This 12-by-26-foot accessory dwelling unit was completed by Nanostead in the spring of 2019.
bile. Most, however, are never moved, despite being installed on temporary foundations. While there are a few tiny home communities that have developed in the greater Asheville area in recent years, they have not become a significant component of smallscale residential infill development. Challenges to their increased prevalence include cost and the availability of utility connections, along with regulations restricting
the use of trailers (recreational camper trailers) as long-term housing. (Currently, the use of RV trailers parked for housing in a city residential area is not allowed for long-term use. While tiny homes aren’t typically considered an RV trailer, that is the closest similar structure type.) The City of Asheville has not created any significant regulations directly pertaining to tiny homes to date, nor have state or national building codes. There are discus-
GREENBUILDING DIRECTORY 2019-20
sions regarding tiny homes within many building code development committees, and there might be specific building codes adopted in the coming years.
when compared to the impact of new highways or large scale suburban retail development, something that more dense urban neighborhoods offer as contrast.
Societal challenges
The takeaway
As with any new development, infill housing, ADUs and tiny homes have their detractors. Despite the generic opposition to increased density, the primary argument against these forms of small-scale residential housing relates to the lack or age of public utility infrastructure. These concerns typically revolve around water and sewer line capacity. While it is a fact that some areas of the city have infrastructure issues and that replacement of existing utilities is much more difficult than building new infrastructure in a suburban area, it is also true that developing new housing within existing neighborhoods and urban cores has a far lower life-cycle impact than any ‘green’ suburban development. Another infrastructure issue is stormwater capacity. Properly designed and built infill development should not contribute negatively to stormwater impacts, especially
If you are a green builder, developer or client who is looking for a new avenue to reduce the impact on the land in our community, give some thought to creating small-scale housing options. Not only are they a current growing trend, they truly are one of the best sustainable housing options that can be made. Joe is the owner of Narwhal Design|Build, PLLC, a craft-based design and fabrication firm specializing in small-scale residential and renovation design work and custom woodworking. He is a licensed architect in North Carolina, Maryland and Washington D.C., who serves on the City of Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission. He lives above friends in a 1900s duplex in a moderately dense North Asheville neighborhood. Connect with Joe at narwhalbuilt.com.
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