Asheville City Council voted tonight to adopt the Downtown Master Plan in concept. That means council will review in more detail each ordinance drafted in response to the plan’s recommendations as it comes before them.
Members of the public referred to the document as a consensus, a compromise, and a treaty. Former Mayor Lou Bissette and members of his law firm analyzed what the plan would mean for building on a lot they owned. About 60% of their building potential would be taken away for setback requirements. Two historical buildings were nearby, and so the building would have to integrate features from both into its design. A pocket park was nearby, so they would have to run a shadow study. They didn’t even touch whether or not the building would trespass into a viewshed.
A few citizens argued that people who don’t invest in, maintain, or pay taxes on property need to have recourse for appealing design decisions they don’t like. Jen Bowen, who may run for mayor, described Asheville as a symphony in need of a conductor. Attorney Albert Sneed said Asheville was more like a jazz piece. People from the development community said the city was regulating too much, too arbitrarily, and too cavalierly; and should expect unexpected consequences like an exodus of the tax base. One lawyer asked, “What if Greenpeace wanted to build a 10-story building in Asheville?”
Councilwoman Robin Cape countered claims that regulation thwarted creativity, and later argued vehemently that the tethering of pets should be outlawed because evidence clearly indicates that chained animals become violent.
