U.S. Highway 70 Corridor Zoning Ordinance Draft-1995

��I��IIIIIYI�I�YW�aIYYYYI/YL1■Y�I�II�IM�I�IIYIIIIIWI�1r1�1�1�m ul uu Ind � I � - � .. .
I/MI��IIY.rYY111.11��YMIIgYIIYYIMII�Y.YY�YY1Y.YlYr1Y�lYY��IIrYY1�rIMYII IYIiIIII�11���lir�I11�II��YY��IrII�YIViyYll III YIIIII III II YII II11111 II
i � I
I
I I
1 '
� 4
l �
, 1 O
I
i
I
"
I
1
i
I
i I II
,
I
I
II
I
I
I
I
r.
-•��� CM ..... , CM
LE L
E IL I-L --a'L=�
CM' -
CM � � Q � RI
HDR
FOR
R
© R
'I
I I
o CM
i
i
' I
R
j
' I I
f I ,
I
I R RESIDENTIAL „
I I ,
D HDR F IGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL III
CRAVEN COUNTY
I
CM COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING U.S. 70 CORRIDOR
• ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARY
OFFICIAL ZONING MAP
I
SCALE
1
1,750' '
' I
I
1 I
I I I
The preparation of this map 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.
I
1
"

DRAFT
AUGUST, 1995
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH C A !ROLINA
U.S. HIGHWAY 70 CORRIDOR ZONING
ORDINANCE
DCM COPY
DO NOT REMOVE
Holland Consulting Planners, Inc.
Wilmington, North Carolina
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.

DRAFT
AUGUST, 1995
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
U.S. HIGHWAY 70 CORRIDOR ZONING
ORDINANCE
Holland Consulting Planners, Inc.
Wilmington, North Carolina
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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
U.S. HIGHWAY 70 CORRIDOR ZONING ORDINANCE
OF
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Page
ARTICLE I: PURPOSE; APPLICABILITY; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
1.1
Title.......................................1
1.2
Authority and Purpose ........................................ 1
1.3
Jurisdiction ................................................ 1
1.4
Division of the County into Zoning Districts; Official Zoning Maps ......... 2
1.5
Clarification of Areas Under Water, and of Other Areas Not
Elsewhere Classified ......................................... 3
1.6
District Regulations; Purposes and Matter Regulated;
Application of Regulations; Schedule of District Regulations ............. 3
1.7
Exceptions to Applicability ..................................... 5
1.8
Relation to Other Ordinances ................................... 5
1.9
Relation of This Article to Any Pending Actions ...................... 6
1.10
Separability ................................................ 6
1.11
Effective Date ............................................... 6
1.12
Procedures for Establishing a Vested Right ......................... 6
1.13
General Rules of Construction .................................. 7
1.14
Fractional Requirements ...................................... 7
ARTICLE II: DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions ................................................. 8
ARTICLE III: SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS
' 3.1 Residential...............................................18
3.2 High Density Residential ..................................... 22
3.3
Commercial..............................................27
'
3.4
Overlay Districts ...........................................
32
3.5
ED - Economic Development District .............................
32
'
ARTICLE IV: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
'
4.1
Off -Street Parking and Loading Space ...........................
35
4.1.1
Statement of Intent .........................................
35

Page
4.1.2
Off -Street Parking and Loading Space and Plans Required ............
35
4.1.3
Minimum Off -Street Loading Space Requirements ...................
36
4.1.4
Satellite and Cooperative Parking ...............................
36
4.1.5
Design Standards ..........................................
37
4.1.6
Spaces for the Disabled ......................................
38
4.1.7
Parking Decks and Parking Garages .............................
38
4.1.8
Number of Spaces Required ..................................
38
4.2
Signs...................................................41
4.2.1.
Statement of Intent .........................................
41
4.2.2
Sign Illumination ...........................................
41
4.2.3
Unsafe Signs .............................................
41
4.2.4
Permit Required ...........................................
41
4.2.5
Prohibited Signs ...........................................
42
4.2.6
Signs Permitted in Any District .................................
43
4.2.7
Types of Signs ............................................
46
4.2.8
Off -Premises Signs .........................................
47
4.2.9
Computation of Sign Area for Other Than Outdoor Advertising Structures ..
48
4.2.10 On -Premises Signs .........................................
49
4.3
Planned Unit Developments (P.U.D.); Plats of Same ..................
50
4.3.1
Application. ...............................................50
4.3.2
General Requirements . ......................................
50
4.3.3
Design Standards ..........................................
51
4.3.4
Elements of the PUD Plat. .......... ........................
53
4.3.5
Special Requirements ........................................
53
4.3.6
Minor Modifications ..........................................
54
4.3.7
All Subdivision Ordinance Requirements to be Met ...................
54
4.3.8
Time Extensions ............................................
54
4.4
Performance Standards ......................................
54
4.4.1
Applicability...............................................54
4.5.
Fence and/or Wall Requirements ...............................
54
4.5.1
Permitted Types of Fences ...................................
54
4.5.2
Prohibited Types of Fences ...................................
54
4.5.3
Required Maintenance .......................................
55
4.5.4
Height..................................................55
4.5.5
General Fence Requirements ..................................
55
ARTICLE V: NONCONFORMING SITUATIONS
5.1
General.................................................57
5.2
Definitions ................................................
57
5.3
Completion of Nonconforming Projects ...........................
57
5.4
Extension or Enlargement of Nonconforming Situations ...............
58
5.5
Change in Kind of Nonconforming Use ...........................
59
5.6
Abandonment and Discontinuance of Non -conforming Situations .........
60
2

I ARTICLE VI:
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Page
'
6.1
Administration and Enforcement ................................
61
6.2
Building Permit Requirements ..................................
61
'
6.3
6.4
Application for Building Permit ...............................
Expiration of Building Permit .
61
62
6.5
Building Permit for New or Altered Uses ..........................
62
'
6.6
6.7
Construction and Use to be as Stated on Building Permits .............
Right of Appeal
62
62
6.8
Certificate of Occupancy .....................................
63
6.9 Duties of Building Inspector, Board of Adjustment, Courts and County
Commissioners as to Matters of Appeal .. 63
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
' 7.1 Amending the Ordinance ..................................... 64
7.2 Action by the Planning Board 65
7.3 Action by the County Commissioners ............................ 65
' 7.4 Resubmission of a Denied Petition .............................. 65
'
ARTICLE VIII: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
8.1
Creating the Board of Adjustment ...............................
66
'
8.2
Meetings.................................................66
8.3
Filing and Notice for an Appeal ................................
66
8.4
Powers and Duties .........................................
67
'
8.5
Appeal from the Board of Adjustment ............................
68
I ARTICLE IX: LEGAL PROVISIONS
'
9.1
9.2
Provisions of Ordinance Declared to be Minimum Requirements ..
Complaints Regarding Violations ...............................
69
69
9.3
Penalties for Violation .......................................
69
'
9.4
9.5
Approval of the Craven County Health Department ..................
Separability Clause
70
70
9.6
Effective Date .............................................
70

I ARTICLE I: PURPOSE; APPLICABILITY; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
' 1.1 Title.
' These regulations shall be cited as the U.S. Highway 70 Corridor Zoning
Ordinance of Craven County, North Carolina.
' 1.2 Authority and Purpose.
These regulations are adopted pursuant to the authority granted to Craven County
' by Chapter 153A, Article 18, of the General Statutes of North Carolina, in order to carry
out the purposes listed below.
' A. These zoning regulations have been designed to lessen congestion in the
streets, to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to promote
health and the general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to
' prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of
population; and to facilitate the adequate and economic provision of
transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public facilities
' and services.
B. The zoning districts and maps have been made with due consideration of
future growth, development, and change in land development according to
objectives expressed in the most recently adopted Land Use Plan or more
detailed plans or policies for the development of the county, as well as with
' due consideration of existing development and uses of land within Craven
County.
' C. These regulations and districts represent reasonable consideration of the
character of the districts and their peculiar suitability for particular uses of
' land and have been enacted with a view to preserving the existing
environment and/or assuring the development of a future environment that
realizes the greatest possible use and enjoyment of land on individual
' properties. This purpose is balanced against the necessary protection of
the values of buildings and land and the use and enjoyment of land on
adjacent properties, and with the objective of promoting and protecting the
' public welfare through the regulations of land use and the process of land
development.
' 1.3. Jurisdiction.
These regulations govern the development and use of all land, waters, and
' structures in the U.S. Highway 70 corridor which is identified on the U.S. Highway 70
Corridor Zoning Map. No building, structure, or land shall be used or occupied, or no
building, structure, or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved,
' enlarged, or structurally altered, unless in conformity with all the provisions of these

regulations and other applicable regulations, except as otherwise provided by these
regulations. The regulations shall not apply to bona fide farms except that non -farm
uses on farms are regulated herein.
1.4 Division of the County into Zoning Districts, Official Zoning Maps.
The U.S. Highway 70 Corridor is hereby designated in zoning districts. The
Zoning districts are shown on the official U.S. Highway 70 Corridor Zoning Map of
Craven County which is a part of this ordinance.
The official zoning map may consist of one or more map sheets.
The original reproducible map or map sheets comprising the official zoning map
as well as any successor maps shall be signed by the County Manager and attested by
the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners.
In the event of amendment of any Zoning district boundaries set forth on the
official zoning map, the change shall be certified by the County Manager and attested
by the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners with a note as to the amending
ordinance number, the date of amendment, and the nature of the change.
A. Rules for Interpreting District Boundaries. Where uncertainty exists with
respect to the boundaries of the districts as shown on the official zoning
map, the following rules shall apply:
1. Where district boundaries are indicated as following the center lines
of streets, highways, or alleys, such center lines shall be construed
to be such boundaries.
2. Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately parallel to
the center lines of streets or highways, such district boundaries shall
be construed as being parallel thereto, and at such distance
therefrom as indicated on the official zoning map. If no distance is
indicated specifically on the zoning map, the scale of the map shall
determine.
3. Where district boundaries run to, but do not extend into water areas,
and no separate Zoning district is shown over such waters and their
minor land areas, they shall be considered to run into such water
areas in a straight line, continuing the prevailing direction of the
boundary as it approaches water, until they intersect other district
boundaries or the jurisdictional limits. Boundaries which run through
water courses, lakes, and other water areas, shall be assumed to
be located midway in such water areas, unless otherwise indicated.
4. Where district boundaries are indicated as following platted lot lines,
the lot lines shall be construed to be the district boundaries. '

5. Where district boundaries divide platted lots or cross unsubdivided
property, and where no specific dimensions are indicated on the
official zoning map, the scale of the official zoning map shall control.
' 6. Where the street or property layout, or other physical features
existing on the ground, are at variance with the official zoning map,
' or where other uncertainties exist as to interpretation of the official
zoning map, upon receipt of a written report from the Planning
Board, the Board of Adjustment shall interpret the map in such a
' manner as to carry out the intent and purposes of this article.
' 1.5 Clarification of Areas Under Water, and of Other Areas Not Elsewhere Classified.
All areas within the jurisdiction of the County which are under water and are not
shown as included within any district shall be subject to all of the regulations of the
district which immediately adjoins the water area. If the water area adjoins two or more
districts, the boundaries of each district shall be construed to extend into the water in a
' straight line until they meet the boundaries of another district or the jurisdictional limit.
All lands within the jurisdiction of Craven County which are not under water and
' are not shown as included within the limits of any district shall be considered to be in the
Residential District, until otherwise classified by amendment to this article.
I
1.6 District Regulations: Purposes and Matter Regulated: Application of Regulations:
Schedule of District Regulations.
' A. Purposes. The regulations and restrictions herein prescribed are in
furtherance of the general purposes set forth in Section 1.2 and have the
specific objectives of:
' 1. Reducing, or eliminating, elements of present and future harmful
incompatibility between uses permitted " in the same district or
' neighboring districts;
2. Segregating uses which cannot be made reasonably compatible into
separate districts; and
' 3. Encouraging and promoting orderly development, according to the
needs of the general public, as set forth in the most recent Land
Use Plan and detailed plans and policies.

B. Matters regulated. Matters regulated include: '
1. Use of land and water for trade, industry, residence, parking, and '
other purposes;
2. Size of lots, yards, and other spaces; '
3. Maximum coverage of lots by buildings and other structures, and by
uses; ,
4. Height, size, location, erection and construction, reconstruction,
alteration and use of buildings and other structures for trade, ,
industry, residence, and other purposes; and
5. Density of population.
C. Application of Regulations. Except as hereinafter provided, no structure
shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, or structurally altered,
nor shall any structure or land be used or occupied which does not comply
with all the district regulations established by this article for the district in
which the building or land is located. No part of a yard or other open
space, or parking or loading space required for any building for the
purpose of complying with the provisions of this article, shall be included
as part of a yard or other open space, or parking or loading space similarly
required for another building.
Excepting on bona fide farms, in no case shall there be more than one
main structure and the customary accessory structures on one lot, except
as otherwise provided. No yard or lot now existing, or hereafter created,
shall be reduced in dimensions or area below the minimum requirements
herein for the district in which located. No structure shall be erected on a
lot heretofore or hereafter reduced below minimum dimensions or area
required by law; provided, however, this requirement shall not apply in any
district in which a dwelling unit is permitted or permissible to a lot which
was of record, either by a plat or by a deed describing the lot by metes and
bounds or otherwise, in the Public Registry, Craven County, as of the
effective date of this article.
Within each district, regulations herein set forth shall be minimum
regulations, and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of building or
land, and may specify: uses permitted, uses permissible if reasonable
requirements of a special nature are met to reduce or eliminate harmful
incompatibility, or uses or characteristics of uses prohibited.
D. Schedule of District Regulations.
than one district, regulations for
Schedule of District Regulations.
Except for regulations applying to more
the individual districts appear in the
4

1.7 Exceptions to Applicability
A. These regulations shall not be applicable or enforceable without the
consent of the owner with regard to lots, buildings, or structures for which
a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of these
regulations so long as the permit has not been revoked and/or is not
revokable pursuant to NCGS Section 153A-362. If construction authorized
by the permit is not started within six (6) months of the permit issuance, or
after construction has commenced, if the work is discontinued for a period
of twelve (12) months, the permit shall immediately expire pursuant to
NCGS Section 153A-357, and any further work shall be subject to these
regulations.
B. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, repeal, or other changes to
these regulations and restrictions or the zoning map(s) shall not be
applicable or enforceable without the consent of the owner with regard to
buildings and uses for which either (a) a building permit has been issued
prior to the effective date of the ordinance making the change, so long as
the permit remains valid and unexpired pursuant to NCGS Section 153A-
358 and the building permit has not been revoked pursuant to NCGS
153A-362, or (b) a vested right has been established pursuant to Section
1.12 and such vested right remains valid and unexpired pursuant to
Section 1.12. A permit issued pursuant to NCGS Section 153A-357 shall
expire by limitation in six (6) months after the date of issuance if the work
authorized by the permit has not been commenced, except that a permit
shall not expire or be revoked because of the running time while a vested
right under Section 1.12 is outstanding. If after commencement the work
is discontinued for a period of twelve (12) months, the permit therefore
shall immediately expire except for a permit issued under Section 1.12.
Upon issuance of a building permit under Section 1.12, the provisions of
NCGS Section 153A-358 and NCGS Section 153A-362 shall apply, except
that the permit shall not expire or be revoked because of the running of
time while a vested right under the section is outstanding. No work
authorized by any permit that has expired shall thereafter be performed
until a new permit has been secured.
C. As to future amendments to this Zoning Ordinance, these regulations shall
not be applicable or enforced without the consent of the owner with regard
to uses previously approved under a Special Exception. Development of
these uses will be governed by the previously approved site plans of such
Special Exceptions.
1.8 Relation to Other Ordinances.
It is not intended that this article in any way repeal, annul or interfere with the
existing provisions of any other law or ordinance. In addition, it is not intended that this
ordinance in any way repeal, annul or interfere with any rules, regulations or permits
4'+

which were legally adopted or issued under previous ordinances for the use or
development of land or structures. Finally, it is not intended that this ordinance interfere
with any easements, covenants, or other agreements between parties besides Craven
County. However, if the provisions of this article impose greater restrictions or higher
standards for the use of a building or land, or for yards or size of structures than is
called for by other ordinances, permits, easements or agreements, then the provisions
of this article will take precedence over the others and will control the use of
development, except as otherwise provided above under Section 1.7.
1.9 Relation of This Article to Any Pending Actions.
The adoption of this article shall not affect any action, suit or proceeding which
may be pending at the time the article is adopted. With respect to the subject matter of
any pending action, all rights, obligations and liabilities are still valid and may be
presented and enforced.
1.10 Separability.
If any section of specific provisions or standards of these regulations or any
Zoning district boundary that is hereby established or may exist in the future is found by
a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, the decision of the court
shall not affect the validity of any other section, provision, standard, or district Boundary
of these regulations, except the provision in question. The other portions of these
regulations not affected by the decision of the court shall remain in full force and effect.
1.11 Effective Date.
These regulations shall become effective upon further action by the Craven
County Board of Commissioners.
1.12 Procedures for Establishing a Vested Right.
Pursuant to N.C.G.S Section 153A-344.1, Vesting Rights, as of the effective date
of this article, a vested right to undertake and complete the development and use of
property under the terms and conditions as approved pursuant to this article shall be
established with respect to any property upon the approval pursuant to this article of a
Special Exception for a site specific development plan or a phased development plan.
The approved plans and conditions for a Special Exceptions constitute, for
purposes of NCGS Section 153A-344.1, site specific development plans.
A right which has been vested as provided for in this section shall remain vested
for a period of three (3) years. Modifications or amendments to an approved plan do not
extend the period of vesting unless specifically so provided by the Board of Adjustment
or the Planning Board upon approval of the modification and or amendment. A vested
right obtained under this section is not a personal right, but shall attach to and run with
the subject property. A right which has been vested as provided in this section shall
A

terminate at the end of the applicable vesting period with respect to buildings and uses
for which no valid building permit applications have been filed.
1.13 General Rules of Construction.
' apply:
I
1
1
1
1
1
For the purposes of these regulations, the following rules of construction shall
A. These regulations shall be construed to achieve the purposes for which
they are adopted.
B. In the event of a conflict between the text of these regulations and any
caption, figure, illustration, or table, the text of these regulations shall
control.
C. In the event of any conflict in limitations, requirements, or standards
applying to an individual use or structure, the more stringent or restrictive
provision shall apply.
D. The words "shall," "must," and "will," are mandatory in nature, implying an
obligation or duty to comply with the particular provision.
E. The word "may" is permissive in nature, except when the context of the
particular use is negative, then it is mandatory.
F. Words used in the present tense include the future tense.
G. Words used in the singular number include the plural number and the
plural number includes the singular number, unless the context of the
particular usage clearly indicates otherwise.
H. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine gender.
1.14 Fractional Requirements.
When any requirement of these regulations results in a fraction of any unit of
measurement, that fraction will be disregarded and the next highest whole number shall
apply.
1

ARTICLE II: DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions.
For the purpose of these regulations, the following words and terms have the
meanings specified in this section.
Abandon - To cease the regular use or maintenance of a lot, building, or structure:
Abutting - Having common property boundaries or lot lines which are not separated by
a street or other type of public way.
Accessory Structure or Use - A use of structure that is customarily or typically
subordinate to and serves a principal use or structure; is clearly subordinate in area,
extent, or purpose to the principal use or structure served; and is located on the same
lot as the principal use or structure.
Such features as television reception discs, potable well water housing, ham radio
operator features, patios, swimming and fish/lily pools including screening of such pools,
tool sheds, utility buildings, and hot tubs are examples of accessory uses and structures.
Adjacent - Either abutting or being directly across a street, other public way, or body of
water which does not exceed 100 feet in width.
Agri -Business - A specialized activity associated with, or serving bona fide farms and the
general public, including marketing, processing, packaging, transporting, and wholesale
or retail sale of products, which products consist of a central component which is
produced on or benefits a bona fide farm. An agri-business is not an agricultural
industry.
Agricultural Industry - Except for home consumption on bona fide farms and agri-
business activities, processing of fish, shellfish, poultry, and other natural and manmade
animal, vegetable or mineral organisms including fur bearing animals, mice and rats,
rabbits, winged animals, carnivorous animals, snakes; culturing, processing development
and production of any bona fide farm product; packing, selling, displaying, or distributing
or other activity with any non -bona fide farm commodity.
Airport - A facility intended and used as the place where one or more fixed -wing or
rotary -wing aircraft are regularly stored, maintained, or repaired while not in flight with
an area that the aircraft may use to take off and land.
Arboretum - A place for the scientific study and public exhibition of trees, shrubs, and
plants, including unique features such as butterfly rooms.
Automotive Graveyard - Any establishment or place of business which is maintained,
used or operated for storing, keeping, buying, or selling wrecked, scrapped, ruined or
N

idismantled motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, boats, lawn mowers, tractors, and similar
appliances. Any establishment or place of business upon which two or more unlicensed,
used motor vehicles, or boats or similar equipment which cannot be operated under their
' own power, shall be deemed an automobile graveyard, and thus a junkyard.
' Automotive Repair - A building designed and used for the storage, care, and repair of
motor vehicles including motors of boats and planes including both minor and major
mechanical overhauling, paint and body work.
Board of Adjustment - The Zoning Board of Adjustment of Craven County.
' Bona Fide Farm - Any tract of land containing at least one acre which is used for
activities relating to production, and activities incidental to production, of crops, fruits,
vegetables, ornamental and flowering plants, grasses and grains, forest products, dairy,
' livestock, fish and shellfish, poultry, and other agricultural products having a domestic
or foreign market, and excludes commercial and industrial processing.
' Buffer - A strip of land with natural or planted vegetation located between a structure and
a property line intended to separate and partially obstruct the view of two adjacent land
uses or properties from one another. A buffer area may include any required screening
' for the site.
Building - A temporary or permanent structure having a roof supported by columns or
' walls and which can be used for the shelter, housing, or enclosure of persons, animals,
or goods. Manufactured homes and modular homes are buildings.
' Building Inspection Department - The administrative agency which has been designated
by the Craven County Board of Commissioners to administer county zoning regulations.
Building lines - Lines that are tangent to the exterior surface of buildings or structure,
parallel to front, side and rear lot lines, and referred to as front, side and rear building
lines, respectively.
BUILDING LINES
n
N

Building Site - An area of land or property where development is undertaken.
Cemetery - A place for burial of the dead. A cemetery can be a combination of one or
more of the following, in a place used or to be used and dedicated or designated for
such purposes:
1) A burial park, for earth interment.
2) A mausoleum, for burial above the ground.
3) A columbarium, a structure substantially above the ground, for interment
of the cremated remains of a deceased person.
Cemetery, Private - As above, but where the owning entity, generally an extended family,
fraternal order, or religious sect, does not sell or lease grave sites of any nature.
Church - A religious institution often in the character of a church, temple, synagogue,
mosque, or store -front operation, providing education, fellowship, service including
outreach, worship and sanctuary, including various accessory uses and structures, such
as schools, day care centers, Good Shepherd facilities providing without cost clothing,
food, financial help, medical services, and catering to other needs such as temporary
shelter for the homeless. Such accessory features also include dwelling units for one
or more staff, nunneries, senior citizen housing, nursing care facilities, monastic quarters,
and orphanages, all on the same lot.
Club. Private - A private club is an establishment which maintains selective members,
is operated by the membership, and is not profit oriented.
Cluster Development - A tract of land, at least 10 acres in area, under individual,
corporate, firm, partnership, or association ownership, planned and developed as an
integral unit, in a single development operation or a definitely programmed series of
development operations, and according to an approved preliminary site plan.
Common Open Space - An area of open space within a development site designed and
intended for the use and enjoyment of residents of the development or for the general
public.
Condominium - The ownership of single units in a structure with common areas and
facilities.
Condominium Unit - An enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying all
or part of a floor in a building of one or more floors or stories regardless of whether it is
designed for residence, office, the operation of any industry or business, or any type of
independent use and shall include such accessory spaces and areas as may be
described in the declaration, such as garage space, storage space, balcony, terrace or
patio.
Construction - The erection or alteration of any structure either of a permanent or
temporary character.
10

Densi - The total number of residential use units per acre of land. Density is
determined by dividing the number of residential use units by the total number of lot
' acres. The entirety of a lot is included in the calculation including, but not limited to,
wetlands, ponds and marsh.
' Dwelling unit - A structure or portion of a structure designed or occupied as self-
contained living quarters for one family. Among the types of dwelling units regulated in
this article are:
'
1)
Single-family House - Also called single-family residence and single-family
dwelling, being a detached unit.
2)
Multi -Family Dwelling - Two or more dwelling units sharing common walls,
and possibly sharing common floors and ceilings.
'
3)
Townhouse - A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a series of
attached units with property lines separating such units.
'
4)
Manufactured Home - A residential dwelling unit that: (a) is not constructed
in accordance with the standards set forth in the North Carolina State
'
Building Code, and (b) is composed of one or more components, each of
which was substantially assembled in a manufacturing plant and designed
to be transported to the lot on its own chassis, and (c) exceeds forty (40)
feet in length and eight feet in width. A manufactured home may also be
referred to as a "mobile home."
'
A) Manufactured Home, Class A - A manufactured home constructed
after July 1, 1976, that meets or exceeds the construction standards
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
'
that were in effect at the time of construction and that satisfies each of the
following additional criteria:
'
(a) The minimum width (the width being the narrower of the two overall
dimensions) of the main body of the manufactured home as
assembled on the site shall be at least twenty-two (22) feet for a
distance extending along the length (the length being the longer of
the two overall dimension) of at least twenty (20) feet.
'
(b) The pitch of the roof of the manufactured home has a minimum
vertical rise of two and two -tenths feet for each twelve feet of
'
horizontal run; the roof is finished with a type of shingle that is
commonly used in standard residential construction and which does
not exceed the reflectivity of gloss white paint; the roof has an
'
overhang (eave) extending at least ten (10) inches from each
vertical exterior wall. A site installed gutter may be counted in the
width of the eave.
11

'
(c)
The exterior siding consists of wood, hardboard, vinyl, brick or
aluminum and shall be comparable in composition, appearance, and
durability to the exterior siding commonly used in standard
'
residential construction, and which does not exceed the reflectivity
of gloss white paint.
'
d
()
A continuous, permanent mason foundation or mason curtain
p masonry masonry
wall, unpierced except for required ventilation and access, shall be
installed upon a poured concrete footer after placement on the lot,
'
and before occupancy.
(e)
The tongue, axis, transporting light, and removable towing
'
apparatus are removed after placement on the lot and before
occupancy.
'
(f)
The manufactured home is set up on the site in accordance with the
standards set by the N.C. Department of Insurance.
'
(g)
Stairs, porches, entrance platforms and other means of entrance
and exit to the manufactured home shall be installed and
constructed in accordance with the standards set by the N.C.
'
Department of Insurance.
(h) The manufactured home is oriented on the site in such a manner
that the side having the main entrance, and by design intended to
be the front of the manufactured home, is generally parallel to a
public street abutting the site.
B) Manufactured Home, Class B - A manufactured home that meets
all of the criteria of a Class A manufactured home, except criteria (b), (c),
(d), (e), and (h), provided, however, said manufactured home shall be
installed with permanent type non -reflective skirting specifically
manufactured for manufactured homes, pressure treated wood (except
plain standard-surface/pressure treated plywood shall not be considered
acceptable), or masonry underpinning. Such underpinning or skirting shall
be installed under all elements of the manufactured home and be
unpierced except for required ventilation and an access door.
C) Manufactured Home, Class C - A manufactured home that meets
all of the criteria of a Class A manufactured home, except criteria (a), (b),
(c), (d), (e), and (h); provided, however, said manufactured home shall be
installed with permanent type non -reflective skirting specifically
manufactured for manufactured homes, pressure treated wood (except
plain standard-surface/pressure treated plywood shall not be considered
acceptable), or masonry underpinning. Such underpinning or skirting shall
be installed under all elements of the manufactured home and be
unpierced except for required ventilation and an access door.
12

D) Manufactured Home, Class D - A manufactured home that does
not meet the requirements of a Class A, Class B, or Class C manufactured
' home.
5) Modular Home - A dwelling unit constructed in accordance with the
standards set forth in the North Carolina Building Code real title (Uniform
Residential code for one and two-family dwellings) and composed of
components substantially assembled in a manufacturing plant and
t transported to the building site for final assembly on a permanent
foundation. A modular home shall be deemed to be a single-family
dwelling as defined in this Ordinance.
' 6) Bed and Breakfast House - Any form of dwelling unit whose primary use
is as a permanent residence but which offers extra bedrooms to
' whomsoever for payment resides there with food.
7) Guest Home - Any form of dwelling unit whose primary use is as a
' permanent residence but which offers rooms by the night, or for short
duration, for remuneration.
' 8) Boarding House - Any form of dwelling unit where meals and rooms are
offered on a permanent or long-term basis, for remuneration.
Family - One or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and living
together as a single housekeeping unit.
' Family Care Home - As defined in NCGS 168-21, a home with support and supervising
personnel that provide room and board, personal care and rehabilitation services in a
' family environment for not more than six resident handicapped persons.
Filling station - Any premises where, amongst other products leased or sold, are gasoline
' and petroleum products, and can include light maintenance activities such as engine
tune-ups, lubrication, carburetor cleaning, and minor repair work. A filling station does
not include such activities as heavy automobile maintenance by overhaul, automobile
' painting, or body fender work. Among permitted typical accessory uses are sale and
servicing of small parts and fixtures for automobiles, boats and lawn mowers, and
leasing of trailers, motor vehicles and luggage racks, so long as no such equipment shall
' be displayed or stored inside any required building setback line.
Financial Institution - A use or structure where financial, pecuniary, fiscal or monetary
' services are made available, including depository institutions, non -depository institutions,
holding companies, other investment companies, brokers and dealers in securities and
commodity contracts, security and commodity exchanges, cash checking services,
' bondsmen services, and pawn brokers. The word bank is interchangeable with the term
financial institution in this article.
�r 1
1
13

Forestry - The cultivation and harvesting of trees. The term shall not include the retail
sale of trees or similar products.
Garage Service and/or Repair - Buildings and premises for major repairs on automobiles,
trucks, boats, and other equipment including large engines, body work, painting,
reconstruction, and provision of all typical Filling Station services including tow trucks.
Group Care Facility - A home providing residency for persons who need or desire
sheltered living conditions, generally for rehabilitation but also for long-term residency
such as juvenile homes, such services provided under guidelines usually set by one or
more divisions of state government, with such service being capable of being provided
by a person, an agency, an institution, or some form of business enterprise, with such
facilities either for profit, not -for -profit, or non-profit. Retirement homes, nursing homes,
and halfway houses are examples of such group care facilities.
Hazardous Materials Treatment Facility - A building, structure or use of land devoted, or
intended to be devoted, primarily to changing by any method, technique or process,
including incineration or neutralization, the physical, chemical, or biological character of
any hazardous material regulated by the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et sea.), and the "North Carolina Solid
Waste Management Act," as amended (Article 13B. G.S. 130-166.16), so as to neutralize
such material or render it nonhazardous, safer for transport, amenable for recovery,
amenable for storage or reduced in bulk. Such a use may also contain temporary
storage facilities normally associated with these operations and of sufficient size to
conduct a commercially feasible operation. However, under no circumstances is a
hazardous materials treatment facility to be construed to be any of the following:
1) A facility which manufactures hazardous materials from component
nonhazardous materials:
2) A facility or location for the long term or perpetual storage of hazardous
materials; or
3) A facility for the treatment of hazardous materials which is clearly
subordinate, incidental and related to the principal structure, building or use
of land and is located on the same lot as the principal structure, building
or use.
Heavy Manufacturing - The assembly, fabrication, or processing of goods and materials
using processes that ordinarily have greater than average impacts on the environment,
or that ordinarily have significant impacts on the use and enjoyment of adjacent property
in terms of sound, smoke, fumes, odors, glare, or health and safety hazards, including
the following permissible or permitted uses in zoning districts prohibited under the
definition of light manufacturing:
14

L
n
Mining and Quarrying
Heavy Equipment Repair
Septic Tank Services
Tire Recapping
Truck Washing
Under Wholesale Trade:
Ammunition
Animals, and Animal Products
Agricultural Chemicals, Pesticides or Fertilizers
Chemicals and Allied Products
Grain and Field Beans
Livestock
Lumber and other Construction Materials
Construction and Mining Machinery
Farm and Garden Machinery
Minerals
Petroleum and Petroleum Products
Resins
Scrap and Waste Industries
Major Demolition Debris Landfill
Non -hazardous Private Solid Waste Disposal
Under Manufacturing:
Aircraft and Aircraft Parts
Small Arms Ammunition
Animal Feeds, including dog and cat
Asbestos, Abrasive, or Related Products
Asphalt Plant
Batteries
Alcoholic Beverage Products
Chemicals, Paints, and Allied Products
Concrete, Cut Stone, and Clay Products
Heavy Construction Contractors Operations
Fabricated Metal Products
Animal Fats and Oils
Canned, Cured, or Frozen Fish
Floor Coverings other than carpet
Glass
Tanning involved in producing leather and leather products
Packing and Processing of Meat and Poultry
Metal Coating and Engraving
Motor Vehicle Assembly
Coating and Laminating of Paper Products
Petroleum and Related Products
Primary Metal Products, and Foundries
Pulp and Paper Mills
Raw Rubbers and Plastics
Surface Active Agents
Textile Products where there is dyeing and finishing
Tires and Inner Tubes
Tobacco Products
Wood Products other than containers
Salvage Yards, Scrap Processing
15

Salvage Yards, Auto Parts
Sawmill or Planing Mill
Height - The overall height of a structure, including any appurtenance thereon, and for
the purpose of determining the height limitations set forth herein, the datum shall be
mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
Home Occupations - A commercial activity conducted within a dwelling unit located in
a residential zoning district, primarily by one or more occupants thereof. This activity
shall be an accessory use which is clearly incidental and secondary to the residential
use of the dwelling unit and shall be subject to the following restrictions:
1) The home occupation shall occupy an area not to exceed twenty-five (25%)
percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit. All activities shall be
conducted entirely within the dwelling unit and are not permitted in a
detached garage or other accessory structure.
2) There shall be no external evidence of the activity such as commercial
vehicles, window displays, outside storage, smoke, noise, odors or other
nuisances emitted from the premises.
3) Only one person may be employed who is not a resident of the dwelling.
4) No display of products may be visible from the street.
5) No infrastructure demands shall be generated by the home occupation in
greater volumes that would normally be expected with a residential use.
6) Instruction in music, dance, and similar subjects shall be limited to two
students at a time.
Lot - The least fractional part of subdivided lands, which have been duly recorded,
having fixed boundaries, an assigned number, letter or other name through which it may
be identified.
Multi -family Dwelling - A structure which contains three or more dwelling units.
Nonconforming Use - Any structure, growth or use of land which was lawfully in
existence prior to the enactment of the regulations and which does not conform to these
regulations.
Person - Any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, joint-
stock association, or body politic, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other
similar representative thereof.
Single-family Dwelling - A detached structure which is designed for or occupied
exclusively as a residence for one family.
16

' Structure - Any object constructed or installed by man, including but not limited to
buildings, towers, smokestacks, utility poles, and overhead transmission lines.
' Use - The purpose for which land or a building is arranged, designed, occupied, or
maintained.
0
1
17

ARTICLE III: SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS
3.1 Residential
A. Description: Intent
Basically low density single-family residential areas with lots ranging in size from
8,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet depending upon the availability of
community water and/or sewer service, providing other required attributes of a
neighborhood.
B. Permitted Principal Uses and Structures
Subject to provisions or restrictions contained here and elsewhere in this
Ordinance.
1. Single-family residence, modular dwellings, and Class A
manufactured dwellings.
2. Public and private elementary and high schools with conventional
academic curriculum.
3. Churches, when there is direct access onto a thoroughfare identified
in the major Thoroughfare Plan.
4. Public parks, playgrounds and playfields, and neighborhood and
community buildings and uses in keeping with the character and
requirements of the district, except as provided under "Special
Exceptions Permissible by Board of Adjustment."
5. Guest houses and bed and breakfast houses.
6. Golf courses.
7. Bona Fide Farms.
8. Family Care Home.
9. Sewer and wastewater treatment plants, facilities and utility sub-
stations.
C. Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures
Uses and structures which: 1) are customarily accessory and clearly incidental
and subordinate to permitted or permissible uses and structures; 2) do not involve
18

the conduct of a business; and 3) are not of a nature prohibited under "Prohibited
Uses and Structures."
Non-commercial docks and boat houses. Home occupations, provided such uses
meet the requirements stipulated for home occupations and not more than one
occupation -related vehicle (to be screened from the street and residential
properties and parked off the street overnight), which will weigh not more than two
and one-half tons gross weight, is permitted for the home occupation.
Temporary structures and operations in connection with, and on the site of,
building or land preparations developments, including dredging and filling, grading,
paving, installation of utilities, construction, erection of field offices, and structures
for storage of equipment and building materials; provided a Certificate of
Occupancy shall have been issued thereof.
D. Special Exceptions Permissible by Board of Adjustment
After public notice and hearing, and subject to appropriate conditions and
safeguards, the Board of Adjustment may permit:
1. Private clubs when on a state secondary road, state or federal
highway, or paved street, made part of this ordinance, and
recreational uses except those in which the conduct of commercial
affairs plays a major part; non-commercial boat basins primarily for
the use of persons living within the district.
2. Cemeteries.
3. Children's nurseries and kindergartens.
4. Colleges and universities; schools, not having academic
curriculums.
5. Municipal, special district, county, state, and federal buildings and
uses other than outright permitted uses.
6. Riding stables.
7. Group care facility.
8. Retail sale of produce grown on the premises.
9. Commercial marinas as defined by the current Craven County
CAMA-certified Land Use Plan.
FJ
19

E. Special Exceptions Permissible by the Planning Board
Planned Unit Developments - All forms of innovative land usage for residential
developments such as single-family cluster subdivisions, townhouses, multi -family
dwellings, retirement complexes, patio lots, as long as the overall density of land
used for residential structure coverage ("foot print") and for amenities of
perpetually assured open space provide not more than one dwelling unit or
residency room per 8,000 square feet of land when public or community water
and sewer service is available, or 15,000 square feet where either community
water or sewer service is not available or 20,000 square feet where neither
community water or sewer service is available.
The intent of permitting such innovative developments is to encourage a higher
quality of development than it may be possible to achieve by use of a particular
tract of land for a traditional detached single-family house subdivision.
In all cases, adequate external buffering shall be provided by much larger
setbacks of structures and uses such as active recreational areas, swimming
pools, ancillary structures, trafficways, parking, and all other use of the land than
green open space, possibly combined water bodies as long as they do not have
a utilitarian function. In no case shall any structure or pavement or sign be
located closer than 25 feet to any property line.
Adequate instruments to record the benefit of all persons who buy or rent in the
proposed development have to be filed and are subject to the same scrutiny and
judgment as the site and structural and landscape plans.
F. Prohibited Uses and Structures
1. Classes B, C, and D manufactured dwellings.
2. Garage apartments.
3. The parking or storage of any vehicle with a wheelbase greater than
one hundred thirty five inches (135") or with Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) greater than fourteen thousand pounds (14,000
Ibs.), excepting for privately -owned non-commercial vehicles for
recreation.
4. Any use not listed as a Permitted Use, as an Accessory Use, or as
a Permissible Use.
20

G. Minimum Lot Requirements (Area and Width)
Per Dwelling Unit:
When public or community water and sewer service is available:
Lot area - 8,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 60 feet
When no public or community water or sewer service is available:
Lot area - 15,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 75 feet
When there is no public or community water or sewer service:
Lot area - 20,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 75 feet
Bona Fide Farms - exempt.
Other Structures and Uses:
Churches
Lot area - 2 1/2 acres
Lot width - 250 feet
Except that existing churches can be expanded on lots of no less than one
acre and a minimum lot width of 120 feet provided minimum off-street
parking requirements are met in the entire development.
Schools
Lot width - 300 feet (See also Supplementary Regulations.)
Elementary
4 acres plus 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
Junior High
6 acres plus 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
Senior High
8 acres plus 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
Community and Municipal Buildings other than Schools and other Public
and Semi-public uses:
Lot area - 1 acre
Lot width - 200 feet
21

3.2
Private Clubs:
Lot area - 10 acres
H. Minimum Yard Requirements (Depth of Front and Rear Yards. Width of
Side Yard and Minimum Lot Frontage)
Bldg. Set
Lot Size
Back Line
20,000 sq.ft.
30'
15,000 sq.ft.
30'
8,000 sq.ft.
25'
Width
at Set
Side
Rear
Back Line
Yard
Yard
75'
10,
15'
75'
10,
15,
60'
8'
15,
Corner lots shall have width sufficient to permit building setback of at least
20 feet from side street.
All lots shall have at least 35 feet of front frontage.
Other Structures and Uses: Churches
Front yards - 35 feet
Side and rear yards - 50 feet
No other use than off-street parking shall be located in any yard of a
church which adjoins a residentially zoned lot.
Private Clubs
50 feet on all sides.
High Density Residential
A. Description: Intent
Primarily developed single-family residential areas of mixed conventional
construction, manufactured and modular housing units including combination
thereof. The minimum lot size for existing lots is 6,000 square feet. Lots
subdivided after the date of adoption of this ordinance shall comply with the
Craven County Subdivision Ordinance.
B. Permitted Principal Uses and Structures
Subject to provisions or restrictions contained here and elsewhere in the
Ordinance. I
1. Single-family residences, modular dwellings, and Class A, B, and C
manufactured dwellings. t
22 1

2. Public and private schools.
3. Churches, when there is direct access to a thoroughfare identified
in the major Thoroughfare Plan.
4. Parks, playgrounds and playfields, and neighborhood and
community buildings and uses in keeping with the character and
requirements of the district, except as provided under "Special
Exceptions Permissible by Board of Adjustment."
6. Guest houses and bed and breakfast houses.
6. Golf courses.
7. Bona fide farms.
8. Family care home.
9. Sewer and wastewater treatment plants, facilities and utility sub-
stations.
C. Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures
Uses and structures which: 1) are customarily accessory and clearly incidental
and subordinate to permitted or permissible uses and structures; 2) do not involve
the conduct of a business; and 3) are not of a nature prohibited under "Prohibited
Uses and Structures."
Non-commercial docks and boat houses. Home occupations, provided such uses
meet the requirements stipulated for home occupations and not more than one
occupation -related vehicle (to be screened from the street and residential
' properties and parked off the street overnight), which will weigh not more than two
and one-half tons gross weight, is permitted for the home occupation.
Temporary structures and operations in connection with, and on the site of,
building or land preparations developments, including dredging and filling, grading,
paving, installation of utilities, construction, erection of field offices, and structures
for storage of equipment and building materials; provided a Certificate of
Occupancy shall have been issued thereof.
D. Special Exceptions Permissible by Board of Adjustment
After public notice and hearing, and subject to appropriate conditions and
' safeguards, the Board of Adjustment may permit:
1. Private clubs when on a state secondary road, state or federal
' highway, or paved street, made part of this ordinance, and
23

recreational uses except those in which the conduct of commercial
affairs plays a major part; non-commercial boat basins primarily for
the use of persons living within the district.
2. Cemeteries.
3. Children's nurseries and kindergartens.
4. Colleges and universities.
5. Municipal, special district, county, state, and federal buildings and
uses other than outright permitted uses.
6. Riding stables.
7. Group care facility.
8. Retail sale of produce grown on the premises.
9. Commercial marinas as defined by the current Craven County
CAMA-certified Land Use Plan.
E. Prohibited Uses and Structures
1. All uses and structures not of a nature specifically or provisionally
permitted herein.
2. Class D manufactured dwellings.
F. Minimum Lot Requirements (Area and Width)
Per Dwellinq Unit for Lots Subdivided after the Date of Adoption:
When public or community water and sewer service is available:
Lot area - 8,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 60 feet
When no public or community water or sewer service is available:
Lot area - 15,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 75 feet
24

When there is no public or community water or sewer service:
' Lot area - 20,000 square feet
Lot width at building set back line - 75 feet
'
Bona Fide Farms - exempt.
Other Structures and Uses:
Churches
Lot area - 2 1/2 acres
'
Lot width - 250 feet
Except that existing churches can be expanded on lots of no less than one
acre and a minimum lot width of 120 feet provided minimum off-street
'
parking requirements are met in the entire development.
Schools
'
Lot width - 300 feet (See also Supplementary Regulations.)
Elementary
'
4 acres plus 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
'
Junior High
6 acres 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
plus
'
Senior High
8 acres plus 1 acre per 100 students and major fraction thereof.
Community and Municipal Buildings other than Schools and other Public
'
and Semi-public Uses
Lot area - 1 acre
Lot width - 200 feet
Private Clubs
Lot area - 10 acres
Bona Fide Farms
Exempt.
G. Minimum Lot Requirements (Area and Width) per Dwelling Unit for Lots
'
Subdivided Prior to the Date of Adopting of this Zoning Ordinance.
Lot Area - 6,000 square feet
'
Lot Width of the Building - 25 feet
Setback Line -
25

H. Minimum _Yard Requirements for Lots Subdivided after the Date of
Adoption of this Ordinance (Depth
of Front and Rear Yards, Width of Side
Yard and Minimum Lot Frontage).
Single Dwelling Unit
Width
Bldg. Set
at Set
Side
Rear
Lot Size Back Line
Back Line
Yard
Yard
20,000 sq.ft. 30'
75'
10,
15'
15,000 sq.ft. 30'
75'
10,
15'
8,000 sq.ft. 25'
60'
8'
15'
Corner lots shall have width sufficient to permit building setback of at least
20 feet from side street.
All lots shall have at least 35 feet of front frontage.
Other Structures and Uses: Churches
Front yards - 35 feet
Side and rear yards - 50 feet
No use other than off-street parking shall be located in any yard of a
church which adjoins a residentially zoned lot.
Private Clubs
50 feet on all sides.
I. Minimum Yard Requirements for Lots Subdivided prior to the Date of
Adoption of this Ordinance (Depth of Front and Rear Yards, Width of Side
Yard and Minimum Lot Frontage)
Single Dwelling Unit
Width
Bldg. Set at Set Side Rear
Lot Size Back Line Back Line Yard Yard
6,000 sq.ft. 20' 20' 6' 10,
Corner lots shall have width sufficient to permit building setback of at least
15 feet from side street.
All lots shall have at least 20 feet of front frontage.
26

' 3.3 Commercial
A. Description: Intent
Districts in this category are intended primarily to be located in outlying areas,
' adjacent to major thoroughfare, with yards and other provisions for reducing
conflicts with adjacent residential uses, and with substantial setbacks to reduce
marginal friction on adjacent major thoroughfare. These districts will 1) serve
C
C
E
requirements of residential neighborhoods for commercial facilities, 2) serve
requirements of highway oriented tourist business, and 3) accommodate selected
industrial establishments.
B. Permitted Principal Uses and Structures
Subject to provisions or restrictions contained here and elsewhere in this
Ordinance.
1. Any public or semi-public use.
2. Warehousing and storage.
3. Freight handling facilities.
4. Lumber and building material yards for processing and sales.
5. Research facilities.
6. Mortuaries.
7. Trucking and other transfer facilities.
8. Transportation facilities.
9. Public and private elementary and high schools and institutions of
higher learning.
10. Parks, governmental and community buildings and related uses.
11. Retail stores; sales and display rooms and shops; establishments
for servicing household appliances including places in which goods
are produced for sale only at retail and only on the premises
(provided that except as otherwise possible by special exceptions,
all sales, storage, display of goods, or allowable production of goods
shall be within enclosed structures.)
12. Personal service establishments, including barber and beauty shops,
cleaning, dyeing, laundry, pressing, dressmaking, tailoring and
F
27

garment repair shops, and similar uses, including those with
processing on the premises (provided that not over five persons
shall be employed in such processing).
13. Hotels, motels, and boarding houses.
14. Eating and drinking establishments.
15. Vocational schools not involving operations of an industrial nature
16. Commercial recreational structures and uses, such as indoor
theaters, driving ranges, miniature golf courses, swimming pools,
shuffleboard courts, and similar uses provided however, that where
such structure or use adjoins a residential district or existing hotels,
motels, or mobile home courts, walls shall be provided as a barrier
to noise and dust, and further provided that no direct source of
illumination shall be visible from any room normally used for
sleeping purposes, provided however, that bowling alleys and roller
rinks shall be permissible only as special exceptions.
17. Financial institutions and services.
18. Offices and studios.
19. Hospitals; nursing homes; domiciliary homes; clinics including
veterinarian establishments, and laboratories.
20. Clubs, lodges, churches, mortuaries.
21. Utility sub -stations.
22. Commercial parking lots, parking garages.
23. Marinas and docks.
24. Filling Station or fuel dispensing pumps, which uses can be
combined in one structure with other permitted or permissible uses
or which dispensing pumps can be accessory to other permitted or
permissible uses and structures.
25. One dwelling unit on a lot existing as of the effective date of this
ordinance if the lot is less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet
in area and/or less than one hundred (100) feet in width.
26. Open-air uses, such as car sales lots.
28

27. Practitioners of the healing arts and sciences, including operating
and recovery facilities, but not long term care facilities.
28. Outdoor advertising structures.
29. Sewer and wastewater treatment plants, facilities and utility sub-
stations.
30. Light industrial uses.
31. Bona fide farms.
32. Agri -business.
33. Agricultural industry.
C. Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures
1. Owners' and caretakers' dwelling and lodging units in any permitted
use structure.
2. Uses and structures which are customarily accessory and clearly
incidental to permitted or permissible uses and are not of a nature
prohibited under "Prohibited Uses and Structures," provided that no
more than two on -premise dwelling units for occupancy by the
owner, lessors, managers, watchmen, or custodians in connection
with the operation of any permitted or permissible use, shall be
permitted; and provided further that no service area shall be visible
from any street or sidewalk or from any .residential district.
3. Temporary structures and operations in connection with, and on the
site of, building or land preparation developments, including
dredging and filling, grading, paving, installation of utilities,
construction, erection of field offices, and structures for storage of
equipment and building materials; provided a Certificate of
Occupancy shall have been issued therefor.
D. Special Exceptions Permissible by Board of Adiustment
After public notice and hearing, and subject to appropriate conditions and
safeguards, the Board of Adjustment may permit:
1. Planned groups of principal uses and structures on the same site.
2. Other forms of housing as accessory use, such as rooms or
dormitories for students or employees.
29

3. Junkyard, with the following minimum improvements:
a) Access be provided by paved road to the lot.
b) A solid wall six feet in height be provided along the entire
perimeter of the lot except for one point of ingress and
egress, which shall not be over thirty feet (30') in material
shall be provided and closed during non -operating hours, or
the lot be enclosed by fence with similar gate and the view
on all sides be screened by natural objects, grassed earthen
berms, or heavy tree and shrubbery plantings.
c) All performance standards of this article be met for a use
considered to be abutting a lot line in a commercial district.
d) Full compliance with the N.C. State Building Code, including
as to bath facilities for a commercial enterprise, and full
compliance with N.C. Administrative Code over potable water
and sewer services.
e) Notarized assurance from both the lot owner(s) and any
party(ies) contracted to operate such junkyard shall be
provided warranting no materials from such operation will be
permitted to seep into the ground, whether it be oils, eroded,
dissolving base metals.
4. Garage service and repair provided that all above uses are
conducted within enclosed buildings; all storage areas of parts and
materials are enclosed, and all waiting and ready cars are located
on the premises. Car wash and polishing, providing such structure,
unless completely enclosed, provides a minimum interior side yard
of 20 feet and a rear yard of 20 feet, where practicable. In addition,
all entrances and exits for above uses shall be approved by the
N.C. Department of Transportation, and provided that no such
facility shall be permitted on a lot with a width of less than 100 feet
or an area of less than 10,000 square feet.
5. Bowling alleys; outdoor theaters; skating rinks.
6. Kindergartens and children's nurseries.
7. Group care facility.
8. Mini -storage enclosed facilities.
9. Overnight camp trailer park or recreational vehicle park.
30

7
1
E. Special Exceptions Permissible by the Planning Board
After public notice and hearing, and subject to appropriate conditions and
safeguards, the Planning Board may permit:
1. Planned groups of structures on a lot or a single structure on a lot,
when said single structure has a square footage of 10,000 square
feet or more, provided that maximum lot coverage, maximum height,
and minimum off-street loading requirements, shall meet the
requirements for other uses and structures of a similar nature in this
district. Acceleration and deceleration lanes as approved by the
N.C. Department of Transportation shall be provided on all
entrances connecting directly to Highway U.S. 70 in connection with
these developments.
2. Filling stations, when part of a planned group of structures. Such
filling stations need not be located directly at major intersections.
F. Prohibited Uses and Structures
1. Dwelling units, except as provided under Accessory Uses and
Permissible Uses.
2. Truck terminals; storage warehouses and storage yards.
3. All uses and structures not of a nature specifically or provisionally
permitted herein.
4. Class D manufactured dwellings.
G. Minimum Lot Requirements (Area and Width)
For each principal use or structure whether such use or structure is singular on
a site or part of a planned development, when there is in place both a public or
community water system and a public or community sewer system.
Lot area - 10,000 square feet
Lot width - 100 feet
When either such system is lacking:
Lot area - 20,000 square feet
Lot width - 200 feet
31

M
3.5
H. Minimum Set Back and Height Requirements I
When a lot is adjacent to a residentially zoned lot, the following set back '
requirements shall apply:
Front yard set back - 50 feet '
Side yard width - 20 feet
Rear yard set back - 15 feet
Maximum height of structure - 35 feet '
I. Minimum Yard Requirements (Depth of Front and Rear Yards, Width of '
Side Yard)
All yards shall be enclosed by solid walls whenever the abutting land is in a
residential or C-LD District.
For all uses:
Front yard - 50 feet
Side yard - 10 feet
Rear yard - 50 feet
Overlay Districts
A. Purpose
Overlay districts are zoning districts which are applied only in conjunction with a
traditional zoning district, and may grant additional use and development
requirements upon the underlying zoning districts. The effect is to have both the
overlay district and the underlying zoning district control the use and development
of land placed into any overlay district.
Overlay districts support specific public policy objectives as are to be found in the
comprehensive plan.
An overlay district may be initiated as an amendment by the property owner, by
the Planning Board, or by the Board of County Commissioners.
ED - Economic Development District
A. Intent
The purpose of the Economic Development District (ED) is to provide locations
for a wide range of agricultural industry, light and heavy manufacturing, office,
institutional and research uses with no adverse impacts beyond the space
occupied by the use.
32

' The economic development district shall only be applied to lands in close
association with those major thoroughfares identified in the Major Thoroughfare
' Plan, and over lands in the RU-Rural Zoning district. This district is designed to
support specific public policy objectives stated in the CAMA Land Use Plan.
' A zoning map change either establishing or changing any lands into or out of this
economic development overlay district shall be subject to the same procedures
and requirements as any other zoning map change. The more liberal
' requirements of the underlay zoning district and of the overlay zoning district shall
apply in any interpretive construction of this section.
B. Application Criteria
1. No land ownership less than ten (10) acres is eligible for the
application of the Economic Development Overlay district.
2. No uses shall be located in an Area of Environmental Concern as
defined by the N.C. Coastal Area Management Act.
3. All operations other than loading or unloading shall be conducted
entirely within the building or buildings.
4. The performance standards of the commercial zoning district shall
apply.
5. The following sign standards shall apply.
For any permitted or principal use:
1. Types of sign permitted
2. Permitted number of signs:
3. Maximum area of sign
4. Maximum height:
Wall or free-standing
Unlimited wall signs and one (1).
free-standing per lot per public
street front. No two signs
identifying or advertising the same
use shall be located closer than
one hundred (100) feet from each
other measured by using the
shortest straight line distance.
Ninety six (96) square feet.
Wall. Signs shall not be allowed to
extend above the parapet of the
building.
Free-standing. Forty (40) feet.
' 33

6. No lot shall be less than one acre in size nor have less than one
hundred (100') in width.
7. The minimum lot area may be decreased by ten percent (10%) if a
10 foot (horizontal dimension) buffer of thick evergreen vegetation
designed to grow at least 10 feet in height is provided along all
property lines adjacent to residentially zoned property.
8. The front yard set back may be reduced to ten feet (10') if all off-
street parking is provided in the rear yard area.
9. All lighting shall be directed away from residentially zoned areas.
34

I ARTICLE IV: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
' 4.1 Off -Street Parking and Loading Space
' 4.1.1 Statement of Intent
Vehicles require adequate space in safe operating and parking conditions for all
' land uses, public and private. Craven County has a sensitive environment whereby
space for vehicle parking and loading should have the least necessary impervious
' surface, should not drain directly into the waters of the county, and should be adequately
designed for either on -site absorption of or disposal of such vehicular wastes such as
oils.
' 4.1.2 Off -Street Parking and Loading Space and Plans Required
' No Building Permit, Certificate of Zoning Compliance, or Certificate of Occupancy
shall be issued for uses of land, structures, and buildings, either initially or for a change
in use or expansion of an existing use, unless the off-street parking and loading
' requirements of this Article are satisfied.
Applications for permits and/or certificates shall include information as to location
' and dimension of off-street parking, and means of ingress and egress to such space, a
copy of the Sedimentation and Erosion Control Plan prepared and filed under N.C.
Statutes for same, and a showing of shrubbery areas, trees to be saved or added,
' berms, proposed fences or walls, proposed surface materials, proposed lighting, and
written assurance the N.C. Statute on handicapped parking will be satisfied.
' The purpose of off-street loading requirements is to assure a proper and uniform
development of off-street loading areas and to relieve traffic congestion in the streets.
The off-street loading requirements will apply to business and manufacturing zoning
' districts.
1
35

4.1.3 Minimum Off -Street Loading Space Requirements
use.
The following minimum loading space requirements shall apply for the appropriate
Gross Floor Area
Required Number of
Type of Use
(Square Feet)
Loading Spaces
Office
0-4,999
None
Restaurant
0-4,999
None
5,000-49,999
One (1)
Hotel or Motel
0-49,999
None
50,000-99,999
Two (2)
100,000+
Two (2) plus one for each
100,000 square feet of gross
floor area in excess of
100,000 square feet
Other Commercial
0-4,999
None
Establishments
5,000-19,999
One (1)
20,000-49,999 Two (2)
Shopping Centers 50,000-79,999 Three (3)
or Industrial Uses 80,000-99,999 Four (4)
100,000-149,999 Five (5)
150,000+ Five (5) plus one for each
50,000 square feet of gross
floor area in excess of
150,000 square feet
Each loading berth shall be a minimum of twelve (12) feet wide and fifty-five (55)
feet long with a height clearance of fourteen (14) feet.
4.1.4 Satellite and Cooperative Parking
In instances where all required parking space cannot be provided on the same lot
as the principal use, it may be provided on separate land, but at least fifty percent of
such required parking must be on the site of the principal use. Such satellite parking
areas must be within 500 feet of the lot containing the principal use, and such areas
must be in a zoning district permitting parking as a principal use.
Cooperative provision of required parking space is encouraged, with the plans for
permits clearly showing assignment of spaces to each principal use to be served. The
Planning Director and/or the Zoning Administrator is hereby granted authority to approve
innovative or cooperative parking arrangements when the public interest is served and
protected.
36

' 4.1.5 Design Standards
' Paving of parking and loading spaces is not required as long as soil stabilization
is provided to assure ruts and pot holes will not occur, and that there will be minimal
' dust created by driving and maneuvering.
For a parking lot requiring twenty (20) or more parking spaces, there is to be a
' shrubbery bed at least four feet in height and five feet in width provided at all exterior
property lines except along street frontage, to filter storm waters and to be a visual
buffer.
' Parking areas shall be designed to allow unobstructed movement into and out of
each parking space without interfering with fixed objects such as lighting fixtures,
tdumpsters, signage, or vehicles.
All parking areas shall be designed to provide for internal circulation such that
' each parking space is accessible to all other parking spaces without necessitating ,the
use of a public street or alley.
' Any lighting shall be internally oriented and maximum height of any lighting
fixture/structure shall be ten feet.
Each parking space shall contain a rectangular area at least eighteen (18) feet
long and ten (10) feet wide. Lines demarcating parking spaces may be drawn at various
angles in relation to curbs or aisles, so long as the parking spaces so created contain
' within them, the rectangular area required by this section.
Aisle widths for parking lots will be as follows: for one way traffic, a minimum
aisle width of twelve (12) feet is required; for two way traffic, a minimum aisle width of
twenty (20) feet is required.
' Driveways shall be not less than ten (10) feet in width for one way traffic and
eighteen (18) feet in width for two way traffic. However, ten (10) foot wide driveways are
permissible for two way traffic when (i) the driveway is not longer than seventy-five (75)
feet, (ii) it provides access to not more than six spaces, and (iii) sufficient turning space
is provided so that vehicles need not back into public streets. Further, ten (10) foot wide
' driveways may be permitted for two-way traffic if the administrator determines that not
more than ten (10) trips per day will be generated to and from the vehicular area being
served by that driveway and such vehicular area is not used by the general public.
1
37

4.1.6 Spaces for the Disabled
Except for a lot containing a duplex, triplex, quadraplex, or single-family dwelling,
all uses shall be required to provide the following number of spaces designed for
disabled persons:
Total Number of Required Total Number of Spaces
Off -Street Parking Spaces Required for. Disabled
1 - 50
51 - 100
101 or more
4.1.7 Parking Decks and Parking Garages
One (1)
Two (2)
Two (2) plus one for every
fifty (50) spaces
Required parking and loading spaces need not be at ground level. Decks and
garages will be treated either as part of the principal structure and subject to all
requirements over such structures, or as principal uses by themselves, meeting all
requirements for principal structures and uses when permitted.
4.1.8 Number of Spaces Required
Calculation of spaces shall be in whole units only. If calculation results in a
fraction, that fraction is eliminated from the requirement.
Each use shall provide the following off-street parking:
Single-family Dwelling
Two Family Dwelling
Multi -Family Dwelling
Residential Homes
Rooming Houses/Boarding Houses
Bed and Breakfast, Hotels, Motels,
Hunting and Fishing Lodges
Tourist Homes and other temporary
residences renting by day or week
Church
Clinics, Medical
Two (2) spaces per dwelling unit.
Two (2) spaces per dwelling unit.
Two (2) spaces per dwelling unit.
One (1) space per bedroom.
One (1) space per bedroom.
One (1) space for each room to be
rented.
Two (2) spaces.
One (1) space for each 4 seats in the
sanctuary.
Four (4) spaces for each doctor plus one
(1) parking space for each employee.
38

Fraternity or Sorority
IFuneral Homes
IGeneral or Professional Offices
Golf Course, Par 3, or Miniature
Golf Course
'
Home Occupations - Medical
'
Doctors, Dentist Offices, and/or
Beauty Salons in residence
Home Occupations (except medical
'
doctor, dentist offices and/or beauty
salons)
'
Kindergarten or Nursery
INursing Homes
Clubs
Public or Private
'
Restaurant
'
Restaurant, Drive -In
Stadiums
Banks and other Financial
Institutions
Libraries and Museums
Government Offices
One (1) space for each resident.
One (1) space for each four (4) seats in
the chapel, plus one for each funeral
vehicle.
One (1) space for each four hundred
(400) square feet of gross floor space.
Three (3) spaces for each hole plus
requirements for any other use
associated with the golf course.
Three (3) spaces in addition to the
residence requirements.
Two (2) spaces in addition to the
residence parking requirements.
One (1) space for each employee and
four (4) spaces for drive-in, drop-off, and
pickup.
One (1) parking space for each four (4)
beds intended for patient use, plus one
(1) per employee on largest shift.
One (1) space for each one hundred
(100) square feet of gross floor space.
One (1) space for each four (4) seats
plus one (1) space for each two (2)
employees.
One (1) space for each four (4) seats
plus one (1) space for each two (2)
employees.
One (1) space for each four (4)
spectator seats.
One (1) space for each two hundred
(200) square feet of gross floor space
plus one (1) space for each two (2)
employees.
One (1) space for each four hundred
(400) square feet of gross floor space.
One (1) space for each three hundred
(300) square feet of gross floor space.
1 39

Convenience Stores
One (1) space for each one hundred fifty
(150) square feet of gross floor space.
Wholesale Sales
One (1) space for each four hundred
(400) square feet of gross floor space.
Shopping Center
One (1) space for each two hundred
(200) square feet of gross floor space,
for 80% of the building.
Elementary Schools
Two (2) spaces for each classroom plus
one (1) space for each administrative
office.
Junior High Schools
Two (2) spaces for each classroom plus
one (1) space for each administrative
office.
High Schools
One (1) space for each ten (10) students
plus one (1) space for each classroom
and administrative office.
Colleges
One (1) space for every four hundred
(400) square feet of classroom and
administrative gross floor space plus one
(1) space for every dormitory room.
Bowling Alleys
Four (4) spaces per bowling lane.
Movie Theaters
One (1) space for each four (4) seats
located inside the theater.
Industrial or Manufacturing
One (1) space for each two (2)
Establishment or Warehouse
employees during the shift of greatest
employment, plus one (1) space for
each managerial personnel, plus one (1)
visitor's space for each five (5)
managerial spaces.
Neighborhood or Community
One (1) space for every four (4) seats
Building
within the building.
Retail Business
One (1) space for each four hundred
(400) square feet of gross floor space if
not mentioned above.
Commercial Recreation
One (1) space for every two hundred
(200) square feet of gross floor space if
not mentioned above.
40

' 4.2 Signs
' 4.2.1. Statement of Intent
Our society needs street graphics to facilitate easy, pleasant, and safe
communication. This section is concerned only with such street graphics as can be seen
from public ways, not those of any form of internal orientation.
' Signs, including outdoor advertising structures, are the primary types of private
street graphics over which there is need for a comprehensive, balanced set of
' regulations to assure equity to all persons needing some form of graphic display, to
insure the public's capacity to receive information, to insure that privacy is not violated,
and that the probability of traffic accidents is not accelerated by distracting attention or
' by obstructing sight vision.
Signs are for the promotion of health, safety, welfare, convenience and general
' enjoyment of travel on, and protection of the public investment in streets and roads, and
to prevent such signs from dominating the visual appearance of the area in which they
are located.
' 4.2.2 Sign Illumination
' All lighted signs shall have their lighting directed in such a manner as to illuminate
only the face of the sign. Illumination shall be shielded or directed so that the light or
brightness shall not be seen at any property line of the lot.
4.2.3 Unsafe Signs
' Any sign which is determined by the Zoning Administrator as being insecure, in
danger of falling, or otherwise endangering the public safety shall be immediately
removed by its owner unless it is repaired and made. to .otherwise comply with the
requirements of this ordinance.
' 4.2.4 Permit Required
Except as otherwise provided in this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to
erect, construct, enlarge, move, or replace any sign or to cause the same to be done,
without first having obtained zoning permission for such sign.
' No sign of any type nor any part thereof shall be erected, painted, repainted,
posted, reposted, placed, replaced, hung or moved except in compliance with this
chapter.
1
41

4.2.5 Prohibited Signs
Signs Obstructing View: Any sign which obstructs the view of pedestrians,
bicyclists and/or motorists using any street, approach to any street intersection, or which
interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures any traffic sign, device, or signal shall be
prohibited. Any sign located in such a way as to intentionally deny a visual access to
an existing sign.
Illuminated Signs: Illuminated, highly reflective signs, or spot lights which
hamper the vision of motorist or bicyclists.
Moving Signs: Signs, other than government signs, which contain oscillating,
fluctuating, flashing or blinking lights, rotating disks, words and other devices not erected
by a public authority which may be erroneously construed as government signs or
emergency warning signs. An example of this is a sign which contains a picture of a
traffic sign plus the word "stop," "yield," etc.
No sign of any type nor any part thereof shall be erected, painted, repainted,
posted, reposted, placed, replaced, hung or moved except in compliance with this article.
Signs Obstructing Traffic: Any sign located outdoors which interferes with free
passage from or obstructs any fire escape, downspout, window, door, stairway, ladder,
or opening intended as a means of ingress or egress or providing light or air.
Signs Located on a Public Street or Right -of -Way: Any sign (other than a
government sign) placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other
surface and located in, over, or across any public street or right-of-way.
Flashing Signs: Flashing signs, signs with flashing or reflective disks, signs with
flashing lights or lights of changing degree of intensity or color or signs with electrically
scrolled messages (except government signs and signs which give time and temperature
information). If a time and temperature sign alternates between a time message and a
temperature message it shall continuously show one message a minimum of three (3)
seconds in time before switching to the other message.
Temporary, Nonpermanent Signs: Temporary, nonpermanent signs, including
overhead streamers, are not permitted in any zoning district, unless otherwise specified
in these regulations.
Use of Warning Words or Symbology: Signs using the words "stop," "danger,"
or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character similar to terms used in public safety
warning or traffic signs.
42

4.2.6. Signs Permitted in Any District
' The following signs shall be exempt from other requirements within this ordinance.
' Government Signs: Government signs, including graphics usually of a
commemorative nature such as obelisks and triumphal arches.
Grave Markers: Grave markers which are noncommercial in nature.
Flags or Pennants: Flags, pennants, insignia, and symbols of any public or
' semi-public use.
Architectural Features of Buildings: Integral decorative or architectural features
' of buildings and works of art, so long as such features or works do not contain letters,
trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
' On -Premises Instructional Signs: On -premises instructional signs not exceeding
six square feet in area.
' Identification Signs for Residential Uses: Identification signs for residential
uses not exceeding four square feet on any lot.
' Campaign/Political Signs: Campaign, election, and political signs of a
non -permanent nature.
' Holiday/Special Events Signs: Holiday decorations, and for special events.
Price Signs: Price signs at automobile service stations or other establishments
' engaged in the retail sales of gasoline. One (1) such sign is permitted for each side of
a lot fronting on a public street, provided it does not exceed eight (8) square feet in area.
Any such sign shall be affixed to a permitted freestanding identification sign, to a canopy
isupport in the vicinity of the gasoline pumps, or flat -mounted against the wall of a
building.
' Gasoline Service Pump Signs: Signs announcing the location of self-service or
full service gasoline pumps at any establishment engaged in the retail sale of gasoline.
' Such signs shall be located in the vicinity of the gasoline pumps and shall not exceed
eight (8) square feet in area.
' Personal Property and Real Estate Signs: Temporary personal property signs
and real estate signs advertising specific property for sale, lease, rent or development
shall be located as follows:
1. One sign for each side of a lot fronting on a public street, advertising real
estate or personal property "For Sale," "For Rent," "For Lease" or "For
' Development" not greater than ten (18) square feet in area in a residential
1
43

district and sixty-four (64) square feet in area in nonresidential districts may
be located on the property being advertised so long as said sign is located
behind the street right-of-way line. If the property so advertised lies on a
corner lot or double frontage lot, then a second sign may be permitted
along the second street so long as the two signs are at least one hundred
(100) feet apart as measured by the shortest straight line.
2. In addition to the on -site real estate sign(s), a maximum of three (3)
directional signs, each not exceeding four (4) square feet in area, shall be
permitted in other locations. The message of said signs shall be limited to
the name of the property, and the terms "Lot/Home For Sale," "For Rent,"
"For Lease," "For Development," etc. All of these signs shall be located off
the street right-of-way.
3. All such temporary signs shall be removed within seven (7) days after the
property has been sold, rented, leased, etc.
4. No sign allowed under this subsection shall be lighted.
Subdivision Identifications Signs: Permanent subdivision identification signs
not exceeding sixty-four (64) square feet total per entrance road. Subdivision
identification signs may not exceed two signs per entrance road.
Temporary Construction Signs: Temporary construction signs provided that:
1. Signs in conjunction with any residential use shall not exceed ten (10)
square feet each.
2. Signs in conjunction with all other uses shall have a maximum area of fifty
(50) square feet each.
3. Only one (1) such sign per premises shall be erected.
4. Such signs shall not be illuminated.
5. Such signs shall only appear at the construction site.
6. Such signs shall be removed within seven (7) days after a certificate of
occupancy for any portion of the project has been issued.
Temporary Farm Product Signs:
1. One on -premises sign may be used. Said sign shall be located off the
street right-of-way and at least ten (10) feet away from any side lot line.
Such sign shall have a maximum area of nine (9) square feet and may not
be illuminated.
44

F
r
2. A maximum of two off -premises signs shall be permitted. Said
off-premisses signs may be no greater than four (4) square feet apiece and
shall not be illuminated. No such sign shall be allowed in the street
right-of-way.
Special Events Signs: Temporary special event signs or banners for religious,
charitable, civic, fraternal or similar nonprofit or not -for -profit organizations provided that:
1. Signs shall be erected no sooner than thirty (30) days and removed no
!ater than seven (7) days after the event.
2. Portable signs for such uses may be allowed.
3. No such sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
4. No such sign shall be illuminated.
5. All such signs shall be located off the street right-of-way.
Other Temporary Banners: Other temporary banners for a nonresidential use
located in a nonresidential district, provided that:
1. For a continuous period not to exceed fourteen (14) days, on -premises
banners; balloons and other inflatable objects, pennants; and flags for
special events and grand openings are permitted so long as said sign
objects are not located in a street right-of-way. Within any calendar year,
any use may be permitted temporary signs of this nature for no greater
than three 14-day periods.
Yard Sale Signs: One (1) on -premise and three (3) off -premises yard sale signs
per yard sale. All such signs shall be removed within twenty-four hours after the yard
sale has been terminated. No such sign shall be greater than four (4) square feet in
area. All such signs shall be located off the street right-of-way.
Bulletin Boards: Bulletin boards, with a maximum area of fifty (50) square feet.
Directional Signs: Directional signs (for commercial and public and semi/public
uses) provided that:
1. No more than three (3) directional sign may be erected on any lot occupied
by a principal use.
2. All such signs shall be located off the road right-of-way.
3. All such signs greater than three (3) feet in height as measured from the
grade of the road upon which it fronts shall be located outside the required
sight triangle as indicated in this article.
45

4. There shall be no greater than four (4) directional signs on separate
supports at the intersection of any two (2) roads,
5. More than one sign may be placed on the same supports.
6. No two (2) directional signs hung from separate supports shall be located
within five (5) feet of each other.
7. The maximum area of any directional sign shall be six (6) square feet
4.2.7 Types of Signs
Wall Signs:
1. No wall sign shall project more than six (6) inches from the building wall,
roof, canopy or supporting structure.
2. No wall sign or its supporting structure shall cover any window or part of
a window.
3. Canopy, roof, and awning signs are considered wall signs; in no instances
shall such a sign extend over either a right-of-way or a public easement of
any nature.
Free -Standing Signs:
1. All free-standing signs shall be so located that no part thereof projects over
or in any way into the street right-of-way.
2. If the setback from the street property line is less than twenty five (25) feet,
the bottom of the free-standing sign shall be at least ten (10) feet in height
from the ground.
3. No free-standing sign on premise shall be located closer than twenty (20)
feet to any adjacent side or rear lot line.
4. A twenty-five (25) foot side yard setback shall be required when the side I
yard line abuts a residential zoning district.
On -Premises Signs: On -premises signs are signs which are located on the
property of the principal use which is being advertised. On -premises signs can be either
wall signs or free-standing signs.
Off -Premises Signs: Off -premises signs are signs which are located off the '
property of the principal use. Free-standing signs will be permitted as off -premises
signs.
46 1

1
E
4.2.8 Off -Premises Signs
A business, person, or an organization, shall have the right to put up as many
free-standing off -premises signs as they want as long as they adhere to the spacing
requirements. The following standards apply only to off -premises signs.
Permitted Use: Free-standing signs are permitted only within Commercial Low
Density (C-LD), Commercial Manufacturing (C-M), Heavy Manufacturing (HI-M), and
Rural (RU).
Distance from centerline: Free standing signs shall be located within six
hundred and sixty (660) feet of the centerline of the roadway to which they are oriented.
Spacing:
1. On major thoroughfares such as Highways 70 and 17, the minimum
spacing requirements between off -premises signs shall be fifteen hundred
(1,500) feet.
2. On minor thoroughfares, the minimum spacing requirements between
off -premises signs shall be one thousand (1,000) feet.
3. On all other public roads in Craven County, the minimum spacing
requirements between off -premises signs shall be five hundred (500) feet.
Distance from Residential Zones: Free standing signs shall be located no
closer than the following distances from residentially zoned property:
On the major thoroughfares such as Highways 70 and 17:
1. Twenty-five (25) feet from any residence;
2. Fifty (50) feet from any residential zone adjacent to a permitted zone away
from the roadway; and ,
3. One hundred (100) feet from any residential zone adjacent to a permitted
zone parallel to the roadway.
On all other roads in Craven County;
1. Twenty-five (25) feet from any residence;
2. One hundred (100) feet from any residential zone adjacent to a permitted
zone away from the roadway; and,
3. One hundred (100) feet from any residential zone adjacent to a permitted
zone parallel to the roadway.
47

Setback: Free standing signs shall be set back from each property line a
minimum of one-half the distance required by the zoning ordinance for principal
structures.
Maximum Sign Area: The maximum sign area of an off -premises ground sign
shall be limited, depending on location, as follows:
1. On major thoroughfares such as Highways 70 and 17, the maximum sign
size shall be six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet.
2. On minor thoroughfares, the maximum sign size shall be three hundred
seventy-eight (378) feet.
3. On all other public roads in Craven County, the maximum sign size shall
be one hundred twenty eight (128) feet.
Wall Attachment: An off -premises sign attached to the wall of a structure may
not exceed thirty (30) percent of the total surface area of the wall on which the sign is
located. Also, no off -premises sign may be located on the same wall as any other
off -premises sign.
Height: Off -premises ground signs shall be limited to a maximum height of forty
(40) feet above the roadway to which it is oriented or grade of the site on which the sign
is located, whichever is higher. Sign height shall be measured to the highest portion of
the sign, including any molding, trim, border, or frame designed to attract attention,
excluding any extensions.
Ways Signs Can Be Displayed: The outdoor advertising signs may be placed
back-to-back, side -by -side, or in V-type construction. Side -by -side signs shall be
structurally tied together and considered as one sign. V-type and back-to-back signs will
not be considered as one sign if located more than fifteen (15) feet apart at their nearest
point. Stacked and/or rooftop locations of off -premises signs shall not be permitted.
Prohibited Use of Signs: Placing sign facings on top of one another I
(double -decking) is prohibited.
4.2.9 Computation of Sign Area for Other Than Outdoor Advertising Structures
The surface area of a sign is computed as including the entire area within a
parallelogram, triangle, circle, semi -circle or other regular geometric figure, including all '
of the elements of the display, but not including blank masking (a plain strip, bearing no
advertising matter around the edge of a sign), frames, display of identification or
licensing officially required by any governmental body, or structural elements outside the '
sign surface and bearing no advertising matter. In the case of signs mounted
back-to-back, only one side of the sign is to be included in the area. Otherwise, the
surface area of each sign is to be separately computed. '
48 1

3. Maximum area of sign: Wall. A maximum of thirty (30) percent of the
wall area of any wall on the building,
except in no instance shall any principal use
be allowed to have an aggregate wall sign
area in excess of one hundred (100) square
feet.
Free -Standing. A maximum of ninety six (96)
square feet per sign.
4. Maximum Height: Wall signs shall not be allowed to extend
above the parapet of the building.
Free-standing. Forty (40) feet.
C. Non Conforming Uses
Any non -conforming use must comply with the zoning regulations, pertaining to
' signs, within the zoning district in which they are located.
' 4.3 Planned Unit Developments (P.U.D.): Plats of Same.
4.3.1. Application.
Site specific development plans as are permissible in various Zoning districts as
Special Exceptions either by the Zoning Board of Adjustment or the Planning Board, and
may be known as planned unit Developments, or planned unit development plats, by
herewith blending the subdivision authority of the county with zoning authority, as
permitted by the Planning Board, are covered by these standards.
4.3.2. General Requirements.
A. Minimum Acreage
Planned unit developments shall have a gross site area of not less than
ten (10) acres.
B. Single Ownership and Development
For an area of land to be developed and improved as a single entity under
a planned unit development, planned unit development plat or unified
development plan, sections or phases can have varying ownerships as per
these regulations.
50

back-to-back, only one side of the sign is to be included in the area. Otherwise, the
surface area of each sign is to be separately computed.
In the case of cylindrical signs, signs in the shape of cubes, or other signs which
are substantially three-dimensional with respect to their display surfaces, the entire
display surface or surfaces is included in computations of area.
In the case of embellishments (display portions of signs extending outside the
general display area), surface area extending outside the general display area not
bearing advertising material is to be computed separately (according to the method
described immediately above in this section) as part of the total surface area of the sign.
The following illustrates various types of wall signs and free-standing signs.
4.2.10 On -Premises Signs
A. Signs Permitted in High Density Residential District
For any permitted non residential use:
1. Types of sign permitted: Wall or Free-standing.
2. Permitted number of signs: Unlimited wall signs and one (1) free-standing
per lot per public street front. No two signs
identifying or advertising the same use shall
be located closer than one hundred (100) feet
from each other measured by using the
shortest straight line distance.
3. Maximum area of sign: Sixty-four (64) square feet.
4. Maximum Height: Ten (10) feet.
B. Signs Permitted in Commercial Zoning District
For permitted and permissible principal uses when allowed:
1. Types of sign permitted: Wall or Free-standing.
2. Permitted number of signs: Wall. No limit.
Free-standing. One (1) free-standing per
premises per public street front. No two
signs identifying or advertising the same use
shall be located closer than one hundred
(100) feet from each other measured by
using the shortest straight line distance.
49

C. Stages and Timing of Development
' The planned unit development may be developed in stages, as long as the
stages and timing of same are shown on the initial approved plan plat, and
do not exceed three years between phases or for completion as long as
' assurance is provided of continuity of required open space.
4.3.3 Design Standards
' The design standards of this article for minimum lot sizes, widths and depths,
building setback lines, and streets do not apply to planned unit developments. Other
standards apply, including density of number of dwelling units per acre in lieu of
individual minimum low sizes.
The following design standards apply:
A. Maximum Ground Coverage
Maximum round coverage b all structures shall be forty 40 percent of
9 9 Y rtY i)
'
the gross site area.
B. The PUD plat shall require the submission, approval, and recordation of a
final plat. The PUD plat shall contain the language, "Approved as a PUD
'
plat."
C. The site specific development plan and the development site plan portion
'
of the PUD plat may be divided into development stages. When the plan
or PUD plat is of such a size as to require staging, an overall plan may be
approved, subject to final approval of each stage. The development site
plan shall include at least the following:
'
1. North point, full right-of-way of all abutting and intersecting streets,
including curbs, and center line. Scale, date, and legal description
of the proposed site;
2. Location, dimensions, and type of any proposed streets, trafficways,
driveways, sidewalks, pedestrian and bike trails, curb cuts,
entrances, exits, outdoor lighting systems, storm drainage, sanitary
sewer and all other utilities and services;
t3.
Location, dimensions and use of existing and proposed structures
and parking areas;
'
4. Location and dimension of proposed boundaries, setback lines, and
easements, open space and recreational areas;
'
5. Landscaping, irrigation and sedimentation control plans;
1
51

N
E.
F
G.
6. Site data breakdowns in square footage for building coverage,
paved areas, green areas, lake areas, commercial structures and
the gross site area; .
7. Specific identification of the size, number, and type of proposed
units and offices, commercial or industrial usage;
8. Location and screening of trash containers and air conditioning
units;
9. Elevations of building types, proposed walls, fences, and bridges;
10. Construction plans showing proposed location and size of streets,
sidewalks, trafficways, sanitary sewers, water mains, culverts,
retention ponds, drainage structures and other utilities in and
adjacent to the project.
Assured Recreation Area
For residential developments, minimum assured recreation area shall be
ten (10) percent of the gross site area. Such recreation area shall be
conveniently and centrally located to the housing units.
Setbacks
Minimum setbacks and distances between structures shall be as follows:
minimum distance between internal structures shall be as required by the
N.C. Department of Insurance, whichever is greater, and a minimum
setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required from any peripheral
property line, right-of-way or internal trafficway, excepting for traditional or
unusual platting into typical or small lots, when all external peripheral
setbacks from the property line of ten (10) feet shall be required.
Building Length
There shall be no row -type buildings. Offsets shall be provided of not less
than four(4) feet for continuous walls exceeding sixty (60) feet in length. No
building over two hundred and fifty (250) feet in length shall be permitted.
Utilities
Water and sewer systems meeting state and local requirements are to be
provided. Provision of service to each housing unit or nonresidential unit
or structure by public utilities for electric and telephone shall be exhibited
on the Plan and certified by the provider thereof. Adequate easements for
ingress and egress for maintenance on these utilities shall be provided. All
utilities shall be underground.
52

IH. Streets
' Streets, public or private, are permissible within a planned unit
development, although the majority of PUDs are of such character internal
circulation trafficways for pedestrian, vehicular, battery or solar generated
' carts are as much if not the bigger users of such trafficways than traditional
motor vehicles.
H
When streets are proposed, requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance
must be met, excepting larger medians will be permissible than may be
allowable by N.C. Department of Transportation standards on private
streets.
Internal Trafficways
A base characteristic of a PUD is that the internal circulation paths do not
follow fixed linear geometric lines as do most streets, but instead are
curvilinear and of meandering character, for protection of better tree and
landscape specimens by going around them and for deliberate slower
paced traffic movements, making generous use of such features as private
restrictions for extremely low speed limits and provision of bumper strips
at intervals in the pavement.
Creative design of trafficways is encouraged, coupled with adherence
insofar as possible to the minimum required street base and paving
construction requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance.
4.3.4. Elements of the PUD Plat.
The PUD plat shall contain three (3) elements: a plat to be recorded, including any
required vacations of existing streets, alleys, or easements; a complete development site
plan; and a document package as required under Section 4.3.5.
4.3.5. Special Requirements.
A. The developer shall complete the installation of all utilities, public streets,
internal trafficways, sidewalks and drainage improvements of each
development stage of the proposed project and shall file a notarized
statement into the public record to this effect.
B. Before plat approval is issued, a property owners association and/or
declaration of condominium, guaranteeing adequate maintenance and
continued operation of all assured open space and other private service
facilities, shall be filed for approval by the Planning Board and then be
properly recorded. Assured open space or facilities shall not be dedicated
or accepted for public purpose or maintenance.
53

4.3.6. Minor Modifications.
Minor modifications to the site plan may be approved by the Zoning Administrator
on behalf of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and on behalf of the Planning Board by the
Planning Director, in keeping with the provisions of this article.
4.3.7. All Subdivision Ordinance Requirements to be Met.
For those PUD special exceptions filed with the Planning Board under this article,
that Board may require the platting thereof prior to or as a condition of approval.
4.3.8. Time Extensions.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board in their discretion may
extend the time deadline for either completion of required improvements or the site
specific development plan for up to one two year period.
4.4. Performance Standards
4.4.1. Applicability.
Any use established or changed, and any building, structure, or tract of land
developed, constructed, or utilized for any permitted or permissible principal or accessory
use shall comply with all performance standards herein set forth. Bona Fide Farms are
exempt from these performance standards.
4.5. Fence and/or Wall Requirements
4.5.1 Permitted Types of Fences:
The following types of fences are permitted in all zoning districts:
A. Masonry or stone walls;
B. Ornamental iron ;
C. Chain -link or woven wire; and
D. Wood or similar material.
4.5.2 Prohibited Types of Fences:
The following types of fences are prohibited in all zoning districts.
A. Fences constructed primarily of barbed or razor wire, except for the
purpose of enclosing livestock; "
B. Fences carrying electrical current, except for the purpose of enclosing
livestock; "
54

C. Fences constructed in whole or in part of readily flammable material such
as paper, cloth or canvas;
D. Fences topped with barbed wire or metal spikes except those serving an
institution requiring a security fence for public safety purposes;
E. Fences constructed of concertina wire.
4.5.3 Required Maintenance
Any fence which, through neglect, lack of repair, type or manner of construction,
method of placement or otherwise, constitutes a hazard or endangers any person, animal
or property is hereby deemed a nuisance. If such conditions exist, the Zoning
Administrator shall require the owner or occupant of the property upon which the fence
is located to repair, replace or demolish the fence causing the nuisance.
4.5.4 Height
' Residential Uses:
C
A. No fence shall exceed six (6) feet in height on side yards and rear yards
within R-7500 and R-6000 residential areas.
B. No fence shall exceed six (6) feet in height within fifteen (15) feet of any
public or private street right-of-way line within a group housing
development unless the sole purpose is to enclose a patio. A patio
enclosure shall not exceed seven (7) feet in height. This does not include
the exterior boundaries.
Recreational Uses: No fence shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.
Commercial or Industrial Uses: No fence shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.
4.5.5 General Fence Requirements
A. Obstruction of view: No fence shall be placed or retained in such a manner
as to obstruct vision at any intersection of public or private streets.
B. Obstruction of drainageway: Fence construction shall not alter or impede
the natural flow of water in any stream, creek, drainage swale, or ditch.
C. Obstruction of access: No fence shall block access from doors or windows.
Fences must have a clearance of at least two (2) feet from building walls,
except where fences project from or to a building wall.
55

D. Orientation of barbed'wire: On fences topped with barbed wire, the bottom '
strand must be at least six (6) feet above grade with vertical supports
slanting inward away from the property line. ,
E. Obstruction of 911 emergency street addresses: No fence shall be
constructed to alter or impede the visual locating of 911 emergency street I
addresses.
r.
56 1

I ARTICLE V:
5.1 General
NONCONFORMING SITUATIONS
' After the effective date of this Ordinance, land or structures, or the uses of land
or structures which would be prohibited under the regulations for the district in.which it
is located and which were existing prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, shall be
considered as nonconforming. It is the intent of this Ordinance to permit these
non -conformities to continue until they are removed, but not to encourage their continual
use.' Nonconforming structures or uses may be continued provided they conform to the
' provisions of this Ordinance.
5.2 Definitions
' Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms defined below are used
in this article in the following manner:
' A. NonConformin Situation - A situation that occurs when, on the effective
date of this Ordinance or any amendment hereto, an existing lot or
' structure, or use of an existing lot or structure, does not conform to one or
more of the regulations applicable to the district in which the lot or structure
' is located.
B. Nonconforming Use - A nonconforming situation that occurs when property
' is used for a purpose or in a manner made unlawful by the permitted use
regulations applicable to the district in which the property is located.
' C. Nonconforming Building or Structure (Dimensional Nonconformity) - A
nonconforming situation that occurs when the height, size or minimum floor
space of a building or the relationship between an existing building and the
' required yard setbacks does not conform to the regulations applicable to
the district in which the property is located.
I�
F
D. Nonconforming Project - Any structure, development or undertaking that is
incomplete at the effective date of this Ordinance and would be
inconsistent with any regulation applicable to the district in which it is
located if completed as proposed or planned.
5.3 Completion of Nonconforming Projects
The construction or erection of any nonconforming project may be completed
provided all construction is done pursuant to a validly issued building permit.
1
57

5.4 Extension or Enlargement of Nonconforming Situations
A. Except as specifically provided in this subsection, it shall be unlawful for
any person to engage in any activity that causes an increase in the extent
of nonconformity of a nonconforming situation.
B. Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a nonconforming use may be
extended throughout any portion of a completed building that, when the
use was made nonconforming by this Ordinance, was manifestly designed
or arranged to accommodate such use. However, subject to Subsection
5A.0 of this section, a nonconforming use may not be extended to
additional buildings or to land outside the original building.
C. Subject to Subsection 5.3 of this section, a nonconforming use of open
land may not be extended to cover more land than was occupied by that
use when it became nonconforming, except that a use that involves the
removal of natural materials from the lot (e.g., a quarry) may be expanded
to the boundaries of the lot where the use was established at the time it
became nonconforming, if ten (10) percent or more of the earth products
had already been removed at the effective date of this Ordinance.
D. Where a nonconforming situation exists, the equipment or processes may
be changed if these or similar changes amount only to changes in the
degree of activity rather than changes in kind and no violations of other
paragraphs of this subsection occur.
E. Physical alternation of structures or the placement of new structures on
open land are unlawful if they result in:
1) An increase in the total amount of space devoted to a
nonconforming use.
2) Greater nonconformity with respect to dimensional restrictions such
as height limitations, or density requirements.
F. Minor repairs to and routine maintenance of property where nonconforming
situations exist are permitted and encouraged.
G. Notwithstanding paragraph 5.5, any structure used for single-family
residential purposes and maintained as a nonconforming use may be
replaced with a similar structure of a larger size, so long as the
replacement does not create new nonconformities or increase the extent
of existing non -conformities with respect to yard size and setback
requirements. In particular, a mobile home may be replaced with a larger
mobile home, and a "single -wide" mobile home may be replaced with a
"double -wide." This paragraph is subject to the limitations stated in
W

' Subsection 5.6 - "Abandonment and Discontinuance of NonConforming
Situations."
H. A structure that is nonconforming in any respect or a structure that is used
in a non -conforming manner may be reconstructed or replaced if partially
' or totally destroyed, subject to the following restrictions:
1. A letter of intent is received by the Building Inspector within six (6)
months from the time of such destruction;
2. A building permit is obtained from the Building Inspector within one
' (1) year from the time the damage or destruction took place;
3. The total amount of space devoted to a non -conforming use may
not be increased, except that a larger, single-family residential
structure may be constructed in place of a smaller one, and a larger
mobile home intended for residential use may replace a smaller one;
' 4. The reconstructed building may not be more nonconforming with
respect to dimensional restrictions such as yard requirements,
' height limitations, or density requirements, and such dimensional
nonconformities must be eliminated if that can reasonably be
accomplished without unduly burdening the reconstruction process
' or limiting the right to continue the nonconforming use of such
building.
' 5.5 Change in Kind of Nonconforming Use
IA. A nonconforming use may be changed to a conforming use. Thereafter,
the property may not revert to a nonconforming use.
B. A nonconforming use may be changed to another nonconforming use only
in accordance with a conditional use permit issued by the Board of
Adjustment. The Board shall issue such approval if it finds that the
'
proposed use will be more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood
than the use in operation at the time the approval is applied for. If a
nonconforming use is changed to any use other than a conforming use
without obtaining approval pursuant to this paragraph, that change shall
constitute a discontinuance of the nonconforming use, and the property
involved may thereafter be used only for conforming purposes.
1. A nonconforming accessory use of building may only be changed to
another nonconforming accessory use or building according to
'
Section of this Ordinance. Changes in a principal use are
also considered as changes to any accessory use or building.
'
59

5.6
C. If a nonconforming use and a conforming use, or any combination of a
conforming and nonconforming use, or any combination of nonconforming
uses exist in one (1) lot, the use made of the property may be changed
substantially (except to a conforming use), only in accordance with
approval issued by the Board of Adjustment. The Board shall issue such
approval if it finds that the proposed use will be more compatible with the
surrounding neighborhood than the use or combination of uses in operation
at the time the approval is applied for.
Abandonment and Discontinuance of Non -conforming Situations
A. When a nonconforming use is discontinued for a consecutive period of 180
days, the property involved may thereafter be used only for conforming
purposes.
B. For purposes of determining whether a right to continue a nonconforming
situation is lost pursuant to this subsection, all of the buildings, activities,
and operations maintained on a lot are generally to be considered as a
whole. For example, the failure to rent one apartment in a nonconforming
apartment building or one space in a non -conforming mobile home park for
180 days shall not result in a loss of the right to rent that apartment or
space thereafter so long as the apartment building or mobile home park as
a whole is continuously maintained. But if a nonconforming use is
maintained in conjunction with a conforming use, discontinuance of a
nonconforming use for the required period shall terminate the right to
maintain it thereafter.
Thus, if a mobile home is used as a nonconforming use on a residential lot
where a conforming residential structure also is located, removal of that
mobile home for 180 days terminates the right to replace it.
C. When a structure or operation made nonconforming by this Ordinance is
vacant or discontinued at the effective date of this Ordinance, the 180-day
period for purposes of this subsection begins to run at the effective date
of this Ordinance.
We

ARTICLE VI: ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
6.1 Administration and Enforcement
The Building Inspector shall administer and enforce this Ordinance. He may be
provided with assistance of such other persons as the County Commissioners may
direct.
If the Building Inspector shall find that any of the provisions of this Ordinance are
being violated, he shall notify in writing the person responsible for such violation
indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it. He
shall order discontinuance of illegal use of land, buildings, or structures; removal of
illegal buildings or structures or of additions, alterations, or structural changes thereto;
discontinuance of any illegal work being done; or shall take any other action authorized
by this Ordinance to insure compliance with or to prevent violation of its provisions.
' 6.2 Building Permit Requirements
Ll
After the adoption of this Ordinance, no
building permit is applied for and issued by the
issued except in conformity with the provision
order from the Board of Adjustment.
6.3 Application for Building Permit
s
new uses shall be established unless a
Building Inspector. No permit shall be
of this Ordinance, except after written
All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate,
drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the
exact sizes and locations on the lot of buildings already existing, if any; the location and
dimensions of the proposed building or alteration and evidence of the Craven County
Board of Health's approval of the sewage disposal system. The application shall include
such other information as may be required by the Building Inspector including existing
or proposed building or alteration; existing or proposed uses of the building and land; the
number of families or rental units the building is designed to accommodate; conditions
existing on the lot; noise abatement proposals; and such other matters as may be
necessary to determine conformance with, and provide for the enforcement of, this
Ordinance.
One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant by the Building Inspector
after he shall have marked such copy either as approved or disapproved and attested
to same by his signature on such copy. Should the Building Inspector disapprove an
application for a building permit, the reasons for disapproval shall be listed on the
application. The second copy of the plans, similarly marked, shall be retained by the
Building Inspector.
61

6.4 Expiration of Building Permit
If the work described in any building permit has not begun within six (6) months
from the date of issuance thereof, said permit shall expire; it shall be cancelled by the
Building Inspector and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected.
If after commencement the work is discontinued for a period of twelve (12)
months, the permit therefore shall immediately expire and be cancelled by the Building
Inspector and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected, together with
notice that further work as described in the cancelled permit shall not proceed unless
and until a new building permit has been obtained.
6.5 Building Permit for New or Altered Uses
It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any
building or premises, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or
wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a building permit shall
have been issued therefor by the Building Inspector stating that the proposed use of the
building or land conforms to the requirements of this Ordinance.
No permit for erection, alteration, moving or repair of any building shall be issued
until an application has been made for a building permit. The permit shall be issued in
conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance upon completion of the work.
A temporary building permit may be issued by the Building Inspector for a period
not exceeding six (6) months during alterations or partial occupancy of a building
pending its completion.
The Building Inspector shall maintain a record of all building permits and a
monthly summary of all permits issued shall be made available to the public.
Failure to obtain a building permit shall be a violation of this Ordinance and
punishable under Section 9.3 of this Ordinance.
6.6 Construction and Use to be as Stated on Building Permits
Building permits issued on the basis of plans and applications approved by the
Building Inspector authorize only the use, arrangements, and construction set forth in
such approved plans and applications. Use, arrangement, or construction at variance
with that authorized shall be deemed a violation of this Ordinance and punishable as
provided by Section 9.3 herein.
6.7 Right of Appeal
If the building permit is denied, the applicant may appeal the action of the Building
Inspector to the Board of Adjustment.
62

6.8 Certificate of Occupancy
' No new building or part thereof shall be occupied, and no addition or enlargement
of any existing building shall be occupied, and no existing building after being altered or
moved shall be occupied, and no change of occupancy shall be made in any existing
' building or part thereof, until the Building Inspector has issued a Certificate of Occupancy
therefore. A temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued for a portion or portions
of a building which may safely be occupied prior to final completion and occupancy of
' the entire building.
Application for a Certificate of Occupancy may be made by the owner or his agent
after all final inspections have been made for new buildings, or, in the case of existing
buildings, after supplying the information and data necessary to determine compliance
with this Ordinance and appropriate regulatory codes of the county for the occupancy
' intended. The Building Inspector shall issue a Certificate of Occupancy when, after
examination and inspection, it is found that the building in all respects conforms to the
provisions of the Ordinance and appropriate regulatory codes of the county for the
' occupancy intended.
A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued for any building until revised noise
abatement construction procedures have been accomplished.
6.9 Duties of Building Inspector, Board of Adjustment, Courts and County
' Commissioners as to Matters of Appeal
It is the intention of this Ordinance that all questions arising in connection with the
' enforcement of this Ordinance shall be presented first to the Building Inspector and that
such questions shall be presented to the Board of Zoning Adjustment only on appeal
from the Building Inspector; and that from the decision of the Board of Adjustment
recourse shall be to courts as provided by law.
' It is further the intention of this Ordinance that the duties of the County
Commissioners in connection with the Ordinance shall not include the hearing and
passing of disputed questions that may arise in connection with the enforcement thereof,
but only considering and passing upon any proposed amendment or repeal of the
Ordinance.
1
63

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
7.1 Amending the Ordinance
The County Board of Commissioners may amend the text regulations and zoning
map according to the following procedures.
The following action shall be taken by the applicant:
1) initiation of Amendments - Proposed amendments may be initiated by the
County Commissioners, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, or by one
or more interested parties.
2) Application - An application for any amendment shall contain a description
of the proposed zoning regulation or district boundary to be applied. Such
application shall be filed with the Planning Department not later than fifteen
(15) working days prior to the Planning Board meeting at which the
application is to be considered.
3) Fee - A fee to be established by the County Commissioners shall be paid
to Craven County, North Carolina, to cover necessary administrative costs
and advertising costs.
4) Letter of Notification - Whenever any property is petitioned for rezoning or
application for Special Use Permit, and such property does not have
frontage on a dedicated public right-of-way, all such petitions shall be
accompanied by letters of notification in the following manner:
a. A letter of notification for each property owner and resident within
two hundred (200 feet from any and all points of the property in
question shall be included for mailing by the Planning Department
staff;
b. The letter shall contain adequate information to notify such owners
and residents of the specific request of the applicant as well as the
time, date, and location of public hearing;
C. Such letters are to be placed in unsealed, stamped and addressed
envelopes ready for mailing. The return address of the Planning
Department must appear on the envelopes;
d. A list of all persons and their addresses to whom the letters are to I
be sent must accompany all such applications; and
e. Failure of any addressee of such letter of notification to receive
same shall not in any way invalidate or affect subsequent action on
the petition for rezoning.
64 1

7.2 Action by the Planning Board
Planning Board Consideration - The Planning Board shall consider and make
recommendations to the County Commissioners concerning each proposed zoning
amendment. The Planning Board shall review any proposed amendment at a regularly
scheduled meeting held and advertised in accordance with its Rules of Procedure then
in effect. In lieu of separate consideration, the Planning Board may review an
amendment in a joint meeting with the County Commissioners at a public hearing held
in conformity with the requirements of Section 7.3 of this Ordinance.
7.3 Action by the County Commissioners
Notice and Public Hearing - No amendment shall be adopted by the County
Commissioners until after public notice and hearing. Notice of public hearing shall be
published once a week for two (2) successive calendar weeks in the local newspapers.
The notice shall be published the first time not less than ten days nor more than 25 days
before the date fixed for the hearing. Public notice may also be posted on the property
concerned indicating the proposed change and date of public hearing.
Action by County Commissioners - Before taking such lawful action as it may
' deem advisable, the County Commissioners shall consider the Planning Board's
recommendation on each proposed zoning amendment.
' A. Petitions for amendment that receive favorable recommendation of the
Planning Board, or petitions on which the Planning Board fails to make its
' recommendation within thirty (30) days after the Planning Board's public
hearing, shall be' scheduled for public hearing before the County
Commissioners. Such public hearing shall be duly advertised.
' B. Petitions for amendments that receive an unfavorable or adverse
recommendation of the Planning Board may be appealed within ten (10)
' days of the date of such adverse decision to the County Commissioners
by filing with the Clerk of the Board a notice, in writing, stating therein the
action of the Planning Board and the amendment requested. Before taking
' action on any proposed amendment, the County Commissioners shall hold
a public hearing. Public Hearings on proposed zoning amendments will be
held at such times as the County Commissioners shall decide.
7.4 Resubmission of a Denied Petition
' No resubmission of a denied petition may be submitted within six (6) months of
its previous denial. A petition which is withdrawn after action by the Planning Board, but
before action by the County Commissioners, shall not be resubmitted prior to a period
' of six (6) months from the date of original submission to the Planning Board.
65

ARTICLE VIII: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
8.1 Creating the Board of Adjustment
The Craven County Board of Commissioners shall provide for the appointment of
the Craven County Board of Adjustment (hereinafter called the Board). Insofar as
possible, members of the Board shall be appointed as follows: at least one (1) resident
of the area which is zoned shall be appointed to the Board; however, the Board shall
consist of a minimum of five (5) members. Insofar as possible, initial appointment to the
Board shall be as follows: one-third (1/3) for a term of three (3) years; one-third (1/3) for
a term of two (2) years; and one-third (1/3) for a term of one (1) year. Two (2) alternate
members may be appointed for a term of three (3) years to serve in the absence of
regular members. The successor to the regular and the alternate members shall be
appointed for three (3) year terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only.
Members of the Board of Adjustment may be removed for cause by the County
Commissioners upon written charges and after public hearing.
8.2 Meetings
The Board shall elect one of its members as Chairman and another as
Vice -Chairman who shall serve for one (1) year. The Building Inspector shall serve as
secretary to the Board of Adjustment. The Board shall draw up and adopt the rules of
procedures under which it will operate. Meetings of the Board shall be held at the call
of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board may determine. The Chairman,
or in his absence, the Acting Chairman, may administer oaths. All meetings of the Board
shall be open to the public. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing
the vote of each member upon every question, or his absence or failure to vote,
indicating such fact, and also keep records of its examination and any other official
action.
8.3 Filing and Notice for an Appeal
Appeals from the enforcement and interpretation of this Ordinance and appeals
for variances may be taken to the Board of Adjustment by any person aggrieved or by
any office, department, board or bureau of the County affected. Notice of an appeal to
the Board of Adjustment shall be filed with the Building Inspector. An appeal stays all
proceedings in furtherance of the action from, unless the Building Inspector files a
Certificate stating that by reason of facts stated in the Certificate a stay would, in his
opinion, interfere with enforcement of the Ordinance because the violation is transitory
in nature, or would cause imminent peril to life and property. The Building Inspector
shall have one (1) copy of said certificate delivered by registered mail or by personal
service to the applicant and to each member of the Board within ten (10) calendar days
from the date the appeal is filed with the Building Inspector. The Certificate shall also
be placed on file in the office of the Building Inspector for public inspection, and recorded
in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board. Where said Certificate is filed by the
Building Inspector, proceedings in furtherance of the original order shall not be stayed

F�
1
1
otherwise than by a restraining order, which may be granted by a court of record in
Craven County
Hearing of the Appeal: After receipt of notice of an appeal, the Board Chairman
shall schedule the time for a hearing, which shall be at a regular or special meeting.
Notice: At least one (1) week prior to the date of the hearing, the Building
Inspector shall furnish all adjoining property owners with written notices of the hearing.
Notice of Public Hearing shall be published once a week for two (2) consecutive calendar
weeks in the local newspaper. Public notice may also be posted on the property
concerned indicating the proposed change and date of public hearing.
Fees for Appeal Variances: A fee to be established by the County
Commissioners shall be paid by Craven County, North Carolina, to cover the necessary
administrative costs and advertising expenses.
8.4 Powers and Duties
The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that there
is error in any decision made by the Building Inspector or other
administrative officials in the carrying out or enforcing of any provision of
the Ordinance. A concurring vote of four -fifths (4/5) of the members of the
Board shall be necessary to reverse, wholly or partly, any such decision.
B. To authorize upon appeal in specific cases such variances from the terms
of this Ordinance as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing
to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this
Ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship. In granting any variance,
the Board may prescribe appropriate conditions and safeguards in
conformity with this Ordinance. A concurring vote of four -fifths (4/5) of the
members of the Board shall be necessary to grant a variance. A variance
from the terms of this Ordinance shall not be granted by the Board unless
and until the following findings are made:
1. That special condition and circumstances exist which are peculiar
to the land, structure, or building involved and which are not
applicable to other land, structures or buildings in the same district;
2. That literal interpretation of the provisions of this Ordinance would
deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties
in the same district under the terms of this Ordinance;
3. That the special conditions and circumstances do not result from the
actions of the applicant;
67

4. That granting the variance requested will not confer on the applicant
any special privilege that is denied by this Ordinance to other land,
structures, or buildings in the same district.
8.5 Appeal from the Board of Adjustment
An appeal from the decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be subject
to review by the Superior Court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. Any petition
for review by the Superior Court shall be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court within
thirty (30) days after the decision of the Board is filed in the Office of the Clerk to the
Board, or after a written copy thereof is delivered to every aggrieves party who has filed
a written request for such copy with the Clerk or Chairman or the Board at the time of
the hearing of the case, whichever is later.
.:

' ARTICLE IX: LEGAL PROVISIONS
' 9.1 Provisions of Ordinance Declared to be Minimum Requirements
' The provisions of this Ordinance shall be held to be minimum requirements,
adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare.
Wherever the requirements of this Ordinance are at variance with the requirements of
' any other lawfully adopted regulations, the most restrictive, or that imposing the higher
standards, shall govern.
1 9.2 Complaints Regarding Violations
Whenever a violation of this Ordinance occurs, or is alleged to have occurred, any
' person may file a written complaint. Such complaint stating fully the causes and basis
thereof shall be filed with the Building Inspector. He shall record properly such
complaint, immediately investigate, and take action thereon as provided by this
' Ordinance.
' 9.3 Penalties for Violation
Violation of the provisions of this Ordinance or failure to comply with any of its
' requirements shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable pursuant to the
provisions of NCGS 14-4 which provides that violation of a County Ordinance is a
misdemeanor punishable by either a maximum fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) or
' imprisonment for not more than 30 days as amended. Each day such violation continues
shall be considered a separate offense.
' The owner or tenant of any building, structure, premises or part thereof, and any
architect, builder, contractor, agent, or other person who commits, participates in, or
maintains such violation may each be found guilty of a separate offense and suffer the
' penalties herein provided.
In addition to an injunction, the County may petition the court to enter an order of
' abatement as part of the judgment in the cause. Such petition may request that
buildings or other structures on the property be closed, demolished or removed; that
fixtures, furniture or other chattel be removed from buildings on the property; that grass
and weeds be cut; that improvements or repairs be made; or that any other action be
taken that is necessary to bring the property into compliance with this Ordinance.
If the defendant fails or refuses to comply with an injunction or with an order of
abatement within the time allowed by the court, he may be cited for contempt and the
County may execute the order of abatement. If the County executes the order, it has
' a lien on the property, in the nature of a mechanic's or material man's lien, for the costs
of executing the order.
69

Nothing herein contained shall prevent Craven County from taking such other
lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
9.4 Approval of the Craven County Health Department
The Building Inspector shall not issue a building permit for any structure which
requires the Craven County Health Department's approval for the installation of a
sewage disposal system until such approval has been granted by the Craven County
Health Department. Evidence of approval shall accompany the application for a building
permit.
9.5 Separability Clause
Should any section or provision of this Ordinance be declared by the courts to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such decisions shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance
as a whole, or any part thereof other than the part so declared to be unconstitutional or
invalid.
9.6 Effective Date
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption by the
County Commissioners of Craven County, North Carolina, this day
of 1995.
70

wolloi3
;uawnooQ MaN
III
I I I I I I I I III I 1 11 111 1111111111111

LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE
1985
lease do not remove!!!!!
Division of Coastal Management

LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE
OF
CRAVEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
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 Resources Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
1985

Table of Contents
Page
I. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1
A.
Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1
B.
Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1
C.
Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . .
. 1
D.
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1
E.
Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 2
II. Procedure for Site Plan Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 5
A.
Sketch Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 5
1. Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 5
2. Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 6
B.
Site Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
1. Submission and Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 6
2. Certification . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .
. 13
a. Certificate of Owne 1sp and Dedication . . . . . .
. 13
b. Certificate of Land Surveyor or
Professional Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 14
c. Certificate of Approval of Street Plans . . . . . .
. 15
d. Certificate of Approval of Water Supply
and Sewage Treatment System . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 15
3. Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 15
a. Review by Other Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 15
b. Review by the Planning Board . . . . . . . . . . .
. 16
c. Review by the Board of Commissioners . . . . . . .
. 17
d. Approval, Time Limitations, Amendments . . . . . .
. 18
ii

Page
III. Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 19
A.
Reference Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 19
B.
General Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 20
C.
Suitability of Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 24
D.
Surface Water Drainage . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 24
E.
Development Name . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 25
F.
Street/Road Names and Signs . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 25
G.
Solid Waste Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 26
H.
Utility and Other Easements . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 26
I.
Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 27
J.
Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 27
K.
Densities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 29
L.
Consumer Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 31
IV. Administration and Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
A. Records, Minutes, Etc., Budgetary Requirements . . . . . . . 33
B. Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
C. Conflict with the Craven County Code . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
D. Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
E. Violations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
V. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
VI. Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
iii

I. GENERAL
A. Title
This ordinance shall be known as the Large Scale Residential Development
Ordinance of Craven County.
B. Authority
The Board of Commissioners of Craven County do hereby adopt this ordi-
nance under the authority of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
C. Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish procedures and standards
for large-scale development within the county in order to protect the
health, safety and general welfare and to, among other things, ensure
proper legal description, identification, monumentation and recordation
of real estate boundaries; further the orderly layout and appropriate use
of land; provide safe, convenient and economic circulation of vehicular
traffic; provide suitable building sites which drain properly and are
readily accessible to emergency vehicles; assure the proper installation
and maintenance of roads and utilities; and help conserve and protect the
physical and economic resources of the county. It is the intent of this
ordinance that it supplement and not supplant the zoning and subdivision
ordinances of Craven County.
D. Requirements
1. Any development which will result in the construction of more than
four dwelling units on a single parcel of land must have a Site Plan
for that development approved by the Board of Commissioners in
accordance with the terms of this Ordinance before the construction
1

of any of the improvements in the development may be started and
before a building permit for any of the structures contained within
the development may be issued.
2. No development which contains more than four dwelling units, the
construction of which was started after the adoption of this
Ordinance, may be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy
has been lawfully issued which includes a finding by the Administra-
tor of this Ordinance that the development and the structures within
it comply with the approved Site Plan.
3. If the proposed development involves the subdivision of land, the
portion of the development to be subdivided must comply with the
Subdivision Ordinance of Craven County. If the proposed development
is within the jurisdiction of the Zoning Ordinance of Craven County,
it must comply with it.
E . Objectives
In reviewing a Site Plan the Planning. Board and the Board of Commis-
sioners shall consider the health, safety and welfare of the public
in general and the immediate neighborhood in particular, and may pre-
scribe reasonable conditions and safeguards to ensure the accomplishment
of the following general objectives:
1. Land Use Plan. The Site Plan shall be in conformance with the Land
Use Plan.
2. Public Safety. All buildings, structures, equipment, and material
shall be readily accessible for fire and police protection.
3. Traffic Access. All proposed traffic accessways shall not create
traffic hazards and shall be adequate in number; adequate in width,
grade, alignment, and visiblity; adequate in distance from street
2

corners, places of public assembly and other accessways; and adequate
in design for other similar safety considerations.
4. Circulation and Parking. Adequate off-street parking and loading
spaces shall be provided to prevent on -street traffic congestion; all
parking spaces, maneuvering areas, entrances, and exits shall be
suitably identified; the interior circulation shall be designed to
provide safe and convenient access to all structures, and/or parking
spaces; and pedestrian movement within and adjacent to the property
is encouraged by the installation of sidewalks, paths, and walkways.
5. Landscaping and Screening. The landscaping of the site shall comply
with the purpose and intent of this ordinance; existing trees shall
be preserved to the maximum extent possible; and parking and service
areas shall be suitably screened during all seasons of the year from
the view of adjacent residential districts.
7. Public Health. All utility systems shall be suitably located,
adequately designed, and properly installed to serve the proposed
development, to protect the property and adjacent areas from adverse
air, water, or land pollution, and to preserve and enhance the
environmental quality of the surrounding neighborhood.
8. Environmental Features. The development of the site shall preserve
sensitive environmental land and water features such as slopes and
wetlands and preserve scenic views, historically significant
features, and Areas of Environmental Concern designated under
authority of the Coastal Area Management Act.
9. Neighborhood Character. The location and size, of any proposed use,
building or structure, as well as the nature and intensity of opera-
tions involved in or conducted in connection therewith, shall be in
3

general harmony with the character of the surrounding neighborhood,
and shall not be hazardous or otherwise detrimental to the
appropriate and orderly development or use of any adjacent land,
building, or structure.
4

II. PROCEDURE FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL
A. Sketch Plan
1. Contents. The developer shall submit to the Planning Board, at least
fifteen (15) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Planning Board, nine (9) copies of a sketch plan of the proposed
development containing the following information:
a. A sketch map of the vicinity of the proposed development showing
its location in relation to neighboring tracts, subdivisions,
roads, and waterways;
b. The boundaries of the tract to be developed;
c. The total acreage to be developed;
d. The existing and proposed buildings and use of land within the
development and the existing buildings and uses of land adjoining
i t;
e. The proposed street layout with approximate pavement and right-
of-way width, parking areas and, if applicable, lot layout and
size of lots;
f. The name, address, and telephone number of the owner and, if
applicable, a written and acknowledged statement of the owner
designating the developer or other person to act as his agent for
the submission of the Site Plan;
g. The name, if any, of the proposed development;
h. Streets and lots of adjoining developed or platted properties;
i. If applicable, the zoning classification of the tract and of
adjacent properties;
5

J. The location and type of Areas of Environmental Concern in the
tract to be developed and in adjacent tracts;
k. The general soil conditions on the tract.
2. Review. The Planning Board shall review the sketch plan for general
compliance with the requirements of this ordinance and other appli-
cable policies.
B. Site Plan
1. Submission and Contents. After the Planning Board has reviewed the
sketch plan, the developer shall submit to the Planning Board, at
least fifteen (15) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Planning Board, nine (9) copies of a Site Plan of the development at
a scale of one inch to one hundred feet, drawn on a sheet or sheets
not more than twenty-four by thirty-six inches nor less than eight
and a half by fourteen inches and shall have a half -inch border.
The Site Plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer or
land surveyor currently licensed or registered by the North Carolina
State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors and shall show or have attached to it a document showing
the following information:
a. Title Block containing:
- Property Designation
- Name of owner
- Location, including township, county and state
- Date or dates survey was conducted and plan prepared
- A scale of drawing in feet per inch listed in words, figures,
and a bar graph.

- Name, address, registration number and seal of the land
surveyor and/or professional engineer.
b. A map of the area within approximately one-half mile of the
proposed development showing the relationship between the
proposed development and the surrounding area.
c. Corporate limits, township boundaries, county lines if on the
development tract.
d. The names, titles, firm association, addresses, and telephone
numbers of all owners, developers, planners, architects, and
engineers responsible for the development as well as the regis-
tration numbers and seals of the professional engineers and land
surveyors.
e. North arrow and orientation.
f. Boundary lines of and within the tract to be developed, fully
dimensioned by the lengths and bearings, and the location of
existing boundary lines of adjoining lands.
g. The names of owners of adjoining properties.
h. The names of any adjoining developments, subdivisions of record,
proposed or under review.
i. Minimum building setback lines, front, side and rear, if
applicable.
J. The zoning classifications.of the tract to be developed and
adjoining properties (if area is not zoned, that shall -be
indicated).
k. Existing buildings or other structures, water courses, bridges,
culverts, storm drains, both on the land to be developed and land
adjoining.
7

1. Sufficient information to show how the physical improvements
associated with the proposed development relate to existing or
proposed development on adjacent properties.
m. Proposed lot lines, lot and block numbers, and dimensions.
n. Wooded areas, marshes, swamps, mean high tide lines, vegetation
lines, ponds or lakes, streams or streambeds and any other
natural features including Areas of Environmental Concern
existing on or affecting the site.
o. Flood hazard and floodway areas, as shown on the current Federal
Emergency Management Agency Flood Hazard maps for the County,
shall be shown on the Plan and labeled as such.
p. The following data concerning streets:
- Proposed streets
- Existing and platted streets on adjoining properties and in
in the proposed development
- Rights -of -way, location and dimensions
- Pavement widths
- Approximate grades
- Design engineering data for all corners and curves
- Typical street cross sections
- Street names
- Type of street dedication; all streets must be designated
either "public" or "private"
- Appropriate documents dealing with ownership and maintenance of
public and private streets.
11

q. The location and dimensions of all:
- Riding trails
- Natural buffer areas
- Pedestrian or bicycle paths.
r. The proposed location, general use, dimensions, number of floors,
height and the net and gross floor area for each building and,
where applicable, the number, size and type of dwelling units.
- Parks and recreation areas with specific type indicated
- School sites
- Areas to be dedicated to or reserved for public use
- Areas to be used for purposes other than residential with the
purpose of each stated
- The proposed ownership and maintenance of recreation and open
space lands, trails, paths, etc.
s. The plans for utility layouts including:
- Sanitary sewers
- Storm sewers
- Other drainage facilities
- Water distribution lines
- Natural gas lines
- Telephone lines
- Electric lines
- Cable television lines
- Utility easements
- Illustrative connections to existing systems, line sizes, the
location of fire hydrants, blowoffs, manholes, force mains and
gate valves, etc.
9

t. Plans for individual water supply and sewage disposal systems.
u. Profiles based upon mean sea level datum for sanitary sewers and
storm sewers
v. Site calculations including:
- Acreage in the entire tract
- Acreage in the portion of the tract to be developed
- Acreage in parks and recreation areas, Areas of Environmental
Concern, and other non-residential uses, by category
- Total number of parcels created
- Linear feet in streets
- Number of dwelling units, square footage, and bedrooms
- Number and square footage of other buildings
w. The name and location of any property or buildings within the
proposed development or within any contiguous property that is
located on the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of
Historic Places.
x. Sufficient engineering data to determine readily and reproduce on
the ground every straight or curved line, street line, lot line,
right-of-way line, easement line, and set -back line, including
dimensions, bearings, or deflection angles, radii, central
angles, and tangent distance for the center line or curved
property lines that are not the boundary line of curved streets.
All dimensions shall be measured to the nearest one -tenth of a
foot and all angles to the nearest minute.
y. The accurate locations and descriptions of all monuments,
elevations, markers and control points.
z. A copy of any proposed deed restrictions or similar covenants.
10

aa. A copy of the document or documents for the creation and
continued operation of the home owners, land owners, or similar
association of the consumers of the development.
bb. Topographic map when it is determined by the Planning Board that
one is needed, with contour intervals and scale as determined by
the Planning Board.
cc. Approximate boundaries of all Areas of Environmental Concern
designated in accordance with the Coastal Area Management Act of
1974.
dd. If any portion of the development is within an Area of
Environmental Concern, the following shall be placed on the
plan:
Some portions of this development are located
in Areas of Environmental Concern. Individual
permits may be required before development may
take place in these areas.
ee. All certifications and approvals required by state law including
proof that when improved in accordance with the Site Plan the
public streets and roads will be eligible for inclusion in the
state system in accordance with Section 136-102.6 of the General
Statutes of North Carolina or, if private, will comply with the
same standards except for stipulated exceptions.
ff. If the development is to be developed in phases, the boundaries
of each phase, the sequence in which each is to be developed,
and the relevant data for each.
gg. Adequate traffic control devices along such vehicular travel
lanes or driveways to control parking on such.
11

hh. Adequate drainage system for the disposition of storm and natural
waters to include, when required, storm water retention devices.
ii. Temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures.
jj. Location, type, J line of sight distances, and complete dimensions
of vehicular entrances to the site.
kk. Location, type, size, and height of fencing retaining walls, and
screen planting where required under the provisions of this
Ordinance.
11. All off-street parking, loading spaces, and walkways, indicating
type of surfacing, size, angle of stalls, and width of aisles.
mm. Figures indicating the following for the entire development and
for each phase of the development:
- Gross and net acreage
- Net density
- Buiding heights
- Amounts and percentages of the different categories of common
open space
- Number of parking spaces required and provided. If the
development is proposed to be developed in phases, all the
above figures shall be indicated for each phase. In addition,
the method(s) used to determine all the above shall be clearly
demonstrated.
nn. An inventory and evaluation of the soil and water resources
within the proposed development.
oo. If the development is within the service area of any public or
private water supply system, a statement from the chief executive
of the system indicating the ability of the system to serve the
12

proposed development and if the proposed development may be
connnected to that system.
2. Certification. The following signed and acknowledged certificates or
required portions thereof shall appear on all copies of the Site
Plan:
a. Certificate of Ownership and Dedication
I hereby certify that I am the owner of the property shown and
described hereon, which is located in the County of Craven and
that I hereby adopt this Site Plan with my free consent, estab-
lish building location, and dedicate all streets, alleys, walks,
parks, and other sites and easements to public or private use as
noted. Furthermore, I hereby dedicate all sanitary sewer, storm
sewer and water lines to the County of Craven.
Date Owner
hereby certify that
personally appeared before me
this day and acknowledged the due execution of this
certificate. Witness my hand and official seal this the
day of , A.D. 19
Signature
Official Seal
State of North Carolina Craven County
13

b. Certificate of Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer
I, certify that this map was (drawn by
me) (drawn under my supervision) from (an actual survey made by
me) (an actual survey made under my supervision) (deed descrip-
tion recorded in Book , Page , Book , Page ,
etc.) (other); that the ratio of precision as calculated by
latitudes and departure is 1: ; (that the boundaries not
surveyed are shown as broken lines plotted from information found
in Book , Page ;) that this map was prepared in accord-
ance with G.S. 47-30, as amended; and that the prescribed
reference points have been properly placed. Witness my hand and
seal this day of , A.D. 19
Registered Land Surveyor
Professional Engineer
Official Seal
Registration Number
I, , hereby certify that
personally appeared before me
this day and acknowledged the due execution of this
certificate. Witness my hand and official seal this the
day of , A.D. 19
Official Seal
Signature
14

c. Certificate of Approval of Street Plans
The District Highway Engineer must review and stamp the plat with
the Department of Transportation Certificate on Proposed Public
Streets.
d. Certificate of Approval of Water Supply and
Sewage Treatment System
I hereby certify that this water supply and/or sewage treatment
system proposed for installation herein meets the requirements of
the North Carolina Division of Health Services and where appro—
priate the Division of Environmental Management and the Craven
County Health Department, and are hereby approved as shown.
Date Director
Division of Environmental Health
Craven County Health Department
e. Certificate of Local Coastal Area Management Officer
This Site Plan conforms to the standards of the North Carolina
Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (and is not located within an
Area of Environmental Concern) (and all or a part of the site is
located within an Area of Environmental Concern, the location(s)
of which is (are) shown on the Site Plan).
Date
3. Review
Permit Officer
a. Review by Other Agencies. The Planning Board will submit the
Site Plan to appropriate state agencies and other offices of the
County for their review and recommendations.
15

b. Review by the Planning Board
- During its review of the Site Plan, the Planning Board may,
with the consent of the Board of Commissioners, retain a
Registered Land Surveyor or Registered Engineer to verify the
accuracy of the Site Plan. If substantial errors or major
engineering problems are found, the costs of the services of
the surveyor or engineer shall be charged to the developer, and
the Site Plan shall not be recommended for approval by the
Planning Board until such errors or problems have been
corrected and the charges paid.
- After reviewing the Site Plan and considering any report and/or
recommendations received in addition to any comments which the
developer may have, the Planning Boad shall recommend to the
Board of Commissioners that the Site Plan be approved or
disapproved.
- If the Planning Board recommends disapproval of the Site Plan,
the reasons for such action shall be stated, and recommenda-
tions made on the basis of which the proposed development could
be approved.
- Failure of the Planning Board to act within forty-five days
after the Site Plan is submitted to the Planning Board shall
constitute a recommendation for approval by the Planning
Board.
- If the Planning Board recommends approval of the Site Plan, the
Chairman of the Planning Board shall execute the following
certificate and transmit the Site Plan to the Board of
Commissioners for their consideration:
16

The Craven County Planning Board has reviewed this Site
Plan and recommends its approval by the Board of
Commissioners.
Date
Chairman, Craven County
Planning Board
c. Review by Board of Commissioners
— The Board of Commissioners shall approve or disapprove the Site
Plan.
— If the Board of Commissioners disapproves the Site Plan, the
reasons for such action shall be stated and recommendations
made on the basis of which the proposed development could be
approved.
— Failure of the Board of Commissioners to act within forty—five
days after the Site Plan has been forwarded to them by the
Planning Board shall constitute approval by the Board of
Commissioners.
— If the Board of Commissioners approves the Site Plan, two
copies of the Plan shall be certified as follows:
The Craven County Board of Commissioners hereby approves
this Site Plan.
Date Chairman, Craven County
Board of Commissioners
one copy shall be returned to the developer, and one copy shall
be retained by the County.
17

d. Upon approval of the Site Plan by the Board of Commissioners the
developer may proceed with the installation of improvements and
other development approved as a part of the Site Plan. If it is
determined by the Planning Board that development is taking place
in violation of the Site Plan and this Ordinance, the approval
shall be void.
If, twelve months after the Site Plan has been approved by
the Board of Commissioners, the developer has not made substan-
tial progress with the installation of improvements as determined
by the Planning Board, the Site Plan shall be void.
The Planning Board may grant an additional twelve (12)
months for the installation of improvements if the developer
applies for such extension in writing before the expiration of
the intial period and has begun to install the required improve-
ments and has made substantial progress in doing so. The
progress of required improvements must be verified by the
Planning Board.
Application for Site Plan modifications or changes to an
approved Site Plan shall be made in the same manner as the
original application.
18

III. STANDARDS
Each development shall comply with the objectives and the standards of this
ordinance as minimums and shall contain the improvements specified which shall
be installed and paid for by the developer. Land shall be dedicated or
reserved as required.
A. Reference Points
Prior to the approval of the Site Plan, permanent reference points shall
have been placed in accordance with Sections 29-32.1 et sere . of the
General Statutes of North Carolina and the following requirements:
1. Corner tie. At least one corner of the development shall be desig-
nated by course and distance (tie) from a readily discernible refer-
ence marker.
2. Monuments. Within each block of a development at least two monuments
designed as control corners shall be installed. Additional monuments
shall be used when necessary. Monuments shall be constructed of
concrete with steel reinforcing rods running their entire length and
shall be at least four inches in diameter or square and not less than
three feet in length. Each monument shall have imbedded in its top
or attached by a suitable means a metal plate of noncorrosive
material and marked plainly with the point, the surveyor's registra-
tion number and the words "monument" or "control corner." A monument
shall be set at least thirty inches in the ground with at least six
inches exposed above the ground, unless this requirement is imprac-
tical because of vehicular traffic or other factors. Elevation above
19

sea level shall be shown on the metal plate on at least one of the
monuments.
B. General Standards
1. The design of the development shall preserve the natural terrain,
natural drainage, existing topsoil, trees and natural vegetation to
the maximum extent possible.
2. All development shall be designed to minimize risk from natural
hazards, such as flooding, erosion, wind, storm surge, and wave
action.
3. All developments shall locate and construct public utilities and
facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems to
minimize risk from flood, erosion and other natural hazards..
4. All development, improvements, structures and utilities shall comply
with the applicable Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) Standards
and any other rules promulgated pursuant to the Coastal Area
Management Act of 1974.
5. Blocks. The lengths, widths, and shapes of blocks, the location of
buildings, recreational facilities, and other improvements, shall be
determined with due regard to: provision of ,adequate building sites
suitable to the special needs of the type of use contemplated;
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance of Craven County; needs for
vehicular and pedestrian circulation; control and safety of street
traffic; limitations and opportunities of topography; and convenient
access to water areas.
If there are more than four proposed structures fronting on a
highway, a frontage road may be required.

Where deemed necessary by the Planning Board, a pedestrian walk
may be required to provide convenient access to a public area such
as a park or school, to a water area, or to areas such as shopping
centers, religious or transportation facilities.
6. Non-residential Building Sites and Structures. The size, shape and
orientation of building sites and structrues for other than residen-
.tial purposes shall be such as the Planning Board deems appropriate
for the type of development and use contemplated.
7. Buffers. Architectural and landscape elements that provide a logical
transition to adjoining existing or permitted uses shall be
provided.
8. Exterior Spatial Relationships. The three-dimensional airspace
created by the arrangement of structures and landscape shall produce
spatial relationships that function with the intended use and occu-
pancy of the project and are compatible with the development or zon-
ing in the adjoining area. Spacing between buildings shall provide
ample (not less than twenty-five feet) access for emergency
equipment.
9. Size. Size of proposed structures shall be compatible with
surrounding proposed or existing structures.
10. Circulation. Pedestrian and auto circulation shall be separated
insofar as is practicable, and all circulation systems shall ade-
quately serve the needs of the develoment and be compatible and func-
tional with circulation systems outside the development.
11. Parking Areas. Parking areas shall include not less than 3.0 parking
spaces for each dwelling unit in the proposed development and shall
21

be designed to appropriately relate to the development, its environs,
and adjacent properties.
12. Storage Areas for Boats and Trailers. Storage areas for boats and
trailers shall be screened and designed to appropriately relate to
the development, its environs and adjacent properties. An adequate
number of spaces shall be provided based on the nature of the
development and the number of dwelling units but not less than one
for every three dwelling units.
13. Trash Containers. Trash containers shall be screened and designed to
be conveniently accessible to their users.
14. Landscape. Landscape shall be preserved in its natural state insofar
as is practicable by minimizing tree removal, grading and filling.
Landscape shall be used to enhance architectural features, visually
screen incompatible uses, and block noise generated by major roadways
and intense -use areas. Buffer strips or areas, such as planting,
berms, fencing and the like, may be required.
15. Open Space. Open space and recreation area designations and reser-
vations may be required by the Planning Board to preserve natural
areas, stream beds, historic sites, wetlands, Areas of Environmental
Concern, and other similar areas. Such designations and reservations
of open space and recreation area may be prescribed by easements,
reservations, dedication or other appropriate means. Flood plains,
flood hazard areas and areas within the regulatory flood zones may
be included in such reservations and designations. The developer
shall submit specific arrangements for the perpetual management and
responsibility of the designated open space and recreation area.
22

16. Common Open Space. Common open spaces shall be provided, appropriate
to the needs of the particular type of development. Common open
space shall relate to any natural characteristics in such a way as to
preserve and enhance their scenic and functional qualities to the
fullest extent possible, shall be located and developed to be
accessible by all residents of the development, and clearly define
the physical structuring of the units.
17. Private Open Space. Open space intended for the private use of each
individual dwelling unit should be located and designed to maximize
its utility to the dwelling unit it serves and maximize its privacy,
especially in relation to adjacent dwelling units.
18. Privacy. Aural and visual privacy shall be considered in the design
of the development.
19. Architectural Characteristics. Site design and building design
should minimize flood and storm damage.
20. Energy and Water Conservation. The design of the site and buildings
shall conserve energy and water.
21. Purpose and Intent. The proposed development must fulfill the pur-
pose and intent of this ordinance.
22. Any building over two stories in height shall be equipped with a
sprinker system in accordance with industry standards for the type of
structure, and each dwelling unit shall have two means of egress, one
of which shall be exterior, designed to be fire escapes.
23. Planning Studies. Design or planning studies accepted or approved by
the Board of Commissioners that include development patterns or
environmental design criteria which apply to the development proposal
under review shall be utilized in the plan review process.
23

24. Telephone, electric and cable television service within the
development shall be installed underground.
C. Suitability of Land
Areas that have been used for disposal of solid waste shall not be
developed unless tests by the County Health Department, a structural
engineer and a soils expert determine that the land is suitable for the
purpose proposed.
Land which the Planning Board finds to be unsuited for development
due to improper drainage, topography, soil characteristics, ground water
elevation, susceptibility to flooding, or other constraints imposed by
the natural environment shall not be developed, unless adequate methods
are utilized to correct the unsuitable conditions or all the area
requirements of the ordinance are met by each building site without
including the unsuitable land in the calculation. Any land -disturbing
activity, as defined in Section 113A-52 of the General Statutes of North
Carolina, shall be accomplished in accordance with the requirements of
Article 4 of Chapter 113A of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
Detailed information about the suitability of the soil for development
will be submitted by the developer upon the request of the Planning
Board.
D. Surface Water Drainage System
The developer shall provide a surface water drainage system which will
drain the entire development into an adequate outlet.
1. No surface water shall be channeled or directed into a sanitary
sewer.
2. Where feasible, the developer shall connect to an existing storm
drainage system.
24

3. Where an existing storm drainage system cannot feasibly be extended
to the development, a surface drainage system shall be designed to
protect the proposed development from water damage.
4. Surface drainage ditches shall be constructed according to the
standards of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and the Craven County
Health Department and shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the
drainage area without flooding and be designed to comply with the
standards and specifications for erosion control of the North
Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
5. Streambanks and channels downstream from any land disturbing activity
shall be protected from degradation by erosion caused by runoff from
the land disturbing activity in accordance with the North Carolina
Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.
6. All dams or impoundments, regardless of size, within the development
must comply with the North carolina Dam Safety Law.
7. All special flood hazard areas shall have adequate drainage to reduce
flood damage.
8. Storm water drainage systems shall not empty directly or indirectly
into a nursery area as defined by the North Carolina Division of
Marine Fisheries or into any other similar saline estuary serving as
or supporting a nursery area.
E. Development Name
The name of the development shall not duplicate nor closely approximate
the name of an existing subdivision or development within Craven County.
F. Street/Road Names and Signs
Streets and roads shall be named and such names shall be indicated on
25

signs designed, constructed and placed in accordance with existing policy
of Craven County.
G. Solid Waste Collection
The Planning Board may require, for each twenty-five dwelling units, a
site, not exceeding four hundred (400) square feet, which is easily
accessible by conventional containerized waste collection vehicles, to
be reserved for the location of solid waste containers for solid waste
collection.
Each site shall be improved with pavement or other permanent material
to ensure unimpeded ingress and egress by waste collection vehicles.
A. Utility and Other Easements
Easements shall be provided as follows:
1. Easements for underground or above ground utilities shall be provided
where necessary, across lots or centered on rear or side lot lines
and shall be at least ten (10) feet wide for water and sanitary sewer
lines and as required by the utility companies involved, for
telephone, gas and power lines.
The Planning Board will determine whether one easement is
sufficient or whether several easements are necessary to accommodate
the various facilities and the developer shall provide the required
easements.
2. A crosswalk or accessway easement no less than eight (8) feet in
width shall be provided when such is required by the Planning Board.
3. Where a development is traversed by a watercourse, drainage way,
channel or stream, there shall be provided a storm water easement or
drainage right-of-way conforming substantially with the lines of such
M.

watercourse. The easement or right-of-way shall be sufficiently wide
to handle storm water flows and run off and shall include a twelve
foot wide maintenance accessway along one side which connects to a
public road at appropriate intervals.
I. Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems
Each building site shall be provided with an extension of the county
water system at the developer's expense if in the judgment of the Craven
County Board of Commissioners there is adequate unused capacity in the
system to serve the development and the existing system is sufficiently
close to the development to make such an extension feasible.
All building sites not connected to municipal or county water and/or
sanitary sewer systems must have a suitable source of water supply and
sanitary sewage disposal, which complies with the regulations of the
Craven County Health Department and with the applicable laws of the State
of North Carolina.
J. Streets
1. Public Streets. All building sites shall abut on a public street,
except as provided in subsection two of this section. All public
streets shall be dedicated to the public and shall be built in
accordance with the North Carolina Department of Transportation
minimum construction standards for public streets and roads necessary
to be put on the state highway system. An executed maintenance
agreement with provisions for maintenance of the street until it is
put on the state highway system shall be included with the final
plat.
27

2. Private Streets. The Board of Commissioners may permit building
sites to abut on private streets only on the recommendation of the
Planning Board following a determination by the Planning Board, in
which the Board of Commissioners concurs, that the protection of
environmental and/or aesthetic values would be best served by a
street and/or right-of-way which is narrower than required by the
North Carolina Department of Transportation. Private streets shall
be built to the standards of this ordinance and to the North Carolina
Department of Transportation minimum construction standards for
public streets and roads, with the exception of the width, grading,
and clearance of the right-of-way and the width of the pavement
required which may be modified when doing so and only to the extent
that doing so will clearly protect environmental and/or aesthetic
values and will not endanger or diminish the public health, safety,
and welfare as determined by the Planning Board and the Board of
Commissioners.
The ownership of the streets shall be conveyed to a home or lot
owners' association or similar organization. The developer must
submit evidence that the ultimate owner of the streets will be
institutionally and fiscally capable of maintaining the streets and
rights -of -way to the specified standards in perpetuity. The devel-
oper must agree to maintain the streets until the owner organization
is fully functional and must agree to contribute to that organization
its share of the maintenance for that portion of the development
retained by the developer or successor. A copy of the maintenance
agreement and the documents creating the association or similar
organization shall be included with the Site Plan.
28

The Site Plan, the uniform covenants and each deed conveying
dwelling units or building sites in the development shall plainly
indicate that the streets are privately owned and their maintenance
is the responsibility of the owners' organization in perpetuity.
3. Street Disclosure Statement. All streets shown on the Site Plan
shall be designated in accordance with North Carolina state law and
designation as public shall be conslusively presumed an offer of
dedication to the public. Where streets are dedicated to the public
but not accepted into the state highway system, a statement
explaining the status of the street shall be included with the Site
Plan.
4. Conformity of Proposed Streets to Existing Maps or Plans. The loca-
tion and width of all proposed streets shall be in conformity with
official plans or maps of the County.
5. Continuation of Existing Streets. The proposed street layout shall
be coordinated with the existing road system of the surrounding area
and where possible, existing principal streets shall be extended.
6. Access to Adjacent Properties. Where in the opinion of the Planning
Board, it is desirable to provide access to an adjoining property,
street rights -of -way shall be dedicated to the public to the boundary
of such property.
K. Densities
1. All lots in the development shall conform to any zoning requirements
of the district in which the development is located.
2. Lots shall meet any applicable Craven County Health Department and
State of North Carolina requirements. The following are the minimum
lots sizes allowable:
29

a. Residential lots in areas served by community water and sewage
systems shall have a minimum of 8,000 square feet in area of
usuable land.
b. Residential lots served by either a community water or sewer
system shall contain 15,000 square feet of usuable land.
c. Residential lots lacking both community water and sewer systems
shall contain a minimum of 20,000 square feet of usuable land.
3. The following minimum lot dimensions shall apply:
Building
set -back
Lot size
line
20,000 sq. feet
30'
15,000 sq. feet
30'
8,000 sq. feet
25'
Width at
set -back
line Side yard Rear yard
75' 10, 15'
75' 10, 15'
60' 8' 15'
4. Corner lots shall have width sufficient to permit building setback of
at least 20 feet from side streets.
5. All lots shall have at least 35 feet of front frontage.
6. Double frontage lots shall be avoided wherever possible.
7. The density requirements of this ordinance may be modified by the
Planning Board when, in the judgment of the Planning Board, the site
plan provides adequate public spaces and improvements for circula-
tion, recreation, light, air, and service needs of the development
when fully developed and occupied, and also provide covenants or
other legal instruments, to assure conformity to and achievement
of the Development Plan. Where a modification is authorized, the
reasons for such shall be noted in the minutes of the Planning Board.
Density modifications will be permitted only when a community or
public sanitary disposal is provided and will be allowed only with
0
30

the approval of the Craven County Health Department. In no case may
the densities exceed the following requirements:
a. Detached single-family dwellings: Density (dwelling units per
acre calculated from the minimum required lot size) may be
increased if the character of the development warrants such
increases provided that in no case shall the density increase to
be more than thirty-three percent (33%) in excess of the density
which would be achieved without any modification in the require-
ments. The area remaining from the reduced lot size shall be
utilized for open space and/or recreational purposes.
b. Apartments and Town Houses: The number of units per acre shall
be based on the following formula:
1,500 sq. feet of land for each 1-bedroom unit
1,900 sq. feet of land for each 2-bedroom unit
2,300 sq. feet of land for each 3-bedroom unit
2,700 sq. feet of land for each 4-bedroom unit
The maximum project area covered by such developments shall not
exceed forty percent (40%) of the -total project area.
L. Consumer Protection.
1. Each prospective purchaser must sign the following statement before
executing an agreement to buy an interest in real property within the
development:
Risks of Buying Land
The future value of any land or real estate is uncertain and
dependent upon many factors. Do not expect all land to increase
in value.
Any value which your property or real estate may have will be
affected if the roads, utilities, and all proposed improvements
are not completed.
31

Resale of your property may be difficult or impossible, since
you may face the competition of our own sales program and local
real estate brokers may not be interested in listing your
property.
Any subdivision will have an impact on the surrounding
environment. Whether or not the impact is adverse and the
degree of impact will depend upon the location, size, planning,
and extent of development. Subdivisions which adversely affect
the environment may cause governmental agencies to.impose
restrictions on the use of the land. Changes in plant and
animal life, air and water quality, and noise levels may affect
your use and enjoyment of your property and your ability to sell
it.
In the purchase of real estate, many technical requirements
must be met to assure that you receive proper title. Since this
purchase involves a major expenditure of money, it is recom—
mended that you seek professional advice before you obligate
yourself.
2. The developer must disclose to the prospective purchaser any
encumbrances that exist on any portion of the development. The
prospective purchaser must sign such a disclosure before executing
an agreement to buy an interest in real property within the
development.
3. The developer must deliver or must be able to deliver a general
warranty deed to each purchaser at the time of purchase.
32

IV. ADMIISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
A. Records, Minutes, Budgetary Requirements
The Board of Commissioners and the Planning Board shall provide for the
appropriate keeping of records, minutes and other proceedings held with
respect to the Planning Board's responsibility under the terms of this
ordinance, and the Board of Commissioners may provide for such budgetary
requirements as may be necessary in the administration of this
ordinance.
B. Amendments
This chapter may be amended from time to time by the Board of
Commissioners in accordance with the General Statutes of North Carolina.
C. Conflicts with the Craven County Code
Should the requirements of this ordinance conflict with other provisions
of the Craven County Code, the more stringent requirements 'shall prevail.
D. Fees
A fee of one hundred and fifty dollars, or fifteen dollars for each
dwelling unit in the proposed development, (whichever is greater) shall
be paid to the County at the time the Site Plan is submitted to the
Planning Board.
E. Violations
After the effective date of this ordinance any person who is the owner of
land within the territorial jurisdiction of this ordinance, or is the
agent of such owner, and who develops, or causes to be developed, any
part of that land in violation of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a
33

misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as
provided by N.C.G.S. 14-4.
34

V. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this ordinance, certain words or terms used herein
shall be defined as follows:
Acres, Gross. The total area within the boundaries of the tract of land
and water to be a part of the proposed development; the entire area which is
included in the site plan, measured in acres and parts of acres.
Acres, Net. Gross acres less: 1. rights of way for roads and thorough-
fares; 2. areas devoted to accessory structures or improvements, such as club
houses, swimming pools, tennis courts, maintenance buildings, parking lots,
commercial buildings including rental, sales, or management offices of the
development; 3. areas of environmental concern and other areas which because
of regulatory or policy constraints or because of constraints on development
imposed by the natural environment are, in the judgement of the Planning
Board, unbuildable.
Block. A piece of land bounded on all sides by streets or other trans-
portation routes such as railroad lines, or by physical barriers such as water
bodies or public open space, and not traversed by a through street.
Buffer Strip. An area fifty feet in width measured from the parameter of
a residential lot or lots within a subdivision when such residential lot or
lots are located adjacent to an office, institutional, commercial or indus-
trial use area. No building or other structure shall be erected within the
area of any such buffer strip; however, trees, shrubbery, or other landscaping
design may be used therein.
Building Setback Line. A line parallel to the front property line in
front of which no structure shall be erected. Setbacks shall be figured from
the right-of-way line.
35

Dedication. A gift, by the owner, or a right to use of land for a
specified purpose or purposes. Because a transfer of property rights is
entailed, dedication must be made by written instrument, and is completed with
an acceptance.
Easement. A grant by the property owner of a strip of land for a
specified purpose and use by the public, a corporation, or persons.
Lot. A portion of a subdivision, or any other parcel of land, intended
as a unit of transfer of ownership or for development or both.
Lot of Record. A lot which is part of a subdivision, a plat of which has
been recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Craven County prior to
the adoption of this ordinance, or a lot described by metes and bounds, the
description of which has been so recorded prior to the adoption of this
ordinance.
Official Maps or Plans. Any maps or plans officially adopted by the
Craven County Planning Board.
Open Space. An area (land and/or water) generally lacking in man-made
structures and reserved for enjoyment in its unaltered state.
Plat. A map or plan of a parcel of land which is to be, or has been
subdivided, or otherwise developed.
Private Driveway. A roadway serving two (2) or fewer lots, buildings
sites, or other division of land and not intended to be public ingress or
egress.
Private Street. An undedicated private right-of-way which affords access
to abutting properties.
Public Sewage Disposal System. A system serving two (2) or more dwelling
units and approved by the Craven County Health Department and the North
Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development.
36

Public Water Distribution System. A system serving two (2) or more
dwelling units and approved by the Craven County Health Department and/or the
North Carolina Department of Human Resources.
Recreation Area or Park. An area of land or combination of land and
water resources that is developed for active and/or passive recreation pur-
suits with various man-made features that accommodate such activities.
Reservation. A reservation of land does not involve any transfer of
property rights. It simply constitutes an obligation to keep property free
from development for a stated period of time.
Street. A dedicated and accepted public right-of-way for vehicular
traffic or a private road as permitted by this ordinance. The following
classifications shall apply:
Street -Local Residential. Cul-de-sacs, loop streets less than 2,500
feet in length, or streets less than one mile in length that do not
connect thoroughfares, or serve major traffic generators, and do not
collect traffic from more than 100 dwelling units.
Cul-de-sac. A short street having but one end open to traffic and
the other end being permanently terminated and a vehicular turnaround
provided.
Frontage Road. A local street or road that is parallel to a full or
partial access controlled facility and functions to provide access to
adjacent land.
Alley. A strip of land, owned publicly or privately, set aside
primarily for vehicular service access to the back or side of
properties otherwise abutting on a street.
37

ARTICLE VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance is hereby adopted by the Craven County Board of
Commissioners this the day of , 1985.
ATTEST:
CLERK TO THE BOARD
BY:
CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CHAIRMAN
38