ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

The Audit Committee is composed of three members of the Board of Commissioners and two Community representatives. It is advisory to the Board of Commissioners and is established as a public body under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Meetings are held on an as-needed basis, typically in the Town Services Office, and are open to the public.

This Committee has been tasked with the following goals and objectives:

• Reviewing the comprehensive framework of internal controls and recommending any changes;

• Overseeing the periodic Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select an auditor and recommending the award of contract and appointment of an auditor to conduct the Town’s annual audit;

• Ensuring that all required financial information made available to the auditor;

• Reviewing the draft audit with the independent auditor; and

• Presenting a recommendation to The Board of Commissioners on acceptance of the annual audit.

Meets only as needed in the Town Hall 1210 Montreat Road

Members:

Commissioner Hugh Alexander - Chair Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Philip Arnold Term - Expires 06/30/2025
PO Box 40
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Jane Alexander
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Tom Widmer
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Kitty Fouche
PO Box 717
Montreat, NC 28757

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment holds evidentiary hearings on and is the decision-making body for Zoning Ordinance interpretations, variances, Special Use Permits, and appeals from decisions made by the Zoning Administrator. Meetings are held in the Town of Montreat Town Hall as needed on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 5:00 p.m., unless a special meeting is called by the Chairman. All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318(11). Terms for the Board of Adjustment seats are three years and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

Members:

Martha Chastain, Regular Town Member, Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 902
Montreat, NC 28757

Arrington Cox, Regular Town Member, Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 987
Montreat, NC 28757

Danny Sharpe, Regular Town Member, Vice-Chairperson Expires 06/30/2026
PO Box 445
Montreat, NC 28757

Ed Kramer, Regular Town Member, Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 868
Montreat, NC 28757

David Neel, Alternate Town Member, Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 787
Montreat, NC 28757

Margaret "Mari" Gramling, Regular Town Member, Expires 01/31/25
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757

George Sawyer, Regular Town Member, Expires 01/31/2027
206 Village Stone Circle
Summerville, SC 29483

Several seats are vacant and available on this board. Regular Town Member seats are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and rule on applications presented before the board, unless a member has a conflict of interest as determined by N.C.G.S. 160D-109. Alternate Members are expected to attend meetings in place of Regular Town Members upon request of the Chairman or Zoning Administrator. Please see the available vacancies for the Board of Adjustment below:

Alternate Town Member*
Regular ETJ Member**

*Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Montreat and not the Town of Montreat's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. Applicants interested in Town seats may contact the Town of Montreat's Town Clerk by emailing Angie Murphy at [email protected] or calling 828.669.8002.

**Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Montreat's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction, and not the Town of Montreat. Applicants interested in ETJ memberships may contact the Clerk to the Buncombe Board of Commissioners by emailing Lamar Joyner at [email protected] or calling 828.250.4105.

Montreat Landcare Committee

Tree Board

The Mission of the Town of Montreat Tree Board is to represent and act on behalf of citizens in the promotion, protection and preservation of healthy native trees and shrubs on public lands in ways that enhance the quality of life in the community, in partnership with town officials and staff, educators and forest professionals through research, education, outreach and application of best practices for planting, pruning, preservation, removal, replacement and overall care and planning of a sustainable forest canopy and its associated biodiversity.

Meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Hall, 1210 Montreat Road.

Click Here for more information about the Tree Board.

Members:

Tyler Smith
Term Expires 01/31/25
PO Box 163
Montreat, NC 28757

Arrington Cox
Term Expires 01/31/25
PO Box 987
Montreat, NC 28757

Ed Kramer
Term Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 868
Montreat, NC 28757

Commissioner Mason Blake
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Brad Hestir
Term Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 100
Montreat, NC 28757

Open Space Conservation Committee

The Open Space Conservation Committee is a three-member committee advisory to the Board of Commissioners and is established as a public body under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Meetings are held semi-annually on the second Tuesday of each May and November at 3:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. All Open Space Conservation Committee meetings are open to the public.

Click Here for more information about the Open Space Conservation Committee.

Members:

Commissioner Seat Vacant

Mary Nell Todd - Chair
Term Expires 06/30/2025
PO Box 159
Montreat, NC 28757

Mari Gramling
Term Expires on 01/31/2025
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757

Bill Scheu
Term Expires on 06/30/2025
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

Planning and Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission is composed of five regular members representing Montreat, two Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction members representing Buncombe and McDowell Counties, and two alternate members. Unless otherwise advertised, all meeting are held quarterly on the third Thursday of each January, April, July and October in the Town Hall at 1210 Montreat Road.

This Commission has the following powers and duties:

• To acquire and maintain, in current form, such basic information and materials as are necessary to an understanding of past trends, present conditions, and forces at work to cause changes in those conditions;

• To prepare, and from time to time, amend and revise a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the Town;

• To establish principles and policies for guiding action in the development of the area;

• To prepare and recommend to the Town Board of Commissioners Ordinances promoting orderly development along the lines indicated in the comprehensive plan;

• To receive and review all applications for amendment to this Zoning Ordinance and to make recommendations thereon to the Town Board of Commissioners;

• To keep the Town Board of Commissioners and the general public informed and advised as to these matters;

• To serve as the Stormwater Advisory Committee and assist the Town Board of Commissioners in meeting the mission and achieving the identified goals and objectives of the Town’s Stormwater Management Program;

• To consider and review all proposed subdivision plats for land within the subdivision jurisdiction of this Ordinance;

• To give or not give final approval of each individual subdivision plat;

• To enter into contracts and agreements authorized in this Ordinance and to enter into such other contracts and agreements as the Board of Commissioners may approve.

All Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to G.S. 143-318(11).

To see the Rules of Procedure, CLICK HERE.

Members:

Julie Schell, Regular Town Member Expires 01/31/2027
PO Box 186
Montreat, NC 28757

Liz Johnson, Regular Town Member Expires
01/31/2025
PO Box 415
Montreat, NC 28757

Sally Stansill, Alternate Town Member Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 778
Montreat, NC 28757

William "Bill" Scheu, Regular Town Member, Chairperson Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 696
Montreat, NC 28757

John Hinkle, Regular Town Member, Vice-Chairperson Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 246
Montreat, NC 28757

Dan Dean, Regular Town Member Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 222
Montreat, NC 28 Regular Town Member Expires 01/31/2025

Allen Crawford, Buncombe County ETJ Rep Expires 05/31/225
207 Mountain Street
Black Mountain, NC 28711

WIlliam "Bill" Tucker - Regular Town Member
Expires 01/31/2025
PO Box 935
Montreat, NC 28757

Daniel Hewitt , Alternate Town Member Expires 09/30/2025
PO Box 176
Montreat, NC 28757

Bridge Aesthetics Committee

Texas Road Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in 2009 due to age and disrepair. After reversing plans to upgrade the vehicular bridge, in 2017 the Board of Commissioners voted to repurpose and retrofit the bridge for the pedestrian use.

In March of 20018, the Board of Commission established a Bridge Aesthestics Committee to advise the Commission on the aesthetics and design of the pedestrian bridge on Texas Road. The Bridge Aesthestics Committee anticipates finalizing its report and recomendations in August, 2018.

Members:

Mason Blake - Chair
321-720-8989
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Jane Alexander
PO Box 447
Montreat, NC 28757

Amy Blake
PO Box 757
Montreat, NC 28757

Walter Somerville
PO Box 382
Montreat, NC 28757

Robin Melvin
PO Box 866
Montreat, NC 28711

Commissioner Kent Otto
PO Box 1057
Montreat, NC 28757

Suzanne Sloan
200 Tabernacle Road Apt K234
Black Mountain, NC 28711

Tom Frist
PO Box 1204
Montreat, NC 28757

Communication Advisory Committee

On March 8, 2018 the Board of Commission approved the creation of a Communications Advisory Committee, to meet on an ad hoc basis and advise the Commission on tools, techniques, and efforts to better engage the community.

Purpose:

In support of the mission of the Montreat Town Council, the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) advises the Council by providing suggested strategies for effectively communicating with Montreat stakeholders, including residents, seasonal residents, students, guests, local media and others. The result of effective communications is improved engagement and trust between Town government and townspeople.

Approach:

The CAC will advise on providing the public with timely, accurate, and complete information about Town governance, decisions, actions, events, project updates, emergency information and other pertinent news.
The CAC will advise about effective methods of communication, including print and digital as well as how best to utilize the various media.
In fulfillment of the above, the CAC will prepare annual communications plans for the Town and submit to the Council each December for the following year.
As requested, the CAC will assist Town government in the preparation and dissemination of communication messages.

Scope of Authority:

The Communications Advisory Committee serves solely as an advisory body to the Town Council.

Members:

Commissioner Tom Widmer - Chair
804-441-3679
PO Box 1004
Montreat, NC 28757

Jean David
PO Box 414
Montreat, NC 28757

Edna Banes
PO Box 452
Montreat, NC 28757

Ellen Dean
PO Box 222
Montreat, NC 28757

Bob Eckard
PO Box 822
Montreat, NC 28757

Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee

On November 11th, 2021, the Montreat Board of Commissioners established a Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee to re-evaluate and update the 2008 Comprehensive Plan. The Committee will work with MS Consultants, Inc, the public, and the Planning & Zoning Commission. All Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Meetings are open to the public.

Members:

Mayor Tim Helms, Chair
PO Box 87
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Maggie Elliott
PO Box 117
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Daniel Hewitt
PO Box 176
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Mari Gramling
PO Box 82
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Dr. Paul Maurer
PO Box 896
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Richard DuBose
PO Box 969
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Bill Seaman
PO Box 925
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

John Casper
PO Box 923
Montreat, NC 28757
[email protected]

Vacancies

Board of Adjustment Vacancies

The Board of Adjustment holds evidentiary hearings on and is the decision-making body for Zoning Ordinance interpretations, variances, Special Use Permits, and appeals from decisions made by the Zoning Administrator. Meetings are held in the Town of Montreat Town Hall as needed on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 5:00 pm, unless a special meeting is called by the Chairman. All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public, except for matters discussed in Closed Session pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318(11). Terms for the Board of Adjustment seats are three years and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

Several seats are vacant and available on this board. Regular Town Member seats are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and rule on applications presented before the board, unless a member has a conflict of interest as determined by N.C.G.S. 160D-109. Please see the available vacancies for the Board of Adjustment below:

Regular ETJ Member**

** Applicant must be a resident of the Town of Montreat’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction, and not the Town of Montreat. Applicants interested in ETJ memberships may contact the Clerks to the Buncombe Board of Commissioners by emailing Lamar Joyner at [email protected] or calling 828.250.4105.

To be considered for any of these vacancies, please complete the Board Application Form (click here).