ASHEVILLE – Housing affordability, lack of tree preservation and a “dangerous” traffic plan were cause for concern regarding the presentation of a proposed 279-unit Arden development at the Oct. 4 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
The 279-unit apartment complex is proposed for Butler Road in Arden — just off the shore of Lake Julian.
In a split 3-3 vote, the Planning and Zoning Commission did not recommend City Council conditionally rezone the project.
Despite not receiving a positive recommendation from the commission, the proposal will move forward in the conditional zoning process. The developers have requested a Nov. 14 meeting time to go before the City Council.
The applicant, Georgia-based Flournoy Development Group — which has also worked on other Asheville developments like “The District” on Fairview Road — proposed the development.
On the site now are several single-family homes and a small mobile home park, which would be demolished in order to construct the apartment complex. The units are vacant, Vice President of Flournoy Development Group Tom Burr said.
The project would be at the intersection of Plott Place and Long Shoals Road, planned for nearly 9 acres between a Bojangles and a State Employees Credit Union.
The development would include five separate residential buildings. Four would include 45 units each, alongside a central building including an additional 99 units, according to planning documents. The project would have a variety of one- to three-bedroom units, along with a pool, a fitness facility, a car wash and a dog spa.
The project is estimated to cost roughly $30 million to $50 million, according to planning documents, with a maximum of 382 surface parking spots. The complex would also include 10-foot sidewalks that connect to Long Shoals Road, where the development is adjacent to a city bus stop.
Traffic, affordability and trees
The commission mentioned the gate planned for the development — which would bar travel between the…
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