1 commercial zoning during its June 22 meeting, signaling a preference for conditional zoning that would bind uses and access plans to a buyer or developer.

Council closed two public hearings after hearing several hours of testimony from neighbors and property owners who offered divergent views on traffic, land‑use strategy and the future character of the corridor. Supporters of rezoning said C1 would allow transitional uses — medical or financial offices — that would complement the town’s planned hospital and provide daytime traffic patterns. Opponents said the town already has empty commercial space nearby and urged preservation of residential buffers.

Town staff and the planning board advised caution. Planning staff explained that a straight C1 designation would allow many uses permitted in the C1 district (including gas stations and bars) while prohibiting drive‑through restaurants; the planning board had recommended conditional zoning for the occupied one‑acre parcel at 5 Reagan Lane and favored C1 only for the unaddressed lot adjacent to the Goodwill property.

Property owner Reese Lasher, who applied for the 1‑acre rezoning, told the council he and neighboring landowners had discussed access changes with the Goodwill property and DOT and said, “We do not have any intentions of directing any traffic out to Reagan Lane,” arguing the site is appropriate for a daytime professional use such as a medical office or bank.

Resident Robert Woodson urged a cautious approach but said he supports C1 for one parcel as a reasonable step toward thoughtful commercial growth, saying the town can “honor that history while also preparing wisely for what comes next.” Other nearby residents testified they feared increased traffic, noise and erosion of the downtown residential buffer.

After extended council discussion about whether to approve straight C1 zoning or to require conditional rezoning with a site plan and specified uses and access arrangements, the council first voted to deny the unaddressed Reagan Lane C1 request and then denied the 5 Reagan Lane C1 request. Councilmembers said they preferred property owners to pursue conditional‑district rezoning that would require a site plan, allow the town to specify permitted uses (for example limiting hours of operation) and provide better documentation for DOT when seeking driveway or curb‑cut approvals.

The council did not provide a roll‑call tally on the record; both results were recorded as voice votes. Town staff and council recommended that property owners work with the planning board on a conditional rezoning application and that WEDAC (the Weaverville Economic Development Advisory Committee) will offer to help research appropriate uses.

The council’s action keeps the two parcels in their current residential zoning until or unless a conditional rezoning or other proposal is submitted and approved. Councilmembers emphasized that conditional zoning would allow the town to negotiate specific uses, hours or design elements tied to a site plan — provisions that a straight C1 zone would not guarantee.

Next steps: property owners may submit conditional zoning petitions to the planning board; DOT approvals for any driveway or access modifications will be required if a commercial plan is proposed. The council asked staff to coordinate follow‑up and offered WEDAC assistance to the owners.