Analysis of Existing Land Use-1980

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CITY COUNCIL
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Ben B. Halterman, Mayor
Margaret Fonvielle, Mayor Pro
Rupert Bryan
Joseph T. Dunn
Luther Jordan
Tony Pate
William Schwartz
Robert G. Cobb, City Manager
Ellen C. Williams, Chairman
Tem Howard Armistead
Karen E. Gottovi
Jan S. Morgan
Claude O'Shields, Jr.
George Felix Cooper, County Manager
WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
Hamilton.E. Hicks, Jr., Chairman Charles Hollis
James C. Barker Katherine Hoyt
Larry Flowers J. D. Orrell
Ernest Fullwood Dan Retchin
Louise Gorham Richard Sniffen
William B. Farris, Director of Planning
LONG RANGE PLANNING STAFF
Glenn R. Harbeck, Senior Planner
Michael L. Hargett, Staff Planner
CAMA-FUNDED PROJECT INTERNS
Helen M. Hazel ton
Robert J. Emery
GRAPHICS
Lynn Golston and Jeff Jeffords
SECRETARIAL
Dorothy M. Chavious
Prepared by:
WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
The preparation of this document was financed, in part, through a Coastal
Area Management Act grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management
Program, through Funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended, which is administered by the Office of Coastal Zone Managment,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

t
a
Table of Contents
PAGE
LIST OF MAPS, TABLES, & FIGURES
i
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1
I.
GENERAL GUIDE FOR USING REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 2
II.
FINDINGS BY LAND USE CATEGORY . . . . . . . . . .
. 5
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 5
RESIDENTIAL . . . . . . . . .
. 6
OFFICE & INSTITUTIONAL . . . . . . . . . .
10
COMMERCIAL
12
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION & UTILITIES
16
INDUSTRIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 18
RECREATION & OPEN SPACE . . . . . . . . .
. 20
UNDEVELOPED & AGRICULTURE . . . . .
22
WATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 24
III.
SUMMARY FIGURES AND TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 25
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 25
CITY OF WILMINGTON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 26
UNINCORPORATED AREA . . . . . . . . ... .
. 27
PLANNING AREA .. . . . . . . . .
. 28
SUMMARY OF EXISTING LAND USE. . . . . . . . . . .
. 30
IV.
SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 31
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31
MAJOR FINDINGS . . . . . . . .
31
LOCAL LAND USE PROBLEMS . . . . . . . . . . .
32
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . .
35
V.
APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 37
METHODOLOGY . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
37
LISTING OF LAND USES BY CATEGORY. . . . . . . . .
. 37
LIST OF RELATED MATERIALS AVAILABLE . . . . . . .
. 40

LIST of MAPS, TABLES & FIGURES
GENERALIZED EXISTING LAND USE MAP - 1980 (COPY OF THIS 1" MILE
SCALE MAP IS PROVIDED INSIDE REAR COVER OF REPORT.)
MAP 1. LOCATION OF STUDY AREAS
TABLE 1. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA RESIDENTIAL ACREAGE AND DWELLING UNITS
IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA BY TYPE
FIGURE 1. PERCENTAGES OF PLANNING AREA RESIDENTIAL ACREAGE BY TYPE
FIGURE 2. PERCENTAGES OF PLANNING AREA TOTAL DWELLING UNITS BY TYPE
TABLE 2. RESIDENTIAL LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 3. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA OFFICE AND.INSTITUTIONAL ACREAGE IN CITY
AND UNINCORPORATED AREA
TABLE 4. OFFICE AND INSITUTIONAL LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 5. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA COMMERCIAL ACREAGE IN CITY AND
UNINCORPORATED AREA BY TYPE
TABLE 6. COMMERCIAL LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 7. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND
UTILITIES ACREAGE IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA
TABLE 8. TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 9. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA INDUSTRIAL ACREAGE IN CITY AND UNIN
CORPORATED AREA BY TYPE
TABLE 10. INDUSTRIAL.LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 11. RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 12. UNDEVELOPED AND AGRICULTURE LAND USE SUMMARY
TABLE 13. WATER AREAS SUMMARY
FIGURE 3. PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE CATEGORY - CITY OF WILMINGTON.
(PIE CHART)
FIGURE 4. PERCENT OF:DEVELOPED LAND BY LAND USE CATEGORY - CITY OF WILMINGTON
(PIE CHART)
FIGURE 5. PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE CATEGORY - UNINCORPORATED AREA
(PIE CHART)
FIGURE 6. PERCENT OF DEVELOPED LAND BY LAND USE CATEGORY - UNINCORPORATED
AREA (PIE CHART)
i

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PAGE
FIGURE 7.
PERCENT OF
TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE CATEGORY - PLANNING AREA
28
(PIE CHART)
FIGURE 8.
PERCENT OF
DEVELOPED LAND BY LAND USE CATEGORY - PLANNING AREA
(PIE CHART)
28
FIGURE 9.
PERCENTAGE
OF PLANNING AREA'S TOTAL ACREAGE IN CITY AND UN-
INCORPORATED
AREA BY LAND USE CATEGORY (BAR GRAPH)
29
TABLE 14.
SUMMARY OF
EXISTING LAND USE: 1979-80
30
MAP 2.
LOCATION OF
INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT
33
MAP 3.
LOCATION OF
UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT
34
ii

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Introduction
This study is the second land use survey and analysis performed in con-
junction with the Wilmington -New Hanover Comprehensive Planning Program
initiated in 1974. The Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) enacted in 1974
by the North Carolina General Assembly, required the 20 coastal counties of
North Carolina to prepare land use plans which reflect the desires of local
residents. The first "Analysis of Existing Land Use" was prepared in
accordance with the requirements of that act and was released in published
form in April of 1976. CAMA also requires five year updates of local plans
and this report was prepared in compliance with that provision of the act.
Other studies have been conducted prior to the initiation of this program;
however, these two latest studies were the first to address the entire Planning
Area in a detailed manner.
The existing land use survey and analysis serves a variety of useful func-
tions. The primary function is to provide a "snapshot" of development trends
for current analysis or as a basis for comparison in future studies. The
survey identifies the relationship between various current uses of local
property which reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the area's overall
development pattern.
This information plays an integral role in the formulation of the local
land use plan and local development regulations, such as zoning ordinances.
The information can also provide input for growth policy decisions made by
advisory boards and governing bodies. Data provided by the survey can also
be useful to both the private and public sectors in considering specific
development proposals.

1
I. General Guide for Using Report
This section is intended to aid the user in making the most effective and
accurate use of the report. Information provided in this section applies
universally throughout the report. In many instances, more specific explana-
tions regarding a particular subject are provided in individual sections.
It is recommended that frequent reference be made to the accompanying
Generalized Existing Land.Use Map in conjunction with information contained
in the report. This will better enable the reader to relate the information
to a geographic location within the Planning Area.
STUDY AREAS
Information in this report is organized and ,presented by three geographic
areas referred to as "study areas". It is important that the user have a clear
understanding of these study areas in order to make meaningful use of the data
provided for each. The study areas are defined as follows:
1) CITY OF WILMINGTON - all area within the jurisdiction of
i mington including the satellite areas known as "Echo
Farms" and "Echo East".
2) UNINCORPORATED AREA - area within the boundaries of New
Hanover County with the exception of the.following: City
of Wilmington (as described above), area within the juris-
diction of Wrightsville Beach, and the area Y south of
Snow's Cut.
3) PLANNING AREA - total of study areas 1) and 2).
Use of these study areas throughout this report refer to the descriptions
listed above and corresponding areas shown on the map on page 4.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Certain terms used in.this report have similar but not identical meanings.
Listed below are definitions which apply to these terms as they are used herein.
l/ The area south of Snow's Cut is under the jurisdictions of Carolina Beach,
Kure Beach, the State of North Carolina and the U.S. Government.
_2_

TOTAL AREA - All land, water, islands, streets, etc. located
within the study area referenced.
TOTAL LAND - All land, islands, streets, etc., EXCLUDING WATER,
within the study area referenced.
DEVELOPED LAND - Total land LESS UNDEVELOPED AND AGRICULTURE
LAND within the study area referenced.
- 3 -

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CASTLE
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WRIGHTSVILLE
BEACH
MAP
STUDY AREAS
0 CITY of WI LMINGTON
IM UNINCORPORATED AREA
CEACH A BPLANNING AREA ... ALL OF THE
BEACH SHADED AREAS
KURE 2
BEACH
Q
v
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PREPARED BY THE ►1
Q WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER Il
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
-4-

n
H. Findings By Land Use Category
INTRODUCTION
This section contains detailed information obtained from an areawide survey
conducted during the Fall of 1979 through the Spring of 1980. The survey findings
are organized under eight land use categories (Residential, Office -Institutional,
Commercial, Transportation -Communications -Utilities, Industrial, Recreation, Un-
developed -Agricultural, and Water) and are presented for each category in the
following manner:
o Findings for Planning Area
V, s TABLE: PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA TOTAL ACREAGE
LOCATED IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA.
Findings for City of Wilmington
Findings for Unincorporated Area
s TABLE: SUMMARY OF LAND USE CATEGORY
Figures reflect the area in actual use for the particular land use category
at the time the survey was conducted. All street and railroad rights -of -way are
included in the Transportation, Communication, and Utilities category and there-
fore are not included in the other individual categories. For example, the
Residential figures include all areas in use for residential purposes but does
not include streets in residential areas.
It is important to note.that the percentages provided in the first table for
each category refer to the Planning Area total acreage for that land use category.
Figures in all summary tables refer to the individual study areas under which they
are listed.
MW

0
RESIDENTIAL -- PLANNING AREA 13,883 ACRES IN USE
40.2% OF DEVELOPED LAND
12.3% OF TOTAL LAND
The residential category is the largest land user occupying approxi-
mately two -fifths (2/5) of the developed land in each of the study areas.
Residential land use was measured using three sub -categories: conventional
(single family detached), multi -family (duplexes, apartments, condominiums,
etc.) and mobile homes (single lot and parks).
Table 1. shows what percent of the total Planning Area residential area
and dwelling units are located in the City and Unincorporated Area for each
sub -category. The total figure indicates that while 76.6% of the Planning
Area's residential land use is located in the Unincorporated Area, the City
has a slight majority in total housing units. This comparison illustrates
the difference in development densities between the two study areas.
TABLE 1. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA RESIDENTIAL ACREAGE AND
DWELLING UNITS IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA BY TYPE.
TYPE OF
RESIDENTIAL USE
CITY OF
WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED
AREA
AREA UNITS
AREA
UNITS
CONVENTIONAL
21.6
41.7
78.4
58.3
MOBILE HOME
4.4
10.6
95.6
89.4
MULTI -FAMILY
85.0
92.4
15.0
7.6
1
1 /
l/
TOTAL
23.4
52.3
76.6
47.7
SOURCE' WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNINO DEPARTMENT
This information based on 1979 County Tax records; however, latest preliminary
1980 Census counts indicate that the Unincorporated Area has the slight majority
in housing units.
- 6 -

Wilmington has moderate to extremely high concentrations of units in
some of the older sections of.the city. In addition, the large majority of
the Planning Area's multi -family developments are located within Wilmington.
These conditions are a major factor in the overall higher density in the
City.
The bulk of the new.residential development in the area over the past
ten years has occurred in the Unincorporated Area. Most of this has been
low -density suburban type development. As this trend continues, the gap
between the.percentage of Planning Area residential acreage in the County and
the City will continue to widen while the difference,in the portion of hous-
ing stock will diminish, with the majority eventually shifting to the Unincor-
porated Area.
Figure 1. shows the percentage of the total residential acreage devoted to
each of the sub -categories. Figure 2.provides the percentages of the Planning
Area dwelling units by type. As the Figures indicate, conventional housing
represents the lion's share of residential area and dwelling units in the Plan-
ning Area.
FIGURE 1. PERCENTAGES OF PLANNING FIGURE 2. PERCENTAGES OF PLANNING
AREA RESIDENTIAL ACREAGE AREA TOTAL DWELLING UNITS
BY TYPE. BY TYPE.
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEWHANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
MOBILE HOMES,
6.6 %
CONVENTIONAL
88.6 %.
4.7
MULTI-FAMIL
WM

0
RESIDENTIAL -- CITY OF WILMINGTON
3,252 ACRES IN USE
38% OF DEVELOPED LAND
24% OF TOTAL LAND
The City of Wilmington contains a wide spectrum of residential develop-
ment densities ranging from 3,000 to 30,000 square foot lots. The range of
residential densities is closely paralleled by the diversity in housing con-
ditions throughout the city. The higher density areas in many instances con-
tain deteriorating structures while the more spacious developments are
typically well maintained, stable areas.
While new construction activity was.low in the City from 1975 to 1980,
rehabilitation of existing structures has steadily increased in an effort to
stabilize older, viable neighborhoods. This trend_i.s due to a large extent
to programs such as the Neighborhood Housing Services, Neighborhood Conserva-
tion Projects and the Urban Restoration Project.
Multi -family units continue to provide a sizable portion of the housing
stock with an estimated 8,506 units or.44.1% of the City's total dwelling units.
As indicated in Table.l., this represents 92.4% of the Planning Area's multi-
family units. Approximately 27 percent of the City's multi -family housing is
publically assisted.
RESIDENTIAL -- UNINCORPORATED AREA
10,631 ACRES IN USE
40.8% OF DEVELOPED LAND
10.7% OF TOTAL LAND
Ninety-nine percent (99%) of all residential land use in the Unincorporated
Area consists of single family units. Conventional housing comprises 91% and
mobile homes occupy 8% of the residential acreage. Similarily, these housing
types provide 97% of the Unincorporated Area's housing stock. The multi -family

category provides the balance with 1% of the residential area and
3% of the housing stock. Approximately 1/2 of the multi -family units are
located in Governor's Square and the remaining units are duplexes.
Over the past five years, 92% of the building permits for new single
family residences were issued in the Unincorporated Area. Fifty-eight percent
of.the subdivision lots platted in the Unincorporated Area during that period
were within three miles of the city limits of Wilmington.
TABLE 2. RESIDENTIAL LAND USE SUMMARY
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED
AREA
PLANNING AREA
PERCENT OF PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF
ACRES
RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING
ACRES
RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING
ACRES
RESIDENTIAL
- DWELLING
OUSING TYPE
IN USE
AREA
UNITS
IN USE
AREA
UNITS
IN USE
AREA
UNITS
ONVENTIONAL
2,652
81.5
54.4
9,651
91.0
82.0
12,303
88.6
67.5
1OBILE HOME
41
1.3
1.5
881
8.0
15.0
922
6.6
7.8
ULTI-FAMILY
559
17.2
44.1
99
1.0
3.0
658
4.7
24.7
OTAL
3,252
100.0
100.0
10,631
100.0
100.0
13,883
99.9
100.0
SOURCE WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

OFFICE & INSTITUTIONAL (0&I) -- PLANNING AREA 1,523 ACRES IN USE
4.3 % OF DEVELOPED LAND
1.4% OF TOTAL LAND
A significant amount of land is devoted to Office and Institutional use
making this category the fourth largest user of developed land. This
category includes uses such as professional offices, churches, schools and
government offices. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, located
within the city limits, is the area's single largest Office and Institutional
use with approximately 266 acres. As indicated in Table 3., slightly more than
half of the Planning Area's Office and Institutional land use is located in
the City of Wilmington.
TABLE 3. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL ACREAGE IN
CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA.
PERCENT IN CITY
PERCENT IN UNINCOR-
OF WILMINGTON
PORATED AREA
OFFICE AND
54.7
45.3
INSTITUTIONAL USE
SOURCE: WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL (0&I) -- CITY OF WILMINGTON 833 ACRES IN USE
9.7% OF DEVELOPED LAND
6.1% OF TOTAL LAND
The City of Wilmington has experienced a.steady increase over the last ten
years in the amount of area devoted to 0&I use as illustrated by the following
figures: 1970: 559 acres, 1975: 623 acres, and 1980: 833 acres. This data
reflects the City's continuing role as the region's service center. Concentra-
tions of 0&I uses are present in the Central Business District (CBD), the area
surrounding the hospital, and to a lesser extent, in the vicinity of the Univer-
sity between Oleander Drive and Market Street on South College Road.
- 10 -

Revitalization efforts.in the downtown and the presence of existing uses in
that area are expected to maintain the CBD's status as the primary 0&I center
in the city.
OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL (0&I) -- UNINCORPORATED AREA 690 ACRES IN USE
2.6 % OF DEVELOPED LAND
0.6% OF TOTAL LAND
Although nearly half of the Planning Area's 0&I land use is located in
the Unincorporated Area, this category occupies less than 3% of the developed
land in that subarea. The major 0&I uses in the outlying areas are public
schools and churches. Professional offices are present in the areas of more
intense development in the Unincorporated Area such -as on Eastwood Road near
the beach.
TABLE 4. OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL LAND USE SUMMARY.
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
PLANNING AREA.
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES PERCENT OF
IN USE DEVELOPED LAND
IN USE DEVELOPED LAND
IN USE DEVELOPED LAND
OFFICE AND
INSTITUTIONAL USES
833 9.7%
690 2.6%
1,523 4.3%
SOURCE:WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

I
COMMERCIAL -- PLANNING AREA 1,413 ACRES IN USE
4.1% of DEVELOPED LAND
1.3% OF TOTAL LAND
In order to obtain a clear picture of the commercial activity in the
area, this category was divided into the following four. sub -categories:
REGIONAL - Large facilities with numerous speciality and general
merchandise retailers which attract customers outside
New Hanover County. Examples are Independence Mall,
Hanover Shopping Center, and the Central Business
District.
HIGHWAY - Primarily service establishments located adjacent to
major thoroughfares to address the needs of motorists.
Examples are service stations, motels, and restaurants.
Also included in this sub -category are businesses with
extensive land needs such as furniture stores and
mobile -home sales lots, and automobile dealerships.
COMMUNITY - Businesses which serve an intermediate market between
regional facilities and neighborhood oriented businesses.
Examples are College Square Shopping Center, Cape Fear
Shopping Center, and the cluster of businesses on
Wrightsville Avenue near the intersection with Wilshire
Boulevard.
NEIGHBORHOOD - Businesses primarily designed to serve residents in
the immediate neighborhood. Examples are convenient
food stores, small drug stores, and barber shops.
Table 5. shows the percent of the Planning Area located in the City and
Unincorporated Area for each of these sub -categories. The total figure in-
dicates that each locale.has basically half of the commercial area. However,
the types of commercial use are not so evenly divided -between the study areas
as demonstrated in the cases of Regional where the City contains 96% and Neighbor-
hood where 83% is located in the Unincorporated Area. These comparisons show
that the more intense commercial activity in the Planning Area is occurring with-
in the City.
MF•E

TABLE 5. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA COMMERCIAL ACREAGE
BY TYPE IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA.
TYPE OF
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
% OF PLANNING AREA
% OF PLANNING AREA
COMMERCIAL USE
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL
REGIONAL
96.0
4.0
:HIGHWAY
60.0
40.0
:COMMUNITY
37.0
63.0
:NEIGHBORHOOD
17.0
83.0
TOTAL --
48.5 '—
51.5
SOURCE: WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
COMMERCIAL -- CITY OF WILMINGTON
685 ACRES IN USE
8% OF DEVELOPED LAND
5% OF TOTAL LAND
Wilmington continues to serve as the region's commercial and service center
offering two shopping malls, three large shopping centers, the Central Business
District, and numerous smaller commercial clusters located throughout the City.
Nearly half of the City's commercial area consists of Community level businesses.
Many of these establishments are inappropriately.located in a dispersed manner,
thus unnecessarily increasing the amount of land devoted to these businesses while
minimizing their potential attraction. The recent addition of new, intermediate -
level shopping centers in the area may stimulate a shift from the dispersed
pattern toward relocation to these commercial clusters.
- 13 -

COMMERCIAL -- UNINCORPORATED AREA 728 ACRES IN USE
2.8% OF DEVELOPED LAND
0.7% OF TOTAL LAND
r
The bulk of commercial establishments in the Unincorporated Area are located
adjacent to major thoroughfares such as U.S. 17 North -and Oleander Drive. How-
ever, only 17.2% of this area's total commercial land meets the definition of
Highway Commercial. Most of the commercial development falls within the Community
sub -category and would be more appropriately located in a clustered manner.
Eighty-three percent (83%) of the Planning Area's Neighborhood commercial
is located in this study area. These uses are primarily convenient food stores
located in or near residential subdivisions.
14 -

TABLE 6. COMMERCIAL LAND USE SUMMARY
CITY
OF WILMINGTON
I
UNINCORPORATED AREA ..............
PLANNING AREA
...........
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES PERCENT OF
OMMERCIAL USE
IN USE
COMMERCIAL AREA
IN USE COMMERCIAL AREA
IN USE
COMMERCIAL AREA'
REGIONAL
169
24.7%
8 1.1%
177
12.5%
HIGHWAY
180
26.3%
125 17.2%
305
21.6%
COMMUNITY
325
47.6%
548 75.2%
874
61.9%
NEIGHBORHOOD
10
1.4%
47 6�.5%
57
4.0%
TOTAL
685
100.0%
728 100�.0%
1,413
100.0%
SOURCE:WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, AND UTILITIES (TCU) -- PLANNING AREA
11,640 ACRES IN USE
33.6% OF DEVELOPED LAND
10.2% OF TOTAL LAND
This land use category is a major user consuming one-third of the Planning
Area's developed land. Transportation, Communication, and Utilities include
public and private utilities, power generating plants, and airports. For
purposes of analysis, Street and Railroad rights -of -way -are treated separately
in this category.
As shown in Table 7.,.over three -fourths of this category is located in
the Unincorporated Area where 96.3% of the TCU and 68.3% of the Street and
Railroads.are present.
TABLE 7. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND
UTILITIES IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA.
PERCENT IN CITY
OF WILMINGTON
PERCENT IN
UNINCORPORATED AREA
TCU WITHOUT
STREETS AND
-
RAILROADS
3.7
96.3
STREETS & RAILROADS
31.7
68.3
TOTAL
21.5
78.5
SOURCE' WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, & UTILITIES (TCU) --,CITY OF WILMINGTON
2,529 ACRES IN USE
29.6% OF DEVELOPED LAND
18.6% OF TOTAL LAND
The majority of the TCU category in the city is comprised of residential
street and railroad rights -of -way. A portion of the railroad rights -of -way,
particularly in the northern part of the city, is currently not used. Similarly,
- 16 -

much of an old trolley car right-of-way which remains in sections of the city
is vacant area.
If streets and railroads are omitted, public utilities such as water and
sewer plants comprise most of the TCU acreage in the city.
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, & UTILITIES (TCU) -- UNINCORPORATED AREA
9,111 ACRES IN USE
-34.9% OF DEVELOPED LAND
9.2% OF TOTAL LAND
As indicated in Table 8., streets and railroads represent a much smaller
share of the total TCU acreage in the Unincorporated Area than in the City.
This is primarily due to the presence of the New Hover County Airport and
the Sutton Steam Plant in the Unincorporated Area. The balance of TCU area
consists of water and sewer facilities, electric substations and maintenance
yards, and a private airport.
As in the City, residential streets comprise the largest share of the TCU
land use category in the Unincorporated Area. Principal Arterials, such as
U.S. 421 and N.C. 132, represent a significant portion of this category as well.
TABLE-8. TRANSPORTATION, C014MUNICATION AND UTILITIES LAND USE SUMMARY
CITY OF
WIL11INGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
PLANNING
AREA
ACRES PERCENT
ACRES PERCENT
ACRES
PERCENT
TCU CATEGORY
IN USE
OF TCU
IN USE
OF TCU
IN USE
OF TCU
,TCU WITHOUT
¢TREETS AND
RAILROADS
156
6.2
4,004
44.0
4,160
35.7
STREETS AND
RAILROADS
2,373
93.8
5,107
56.0
7,480
64.3
70TAL
2,529
100.0
9,111
100.0
11,640
100.0
SOURCE WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
- 17 -

,
{
INDUSTRIAL -- PLANNING AREA
4,681 ACRES IN USE
13.5% OF DEVELOPED LAND
4.2% OF TOTAL LAND
Three sub -categories have been identifi.ed'.within this land:use category to
better describe the use of industrial areas.. These sub -categories are as follows:
WHOLESALE, WAREHOUSING,
DISTRIBUTION, & STORAGE -- These uses are involved with the movement,
storage and handling of raw materials and
products.
INTENSIVE -- Light industries with small land requirements
such as machine shops and apparel manufacturers.
EXTENSIVE -- Heavier industries which require large sites
such as lumber and wood products, chemical
manufacturers, and fabricated metals.
As shown in Table 9, eighty seven percent of the Planning Area's industrial
acreage is located in the Unincorporated Area. Table 10 indicates that the bulk
of extensive industry, which comprises three -fourths of the total industrial use,
is located in that study area.
The Unincorporated Area leads in all industrial sub -categories although only
by a slight margin in intensive industry. The County contains over six times as
much industrial land as the City, primarily due to the presence of large exten-
sive industries.
TABLE 9. PERCENT OF PLANNING AREA INDUSTRIAL ACREAGE BY TYPE
IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA.
SOURCE': WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL
USE
PERCENT IN CITY OF
WILMINGTON
PERCENT IN UN -
INCORPORATED AREA
WHOLESALE
.WAREHOUSING
DISTRIBUTION & STORAGE
41.3
58.7
INTENSIVE
49.0
51.0
EXTENSIVE
3.0
97.0
TOTAL
12.9
87.1

INDUSTRIAL -- CITY OF WILMINGTON 605 ACRES IN USE
7.1% OF DEVELOPED LAND
4.4% OF TOTAL LAND
The majority of the City's industrial area is located along the riverfront.
The primary use in this area is warehouse, storage and distribution along with
some extensive industry. Other concentrations of industries appear along northern
23rd Street, the eastern terminus of Dawson Street, and adjacent to the railroad in
the vicinity of 12th and Kidder Streets. These areas contain a mixture of indus-
trial uses. Access to transportation facilities appears to have been a primary
consideration in the development of these industrial areas.
INDUSTRIAL -- UNINCORPORATED AREA 4,076 ACRES IN USE
15% OF DEVELOPED LAND
3.5% OF TOTAL LAND
The largest industrial uses in this area.continue to be the extensive industries
located along U.S. 421^North and in Castle Hayne. These uses include chemical manu-
facturers, a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant and quarries. Uses such as these com-
prise 84% of the industrial land in the Unincorporated Area as shown in Table 10.,
The availability of large tracts of land, reasonable access and proper zoning are ,
among the major factors which guided these uses to their present locations.
TABLE 10. INDUSTRIAL LAND USE.SUMMARY.
INDUSTRIAL USE
CITY
OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
PLANNING
AREA
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES PERCENT OF
ACRES
PERCENT OF
IN USE
INDUSTRIAL AREA
IN USE
INDUSTRIAL AREA
IN USE
INDUSTRIAL AREA
WHOLESALE,
WAREHOUSING,
-
DISTRIBUTION &
STORAGE
361
60%
514
12%
875
19%
INTENSIVE
138
23%
142
4%
280
6%
EXTENSIVE
106
17%
3,420
84%
3,526
75%
TOTAL
605
100%
4,076
100%
4,681
100%
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
- 19 -

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE -- PLANNING AREA 1,500 ACRES IN USE
4.3% OF DEVELOPED LAND
1.3% OF TOTAL LAND
This land use category includes parks, golf courses, cemeteries and
passive recreational areas. Table 11. provides a breakdown on the location
of these areas in the Planning Area. The percentage of developed land column
refers to the individual locale.
TABLE 11. RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE LAND USE SUMMARY.
ACRES
IN USE
PERCENT OF
DEVELOPED LAND
% OF PLANNING AREA
RECREATIONAL ACREAGE
CITY OF
WILMINGTON
645
7.5%
43%
UNINCORPORATED
AREA
855
3.3%
57%
PLANNING AREA
1,500
4.3%
100%
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
As the table shows, the City contains a smaller share.of the total recrea-
tion acreage. However, the percentage of the City's developed land devoted to
this use is more than double that in the Unincorporated Area.
- 20 -

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE -- CITY OF WILMINGTON 645 ACRES IN USE
7.5% OF DEVELOPED LAND
4.5% OF TOTAL LAND
Wilmington provides numerous public recreational facilities such as
Greenfield Lake, Empie and Maids Parks, Legion Stadium, and the Martin Luther
King Center. Several cemeteries in the area, such as Oakdale and Greenlawn,
provide expansive open space areas. Other major recreation areas include
the green belt adjacent to Burnt Mill Creek, Cape Fear Country Club and the
Echo Farms Country Club. These public and private facilities are well dis-
persed and provide excellent recreational facilities to all parts of the City.
RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE -- UNINCORPORATED AREA 855 ACRES IN USE
3.3% OF DEVELOPED LAND
0.86% OF TOTAL LAND
Hugh McRae Park and four golf courses represent the majority of recrea-
tional land in the Unincorporated Area. Numerous commercial establishments
such as marinas and water slides also provide recreational facilities in this
water -oriented community.
Many areas of the County are not adequately served with recreational
facilities. Efforts such as the adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan for Wilmington and New Hanover County in 1976 and the establishment of the
County Parks and Recreation Department in 1977 are addressing this need with
the development of new parks and improvements at existing parks and school sites.
- 21 -

UNDEVELOPED & AGRICULTURE-= PLANNING AREA 78082 ACRES TOTAL
- 59.1*%' OF TOTAL LAND
Areas included in this category are unimproved land, bonafide farms and
forestry lands. As.indicated in Table 12., these areas represent 59.17, of Plan-
ning Area's total land.
TABLE 12. UNDEVELOPED & AGRICULTURE LAND USE SUMMARY
UNDEVELOPED
AND AGRICUL-
TURE LAND
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED
AREA
PLANNING AREA
OF
% OF
% OF
TOTAL UN-
% OF
TOTAL UN-
% OF
TOTAL UN-
% OF
DEVELOPED
CITY
DEVELOPED
U.A:
DEVELOPED
P.A.
ACRES LAND
LAND
ACRES LAND
LAND
ACRES LAND
LAND
5,052 6.5%
35.9%
73,030 93.5%
61.8%
78,082 100%
61.8%
SOURCE: WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
UNDEVELOPED AND AGRICULTURE --.CITY OF WILMINGTON 5,052 TOTAL ACRES
35.9% OF TOTAL LAND
Undeveloped area in this study area is primarily comprised of large tracts lo-
cated in the periphery of the city. These areas include property located along 17th
Street in the vicinity of the hospital and extending along Shipyard Boulevard to
South College Road, property in the vicinity of South College Road and New Centre
Drive, the area surrounding the intersection of railroad lines south of Market Street
and west of Kerr Avenue and property adjacent to Smith Creek on the northern edge of
the city. Although there are other smaller vacant areas throughout Wilmington, the
balance of the city is for the most part developed. There are no extensive agricul-
tural areas in the city.
- 22 -

UNDEVELOPED AND AGRICULTURAL -- UNINCORPORATED AREA
73,030 ACRES IN USE
61.8% OF TOTAL LAND
The bulk of this category in the Unincorporated Area is located in the
northern half of the county. Cape Fear Township contains vast undeveloped
areas as well as nearly all of the Planning Area's.agriculture lands.
Other large vacant areas include property between Howe Creek and East-
wood Road, the area south of Pine Valley to Monkey Junction and portions of
the land between U.S. 421 and the river south of Wilfiington.
All of these areas combined represent nearly three fourths of the Un-
incorporated Area total land and 93.5% of the undeveloped and agricultural
land in the Planning Area.
- 23 -

1
WATER -- PLANNING AREA
19,493 ACRES TOTAL
14.7% OF TOTAL AREA
TABLE 13. WATER AREAS SUMMARY
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
PLANNING
AREA
OF
% OF
% OF
TOTAL
% OF
TOTAL
% OF
TOTAL
% OF
WATER
CITY
WATER
UNINCORPORATED
TOTAL WATER
PLANNING
ACRES AREAS
AREA
ACRES AREAS
AREA
ACRES AREAS
AREA
4ATER
AREAS
467 .2.4%
3.3%
19,026 97.6%
16.1%
19,493 100.0%
14.7%
SOURCE:WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT
New Hanover County is virtually surrounded by water with the Atlantic Ocean
along its southern and eastern borders and the Cape Fear River to the west and
north. Within the Planning Area.boundaries, the largest surface water areas are
the Intercoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River. Other large water areas include
Greenfield Lake in the City -and several creeks adjacent to the Intercoastal Waterway
in the Unincorporated Area.
Tablel3. provides a breakdown on the percentage of water area located
within each study area.
- 24 -

III. Summary Figures & Tables
INTRODUCTION This section consists of a series of charts, tables and a bar graph
summarizing the land usage in each study area. The first figures are
pie charts which show the percentages of total area and developed land for
each study area by land use category. Comparison of the charts provides a
means to observe graphically the similarities and differences between the
study areas in usage. For example, comparison of Figures 3. and 5.
reveals that residential uses represent a significantly larger portion of
the total area in the City than in the Unincorporated Area. The same com-
parison between'Figures 4. and 6., however., shows._that the residential
category represents basically the same portionof the developed land in both
study areas. Similar comparisons between other categories can be useful,
particularly when made in conjunction with the summary data tables accompany-
ing each figure
Figure 9. provides the percent of Planning Area total located in the
City and Unincorporated Area for each land use category. Corresponding
percentages.for sub -categories are not provided in this figure; however,
that data is available in the "Findings by Land Use Category",section of
the report in applicable categories.
Table 14. provides acres in use, percent of total area and percent of
developed area by'land use category for the three study areas.
- 25 -

City of Wilmington -
FIGURE 3. PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE FIGURE 4. PERCENT OF DEVELOPED LAND BY LAND USE
CATEGORY _ CATEGORY
WATER AREAS
1 9 8 1 7
/ = 6
Q
v
RESIDENTIAL
� �pJ
UNDEVELOPED RESIDENTIAL
2 & AGRICULTURE STREETS & R.R.
081
Nl �9 j
TCU 4 STREETS & R.R. y �y
7
6
5
OF
ACRES TOTAL AREA
1.)
RESIDENTIAL
3,252
23.2
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
833
5.9
3.)
COMMERCIAL
685
4.9
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
156
1.1
5.)
STREETS & RR
2,373
16.9
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
605
4.3
7.)
RECREATION
645
4.5
8.)
UNDEVELOPED & AGRI.
5,052
35.9
9.)
WATER AREAS
467
3.3
TOTAL
14,068
100.0
0
O a I clcG
2
OF
DEVELOPED
ACRES
LAND
1.)
RESIDENTIAL
.3,252
38.1
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
833
9:7
3.)
COMMERCIAL
685
8.0
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
156
1.8
5.)
STREETS & RR
2,373
27.8
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
605
7.1,
7.)
RECREATION
645
7.5
TOTAL
8,549
100.0
SOURCE: WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Unincorporated Area
FIGURE 5. PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE
CATEGORY
2 0&I
I 9
3 COMMERCIAL
4
WATER
5
z AREAS
ST RFFTS
6
uj
n
INDUSTRIAL
7
RECREATIONAL
8 .
UNDEVELOPED &
AGRICULTURE
FIGURE 6. PERCENT OF DEVELOPED. LAND BY LAND USE
CATEGORY
3
% OF
OF
DEVELOPED
ACRES
TOTAL AREA
ACRES
`LAND
1.)
RESIDENTIAL
102631
9.0
1.)
RESIDENTIAL
10,631
40.8
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
690
0.6
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
690
2.6
3.)
COMMERCIAL
728
0.6
3.)
COMMERCIAL
728
2.8
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
4,004
3.4
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
4,004
15.3
5.)
STREETS & RR
5,107
4.3
5.)
STREETS & RR
5,107
19.5
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
4,076
3.5
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
4,076
15.7
7.)
RECREATION
855
0.7.
7.)
RECREATION
855
3.3
8.)
UNDEVELOPED & AGRI.
73,030
61.8
TOTAL
26,091
100.0
9.)
WATER AREAS
19,026
16.1
TOTAL
118,147
100.0
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

N
00
I
Planning Area
FIGURE 7. PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA BY LAND USE FIGURE 8. PERCENT OF DEVELOPED LAND. BY LAND USE
CATEGORY CATEGORY
9 17
6
1 A Q
2 �� WATER 0
4 3co°�� a� AREAS i-
T �Fqc 2� 8
5 INDUSTRIAL
3
STRFRTS 8 R R
INDUSTRIAL
ECREATION
UNDEVELOPED
& AGRICULTURE
OF
ACRES TOTAL AREA
1.)
RESIDENTIAL
13,883
10.5
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
1,523
1.2
3.)
COMMERCIAL
1,413
1.1
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
4,160
3.1
5.)
STREETS & RR
7,480
5.7
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
4,681
3.5
7.)
RECREATION
1,500
1.1
8.)
UNDEVELOPED & AGRI.
78,082
59.1
9.)
WATER AREAS
19,493
14.7
TOTAL
132,215
100.0
RESIDENTIAL
STREETS a R.R.
0
0
3
3
rriTCU
0aI D 4
2 r 3
OF
'
DEVELOPED
ACRES
LAND
1.
RESIDENTIAL
13,883
40.2
2.)
OFFICE & INST.
1.523
4.4
3.)
COMMERCIAL
1,413
4.1
4.)
TRANSPORTATION, ETC.
4,160
12.0
5.)
STREETS & RR
7,480
21.6
6.)
INDUSTRIAL
4,681
13.4
7.)
RECREATION
1,500
4.3
TOTAL
34,640
100.0
SOURCE: WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

FIGURE 9. PERCENTAGE OF PLANNING AREA'S TOTAL ACREAGE IN CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA BY
LAND USE CATEGORY.
CITY OF WILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED AREA
1
1.)
1O PERCENTAGE
80
60
40
20
C
LAND USE CATEGORY
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

{
f'
i
II
I
i
f TABLE 14. SUflMARY OF EXISTING LAND USE: 1979-1980
CITY
OF 14ILMINGTON
UNINCORPORATED
AREA
PLANNING AREA
PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF
PERCENT OF
DEVELOPED
PERCENT OF
DEVELOPED
PERCENT OF
DEVELOPED
AND USE CATEGORY
ACRES
TOTAL AREA
LAND
ACRES
TOTAL AREA
LAND
ACRES
TOTAL AREA
LAND
OTAL RESIDENTIAL
3,252
23.2
38.0
10,631
9.0
40.80
13,883
10.50
40.2
CONVENTIONAL
2,652
18.9
31.0
9,651
8.2
37.00
12,303
9.30
35.5
MOBILE HOME
41
0.3
0.5
881
0.7
3.40
922
0.70
2.7
MULTI -FAMILY
559
4.0
6.6
99
0.08
0.40
658
0.50
2.0
OTAL
FFICE & INSTITUTIONAL
833
5.9
9.7
690
0.6
2.60
1,523
1.20
4.4
OTAL COITMERCIAL
685
4.9
8.0
728
0.6
2.80
1,413
1.10
4.1
REGIONAL
169
1.2
2.0
8
0.006
0.03
177
0.10
0.5
'HIGHWAY
180
1.3
2.1
125
0.1
0.50
305
0.20
0.9
COMMUNITY
326
2.3
3.8
548
0.5
2.10
874
0.70
2.5
NEIGHBORHOOD
10
0.1
0.1
47
0.04
0.20
57
0.04
0.2
OTAL TCU
2,529
18,0
29.6
9,111
7.7
34.80
11,640
8.80
33.6
TRANSPORTATION, COM-
f1UNICATION & UTILITIES
156
1.1
1.8
4.004
3.4
15.30
4,160
3.10
12.0
STREETS & RAILROADS
2,373
16.9
27.8
5,107
4.3;
19.60
7,480
5.70
21.6
OTAL INDUSTRY
605
4.3
7.1
4,076
3.5
15.70
4,681
3.50
13.4
WHOLESALE, DIST., ETC.
361
2.7
4.2
514
0.4
2.00
875
0.70
2.5.
INTENSIVE
138
1.0
1.6
142
0.12
0.54
280
0.40
0.8
EXTENSIVE
106
0.8
1.2
3,420
2.9
13.11
3,526
2.40
10.2
OTAL RECREATION
645
4.5
7.5
855.
0.70
3.3
11500
1.1
4.3
OTAL UNDEVELOPED
5,052
35.9
---
.73,030
61.8
---
78.082
.59.1
---
TOTAL WATER AREA
467
3.3
---
19,029
16.1
---
19,493
14.7
---
TOTAL AREA
14,068
100.0
100.0
118,147
100.0
100.0
132,215
100.0
100.0
SOURCE: WILMINGTON- NEW HANOVER PLANNING DEPARTMENT

.
IV: Summary
INTRODUCTION
The summary of this report consists of three subsections:
1) Major.find-
ings, 2) Local Land Use Problems and 3) Conclusion. These discussions serve
as an overview ofthe land use survey and are therefore intentionally brief.
More detailed discussions regarding various aspects of the survey are found in
applicable sections of the report.
Specific recommendations concerning revisions to local growth policies
are scheduled for the second phase of the update process. This section
identifies some of the issues which will be addressed during that phase.
MAJOR ' FINDINGS . ,w
Listed below is a brief summary of the major land use findings resulting
from the survey and analysis. More detailed findings for each land use cate-
gory are provided in the "Findings By Land Use Category" section of the report.
1. The number of Planning Area dwelling units is basically split
between the City and Unincorporated Area. However, the total
residential acreage in the Unincorporated Area is over three
times that located in the City.
2. The total area devoted to Office and Institutional has steadily
increased over the past decade making this category a significant
land user.
3. The City's role as a regional trade center is further evidenced by
the recent opening of the area's second shopping mall.
4. Due to the presence of several, large extensive industries, the Un-
incorporated Area contains over 85% of the Planning Area's total
industrial acreage.
5. One-third of the Planning Area's developed land is"devoted to Trans-
portation, Communication and Utility facilities, most of which are
residential streets.
6. Nearly 70% of Planning Area's total land is undeveloped and Agricul-
ture area.
7. The Recreation and Open Space land use category occupies 1,500 acres
in the Planning Area.
8. Water areas within the boundaries of the Planning Area represent 14.7%
of the total area.
- 31 -

LOCAL LAND'USE PROBLEMS
In addition to the data produced as a result of the land use survey,
a number of land -use related problems were identified during the process.
These problems fall within two basic types: incompatible development and
unplanned development. Outlined below are descriptions of these problems
as they are occurring in the Planning Area.
1. Incompatible Development - Several locations within the Planning
Area are experiencing or likely to experience problems as a result of an
improper mix of land uses. Listed below and shown on Map 2 are the major
instances of incompatible development in the Planning Area:
Spofford Mills, Brooklyn, and Sunset Hills: industrial zoning
in these primarily residential neighborhoods has resulted in
several non -residential -uses, such as contractor plants, re-
cycling centers, and trucking terminals, locating in or near
these areas.
. Flemington: this small residential community is located in
the midst of vast areas zoned and used industrially.
. Creekwood: this housing project is -inappropriately located
in close proximity to the airport.
2. Unplanned Development - Certain development practices have occurred
within the Planning Area which result in numerous problems related to provision
of proper;services and facilities, traffic and erosion of the tax base through
inefficient use of land. Map 3 shows the location of the two major types of
unplanned development occurring in the Planning Area which are described below.
. Strip Commercial Development - this development pattern continues
to be a problem on most major thoroughfares throughout the Planning
Area. Although there is a recognized need for certain businesses
such as automobile sales and services.to locate adjacent to high-
ways, many of the existing businesses in these locations have no
demonstrated need to do so.
. Metes and Bounds Development - a significant portion of the Planning
Area's -residential development has occurred without formal review
by the appropriate agencies under a provision commonly referred to
as "Metes & Bounds" development. Not only does this practice fail
to adequately alert local government of the current level of develop
ment activity, it also results in uncoordinated development patterns
in many instances.
32

WILMINGTON
;' WRIGHTSVILLE
BEACH
• Dv
w
4
MAP 2
P LOCATION OF INCOMPATIBLE
DEVELOPMENT
j CAROLINA
I BEACH
'�
Spofford Mills
I
2
Brooklyn
I
i
3
Sunset Hills
KLJRE
'
!y BEACH
4Flemington
I,
5
Creekwood
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
O-..
PREPARED BY THE _ ►1
t�
WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER -
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
- 33 -

WILMINGTON j : r'�WRIGHT8VILLE
BEACH
r • _.
r
c is
ie v
�1 P
P MAP 3
j LOCATION OF UNPLANNED
CAROLINA DEVELOPMENT
i - BEACH
j A Strip Commerical
1
! B Metes & Bounds
t
KURE
er i BEACH
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
PREPARED BY THE
WILMINGTON-NEW HANOVER N
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
- 34 -

.4 f
CONCLUSION
The 1980 survey of existing land use revealed that the development
trends established between 1970-1975 have to a large extent continued
during the past five years. Service and trade establishments continue to
represent a significant portion of the developed areas. New residential
development for the most part is occurring in the Unincorporated Area. Re-
vitalization efforts, both commercial and residential, are renewing the
viability of the central city. The majority of Planning Area industrial
growth has been in the form of expansions to existing firms with few new
sites being developed.
Improvements have been made with respect to many of the land use prob-
lems identified during the 1975 planning program. For example, the sprawl-
ing development identified in those studies is gradually being reversed as
evidenced by the fact that 58% of the subdivision lots platted since 1975 have
been within three miles of the City limits of Wilmington. Also, the worsening
of three zoning related problems (encroachment, strip commercial development
and overzoning) is being abated by the denial -,.of zoning requests which would
have the effect of increasing these problems.
However, several land use problems still exist in the Planning Area as
outlined in the previous subsection. Their recognition can be considered
the first step toward their resolution. The next step will be the develop-
ment of an updated land use plan and accompanying growth policies during the
next phase of the Planning program.
-35-

V. Appendices
A. METHODOLOGY
The following is a synopsis of the techniques and materials utilized in
obtaining and summarizing the land use data contained in this report:
1. Development of land use categories and sub -categories to address
local existing land use patterns.
2. Assignment of land use codes used by New Hanover County Tax Office
to appropriate land use category and/or sub -category (SEE LISTING
IN -B. BELOW).
3. Computer printouts obtained for each land parcel in Planning Area
by land use code and location. Information transferred to
corresponding 1" = 400' scale planning maps which were then color -
coded.
4. Information verified by aerial photography,.field checks, and tele-
phone surveys.
5. 1 400' color -coded maps hand measured for each land use category
by individual, 1/16th sections which correspond to County Tax Office
1 = 100' maps.
6. Planning Area and City of Wilmington totals obtained by summing
appropriate map area data. Unincorporated Area totals obtained by
subtracting City totals from Planning Area totals.
B. LISTING OF LAND USES BY CATEGORY
As indicated in the Methodology, the codes assigned by the County Tax
Office served as the basis for determining the existing use of each land
parcel in the Planning Area. The following list represents the manner in
which these codes were aggregated under the land use categories and sub-
categories for the survey and analysis. The numbers shown are those used
by the Tax Office for each land use.
Single. Family Residential (SFR)
0 - Family Residential
04 - Season Residential 1 Family
19 - Other Residential
Mobile Homes (MH)
10 - Mobile Home
14 - Mobile Home Park
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Multi=Family'Residential _
02 - Family Residential
03 - 3 or more Family Residential
05 - Season Residential 2 + Family
Office and Institutional
61
- Finance ea state
65 - Physicians and Dental Services
65A Hospital Services
65B - Sanitoriums, Convalescent and Rest Home Services
65D - Other Medical and Health -Services
65E - Legal Services
67 - Governmental
68 - Educational
69A - Religious Activities
69B - Relig.ious Activities and Educational School
12 - Group Quarters
Commercial l/
52 - Retail yBuilding Materials, Hardware', ­and Farm
53 - Retail --General Merchandise
54A - Groceries Retail Convenience Food
54B - Fish and Seafoods - Retail
54C - Other Retail Trade - Food
55 - Retail Auto
55A - Tires, Batteries, and Accessories - Retail
55B - Gasoline Service Stations
55C - Marine Craft and Accessories - Retail
55D - Marina - Marine Craft Docking and Services
55E - Retail Trade Auto, Marine Craft Aircraft, Accesories
56 - Retail Apparel
57 - Retail Home Furnishings
58A - Eating Place.- Consumption on Premises
58B - Fast Food Service
58C - Drinking Place (Alcoholic Beverages).
13 - Residential Hotel
6 Travel Trailer Park
73 - Amusements
84A - Sport Fishing
84B - Commercial Fishing
84C - Other Fishing and Related
62 - Personal Services
63 - Business Services
64 - Repair - Auto Services
66 - Contract Construction
59 - Other Retail
15 - Transient Lodging
Y Sub -categories for commercial are not provided in the listing since
judgments as to which sub -category property in commercial use should be
placed under were made on a case -by -case basis during the survey.
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Transportation; Cbmmunicatiens'Utilities
41 - Rail Transit
42 - Motor Vehicles
43 - Aircraft
44 - Marine Craft
45 - Street Right-of-way
46 - Auto Parking
47_ - Communications
48 - Utilities
49 - Other Transportation, Communication and Utility
Wholesale, Warehousing and Distribution
5 - Wholesale Trade
Industrial (Intensive
2 - Food and Kindred
23 - Apparel and Similar
27 - Printing and Allied
34 - Fabricated Metal
35 - Professional, Scientific and Controlling Instruments
36 - Boat and -Ship Construction
39 - Miscellaneous' ManufattU:ring -
84 - Fishery
Industrial (Extensive)
22
- Textile Mill
24
- Lumber and Wood
25
- Furniture and Fixtures
26
- Paper and Allied
28
- Chemical and Allied
29
- Petroleum, Refining and Related
31
- Rubber and Plastic
32
- Stone, Clay and Glass
33
- Primary Metal
85
- Mining and Related
Recreation
71 - Cultural or Nature Exhibition
72 - Public Assembly
74 Recreational Activities
75 - Resorts and Camps
76 - Parks,
Undeveloped and Agriculture
81 - Agriculture
82 - Agriculture Related
83 - Forestry and Related
91 - Unused Land
92 - Non -Commercial Forest

Miscellaneous ��
89 - Other Resource
69C - Other Services
79 - Other Cultural, Entertainment and Recreation
94 - Vacant Floors
95 - Under Construction
C. RELATED MATERIALS AVAILABLE
Listed below are materials related to this report which are available for
inspection and use at the Planning Department Offices:
1. 1" = 400' scale planning maps, which.encompass the entire Planning
Area, color -coded by land use category.
2. Land use data which correspond to the area within the`1".= 100' scale
tax maps and the 1" 400' scale Planning maps.
3. Copies of the Generalized Existing Land Use Map accompanying this re-
port are also available separately.
Parcels in the Miscellaneous category were included in the appropriate
land use category according to their individual use. .
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