ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A public hearing on a proposed eight-story hotel near Biltmore Village has been postponed until December while developers work to address concerns raised by Asheville planning staff.
The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday, Nov. 4, to postpone consideration of the proposed 210-room Drury hotel at Hendersonville Road and Thompson Street until Dec. 2.
The delay came at the developer’s request after city staff recommended denying the project’s rezoning application unless changes were made to the plans.
Jesse Swords, a land-use attorney representing Drury, told commissioners that the development team had already made substantial revisions in response to the staff report and wanted more time to work through the remaining issues.
“We have made some substantive changes just this week in response to the staff report we received last week,” Swords said.
He said the additional time would allow the developer to continue working with city staff and give planners an opportunity to review the revisions.
The goal, he said, is to return in December with the city’s support.
What concerns does the city have?
The proposed hotel would be built on a 3.87-acre property along Hendersonville Road and Thompson Street, where two commercial buildings currently stand.
The buildings were severely damaged by flooding during Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024 and are now vacant.
The project, previously estimated to cost $40 million, would replace the existing buildings with an eight-story hotel featuring 210 guest rooms, surface parking and new sidewalks.
Plans also show space for a future commercial building of approximately 10,000 square feet, although that building is not part of the current request.
City planners said a hotel is an appropriate use for the area, but they raised concerns about how the proposed development would fit into its surroundings.
Among the issues identified in the staff report were the building’s appearance, limited pedestrian connections, the amount of space devoted to parking and a lack of usable open space.
Planners also questioned whether the building’s exterior design adequately reflects the character of Biltmore Village and the nearby River District.
Those concerns follow an earlier review by Asheville’s Design Review Committee, which unanimously recommended approval of the project in October, provided the developer addressed several design issues.
Committee members wanted better sidewalk connections between Hendersonville Road and Thompson Street, changes to the building’s street-facing walls, more inviting outdoor spaces and additional landscaping.
They also encouraged the developer to explore stormwater improvements beyond minimum requirements.
The committee’s recommendation was advisory and did not constitute final approval of the project.
Planning staff subsequently recommended denying the rezoning request unless changes were made.
Swords told commissioners that the developer had already made revisions, but it remains unclear whether those changes will satisfy city planners.
What about flooding and traffic?
Flood protection and traffic have also been part of the discussion surrounding the proposed hotel.
The property sits near the Swannanoa River in an area that experienced significant flooding during Tropical Storm Helene.
Earlier plans called for elevating the hotel 3 feet above the base flood elevation, while the developer also proposed stormwater improvements to manage runoff.
Traffic has been another consideration.
A draft traffic study previously found the hotel would have limited overall effects on surrounding roads, although it recommended restricting left turns from the main driveway onto Hendersonville Road.
The study’s findings were part of the project’s earlier review and do not represent final approval of its traffic plans.
The Design Review Committee’s October discussion also included questions about pedestrian access and whether the development would provide adequate connections to surrounding streets.
Those issues remain part of the broader review as the developer works to address the city’s concerns.
Why does the project need rezoning?
The property is currently zoned River District and falls within Asheville’s hotel overlay district.
The developer is seeking to change the zoning to Commercial Expansion-Conditional Zone to accommodate the hotel.
Under the city’s regulations, hotels with more than 115 rooms cannot use a streamlined approval process available to qualifying smaller hotels.
Because the Drury proposal exceeds that limit and includes other elements that do not meet existing development standards, it requires conditional zoning approval.
That process allows the city to review the proposed development and consider specific conditions before deciding whether to approve it.
The rezoning request ultimately would require City Council approval.
What’s next?
The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to take up the proposal again Dec. 2.
The postponement gives the developer additional time to address the city’s concerns and allows staff to review the revised plans.
Commissioners did not consider the merits of the rezoning request during Wednesday’s meeting, and no decision was made on whether the hotel should be approved.
For now, the project remains under review.