Huge News on the Tiny House Front in Asheville

In February, the Asheville City Council agreed to move forward with proposals that create more favorable conditions for tiny homes in the city limits. These concepts are still in proposal stages, but the council and community will be considering them as options over the next year.

 From the Asheville Citizen Times:

There could be more suggestions coming, Satvika said, but this year it was likely there would be time to get only four through the approval process that will start with a review from the Planning and Zoning Commission and eventually come back to the council for approval.

The seven ideas are:

• Cottage Developments: Rules allow clusters of five to 12 homes often around a common space. The homes don't have to follow density limits in three zoning districts. Six such developments have been permitted since 2007. Look at changes such as reducing a 1,000-foot separation space between cottage developments.
• Multifamily Review: Look at allowing more duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes or mid-sized apartments in areas permitted for multifamily construction. 
• Lot Standards: Steep slopes and flood areas reduce buildable land in Asheville. Rules now prescribe one-size-fits-all lot standards. Consider more flexibility.
• Tiny House Zoning: A tiny home must now have at least a 5,000-square-foot lot, just like a larger home. Consider allowing smaller lots. 
• Higher Density Residential Buffer Zone: The highest residential density district allows 12 to 17 units per acre. Look at allowing more density in a residential overlay zone.
• Conservation Development: Steep slopes and river buffers reduce buildable land in Asheville. Consider allowing developers to put homes closer together if they preserve trees, sensitive land and open space.
• Sustainable Development: Ordinance No. 3980 provides density bonuses for projects with sustainable development practices, but the bonuses have not been used. Determine why and make revisions.

 Read the entire article here. 

A Tiny House Party and Fundraiser for Gordon Smith

Wishbone Tiny Homes and Asheville Small Home Advocacy Committee Present:

 

A Tiny House Party and Fundraiser for Gordon Smith Candidate for Buncombe County Commissioner Sunday, January 10th, 1pm - 3pm, at the Wishbone Tiny Homes Shop 355 Haywood Road, Asheville NC, 28806 (Street Parking or the lot across the street at Builder’s First Source)

Libations and Light Snacks Provided Support the Gordon Smith Campaign and Tour a Tiny Home Exclusive tiny home event before the official campaign kick off!

"Tiny homes represent an innovative, popular approach to sustainable living. Smaller physical and carbon footprints, opportunities for community living, and a more affordable housing style ought to be embraced by our local government. Tiny homes have an important place in Buncombe County's future. Sustainability's triple bottom line is beautifully reflected in each tiny home, and I look forward to integrating tiny homes into the fabric of Buncombe County." – Gordon Smith

Can't make it?

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Sponsored by:

Planning an Asheville Tiny Home Building FAQ

In early October, members of Asheville SHAC met with the city planning department to discuss options for building tiny homes in our city. We left that meeting feeling very optimistic about the ways in which the city welcomes small spaces.

During our conversation we decided that we would begin work on a document that would help potential home builders, including DIY builders, successful start their tiny home adventures. We have a few ideas for the document now and will be working on it extensively after the first of the year. One of the aspects we would like to include is an FAQ section to help answer some of the questions that most people have when it comes to building tiny homes within the city limits.

So, where better to look for the questions than from individuals who would be considering a tiny home build in the future? We would love to hear from all of you.

What questions do you have regarding tiny homes, on wheels or a foundation, and the city of Asheville? 

We will then take these questions and obtain the answers from the right sources and include them in our document. Once complete, the document will be available for anyone interested in building a small or tiny home within the city limits.

Share your questions here on the blog in the comments section or visit our Facebook page to join the conversation.

You Can Help! Looking for Builders or Developers in Asheville.

Are you a Developer or Builder?

Asheville SHAC is looking to partner with individuals or developers within the Asheville city limits who want to build tiny or small homes. 

We spoke with the city and have been asked to find a project to bring to the table. We are actively seeking individuals or developers within the city limits of Asheville who are ready to start a tiny house building project. We can work with you as you approach the code and zoning offices and provide support while we document the process for future use.

We know a lot of people are interested in how they can get involved. Our first step is to find a tiny home project to build a proof of concept. This is a test project to allow us to take all the necessary steps for getting a small home or development of small homes past code enforcement and zoning. To that end, we are looking for an individual or a developer willing to work with us on a project. 

Individual: This would be someone who is interested in building a home that would not normally meet the minimum size requirements under current codes. This would need to be on land within the city limits of Asheville. The individual interested would need to be able to finance or pay for the project in its entirety and already have those means in place. This will be a tiny or small home on a foundation.

Developer: This would be a person or business interested in creating a cottage development with multiple tiny or small homes on the same plot of land. This could be homes on a foundation or, perhaps, a rehabilitated mobile home park for tiny houses on wheels. This project would need to already have financial backing and be within the city limits of Asheville. We could work with you to determine the total cost and potential for selling or renting these tiny homes to citizens within our community once the project is complete.

If you are or know anyone who would be interested in working with us and taking on a test case for tiny/small homes within the city, please pass this on and send us a private message here on Facebook. We will do our best to respond to all inquiries but we are looking for a serious partner in this process.
We will keep you updated on the website and any other advances we have while trying to make tiny homes legal in our city.

 

November, 2015 Update: 

We have met with the city again and there is some good news on the tiny home front in Asheville. We are working with them to put together a resource guide that will help individual home owners and community developers build small and tiny homes within the city limits. We will provide more details when we have them! 

Asheville City Council Candidate Ken Michalove

City council elections will be happening in Asheville this fall. Right now there are 15 candidates in the field. On October 6th there will be a primary to narrow the field to 6 candidates vying for 3 seats. The general election will take place on November 3rd to elect these new city council representatives. 

Asheville SHAC posed the following question to all 15 candidates: 

"What's your position on increasing density / affordable housing in Asheville via micro housing?" 

In the time leading up to the election we will share the candidates' answers in the order in which they respond. If you're a resident of the city of Asheville we encourage you to vote in October and November.

*SHAC as an organization does not endorse any specific candidate, though our individual members may. The candidates' answers will be provided for informational purposes only.


Here is the answer from city council candidate Ken Michalove. 

I am aware of the affordable housing needs in Asheville and I am aware of the number of organizations working on this issue, including the City through the annual budget and boards, committees and commissions the City appoints. As a City Council member I will be looking to the boards, committees and commissions the City sponsors and/or appoints for recommendations to solve the affordable housing issues. This is a governmental/social service and private enterprise issue to help resolve. Further, I prefer open public hearings on matters of ordinance and/or rules changes...that way the Council hears all issues, can question proponents and opponents and request additional info before making a final decision.

 You can contact Michalove through Facebook or via email at kenmichalove@gmail.com. 

Asheville City Council Candidate Joe Grady

City council elections will be happening in Asheville this fall. Right now there are 15 candidates in the field. On October 6th there will be a primary to narrow the field to 6 candidates vying for 3 seats. The general election will take place on November 3rd to elect these new city council representatives. 

Asheville SHAC posed the following question to all 15 candidates: 

"What's your position on increasing density / affordable housing in Asheville via micro housing?" 

In the time leading up to the election we will share the candidates' answers in the order in which they respond. If you're a resident of the city of Asheville we encourage you to vote in October and November.

*SHAC as an organization does not endorse any specific candidate, though our individual members may. The candidates' answers will be provided for informational purposes only.

Here is the answer from city council candidate Joe Grady.  

As a person who has been involved in the housing industry for over 20 years, both as a Realtor and working for a construction company and developer, I know housing fairly well.  I know how difficult it is to change people's perceptions and minds.  I represented the development of the first senior housing condominium project against much opposition by single family homeowners, only to find that after several years after completion it is in high demand for people to live.  Even those that opposed it at the time are now living in the complex.  Time and effective education will indeed change people’s attitudes and perception.  The fears people have about change – are often totally unwarranted.  I am the founding chairman of St. Hope, a nonprofit housing organization, for those unfortunate to find themselves homeless.  As a former city councilman in another state, I was the city's representative to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  I have heard every negative argument possible.  People fear the unknown – that is why education is so important.

As times change, municipalities too must change.  Today we face new designs, new concepts, new demands, and new developments – along with new challenges.  I am in favor of investigating and discussing all viable options to decrease our housing crisis here in Asheville, including changing density requirements that are outdated and do not meet today's expectations. I have recently completed my Master's degree in Public Administration and my thesis was "Affordable Housing in Asheville." Not only have I have spent most of my life in the housing business, I have more experience in the housing industry, than any other council candidate.  I have several friends across the country, who are advocates of tiny homes, and we speak about the benefits and challenges that niche has in today's world.  I have also sat down on many occasions and spoke to people here in WNC who are developing and pushing micro living.  Not only am I an advocate of reduced square footage but also an advocate of energy star savings in current and future homes.  We need to remove barriers currently in our city ordinances that limit creativity and change but at the same time managing change and preserving everyone's investment.

As in any change or new adventure, there will be issues like zoning, code enforcement, legality, and the biggest issue – education.  I am a strong advocate of manufactured housing but there is a stigma tied to it and it's entirely wrong.  To add to that problem, terminology fluctuates from state to state, region to region, causing one person to be in favor of a concept in one state but opposed to it in another state strictly thru definition and terminology.

What Asheville needs to do is explore all options on the table and as councilman that is what I will do.  Decisions made must be for the benefit of the city, its current residents, and not jeopardize or hurt their investment.  At the same time, residents of the city must understand that what worked in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's, just doesn’t work today.  We must be visionary, open to change, manage that change, and move forward for the benefit of all the residents of Asheville.

You can find out more about Grady's campaign at his website. 

Asheville City Council Candidate Julie Mayfield

City council elections will be happening in Asheville this fall. Right now there are 15 candidates in the field. On October 6th there will be a primary to narrow the field to 6 candidates vying for 3 seats. The general election will take place on November 3rd to elect these new city council representatives. 

Asheville SHAC posed the following question to all 15 candidates: 

"What's your position on increasing density / affordable housing in Asheville via micro housing?" 

In the time leading up to the election we will share the candidates' answers in the order in which they respond. If you're a resident of the city of Asheville we encourage you to vote in October and November.

*SHAC as an organization does not endorse any specific candidate, though our individual members may. The candidates' answers will be provided for informational purposes only.

Here is the answer from city council candidate Julie Mayfield.

There’s clearly a market demand for smaller housing units, both for-sale and for-rent, that hit price points more families can afford, and I am generally supportive of them. Some Tiny House designs are ideal for backyard studios or “mother-in-law” units in existing, close-in neighborhoods, and increasing housing choices in those neighborhoods is important to the goal of better connecting where people live with where they work, shop and play and to allowing individuals and families to reduce monthly outlays for transportation and other costs. I support the expansion of opportunities for ADUs just adopted by Council. That said, ADUs/tiny houses might not work in every neighborhood - maybe ones that are already so dense that the addition of tiny houses would be too overwhelming - so that just takes some thought and careful planning.

You can find out more about Mayfield's campaign at her website.