Council approves 252-unit apartment project and West Asheville pool rebuild

The Asheville City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to authorize a 252-unit apartment complex at 21 London Road, a decision that resolved a debate over construction near Sweeten Creek. The project, located southeast of Biltmore Village, represents an expansion from a previous proposal that envisioned a smaller, six-story building with 208 units.

Council members Sage Turner, Kim Roney, and Maggie Ullman cast the three votes against the measure. Turner expressed concern about building in the flood zone, noting that the developer could still construct the smaller, previously approved structure if the council had rejected the current plan. Roney cited Hurricane Helene as new information that changed the context for development, pointing out that the city's current flood maps date from 2010 and do not fully account for global warming.

Proponents of the project pointed to specific safety features in the design. The building is elevated at least two feet above the 100-year floodplain, and the lowest two floors are dedicated almost entirely to parking. An engineer and an attorney representing the project stated that multiple exits are located well above flood level, providing residents with several evacuation options in an emergency.

Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged valid concerns about the site but emphasized the need for the city to process applications while it rewrites its development ordinances. Manheimer stated that the city is at the beginning of a two-year process to redraw its primary development rules. She asked, "What do we do in the meantime?" as she defended the decision to approve the project during this transition period.

Supporters argued that the development aligns with the city's housing goals. Council member Bo Hess said he supports more housing and noted that he frequently sees apartments near rivers in other cities. He said, "I like more housing, personally," adding that a lot of investment wants to happen in Asheville.

In a separate matter, the council approved a $4.4 million construction contract for the Malvern Hills Pool in West Asheville. The pool is scheduled to reopen for the 2028 swimming season. It has been closed since the summer of 2023 because the city determined the existing structure could no longer be repaired. The closure left only one city-owned public pool in Asheville after Hurricane Helene damaged the pool at Recreation Park in 2024.

Residents who had criticized previous plans for the replacement facility attended Tuesday's meeting to express satisfaction with the final design. Scott Burroughs told the council, "We need more pools in our community and I'm looking forward to swimming in this pool very soon."

The council also addressed issues related to local wildlife. Ashley Hobbs, a biologist with the state Wildlife Resources Commission, urged the council to increase funding for bear-resistant trash cans and raise penalties for feeding bears. Hobbs reported that since 2023, bears have injured seven people and broken into 143 homes in Buncombe County. She stated that relocating bears does not solve the problem and that hunting is illegal within the city limits.

Additional agenda items included the approval of $660,304 for bicycle and pedestrian paths near the I-26 Connector project in West Asheville. The funds will support facilities that the state Department of Transportation considers beyond its standard requirements for that section of Interstate 240. Work on the connector, which will widen the interstate and build a new crossing of the French Broad River, has already begun.

The council bid farewell to City Clerk Maggie Burleson, who is retiring after 31 years in that role and 50 years in city government. Jodilynn Byrd, previously the deputy city clerk in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, was appointed to succeed her. Council member Roney cast the lone negative vote on a separate measure authorizing the city to apply for a federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas grant, citing concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the use of such funds.

The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 at City Hall. A strategic planning retreat will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 in the banquet hall of Harrah's Cherokee Center, and an online meeting to review the November agenda is set for 11 a.m. on Nov. 5.