City hires Tennessee consultant to rewrite building codes

NATCHEZ — The city of Natchez has hired a consultant to help officials rewrite the local guidelines for building codes, new construction, signage and the various zoned districts in the city.

Former city planner Phil Walker of the Walker Collaborative, a consulting firm in Nashville, Tenn., tells the Natchez Democrat he’ll meet with a local steering committee.

The committee is comprised of private businesspeople, tradesmen, historic preservationists and others.

Mayor Butch Brown says the city wants a code that is more user-friendly for developers, builders, designers, property owners and others.

A presentation of the project for the public is scheduled for today at City Hall.

Walker says after the meetings he’ll write a report that looks at the major sections of the code and what areas could be improved.