Asheville council reviews anti‑displacement resolution, data tool and home‑repair policy ahead of August votes

Assistant City Manager Ben Woody told the Asheville City Council at its June 23 work session that staff is preparing an anti‑displacement resolution and a package of tools intended to slow displacement while supporting housing production.

"This project looks to develop community‑driven policies, tools, and processes," Woody said, describing six principal components including a resolution, a displacement‑risk assessment tool, interim affordable housing solutions tied to missing‑middle reforms, anti‑displacement strategies, Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition (LNC) engagement, and strengthened development notifications.

Why it matters: staff and community groups say the measures aim to reduce late‑stage conflict on development projects, preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, and provide clearer guidance to developers and decision‑makers. Woody said a draft resolution could be ready as early as July or August and would formally direct city staff to develop the remaining tools.

Displacement‑risk tool: Woody described a public, web‑based tool that will combine neighborhood vulnerability indicators with market‑change metrics to map displacement risk by census tract or block group and suggest mitigation strategies for specific project types. "It's just fact‑based, data‑based," he said; staff plans an initial risk‑assessment iteration this fall and hopes to test a fuller build‑out afterward.

Missing‑middle zoning: staff summarized three recommended text amendments from the missing‑middle study: permitting duplexes and townhomes in residential districts, eliminating parking minimums, and easing rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Planning & Zoning is scheduled to act in August, with council consideration to follow. Councilors raised concerns that eliminating parking minimums could shift commercial parking into adjacent residential streets and noted a pending state bill could preempt local action.

Home‑repair policy: Sasha Vratanousky of the Affordable Housing Division outlined a draft home‑repair program developed with AHAC (Affordable Housing Advisory Committee). Under the draft, eligible activities include health and safety repairs, accessibility modifications, weatherization, manufactured‑housing repairs that meet code, and emergency repairs. The proposed assistance structure would provide grants up to $25,000 and maximum assistance of $40,000 per household; amounts above $25,000 would be 0% deferred forgivable loans forgiven after three years if the homeowner remains in the property.

Vratanousky said eligibility would be limited to households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI), with program priorities for households at or below 60% AMI, long‑term homeowners, households at risk of involuntary displacement, and residences in neighborhoods identified as vulnerable to displacement. Councilors urged flexibility: several expressed concern that strict requirements (for example, prioritizing seniors or households with children or disabilities) could exclude longtime local owners who lack those specific household characteristics.

Procurement and funding: Jamie Matthews, deputy recovery coordinator, briefed the council on the CDBG‑DR planning allocation that would fund a five‑year strategic plan at $100,000 and allow procurement of a consultant/facilitator; staff said the planning DR bucket would retain a remainder of about "565" after allocations (amount as stated in the briefing). Matthews said the strategic planning effort will be year‑long and aim to align recovery with long‑term community goals.

Next steps: staff asked for general concurrence to draft an anti‑displacement resolution and to continue development of the displacement‑risk tool and home‑repair policy. Planning & Zoning will consider the zoning text amendments in August, the home‑repair policy is slated for council consideration at the end of July, and staff anticipates the first iteration of the risk tool later this fall.

The work session was informational; formal votes and any resolution adoption are scheduled for the evening council meeting and future agenda items.