Citizens complaining about a proposed asphalt plant on Riverside Drive in downtown Asheville were treated discourteously by the board, which even refused to allow the citizens an opportunity to voice their concerns before voting to approve the permit. Board member Queen argued against the action, saying it shouldn't be taken until the Asheville Board of Adjustment had given its approval. The following month, on the advice of counsel, the agency board voted to rescind its approval. It's unclear why the agency's attorney didn't point out the impropriety of the action to begin with. Shortly afterward, the city of Asheville sued the agency board for its hasty approval.
Board members seem to resent citizens coming to the meetings to comment and ask questions.
At one time, the board refused to allow any questions or comments from the public at its meetings, unless they were submitted in writing. This ruling was even applied to the press. And when the answers did come, they were vague and incomplete, in the eyes of many who submitted questions. Later, the board chair softened his hard-line approach, saying the board would follow the same procedure as the Buncombe County commissioners in regards to citizen comments and questions. Efforts by Asheville's newly appointed board member, Arlis Queen, to investigate irregularities and to correct some of the many problems have been opposed at every turn by both agency employees and board members.