Asheville Announces New Planning Director

The city of Asheville announced that Judy Daniel has been selected as the city’s new Planning director. Daniel will assume her new role on June 30.

Daniel comes to Asheville from Bethesda, Md., and brings more than 20 years of experience in planning to her position. Daniel most recently served as the North Bethesda planning director for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), an agency responsible for land use planning and parks and recreation services in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

Prior to her role
as North Bethesda Planning Director, Daniel worked as the Northern
Montgomery County planning director and a zoning analyst with M-NCPPC.
She also worked as the planning director for Williamson County, Tenn.,
and a planning consultant for the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands.

As
planning director for M-NCPPC, Daniel was responsible for supervising
updates to three area master plans that incorporate mixed-use,
transit-oriented zoning. She recently completed work on hybrid
form-based zoning for use in urban areas, and she has been responsible
for planning efforts that allow for market flexibility as well as
improved standards for design and public spaces while encouraging the
growth and retention of local businesses.

“After
an extensive national search, I believe we have selected someone who
not only has the background and skills to lead our planning efforts but
someone who also has the listening, learning and people skills to
encourage wide community participation,” said City Manager Gary
Jackson. “I think citizens will embrace Judy’s approach and her
leadership style as one that is open to all segments of the community.”

Daniel
holds master’s degrees in City and Regional Planning and Urban History
from the University of Memphis. “I’m excited about the opportunity to
lead the planning efforts in a dynamic community like Asheville,” said
Daniel. “I have long appreciated Asheville’s beauty, its residents and
its unique character, and I’m looking forward to working with the
citizens in the community.”