Newton Planning Department from left to right: Assistant Planning Director, Alex Fulbright; Administrative Assistant, Debbie Short; Planner, Ben McCrary; Planning Director/Assistant City Manager, Glenn Pattishall; (not pictured) Commercial Development Coordinator, Rob Powell

The Planning Department is responsible for enforcing zoning ordinance, minimum housing codes, nuisance abatement programs, subdivision ordinances, and use plans, transportation planning and E-911 addressing. This department also manages the City's Geographic Information System.

Key Departmental Objectives:

• Continue to work with developers to encourage development of property within the City of Newton and encourage voluntary annexation of property development outside the City limits.
• Work with developers to connect new development to the City water, sewer, and electric utility to increase our customer base.
• Continue to implement aggressive public nuisance junk car, minimum housing violation program to improve the public's health, safety and welfare, and improve the overall appearance of property and homes within the City of Newton.
• Identify and resolve all issues related to E-911 address program, including the correction of City databases.
• Revise zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as, manual of specifications.
• Implement an automated permitting system tied to GIS.
• Improve processes for better customer service.