Land Use Plan Update Land Use Plan Implementation Evaluation-1992

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Land Use Plan
Implementation Evaluation
September 1992
Wilmington - New Hanover County
Land Use Plan Update

Land Use Plan Implementation Evaluation
September 1992
New Hanover County Planning Department
Dexter Hayes, Director
Patrick Lowe, Assistant Director
Stag Planners
Walter "Pete" Avery
Wanda Coston
Sam Burgess
Chris O'Keefe
CAMA Intern
D. Dylan Lee
Michael Hermann
Janet Lawson
Administration Secretary
Phoebe Saavedra
Graphics Planning Technician
Lisa Elaine Home
New Hanover County Board of Commissioners
E. L. "Matt" Mathews, Chairman
Robert G. Greer, Vice Chairman
Jonathan Barfield
Fred Retchin
William H. Sutton
Planning Board Members
Earnest Puskas, Chairman
Kenneth A. Shanklin, Vice Chairman
Robert McDonald
Wesley O. Nixon
William Grathwol
C. Richard Boisky
Charles R. Howell
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NEW HANOVER COUNTY
IMPLEMENTATION SCORECARD
The 1986 Policies for Growth and Development established
policy statements intended to guide decisions made concerning the
physical development of New Hanover County. The following outline
describes actions taken by New Hanover County over the past five
years to implement these policies.
RESOURCE PROTECTION
Actions taken by the County to implement Resource Protection
Policies (1.0-1.5) include:
I. 1.1(1)-(5)
A. Masonboro Island has been added to the Estuarine
Sanctuary Program, and the County participates in the
management of the island through an advisory committee.
B. Floodplain Regulations have been amended to require a
two -foot elevation above the 100 year flood level.
C. Lands within the 100 year floodplain continue to be
Oclassified as Conservation on the Land Classification
Map.
D. High density residential development is prohibited within
the 100 Year Floodplain.
E. The County has implemented a Room Occupancy Tax that
generates funds for the stabilization of public beaches
in the County. Hardening of the shoreline by mechanisms
such as seawalls, groins, and jetties is not supported.
F. Soil, septic tank suitability, and environmental resource
maps are maintained and made available to the public at
the County Planning Department.
G. Class IV Soils in the County have been mapped and
development on these soils is discouraged.
H. The County has established drainage requirements that
protect water quality for High Density, Performance, and
Planned Development Districts within the County.
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II. 1.2(1)-(1) O
A. The County has amended the Conservation Overlay District
to provide additional controls for the protection of
resource areas.
B. All coastal wetlands, estuarine waters, estuarine
shorelines, and public trust waters continue to be
designated Conservation on the Land Classification Map.
C. The State and the County have prepared new regulations
regarding the permitting and maintenance of package
treatment plants.
D. A study and report have been prepared concerning the
development potential and regulations impacting our
estuarine system islands.
E. The County continues to eliminate the use of package
treatment systems as sewer service is made available to
the area.
F. County regulation of floating structures continues to be
enforced and new State regulations have been adopted.
III. 1.3(1) •'
A. A study and report of drinking water resources in New O
Hanover County has been completed, identifying advantages
and disadvantages of those resources as well as
recommendations for elected officials.
B. Zoning and land use proposals have been made to address
ground water quality, protection of the Castle Hayne
aquifer, and the handling of hazardous materials.
C. Studies have been made by established committees
concerning septage and sludge disposal methods.
IV. 1.4(1)-(5)
A. Sites involving the storage and handling of hazardous
materials have been identified by the County.
B.' A study of the availability of commercial property in the
County has been completed.
s.
C. Development activities, including residential proposals,
are continually being scrutinized with regard to airport
noise and other impacts.
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O D. The County continues to support safety improvements in
the shipping lanes that serve Sunny Point Military Ocean
Terminal.
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E. The County has adopted and implemented zoning regulations
for demolition debris landfills.
F. Unauthorized dumping sites are being controlled through
the New Hanover County Sheriff's Department and the Keep
America Beautiful.program.
V. 1.5(1)
A. Conservation Overlay Districts are being, updated" to
reflect unique cultural and historic resources.
B. The Masonboro Sound area has been nominated for the
National Register of Historic Districts.
RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
The County has taken the following actions to implement
Resource Production Policies (2.0-2.6):
I. 2.0(1-2)•-
A. The County has become involved in establishing a Resource
Conservation and Development District to serve the
region.
B. The County participates in regional efforts to manage our
solid waste.
II. 2.1(1)
C. Agriculture and forestry preservation measures are
encouraged through use -value taxation and some resource
protection requirements of Conservation Overlay
Districts.
III. 2.2(1)
D. Mining resource areas have been identified and zoned
for industrial uses.
E. A Master Plan for Parks and Recreation was prepared by
the County and by the County Commissioners on June 20,
1988.
F. A $3 million bond for the acquisition of parks and open
space has been approved and is being implemented.
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G. The County continues to seek funding and approval for O
estuarine and water access projects as identified in the
Public Water Access Plan for New Hanover County.
H. The County accepts donations for recreation and parks
facilities.
I. Flood Hazard Areas continue to be set aside, whenever
feasible, for use as parks and open space.
IV. 2.4(1)
J. Studies have been undertaken to determine sources of
coliform bacteria pollution.
K. Drainage retention requirements have been implemented for
certain types of projects to protect water quality in
estuarine areas.
V. 2.5(1)
L. The County continues to enforce off -road vehicle
regulations including prohibition of off -road vehicles on
Masonboro Island.
VI. 2.6(1) •
M. Industrial recruiting activities are directed toward
locating steam users in proximity to incineration
facilities.
N. The County has undertaken energy conservation efforts in
housing rehabilitation projects.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Actions taken by the County to implement Economic and
Community Development Policies (3.0-3.6) include the following:
I. 3.0(1)-(6)
A. Sewer priority areas have been established along
estuarine creeks and shorelines. 2
B. Commercial opportunities have been inventoried along
major thoroughfares to. determine availability of
developable land. The County provides an accounting of
zoning changes on an annual basis.
C. Sewer impact fees have been established for expansion and
improvement of County sewer systems. O
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O D. Higher density developments are encouraged to locate in
proximity to existing transportation arterials.
E. The County has engaged in many joint efforts with its
municipal jurisdictions including numerous task forces
and interlocal agreements as well as the preparation of
the Land Use Plan Update.
II. 3.1(1)-(8)
A. Reduced the acreage requirements for detached high
density development.
B. Mobile home developments continue to be encouraged as
affordable alternative to single family, site -built
housing.
C. The County has received grant monies and entered into
cooperative arrangements with the City for housing
rehabilitation. The County continues to apply for and
receive Community Development Block Grants.
D. A draft Minimum Hosing Code has been prepared by the
County staff.
E. New'buffering, spacing, and setback requirements
have been established for residential
neighborhoods.
F. The establishment of residential care facilities
continues to be encouraged.
G. New access roads have been constructed in order to serve
isolated neighborhoods.
H. The Masonboro sound Area is being nominated for the
National Register of Historic Districts. Other unique
historic sites have been identified on 1" = 400' planning
maps.
I. Recently completed neighborhood plans include
Wrightsboro, Seabreeze, Porters Neck, and Middle Sound.
III. 3.2(1)-(5)
A. Strip commercial development continues to be discouraged.
Clustering of commercial uses at major nodes of transport
is supported.
B. New Special Highway Overlay District regulations have
been established concerning the aesthetics of the area's
Omajor gateways.
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C. The County has continued to participate in Community O
Development Block Grant programs for economic development
purposes.
.IV. 3.3(1)-(8)
A. Industrial recruitment activities by the Chamber of
Commerce and the Wilmington Industrial Development
Committee are sponsored and promoted by the County.
B. The County has focused recruiting efforts on non-
polluting industries.
C. New industries have been encouraged to locate in
proximity to existing facilities and services. Also,
location in established industrial corridors and parks is
strongly encouraged.
D. Tourism is still recognized as a major economic asset in
the County. The Room Occupancy Tax contributes to this
industry.
E. The significance and importance of the Wilmington Port
and State Ports Authority continues to be recognized.
V. 3.4(1)-t7) O
A. The County continues to support the modification and
improvements reflected in the Thoroughfare Plan Update.
B. Funds continue to be sought and identified for the
implementation of greenways as an enhancement to the
transportation network.
C. High density and commercial development nodes are
assigned to locations that are linked to transportation
networks. ..
VI. 3.5(1)-(3)
A. The Land Classification Map reflects availability and
planned provision of public infrastructure and services.
B. Maintenance and operating costs are factored into fees
for the total cost of capital facilities.
VII. 3.6(1)-(6)
A. Landscape, buffer, and signage controls have been
included in amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.
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O B. Tree preservation has also been included in the Zoning
Ordinance.
C. Mixed and multiple use opportunities are provided through
the County's Planned Urban Development (PUD) ordinances.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Actions taken by the County to implement Public Participation
Policies 4.0(1) and (2) include the following:
A. The County Planning Department publishes and distributes
"The Planning News" to inform the public of current
planning issues and meetings.
B. The media, including radio and television announcements,
newspapers, and public meeting signs, continues to be
utilized as a way to keep the public informed. '
C. The County encourages participation through advisory
boards, task forces, and various Ad Hoc committees made
up of neighborhood and professional organizations.
D. Neighborhood planning techniques are utilized in order to
encourage neighborhood awareness and participation.
n E. Public meetings and events are scheduled at night to
maximize attendance.
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STORM HAZARD MITIGATION, EVACUATION, AND RECOVERY
Actions taken by the County to implement Storm Hazard
Mitigation, Evacuation, and Recovery Policies 5.0(1)-(8) include
the following:
A. All new infrastructure improvements are designed and
located to minimize hurricane and flood losses.
B. Emergency response, evacuation, recovery, and recon-
struction policies are continuously updated and improved.
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