The Asheville City Council voted last Tuesday, June 12th to forbid new gated communities, following through on concerns that these developments make the city less of a community. The ban passed by the council on a 5-2 vote applies to future developments, which would no longer be allowed to restrict access to only residents and their guests, done usually with gates or security workers. The council action also forbids new gated developments just outside municipal borders where Asheville exercises zoning control. It does not affect existing gated developments or those already approved by the city.

This has been a much debated issue in Asheville with many residents expressing concerns that gated communities work against the concept of developing a community with many believing the term "gated community" to be an oxymoron