Though it has not yet been adopted, the City of Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) Form-Based Code project continues to move forward. Here is an update on where it stands.
The RAD Form-Based Code is currently in the final review and approval stage of the adoption process. As opposed to traditional zoning code, which keeps uses (like residential and commercial) separate from one another, form-based code focuses more on the look and placement of new buildings to help maintain the character of the area.
At their July 25 meeting, Asheville City Council voted to change the code to eliminate lodging facilities from the code area. Because of those changes, the code was sent back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for another review and vote on the code.
The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the RAD Form-Based Code at its regular 5 p.m. September 6 meeting in the First Floor Conference Room in City Hall. The agenda will be posted here a week before the meeting.
It is anticipated that the revised code will come back to City Council at its September 26 meeting. Council agendas are posted City of Asheville website on the Friday before the meeting.
Throughout the process, staff has made several small adjustments to the code. These include corrections, and added language to clarify the intent of the code. You can find the most recent draft of the code as well as more information on the public engagement process that helped shape this draft here.