Summary: The Asheville City Council was asked to revise the Unified Development Ordinance to change cottage and flag lot standards, both of which would facilitate more development. We share the concerns voiced by City staff that this could negatively impact vulnerable homeowners.

The Facts (updated March 17, 2025): The Asheville City Council voted 4-3 to approve these changes (Hess, Mannheimer, Turner, and Ullman in favor; Mosley, Roney, and Smith dissenting)

There were two proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) on the March 11th City Council agenda, one that concerns the construction of cottages and the other with creating “flag lots” that split property and allow for new development.

When this came up in February, City staff recommended a “no” vote on both, as both conflict with the City’s Missing Middle Study. City staff also recommended a “no” vote in September of 2024 as well. Regarding the cottage standards, they wrote that the proposed amendment was “unreasonable and not in the public interest.” They raised the concern that this proposal did not get enough community feedback.

Regarding the flag lot amendment, the staff memo in September said “it is not reasonable and in the public interest to (approve these changes) before options to mitigate the potential for negative impacts leading to the displacement of vulnerable landowners, neighbors and surrounding communities have been explored and considered for adoption.

Source: February 2025 staff memo on cottage standards; February 2025 staff memo on flag lot standards; September 2024 staff memo on cottage standards; September 2024 staff memo on flag lot standards

Our Assessment: When this issue came to City Council in September, a primary reason it was postponed was because of a lack of community engagement by the petitioners. Of particular concern was how these changes could lead to increased gentrification in legacy neighborhoods. Now, five months later, it’s unclear to us whether that lack of input has been adequately remedied. There is a footnote in the cottage standards proposal that says the Shiloh neighborhood has been specifically exempted from the proposed new standards, but there is no reference to any of the other legacy neighborhoods. Were they consulted? Are they onboard with these changes? Until these questions are answered, we remain concerned and don’t think these changes should be adopted.

The Ask: We invited you to join us in emailing the members of the Asheville City Council to encourage them to explore whether impacted legacy neighborhoods were onboard with these changes.

Report Back

Update 3/17/25: The Asheville City Council voted 4-3 to approve these changes (Hess, Mannheimer, Turner, and Ullman in favor; Mosley, Roney, and Smith dissenting)

Update 2/17/24: The Asheville City Council voted unanimously at their February 11 meeting to postpone this issue until March 11, 2025.

Recipients and Responses: 14

Asheville City Council

• Mayor Esther Manheimer: No response
• Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley: No response
• City Council Member Bo Hess: No response
• City Council Member Kim Roney: No response
• City Council Member Maggie Ullman: No response
• City Council Member Sage Turner: No response
• City Council Member Sheneika Smith: No response