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Town of Zebulon Hires Matt Lower as New Planning Director

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2024

CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon

(919) 823-1833, kharmon@townofzebulon.org

 

Town of Zebulon Hires Matt Lower as New Planning Director

 

Zebulon, NC – The Town of Zebulon has hired Matt Lower as the new Planning Director, bringing a wealth of planning experience to North Carolina’s second fastest growing municipality.

In this role, Matt will oversee the Zebulon Planning Department, manage the planning, infrastructure, and development of the Town, and help map out Zebulon’s future, continuing the Town’s proven track record of smart growth in Wake County. Matt comes to Zebulon with experiences at all levels of government, including local, state, federal, and Tribal governments, as well as public and private sector roles.

“As Zebulon faces rapid growth in all sectors, Matt Lower will provide steady leadership to the Town’s Planning Department during this critical time for our future,” said Taiwo Jaiyeoba, Interim Town Manager for the Town of Zebulon. “Matt’s experiences have successfully showcased his ability to blend the needs of rural and urban communities, develop and implement housing, transportation, and economic strategies, and build key relationships needed to stay competitive in Wake County. We are proud to see him join our team and look forward to the impactful work he’ll do for the residents of Zebulon.”

Matt’s urban planning portfolio highlights the expertise he looks to bring to Zebulon, including:

  • Serving as Planning Director for the City of Horace—the fastest growing city in North Dakota.
  • Crafting solutions for the entitlements and incentives of over $150 million in development projects, including mixed-use properties, master-planned developments, senior housing, and specialty manufacturing.
  • Designing and executing program plans for some of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States, including the $3.25B California Middle Mile Broadband Network, the West Virginia Vertical Real Estate Act, and the Network Resiliency and Disaster Recovery Strategy for the State of Georgia.

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve the residents of Zebulon and support the Board of Commissioners as we develop a planning program that enhances the quality of life for everyone,” said Matt Lower, Planning Director for the Town of Zebulon. “In the coming months, I look forward to engaging with the community to cultivate strong partnerships between the Planning Department and our residents, stakeholders, developers, neighboring communities, and the State of North Carolina. Whether it’s land use, housing, transportation, or infrastructure, I am committed to helping Zebulon grow smart, foster economic choice and opportunity, and build a future that works for everyone who calls this Town home.”
 


Matt Lower – Planning Director, Town of Zebulon – Biography 
Matt Lower is an accomplished urban planner with a strong track record in developing high-impact, fully integrated, and resilient strategies for governments and those who partner with them. With experience in both consulting and public sector leadership, Matt worked across the United States with every level of government- local, state, federal, and Tribal- to promote responsive governance that enhances service delivery, creates economic opportunities, and improves quality of life for all constituents.   
Career Highlights: 
 
• Robust Planning Portfolio: Brings a decade of experience managing the community planning process for local and tribal governments, overseeing the development of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), comprehensive plans, capital improvement plans, housing studies, pedestrian/parks plans, and hazard mitigation plans for communities from the Georgia coast to Washington State.
 
• Creative Solutions for Development: Crafted tailored solutions for entitlements and incentives for development and infrastructure projects across 11 states. His work includes mixed-use properties, intentional living communities, master-planned developments, senior housing, telecommunications networks, and specialty manufacturing.
 
• Municipal Leadership and Transformation: As the first Community Development Director and later as a strategic advisor for the City of Horace, ND—the fastest-growing city in the state—Matt spearheaded digital transformation, development policy reform, and strategic planning initiatives for this Fargo-Moorhead suburban community.
 
• Infrastructure Deployment: A trusted advisor for large-scale infrastructure project deployment, especially regarding permitting, program planning, funding/finance, and public-private partnerships, supporting statewide and regional initiatives in places such as California, Alabama, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Delaware.
 
Matt holds degrees in anthropology and urban planning, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and is a Vibrant Communities Fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He is originally from Apex, NC.  
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For more information or to schedule an interview, contact the Town of Zebulon Communications Director Kaleb Harmon at kharmon@townofzebulon.org or (919) 823-1833.

Town of Zebulon Hires Matt Lower as New Planning Director

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