ASHEVILLE – Emotional stories of evictions from mobile homes and a lack of affordable housing were set against full-throated support for short-term vacation rentals during a spirited Jan 22 Buncombe County Planning Board hearing at the A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium. Discussion ran long in the packed hearing, prompting a safety warning from Fire Marshall Kevin Tipton.
Following the recent steep rise in cost of living and the rapid growth of short-term vacation rentals , the Buncombe County Planning Board has been looking at possible STR regulations. Hundreds of regulation critics and advocates turned out for the meeting, which carried on an hour past its schedule.
One of the proposed Airbnb regulations includes banning short-term rentals from Manufactured Home Parks — also known as mobile homes.
Members of PODER Emma were there to support the regulations. PODER is a neighborhood-based organization working to help neighbors in Asheville’s Emma Community develop worker-owned businesses, obtain housing and convene with the neighborhood council.