KINSTON — Mr./Ms. Lenoir County resident, your county government wants to hear from you. 

Seriously.

Adam Short, the assistant to the county manager and planning director for Lenoir County government, is asking residents to participate in a short survey that will help shape our county for years to come.

The survey, which can be accessed online at lenoircountync.gov, takes only a few minutes to complete, and is about developing land for business and residential areas in the northern portion of Lenoir County. It will help Short and Lenoir County officials produce a document that will help shape and guide future decisions on county land use going into the future.

Short said he wants county residents to know what is at stake for them in the near — and distant — future.

“Whenever the public sector develops plans for future development, it is imperative the foundation of that planning process be informed by public input,” Short said. “A robust public input process helps public officials learn about the unique needs of the people and the area, and it helps to shape the plan and account for competing land use interests.”

The survey can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week until Nov. 10. After Short and county officials have gleaned pertinent information from it, they will proceed with developing a

future land use plan and map, which will help guide land use and zoning decisions that arise in

this area.

“As we develop this plan and think about the future of northern Lenoir County, it is important we account for various types of land uses,” Short said. “We aim to strike a balance between economic development and industrial and commercial growth while also planning and preparing for residential development to provide housing opportunities to serve the overall growth.”

In addition to the online survey, Short invites county residents to participate in-person. As part of the planning and public input process to further help shape this plan, the county will hold two in-person meetings. 

The first will be held at the Lenoir Community College Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center, 3800 Hwy 58 North, on Oct. 12 from 5-7 p.m. The second meeting will be held at Hugo Volunteer Fire Department, 2941 Hugo Road, on Oct. 28 from 5-7 p.m.

Residents will be able to share their thoughts and concerns at both meetings.

“The Harvey Parkway Study is an important aspect of the Board of Commissioners’ Strategic Plan, which will be used to help shape the future of our county,” Lenoir County Manager Michael James said. “Participation from the community is vital for the success of this effort and I encourage all residents and stakeholders to take a moment to share their thoughts and suggestions with us.”

For more information about the survey, the public input sessions or the Harvey Parkway area study, you can contact Short at 252-559-2260 or at adam.short@lenoircountync.gov.