A new committee could help regulate Airbnbs in Buncombe. Who was chosen?

ASHEVILLE – As Buncombe County considers future regulations for short-term rentals, a group of 11 people plus two county commissioners have been selected to join an ad hoc committee tasked with developing recommendations to further guide the often controversial discussion.

After a series of heated public hearings earlier this year, the Planning Board finally tabled proposed changes in April. The rules would have grandfathered in existing STRs such as Airbnbs and other vacation rentals, allowing them to continue to be rented out but would be restricted to certain zones and require a permit to operate. Other possible rules would include restrictions on the size, waste disposal and type of buildings that can be used as STRs.

After an informal discussion at a July meeting, county commissioners called for the creation of a committee to review the Planning Board’s past work, evaluate short-term rental regulations, identify policy impacts and provide feedback to the committee. Commissioners unanimously conducted interviews and selected members on August 20.

The committee meets in September and October and makes recommendations to the Planning Committee in November, which in turn makes a formal recommendation to the Commissioners.

Tourism in Asheville and Buncombe counties continues to break records, with visitor spending reaching nearly $3 billion in 2023 and the county ranking as the state’s third-largest tourism economy after Mecklenburg and Wake, according to a study by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics firm.

Of the spending, $901 million, or 30 percent, went to lodging, the largest single item. This includes short-term rentals and the value of second homes. Hotel revenues in Asheville fell slightly, but demand for short-term rentals rose 4 percent.

Who was selected for the committee?

More than a hundred people applied for a position on the committee. The commissioners shortlisted candidates in early August and the final appointments were made on 20 August.

The sheer number of applicants is proof of the great interest that exists in this topic, said CEO Brownie Newman.

“It is not an easy issue, but one that is important for the future of our community,” he said.

The Commission’s representation includes real estate professionals, short-term rental property owners, affordable housing advocates, side business owners, the general public, and members of the Planning Board.

The community members selected for the committee are:

Matt Allen represents the real estate industry. He is the Director of Professional Development and Government Affairs for the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors.
ME Gray, Real Estate. Worked in real estate in Buncombe County for 23 years.
Matt Lutz, Real Estate. Agent and real estate broker at Greybeard Realty since 2018.
Jay Gerlach, Real Estate. Residential real estate agent at Dwell Realty Group.
Kit Molina-Nauert, property owner who actively rents STRs.
Angelica Cote, property owner who actively rents STRs and owner of a side business.
Chris Joyell, affordable housing advocate. Director of MountainTrue’s Healthy Communities program.
Andrea Golden, real estate and affordable housing advocate. Co-chair of the Emma Neighborhood Association, PODER Emma.
Candice Matelski-Brady, general public.

They are joined by Planning Board members Nancy Waldrop and Kenneth Kahn and Commissioners Brownie Newman and Parker Sloan.

More: New Buncombe County committee to review Airbnb regulations; shortlist made

More: Record tourism in Asheville in 2023; nearly $3 billion spent, 13.9 million visitors

Sarah Honosky is a city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News tips? Email [email protected] or message @slhonosky on X, formerly Twitter. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

Who was selected for the committee?

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