Planning & Zoning Commission – August 5, 2026

The City of Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 5, 2026, to discuss several zoning and land use matters with significant procurement and regulatory implications. Key procurement-related discussions included updates on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and comprehensive plan update project, with staff negotiating a contract expected to be authorized by City Council on August 25. The Commission reviewed recent state legislation affecting local zoning, notably the elimination of off-street parking minimums mandated by House Bill 162, requiring amendments to the UDO to comply with state law. The Commission also considered a zoning map amendment to rezone a property at 23 Heritage Drive from residential multifamily high density to highway business to facilitate development consistent with the future land use plan. Additionally, a major zoning text amendment package was presented and recommended for approval, which included allowing duplexes in all residential districts, increasing the maximum size of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and eliminating minimum parking requirements citywide. The Commission passed motions recommending approval of these amendments with some modifications, such as removing parking location restrictions and the four-unit cap on townhomes in certain districts, and adjusting ADU size limits to be the lesser of 1,200 square feet or less than the primary structure size. The meeting also addressed concerns about anti-displacement measures and the need for further study on lot size and width regulations to support equitable housing development. The Commission’s recommendations will proceed to City Council for final consideration.