767 New Haw Creek Road
Property Development History
Previous Development History
The property became the focus of significant community interest in 2023 when plans emerged for a large residential development known as The Meadows at Haw Creek. The property's original zoning would have allowed a maximum of 49 residential units. The first developer's conditional zoning request sought approval to increase that yield to 95 units, consisting of single-family homes and townhomes.
The original proposal generated substantial concern among community members regarding:
- Development density and scale
- Tree canopy and habitat loss
- Stormwater management and drainage
- Traffic impacts
- Neighborhood character
- Environmental preservation
In response, HCCA and community members spent approximately nine months reviewing the proposal and advocating for modifications.
In March 2024, the Asheville Planning & Zoning Commission approved the proposal and forwarded it to Asheville City Council for consideration. On July 23, 2024, Asheville City Council voted 5-1 to approve the project through conditional zoning. The final approved plan reduced the project from 95 units to 84 units (49 single-family homes and 35 townhomes), while adding tree preservation, buffering, pedestrian improvements, and other conditions such as the primary vehicular access point being moved to Sleepy Hollow Drive.
Following City Council's decision, HCCA shifted its focus from advocacy and negotiation to monitoring implementation of the approved conditional zoning conditions. The association planned to follow the City's Technical Review Committee process and other pre-construction reviews to help ensure that commitments made during the approval process were carried forward.
Bridge Amendment Proposal and City Council Decision
In 2025, the development returned to the public review process when the initial developer sought to amend the previously approved plan and change vehicular access to the property.
The proposed amendment would have replaced the approved entrance from Sleepy Hollow Drive with a new entrance off New Haw Creek Road requiring construction of a bridge across portions of the property's wetlands and floodplain. The change generated renewed community discussion and concern regarding environmental impacts, flooding, stormwater management, neighborhood character, and long-term effects on the Haw Creek watershed.
HCCA reviewed the amendment and encouraged community participation throughout the public review process. Many residents expressed concerns that the proposed bridge represented a significant departure from the development framework that had been reviewed and approved in 2024.
Following Planning & Zoning Commission review and extensive public input, Asheville City Council voted to deny the bridge amendment in November 2025. Council members cited concerns related to floodplain impacts, environmental effects, neighboring properties, and infrastructure considerations in determining that the proposed amendment was not in the public interest.
As a result, the proposed bridge entrance was not approved, and the previously approved development plan remained unchanged. The decision represented another significant milestone in the property's history and underscored the important role of community involvement throughout the review process.
Transition to New Ownership
Despite the 2024 approval and subsequent review of the bridge amendment, the anticipated development did not proceed to construction. The property was later placed under contract with a new prospective buyer.
The potential change in ownership introduces a new path forward for the site and shifts attention from the previously proposed development toward the future vision of the new owner.