Months of public input guide Morganton's development rewrite

Public input gathered since spring is helping shape Morganton’s proposed new development rules, with residents calling for more housing options, greater flexibility for property owners, and stronger standards for future construction and redevelopment.

Those priorities are now being considered as consultants begin drafting the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, a comprehensive rewrite of local development regulations expected to be completed next summer.

Kimley-Horn, the engineering and planning firm managing the project, returned an ordinance assessment in early October 2026, summarizing the work conducted so far, the feedback gathered, and the suggested structure of the UDO.

According to the City, several themes have reappeared throughout the process:

• Making the ordinance simpler and more flexible
• Expanding housing choices
• Supporting quality development and downtown investment
• Modernizing regulations that may add unnecessary cost
• Maintaining the landscaping, character, and development quality the community values

Kimley-Horn’s analysis suggests that the City’s regulations have clear standards but aren’t as flexible for unique sites and redevelopments.

Housing discussions filled the engagement feedback, with a need for housing options with varying price points — particularly those for younger and older adults and the workforce — receiving a lot of the spotlight.

Participants pointed to reconsidering minimum lot sizes, cottage courts, and other housing projects that would still fit with Morganton’s character. Cottage courts are a small cluster of detached or semi-detached homes arranged around a shared central courtyard.

Other feedback from the community included:

• Noise impacts for downtown residents
• Need for rehabilitation and/or redevelopment of aging and vacant structures
• Elevating facades and lighting in the downtown area
• Strengthening residential parking and yard maintenance standards
• Improving downtown cleanliness
• Flexibility around land use

Although some of the overarching themes may contradict, “the project team is deliberating competing priorities through built-in checkpoints throughout the drafting process,” city officials said. “Draft review periods will allow staff and the Advisory Committee to weigh different perspectives as standards are developed, with additional community engagement milestones planned as the project progresses.”

On top of community feedback, the project team collected and organized 151 staff comments by topic and ordinance section.

“The assessment and proposed ordinance structure have been reviewed with City staff and the Advisory Committee, and the team is beginning the first round of draft ordinance articles,” city officials said. “These articles currently being drafted are primarily focused on process and regulations dictated by North Carolina General Statute.”

Kimley-Horn began planning the UDO back in April, holding closed-door discussions with private stakeholders, including members of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment, before setting up public input sessions at a June TGIF concert and the Historic Morganton Festival in September, as well as public workshops including participation from Morganton staff and the community throughout the summer.

The City aims to funnel multiple city ordinances from across the past few decades into one comprehensive, easy-to-understand set of regulations and standards, adhering to the vision set out in the Imagine Morganton 2040 Comprehensive Plan and updated state laws.

Imagine Morganton 2040, adopted in 2024 and also developed with the assistance of Kimley-Horn, offers a long-term structure for decisions made by city officials, based on priorities for growth.

“The project team is looking for recurring themes and specific issues while considering adopted city policy, staff experience, development realities, state law, and best practice planning theory,” the City said. “Comments that further the vision of the Imagine Morganton 2040 Comprehensive Plan are being used directly to inform drafting and identify topics that need additional discussion.”

Timelines on the batches are about a month on average, with periodic reviews by the Advisory Committee in January, March, April, and June.

Specific community engagement dates will be announced in advance, but the draft UDO will be available for public review and feedback before the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews and recommends it to Morganton City Council for adoption.

According to the UDO project schedule at the City of Morganton’s UDO site, engagekh.mysocialpinpoint.com/morgantonudo, the UDO will be finalized across the early summer months next year.