News

Neighbors object to 460-unit project off Tracy Grove Road

Residents of Wilmont Drive turned out on Tuesday to oppose a rezoning request to allow 460 homes next door.

By Bill Moss, Published: November 2, 2021

Neighbors of a proposed development of 460 residential units off Tracy Grove Road raised concerns about traffic, density, wildlife and aquatic life as they objected to a rezoning request.

During a neighborhood compatibility meeting on Tuesday, the first step in the process to take public comment, review and act on a zoning request, 23 people showed up in person, others joined via Zoom and around a dozen people expressed opposition. Development plans call for the combination of 300 rental apartments, 90 patio homes and 70 single-family homes to be accessed from Wilmont Road. The 161-acre parcel overlooks a mountain bog between Jackson Park and Four Seasons Boulevard.
John Kinnaird, an engineer, and landscape architect Rob Dull, of the Siteworks in Asheville, described the layout and said the development would preserve the wetlands. The developer has hired traffic engineers to complete a traffic impact analysis. The developers said the apartment rent would be “market rate,” not affordable housing as generally understood. The single-family homes would start at a two-bedroom floor plan and go up to four. Prices would be $375,000 and up depending on square footage. The property is owned by the heirs of Margaret S. and Royce P. “Bo” Thomas. Valued for tax purposes at $877,900, the land is vacant except for one dwelling.
Residents of Wilmont Drive, Dogwood Lane, Tracy Grove Road, Dana Road and Orrs Camp Road rose to object to the rezoning.
“You’re going to trample all over our homes,” said Rebecca Anglin. “It’s a joke. It’s a shame that you all want to do this.”
Mary West, of Tracy Grove Road, said she lives on land her family has owned property for 73 years.
“It’s going to change the landscape,” she said. “Twice this summer the traffic going on to Dana Road has been backed up to my driveway and beyond. Our way of life is going to change.”
Marilyn Gordon, a former county commissioner and county Planning Board member who owns property near the site, said the planned development would provide a lot of what’s needed in housing and the economy.
“I have a lot of empathy for people that live in the neighborhood,” she said. “I don’t live in the neighborhood. I understand how difficult it is to face change. I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve seen lots of change.”
“Our town is growing and we can’t stop it,” she said. “Right now we have a critical, critical need for housing. And I see so many projects come in to the city and the first reaction is against the density but we have to have density if we’re going to keep the cost down. We need rental housing of all prices, we need housing of all prices.”

If it stays on track, the rezoning request would go Hendersonville Planning Board on Jan. 10 and to the City Council on Feb. 3.