CITIZENS' NEEDS

Brevard's government priorities have shifted since 2021. They now emphasize tourism, bike trails, and other “feel-good” but non-essential priorities, while paying little attention to infrastructure and the cost of living for current residents. The city management's spending choices reflect their view of the government’s role. Mayor Copelof and the current City Council members seem to believe that their role is to impose their own progressive priorities rather than meet the basic needs of all Brevard citizens.

 

Most city residents remain unaware of the deficiencies in their waste treatment and water systems, as long as they can flush toilets and get water from faucets. The city has not disclosed these problems, fearing public outrage and a potential drop in tourism.

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Infrastructure

The primary infrastructure needs of Brevard citizens are sewage treatment, water, and streets.

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Sewage Treatment

Brevard's sewage treatment plant is situated off Wilson Road, along the French Broad River. The city has a history of significant wastewater spills caused by aging infrastructure, heavy rainfall, and occasional mechanical failures.

 

Between 2002 and 2013, there were 214 sewer overflows into the French Broad River. The NC Department of Environmental Quality has taken enforcement action against the city more than 111 times since 2013. In 2015, over 1 million gallons of raw sewage were released into the environment. In 2023, 65,000 gallons were released, and 76,000 gallons in 2024. We continue to face major sewage treatment issues that remain unresolved.

 

The city has announced a multi-phase plan to upgrade its sewage treatment system. Brevard is located in a rainforest, and until these upgrades are finished, heavy rainstorms will likely cause more raw sewage to spill into our most valuable asset—our environment. While the city aims to boost tourism, it appears to overlook the fact that a healthy environment is essential for a thriving tourism industry. There is no reason for this issue to remain unresolved for over 20 years. City management should have made this a priority and implemented a long-term solution. Why didn’t they?

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Water

Brevard is approaching a point where it may no longer be able to provide water to its residents. Again, why is this not a top priority for city management?

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Streets

City streets always seem to need repairs. Broken sewer pipes and sinkholes continually trouble residents. Downtown parking, already tight, has become even more limited due to 'beautification’ projects. As a result, many residents are no longer going downtown.

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While our streets and parking are in poor condition, Mayor Copelof and the current City Council do not hold back on expenses on bike trails. They have chosen to prioritize tourists on bikes over citizens who need cars to get around the city.

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Affordable Housing

City management is continuing to work toward creating “affordable housing.” The latest step is buying 3.8 acres of land on Azalea Avenue for $1.1 million using an installment loan. They are partnering with a developer to build 48 rental units for low- to moderate-income residents, with construction planned to start within the next 3 to 4 years.

 

These types of projects demand increased city spending, which leads to higher property taxes. As a result, city officials approved an 8.3% property tax increase for residents. Coupled with rising property values in Brevard, this has made some long-term residents realize they can no longer afford to live in the city. The most affected neighborhood is the historically Black Rosenwald community. Some Rosenwald residents have told the city council that after living in their homes for generations, they can no longer afford to stay.

 

You can’t make this up. They raise taxes to fund “affordable housing," yet those same taxes push multi-generational residents out of the city because they can’t afford to stay.

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Downtown Business – CBD Shops

Instead, the city is focusing on expanding trail development and beautifying downtown to attract tourists. However, the new businesses opening in Brevard are mostly CBD shops that cater to the type of visitors attracted to our brand of tourism—bicycles and beer. What about what citizens want from their downtown businesses, like family restaurants and other retail establishments that provide everyday services they can use? Residents are frustrated with the number of vacant buildings and closed businesses that first disappeared after COVID and again after Hurricane Helene.