It is a new year and a new council has taken office. The public spoke loud and clear, and are looking to leadership that commits to smart growth in Asheville. Help further the message. Encourage Asheville city council to support small business by making it a priority at their annual planning retreat! ashevillenccouncil@ashevillenc.gov The Asheville Downtown commission recommends to : Encourage a healthy, local, inclusive and equitable economy that supports entrepreneurs and encourages locally owned businesses by creating economic development and community investment opportunities through partnerships, planning and incentives. Preserve downtown as an authentic and unique place as directed by the Downtown Master Plan. 1. Maintain uniqueness and vibrancy of downtown Asheville by adopting innovative forms of development ordinances, researching language changes and updates to the UDO that support and protect small independent businesses. 2. Seek opportunities to partner with developers and property owners who are willing to sell to commercial tenants, sign longer lease terms, place deed restrictions on properties or place them in land trusts, and offer considerations for those committed to supporting local entrepreneurs. 3. Expand Council’s UDO authority to review certain specific types of uses or sizes of retail proposals via the conditional use permit process, or limit the conditional zoning review process to the Historic or Traditional core within the CBD.