Politics

Airport legislation cuts Asheville's power

By Bill Moss, Published: June 10, 2012

Area lawmakers are advancing legislation that kills the zoning authority of the city of Asheville at the regional airport and the WNC Agriculture Center and blocks the airport authority's from taking property for public-private development.

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Reps. Tim Moffitt of Asheville and Chuck McGrady of Hendersonville, also strengthens Henderson County's representation on the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, forces the city of Asheville to give three city-owned parcels at the WNC Ag Center to the state and bars Asheville from acquiring any property in Ferncliffe Industrial Park in Mills River.
The legislation addresses longtime concerns of Henderson County leaders about the power of the city of Asheville to run the airport or to govern land use at the airport and the WNC Ag Center across Highway 280.
Stripping authority from Democratic-dominated Asheville has been a steady mission for Moffitt, who undercut the power of Buncombe County's Democratic voters by pushing through legislation last year that ordered district rather than countywide voting for seats on the Board of Commissioners.
Pushed by newly empowered Republicans from Hendersonville, the legislation creates a firewall to prevent the airport authority from encroaching on or obtaining property in the Mills River industrial park that will be home to the $107 million Sierra Nevada brewery.
Specifically, the legislation:
• Requires Henderson and Buncombe counties and the city of Asheville to transfer property at the airport to the regional Airport Authority within 90 days of the law's enactment.
• Changes the makeup of the board, cutting Asheville's power and increasing Henderson County's. The seven members will be two from the city of Asheville appointed by the Asheville City Council, two from Buncombe County appointed by the Buncombe County commissioners, two from Henderson County appointed by the Henderson County commissioners, and one appointed by a majority of those six. Elected officials aren't eligible.
• Bars the Airport Authority from using the power of eminent domain to acquire property for a hotel, motel, restaurant or industrial park or from acquiring any property in Ferncliff Industrial Park unless required for aviation purposes by a federal agency.