Hendersonville council hears transportation bond plan, approves citizen advisory committee

Hendersonville City Council considered a proposed transportation general obligation bond that staff said would appear on the March ballot and would fund resurfacing and pedestrian safety projects across five zones from fiscal 2027 through 2031.

City staff outlined the bond’s three funding buckets — repaving to improve overall pavement condition, ADA compliance to address noncompliant curb ramps, and complete-street projects to improve safety and connectivity. City staff said, “Based on current projections, the city does not anticipate a tax increase,” while also warning that economic downturns or other external factors could require future adjustments to the tax rate.

Deputy City Manager Bridal Pauley and the budget team highlighted example projects under consideration: Grove Street sidewalk improvements, intersection upgrades near Orleans 9th Avenue School, and sidewalk work around the 3rd Avenue crossing of the Acousto Trail. Pauley described the bond presentation as the first of seven public hearings conducted on pending development and zoning matters.

Council also approved several land-use items and landmark nominations during the meeting. Staff reported approval of a standard rezoning, a Locust Street small-area rezoning, zoning text amendments (including the elimination of a waiting period and upzoning updates), and three landmark nominations: the Eubank Whitmire House, The Waverly, and the McKethan Rogers House.

On governance, City Manager John Conant requested that the diversity and inclusion committee be converted to a citizens advisory committee to emphasize community engagement and develop a citizen complaint policy. Council voted to create the new committee; staff said it will focus on outreach, complaint-policy guidance and advising how services meet community needs.

Stormwater Manager Mike Huffman presented a stormwater master plan update that identified prioritized projects, system modeling and risk-analysis findings, capital-project goals, a debt-funding evaluation, and proposed implementation and funding strategies.

Deputy City Manager Pauley also provided a Helene recovery update. Staff said there are 89 FEMA-identified projects; three projects are being applied for under a fixed-cost offer option — the wastewater treatment plant, Patton Park and Pool, and the Whitmire Activity Center — which allows the city to accept an estimated, fixed amount of funding for eligible projects rather than waiting for reimbursement of final actual eligible costs.

Economic development staff member Polly reported renewed interest in a downtown hotel at the Dogwood Lot and said the city is considering issuing a request for proposals consistent with the downtown master plan and the Gen H comprehensive plan; staff said inquiries increased in 2025 and that interest dates back to spring 2016.

Staff summarized progress on the city’s strategic plan update, noting input from a council conversation series, six community-leader focus groups, interviews with council and the city manager, and an all-day staff workshop; staff said the refined plan will return to council at the February retreat.

The meeting concluded with approval of the 2026 annual meeting schedule, appointments to boards and commissions, a city manager report, and a closed session as permitted by law. The full meeting recording and agenda packet are available at hendersonvillenc.gov.