Ferry Road Memorandum of Understanding Moves Forward 

Commissioners authorized the County Manager to develop a Memorandum of Understanding with Urban Atlantic for the Ferry Road Community Development; the MOU will outline the intentions and define roles for the project. After a review of proposals, staff recommended Urban Atlantic as the development partner because the company had experience with large-scale projects and could deliver the project in a timely manner. Its proposal also demonstrated alignment with the guiding public interests, including creating a diverse, mixed-income, multi-generational community and maintaining a conservation area. 

Solicitating Master Development Partners

Buncombe County solicited Master Development Parnters from May 2024 to Aug 2024.

Building a community

The County is pursuing a plan that features at least 650 residences, with more than half of the apartments and single-family homes reserved for affordable housing.  The community will offer opportunities for households earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) such as teachers, childcare workers, and first responders, to rent or buy a home surrounded by abundant natural resources.

Conservation at the heart

A key feature is the conservation of 70+ acres along the French Broad River, guaranteeing protections of tributaries and an ecologically significant wetland. Additional benefits include potential access to childcare and/or health care facility on site and recreational opportunities with a community green, pocket parks, and nearly 4 miles of new trails and greenway connecting the community to larger Buncombe County trail network.

After gathering public input and feedback, the plan was created to meet the following goals, or guiding public interests:

Development of the Ferry Road site should:

• Create a diverse, mixed-income, multi-generational community;
• Be a model for sustainability & stewardship by conserving at least 55% of the site’s natural resources;
• Be a hub and connector for recreational opportunities and provide equitable access to residents;
• Provide equitable transportation access and prioritize pedestrian and bicyclists;
• Include commercial or service-oriented uses that are “harmonious” with residential uses; and
• Optimize public investment and attract private investment.

Contact us: For questions contact Timothy Love at [email protected] or 828-250-5243.