From Staff Reports 

Following months of work with a consultant and a long public engagement phase, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has taken steps toward action on the Ferry Road property and other affordable housing priorities, the county stated in an April 19 press release.

At its April 19 regular meeting, “the board heard an overview of public sentiment on how the community would like to see the property used,” the release noted.

“The multi-phased public engagement process included a community-wide survey along with neighborhood, stakeholder and community meetings.”

Several key themes emerged, including the following:

(1) Infrastructure: improve current roadways, develop new infrastructure to handle new development

(2) Housing: increase the amount of housing, types of housing, include a mix of incomes

(3) Open space: preserve open space, develop with conservation in mind

(4) Density: consider impacts of density to neighbors, traffic, environment

(5) Concepts: public preference for 1, 2 and 3 (above).

Based on the community feedback, staff briefed the board on several key elements of the development, and the commissioners approved and offered guidance that included:

• Support for preserving up to 55-60 percent of the property as natural areas, outdoor recreation space, and buffers

• Support for preservation of existing mature forestland to buffer development from neighboring communities

• Support for a phased development approach that makes a significant contribution toward meeting recently approved affordable and workforce housing goals with at least two-thirds of the new construction units priced at affordable and workforce price points

• Support for a mix of rental and homeownership opportunities

•Analysis for inclusion of a 4 percent affordable tax credit project, which could leverage significant resources to the project

• Support for inclusion of some commercial elements that would be harmonious with the overall project design, such as outdoor recreation-and neighborhood-oriented businesses

Commissioner’s Chair Brownie Newman “noted that although some thought went into each of these points, the board agrees they are intended to be guidance and a fair amount of latitude is expected,” the release stated.

In a move that will transition these affordable housing and development goals into action, the board approved a reallocation of FY 22 Affordable Housing Service Program funds to support a $137,400 Ferry Road Predevelopment Services contract and $83,500 Affordable Housing Feasibility Study contract with UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative.

“It’s really exciting to think about this,” noted Newman, according to the press release. “this will help move the Ferry Road property further, as well as look at opportunities for our other properties. We are fortunate we already own several attractive downtown properties.”

The county release concluded by stating, “DFI would help develop an actionable plan and help select a development partner and facilitate the process to offer a full suite of pre-development services on the Ferry Road property.”