I had to leave at 6:15 and Joe Heard very kindly sent me a report on the items (Long Shoals zoning, Schenck Parkway, Wording Amendment, Feb 16 meeting) that I missed. Please send comments and corrections to me at trightmy@juno.com.

Tom Rightmyer trightmy@juno.com

Pre-meeting 4:00 p.m.

Review of agenda items.

Discussion of the Planning and Zoning Retreat Agenda - March 23, 2006. – not discussed

Discussion of desired development pattern of the major City corridors (bus trip).- not discussed

Discussion of Merrimon Avenue corridor zoning study.-

City surveys went out Wednesday. Hedy Fischer reported on January 17 meeting. See material below. People like buildings that are closet to the sidewalk, and architecture matters. Sizemore questions whether issue is national chains or looks of buildings – example Freeport McDonalds. Hedy thinks people want buildings that look like Asheville. Safety and looks are important. Chris Petersen represents Merrimon property owners assn. (Note car wash offered at 1.6 million.) Sidewalk not complete or wide enough, utility poles interrupt – planting strip (or fence) needed for safety – physical and psychological. New Caldwell Banker / Starbucks Charlotte St. parking in back, entrance at side and front. Landscaping makes a big difference – like CVS vs. Grace Plaza (Stein Mart Eckerds).

Update on Shiloh plan. – not discussed

Other items to be determined. – Wal Mart to be postponed, no public comment.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Roll call.

Approval of minutes (January 4, 2006).

Motion to postpone Wal Mart hearing to March 1. Note that this meeting will be interpreted. Blake Esselstyn read statement in Spanish and received applause for doing so.

LEVEL III

Level III site plan review for the property identified as Mission Hospitals Dogwood Project, located at 509 Biltmore Avenue, for proposed additional building on 29 acres. The owner is the Memorial Mission Hospital of WNC and contact is Toby Kay. PINs 9648.14-43-7610 and 9648.14-44-5402. Planner coordinating review – Blake Esselstyn Hart recused because he serves on Mission Hospital Board.

New operating rooms, 48 intensive care rooms, 5 stories above grade, 2 below. Primary car access from McDowell and Victoria. Permitted use. No communication from citizens. Sidewalk on east side of McDowell required by code but city council may waive it – no sidewalk on east side of tunnel but there is one on the west side. Morse of Mission spoke; no other public comment. There is a light and crosswalk at entrance to property to cross McDowell. Motion to approve with recommendation to waive sidewalk with fee in lieu required if suitable alternative to ending sidewalk at tunnel cannot be found. Approved unanimously.

CONDITIONAL ZONING

Consideration of the Conditional Zoning request for property located at 138 Springside Road (3.02 acres). The conditional zoning request seeks: 1) the rezoning from INST (Institutional) district to RM-16 CZ (Residential Multi Family High Density Conditional Zoning) district and; 2) for a proposed 84 unit rental community with density bonus for affordable housing provision. The owner is Carr Swicegood and the contact is Gerald Green. PIN 9645.20-71-5447. Planner coordinating review – Kim Hamel

Weeks excused as employee of Mountain Housing. All apartments to be affordable. Not asking for maximum density – 200% allowed, asking 167% , Rezoning required to get density bonus. RM16 allowed in Institutional Rents $350 to $550 – tax credits applied for. Gerald Green presented, community meeting held. Major traffic is before and after school. Residents not likely to add to traffic. Not on transit line now but city considering extension of bus line. Motion to accept as proposed was approved unanimously.

INITIAL ZONING

Consideration of the initial zoning of properties recently annexed along Long Shoals Road to be zoned as follows: HB (Highway Business District): PIN’s 964406378990, 964406388383, 964406389102, 964406389351, 964406470987, 964406472910, 964406480271, 964406482163, 964406482258, 964406483247, 964406484034, 964406485092, 964406488172, 964407572942, 964407575956, 964407581185, 964407582373, 964407584274, 964407585534, 964407586383, 964407588632, 964407589450, 964407599085, 964407680200, 964407680746, 964407684829, 964407684937, 964407685729, 964407685915, 964407686859, 964407691081, 964407692207, 964407693038, 964407694266, and 964407696249. Please note that HB zoning is only one of the potential zoning districts under consideration for the subject property. Other options include RM-16, OB, and CBII. HB was chosen for the agenda because it is the most intensive of the potential zoning options. The Planning and Zoning Commission may select any or all of the listed zoning districts in its recommendation to the City Council. Planner coordinating review – Julie Cogburn

Staff supports RM-16, but property owners ask for CB and Office. Continued from January meeting 35 properties, approximately 50 acres. Meeting with property owners January 19. Pastor King of church (Pentecostal Holiness now Family of Faith) prefers Highway Business. Church relocating Pstor King, David Worley, and Mr. Easley, representing a majority of the property owners in the area, requested HB or other commercial zoning based on Long Shoals Road being widened to five lanes, rising property values, appraisals at a commercial rate, development expectations, challenges to residential development, and greater flexibility of use. Ms. Briggs, a resident/property owner of the subject area, stated that older residents still want to live there and expressed concerns over impacts of intense commercial development on her quality of life. Steve Sizemore made a motion to recommend approval of CB-II zoning for the subject area, stating that it was a compromise that offers reasonable flexibility for the property owners and is compatible with the variety of existing development in the surrounding area. Tom Byers offered the less intensive OB district as an alternative. The P&Z members voted 6-1 (Byers opposing) to recommend CB-II zoning for these parcels.

REZONING

Request to rezone property located at Schenck Parkway, Schenck Crescent East and Waterstone Road from CBD (Central Business District) and RS-8 (Residential Single Family High Density) district to UV (Urban Village District) and to review master plan to include rezoned properties. The property owner is Biltmore Farms, Inc., and the contact is Shook Kelley. Portion of PIN 9645.03-02-7047. Planner coordinating review – Alan Glines

Highlights of the master plan for this mixed use project include a movie theater, large hotel, and several parking decks. Planner Alan Glines forwarded concerns from several residents of the adjoining residential neighborhoods. Robert Zieber (sp?), representing neighbors in Biltmore Park, expressed general support for the project, but concerns about the lack of sidewalk connections to adjoining neighborhoods, lack of on-street parking in certain areas, alignment of access points, and limited design information at this point in the process. Urban designer Larry Zinser answered questions and pointed out existing buffers and conservation easements. Steve Sizemore made a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning and master plan for the development with the conditions that a sidewalk connection be provided between the urban village and the existing sidewalk along Columbine Road. He also noted that approval of the master plan was contingent upon the approval of wording amendments to the UV district. The P&Z members voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend rezoning of the subject area to UV

WORDING AMENDMENT Discussion of the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Asheville regarding revisions to the Urban Village District. Staff coordinating review – Scott Shuford

Proposed amendments include raising maximum height from 80 feet to 150 feet, changing requirements for building design/fenestration, number of driveways allowed per block, phasing of parking decks, and open space standards reflecting an urban design/density. The P&Z members voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend approval of the UDO wording amendments to the UV district.

*CONDITIONAL ZONING - Postpone to March 1.

Continuation of the Conditional Zoning review for the project identified as the Wal-Mart Super Center located on Smokey Park Highway and Cooper Boulevard. The conditional zoning request seeks: 1) the rezoning from HB (Highway Business District) and RS 4 (Residential Single Family Medium Density) district to HB CZ (Highway Business District Conditional Zoning); and 2) for a proposed Wal-Mart Super Center store and additional retail development. The owners are JDN Development Company, Inc., Asheville Property Management, Carl & Linda Harris, Wallace & Betty Medlin, and Jim & Lucy McFee. PINs 9628.17-10-3945, 9628.17-10-2516, 9628.17-00-8730, 9628.17-00-7988, 9628.17-01-8339 portion, 9628.17-01-8526 portion, and 9628.17-01-9806 portion. Planner coordinating review – Shannon Tuch

OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT

Discussion regarding P&Z Mid Month meeting on Thursday, February 16 at 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the Public Works Building, A-109, 161 South Charlotte Street. Items at the meeting will include proposed amendments to the CBD district standards and review of a proposed expansion to the Buncombe County School District Administration facility on Bingham Road.