Asheville Council Delays West Asheville Police Resource Center Lease

Asheville City Council pulled a proposed 10 year lease for a new West Asheville police resource center from its consent agenda at the Dec. 9 meeting, postponing a decision that would relocate the unit from its current Haywood Road location to a larger storefront at the Tanger Outlets on Brevard Road. City staff said the proposed facility would more than double the existing 1,800 square foot West Asheville resource center, a change that prompted councilors to request additional details before approving the move.

Council members did not vote on the lease and asked staff to return with more information about the proposal. The delay leaves the current Haywood Road site in place for the near term and puts the proposed expansion on hold while elected officials evaluate lease terms, program costs, community access, and operational implications of moving into a retail development environment.

At the same meeting councilors approved two contracts related to recovery from storm Helene. The first contract covers removal of storm debris in the Bee Tree Reservoir area, work city staff tied to protection of Asheville's water supply. The second is a $4 million contract with CDR Maguire to provide FEMA required monitoring of debris removal operations. City staff said both contracts are expected to be reimbursed by FEMA and state funds and would not carry a direct cost to the city budget.

The contracts follow a larger phase of debris removal that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed earlier in the recovery. Local nonprofits and some representatives have raised concerns about environmental impacts from debris removal operations, including effects on water quality, habitat, and erosion in watershed areas. The monitoring contract is intended to provide oversight required for federal reimbursement, but questions remain about environmental safeguards and how results will be communicated to the public.

For Buncombe County residents the council actions affect public safety access in West Asheville and progress on storm recovery work that touches drinking water protection and environmental restoration. The council's request for more information on the police resource center reflects broader community interest in transparency around municipal leasing decisions, service locations, and long term costs. The approved debris contracts move recovery work forward while keeping reimbursement expectations central to city financial planning.