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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAMA Land Use Plan Update & Comprehensive Plan-1997-2010i� , � �0, - Ovm� 0 ■ ■ Wilmington - New Hanover County CAMA Land Use Plan Update Comprehensive Plan1997-2010 Adopted: September 7, 1999 Wilmington City Council 6- New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Certified: November 19, 1999 NC Coastal Resources Commission PIL ' V O` rf��NORtH �'p I. Acknowledgments Steering Committee John Jefferies, Chairman William Caster, Chairman, County Commissioners Hamilton Hicks, Mayor, Wilmington City Council Buzz Birzenieks, County Commissioners Harper Peterson, City Council Kirk Davy (1997-99), County Planning Board Rodney Harris (1999), County Planning Board Glenn Richardson, Chairman, Wilmington Planning Commission Wes Beckner, Chamber of Commerce Carlton Fisher, Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors Johnnie Henagan, Council of Neighborhoods Association Tilghman Herring, Historic District Commission Edward Higgins, Chairman, Board of Education Debbie Keck, Board of Education, alternate Jim Hunter, At -Large Representative Jim Kenny, President, Home Builders Association Gerry McCants, At -Large Representative Linda Pearce, Elderhaus Representative Ernest Puskas, Castle Hayne Area Representative Tracy Skrabal, Environmental Representative Special Acknowledgement Members of Community Growth Planning & Chairman, Bob Warwick Citizens that participated in the Public Forums, Public Opinion Survey, Sub -Committee Public Meetings, Steering Committee meetings, and fall 1998 Public Forum/Hearing New Hanover County Board of Commissioners William A. Caster, Chairman Robert G. Greer, Vice Chairman Buzz Birzenieks Ted Davis, Jr. Charles R. Howell Wilmington City Council Hamilton E. Hicks, Jr., Mayor Don Betz, Mayor 1981-97 Katherine B. Moore, Mayor Pro Tem Frank S. Conlon J. C. Hearne, II Rose Ann Mack 1997-98 Laura Padgett 1993-97 Harper W. Peterson Jim Quinn Charles H. Rivenbark, Jr. County Planning Board Members Rodney Harris, Chairman Kirk Davy 1997-99 McKinley Dull Joyce Fernando John Galarde Michael Keenan Robert Murphy 1997-98 Frank Smith James E. Wolle Wilmington Planning Commission Glenn Richardson, Chairman Jack Watkins, Vice Chairman Frank Hamilton, III 1995-98 Donald M. Hand 1996-99 Rose Ann Mack Terry Richardson Mark Saulnier Elaine Selden Stephen Stein New Hanover County www.co.new-hanover.nc.us/ Planning Department 414 Chestnut St., Suite 304, Wilmington, NC 28401 Tel. (910) 341-7165, Fax (910) 341-4556 Dexter Hayes, Director Patrick Lowe, Assistant Director Chris O'Keefe, Senior Planner Wanda Coston, Planner Sam Burgess, Planner Grant D. Gore, Graphics Technician Pete Avery, Senior Planner 1984-99 Phoebe Saavedra, Secretary 1989-99 Margie Titus, Intern Bert Hatchell, Intern 1997-98 Elizabeth Adams, Intern 1997 Mike Gutekunst, Intern 1998 Katheryn Quinelly, Intern 1997 Kim Wolfer, Intern 1996-97 Information Technology Mike Arkinson, GIS Manager Bruce Walker, GIS Analyst Budget Cam Griffin, Budget Director Managers Office David Weaver, Assistant County Manager Andy Atkinson, Deputy County Manager County Public Schools Bill Hance, Assistant Superintendent for Operations Engineering Wyatt Blanchard, County Engineer Environmental Management Ray Church, Director Fire Services Phil Kouwe, Fire Services Administrator Libraries David Paynter, Director Parks Neil Lewis, Director Sheriff Joe McQueen, Sheriff City of Wilmington www.ci.wilmington.nc.us/ Planning Division 202 N. P St., 4t' Floor, Wilmington, NC 28402 Tel. (910) 341-3258, Fax (910) 341-7801 Wayne Clark, Planning Manager Mark Zeigler, Planner Bill Austin, Transportation Planner John Ponder, Transportation Planning Engineer Chad Ives, GIS Planner Dorothy Chavious, Department Secretary Deborah Haynes, Graphics Technician Bruce Johnston, Engineering Technician Arcelia Wicker, Director of Planning 1981-98 Ockert Fourie, Planner 1998 Mark Sudduth, Intern 1997 Zachary Taylor, Intern 1997 City Managers Office Mike Hargett, Asst City Manager (Interim Planning Manager 1998) Development Management Andrea Surratt, Development Mgmt. Manager Kaye Graybeal, Historic Preservation Planner Mellisa Allcox, Development Mgmt. Intern 1997-98 Eleanor Price, Historic Preservation Consultant Jayson Ward, Planning Technician 1997-98 Paul D. Harsch, Intem 1997 Community Development Mark Karet, Community Development Manager Gaines Townsend, Planner Hattie Herring, Code Enforcement Officer 1989-99 Fred Reisz, Housing Services Counselor Bettie Bisbee, WHFD, Inc. Program Manager Robert Lucas, WHFD, Inc. Administrator Information Technology Services Jim Sahlie, GIS Systems Analyst Administration Services Susan Dankel, Director 1975-99 Engineering Bill Penny, City Engineer Dave Mayes, Engineer Police John Cease, Chief of Police Sharon Pulley, Captain Public Services & Facilities Ed Fare, Director Public Utilities Hugh Caldwell, Director Fire Sam Hill, Fire Chief Cape Fear Community College Eric McKeithan, President Carl Brown, Vice President for Institutional Services Facilitator Robert Gerlach, President, The VTA Group Todd Gerlach, Facilitator N. C. Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources — Division of Coastal Management Zoe Bruner, District Planner Kathy Vincent, District Planner 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 1972, as amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. • Date: July 30,1999 Table of Contents -------------------------- IAcknowledgments............................................................................. 1 II Executive Summary.......................................................................... 3 IIIIntroduction....................................................................................... 7 IV Issue Highlights............................................................................... 10 V Planning Process............................................................................ 14 VI Vision and Goals............................................................................ 16 VII Natural Resources.......................................................................... 24 VIII Land Use and Urban Design.......................................................... 35 IX Transportation................................................................................ 42 X Community Infrastructure.............................................................. 50 XIHousing.......................................................................................... 61 XII Economic Development................................................................. 68 XIII Historic Preservation...................................................................... 76 XIV Storm and Natural Hazards............................................................ 79 XV Land Classifications/Map.............................................................. 83 Appendix................................................................................................... 88 A. Definitions................................................................................ 89 B. List of Available Reports......................................................... 91 II. Executive Summary INTRODUCTION Population Growth Pressures Between 1997 and 2010 it is projected that 31,000 new people will join the population of Wilmington and New Hanover County. This is an increase from 149,000 people in 1997 to 180,000 in 2010. The challenge for the County and City is to wisely allocate land use in the urban, urbanizing, and rural areas for existing residents as well as projected newcomers. Plan Background Information and Land Use Survey The 1997-2010 Comprehensive Plan has been in the making since December 1996 when elected officials of the City and County authorized the creation of the Plan. Throughout 1997 and into spring of 1998 technical reports were written addressing: population; environmental resources and constraints; existing land use; transportation; community infrastructure/fiscal impact analysis; hurricane mitigation/reconstruction; housing; economy; and other background information. In October 1997 a public opinion survey of registered voters was conducted. The results showed that the major land use issue of public concern was that the current rate of growth was much too fast. Survey respondents also expressed the desire for more economic growth, but only if it is the right kind of growth such as high technology industrial. Eighty nine percent of the survey respondents expressed the desire that developers pay for infrastructure costs caused by new development, such as roads and schools. Protection of the environment was another clear direction of the survey. Public Participation and Plan Guidance In the fall of 1997 six Public Forums were held across the City and County. Input was solicited regarding the environment, land use and design, community infrastructure, transportation, housing, and economy. The Plan Public Forums also included participants from a citizen driven Community Growth Planning initiative. Throughout 1998 the Comprehensive Plan's development and continued public participation process was guided by an 18 member Steering Committee. Jointly appointed by the County Commissioners and City Council, the Steering Committee was comprised of community members from diverse backgrounds including: elected officials; planning commission and board members; business, environment, development, minorities real estate, and the school board. The Public participation process continued into the spring of 1998 with four Public Sub - Committees meetings which were attended by more than 70 non -appointed volunteer members. These meetings were used to gather additional information and create draft policy statements for the Comprehensive Plan topics. Issues and vision statements from Community Growth Planning were also included in the Sub -Committee meetings. During the summer and fall of 1998 the Steering Committee molded the issues and policies generated by the Public Sub -Committees, added detailed implementation actions and 3 developed a vision statement for the Plan. In the fall of 1998 the future land use technical report was written incorporating proposed concepts from the public and Steering Committee. In October 1998 the draft Plan was presented to City Council and the County Commissioners and was authorized to be sent to the State for review. In the Spring and Summer 1999 the plan was modified to address the state's review comments. Public hearing consideration and final adoption of the Plan by the City and County is scheduled for fall 1999. CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT PHYSICAL PLAN GUIDE Land Classification - Guiding Architecture for the Physical Plan The guiding architecture for the physical Plan is provided by the land classification map. Intensity of development ranges from urban land to the less developed rural and resource protection areas. The land classes are: developed; urban transition; limited transition; community; rural; conservation; and resource protection. Natural Resources Protection Protection and preservation of our natural resources is important to our economic and community well being. Natural resource protection addresses water quality, open space, wetlands, creeks rivers and flood plain, estuaries, beaches, potable water supply, air quality, agriculture and forestry, and harvesting mineral and fishery resources. Conservation Corridors, Greenways, Parks and Open Space The Plan provides for conservation corridors and greenways that link and incorporate conservation areas, key parks and open space areas. The plan encourages the development of residential neighborhoods that provide environmentally sensitive design and an integration of open space. Residential Neighborhood Development The Plan focuses on modern residential development designs and options for Traditional Neighborhood Development with narrower tree lined streets and sidewalks that emphasize a pedestrian orientation and scale. Diverse housing types and lot sizes are encouraged. Public spaces such as formal public parks, village greens are desired features in the Plan. Linking Pedestrian Friendly Business and Residential Development The Plan envisions concentrating business and residential development in nodes, while retaining open space. The business nodes would include highly accessible linked pedestrian friendly commercial centers, surrounded by mixed density residential neighborhoods. Moving out from these centers the residential densities would decrease. The Plan establishes guidelines for creating development regulations, along with incentives, that will encourage innovation and provide flexibility in land use development. Urban Design for Business and Residential Neighborhood Development The Plan addresses the recurring theme desired by our citizens for improved design guidelines for thoroughfare landscaping and signage, pedestrian access, dedicated bicycle routes, and pedestrian friendly shopping centers and parking lots. The Plan design guidelines address strip commercial development and the establishment of an integrated transportation network. 4 Historic Preservation Downtown Wilmington has inherited a unique treasure of existing historic residences and business properties. The Plan recognizes the need to nurture and maintain this rich cultural heritage through historic preservation guidelines. Community Infrastructure The Plan provides direction for community infrastructure needs including schools, libraries, parks, sheriff and police, fire, roads, water, sewer, and storm water. Fiscal impact analysis shows that provision of community infrastructure is cost efficient if focused within an Urban Service Area, with the added benefit of deterring urban sprawl. Policy direction includes how to pay for the needed community infrastructure with exploration of alternative forms of financing. Also addressed are the improvements needed to provide a high quality level of service, and to prevent a decline in the level of service provided to County and City residents. Paying for community infrastructure should be fairly shared by new development and existing residents. Transportation The Plan acts as a guide for transportation planning. Directions include: new major and minor thoroughfares; widening of existing streets where appropriate; the feasibility of multi - modal transit alternatives; park and ride lots, express bus service, carpool and vanpool services; increased rubber tired trolley service; bicycle and pedestrian pathways; and congestion management. Storms and Natural Hazards �j. The Plan addresses storms and natural hazards through emergency management plans that JI provide for mitigation, evacuation, and recovery in the event of a hurricane or disaster. Recovery management also includes the provision for a recovery task force. HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL NEEDS Housing One of the key housing components of the Plan is to increase affordable housing for low and moderate income persons. Methods for increasing affordable housing and ownership include: expanding existing programs; establishing a mortgage revenue bond program; and establishing a land trust program for affordable housing land acquisition. Other key related housing components in the Plan are: creating County minimum housing standards and enforcement, and enhancing the City's; consolidating the City and County Community Development Block Grant program to increase money for programs; increasing affordable rental housing; expanding programs for the homeless population; increasing public outreach by government on growth and development challenges; housing challenges for the elderly and special needs population; and adequate student housing for University of North Carolina - Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College. I Economy 0 The Plan addresses the need for a coordinated economic development strategy that will attract high paying, environmentally friendly employers to create a more diversified economy. n Another key concept of economic development in the Plan is to increase the skills level (�) and education of the workforce. The Plan addresses this challenge through school and work programs of Cape Fear Community College and the County public schools. The need for vocational education is particularly emphasized. Other economic development needs addressed by the Plan are: improving employment u opportunities in economically distressed areas of the City and County; supporting the Wilmington State Port's need to deepen the harbor, improve inland highway and rail access and upgrade the terminal; support the local water dependent marine economy; support airport growth and expansion; and encourage a diversified economy including heritage and historic preservation tourism, boating, and eco-tourism. 9, 6 RI 11 u III. Introduction Background The Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Commissioners agreed to jointly prepare a Comprehensive Plan in anticipation of continued growth, and in response to the 01 scheduled update of the Land Use Plan, as required under the provisions of the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), and the Wilmington Urban Area Transportation Plan. These plans have future land use implications for the City and County, and are coordinated through the Comprehensive Plan. The 1974 Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), requires a cooperative coastal land j management program between local government and the State of North Carolina for preparing, adopting and enforcing local land use plans. CAMA requires that local government within 20 coastal North Carolina counties prepare land use plans which provide protection, preservation, orderly development and management. Wilmington is classified as an Urbanized Area by the US Census Bureau. As a result of this designation, the area is required to have a continuous transportation planning process that encompasses the urban area around Wilmington. A Greater Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for guiding the transportation planning. One of the main roles of the MPO is to develop the Transportation Plan. The Wilmington -New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan will become an official public document of the Wilmington City Council and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners upon its adoption. Public hearings and adoption for the Plan are scheduled for Fall 1999. The Plan will act as a set of long range, general guidelines for local decision making. LJ Upon local adoption the Plan will be officially certified by the State and used by regional, State and Federal agencies in making project consistency determinations, funding and permit decisions. The Comprehensive Plan provides guidance to City and County officials in their decisions on development plans, programs, regulations and incentives. The Plan also communicates local government policies to interested citizens and organizations. While the Comprehensive Plan is not statutorily binding in the sense of an ordinance, it is an important policy document that is adopted, amended and updated by formal action of the City Council, Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission. This Plan is the fourth update to the original Wilmington -New Hanover CAMA Land Use Plan which was adopted by the City Council and the Board of Commissioners in 1976. Previous updates to the original Plan in accordance with State planning guidelines occurred in _ 1981, 1986 and 1993. �I 7 Purpose of the Plan The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County have experienced a high level of population and employment growth throughout the 1990's. This growth is exerting increasing pressure on the City and County's ability to provide services, insure wise development of the land, and minimize further degradation of our resources and loss of our natural landscape. The City -County Comprehensive Plan addresses the following: • Recognize the need and provide for effective environmental and conservation management measures to ensure environmental protection. • Guide and monitor land use changes as a result of development and redevelopment. • Meet the transportation challenges with diverse solutions including automobile, bus, bicycle and pedestrian. • Maintain and enhance the fiscal sustainability and community infrastructure needs. • Support and enhance affordable housing and minimum housing programs. • Increase efforts to improve economic diversification, and efforts to attract employers with high paying jobs. • Protect and nurture our historic heritage. • Ensure citizen protection through proactive plans for hurricanes or other natural disasters. • Provide a land classification system and map to chart a course of growth and development, and land conservation. Components of the Plan The Comprehensive Plan consists of the following sections: issue highlights; planning process; vision and goals; issues, policies, and implementation actions; land classifications and map. Any changes, additions, or deletions to these elements require an amendment to this Plan. Technical reports were used to support and provide information for the public and Steering Committee and are available from the County and City Planning offices. A title list of available documents is included in the Appendix. Issues This section lists the issues of importance to the community. They were developed through the public participation process and the guidance of the Steering Committee. The issues relate to natural resources, land use and urban design, community infrastructure, transportation, housing, historic preservation, economy, and storm and natural hazards. 8 ` Planning Process ` This section contains details of the planning process for public participation and the role of the Steering Committee. The planning process was used to create a vision and goals; identify issues affecting the community; and create policies and implementation actions to address the issues. i Vision and Goals This section contains the vision and goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The vision and j goals were synthesized by the Steering Committee as a result of issues and policies brought U forward by the public through the planning process. Issues, Policies, and Implementation Actions This section of the Plan contains the issues (a restatement from the highlighted issue section), policies and implementation actions to guide future growth and development. The topics are: natural resources, land use and urban design, community infrastructure, transportation, housing, historic preservation, economy, and storm and natural hazards. For each of the main topics the implementation actions have been consolidated into tables that provide the following detail: the priority given to the action item; the estimated relative cost of implementation; the fiscal year in which it is proposed to be initiated; and the responsible agency. These implementation action tables are to be used to evaluate progress in implementing the Plan policies, and will serve as an annual status report to City Council and the County Commissioners. Land Classifications and Map The land classification and map show the location of the land categories which are: �/ developed; urban transition; limited transition; community; rural; and conservation. These U categories are intended to guide and promote wise development, redevelopment, and natural resource conservation for the Plan. The policies and implementation actions fit within the architecture provided by the land classification. Definitions The appendix contains definitions to be used with the Plan elements containing issues, policies, and implementation actions. M I 9 a ft IV. Issue Highlights Introduction An important first step in the Comprehensive Plan process was to identify community concerns. Issues were identified through an extensive public consultation, participation and review process which included: a New Hanover County voter survey (Eastcoast Consumer Research Group, October 1997); public forums; the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce's Community Growth Planning initiative; and the public Comprehensive Plan Subcommittees, and Steering Committee. The issues, as expressed by the community through this collaborative process, have been grouped into the following topics: natural resources; land use and urban design; community infrastructure; transportation; housing; economy; historic preservation; and storm and natural hazards. The following major issues were identified. Natural Resource Issues 1. Clean Water. Continued declining water quality has led to strong community desire for protection and enhancement of our surface and ground water quality and to bring all coastal water up to the highest quality possible. 2. Open Space Preservation and Acquisition. Loss of open space and farmlands to development has resulted in strong community desire to preserve remaining areas of public use; greenways, bike paths, hiking trails, conservation areas. 3. Environmental Protection and Quality of Life. The special quality of our coastal environment is perceived as an important ingredient in our overall quality of life including our potential for continued economic growth. We must ensure the protection and enhancement of our natural ! I resources. 4. Growth Management. The current rate of growth is much too fast for the community's comfort level and it is having a perceived negative impact on the quality of life. The Comprehensive Plan must have implementable policies to encourage sustainable and orderly growth. 5. Implementation of Plans. Identified as a weak area in previous plans; the Comprehensive Plan should identify the time frame, resource costs, accountability, and feedback necessary to ensure its implementation. Land Use and Urban Design Issues 1. Allocation of sufficient land for all desirable land use types. 2. Flexible , and innovative site plan criteria are needed to guide the development process throughout the county. 3. Continue to promote Wilmington as a regional trade center. 10 CJ 4. Minimize dependence on the automobile by changing land use patterns and providing facilities for alternative methods of transportation. 5. Allow higher density where adequate infrastructure exists and where natural conditions will not be adversely effected. 6. Land use plans and regulations effecting land use should be coordinated between the City and County and should incorporate the conclusions of other planning efforts (i.e. Community Growth, Downtown 2020, River Corridor Plan). 7. Define urban growth boundaries. 8. Identify elements that define quality of life and determine the impacts of the built environment on those elements. Transportation Issues 1. The full impact of new development and changes in land use on transportation systems, and the cost of mitigating this impact, is not adequately addressed. 2. Efforts to improve flow of people and products are not sufficiently coordinated. 3. Alternative forms of transport are not given enough emphasis. 4. Strip development along thoroughfares. 5. The preservation of transportation corridors is inadequate. 6. The appearance of road arteries needs improvement. 7. The construction and maintenance of transportation facilities negatively impacts the environment, particularly water quality. 8. Driveway access to arterial roads are not sufficiently controlled. 9. Traffic volume exceeds the capacity of street networks. 10. The negative affects of new roads on neighborhoods. Community Infrastructure Issues 1. The uncoordinated, costly provision of community services and facilities is of concern. 2. The high cost of infrastructure investment places a burden on public and private financial resources. 3. Storm water drainage problems caused by existing and future development raises concern. 4. There are inadequate sewer and water services in some unincorporated areas. 11 ft 5. The optimal location, use and maintenance of education facilities, some of which are overcrowded and need improvements. 6. Insufficient provision of community open space, recreation and cultural facilities for present and future needs. 7. Recognition of Downtown Wilmington as the regional cultural nucleus. 8. Maintenance of adequate police and fire services in unincorporated areas. 9. Increased waste management problem due to growth and development. 10. The proliferation of telecommunication towers. Housing Issues 1. The City minimum housing program should be improved. The County should establish and adopt a minimum housing code and enforcement program. 2. There is a documented need for affordable housing, particularly for low and moderate income residents. 3. The City and County need to ensure that it is receiving the maximum amount of federal and state financial opportunities for community and economic development. 4. There is a need to provide an increased amount of affordable rental housing. 5. There are an estimated 800 homeless persons County wide with the majority living in the City. 6. Neighborhood residents need a mechanism to voice their concerns regarding growth, and change, and the County and City needs an efficient way to provide information to residents. 7. There is a need for adequate housing for the special need population, elderly, and disabled in the City and County. 8. With the growth of UNC-Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College, students will need adequate on and off campus housing. ft- Economy Issues 1. There needs to be improved economic diversification, and continued effort to attract employers that provide high paying jobs. 2. Continue efforts to attract and retain business to economically distressed areas. 3. To remain competitive into the next decade the State port will need to deepen its harbor, improve inland highway and rail access, and upgrade the terminal. 12 4. The area could increase marine related employment opportunities with: marine technology; aquaculture; the aquarium; and boat manufacturing and marinas. 5. The Wilmington International Airport needs to expand to improve its competitiveness while working to ensure community compatibility. 6. There is a need to balance tourism with a diversified economy. 7. There is a need to increase workforce preparedness, especially for the marginally trained and under educated. Historic Preservation Issue The City and County need to identify, protect and plan for the preservation of its historic and cultural resources. Storm and Natural Hazard Issues 1. Three hurricanes and five major storms in the past few years have focused attention on the need for examination of many existing ordinances and building codes. 2. Use of land susceptible to hurricane and flooding damage must be scrutinized to assure the safety of visitors and citizens. 3. It is the responsibility of the governments of New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington and the beach Communities to provide a plan of action to protect the lives and property of their citizens and visitors. 13 0 V. Planning Process Community Participants to the Plan Public involvement was assured throughout the creation of the Comprehensive Plan with: public forums; a public opinion survey; inclusion of a citizen Community Growth Planning initiative; Public Subcommittees; and a Steering Committee. • A Public Opinion Survey. n • Six Public Forums. • A citizen initiative, Community Growth Planning. • Four Public Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee meetings. • Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee with 21 oversight meetings. • Public Forum on Draft Comprehensive Plan Subject topics discussed included: natural resources; land use and urban design; community infrastructure; transportation; housing; economy; historic preservation; and storm and natural hazards. Public Opinion Survey The Public Opinion Survey was conducted in 1997 through a random telephone survey of 410 registered voters in New Hanover County. Detailed findings of the survey indicate: "The current rate of (County) growth is much too fast for voters to accept and is much higher than previous study levels. A total of 72% said growth was too fast, versus 5 1 % in 1991 or 41% in 1986. The voter population has decided to accept more (economic activity in the County) but it is limited to mostly "light high tech" industrial business. This suggests that most voters like (economic) growth if it is the right growth. The voters definitely want developers to pay for the infrastructure costs, roads, schools, ect., caused by their growth or developments. The 89% rating was even higher than the 83% or 84% ratings of the previous studies (1986 and �j 1991). However, developers would likely pass along any of these costs to their buyers, voters or L taxpayers or businesses." "Half of the voters said that continued growth and development is just as important as protecting the environment in the current study. This indicates that they are having difficulty in choosing, because both issues are important. Most of the voters are willing to see City and County dollars spent on solving their most important problem (growth). The 88% current study level is much stronger than the previous study levels (1991 and 1986). There was no clear choice on what (transportation) facility needs improvement. Responses were evenly distributed across most choices, except for a slight preference for improved roads. This likely reflects their traffic 0 issue concerns." I 14 Public Forums In the fall of 1997 six Public Forums were held across the County and included help from Community Growth Planning volunteers. Public input was solicited with a growth and land use survey and prioritized issues. Including a Citizen Initiative - Community Growth Planning In response to concerns over rapid growth in the planning area a citizen driven Community Growth Planning initiative was supported by the Chamber of Commerce. This initiative identified and prioritized growth related issues facing our community. Community Growth Planning conducted a visioning process attended by more than 250 citizens, representing over 90 civic groups during six public meetings. Initiative issues and vision ideas were incorporated directly into the Comprehensive Plan. This citizen initiative and the Comprehensive Plan have been mutually beneficial. Public Subcommittees The Public Subcommittees for the Comprehensive Plan consisted of over 70 non - appointed volunteer members who attended four meetings over a three month period during the Spring of 1998. The Subcommittees developed issue and policy statements, and implementation actions. This process included issues raised by Community Growth Planning. Plan Oversight - Steering Committee The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, was appointed by elected officials to representing the community in creation of the Comprehensive Plan. The Steering Committee met 18 times in 1998, from February to October and provided oversight for the duration of the plan development. The statements and actions developed by the Public Subcommittees were forwarded to the Steering Committee for review and refinement for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan. The Steering Committee created a vision statement and goals summarizing the statements and actions for the Plan. A public hearing was held in September 1998 to further solicit information regarding the draft Comprehensive Plan. In October 1998 the County Commissioners and City Council authorized the submittal of this draft Comprehensive Plan to the State for Initial Review. State comments were addressed in three meetings form February to June 1998. Public hearings, consideration and adoption of the Plan by the County Commissioners and City Council is scheduled for the Fall of 1999. 15 u VI. Vision and Goals ------------------------------- VISION STATEMENT Wilmington and New Hanover County are rich in history, natural resources and tradition. These are the characteristics that have formed our way of life and have made the area attractive to those who live and visit here. This way of life has adapted to changing times and to new people of differing ethnic proportion, customs and background. The natural resources have contributed to the area's economic prosperity and beauty. adapt to growth as we reserve the values that make r Our vision is to continue tog p ou community a great place to live in harmony with the earth and the sea and give our people unique opportunity for making a living. Thus, we combine the legacy of the past with the promise of the future. VISION OBJECTIVES Our Way of Life Our overall quality of life will be enhanced through the preservation, renovation and restoration of our neighborhoods. We will have parks, greenways, and bike paths that provide recreational opportunities for every citizen. Our region will offer outstanding, affordable health care systems and facilities. All these elements will continue to make this area a very desirable place to live work � and raise a family. Government There will be cooperation among all government agencies. We will defeat crime, drugs and violence through community wide commitment and action, coordinating educational, preventive, enforcement and rehabilitative programs and initiatives. -ti Infrastructure and Transportation Our infrastructure systems will meet the needs of our economy and provide a high level of service to a growing population in a fiscally responsible manner. I Our highways will meet the appropriate levels of service and scheduled plans will be ahead of anticipated growth patterns. 16 There will be an inter -modal transportation system serving our County, State and Region. Housing and Economics Safe, sanitary and affordable housing will be available to every citizen. Business development and diversity will embrace all economic, ethnic, social and cultural segments of the community. We will have grown our economic base and average wages/salaries by growing our high tech, heritage tourism, movie industry and port industry. We are recognized for our culturally diverse and highly inclusive business community The business and industrial sectors will first look within our community for human resources development. Employment and financial opportunities will be provided for all citizens. Our historic and commercial districts will flourish and continue to be a hub for economic and cultural activities. Education Our children and their education will be this community's highest priority beginning at the pre-school level. Our school system test results will be among the leaders in the state. Vocational and technical training alternatives will begin at the middle school level. Cape Fear Community College and UNC-Wilmington will continue to grow and offer advanced vocational and post -secondary educational opportunities. Environment We envision that in the year 2020, Wilmington and New Hanover County will be an environmentally clean area with a healthy economy. Our natural resources, including our beaches, rivers, sounds, aquifers, natural vegetation and tree canopy will be preserved and protected. 17 u GOALS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The following goals and common themes for the Wilmington and New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan are summarized from the policies and implementation actions. CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT - PHYSICAL PLAN n Land Classification �! The guiding architecture for the physical Plan is provided by the following mapped land classifications. Land classes range from developed urban land to the less developed rural and resource protected environment. The land classification system is supported and complemented by zoning. Ll Land Classification - Guiding Architecture for the Physical Plan �} Developed Limited Transition Rural Resource Protection Urban Transition Community Conservation The developed and urban transition classes comprise the urban service area. The purpose of the developed class is to provide for continued intensive development and redevelopment of existing urban areas. The urban transition class provides for future intensive urban development on lands that have been or will be provided with necessary urban services. The developed and urban transition classes allow residential densities greater than 2.5 units per acre. Residential densities may not exceed 2.5 units per acre for the non -urban service area composed of: limited transition; community; rural; conservation; and resource protection. The limited transition class provided for development in areas that will have some services, but at lower densities than those associated with urban transition. The community class provides for a "crossroads" type of development to help meet housing, shopping, employment and public service needs within the more rural areas of the County. The rural class provides for areas of low intensity land uses, such as agriculture, forests, and mineral extraction areas. The conservation class provides long-term management and protection of significant, limited or irreplaceable natural resources. The resource protection class provides preservation and protection of important natural, historic, scenic, wildlife, and recreation resources. Conservation and Development - Physical Plan The Plan's policies and implementation actions fit within the land classification. Together they address the need to balance conservation and development, through physical planning, for the City and County. The following are the key physical Plan elements and objectives. Key Elements for the Conservation and Development - Physical Plan Natural Resource Protection Conservation Corridors, Greenways, Parks, and Open Space Residential Neighborhood Development Linking Pedestrian Friendly Business and Residential Development Urban Design for Business and Residential Neighborhood Development Historic Preservation Community Infrastructure 18 Transportation Storm and Natural Hazards Natural Resource Protection Our City and County is characterized by low lying land and tidal waters that meet the Atlantic Ocean. The plan emphasizes protection of our marshlands which act as a natural stormwater management system. Wetlands act as hurricane buffers, protect us from flooding, and are important natural filters for plants and animals. Natural resource protection focus areas include water quality, open space, wetlands, creeks rivers and flood plain areas, estuaries, beaches, potable water supply, air quality, agriculture and forestry, and harvesting mineral and fishery resources. Conservation Corridors, Greenways, Parks and Open Space The plan provides for conservation corridors and greenways which are linear open space systems that link and incorporate conservation areas, key parks, open space areas and utility corridors. The Plan includes neighborhood, community and regional parks. These are intended to provide a wide range of facilities to serve the diverse recreational and sporting needs of the community. The parks and facilities serve both passive and active recreational needs of the community. The proposed facilities range from playgrounds, picnic areas, basketball courts, baseball diamonds and tennis courts to larger athletic fields and parks which provide for resource oriented activities, such as boating, fishing, and hiking. Specialized parks include golf courses and nature parks. Proposed greenways would be located along natural and -or man-made features and would serve as conservation areas or as recreation areas for walking, jogging, biking and enjoying nature. The conservation component of greenways afford opportunities to protect and connect key natural features and functions, preserve essential water resources, act as natural filtration areas for runoff and pollutants, and to provide corridors for wildlife migration. Greenways are typically located along streams, flood plains and wetlands, and correspond to natural vegetated buffers adjacent to wetlands and perennial stream channels. Greenways may be either publicly or privately owned. Utility corridors such as roads, canals, reservoir shorelines and water, sewer, and power line easements can also be good locations for greenways. Greenways range in improvements from slightly cleared natural pathways to fully paved bike and pedestrian paths, and may or may not be accessible to the public. Residential Neighborhood Development The Plan provides guidelines for creating regulations and incentives that will encourage the development of residential neighborhoods with environmentally sensitive design and an integrated open space system. The Plan focuses on improving modern residential development designs such as planned unit developments. The Plan accommodates Traditional Neighborhood Development with smaller lot neighborhoods, narrower tree lined streets, and sidewalks on both sides of the street. This design emphasizes a pedestrian orientation and scale. Diverse housing types and lot sizes are mixed and houses are located close to the fronting street. There may also be compatible nonresidential uses mixed in among the residential uses in the neighborhood. Public spaces, such as formal neighborhood parks, village greens or squares are primary features lr included in the design. These serve as focal points for community interaction to compensate for the smaller lot sizes. Traditional neighborhood designs include alleys for access to parking and for essential public services. Most traditional neighborhoods use on -street parking , which also serves to reduce traffic speed, buffer sidewalk pedestrians from traffic, and supply daily overflow or guest parking. Linking Pedestrian Friendly Business and Residential Development The Plan envisions concentrating business and residential development in nodes, while retaining open space. This vision provides an alternative to unattractive, inefficient, and land wasteful strip development, with isolated cut off residential neighborhoods. This vision decreases dependence on the automobile. The business nodes would include highly accessible, pedestrian friendly commercial centers, surrounded by mixed density residential neighborhoods. Moving outwards from these centers, the residential densities would decrease. The Plan provides for innovation and flexibility in land use. Proposed business and residential nodes are identified, but the precise internal arrangement of the commercial, office, institutional and higher density residential uses that make up the activity center is not specified. Instead the Plan establishes for creating development regulations along with incentives that will provide for innovation and flexibility in land use development. Changes to the Unified Development Ordinance regulations and procedures will provide the flexibility for innovation to establish and promote a hierarchy of neighborhood, community and regional activity centers. Urban Design for Business and Residential Neighborhood Development A recurring theme from the community involvement and consultation process was a desire for improved urban design. These included thoroughfare landscaping and signage, pedestrian access, dedicated bicycle routes, and pedestrian friendly shopping centers and parking lots. The Plan includes general design guidelines to be expanded in the Unified Development Ordinance. The aim is to maintain and enhance the City and County's visual appeal and its image as an attractive place in which to live, work and recreate. The Plan design guidelines address the aesthetic qualities of residential areas, activity and employment centers. The focus of the Plan design guidelines is on the preservation and creation of a connected open space system with recreation facilities, and the preservation of environmentally significant features and functions. The design guidelines also address preventing strip commercial development, and the establishment of an integrated transportation network. The Plan guidelines serve as a basis for developing specific regulations, standards and requirements to manage growth and development. Historic Preservation Closely related to urban design for business and Traditional Neighborhood Development is the unique treasure of existing historic residences and business properties, primarily located in downtown Wilmington. The public involvement process of the Plan identified the need to nurture and maintain this rich cultural heritage through historic preservation. To date a revised set of historic preservation guidelines has been writen for homeowners, builders and contractors. The Plan recognizes the established Historic Districts which protect and preserve areas with architectural significance, heritage, historic importance, and their overall aesthetic qualities. 20 Community Infrastructure The Comprehensive Plan serves as an official statement of where growth and development will be given preference in the future. Not only does it serve to guide investment decisions by the private sector and citizens; the plan provides a powerful tool to direct new community infrastructure and investment. The developed and urban transition land classes comprise the urban service area of the Wilmington and the unincorporated County (see map in Land Classification section of Plan). Beyond the urban service area are the land classes of the non -urban service area. Guiding growth in the urban service area will deter land development sprawl and provide for more efficient infrastructure levels of service. Policy direction on how to pay for the needed community infrastructure includes exploration of alternative forms of financing included impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for the improvements needed to have a high quality level of service. These infrastructure projects will prevent a decline in the level of service provided to County and City residents. Paying for community infrastructure will be fairly shared by new development and existing residents. Transportation The Greater Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for developing and implementing the Transportation Plan for most of the Plan study area. The MPO includes the City of Wilmington, New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, Belville, Leland, Navassa, and Wrightsville Beach. Future housing and employment data forms the basis for the development and testing of alternate transportation plans. These plans were developed taking into account economic feasibility, public desires, and environmental impacts. For these plans to be successfully implemented, the future rights -of -way must be procured or protected. The current draft Greater Wilmington Urban Area Transportation Plan contains recommended improvements to the transportation system and these recommendations are reaffirmed by the policies and actions contained in the Comprehensive Plan. Recommendations focus on the following. • The provision of major and minor new thoroughfares. • Widening of existing streets where appropriate. • The feasibility of multi -modal transit alternatives. • Park and ride lots, express bus service, and carpool and vanpool services. • Increased rubber tired trolley service. • Bicycle and pedestrian pathways. • Congestion management. Storms and Natural Hazards Three hurricanes passing over our County and City between 1996 and 1998 fully demonstrate the need for proactive storm and natural hazard policies with implementation actions in the Plan. The policies and implementation actions address mitigation, evacuation, and recovery in the event of a hurricane or disaster. These policies and actions focus on measures to 21 0 safeguard increased future populations from the risk of natural disaster. A Recovery Task Force may be appointed with the responsibility for directing reconstruction after a damaging storm. If (� needed the City and County may retain on a seasonal basis a facilitator or consultant to assist j� with mitigation, evacuation, recovery efforts. Actions address immediate removal and debris nclean up and restoration of services following a major storm event. U HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SOCIAL NEEDS Housing and Related Challenges The following are key housing related challenges to come out of the Plan public consultation process. The Plan supports the effort for the City to enhance it's minimum housing program, and for the County to establish a minimum housing program with appropriate enforcement. The Plan contains policy and action to increase affordable housing for low and moderate income persons. Methods for increasing affordable housing and ownership for low and moderate income residents include: expanding existing programs; establishing a mortgage revenue bond program; and establishing a land trust program for affordable housing land acquisition. �1 Federal and State funding for housing and economic development programs would be maximized through a consolidation of the County and City, Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grant program. It is recommended that consolidation of the City and County programs should be considered. The amount of rental affordable housing needs to be increased and the Plan calls for an expanded City rental rehabilitation loan program and the establishment of a similar County program. The City and County homeless population is a challenge to be addressed. The Plan calls for expanded programs for homeless shelters with acceptable quality accommodations, and with an emphasis on housing for the mentally disabled. There are concerns for better public outreach on growth and development. These concerns include the need for better communication in both the City and County between ii government staff, elected officials, and citizens neighborhood associations. The Plan calls for creating neighborhood guidelines to remedy this challenge. The elderly population in the City and County will increase because of immigrating retirees and aging "baby boomers" in the next decade. The Plan calls for establishing a housing program to deal with the challenge of the projected increase in persons with special needs and elderly persons. To insure that there will be adequate student housing for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College, the Plan calls for an on and off campus student housing program coordinated with the University, the College, and the City and County. 22 Economy Key economic concepts to come out of the Plan public consultation process include the following. Data from the economic technical report show that 57% of the jobs in the County are relatively low paying, consisting of retail trade, service, and construction. Manufacturing jobs are the highest paying but they have been steadily declining and now constitute only 11% of the work force. Policy and implementation action to address this challenge is to develop a coordinated economic development strategy to attract high paying employers, while creating a more diversified economy. Some areas are economically distressed and both the City and County are working with non-profit and for profits organizations to attract and retain business in these areas. A priority is to expand economic opportunities for low and moderate income residents so that poverty is reduced, and employment increased. As more businesses are located in economically distressed areas commercial districts. will improve and related jobs will increase for local residents. From 1990 to 1996 the Wilmington State Port Authority added to the state economy by ripple effect: 46,000 new jobs, $1.3 billion in income; $8.3 billion in new sales; $185 million in new taxes. This major player in our local economy will need to remain competitive into the next decade by deepening its harbor, improving inland highway and rail access, and upgrading the terminal. The Plan supports the needed Port upgrades with policy and implementation actions. An important part our coastal County and port City heritage is the water dependent marine economy. The Plan supports: local aquaculture research and marine technology; the expansion efforts of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher; and expanded boat manufacturing and boating services such as marinas. The Plan encourages airport economic growth and development that will be compatible with surrounding land uses. The City and County are a favorite destination for tourists. New Hanover County's per capita retail sales ranked fourth highest in the state in 1995. The Plan encourages a diversified economy including heritage and historic preservation tourism, boating tourism, and eco-tourism activity. A skilled and educated workforce is essential for a healthy economy. The Plan addresses this challenge by supporting the school and work programs of Cape Fear Community College and the New Hanover County Public Schools. Vocational education is a particular emphasis to the Plan. An action item in the Plan is to expand the job skills program for the post high school aged under -prepared. The Plan supports a study needed to prepare guidelines to address challenge of public school drop outs and high school students working excessively during the school year. 23 VII. Natural Resources Environment nISSUES............................................................................................................................ U The following issues have been identified by Citizens through the Community Growth Planning Initiative and throughout the Comprehensive Plan public participation process, which has included public forums, a telephone public opinion survey, Subcommittees, and the Steering Committee Task Groups. 1. Clean Water - continued decliningwater quality has led to strong community desire for protection � ty � ty and enhancement of our surface and groundwater quality and to bring all coastal waters up to the highest quality possible. 2. Open Space Preservation & Acquisition - loss of open space and farmlands to development has resulted in strong community desire to preserve remaining areas for public use; parks, greenways, bike paths, hiking trails, conservation areas; Save Airlie Gardens! (� 3. Environmental Protection/Quality of Life - the special quality of our coastal environment is �J perceived as an important ingredient in our overall quality of life including our potential for continued economic growth. We must ensure the protection and enhancement of our natural resources as stewards for future generations. 4. Growth Management- the current rate of growth is much too fast for the community's comfort level and it is having a perceived negative impact on the quality of life. The Comprehensive Plan must have implementable policies to encourage sustainable and orderly growth. 5. Implementation of Plans - identified as a weak area in previous plans; the Comprehensive Plan should identify the time frame, resource/costs, accountability, and feedback necessary to ensure its implementation. .0 24 III Natural Resources POLICIES........................................................................................................................................ A. RESOURCE PROTECTION We must preserve, protect and enhance the area's natural resources, because the quality of our environment is an important ingredient in our overall quality of life, including our potential for continued economic growth. The protection of our resources shall be pursued in a regional context with area -wide planning, through a political process that favors long-term goals over short-term interests and provides accountability for the implementation of the goals and policies stated herein. 1. WATER QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 1.1 Prevent further deterioration of estuarine water quality and loss of public trust uses in the creeks and sounds and bring all coastal waters quality up to its use designation as determined by the Division(s) of Water Quality, Marine Fisheries, Health, and E.P.A. 1.2 Ensure the protection of water quality throughout the Cape Fear River Basin within New Hanover County and the management & maintenance of drainage within our coastal watersheds through participation in the development of regional water quality / stormwater management, programs. 1.3 Ensure the protection, preservation and wise use of our natural resources by careful review and consideration of the anticipated impacts of development through the creation and implementation of an Environmental Review Program. 1.4 It is the intent of this plan to further provide for the protection and improvement of our water quality through our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO should specify standards for water quality, buffers, setbacks, density, impervious surface, and overlay corridors; it should consider estuarine, river and other feeder creeks water quality; and it should build upon existing information and ordinances. 2. OPEN SPACE The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 2.1 Ensure the preservation of adequate open space for its continued enjoyment and contribution to our community today and for generations to come, to protect our natural environment and wildlife habitats and to provide educational & recreational opportunities. 2.2 Identify and protect wildlife corridors as a part of the greenway system and require their protection or mitigation with all new development. 2.3 Preserve Airlie Gardens as a part of the greenway system to provide public open space, natural environment and water quality protection, coastal landscape, educational opportunities, and to ensure its continued enjoyment and contribution to our community. 2.4 Ensure the protection of our community's significant trees and the provision of adequate 25 landscaping to address urban design and resource protection issues through the update of city and county development ordinances & processes and establishment of a joint Tree Advisory Commission. Encourage and support the replacement of trees lost to natural disaster and the use of native vegetation in landscaping. 2.5 Provide for the protection, acquisition and development of public shorefront and boat access areas. 3. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Preserve and restore shell fishing to all SA waters and bring all coastal waters designated or formerly designated SA up to their use designation. 3.2 Provide for the continued protection of the Cape Fear River from the cumulative impacts of development by ensuring that Industrial permitting does not exceed the river's carrying capacity and land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential sediment/turbidity and nutrient impacts. f3.3 Minimize dense development activities in ocean erodible areas, high hazard flood areas, 1 inlet hazard areas, and coastal & federally regulated wetlands to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources due to their natural role in the integrity of the coastal region. 3.4 Ensure the protection of coastal and federally regulated wetlands that have important �I functional significance through early identification in the development process. Review of development proposals should seek to achieve the hierarchical goals of avoidance, !►� minimization, and/or compensation. 3.5 Ensure the protection of our undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands and support research and passive recreation as their primary uses. Undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands should not be developed and should be identified as public acquisition areas. 3.6 Carefully control development activities within the 100-year floodplain to minimize density and impervious surfaces and require low intensity uses such as open space and recreation, to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources. • Limited shared industrial access corridors and exceptionally designed residential development projects may be allowed within the floodplain only where it can be demonstrated that the project cannot be located out of the floodplain and where adverse impacts to the estuarine system can be shown to be negligible. • All projects shall comply with hierarchical review standards of avoidance, minimization, and compensation for unavoidable impacts. 3.7 Require that the cumulative and secondary impacts of land use and development, and the limited carrying capacity of our coastal ecosystems be considered in all land use decisions and in the development or revision of local plans, capital facilities, services, and ordinances. 26 3.8 Allow channel maintenance projects only where the public trust interest is preserved or enhanced; significant economic or recreational benefits will occur for planning area residents; and no significant adverse impacts will occur on shoreline dynamics. Support State and Federal channel and inlet maintenance projects, including the continued use and development of the Wilmington Harbor and the State Ports, maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and beach renourishment projects. 3.9 Allow estuarine shoreline erosion control only where the public trust interest is not adversely impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary.The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. 3.10 Carefully control development activities within the estuarine watersheds to prevent the degradation of water quality in the creeks and sounds, to protect the public health, and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through density controls, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection & Conservation. • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 3.11 To preserve, protect, and where possible restore water quality and vital estuarine resources, a naturally vegetated buffer with an average width of 35 linear feet shall be established or maintained within established setback areas defined as Conservation Overlay Districts (COD's). The determination and management of buffers must balance the above stated goals with the property owner's right to develop and use the property. Guidelines for standards to maintain, alter and properly manage vegetation within the buffer areas should be established within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) process and should be included in the COD guidelines. 3.12 Limit density in hydric soils and Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's) and encourage Planned Residential Development and Planned Unit Development to allow greater design flexibility to save trees and natural buffers. 3.13 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 4. AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Prohibit the use of estuarine waters, estuarine shorelines and public trust areas for development activity which would result in significant adverse impact to the natural function of these areas. 4.2 Carefully control development activities within AEC's to prevent the degradation of water quality and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through the use of density control, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection and Conservation. 27 • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 4.3 Support the preservation, protection, and acquisition of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve 4.4 Discourage the development of undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands. 4.5 Continue the phased development and extension of the County sewer system within the urban services area as a means of eliminating water pollution from malfunctioning or inadequate septic systems and package treatment plants. In Conservation and Resource Protection areas an environmental review shall be required prior to sewer system development or extension and no additional density shall be allowed in these areas. Planned Residential Development, Planned Unit Development and other methods of cluster development shall be encouraged to allow greater design flexibility. 4.6 Allow only tertiary sewage treatment plants of the highest quality, whose standards of operation provide the greatest measure of water quality protection, to discharge into public surface waters; and then only if it is not feasible to connect to the public sewer system, or as an alternative, on or off -site land application located away from surface waters. 4.7 Seek to provide additional boat access facilities, recognizing that adequate, properly sited facilities are essential to the preservation of both the environment and economy. 4.8 Allow the development of marinas, dry stack storage, and moorings as a means of providing public access to the extent that their development shall not adversely effect estuarine resources or public trust waters. • Marinas shall not be allowed in Primary Nursery Areas(PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters(ORW), or open Shellfishing Waters(SA). • Moorings and mooring fields shall not be allowed where they may have an adverse effect on navigation channels. • Pumpout facilities shall be required for existing marinas which have boats containing enclosed heads. 4.9 Allow uses of estuarine and public trust waters that provide benefits to the public and which satisfy riparian access needs of private property owners. In tidal waters, docks shall be limited to the minimum necessary to provide riparian access to waterfront property owners 4.10 Not allow new dredging activities in Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), or Shellfishing Waters (SA) , except for the purpose of scientific research, designed for the purpose of protecting and enhancing water quality, and where supported by sound scientific and technical knowledge. Limited exceptions may be allowed for the urban waterfront and Wilmington's ports, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Cape Fear River Corridor Plan (1997) and the Downtown 2020 Plan (1998). 4.11 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 28 4.12 Prohibit floating home development in order to protect our public trust and estuarine waters and to avoid impacts on hurricane mitigation efforts. 4.13 Pursue a policy of "retreat" along our estuarine shorelines in order to accommodate future sea level rise and wetland migration. 4.14 Allow shoreline erosion control and stabilization above our marsh wetlands only where the public trust interest is not impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary. The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. 5. POTABLE WATER SUPPLY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 5.1 Ensure that all land use and development decisions protect our groundwater aquifers. 5.2 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer will most probably occur. 5.3 Conserve and protect the best sources of potable surface and groundwater. 5.4 Preserve the Castle Hayne and Pee Dee aquifers in their present unpolluted state as the primary groundwater resources for the County. 6. OTHER FRAGILE OR HAZARDOUS AREAS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 6.1 Continue to support plans for the safe transportation of hazardous materials, for the prevention and clean-up of spills of toxic materials, and the evacuation of area residents in response to natural or man-made hazardous events. 6.2 Carefully review the siting of all industries, including energy facilities and high voltage utilities, to ensure the protection of area residents and natural resources. Development of all off -shore mineral, oil, and gas resources shall be discouraged. 6.3. Ensure that industrial permitting on the Cape Fear River does not exceed the rivers carrying capacity and that land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential cumulative impacts. 6.4. Ensure the continued protection of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve and support the preservation and acquisition efforts. 7. AIR QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 7.1 Ensure the protection and enhancement of air quality in our community through continued commitment and actions to meet or exceed the Cape Fear Region's National Air Quality Standards. 111 I] 29 I B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT • We must seek to ensure the continued sustainable development of the area's natural resources through responsible management which avoids short sighted or premature commitments and fulfills our community's needs without permanent impairment to the resource base. • We will support efforts to wisely manage the natural resources of the area and the region through cooperation with other governmental entities and public and private agencies. 1. AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New 0 Hanover County shall: I 0 1.1 Discourage the premature conversion of the planning area's remaining farmlands and commercial woodlands into more intensive uses. 2. MINERAL RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: a 3. 2.1 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer or other significant environmental resources will most probably occur. The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Support the continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries through the protection of the unique coastal ecosystems, including primary nursery areas, shellfish waters and coastal marshes upon which they depend, and the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve. (� 3.2 Pursue the protection, preservation, and restoration of shellfishing in all SA waters. j� 4. OFF -ROAD VEHICLES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Ensure the continued protection of ecologically sensitive ocean and estuarine shoreline areas through monitoring and control of off -road vehicle use, including signage programs, rewards, increased fines, and other means. I a 0 30 0 All Annually review and update the 1) Develop a review and update process for the implementation One (1) $ All Planning implementation action schedule action schedule A. RESOURCE PROTECTION A.I. Water Quality AL I Develop a regional water quality/ 1) Develop a joint city/county drainage and water quality program One (1) $$$$$ 1999 - Planning / stormwater management program to include ocean, river and estuarine water quality monitoring 2000 - Engineering 2001 - 2) Develop drainage systems and design standards that reflect the 2002 natural carrying capacity of the watershed (ie-soils, slope, permeability, & other natural features) 3) Develop specific water quality standards and development performance standards for each watershed, to include max. impervious surface, butters, permeable paving, reduced parking surfaces, and others. 4) Develop standards to ensure the retention, acquisition and management of natural vegetative buffers to preserve, maintain and protect water quality. 5) Update/develop subdivision design standards to protect and improve water quality in sensitive areas. 6) Seek legislation to require that NCDOT modify its standards to ensure the protection and enhancement of water quality 7) Develop educational programs and other strategies to deal with point and non -point source impacts on water quality, such as pet waste and other sources. 8) Establish a funding mechanism through a county -wide assessment and/or basin specific utility district fee, and pursue all available grants. 9) Continue to support the Lower Cape Fear River Program & the UNCW Tidal Creeks Program. Also see A.1.3 > Also see A.1.3 > A.1.2 See A.1.1 > See A.1.1 > 31 C7 A.1.3 Develop an environmental review 1) Develop an environmental review process and ordinance, to be One (1) $$ 1999 Planning program required for all major development projects, or any development in conservation, resource protection, coastal 404 wetlands or other sensitive areas; to include: a) guidelines for the evaluation of cumulative impacts on the community. b) guidelines for review of impacts in accordance with goals of avoidance, minimization, compensation and/or mitigation. c) identification and protection of historical, archaeological, and other conservation resources d) preservation of significant /specie trees e) guidelines for mitigation of impacts A.1.4 Update city and county 1) Revise and update the Unified Development Ordinance One (1) $$ 1999 Planning development processes and ordinances 2) Include new standards to address identified resource protection issues, urban design issues, tree preservation / landscaping issues and others. 3) Develop specific performance standards for setbacks, natural vegetated buffers, and impervious surface limts for each watershed. 4) Revise and update development/permit review process Also see A.1.1 & A.1.3 > Also see A.1.1 & A.1.3 > A.2 Open Space A2.1 Develop a comprehensive open I)Develop and implement a joint city -county masterplan for open Two (2) $$$$$ 1999- Planning/ Parks space, greenways and trails system space, greenways, parks, and trails. 2003 2)Develop a funding program to ensure adequate resources are allocated. Funding strategies for consideration, to include fees, bonds, grants, and others. . 3)Develop public access/boat access area plans 4)Identify areas on Future Land Use and Land Classification Maps Also see A.1.3 > Also see A.1.3 > A.2.2 See A.1.3 & A.2.1 > See A.1.3 & A.2.1 > A.2.3 Preserve Airlie Gardens Pursue acquisition /preservation strategies, to include program One (1) $$$$$ 1998- Planning/ Parks Completed funding through grants, bonds, and others. 1999 Also see A.2.1 > Also see A.2.1 > 32 A.2.4-2.5 See A.1.4 & A.2.1 > See A.1.4 & A.2.1 > A.3 Natural Resource Constraints A.3.1 See A.1.1 > See A.1.1 > A.3.2 Support the protection of the Cape 1) Support the Lower Cape Fear River Program, Cape Fear River One (1) $ 1999- Planning Fear River from the cumulative Assembly, Cape Fear Resource, Conservation & Development 2002 impacts of development Council, and the Cape Fear River Basin Modeling Program (NC Div. of Water Quality). 2) Support the development of best management practices and pursue their implementation for upstream non -point sources of pollution, including agricultural (hog, poultry, etc) and forestry operations. 3) Support a continued moratorium on new or expanded industrial hog farming operations pending basinwide environmental impact assessment. Also see A.1.3 > Also see A.1.3 > A.3.3-3.7 See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > A.3.8 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > A.3.9 See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > A3.10-3.13 See A.1.1, A.1.3 & A.1.4 > See A.1.1, A.1.3 & A.1.4 > A.4 Areas of Environmental Concern A.4.1 See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > A.4.2 See A.1.1 > See A.1.1 > A.4.3 Support the protection and 1) Pursue island acquisition and preservation strategies One (1) $$ 1999- Planning preservation of Masonboro Island 2002 Estuarine Research Reserve 2) Develop guidelines for the environmental review process to ensure no significant adverse effects from mainland development activities 3) Support the scientific research activities of the Reserve AAA See A.1.3, A.1.4 & A.4.3 > See A.1.3, A.1.4 & A.4.3 > A.4.5-4.6 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > A.4.7 See A.2.1 > See A.2.1 > 33 A.4.8 See A.1.3 & A.2.1 > See A.1.3 & A.2.1 > A.4.9-4.10 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > A4.11-4.12 See A.1.4 > See A.1.4 > A.4.13 See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > A.4.14 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > A.5 Potable Water Supply A.5.1-5.5 See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > See A.1.3 & A.1.4 > A.6 Other Fragile or Hazardous Areas A.6.1-6.3 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > A.6.4 See A.1.3 & A.4.3 > See A.1.3 & A.4.3 > A.7 Air Quality A.7.1 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT B.1 Agricultural & Forestry Resources 13.1.1 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > B.2 Mineral Resources B.2.1 See A.1.1 > See A.1.1 > B.3 Fisheries Resources B.3.1-3.2 See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > See A.1.1 & A.1.3 > BA Off -Road Vehicles B.4.1 See A.1.3 > See A.1.3 > 34 I VIII. Land Use and Urban Design ISSUES......................................................................................................... 1. Allocation of sufficient land for all desirable land use types. 2. Flexible and Innovative site plan criteria are needed to guide the development process throughout the County. 3. Continue to promote Wilmington as a regional trade center. 4. Minimize dependence on the automobile by changing land use patterns and providing facilities for alternative methods of transportation. 5. Allow higher density where adequate infrastructure exists and where natural conditions will not be adversely effected. 6. Land use plans and regulations effecting land use should be coordinated between the city and county and should incorporate the conclusions of other planning efforts (ie. Community Growth, Downtown 2020, River Corridor Plan). 7. Define urban service district. 8. Identify elements that define quality of life and determine the impacts of the built environment on those elements. 35 Land Use and Urban Design POLICIES...................................................................................... . 1. Location/Demand 1.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to enhance the quality of the built environment while preserving and protecting the area's natural environment. 1.2 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will designate sufficient land area and suitable locations for the various land use types. 2. Open Space, Cultural and Recreation 2.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will strive to acquire, protect and beautify historic and cultural sites, corridors along key roadways and significant open spaces. 3. Industrial 3.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will delineate areas for industrial usage so that these sites maximize the efficient use of man made resources while not harming the fragile ecosystem or causing undue impacts upon residents. 4. Commercial 4.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will assure that land is available for commercial uses within close proximity to the markets they serve while not diminishing the quality of residential and mixed use neighborhoods. 5. Mixed Use 5.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will promote mixed use development in undeveloped areas in order to maximize benefits from available infrastructure, preserve valuable natural resources including open space and reduce dependency on the automobile. 6. Residential Neighborhoods 6.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to protect the character of the [� area's existing residential neighborhoods. u 7. Design/Regulatory 0 7.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall encourage innovative development strategies while providing flexible design guidelines that enhance the aesthetic impact of the built environment. 0 7.2 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall adopt specific performance criteria to encourage the conservation of natural resources and enhance economic desirability by promoting accessibility of goods and services, providing alternatives to automobile transportation and adopting specific performance criteria for new development. 1-} 36 0 I a8. Infrastructure 8.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall promote development within an established urban service area defined by the existence of essential urban services and the planned provision of those services. 0 [in I 0 37 C=7 r� © �7 0 + G J = O = Czi CJ C] O LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN Policy# , Implementation Actions ° Details for Actions Priority Resources : Requued, L Fiscal;, Year(s) Responsibility, Status;" ; 1 LOCATION/DEMAND 1.2 Use projected needs and available Compare projections with future land use N/A $ September Planning services identified in the technical map. 1998 studies as the basis for land use allocations. 1.2 Locate land use types based on the Future Land Use Map N/A $ September Steering following guiding policies and 1998 Committee implementation items: 2 OPEN SPACE, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL 2.1 Establish protective corridors along key Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept. 1 $ Spring, Steering roadways, historic and cultural sites '98), incorporate into revisions to UDO; 1999 Com/Planning and other areas that are visually Brd./ Planning significant. Comd Planning 2.1 Pursue railroad and other rights -of -way Monitor for abandonment. 2 $ Planning On -Going as potential open space, trailway and recreation areas. 2.1 Identify environmentally sensitive land Incorporate into Parks Master Plan and 2 $$$ 1999- Parks & Recd as potential open space and recreation Capital Improvement Programs. 2000 Admind areas and key sites for parks. Planning 3 INDUSTRIAL 3.1 Locate heavy industrial uses in Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept., 1 $ Spring, Steering Com. locations w/adequate land area to 1998), incorporate into revisions to UDO. 1999 /Planning. accommodate expansive sites required Commission/ for such uses; that are environmentally Planning suitable; and, where necessary infrastructure (utilities, transportation facilities) is available or included in capital improvement plans. 3.1 Allow light industrial (clean) uses in Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept., 1 $ Spring, Steering Com. mixed use areas with clear requirements 1998), incorporate into revisions to UDO. 1999 /Planning for location on no less than collector Commission/ streets, availability of utilities, and Planning appropriate performance controls to address odor, noise, lighting and other impacts on surrounding uses. 3.1 Provide a wide choice of sites with Develop inventory of sites. 2 $ 1999- Planning/WID/ good access to labor markets, suppliers 2000 Chamber/ & buyers through consultation w/ SPA/UNCW Wilm. Indus. Devel., the State Port and others in the field of industrial promotion. 38 LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN Policy# Implementation Actions Details for Actions , Priority. - ..- Resources Required Fiscal Year(s) Responsibility Status 4 COMMERCIAL 4.1 Locate regional commercial nodes at Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept., 1 $ Spring, Steering Com. major intersections to accommodate 1998), incorporate into revisions to UDO. 1999 /Planning uses that serve a regional market. Commission/ Planning 4.1 Designate the central business district Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept., 1 $ Spring, Steering Com. as a regional trade/office center. 1998), incorporate into revisions to UDO. 1999 /Planning Commission/ Planning 4.1 Locate commercial centers to provide Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering community level service and trade regulations in other communities, Com/Planning needs at key intersections or on major incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning thoroughfares with appropriate Com./ Planning performance and design requirements. 4.1 Allow neighborhood level commercial Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering in mixed use areas with strict guidelines regulations in other communities, Com/Planning for development. incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning Com./ Planning 5 MIXED USE 5.1 Develop performance criteria for mixed Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering use development to ensure proper regulations in other communities, Com/Planning design, density, access, etc. incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning Com./ Planning 5.1 Designate undeveloped and Reflect on Future Land Use Map (Sept. 1 $ Spring, Steering underdeveloped areas as mixed use to '98), incorporate into revisions to UDO; 1999 Com/Planning accommodate residential and less Brd./ Planning intense commercial, office, industrial Com./ Planning uses with strict performance controls. 6 RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS 6.1 Afford existing residential Conduct design charettes, research I $ Fall, 1998 Steering neighborhoods performance standards regulations in other communities, Com/Planning to keep the neighborhood character incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning consistent with the pattern of Com./ Planning development for the area. 6.1 Afford a higher level of protection for Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering existing residential neighborhoods by regulations in other communities, Com/Planning limiting non-residential uses and incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning allowing public review. Com./ Planning 39 = = = C1 = C] = CZ3 C� = = C:D 0 CO =1 0 = 0 LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN Policy# Implementation Actions Details for Actions Priority Resources Required : ; Fiscal:. Year(s) Responsibility ' Status '. 7 DESIGN/REGULATORY 7.1 Develop performance standards that Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering will allow the mingling of compatible regulations in other communities, Com/Planning uses. incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning Com./ Planning 7.1 Develop specific urban design Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering . standards to promote public spaces. regulations in other communities, Com/Planning incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning Com./ Planning 7.2 Conduct design charettes to develop Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering models (examples) of desirable regulations in other communities, Com/Planning characteristics of development elements incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning (streets, parks, neighborhood Com./ Planning services,... ). 7.2 Provide incentives to property owners Conduct research and develop changes to 2 $ 1999 — Planning to preserve and reclaim key natural unified development ordinance. 2000 resources through innovative design using available public and private resources towards creative approaches toward acquisition. 7.2 Develop standards to ensure that heavy Revise unified development ordinance. 1 $ Spring, Planning Board/ industrial areas have adequate access 1999 Planning and are properly distanced from and Commission minimize impacts such as noise, fumes and lighting, on adjoining non- industrial areas. 7.2 Provide design criteria for regional Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering nodes to ensure the appropriate regulations in other communities, Com/Planning relationship to the existing streetscape. incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning Criteria will address the issues of Com./ Planning congestion, visual clutter, utilities and the proper relationship with adjoining properties. 7.2 Provide clear requirements for mixed Conduct design charettes, research 1 $ Fall, 1998 Steering use development to include maximum regulations in other communities, Com/Planning square footage, buildable area ratio, incorporate results into UDO revision. Brd./ Planning impervious surface coverage, Com./ Planning landscaping buffering, lighting, access, height, density, exterior materials, parking, orientation to the street, etc. 40 LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN Policy# : Implementation Actions , Details for Actions . Priority Resources Required Fiscal Year(s) Responsibility Status 8 INFRASTRUCTURE 8.1 Promote alternative modes of Conduct, research and develop changes to 2 $ 1999— Planning transportation in design guidelines. unified development ordinance. 2000 8.1 Ref. Approved plans, such as Wilm. Incorporate into applicable regulations. 2 $ 1999— Planning Downtown Plan, Vision 2020 and the 2000 historic district guidelines, in applicable development guidelines. 8.1 Modify applicable plans, regulations & Incorporate into 1999 — 2000 budget 2 $ 1999— Planning/ budgets to focus provision of urban- process. 2000 Admin. level services within the areas desig. as "Urban" on the land classification map. 8.1 Modify development regulations to Revise unified development ordinance. 1 $ Spring, Planning Board/ encourage development within the 1999 Planning urban services area where existing Commission infrastructure is available. 8.1 Consider the cost of infrastructure that Revise unified development ordinance. 2 $ Spring, Planning Board/ are land use driven in modifying 1999 Planning development regulations. Commission 8.1 Initiate innovative capital facilities Revise unified development ordinance. 2 $ Spring, Planning Board/ financing as part of the development 1999 Planning approval process. Commission 8.1 Implement the comprehensive plan Incorporate into 1999 — 2000 budget 2 $ 1999— Planning/ through the City and County capital process. 2000 Admin. improvement programs. 8.1 Pursue joint ownership by the City and Continue City/County Utilities Committee. 1 1999— City Council/ Present County of major utility systems. 2000 County Com- missioners/ Admin 8.1 Develop schematic collector street plan Complete work on the collector street 1 $$ Spring, Planning/ as a guide in the development approval network in the metropolitan planning area; 1999 NCDOT/ TCC process and implementation of an possibly consulting contract. effective transportation network. 8.1 Consider providing state of the art Conduct research and develop changes to 3 $ 1999— Planning technical services such as fiber optic unified development ordinance. 2000 lines which make the area more attractive to prospective coml. & industrial companies when planning other essential urban services. 41 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IX. Transportation ISSUES................................................................................................... 1. The full impact of new development and changes in land use on transportation systems, and the cost of mitigating this impact, is not adequately addressed. 2. Efforts to improve flow of people and products are not sufficiently coordinated. 3. Alternative forms of transport are not given enough emphasis. 4. Strip development along thoroughfares. 5. The preservation of transportation corridors is inadequate. 6. The appearance of road arteries needs improvement. 7. The construction and maintenance of transportation facilities negatively impacts the environment, particularly water quality. 8. Driveway access to arterial roads are not sufficiently controlled. 9. Traffic volume exceeds the capacity of street networks. 10. The negative affects of new roads on neighborhoods. 42 Transportation POLICIES............................................................................................ 1. TRAFFIC 1.1 The City and County shall initiate and support increased funding from state, and federal agencies to improve the flow of people and products to and in the City and County. 1.2 The MPO and the urban area jurisdictions shall encourage the State and the federal authorities to provide interstate connections to areas south of the urban area. 1.3 The City and County shall work with the MPO and NCDOT to increase the capacity of the existing street network and other transportation facilities. 1.4 The County shall reduce the impact of new driveways on the roadway network. 1.5 The City and County shall require street connectivity and minimizing cul-de-sac development through collector street planning. 1.6 In order that existing and planned thoroughfares may operate adequately, all new development must adhere to the intent and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. 2. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION I 0 I I 2.1 The City and County shall support improved non -highway transportation facilities, including rail, airport, and shipping facilities for both passengers and freight to access the area. U 2.2 City and County shall work with the NCDOT and the MPO to encourage alternative forms of transportation including regional rail, local transit, Transportation Demand Measures such as van -pooling and ride sharing, and an inter -modal transportation system. 2.3 New development and improvements to existing facilities shall make provision for a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including pedestrian causeways, breezeways and crossings, on collector streets and major arterials. These facilities will provide an alternative to the automobile. 3. AESTHETICS 3.1 The City and County, through the MPO, will encourage the State to improve the community through enhancements of streetscaping, including the preservation and use of indigenous flora, on new and existing streets. I I U 3.2 The City and County shall ensure the preservation of adequate landscaping and tree protection for parking lots, sidewalks and in street right-of-ways for both public and private projects. 43 I 0 I 0 a4. ENVIRONMENT 4.1 Priority shall be given to environmental concerns, in particular water quality and surface water a management, when considering the construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Reasonable and feasible road construction and design alternatives to protect water quality should be considered for all projects. a4.2 Have regard for noise, air quality, and other environmental impacts on existing neighborhood areas when constructing and maintaining transportation facilities. I I 11 5. CORRIDOR PROTECTION 5.1 Local government and the State shall identify and utilize sources of funds and incentives to purchase or preserve thoroughfare or rail corridors in a timely and equitable manner. Where necessary the City will participate in these improvements using impact fees, bonds and or tax increases. 5.2 City, County and State will investigate and use regulatory provisions for preserving thoroughfare and rail corridors. 5.3 The City and County will cooperate through an agreement to allow for the purchase of rail and road corridors 44 TRANSPORTATION Pali ey :,` Im lementatioin°Actioris �... Resources Ftscal �, v � � k ,�s-'�� n •"*t �� a � Details far Actions Priority � x�s Respons►oihty ,� '�w, i7tatus. R« , , Requtred '5 Year" "�, ' sax a ,.h, -'�'. -'7x.� v"�w•s< a_t n" •p.e;�, ?'F =.::'T�'' .R • :.�52�d =:k .�. ffi. •'� m L .•4nfna�v 1.0 Traffic 1.1.1 The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Implement ongoing MPO $ 1998-on City of Established Planning Organization(MPO) shall coordinate operations Wilmington, New process programs aimed at improving the flow of people Hanover Co., and products. NCDOT, FHWA 1.1.2 The MPO's transportation planning horizon shall MPO Staff currently implementing 25 year $ Plan must be City of Established be at a minimum 25 years to anticipate future planning horizon updated every Wilmington, New process growth. 5 years Hanover Co., NCDOT 1.2.1 Create an interstate type facilities to connect with I- MPO works with NCDOT, SCDOT, $$$$$ 1998-? MPO, SCDOT, New Project 20 at Florence, South Carolina FHWA, and Florence SC to determine' NCDOT, FHWA feasibility, desirability and funding of connection. 1.2.2 Create an interstate type facility to connect to MPO works with NCDOT, SCDOT, $$$$$ 1998-? MPO, SCDOT, New Project Charlotte, North Carolina. FHWA, and Charlotte NC to determine NCDOT, FHWA feasibility, desirability and funding of connection. 1.3.1 The City and County and NCDOT shall implement MPO conducts study and makes $$ 1999-on NCDOT, City of Continuing the Urban Area Congestion Management System recommendations to NCDOT and the City Wilmington Project and level of service standard currently being of Wilmington developed by the MPO. 1.3.2 All appropriate law enforcement agencies shall Increased enforcement of traffic laws $$ Continuous State Highway Continuing improve the enforcement of traffic laws. Patrol, New Project Hanover County Sheriffs Dept., City of Wilmington Police 1.3.3 The City shall continue to improve the areas signal Continuos upgrade of traffic operations data 1 $$ Continuous City of Continuing system, and to provide the public with more and equipment. Proactive public Wilmington Project information on this program. information effort. 1.3.4 Continue to work with NCDOT to improve that Continuos cooperation 1 $ Continuous City of Continuing portion of the signal system under their control. Wilmington Project 1.3.5 Work with the MPO and NCDOT to create Create Plans, Receive Funding, Implement 1 $$$$$ 1999-on MPO responsible New Project interchanges at major intersections throughout the for creating plans 45 TRANSPORTATION Po Tm lementatioti Ac(tons g�f p x Resources Fiscal'°.„ Details for Actions Prton wired Year Res "onsibalt P „ tY �, , Status street network. Where necessary the City will and acquiring participate in these improvements using impact funding, City of fees, bonds and or tax increases. Wilmington, NCDOT, and FHWA responsible for funding and implementing 1.3.6 The City, NCDOT and other appropriate agencies Create Plans, Receive Funding, Implement 1 $$$ 1999-on MPO and City shall construct Separate bicycle and pedestrian responsible for facilities where appropriate. creating plans and acquiring funding, City of Wilmington, NCDOT, and FHWA responsible for funding and implementing 1.4.1 The County shall adopt more stringent driveway Prepare, review and adopt amendment to 1 $ 1999 New Hanover Ongoing standards. standards Co./UDO 1.4.2 The City and County shall enact land use policies Prepare, and adopt standards $ 1999 New Hanover Ongoing that minimize driveway access to major Co./UDO thoroughfares 1.5.1 Develop collector street networks for small areas. Prepare collector street plans in cooperation 1 $$ 1999-2001(?) MPO, New Plans currently with property owners and affected Hanover Co., created as neighborhoods. Adoption by appropriate City of development is board. Wilmington approved Implemented as areas built out by development and City of Wilmington 1.6.1 Conform to the Comprehensive Plan policies by Ongoing process conducted by Planning 1 $ Continuous City of Continuous examining all proposed rezoning and subdivisions Commissions, Technical Review staff and Wilmington, New I compliance with the intents and policies of the governing boards Hanover Co. 46 TRANSPORTATION Im ementatJ6 Actions pl Resources Fiscal 3 Y,. s . _r ` . Details fov coons tespons►bility3 Status'°` �I?riottty Regwred Y ears... m plan. 2.0 Alternative Forms of Transportation 2.1.1 Encourage the improvement of freight and MPO, NH Co., City of Wilmington 1 $ Continuous NCDOT, CSX Continuous passenger rail service to Wilmington and New Hanover County. 2.1.2 Encourage the growth of the North Carolina State NH Co., City of Wilmington, $ Continuous NC Ports Continuous Port at Wilmington with infrastructure Authority, NC improvements and increased channel depths for Dept. of shipping. Commerce, Army Corps. of Engineers 2.1.3 Encourage the growth of the Wilmington NH Co., City of Wilmington $ Continuous Airport Continuous International Airport Authority, NCDOT, City of Wilmington, NH Co. 2.2.1 Implement the Transportation Demand Measures Plan identifies potential corporate $$ 1999 MPO, City of Ongoing program being developed by Wilmington participants and users, design service, adopt Wilmington, Transportation Authority. program, apply for Federal and State NCDOT assistance, implement 2.2.2 Periodically evaluate the feasibility of all forms of Monitor existing service and identify $ Continuous MPO, Continuous public transportation including buses, trolleys, and potential service expansion and Wilmington light rail for or any or all portions of the area, modification opportunities. Evaluate areas Transit Authority. prepare a conceptual light rail master plan for the outside of the City through transportation NH Co. urban area and participate in ongoing NCDOT planning process. Transportation passenger rail and multi -modal feasibility studies. 2.2.3 Actively participate in ongoing NCDOT passenger Support NCDOT efforts to provide high $$$$ 1998 - ? MPO, WTA, Ongoing rail and multi -modal facilities studies. Support passenger rail service between Wilmington Wilmington, New funding objectives of the NCDOT in order to and Charlotte. Hanover County assure viability of the Charlotte to Wilmington passenger rail service. 2.3.1 Implement the recommendations of the New Seek Federal, State and Local funding to high $$$ Continuous NH Co. Bicycle Continuous Hanover County Bicycle Advisory Committee. implement the Plan. Develop and Advisory implement Capital Improvements schedule Committee, for construction of facilities. MPO, City of Wilmington, NCDOT 47 TRANSPORTATION Pohcy R4a`� 7.2 ":oy$"'y .,elm"torneritation Actions p ,`;' Resbiir ccs 'Fiscal . T r , �Responstbrhfy betals for Actions Pnonty Required Year,,. Status 2.3.2 Strongly encourage the State to provide bicycle Request NCDOT to improve facilities for high $ Continuous MPO, City of Continuous and pedestrian facilities in conjunction with new Bicycle and pedestrian access as they Wilmington, construction and improvements to transportation upgrade facilities NCDOT facilities. 3.0 Aesthetics 3.1.1 The City and County will participate with NCDOT Identify corridors needing enhancement, 1 $$$ 2000-2005 MPO, City of New Project to enhance streetscaping through the use of develop plan for needed enhancements. Wilmington, regulations, impact fees, bonds and or tax Request funding from NCDOT for NCDOT increases. enhancements. Seek necessary local funding for enhancements and maintenance. 3.1.2 The City and County will participate with NCDOT Identify corridors for enhanced * 1 $ 1999- MPO, City of New Project to enhance streetscaping by encouraging private streetscaping. Coordinate maintenance and Wilmington, NH Unified initiatives. ROW access issues with NCDOT. Enact Co., NCDOT Development regulations with incentives for Ordinance improvements. Work to inform and organize private interests to improve corridors. 3.1.3 City and County shall enforce regulations to create Strictly enforce regulations to control $ 1999 City of Unified less obtrusive commercial signage and billboards. billboards. Wilmington, NH Development Co., Ordinance 3.2.1 Develop design standards, ordinances and Prepare and adopt specific design standards $ 1999 City of Unified regulations that specifically identify the natural and ordinances to reflect community Wilmington, NH Development resources to be preserved with development and standards for resource protection to give Co., Ordinance redevelopment.. specific guidance as to which resources to protect. 4.0 Environment 4.1.1 NCDOT shall adhere to or exceed to State and Review proposed NCDOT actions to insure $ Continuous MPO, Cape Fear Continuous Federal Environmental regulations for the compliance with applicable regulations. Council of construction and maintenance of transportation Governments NH facilities. Co. City of Wilmington 4.1.2 The City of Wilmington shall establish standards Prepare and adopt specific design standards $$ 2000 City of Unified for the construction of transportation facilities that and ordinances to reflect community Wilmington Development exceed State and Federal requirements for water standards for resource protection to give Ordinance quality and surface water management. specific guidance as to the required level of water quality protection. 48 is s a as a � a � a a � a � r_ a r• a a a 0 0 p TRANSPORTATION p all Im lementation'Acttons p Resources FtscalE z a , Status. a <3 w Details fat A cUans -.5 F'r�ari. h' Requtrei h, Year Res iiitstbalt P' k .qw <6n,U.c�- i y i¢n 4.1.3 The City and County shall seek legislation to Identify specific concerns with NCDOT's $ 1999 City of Continuos require NCDOT to exceed State and Federal current practices and seek legislation to Wilmington, NH requirements for water quality and surface water address these issues. Co., MPO, Local management. environmental groups and agencies 4.2.1 All proposals for the construction and maintenance All appropriate review boards shall review $ Continuous NH Co. City of Continuous of transportation facilities, shall be reviewed for proposed local government and privatd Wilmington noise and other environmental impacts on existing actions to insure compliance with neighborhood areas. applicable regulations. 5.0 Corridor Protection 5.1.1 Local and State Governments will identify The MPO and NCDOT will prepare Phased 1 $$$ 2000-2002 NCDOT, MPO, New Project thoroughfare and rail corridors as completely as Environmental studies after adoption of the NH Co. City of possible through appropriate environmental Thoroughfare Plan to identify proposed Wilmington studies. corridors as closely as possible in compliance with guidelines established by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) 5.1.2 City, County and State will investigate and use Identify and enforce provis-ions of State $ 1999 NH Co. City of New Project regulatory provisions for preserving thoroughfare law that protect Thoroughfare Plan Corri- Wilmington Unified corridors. dors. Modify local ordinan-ces where Development necessary to pro -vide the maximum amount Ordinance of corridor protection allowed under State law. 5.1.3 The City and County will cooperate through an Establish an agreement between the City $$ 1999 NH Co., City of New Project agreement to allow for the purchase of rail and and the County to allow the County to Wilmington Unified road corridors. request that the City proceed with necessary Development actions to improve the street network. Ordinance 49 I dX. Community Infrastructure ISSUES................................................................................................... 1. Uncoordinated, costly provision of non municipal services and facilities. 2. The high cost of infrastructure investment. 3. Storm water drainage problems caused by existing and future development. 4. Inadequate sewer and water services in some unincorporated areas. 5. Optimal location, use and maintenance of education facilities, some of which are overcrowded and need improvements. 6. Insufficient provision of community open space, recreation and cultural facilities. 7. Recognition of Downtown Wilmington as the regional cultural nucleus. 8. Maintenance of adequate police and fire services in unincorporated areas. 9. Increased waste management problem due to growth and development. 10. The proliferation of telecommunication towers. 50 I Community Infrastructure POLICIES................................................................................................. 1. FACILITY AND SERVICE PROVISION ill I I.I. Provide timely, cost-effective and efficient capital facilities and community infrastructure ry-1 services based on the Growth Management Strategy and the Preferred Urban Structure. u 1.2. Coordinate, rationalize and consolidate where appropriate, City, County and other governmental agencies programs for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure and community facilities and services. 1.3. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for the infrastructure improvements needed to have a high quality level of service and to prevent a decline in the levels of service provided to the County -City residents. Infrastructure needs to be addressed in this effort shall include transportation, education, sewer, water, recreation, libraries, police, fire, stormwater management, and other services deemed to be appropriate. 2. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 2.1. Expand storm water management to include areas not incorporated in existing programs. 2.2. Develop a County stormwater management and water quality program that includes our adjacent ocean, river, and estuarine systems. 2.3. Develop a City and County stormwater management program that fairly balances the financial cost between existing and new development. 2.4. Prohibit and seek to eliminate collection systems that directly discharge stormwater to surface waters. 2.5. Ensure that drainage from land use activities has a rate of flow and volume characteristics as near to predevelopment conditions as possible to provide for the protection of our water quality. 3. SEWER AND WATER I R 0 a 0 3.1. Provide public sewer service to existing development in unincorporated areas that have rj inadequate and malfunctioning septic systems and package treatment plants. U 3.2. Consolidate the City and County sewer and water system. 3.3. Ensure optimal use of sewage treatment facilities. (� 3.4. Ensure the provision of sufficient, affordable water and sewer services to proposed new service centers and industrial sites in the unincorporated areas of the Plan. 51 t� 4. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION 4.1. Give a higher priority to the maintenance and optimal use of existing education facilities. 4.2. Elementary schools and kindergartens should be encouraged to locate in areas where they would provide the maximum benefit to adjoining neighborhoods. 4.3. New schools shall be constructed by New Hanover County to maintain an adequate level of service. 4.4. Encourage greater coordination in planning and budgeting with the School Board and County and City government. 5. CULTURAL ARTS AND RECREATION 5.1. Emphasis on economically distressed City neighborhoods with inadequate facilities. 5.2. Recognize the Downtown as the cultural nucleus which nurtures, supports and strengthens cultural centers throughout the region. 5.3. Develop a joint master plan for a comprehensive system of open space, greenways, parks and trails throughout the city and county that will provide for both the present and expected population growth. . 5.4. Preserve utility easements as part of the greenway system as passive open space areas and combine them with trails and trail access areas where possible. 0 6. POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES 6.1. Provide timely and adequate staffing and facilities to maintain and improve the level of police and fire services. 7. SOLID WASTE 7.1. Establish and maintain an environmentally responsible, cost effective system for managing solid waste, that protects public health, and provides adequate waste disposal capacity, mandatory solid waste collection and recycling services, and waste reduction opportunities. 7.2. Meet and exceed established waste reduction goal. 7.3. Continue to seek ways to reduce and manage the solid waste stream through establishment of countywide garbage pick-up, expanded recycling programs, encouraging composting, expanded hazardous waste pick-up/education, and multi jurisdictional cooperation. 7.4. Eliminate illegal trash dumping through strict monitoring and enforcement, including increased fines, signage program, rewards, and other means. 7.5. Continue to support and improve the County's innovative incinerator and landfill system. 52 8. COMMUNICATION 8.1. Require telecommunication companies to share facilities through the joint use, and location of telecommunication equipment. 53 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE lc re Frscat Det Required espon,Posrbttrty Status y 1.0 FACILITY AND SERVICE PROVISION 1.1.1 Develop a program for the rigorous Fiscal Impact Study. 1 $$ 1999 City and County economic analysis of infrastructure and Develop a modal to measure the cost impact community facility investments, which of major infrastructure expansion due to considers the fiscal impact, level of annexation proposals, service, benefit, and the priority according to a preferred urban structure. 1.1.2 Develop a program for joint Investigate feasibility; formulate conditions 1 $ 1999 City, County, public/private infrastructure investment and required agreements; and design financial institutions opportunities. organizational structure & developers. 1.1.3 Develop a joint City -County Committee Committee review and implement program 1 $ for Com- 1999 City and County set to review financing techniques and to based on Committee recommendations. mittee review. up Committee with recommend alternative financing $ to $$$ private sector methods. depending on representation. program size. 1.2.1 Develop interlocal agreements and Unified Development Ordinance I $ Currently City and County unified development codes to establish Ongoing consistency. 1.2.2 Develop a joint City and County Capital Capital Facilities Plan 2 $ 1990 City and County Facilities Plan. 1.2.3 Strengthen infrastructure inspection and Determine staffing requirements and 2 $ Currently County maintenance programs in the County. develop infrastructure prerequisites Ongoing 1.2.4 Develop guidelines for the interregional Develop criteria, conditions, requirements 2 $ 2002 City and County sharing of sewer facilities when and cost sharing formula. economically feasible. 2.0 STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 2.1.1 Develop a storm water management and Develop a program proposal for 1 $ 1999 / County and City water quality program for existing and consideration. Program shall include 2000 new development in the County. adjacent ocean, river, and estuarine system. Coordinate and join this program with the existing City Program. 54 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE Foltcy Im`'lemin�ation Act ans P Details for Actions P nor t esotirces N Fiscal Res onsibiL Status # g wq - a t Y k Required Year P_ h' k s Create program to prohibit and methods to eliminate collection systems that directly discharge stormwater to surface waters. Create program to ensure that drainage from land use activities has a rate of flow and volume characteristics as near to predevelopment conditions as possible to provide for the protection of our water quality. Develop a County storm water management 1 $$-$$$ 1999 / County and City financing program. Investigate using the depending on 2000 Unified Development Ordinance or similar size of program as a mechanism to carry out program. program. Coordinate and join this program with the existing City program. Ensure that there is an equitable and balanced financing program for existing and new development in the County and City. . 3.0 SEWER AND WATER 3.1.1 Develop a Capital Facilities Plan for Capital Facilities Plan 1 $ 1999 — County and City areas that should be provided with sewer 2001 and water services based on environmental concerns, water quality concerns and servicing costs. 3.2.1 Develop County standards for the Develop design standards 2 $ 1999 County and City installation of utilities that are consistent to those of the City 3.3.1 Develop fiscal and environmental Develop and evaluate alternative strategies. 3 $ 2001 City, County and responsible strategies for the long term State management and disposal of sewage sludge. 55 C= tZD = = Cam, C� C= t::D = CD = L � [:. Z:-� :- C::1 C- C COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 3.4.1 On completion of the Thoroughfare Plan Review zoning and prepare land use 2 $ 2001 City and County update, review the existing zoning and its alternatives for consideration with next potential to develop into service centers, update of the Comprehensive Plan. as well as the feasibility and cost of providing water, sewer and other infrastructure services to these areas. 3.4.2 Give higher priority to the servicing of Identify priority areas. 1 $$ Ongoing City and County existing and new industrial sites. Incorporate in City and County Servicing annual Program 4.0 SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION - INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES 4.1.1 Provide annual funding for the sustained Include funding in annual Education 1 $$ Ongoing Board of Education maintenance of facilities that serve both budget. Ensure that school facilities in older the existing and future education needs areas of the City and County receive of the community. adequate maintenance. 4.1.2 Plan and locate schools to allow for Determine needs; develop location criteria 2 $ Ongoing Board of Education future expansion, and to ensure better and standards. and shared use of the facilities and campus. 4.1.3 Develop an understanding of the long- Anticipate needs and technological trends, 1 $ Ongoing Education agencies term costs/implication of computer and consider adaptable systems technology. 4.2.1 Determine the needs and plan for the Determine needs; develop location criteria 1 $ Ongoing Board of Education optimal location of elementary schools and standards. and kindergartens. 4.3.1 Explore the use of alternative forms of Conduct a study. Create a committee to 1 $$ to $$$ New Board of Education financing for improving New Hanover oversee study and carry out depend-ing on New Hanover County Schools. recommendations. size of program County Schools Other County and City pertinent government branches. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE Panic Y .Im lementation Actions P a Details far Aofions �' $.Priorat Itesciatces Fiscal R oris�bili Staits F y Required Year . ty 71-4 4.3.2 Adequately fund the New Hanover Coordinate facilities program with the other 1 $$$ Ongoing Board of Education County School new school facility County and City branches of government. as result New Hanover program. Create a quality control program to ensure of passed County Schools high quality construction. school Other County and bond City pertinent government branches. 4.3.3 Provide a greater emphasis for athletic Upgrade existing and build high quality 1 $$ to $$$ Ongoing Board of Education facilities at existing and new schools. athletic fields, ball fields, tracks, pools, depend-ing on as result New Hanover gymnasiums, outdoor playgrounds for size of program of passed County Schools school children, with improved sodding, school Other County and and related facility improvements, bond City pertinent including maintenance. government branches. 4.4.1 Coordinate new school facilities and Hold regular meetings with concerned 1 $ Needs to Board of Education maintenance upgrade program. parties for increased coordination with be New Hanover above 4.0 items with New Hanover County ongoing County Schools Schools, School Board and other pertinent Other County and branches of County and City government. City pertinent Create benchmarks for monitoring progress. government branches 5.0 CULTURAL ARTS AND RECREATION } 5.1.1 Prepare and implement a joint Prepare and Implement a Greenway/Open 3 $$ 1999 City and County City/County Greenway/Open Space Plan Space Plan. for the establishment of a contiguous Determine requirements, funding, Greenway System that links acquisition and protection options; include neighborhoods to community activity trails. Insure that plan provides for both centers, and serves the recreational and present and expected population growth. open space needs of the community. 5.1.2 Continue to implement, fund and join Prepare and Implement a joint 1 $$ Ongoing County together the County and City Park Plans. Greenway/Open Space Plan. 5.1.3 Develop public/private partnerships for Prepare and Implement a Greenway/Open 1 $ 1999 City and County the provision of recreation facilities Space Plan. M6 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 5.1.4 Establish, in the unincorporated areas, Prepare and Implement a Greenway/Open 1 $ 1999 County requirements for commercial and Space Plan. residential development to reserve land for open space/recreation or provide a fee in lieu. 5.1.5 Develop different acquisition/protection Prepare and Implement a Greenway/Open 1 $ 1999 City, County and options for significant sites for open Space Plan. Include State space/recreation, such as purchase, utility easement preservation as part of the public/private partnerships, conservation greenway system as passive open space easements and conservation trusts. areas and combine them with trails and trail access areas where possible. 5.1.6 Develop a public participation process Public Participation Plan I Existing 1999 City and County for the acquisition and preservation of process to be significant sites for open reviewed space/recreation. 5.1.7 Continue to expand and enlarge existing Determine expected future growth and 1 $$$ Ongoing County library facilities to maintain the current needs. level of service to the community. 5.1.8 Continue to support and improve the Determine expected future growth and 2 $$ Ongoing County museum facilities. needs and formulate a long term development strategy. 5.1.9 Investigate the feasibility of providing a Determine needs, requirements and 1 $$ Ongoing City, County and convention center to serve the needs of feasibility. surrounding local the community and its surrounding area. authorities 5.1.10 Investigate the feasibility of providing a Determine needs, requirements and 2 $ Ongoing City, County and performing arts center to serve the needs feasibility surrounding local of the community and its surrounding authorities area. 5.1.11 Encourage the provision of social and Determine needs and priorities; and identify 2 Ongoing Advocacy group(s) cultural opportunities for the aging opportunities. I for the elderly, City, population. County 58 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE i, ainct smpdffi6ritto c es Resources -Tiscal, A P 4 Details torA d6i . ear Res of .... . ..... 5.2.1 Support and implement the goals and I $$ Ongoing City, County, recommendations of the Wilmington DARE, Inc., Downtown Plan: Vision 2020; the Cape Fear River Corridor Plan; and DARE, Inc. that reinforces the cultural importance of the Downtown area. 5.2.2 Develop additional and support existing Identify opportunities; develop and 1 $ Ongoing City, County, programs that specifically promote, implement programs strengthen and support Downtown Wilmington as the regional cultural center. 6.0 POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES 6.1.1 Plan and provide staffing and facilities Determine projected future needs. 1 $$ Annual City and County for police and fire services at least proportionate to the growth in the community. 7.0 SOLID WASTE 7.1.1 The County and City together with the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management 1 $ Ongoing City, County and Towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Plan. Include methods to eliminate illegal the Towns of and Wrightsville Beach will continue trash dumping by strict monitoring and Carolina Beach, their joint update of the Comprehensive enforcement, increased fines, signage Kure Beach, and Solid Waste Management Plan every 3 program, rewards and other means. Include Wrightsville Beach years, and establish programs and set continued support and improve innovative goals for the management and reduction incinerator and landfill system of solid waste for the next 10 years. 7.1.2 Expand local government recycling. Address with the Comprehensive Solid I $$ Ongoing City and County Waste Management Plan. Including: expand collection programs; encourage commercial recovery programs which focus on paper fiber materials; promote local private recovery/recycling initia-tives; encourage composting; expand hazardous waste pick-up and education; and promote local construction -demolition recycling - recovery programs. 59 = = = = = C:Z3 = = = = = =1 czn, = = � = = = COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 8.0 COMMUNICATION 8.1.1 Amend regulations to require the joint Amend regulations; develop standards and 2 $ 1999 City and County use and location of equipment on requirements. existing telecommunication towers and other public and private structures. XI. Housing ISSUES................................................................................................... 1. The City minimum housing program should be improved. The County should establish and adopt a minimum housing code and enforcement program. 2. There is a documented need for affordable housing, particularly for low . and moderate income residents. 3. The City and County need to ensure that they are receiving the maximum amount of federal and state financial opportunities for community and economic development. 4. There is a need to provide an increased amount of affordable rental housing. 5. There are an estimated III homeless persons County wide with the majority living in the City. 6. Neighborhood residents need a mechanism to voice their concerns regarding growth and change, and the County and City need. an efficient way to provide information to residents. 7. There is a need for adequate housing for the special needs population, elderly, and disabled in the City and County. 8. With the growth of UNC-Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College, students will need adequate on and off campus housing. In I 61 0 Housing POLICIES............................................................................................ 1. MINIMUM HOUSING PROGRAM The City shall enhance the minimum housing program. The County shall adopt a minimum housing program with enforcement. 2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS The County and City shall continue to support and enhance a broad range of affordable housing programs. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for affordable housing. 3. MAXIMIZE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING The County and City shall maximize funding opportunities from federal and state sources for community and economic development. 4. RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING The City and County shall increase affordable rental housing. 5. HOMELESS The County and City shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to provide temporary and transitional shelter to persons who are homeless and enhance a job referral program. 6. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS The County, City, and residents shall be encouraged to use neighborhood associations for outreach information and education. 7. SPECIAL NEEDS AND ELDERLY The City and County shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to ensure an adequate supply of housing for special needs, the elderly, and the disabled. 8. ADEQUATE UNCW AND CFCC STUDENT HOUSING Working together the County, City, UNC-Wilmington, and Cape Fear Community College shall meet student housing needs. 62 C=3 C:� = Cz:�' �� 1=4 = C:� HOUSING Palic aY e Im" letnent$tioii Actions - Q y�¢a k ,. �{ F rfa ,v� :::, 3 ' ;': e Resautca m'.FiSCaI F$Au:' '%' �;.- Ite ` oiisibtlt ty �.' ti �., „ Status betatls for Achnns': x Pnoht` y JRequiredYeatt�'' 1.0 MINIMUM HOUSING PROGRAM 1.1 The City shall improve its minimum 1.1.1 Develop code enforcement strategies that 1 $$ Current City Underway housing enforcement program. emphasize improvements in housing quality and preservation. A balance is recognized between expenses to property and home owners, and better living conditions for occupants. 1.2 The County shall adopt a minimum 1.2.1 Draft and adopt a minimum housing code. 1 $ 199= 01 County None housing code and establish an A balance is recognized between expenses to enforcement program. property and home owners, and better living conditions for occupants. 1.2.2 Establish position(s) and hire code 1 $$ 99= 01 County None enforcement officer(s). 1.3 The City and County shall ensure that Ensure that there is adequate regulations and 1 $ On- City and County Ongoing City. there is strong code enforcement to code enforcement staff to remedy this situation. going New for County. remedy areas and lots with abandonded See 1.1 for City and 1.2 for County. City. vechicles, trash, debris, and boarded up 199=01 housing. for County 2.0 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS 2.1 Increase support of affordable housing 2.1.1 Home Ownership Pool loan program 1 $ existing On- City Ongoing programs. (HOP) $$ going County Direct Loans and Home Loans for housing expanded HUD rehabilitation programs Private Lending Fannie Mae Lease Purchase Institutions Project Home Community Development Block Grant Program Home Investment Partnership 2.1.2 Establish an affordable housing advocacy 2 $ '0243 City, County None coalition with wide representation. Nonprofit housing providers 2.2 Investigate and act upon ways to 2.2.1 Establish a mortgage revenue bond 1 $ study 199-101 City None increase affordable housing supply and program to provide affordable housing backed $$ program County ownership for low and moderate income by appropriate sources. Conduct a study with residents. recommendations. 63 HOUSING i "tion Actiorm7 Resources, Cal'Impleffidn ae' on P Re7 bili'y­"Status ' 2.2.2 Establish a land trust program for 1 $ study On- City Ongoing affordable housing land acquisition. Conduct a $$ program going County study with recommendations. 2.2.3 Encourage participation in the down 1 $$ On- city Ongoing payment assistance program. With the aid of going County grants, this program allows down payment NC Housing assistance for closing costs. Finance Agency 2.2.4 Investigate methods to reduce 1 $ On- city Ongoing development costs for affordable housing. going County Review development review process and codes. Make appropriate changes to Unified Development Ordinance. 2.2.5 Expand existing education programs on 2 '02203 city None affordable housing opportunities, including expanded County home ownership for first time buyers. program 2.2.6 Set a target for future increased 2 $ study '02203 city None homeownership emphasizing first time home County buyers. Non-profit Conduct a study with recommendations. housing providers Private lending institutions 2.2.7 Encourage commercial banks to 1 $$ 199-101 city None participate in a below market rate mortgage expanded County interest program. program Private lending institutions 2.2.8 Inventory available sites as a resource for 2 $ '02203 city None new residential develop-ment and provide County incentives for the development of new housing. Con -duct a study with recommendations. 2.2.9 Investigate how to strengthen partnerships 2 $ '02-'03 City None with for profit developers to provide affordable County housing including density bonuses that provide additional affordable housing units. Conduct a study with recommendations include with Unified Development Ordinance. 64 = = = = = = C= =" 1= = = C:= = = =1 = = = = = HOUSING 2.2.10 Conduct study with recommendations 2 $ '02-'03 City None regarding zoning changes that require mixed County income residential developments. 2.2.11 Conduct study with recommendations 2 $ '02= 03 City None regarding: incentives for an employer -assisted County housing program to assist development of affordable housing. 2.2.12 Cooperate with the Wilmington Housing 1 $ coordin- On- City Ongoing Authority in the maintenance, renovation and ation going Wilmington construction of affordable housing. $$$ Jervay Housing project and Authority other projects 2.2.13 Encourage scattered site affordable 1 $ 199-101 City County None housing. 3.0 MAXIMIZE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING 3.1 Consider creating a consolidated Discussion between City and County and staffs 1 $ 199-101 City None County and City Community and elected officials. Consult with HUD. County Development Block Grant program. 3.2 Insure that federal and state community Use existing staff. 1 $ On- City Ongoing and economic development funding going County opportunities are being maximized. 4.0 RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING 4.1 Improve and expand the City rental Conduct study with recommendations. 1 $ study On- City Ongoing rehabilitation loan program. $.$ program going 4.2 Establish a County rental rehabilitation Conduct study with recommendations. 1 $ study 199-101 County None loan program. $$ program 2.2 HOUSING Paltcy e e CatAl"ion Actions Impl m n k '- Details for Actiatis Peon Resources Ftscal . " " Re onsibtli Status .._ Requ gyred : Year M ^. .. 4.3 Ensure that there is funding for a rent- Conduct study with recommendations. 1 $ study 199201 City Ongoing to -own program in both the City and Determine appropriate level of funding. Decide County County. This program would enable a funding Non-profit renter to apply rent payments towards level range housing providers the purchase of a home. $ to $$ 4.4 Explore the possibility that apartment Conduct study with recommendations. 3 $ study '04-'05 County None complexes that are converted to $$ program City condominiums provide affordable units, or payments into a City and County affordable housing or non-profit housing program. 5.0 HOMELESS 5.1 Expand programs for homeless shelters Continued funding and support for Continuum 1 $ existing On- City, County, Ongoing with adequate quality accommodations of Care and other related programs. Ensure that program going HUD, with emphasis on housing for the the areas of the City and County that have high coordinating with mentally disabled. homeless concentrations receive specific 1 $$ expand 199-101 Non profit None for expanded neighborhood outreach to remedy the challenge. program housing providers program including, Good Shepherd House, Salvation Army, and Cape Fear Rescue Mission. 5.2 Expand job referral program for the Through the Continuum of Care process address 2 $$ '02-'03 Through None for expanded homeless. counseling and job referral program to assist expanded City, County program homeless persons and households achieve self program Non -profits such sufficiency. as the Good Shepherd House. 6.0 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS 6.1 Create neighborhood guidelines. Conduct a study with recommendations. 1 $ study 199-101 County None Discussion on: methods for public outreach; the $$ public City impact of new development on adjoining outreach Including: neighborhoods, such as density; housing by Council of type; home ownership; rental concerns; and Neighborhoods drainage. Create booklet. Association and other similar organizations r__1' CZ) = C:a �:- �:� Z:) =:j CD HOUSING 7.0 SPECIAL NEEDS AND ELDERLY 7.1 Establish a housing program for the Conduct study with recommendations for 2 $ for study '02203 City None special needs, elderly, and disabled, that program creation; include congregate living County is integrated throughout the community. arrangements for the elderly, and other special $$ program Non-profit needs populations, e.g. nursing homes. Study housing providers how to integrate with private sector. Private business 7.2 Modify zoning regulations where Conduct a study with recommendations to 2 $ for study '02203 City None appropriate to encourage housing for include with Unified Development Ordinance. County the special needs, elderly, disabled. 8.0 ADEQUATE UNCW AND CFCC STUDENT HOUSING 8.1 Develop an on and off campus student Conduct a study with recommendations. 3 $ '04-'05 City None housing program for UNC-Wilmington. County UNC W 8.2 Develop an on and off campus student Conduct a study with recommendations. 3 $ '04205 City None housing program for Cape Fear CFCC Community College. 67 0 I 0 0 n I XII. Economic Development ISSUES................................................................................................... 1. There needs to be improved economic diversification, and continued effort to attract employers that have high paying jobs. 2. Continue efforts to attract and retain business to economically distressed areas. 3. To remain competitive into the next decade the State port will need to deepen its harbor, improve inland highway and rail access, and upgrade the terminal. 4. The area could increase water dependent marine related employment opportunities with: marine technology; aquaculture; the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher; and boat manufacturing and marinas. 5. The Wilmington International Airport needs to expand to improve its competitiveness while working to ensure community compatibility. 6. There is a need to balance tourism with a diversified economy. 7. There is a need to increase workforce preparedness, especially for the marginally trained and under educated. 68 I Economic Development POLICIES................................................................................................. 1. GENERAL ECONOMY Develop a coordinated economic development strategy to attract high paying employers, that is economically diverse and environmentally mindful. 2. IMPROVING ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS The City and County with non profit and for profit organizations shall work to attract and retain business in areas that are economically distressed. 3. WILMINGTON STATE PORT The County and City shall work with the State Port in achieving mutually acceptable development goals. 4. MARINE ECONOMY The City and County shall support the water dependent marine economy. 5. AIRPORT The County and City shall cooperate with the New Hanover County Airport Authority to increase the competitiveness, of the Wilmington International Airport while being mindful of the compatibility with adjacent businesses and homes. 6. TOURISM The City and County shall encourage tourism as part of a balanced and diversified economy. 7. SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION The County and City and private sector shall cooperate with schools to develop a properly trained work force with employable skills. 69 Economic Development 1.0 GENERAL ECONOMY 1.1 Establish a task force with a Select lead agency, or consultant to guide 1 $ 199-101 Lead agency or consultant None mission to attract high process. With representation that should include: paying diverse employers Meet and create framework to proceed. Private sector and consider incentives. Resolve who would compose task force; Wil. Industrial Develop., Inc. include private sector. Co. Commissioners, City Council Address topic for set time. Cape Fear Tomorrow End with recommendations to proceed after UNCW, CFCC, Public Schools task force finished. Chamber of Commerce, Black Chain. Com. Wilmington State Port Wil. International Airport Small Business Coalition Wil. New Han. Co. Commun. Devel. Corp. Small Business & Tech. Develop. Center — UNCW Partners for Economic Inclusion 1.2 Enhance a County -City Select lead public agency or consultant to 1 $ '99201 Lead public agency and or consultant. None economic development do study with recommendations. program. Include these following items. private programs that target existing business for new expansion and job creation, including small businesses. 1.2.2 Establishing a Research and Development Park including infrastructure, with business connections to UNCW and CFCC. 1.2.3 Investigate establishing a local branch of the Office of Industrial Extension Service in the County. 1.2.4 Increase public outreach and improve awareness of the importance of business and industry to the tax base. 70 Economic Development I?olicy � Im ementatton Actions : DOM s fdr Actions by ,Resources,,,,,: ,Fiscal ` Responsibility c ffx F Statuis # . , ,Pnortty a !Acquired5 .., Year .0 .F ,,✓: g- 1 A,. .. Xt 1.3 Investigate expanding the Conduct a study with recommendations. 1 $ study 199 '01 UNCW with NC State and NC A&T Program engineering cooperative Cost and logistics of expanding the coordination. currently is with education program between engineering program. $$ ex- UNCW and NC UNCW, NC State and NC Consider enhancing ties to local business. panded State. A&T. program 1.4 Enhance: promotion of the 1.4.1 Strengthen promotion and incentives 1 $ Ongoing Wilmington Regional Film Commission Ongoing local film industry; and on behalf of the City and County. coordinating with: Private film industry; education opportunities. Meet with Task Force regarding continuous City and County. updates on "Film Guidelines." Establish and improve existing procedures for location filmmaking with Police, Fire and government. Create program to improve existing public relations with the community regarding on - location film making. Improve website, update computer programs with maintenance. 1.4.2 Strengthen and nurture the UNCW 2 $$ Ongoing UNCW Ongoing Film Studies education program. 1.5 Consider establishing a Conduct a study on the best method to 2 $ study '02=03 An existing agency or consultant to conduct None program with incentives for achieve this with recommendations for study possibly with New Han. Co. Regional larger companies to assist setting up program. Medical Center, or UNCW, or the Early employees with high Childhood Faculty of CFCC with the County quality affordable child day and City. care. 1.6 Develop a program to Conduct a study with recommendations for 2 $ '02203 Likely private initiative with possible None attract professional sports. program creation. government partnership. 71 = = = = = = C= = = = = = � 7 = = = = Cn T T f L` \:V11V1111�: LCVCIV1JIllClll. ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS 2.1 Use of Community Identify and prioritize projects. Act upon 1 $$ Ongoing City Ongoing Development Block Grant proposals that have real potential to create County funds for programs and jobs. Insure that money is leveraged to activities that create jobs increase success. for low and moderate income persons. 2.2 Encourage and support the Research: which existing businesses have 1 $ 199= 01 City None federal Small Business contracts with the Federal Gov't. Educate Wilmington Industrial Development, Inc. Administration HUBZone potential clients regarding program. program to attract business Coordin-ate possible: relocation, and and jobs to the expansion of existing businesses. economically challenged areas of Wilmington. 2.3 Encourage the creation of Expand family resource centers and 2 $ existing Ongoing City, Including: Wilmington Community Ongoing family resource centers and programs into distressed areas. Support Coalition programs. existing programs. Examples include the $$ '02203 Bottom, and Long Leaf Park Resource expanded None Center. program 2.4 Encourage public and Create flexible regulations in the Unified 2 $ 199-101 City None private business Development Ordinance. County partnerships for the Private Business development of speculative properties. 2.5 Ensure that the economic Study is underway and recommendations 2 Project Ongoing City Ongoing revitalization of Greenfield will be forthcoming. I could Wilmington Industrial Development, Inc. Industrial Park occurs. range from $ to 72 Economic Development Responsibility 3.0 WILMINGTON STATE PORT 3.1 Support the Wilmington Using the ports Master Capital 1 $ for Ongoing Wilmington State Port Ongoing State Port facilities to create Development Plan, follow the review- Federal agencies, including US Army COE a more competitive recommendations; including, deepening the ing study NC Dept. Commerce shipping port. shipping channel, and upgrading the and NC DOT terminal. Follow the recommendations of coordin- CSX Railroad the Transportation section of the ation. City and N. H. County Comprehensive Plan for improved inland Brunswick Co. highway and rail access. $$$ for carrying out the recom- menda- tions. 3.3 Balance the needs of the Adhere to Cape Fear River Corridor Plan 3 $ Ongoing Wilmington State Port Ongoing State Port with the recommendations. Review study and City and N. H. County recreational boating on the coordinate with concerned parties. Brunswick Co. Cape Fear River. Coast Guard 4.0 MARINE ECONOMY 4.1 Support aquaculture 4.1.1 Enhance promotion of the 2 $ Ongoing UNCW Center for Marine Program exists, research and marine environmentally friendly aquaculture NC Sea Grant Program would con-sider technology. research technology. NC Marine Trades Services increased promotion. 4.1.2 Increase financial support of the 2 $$ '02-'03 Cape Fear Community College NC Marine Would con-sider existing marine technology education Trades Services increased program at CFCC. financial support. 4.2 Support the expansion Work with the Aquarium to ensure smooth 1 $$ Ongoing NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher Ongoing effort of the NC Aquarium expansion effort of building facilities. County at Fort Fisher. Chamber of Commerce 4.3 Support the efforts of Enhance the existing promotion, 2 $ Ongoing Small Business and Technology Development Ongoing marine trade services for advertisement, and public outreach. Center - UNCW expanded boat manufac- Coastal Waterways Heritage Tourism Council turing, and boating services such as marinas. 73 G7 C= i= C= C= I= U �7 I T T ■ ]V,%;UIIUIII"FZVCI UP111VUL 4.4 Address the of loss of Conduct a study with recommendations public accessible boat slips by consultant or agency. and marinas to traveling boaters. 2 $ '02-'03 Coastal Waterways Heritage Tourism Council Small Business and Technology Development Center — UNC W County, City 5.0 AIRPORT 5.1 Encourage airport Support the airport master plan with regard 1 $ On -going Wilmington International Airport Ongoing economic growth and to economic growth. Address compatibility County development. with the Land Use and Transportation City policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Coordinate with concerned parties. 6.0 TOURISM 6.1 Promote Wilmington and Conduct a study with recommendations on 2 $ '02-'03 Possibly use a consultant for study with: None the County as an area for how to increase heritage -historic Carolina Heritage Tourism Network heritage and historic preservation tourism; study likely Cape Fear Convention and Visitors Bureau preservation tourism. conducted by a consultant. 1898 Foundation 6.2 Support promotion of Support the existing promotion. 2 $ On -going Coastal Waterways Heritage Tourism Council Ongoing Wilmington as a boating with destination hub and related NC Marine Trades Services eco-tourism activity. 7.0 SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION 7.1 Enhance support for school 7.1.1 Expand the existing Dual Enrollment 1 $$ 199= 01 Cooperation with: Exists but needs and work programs with high school and community college Cape Fear Community College New Hanover pro -motion; Cape Fear Community program that emphasizes vocation training. Co. Board of Education consider College and New Hanover Advertise to students and parents. Pender County increased Co. Public Schools, Shaw University financial particularly with vocation support. 74 Economic Development Policy Im Iementafiott Actors Details for Actions = wj Pnont Resburces Ftscal.:, Responsibility ; Status # Y p M, .> �� %� Required :> Year :; y� 7.1.2 Expand the cooperative public 1 $$ 199-101 New Hanover Co. Board of Education Exists but needs school and work internship programs for NC State Dept. of Commerce promo-tion. students. Develop a cooperative agreement. Volunteer efforts Cape Fear Partners for Expand the Job Ready internship program Career Success. between business and the New Hanover Unions. County Public Schools. 7.2 Expand a job skills program for the post high school aged under - prepared. uonsiaer estamisnmg an independent Board of Education supplemental education tax to improve the quality of public school education. 7.4 Address the public school drop out challenge and high school students working excessively during school year. Program with Continuing Education. Conduct a study with recommendation e.g. using a consultant. Study other systems in other states with this authority. Conduct a study and write guidelines, brochure, public affairs messages. Discussion to include, drop out challenge, excessive work by high school students, and methods to encourage employers to assist teenage persons to obtain a high school diploma. 75 I I Cape Fear Community College I Available but under -funded. New Hanover Co. Board of Education I None possibly with consultant. State New Hanover Co. Board of possibly with consultant. 0 XIII. Historic Preservation ISSUE................................................................................................... 0 1. The City and County need to identify protect and plan for the preservation of historic resources. Historic Preservation POLICIES............................................................................................. 1. The Countyand Cityin cooperation with non profit and for profit organizations shall preserve, and provide regulatory and cultural guidance for historic sites and areas. 2. Take proactive steps to identify and protect important historic and archaeological resources including an updated inventory of significant areas or sites and updates to current regulations to require identification of potential impacts, a plan for protection of sensitive areas/sites or a mitigation/ data recovery plan where preservation is not possible. Density credits should be used to aid in area/ site protection plans. 3. Support a community archaeological program that will provide assistance to help salvage threatened historic and archaeological sites and promote public education/ participation. 4. Continue the redevelopment of historic downtown Wilmington as a high priority, building on past successes and carefully matching public incentives with private investment. Care should be taken to preserve the visual character and historic atmosphere of old Wilmington. I 0 in 76 V Historic Preservation .i, Policy% .�. 'd .�-.,`"s%kp.• 1m lementafion Actions d rA;t 'S'wx ',:,{yW 4d Details for Actions -, Priori Resiiurces Fiscal ; 6 R onsibih esp ry i , .p; :, •,' SCatus # p Requtrod:Year y __i.. a . .v... .. .. .,_.. ,.. .... .. ...� 1.1 Update and revise existing historic district Complete guidelines and 1 $ `98-'99 City, (Preservation Consultant, in Draft form design guidelines to provide direction to the implement them. process of refining guidelines with homeowners, builders and contractors, and to public's and Historic District preserve visual and historic character in the Commission input) redevelopment of downtown Wilmington. 1.2 Conduct a city- and county -wide historic Complete survey. 1 $$ 198-199 Historic Wilmington Foundation, In process resource survey update that identifies Inc., City, and County additional historic resources, both architectural and natural. 1.3 Update existing National Register District Retain consultant to conduct 1 $ 199-100 City, Historic Wilmington None survey to identify contributing, survey update. Foundation, Inc. noncontributing resources for tax credit purposes, and demolished resources and new construction. 1.4 Expand boundaries of city's local historic Complete study and designation 1 $ 199 City, Historic Wilmington Draft form districts towards the north and south. report. Foundation, Inc., Consultant 1.5 Expand the boundaries of the National Conduct reconnaissance survey 1 $ `99-'03 City, Historic Wilmington None Register District to encompass adjoining areas with recommendations. Foundation, Inc that have become eligible for inclusion. 1.6 Enhance existing affordable housing programs See Housing implementation 1 $$ Ongoing City, and WHFD, Inc. On -going within the historic districts. Adopt design actions. guidelines and building codes to facilitate renovations in low-income areas. 1.7 Protect and maintain historic brick street Conduct survey and research 1 $ study 199= 00 City, Historic District Commission, On -going pavers. and implement program. $ program Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc. 1.8 Include Historic Preservation Plan as an Collect comments as 1 $ '98-`99 City, Historic District Commission, None element of the Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan is updated. Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc. 1.9 Initiate the establishment of Conservation Conduct public education. 3 $ '02204 City, Historic District Commission, None Districts. Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc. 1.10 Establish local historic districts in early 20 - Conduct reconnaissance survey 2 $$ '99203 City, Historic District Commission, None century neighborhoods such as Forest Hills with recommendations. Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc. and Sunset Park. 1.11 Establish historic resource design guidelines Use guidelines created by other 3 $ '04-`06 County, City, Historic Wilmington None that pertain to districts and landmarks to be county jurisdictions as a model Foundation, Inc. designated by the future County Historic and revise appropriately. Preservation Commission. 77 cz] C-2:3 CZ3 C__1 Historic Preservation 1.12 Coordinate historic preservation efforts and public education with non-profit historic preservation groups. Continuous outreach and interaction. 1 $ Ongoing City, County, Historic District Commission, Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc., DARE, Inc. On -going 1.13 Take proactive steps to identify and protect Include: updated inventory of 2 $ for study 199-1101 City and County Need to add to important archaeological resources. significant areas or sites; study updates to current regulations to require identification of potential impacts; a plan for protection of sensitive areas; sites and mitigation; and use density credits to aid in area and site protection plans. Support a community 2 $$ for 199-101 City and County Need to add to archaeological program that will program pro -gram provide assistance to help; salvage threatened land and water sites archaeological sites; and promote public education and participation. 78 0 I'l XIV. Storm & Natural Hazards ISSUES.................................................................................................. 1. Three hurricanes and five major storms in the past few years have focused attention on the need for examination of many existing ordinances and building codes. 2. Use of land susceptible to hurricane and flooding damage must be scrutinized to assure the safety of visitors and citizens. 3. It is the responsibility of the governments of New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington and the beach Communities to provide a plan of action to protect the lives and property of their citizens and visitors. POLICIES................................................................................................... 1. Storm and Natural Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation and Recovery Policies 1.1. In the event of a hurricane or disaster the City and County shall assess measures to safeguard future populations from development which may put increased numbers of people at risk in hazard incidents. 1.2. A Recovery Task Force may be appointed with the responsibility for directing reconstruction within New Hanover County after a damaging storm. 1.3. The City and County shall retain on a seasonal basis an assistance facilitator/consultant who, as directed by the County Manager, will be responsible for making recommendations and coordinating assistance to elected officials, the Recovery Task Force and the citizenry in the event of a Natural Hazard occurrence. 1.4. Immediately remove and clean up debris and restore services following a major storm event. 79 Storm & Natural Hazards Po1i ` # �, � �, ,, . Iin °lementahoti Actions p ..4• s' Deatls fo Actions s Res ons�bili " p r.Resources. Prori Ty Year, � �¢��� F Status }� Required 1 Storm and Natural Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation and Recovery Policies 1.1. The City and County shall closely Planning and Inspections department review NHCO, $ 1 Ongoing Current preparedness level can monitor all reconstruction efforts process must be in tact and ready to respond Wilmington, be improved upon involving both public and private in case of hazard event. Follow Beach utilities, including roads, to provide for recommendations of Project Impact and Communities: less vulnerable redevelopment after a Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative Planning, hurricane Inspections 1.1 Discourage high intensity uses and large Enforce current zoning and subdivision regs NHCO, $ structures from being constructed within regarding development in the floodplain. Wilmington, the 100 year floodplain, erosion prone Promote density tradeoffs for development Beach areas, and other locations susceptible to out of floodplain. Communities: hurricane and flooding hazards. Planning, Inspections; Private developers. 1.1 Following a storm event, take advantage Review repetitive loss properties, apply for NHCO, $$$ N/A September of opportunities to acquire or purchase grant funding when available. Have Wilmington, 1998 land located in storm hazard areas which database of priority properties for Beach are rendered unbuildable. The property acquisition. Follow recommendations of Communities: should satisfy objectives including, but Project Impact and Hazard Mitigation Planning, not limited to the conservation of open Planning Initiative Inspections space, scenic areas, and provision of public water access. 1.1 Declare a moratorium on the acceptance Take action - Follow recommendations of Planning $ of any request for rezoning in flood Project Impact and Hazard Mitigation Boards and prone areas other than for rezoning to a Planning Initiative Commissions, less intense use, unless that rezoning Elected request is initiated by the City or Officials County. 1.1 Declare a moratorium on the permitting Identify areas impacted by hazard, declare Planning and $ H Spring, of any new construction, new utility moratorium. Follow recommendations of Inspections 1999 hook-ups, or redevelopment Project Impact and Hazard Mitigation Departments, construction that would increase the Planning Initiative Planning intensity of the land uses existing before Boards and the hurricane or disaster. Commissions, Elected Officials 80 = CZ3 = � IZD CD Storm & Natural Hazards .. �Ac i6" "�iis io e " Re so A iiwu"', 1.1 Request that new assessment of hazard Prepare request for Elected official Planning areas be performed, depending on the signature, make request departments, extent of flooding and the changes to Follow recommendations of Project Impact elected shoreline and inlets caused by the and Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative officials hurricane. 1.2 The Task Force shall be responsible for Asses storm damages and impacts, organize Planning $ M On -Going advising the Board of the County meetings with Commisioners, advise Commissioners on a diverse range of post -storm issues. 1.2 A building moratorium may be Analyze post storm impacts, critical facility Task force, $ authorized or extended by the Recovery damage, asses need for moratorium, autorize County Task Force through a resolution by the if necessary. Commissioners Board of County Commissioners and/or City Council 1.3 The City and County shall retain on a 0 Determining the types of assistance County $ M 1999-2000 seasonal basis an assistance available to the City and County and Managers facilitator/consultant who, as directed by the type of assistance most needed. office, the County Manager 0 Assisting in the coordination of federal facilitator disaster recovery effort. 0 Coordinate State and Federal programs of assistance. 0 Informing the Citizenry of the types of assistance programs available. • Recommending to the Recovery Task Force and Board of Commissioners programs which are available and then acting as facilitator in securing those programs 1.4 The City and County shall be Coordinate necessary departments, prioritize Managers $$$ responsible for the overall supervision clean up effort, assign available resources to office, - of cleanup and disposal of debris efficiently perform clean up deparment resulting from an intense storm event heads 1.4 In hurricane damaged areas, give Asses damages, prioritize repair work. Task force, $$ H Spring, priority to those repairs that restore Follow recommendations of Project Impact managers, 1999 service to the greatest number of people. and Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative deparmtent I I I heads 81 Storm & Natural Hazards Pahc " Y W1. Irn lementatioia'Actions:;; p, �w 17ttails forActioii`s Res' onsibili p ty Resources Priori tY f, Status,,,,: Required „gYeaz , R%�.�?i„.., C x e.;^ ,-.,s �_, .,-,r .,.. x,E'�.p".t �_r."„<(. ....< ,._ . o,. ...a�'i� Via":, aM. �. »N. F '•N �`.�.iM, f 1.4 Where economically feasible replace or Perform damage assesment, determine ' Deparment $$$ relocate public utilities, that have facilities that should be replaced, seek grants heads, sustained major damage due to a or other funding, relocate facilities. Follow managers hurricane storm event, away from recommendations of Project Impact and offices, hurricane hazard areas or strengthen Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative Emergency their construction management, private companys ie. Phone and electric 1.4 The North Carolina Department of Remove debris form roadways NCDOT, $$$ H Spring, Transportation(NCDOT) will remove Wilmington, 1999 and clean up debris from publicly Beach maintained roads immediately following Communities a major storm event 1.4 The City of Wilmington will be Remove debris from streets. Wilmington $$$ M 1999-2000 responsible for the clean-up of City DOT streets 1.4 Private development homeowners will Remove debris from roads — contract Private be responsible for the clean-up of debris services or perform removal. homeowners on private roads, or public roads not yet accepted by NCDOT 82 XV. Land Classifications/Map a The land classification system is a means of assisting in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan policies. It allows the local government and its citizens to specify those areas where certain policies will apply. The land classification system is intended to be supported and complemented by zoning, sub- division and other land use management tools. Together they provide the guidance to help realize the desired future land uses. The land classifications for the 1998 Wilmington -New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan Update are as follows: Developed nThe purpose of the Developed class is to provide for continued intensive development and u redevelopment of existing urban areas. These areas are already developed at a density approaching 1,500 dwelling units per square mile. Urban services are already in place or scheduled within the immediate future. Most of the land within the City of Wilmington is designated as Developed, except for some Urban Transition and Conservation areas. Density may exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Developed class, depending upon local zoning regulations. Urban Transition The purpose of the Urban Transition class is to provide for future intensive urban development on lands that have been or will be provided with necessary urban services. The location of these areas is based upon land use planning policies requiring optimum efficiency in land utilization and public service delivery. Residential development can exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Urban Transition area provided the development is adequately designed to be compatible with existing and proposed surrounding land uses and it is served by: 1. Sewer - the development shall be served by City or County sewer systems or private package treatment systems that meet the most stringent State requirements. 2. Municipal or Coupwaters stem - the development shall be served by City or County water systems or a private water system constructed in accordance with City of Wilmington standards. 3. Direct access to a minor arterial or larger access road, as classified under the New Hanover County Thoroughfare Classification System - the development may be required to fully provide or to share in the cost of the provision of roadway improvements needed to adequately serve the proposed development and the community in general. Limited Transition The purpose of the Limited Transition class is to provide for development in areas that will have some services, but at lower densities than those associated with Urban Transition. 83 Residential density should be no more than 2.5 units/acre, with lower density being more desirable. The use of clustering and Planned Unit Developments (PUD) is encouraged. These areas were previously designated as Transition and were intended to provide for more intensive future urban development. However the provision of public services has been scaled back and less intensive urban development is planned. Community The purpose of the Community class is to provide for a "crossroads" type of development to help meet housing, shopping, employment and public service needs within the more rural areas of the County. Services may be provided to these areas, but not to stimulate more intensive development. Density shall not exceed 2.5 units/acre. - These rural areas of the planning jurisdiction are typically characterized by a small grouping of mixed land uses, such as community shopping, church, school and residences, which provide low intensity retail service and housing opportunities. The only area currently designated as "Community" is Castle Hayne. Rural The purpose of the Rural class is to provide for areas of low intensity land uses, such as agriculture, forest management, mineral extraction and other traditional agrarian uses. This classification discourages the premature conversion of these lands into urban -type uses and the subsequent loss of resource production. Other land uses of a noxious or hazardous nature with the potential for negative impacts on adjacent uses may be allowed, provided that they can be sited in a manner which will minimize their negative effect on surrounding land uses and natural resources. Only low density residential development not exceeding 2.5 units per acre is permitted, since the extension of urban services into the Rural class would be an inefficient use of resources. Compatible commercial and industrial uses may also be allowed, provided that natural resources are not adversely impacted. Conservation The purpose of the Conservation class is to provide for effective long-term management and protection of significant, limited or irreplaceable natural resources while also protecting the rights of the property owner. Management of these areas may be required for a number of reasons, including natural, cultural, recreational, productive or scenic values. Lands placed in the Conservation class present challenges from a land use standpoint, as they are often the most desirable from a development perspective and they may be, at the same time, the most undesirable to develop from an environmental perspective. Lands placed in the Conservation class are generally the least desirable for development because: 84 a1. They are too fragile to withstand development without losing their natural value; and/or 2. They have severe or hazardous limitations to development; and/or D 3. Though they are not highly fragile or hazardous, the natural resources they represent are too valuable to endanger by development. In order to promote the highest and best use while preventing a negative impact on water quality, site specific flexibility and creativity is desirable. The application of regulations regarding issues such as density, buffers and impervious surfaces should enhance this flexibility. The use of incentives such as U density credits and performance criteria is encouraged. U Generally, estuarine areas of environmental concern (AFC's) as defined by the State of North oCarolina and adjacent lands within the 100-year floodplain have been classified as Conservation. Conservation areas should be preserved in their natural state. Woodland, grassland and recreation areas not requiring filling are the most appropriate uses. Exceptions to this standard are limited to water - dependent uses (i.e., uses that cannot function elsewhere), shared industrial access corridors, and those exceptional development proposals which are sensitively designed so as to effectively preserve the natural functions of the site. The following guidelines clarify these Conservation area objectives and development of property should be limited to the following uses: 1. Water dependent uses - may include: utility easements, docks, wharves, boat ramps, dredging, bridge and bridge approaches, revetments, bulkheads, culverts, groins, navigational aide, moorings, pilings, navigational channels, simple access channels and drainage ditches. In some instances, a water -dependent use may involve coverage of sizeable land areas with limited opportunities to integrate the use with the site's natural features. This would require reclassification of the site. By contrast, water dependent uses which can be designed to preserve a site's natural features may not require reclassification. This would be the preferred type of development. 2. Shared industrial access corridors - as discussed in the U.S. Army Corps s of Engineers' The Wilmington Harbor: Plan for Improvement, would provide necessary access to the channel of the Northeast Cape Fear River for industries located on high ground while minimizing the adverse environmental impacts of such access. 3. Exceptional developments preserving natural features are projects which are sensitively designed to be in harmony with the site's natural features and natural functions, (� and provide a balance with the highest and best use of the property. Such projects minimize 1� erosion, runoff and siltation; minimize impervious surfaces impacts and protect estuarine resources; do not interfere with access to or use of navigable waters; do not require j� extraordinary public expenditures for maintenance; ensure that ground absorption sewage IJ systems, if used, meet applicable standards; and should be aware of and not damage historic, n architectural or archeological resources. U 0 85 In no case, with the exception of the Wilmington National Register Historic District, shall residential density in the Conservation class be permitted to exceed 2.5 units per acre, regardless of the existence of public urban services. Residential densities may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit/acre or less, depending on the environmental constraints within a particular area. While certain Conservation areas may be served by public sewer in order to eliminate septic system pollution, this should not be misconstrued as an incentive to facilitate increased development density. Resource Protection The purpose of the Resource Protection class is to provide for the preservation and protection of important natural, historic, scenic, wildlife and recreational resources. The Resource Protection class has been developed in recognition of the fact that New Hanover County, one of the most urbanized counties in the State, still contains numerous areas of environmental or cultural sensitivity which merit protection from urban land uses. The Resource Protection class includes land adjacent to the estuarine waters which are classified SA by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management. The class also includes land in the Castle Hayne area where the protection of farmland, a rural lifestyle, and the aquifer system are highly important issues. Generally residential densities greater than 2.5 units per acre shall not be permitted in the Resource Protection class and may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit/acre or less, depending on the development constraints within a particular area. Within the urban service boundary, residential density greater than 2.5 units per acre may be considered for exceptionally designed projects that meet performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance. These standards shall address the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies for urban design, water quality, greenways, transportation, levels of service and other development related impacts within the tidal creek watersheds. No increase in density may be considered until such time as the performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance are completed and adopted by the City and County. Compatible commercial and industrial development may be located within the Resource Protection class as long as important resources are not adversely impacted. It is important to note that the County sewer service being provided to portions of this area is intended for the purpose of eliminating septic pollution and not for encouraging substantial increases in the density of development. LAND CLASSIFICATION MAP Included on the next page is the Land Classification Map. This map indicates the location of each of the land classes previously described in this section. It is intended for general location purposes only and should not be utilized for site -specific interpretive purposes due to its scale. For more detailed information regarding the land classification for a specific site, contact the New Hanover County Planning Department or the City of Wilmington Planning and Development Department. 86 TMM�430N KWI NI r- W o � o � 1 ' s � YN��4Y +' � 4 dfL. a F I�J.MJ r L� o= o o= c= Appendix A. Defmitions B. List of Available Reports 88 a A. Definitions --------------------- Carrying Capacity- the number of individuals who can be supported without degrading the physical, ecological, cultural and social environments (eg. without reducing the ability of the environment to sustain the desired quality of life over the long term). a Cumulative Impacts- two or more individual effects which when considered together are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental effects. • Secondary Impacts- later and unintended effects of any direct man-made action or indirect repercussions of man-made actions. Barrier Islands - any land formation composed of unconsolidated materials lying on the t 1 U ocean side of the mainland and which have the following characteristics: a) The land is an island or part of island with a density equal to or less than one residential unit per five acres; b) the island area has been assigned the most severe rank with regard to hurricane forces; c) the island area is not connected to the mainland by a permanent network of roads and bridges that would allow safe and timely evacuation by land rather than boat; d) the island area does not qualify for the National Flood Insurance Program as administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; e) the island area is classified as Conservation in the Land Use Plan; also includes estuarine islands, riverine islands, and spoil disposal a islands (note: further clarification of this definition will be provided with amendments to zoning and subdivision definitions). • Hydric Soils - Soils that are saturated or seasonally saturated with water at or near the surface (within 12-18 inches depending on soil type). Generalized characteristics include high organic matter content of the surface, low shrink swell potential, and frequent sustained flooding. All Class IV and some Class III Soils as defined in the 1981 technical report, Classification of Soils in New Hanover Countyfor Septic Tank Suitability. • Development -any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operations; excluding bona fide farming activities. • Major Development - the term major development project shall include but is not limited to shopping centers, subdivision and other housing developments, and industrial and commercial projects, but shall not include any project of less than 2 contiguous acres in extent (G.S. 113A-9. Definitions -NC Environmental Policy Act). • Watershed - the area of land where water that falls or is contained therein runs off or drains into the same river, stream, lake, estuary, or aquifer. n Riparian Access - the legal right of waterfront property owners to construct docks or piers that are contained within the boundaries of their riparian area limit (90 degree angle from !}.1' the edge of the channel back to the property line or shore). 89 IF, I Q Marina - includes commercial marinas, rental slips, community boating facilities, and residential piers renting more than two slips. a • Commercial Marina- any dock or basin and associated structures commercially providing permanent or temporary harboring or storing of two or more boats, pleasure or commercial, and providing marine services, including but not limited to retail sales for fuel, repair, convenient food stuffs, boats, engines, and accessory equipment. a • Community Boating Facility- a private non-profit boating facility including a dock, pier, and/or launching ramp on property which has water frontage, the use of which is intended to serve 5 or more residential lots or units. The right to use such facility must be conferred by an easement appurtenant to the residential lot it is a intended to serve. No commercial activities of any kind shall be allowed within the confines of the facility. n u • Mooring - any means to attach a ship, boat, vessel or other water craft to a stationary underwater device, buoy, buoyed anchor, or freestanding piling. Water Dependant Uses- those activities or structures for which the use requires access or proximity to or siting adjacent to or within surface waters to fulfill its intended purpose, such as boat docks, ramps, shoreline stabilization measures, navigational aids and/or channels. Examples of structures that are not water dependant include but are not limited to commercial boat storage facilities, restaurants, residences, parking lots, trailers, hotels, motels, roadways, tennis courts, or swimming a pools. Passive Recreation- those activities which avoid or minimize the use of impervious or built upon surfaces, such as raised wooden walkways, vegetated greenways, non -paved pathways, U and other similar uses. Passive recreation activities shall conform to standards for setbacks, buffers, impervious surfaces, etc. U Vegetated Buffer- an area that is or will be vegetated with native coastal species and which acts as a natural transition zone between coastal waters and adjacent upland land uses. Vegetated buffers should maintain a diversity of native plant species and types (eg. grasses, shrubs, and trees). III I 90 0 B. List of Available Reports The following is a list of available reports used in the Comprehensive Plan development. Key words of reports are shown in bold. 1. New Hanover County Voter Survey, Eastcoast Research Wilmington, N.C., October 1997. 2. Population of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997/January 1998 update. 3. Economy of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997/January 1998 update. 4. Housing of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, March 1998. 5. Wilmington Urban Area draft Transportation Plan, 1999-2025, June 1999. 6. Community Infrastructure. Final Level of Service, Cost & Revenue Factor Assumptions, April 1998 Fiscal Impact of Providing Services in 1998 and 2010, June 1998. 7. Environmental Resources and Constraints of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997. 8. Existing Land Use of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997. 9. Future Land Use of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1998. 10. Hurricane Mitigation & Reconstruction of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997. 11. Summary of Plans, Policies and Regulations for New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997. 12. Implementation Evaluation of the 1993 CAMA Land Use Plan Update for New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, October 1997. 13. Citizen Participation Plan of New Hanover County and Wilmington, North Carolina, January 1997/April 1998 update. 91 Please do not remove!!!!! Division of Coastal Management ■ ■ Wilmington - New Hanover County CAMA Land Use Plan Update Pl1997-2010 �►OYEp � Adopted September 7, 1999 by the Wilmington City Council and New h� ' s • Hanover County Board of Commissioners." 1739 F w•• ••• �FMORtN� 0 mw YAklt 0 0 L:-1A, I I C) w I I lumloall Hr .�^ �V.G>�i ��.b! ,�,R.YF �x�"•.s" •F n'�4�y'R d4MklnN� 1§!a� n'� 'R`� �e min ;`"' � `'§'"'�u"'�` k a A L I § �•M•lf�' :,r�� ,, 1 rr°..atvxo�, •II �„� �'wY• r 'f P4'.A •'2,._ i�?Hr, �� �,6�j�•b'�R,�tY fir; � � ,, ry,r >" w rr�r 1 rrrRrgb,r"'�� 'u'" � •e a, � �• ,�•�r'�Fym. w�•:Nh�uYr7;r 1;�7 ry/��,'��r�'n �wWu�,�,3p,�uy 'n + � a�".. 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' rn;:�na'Y�r"a��inaHkkFhrnarrlyeYk1�Fru ��t a"�'�„H � yn�uu ��"s•'hrnH""A� �YNniiuFr Nr FHWr�Y��'�x�"'�i����a,�'�f�n��•`'�„�" ?�'¢.rY�` Rn� rrfn,,,nruNHrHI)�%rrgrl r �!$Y�NHY� $� r k,",'•�'�u,�"��:In�kyS"$u����r$sHlFm�gr�Hrrr�rr�k��nr� ¢fags t« � '� ,+N *gym A. L INHOD d3CIN3d m v ti 0 our Vision 10 Is Land Classifications THE LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM is a means of assisting in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan policies. It allows the local government and its citizens to specify those areas where certain policies will apply. The land classification system is intended to be supported and complemented by zoning, subdivision and other land use management tools. Together they provide the guidance to help realize the desired future land uses. The land classifications for the 1999 Wilmington -New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan Update are as follows: DEVELOPED THE PURPOSE OF THE DEVELOPED CLASS is to provide for continued intensive development and redevelopment of existing urban areas. These areas are already developed at a density approaching 1,500 dwelling units per square mile. Urban services are already in place or scheduled within the immediate future. Most of the land within the City of Wilmington is designated as Developed, except for some Urban Transition and Conservation areas. Density may exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Developed class, depending upon local zoning regulations. URBAN TRANSITION THE PURPOSE OF THE URBAN TRANSITION CLASS is to provide for future intensive urban development on lands that have been or will be provided with necessary urban services. The location of these areas is based upon land use planning policies requiring optimum efficiency in land utilization and public service delivery. Residential development can exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Urban Transition area provided the development is adequately designed to be compatible with existing and proposed surrounding land uses and it is served by: • City or County sewer systems or private package treatment systems that meet the most stringent State requirements; • City or County water systems or a private water system constructed in accordance with City of Wilmington standards; • Direct access to a minor arterial or larger access road, as classified under the New Hanover County Thoroughfare Classification System. LIMITED TRANSITION THE PURPOSE OF THE LIMITED TRANSITION CLASS is to provide for development in areas that will have some services, but at lower densities than those associated with Urban Transition. Residential density should be no more than 2.5 units per acre, with lower density being more desirable. The use of clustering and Planned Unit Developments (PUD) is encouraged. These areas were previously designated as Transition and were intended to provide for more intensive future urban development. However, the provision of public services has been scaled back and less intensive urban development is planned. COMMUNITY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY CLASS is to provide for a "crossroads" type of development to help meet housing, shopping, employment and public service needs within the more rural areas of the County. Services may be provided to these areas, but not to stimulate more intensive development. Density shall not exceed 2.5 units per acre. These rural areas of the planning jurisdiction are typically characterized by a small grouping of mixed land uses, such as community shopping, church, school and residences, which provide low intensity retail service and housing opportunities. The only area currently designated as Community is Castle Hayne. ZINJ iflI THE PURPOSE OF THE RURAL CLASS is to provide for areas of low intensity land uses, such as agriculture, forest management, mineral extraction and other traditional agrarian uses. This classification discourages the premature conversion of these lands into urban -type uses and the subsequent loss of resource production. Other land uses of a noxious or hazardous nature with the potential for negative impacts on adjacent uses may be allowed, provided that they can be sited in a manner which will minimize their negative effect on surrounding land uses and natural resources. Only low density residential development not exceeding 2.5 units per acre is permitted, since the extension of urban services into the Rural class would be an inefficient use of resources. Compatible commercial and industrial uses may also be allowed, provided that natural resources are not adversely impacted. Natural Resources A. RESOURCE PROTECTION We must preserve, protect and enhance the area's natural resources, because the quality of our environment is an important ingredient in our overall quality of life, including our potential for continued economic growth. The protection of our resources shall be pursued in a regional context with area -wide planning, through a political process that favors long-term goals over short-term interests and provides accountability for the implementation of the goals and policies stated herein. 1. WATER QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 1.1 Prevent further deterioration of estuarine water quality and loss of public trust uses in the creeks and sounds and bring all coastal waters quality up to its use designation as determined by the Division(s) of Water Quality, Marine Fisheries, Health, and E.P.A. 1.2 Ensure the protection of water quality throughout the Cape Fear River Basin within New Hanover County and the management & maintenance of drainage within our coastal watersheds through participation in the development of regional water quality/storm water management programs. 1.3 Ensure the protection, preservation and wise use of our natural resources by careful review and consideration of the anticipated impacts of development through the creation and implementation of an Environmental Review Program. 1.4 It is the intent of this plan to further provide for the protection and improvement of our water quality through our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO should specify standards for water quality, buffers, setbacks, density, impervious surface, and overlay corridors; it should consider estuarine, river and other feeder creek's water quality; and it should build upon existing information and ordinances. 2. OPEN SPACE The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 2.1 Ensure the preservation of adequate open space for its continued enjoyment and contribution to our community today and for generations to come, to protect our natural environment and wildlife habitats and to provide educational & recreational opportunities. 2.2 Identify and protect wildlife corridors as a part of the greenway system and require their protection or mitigation with all new development. 2.3 Preserve Airlie Gardens as a part of the greenway system to provide public open space, natural environment and water quality protection, coastal landscape, educational opportunities, and to ensure continued enjoyment and contribution to our community. 2.4 Ensure the protection of our community's significant trees and the provision of adequate landscaping to address urban design and resource protection issues through the update of city and county development ordinances & processes and establishment of a joint Tree Advisory Commission. Encourage and support the replacement of trees lost to natural disaster and the use of native vegetation in landscaping. 2.5 Provide for the protection, acquisition and development of public shorefront and boat access areas. 3. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Preserve and restore shell fishing to all SA waters and bring all coastal waters designated or formerly designated SA up to their use designation. 3.2 Provide for the continued protection of the Cape Fear River from the cumulative impacts of development by ensuring that Industrial permitting does not exceed the river's carrying capacity and land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential sediment/turbidity and nutrient impacts. 3.3 Minimize dense development activities in ocean erodible areas, high hazard flood areas, inlet hazard areas, and coastal & federally regulated wetlands to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources due to their natural role in the integrity of the coastal region. 3.4 Ensure the protection of coastal and federally regulated wetlands that have important functional significance through early identification in the development process. Review of development proposals should seek to achieve the hierarchical goals of avoidance, minimization, and/or compensation. 3.5 Ensure the protection of our undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands and support research and passive recreation as their primary uses. Undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands should not be developed and should be identified as public acquisition areas. 3.6 Carefully control development activities within the 100-year floodplain to minimize density and impervious surfaces and require low intensity uses such as open space and recreation, to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources. • Limited shared industrial access corridors and exceptionally designed residential development projects may be allowed within the floodplain only where it can be demonstrated that the project cannot be located out of the floodplain and where adverse impacts to the estuarine system can be shown to be negligible. • All projects shall comply with hierarchical review standards of avoidance, minimization, and compensation for unavoidable impacts. 3.7 Require that the cumulative and secondary impacts of land use and development, and the limited carrying capacity of our coastal ecosystems be considered in all land use decisions and in the development or revision of local plans, capital facilities, services, and ordinances. 3.8 Allow channel maintenance projects only where the public trust interest is preserved or enhanced; significant economic or recreational benefits will occur for planning area residents; and no significant adverse impacts will occur on shoreline dynamics. Support State and Federal channel and inlet maintenance projects, including the continued use and development of the Wilmington Harbor and the State Ports, maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and beach renourishment projects. 3.9 Allow estuarine shoreline erosion control only where the public trust interest is not adversely impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary. The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. 3.10 Carefully control development activities within the estuarine watersheds to prevent the degradation of water quality in the creeks and sounds, to protect the public health, and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through density controls, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection & Conservation. • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 3.11 To preserve, protect, and where possible restore water quality and vital estuarine resources, a naturally vegetated buffer with an average width of 35 linear feet shall be established or maintained within established setback areas defined as Conservation Overlay Districts (COD'S). The determination and management of buffers must balance the above stated goals with the property owner's right to develop and use the property. Guidelines for standards to maintain, alter and properly manage vegetation within the buffer areas should be established within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) process and should be included in the COD guidelines. 3.12 Limit density in hydric soils and Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's) and encourage Planned Residential Development and Planned Unit Development to allow greater design flexibility to save trees and natural buffers. 3.13 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 4. AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Prohibit the use of estuarine waters, estuarine shorelines and public trust areas for development activity which would result in significant adverse impact to the natural function of these areas. CONSERVATION THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSERVATION CLASS is to provide for effective long-term management and protection of significant, limited or irreplaceable natural resources while also protecting the rights of the property owner. Management of these areas may be required for a number of reasons, including natural, cultural, recreational, productive or scenic values. Lands placed in the Conservation class present challenges from a land use standpoint, as they are often the most desirable from a development perspective and they may be, at the same time, the most undesirable to develop from an environmental perspective. Lands placed in the Conservation class are generally the least desirable for development because: • they are too fragile to withstand development without losing their natural value; and/or • they have severe or hazardous limitations to development; and/or • though they are not highly fragile or hazardous, the natural resources they represent are too valuable to endanger by development In order to promote the highest and best use while preventing a negative impact on water quality, site specific flexibility and creativity is desirable. The application of regulations regarding issues such as density, buffers and impervious surfaces should enhance this flexibility. The use of incentives such as density credits and performance criteria is encouraged. Generally, estuarine areas of environmental concern (AECs) as defined by the State of North Carolina and adjacent lands within the 100-year floodplain have been classified as Conservation. Conservation areas should be preserved in their natural state. Woodland, grassland and recreation areas not requiring filling are the most appropriate uses. Exceptions to this standard are limited to water dependent uses (i.e., uses that cannot function elsewhere), shared industrial access corridors, and those exceptional development proposals which are sensitively designed so as to effectively preserve the natural functions of the site. (Guidelines that clarify these Conservation area objectives can be found in the Comprehensive Plan under Land Classifications/Map). In no case, with the exception of the Wilmington National Register Historic District, shall residential density in the Conservation class be permitted to exceed 2.5 units per acre, regardless of the existence of public urban services. Residential densities may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit per acre or less, depending on the environmental constraints within a particular area. While certain Conservation areas may be served by public sewer in order to eliminate septic system pollution, this should not be misconstrued as an incentive to facilitate increased development density. RESOURCE PROTECTION THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOURCE PROTECTION CLASS is to provide for the preservation and protection of important natural, historic, scenic, wildlife and recreational resources. The Resource Protection class has been developed in recognition of the fact that New Hanover County, one of the most urbanized counties in the State, still contains numerous areas of environmental or cultural sensitivity which merit protection from urban land uses. The Resource Protection class includes land adjacent to the estuarine waters which are classified SA by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management. The class also includes land in the Castle Hayne area where the protection of farmland, a rural lifestyle, and the aquifer system are highly important issues. Generally residential densities greater than 2.5 units per acre shall not be permitted in the Resource Protection class and may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit per acre or less, depending on the development constraints within a particular area. Within the urban service boundary, residential density greater than 2.5 units per acre may be considered for exceptionally designed projects that meet performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance. These standards shall address the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies for urban design, water quality, greenways, transportation, levels of service and other development related impacts within the tidal creek watersheds. No increase in density may be considered until such time as the performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance are completed and adopted by the City and County. Compatible commercial and industrial development may be located within the Resource Protection class as long as important resources are not adversely impacted. It is important to note that the County sewer service being provided to portions of this area is intended for the purpose of eliminating septic pollution and not for encouraging substantial increases in the density of development. the Policies 4.2 Carefully control development activities within AEC's to prevent the degradation of water quality and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through the use of density control, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection and Conservation. • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 4.3 Support the preservation, protection, and acquisition of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve. 4.4 Discourage the development of undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands. 4.5 Continue the phased development and extension of the County sewer system within the urban services area as a means of eliminating water pollution from malfunctioning or inadequate septic systems and package treatment plants. In Conservation and Resource Protection areas an environmental review shall be required prior to sewer system development or extension and no additional density shall be allowed in these areas. Planned Residential Development, Planned Unit Development and other methods of cluster development shall be encouraged to allow greater design flexibility. 4.6 Allow only tertiary sewage treatment plants of the highest quality, whose standards of operation provide the greatest measure of water quality protection, to discharge into public surface waters; and then only if it is not feasible to connect to the public sewer system, or as an alternative, on or off -site land application located away from surface waters. 4.7 Seek to provide additional boat access facilities, recognizing that adequate, properly sited facilities are essential to the preservation of both the environment and economy. 4.8 Allow the development of marinas, dry stack storage, and moorings as a means of providing public access to the extent that their development shall not adversely effect estuarine resources or public trust waters. • Marinas shall not be allowed in Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters (OR", or open Shellfishing Waters (SA). • Moorings and mooring fields shall not be allowed where they may have an adverse effect on navigation channels. • Pumpout facilities shall be required for existing marinas which have boats containing enclosed heads. 4.9 Allow uses of estuarine and public trust waters that provide benefits to the public and which satisfy riparian access needs of private property owners. In tidal waters, docks shall be limited to the minimum necessary to provide riparian access to waterfront property owners. 4.10 Not allow new dredging activities in Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), or Shellfishing Waters (SA) , except for the purpose of scientific research, designed for the purpose of protecting and enhancing water quality, and where supported by sound scientific and technical knowledge. Limited exceptions may be allowed for the urban waterfront and Wilmington's ports, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Cape Fear River Corridor Plan (I 997), Downtown 2020 Plan (I 998) and for the New Hanover County Mason Inlet Relocation Project as permitted by the Army Corps of Engineers. (7/00) 4.11 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 4.12 Prohibit floating home development in order to protect our public trust and estuarine waters and to avoid impacts on hurricane mitigation efforts. 4.13 Pursue a policy of "retreat" along our estuarine shorelines in order to accommodate future sea level rise and wetland migration. 4.14 Allow shoreline erosion control and stabilization above our marsh wetlands only where the public trust interest is not impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary. The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. S. POTABLE WATER SUPPLY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 5.1 Ensure that all land use and development decisions protect our groundwater aquifers. 5.2 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer will most probably occur. 5.3 Conserve and protect the best sources of potable surface and groundwater. 5.4 Preserve the Castle Hayne and Pee Dee aquifers in their present unpolluted state as the primary groundwater resources for the County. 6. OTHER FRAGILE OR HAZARDOUS AREAS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 6.1 Continue to support plans for the safe transportation of hazardous materials, for the prevention and clean-up of spills of toxic materials, and the evacuation of area residents in response to natural or man-made hazardous events. 6.2 Carefully review the siting of all industries, including energy facilities and high voltage utilities, to ensure the protection of area residents and natural resources. Development of all off -shore mineral, oil, and gas resources shall be discouraged. 6.3. Ensure that industrial permitting on the Cape Fear River does not exceed the river's carrying capacity and that land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential cumulative impacts. 6.4. Ensure the continued protection of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve and support the preservation and acquisition efforts. 7. AIR QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 7.1 Ensure the protection and enhancement of air quality in our community through continued commitment and actions to meet or exceed the Cape Fear Region's National Air Quality Standards. B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT We must seek to ensure the continued sustainable development of the area's natural resources through responsible management which avoids short sighted or premature commitments and fulfills our community's needs without permanent impairment to the resource base. We will support efforts to wisely manage the natural resources of the area and the region through cooperation with other governmental entities and public and private agencies. 1. AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 1. I Discourage the premature conversion of the planning area's remaining farm lands and commercial woodlands into more intensive uses. 2. MINERAL RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 2.1 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer or other significant environmental resources will most probably occur. 3. FISHERIES RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Support the continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries through the protection of the unique coastal ecosystems, including primary nursery areas, shellfish waters and coastal marshes upon which they depend, and the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve. 3.2 Pursue the protection, preservation, and restoration of shellfishing in all SA waters. 4. OFF -ROAD VEHICLES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Ensure the continued protection of ecologically sensitive ocean and estuarine shoreline areas through monitoring and control of off -road vehicle use, including signage programs, rewards, increased fines, and other means. Land Class ifications and Policies Summary Wilmington and New Hanover County CAMA Land Use Plan Update and Comprehensive Plan 1997-2010 Adopted September 7, 1999 Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Certified November 19, 1999 North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission Land Use and Urban Design g I. LOCATION/DEMAND 1.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to enhance the quality of the built environment while preserving and protecting the area's natural environment. 1.2 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will designate sufficient land area and suitable locations for the various land use types. 2. OPEN SPACE, CULTURAL AND RECREATION 2.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will strive to acquire, protect and beautify historic and cultural sites, corridors along key roadways and significant open spaces. 3. INDUSTRIAL 3.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will delineate areas for industrial usage so that these sites maximize the efficient use of man made resources while not harming the fragile ecosystem or causing undue impacts upon residents. 4. COMMERCIAL 4.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will assure that land is available for commercial uses within close proximity to the markets they serve while not diminishing the quality of residential and mixed use neighborhoods. 5. MIXED USE 5.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will promote mixed use development in undeveloped areas in order to maximize benefits from available infrastructure, preserve valuable natural resources including open space and reduce dependency on the automobile. 6. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS 6.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to protect the character of the area's existing residential neighborhoods. 7. DESIGN/REGULATORY 7.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall encourage innovative development strategies while providing flexible design guidelines that enhance the aesthetic impact of the built environment. 7.2 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall adopt specific performance criteria to encourage the conservation of natural resources and enhance economic desirability by promoting accessibility of goods and services, providing alternatives to automobile transportation and adopting specific performance criteria for new development. 8. INFRASTRUCTURE 8.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall promote development within an established urban service area defined by the existence of essential urban services and the planned provision of those services. Transportation I. TRAFFIC 1.1 The City and County shall initiate and support increased funding from state, and federal agencies to improve the flow of people and products to and in the City and County. 1.2 The MPO and the urban area jurisdictions shall encourage the State and the federal authorities to provide interstate connections to areas south of the urban area. 1.3 The City and County shall work with the MPO and NCDOT to increase the capacity of the existing street network and other transportation facilities. 1.4 The County shall reduce the impact of new driveways on the roadway network. 1.5 The City and County shall require street connectivity and minimizing cul-de-sac development through collector street planning. 1.6 In order that existing and planned thoroughfares may operate adequately, all new development must adhere to the intent and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. 2. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION 2.1 The City and County shall support improved non -highway transportation facilities, including rail, airport, and shipping facilities for both passengers and freight to access the area. 2.2 City and County shall work with the NCDOT and the MPO to encourage alternative forms of transportation including regional rail, local transit, Transportation Demand Measures such as van -pooling and ride sharing, and an inter -modal transportation system. 2.3 New development and improvements to existing facilities shall include provisions for a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including pedestrian causeways, breezeways and crossings, on collector streets and major arterials. These facilities will provide an alternative to the automobile. 3. AESTHETICS 3.1 The City and County, through the MPO, will encourage the State to improve the community through enhancements of streetscaping, including the preservation and use of indigenous flora, on new and existing streets. 3.2 The City and County shall ensure the preservation of adequate landscaping and tree protection for parking lots, sidewalks and in street right-of-ways for both public and private projects. 4. ENVIRONMENT 4.1 Priority shall be given to environmental concerns, in particular water quality and surface water management, when considering the construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Reasonable and feasible road construction and design alternatives to protect water quality should be considered for all projects. 4.2 Have regard for noise, air quality, and other environmental impacts on existing neighborhood areas when constructing and maintaining transportation facilities. 5. CORRIDOR PROTECTION 5.1 Local government and the State shall identify and utilize sources of funds and incentives to purchase or preserve thoroughfare or rail corridors in a timely and equitable manner. Where necessary the City will participate in these improvements using impact fees, bonds and or tax increases. 5.2 City, County and State will investigate and use regulatory provisions for preserving thoroughfare and rail corridors. 5.3 The City and County will cooperate through an agreement to allow for the purchase of rail and road corridors Community Infrastructure I. FACILITY AND SERVICE PROVISION 1.1. Provide timely, cost-effective and efficient capital facilities and community infrastructure services based on the Growth Management Strategy and the Preferred Urban Structure. 1.2. Coordinate, rationalize and consolidate where appropriate, City, County and other governmental agency's programs for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure and community facilities and services. 1.3. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for the infrastructure improvements needed to have a high quality level of service and to prevent a decline in the levels of service provided to the County -City residents. Infrastructure needs to be addressed in this effort shall include transportation, education, sewer, water, recreation, libraries, police, fire, storm water management, and other services deemed to be appropriate. 2. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 2.1. Expand storm water management to include areas not incorporated in existing programs. 2.2 Develop a County storm water management and water quality program that includes our adjacent ocean, river, and estuarine systems. 2.3. Develop a City and County storm water management program that fairly balances the financial cost between existing and new development. 2.4. Prohibit and seek to eliminate collection systems that directly discharge storm water to surface waters. 2.5. Ensure that drainage from land use activities has a rate of flow and volume characteristics as near to pre -development conditions as possible to provide for the protection of our water quality. 3. SEWER AND WATER 3.1. Provide public sewer service to existing development in unincorporated areas that have inadequate and malfunctioning septic systems and package treatment plants. 3.2. Consolidate the City and County sewer and water system. 3.3. Ensure optimal use of sewage treatment facilities. 3.4. Ensure the provision of sufficient, affordable water and sewer services to proposed new service centers and industrial sites in the unincorporated areas of the county. 4. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION 4.1. Give a higher priority to the maintenance and optimal use of existing education facilities. 4.2. Elementary schools and kindergartens should be encouraged to locate in areas where they would provide the maximum benefit to adjoining neighborhoods. 4.3. New schools shall be constructed by New Hanover County to maintain an adequate level of service. 4.4. Encourage greater coordination in planning and budgeting with the School Board and County and City government. 5. CULTURAL ARTS AND RECREATION 5.1. Emphasis on economically distressed City neighborhoods with inadequate facilities. 5.2. Recognize the Downtown as the cultural nucleus which nurtures, supports and strengthens cultural centers throughout the region. 5.3. Develop a joint master plan for a comprehensive system of open space, greenways, parks and trails throughout the city and county that will provide for both the present and expected population growth. 5.4. Preserve utility easements as part of the greenway system as passive open space areas and combine them with trails and trail access areas where possible. 6. POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES 6.1. Provide timely and adequate staffing and facilities to maintain and improve the level of police and fire services. 7. SOLID WASTE 7.1. Establish and maintain an environmentally responsible, cost effective system for managing solid waste, that protects public health, and provides adequate waste disposal capacity, mandatory solid waste collection and recycling services, and waste reduction opportunities. 7.2. Meet and exceed established waste reduction goal. 7.3. Continue to seek ways to reduce and manage the solid waste stream through establishment of countywide garbage pick-up, expanded recycling programs, encouraging composting, expanded hazardous waste pick-up/education, and multi -jurisdictional cooperation. 7.4. Eliminate illegal trash dumping through strict monitoring and enforcement, including increased fines, signage program, rewards, and other means. 7.5. Continue to support and improve the County's innovative incinerator and landfill system. 8. COMMUNICATION 8.1. Require telecommunication companies to share facilities through the joint use, and location of telecommunication equipment. Housing I. MINIMUM HOUSING PROGRAM 1. I The City shall enhance the minimum housing program. The County shall adopt a minimum housing program with enforcement. 2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS 2.1 The County and City shall continue to support and enhance a broad range of affordable housing programs. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for affordable housing. 3. MAXIMIZE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING 3.1 The County and City shall maximize funding opportunities from federal and state sources for community and economic development. 4. RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING 4.1 The City and County shall increase affordable rental housing. 5. HOMELESS 5.1 The County and City shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to provide temporary and transitional shelter to persons who are homeless and enhance a job referral program. 6. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS 6.1 The County, City, and residents shall be encouraged to use neighborhood associations for outreach information and education. 7. SPECIAL NEEDS AND ELDERLY 7.1 The City and County shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to ensure an adequate supply of housing for special needs, the elderly, and the disabled. 8. ADEQUATE UNCW AND CFCC STUDENT HOUSING 8.1 Working together the County, City, UNC Wilmington, and Cape Fear Community College shall meet student housing needs. Economic Development I . GENERAL ECONOMY 1. I Develop a coordinated economic development strategy to attract high paying employers, that is economically diverse and environmentally mindful. 2. IMPROVING ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS 2.1 The City and County with non profit and for profit organizations shall work to attract and retain business in areas that are economically distressed. 3. WILMINGTON STATE PORT 3.1 The County and City shall work with the State Port in achieving mutually acceptable development goals. 4. MARINE ECONOMY 4.1 The City and County shall support the water dependent marine economy. 5. AIRPORT 5.1 The County and City shall cooperate with the New Hanover County Airport Authority to increase the competitiveness, of the Wilmington International Airport while being mindful of the compatibility with adjacent businesses and homes. 6. TOURISM 6.1 The City and County shall encourage tourism as part of a balanced and diversified economy. 7. SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION 7.1 The County and City and private sector shall cooperate with schools to develop a properly trained work force with employable skills. Historic Preservation I. HISTORIC PRESERVATION 1. I The County and City in cooperation with non profit and for profit organizations shall preserve, and provide regulatory and cultural guidance for historic sites and areas. 1.2 Take proactive steps to identify and protect important historic and archaeological resources including an updated inventory of significant areas or sites and updates to current regulations to require identification of potential impacts, a plan for protection of sensitive areas/sites or a mitigation/ data recovery plan where preservation is not possible. Density credits should be used to aid in area/ site protection plans. 1.3 Support a community archaeological program that will provide assistance to help salvage threatened historic and archaeological sites and promote public education/participation. 1.4 Continue the redevelopment of historic downtown Wilmington as a high priority, building on past successes and carefully matching public incentives with private investment. Care should be taken to preserve the visual character and historic atmosphere of old Wilmington. Storms and Natural Hazards I . STORM AND NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION, EVACUATION AND RECOVERY POLICIES 1.1. In the event of a hurricane or disaster the City and County shall assess measures to safeguard future populations from development which may put increased numbers of people at risk in hazard incidents. 1.2. A Recovery Task Force may be appointed with the responsibility for directing reconstruction within New Hanover County after a damaging storm. 1.3 The City and County shall retain on a seasonal basis an assistance facilitator/ consultant who, as directed by the County Manager, will be responsible for making recommendations and coordinating assistance to elected officials, the Recovery Task Force and the citizenry in the event of a Natural Hazard occurrence. 1.4 Immediately remove and clean up debris and restore services following a major storm event. The preparation of this map was financed, in part, through a Coastal Area -Y Management Act grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, 0 as amended, which is administered by the office of Ocean and Coastal Resource H Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. mw YAklt 0 7..A 111W I 0 Allb" K 0 IF Ivy ------------- ..... ..... . Iso, 39 3_1_11AS I HDI'*dM glo§x 7 ---------- p'w .......... j a m &Lie 91- VL Vell IH913 3dngi-,, ------------ ---- - --- - ---------- IN t 0 MIR" 7- , / - � 'A 9w- W_ oa 3nN3AV Id83A *N 0 M N 0 W 64 W M M F I Ayl>lll� Ak* iffiffle, _00 oil _Wm SOT, il "nsw 0 0 0 )�INnoD rh `83CIN3d AIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 W-9 our Vision Land Classifications THE LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM is a means of assisting in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan policies. It allows the local government and its citizens to specify those areas where certain policies will apply. The land classification system is intended to be supported and complemented by zoning, subdivision and other land use management tools. Together they provide the guidance to help realize the desired future land uses. The land classifications for the 1999 Wilmington -New Hanover County Comprehensive Plan Update are as follows: DEVELOPED THE PURPOSE OF THE DEVELOPED CLASS is to provide for continued intensive development and redevelopment of existing urban areas. These areas are already developed at a density approaching 1,500 dwelling units per square mile. Urban services are already in place or scheduled within the immediate future. Most of the land within the City of Wilmington is designated as Developed, except for some Urban Transition and Conservation areas. Density may exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Developed class, depending upon local zoning regulations. URBAN TRANSITION THE PURPOSE OF THE URBAN TRANSITION CLASS is to provide for future intensive urban development on lands that have been or will be provided with necessary urban services. The location of these areas is based upon land use planning policies requiring optimum efficiency in land utilization and public service delivery. Residential development can exceed 2.5 units per acre within the Urban Transition area provided the development is adequately designed to be compatible with existing and proposed surrounding land uses and it is served by: • City or County sewer systems or private package treatment systems that meet the most stringent State requirements; • City or County water systems or a private water system constructed in accordance with City of Wilmington standards; • Direct access to a minor arterial or larger access road, as classified under the New Hanover County Thoroughfare Classification System. LIMITED TRANSITION THE PURPOSE OF THE LIMITED TRANSITION CLASS is to provide for development in areas that will have some services, but at lower densities than those associated with Urban Transition. Residential density should be no more than 2.5 units per acre, with lower density being more desirable. The use of clustering and Planned Unit Developments (PUD) is encouraged. These areas were previously designated as Transition and were intended to provide for more intensive future urban development. However, the provision of public services has been scaled back and less intensive urban development is planned. COMMUNITY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY CLASS is to provide for a "crossroads" type of development to help meet housing, shopping, employment and public service needs within the more rural areas of the County. Services may be provided to these areas, but not to stimulate more intensive development. Density shall not exceed 2.5 units per acre. These rural areas of the planning jurisdiction are typically characterized by a small grouping of mixed land uses, such as community shopping, church, school and residences, which provide low intensity retail service and housing opportunities. The only area currently designated as Community is Castle Hayne. :tel:7sL THE PURPOSE OF THE RURAL CLASS is to provide for areas of low intensity land uses, such as agriculture, forest management, mineral extraction and other traditional agrarian uses. This classification discourages the premature conversion of these lands into urban -type uses and the subsequent loss of resource production. Other land uses of a noxious or hazardous nature with the potential for negative impacts on adjacent uses may be allowed, provided that they can be sited in a manner which will minimize their negative effect on surrounding land uses and natural resources. Only low density residential development not exceeding 2.5 units per acre is permitted, since the extension of urban services into the Rural class would be an inefficient use of resources. Compatible commercial and industrial uses may also be allowed, provided that natural resources are not adversely impacted. Natural Resources A. RESOURCE PROTECTION We must preserve, protect and enhance the area's natural resources, because the quality of our environment is an important ingredient in our overall quality of life, including our potential for continued economic growth. The protection of our resources shall be pursued in a regional context with area -wide planning, through a political process that favors long-term goals over short-term interests and provides accountability for the implementation of the goals and policies stated herein. 1. WATER QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 1.1 Prevent further deterioration of estuarine water quality and loss of public trust uses in the creeks and sounds and bring all coastal waters quality up to its use designation as determined by the Division(s) of Water Quality, Marine Fisheries, Health, and E.P.A. 1.2 Ensure the protection of water quality throughout the Cape Fear River Basin within New Hanover County and the management & maintenance of drainage within our coastal watersheds through participation in the development of regional water quality/storm water management programs. 1.3 Ensure the protection, preservation and wise use of our natural resources by careful review and consideration of the anticipated impacts of development through the creation and implementation of an Environmental Review Program. 1.4 It is the intent of this plan to further provide for the protection and improvement of our water quality through our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO should specify standards for water quality, buffers, setbacks, density, impervious surface, and overlay corridors; it should consider estuarine, river and other feeder creek's water quality; and it should build upon existing information and ordinances. 2. OPEN SPACE The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 2.1 Ensure the preservation of adequate open space for its continued enjoyment and contribution to our community today and for generations to come, to protect our natural environment and wildlife habitats and to provide educational & recreational opportunities. 2.2 Identify and protect wildlife corridors as a part of the greenway system and require their protection or mitigation with all new development. 2.3 Preserve Airlie Gardens as a part of the greenway system to provide public open space, natural environment and water quality protection, coastal landscape, educational opportunities, and to ensure continued enjoyment and contribution to our community. 2.4 Ensure the protection of our community's significant trees and the provision of adequate landscaping to address urban design and resource protection issues through the update of city and county development ordinances & processes and establishment of a joint Tree Advisory Commission. Encourage and support the replacement of trees lost to natural disaster and the use of native vegetation in landscaping. 2.5 Provide for the protection, acquisition and development of public shorefront and boat access areas. 3. NATURAL RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Preserve and restore shell fishing to all SA waters and bring all coastal waters designated or formerly designated SA up to their use designation. 3.2 Provide for the continued protection of the Cape Fear River from the cumulative impacts of development by ensuring that Industrial permitting does not exceed the river's carrying capacity and land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential sediment/turbidity and nutrient impacts. 3.3 Minimize dense development activities in ocean erodible areas, high hazard flood areas, inlet hazard areas, and coastal & federally regulated wetlands to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources due to their natural role in the integrity of the coastal region. 3.4 Ensure the protection of coastal and federally regulated wetlands that have important functional significance through early identification in the development process. Review of development proposals should seek to achieve the hierarchical goals of avoidance, minimization, and/or compensation. 3.5 Ensure the protection of our undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands and support research and passive recreation as their primary uses. Undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands should not be developed and should be identified as public acquisition areas. 3.6 Carefully control development activities within the 100-year floodplain to minimize density and impervious surfaces and require low intensity uses such as open space and recreation, to protect the public safety, reduce the risk of property damage, and provide for the long-term protection and management of these environmentally significant resources. • Limited shared industrial access corridors and exceptionally designed residential development projects may be allowed within the floodplain only where it can be demonstrated that the project cannot be located out of the floodplain and where adverse impacts to the estuarine system can be shown to be negligible. • All projects shall comply with hierarchical review standards of avoidance, minimization, and compensation for unavoidable impacts. 3.7 Require that the cumulative and secondary impacts of land use and development, and the limited carrying capacity of our coastal ecosystems be considered in all land use decisions and in the development or revision of local plans, capital facilities, services, and ordinances. 3.8 Allow channel maintenance projects only where the public trust interest is preserved or enhanced; significant economic or recreational benefits will occur for planning area residents; and no significant adverse impacts will occur on shoreline dynamics. Support State and Federal channel and inlet maintenance projects, including the continued use and development of the Wilmington Harbor and the State Ports, maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and beach renourishment projects. 3.9 Allow estuarine shoreline erosion control only where the public trust interest is not adversely impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary. The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. 3.10 Carefully control development activities within the estuarine watersheds to prevent the degradation of water quality in the creeks and sounds, to protect the public health, and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through density controls, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection & Conservation. • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 3.11 To preserve, protect, and where possible restore water quality and vital estuarine resources, a naturally vegetated buffer with an average width of 35 linear feet shall be established or maintained within established setback areas defined as Conservation Overlay Districts (COD'S). The determination and management of buffers must balance the above stated goals with the property owner's right to develop and use the property. Guidelines for standards to maintain, alter and properly manage vegetation within the buffer areas should be established within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) process and should be included in the COD guidelines. 3.12 Limit density in hydric soils and Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's) and encourage Planned Residential Development and Planned Unit Development to allow greater design flexibility to save trees and natural buffers. 3.13 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 4. AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Prohibit the use of estuarine waters, estuarine shorelines and public trust areas for development activity which would result in significant adverse impact to the natural function of these areas. CONSERVATION THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSERVATION CLASS is to provide for effective long-term management and protection of significant, limited or irreplaceable natural resources while also protecting the rights of the property owner. Management of these areas may be required for a number of reasons, including natural, cultural, recreational, productive or scenic values. Lands placed in the Conservation class present challenges from a land use standpoint, as they are often the most desirable from a development perspective and they may be, at the same time, the most undesirable to develop from an environmental perspective. Lands placed in the Conservation class are generally the least desirable for development because: • they are too fragile to withstand development without losing their natural value; and/or • they have severe or hazardous limitations to development; and/or • though they are not highly fragile or hazardous, the natural resources they represent are too valuable to endanger by development In order to promote the highest and best use while preventing a negative impact on water quality, site specific flexibility and creativity is desirable. The application of regulations regarding issues such as density, buffers and impervious surfaces should enhance this flexibility. The use of incentives such as density credits and performance criteria is encouraged. Generally, estuarine areas of environmental concern (AECs) as defined by the State of North Carolina and adjacent lands within the 100-year floodplain have been classified as Conservation. Conservation areas should be preserved in their natural state. Woodland, grassland and recreation areas not requiring filling are the most appropriate uses. Exceptions to this standard are limited to water dependent uses (i.e., uses that cannot function elsewhere), shared industrial access corridors, and those exceptional development proposals which are sensitively designed so as to effectively preserve the natural functions of the site. (Guidelines that clarify these Conservation area objectives can be found in the Comprehensive Plan under Land Classifications/Map). In no case, with the exception of the Wilmington National Register Historic District, shall residential density in the Conservation class be permitted to exceed 2.5 units per acre, regardless of the existence of public urban services. Residential densities may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit per acre or less, depending on the environmental constraints within a particular area. While certain Conservation areas may be served by public sewer in order to eliminate septic system pollution, this should not be misconstrued as an incentive to facilitate increased development density. RESOURCE PROTECTION THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOURCE PROTECTION CLASS is to provide for the preservation and protection of important natural, historic, scenic, wildlife and recreational resources. The Resource Protection class has been developed in recognition of the fact that New Hanover County, one of the most urbanized counties in the State, still contains numerous areas of environmental or cultural sensitivity which merit protection from urban land uses. The Resource Protection class includes land adjacent to the estuarine waters which are classified SA by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management. The class also includes land in the Castle Hayne area where the protection of farmland, a rural lifestyle, and the aquifer system are highly important issues. Generally residential densities greater than 2.5 units per acre shall not be permitted in the Resource Protection class and may be required to be as low as 1.0 unit per acre or less, depending on the development constraints within a particular area. Within the urban service boundary, residential density greater than 2.5 units per acre may be considered for exceptionally designed projects that meet performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance. These standards shall address the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies for urban design, water quality, greenways, transportation, levels of service and other development related impacts within the tidal creek watersheds. No increase in density may be considered until such time as the performance based standards of the Unified Development Ordinance are completed and adopted by the City and County. Compatible commercial and industrial development may be located within the Resource Protection class as long as important resources are not adversely impacted. It is important to note that the County sewer service being provided to portions of this area is intended for the purpose of eliminating septic pollution and not for encouraging substantial increases in the density of development. the Policies 4.2 Carefully control development activities within AEC's to prevent the degradation of water quality and to ensure the protection of these vital natural resources by reducing nutrient, pesticide, sediment and other harmful loadings through the use of density control, setbacks, buffers, impervious surface limits, and other means. The following standards shall apply: • Limit density to 2.5 units/acre or less in Resource Protection and Conservation. • Limit impervious surface coverage. • Increase existing setbacks and establish a natural vegetative buffer to effectively filter runoff prior to entering surface waters. 4.3 Support the preservation, protection, and acquisition of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve. 4.4 Discourage the development of undeveloped barrier and estuarine system islands. 4.5 Continue the phased development and extension of the County sewer system within the urban services area as a means of eliminating water pollution from malfunctioning or inadequate septic systems and package treatment plants. In Conservation and Resource Protection areas an environmental review shall be required prior to sewer system development or extension and no additional density shall be allowed in these areas. Planned Residential Development, Planned Unit Development and other methods of cluster development shall be encouraged to allow greater design flexibility. 4.6 Allow only tertiary sewage treatment plants of the highest quality, whose standards of operation provide the greatest measure of water quality protection, to discharge into public surface waters; and then only if it is not feasible to connect to the public sewer system, or as an alternative, on or off -site land application located away from surface waters. 4.7 Seek to provide additional boat access facilities, recognizing that adequate, properly sited facilities are essential to the preservation of both the environment and economy. 4.8 Allow the development of marinas, dry stack storage, and moorings as a means of providing public access to the extent that their development shall not adversely effect estuarine resources or public trust waters. • Marinas shall not be allowed in Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters (OR", or open Shellfishing Waters (SA). • Moorings and mooring fields shall not be allowed where they may have an adverse effect on navigation channels. • Pumpout facilities shall be required for existing marinas which have boats containing enclosed heads. 4.9 Allow uses of estuarine and public trust waters that provide benefits to the public and which satisfy riparian access needs of private property owners. In tidal waters, docks shall be limited to the minimum necessary to provide riparian access to waterfront property owners. 4.10 Not allow new dredging activities in Primary Nursery Areas (PNA), Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), or Shellfishing Waters (SA) , except for the purpose of scientific research, designed for the purpose of protecting and enhancing water quality, and where supported by sound scientific and technical knowledge. Limited exceptions may be allowed for the urban waterfront and Wilmington's ports, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Cape Fear River Corridor Plan (I 997), Downtown 2020 Plan (I 998) and for the New Hanover County Mason Inlet Relocation Project as permitted by the Army Corps of Engineers. (7/00) 4.11 Clearcutting or mowing of coastal wetland vegetation within any coastal wetland AEC shall not be allowed. 4.12 Prohibit floating home development in order to protect our public trust and estuarine waters and to avoid impacts on hurricane mitigation efforts. 4.13 Pursue a policy of "retreat" along our estuarine shorelines in order to accommodate future sea level rise and wetland migration. 4.14 Allow shoreline erosion control and stabilization above our marsh wetlands only where the public trust interest is not impacted and the public shoreline will be the primary beneficiary. The shoreline stabilization method chosen shall, to the maximum extent feasible, maintain water quality and avoid or minimize adverse effects on nearshore habitat or natural resources. 5. POTABLE WATER SUPPLY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 5.1 Ensure that all land use and development decisions protect our groundwater aquifers. 5.2 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer will most probably occur. 5.3 Conserve and protect the best sources of potable surface and groundwater. 5.4 Preserve the Castle Hayne and Pee Dee aquifers in their present unpolluted state as the primary groundwater resources for the County. 6. OTHER FRAGILE OR HAZARDOUS AREAS The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 6.1 Continue to support plans for the safe transportation of hazardous materials, for the prevention and clean-up of spills of toxic materials, and the evacuation of area residents in response to natural or man-made hazardous events. 6.2 Carefully review the siting of all industries, including energy facilities and high voltage utilities, to ensure the protection of area residents and natural resources. Development of all off -shore mineral, oil, and gas resources shall be discouraged. 6.3. Ensure that industrial permitting on the Cape Fear River does not exceed the river's carrying capacity and that land disturbing activities are carefully reviewed and considered for their potential cumulative impacts. 6.4. Ensure the continued protection of the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve and support the preservation and acquisition efforts. 7. AIR QUALITY The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 7.1 Ensure the protection and enhancement of air quality in our community through continued commitment and actions to meet or exceed the Cape Fear Region's National Air Quality Standards. B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT We must seek to ensure the continued sustainable development of the area's natural resources through responsible management which avoids short sighted or premature commitments and fulfills our community's needs without permanent impairment to the resource base. We will support efforts to wisely manage the natural resources of the area and the region through cooperation with other governmental entities and public and private agencies. 1. AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 1.1 Discourage the premature conversion of the planning area's remaining farmlands and commercial woodlands into more intensive uses. 2. MINERAL RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 2.1 Not allow the development of mining operations if, based upon the best available information and scientific data, adverse impacts to the ground water aquifer or other significant environmental resources will most probably occur. 3. FISHERIES RESOURCES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 3.1 Support the continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries through the protection of the unique coastal ecosystems, including primary nursery areas, shellfish waters and coastal marshes upon which they depend, and the Masonboro Island Estuarine Research Reserve. 3.2 Pursue the protection, preservation, and restoration of shellfishing in all SA waters. 4. OFF -ROAD VEHICLES The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall: 4.1 Ensure the continued protection of ecologically sensitive ocean and estuarine shoreline areas through monitoring and control of off -road vehicle use, including signage programs, rewards, increased fines, and other means. Land Classifications and Policies Summary Wilmington and New Hanover County CAMA Land Use Plan Update and Comprehensive Plan 1997-2010 Adopted September 7, 1999 Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Certified November 19, 1999 North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission Land Use and Urban Design g I. LOCATION/DEMAND 1.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to enhance the quality of the built environment while preserving and protecting the area's natural environment. 1.2 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will designate sufficient land area and suitable locations for the various land use types. 2. OPEN SPACE, CULTURAL AND RECREATION 2.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will strive to acquire, protect and beautify historic and cultural sites, corridors along key roadways and significant open spaces. 3. INDUSTRIAL 3.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will delineate areas for industrial usage so that these sites maximize the efficient use of man made resources while not harming the fragile ecosystem or causing undue impacts upon residents. 4. COMMERCIAL 4.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington will assure that land is available for commercial uses within close proximity to the markets they serve while not diminishing the quality of residential and mixed use neighborhoods. S. MIXED USE S. I The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will promote mixed use development in undeveloped areas in order to maximize benefits from available infrastructure, preserve valuable natural resources including open space and reduce dependency on the automobile. 6. RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS 6.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall strive to protect the character of the area's existing residential neighborhoods. 7. DESIGN/REGULATORY 7.1 The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County shall encourage innovative development strategies while providing flexible design guidelines that enhance the aesthetic impact of the built environment. 7.2 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall adopt specific performance criteria to encourage the conservation of natural resources and enhance economic desirability by promoting accessibility of goods and services, providing alternatives to automobile transportation and adopting specific performance criteria for new development. 8. INFRASTRUCTURE 8.1 New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington shall promote development within an established urban service area defined by the existence of essential urban services and the planned provision of those services. Transportation I. TRAFFIC 1.1 The City and County shall initiate and support increased funding from state, and federal agencies to improve the flow of people and products to and in the City and County. 1.2 The MPO and the urban area jurisdictions shall encourage the State and the federal authorities to provide interstate connections to areas south of the urban area. 1.3 The City and County shall work with the MPO and NCDOT to increase the capacity of the existing street network and other transportation facilities. 1.4 The County shall reduce the impact of new driveways on the roadway network. 1.5 The City and County shall require street connectivity and minimizing cul-de-sac development through collector street planning. 1.6 In order that existing and planned thoroughfares may operate adequately, all new development must adhere to the intent and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. 2. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION 2.1 The City and County shall support improved non -highway transportation facilities, including rail, airport, and shipping facilities for both passengers and freight to access the area. 2.2 City and County shall work with the NCDOT and the MPO to encourage alternative forms of transportation including regional rail, local transit, Transportation Demand Measures such as van -pooling and ride sharing, and an inter -modal transportation system. 2.3 New development and improvements to existing facilities shall include provisions for a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, including pedestrian causeways, breezeways and crossings, on collector streets and major arterials. These facilities will provide an alternative to the automobile. 3. AESTHETICS 3.1 The City and County, through the MPO, will encourage the State to improve the community through enhancements of streetscaping, including the preservation and use of indigenous flora, on new and existing streets. 3.2 The City and County shall ensure the preservation of adequate landscaping and tree protection for parking lots, sidewalks and in street right-of-ways for both public and private projects. 4. ENVIRONMENT 4.1 Priority shall be given to environmental concerns, in particular water quality and surface water management, when considering the construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Reasonable and feasible road construction and design alternatives to protect water quality should be considered for all projects. 4.2 Have regard for noise, air quality, and other environmental impacts on existing neighborhood areas when constructing and maintaining transportation facilities. 5. CORRIDOR PROTECTION 5.1 Local government and the State shall identify and utilize sources of funds and incentives to purchase or preserve thoroughfare or rail corridors in a timely and equitable manner. Where necessary the City will participate in these improvements using impact fees, bonds and or tax increases. 5.2 City, County and State will investigate and use regulatory provisions for preserving thoroughfare and rail corridors. 5.3 The City and County will cooperate through an agreement to allow for the purchase of rail and road corridors Community Infrastructure I . FACILITY AND SERVICE PROVISION 1.1. Provide timely, cost-effective and efficient capital facilities and community infrastructure services based on the Growth Management Strategy and the Preferred Urban Structure. 1.2. Coordinate, rationalize and consolidate where appropriate, City, County and other governmental agency's programs for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure and community facilities and services. 1.3. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for the infrastructure improvements needed to have a high quality level of service and to prevent a decline in the levels of service provided to the County -City residents. Infrastructure needs to be addressed in this effort shall include transportation, education, sewer, water, recreation, libraries, police, fire, storm water management, and other services deemed to be appropriate. 2. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 2.1. Expand storm water management to include areas not incorporated in existing programs. 2.2 Develop a County storm water management and water quality program that includes our adjacent ocean, river, and estuarine systems. 2.3. Develop a City and County storm water management program that fairly balances the financial cost between existing and new development. 2.4. Prohibit and seek to eliminate collection systems that directly discharge storm water to surface waters. 2.5. Ensure that drainage from land use activities has a rate of flow and volume characteristics as near to pre -development conditions as possible to provide for the protection of our water quality. 3. SEWERAND WATER 3.1. Provide public sewer service to existing development in unincorporated areas that have inadequate and malfunctioning septic systems and package treatment plants. 3.2. Consolidate the City and County sewer and water system. 3.3. Ensure optimal use of sewage treatment facilities. 3.4. Ensure the provision of sufficient, affordable water and sewer services to proposed new service centers and industrial sites in the unincorporated areas of the county. 4. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION 4.1. Give a higher priority to the maintenance and optimal use of existing education facilities. 4.2. Elementary schools and kindergartens should be encouraged to locate in areas where they would provide the maximum benefit to adjoining neighborhoods. 4.3. New schools shall be constructed by New Hanover County to maintain an adequate level of service. 4.4. Encourage greater coordination in planning and budgeting with the School Board and County and City government. PLO O U ;� A 5. CULTURAL ARTS AND RECREATION 5.1. Emphasis on economically distressed City neighborhoods with inadequate facilities. 5.2. Recognize the Downtown as the cultural nucleus which nurtures, supports and strengthens cultural centers throughout the region. 5.3. Develop a joint master plan for a comprehensive system of open space, greenways, parks and trails throughout the city and county that will provide for both the present and expected population growth. 5.4. Preserve utility easements as part of the greenway system as passive open space areas and combine them with trails and trail access areas where possible. 6. POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES 6.1. Provide timely and adequate staffing and facilities to maintain and improve the level of police and fire services. 7. SOLID WASTE 7.1. Establish and maintain an environmentally responsible, cost effective system for managing solid waste, that protects public health, and provides adequate waste disposal capacity, mandatory solid waste collection and recycling services, and waste reduction opportunities. 7.2. Meet and exceed established waste reduction goal. 7.3. Continue to seek ways to reduce and manage the solid waste stream through establishment of countywide garbage pick-up, expanded recycling programs, encouraging composting, expanded hazardous waste pick-up/education, and multi -jurisdictional cooperation. 7.4. Eliminate illegal trash dumping through strict monitoring and enforcement, including increased fines, signage program, rewards, and other means. 7.5. Continue to support and improve the County's innovative incinerator and landfill system. 8. COMMUNICATION 8.1. Require telecommunication companies to share facilities through the joint use, and location of telecommunication equipment. Housing I. MINIMUM HOUSING PROGRAM 1. I The City shall enhance the minimum housing program. The County shall adopt a minimum housing program with enforcement. 2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS 2.1 The County and City shall continue to support and enhance a broad range of affordable housing programs. Explore alternative forms of financing including impact fees, bonds, user fees, and tax increases for affordable housing. 3. MAXIMIZE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING 3.1 The County and City shall maximize funding opportunities from federal and state sources for community and economic development. 4. RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING 4.1 The City and County shall increase affordable rental housing. 5. HOMELESS 5.1 The County and City shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to provide temporary and transitional shelter to persons who are homeless and enhance a job referral program. 6. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS 6.1 The County, City, and residents shall be encouraged to use neighborhood associations for outreach information and education. 7. SPECIAL NEEDS AND ELDERLY 7.1 The City and County shall cooperate with non-profit organizations to ensure an adequate supply of housing for special needs, the elderly, and the disabled. 8. ADEQUATE UNCW AND CFCC STUDENT HOUSING 8.1 Working together the County, City, UNC-Wilmington, and Cape Fear Community College shall meet student housing needs. Economic Development 1. GENERAL ECONOMY 1.1 Develop a coordinated economic development strategy to attract high paying employers, that is economically diverse and environmentally mindful. 2. IMPROVING ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS 2.1 The City and County with non profit and for profit organizations shall work to attract and retain business in areas that are economically distressed. 3. WILMINGTON STATE PORT 3.1 The County and City shall work with the State Port in achieving mutually acceptable development goals. 4. MARINE ECONOMY 4.1 The City and County shall support the water dependent marine economy. 5. AIRPORT 5.1 The County and City shall cooperate with the New Hanover County Airport Authority to increase the competitiveness, of the Wilmington International Airport while being mindful of the compatibility with adjacent businesses and homes. 6. TOURISM 6.1 The City and County shall encourage tourism as part of a balanced and diversified economy. 7. SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION 7.1 The County and City and private sector shall cooperate with schools to develop a properly trained work force with employable skills. Historic Preservation I. HISTORIC PRESERVATION 1. I The County and City in cooperation with non profit and for profit organizations shall preserve, and provide regulatory and cultural guidance for historic sites and areas. 1.2 Take proactive steps to identify and protect important historic and archaeological resources including an updated inventory of significant areas or sites and updates to current regulations to require identification of potential impacts, a plan for protection of sensitive areas/sites or a mitigation/ data recovery plan where preservation is not possible. Density credits should be used to aid in area/ site protection plans. 1.3 Support a community archaeological program that will provide assistance to help salvage threatened historic and archaeological sites and promote public education/participation. 1.4 Continue the redevelopment of historic downtown Wilmington as a high priority, building on past successes and carefully matching public incentives with private investment. Care should be taken to preserve the visual character and historic atmosphere of old Wilmington. Storms and Natural Hazards I . STORM AND NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION, EVACUATION AND RECOVERY POLICIES 1.1. In the event of a hurricane or disaster the City and County shall assess measures to safeguard future populations from development which may put increased numbers of people at risk in hazard incidents. 1.2. A Recovery Task Force may be appointed with the responsibility for directing reconstruction within New Hanover County after a damaging storm. 1.3 The City and County shall retain on a seasonal basis an assistance facilitator/ consultant who, as directed by the County Manager, will be responsible for making recommendations and coordinating assistance to elected officials, the Recovery Task Force and the citizenry in the event of a Natural Hazard occurrence. 1.4 Immediately remove and clean up debris and restore services following a major storm event. The preparation of this map was financed, in part, through a Coastal Area -Y Management Act grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, 0 as amended, which is administered by the office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.