City Council approves rezoning for 77-unit affordable development

The Laurel Meadows project in Hendersonville will include affordable apartments near I-26 and U.S. 64.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:18pm

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A minimalist, isometric 3D digital illustration depicting a stylized four-story affordable housing building with clean lines and bold colors, surrounded by simple geometric shapes representing nearby businesses, roads, and natural elements, conceptually representing the new development's impact on the local community.A conceptual rendering of the proposed Laurel Meadows affordable housing development, which aims to bring much-needed attainable living options to the Hendersonville area.Hendersonville Today

The Hendersonville City Council unanimously voted to rezone a 3.32-acre parcel near the intersection of I-26 and U.S. 64 to allow for a 77-unit affordable housing development proposed by Ohio-based developer Woda Cooper. The four-story building will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with rents ranging from $360 to $1,200 per month.

Why it matters

The new affordable housing development aims to address the need for more accessible and attainable housing options in the Hendersonville area, particularly for local employees who have struggled to find affordable places to live near their workplaces.

The details

The Laurel Meadows project will include 13 one-bedroom, 48 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom units. Rents will range from a minimum of $360 for a one-bedroom to a maximum of $1,200 for a three-bedroom. The developers requested rezoning the previously commercial-zoned parcel to an Urban Residential Conditional Zoning District, and also asked the city to waive certain requirements related to on-street parking, traffic impact analysis, and buffer zones. The project still needs to secure $9.4 million in low-income housing tax credits from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency in order to move forward.

  • The City Council voted unanimously to rezone the site on April 2, 2026.
  • The developers plan to apply for $9.4 million in low-income housing tax credits from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency in May 2026, with a decision expected by September 2026.
  • If the tax credit application is approved, the project could break ground in September 2027 and be completed by November 2028.

The players

Woda Cooper

The Columbus, Ohio-based developer proposing the Laurel Meadows affordable housing project.

Tommy Lowmon

Senior Vice President for Development at Woda Cooper.

Matt Manley

Hendersonville Long-Range Planning Director.

Chae Davis

Vice president and general manager of Shuler Funeral Home, a neighboring business concerned about increased traffic.

Casey Schroader

Representative from Schroader's Honda, a neighboring business also concerned about increased traffic.

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What they’re saying

“We're just excited to be, hopefully, working back in Hendersonville again.”

— Tommy Lowmon, Senior Vice President for Development, Woda Cooper

“My employees are having trouble finding housing … We need to have affordable housing for our employees which is nearby all the businesses (on) 4 Seasons Boulevard.”

— Biren Patel, President, Samit Hospitality

“Have you been on that road? You'd understand, that's a lot of traffic. One way in, one way out.”

— Casey Schroader, Representative, Schroader's Honda

What’s next

The city plans to reach out to the North Carolina Department of Transportation's district engineer and ask them to analyze the intersection of Mitchelle Drive, Orr's Camp Road and Jack Street 'as soon as possible' to address concerns about increased traffic from the new development.

The takeaway

This affordable housing project represents an important step in addressing the housing affordability challenges facing Hendersonville, particularly for local workers who have struggled to find homes near their places of employment. However, the potential traffic impacts on neighboring businesses will need to be carefully managed to ensure the development benefits the entire community.