Asheville leaders are looking at two decisions that could shape the city’s future growth: whether to pursue new federal Opportunity Zone designations and how to move forward with a major rewrite of Asheville’s development rules.

City staff told council members that Asheville is preparing for a years-long update of the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan and a full rewrite of the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, the rules that guide zoning, development standards, housing, stormwater, and land use. The comprehensive plan update is expected to be completed by fall 2027, while the UDO rewrite is targeted for completion by the end of 2028.

For residents, this is one of those civic stories that can sound technical but affect daily life over time. These rules influence what can be built, where housing can go, how growth is managed, how stormwater is handled, and how the city responds to climate resilience, hazard mitigation, affordability, and displacement concerns.

At the same time, Asheville is facing a near-term decision about the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program. The program offers tax incentives meant to encourage private investment in qualifying low-income census tracts. Buncombe County is eligible to submit up to four census tract nominations to the state, and city staff recommended one downtown Asheville tract while presenting other areas for discussion.

Council members discussed the potential benefits of investment alongside concerns about displacement, redevelopment pressure, and whether the city has had enough time to evaluate the effects of the previous Opportunity Zone program. Staff said the downtown tract was the strongest candidate because it aligns with existing city plans for housing, mixed-use development, economic activity, infrastructure, and transit.

No formal vote was taken during the agenda briefing, but council members appeared most supportive of the downtown tract while expressing concerns about expanding designations into additional neighborhoods without more information.

Local takeaway: Asheville’s zoning rewrite and Opportunity Zone discussion are early but important signals about how the city may approach growth, housing, investment, and neighborhood protection over the next several years.