1986 Land Use Update-1988

CAMDEN COUNTY LAND USE
UPDATE T
- e
Prepared by the Camden County Planning Board
with assistance from the Albermarle Commission
Approved Conditionally by CRC
on November 1987
Final Approval Given by CRC
on July 29,1988
DCM COPY "/� ` DCM COPY
lease do not remove!!!!!
Division of Coastal Management Copy
the preparation of this docrnnent was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina
Coastal Management Program through fruids provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 as
amended, which is administered by the Office of ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1986
CAMDEN LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
Camden County Board of Commissioners
J.C. Rountree, Chairman of the Board
Samuel Shaw H.C."Clay" Ferebee
Paul DeBerry Sumner K. Midgett
Camden County Planning Board
Randy Williams, Chairman of the Board
Emory Upton
Fred Upton

Table of Contents
ESTABLISHMENT OF INFORMATION BASE..............................................I
GOALS ESTABLISHED DURING THE 1980 LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS............1
RESOURCE PROTECTION GOALS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS ............................1
RESOURCE PRODUCTION GOALS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS ............................3
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
GOALS/ACCOMPLIS HMENTS.....................................................................4
CONTINUING CITIZENS PARTICIPATION....................................................5
OTHER POLICIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS.....................................................6
PRESENT CONDITIONS........................................................................7
POPULATION COMPOSITION.................................................................................9
RACIALCOMPOSITION..........................................................................................9
AGEGROUPS.........................................................................................................10
SCHOOLAGE.........................................................................................................11
FAMILY -FORMING AGE GROUP.............................................................................11
POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE.....................................................................................11
LABOR PARTICIPATION.........................................................................................12
ELDERLY...............................................................................................................12
DEPENDENCY GROUP.......................................13
SEX DISTRIBUTION................................................................................................14
ECONOMY.........................................................................................15
' TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT......................................................................................16
LANDAND CAPITAL..................................................................................17
LABOR.......................................................................................................18
PROFITS....................................................................................................19
SOCIALSECURITY....................................................................................20
OUTPUTSUMMARY..................................................................................20
TOTALPERSONAL INCOME ....... :........................................................................... 21
EMPLOYMENT.......................................................................................................22
CAMDEN COUNTY LABOR FORCE GROWTH AND COMPOSITION: 1977-1983 .........22
COMMUTING PATTERNS 1970 - 1980......................................................................23
ENTREPRENEURSHIP............................................................................................24
RETAILSALES.......................................................................................................24
EXISTING LAND USE...........................................................................25
I
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS.....................................25
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS ...................
MAJOR PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM UNPLANNED GROWTH .............................26
AREAS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR LAND USE CHANGES .............................27
RESIDENTIAL LAND USE.......................................................................................28
HOUSINGCONDITIONS..........................................................................................28
COMMERCIAL LAND USE......................................................................................30
INDUSTRIAL LAND USES.......................................................................................30
FORESTLANDS.....................................................................................................30
AGRICULTURAL LANDS........................................................................................30
COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING.......................................................31
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES...........................................................31
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES MAP.....................................3
2
1 EXISTING LAND USE MAP...................................................................3 3
POLICY:AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN: .................................... 36
CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT .........................................................
.......... ....• ..•.....• ..• ......• ......•...42
SOILS .....•...:..42
SOIL ASSOCIATIONS................................................................................A2

1
SOILLIMITATIONS....................................................................................43
DRAINAGE CLASSIFICATIONS...................................................................44
SEPTIC TANK LIMITATIONS......................................................................45
SUMMARY OF CHARACTERISTICS.......................................................................46
SOILEROSION.......................................................................................................46
CAMDEN COUNTY: SHORELINE EROSION.............................................................47
WATERRESOURCES.............................................................................................48
WATERSUPPLY......................................................................................A8
WATERBUDGET.......................................................................................A8
PRECIPITATION.........................................................................................49
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION............................................................................49
OUTFLOW..................................................................................................50
SURFACEWATER......................................................................................51
MAN MADE HAZARDS...........................................................................................51
PHYSIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................51
TOPOGRAPHY...........................................................................................52
DRAINAGE.................................................................................................52
GEOLOGY..................................................................................................52
CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING MATTERS.................56
POLICY ISSUES: RESOURCE PROTECTION.............................................57
ISSUE: SOIL LIMITATIONS.................................................................................... 57'
ISSUE: PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY ............................................ 57
ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL IMPACT ON FRAGILE AREAS...............................................58
ISSUE: STORMWATER RUN-OFF: RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ..........................59
ISSUE: STORMWATER RUN-OFF: AGRICULTURAL..............................................59
ISSUE: MANMADE HAZARDS...............................................................................60
ISSUE: CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL RESOURCES................................................61
ISSUE: FRESH WATER, SWAMPS, AND MARSHES................................................61
ISSUE: SEPTIC TANK LIMITATIONS......................................................................62
ISSUE: FLOOD PLAINS..........................................................................................63
POLICY ISSUES: RESOURCE PRODUCTION.............................................64
ISSUE: PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS......................................................64
ISSUE: COMMERCIAL FOREST LAND...................................................................64
ISSUE: COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING..........................................65
ISSUE: RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT .........................65
ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON ANY RESOURCE ......................66
ISSUE: PEAT OR PHOSPHATE MINING IMPACT ON ANY RESOURCE....................66
ISSUE: OFF ROAD VEHICLES................................................................................ 66
ISSUE: MARINA AND FLOATING HOME DEVELOPMENT.......................................67
POLICY ISSUES: ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.................68
ISSUE: TYPES AND LOCATION OF INDUSTRY......................................................68
ISSUE: TYPES OF URBAN GROWTH PATTERNS DESIRED.....................................70
ISSUE: REDEVELOPMENT OF DEVELOPED AREAS...............................................71
ISSUE: TOURISM AND WATERFRONT ACCESS....................................................72
ISSUE: TYPE OF DENSITIES, LOCATIONS: UNITS PER ACRE ETC
.........................73
ISSUE: ENERGY FACILITY SITING AND DEVELOPMENT.......................................74
ISSUE: PACKAGE TREATMENT PLANTS...............................................................74
STORM HAZARD MITIGATION..............................................................76
STORM HAZARD AREA.........................................................................................77
VULNERABILITY....................................................................................................77
RISK TABLE FOR HAZARD AREAS............................................................77
MAGNITUDEOF RISK............................................................................................77
EVACUABILITY......................................................................................................78
Ta6[e of Contents
Page it

I
1
1
1
I
POLICY STATEMENTS: STORM HAZARD MITIGATION.........................................79
POST DISASTER AND RECOVERY PLAN................................................................80
PURPOSE: .................................................................................................. 80
ORGANIZATION: ........................................................................................ 80
SUPPORTTEAM: ....................................................................................... 80
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES........................................................................81
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.............................................................................81
DAMAGE CLASSIFICATIONS.....................................................................82
RECONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.....................................82
DEVELOPMENT MORATORIA................................................................................82
LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AND MAP:CAMDEN COUNTY..................84
LandClassification Map.............................................................................................84
LandClasses............................................................................................................84
Developed: ................................................................................................... 84
Transition: ................................................................................................... 84
RuralService: ............................................................................................... 85
Conservation: ............................................................................................... 85
INTER -GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION..............................................................87
APPENDIX 1 SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SURVEY SUMMARY ............... 8 8
APPENDIX II ARCHAEOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS ............................92
Tn6fe of Contents Page Ut
1

ESTABLISHMENT OF INFORMATION BASE
During the 1980 planning process, the county adopted a set of general goals concerning
Resource Protection, Resource Production, and Economic and Community Development.
The information contained in the 1980 Land Use Plan provided the starting point for
this 1986 planning process. In 1980, goals, policies, strategies were adopted for resource
protection, resource production, and economic and community development issues; spe-
cific policies were adopted for Citizens Participation, Mobile Homes, and Second -Home
Waterfront Development. The following is an assesment of the county's effort in attaining
the adopted goals of the 1980 Land Use Plan and of the effectiveness of the adopted
policies.
Goals Established During the 1980 Land Use Planning Process
Resource Protection Goals
"Safeguard and perpetuate the
biological, social, economic
and aesthetic value of the
County's Areas of Environ-
mental Concern in accordance
with CAMA regulations."
Camden County 1980-
1990 Land Use Plan;
Executive Summary,
Terry Alford, Planning and
Design Associates, 1980
"Protect areas subject to ex-
cessive shoreline erosion
through encouraging proper
placement, density, and type
of development in shoreline
areas." (Alford, 1980)
"Protect areas prone to severe
flooding through undertaking
a detailed flood hazard study,
revising the zoning ordinance,
and considering establishment
of a floodplain ordi-
nance."(Alford, 1980)
"Direct development with
proper consideration of soils,
through working with the
District Health Department re-
garding septic tank limitations
and with the Albemarle Soil
and Water Conservation Dis-
trict for preliminary plat re-
view. "(Alford, 1980)
Accomplishments
Additional local legislation was adopted for
controlling development in flood plain areas.
The county zoning map and local health
codes achieve this goal.
In 1986, the county adopted a model FEMA
flood plain ordinance.
Since the 1980 plan, the local health district
has adopted and is enforcing more stringent
septic tank placement regulations that are di-
rectly contingent on soil suitability.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 1

1
J
"Appropriately minimize the
drainage and clearing of
wooded swamps and their
conversion to other uses
through classifying wooded
swamps as 'local resource
protection districts' in the
zoning ordinance, developing
permits for drainage requiring
setback of development from
wooded swamps, and requir-
ing adequate erosion control
practice near them."(Alford,
1980)
"Protect remnant species and
their habitats through estab-
lishing local' resource protec-
tion districts' for such identi-
fied areas and allowing no
public works porojects to be
constructed within them, other
than light recreation facili-
ties."(Alford, 1980)
"Guide development so that it
protects historic and potential
historic properties and perpet-
uates the county's cultural
heritage through enforcing all
applicable laws regarding
archeological and historic
sites, promoting federal in-
vestment benefits to private
owners of historic properties,
considering a local tax incen-
tive, and considering a coun-
tywide survey of historic sites
and properties."(Alford,
1980)
"Minimize the adverse impact
of man-made hazards upon
humans and adjacent devel-
opment through a volunteer
improvement/demolition pro-
gram, use of state building
code, establishment of buffer
zones near hazards, and re-
quiring clear warnings at such
sites."(Alford, 1980)
Other than the policies included in the 1980
Land Use Plan, the county has passed no
local legislation to regulate drainage or clear-
ing of wooded swamps or of their conver-
sion. Federal regulations concerning clearing
of swamps (swamp -buster law) and the de-
cline in profitability of many farm products
have greatly reduced any conversion or
clearing of swamp lands.
No local legislation or county actions since
1980 have addressed this policy.
No local legislation has been adopted that
addresses historic or cultural resources. The
county has invested in the restoration of the
old Camden County Jail, and is now using
the structure as the tax supervisors office.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 2

"Increase readiness for safe
evacuation from hurricane or
flood disaster through
increasing awareness and
conducting a practice exercise
under the county's hurricane
evacuation plan."(Alford,
1980)
Resource Production Goals
"Achieve maximum sustained
yields from agriculturally
productive areas through
improved local agricultural
management techniques and
limiting conversion of prime
agricultural land to other
uses."(Alford, 1980)
"Achieve maximum sustained
yields from forest resources
through education of forest
owners and establishing fi-
nancial rewards and other in-
centives for good management
practices, limiting the conver-
sion of wooded land to other
less productive uses, and es-
tablishing markets for local
products."(Alford, 1980)
"Develop geological -mineral
and energy resources (sand,
gravel, and peat) in a manner
consistant with other devel-
opment goals, particularly re-
lated to AEC's and agricul-
tural/forestation by developing
local standards and instituting
a county severance
tax."(Alford, 1980)
The county has adopted an Emergency
Evacuation Plan that is coordinated with
Pasquotank County and Elizabeth City. No
practice exercises have been held; however,
the plan was put into action with hurricane
Gloria.
Accomplishments
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 3 1

I .
"Increase productivity of
recreational resources, in-
cluding touring through iden-
tifying areas of development
of tourist facilities, supporting
resurrection of the State Dis-
mal Swamp Master Plan,
supporting development of
public or private access points
to public areas, and estab-
lishing easements."(Alford,
1980)
The City of Elizabeth City is now developing
a public access area along the Pasquotank
River in Camden County; Camden County
has applied for state assistance to develop a
public access area in the southern portion of
the county.
Camden County,along with other counties
and municipalities in Region R,is participat-
ing in the staffing and operations of a Tourist
Welcome Center to be located in Camden
County adjacent to the Dismal Swamp Canal
near South Mills. The Welcome Center will
serve automobile traffic along US 17 and
boat traffic along the Canal
Economic and Community Development Goals Accomplishments
"Achieve level, types and
patterns of economic and
community development
which are consistant with the
historic character of the
County, raise local employ-
ment levels, and otherwise
contribute to the economic
base, so as to implement the
Land Classification Map.
"(Alford, 1980)
"Encourage location of light
industry wich meets estab-
lished performance standards,
near existing communities,.
and which does not use prime
agricultural land."(Alford,
1980)
"Provide significsant forms of
local commitment toward
providing services to devel-
opment including the South
Mills Water Association,
preparing a preliminary capital
improvements budget, identi-
fying particular state and fed-
eral programs, and working to
establish a 'parnership' with
private land owners toward -
achievement of development
goals."(Alford, 1980)
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
Camden County has entered into a contract
with the South Mills Water District whereby
the South Mills Water District is using the
county's Senate Bill 2 allocation to expand
their water service.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 4
H

"Promote development pattern
stipulated by the Land Classi-
fication Map, in accordance
with the zoning ordinance,
and near existing develop-
ment.(Alford, 1980)
"Promote redevelopment of
existing communities,primar-
ily those designated as 'trans-
ition' and 'community' on the
Land Classification Map,
through participating in a
regional development effort,
obtaining technical assistance
in working with local busi-
nesses, undertaking selective
measures to improve the
housing stock, designating
local 'revitalization areas' for
priority attention, and work-
ing to have local legislators
improve the access to South
Mills from Highway
17. "(Alford, 1980)
"Selectively support state and
federal programs related to
Camden County through en-
gaging in a grantsmanship
program."(Alford, 1980)
"Achieve appropriate levels of
energy facilities through re-
vising the zoning ordinance to
require a special use permit to
construct such facilities, and
undertake a feasibility study
for a local gasohol production
co-op in the county."(Alford,
1980)
Continuing
Citizen Participation Policies
Development decisions made by the local
palanning board are being made in
accordance with local development
ordinances.
The county has prepared a housing condition
survey and inventory of the entire county that
identifies and prioritizes areas in need of
redevelopment. Grant applications have been
prepared for the redevelopment of the
Bloodfield Road community in South Mills.
Highway 17 access to South Mills has been
improved.
The county is actively pursuing availabel
grant assistance from state and federal
sources.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
Accomplishments
"Provide opportunities for Public notices are published for all meetings
participation in the land use of the county planning board.
planning process by residents
individually and through rep-
resentative groups."(Alford,
1980)
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 5

"Educate citizens about issues
facing the area regarding pro-
tection, production, and de-
velopment policies through
presentations to civic groups,
school classes, newspaper
releases, and work-
shops."(Alford, 1980)
Other Policies
"Accept the mobile home as a
reasonable form of standard
housing and make its use in
the county as appropriate as
possible through providing
for mobile home development
in designated areas and revis-
ing the zoning ordinance and
subdivision regulation provi-
sions for mobile homes so as
to better implement plan rec-
comendations."(Alford,
1980)
"Direct development of sec-
ond home/waterfront devel-
opment appropriately through
revising the zoning ordinance
to promote concentration
rather than sprawl of such de-
velopment, paying close at-
tention to CAMA regulations
regarding estuarine shore-
lines, and developing districts
and construction criteria for
such development."(Alford,
1980)
No formal or ongoing citizen education
system has been put in place.
AccomUlishments
County subdivision regulations have been
revised to clarify the procedure for permitting
mobile home parks. Mobile homes are not
restricted from single family subdivision
developments.
No local legislation has been sdopted that
addresses this issue.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 6

PRESENT CONDITIONS
POPULATION
Since 1900, population growth in Camden County has been rather erratic.Except for the
twenty-year period from 1930 to 1950, when the county experienced two consecutive decades
of population decline, the county's population has alternately declined or increased in succes-
sive census periods. The greatest population in the county during this century was the 5,829
persons recorded in 1980, the most recent census year. The lowest population of this cen-
tury was re- corded in 1950, when only 5,223 persons were counted.
Regardless of the ups and downs, the county's population has remained rather stable with a
minimum to maximum range of 606 persons over the eighty -year period. Population estimates
and projections prepared by the N.C. Department of Budget and Management indicate a period
of moderate but sustained population growth for the remainder of this decade and into the
next century. The table below demonstrates Camden County's fluctuating growth pattern.
POPULATION CHANGE:CAMDEN COUNTY 1900 - 2000(projected)
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1900 1910
Source: U.S.B ureau
Camden County Population Growth
1910 - 2000
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
North Carolina Office of Budget and Management
of the Census, Census of the Population: North Carolina,
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
2000
1910-1980.
While the county's population is fairly evenly distributed among the three townships in the
county, there has been a slight but noticeable shift in settlement patterns. Since 1910, the
Shiloh township, which occupies approximately the southern third of the county, has
shown a consistent decline in population and in its proportion of the county population.
On the other hand, the Courthouse township, which occupies the middle third of the
county, has shown a consistent pattern of growth in both actual population and in its
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 7

proportional share of the county. The South Mills township has maintained a consistent,
roughly one-third
100
90
80
P 70
R 60
c 50
E 40
N 30
T 20
10
0
TOWNSHIP POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
CAMDEN COUNTY 1920-1980
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980
0 SHILOH
0 COURTHOUSE
E3 SOUTH MILLS
share of the county's population. Both the South Mills and the Courthouse townships are
served by major U.S. Highways: U.S. 17 serves South Mills and U.S. 158 serves Court-
house township. Inferior highway access is probably limiting the growth in the Shiloh
township.
CAMDEN COUNTY POPULATION BY TOWNSHIP: 1910 - 1980
South Mills Courthouse Shiloh Camden County
Year_
poll,
%
XOD
%
%
1 0
1920
1864
(34.6)
1548
(28.8)
1970
(36.6)
5382
1930
1865
(34.2)
1717
(31.4)
1879
(34.4)
5461,
1940
1960
(36.0)
1684
(31.0)
1796
(33.0)
5440
1950
1904
(36.4)
1685
(32.3)
1634
(31.3)
5223
1960
2015
(36.0)
1858
(33.2)
1725
(30.8)
5598
1970
1929
(35.4)
1848
(33.9)
1676
(30.7)
5453
1980
2066
(35.4)
2046
(35.1)
1717
(29.4)
5829
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of the Population
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 8

POPULATION COMPOSITION
As is shown in the sections that follow, there are some significant and noticeable trends devel-
oping in the composition of Camden County's population. The number of residents who are
60 years of age or greater continues to increase and to account for a greater share of the popu-
lation. The number of school age residents has generally remained static and is projected to
continue this trend into the near future. The number of females participating in the labor force
is declining, thus running counter to the national trend of greater female participation.
The sections that follow present information on the following specific components of the
county's population: racial composition, age group distributions, labor force composition, sex
distribution, and household composition.
RACIAL COMPOSITION
The non -white population is declining in both its proportion of the population and in absolute
numbers. In 1970, non -white residents accounted for 37.2% of the county population and
numbered 2027 persons; by 1980, the number of non -white residents had diminished to
slightly less than 33% of the county population and numbered only 1897 persons. Projections
provided by the N.C. Department of Budget and Management indicate that this trend will
continue at least through the five-year period covered by this document. The 1990 projec-
tions estimate that only 1798 non -whites will reside in Camden County and will account for
slightly more than 29% of the county population. The N.C. Department of Budget and Man-
agement accounts for this projected decline of the non -whites by a projected out -migration of
11.3%.
CAMDEN COUNTY
RACIAL COMPOSITION OF THE POPULATION: 1970-1990
%of
1970 tot,
%of
1980.IM5
%of
tot,
%of
1990 tot,
WHITE
3426 (62.8)
3932 :(67.5)
4159 (68.9)
4383 (70.9)
BLACK
2019 (37.0)
1876 (32.2)
na na
na na
OTHER
2
1 (31.1)
17 2 9. 1
TOTAL
5453 100.0)
5829 100.0)
6034 100.0
6181 100.0
Source: N. C. State Office of Budget and Management
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 9

AGE GROUPS
The following sections discuss those age segments of the population that generally require
' special or more frequent types of services both from the private and from the governmental
sectors and that in their own way create certain types of development and service demands.
The age groups discussed here are as follows:
The School Age year old sector
This group naturally creates the demand for educational and recreational facilities and
services.
' he Family Forming Groupvear old sector
This group is generally responsible for new household formations and new offspring,
thus creating demands for new housing facilities and forming the base for future inter-
nal population growth.
he Potential Labor Force years and older
1
This group is usually responsible for all the goods and services produced in an area;
' however, not everyone in this group participates in the work force.
he Elderly years or older
This group spans the greatest number of years and could be segmented further into ad-
ditional age groups ranging from aged to infirm, with each having very specialized and
critical needs.
The Dependency Sector under 16 and over
This group, only generally, measures those persons who are considered dependent on
someone else for the major portion of their personal needs and economic support.
There are, of course, persons under 16 years of age and over 65 that are self-sufficient;
however, they generally are not numerous. There are also many persons not in these
age groups that are, in some ways at least, dependent on outside support.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 10

SCHOOL AGE
Projections indicate a continued decline in the school -age population cohorts (5 to 19 years old)
during the planning period. The persons in this cohort numbered 1743 in 1970; by 1980, the
number of school age children had declined to just 1529 persons and is estimated to be only
1266 by 1990. The table below shows the number of persons within the age group and the
group's percentage share of the total population.
CAMDEN COUNTY SCHOOL -AGE COHORTS: 1970-1990
COHORT
0
1 0
0
19
o
11970
SYRS - 9
604
(34.6)
437 (28.6)
420
(32.2)
421
(33.3)
10 - 14
636
(36.5)
524 (34.3)
423
(32.4)
450
(35.5)
1- 1
7
461
4
(31.2)
TOTAL
1743
100.
1529 100.
1304
100.
1266
100.
Source: N. C. State Office of Budget and Management
FAMILY -FORMING AGE GROUP
This cohort showed positive and substantial growth during the 1970 to 1980 decade. Present
population estimates projections for the future indicate only modest growth after 1980 and a
projected decline by 1990.
CAMDEN COUNTY FAMILY FORMING COHORT: 1970-1990
COHORT
1970
% of
1980
% of
1985 % of
1990
% of
15-24yrs.
850
(58.9)
1068
(57.9)
939 (50.2)
800
(44.9)
2- 3 4 v rs,
592
(41.1)
777
4 2 1
4
8
1
TOTAL
1442
100.
1845
100.
1872 100.
1780
100.
Source: N. C. State Office of Budget and Management
POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE
The potential labor force generally includes all persons over 16 years of age. Of course, not all
of these persons actually participate in the workforce. Many are enrolled in school; many are
over 65 years of age and are retired; many are physically unable due to handicaps or poor
health; and many, particularly in agricultural areas such as Camden County, are females who
work on the farm or in the home but are not counted as participating in the labor force.
The potential labor force in Camden County grew at a much faster rate during the past census
decade than did the population as a whole; the population increased by only 6.9% while the
potential labor force increased by more than 18%. The 16-years-or-older group accounted for
66.5% of the 1970 population of Camden County and numbered 3628 persons. By 1980, this
group accounted for 74.4% of the county's population and numbered 4338 persons. By 1990,
the potential labor force is projected to increase to 4752 persons and 76.9% of the population.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 11

I
1
CAMDEN COUNTY POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE: 1970-1990
COHORT
7
c
9 f
16-64yrs.
3042 (83.8)
3645 (84.0)
3863 (83.8)
3946 (83.0
65 and
older
586 (16.2)
693 - (16.0)
752 (16.2)
806 (17.0
TOTAL
3628 100.
4338 100.
4615 100.
4752 100.
Source: N. C. State Office of Budget and Management
LABOR PARTICIPATION
Labor force participation did not, however, keep up with this growth of potential. The num-
ber of persons actually working or seeking employment and living in Camden County in-
creased by only 36 persons or slightly more than 1.5%. The reason for the relative lack of
growth among labor force participants is the steep decline in female participation.
Labor participation among male residents increased from 64.4% in 1970 to 70.4% in 1980.
Labor participation among females, on the other hand, declined from 57.28% in 1970 to
36.18% in 1980.
The number of females in the labor force actually dropped from 1,090 persons in 1970 to 831
persons in 1980, a reduction of 259 persons or almost 24%. This decline occurred when the
number of females in the potential labor force were increasing by 394 persons or by almost
21%. The reduction in female participation in the Camden County labor force counters the na-
tional trend toward more females and a greater proportion of women working outside of the
home.
CAMDEN COUNTY
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION: 1970-1980
1970 1980
TOTAL MALE FEMALE TOTAL MALE FEMALE
Persons 16 yrs.
or older 3628 1725 1903 4293 1996 2297
Persons 16 yrs. or
older in labor force 2201 1111 1090 2237 1406 831
Labor
Participation
Rate 60.67 64.41 57.28 52.11 70.44 36.18
Source: 1970 and 1980 Census of the Population
ELDERLY
The elderly age group is the fastest growing segment of the Camden County population. In
1 1950, this group accounted for only 7.3% of the county's population. By 1980, this group
comprised 11.8% of the county population and is projected to increase to 13% of the popula-
tion by 1990, with the greatest growth occurring in the over-75-years-old segment.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 12

CAMDEN COUNTY ELDERLY: 1970-1990
1970 % of 1980 % of 1985 % of 1990 % of
65-74 397 ( 7.3) 433 ( 7.4) 458 ( 7.6) 498 ( 8.1)
75 and
older 189 ( 3.5) 260 ( 4.4) 294 ( 4.9) 308 ( 5.0)
TOTAL 586 10.7 693 11.8 752 12.5 806 13.0
Source: N. C. State Office of Budget and Management
DEPENDENCY GROUP
The dependency group is the population sector that typically derives a major portion of its eco-
nomic support from sources other than direct participation in the labor force. For the most
part,this group includes dependent children under 16 years of age and persons over 65 years
who are retired and draw a major portion of their income from governmental transfer pay-
ments, such as Social Security, and from pension programs. The dependency ratio is the ratio
of persons not in these age ranges to those that are.
Theoretically, the lower the dependency ratio the more self sufficient is the area. This mea-
surement provides a general indication of the number of additional persons that must be sup-
ported by the overall economy. This measurement, however, usually under counts the number
of persons who may be in need of financial assistance or social services since it is based
strictly on ages of individuals and not on specific economic or social conditions.
As the table indicates, the number of persons in the dependent age category has been declining
steadily since 1970 and is presently at its low ebb. The 1990 projections indicate only a slight
increase of two -tenths of a percent of the population in this segment. The dependency ratio in-
dicates that there is approximately one dependent resident for every two non -dependents. This
is a decline since 1970 when the ratio was one dependent for every 1.25 non -dependents.
CAMDEN COUNTY DEPENDENCY GROUP: 1970-1990
1970 % of
1 o of
1 o of
1 o 0f
0-15
1837 (33.7)
1491 (25.6)
1419 (23.5)
1429 (23.1
65 and
older
586 (10.7)
693 (11.8)
752 (12.5)
806 (13.0
TOTAL
1 2423 44.4)
12184 37.5
2171 (36.0)
1 2235 36.2
DEPENDENCY
RATIO 0.80:1 0.60:1 0.56:1 0.56:1
Source: Base population counts from N. C. Office of Budget. and Management
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 13

SEX DISTRIBUTION
The ratio of men to women in Camden County is approximately one male to 1.07 females, a
percentage population split of 48.5% males and 51.5% females. Population projections from
the N.C. Department of Budget and Management indicate a more even distribution by 1990,
with males accounting for 49.9% of the population and females for 50.1, very near a 1:1 ratio.
The population pyramids below present an overall view of the Camden County population as it
was distributed by race, sex, and age in 1980 and as it is projected to be distributed in 1990.
POPULATION PYRAMIDS: CAMDEN COUNTY 1980-1990
Camden County Population Composition:
1980
1990
El 85+ 1 0 85+ 0
E180-84 [a [180-84
Male 75-79 ffM Female Male 0175-79 1M Female
70-74 JIM E070-74 IM
65-69 i � 65-69
60-64 60-64
55-59 White 55-59;:r^^^:
�11150-54 50-54
?�45-49 ® Black 45-49 JIM
40-44 40-44
35-39
::;35-39
30-34 30-34
24-29
�....�...24-29
20-24 20-24
15-19 15-19 ,
10-14 ''`' 10-14
5-9 5-9
PERM 0-4 0-4
300 200100 0 0 100 200 300 300 200 100 0 0 100 200 300
I
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 14

ECONOMY
The following section analyzes the Camden County economy in terms of total county output,
total personal income, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Total county output is the measurement, in dollars, of the total earnings produced in Camden
County and does not include earnings of county residents working outside of the county or
payments received by county residents through government transfer payments such as Social
Security. The output measurement, however, does include social insurance contributions made
by persons working in Camden County and interest, rent, and dividends received by county
residents.
The total personal income measure represents all of the income received by residents of
Camden County. This measurement includes earnings received by county residents working
outside the county and adjustments to earnings of persons working in Camden County but
residing outside of the county. Government transfer payments received by residents of the
county are counted in the income total, but social security contributions are not.
Employment measurements include labor force growth participation and composition, em-
ployment distribution by industry and job classification, the commuting work force, and job
growth within the county.
Entrepreneurship is simply the measure of growth in local business activity. This includes
the growth in sales in the county, the increase or decrease in business establishments, and
new job creation and payroll growth in the local business sector.
$ . ,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1967
CAMDEN COUNTY
TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT 1967-1983
'70 '75 '80 '83 1967 '70 '75 180 '83
E3 Social Security 0 Profits ® Labor Land & Capital
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 15

I
F
I
TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT
Output of a given area is the sum of all dollars paid to the four factors of production: labor,
land, capital, and profits.
Labor + land + capital + profits = TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT
Labor, land, and capital are consumption factors; and profits are the residual or value added
through local entrepreneurial activities. The following sections discuss these four factors and
present historic data concerning their growth and the shift in the proportion each contributes to
the county's overall production.
The data used in these sections were compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and are
available on an annual basis from 1965 to 1983 and at three-year intervals prior to 1965.
For the purposes of this study, data for the years 1959,1967, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1983 will
be used.
These years roughly approximate five-year intervals for trend identification and include
Census years for cross references (1970 & 1980), the latest year for available information
(1983), and the earliest year for which Consumer Price Index information is available (1967).
This analysis looks at output data from two perspectives: Total County Output as expressed in
current dollars and Total County Output expressed in constant 1967 dollars. Constant dollar
measurements describe the value of the total county output in what economists call real terms,
be- cause current dollars are adjusted to the purchasing power of dollars in some preceding in-
dex year, in this case 1967 dollars. The Consumer Price Index information was provided
by the N.C. Office of Budget and Management.
CAMDEN COUNTY:TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT(CONSTANT DOLLARS)
1967 1970 1975 19RO 19R3
Land & Capital
$923
$1,219
$1,740
$2,370
$3,126
Labor
$2,010
$2,262
$2,702
$2,928
$3,061
Profits
$1,752
$1,809
$3,186
$1,042
$329
Social Security
$123
1 $138
$196
$207
$233
Total County Output
$4 808
1 $5 428
$7 824
$6 547
$6 749
CAMDEN COUNTY:TOTAL COUNTY OUTPUT(CURRENT DOLLARS
1967 1970 1975 1980 1983
Land & Capital
$923
$1,417
$2,808
$5,850
$9,324
Labor
$2,010
$2,631
$4,360
$7,228
$9,130
Profits
$1,752
$2,104
$5,141
$2,572
$980
Social Securitv
$123
$160
$317
$510
$696
Total County Output
$4,808
$6 314
$12,624
1$16,155
$20,129
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis
The preceding graphs and tables present side -by -side comparisons of the change in Camden
County's total county output from 1967 to 1983 as expressed in current and 1967 dollars. As
can be seen, there are some striking differences. The double-digit inflation rate in recent
years has taken its toll in the purchasing power of the dollar. The total county output ex-
pressed in constant dollars is less than half of its current dollar value and less than its constant
value in 1975.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 16

The most obvious and notable trends indicated by the data are the greater dependence of
the county's output on the land and capital factor and the steep increase and decrease of the
profit sector. The labor sector has remained rather constant when viewed in real terms with
,
only a slight gain since 1975.
LAND AND CAPITAL
The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides data on income received in the county that is de-
rived through rents, dividends, and interest. This data is used here as the estimate of land
and capital consumed or generated in production in Camden County. There is a separation
problem with this data. It is impossible to determine from the data available whether all of the
interest, rents, or dividends received as income in the county actually represent the invest-
ment of land and capital in the county or investments at some other place. There is also no
!
way to identify the amount of rents and interest used in production in Camden County that is
supplied by firms and individuals outside of the county.
For the purposes of this study, it is assumed that a balancing out takes place. The amount of
investment coming into the county from non- residents is treated as equal to the amount
of rents, interest, and dividends earned by county residents through investments outside of
the county, thus making the earnings in the county through this factor equal to the amount con-
sumed in the county's output.
This assumption makes the figures expressed highly questionable, and they should not be
,
viewed as absolutely accurate. They are sufficient, however, to identify trends in the overall
county economy in terms of growth and of the changes in compositional factors.
As can be seen in the following table, land and capital have shown the greatest increase of all
the production factors. In 1967, the value of the land and capital used in the Camden County
output was only $923,000; by 1983, its value had increased by 910% to $9,324,000 when
measured in current dollars. In real terms, the consumption of land and capital in- creased
!
somewhat less,but still a substantial 239%, for an average growth rate of 7.9% for each
year of the 16-year period from 1967 to 1983.
The growing importance of capital is a world-wide phenomenon and not peculiar to Camden
County. Production increases are more and more dependent on the expansion of production
facilities and improved technology and equipment which increase land and capital require-
ments.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 17 1

LAND AND CAPITAL CONSUMPTION:
1967,1970,1975,1980,1983
INTEREST. RENTS & DTVTDF,NDS
1967
1970
1975
1980 1983
CURRENT DOLLARS
923
1,417
2,808
5,850 9,324
CONSTANT DOLLARS
923
1,218
1,741
2,370 3,126
TOTAL OUTPUT(current)
4,808
6,312
12,626
16,160 20,130
CAPITAL AS A PERCENT
OF TOTAL OUTPUT
19.2
22.4
22.2
36.2 46.3
AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE
7.9%
(PERCENT REAL TERMS)
TOTAL INCREASE: 1967 TO 1983
(PERCENT REAL TERMS)
239 %
SOURCE: BUREAU OF ECONOMIC
ANALYSIS
I
LABOR
Labor is represented by the total wages and salaries paid to persons working in Camden
County. This includes wages earned by persons working, but not living in Camden County.
For the purposes of this study, it is assumed that all wages earned in Camden County is from
production in the county.
Thus, if a traveling salesman headquartered in Camden County makes sales to other parts of
the country of products produced in still other regions of the country, his wage is still
counted as Camden County production.
The cost of labor has not been a significant factor in the erosion of the profit factor. In real
terms, labor increased by only 2.66% annually between 1967 and 1983. Compositionally
labor has not grown significantly: in 1967 labor comprised 41.8% of total county output,
and in 1983 it accounted for 45.4%, only a slight increase.
LABOR CONSUMPTION
WAGES AND SALARIES
1967
CURRENT DOLLARS
2010
CONSTANT DOLLARS
2010
TOTAL OUTPUT(current)
4808
LABOR AS A PERCENT
OF TOTAL OUTPUT
41.80
AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE (
% )
(PERCENT REAL TERMS)
TOTAL INCREASE: 1967 TO 1983
(PERCENT REAL TERMS)
SOURCE: BUREAU OF ECONOMIC
ANALYSIS
1970
1975
1980
2631
4360
7228
2262
2703
2929
6312
12626 1
6160
1983
9130
3061
20130
41.7 34.5 44.7 45.4
2.66 %
52.3 %
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 18

PROFITS
The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides data on what is termed proprietor's income.
This represents the profits collected by business establishments operating in the county.
These profits represent the value added to intermediate products used or traded in local busi-
ness activities.
The steep up-and-down curve of the profit sector reflects to a great degree the county's re-
liance on the agricultural -industrial sector as its main source of production. The profit data
represent proprietors earnings, and the major portion of county proprietors are farmers.
The steep upturn in the profit sector from 1965 to 1975 marks the remarkable improve-
ment in the prices paid for farm commodities during that period. This is particularly evident
in the 1970 to 1975 time period when farm prices experienced their greatest gains. The
steady decline since 1975 reflects the erosion of farm income through the inability of farm
prices to keep pace with rising production costs, particularly increased capital costs, such as
the increased cost of new machinery and higher interest rates. This cost squeeze creates the
need for larger production units and thus increased land costs in the form of land prices and
land rents.
The table below presents the same information contained in the previous tables on the changes
in production factors and also separates the farm and non -farm proprietors. As can be seen in
the table, the value added by entrepreneurial efforts is Camden County has steadily decreased.
Total profits are down in both real and current terms. In real terms, profits decreased by an
estimated $772,000 or over 81 % from 1967 to 1983. In current terms the decline was still
over 44%. Profits fell from a high of almost 50% of total output in 1975 to a low of 4.9%
in 1983.
CAMDEN COUNTY
PROFITS (VALUE ADDED)
PROPRIETORS INCOME
CURRENT DOLLARS
FARM
NON FARM
TOTAL PROFITS
CONSTANT DOLLARS
FARM
NON FARM
1967
1970
12Z.
1980
IM
1090
1,282
4120
1,069
-720
662
822
1,021
1,503
1,700
1,752
2,104
5,141
2,572
98
1,090
1,102
2,554
433
-241
662
707
633
609
570
TOTAL PROFITS 1,7521 ,809 3,187 1,042
TOTAL OUTPUT(current) 4,808 6,312 12,626 16,160
PROFIT AS A PERCENT
OF TOTAL OUTPUT 36.4 33.3 49.7 15 9
AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE ( % ) -9.93%
(REAL TERMS)
TOTAL INCREASE: 1967 TO 1983
(PERCENT REAL TERMS) -81.2%
(CURRENT TERMS) -44.1 %
SOURCE: BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
329
20,130
49
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 19

SOCIAL SECURITY
'
Social Security has been included as a separate portion of total county output strictly as an ac-
counting measure. The Bureau of Economic Analysis lists social security as a separate item
and does not assign it to the particular output sector (land, capital, labor, and profits) that made
the contribution. It obviously represents production so has been included in the total output
tables.
OUTPUT SUMMARY
There has been very little value added as the result of entrepreneurial activities in the county
since 1967. Much of the potential profits have been consumed by additional capital costs. A
part of the problem is the county's reliance on agriculture as its primary basic industry.
Agriculture is an extractive industry as are fishing, forestry, and mining; these industries
are extremely volatile and susceptible to international economic trends and technological im-
provements in production methods and equipment. Farm land represents a finite resource in
Camden County which cannot be expanded. Increased production in this sector must rely
on increased utilization of this resource either through the cultivation of additional lands
presently not in cultivation, increased production from existing lands now being farmed, or
'
improved farm prices for farm commodities. Of these options, improved farm prices offer the
greatest possibility of improved county output. This is the one option over which the farmers
in Camden County have no control. The cultivation of marginally productive lands generally
'
does not provide any great economic advantage unless accompanied by improved prices.
It is doubtful that any great technological improvement will occur that will give the Camden
County farmer an advantage over other farmers in the world. Technological improvements
'
generally provide less productive areas of the world with a better means of competing with the
American farmer and generally result in lost jobs in the farming sector, fewer farmers and
larger farms, and greater capital requirements.
'
Increased county output will most likely require less reliance on the agriculture sector and the
expansion or introduction of less restricted types of industries, such as manufacturing or
wholesale and retail trade. Increased development of tourism and commercial activities in the
trade sectors offers the best possibility of taking advantage of the abundant water resources
in the area.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 20

$50,000
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1967 '70
CAMDEN COUNTY
TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME 1967-1983
I
'75 '80 '83 1967 '70 '75 180 '83
Social Security 13 Profits M Labor Land & Capital
TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME
Total personal income is a measure of all income received by residents of Camden County,
regardless of where it is produced. These figures include earnings of residents commuting to
work outside of the county and government transfer payments,such as social security or
military retirement pensions. These two categories of income are added to the total county
output data to provide the total income. Deducted from this total are the earnings of non-res-
ident wage earners working in Camden County and social security contributions. The data on
income are presented in a similar form as that of total county output with comparisons of
income in constant as well as current dollars.
CAMDEN COUNTY:TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME(CONSTANT DOLLARS)
1967 1970 1975 1 9R0 1 9R3
Interest, Dividends & Rent
$923
$1,219
$1,740
$2,370
$3,126
Transfer payments
$1,127
$1,344
$2,462
$2,841
$3,144
Salaries & Wages
$5,492
$6,834
$7,792
$8,500
$8,633
Proprietors Income
$1,752
$1,809
$3,187
$1042
$329
Total County Income
1 $9 294
1$11,206
IS15,181
1$14,753
1$15,232
CAMDEN COUNTY:TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME(CURRENT DOLLARS)
1097 107n 1 a74 1 05tn 1052Z
Interest, Dividends & Rent
$923
$1,417
-$2,808
$5,850
$9,324
Transfer payments
$1,127
$1,563
$3,972
$7,011
$9,379
Salaries & Wages
$5,492
$7,948
$12,568
$20,979
$25,752
Proprietors Income
$1 752
$2,104
$5 141
$2 572
$980
Total County Income
$9,294
$13 036
$24 495
1$36,403 1$45,429
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 21

EMPLOYMENT
' Employment in Camden County remained almost constant between 1977 and 1983. The County's
civilian labor force grew by only 10 persons, and the number of residents employed grew by a like
amount. The only really bright outlook in the Camden County employment picture is that more of
the resident labor force are finding jobs in the county. The proportion of Camden residents com-
muting to work outside of the county steadily declined during this time period. The number of
new jobs in the county increased from 450 in 1977 to 630 in 1983, a 42% increase. The labor
sectors showing the greatest gains in jobs in the county were: manufacturing, up 75%; wholesale
and retail trade, up 211%; services, up 100%; and government up 20%.
'
CAMDEN COUNTY LABOR
FORCE
GROWTH AND
COMPOSITION:
1977-1983
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
2520
2500
2550
2540
2550
2530
2560
EMPLOYED
2370
2390
2410
2360
2340
2360
2360
INCOUNTY
450
530
560
580
620
590
630
'
OUT OF TOWN
1920
1860
1850
1780
1720
1770
1730
UNEMPLOYED
220
210
190
170
160
160
140
'
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE(%)
6.0 %
4.4 %
5.5 %
7.1 %
8,2 %
6.7 %
7.8 %
PERCENT EMPLOYED
OUT OF COUNTY
81.0 %
77.8 %
76.7 %
75.4 %
73.5 %
75.0 %
73.3 %
INCOUNTY
19.0%
22.2%
23.3%
24.6%
26.5%
25.0%
26.7%
EMPLOYMENT BY PLACE OF WORK
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
MANUFACTURING
40
40
50
60
60
50
70
CONSTRUCTION
70
70
60
50
40
40
60
TRANSPORTATION
TRADE
20
90
20
140
20
130
20
150
20
200
10
210
10
190
FINANCE, INSURANCE,
REAL ESTATE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
SERVICE
30
40
50
50
40
50
60
GOVERNMENT
200
220
250
200
200
230
240
TOTAL
450
530
560
580
620
590
630
ICamden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 22

COMMUTERS
Commuting workers living in Camden County and working elsewhere are the county's greatest
income producer. Even though commuting workers have declined as a percentage of the work
force in the last few years, they still account for more than 70% of all workers and 65% of all
county income derived from labor. Pasquotank County employs the greatest number of Camden
County workers, with the. Tidewater Virginia SMSA being a close second. Together these two
destinations employ 92% of Camden County's commuting workers.
COMMUTING PATTERNS 1970 -1980
CAMDEN COUNTY
GA1
PEAQ
PA
7 9 8 0
TIDEWATEA,VIACI2IIA 477
GATES 8�
PEAQUIMANS 31 \ �URaINGx 57
7l
JyJ•
PpS�
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update. Page 23

1
1
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The number of business establishments in Camden County grew steadily from 1979 to 1983. In
1979, there were 49 business establishments with payrolls in the county; by 1983 there were 63
businesses, almost a 30% increase. Small establishments, with less than five employees, are the
most numerous, but recently there has been a marked increase in the number of establishments
with greater than five but less than ten employees. The tables bellow illustrate the trends in new
business starts and business growth during the 1979-1983 period.
CAMDEN COUNTY: NUMBER OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS,
EMPLOYEES, AND PAYROLL 1979-1983
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS 49 53 50 60 63
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 217 203 228 256 272
1 ST QUARTER PAYROLL ($1,000) 315 320 408 457 539
ANNUAL PAYROLLS l .000) 1,369 1,501 1,747 2,211 2,337
CAMDEN COUNTY: NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
1-4: 5-9: 10-19: 20-49: 50-99:
1979 49 34 8 6 1 0
1980 53 41 8 3 1 0
1981 50 37 6 5 2 0
1982 60 41 14 4 1 0
1983 63 41 15 6 1 0
SOURCE: COUNTY BUSINESS PATTERNS: NORTH CAROLINA, 1979 - 1983. US BUREAU OF
CENSUS
RETAIL SALES
Retail sales in Camden County did not keep pace with inflation in the five-year period from 1979 to
1984. Retail sales in 1979 was $9,118,650; by 1984 sales had grown only to $10,654,866, or
slightly less than 17%. At the same time inflation was pushing the consumer price index up by
slightly more than 37%. Two of the reasons for th poor performance of Camden County's retail
sector is the overpowering effect of Elizabeth City's retail market and Camden County's small
population base. The county does not have a major supermarket, an automotive showroom, or in a
discount store. Most retail outlets are convenient -type community grocery/gasoline stations.
RETAIL SALES: CAMDEN COUNTY
1979-1980 1980-1981 1981-1982 1982-1983 1983-1984
$9,118.650 10,520,506 10,731.790 10,280,143 10,654,866
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 24

EXISTING LAND USE
The land uses in Camden County are overwhelmingly rural in nature. Approximately 92%
of the County's total acreage is in either forest land or agricultural uses; less than 2% of the
county's lands can be classified as urban or built up. The county has no incorporated
towns or cities; in fact, there are only two traffic lights in the entire county. Population den-
sity is very sparse, with only 24.6 persons per acre. Cam- den County ranks 94th in popula-
tion density among North Carolina's 100 counties.
MAJOR LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS: CAMDEN COUNTY
LAND USE CATEGORY ACRES PERCENT OF TOTAL
WATER
49,900
LAND
153,914
(% OF LAND) FOREST
92,016
FARMS
50,425
URBAN/BUILT UP
1,900
TOTAL ACREAGE 203,814
Source: Profile North Carolina Counties,
24.48 %
75.52 %
59.78 %
32.76 %
1.20 %
100.00 %
Office of State Budget and Management
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Historically, residential and commercial development in Camden County has been concen-
trated at or near the unincorporated crossroad communities of South Mills, Camden, Bel -
cross, Shiloh, and Old Trap and along the U.S. Highway 17 Causeway leading out of Eliz-
abeth City, NC, to the Camden community. During the 1960 to 1980 period a number of
subdivision developments such as Whitehall Shores, Texeco Beach, Taylor Beach, and
Camden Point Shores created small pockets of residential development outside of these
crossroads communities and along the estuarine shore in the southern portion of the county.
It should be noted that while the areas identified are the county's primary built-up concen-
trations, these areas are by no means major developments.
Since the previous land use update was completed in 1980, there has been very little devel-
opment activity. There have been no new subdivision plats approved nor have there been
any new mobile home parks established since the 1980 Land Use Update was prepared. The
only platting activity during the past five years has involved the modest expansion (less than
20 lots) of two existing subdivisions.
Residential construction since 1980 has averaged less than 40 dwelling units per year, with
approximately 66% of these additional units being mobile homes. Only one building permit
for a new commercial structure has been issued during the last three years.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 25

ILAND USE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS
Land use compatibility problems were defined in the I980 Camden Cotinty Land Use
"...
Update as human activities [which] negatively affect other human activities, the nat-
ural environment, and property values." The 1980 update goes on to add that compatibility
problems are basically perceptual problems based on the values and judgement of the be-
holder.
The historically rural nature of Camden County, its rather low population density and low
development pressures, and the predominance of agricultural land uses have created a
very tolerant attitude among residents toward adjacent land uses that are often considered in-
compatible. Camden County residents are particularly tolerant of adjacent agriculture uses.
Most residents of the county are either farmers or descend- ants of farmers.
The 1980 Camden County Land Use Update lists several compatibility problems concern-
ing agriculture uses located near residential uses. The Planning Commission and most citi-
zens who provided input concerning conflicts between agriculture and residential uses seem
to view residential development as the intruder. In the view of local residents, occupants of
new residential development were well aware of the predominantly agriculture environ-
ment of Camden County; in fact, it was these rural qualities that led them to locate in Cam-
den County; by exercising this choice the new residents have "bought in" to the county's
intensive farming activities and the accompanying nuisance odors of hog parlors, the sea-
sonal burning of field stubble, and the wind borne dust from the large expanses of cultivated
fields.
The most obtrusive land use compatibility problems, as perceived by county residents,
are mobile home park development and subdivision development permitting mobile
homes. The residents do not seem to mind mobile homes on single lots scattered in with
conventionally built homes and located along the primary and secondary road system
within the county. But they do object to new subdivisions with new street development
that permit mobile homes and that are developed at the mini- mum acceptable design stan-
dards.
Mobile home parks are somewhat acceptable as long as they are not too large and they have
a sufficient buffer of vacant or agricultural lands: between the park and existing residential
development.
'
MAJOR PROBLEMS RESULTING"FROM UNPLANNED GROWTH
Very low development pressures in the past have allowed Camden County, for the most
"unplanned
part, to escape any extensive problems associated from with growth". The
county, however, has not escaped all such problems. The major problems under this
heading involve the development and platting of subdivisions on unsuitable soils, residential
construction in the flood plain, and the lack of publicly controlled points of access to the
'
estuarine waters bordering the county.
Camden Point Shores Subdivision, located almost at the southern most tip of the county, is
the most notable example of subdivision platting on unsuitable soils. This subdivision is lo-
cated on a 5000-acre site near the southern tip of the county; approximately 500 lots have
thus far been platted. The soils on this site have an extremely high water table, ranging
from ground level to less than 3' below the surface. Extensive drainage has been under-
taken to lower the water table, which in some cases has improved the usability of many
lots. To date, development in the subdivision has been very limited; however, the contin-
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 26

ued development of the remaining platted lots could pose a threat to the water quality in the
area if more extensive drainage is necessary to make the lots usable. Canden Point Shores
began development in 1966, prior to the county's adoption of subdivision regulations and
a zoning ordinance.
Probably the most extensive occurrence of unplanned growth is development in the flood
plain. Approximately half of Camden County's total acreage lies in the 100-year flood plain
area as designated by The Federal Emergency Management Agency. Most of the devel-
opment that lies in the county's flood plain was constructed before anyone was even aware of
the 100-year flood elevation.
New construction since 1973, the year Camden County entered into the Emergency Phase
of the National Flood Insurance Program, for the most part has conformed with the flood
plain regulations in force at the time of construction; however, since for much of this time the
county did not have a licensed Building Inspector employed to oversee new construction,
many violations of FEMA regulations did occur. The county is now participating in the
regular phase of the Federal Flood Insurance Program, but it still does not have a full-time li-
censed Building Inspector to oversee new construction or substantial rehabilitations of
dwellings.
Another major problem resulting from unplanned growth involves the county's lack of
control of properties fronting Public Trust Waters that could provide public access to these
waters. This lack of public access is an issue that the county has only recently begun to real-
ize. Camden County does not own or control any sites that will provide its residents with
convenient access to its estuarine waters.
AREAS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE MAJOR LAND USE CHANGES
Future development is expected to continue to occur in and around exist- ing crossroad
communities, in subdivision developments along the Pasquotank River Shore in the
southwest section of the county, and along the U.S. 17 causeway leading out of Elizabeth
City . Historically, this has been the case, and most building permits issued during the
past three years have been in these areas.
Development at the crossroad communities and in the water front subdivisions is expected to
be primarily single-family residential. Existing development along the causeway is pri-
marily commercial and until recently was limited because of severe soil limitations regard-
ing sep- tic tank usage. Such limitations restricted the size of developments and also re-
stricted usage to commercial units with a limited water usage. Elizabeth City is now ex-
tending public sewer and water service across the Pasquotank River to serve establish-
ments on the causeway. The availability of these services will permit development to occur
at much greater densities than now exist. The construction of a three- story, multi -family
residential structure is now underway on the causeway; this development could not have
occurred without the provision of these services. This structure is the only multi -family
structure in Camden County.
The area of the county along the Virginia State Line contains -several large tracts of land un-
der single ownership that extend across the state boundaries. These large tracts have under-
gone extensive clearing and drainage construction. This area is presently zoned for agri-
cultural uses, and while there have yet to be any requests for subdivision approvals or
zoning changes, rumors persist that a major large scale development is planned.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 27

IRESIDENTIAL LAND USE
As has been previously stated, residential concentrations occur primarily in crossroad
' communities and residential subdivisions developed near the county's waterfront areas.
Most of the county's residents, however, are single-family homes scattered along the
paved state secondary road system in the county. The most notable change in the county's
residential pattern has been the construction of a 3-story, multi -family structure along the
causeway near Elizabeth City.
I
HOUSING CONDITIONS
During the spring of 1985, a county -wide housing condition survey was carried out in
Camden County by the Regional Development Institute at East Carolina University. The
I
survey examined 2,022 residential units in the county and classified each unit as either stan-
dard or substandard. The results of the survey indicate that 637 dwelling units or ap-
proximately 32% of all residential units in the county are in substandard condition.
IThe
Courthouse township had the greatest number and the highest percent- age of substan-
dard dwellings. Shiloh township had the fewest and lowest percentage of substandard units.
Mobile homes had a slightly higher proportion of substandard units than did
I
conventionally built units. County wide, approximately 32% of the conventionally built
homes were judged substandard while almost 37% of the mobile homes were determined to
be substandard.
IThe
survey also provided an updated count of the number of dwelling units in the county,
the vacancy rate, and the distribution of mobile homes in the area. According to the results
I
of this 1985 survey, there are 2,022 residential units in Camden county; approximately
15% or 304 of these units are mobile homes, and approximately 85 units are vacant,
yielding a 1985 vacancy rate of only 4.2% All vacancies re- corded were among conven-
tionally built units; mobile home units had a 0% vacancy rate.
I
HOUSING CONDITIONS: CAMDEN COUNTY-1985 CAMDEN COUNTY
TOTAL STANDARD SUBSTANDARD VACANT
CONVENTIONAL HOME 1718 106 527 85
MOBILE HOMES 304 - 194 110 0
TOTAL 2022 1300 637 85
PERCENT OF TOTAL (100%) (64.3%) (31.5%) (4.2%)
SOURCE: CAMDEN COUNTY HOUSING CONDITION SURVEY,REGIONAL DEVELOP-
MENT INSTITUTE, EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY (1985)
IThis
1980 Census homes
1985 survey, along with the and a survey of mobile carried out
in 1981 during the previous Land Use Update, provides recent and useful comparative
data for measuring changes in the distribution and composition of the housing inventory in
I`
Camden County.
The most notable changes in the housing inventory since the 1980 Census have been a de-
cline of 125 units from the county housing inventory, an increase of six occupied units, a
decline of 131 vacant units, and a redistribution of mobile homes in the county.
I
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 23

HOUSING INVENTORY AND DISTRIBUTION:
CAMDEN COUNTY 1980 & 1985
1980
1985
%
PLACE
CENSUS
SURVEY
CHANGE
ANIDEN COUNTY
TOTAL UNITS
2147
2022
-5.8 %
OCCUPIED
1931
1937
+0.3 %
VACANT
216
85
-60.6 %
VACANCY RATE
10.0 %
4.2%
-58.0 %
MOBILE HOMES
303
304
+0.3 %
COURTHOUSE TWP
TOTAL UNITS
735
726
-1.2%
OCCUPIED
676
701
+3.7 %
VACANT
59
25
-55.9 %
VACANCY RATE
8.1%
3.4%
58.0%
MOBILE HOMES
91
86
-5.5 %
SHILOH TWP
TOTAL
667
658
-1.4%
OCCUPIED
580
620
+6.9 %
VACANT
87
38
-56.0 %
VACANCY RATE
13.0%
5.8%
-55.4%
MOBILE HOMES
82
112
+36.6%
SOUTH MILLS TWP
TOTAL UNITS
745
638
-14.4 %
OCCUPIED
675
616
-8.7%
VACANT
70
22
-68.6 %
VACANCY RATE
9.4%
3.4%
-64.0%
MOBILE HOMES
130
106
-18.5%
The significant decrease in the total number of dwelling units in the county is probably
due to differences in survey methodologies used to establish just what should be counted as a
dwelling unit. While housing units are constantly being added and lost from the housing in-
ventory, it is doubtful that such a decrease is likely to'occur in a span of only five years,
particularly since approximately 40 units per year are being added to the inventory.
The 1985 survey provided by RDI, we think, gives a more usable description of the
county housing inventory since, obviously, abandoned residential structures were not
counted in the overall inventory. The slight increase in the number of occupied units
seems to be reasonable when compared with population projections made by the Depart-
ment of Budget and Management. Population projections for Camden County indi- cate
only a six person increase from 1980 to 1985, from 5,829 to 5,835. The 4.2% vacancy
rate established by the 1985 RDI survey is much more realistic than the 10% vacancy rate es-
timated by the 1980 Census.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 29

The redistribution of mobile homes is puzzling. In 1980, South Mills led the county in the
number of mobile homes; by 1985 there was a significant shift to the Shiloh Township.
County -wide, the number of mobile homes remained about constant.
COMMERCIAL LAND USE
Commercial land uses are most concentrated along U.S. 158 from Elizabeth City to Bel -
cross, though they do not form a continuous strip. This stretch of highway includes the
unincorporated community of Camden, which is the county seat of the county; Camden
County High School; and the county's only bank, only shopping center, and only industrial
establishment.
The only other commercial center is at South Mills on U.S. Highway 17 between Elizabeth
City and the Virginia line. All other commercial land uses are convenient -type gro-
cery/gasoline stations at various crossroad locations in the county.
INDUSTRIAL LAND USES
Only one industrial establishment, other than saw mills, is located in Camden County.
This industry manufactures concrete products such as septic tanks, road culverts, and con-
crete pipes. The plant is located between Camden and Belcross along U. S. 158.
FOREST LANDS
North Carolina Forestry Service information provides comparative forestry data for the
years 1974 and 1984. Since 1974 the amount of forestry lands has declined. Of course,
during this period the country was going through a tremendous inflationary period that de-
pressed new home construction and consequently the country's lumber consumption and
demand for forestry products.
During this same period, farm prices improved dramatically, encouraging land owners to
put more and more lands into cultivation and to delay or discontinue any reforestation activi-
ties. Total forest lands during this period declined 97,680 acres to 92,016, with almost all
of the lost forest lands being cleared for agricultural production.
Land clearing activities are still underway. The volumes of annual timber removal in 1984
were running well ahead of those in 1974, with 33,187 MBF (thousand board feet) of
saw timber being removed in 1984 compared to 18,114 MBF in 1974. In 1974, annual re-
movals were less than 72% of annual growth; in 1984 removals were 140% of annual
growth. Estimates based on stumpage measurements indicate that there were 637,856
MBF of saw timber and 187,323 CBF (cubic board feet) of growing stock standing in the
county in 1974. In 1984 these measurements indicated that there were 573,711 MBF of saw
timber and 164,177 CBF of growing stock, a decline of 10% and 12% respectively.
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
The last three Census of Agriculture reports (1974, 1978, and 1982) prepared by the Bu-
reau of Census demonstrate the boost to farming caused by dramatic improvements in farm
product prices from 1974 to 1978 and the effects of the subsequent deterioration of farm
prices between 1978 and 1982.
Camden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 30

In 1974, there were 150 farms in Camden County, comprising 51,925 acres; by 1978, there
were 166 farms, comprising 55,490 acres. In 1982, the number of farms had declined to
just 131, less than there were in 1974, with only 50,425 acres being farmed.
Agricultural activities in Camden County are following the typical pat- tern of all extractive
use type industries. Fewer persons are involved in the industry, but those who are, are pro-
ducing a much greater volume. There are fewer farmers, but larger farms.
COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING
Commercial fishing has not traditionally been a major economic activity in Camden County.
From 1978 through 1984, the Department of Marine Fisheries recorded fishing activities
in Camden County for only two years, 1982 and 1983. In 1982, the available information
only records that there were 79 commercial vessels licensed in Camden County. There is no
information concerning the size of catch by county fishermen or its value. In 1983, there
were 80 vessels licensed and 69,637 pounds of fish caught, with a dock side value of
$45,196.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
The 1980 Camden County Land Use Plan provides a map showing 10 archaeological
sites in the Joyce Creek watershed. Another possible site, the Pine Bluff site, located on
N.C. 343 and S.R. 1100 in Shiloh Township, has been identified.
There are six sites in Camden County listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Caleb Grundy House
Camden County Courthouse Milford
William Riley Abbot house
Lamb-Ferebee House
Camden County Jail
The following map, from Camden County, North Carolina: An Appraisal of Potential for
Outdoor Recreation (Soil Conservation Service, Camden, 1973), shows the location of
these registered sites and the location of 15 additional historical and cultural sites that are
worthy of recognition.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 31 1

a ,
i
V
f
/Q C
N i
Cot 1
;v•\ Y;•1� a 1
%�,�,_ a IN
' t l� I `ter ` '/ 1 / 1 'I' ," `I / / �♦ E %' \'�
\,,;/•. I�i,I�IG`/ \�,r ��%�\�I:i� 1. i�'ll.`i l'll: �j'Ti �117p
j,1=1�111♦, N� I�,tl'/\,!-1 i1�� /\• 11�/\ �`'``�T._ h, —
1-1�?\'�
� f l � i i :♦ ' � , 111 � 1 1�� /� `� �-1� 1. � \ ��1- •L �:,�Ji 1``1- I
\�I
a % i`'" , IL`ii//IL1..\1/\i / ,�1�� it `I\!/_.. - •G/ li/♦� r\�%1 r
��� III/\�I���IIi i�l/�I� i i/i �/\� ,\:i,� •./y�,1/1 �1_1\/lam 1 /
1 ,
\%-'
At
<1�.: ,v_ Irl♦/� /�1'1; i / I`v`E-+.. /Illiii 1
E sw• r 'err '"'^• \ •,I\CIT
.<. •\\ �` ^ n^"' iti/; 'f•Iv��i' I lam, r�(fy :.�
CAi�'f[7iEi�1 - ICCI�lI�TY
L 5 E X A R L
6
��S 4
EX=ST=�IIG l_ai^-�i`�!a USE
Itc- 77TYT
FORESTS
DEVELOPED
-- - --
in part though a ant Provided by the North Carolina
The preparation of this document was financrovided b rthe Coastal Zone Management Act of �972 as
Coastal Management program through funds p Y
amended, which is administered by the Office of ocean and
dm astal Resources Management, National
oceanic an
Atmospheric
I
1

\. 1. Colonel bennls
\ \. Dozier tetehe(!
house
\. 9. Mchtlde metho-
distChurch
2. Us "at Swntnp
Canal be Locks
Odd) Crandy
...: ':. wr• r w..r
d. t\!osliy ti r. r .. or Condo t Illouse
. house Il �� 5. 13atticgrnund, l
unmarked
° I F �• Y'r .g. Allred Catln
house „W�
ZO , '1'hrnnns Ilene ---- � - �'.thk ' •l• �..�. y � "1n .
CO 4 house - —11 Indlantown
t3. Camden Count - I2, rnitlleld
i•M
Courthouse . 14. Ilesldenee o
ztca .'
1p, Chantilly Ancient
Ferry `Tteas a olnt '17 Shiloh I#aptst1
'I" :mac Church
15. Shiloh Academy`�.�rr
( -18. Ilesldenee of Mr.
_ f and Mrs. W. Grady
1©. t Milltown tevenl. ' - _� _ _ _ •
C A lt� b C a �1 tit t Y Tom my's Yo t .. r
i t
' 1-11 5T * SAL At*ta GULTUtAL
w
5*TE5
Ali
b w,
20. • Camden to
2t. hinc U1uIE silo

AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
The Coastal Resources Commission has designated four categories of environmen-
tal concern in the twenty coastal counties included in the North Carolina Area Man-
agement Act:
1) The Ocean Hazard System
2) The Estuarine System
3) Public Water Supplies
4) Natural and Cultural Resources Areas
Only four
one of these categories, the Estuarine System, pertains to Camden
County.
The Estuarine System category contains four components designated as areas of
environmental concern: Estuarine Shorelines, Public Trust Waters, Coastal Wet-
lands, and Estuarine Waters.
All
of these components are present in Camden County.
PUBLIC TRUST WATERS
Public Trust Waters are all waters and submerged lands in the twenty county coastal
region where the public has rights of use, including rights of navigation and recre-
ation. The Coastal Area Management Act more specifically identifies Public Trust
Waters as:
1) "All waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder from the mean
high water mark to the seaward limit of state jurisdiction"
2) "All natural bodies of water subject to measurable lunar tides, and all lands
thereunder to the mean high
water mark"
3) "All navigable natural bodies of water, and all lands thereunder, except pri-
vately owned lakes -to which the public has no right of access"
4) "All water in artificially -created bodies of water containing significant pub-
lic fishing resources or other public resources which are accessible to the
public by navigation from bodies of water in which the public has naviga-
tion rights"
5) "All waters in artificially -created bodies of water in which the public has ac-
quired rights by prescription, custom, usage, dedication, or any other
means."
ESTUARINE SHORELINES
Estuarine shorelines are non -ocean shorelines that are "intimately connected to the
Estuary." The estuarine shoreline is more specifically defined as a 75' strip of land
bordering all waters determined to be estuarine through an agreement between the
North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development and
the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. In Camden County, the estu-
arine shorelines extend continuously from the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 34
i

near Elizabeth City, south around Camden Point and north along the North River
for its entire length.
COASTAL WETLANDS
Coastal wetlands are defined as any marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding
by tides, including wind tides. Coastal wetlands are generally not mapped but are
identified by the presence of one or more of ten plant species. Coastal wetlands in
Camden County normally occur near the mouths of tributaries emptying into the
estuarine waters of the Pasquotank River, the Sound, and the North River.
ESTUARINE WATERS
Estuarine waters are defined as "all waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the bound-
ary of North Carolina and all waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries
thereto seaward of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fish-
ing waters, as set forth in an agreement adopted by the Wildlife Resource Commis-
sion and the Department of Natural Resource and Community Development."
In Camden County, the Pasquotank River is declared Estuarine from the Norfolk
Southern Railroad Bridge near Elizabeth City to the Sound. The North River is
Estuarine for its entire length in North Carolina.
Camden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 35

POLICY: AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN:
ISSUE: Protection of the Estuarine System AEC's
FINDINGS:
Coastal Wetlands: No Speck threats to coastal wetland areas in the county have
been identified. If one exists, it is due to land uses adjacent to the wetlands. rather
than to any development within these lands. Potential threats to these lands are
primarily due to surface run-off associated with agriculture, forestry, and residential
uses.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
No previous policy was adopted, but the following was suggested: "To encourage
and otherwise permit only those uses which are demonstrably consistent with pro-
tection of salt marshes,..."Camden County Land Use Plan 1980-1990
CURRENT POLICY:
The County recognizes the fragile nature of the coastal wetlands and its value in re-
tarding run-off, reducing erosion, and supporting aquatic life. It shall be the policy
of Camden County to support the efforts of the Coastal Resources Commission in
protecting this valuable resource and to rely on the Division of Coastal Management
to control development in these areas through its present permitting system.
FINDING:
Estuarine Waters: Surface run-off, septic tank leakage, and liquid waste discharges
pose the greatest threats to the estuarine waters.
Agricultural run-off poses the greatest potential threat to these waters in Camden
County, simply because of -'the scope of this activity. Septic tank leakage and its
subsequent run-off in the waters prose some threat, particularly in the Camden Point
area where the water table is quite high and could float the effluent to the surface.
All of the subdivisions now dotting the Camden shorelines are lots greater than the
minimum size required by the County Health Department.
The Causeway development adjacent to Elizabeth City is the most intensively used
land in the county. Most urban run-off and development impacts to the estuarine
waters will most likely occur in this area.
j.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
No previous policy was formally adopted, but the following was suggested: "...to
permit only those uses in Estuarine Waters which are demonstrably consistent with
safeguarding and perpetuating the biological, social, economic, and aesthetic value
of estuarine waters. "Camden Land Use Plan, 1980-1990
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 36
11

CURRENT POLICY:
It shall be the policy of Camden County to rely on the C.A.M.A. permitting pro-
cess and the regulations of other State and Federal agencies with development
jurisdiction, as well as on existing local development regulations, to mitigate threats
to the County's estuarine waters.
FINDINGS:
Estuarine Shorelines: The greatest threat to the estuarine shorelines in Camden
County are bulkheading activities in its several waterfront subdivisions. These ac-
tivities are rigorously regulated by the Division of Coastal Management It is as-
sumed that the bulkheading permitted by C.A.M.A. rules does not threaten the in-
tegrity of the estuarine shoreline.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
No previous policy was formally adopted, but the following was suggested during
the previous land use update: "...to protect the dynamic nature of estuarine shore-
lines and values of the estuarine system. " Camden Land Use Plan, 1980-1990
CURRENT POLICY:
Camden County recognizes the extreme vulnerability of the estuarine shoreline and
supports the C.A.M.A. permitting process to regulate development in this area.
Camden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 37

CAMDEN COUNTY: ESTIMATED DEMAND
Housing
Population projections for Camden County indicate an increase of 692 persons from 1980
to 1995. In both 1970 and 1980, the average persons per dwelling unit in Camden County
was approximately 3.3. (The 1970 rate was 3.3; the 1980 rate was 3.27.) Assuming that
this same household size remains constant, there will be a need for 210 new dwelling units
by 1995.
Based on a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet, approximately 96 acres of land will be
needed for these new housing units.
Schools
Enrollment in the Camden County Schools is now under the system's capacity, and en-
rollment is expected to decline during the planning period. No new classroom construction
will be needed because of enrollment growth during the planning period.
Solid Waste
The County now serves 1,783 occupied housing units with four compactor vehicles, pro-
viding door-to-door pick-up. Each compactor serves on the average of 90 housing units
per day. An increase of 210 housing units would require each truck to serve an average of
100 dwelling units per day. An additional compactor would yield an average daily cus-
tomer -per -truck rate of 80 dwelling units, a much more reasonable number to serve in
door-to-door fashion. If household growth increases as anticipated, the County will prob-
ably add additional compactors to the program or else reduce service.
1
1
s
a
I
I- Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 38
1

CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS
Camden County relies on five basic regulatory tools to control development in the county.
These tools include land use restrictions on mapped land areas, as well as specific perfor-
mance standards that development must meet..
REGULATIONS
Camden County, North Carolina, Zoning Ordinance. 1972.
In November 1972, Camden County adopted its zoning ordinance along with its subdivi-
sion regulations. The ordinance established land use zones that were in general confor-
mance with the Sketch Development Plan. The ordinance establishes ten separate zoning
districts, as well as special provisions for mobile home parks and extractive uses.
Camden County Subdivision Regulations, 1972
In November 1972, Camden County adopted subdivision regulations. This ordinance em-
phasizes orderliness of development. The ordinance, in addition to assigning decision -
making responsibilities, establishes applications and permit procedures and amendment and
appeal mechanisms; it defines the term "subdivision" and establishes minimum develop-
ment standards, including lot size, set backs, lot width, yard dimensions, access, roadway
standards, drainage requirements, and public facility services.
Regular Phase of the National Flood Insurance Program
Camden County is participating in the regular phase of the National Flood Insurance Pro-
gram and enforces the required precautionary regulations required by this program. The
County uses the Flood Insurance Rate Maps provided by the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency and imposes specific construction standards in these flood hazard areas. The
ground floor of all dwellings must be higher than the 100-year flood elevation.
North Carolina Building Code
In July 1982, the County began enforcing; all elements of the North Carolina Building
Code. This Code, of course, regulates allnew construction and the installation of electri-
cal, plumbing, and mechanical services„ as well as mobile home installations. Camden
County is in the 110 mph wind velocity zone. Construction and mobile home installation
standards for this zone are enforced.
County Health Del2artment Sentic Tank Permits
The County Health Department regulates development density in Camden County. The
regulations of this agency establish minimum lot sizes and minimum soil conditions for the
installation of on -site sewage disposal systems of less than 3,000 gallons. The minimum
lot size for septic tank approval in the county is 15,000 square feet for lots served by public
water and 20,000 square feet for those using on -site water supplies. These standards are
county -wide minimums and are contingent on certain soil conditions and drainage charac-
teristics of the building site.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 39

IPLANS
Sketch Development Plan: Camden County. NC, by Camden County Planning
Board, 1972.
This plan was offered as a "general guide to assist officials" in developing land use regula-
tions. The plan outlines a spatial arrangement to accommodate expected growth and is
based on implied rather than formally articulated goals. The main goal seems to be to
maintain the rural and predominantly agricultural nature of the county. The plan attempts to
preserve this rural, agricultural environment by concentrating development near existing
towns and villages and along arterial roads connecting these communities.
An Appraisal of Potential for Outdoor Recreation. _ by the Soil Conservation
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1973.
This document evaluates Camden County's potential for development of eleven kinds of
outdoor recreation and activities and ranks their potential for development as high or
medium. Those types of recreation appraised as having high development potential were 1)
picnic and field sports areas; 2) fishing waters; 3) hunting areas; 4) historical areas; and 5)
shooting preserves. Those having medium potential were 1) vacation cabins, cottages, and
home sites; 2) camping grounds; 3) golf courses; 4) riding stables; 5) vacation farms, and
6) water sports.
The Great Dismal Swamp State Park Master Plan, by the Division of State
Parks, 1974.
This master plan outlines three phases for the development of the Great Dismal Swamp
State Park. The first two phases of development would not generate sufficient public use
to encourage peripheral development. These two phases consist of an access road, trail
development, and camping facilities for special interest groups./ The third phase would
include short interpretive nature programs for short-term itinerant visitors. This,third phase
is expected to generate 50,000 to 100,000 visitors per year. The development of this park
has not been implemented and is not expected to occur during the ten-year planning period
covered by this plan.
CAMA Land Use Plan, by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development, 1975.
The 1975 CAMA Land Use Plan provides a wealth of data concerning the Camden County
environment and the extent of development in the county as it existed in 1975. This was
the initial plan for the county prepared under the Coastal Area Management Act. and it thus
places great emphasis on identifying potential areas of environmental concern and fragile
areas.
Recreation and OVn_Space—Plan for the County of Camden . North Car -
to ina, prepared by Howard T. Capps, 1977.
This plan inventoried all existing recreational sites and facilities in the county in 1977 and
compared the existing facilities with standards established by the National Parks and
Recreation Association (NPRA). The county did not have any land areas specifically
designated for recreational purposes, but relied on local school facilities. The plan estab-
lished the county's recreational space need based on NPRA standards and population pro-
jections, identified seven potential park sites, and provided site plans and development cost
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 40

estimates for each site. The facilities provided at the sites were based on citizen question-
naires administered during the CAMA Land Use Plan preparations and a special recre-
ational questionnaire administered by the consultant.
CAMA Land Use Plan Undue, prepared by Planning and Design Associates,
Raleigh, NC, 1980.
This plan provided the first five-year update to the original 1975 CAMA Land Use Plan.
This plan provided an updated information base, including 1980 Census data, and for the
first time identified development issues; established county goals, objectives, and policies
concerning these issues and developed implementation strategies.
Transportation Improvement Plan, 1985-1996, North Carolina Department of
Transportation, 1985.
This plan identifies all improvements scheduled to be completed in Camden County by the
North Carolina Department of Transportation during the next ten-year period.
STUDIES
Housing Conditions Survey, study by the Regional Development Institute, 1985.
This study provides a comprehensive survey of residential units in Camden County.
Housing units were sorted by type, including mobile homes; by condition; and by town-
ship. Housing deficiencies were listed by frequency of occurrence in each township. The
study also identified concentrations of low and moderate income persons in the county.
Feasibility Study on Water Facilities for the County of Camden. —North
Carolina. study prepared by Moore, Gardner, and Associates, Inc., 1973.
This study provides perhaps the only detailed account of ground water supplies as they re-
late specifically to Camden County. The study outlines the design capacity of the South
Mills Water System, computes the amount of water being treated and sold in 1973, and
provides projections of future use and cost estimates for various expansion scenarios.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 41

CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT
LAND SUITABILITY
SOILS
The best general description of the soils in Camden County is low, flat, and wet. The highest
elevation in the county, located near Sharon in the north central portion of the county, is
only 17 feet above sea level. Slopes in the county are generally less than 5% and seldom
exceed 10% except for the banks of constructed drainage ditches. Depths to seasonally high
water -table levels range from 0" to 30" below the ground surface; normal levels range from
5 to 13 feet throughout most of the county.
SOIL ASSOCIATIONS
The soils in Camden County have been grouped into five soil associations. Two of these as-
sociations account for approximately 94% of the county's total acreage. The largest of these
two major associations, the PONZER - PAMLICO association, consists of deep organic His-
tosols occurring in flat pocosin-like areas or in the flood plain of major rivers and streams
in or bordering the county. The Great Dismal Swamp, located in the northern portion of the
county, is the prime example of a flat pocosin. The wooded swamp areas lying in the flood
plains of the Pasquotank and North Rivers and the major tributaries of these rivers also con-
sist of this soil association. This association comprises approximately 54% of all the land
area in Camden county.
The second largest of the two major soil associations, the PASQUOTANK - MYATT - BAR -
CLAY association, occurs as a large continuous body of soils forming the central spine of the
county. It begins in the north, just north of Sharon, and continues in a single band to Texas,
in the south. These soils are poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained and have loam and
clay loam subsoils generally overlain with fine or very fine sandy loam or silt loam surface
layers. This soil association accounts for approximately 40% of the county's land mass.
The remaining three soil associations account for only 6% of the county's total acreage.
The largest of these is the DRAGSTON - BERTIE - KALMIA association, which occurs as
three separate areas in the county: in the north near Pierceville;in the central part of the county
near Camden and Belcross; and in the southeastern section of the county from Indiantown to
Old Trap.
The second of these smaller associations is the NAHUNTA - EXUM association. This asso-
ciation generally occurs on gently sloping terraces bordering the swamp -like soils of the flood
plains of the major rivers. Most of this association consists of a narrow band lying along
state road NC 343 and running from Morgans Corner, in the north, to Camden in the south.
The last of these three minor associations, the BAYBORO - BLADE N association, occurs
as relatively small fringe areas in three separate parts of the county: North of South Mills,
northeast of Belcross, an east of Old Trap.
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Pacje 42
I

I
SOIL LIMITATIONS
The major limiting factor of all the soils in Camden County is their shallow, depth -to -water
table characteristic. County wide the seasonally high water table is less than 30"
beneath the ground surface; and in the major portion of the county, it reaches to or within 15"
of the surface. This characteristic limits the soils absorptive capacity for use as septic -tank
drainage fields, it limits the strength of the soil for supporting foundations of buildings, and it
limits the agricultural productivity of the land by maintaining moisture saturation in the root
zone layers of the soil.
CAMDEN COUNTY SOTLS
DEPTH TO WATERTABLE
Y"
0" TO 1511
15" TO 3011
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 43
I
a
a
!_I

DRAINAGE CLASSIFICATIONS
Soils have been classified as to how fast moisture is removed from the surface, either as
surface water run-off or through the internal movement of moisture down through the soil lay-
ers. There are seven drainage classifications assigned to soils; ranging from Very Poorly
Drained to Excessively Drained. The soils associations in Camden county generally fall into
only two classifications-- Very Poorly Drained and Poorly Drained-- although individual
soil types within each of the soil associations may have different classifications.
CAMDEN COUNTY SOILS
DRAINAGE CLASSIFICATIONS
- —__ - - :.^ ,:+J�✓.�., J d .-:7.:'..t: -';fit
IIII
C3 I I IIIIIIII I111 � - _ J.. 1�
J�-''i'IIII11111111111 IIII ` .. . �
III" s% 11�}�'J�`';Ijll
I It` J�
I %..j7V ��-llll
�IIII 11111111 . 'I I I II
I I I � I II�
J
- -. II Ililiiill I SJ �.� 1 I
�- IlII111II1'I '•3<.._.J": III
,.. 7 A +7 -
W
SOMEWHAT POORLY DRAINED TO WELL DRAINED E _
POORLY DRAINED TO SOMEWHAT POORLY DRAINED
VERY POORLY DRAINED TO POORLY DRAINED
VERY POORLY DRAINED
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 44

SEPTIC TANK LIMITATIONS
As one might expect, with the high water table and the poor drainage of almost all the soils,
the limitations on septic tanks in Camden County are quite severe. The soil conditions in the
county often require extra expense and efforts to support development. The Department of
Health requires minimum lot sizes of either 20,000 sq.ft. or 40,000 sq.fL for single-family
homes in the county. In many cases, these large lot sizes are alone not sufficient to gain
Health Department approval, and extensive excavation or drainage systems are required.
CAMDEN COUNTY SOILS
SEPTIC TANK LIMITATIONS
Camden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 45

SUMMARY. OF CHARACTERISTICS
The preceding maps have indicated the general location of each soil association and generally
reflect the characteristics of the major soil type within each association. There are individual
soils found in these associations that do have characteristics substantially different from those
of the association as a whole. In the table below, septic tank limitations, depth to water table,
and drainage classification have been listed for each major soil type in each association.
This table and the preceding maps show the location of soil characteristics as they generally
appear on the landscape and are not suitable for planning individual tracts of land. The local
Soil Conservation Officer and the local County Health Officer must be consulted for any
site- specific land evaluations. A soil survey for Camden County is now being prepared, and
most of the field work has been completed. This document will contain site -specific soil in-
formation for all lands in the county.
,N SOIL LIMITATIONS:CAMDEN COUNTY
% % Septic Depth
of Soil in Tank Internal to
County Association Assoc Limitation Drainage Watertable
40% Pasquotank- 35% Severe Vr.poor 0-15'
Myatt- 30% Severe Poor 0-15'
Barclay 20% Severe S/W Poor 15-30'.
3% Dragston- 55% Severe S/W Poor 15-30'
Bertie- 20% Severe S/W Poor 15-30'
Kalmia 10% Slight Well 15-30'
1% Nahunta- 55% Severe S/W Poor 15-30'
Exum 20% Mod. Mod.Well 15-30'
2% Bayboro- 60% Severe Vr.Poor 0-15'
Bladen 25% Severe Poor 0-15'
54% Ponzer- 65% Vr.Severe Vr.Poor 0-15'
Pamlico 10% Vr.Severe Vr.Poor 0-15'
SOIL EROSION
Due to the flat topography of the county, sheet and rill erosion are insignificant problems.
However, erosion along the shorelines of the two major rivers draining the county has been
significant.
In 1975, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service published a report, Shoreline Erosion Inventory,
that described the extent of erosion along the shores of the Pasquotank and North Rivers in
Cam- den County. The area studied 38.8 miles of Camden County shoreline extending from
the U.S. 158 bridge at Elizabeth City, on the Pasquotank River, to the confluence of the In-
tercoastal Waterway at Taylor Bay, on the North River.
The shoreline erosion is measured in five reaches. The erosion rate varied considerably
among these reaches, with the lowest rate being less than one foot per year and the greatest
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 46

being 3.8 feet per year. The average erosion rate for the entire 38.8 miles of shoreline studied
was 2.1 feet per year.
CAMDEN COUNTY: SHORELINE EROSION
AVERAGE
LENGTH OF LENGTH OF AVG. WIDTH
SHORELINE
SHORELINE
LOST TO
EROSION
,REACH
ERODING
EROSION
RATE
1 5.1 MILES
4.0 MILES
57.4 FEET
1.85FT/YEAR
2 4.3
3.9
39.1
1.26
3 5.4
3.8
60.2
1.94
4 12.1
12.1
117.8
3.8
5 1 1.9
8.2
28.3
0.91
CAMDEN COUNTY
AVERAGE 38.8 MILES
32.0 MILES 65.6
FEET
2.IFT/YEAR
SHORELINE EROSION
I .........
.........
REALM !To. I
AV- 'JIath 103C to erasion 37.4 feet
AV. hel;=c of bank '.0 fear
Length of shoreline eroding :-a :;!:..
1e0q= of shoreline ace-.ecj=g 0 Miles
Total length Of shoreline 5.1 M3.1.
MkC7 NO. I -1K1
AV. Xaz.L ice c to erosion 39.1' feet
AV, bax42c of bank 5.4 fact
L4rqta of shoreline eroding 3.9 miles
Length of shoreline accreting 0 MCLICS
Total lengr1i of shor-",e 4.3 Mlles
as.
REAM 'qO* 3
AV: VLd= lost to erosion 60.2 fmoc
AV height of bank 2.9 feet
Length of shoreline eroding 3.3 miles
Leagm of shoreline accreting a males
Total length of shoreline 5.4 Z.1.1as
REAM NO. 4
AV. --lata 7 erosion 117.3 feet. `�
lost to 7.
Av. height of bank I.Z feet
Length Of :noreilne eroding lz.-, axles
Length of noreli=e &cc --at=% 0 Z1.1as
Total length of shoreline U- axles.
CAMDEN COUNTY
NCRTH CARCLINA
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
W
c
uAv. adca lost to erosion
AV. height of bank feet
Langta of snor-Line eroding 8.2 =3.199
..-�'-Length of snoralite accracz=g 0 CLUES
tl Total length of shoreline 3.1.9 miles
Page 47

WATER RESOURCES
Water is the most noticeable and the most abundant natural resource in Northeastern North
Carolina. While massively abundant and economically important, these resources for the most
part are salty and hence unusable for consumption. Except for only a few instances, the water
used by area residents comes from ground supplies.
Generally speaking, the ground water supplies are as extensive as of the surface waters. Tfiree
stratified aquifers underlie much of the region and contain massive quantities of water. These
ground water resources, while ample, suffer in usability because of their direct interface with
the saltwater in the area and its frequent intrusion into these ground water supplies. The intru-
sion of saltwater into these underground aquifers is a major concern in Camden County.
The following discussion draws heavily from WATER RESOURCES* OF NORTHEAST
NORTH CAROLINA, by H.B. Wilder et al, 1978
1 WATER SUPPLY
I
I I
The availability of water in anyplace at any particular time is dependent upon the interaction
of various components of what is generally known as the Hydrologic Cycle. The components
of the cycle include:
(1) climatic factors, such
as rainfall and temper-
ature in the area;
(2) vegetation or ground -
cover, as these affect
the rate of moisture
evaporation;and
(3) surface waters and
groundwater, since
they represent both
moisture that isri_en-
tering an area in the
form of stream flow -
and moisture stored
in surface reservoirs
and underground
aquifers.
w
0
aec4 C � C� cba`o
diltratton �s
wtl
i e CO
So`t 'Ao,s`ut9`no't
yet
Ica
Water Vapour
Eve_
The interaction of these components keeps in constant motion the circulation of the Hy-
drologic Cycle. Heat from the sun causes the evaporation of surface moisture and the
transpiration of moisture from living plants. This evaporated moisture is carried by the winds
until it cools and condenses and returns to the earth• as precipitation. Once on the earth,
gravity takes over and moves the water either above or beneath the ground toward the
ocean.
WATER BUDGET
This cyclical movement can be expressed as a profit -and -loss statement where profit or loss is
the difference in the moisture entering the area as steam, ground -water flow, and precipitation
(income) and the water leaving the area, through evaporation, transpiration, and as surface
or ground -water runoff (outflow). Profits would be recorded as increases in water stored in
surface reservoirs or as increases in ground -water storage. This P/L statement is generally
Camden County 198.6 Land Use Update Page 48

referred to as a water budget : water entering the county either through stream flow or as rain-
fall minus water lost through transpiration, evaporation, and stream run-off yields water stored
either as ground water or as surface water supplies(reservoirs).
PRECIPITATION
The base of the county's water budget is the amount of rainfall in the area. The annual
rainfall in most of the county averages from 48"to 50". On the southern tip of the county, an-
nual rainfall averages 46" to 48"
Monthly precipitation data collected at Elizabeth City, NC, from 1910 to 1960 indicate that the
precipitation in the area is least during the months of April, October, and November, and
greatest during the summer months of July, August, and September.
10
P 9
R 8
E
I C 7
N P 6
C H I 5
E A 4
S T 3
I 2
O
N 1
0
AVERAGE PRECIPITATION: ELIZABETH CITY. NC. 1910-1960'
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
Source: Water Systems of Northeast North Carolina, H.B. Wilder, at al
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
Evapotranspiration is a term developed to express the total amount of moisture discharged into
the atmosphere through the evaporation of surface water and the transpiration from living
plants. In such areas as Camden County, where large land areas are devoted to the cultivation
of crops and forests, the transpiration rate can be quite high, particularly during the grow-
ing season. The graph below shows the comparative monthly precipitation and evapotranspi-
ration rates as measured at Elizabeth City, NC. The shaded area in the graph represents periods
of moisture deficit. As can be seen by the graph, a shortage or deficit of moisture in the
county is most likely to occur during the growing season months of May, June, and the early
part of July. Annually, evapotranspiration consumes approximately 34" of the annual 50" or
roughly two-thirds of the county's annual precipitation.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 49

I
1
I
I
is
P' 14
r
12
e
I I 10
n P 8
C I
6 1 6
e a
8 1 4
1 2
n 0
C,
r1AX1N1UM, AVERAGE, AND MONTHLY PRECIPITATION AND CALCULATED,
AVERAGE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AT ELIZABETH CITY,NC, 1931-1960
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
0 AVERAGE AVERAGE MINIMUM IL MAXIMUM
POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION PROCIPITATION PRECIPITATION
EVAPOTRANSPIRATIC
N
OUTFLOW
Because of the extremely high
watertable, characteristic of
Camden County and almost
all of the counties in the
Albemarle; very little of the
precipitation falling in the area
can be retained as additional
soil moisture or ground wa-
ter. Except for the winter
months, the soils are perpetu-
ally at or near the saturation
point.
What generally happens is that
the shallow waterways and
streams widen quickly to
contain the run-off; after they
recede, the excess ground-
water then seeps into these
streams becoming surface
run-off.
AQUIFERS
Total Precipitation
50 in
Evapotranspiration
34 in
Overland Runoff
5 in
Total Runoff
15 in
land surface
Groundwater runoff
10 in
Groundwater Flow 1 in
Camden County is underlain by three major aquifers, each of which is fully discussed in Fea-
sibility Study on Water Facilities for the County of Camden, Moore, Gardner,
and associates, 1973, the source of most information that follows here. The upper aquifer or
water table aquifer occurs in the surfacial geological layer and is unconfined and most easily
accessible. Most of the wells in Camden County tap into this aquifer. The middle and lower
aquifers occur in the Upper and Lower Yorktown geological formations. These aquifers are
confined and under some artesian pressure.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 50
t

WATER TABLE AQUIFER
The water table aquifer is generally five to thirteen feet beneath the surface and ranges from 45
to 130 feet thick. Seasonally, the water table may range from right at the ground surface to
15" to 30" below. Wells in this aquifer range in depth from 5 to 25 feet and produce yields of
from 2 to 10 gallons per minute(gpm). Water withdrawn from the water table aquifer is gener-
ally low in dissolved solids and ranges in hardness from soft to moderately hard. Total mineral
content ranges from 56 to 586 parts per million(ppm). Some isolated areas with very hard
water have been tapped in the northern portion of the county.
MIDDLE (UPPER YORKTOWN) AQUIFER
The middle aquifer is partially confined and under some artesian pressure. The surface level to
which water will rise in wells drilled into this aquifer range from 30' above mean sea level(msl)
in the northern portion of the county to mean sea level in the southern part of the county. Wells
withdrawing water from this aquifer range in depth of from 50' to 114' and produce yields
ranging from 1 to 100 gpm.
Water in the middle aquifer is for the most part hard and alkaline, and it tends to form scale.
This aquifer contains fresh water in all parts of the county, but is underlain by the more salty
Lower Yorktown . In areas of cone depression near major pumping points, such as the Eliza-
beth City pumping facility near Old Trap, salt water intrusion has occurred. Salt water has also
been found in this aquifer in the southern portion of the County near Camden Point.
LOWER (LOWER YORKTOWN) AQUIFER
This aquifer is actually a lower stratification of the middle or Upper Yorktown aquifer. The
water in this aquifer is very similar to that of the middle aquifer in terms of hardness, but is
generally more salty, containing greater chloride concentrations. Wells using this aquifer range
in depth of from 130 to 165 feet and produce yields ranging from 12 to 40 gpm.
SURFACE WATER
Approximately 25% of the total surface area of Camden County is water(49,900 acres out of
202,400). Most of this surface water area lies in the wide estuaries of the Pasquotank and
North Rivers and in portions of the Albemarle Sound.
The Pasquotank River is classified as Class C Swamp Waters from its source to the Norfolk
Southern railroad Bridge near Elizabeth City. The river is estuarine from this point to the
Sound. Various of the estuarine portion of the river are classified as SC or SB waters --pri-
marily SC.
MAN MADE HAZARDS
The most prevalent man-made hazards in Camden County are the general hazards and dangers
associated with the county transportation network and with storage depots for fuel, chemicals,
fertilizers, and grains.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
Camden County lies within the Pamlico Plain section of the Lower Atlantic Coastal physio-
graphic province. The generalized physiography of the area is typical of the coastal plain:
wide eastward and southerly sloping plains, separated by eastward facing scarps, stair -step
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 51

1
i
I
I
1
I
ping their way through progressively lower elevation to meet the ocean. The Pamlico Plain
slopes eastward from the Suffolk escarpment, which runs from Virginia to south of Wilming-
ton. A section of this escarpment lies along the border of Chowan and Perquimans counties
west of Camden County. The figure below, taken from the Soil Conservation Service docu-
ment, Soil Systems of North Carolina illustrates the stair -step physiography of the
coastal plain.
COASTAL PLAIN SUBDIVISIONS:
PLAINS and SCARPS
Piedmont Upper Coastal Middle Coastal Plain Lower Coastal Plain
Plain
Camden County
brand wine
poharte
Sundorland
9hl1comico ,
Pamiido
Coats Wilson Mills Kenly Surry Walter ro Suffolk
TOPOGRAPHY
Camden County is a combination of broad, nearly level to gently rolling coastal plains cut by
moderately deeply cut widely spaced streams which empty into sounds having outlets to the
Atlantic Ocean. Elevations in the county are usually below fifteen feet above mean sea level.
The highest elevation in Camden County, just 17 feet above mean sea level, is located north-
west of Sharon in the northern portion of the county near the Great Dismal Swamp. Except
for man-made drainage ditches and canals, slopes in the county seldom exceed 12%. The
county generally slopes from north to south and from a center ridge of higher ground outward
to the Pasquotank and North Rivers which form, respectively, the western and eastern bound-
aries of the county.
DRAINAGE
The Pasquotank River,along the western edge of the county, and the North River, along the
Eastern edge of the county provide drainage for the county and essentially run parallel on either
side of the county. Except for a few very short streams that empty directly into the Albemarle
Sound, all drainage occurs via these two rivers. The Pasquotank River, because of its connec-
tion to the Dismal Swamp Canal, forms a link in the Intercoastal Waterway navigation sys-
tem,linking Camden County to the Tidewater Region of Virginia.
GEOLOGY
Surfacial sands and clays of the recent Pliestocene and post -Miocene periods cover the en-
tire county. These upper deposits generally range from 20' to 100' thick, thickening from
Camden County 1936 Land Use Update
Page 52

north to south. Local deposits of much greater thickness have been found in the southern
portion of the county near the Albemarle Sound.
This surfacial layer is underlain by the Upper Yorktown formation: This formation generally
consists of darker blue to gray clays with deposits of marl, gravel, shells, and impure lime-
stone. The Upper Yorktown ranges in thickness from 135' to 185', generally thickening from
north to south and west to east.
The Lower Yorktown formation underlies the Upper Yorktown and generally consists of blue
to gray clays, sandy clays, phosphatic quartz sand, and impure limestone. The Lower York-
town ranges in thickness from 185' to 220', with the greater thickness normally appearing in
the southern portion of the county.
The lower Yorktown formation is underlain by the Beaufort formation, which consists largely
of glauconitic sands underlain by iron -stained sands and red clays. The thickness of the Beau-
fort formation ranges from 220' to 400', thickening from west to east.
The Pee Dee formation lies under the Beaufort formation and forms the geologic base for the
area. This formation consists primarily of interbedded gravel, sand, silt, and clays. The thick-
ness of this formation ranges from 300' to 700' generally thickening from west to east.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 53

I
CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
WATER SERVICES
Camden County does not provide public sewer or water service to any area of the county, One
independent water district in the South Mills Township provides water service to approximately
1,050 customers. Elizabeth City, just across the Pasquotank River from Camden County, is
now installing water and sewer service across the river onto the causeway area of Camden
County along US 158. Elizabeth City has annexed this area of Camden County.
Camden County is considering negotiations with neighboring units of government to provide
water service to areas of Camden County.
SOUTH MILLS WATER DISTRICT
The South Mills Water District serves the southern portion of the South Mills Township and a
small segment of Pasquotank County. The system contains 100 miles of water lines serving
some 1,052 customers and is adding approximately 50 new customers per year. The system
uses a well field containing 14 shallow wells, with the deepest well being 42 feet. The wells
are pumped at a very low rate to avoid creating conal depressions and to prevent the mixing of
salt water from lower strata of the aquifer. One well is capable of pumping 100 gpm; the re-
mainder range in capacities of 15 to 30m gpm. Potable water supplies require careful manage-
ment is Camden County. They must be shallow and pumped slowly, and they are generally
short lived. The South Mills Water District will add five new wells this past summer.
The District will use $72,000 of Camden Counties Senate Bill 2 Monies to extend the water
system along NC 342 toward Camden.
The system presently sells approximately 4 to 5 million gallons per month depending on the
season. Production in the summer months will average approximately 200,000 gpd. The
treatment plant is capable of treating 300 gpm and usually operates 12 to 21 hours per day de-
pending on demand.
The well field cannot provide sufficient water to allow the water plant to operate at design ca-
pacity. The plant has to operate 21 hours per day to meet the average summer daily use of
200,000 gallons. The water district storage capacity of 95,000 gallons is less than half the av-
erage daily demand for summertime use.
SOLID WASTE
Camden County operates the only county -wide, door-to-door solid waste collection system in
the Albemarle Region, maybe in the state. Four fully equipped compactors provide at least
once weekly service to all homes in the county. The county contracts with Elizabeth City for
use of the city's landfill. The Elizabeth City landfill was put into operation in 1983 and has an
expected life of 30 years.
SCHOOLS
The Camden County School System is composed of three separate facilities: Grandy Elemen-
tary School; Camden Middle School, and Camden High School. All three facilities are located
in the community of Camden, in the Courthouse township near the center of the county and
near the intersection of US 158 and NC 343, the two major arterial highways serving the
county.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 54

U.
Present enrollment of the entire system is 1 088 students with 338 students being olled in
Y � g enr
the Grandy School, 410 in the Middle School,and 340 in the High School. Maximum capacity
of the facilities is 1500 students. Enrollment projections prepared by the Division of Planning
and Research indicate a steadily declining enrollment through 1990. All facilities are approxi-
mately 25 to 30 years of age and in average condition. No renovation or major repairs beyond
routine maintenance are anticipated.
ROADS
There are a total of 192.8 miles of public streets and roads under state maintenance in Camden
County. Approximately 71 % of all roads in the county are paved, with only 56 miles being
unpaved. Primary account for 44 miles of the highway system. The primary roads in the sys-
tem are US 158, US 17, NC 343, and NC 34.
The only highway improvement listed on the North Carolina Transportation Improvement Plan
for 1985 to 1990 is the repair of the Run Swamp Canal Bridge on NC 34 at the Camden -Cur-
rituck County line.
POLICE
Police services are now provided by the Camden County Police Department. The departments
personnel consists of the sheriff, three deputies, and a radio dispatcher.
FIRE
Fire protection is provided by volunteer units located at South Mills, Camden, Shiloh, and old
Trap.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Camden County does not have a County Manager. Administrative service are provided by the
Clerk to the Board, the Finance Officer, and the Tax Administrator.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 55
i

CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING
MATTERS
Camden County recognizes its responsibility toward keeping its citizens informed
of all issues concerning the county. The County Commissioners also recognize the
political reality of educating the public in regard to the issues being decided. It is
the County's policy to encourage attendance by the public at all meetings of its
various boards and committees. The County encourages coverage of all issues by
various media representatives and invites active public participation in all issues.
During the preparation of this land use plan update, Planning Board Meetings were
held on a regularly scheduled date (the second Tuesday of every month) , and
public notices were placed in the local newspaper.one week prior to each meeting.
A questionnaire was circulated county -wide, soliciting public responses on a variety
of planning issues.
jThe county will rely on public discussion and media coverage to present the various
facets, impacts, and costs associated with the various policy issues. Expert assis-
tance will be sought to educate and to give guidance both to the general public and
to the Board of Commissioners on issues whenever the Board feels such assistance
is required.
t
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 56
I

t
POLICY ISSUES
CAMDEN COUNTY: RESOURCE PROTECTION
11 ISSUE: SOIL LIMITATIONS 11
FINDINGS:
All the major soil associations in Camden County have limitations to development.
The principal limitation to development being either a shallow depth to water table
or frequent flooding. There are areas with pocket of soil that display characteristics
different from that of the general soil association; these areas or pockets will be
mapped and available once the detailed soil survey now being prepared for the
county is complete and published.
Severe slopes in excess of 12% do not exist in the county to any appreciable de-
gree.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
"The county will direct development with proper consideration of soils."
CURRENT 1986 POLICY
Development will be allowed if it complies with County Health Department septic
tank permitting requirements and with local development controls.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The county building inspector will enforce the provisions of the North Carolina
Building Code concerning construction on soils with structural limitations.
The county will coordinate�'its subdivision permitting process with local represen-
tatives of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and seek that agency's assistance for
proper soils management.
The county shall support state erosion control standards for construction projects
that clear, alter, or excavate land in excess of one acre.
ISSUE: PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
Protection of potable water supplies is of critical concern in Camden County. Fresh
water supplies occupy a very narrow stratum of the watertable aquifer. Most wells
over 50 feet in depth begin to draw salt water making them unusable as a potable
supply. In a county where septic tanks are the only means of sewage disposal,
where the water table is generally within four feet of the surface, and where very
shallow wells must be pumped slowly to avoid salt -water mixing, strict control and
management of water resources is essential.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 57

Septic leakage from improperly placed or poorly constructed septic systems in less
than minimum sized lots creates a serious threat to this precious and fragile re-
source. A number of older county neighborhoods built before there were minimum
lot sizes creates just such a problem.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT 1986 POLICY
It is be the policy of Camden County to protect the County's fresh water supply by
strictly enforcing the lot size requirements of the State Department of Health on all
developments in the county.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The County now requires a minimum lot size of 20,000 to 40,000 square feet de-
pending on the soil characteristics as determined by the County Health Officer.
The county will seek financial assistance from available sources to construct sewage
facilities to correct the critical sewage disposal problems.
ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL IMPACT ON FRAGILE AREAS
FINDINGS:
There are no major manufacturing industries in Camden County. Manufacturing
establishments in the county consist of small manufacturers of forest related prod-
ucts and one manufacturer of concrete products. None of these industries are lo-
cated on areas that can be considered fragile.
The County Zoning Map identifies two areas for industrial development. These
areas are on soils that are capable of supporting such development.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None .
CURRENT 1986 POLICY:
The County will encourage industry to develop in the land use zones presently
identified and so designated on the County Zoning Map.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The County Planning Board shall restrict the industrial zone classification to only
those areas with soils that can support such development. Industries seeking to de-
velop in areas not now classified as industrial zones must demonstrate to the Plan-
ning Board and The County Commission that the site can be developed for indus-
trial use with out causing lasting damage to the environment.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 53

IF ISSUE: STORMIVATER RUN-OFF: RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
FINDINGS:
Residential development in Camden County is typical of most rural areas; widely
spaced homes of large sized lots. Development densities are generally one residen-
tial unit per acre. Minimum lot sizes are 20,000 square feet, but seldom is a unit
permitted at the minimum lot size most are built on lots of 40,000 square feet or
more. Residential runoff, generally does not pose any threat to the fragile lands or
the surface waters in the county.
The development along the causeway in Camden County, however, does pose a
potential threat to surface water quality. Present development along the causeway is
rather limited, consisting of only a marina, a restaurant, and an ABC Package
Store. Elizabeth City is now extending sewer and water service into the causeway
area. The primary reason for the extension is to provide service to a twelve -unit,
three-story, multi -family building now under construction on the causeway.
The causeway area contains all of the AEC land categories present in Camden
County: Estuarine Shoreline, Coastal Wetlands and Estuarine Waters.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT POLICY:
It is the policy of Camden County to regulate the amount and percentage of build-
ing coverage on any developable lot. The county will study the possibility of ex-
tending prohibitions to include all impervious surfaces on buildable lots.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The Planning Board shall examine the possibility of creating development regula-
tions to control the amount of impervious surfaces that may be permitted on a
building lot.
The county will consider amending the County Subdivision Regulations to require
a drainage for major subdivision developments.
ISSUE: STORMIVATER RUN-OFF: AGRICULTURAL
FINDINGS:
Nutrient loading of the surface waters of the North and -the Pasquotank Rivers from
storm water runoff from agriculture lands has generally not been a recognized
problem in the county. No studies are available that describe the scope and extent
of this problem are available. In general the farmers in the county recognize the
potential dangers to the surface waters in the area from the rapid loading of fertil-
izer enriched stormwater into the drainage basins of the county and to a great extent
have initiated best management recommendations of the Soil Conservation Service
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 59

PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT 1986 POLICY:
Z
It has always been the Policy of the Camden County Board of Commissioners t o
encourage use of the best management practices recommendations of the U.S. Soil
Conservation Service.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
The county will encourage local farm organizations to maintain on -going educa-
tional programs and demonstrations that will keep farmers informed of the best
management practices and assistance available
ISSUE: MANMADE HAZARDS
FINDINGS:
Primary manmade hazards and nuisances in Camden County are the transportation
network and storage facilities for fuel, fertilizers, chemicals, and grain.
The transportation network presents the greatest hazard to life and limb. The
county's zoning provides no control governing the number, width, or spacing of
points of egress and access from properties to the transportation system.
Unpermitted dumps identified in the previous land use update seem to have all but
been eliminated by the County's county -wide, door-to-door solid waste collection
program
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
" The county will minimize the adverse impact of manmade hazards upon humans
and adjacent development"
ICURRENT 1986 POLICY:
1_1
The county will use its present development controls to minimize the adverse ef-
fects of manmade hazards.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The county will require buffer zones between fuel, chemical and grain storage
facilities and any other non related use.
The county will consult with the NC Department of Transportation concerning en-
trance and exit dimensions for various types of businesses and residential densities.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Sage 60

t
III ISSUE: CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL RESOURCES
FINDINGS:
Six sites in Camden County are presently listed on the National Register of Historic
Places;
1. Caleb Grundy House
2. Camden County Courthouse
3. Milford
4. William Riley Abbot House
5. Lamb-Ferebee House
6. Camden County Jail
More than a dozen additional sites are potential candidates for nomination. In addi-
tion to these architectural sites the Great Dismal Swamp is a unique portion of the
county's landscape that is of historic and National Significance.
A recent proposal by area residents has requested that a Visitors Information Center
be constructed along Highway U.S.17 in the swamp. This development means to
use the unique character of the swamp as a promotional tool for economic develop-
ment.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
"The county will guide development so that it protects the historic and potentially
historic properties in Camden County and perpetuates the county's cultural her-
itage."
CURRENT 1986 POLICY
Same as previous policy
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The county will encourage a county wide survey of the historical sites by the local
Historical Society. The county will consider seeking a grant for a complete inven-
tory of historically significant structures and sites.
ISSUE: FRESH WATER, SWAMPS, AND MARSHES
FINDINGS:
In Camden County swamp and marsh cover 40% of the land area. These areas are
important in that they help to slow erosion and provide filtering for contaminates
and retainage basins for excess nutrients. These.areas produce many organisms
vital to the lower order of the food chain.
While these areas are not likely to experience any major development pressures in
the near future nor be the location for major residential development, they are fre-
quently drained and cleared for agricultural uses. Excessive run-off from develop-
ment could alter the natural functioning of these lands.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 61
I
I

Draining of swamps for agricultural purposes has been almost eliminated by the
enforcement of the swamp -buster laws.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
It shall be the policy of Camden County to preserve the integrity of the swamp
ecological function."
CURRENT POLICY
Camden County will rely on existing local land -use ordinances and state and federal
agencies with permitting jurisdiction to regulate development in these areas.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
Wooded swamps shall be designated Conservation Areas on the Land Classification
Map and their use restricted to those of Coastal Wetlands.
ISSUE: SEPTIC TANK LIMITATIONS
FINDINGS:
All General Soil Associations in Camden County are subject to either severe or
very severe limitations to septic tank use. Limitations are due primarily to a high
water table and flooding. There are several residential areas in the county with
densities greater than the health departments minimum that have severe septic tank
problems.o
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT 1986 POLICY: V.
The county shall require subdivisions proposals be first reviewed by the County
Health Officer and the Soil Conservation Service and comments received from
those two agencies before any consideration of approval.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The installation of all septic systems shall require a permit from the County Health
Officer who shall investigate the proposed site and make assessments as to soil
suitability, space requirements, construction requirements, and placement of the
proposed system. The issuance of a permit shall require. the compliance of all
restrictions mandated by the permitting officer. .
The county will work closely with the Soil Conservation Service and other agricul-
tural agencies to ensure the proper construction and placement of agricultural la-
goons.
The county could require some other type of waste disposal in older subdivision
where lots are small and density is high.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 62

ill ISSUE: FLOOD PLAINS 11
FINDINGS:
Flooding is a potential problem in approximately 50% of the county according to
the Flood Plain Boundary maps prepared by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. Flood plain areas essentially ring the county along the shores of the North
and Pasquotank rivers, the Albemarle Sound, and the extensive swamp areas in the
northern and southern sections of the county. the greatest flood threat in the county
is storm surge and wind tides, particularly in the Camden Point area.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
"The county will protect areas prone to severe flooding from improper develop-
ment."
CURRENT 1986 POLICY
The County shall enforce its flood plain development ordinance to minimize the
threat to life and property from flooding.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
Camden County is participating in the regular phase of the Federal Flood Insurance
Program. The required ordinance has been adopted and the standards are being
enforced.
Subdivision regulations shall require elevation monuments to be set so that flood
plain elevations could be more easily determined.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 63

POLICY ISSUES.
RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
ISSUE: PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS
FINDINGS:
The 1982 census of Agriculture reported that of Camden County's approximately
202,000 acres, 52,500 acres were harvested cropland. Most of the county is suit-
able for agricultural production. The best agricultural areas, according to the soil
associations, occurs as borders between the low marsh areas and the inland plain
area. The least suitable areas are those in the swamps and flood plains.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
"To
achieve maximum sustained yields from Camden County in a manner which is
consistent with other development goals."
ALTERNATE POLICIES:
The county will use what means it has to encourage productive to remain productive
agricultural lands. -
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The County will seek assistance from NRCD for the revision of its existing Zoning
ordinances to require excessive lot sizes for single family development on prime
agricultural lands.
ISSUE: COMMERCIAL FOREST LAND
FINDINGS:
Roughly 70% of the land in Camden County is forest land. Most of this area is lo-
cated in the swamp areas of the county. While a large percentage of the land is de-
voted to forest or wooded areas only 20% of this wooded land is actually suitable
for conventional forest production. The conversion of forested lands to agriculture
production and the lack of reforestation has reduced the total acreage of wooded
lands in the county, however, most of the county still remains in forest. Commer-
cial forest lands numbered 107,000 acres in 1978, by 1985 the estimated acres of
commercial forest lands had diminished to 97,000 acres .
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT 1986 POLICIES:
Camden County will encourage reforestation of clear cut timber lands as a sound
forest management practice.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 64

I
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The county will continue to encourage the use of best forestry management prac-
tices .
III ISSUE: COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING
FINDINGS:
Commercial fishing has not been a significant factor in the Camden County econ-
omy in the past. Records from 1982 and 1983 show that their were 79 and 80 li-
censed boats in those respective years. Dockside value of the commercial catch in
1983 was $45,196. Total catch was 69,637 pounds.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
CURRENT POLICIES:
The county encourages commercial and recreational fishing in its waters and will
cooperate with other local governments, federal and state agencies to control pollu-
tion of these waters to conditions that commercial and recreational fishing will in-
crease.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The county will seek assistance from the Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development and the Wildlife Resources Commission to develop addi-
tional public access and public boat ramps.
ISSUE: RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT ON ANY RESOURCE
FINDINGS:
Residential and commercial development in Camden County during the past five
years as not been significant. The County has averaged fewer than 40 new
dwelling units annually since 1983, with approximately two-thirds of these new
units being mobile homes. Only one Building Permit has been issued for a new
commercial structure. Most of the new development occurring during the past five
years as occurred in areas classified as "Community" in the previous Land Use
Update. Regardless of the land classification, almost any new development in
Camden County must take a small portion of agricultural or forest lands out of
production.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY:
None
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 65
ri
4,

CURRENT 1986 POLICIES:
Agricultural land, as well as forest land, are very important resources to Camden
County. The county should encourage development away from prime agricultural
and forest land to areas less suitable for these two types of land use.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
Create excessive lot sizes for all non agricultural development on prime farm lands
ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON ANY RESOURCE
AM FINDINGS:
Because of the lack of industry in Camden County this is not an issue.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
None
ALTERNATE POLICIES:
This is not an issue.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
ISSUE: PEAT OR PHOSPHATE MINING IMPACT ON ANY RESOURCE
FINDINGS:
This is not an issue in Camden County.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
None
ALTERNATE POLICIES:
This is not an issue.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
ISSUE: OFF ROAD VEHICLES
FINDINGS:
As far as protection of ocean sand dunes from off road vehicles, this is not an issue
in Camden County.
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 66
I

PREVIOUS POLICY:
None
ALTERNATE POLICIES:
This is not an issue.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
ISSUE: MARINA AND FLOATING HOME DEVELOPMENT
FINDINGS:
Camden County has one operating public marina located on the causeway just
across the Pasquotank River from Elizabeth City. The Elizabeth City Yacht Club
also operates a private marina on the causeway. The county has no floating home
development. Permits or Zoning amendments for new marina development have
not been requested during the past five years.
POLICY:
None. This is not an issue at this time.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
None
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 67

POLICY ISSUES:
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ISSUE: TYPES AND LOCATION OF INDUSTRY
FINDINGS
Manufacturing in Camden County is very limited. Only 60 persons are employed
by manufacturing establishments located in the county. Manufacturing in Camden
County is limited to small manufacturers of forest products and one manufacturer of
concrete products. All employment growth in the county has been in the retail and
wholesale sectors or in the construction and service industry sectors. Given the se-
vere soil constraints in the county, the lack of available public facilities, and the
two-lane transportation bottleneck of U>S> 17 into Virginia and the Tidewater
Market area, a significant increase in manufacturing employment is not expected
during the planning period. The most likely source of new employment will con-
tinue to be the retail and service sectors.
The Camden County Zoning Map designates two large tracts near Belcross for in-
dustrial uses. These locations are on some of the most suitable land for industrial
development in the county and have convenient transportation access to U.S,
Highway 158 and NC State Highway 34. These areas are not presently served by
public water or public sewer. These sites provide sufficient space for any antici-
pated industrial growth during the planning period.
New retail and service sector establishments will most likely seek locations along
U.S. 158 to capitalize on the greater visibility along this highway, on the proximity
to larger more concentrated markets such as Elizabeth City, and on greater exposure
to the heavy traffic flow from points west to the Dare County beaches. The avail-
ability of public facilities from Elizabeth City onto the causeway area in Camden
County will also encourage more development and permit greater development
densities along this portion of the causeway.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY
'"To encourage location of light iridustry within Camden County, provided certain
performance standards are met, and that industry is located near existing
communities and does not use prime agricultural land." (Camden County Land
Use Plan 1980-1990, Terry Alford Planning and Design Association, P.38)
CURRENT 1986 POLICY
Camden County is not interested in becoming a major manufacturing center, nor a
haven for low -paying sweat shops. The residents in Camden County enjoy the ru-
ral atmosphere of the county and will strive to maintain this way of life through
very selective recruitment of industrial establishments and through very active dis-
couragement of unwanted development.
Camden County realizes that employment gains are most likely to occur in the retail
and service industry sectors and that such establishments will seek locations that
provide high visibility, heavy traffic flow, and proximity to greater market concen-
trations. The county will rely on its existing land -use and development ordinances
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 68
I

to regulate these developments and will amend or modify existing regulations to
impose greater control as the need arises.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
The County will pursue financial assistance to provide water service to the two ar-
eas now designated as industrial zones by the zoning map.
The County will request assistance from the Division of Coastal Management to
update its existing Zoning Ordinance to include more performance controls for
commercial and industrial development.
ISSUES: LOCAL COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SERVICES
FOR DEVELOPMENT
FINDINGS:
The only public facilities available in Camden County are the county -wide collec-
tion and disposal service ant the water service provided by the South Mills Water
District.
The South Mills Water District provides water service to approximately 1052 cus-
tomers in the northern portion of the county. The system is presently selling all the
water the wells in the system can provide. The availability of fresh water in the
district is minimal, and it is unlikely that the system could provide service to a major
water user with out drilling a new well field.
Elizabeth City is presently extending water and sewer service across the Pasquotank
River into Camden County to serve development on a portion of the U>SS> 158
Causeway.
Efforts are underway to obtain an agreement with Currituck County for the supply,
maintenance, and management of a waterline extension from the Currituck County
line along U>SS> 158 toward Belcross.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
"To provide significant forms of local commitment toward providing services to
development." (Camden County Land Use Plan 1980-1990, Terry Alford, Plan-
ning and Design Assoc., P.A., p.40)
CURRENT POLICIES:
Population densities in Camden County do not justify the enormous debt obligation
required to provide public water and sewer services on a county -wide basis. It
shall be the county's policy to pursue water service for new and existing develop-
ment by encouraging the extension of water services from existing nearby water
systems.
Camden County shall continue to provide solid waste collection and disposal ser-
vices to all developments in the county.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 69
I
F1
LJ
1

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
To lend support (other than financial) to the South Mills water Association in its ef-
fort to obtain water required to meet existing demand for water system.
Camden County shall pursue negotiations with Currituck County toward a possible
agreement for water service extension into Camden County.
The County shall pursue financing options including a bond referendum, to obtain
financing for a water line from the Currituck County Line into Camden County.
ISSUE: TYPES OF URBAN GROWTH PATTERNS DESIRED
FINDINGS:
The development pattern in Camden County has historically been nodal, with small
concentrations of residential and commercial development occurring at crossroad
communities. This pattern has continued up through the present as most develop-
ment continues to occur in and around these nodal communities Some of these
nodes along U.S. Highway 158, however, could expand to the point where they
form a continuous strip of development from Elizabeth City to Belcross.
Development pressures along this strip will come primarily from new commercial
interests aimed at ambushing innocent passers-by on their way to the Dare County
beaches. At present most commercial development to these areas primarily serve
community residents on a year-round basis.
Existing County policy regarding seeking outside vendors to provide water service
will have the tendency to encourage strip type development and concentrate subdi-
vision activity along the routes of the water lines.
PREVIOUS POLICIES:
1) Residential
"To develop permanent residences in accordance with the zoning ordinance and to
develop summer and waterfront recreational homes in areas shown on the Land
Classifications as 'community' (and to a lesser extent 'rural residential').
2) Commercial
"To promote commercial development that is designed to directly relate to other
commercial activities, and in the pattern prescribed in the Land Classification Map."
3) Cultural, Institutional, and Recreational Development Pattern
"To develop the cultural and institutional land use in accordance with the
Land Classification Map, in the categories designated 'transition' and
'community', and otherwise protect the existing patterns of such develop- .
ment elsewhere."
4) Agricultural and Forestry Development Patterns
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 70

"To concentrate agricultural and forestry uses outside the existing Town limits as
shown on the Land Classification Map."
CURRENT POLICIES:
It shall be the policy of the Camden County Commission that to the maximum ex-
tent possible it will maintain the integrity of the existing Zoning Districts.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
While development pressures are likely to escalate during the next ten years, the
limitations imposed on development by the lack of public sewer and the large lot
sizes required for septic tank absorption fields prevent any unusually large concen-
trations of population or housing units from occurring. It shall be the County's
policy to rely on existing land use and development ordinances to regulate the loca-
tion and density of development in the county.
Most lands not now included in existing urban clusters are zoned for Agricultural
use; any development of more than three lots must be presented before the Planning
and Zoning Board and a Zoning Map Amendment requested. The County will rely
on the actions of the Planning and Zoning Board and the actions of the County
Commissioners to control the location and development of areas away from existing
urban clusters.
ISSUE: REDEVELOPMENT OF DEVELOPED AREAS
FINDINGS:
During the spring of 1985, the Regional Development Institute at East Carolina
University carried out a Housing Conditions Survey and an Inventory of Available
Housing for Camden County. One of the purposes of the survey was to identify
concentrations of substandard housing in the county. The results of the survey in-
dicate that approximately one-third of the available housing stock in the county is
substandard and that six areas exist that contain concentrations of substandard
housing.
The areas identified were:
1. The Bloodfield Road area near South Mills
2. Sawyers Ferry
3. Hastings Corner
4. Belcross
5. Bartlett
6. South Shiloh
Discussions with county health officials revealed that there are several developed
areas in the county where homes are built on lots that are too small to provide ade-
quate absorption of septic effluents. These systems usually malfunction, causing
sewage to back-up into the plumbing facilities inside the home. Most of these
homes belong or are occupied by families with very limited incomes who cannot
afford to purchase additional lands for additional absorption fields; in some cases
there are simply no suitable lands nearby to adequately treat the effluent. The
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 71

sewage seepage from these areas poses severe.threats of contamination to the
groundwater. This is of particular concern in Camden County, where the water
table generally within three feet of the ground surface and where most residents are
served by very shallow wells because of the frequent intrusion of salt water into the
fresh water aquifers.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
To encourage redevelopment of existing communities, primarily those designed as
'transition' and 'community', especially regarding commercial and residential de-
velopment." (Camden County Land Use Plan 19800-1990, Terry Alford Planning
and Design Assoc., P.A., p.44)
CURRENT POLICIES:
It shall be the policy of Camden County to seek financial assistance from all agen-
cies providing assistance for the repair or reconstruction of privately owned
dwelling units. The County will seek Community Development Block Grant as-
sistance for the identified areas of substandard housing.
The County will cooperate fully with Health Department officials to ensure that all
future development occurs on lots of sufficient size to provide adequate sewage
treatment, and will seek financial assistance from various State and Federal Agen-
cies to correct existing hazards.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The County will develop Community Revitalization Plans for all identified commu-
nities containing areas of substandard housing concentration. These plans shall in-
clude Economic and Commercial Development Strategies, Housing Improvement
Plans, and Public Facilities Provision Strategies.
The County will seek Federal and State financial assistance for financing commu-
nity improvements.
The County will encourage the development of community based organizations to
promote community leadership for the implementation of Community Revitalization
Plans.
ISSUE:TOURISM AND WATERFRONT ACCESS
FINDINGS:
Camden County at present has no public access to the waterfront. Several state
roads dead end at or very near the water front and are used by many county resi-
dents as public access. /The County does not have sufficient unobligated revenues
to purchase water front properties for public access..
The County encourages the private development of waterfront access and will study
the option of amending existing development ordinances to include requiring public
waterfront facilities.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 72

PREVIOUS POLICY:
Though the County Commissioners realize that there is a need for public access to
the waterfront the county does not have funds to provide these facilities.
CURRENT POLICIES:
The county encourages the development of private or public access at the following
sites: Old Shipyard Road, Neck Road, and at the end of Hwy 343.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The County shall study the possibility of amending its existing subdivision regula-
tions to include provisions to require developers to donate cash or land for the pro-
vision of public waterfront access.
ISSUE: TYPE OF DENSITIES, LOCATIONS: UNITS PER ACRE ETC.
OF ANTICIPATED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND
SERVICES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT SUCH DEVELOPMENT
FINDINGS:
The severe limitations of the Camden County soils preclude any development den-
sities of more than one dwelling unit per acre in most portions of the county.
Elizabeth :City is now extending public sewer service across the Pasquotank River
to a portion of the causeway area in Camden County. this is the only area in the
County that could possibly support densities greater than one unit per acre.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
None
CURRENT POLICIES:
Present Camden County zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations do not per-
mit residential development at densities greater than one unit per twenty thousand
square feet. This shall continue to be the policy in Camden County.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
None needed.
PROGRAMS IN THE AREA
FINDINGS:
It has been the policy of Camden County to support such programs which it feels
necessary and cost effective to support.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 73

IPREVIOUS POLICY:
The county will selectively support state and federal programs related to Camden
County.
CURRENT POLICY:
Same as previous policy.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
None
ISSUE: ENERGY FACILITY SITING AND DEVELOPMENT
FINDINGS:
Camden County considers the possibility of the siting of an energy production fa-
cility in the county to be very remote. Therefore, no policy on this issue is consid-
ered necessary. However, should this become an issue in the future, a policy will
be developed at the appropriate time.
PREVIOUS POLICY:
None
CURRENT POLICIES:
None
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
None
ISSUE: PACKAGE TREATMENT PLANTS
FINDINGS:
The Camden Zoning Ordinance permits development using package treatment
plants. Minimum lot sizes can be as small as 6,000 square feet. At present there
are only a few plants operating in the county mainly serving restaurant operations
and mobile home parks. The maintenance and operations of these plants are con-
trolled by the Division of Environmental Management. There are a number of high
density, low-income residential neighborhoods with severe septic tank problems
that could benefit from a community package treatment plant.
PREVIOUS 1981 POLICY
None
ICamden County 1936 Land Use Update Page 74

CURRENT 1986 POLICY
The county will rely on the Division of Environmental Management to oversee the
operation and management of all package treatment plants in the county.
The county will investigate the possibility of using package treatment plants as a
method of solving some of the severe sewage disposal problems in several of it
communities.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
The county will submit a grant application to the proper agencies requesting aid in
correcting the serious sewage problems affecting various county neighborhoods.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 75

STORM HAZARD MITIGATION,
POST -DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
The of this section is two fold:
purpose
1) to assist the county in managing development in those areas most likely to
suffer damages from a severe storm or hurricane and
2) to reduce the risk to life and property from future hurricanes.
High winds, flooding, intense wave action, and coastline erosion are the four physical forces
of a severe storm or hurricane that create threats to life and property. Flooding claims the most
lives during severe storms or hurricanes; high winds cause the most property damage. Only by
identifying those areas in the county most likely to suffer damage from any of these forces or
combination of these forces can a community develop a meaningful storm mitigation plan.
Using the planning scenario recommended in BEFORE THE STORM: Managing De-
velopment to Reduce Hurricane Damages, by McElyea, Brower,and Godschalk, the
community can identify the areas most likely to sustain storm damages and make a vulnerabil-
ity assessment of the identified storm hazard area. The vulnerability assessment includes the
severity and magnitude of risk in each storm hazard area. The following chart taken from BE-
FORE THE STORM outlines the procedure and the sequence of steps used in the storm
hazard mitigation process.
Mapping Hazard Area
Vulnerability
—Asses m—
Identify Severity of Risk
Identify Magnitude of Risk
in Each Hazard Area
in Each Hazard Area
I Inventory Land Uses
Assess
Inventory Structures `
Identifying Mitigation Needs
Reviewing
Current Measure
Poor Coverage Poor Enforcement
Reviewing
Alternative Measure
Implementation
Monitoring
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 76

STORM HAZARD AREA
The following Composite Hazard Map indicates those areas in Camden County most likely to
sustain damage from flooding and other water related hazards, such as wave action and shore
erosion. The map is a composite of the flood hazard areas indicated on Slosh Maps prepared
by NC Division of Emergency Management and of identified Areas of Environmental Concern
located in the county. All of the county is assumed to be susceptible to wind damage, so this
area is not mapped:
VULNERABILITY
Vulnerability of an area is measured by both the severity and magnitude of risk. The severity
ranking is based on the number of physical forces likely to affect a particular identified storm
hazard area. The rankings suggested by McElyea, Brower, and Godschalk is a scale from 1 to
4. Areas likely to receive damage from all four physical forces of a hurricane are ranked as 1;
those receiving only wind damage are ranked as 4. The magnitude of risk is based on the pop-
ulation and the number and value of developed properties in the storm hazard areas.
Severity of Risk
The table below ranks the severity of risk associated with the identified storm hazard
areas in the county and the physical forces affecting the different areas.
RISK TABLE FOR HAZARD AREAS
HAZARD AREA
EXPOSURE TO DAMAGING FORCES
SEVERITY
RANK
EROSION
T
WAVE
FLOODING
HIGH
WIN
ESTUARINE SHORE
1
+
+
+
+
COASTAL WETLANDS
2
0
+
+
+
FLOOD HAZARD
AREA
2
+
+
+
REST OF THE
COMMUNITY
4
+
Exposure Level: (+) Nigh, (0 ) Moderate, (#) Low
MAGNITUDE OF RISK
As the Risk Table shows, severe storms and hurricanes most seriously affect the estu-
arine shoreline. All four physical storm forces inflict damage to this narrow, 75 foot
ribbon of land. Storm experience in Camden County, however, indicates that wind
damage causes the greatest damage. Recent storm experience with Hurricane Charlie
and Gloria seem to bear out this observation. Neither of these storms can be classed as
Category III Storms. Earlier storm experience with more severe storms( Hazel, Connie,
and Ione) inflicted heavier water damage, particularly wave action along the Sound at
Camden Point.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 77

Knowledgeable persons estimate the monetary damage of these storms at approximately
$2,000,000. While the largest platted subdivision in the county is located at Camden
Point, it is very sparsely developed. Most structures are built of extensive fill material
to elevate the structures from the water table, which is often above ground in this area.
Health Department Regulations and FEMA Regulations have severely curtailed this
practice.
Estuarine Shoreline
Land uses in this area are generally water related: private piers, boat docks, and bulk -
heading. The shoreline in Camden County is frequently at or only slightly above the
mean high water mark. Wave damage, flooding, and shoreline erosion cause the
greatest damage to the shoreline.
Coastal Wetlands
Flooding, wave action, and erosion all affect coastal wetlands. These areas are not
mapped, but in Camden County they most frequently occur along the shores of the
Pasquotank and Little Rivers and along the short streams that drain into these bodies of
water. There is no development directly in these areas, most improvements consist of
piers, decks, walkways.
Flood Hazard Areas
The risk ans magnitude of flood damage is greatest along the sound at the southern tip
of the County. This areas is generally swamp, and well below the 100-year flood haz-
ard elevation. Since the county entered the regular phase of the National Flood Insur-
ance Program in 1985, all structures located in flood prone areas must comply with
FEMA regulations governing construction in the flood plain.
The Rest of the Community
High winds cause most of the property damage in Camden Count simply because
g P P Y g Y• P Y
they affect all properties. Damage is of two types: 1) direct wind damage, and 2) indi-
rect wind damage from downed trees, wind -born debris, and downed utility lines.
Wind damage potential increases almost exponentially as the number of mobile homes
in the county increases.
EVACUABILITY
Camden County participates in a joint Evacuation Plan along with Pasquotank County
and Elizabeth City. Several Shelter areas or designated and staffing is arranged. Most
shelter areas are located in Pasquotank County and Elizabeth City. Shelters in Camden
are located at Camden and South Mills. The county's most critical severe storm need
is evacuating the Camden Point Area. This area,as has been stated earlier, is peculiarly
vulnerable and roads leading to higher ground are often only slightly above the mean
high water mark even in dry weather. The evacuation plan anticipates the problems
with this area by making it the first in order of evacuation with a six hour lead time.
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 73

POLICY STATEMENTS: STORM HAZARD MITIGATION
ISSUE: Mitigation of Storm Damage From High Winds ,
Flooding, Wave Action, and Erosion
FINDINGS:
County areas affected by the various storm hazards are as follows:
Hazard Area Affected
High Wind ....................... Entire County
Flooding ..........................100 year Flood Hazard Area
Public Trust Waters, Coastal Wetlands,
Estuarine Shoreline
Erosion .......................... Estuarine Shorelines, Coastal Wetlands
Wave Action ...................... Estuarine Shorelines, Coastal Wetlands
The greatest collective damage is from wind damage because the whole county is af-
fected. Most seriously affected developed areas are those with property improvements
in flood plains areas. Greatest risk potentials are the Flood Hazard Areas.
CURRENT 1986 POLICY:
It will be the policy of Camden County to enforce all controls and regulations it deems
necessary to mitigate the risk of severe storms and hurricanes to life and property.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
1) High Winds
Camden County will follow and support the N.C. State Building Codes and
their requirements regarding design for high velocity winds. The County also
supports requirements for mobile homes such as tiedowns that help reduce
wind damage. Camden County enforces construction and mobile home instal-
lation standards for 100-mph winds.
2) Flooding
Camden County will support the hazard mitigation elements of the National
Flood Insurance Programs. Camden County, which is in the regular phase of
this program, supports regulations regarding elevation and flood -proofing of
buildings and utilities. The county also supports CAMA and 404 Wetland De-
velopment Permit processes.
3) Wave Action and Shoreline Erosion
Camden County continues to support the CAMA permitting procedures con-
cerning the estuarine shoreline. The county also supports the FEMA regula-
tions concerning elevation and setback requirements.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 79
n
L

Camden County proposes the following Disaster Recovery Plan as a general outline of the
procedures the County will follow in the event of a major disaster. The plan includes a
timetable for carrying out recovery activities and a list of personnel who will be responsible for
each component of the plan.
PURPOSE:
This plan has been developed to provide for an orderly and coordinated recovery and
reconstruction of areas of Camden County suffering the effects of a major disaster.
The underlying goals of this plan are to minimize the hardships to affected residents, to
restore and initiate reconstruction in a timely manner, and to reduce or eliminate any
bottlenecks in securing Federal or State Disaster Assistance.
ORGANIZATION:
The Board of County Commissioners will function as the Camden County Recovery
Task Force. The mission of the task force is to direct and control recovery activities
and to formulate recovery policies as needed
SUPPORT TEAM:
The County Commissioners will designate the following Recovery Support Team to
assist in the implementation of this plan. The mission of the support team is to provide
personnel and resources for the implementation of recovery activities as directed by the
Recovery Task Force.
SUPPORT TEAM COMPOSITTON AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Camden County Emergency Management Coordinator: To manage, control,
and coordinate the efforts of the support team.
Sheriff: To provide additional surveillance in the disaster area; to locate obstructions
to traffic; and to advise the County Manager of the location of downed trans-
mission lines, ruptured water lines, etc.
Tax Supervisor: To provide and direct personnel in carrying out damage assess-
ment; to prepare damage assessment reports for the Recovery Task Force; and
to revise property records.
Building Inspector: To assemble personnel and to conduct a survey of structural
conditions in the disaster area; to coordinate actions with the Tax Supervisor,
and to prepare structural damage reports and classifications of damages.
Social Services Director: To provide personnel to assist in finding shelter for per-
sons who are homeless; to assist applicants in requesting aid from various state
and federal agencies disaster relief. -
providing
County Health Officer: To conduct damage assessment of on -site water supplies
and sewage disposal systems; to prepare damage reports; and to make recom-
mendations concerning restoration and reuse of on -site systems.
I
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 80

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Recovery activities will consist of two types: preplanned activities that can begin immediately
or as soon as is reasonably possible after the storm has passed; and long-term, permanent re-
construction activities that will be begun once the extent of the damage is known.
IMMEDIATE AC 1ON:
1) Declare a moratorium on all repairs and development
2) Begin clean-up and debris removal
3) Coordinate the restoration and repair of electrical service to affected areas
4) Begin Emergency repairs of essential public facilities
5) Maintain additional surveillance and extra security measures in affected areas
6) Deploy assessment teams
7) Prepare assessment reports
These immediate actions should be completed within ten days of the storm event.
LONG TERM RECONSTRUCTION ACTIONS:
8) Evaluate, classify, and map damages
9) Review of moratorium decision
10) Establish priorities for public facilities repair
11) Submit damage report to State and Federal agencies
12) Notify affected property owners of damage classifications and required repairs
13) Lift moratorium on repairs not requiring permits
14) Lift moratorium on siting of replacement mobile homes
15) Lift moratorium on conforming structures requiring major repairs
16) Assist affected property owners with damage registration and filing request for
disaster relief
17) Negotiate with property owners needing improvements to on -site water and sewage systems
18) Lift moratorium on repairs and new development
The duration of the reconstruction and recovery period will depend on the nature and extent of
the storm damage. Repairs of minor structural damages should be able to commence within
two weeks of the storm event.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
As soon as possible after the storm, the assessment teams will be deployed to measure the ex-
tent and nature of the damages and to classify structural damages to individual structures. The
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 81

inspection teams will consist of the County Building Inspector, the County Health Officer, and
the Director of the County Water System.
The assessment will not be detailed, but will provide an initial overview of the scope of storm
damages, an inventory of affected properties, and preliminary assessments of the extent of
damages to individual structures. Detailed inspections are being sacrificed in an effort to save
time in beginning restoration activities and in securing disaster relief from various State and
Federal Agencies offering financial assistance.
DAMAGE CLASSIFICATIONS
Structural damages will be classed in the following manner:
Destroyed if estimated repair costs exceed 75% of assessed value
Major Repairs if estimated repair costs exceed 30% of assessed value
Minor Repair if estimated repair costs are less than 30% of assessed
' value
RECONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
! In general, all units requiring major repairs and all new construction shall comply with all de-
velopment regulations in force at the time repair or new construction is initiated. This shall in-
clude compliance with all provisions of the building code governing construction in 100 mph
wind velocity zones, all regulations concerning development in designated Special Flood
Hazard Areas, and all Health Department Regulations regarding on -site septic systems.
The lone exception to this general rule concerns the application of development restrictions on
affected residential lots smaller than one acre (the minimum lot size required by the County
Health Department). Where structures on these substandard sized lots have been classified as
either "destroyed" or requiring "Major Repair" as a result of the storm damage, the County
shall make a determination concerning reconstruction and reuse with or without improvements
to the on -site disposal system on a case basis.
DEVELOPMENT MORATORIA
The immediate development moratoria will remain in effect until the assessment reports are
completed and the scope and nature of the storm damage has been fully reviewed by the
County Commission. The County Commission at that time may rescind or extend the dura-
don of the moratoria based on their assessment of the situation. Such decisions of the Com-
mission may affect all or any portion of the county.
The purpose of the immediate moratoria is basically to relieve the work burden of the support
team during the initial phase of the recovery period.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 82

v
�_"�„�,, / ► N CAiKil7E�*! COU+ITY
tq S
. F ► A STC3rzH HAZARD
� " � Cl7t�iPOS=TE i�iAP
4
/
I'Al fit
Fr .
O i
1 v'4
w
AIN
1:1l. r 1 1
�..� mot•: .�--• }
L�CIzmr)
S-ron"
ONES
.���:�% GA'7"EGbRY III 57'bI*M
�Ic I ttt ty r- t� a t i c1 ty c JSL k d+ n -F r- o m T 11 q_-
ty v i 4s n a y M a n EL 0 40—M 4--- iw
51dsr, Map
AA
�� _ •
L d s M A R L
R
.t
1
1
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina
Coastal Management Program through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1.972 as
amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AND MAP:CAMDE N
COUNTY
The land classification system presented here provides the mechanism for implementing the
P g
county's development policies according to geographical areas of the county. The Camden
County land classification system is based on the standardized CAMA land classification
system. Through this system, the local government designates general geographical areas
of the county for preferred types of development and for preferred and anticipated levels of
growth.
The policy statements and implementation strategies stated in this plan are then appli-
cable to areas of the county containing resources that have been identified for protection or
development. The land classification system is not a regulatory instrument, but a general
application guide for the county's growth policy.
Land Classification Map
The land classification map provided here gives local governments and the general
public a convenient reference for identifying those geographic areas of the county
designated for specified types, levels, and patterns of development.
Land Classes
The CAMA land classification system contains five broad development classifications:
developed, transitional, community, rural, and conservation. This system emphasizes the
timing of development of growth rather than the establishment of severe use restrictions.
D veloned: The statutory purpose of the developed classification is "to
provide for continued intensive development of existing
cities" [NCAC 15: 7B .0204 (d)(1)(A)].
The regulations also establish specific qualifying densities
for this district as well as specific land use characteristics.
There are no areas classified as developed in Camden
County.
Transition: The stated purpose of the transition class is "to provide for
future intensive urban developments on lands that are
suitable and that will be provided with necessary urban
services" [NCAC 15: 7B .0204 (d)(2)(A)]. The
discussions in the regulations go on to mention that
transition areas can be provided with public water and sewer
service.
Camden County is designating the causeway area just across
Pasquotank
the River from Elizabeth City and the Bloodfield
Road area in South Mills as the only transitional areas in the
county.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
Page 84
I

Community: CAMA regulations define the community district as mixed
use, low -intensity, clustered development generally
associated with rural crossroads communities.
In Camden County, the areas designated as community are
all existing crossroads communities that exhibit clustering
and all residential subdivisions with 25 or more platted lots.
Permitted uses are regulated by the Camden County Zoning
Ordinance.
Rural Service: The stated purpose of the rural district is "to .provide for
agricultural, forestry, mineral extraction, and various low -
intensity uses on large sites including low density
dispersed residential uses ...... [NCAC 15: 7B .0204
(d)(4)(A)].
The regulations indicate that development in these areas will
use on -site water supplies and waste -water disposal
systems. The County is considering negotiations with
adjacent local governments to make water available to all
areas of the county; therefore the county has created a rural
service land classification . This land class covers most
areas of the county.
Conservation: The stated purpose of the conservation class is "to provide
for effective long-term management and protection of
significant, limited, or irreplaceable areas" [NCAC 15: 7B
.0204 (d) (5)(A)].
In Camden County, conservation areas include all areas of
environmental concern designated by CAMA, all 404
wetlands, all Storm Hazard Areas identified on the
Composite Hazard Map, and all areas below the 100-year
flood elevation.
All land uses that can be permitted under the existing
regulations of the various state, federal, and local
governmenfal agencies with jurisdiction are allowed in the
conservation district.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Sage 85

v
r i
♦'lam 1♦';i♦1 :.'. /i'�~i ���•� ijj
�.
` r; >
.1 1♦ � %err. /�♦/.:/ 1 et`�'�1'�'1♦♦i/�/r r.%%/♦� li�E♦♦ .c, '
/ :�♦-'♦ `/':ii\1'r �`/ ili rr�l: ':='/ `'1� /�1� \�i-I`\': i�.�l:� i
f rl .t �\ `r /.-`♦ \1� _/`ice 1-Irl\1 r1r`r, ti�-\I-ram \Q 1%
„ it r- �♦ r rl./-� � .ter_ 'i r mil 1�\��� r�
\ Ir�r`\`/1'ii`Ir rjrl-'� . 1 \I\` `I�-�.\ 1\ Irlr♦' �/ r\
d' r r♦r__r-`.-r�l-. �.- rr.r-.. \ .. \ -/...� /ter :1_\� r i
EIIjARE rN cry
ro.. I,,ro l
f
.l `.•s •1 . -.., �,I �.. �;-.'.� �ir� it �{ \� !
_ �.•r/' � r...,,, r.„. n„ , � � Jar« 1 ♦ f `'I � 1 / � � \`�;� ��
11 } I. pa .1 ♦ � ♦ „' 7r��8
CIAi*'f9:)IE: CIQIJi�lTY
:- 43PE3_85P
Lr1■�� t��rJS=tt= =CA-jr =Q" "1 F30 ; `\ a
d..1L VL' L\L
TRANSITION
COMMUNITY
RURAL SERVICE
r
CONSERVATION
,
1
� H E M A p L
S
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina
Coastal Managemenj Program through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 as
amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
i
r
i

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL POLICIES AND LAND CLASSIFI-
CATION
All policies developed during this planning process and formally stated in this document
have consistently emphasized the County's intent of relying on existing local development
regulations and on the various state and federal agencies with jurisdiction.
The land classification system provided in this document makes no restrictions on land
' use. Any development is permitted on any site if such development complies with existing
local regulations and with the various permit requirements of the state and federal agencies
with jurisdiction.
INTER -GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION
The Land Classification Map in Camden County was established with consideration of the
expressed annexation plans of Elizabeth City . The Causeway area in Camden County was
Classified as transitional to allow for more urban types of development Near the Elizabeth
City City Limits.
1
I
1
i
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Page 87

I
I
I
I
I
APPENDIX 1 SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SURVEY SUMMARY
OPINION SURVEY:
CAMDEN COUNTY
C.A.M.A. LAND USE UPDATE
The following survey is to gather opinions from a sampling of Camden County residents con-
cerning specific land use issues. This survey is totally confidential and we request that you do not
sign your name to this document. We do,however, need to know the general location of your
residence. Please do not omit your zip code or the township information requested.
OPINION SURVEY
1. In which township do you live? (Circle One)
78 a. Courthouse 74 b. Shiloh 91 c. South Mills
2. What is your zip code?
3. What is your sex, race, age group, and marital status?
178 WHrIE
68 BLACK
81 MALE
148 FEMALE
182 MARRIED
22 SINGLE
21
DIVORCED
Age Group (circle
One)
4 a. 15-19
108 d. 0-39
6 g
60-64
9 b. 20-24
43 e. 40-55
19 h.
65-70
47 c. 25-29
2 f. 55-59
13 i.
75+
4. How large is your household?
101 1 person 36 2 persons
129 3 or 4 people 68 5+ persons
5. How long have you lived in Camden County?
42 less than 5 years
39 5-10 years
163 more than 10 years
6. Do you live in a mobile home? 53 yes 193 no
7. Where are you employed?
57
a. Camden County
76
b. Adjacent Counties
45
c. Tidewater
41
d. Unemployed
2 5
e. Retired
ICamden County 1986 Land Use Update
13 WIDOWED
Appendix '6 Page 88

8. Are you self employed? 37yes 210 no
9. Do you farm? 1. 6 yes 229 no
10. Is farming your primary source of income? 8 supplemental ? 20
11. How many acres do you farm
65_a). none 8b). moo 4 c). 100-300 —Id). 300-500 8 e). 500+
12. Where do you get your drinking water?
77 a. Public water system 162 b. well 9 c. other
13. What type of sewage disposal system do you use?
1 a. Public sewer 232 b. Septic system 15 c. other
14. Have you had any problem with your septic system in the past 5 years?
40 a. yes 205 b. no
15. Has your home site ever been flooded?
24 a. yes 217 b. no
16. Do you carry flood insurance on your home and its contents?
49 a. yes 194 b no
17. What type growth would you like to see occur in Perquimans County?
27 a. residential 5 b. seasonal homes 16 c. commercial
34 d. industrial 22 e. none 3 f. other
18. Where do you do most of your shopping?
20 a. Camden County 1 44 b. Adjacent counties 33 c. Tidewater area
19. Where do you most often shop for the items listed below?
Choose from one of the following for each item:
A. Camden County
B. Edenton
C. Elizabeth City
D. Virginia
E. Other(Please list)
A IB (C D 2
7
1
141
62
12
4
0
147
59
10
1
0
180
39
4
2
0
120
10
2
34
0
183
12
1
17
0
173
20
4
15
0
131
57
6
19
0
152
48
1
1. Automobiles
2. Furniture
3. Clothing
4. Building Materials
5. Groceries
6. Heating & Plumbing Equipment
7. Entertainment
8. Dine Out
How would you rank the following answers to the statement:
Improved Economic growth in Camden County can best be accomplished by:
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Appendt%'L Page 89

.1
[l
Rank answers from 1 to 5, with 1 being the favored response
ll
2
33
1 16
.5
99
48
301
9
33
44
18
401
46
67
34
29
421
49
61
108
57
231
8
1 20
46F
30
501
39
1 49
a Increasing manufacturing employment in the county
b. Increasing the number of tourists
and summer residents in the county
c. Increasing population growth
d. Increasing the number of businesses in the county
e. Increasing fanning activities
Which of the following activities will best enable Camden County to achieve economic growth?
Rank answers from 1 to 3
ll
2
3
135
43
32
48
72
83
73
66
66
a. Expand the county's market area
b. Increase the population in the existing market area
c. Increase disposable income within the present market
area
What is your opinion on the following statements? Choose one of the following for each state-
ment.
1. Slightly agree
2. Strongly agree
3. Slightly disagree
4. Strongly disagree
11
2
3
4
52
131 1
15
19
61
62
49
45
63
134
10
1 9
51 1 110 1 33 22
57 1 97 1 36 19
39 1 115 1 26 34
66 1 65 1 33 49
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update
A. Camden County needs more manufacturing in-
dustries.
B. Tourism and second home development should be
promoted.
C. Camden County should provide additional sites
where the public has access to the county's wa-
terways without crossing private property.
D. Camden County should use code enforcement and
other means to eliminate dilapidated and deterio-
rated housing in the community.
E. Camden County should provide some means to
protect residential areas from the nuisance and
hazards of large livestock operations.
F. Existing livestock operations should be protected
from the intrusion of residential subdivision de-
velopment.
G. The location, size, and development of mobile
home parks should be controlled.
H. Camden County should adopt zoning regulations.
Appendi% I Page 90

64 84 31 36 I. New development in the county should occur near
existing populated areas such as Courthouse
township, South Mills, and Shiloh.
59 47 53 56 J. New development in the county should occur
along the shorelines.
59 99 28 29 K. New commercial development should be allowed
to occur anywhere along Highway 17.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR TO EXPRESS ANY OF YOUR CON-
CERNS ABOUT CAMDEN COUNTY.
Camden County 1986 Land Use Update Appendix l Page 91

r� r rr rr rr r■ rr r� rr rr� rr rr rw r. .r rr r. rr rr
/\04
' R
f
CHMDEII COUIITY
,, r1
�:/ `�., `' • J ur:''• ' to
' \ RRCHEOLOGICRLLY
SEIlSITIVE HERS
r!�
� c
J /
G C• `�l ��� A r \ I
y 11 '� (!•f s \ 1
(N, t•
V to
/1
ItAt
07
It ;• ; ` i -} �'( 4 'It
it 1
*14
IN
Al
ly J +' rt" L `� ✓ 1, '" I
l^
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina s
Coastal Management Program through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 as
s �
amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National t, o � f
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ;. o