Asheville City Council got glimpses of a variety of issues facing the city, including finances and state legislation. It also approved rules that make expansions and renovations of one-story buildings in downtown easier.
• The city's financial situation is, according to staff, roughly holding steady, but with some areas of concern. Property tax revenues are slightly down from the city's projections, with .6 percent growth to the property tax base this year, but sales tax revenues are doing slightly better than expected. Due to decreasing federal transit subsidies and Civic Center revenue, both those services could need additional funds from the city.
The city will hold budget worksessions March 12, March 19 and April 4 to discuss the situation further.
• However, state legislation could affect the city's situation. Proposals to eliminate cities' extra-territorial jurisdiction (an area just outside city limits where its zoning rules apply) as or forcing a transfer of Asheville's water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District, might impact the city's budget.
City Manager Gary Jackson informed Council that state legislators have proposed some sweeping changes to the tax code, and have made no promise to leave cities' revenue at current levels. "Everything is under review," he noted.
• Council unanimously approved rules easing the expansion and renovation of one-story buildings in downtown, especially allowing the addition of stories. The city's rules for downtown were written in an era when more new multi-story construction was expected. But, planner Alan Glines told Council, staff have seen more requests for renovations or modifications of existing structures, so these rules changes will aid in the redevelopment of downtown.
Council member Cecil Bothwell asserted that taller buildings are less energy efficient, so he had problems with the city's code encouraging them in downtown, but voted for the measure anyway.
• The city's financial situation is, according to staff, roughly holding steady, but with some areas of concern. Property tax revenues are slightly down from the city's projections, with .6 percent growth to the property tax base this year, but sales tax revenues are doing slightly better than expected. Due to decreasing federal transit subsidies and Civic Center revenue, both those services could need additional funds from the city.
The city will hold budget worksessions March 12, March 19 and April 4 to discuss the situation further.
• However, state legislation could affect the city's situation. Proposals to eliminate cities' extra-territorial jurisdiction (an area just outside city limits where its zoning rules apply) as or forcing a transfer of Asheville's water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District, might impact the city's budget.
City Manager Gary Jackson informed Council that state legislators have proposed some sweeping changes to the tax code, and have made no promise to leave cities' revenue at current levels. "Everything is under review," he noted.
• Council unanimously approved rules easing the expansion and renovation of one-story buildings in downtown, especially allowing the addition of stories. The city's rules for downtown were written in an era when more new multi-story construction was expected. But, planner Alan Glines told Council, staff have seen more requests for renovations or modifications of existing structures, so these rules changes will aid in the redevelopment of downtown.
Council member Cecil Bothwell asserted that taller buildings are less energy efficient, so he had problems with the city's code encouraging them in downtown, but voted for the measure anyway.
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Bothwell is truly clueless. Mr. "often wrong, but never it doubt" moves from issue to issue with no understanding of interrelationships. Downtown density and a desire for a more robust public transportation system just might have something to do with one another.
By indy499
02/27/2013
Indy499 says, "Downtown density and a desire for a more robust public transportation system just might have something to do with one another."
In November Councilman Bothwell stated, "The chief obstacles to creation of more efficient, more frequent, more user-friendly public transit are low population density and cheap gas — and really, those are two sides of the same coin."
I would suggest that Councilman Bothwell understands the relationship quite well. However, by "criticizing" something he actually voted for & supports his policy position on density, he made it into the news. (Doesn't even matter whether his comment is accurate or not.)
Not a particularly serious or mature approach, but clearly effective. Such blatant pandering is a good example of why our city council is not taken seriously in Raleigh. That was true even when Democrats where in control.
By mcates
02/27/2013