At its Nov. 12 meeting, the last one with the current Asheville City Council, handguns on playgrounds and a changing design for a new A-B Tech facility are chief on the agenda.
A law that went into effect on Oct. 1 eliminates playgrounds from the official definition of “recreational facilities,” nullifying existing rules and regulations, including weapon bans. The council will vote on an amendment to this definition to maintain the current prohibition.
The original A-B Tech design envisioned a much larger project, and the amendment to the building permit will shrink it and move it farther east on the property. The new design is partly in response to concerns expressed by residents of the nearby residential neighborhoods.
The five-story building would house classrooms, offices and laboratories. City staff endorse its approval, citing several “pros” including its green building techniques—and only one “con:” the building is significantly larger than the existing buildings and neighbors my see that as a problem. However, staff still found the proposal “reasonable.”
The Asheville City Council will meet 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall.
