ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville leaders are taking steps to condemn property on Vance Gap Road so crews can repair damage from landslides that occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Asheville City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the City Attorney’s Office to institute a condemnation action to obtain a temporary construction easement for the repair project.

According to city documents, the property owner has not responded to phone or email requests for a temporary construction easement.

The condemnation will facilitate the completion of a needed slide repair project, ensuring the property owner will be able to access their driveway, the documents said.

On Tuesday, city council members also unanimously approved resolutions for possessing and consuming malt beverages and/or unfortified wine at several festivals and events planned for downtown.

The events:

  • Boomtown Arts & Heritage Festival (expanded footprint) on Sept. 6-7, 2024
  • Show Love Fest on Sept. 14, 2024
  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival on Sept. 21, 2024
  • Goombay Festival on Septe. 27-29, 2024
  • Asheville Oktoberfest on Oct. 5, 2024
  • Lovely Asheville Fall Festival on Oct. 12-13, 2024
  • Hola Asheville on Oct. 13, 2024
  • Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival on Oct. 26, 2024

Other actions taken by Asheville City Council:

  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the city manager to amend a contract with East Coast Truck Shop for Body Work and Paint Repairs to supplement Fleet Maintenance capacity.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend a contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for Standardization of Pierce Fire Apparatus.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing City Council to accept the U.S. Dept. of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds to purchase electric vehicles for the City’s fleet.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Surface 678 for the preparation of a park facility improvement plan for Recreation & Azalea Park.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Tax Settlement Report; and authorizing the Mayor to execute an Order of Collection for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
  • Adopted unanimously:  Initial resolution authorizing the City Manager or the Finance Director to pursue and negotiate on behalf of the City debt financing associated with the refunding of the $42 million 2022 Limited Obligation Bonds, and setting a public hearing for September 10, 2024, to receive public comment on the financing.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to renew an existing Insurance Broker of Record contract with Legacy Risk Solutions for Fiscal Year 2025 and authorize providing the insurance services through June 30, 2026.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution directing the display of a POW/MIA flag at the Municipal Golf Course annually on Memorial Day and during the month of November.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution for City Council to accept the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for wildland fire personal protective equipment.
  • Adopted unanimously: Budget amendment, in the amount of $74,970, from the 2023 Assistance to Firefighters grant.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing contract with Marathon Heath LLC to provide ongoing employee health services clinic management, and healthcare services for employees and their dependents.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing contract with Responder Support Services to provide ongoing embedded behavioral health support to Fire and Police Department employees and their dependents.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing contract with McLaughlin Young Group to provide ongoing employee assistance program for employees and their dependents.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a full and fair exchange of real property located at 34 Hiawassee St. to Duke Energy Progress in exchange for property located at Rankin Avenue to the City of Asheville.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to renew the contract with Allbrite Cleaning Company LLC for hard floor and carpet cleaning services in City Hall, Public Works, Municipal building, Fire Station 13 and Fleet.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with DanGrady Company, LLC for the Southside Connectivity Improvements Project.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution of intent to permanently close approximately 140 feet of Sawyer Street, an open right-of-way, connecting to Coxe Avenue, between the parcels addressed as 50 and 52 Coxe Avenue, and to set a public hearing for September 24, 2024.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a funding and maintenance agreement with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation for the design and construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of Biltmore Avenue/John Walker Avenue/White Fawn Drive.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution supporting sole-source procurement for standardization of transit-related technology equipment and services from Urban Transportation Associates, Inc.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the current contract for paratransit services with Buncombe County for the existing Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit contract with Buncombe County for Mountain Mobility to provide the services, and to ratify an increase for Fiscal Year 2024 to pay for additional services.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to ratify Resolution No. 23-149 to authorize an increase in funding for Fiscal Year 2024 for the existing transit operations and maintenance contract with RATP Dev USA.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to donate computers and cell phones to the Land of Sky Regional Council.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to renew enter the contract with CDW-G for Amazon Web Services Cloud Computing Services.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution authorizing the City Manager to renew the contract with ACCELA, Inc. for the Development Services Department Permitting and Code Enforcement Software Platform.
  • Adopted unanimously: Monthly municipal property tax refunds or releases per N.C. Gen. Stat. sec. 105-381.
  • Adopted unanimously: Resolution to adopt Recreate Asheville: Shaping Our City Parks – Asheville Parks and Recreation 10-Year Plan.

Public hearings

  • Adopted unanimously: Public hearing to permanently close a paper right-of-way located on 34 Hiawassee Street.
  • Adopted unanimously: Public hearing to consider a conditional zoning amendment for property located at 252 Patton Avenue for the purpose of amending the phasing of the project to allow for a temporary, open air substation, and the extent of the conditional zoning.
  • Adopted unanimously: Public hearing to consider rezoning 99999 Long Shoals Road from RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to Highway Business District.
  • Adopted unanimously: Public hearing to consider an amendment to a conditional zoning of 179 and 144 Riverside Motion to Continue Drive for the purposes of making changes to the project conditions and site plans to allow to 9-10-24 Adopted for construction of 240 residential units and remove commercial uses from the project.

Council members also granted the Community Reparations Commission’s request for a six-month extension.