News

Planning board takes up request for 102 townhomes on Asheville Highway at I-26

Map shows site outlined in red where landowner Jeff Egolf and a Greenville, S.C.-based company want to build a 102-unit townhome development. The 12½-acre tract is at the corner of I-26 (top) and Asheville Highway (right). [HENDERSON COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT]

By Bill Moss, Published: May 20, 2026

The Henderson County Planning Board is scheduled to consider a request this week to rezone a 12½-acre tract of land off Asheville Highway near I-26 for a 102-unit townhome development.

North Cureton Place TH LLC  and Greenville, S.C.-based developer Brett Basnight have asked the county to change land currently zoned Regional Commercial to a conditional zoning district that would allow the residential project. The land is owned by Jeff Egolf, the retired car dealer and father of Henderson County Commissioner Jay Egolf.

The proposal calls for 20 residential structures ranging from three to six units each, with amenities including a pool, dog park, community grill and sidewalks. The development would be served by Hendersonville city water and Buncombe-based Metropolitan Sewerage District.

At eight units per acre, the project would be built at half the 16-unit-per-acre density allowed under the current commercial zoning, Bill Alexander, the applicants’ attorney, pointed out.

County planning staff found the application consistent with Henderson County’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which calls for diverse housing options, particularly workforce housing near employment centers.

The new proposal comes a year after the senior Egolf and a different developer, the Sand Companies, filed a rezoning request to allow a mix of 69 dwellings, including single-family homes and duplex units, on 8.6 acres at North Cureton Place.

Jay Egolf said in an interview Tuesday that he planned to recuse himself from the rezoning case when it comes before the Board of Commissioners. He defended the proposed development, however, as consistent with his votes in the past in favor of residential development near highways with the capacity to handle the increased traffic.

“I’ve always been a proponent of putting people on five-lane roads near places of access, where they can go further north, further south, they can go to Asheville, go to Greenville,” he said. “I just think it makes good sense to put people where they can move around and the infrastructure is already provided. I would be interested to know, if it wasn’t my dad’s property, if they’re not for this what would they be for?”

Neighbors raise concerns

Homeowners who turned out for a neighborhood compatibility meeting April 29 raised concerns about traffic, stormwater runoff and loss of trees and pressed the developer on whether the units would be owner-occupied or rented.

Several neighbors said the intersection of North Cureton Place and Asheville Highway is already dangerous, with drivers unable to safely turn left onto the five-lane thoroughfare during peak hours.

Basnight responded that the development company’s engineers had been in contact with NCDOT and were committed to comply with any improvements the agency requires. One proposed condition of approval would require all DOT-mandated road improvements to be completed before 50 percent of the homes are built.

Alexander, the applicant’s attorney, defended the proposed development during the neighborhood compatibility meeting. Allowing new homes where infrastructure is available is important, he said, as is allowing a property owner the ability to develop his property, adding that the residential units would be high quality. Buildings would be no higher than two stories.
The planning board takes up the request after the developer’s presentation and a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the county building, 100 N. King St. The board’s recommendation then goes to the Board of Commissioners, which will also set a public hearing before acting on the rezoning request.