Dear Council member,

I am writing to ask that you vote against any proposed zoning changes to the property North of Chestnut Street along Broadway.

The neighborhoods on either side of Broadway North of Chestnut street to WT Weaver Blvd are especially sensitive to commercial development along the old Buncombe Turnpike valley. Any form of commercial development as allowed by the new Neighborhood Corridor Designation would be severely detrimental to the quality of life for the hundreds of residents that would be affected. Noise and Air pollution are extremely difficult to contain when the Source is at the bottom of a valley surrounded by sensitive residential neighborhoods.

Furthermore, the land North of Chestnut Street along Broadway is not suitable for the type of high density community development that the new zoning designation is designed to encourage. For example, many of the lot sizes North of Chestnut Street are smaller than the building square footage permitted by the Neighborhood Corridor Designation. A developer would not be able to cost effectively populate this land with new buildings unless further encroachment into the Hillside or Cumberland area neighborhoods occurred.

Also of great concern is the establishment of the green-way which has been in the planning stages for some time. With your careful diligence, the Broadway Corridor could truly become the most attractive thoroughfare into downtown Asheville--not to mention a culturally and historically significant urban greenway. Preservation of such green-space will ultimately encourage far more and better economic development in our city than the squandering of such a great natural resource so close to our downtown.

Please take careful consideration in your decision, and then vote against any zoning change to the property North of Chestnut Street.

Sincerely,