Airport expansion, 299 apartments, 74-unit residential development all green-lighted

John Boyle, Asheville Citizen Times
·2 min read
Design renderings shared by Asheville Regional Airport in March show concepts for the new terminal.
Design renderings shared by Asheville Regional Airport in March show concepts for the new terminal.

ASHEVILLE - Three significant projects, including the expansion of Asheville Regional Airport and two new residential developments, have gotten the green light from Buncombe County.

The Board of Adjustment on May 11 approved a special use permit for the Asheville Regional Airport and its plans for a terminal expansion and modernization, which could cost in the $275 million range. Plans also call for expansion of the ticket lobby, a new air traffic control tower and renovation of the remaining portion of the existing terminal building.

The terminal dates to 1961, and the FAA control tower is one of the oldest in the country, airport Executive Director Lew Bleiweis has said previously. Some work could start this year.

The Board of Adjustment provides final approvals for development projects in Buncombe County, according to Planning Director Nathan Pennington

The board also approved special use permits for two residential projects in the Enka area: the 299-unit apartment development Hawthorne at Holbrook on Crowell Road, and Belle Meadow, a 74-unit development on Rathburn Place.

No one from the public spoke about Belle Meadow, but two neighbors spoke in opposition to Hawthorne at Holbrook, citing concerns about traffic, construction duration and other issues, according to Pennington.

Elevations included with site plans on file with Buncombe County show building plans for the 11-building, 299-unit Hawthorne at Holbrook development proposed for Holbrook Road in Enka.
Elevations included with site plans on file with Buncombe County show building plans for the 11-building, 299-unit Hawthorne at Holbrook development proposed for Holbrook Road in Enka.

The developer for the Hawthorne at Holbrook project is Greensboro-based Hawthorne Residential Partners. Plans on file with the county show 11 three- and three-to four-story split buildings on almost 32 acres of open grassland and woods between Interstate 40 and Holbrook Road.

The entire undeveloped parcel is listed at more than 62 acres, according to Buncombe County records, and assessed at $5.3 million. Hawthorne Residential Partners operates more than 42,000 apartments across more than 170 properties in eight states across the southeast, according to its website.

A satellite photo included in the project application shows the lot where Greensboro Developers Hawthorne at Holbrook have applied to build a new 299-unit apartment complex.
A satellite photo included in the project application shows the lot where Greensboro Developers Hawthorne at Holbrook have applied to build a new 299-unit apartment complex.

Site plans show construction should start this fall and wrap up about two years later. Plans show a main entrance on Holbrook Road, near a planned clubhouse and pool, with plans elsewhere on the site for a dog park, garages, car charging station, bike and kayak storage, and grill and gazebo area.

The Belle Meadow project, by Massachusetts-based QP Rathburn LLC, calls for 34 single-family homes and 40 townhomes on about 9.5 acres.

David Roover, senior vice president of Quartz Properties and applicant for the project, said previously construction could start after about 16 months of engineering and site prep work.

Plans on file with Buncombe County show developers QP Rathburn's plans for 74 new housing units in a mix of 34 single-family homes and 40 townhomes.
Plans on file with Buncombe County show developers QP Rathburn's plans for 74 new housing units in a mix of 34 single-family homes and 40 townhomes.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Airport expansion, 299 apartments, residential project green-lighted