We know urban planning can be a dense subject, but try not to zone out because Asheville City Council just voted to create an “Urban Place Form” district that will impact our cityscape for decades to come.

The new 122-acre district comprises 4 large areas in North and East Asheville, including sections of Merrimon Ave., Tunnel Rd., and Bleachery Blvd.

The 4 "nodes" that will be impacted by the new zoning. | Screen grabs courtesy of City of Asheville, GIF by AVLtoday staff

And the zoning standards that accompany these new designations create steep incentives for commercial developers to contribute to the city’s Living Asheville comprehensive plan of increased mixed-use development, walkable urban areas + housing units.

The city hopes to transform parking lots into more transit and pedestrian-friendly spaces like what we see on the right. | Screen grab courtesy of City of Asheville

Here’s the highlights of what this means for developers in this new district.

On land parcels above 5 acres, new commercial buildings — or significant redevelopments — cannot exceed more than 20,000 sqft without adding residential units.
For every market-rate housing unit provided, a developer can add 1,000 sq ft of commercial space.
For every affordable unit (provided at 80% or less of the Area Median Income), a developer can add 2,000 sqft of commercial space.
Additionally, buildings that are 4 stories (or 55 ft tall) can grow to 6 stories or 75 ft tall if affordable housing is added.
A “block structure” layout that requires buildings to be located on streets, with exceptions for driveways and open space.
Incentives for the addition of small commercial spaces (1,000 sqft) on larger parcels.
Internal street standards that include sidewalks and street trees.

Want to nerd out more? See the full presentation that was shared at the City Council’s Sept. 28 meeting. And let us know if you have any questions about what this new zoning means for Asheville.

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