Asheville Bans Gated Communities

asheville | land use and transportation | news report Monday June 18, 2007 11:03 by PatchyOtter

In a 5-2 vote Asheville City Council has banned any further development of gated communities, or communities which deny access to pedestrians.

Such regulations will be applicable not simply to areas within city limits, but also to those areas which the city council maintains zoning controls. Instigating such a regulation was the proposal made by Global Development Resources of Arden to develop an area in north Asheville where the Thoms estate currently resides. Being proposed for this property was an assortment of residences varying from condos to townhouses. CEO of the development cited financial viability as necessitating the gates which would be placed at every entrance to the development. Those from the surrounding local neighborhoods stated that such a development, on top of adding traffic congestion, destroys the sense of community which Asheville currently possesses.