City Council approves industrial zoning for Blue Ridge Commerce Center; Smith, Cox honored

HENDERSONVILLE - A 65-acre, four-building industrial development under construction near I-26 will continue with industrial zoning after being annexed by the city of Hendersonville last month.

City Council members unanimously approved I-1 industrial zoning for Blue Ridge Commerce Center off McMurray Road near Upward Road after a public hearing July 6. The property was zoned industrial by Henderson County before it was annexed by the city June 1, and construction on the first two of four planned buildings began under that zoning.

The city has 60 days to assign its own zoning following annexation, and staff members recommended the I-1 designation. The city’s Planning Board, however, split 3-3 June 8 on its zoning recommendation, with half of the board members present voting for Commercial Highway Mixed Use zoning.

CHMU zoning comes with different requirements for open space, land uses, landscaping and building design. City staff requested the I-1 zoning, however, saying it better matched the county’s industrial zoning as well as the city’s comprehensive plan.

Property development firm Oppidan will construct the four buildings with hopes of drawing industrial companies as tenants. The property fronts I-26, and its future land use designations in the application are listed as business center and regional activity center. The surrounding area includes residential, industrial and commercial uses.

The zoning was found to be consistent with the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Planner Tyler Morrow said in a presentation to council. He added that the commerce center has the potential to bring jobs and could prompt the extension of city utilities.

Brittany Brady, president of Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, spoke in favor of the project and I-1 zoning, saying her organization had identified the property as “a great site” for industrial use in 2021 after it was vetted by consultants. She added that such industrial development would create jobs and reduce the tax burden on residents.

Brady said Oppidan has moved to create more than 600,000 square feet under roof in its buildings.

“We’re going to be investing over $80 million dollars on this site,” Tim Brent, executive vice president of Oppidan’s southeast office, told the council. “And it is imperative to us that this site have the continuity of industrial zoning across all four buildings that we plan to build.”

Brent added that the company is close on “a couple of exciting tenants” for the first two buildings.

City resident Lynne Williams spoke during the public hearing, voicing concerns about a lack of community input, the inability for neighboring farms in the county to comment, a loss of open space and voluntary agricultural districts, potential stream damage and a loss of wildlife habitat and trees. She believes the CHMU zoning would help preserve the character and history of the property.

Property gets Highway Business zoning

After another public hearing, council members also unanimously approved the rezoning of 4.5 acres at 2511 Asheville Highway from C-3Highway Business and R-15 Medium Density Residential to C-3 Highway Business.

The hearing was continued from a council meeting in June, and the applicants have since removed a portion of property that fronted residences from their original request. The property is located in the city’s ETJ.

The zoning would allow for single-family, but not multi-family, developments, as well as offices and retail. The Planning Board also gave unanimous approval.

Smith, Cox recognized

Council members honored retiring Utilities Director Lee Smith with a proclamation that says he’s “leaving behind an impressive legacy of public service to Hendersonville and surrounding Henderson County.”

Smith is retiring July 31 after 18 years with the Water and Sewer Department.

The proclamation lists a number of successes that resulted from Smith’s leadership, noting that the number of businesses and homes connected to the water system increased from approximately 22,000 to over 31,000 and the water system grew from approximately 500 miles of pipe to over 680 miles of pipe.

“I do appreciate all the support that this council and management provided to this department,” Smith said. “We’ve come a long way.”

Smith also thanked his department’s employees, saying they’re “the people who make everything happen.”

Hendersonville Police Department Capt. Tracey Cox was awarded his service firearm and badge in recognition of his retirement after 30 years of service. A proclamation was read in support of the award for Cox’s “distinguished service” as he stood before council with Police Chief Blair Myhand.

“Thirty years have flown by,” Cox said. “The city is a great place to work… I will miss it.”

Both men received standing ovations from the council.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Blue Ridge Commerce Center industrial zoning approved; Smith, Cox honored