On occasion, a news story will fill my heart with glee. Such is the case of the Merrimon Avenue Corridor Study. Two years ago, it looked like the worst attack on property rights to date. A group of Asheville citizens visioned on the look they wanted the city to zone upon Merrimon Avenue businesses. Only a few months ago did business owners get wind of what was planned for their property. They formed their own group, and with optimism and kindness worked their way toward a request from staff tonight to withdraw the proposed amendments to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance. The amendments would have required substantial rebuilds to be two-story, mixed-use structures, built up to the sidewalk or mandatory row of trees, with a façade articulated for pedestrian interaction. Drive-thrus would not be allowed.
McDonald’s just dozed its structure and built another under the deadline. Wendy’s, it was said, would rot itself out of conformity before upgrading. Ingle’s said it would not be able to renovate in stages, but would have to go out of business to build on top of its existing parking lot. Many citizens asked to be exempted from the proposed mass rezoning.
And so tonight, in their continuing spirit of kindness and optimism, three property owners asked for more time to negotiate. Things were coming along so well. In response, city council voted to knock the matter off the table. Council at first wanted time to talk about the issue in a work session, but they decided the stakeholders, the property owners, should have more say before council made their decisions.
