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Newton awards contract to Kimley‑Horn to update zoning and development code
Summary
The council unanimously approved awarding a Unified Development Ordinance update to Kimley‑Horn & Associates, citing state law changes and an outdated code last majorly revised in 1991.
Newton City Council voted Nov. 18 to award a contract to Kimley‑Horn & Associates, Inc. to prepare a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that will combine the city’s zoning, subdivision and related development codes into a single, cross‑referenced document.
Planning Director Randy Williams explained that the North Carolina General Assembly enacted Chapter 160D, requiring local updates and prompting the city to modernize regulations that guide development decisions. Williams said five firms responded to the city's Request for Proposals, two were interviewed, and the selection panel—including department heads and planning staff—unanimously recommended Kimley‑Horn.
Council Member Jody Dixon moved and the council unanimously approved the contract award. The UDO project is intended to resolve conflicts in the current code, update specifications and improve usability for developers and residents.
Next steps: staff will finalize the contract and begin the UDO process; no adoption timeline was specified in the meeting minutes.
