Nash County selects Withers Ravenel to update Unified Development Ordinance, $124,000 project

Nash County has selected Withers Ravenel to lead a planned update to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), county planning staff told commissioners on June 2. The work will align local land‑use regulations with the county’s 2022 comprehensive land use plan and the state enabling legislation under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160D.

Senior planner Aaron Chalker briefed the board on the procurement. Staff solicited proposals from three planning consultants and recommended Withers Ravenel based on approach, prior experience, references, timeline, and cost. Chalker said Withers Ravenel also committed to tracking possible changes in state enabling legislation during the project and to drafting alternative ordinance language if needed. The county attorney reviewed the attached agreement and staff requested authorization for the county manager to execute the contract.

The total anticipated project cost in the approved agreement is $124,000. Staff said the project should begin later in June with a kickoff meeting and is expected to conclude with adoption of the revised UDO in about 13 months. Chalker said the process will include a steering committee, draft public review materials and public meetings; the board will have multiple opportunities to review draft language before adoption.

Commissioners approved the contract and authorized the county manager to sign the agreement.