City Council approved the Costco rezoning at Enka Heritage Parkway on Tuesday, plus 23 Habitat homes in Shiloh and a $6 million grant to prevent homelessness.

The Asheville City Council approved the rezoning for a Costco warehouse store and gas station at the old Enka plant site on Tuesday.

The city listed the decision as approved in its summary of actions at the Oct. 13 meeting. The summary does not give a vote count. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission had voted 6-0 for the project on Oct. 7.

What council approved

The approval amends earlier conditional zoning for 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway and 1455 Sand Hill Road. That zoning had allowed two large light industrial and distribution buildings. The staff report names Costco as the operator. The plan for the 39.6-acre site includes:

  • one single-story store of 168,258 square feet
  • a fuel station with 32 gas pumps
  • 914 parking spaces, with a cap of 950 in the draft conditions
  • a 10-foot multi-use path along Enka Heritage Parkway
  • the Enka clock tower kept and protected

“This project exemplifies responsible growth by seamlessly blending community connectivity with historic preservation,” Chris Collins, the city’s interim planning and urban design director, said in the city’s summary.

What happens next

The rezoning is not a building permit. The staff report says the developer must show road improvements that NCDOT requires on Smoky Park Highway and Jacob Holm Way at the final review stage. The city has not published an opening date, and Costco has not announced one.

Our preview of Tuesday’s hearing sets out the points staff flagged, including tree canopy, parking and a recorded brownfield notice on parts of the land.

The other decisions Tuesday

Council also approved:

  • 23 affordable homes on Tried Street. Asheville Habitat for Humanity plans five single-family homes and 18 townhomes off West Chapel Road in Shiloh. The conditional zoning sets a 17-foot height limit and dedicated open space.
  • A $6 million grant to prevent homelessness. The city accepted a three-year grant from Destination Home for its Right at Home pilot. It pays for rental help and case management for at least 1,000 households, through providers approved by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care. The council report says no city money is required.
  • $265,000 for downtown. The money comes from sales tax already collected in the downtown service district. It covers $175,000 to help businesses through coming street construction and $90,000 for new holiday wreaths. The city announced it in a separate release.
  • A change to the HOME-ARP plan. The amendment puts people experiencing homelessness first, especially those affected by Hurricane Helene, and sends the plan to HUD for final approval.

What it means for you

  • West Asheville and Enka shoppers are a step closer to a Costco and a 32-pump gas station off Smoky Park Highway, but construction cannot start until the site plan clears final review.
  • Drivers on Smoky Park Highway and Sand Hill Road should expect road work tied to the store once building starts. NCDOT sets those requirements.
  • Households at risk of losing their housing will get Right at Home help through providers approved by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care. The city has not yet said how to apply.
  • To watch the meeting, the recording is on the city’s YouTube channel. Council meets again Tuesday, Oct. 27. For how rezoning works, see our building permits and zoning guide.