Black Mountain Town Council talks Montreat College rezoning

After a lengthy discussion, the Black Mountain Town Council continued the topic of rezoning the Montreat College Black Mountain campus. 

Montreat College's Black Mountain campus sits on just over 89 acres and has been zoned as an institutional campus district since 2002. The college is looking to expand its Black Mountain campus and is requesting to be rezoned to an institutional campus conditional zoning district. 

Planning Director Jessica Trotman said this property is "mostly undeveloped" and that this move has been "anticipated" for some time. 

The expansion of the campus would see new residential buildings, academic buildings including a cybersecurity facility, new athletic facilities, a dining facility and parking lots. 

According to Trotman, the college has created a master plan for the property, and any changes that would be made in the development of the land that are not currently in the master plan would need to come back before the Planning Board and Town Council. 

Trotman said the biggest difference in the zoning districts is the ability to construct buildings that are four stories with a maximum height of 75 feet. 

The Planning Board unanimously voted in August to recommend the approval of the request with the following conditions:

• Construction of the new entrance on Blue Ridge Road must be included in Phase 1 of the project.
• Entrances on Vance Avenue and Terry Estate Drive will be limited to official college and emergency vehicles.
• When new residence halls are constructed, bicycle and pedestrian facilities will be included and the facilities will not be required to follow the path of the new access road.
• Buildings will not exceed four stories or 75 feet, and any mechanical equipment on rooftops will be screened from public view.
• No construction traffic on Vance Avenue.
• A phasing map is to be included with the conditional zoning application.

Montreat College President Paul Maurer was at the meeting and presented Town Council with a summary of the plan. He said the master plan was started after a $30 million appropriation from the state. According to Maurer, an additional $8 million was appropriated by the state to build an entry road and utility infrastructure in Phase 1 of the project. 

Maurer said the estimated cost of the project is $60 million, and the college has $38 million in commitments currently. 

Prior to residents speaking during the public hearing, council member Pam King asked several questions of Trotman and the college. Her concerns centered around the protection of the historic Manor House that sits on the property, potential financial and police contributions needed from the town as well as potential traffic caused by the expansion of the campus.

"One of my big concerns tonight is the impact on that neighborhood," King said. 

King along with council members Doug Hay and Alice Berry said they were concerned about increased shuttles going from the Black Mountain campus to the Montreat campus. 

Hay asked Trotman how this new zoning request benefits both the town and Montreat College. 

"Conditional zoning allows us to have a conversation that allows us to express our preferences on things the applicant is doing," Trotman said.

Trotman said the project could largely go ahead without this rezoning other than the height differences, but by rezoning, the college is opening up to improving the area "for the community's benefit." 

While several residents spoke in favor of the rezoning for the expansion of the college, others asked the council to consider how this expansion would affect the quality of the neighborhood.

The council moved to have staff revise language for the conditions related to the rezoning and bring the new language back at a future council meeting. Town Council also moved to to continue the vote on the map amendment for the rezoning. 

In other business, Town Council voted to fund renovations of eight dugouts at Veterans Park for $71,428.92. This will fund the full renovation of the dugouts without backstops. 

The council also voted to approve a one-year lease for the library with a $5,000 rent charge to be used to take care of maintenance of the building. 

A motion to sell a 1984 GMC Brigadier firetruck was also approved. Town Manger Josh Harrold said he is "very hopeful" the truck will sell for $50,000. 

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