Lenoir kicks off comprehensive-plan process with neighborhood workshops June 25–26

Lenoir's planning staff announced the start of a citywide comprehensive-plan process, scheduling neighborhood workshops for June 25 and a community open house for June 26 to gather resident input on future land use.

Planning Director Hannah Williams told the council the kickoff includes a neighborhood workshop at Whitel Elementary (1425 Berkeley St.) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for Whitnel-area residents, a concurrent West End workshop at Mount Pilgrim Holiness/Baptist Church (539 Willow St.) also from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a drop-in open house at the Blue Ridge Energy district office (100 Cooperative Way) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 26. Williams said staff will hold additional internal meetings but emphasized that the three public sessions are the primary opportunities for community feedback.

Mayor Joe Gibbons appears in a promotional video played for the council and urged residents to participate. "We would really love to have the input of the citizens of Lenoir; the more input we have, the better plan we can put together for the future of downtown and the City of Lenoir as a whole," he said.

Williams described the comprehensive plan as a 20–25 year guide for the city and encouraged residents to attend workshops, participate in surveys and review materials online. The city will use feedback from the workshops and the open house to shape draft policy language and future public review steps.

The planning office provided venue addresses and times during the meeting; staff asked residents to check the city website for additional meeting materials and the survey link. The next formal step after the public input phase will be staff synthesis of comments and presentation of draft plan elements to the council for subsequent review and public hearings, dates to be determined.