The city of Asheville is soliciting applications to serve on a pair of its most powerful volunteer agencies.
Three seats are open on the Planning and Zoning Commission, an advisory board that has the ability to help shape a wide range of zoning and development decisions and policies. The incumbents up for reappointment are Jeremy Goldstein, Kristy Carter and Jane Mathews. Asheville City Council could opt to replace any or all of them with new people.
Council decided to push the application deadline from Aug. 26 to Sept. 30 in order “to ensure that the applicant pool represents a broad cross section of the community,” says City Clerk Maggie Burleson.
In the past, the appointment process has sometimes been controversial, such as in 2010 when member Holly Shriner, the wife of a Merrimon Avenue developer, was given a seat despite having no planning background.
The city is also seeking applicants to serve on the Housing Authority, which oversees 1,500 units of public housing and 12 developments throughout Asheville. The agency is in the midst of a major overhaul.
Those interested in applying for positions on either board should email Burleson requesting an application at mburleson@ashevillenc.gov or call her office at 259-5601.
