ASPCA Heritage Drive Rezoning

At a glance

What: Rezoning of part of 23 Heritage Drive (owner ASPCA, applicant David Alvarado) from Residential Multi-Family High Density (RM-16) to Highway Business (HB), so the ASPCA can add parking on the RM-16 portion.
Where it stands: Approved unanimously August 25, 2026 (Ordinance 5354 as numbered in the minutes). The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval unanimously on August 5, 2026.
Next: None; development will need a landscape buffer under UDO Section 7-11-3 (a 20-foot Type A buffer next to multi-family zoning).

The parcel is split-zoned along a line dating to a 1952 plat; the entire parcel is designated Urban Corridor on the Future Land Use Map, so no map change was needed. Staff found no cons and recommended approval as consistent with the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan.
Planner Mitchell presented. The public hearing was advertised August 14 and 21, 2026, opened at 5:34 p.m. and closed at 5:34 p.m. with no speakers.
Councilwoman Turner moved approval with findings (adequate infrastructure; accessible, well-connected commercial nodes), seconded by Vice-Mayor Mosley, unanimous.

City Council minutes, August 25, 2026: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wVG0jftidT2WUasy7Edl4yMoYLkmQGlmwZ64Q1BUmZ8/edit
Note: the minutes label the ordinance 5354, out of sequence with neighboring numbers 5249 to 5257; likely a typo.

Public hearing with no speakers; rezoning approved unanimously.