Planning Board / Board of Adjustment

The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment are two citizen boards which help to shape the ordinances and determinations which influence zoning, development, and land use in the City of Kinston. At the City, these boards are comprised of the same group of people, but their policies are different depending on which board they are currently meeting under.

Planning Board

Duties and Powers

The power and duties of the Planning Board are as follows:

  1. Help the City Council develop and Comprehensive Plan (including a Land Use Plan) to guide future development and land use;
  2. Review and advise the City Council on all requests for Rezoning, Conditional Use Permits, and  interpretations of the Unified Development Ordinance
  3. Develop and recommend Planning policies, ordinances, and administrative procedures
  4. Advise the City Council on all proposed plats of land subdivision that fall under the purview of the Planning Board;
  5. Perform other duties as directed by the City Council.

Quorum

A quorum shall consist of more than one half of the appointed members of the Board present for any meeting of the Board. Once the existence of a quorum is established, votes may proceed by simple majority of the members present at the meeting.

Board of Adjustment

Duties and Powers

  1. Hear requests for variances and appeals of decisions of administrative officials charged with enforcement of the Unified Development Ordinance, which includes any final and binding order, requirement, or determination.
  2. Questions involving interpretations of the zoning map, including disputed district boundary lines and lot lines.

Quorum

A quorum shall consist of the number of members equal to four-fifths of the regular Board membership (excluding vacant seats). A quorum is necessary for the board to take official action.

Once the existence of a quorum is established, votes may proceed by simple majority of the members present at the meeting, unless the item is a variance. Variances require the concurring vote of four-fifths of the Board membership (excluding vacant seats). 

Schedule

The Planning Board and BOA currently meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30am in the City Council Chambers at 207 E King St (as long as there is business to discuss). Copies of the meeting agenda are available by calling 252-939-3271.  See the 2026 schedule for meeting dates and submission deadlines .

MEETING DATE
APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE 
(20 working days prior to meeting
January 13, 2026
December 10, 2025
February 10
January 9
March 10
February 10
April 14
March 10
May 12
April 14
June 9
May 11
July 14
June 12
August 4
July 7
September 8
August 10
October 13
September 15
November 10
October 12
December 8
November 5
January 12, 2027
December 9, 2026


Membership

The Planning Board and BOA consist of nine (9) members and two (2) alternates. Five (5) members, appointed by the City Council, shall reside within the city. At least two (2) members, appointed by the County Board of Commissioners, shall reside within the city’s extraterritorial planning area.  Members serve for 3 staggered years terms, but members may continue to serve until their successors have been appointed.  Members may be appointed to not more than two (2) complete successive terms for a maximum of six years. 

At the June meeting every year, the Board shall elect officers to serve as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Board and BOA. The Chair shall preside at all meetings, appoint all standing and temporary committees, and shall exercise full voting rights at this or her discretion on any matters under consideration. The Vice-Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair and shall carry all the rights and privileges of the Chair. The Planning Director shall act as Secretary to the Board.

  1. Jess Edwards (Chair)- 2nd term expires 10/25/23
  2. Clifton Hargett - 1st term expires 1/15/24
  3. Mary Margaret Herring - 1st term 
  4. Travis Towne - 1st term 
  5. Omar Grady - 1st term
  6. Cathy Reese - 1st term