As of today, it appears City Council will vote this Tuesday, Oct. 28, on the proposal to allow a bridge entrance to the 'Meadows at Haw Creek' development at 767 New Haw Creek Road. If approved, this would be a significant departure from the development plan approved in July 2024, which had the subdivision entrance off lower Sleepy Hollow Drive—and required no bridge entrance. 

City Council meetings begin at 5 pm in city hall and this item ought to come up around 6 pm based on the City Council Agenda.

HCCA is opposed to the bridge, especially with our post-Helene awareness of the impact of flooding, as it is expected stormwater runoff will be vastly increased with a significant risk of downstream flooding. 

As proposed, the majority of the 400' bridge is designed to be a roadway with openings over the creek and wetlands. The remainder of the entrance road would be an earthen embankment that will obstruct the free flow of flood waters along the natural watershed of the property. This is why some have described this as a dam. 

Between the embankment design and increased impervious surfaces, as a result of the new subdivision infrastructure, it is expected stormwater runoff will be both vastly increased and, at the same time, worsened due to the bridge design.

HCCA has consistently called for adhering to the development plan approved last year after negotiations between Mayor Manheimer, the developer's team and HCCA leaders. That plan not only reduced the number of housing units from 95 to 84, it protected nearly 5 acres of mature hardwood canopy, much of it backing to Alpine Way homeowners within Happy Valley. The plan also calls for the developer to provide a sidewalk or greenway alongside New Haw Creek Road connecting Bell Road to Sleepy Hollow Drive. Additionally, the negotiated plan expanded buffering on the west side section to provide better natural screening for surrounding neighbors. 

We need your help getting the ‘No Bridge’ message to City Council. If you can, please join us on Tuesday evening. Even if you don't speak at the meeting, your presence will help send a message in opposition to the bridge proposal. You can also contact members of City Council to express your opinion via email—see their contact info below.

Contact info for Asheville City Council members:

Mayor Esther Manheimer

esthermanheimer@avlcouncil.com

Vice-Mayor Antanette Mosley

antanettemosley@avlcouncil.com

Council Member Kim Roney

kimroney@avlcouncil.com

Council Member Sheneika Smith

sheneikasmith@avlcouncil.com

Council Member Sage Turner

sageturner@avlcouncil.com

Council Member Maggie Ullman

maggieullman@avlcouncil.com

Council Member Bo Hess

bohess@avlcouncil.com