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Council approves CMU zoning tweaks to allow on‑street parking credit and remove minimum lot size
Summary
City Council adopted a zoning text amendment deleting the CMU minimum lot size and allowing up to 33% of a development's parking requirement to be met by qualifying on‑street spaces; proponents said the changes encourage infill and compatible downtown development while opponents warned about parking and historic character impacts.
The Hendersonville City Council voted Oct. 2 to amend the CMU zoning district to remove the 8,000 square‑foot minimum lot size and to permit qualifying on‑street spaces to satisfy up to 33% of a development’s parking requirement.
Staff said the change aligns CMU with other mixed‑use districts that have no minimum lot size and allows smaller infill development such as townhomes. The on‑street parking provision was written to limit use to existing or newly delineated spaces that meet MUTCD standards and to cap credit at one‑third of the parking requirement so small projects cannot overburden curbside spaces.
Ken Fitch, a resident who spoke during the public hearing, urged caution, saying a broad text amendment could unintentionally affect narrow historic streets, courthouse area parking, and tourism resources: “We are a walkable city… but carrying groceries back… you have to hustle,” he said, arguing some CMU locations are not suited to higher density. Staff and council discussed how design guidelines and site‑specific review can mitigate concerns.
Planning Board unanimously recommended approval. After discussion, council adopted the amendment by voice vote.
Staff said the change could enable compatible infill while emphasizing design review and site planning to protect historic character and address parking impacts on a case‑by‑case basis.
