City council approves rezoning of Second Nature Technology site to R-20 for low-density residential use

Newton City Council voted unanimously on May 7 to approve Rezoning #2024-02 for the Second Nature Technology property on Technibilt Drive, changing roughly 17.74 acres from EM-1/ M-1 manufacturing classification to R-20 single-family residential.

Planning Director Randy Williams said the site comprises two parcels (Catawba County PINs 3649-13-14-0181 and 3639-16-94-9171), has access to city water, sewer and electric and lies largely outside the regulated floodplain. Williams told council that the city’s Comprehensive Plan (Blueprint Newton, adopted October 2023) shows the area as Conservation and Recreation with potential for limited low-intensity residential use, and that R-20 is consistent with that designation.

At the public hearing neighbors raised questions about livestock. Gary MacIntosh said residents had heard rumors about hogs and goats and said he “doesn’t want to smell that.” John Sigmon responded that the plan is for retired horses only: “these people are only going to have retired horses, no hogs or chickens.” Planning staff noted minimum separation requirements would apply if livestock were proposed.

The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval and council followed that recommendation, voting to rezone the property to R-20. Council’s action allows the applicant the opportunity to build a barn and pasture horses in areas outside the floodplain but does not itself authorize specific animal operations, which would be subject to applicable separation standards and permitting requirements.

Public notice for the rezoning included newspaper publication, on-site posting and 42 mailed notices to adjacent and nearby owners.