Coastal Area Management Act Land Use Plan-1976

lease do not remove!!!!!
Division of Coastal Management

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DARE COUNTY LAND USE PLAN
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ACT
ADOPTED BY DARE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
May 6, 1976
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DARE COUNTY SYNOPSES
The Synopsis of the Dare-Coiinty COMA Land Use Plan is included as pages 151
through 169 of this report. The Dare County_Commissioners intend to have a
copy of the approved Synopsis mailed to every household in the county and to
have it published in the local newspaper, THE COASTLAND TIMES.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction . . . . . . . . .
1
Section I, Present Conditions
2
General Physical Characteristics
3
Population Characteristics
7
Economic Characteristics . . . . . . .
. 19
Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 33
Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . .
37
Current Plans, Policies and Regulations .
45
Section IL, Public Participation Activities . . . . .
. 47
Planning Alternatives Considered .
48
Identification of Major Land Use Issues
50
Development Objectives, Policies and
Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 54
Process Used to Determine Public
Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 61
Section III, Constraints on Development . . . . . . . .
. 64
Physical Limitations on Development . . .
. 66
Hazard Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 66
Fragile Areas . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 84
Areas with Resource Potential . . . .
. 105
Capacity of Community Facilities . . .
. 107
Section IV, Estimated Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 117
Economic Forecosts . . . . . . ... .
. 118
Population Forecasts . . . . . . .
. 123
Future Land Needs . . . . . . . . . .
. 130
Community Facility Demand . . . . . . . ...
133
Section V, Plan Description . . . . . . . . . . . 135
....Section VI, Summary and Major Conclusions . . . . . . . . 149
Section VII, References and Appendices . . . . . 170

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SECTION I
PRESENT CONDITIONS
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GENERAL'PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DARE COUNTY
• Location and, Geographit'Data
Dare County is part of the Coastal'PTain of North Carolina, a low and
partially submerged area varying -in width up to 125 miles and confined between
the Piedmont`Plateau'on the west 'and the -'continental shelf on the east. The
County is composed of two -distinct areas: (1) The Outer Banks, including
Roanoke Island, and (2) the mainland.. Both regions are flat and low-lying,
and with the exception of the dunes along the Outer Banks, land elevations
seldom exceed fifteen feet,above mean sea level.
The mainland is almost entirely covered with thick impenetrable forest
and is sparsely populated. The Outer Banks (with the exception of Roanoke
Island) are generally open and devoid of forest cover, except for the broader
sections of the Northern Banks -and at Cape Hatteras. Roanoke Island is
approximately ten miles in length with a total area of approximately 20 square
miles. It is separated from the Bodie Island sector of the Outer Banks by
Roanoke Sound and:from..the,:mainland by Croatan Sound. Although the Island
is blocked from the Atlantic Ocean by Bodie Island, the area is still within
the'sphere`ofinfluence of_the.ocean coastline as prevailing conditions of
winds and other natural factors are somewhat similar to those on the coast
exposed -to -the -,ocean.
The`Outer Banks portion of Dare County consists of Bodie Island and
'Hatteras -Island Bodie-extends from the Dare County Line on the north to
Oregon Inlet -,on the south, a distance of about thirty-three miles. The
Island varies in width from°one-half mile to approximately 2 miles. Hatteras
Island has a�-beach frontage of 52 miles.and is separated from Bodie Island
by Oregon Inlet. -.The Island is,generally narrow on most sections, having a
width,of less than•-one=half-.mile except in the Cape Hatteras area.
The Cape Hatteras National'Seashore Recreation Area extends on the Outer
Banks from Whalebone Junction at the southern boundary of Nags Head about 70
.miles'southward,through Ocracoke Island. The Seashore which is operated by
the.National Park Service, preserves forty-five miles of beach land and
covers the entire area,of the Outer Banks except for the unincorporated towns
• and villages.
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There -Are three•i-ncorporated towns in Dare'County. Manteo (pop. 547) is
the county seat and is located on Roanoke Island. Nags Head (pop. 434) and
Kill -Devil Hills (pop. 357)°6re-on'the Outer Banks. There are three unincor-
porated-communities'on the Mainland; East Lake, Stumpy Point, and Mann's
Harbor. On the Outer Banks, the two unincorporated communities north of
Ki11:Devil Hills are Kitty.Hawk and Duck. 'South,of Oregon Inlet on the Outer
Banks are the unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco and Hatteras.
Sounds
The sounds .in'the`county°(Albemarle, Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan, and
Pamlico) vary in depth and salinity. To the north are Albemarle and Currituck
Sounds which have no direct outlets to the ocean and essentially are composed
of fresh water.with an average depth of eighteen and seven feet respectively.
Pamlico Sound, to thesouth-, has three inlets to the Atlantic Ocean through
which waters of four major rivers flow. Although Pamlico averages twenty
feet'in depth,,, -it is also extremely shoaly in specific sectors. Roanoke
Sound; which separates Bodie Island and Roanoke Island, is shallow and -narrow,
averaging approximat-ely-three feet -in depth. Croatan Sound averages eight
feet -in depth and provides the main outlet for the waters of the Albemarle
Sound.
Currents
The Gulf Stream flows to the northeast during all months of the year
and merges with the Labrador current only ten miles east of Cape Hatteras.
There is substantial seasonal character of off -shore currents from Cape Hat-
teras to-Chesapeake'Bay. In the fall surface drift is southerly and has an
on -shore component. -In winter; the-pattern.is-basically indistinct, with
flow conforming closely to the prevailing northwest winds. In the spring, a
transition to summer conditions is experienced with a somewhat southerly
surface drift. In summer, the surface drift is somewhat variable with no
discernible -pattern.
Waves approaching the beaches at an angle generate alongshore currents
called.littoral.currents. Observations made along the Dare Beaches have
revealed that wave -induced littoral currents have a southward flow.
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GENERAL`PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DARE COUNTY
• Location and, Geographit' Data
Dare County is part of the Coastal'PTain of North Carolina, a low and
partially submerged area Varying -in width up to 125 miles and confined between
the Piedmont`Plateau'on the west 'and thecontinental shelf on the east. The
County is composed of two' -distinct areas: (1) The Outer Banks, including
Roanoke Island, and (2) the mainland. Both regions are flat and low-lying,
and with the exception of the dunes along the Outer Banks, land elevations
seldom exceed fifteen feet above mean sea level.
ThgAmainland is almost entirely covered with thick impenetrable forest
and is sparsely populated. The.Outer Banks (with the exception of Roanoke
Island) are generally open and devoid of forest cover, except for the broader
• sections of the Northern Banks -and at Cape Hatteras. Roanoke Island is
approximately ten miles in length with a total area of approximately 20 square
miles. It is separated from the Bodie Island sector of the Outer Banks by
Roanoke Sound and..from::the:mainland by Croatan Sound. Although the Island
• is blocked from the Atlantic Ocean by Bodie Island, the area is still within
the-sphere--of.influence of the ocean coastline as prevailing conditions of
winds and other natural factors are somewhat similar to those on the coast
exposed -to -the -,ocean.
The Outer Banks portion of Dare County consists of Bodie Island and
Hatteras -Island Bodie 'extends from the Dare County Line on the north to
Oregon Inlet•on the south, a distance of about thirty-three miles. The
Island.varies in width from one-half mile to approximately 2 miles. Hatteras
• Island has a° -beach frontage of 52 miles.and is separated from Bodie Island
by Oregon Inlet. -.The Island is,generally narrow on most sections, having a
width,of less_than•one=half-mile except in the Cape Hatteras area.
The Cape Hatteras National'Seashore Recreation Area extends on the Outer
• Banks from Whalebone Junction at the southern boundary of Nags Head about 70
miles southward through Ocracoke Island. The Seashore which is operated by
the.National Park Service, preserves forty-five miles of beach land and
covers the entire area -of the Outer Banks except for the unincorporated towns
• and villages.
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There are three• -incorporated #:owns in Dare County. Manteo (pop. 547) is
the county -seat and is located on Roanoke°Island. -Nags Head (pop. 434) and
Kill Devil Hills -(pop'. 357)'are•on`the Outer Banks: There are three unincor-
porated�communities`on the Mainland; East Lake, Stumpy Point, and Mann's
Harbor. On the -Outer Banks, the two unincorporated communities north of
Kill -Devil Hills are Kitty.Hawk and Duck-.-'South,of Oregon Inlet on the Outer
Banks are the -unincorporated villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco and Hatteras.
Sounds •
The sounds .In -thee county -(Albemarle, Curri tuck, Roanoke, Croatan, and
Pamlico) vary in depth and salinity. To the north are Albemarle and Currituck
Sounds which have no direct outlets to the ocean and essentially are composed
of fresh water -with an average depth of eighteen and seven feet respectively. -
Pamlico Sound, to the south, has three inlets to the Atlantic Ocean through
which waters of four major rivers flow. Although Pamlico averages twenty
feet`in depth, it is also extremely shoaly in specific sectors. Roanoke
Sound, which separates Bodie Island and Roanoke Island, is shallow and -narrow, •
averaging -approximately -three feet in depth. Croatan Sound averages eight
feet -in depth and provides the main outlet for the waters of the Albemarle
Sound.
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Currents
The Gulf Stream flows to the northeast during all months of the year
and merges with the Labrador current only ten miles east of Cape Hatteras.
There is substantial seasonal character of off -shore currents from Cape Hat •
teras to -Chesapeake Bay. In the fall, surface drift is southerly and has an
on -shore -component. -,In winter; the -pattern. is- basically indistinct, with
flow conforming closely to the prevailing northwest winds. In the spring, a
transition to summer conditions is experienced with a somewhat southerly •
surface drift. In summer, the surface drift is somewhat variable with no
discernible -pattern.
Waves approaching the beaches at an angle generate alongshore currents
called.littoral.currents. Observations made along the Dare Beaches have •
revealed that wave -induced littoral currents have a southward flow.
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Climate
Dare County, -in -particular -the Outer, Banks- sector,,,experiences a maritime
climate -with cooler sammers�and'warmer winters than inland areas of the same
latitude:-,, Cape Hatteras.1 s.the northern natural- limit of palmetto and citrus
trees. The ten=year mean�annual-precipitation measured for the Dare Beaches
area,is-43.2', The'wettest:months are July and August.which average approxi-
mately nine thunderstoms.persmonth: On Roanoke Island and further inland,
average -annual precipitation is a significant six inches higher while the
average -temperature -;is only slightly higher (610 to 620).
The shoreline of the County -is exposed to waves induced by winds onshore
and alongshore from the northeast, through east and south to southwest. Pre-
vailing wind Is from the south-southwest and consists mostly of winds with
speedsof less than nineteen m.p.h. Stronger winds are more frequent from
the north,.-south,°and southwest. The portion of the coast north of Cape
Hatteras .is -generally -exposed to waves induced by winds from the north through
east to 'south.
The years-1914-1958 showed 195 storms of all kinds, tropical and extra-
tropical, with winds over 45:m.p.h. Changes in the Dare Beaches are brought
.about -:principally -by these powerful forces of wind and water which act on
the':North'Carolina Coast. There are more storms in March than any other
month while the period August through October represents the greatest threat
of hurricanes. Northeasters, which -occur -mainly in October -April, account
for great damages in the form of beach and dune erosion.
DARE COUNTY
WEATHER RECORDED REFLECTS THE
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AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AND PRE-
CIPITATION FOR THE PAST 12
YEAR PERIOD
Temperature Jan. Feb. March Apr. May June July_Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.
Dec.
Average Max. 51 51 58 67 75 82 87 86 80 72 63
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Average Min. 35 34 40 49 58 67 72 71 67 58 47
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Precipitation 4.8 4.6 2.9 3.1 3.8 4.5 6.3 6.0 5.2 3.3 3.1
3.5
SOURCE: National Park Service
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Geology
The N. C. Coastal'Plain is a series of marine deposi-ts,*attesting.to.
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several -cycles of' -uplift and submergence;-whi-ch were deposited upon the ancient
rocks of the area. The'flUctuation in sea level in past geological times ap-
pears to-be-correlated.with Pleistocene glacial --and interglacial stages, during
which great-gaantities--of water were alternately withdrawn and returned to the
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sea by the-freezirrg-and thawing of the great continental ice sheets. With
ea&..emergence�and submergence`, larger areas were left above the sea. During
the�Jlooding° resulting -from the last interglacial stage, the seaward part of
the Coastal Plain was covered by a thin mantle of the lowest of these terraces -
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the Pamlico. This layer composed almost entirely of sand, was deposited
by'waves and currents.. The -sea -level never rose higher than the present one
when it receeded during the last -glacial stage. During the last glacial max-
imam,,-the'sea was between-•250 -'450' below what is now the Outer Banks.
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rare County's:barrier;island chain is a relatively recent geologic phen-
omenon,"having been formed-about.54000 years ago. Theories concerning forma-
tion''of,the barrier islands conflict, but it is generally agreed that some of
the islands,were-,formed when rising seas surrounded mainland ridges and others
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were --formed by °the• elorngation�of coastal sand spits. These barrier islands
represent a delicate physical system which is.undergoing continual change.
The lagoons'and-sounds inland -of the barrier islands accumulate sediment
slowly from erosion -of` -adjacent mainland and overwash from the ocean side
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creating (marsh° areas.
Soils
Dare County is unique.in North Carolina in that it is composed of three
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distinct and...separate land forms which reflect distinct and contrasting soil
hypes and use potentials. The'soils:.of the mainland are generally organic
in nature. Roanoke -,Island. soil`types vary from deep, well drained sandy.
soils supporting maritime forests to fertile marshes_ These marshes provide
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a'source of nutrients and habitats for numerous species of shellfish, as well
as many other marine and wildlife species. Tte-soils of the Outer Banks sector
vary from marshes to.`large, shifting sand.dunes. Iihdications are -that the
Outer'Bankt' chafn~As sltrarly -shifting westward asa result of wind and water
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action -from -the�-Atlantic Ocean.
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POPULATION'CHARACTERISTICS*
Age
Age" structure'°i,-s- an -important variable in estimating requirements for
facilities and services such`as schools,`-heal'th-care; housing and recreation.
• Sex and age ­characteristics are the basic causative elements in natality,
mortality, and migratioh."trends....
The median.age.is a statistical.measure of age composition which may be
defined as the age dividing the-population"into-two equal-size`groups, one
-older and one younger than the median age. Those counties with medians under
twenty may -be=. -described as "young" while those with medians of thirty and
over are described as "old".
• MEDIAN AGE OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES
County Median Age
Beaufort 29
Camden 27.7
Currituck 31
Dare 33.6
Hyde 29.8
PAsquotank 25.9
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Tyrrell 31.8
SOURCE: U." S:` Bureau of Census
According to data from the1950, 1960 and 1970 censuses, Dare County's
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population'has,fallen`into the "old age" bracket -for the last twenty years.
(1950 - 30.8; 1960 - 32.4; 1970 - 33.6). A declining birth rate and a
theoretical in -migration in the older age groups for recreation and retire-
merit`purposes'are majorfactors-'which::.must be considered when attempting to
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account-for-this..age increase. Dare's 1970 median age is usually high as
.revealed'in the above table.
*The population and economy 'section of this Land Use Plan is based primarily
• on information found in Stephen Associates' Dare County Economic Development
Plan of 1974.
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Changes in'Age-Irofile"`of Dare County Population, 1950-1 960'&'1960-1970
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Under 18
18-64
65+
Total
Number of
Persons
1950
1806
3132
467
5405
1960
1986
3312
637
5935 •
1970
2060
4035
900
6995
Changes- in No.
1950-60" : ' 180 180 170 530
1960-70 ' 74 723 263 1060 •
Changes in %
1950=60*'10.0%. 5.7% 36.4% 9.8%
1960-70' 3.7% 21.8% 41.3% 17.9%
The"youngest age group°in Dare County (under 18 years of age) increased by
ten percent in the period:1950-1960 but dropped below four percent in the
19604970'decade. This decrease is primarily a product of a reduction in
the birth rate -as well as'in-migration in older families.
The` -middle age group, (18-64)°constitutes the-*majoritrof the labor force.
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The number:-oflpersons-ih thit* group has:Temai-ned relatively constant over the
1950-1970 period'as­a* ercent of total population--28.8% to 29.4%. However,
with an increase in the median age of population,.this age group should be-
come' proportionally),smaller'--and the economy will have to support a greater
concentration of-o-Ider--people unless economic growth provides job opportuni-
ties to --attract and hoidJounger groups.
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The aging trend in Dare -County has two major implications for the planning
program:*
(1) it will` produce specialized demands on the county's services and facili-
ties ,particularly -I n-the area of-heal'th care delivery systems and
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' recreation- since"ol�der,`persons- require more medical care and more
specialized recreation programs than the rest of the population;
(2) with a larger•number'-of-families'receiving fixed incomes, fluctuations
in the'national-economy will have a greater impact on the county.
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Sex
The investigation into the balance -of -the sexes provides information on the
social roles -and employment patterns within the community:- Dare County's
population sex ratio; defined,as"the number of-males°per 100 females, indi-
cates that the county is developing an exceptionally large proportion of
females.
DARE COUNTY SEX RATIC
Year Male 'female Total Male Sex'Ratio (Dare Co.) Male Sex Ratio (State)
1950 2683 2722 5405 98.57 98.6
1960 b52 3010 5935 . 97.18 97.3
1970 3403 3592 6995 94.74 95.9
Source: U.-S. Bureau of Census, 1950, 1960, 1970
The major economic planning -implication of Dare's large female population is
illustrated by the relationship between families with female heads and the
county's income statistics. According to the 1970 Census, 10% of the county's
1908 families had female heads. Mean famfly income was $8350 but for families
with female heads, mean -income was $6371. Of the 254 families considered
below the poverty level, 29% were female heads. These statistics indicate
that Dare County not only has a concentration of females, but also as a
group, females are more economically depressed.
By examining the-ba'sic-shape of the Dare County population pyramid, it is
possible to identify the population's combined age -sex characteristics:
(1) The -middle section is concave which indicates a relatively small
proportion of the county's population is 30 to 50 years old; a vestige
of out=migration-during the 1950's.
(2) The base curves inward; a_result of reduction in birth rates.
(3) The bulge at the top represents an in -migration of older people.
(4) W excess of females occurs in the older age groups. This lessens to
some degree=the�aeed for specialized employment opportunities for women.
However, consideration must be given to providing more job opportunities
appropriate for females in the County's long-range economic development
goals. Also emphasis should be placed in providing for cultural and
recreational programs designed for older women.
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Race
The'nonwhite population of Dare County has maintained a relatively constant
proportion`of:the.total'population for the past twenty years, ranging from
6.8% in 1960,to-73%'in 1970. Nonwhites increased in numbers from 1950 to
1960 from,380 to-406 (6.8%). This"increase:can be totally accounted for by
natura l'increase"because`there is -.an estimated outmigration of almost 6% of
the 1950' :nonwhite -.population: *.Over the same period, the total county popu- •
lation increased by`almost.l0%, causing `a decline in the proportion of non-
whites'from 7.0% in 1950 to 6.8% in 1960.
During
the most,,recent census.period
(1960-1970).,.the nonwhite
population grew
more rapidly than the°'tot&1`county population,`regi'stering`a 25:1%,increase
-to the-county's
17.9% increase.
RACIAL COMPOSITION
1 TRENDS, DARE
COUNTY
Year
-White
%`Total % Increase Non -White
% Total
% Increase
1950
5023
93.0
380.
7.0
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1960
5529
93.2 9.2
406
6.8
6.4
1970
6487
92.6 17.9
508
7.4
25.1
Source: U. S. Bureau of Census _ •
Education
,The -educational levels'attained`'by Dare County residents have consistently
paralleled`those-of all' -North Carol'ina`,-residents. In 1950, the median school •
years'completed"by persons 25 years of age or older was 7.9. This means that
half of Dare CoUnty's residents had received less than eight years of formal
education. This level equalled that of North Carolina and was higher than
the neighboring counties of Curri:tuck and Tyrrell. However, both the state
and--Dare-County were considerably lower than the median United States
achievement of 9.3 years of education. •
.By .19703, this level had �incr eased .by 2-.6 `years so that fifty percent of Dare
,County' -es !dents-had.completed over-10.5 years of school. This increase is
comparable`to�the"statewi�de'fincr.ease of 2.7 years but is slightly behind the
United States 20 year change of 2.8 years, which climbed to a national median
of.12�1•school.years completed. While the educational level of Dare County -
residents has increased over the past twenty years to remain on a par with
statewide levels, it has increased more rapidly than other counties in the
immediate region.
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There has been- -a-steady'ncrease - in the!, - percentage -of -Dare residents with 4
years or more of high- school -as well; as°in ` the' number -'of -college"graduates .
While Dare County has-,a:higher­percentage of res!idents'in-this category than
either" Curri tuck`,6- :Tyrrell-' Counties , it still "remains *belowthe'level s of
North Carolina and°_the'United States. The in-migration,of retired persons
to Dare' County: has probably -raised the educational level, while some of the
more educated.people�have'left`Tyrrell County since in -migration occurs more
frequently among;highly educated people.
MEDIAN'NUMBER OF SCHOOL YEARS COMPLETED
BY PERSONS 25 YEARS -AND OLDER
Change
1950 1960 1970 1950-70
Dare 7.9 8.9 10.5 2.6
Currituck. 7.3 8.4 9.6 2.3
Tyrrell 7.2 7.8 8.4 1.4
North Carolina 7.9 8.9 10.6 2.7
United`°States 9.3 10.5 12.1 2.8
Source: S.'Census of Population, 1950, 1960, 1970.
• Size"of:Families
The population per,°household figure'�for-Dare,County in 1970 was 2.67. This
figure is'a-16%`-decrease over -the 1960 figure. The population per house-
hold in Dare County was lower than the state size of 3.23. This lower figure
can -again -be attributed to the in -migration of older persons to the county.
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POPULATION TRENDS
Analyses of county growth trends are useful in several respects. First,
,.growth trends are.an indicator. --of the pressure on the county's land resources
and its public`services.and fatilities. If the pressure is great, without •
proper management, it'is.:possible;that the county will begin to lose control
of the land -development -process and be unable to keep pace with the demand
for public services., Second, growth trend analysis permits identification
of -growth differentials,. -within the county since all areas within the county
seldomexperience uniform growth --rates. Third, analysis of historic growth
trends provides'a basis'for forecasts of the county's future population
levels.
COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATES 1950-60 to 1960-70
1950-60
1960-70
Dare County
9.8
17.9
Currituck County
6.4
5.7
Tyrrell County
-10.4
-15.8 •
North Carolina
12.2
11.5
South Carolina
12.5
8.7
Virginia Beach
101.6
102.0
Virginia
19.5
16.6 •
South Atlantic Area
22.6
18.1
United States
18.5
13.3
Note: Dare County ranked 25th out of 100 North Carolina Counties in
1950-1960 and 17th in the 1960-1970 period. •
Source: United States Census of Population
Township Growth
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While Dare has experienced a rapid population growth over the past two decades,
a closer examination of this growth at the township level reveals that some
areas are growing rapidly while others have declining populations.
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The most significant intra-county growth trend is that the beach areas of
Dare.County are growing while the mainland areas are experiencing a popula-
tion decline. Atlantic and Nags Head.Townships include the Dare Beaches
area, as well as Roanoke Island. Over the 40 year period 1930-1970, the
share of Dare County population living in these two townships has increased
from 48.9% in 1930 to.almost 64% in 1970. At the same time, the population
of Manteo, which comprises a largepercentage of the non -beach population
of these townships, has decreased by almost 14% since 1950.
Hatteras Township has increased in population by 17.8% over four decades and
has held a relatively stable share of county population while the other
three townships have all declined both in absolute numbers and in shares of
total population.
COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATES: 1950-1960 and 1960-1970
iarn-iagn
Dare Beaches
Dare County
* Estimated
Source. Stephens Associates
27.6*%
9.8 %
1960-1970
32.4*%
17.9 %
For the past twenty years, the growth of the Dare Beaches has surpassed that
• of the County, registering ten-year increases of 27.6% for 1950-1960 and
32.4% for the decade 1960-1970. In 1950, 17% of all county residents lived
on the beaches; by 197U, this figure had increased to over 22%.
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Considering the past sixty years, the growth.rate.for the past two decades
represents a great°quickening in population increase for Dare County. If
the 691 temporary workers present for the 1940.census are excluded from the
figures, a steady but small rate of growth: occurs, ranging from an adjusted
1.0% rate for the period 1940-50 to a 5.6% increase from 1910 to 1920. The
decade 1950-1960 saw an increase in the growth rate to 10% which is roughly
comparable to that experienced by the state as a whole. Over the past two
decades., North'Carolina's populat.lon increased by.approximately 25% while
Dare's grew by almost 30%. However, Dare's 17.9% increase from 1960 to
1970 was almost 50% greater than that experienced by the state.
According to population forecasts made.by the North Carolina Department of
Human: Resources, Dare County's population as of July 1, 1974, is 9000 persons.
This represents a 22% increase since the 1970 census which is greater than
the percentage increase during the entire decade 1960 to 1970.
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
Source:
Population Trends,- Dare County
Change from
No. of Persons Previous Census
4841
5115
5202
6041 (5350)*
5405
5935
6995
274
87
839 (148)*
-636
530
1060
% Change from
Previous Census
5.6
1.7
16.1 (2.8)*
-10.5 (1.0)*
9.8
17.9
In 1940, there were 691 WPA and CCC temporary workers residing on
the Outer Banks. Subtracting these persons gives a net change
1930-1940 of 148 persons, indicating a 10 yr.-growth of 2.8% and
a 1940-1950 growth rate of 1.0%.
U. S. Census of Population
The rapid growth of Dare'County is not typical of other Northeast North Caro-
lina counties. For example, neighboring counties Currituck,.Hyde and Tyrrell
all declined :in population over..the past twenty year period. The net popula-
`tion increase.of the Currituck-Albemarle-Pamlico Economic Region was only
0.3 percent. The economies of most of Dare's neighboring counties are pre-
dominantly agricultural with a predominant out -migration of people as op -
Dare's recreation=based economy. For the past decade, Dare County's
equalled that of the South Atlantic Area of 18% and surpassed the 13% growth
rate of the United States.
•
•
•
•
•
7
•
i
14 41

`7
C,
Components of Population Change
In studying population change, it is important to look at its causes. The
two basic factors are natural increase (the excess of live births over
deaths in the period being studied) and net migration (those moving into or
out of the area under consideration). After the natural increase is deter-
mined for a period of time, it is added to the base year population to de-
termine the expected population 10 years hence. Any differential between
the expected population and the actual census count at the end of the decade
under study is attributed to net migration; a flow of persons into or out of
the county. -
An the decade 1950-1960, natural.increase accounted for all of Dare County's
S 9.8% growth as the county experienced a net out -migration of 2.3% of its
1950 population. The out -migration of younger males in the working age
group, especially among Blacks, is a well documented trend in 1950-1960
in Dare and the rural South.
Analysis of Dare's population growth over the past two decades has revealed
two important trends. First, the county is in the midst of a rapid growth
phase. While the county'.s economic region grew by 0.3 percent between 1950
and.1970, Dare's population increased by 29.7 percent. With an estimated
increase of 1300 residents since the last census, the county's recent growth
has been even more rapid. Although the population has been incrdasing at
the county level, at the township level some areas of the county have been
growing while others have experienced population declines. In general, the
county's eastern -oriented townships have been growing, and the mainland
townships have been losing population. This second trend illustrates a re-
orientation of the county's settlement patterns toward the beach areas which
has.accompanied the development of the county's recreational industry. The
changing settlement patterns indicate increased demand for public services
! and the need for careful land management in the county's beach areas.
COMPONENTS OF DARE COUNTY POPULATION CHANGE: 1950-1960.and 1960-1970
1950-1960 1960-1970
! Beginning Population
5405
5935
Change: Births
1245
1260
Deaths
591
819
Natural.Increase
654
441
Net Migration
-124
+691
Total Increase
530
1060
Ending Population
5935
6995
Migration*
-2.3
+10.4
*Rates are expressed as % of beginning population.
Source: W. B. Clifford & A. C.
Counties 1950-1960 and
Increase; N.C.S.U., 19
Davis, Population Change for.N. C. and N. C.
1960-1970: Estimates of Net Migration and
40 15

In the decade 1960-1970;-:.the rate of -natural increase dropped from 12.1% to
7.4. During thedecade,'Dare experienced an 18 percent overall growth rate
which is largely attributable to�.a.ten-year'net in -migration of 10.4% of the
1960'-population.'� The,�population-'di'stribution within the county' indicates
that a'large number of -the in -migrants are locating on the beach areas.
NET -`MIGRATION RATES:" 19-50-1960 and 1960-1970
1950-1960 1960-1970
Dare -2.3% 10.4%
Currituck- -7.0 1.8
Tyrrell -24.0 -20.3
North'Carolina -8.1 -1.6
Rates'expressed as % of population at the beginning of
each decade.
Source:— William-Ciifford'- 1971`- Population Change for N. C.
1950L-60 and T960-70, N.'C.S°.U.
Net out=migration' of the1950-60' period was lower in Dare than in the other
counties showr. in the Table or the -state. In 1960-70 Dare showed sharpest
gains in in-migration,"while Currituck also showed a significant turnaround.
Dare ranked 9th in the -state in 1960-70 net migration. pare attracted this
large in -migration at a time when out -migration rates for the region were
increasing.
From 1950 to 1960, Dare's rate of natural -increase was significantly lower
than -that of-North°Carolina'"and somewhat lower than the neighboring counties
of Currituck. Although Dare's rate of natural increase dropped during the
past decade and North Carolina's increased, Dare did not drop as low as
either Tyrrell or Currituck Counties.
COMPARATIVE NATURAL INCREASE 1950-60 and 1960-70
% of 1950
% of 1960
1950-.64.
Population
1960-70
Population
Dare
654
21.1
441
7.4
Currituck
831
13.4
257
3.9
Tyrrell
686
13.6
203
4.5
North Carolina
822,213
20.2
1,011,772
22.2
Source: Wm. Clifford, 1971. Population Change for N. C. 1950-1960 and
1960-1970.
16"

•
Summary of Population Growth
The change in Dare's migration trend is the result of the increasing popu-
larity of the county as a retirement area and the increasing economic oppor-
tunities associated with the county's recreation industry. Also, age character-
istics of the in -migrating population have had a.major-impact on the county's
birth rate. In effect, this net in -migration in the older age groups in the
_ 1960's has produced -an aging population which has resulted in a reduction
of the county's birth rate and a slight increase -in -the death rate. All
factors point toward an increasingly older population in the county.
"Income -Characteristics,
Evaluation of the.economic well-being.of Dare County's population is extremely
difficult due to an absence of definite economic indicators and the county's
un,,Nue life-style given that there are variations in needs, desires, and
tastes among various sectors of the population, the accessibility of goods
and services is.perhaps the best available measure of Dare's basic economic
well-being. Thus income, as a rough measure of accessibility of goods and
services,,is used as a crude measure of Dare's overall economic well-being.
!Average Income
Average incomeis one of the most common measures of a population's income
characteristics. Typically, the mean and .median are the "average" measures
• used in the analysis of income characteristics, but it is important to make
a -distinction between the two measures. Most people when speaking of the
"average" are actually -referring to the arithmetic plan, and in the case of
incomes, the mean is simply the sum of all family incomes divided by the num-
"ber of. families. Since this measure does not account in any way for the
distribution of income, it may be considered a summary average which reflects
• .-,.the,.total income available in an area.
.. _The. -median., as- a measure of average. income,. is the income level: at which half
.the families make more,..and half make less._ Median income is a measure of
income distribution and, as such, it might be considered a typical average
which gives a rough idea of the typical income of families in an area.
Thus, in an area where there exists a considerable disparity between the
number of_families in the lower. income groups and those in the upper income
groups, the median income may be considerably below the mean income. How-
ever, only in the case of a perfectly even income distribution will they be
• equal.
Due to:the unique features of each.county--needs,:tastes., expectations, type
of economy, population level, and so forth--inter-county,comparisons of mean
and -median incomesare not highly significant. However, the disparity between
.Dare's mean income of $9,354 and its median income of $6,823 does represent
-an.mportant income characteristic. As discussed above, in an even income
distribution, the mean and median are equal. Therefore, with a median
effective buying income substantially smaller than.the mean, the county has
a disproportionately large number of families in the lower income groups.
17 `

M
Income -Distribution
The distribution of income for households.in Dare. County is found below. •
Approximately 35:percent of the county's households have annual incomes
less than $5,000 and 70 percent make less than $10,000 per year.
Household'Effective Buying Income Distribution
Percentage of
Income Group
Households
•
0 - $ 2,999
$ 3,000
20.1 -
` 35.4
- 4,999
15.3
$ 5,000 - $ 7,999
23.3 -
` 34.6
8,000 - 9,999
11.3
s
$10,000 - $14,999
17.1
15,000+
-
12.9 - 30.0
Source: Sales Management, "Survey of Buying Power," 1973.
This analysis of Dare's income characteristics indicates that higher income
levels are an obvious target for the county,s economic development program.
t
0
•
•
f
18 0

•
ECONOMY
• An understanding of the structure and function of Dare's economy is a founda-
mental element of the county's planning and management program, providing
economic information essential for decisions concerning the future.
Economic History
•
Until recent years, the predominant theme in the development of Dare County
has been isolation. Although the first permanent white settlers are thought to
have come to the area in the late 1600's, the resident population has remained
sma-1, due primarily to the fact that the county was not tied to mainland
North Carolina by any convenient transportation links. Prior to 1931 when
• Wright Memorial Bridge was built between lower Currituck County and Kitty
Hawk, the only means of transportation to Dare County was by water.
During isolation, the economy of Dare County was dependent upon the utilization
of natural resources. Stock raising and resultant overgrazing caused problems
in regard to beach stabilization. By the 1800's, fishing technology improved
• and made commercial fishing the dominant sector of the Outer Banks economy.
Overall, fishing has declined in recent years but commercial and sport fishing
remain as important segments of Dare's economy.
Concern in the 1800's for the protection of shipping brought opportunities for
new employment to Dare County. Residents were employed to work in lighthouses
• and lifesaving stations. By 1920, the Federal'Government provided approxi-
mately one-fourth of the employment in the County and coastguarding was a
promising cash career for a Dare County boy.
.The popularity of the county as a resort area first came in the early 1800's
as a retreat from the sun, humidity and insects. These ewrly-"tourists" built
• a hotel at Old Nags Head. However, the tourist economy was at a disadvantage
due to a lack of access. In the early 1900's the Outer Banks area was acces-
sible only by steamer from Elizabeth City while other resort areas such as
Virginia Beach, Morehead City and Wrightsville Beach were served by railroads.
Construction of the Roanoke Island Bridge in 1928 was the first link in a
• transportation net tying Dare County with the mainland of North Carolina. This.
net was complete with the construction of Wright Memorial Bridge in 1931. Con-
struction of the Croatan Sound Bridge in 1956 and the Alligator River Bridge
removed a major constraint on the development of a recreational economy. In
retrospect, it is fortunate that access came so late to Dare County, because
the delay prevented some of the more undesirable types of growth which have
• been experienced by other similar areas. The county has been left with a
highly diversified environment which has appeal for almost every segment of the
recreation population. Outstanding facilities are available for recreationists,
including fine hotels, rental cottages, camping areas, sport -fishing fleets,
restaurants, and gift shops. With proper planning and public investment, the
future of the recreation industry on the Dare beaches is bright.
•
•
19

•
Labor Force Characteristics
Characteristics -of Dare's labor force are.a.major factor in the -development of
the county's economy. Utilizing factors such as labor force, job characteristics
of the workers, annual and seasonal unemployment, and commutation,patterns, it is
possible to define the county's manpower problems and -resources which become the
focus of long-range economic development programs.
Total Employment
The age -sex specific activity rate is one of the most useful_ measures of labor
force participation. These rates are calculated for each sex in the active
(16-65) age group and they are a device for relating the economically active
population in a particular age group, to the total population of that group.
The most obvious point in the comparison is that both the county's
activity rates are substantially below those of the economic region .as a whole.
There are several factors which probably contribute to these low rates:
(1) Dare's tourist industry employment is seasonal in nature;
(2) The large percentage of both male and female retirees residing
in -the county;
(3) The lack of diversified economic opportunities.
Therefore, making available appropriate job opportunities should be an important
consideration in the county's economic development program.
Dare County
Currituck-
Albemarle-Pamlico
Economic Region
AGE -SEX -SPECIFIC ACTIVITY RATES - 1970
Age -Specific Age -Specific
...Population Employment
Male Female Male Female
2,040 2,100 1,496 837
24,754 26,810 19,880
Source: U. S. Census; Stephens Associates.
11,698
Activity Rate
Male Female.
73.3 39.8
80.3 43..6
•
•
•
7
•
•
•
20

0
.A summary of Dare's employment in major industrial groupings for 1950, 1960
• and 1970.is found in the following table. The.pattern,of employment clearly
illustrates the evolution of the county's economy over recent years. In
1950, when the current recreation "boom" was.in its infancy,.the leading
industries in the county's economy were agriculture, forestry, and fisheries,
with fisheries employment dominant in.the group. Retail trade and service
industries were significant elements in the county's economy; however, the
concentration of employment in these two categories was typical for counties
similar to Dare.
•
•
•
•
•
Between:1950 an& 1960 there was a sharp decline in the number of workers
employed in Dare natural resource based industries (28.2 percent to 15.8
percent). At the same time, the concentration of employment in the service
industries increased sharply from_12.3 percent to 23.2 percent, marking the
initial growth phase in the county's recreation industry.
Employment activities related to the National Park Service are also reflected
in Dare"s changing employment patterns. In 1950, 6.8 percent of the county's
labor force was employed in government, which is typical for counties of
Dare's size. By 1960, however, government employment had increased to 9.4
percent, which is well above other Northeastern North Carolina counties.
Between 1960 and 1970, the Dare economy became dominated by the recreation
industry. Employment in the natural resource based industries --agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries --declined to 7.8 percent of the total. In response
to recreation demand, the retail trade industries --food stores, restaurants,
motels, and hotels, and so forth --became one of the leading employers of the
...economy, increasing from 16.3 percent in 1960 to 25.6 percent in 1970. Ser-
vices, the largest employer in the county, increased its share of total
employment from 23.2 percent to.27.7 percent.
Employment Summary by Major industry Groups
Industry Groups
Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation, Communi-
cation and Utilities
'Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Services
Government
Not Reported
Source: U. S. Census
1950
%
1960
%
1970
395
28.2
280
15.8
181
7.8
239
17.0
234
13.2
316
13.5
64
4.6
99
5.6
132
5.7
117
8.3
174
9.7
158
6.8
44
3.1'
28
1.6
78
3.3
233
16.6
288
16.3
598
25.6
172
12.3
411
23.2
647
27.7
96
6.8
166
9.4
233
9.6
43
3.1
94
5.3
0
0
1,403
100.0
1,772
100.0
2,333
100.0
21

•
Unemployment
Unemployment statistics are important economic indicators which permit assess-
ment of the overall strength and vitality of Dare County's economy and, perhaps
more importantly, identification of the magnitude of the economy's seasonal
fluctuations. The most current unemployment statistics are reported by the
North Carolina Employment Security Commission. The Employment Security Com-
mission's statistics are based on the concept of work force and reflect employ-
ment by lace'of work and are therefore not exactly comparable with Census
Bureau statistics w ch are reported by place of residence.
Unemployment is defined as all persons who did not work at all during the
reporting period but were able, available, and looking for work. The rate of
unemployment is'simply the number of unemployed as a percent of the total work
force. Given today's highly mobile work force, for all practical purposes it
is impossible to achieve a "zero" rate of unemployment. In fact, economists
at the national level consider a 4 percent unemployment rate as "full employ-
ment."
This provides a comparison of the 1974 unemployment rates of Dare County
and North Carolina, as well as the monthly unemployment figures. In total, Dare's
rate is slightly above that of the state; however, examination of the county's
monthly unemployment rate reveals marked seasonal fluctuations. In February,
the county's unemployment was at 20.6 percent, it declined steadily to 0.7 per-
cent in.August, and rose again to 9.3 in December.
DARE COUNTY AND NORTH CAROLINA UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
Unemployment Rate Dare County North Carolina
A
•
•
•
•
1974 Total
6.0%*
4.5%* •
1974 Monthly
January
15.2
4.8
February
20.6
4.0
March
16.9
3.8
April.'
9.2
3.3 •
May
4.1
3.1
June
1.9
3.8
July ,.
1.0
4.5
August
0.7
3.4
September
.9
4.0
October.
1.8
4.6 •
November
4.4
6.6
December
19.3
4.6
Source: N. C. Employment Section Commission, Sept., 1975.
* All figures are preliminary and subject to change.
•
22 •

Seasonal fluctuations are a long -recognized characteristic of economies based
primarily on the recreation industry.. These fluctuations are the result of
changing demand which can be traced to three factors:
1. The product of the recreation industry --recreational exper-
iences --must be consumed within the county by the purchasers,
leading to highly seasonal demand because the consumer may
• choose the time to travel to the county;
2. The demand for recreation has a high income --elasticity,
meaning that vacations are one of the first expenditures
to be cut when a family's disposable income drops and
that the industry is highly susceptible to fluctuations
• in the national economy;
3. Recreation demand is subject to changes in the weather.
While it would be unrealistic to suggest that the fluctuations in Dare's
unemployment could be dampened to the extent that it would resemble trends
• of more conventional economies, it is possible, through innovative economic
programming, to capitalize on the county's apparent off-season labor resources
and thereby reduce the high off-season unemployment.
Commuting Patterns
• According to 1970 Census statistics shown on Page 24 , approximately 18
percent of Dare's labor force commutes into the county for employment. The
commuters are primarily from Currituck, Pasquotank, Tyrrell and Hyde Counties.
By contrast, in 1970 only 4 percent of the work force commuted out of the
county for employment.
•
The commutation patterns illustrate two important factors, relating to the
county's economy:
1. They show the tremendous increase in economic opportunities
within the county;
2. They show that Dare County's recreation industry is becoming
an economic resource for surrounding areas as well as the
residents of the county.
In addition to job opportunities, commuting patterns are a function of resi.
• dential preferences and are difficult to modify to any great extent. However,
considering that the 12 percent of the county's workers live outside the county
and spend most of their incomes in these other areas, the county should attempt
to attract these commuting workers into the county. Such programs should in-
clude a concentrated effort to provide suitable housing in appropriate price
ranges, year-round recreational and cultural facilities,"and medical services.
0 23

Dare Commuting Patterns
Area
Out -Commuting
In, -Commuting
Currituck
15
216
Tyrrell
21
43
Norfolk -Portsmouth
42
0
Hyde
0
33
Beaufort
0
7
Washington
0
8
Camden
0
6
Pasquotank
0
63
Elsewhere
19
51
TOTALS
97
427
Net Commuting
+330 Workers
Source: U. S. Census, 1970.
•
•
•
24

ECONOMIC BASE ANALYSIS
The analysis of Dare County's economy has two purposes. The primary purpose
is to identify valid economic goals and objectives and to provide an informa-
tional base for the formulation of an economic development plan. The second
and more technical purpose is to provide quantitative estimates of future
employment and population which can serve as very general guides to the formu-
lation of plans for land use and capital facilities.
Economic Base Technique
In recent years economists have devised several techniques for urban economic
0 analysis, but the technique most frequently employed in comprehensive planning
studies is the "economic base analysis." The popularity of the economic base
technique stems from its flexibility in accommodating several types of readily
available data and the fact that the economic base analysis provides a com-
plete "snapshot" of the community's economy.
9 In concept, the economic base analysis views the county's economy as two
segments: (1) firms and individuals serving markets outside the county; and
(2) firms and individuals serving markets inside the county. The activities
producing goods and services for sale outside the county are considered export,
or basic. The remaining activities are viewed as producing strictly for the
county, and are termed service, or non -basic activities. In non -technical
language, the county's basic activities may be considered "income earners"
and the non -basic activities as "spenders."
Economic.base analysis recognizes that not all activities will fit neatly into
the basic or non -basic categories because firms may sell their products in
• both markets. For example, a good store .in Dare County may make part of its
sales to tourists (basic) and part to local residents (non -basic). Thus, a
firm may be partly basic and partly non -basic, and therefore for each industry,
employment is placed in the basic or non -basic category or divided between the
two. Then, totals are added up for both basic and non -basic employment.
Classification of the county's employment as basic or non -basic provides direct
benefits to the planner, government officials, civic leaders, businessmen, and
development groups. It provides a complete understanding of the county's sources
of income. The base study pinpoints weaknesses in the economy; for example,
an export sector predominantly tied to one industry. For government officials,
the base study provides information for evaluating economic policy and for
• making decisions.
The county's basic/non-basic employment ratio is an important forecasting tool
For example, if Dare County's ratio of basic employment were 1 to 2, then an
addition of 100 basic jobs would create an additional 200 non -basic jobs. Thus
by forecasting increases in employment in the county's basic sector, it is
possible to derive long-range estimates of.total employment which can also be
converted to population estimates.
0 25

•
Measurement of Economic"Base
Employment is the most common measure of the economic base, and the location
quotient is the most widely used technique for allocating employment to the
basic and non -basic sectors. The basic concept of the location quotient
technique is simple.. If a given county is highly specialized relative to a
reference economy (usually the nation) in the production of a particular good
or service, the product is assumed to be an export°item and employment above
the location quotient is classified as basic.
The location quotient for a particular industry is derived by the following
formula:
X Reference Area Employment in Industry (i)
Total Local Empig��n�nt = Tota Reference Area Employment
Solving for X determines the numbers which would be employed in industry (i)
in the county if it_had.just- enough to supply its own needs. Dare's location
quotients have been .calculated on the basis of the employment in the eight -
county Currituck-Albemarle-Pamlico Economic Region. These counties are similar
in life-styles, geography, economic orientation, and economic history, and
they should reflect"bore closely the tastes, needs, and productivity of Dare
residents than the nation as a whole.
Basic -Industries
Using the county's location quotients calculated from employment'in the
Currituck-Albemarle-Pamlico Economic Region, Table 1 classifies employment
in Dare's 32 industry groupings into basic/non-basic sectors._ .These.calcula
tions_,indic4te_that the county's basic non. -basic ratio is 1.89, with 807
basic'employees`and 1,526 non -basic employees.
However, to facilitate analysis
in Table 1 has been summarized
classifications. Following the
industries producing income fro
construction.
m
of the county's economic base, the information
in Table 2 using the eight major industry
county's employment patterns, the major
outside Dare are services, retail trade and
Within the services category, lodging (motels, hotels, and cottage courts) and
Insurance -Real Estate -Finance are the dominant basic employers, emphasizing
the recreation orientation of the economy. Dominance of these industries is
a unique characteristic of a recreation economy because in almost all other
economies, the services industries would be classified non -basic.
The.leading industries in the retail trade classification are restaurants, food
stores, and service stations. These three industries account for more than 90
percent of the basic trade employment; however, with 60 percent of the total
basic employment, restaurants are the largest employers.
Through the construction of vacation homes and other housing accommodations, as
well as other commercial facilities to serve the county's recreation trade, the
construction industry is a third major basic employer. While smaller than ser-
vices and retail trade, the
14 percent of Dare's basic
construction industry does account for slightly over
employment.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
7
26
•

•
TABLE 1
ANALYSIS OF BASIC AND NON -BASIC INDUSTRIES
•
Total
Location
Basic_
Non -Basic
Industry Employment
Quotient
Employment
Employment
Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries
181
183
0
181
Construction
316
202
114
202
Manufacturing
132
460
0
114
•
Machinery
5
10
0
5
Transportation equipment
19
69
0
19
Concrete products
30
22
8
22
Food and kindred products
15
32
0
15
.Textile products
6
130
0
6
Printing and publishing
18
8
10
8
•
Paper and leather products
39
47.
0
39
Transit, Water & Air Transportation
102
40
62
40
Communications
4
32
0
4
Utilities and Sanitary Services
52
25
.27
25
Wholesale Trade
78
86
0
78
Retail Trade
598
397
211
387
•
Food, bakery & dairy store
117
80
37
80._
Restaurants
179
55
124
55
General merchandise retailing
40
50
0
40
Motor vehicle retailing and
service stations
96
64
32
64
Other retail trade
166
148
18
148
•
Banking and Credit Agencies
14
28
0
Insurance, Real Estate and Other
.14
Finance
75
36
39
36.
Business and Repair Services
34
42
0
34
Private Households
12
78
0
12
Other Personal Services
279
98
181
98
•
Entertainment & Recreation Services
13
10
3
10
Hospitals
3
52
0
3
Health Services
12
36
0
12
Public Schools
70
157
0
70
Private Schools
5
19
0
5
Other Education & Kindred Services
10
8
2
8
•
Nonprofit Organizations
54
25
29
25,
Legal, Engineering & Professional
Services
66
44
22
44
Public Administration
223
124
99
-124
• TOTAL 2,333 2,333 807 1,526
Source: Stephens Associates
•
•
27

•
Table 2 SUMMARY OF BASIC AND NON -BASIC INDUSTRIES
•
Basic
Non -Basic
Industry Group
Employment
%
Employment
%
Employment
Agriculture, Forestry and
•
Fisheries
181
7.8
0
0
181
Construction
316
13.5
114
14.1
202
Manufacturing
132
5.7
18 .
2:2
114
Transportation, Communica-
tion and Utilities
158
6.8
89
1110
69
Wholesale Trade
78
3.3
0
0
78
Retail Trade
598
25.6
:211
.24.9
387
•
Services
647
27.7
276
34.2
371
Government
223
9.6
99
12.3
124
TOTALS
2,333
100.0
807
100.0
1,526
Source: Stephens Associates
Referring to Table 2 , it is interesting to note that while construction is a
major income producer, employment in this.industry has actually shown a small •
relative decrease over the past 20 years. Increased in -commutation of con-
structfon workers appears to be responsible for this trend; however, based on
wage characteristics, failure of the construction industry to keep pace with
expansion of the trade and service industries represents an economic loss to
the county. The trade and service industries. are characterized by relatively •
low wages in a recreation economy, while employees in the construction industry.
receive high wages. Therefore, on a "per employee" basis, the construction
industry generates more income for the county.
Table 2 also identifies several other less important basic employers. --However,
they all appear to be directly linked to the recreation industry. For example, •
the major basic employer within the manufacturing category is the concrete
products industry, which provides materials for recreation construction.
•
28

•
The Recreation -Industry
• j
Dare County, like many areas located near recreational amenities such as the
ocean, relies heavily on tourism as the main source of outside income. The
main economic impacts of the recreation industry stem from the direct effect
of tourist expenditures.
• National Park Service estimated that the Dare Beaches had 1,525,228 visitors
in 1974. This estimate indicates the enormous impact summer visitors have
on resort areas which is felt both physically and economically. Travel
spending in Dare County in 1974 amounted to $57.5 million, making the county
the fifth highest in the state according to figures published by the North
Carolina Travel Survey. This figure represents an increase of 14% over 1973.
• The trend is continuing in 1975 as figures of July 30, 1975 indicate that
vacation travel to the Dare Coast is ahead of the first six months of 1974.
This increase is occurring in spite of the gradual slowing of the national
economy.
It is obvious that proximity and total population contribute to the market
• area of North Carolina's coastal region (see Table 3 ). The great majority
of visitors to Dare Beaches are from the eastern seaboard with Virginia having
24% of that total. North Carolina has 17% of these visitors due to the large
population centers in the Piedmont. Pennsylvania and Maryland combine for
20% of the total visitors. These four states are the residence for 62% of
all visitors to the Dare Beaches.
•
•
•
L
The primary market area extends approximately 350 miles to the north, including
most of the New York City metropolitan area. It approximates the configura-
tion of the "Megalopolis Corridor" extending somewhat more to the west in
Philadelphia and Virginia. In North Carolina, it extends only 100 miles to
the southeast due to the effects of other coastal resorts outside this area.
In 1970, the market area had a population of 30,897,072 people or roughly
15% of the total population of the United States.
• 29

•
TABLE 3
ORIGIN OF
VISITORS TO THE
DARE BEACHES
AND
VIRGINIA BEACH,
VIRGINIA
•
Percent of Total Visitors
Dare
Beaches
Virginia Beach
State.
1970
1972 1972
1971 Overnight Visitors
Study
Survey, Hotel
Registration
•
Guests
Virginia
24
24 19
24.2
North Carolina
17
17 9
2.0
•
Pennsylvania
12
12 14
13.1
Maryland
9
9 14
10.1
Ohio
6
6 8
8.7
•
New York
5
5 7
14.4
New Jersey
4
4 6
7.3
West Virginia
2
2 3
1.9
South -Carolina
2
2 --
.1
Dist. of Columbia
2
1 3
2.1
Delaware
--
V 2
.6
•
Others
17
77 15
15.5
TOTAL
100
100 100
700.0
•
SOURCE: 1970 Greater Nags Head Chamber of Commerce Visitors Stud ; Tourist
Survey by
North Carolina Office of
Travel and Promotion; 1972;
Survey of
Labor Day
Visitors'to Sea
Oatel and Carolinian, 1972;
Tourist Development
Division, City
of Virginia Beach, Registration
Data, 1971.
•
•
30

•
Analysis of Dare's economic base substantiates its reliance on recreation as
its primary source of outside income and emphasizes the short-term as well
• as long-term problems inherent in a narrowly -based recreation economy:
to Dare County's major product is recreational experiences; however,
their consumption is seasonally oriented leading to extreme
fluctuations in demand and under -utilization of labor resources.
• 2. Employment in recreatjion does not compare favorably with other
resource -based industries. Wages are characteristically very low.
3. The recreation industry is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in
the national economy. Under adverse economic conditions, recrea-
tion is one of the first items removed from the. -family budget.
•
4. The recreation resource is extremely sensitive to public policy.
Poor land management policies on the part of public officials can
severely damage the economic potential of recreation resources.
On the positive side, the recreation industry is favored by a growing popula-
tion, increases in disposable income, and increased leisure.
Non -Basic Industry
Just as employment greater than the county's location quotient is considered
• to be basic, employment substantially below the location quotient can be
considered a deficiency, or a source.of leakage. Detailed analysis of Table'
reveals three deficiencies in Dare's economy. In health -related industries --
hospitals, and health services --employment is more than 80 percent below the
county's quotient, indicating a very serious leakage of income for high -cost
medical services. More importantly it reveals a- low .level of health services
• in the county which could be detrimental to the long-range development of
the recreation industry.
A second employment deficiency is in the wholesale trade industries. Whole-
sale operations, such as warehousing, distribution, industrial supplies, and
commercial laundries, are almost totally lacking in Dare County. The -result
• is substantial amounts of money flowing to other communities and ultimately
lower quality service to the county's visitors.
Lack of wholesale operations is partly a function of the state of the county's
economic development. However, the absence of suitable areas set aside for
these functions appears to be a contributing factor.
A third area -of deficiency is manufacturing. Overall, the county's location
quotient for manufacturing employees is 460; however, it has only 132 workers
employed in manufacturing industries. This area would normally receive major
emphasis in a development program, but considering Dare's geographic location,
its lack of transportation, and the sensitivity of its recreation resources, it
• is felt that any programs for development employment opportunities in manufac-
turing should concentrate on small business supplying the recreation industry
and designed to capitalize on high off-season unemployment.
•
31

•
Retail Sales
Retail sales are another indicator of Dare's economic growth. With recent
population growth, rising incomes, development of the recreation industry,
and inflation, the level of retail sales is expected to increase. However,
the rate of increase is dependent primarily on the county's economic activity.
As shown in Table 4 , retail sales have increased over 500 percent since 1960,
reflecting the rapid expansion of the county's recreationally -oriented indus-
tries.
The growth of Dare's retail trade industries, as measured by sales, has been
very strong over the past 15'years. Even under adverse national economic
conditions during the 1967-69 period, the county's retail sales increased by
almost 25 percent. Retail sales trends in Dare also verify the development
of the recreation industry which was identified by.the analysis of the
county's employment.
Table 4
Fiscal Year
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
1963-64
1964-65
1965-66
1966-67
1967-68 .
1968-69
1969-7.0
1970-71
1971-72
1972-73
1973-74
1974-75
RETAIL -SALES -- 1960-1975 -DARE COUNTY
Retail Sales
Current Dollars Percent Increase
8,921,844
---
10,021,531
1.2.3
10,798,805
7.8
12,156,285
12.6
13,291,380
9.3
14,920,985
12.3
16,692,708
11.9
17,577,479
5.3
20,783,047
18.2
23,490,677
13.0
28,290,561
20.4
32,222,254
13.9
37,881,600
17.6
44,676,070
17.9
48,731,661
9.1
Source: N.. C. Department of Revenue; Stephens Associates.
•
LA
•
•
•
•
•
32
•

TRANSPORTATION
The character of local and regional. -transportation systems is.one of the
dominant factors controlling an area's growth and development. The history
of isolation and slow growth on the Outer Banks serves to illustrate this
relationship. An area in which a major portion of the economy is tied directly
to recreation is even more heavily dependent upon access for economic develop-
ment. Three major factors which determine the success of a recreation area are:
1. Travel time from geographic centers of population to the
.recreation area;
2. The comfort or discomfort of travel conditions; and
3. Total cost per visit.
Regional Access
0 Transportation:systems serving the county are composed of.many elements;
including highways, air, water, and rail. Highways.are the most important
.element.providing access to Dare County at the present time. However, in-
creasing disposable income and leisure time, as well as advances of air and
water transportation in the future development of Dare County.
,Highways
For all practical -purposes,, access.to Dare -County is limited to.U..S. Highway
158 from the North and U.S. 64-264 from the. west. Highway 158 enters the
.county from lower Currituck County via the Wright Memorial- Bri-dge over Curri40 -
tuck..Sound. The highway is.two lanes and was firstconstructed in 1931.
Highway 64-264 is two lanes crossing the Alligator River, the Croatan Sound
and the Roanoke Sound. Dare County is completely dependent on this regional
highway system.
Traffic Volumes
Average daily-traffic.(ADT) is defined as -the average:.24-hourtraffic volume
for° a..given: period of.time. Highwaysl�.are. designed to accommodate a -certain
peak ADT. The °North Carolina'State Highway Commission has collected volume
-data (64) at the Alligator River Bridge and Highway 158atthe Wright Memorial
Bridge. These data in ADT form are presented in Table 5 for each month of
the year:
It is estimated that approximately 75% of the traffic -on U..S. 64>is composed
of passenger cars and that.the remainder is commercial vehicles. Although
traffic composition counts were not made on U.S. 158, commercial usage would
be approximately the same as that on U.S. 64.
33

Table 5
MONTH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
MEAN
Dare Beaches Monthly Traffic
Volume
AVERAGE
DAILY TRAFFIC
HIGHWAY
64
HIGHWAY
158
1970
1971
1972
. 1973
: 1974-
Mean
11
1970
- 1971
1972
1973
1974
Me -an
290
382
441
542
525
436
II
oa
1233
1327
1718
2119
1809
rl
u
348
427
448
578
432
447
1487
1691
1821
2417
1694
1822
rr
11
,
481
503
601
680
518.
.557
ii
2049
1812
2509
.2571
2232
2235
n
(P
526
890
864
1031
883
839'11
2459
3271
3435
4173
3861
3440
rP
rl
775
1046
998
1225
•
1246
1058
@`
4037
4037
4064
4290
.4818
5015
it
II
1078
1442
1536
1649
1634'
1468
i
IP
4843
5227
,
5516
5955
5610
5430
1194
1687
1790
1917
1848
1687
II
ii
II
5711
6332
.6741
7152
6853
6558
II
1491
1522
1883-
' 1901
1918
1.743
ii
II
5892
.6169
6782
7256
7096
6639
993
1060
1267
1375
1284
1196
II
3785
4257
4472
4973
4618
4421
61
11
871
856
1088
1219
1314
1070
ii.
II
2709
2632
3150
3995
2794
3236
687
71.5
837
885
985
822
u
ii.
u
2084
2492
2567
3045
3009
2639
409
507
534
516
580
521
n
ii.
1583
1889
2054
1968
2060
.1910
II
11
767
920
1024
1120
1100
987
a
u
3156
3422
3465
4200
3970
3701
Source: N. C. State Highway Commission
•
d-
M

•
Highway Capacities
•
The Highway Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences - National
Research Council has published standards for judging traffic volume capacity
of various types of highways. These capacities are based primarily on the
width of the pavement.
• Routes U.S. 64-264 and U.S. 158 are both two laned highways with a pavement
width of approximately 24 feet. Under the standards developed by the High-
way Research Board, these highways can accommodate a maximum of 7,300 vehicles
per day.
The data on average daily traffic presented in Table 5 indicates that the U.S.
• 64-264 facility entering the county from the west will be adequate well into
the future. Route 158 entering the Dare Beaches from the north is already
dangerously close to capacity during the peak summer months of July and August.
Average daily traffic on Route 158 for the month of July increased about 22
percent per year from 1970 to 1973, reaching a 1973 peak of 7256. The ADT
decreased slightly in 1974 but an increase is again expected which should be
reflected in -the 1975 figures.
Prior to the construction of the bridges and highways in the Dare County area,
access was a major factor inhibiting the growth of the area. Similarly,
current trends seem to indicate that highway congestion may again limit access
to the Dare Beaches, placing a major constraint on development.
•
N. C. 12 carried the majority of an estimated 1,525,000 visitors to Cape
Hatteras National Seashore through September of 1975. This highway is in
need of widening to a standard width of 24 feet and resurfacing.
• Air Transportation
Air travel, which had its birth in the Dare Beaches area, cannot be discounted
in the future development of the Dare Beaches"area. At this point, however,
the future of air travel and its impact on the county is not clear. Past
trends in the advance of air transportation technology and the increase in
the number of people utilizing air transport leads to the general conclusion
that air travel will be a major mode of transport in the future. Thus, future
land use plans should provide space for this presently undeveloped use.
Currently, the only locality providing regular commercial air service is Nor-
folk, Virginia, a distance of about 70 miles. Within a 60 mile radius of the
• county, there are five airports capable of handling private air traffic. These
airports are located at Edenton, Elizabeth City, Kill Devil Hills, Hatteras,
and Manteo. The airport at Kill Devil Hills is located on the site of the
Wright Memorial and is operated by the National Park Service. Although this
airport offers no facilities other than the runway, it appears to be the
logical site for the development of private and light commercial air facili-
ties to serve the Dare Beaches.
•
35

•
Water Travel
Water travel will never again be as important to'the growth'and::development
of the county as it was in the.period prior to the construction of the bridge
systems. It should, however, be viewed as an important recreational:.experience.
Consideration should be given --to providing space for land uses, such'as
marinas, which are related to water travel.
•
Local Transportation System
Internal vehicular circulation in the beach is dependent -primarily on cor-
ridors, route..158 Business and 158 Bypass -running in a north -south direction
between.Kitty,Hawk and Whalebone Junction. The area,south of Whalebone is •
served`by'route 12'. The;$outhern Shores and Duck communities north of Kitty
Hawk are served by State -,Route 1200.
Due to -the linearity of the beach area, efficient internal. movement of
people and goods_is.difficult.to achieve.: This problem is.destined to become
more difficult.if`current development practices continue. Route 158 Business, •
which.is located on the ocean side of the beach.area, is heavily developed
With commercial, commercial -residential, and residential uses, each having
individual -access ,on�the.two-lane highway. During the peak summer season,
congestion.resulting from large numbers of automobiles entering and leaving
the highway makes,rapid`movement impossible.
•
Route.158.Bypass is located on the soundside of the Dare.Beaches area and
is intended.to route through traffic.around congested-158 Business area.
Location of business uses on the'Bypass threaten this vital function.
•
•
•
•
36 0

n
•
EXISTING LAND USE
Existing uses of land within Dare County were mapped according to
the
following generalized categories.
(1)
Commercial - includes all retail and minor wholesale operations,
•
commercial recreation facilities, and commercial services and
businesses, i.e., laundromats, barber shops, realty offices,
motels, hotels, rental cottages and all other commercial;
(2)
Residential_- includes all residential uses;
•
(3).
Government and Institutional, Cultural, Entertainment,
and Recreation - Government and Institutional, an her
.
uses generally available to the public at large.
(4)-
Industrial - manufacturing and processing uses.
•
(5)
Transportation, Communication, & Utilities
(6)
Undeveloped Land
(7)
Agriculture
•
(8).
Forestland
(9)
Water
(10)
Wetland
•
(11)
Barren - including beaches, surface extraction and cleared
transitional land.
This information is displayed on the existing land use map which -accompanies
•
this report.*.
•'
*See map.pocket inside back cover.
•
•
37

C7
Commercial
A majority of the commercial development in Dare County is recreationally
oriented with restaurants, fast food service, gift shope, entertainment
facilities, and gasoline service stations -comprising a large.portion of the
total. Other commercial uses consist primarily of grocery stores, fishing
piers (with bait and tackle shops) and commercial services such as realty
offices, laundromats, and barber shops. Appliances, hardware and building
supplies and other secondary commercial uses are found -An Manteo, Wanchese,
Buxton, Hatteras and some of the more permanent communities.
A large percentage of all developed land in the area of the Beaches is
occupied by motels, hotels, and other commercial residential uses. With few
exceptions, most of the land uses in this classification are located.between
the Route 158 By -Pass and the ocean beach extending from the Kitty Hawk area S
southward to the Whalebone Junction area of.'Nags Head, along U. S. 64-264
through the Manteo area and along N. C. 12 in the villages of Hatteras Island.
It was impossible to make a distinction between.rental cottages and
permanent residences while conducting the land use survey, even though such
a distinction would be useful. It should be noted, however, that many of
the rental cottages are occupied by persons engaged in temporary employment,
such.as construction, during the "off season." As..this occupancy trend
becomes more widespread and the recreation season becomes longer, the dis:
tinction between permanent and rental cottages on the beaches will be less
significant.
It should be noted that the land uses, -in this classification vary in
the degree to which they are used for comer cial purposes, ranging.from the
motel which is used exclusively for commercial purposes, to the single-
family resort home which is perhaps used two or more weeks by the owner and
rented to other persons for the remainder of the time.
f
38
•

•
Residential
• Throughout the county but predominantly in the area of the beaches there
is a general mixture of permanent and seasonal residences. Concentrations of
permanent residenc occur in the Duck area, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk Village,
Colington areas in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head west of the Route 158 By -
Pass, in South Nags Head, on Roanoke Island in Wanchese and North and West of
Manteo, in the areas off the highways on the mainland and South of Oregon
Inlet.
In general, the housing conditions in the county are good, but a number
of unsound structures were noted. Most of the deteriorated and dilapidated
structures exist as single units among other better constructed and maintained
dwellings. There are large numbers of mobile homes among the more permanently
settled areas of the county.
• According to information obtained from "Social Indicators - Census Data
Service" of the University of North Carolina and 1970 census data, there were
4,728 housing units in Dare County. Of this total, approximately 12% or 584
houses were found to be substandard. These figures indicate that approxi-
mately 4,144 units exist that are standard.
HOUSING CONDITIONS, DARE CO., 1970
Owner Occupied Total 1909
Renter Occupied Total 543
Vacant for Rent 166
Vacant for Sale Only, 56
Vacant Other Vacant Year Round 528
Count of Vacant Seasonal and Vacant Migratory Units 1526
Total Housing Units Substandard Housing % of Total Housing
4,728 584 12.4
•
•
• 39

0
GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL, CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION
Outside the relatively insignificant amount of land in uses such as •
churches, post offices, county and town owned property, and fire stations, the
major public lands are held by the Federal Government, consisting of approxi-
mately 21,771 acres of roughly 246,000 acres within the county.
At this time the only available public beaches in Dare County are those •
provided by the Park Service in the southern portion of Bodie Island. These
beaches are not readily accessible to tourists in the northern portion of the
Dare Beaches. Although the small amount of public beaches apparently is not
a problem at this time, it will become more serious as the amount of develop- •
ment increases.
A related problem is the lack of.non-water oriented recreation develop-
ment in the county. It is true that the primary recreational attraction has
been the -ocean, but as the year-round resident population increases with the •
expansion of the recreation industry, the need for more diversified recrea-
tional developments will increase. The existing private golf courses are
examples of the types of facilities which should be provided.
•
rnrhkk -FrinI
Only a few parcels of land in the county are currently used for indus-
trial purposes. One parcel, located in Nags Head, is used for the manufacture
of concrete, another parcel located in the Kitty Hawk area west of the.158 •
By -Pass, is used for generation of -electricity for peak load requirements.
The seafood processing facilities at Wanchese and scattered small boat building
operations and construction equipment yards on Roanoke Island and the mainland
constitutes the other industrial areas in the county. These are generally •
mixed with residential and commercial uses.
•
40 •

•
Significant Land Use Compatibility Problems
• Throughout' the county the most significant compatibility problems are
those of conflict between permanent neighborhoods and more intensive land
uses such as relatively high density residential uses with seasonal occu-
pancy and the scattering of commercial uses along the highways of the county.'
As a result of this uncontrolled mixture of land uses some residents of per-
manent neighborhoods are not afforded adequate protection from the offensive
characteristics:of these operations. At the same time, the operator of a
commercial use cannot fully develop the potential of his property if his cus-
tomers must fight -for parking spaces, make unsafe turning movements across
0 traffic lanes and be forced to make multiple stops for different commodities
or services.
Major Problems From Unplanned Development With Implications For Future Land Use
The physical:environment-and its relationship to development in Dare
County is an important factor for consideration. Some problem areas are:
vegetation covering-andprotecting the sand dunes, the protective function of
•
the barrier dune system, and hazards of active beach area, and the -unrecog-
nized economical importance of the marsh areas and sub -standard. subdivision.
• The results of indiscriminant destruction of vegetation in Dare County
especially along the Outer Banks areclearly visible. Removal of dune grasses
in the barrier dune.area:for the purposes of development has. resulted in the
• destabilization, -of -the dune and the eventual destruction of the protective
function of the dune system. This continuing practice has the effect of
increasing­development�costs through increased expenditures for soil stabili-
• zation. :More importantly, destruction of the barrier dune places lives and
property in jeopardy during extreme weather events.
0 41

The destruction,of'vegetation through development, lumbering, and grazing
on the inland dune has had a:similar effect. The moving sands from once stable
dunes are gradually.swallowing.up parts of the most desirable locations for
development and, -recreation in Dare.County will be destroyed.
The active beach area is -the most dynamic portion of the Outer Banks.
The continual deposition -and erosion of sand by the action of.wind and water
make this area:unsuitable�for development; yet, some new construction is being
permitted in many active -beach areas. The potential for loss of life and
property is great..
The marsh areas:of'the Dare County have come under the close control of
state and federal agencies, Development on lands contiguous to the marsh 0
areas also presents' a problem. Since at this -time the -only means of sewage
treatment in the'Dare--Beaches is by individual septic tanks, the seepage of
waste water into the marsh areas could endanger their continued support of
many: fish: and wildlife:-
species
Some subdivisions with lots of insufficientsize to support a septic tank
system will, -require close monitoring to insure they do not endanger public 0
health -or safety through pollution of groundwater supplies or shel'Ifish waters.
This type of developmentoccurred before the present county ordinances were
adopted> and, serve: as::.an example for the necessity of conscientious enforce—
•
ment of good development standards.
Areas Likely To Experience Major Changes In Predominant Land Use
A. Dare Mainland:
The -First -Colony Farms Operation covers the major -portion of the Dare County
Mainland. This area has been predominantly used for timber production in the
42 0

•
past. Development plans call for the conversion of approximately 102,000
acres of this land to pasture or row crop production with the reservation
of around 75,000 acres as a wilderness area. In a.study on the hydrology of
this region made by the U. S. Geological Survey the authors caution that since
this conversion requires the construction of a dense network of drainage
channels and may, in time, require large quantities of water for irrigation
and other purposes that some important problems seem likely to result from
•
the developments in the region. In their relative order of occurrence in
time, they are:
1. Changes in water quality of the sounds and estuaries resulting
from the rapid runoff of storm waters containing dissolved
material and bacteria harmful to the fishery resources.
2. Relatively rapid subsidence of the land surface in an irregular
pattern in the extensive areas underlain by thick organic soils
as a result of biochemical oxidation, past fires, and wind storms.
•
3. Acceleration of salt -water encroachment in both shallow and deep
aquifers as a result of land drainage and increased withdrawals
of'ground water for irrigation and other uses.
Although none of these problems can be completely avoided, some of their
adverse effects can be significantly reduced by the application of presently
available technology. The development and enforcement of sound policies
can assure the application of the technology. The development of policies
•
applicable to the region must be done with full realization of the economic
benefits of the agricultural developments and of the fishery and other
resources of the area to both the State and.the Nation. Because it is not
possible to protect any one resource.without due consideration of the others,
•
solutions to the problems will require cooperation of both public agencies
and private interests.
•
43
a

B. Wanchese
The development of the major fishing port with dock facilities and sea-
food processing plants will mean a great intensification of existing land use
within the Village of Wanchese. The commercial fishing complex is being
developed by the State of North Carolina and the Federal government at a +
cost approaching $15 million.
The State Ports Authority will operate the Wanchese Harbor complex, to be
built on a 20-acre tract donated by landowners and Dare County.
The port will be the most completely integrated seafood facility in the
country and is considered by top State officials to be the key to development
of North Carolina's seafood industry.
Included in the master plan are grading and earthwork, concrete sheet
pile bulkhead, hardstand surface, access road, storm drainage, electrical
distribution and overhead lights, reconstruction of.existing fuel dock, water
system,.sewerage system, administration building, finger piers, and seafood
unloading and transfer facilities.
The center is designed to comply with rigid environmental water and air •
standards, including individual vessel discharge.outlets to a central dis-
posal system.
The port at Wanchese will provide space.on which private industry may
construct much needed seafood receiving and processing plants, and other enter-
prises to support the seafood industry on land leased from the Authority and
created by the Authority as a result of the harbor development. All the basic
facilities will be provided such as: water, sewer, street access, shore power,
bulkhead, docking facilities, potable water supply, sewerage collection, and
treatment facilities.
•
44

0
An analysis of the economic impact on northeastern North Carolina
resulting from the development of Wanchese Harbor and the deepening and
stabilization of Oregon Inlet recently prepared by the Division of Commerce
and Industry, estimates $30 million in capital investment and in excess of
•
600 new jobs during the five year period following construction.
CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
1. The following plans,;polices and regl
gAtons are currently in effect:
Dare County General Development Plan (1974)
A land use plan which designates future land use in various areas as
Residential, Recreation, Agricultural Production, Forest Production or
Conservation. The Plan proposes a County Center, Community Center and
Neighborhood Center Concept through the county. The plan was prepared by
•
Envirotek.
Engineering Report on Water and Sewer Facilities (1973)
• The study projects requirements for water and sewer facilities through
.2020 for the Roanoke Island and North Dare Beaches area. A previous study
outlines the service area and requirements for the Hatteras Island portion
• of the county. Current engineering studies are underway to provide the
facilities discussed in those plans.
Flood Insurance Regulations (1972)
• The County Building'Inspeotor enforces the provisions of the Dare County
Flood Insurance Regulations for structures located.in flood prone areas of the
County. All of the susceptible unincorporated lands' of the County and are
• covered under the emergency program and the Southern Shores Area is designated
under the permanent program.
•
45

•
Zoning Ordinance
•
The most recent revision of the zoning -text and map -were adopted in
November, 1975. The Kitty Hawk Beaches Area, the Southern Shores Area and
the North..End of'Roanoke~Island are included in the county's zoning j uris-
•
.diction. The zoning ordinance divides the county into districts and regulates
and restricts the -use -of land,,buildings, structures within these zoning
districts. The ordinance is enforced -by the Zoning Administrator.
Subdivision Regulations
The current subdivision regulations were adopted in 1972 and the Planning
'Board -has recently recommended substantial revisions. The subdivision regu- 0
lations govern the arrangement of 1,ots and streets in new subdivisions, the
provision of improvements as necessary and sets standards for developable
property., New subdivisions must be reviewed by the County Planning Board and •
approved by the Board of Commissioners.
. Dune'Protection Ordinance (1971)
•
The ordinance requires.a.permit from County or Town Building Inspectors
before altering any -sand dune or the vegetation thereon and requires a set-
back of 150' from mean high water of the Atlantic Ocean.
•
Building Permits
The County Building Inspector enforces the N. C. Building Code in Dare
County.
Improvements,(Sentic-Tank) Permits
•
Septic tank permits -are issued by the County Health Department. A
•
Sanitarian checks the soil characteristics, water table and drainage of each
lot before a permit -is -issued. Septic tanks, distribution boxes and drain
lines are inspected in place before they are covered.
•
46

SECTION II
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES
47

•
Alternatives Considered in the Development of Objectives
• Policies and Standards
The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 requires that land use plans be
adopted for each of the twenty coastal counties named in the Act. If any
county fails to develop its own plan, it is to be done for that county by an
agency of the State. The Dare County Commissioners notified the State that
the citizens of Dare intended to develop their own pU;ft. Immediately, Dare
residents became aware that they were going to be required to face the future
squarely by planning hqz only for the very near future but for generations
to come.
i
A questionnaire was used as a basis to offer planning alternatives as to
how Dare should grow and develop, identify issues which were seen as problems
by citizens, and determine objectives of the Land Use Plan.
Citizens were asked to indicate the degree of encouragement or discourage-
ment which they felt should be given to the following topics: agriculture;
fishing industry; tourism; forestry; construction; research/development industry;
•
.
light industry
g y (warehousing assembly etc.); heavy industry; residential develop-
ment; single family residences; high rise residences; low rise multi -family
residences; -preservation of open space; new and improved cultural facilities
(libraries, art galleries, theaters etc.); increased accessibility to Dare
County; improved tourist facilities (convention centers, etc.); urban growth;
protection of.residential areas from encroachment by co-mercial or industrial
•
enterprise; preservation of wildlife habitat; regulation of dunes and shore-
line; and soil conservation.
In responding to the questionnaire, -citizens were asked to indicate their
•
degree of concern with such problem areas as water supply, traffic congestion,
• 48

sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, high rise construction, lack of medical -
•
services, limitations on building height, pollution of oceans and sounds, over-
population, commercialization, small lots, lack of open space, lack of recrea-
tional facilities, destruction -of dunes and beaches, lack of job diversifica-
tion, lack of comforts and conveniences, lack of drainage,.erosion by wind
and water, lack of economic development, lack of industry, lack of planning,
infringement upon individual rights, lack of county services, controlled
growth, and control.of natural resources.
The interests and concerns expressed by the citizens of Dare during
this process became the basis for the goals and policies.which will guide
i
future.growth in -Dare County. Appendix A contains a copy of the citizen
survey questionnaire and a summary of the results.
•
•
•
•
�
•
49

•
IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF MAJOR LAND USE ISSUES
The citizens of'Dare County have identified some major problems which
directly affect the quality of living in the County. These issues are
interrelated but will be treated in separate categories for the purpose of
stating the objectives of this plan.
A. , Population and, Economic Trends.
+ Dare County is -faced with an expansion of its population at a rate which
is beyond the present capacity for utilities and services to accommodate.
The population of- Dare: County is- increasingly older which reflects a declining
birth rate -and the influx -of retirees. The'Outer Banks of the County are
i ts, major attractions and- i t is there that the growth is occurring. The
Outer Banks -are -also among the most -fragile areas of the County and therefore
the impact,of any -improper -development is most apparent.
The heavy dependence upon tourism as the economic base for Dare County
places -the -County- in, an! uns table position with -regard to employment and in -
'come' -from sales and, services- which reflect the seasonal nature of- tourism.
--Historically, Dare County residents earned their living from the sea, sounds,
and forests. It.is,only in recent years that these stabilizing influences
7 . have. declined, in -relative. importance.
B. -Housing and Community Services
'Development`in'Dare County is presently dependent largely upon indivi-
r dual -wells for -water -supply and septic tanks for sewage tanks for sewage
disposal-. -As long as population density is low, the well and septic tank
system is acceptable.
•
0 50

When the number of -wells -and septic tanks increase on the predominantly
sandy soils-found:in'Dare County; the quality of the ground water -supply drops r
to an unacceptable level and the quality of water in the sounds is,affected so
that vital shellfish producing.areas are endangered. An adequate water supply
and- a safe method of --sewage _dieposal are the keys to thoughtful development.
The health and'social'services needs of Dare County become more critical
as -the -population increases. The lack of readily available medical treat-
ment.is, a- major concerns to Dare County residents.
Other -'services -which are,necessary for orderly growth include the
sani tars' disposal of� trash` and garbage, adequate law enforcement, -and fire
•
protection','a balanced education system to meet the needs of youth and the r
increasing -numbers -of -'residents who seek education beyond high school, and
expanded cuttural-and:recreat.ion facilities to serve permanent residents.
Residential neighborhood characteristics important to the people of t
Dare-County�,are those which typify the existing communities with single
family residences! set"in,,quiet areas free from the encroachment of -commercial
or,industrial development-: Structures which are not in scale with -the low
•
profile'of-vegetation�and:land features of Dare County have.an undesirable
affect on the community character and life-style traditional to the Outer
Banks.
C.'_-Productive Natural Resources
.-The waters surrounding Dare'County are among the most productive in the r
world: -,The breeding-grounds.for shellfish and fin fish in the sounds yield
impressive -catches which -are sought not only in the sounds but by the com-
mercial fisheries of other nations in the Atlantic within sight of the Outer
51 0

L
Banks.- The land area of Dare County is also richly productive. Forestry
• and.agriculture contribute'to.the natural wealth of the County. The use of
the -land -as a base for recreational activities has recently overshadowed
fishing,,--forestry,--and-.farming however.
• --The, land- and' water are so closely related in Dare County that the use
of -the one directly:affects the other. In order to conserve the producti-
vity,of both'the-land-and the water it is necessary to examine these effects
• carefully anddetermine the best way to manage their use.
D. The' Natural= Environment -
Man -is a part of the natural environment of the Outer Banks.•Histori-
-cally, man's impaction -the Outer Banks has been small. In few numbers, man
,has been able -to live in -balance with nature along a coast which is ever
changing in reaction -to -the forces of wind and wave. As the numbers increase,
•
.-so'-does the impact:., -We,-are-now in a critical period of the development of
Dare County when-the=adverse:impact of -human activity is becoming apparent
.in the -closing of -shellfish waters -because of pollution, the loss of valuable
•
_wildlife habitat, to accommodate'.construction and other detrimental --activities.
The citizens°of;Dare-County seek to encourage wise development of their
land and -water environment but not at the cost of destroying the natural
•
things that -attract people to the area.
E...Cultural'and Historic Resources
• "The -Land of. -Beginnings" is an appropriate motto for the County that saw
.the -first English•colony,in America and man's first powered flight. Dare
County -has played an. important- part. in the development of this country and
• has'a�rich cultural heritage that is one of her greatest assets.
0 52

J
The -recognition -of the -*significance of the County`s more recent past
. may point the way to"the kind of development and growth which -could
stabilize -the economic base of the County and instill a sense of community
among the residents.,,The tradition of villages located in stable, sheltered
areas -along, -the -Outer -Banks', on Roanoke Island, -and on the mainland -is
characteristic -of that-,breed'of Dare County residents who fished her waters
and saved lives on her -shores during the past two hundred years. This
..village tradition should be encouraged and reinforced through development
standards.
F. Transportation-.
'The rapid growth of tourism is already causing transportation problems
in the--County.Further, continued development of the Currituck Outer Banks
will pose the -growing -threat of,a transportation corridor to the north of
Dare County-6- Unlimi ted°-�access. to and from the tidewater cities -in Virginia
woul d_- create- a north=south thoroughfare- a-1 ong- the Dare Banks with deves-
tatingA mpact-on the natural environment and on the qualities of living in
the area.
•
•
•
53 0

•
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
The intent of this policy statement is to set the framework for a
balanced plan to protect and preserve those cultural and physical features
unique to the coastal environment and guide the orderly development of the
land and water resources of the County in a manner which will insure their
continued enjoyment by future generations of Dare County residents and visi-
tors.
In the Public Participation Program, the citizens of Dare County expres-
sed their concern with the qualities of living in Dare County which seem to
them most important and most endangered by present trends. These qualities
are:
to The freedom from pollution and population pressures
enjoyed by Dare County today.
• 2. The natural environment of the County and the various
recreational activities associated with it.
3. The slow pace of living in Dare County.
• 4. The privacy available in Dare County.
The preservation and enhancement of these qualities which make Dare
County attractive to -.its permanent residents and visitors alike will be
• the major objectives sought in the Dare County Land 'Use Plan.
•
•
•
54

•
POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
In keeping -with the expressed desires of its citizens, the following •
policies have been adopted to guide the physical, cultural and economic
development of the County:
a. To undertake a pattern of land use which places high importance •
on the protection and conservation of Dare County's unique environment.
b. To undertake a pattern of land use which will provide a broad range
of -living, working and recreational opportunities for permanent and seasonal •
residents.
c. To undertake a pattern of balanced residential and commercial land
use based on the availability of adequate utilities and services. •
d. To'undertake a pattern of land use to provide for the concentration
of.commercial services and facilities in suitable growth centers such as
the established towns and areas permitting such development:.
e. ..To maintain tourism and the recreation industry as a major contri-
butor to the economic well being of the County.
f. To maintain Dare County's heritage as a fishing center and to •
encourage the provision of modern seafood processing facilities in the County
to help insure its viability and growth.
g. To encourage the County's tradition of independent craftsmen and •
of trades such as boatbuilding and netmaking, to more fully utilize labor
resources available in the area.
h. To' -encourage the establishment of a center for wholesaling, ware- •
housing and distribution of goods and services..in support of the tourist
industry in a suitable location in Dare.County.
i. To encourage intergovernmental cooperation and -coordination in •
Dare County in the interest of working jointly toward the accomplishment of
goals.
55 •

LM
•
j. To undertake to work with neighboring Counties and with State and
Federal agencies toward the objective of making the Outer Banks a destina-
tion area instead of a major traffic throughway.
•
k. Community services and facilities will be established only in
suitable areas.
.1. The towns of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo and Nags Head are designated
•
as growth centers and will provide a nucleus of the services and utilities
necessary to support desirable development. Within each town detailed land
use categories will be assigned through the development codes of each juris-
diction.
The County has adopted and will continue to enforce regulations to
control the subdivision of land, to prevent the destruction of barrier dunes
•
along the ocean, to control the quality of water supplies, to control the
installation and maintenance of sewage disposal systems, to control con-
struction of flood -prone areas, and to control the use of land where the
•
intensity of development is greatest.
•
56

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`-' DEVELOPMENT- STANDARDS
The development -of land -and water areas within Dare County should be under- �
taken'in-accordance'-with sound resource management principles in order to
make'the most economic -use of public funds invested in services and -to en-
hance private-investmen t in the long term future of Dare County. The follow-
ing -standards will guide the location of development in appropriate areas
and -identify certain measures necessary to insure safety and convenience
for -residents -of and visitors to Dare County.
A. General Standards -
(1) Development-should..be located on stable, well -drained soils with
a- relatively- low water table.
(2) ' Structures should- be located -on -the development site to avoid
the destruction of natural -vegetation wherever possible.
(3) Structures shoul d be located on site to avoid the al te"r°ati on of
-natural--land-form-and drainage where possible.
(4),-Development should.be-located to minimize interference with
-established'-patterns of surrounding land use and to prevent con-
. flict between incompatible uses of land and water.
5) Devel opment''shoul d be -located to -avoid -the destruction or
irretrievable alteration of fragile or valuable natural or
•
-cultural resources.
(6)- Development- should: not occur in areas where there is a- demonstrated
-danger of the-loss--of--life or property due to natural or man-made
processes:,.
(7) Development"in areas subject to coastal flooding should be
designed and located to minimize the -damage caused by such flooding.
57

•
(8)- Development should be located and timed to make the most efficient
• and economical. useof, existing or proposed public- services- -including
water; sewer; solid waste disposal, public safety, schools, libraries
and social services.
•
B. Residential -Standards -
(1)
Permanent neighborhoods should be located in sheltered areas pro-
tected--from-encroachment by major transportation routes and in-
compatiblecommercial development.
(2)
Permanent; neighborhoods should maintain low density levels and
large amounts -of useable open space to preserve the privacy and
•
aesthetic appeal which characterize the traditional settlements
in Dare- County.
(3)�-Seasonal7and-vacation-residences
should be located with--conven-
•
ien t access to -transportation routes and recreational -activities.
�4)
Resdentia:l:'development which requires septic tanks for sewage
disposal -should, follow : current health requirements as to soil
• type,, --height- of water table and area to- prevent pollution of
"ground water supply, aquifer recharge areas or estuarine waters.
(5) Development -which results -in residential -densities over-3 families
• per acre -should be served by public or community sewage disposal
. systems.
C. Commercial'Standards
•
(1) .­ General commercial activities', business -and -tourist services require
locations:adjacent to major thoroughfares. The uncontrolled
development�of commercial sites at scattered :locations along high-
waysAoes-not'promote good business, is inconvenient for --shoppers
(especially tourists unfamiliar with the area), promotes inefficient
• 58

use of -valuable -developable land, creates dangerous traffic conflicts
at -each -driveway entrance, and seriously impairs the capacity and
function of -the highway. Therefore, commercial development should
be,concentrated in groups of -complementary uses where possible.
(2)-Small commercial enterprises of less than one acre are encouraged
to'locate-where suitable sites exist among -existing commercial uses
in order,.to-take advantage of combined drawing power and to increase
customer7-convenience.::.
(3) :Large scale commercial -developments involving one acre or -more are
encouraged7to=concentrate,complementary uses on sites large enough
to provide ample,parking, controlled access to highways, and suit-
able --buffering for adjacent residential use.
(4)''Convenience"lretail-facilities designed and limited .to serve neigh-
borhood-levei--trade areas only may be appropriate adjacent to some
residential-neilghborhoods if properly buffered to minimize impact
on adjacent residences. .
(5). Since the -natural beauty of Dare -County is one of her greatest
attractions,to-tourists and permanent -residents, advertising
structures• should. be:_located- only where they do not obscure or
detract from -that natural beauty. Suitably -located tourist infor-
mation centers will provide the travelling public with an oppor-
tunity­to�sample the hospitality of Dare County and provide the
necessary-information.as to accommodations, rates, availability,,
services,''entertainment, and points of scenic, historic and cultural
interest without distracting motor vehicle operators and detracting
from the scenery.
•
59 40

•
•
(6)
Water -related commercial:activity such as marinas -and piers should
be located -in naturally protected areas as near deep water as pos-
sible where the -least amount of alteration of vital marsh and
•
estuarine bottom is required.
D. Industrial Standards -
(1)
Industries locating in Dare County will be required to provide an
•
assessment -of -the -impact of primary and secondary development
caused,by-the industry and should use the best available technology
to avoid pollution of the water or air during construction and
in production.
(2)
Industries which are -not entirely dependent upon waterfront loca-
tions-should:be located elsewhere.
•
(3),
The development -of -the. -Port of Wanchese will set standards for
the -control -of -processing waste, site drainage and other industrial
parameters which should be met by other industrial development.
•
U
•
40. 60

•
PROCESS USED TO DETERMINE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Dare -County; -Commissioners assigned the task of overseeing the
preparation -of a CAMA' Lan& Use Plan -to the Dare County Planning Board. The
County. -.Planning Board:consists of-five.members who represent the five major •
-geographic divisions--of-the count y;:the mainland, Roanoke Island, Kitty
.,:Hawk -.and -the North -end -of the --Outer Banks, Bodie Island, and Hatteras Island.
In October of 1974 the Chairman of the Dare Cdunty Planning Board called •
a meeting between the County Planning Board and the •Planning Boards of the
three municipalities in the county,.Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo,
to review and -to make-recommendations,on the proposed Guidelines for Local •
'Planning-that--hadbeen-published--.by the Coastal Resources Commission. A
steering-committee--was,-appointed to determine how the public participation
requirements--of-the.-guidelines.-could be met in Dare County. •
The steering committee proposed that an individual from each of the
..recognizedoommunities:in.the--county be appointed to serve as a contact
person-for-that•community� Each. -community contact person had a knowledge •
of his area:and-its residents.. The contact person -was responsible for
disseminating, -information to the citizens about CAMA and for gathering
their --input to, the-- Land Use Plan. •
•
61 0

17,
The- steering -committee --prepared a questionnaire and a slide presen-
tation -for citizens' groups--such<as civic clubs; fraternal organizations,
garden -clubs, and -any -other organized gathering.
The,questionnaires-were used.to identify issues which are seen as
problemsby-the citizens -and to provide a basis for defining the goals for
- the, Land, UsePlan; .
No -formal group structure was.�suggested for the community contact
people due�to the -diverse nature of the communities and the need for an
approach which"was flexible enough!to do the job as well in a tourist
center like-Nags,Head as-in--the--fishing village of Wanchese or one of the
retirement -communities on -the -Banks. A list of existing organizations
within -the -county was compiled and'each was contacted with the offer of a
program��consi sti ng, of -,one -of -the -members of the steering committee as a
speaker and the -slide show/questionnaire package.
Over l8% of the -population --of Dare'County responded to the questionnaire
and, the majority -of, them include&- thoughtful- additional comments -concerning
the.development-of this County. The interest and concern of local residents
is -reflected -in -their -desire -to participate in the continuation of the
planning- program° .__
The'success-of�this.program-in.Dare County represents the personal
involvement -by -,many ci ti zens-�and-the=local news -media. -An article appeared
-in-almost-every-issue.-of--the Coastland Times since January, 1975,- concerning
some aspect" -of the-CAMA:_-A weekly -broadcast on radio -station WOBR featured
local officials and -citizens speaking on the CAMA and Land Use Planning in
Darer County., in additioni-television appearances by'county officials,
bulletins, leaflets and newsletters were used to inform the public.
40 62

•
-The interests and concerns expressed by the citizens of Dare County
during^this-process--became the basis for the -goals and policies which will •
guide future growth in Dare County.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
63 0

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
SECTION III
CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT
•

DARE COUNTY CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT
The
following outline and discussion identify the areas within Dare County
which
could be recognized as constraints on undeveloped land as required in
•
the
State Guidelines under the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974.
I.
Physical Limitations for Development
A.
Hazard Areas
1. Man-made
2. Natural
a. Ocean Erodible Areas
1. Location and Extent of Dare County Beaches
2. Shoreline Changes
3. Littoral. Drift
4. Inlet Changes
5. Storm Recession Forecasts
b. Estuarine Erodible Areas
B.
Areas with Soil Limitations
1. Soil Associations in Dare County
.2. County Soil Map and Soil Interpretation Chart
C.
Sources of Water Supply
1. Groundwater
2. Surface Water
D.
Areas With Steep Slopes
II.
Fragile
Areas
A.
Coastal Wetlands
B.
Sand Dunes Along the Outer Banks
C.
Ocean Beaches and Shorelines
D.
Estuarine Waters .
E.
Public Trust Waters
F.
Complex Natural Areas
1. Natural Areas Designations in "Potential for Outdoor
Recreation in Dare County, N.C."
2. Maritime Forests and Fresh Water Ponds
a. Nags Head Woods
1. Flora
2. Fauna
3. Durant Island
4. Dare County Pocosin
G.
Areas that Sustain Remnant Species
1. Rare and Endangered Animals
2. Rare and Unique Plant Species
H.
Registered -(Natural Landmarks
I.
Historic Areas
III.
Areas HitheResource Potential
A;�
Productive Agricultural Lands
B.
Potentially Valuable Mineral Sites

J
I. PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT
•
Ph si-ca1`Limitations on -Development are areas likely to have conditions
making development costly or causing undesirable consequences if'developed.
As seen in the preceeding outline, a discussion on physical limitations should
include Hazard Areas, Areas with Soil Limitations, and Sources -of Water Supply.
A. Both Man-made and Natural Hazard" -Areas should be considered. Man-made •
hazard areas w t-Fiin Dare County include t e airport located in Manteo, the
airstrips located in Kill Devil Hills and Hatteras, as well as the bombing
range located on the mainland. Natural hazard areas include. Ocean Erodible
Areas and Estuarine, Erodible Areas which are discussed in the following
paragraphs.
•
Ocean'Erodible'Areas
These areas are defined in the State.Guidelines as the area above mean
high water where excessive erosion has a high pro a i.lity of occurring.
Ocean erodible areas are extremely dynamic lands highly susceptible to
becoming completely displaced by water. •
The active beach area consists of the beach and the outer barrier dune.
.During normal wind and tide conditions, the beach front absorbs the energy of
the waves, and it is regularly inundated by tides. During extreme weather
conditions, the outer barrier dune serves as the island's first line of
defense against the sea. •
Two important processes occur in the active beach area --one is the normal
process of deposition and erosion of sand by winds and waves, and the other
is the occasional breaching of the barrier dune and the resulting overwash
caused by storms. Studies have shown that the combination of erosion and over-
wash produce a slow westward movement of the island. Under natural conditions, •
the beach is eroding inland, and the soundside shore is extending into the
sound at approximately the same rate.:
An article on the Outer Banks by Collier Cobb of UNC in the National
Geographic Magazine stated that at one time the area was thickly forested
up to the water's edge. After the Civil War, Bodie and Hatteras Islands •
were deforested for ship timbers, hence, initiating the erosion that has
affected the area up to the present.
Alteration through improper development in the active beach area appears"
to produce an -Acceleration of the natural processes. Development in the active
beach area must be considered from the standpoint of high potential loss of •
life and property, the destruction of the natural landscape, and destruction
of the island's barrier against the forces of the sea. Both forms of destruc-
tion will have major economic consequences.
7
66

•
11
•
•
•
Location and Extent of the Dare County Beaches
Bodie�Island - The island is lined on the ocean side with a 33-mile
stretch of beach from Dare-Currituck County line to Oregon Inlet. The island
varies in width from about one-half to two miles. The area from the southern
boundary of Nags Head to Oregon Inlet is under the care of the Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Recreation Area and the National Park Service. The princi-
pal communities in the island are Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk.
Hatteras -Island - The shoreline west of Cape Hatteras is a 13-mile stretch
which is rat er straight towards to the west to Hatteras Inlet with a small
concave portion close to the Cape. To the north of the Cape is a 39-mile
stretch of coastline consisting mainly of two straight sections and a convex
section towards the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Rodanthe. The island
is very narrow except in the area near the Cape.
The principal towns or communities are Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, and
Buxton north of Cape Hatteras, and Frisco and Hatteras in the western segment.
The resident population live within the limits of these communities; the re-
mainder of the island in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area
is practically uninhabited except for the Coast Guard Stations located therein.
Shoreline Changes*
Two changes in the ocean shoreline of the area have been determined by
comparing surveys made by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey until 1860,
aerial photographs of the area, and a survey made by the Corps of Engineers
in 1958. Findings gathered by Langfelder et. al. (1968) and Whals (1973)
on the coastal erosion of the N. C. Coastline were also employed.
Athearn and Ronne (1963) in their study of shoreline changes in the
vicinity of Cape Hatteras, pointed out that erosion of the south beach at the
Cape was quite impressive. At the southwest section, the loss between 1945
and 1953 amounted to 1 500 feet measured roughly along the high water lin'e:,.
The orientation of the beach changed substantially. The former trend was
west-northwest to east -southeast; -since 1953, the trend has been west to east.
• Most of the erosion was said to be `confined to a pie -shaped wedge near the
point, apparently with little change occurring farther west. Another 300
feet was lost between 1953 0-0.1958; however, the dune stabilization program
of the National Park Service somewhat stabilized with some accretion observed.
House Document No. 763, 80th Congress (1948) reported from data gathered
• between 1848 and 1934 an average annual accretion of 0.8 foot over the 56 miles
of shoreline from the Virginia State line southward. The area of erosion was
noted at a section where the coast changes direction between 50 and 80 miles
from the Virginia State line. Between Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Inlet, an
average erosion of 2.2 feet.per year was observed. At Cape Hatteras itself,
a progressive erosion has been experienced from 1848 to 1934 with the eastern
• face averaging 21 feet per year. The southwestern face of the Cape has ac-
creted at an average of 24.2 feet per year. The net change indicated a loss
of 127 acres for the immediate vicinity of the Cape.
* From Coastal Erosion -by Jerry Machemehl.
•
67

•
The study made in 1947 by the Corps of Engineers of shoreline changes
in the Nags Head area from 32 to 66 miles from the Virginia State line
showed a mixed pattern of erosion and accretion. Erosion occurred at most
.stations prior to 1935. From 1935 to 1937 accretion prevailed. Likewise,
from1937 to 1939 more sections experienced accretion than erosion. However,
the net result for all the area except for that close to inlets was erosion
of from 5 to 95 feet, or a maximum rate of nearly 12 feet per year. From
1931 to 1939, there was a recession of 1,020 feet at the area near the north
side of Oregon Inlet, but an accretion of 165 feet at the south side. The
area north of New Inlet accreted 35 feet during the same period. An exami-
nation of figures 1 and 2 reveals the amount of erasion or accr;otion which
has occurred during the period 1949-1971 along the Dare County barrier chain.
Littoral Drift
. The predominant littoral drift was as expected in the shoreline north
of Cape Hatteras, would be southward. Wave action accounts mostly for the
marked predominance of the southward drift. The predominance of the south -
a. drift has been further confirmed by southward migration of inlets and
southward trailing of underwater spits at Cape Hatteras. The closure of
most of the breaches through the barrier beach early in their development
could also explain.the fact that the volume of littoral material being moved
Is quite large.
The direction of the littoral drift is easterly from Hatteras Inlet to
Cape Hatteras per the findings of Langfelder et. al. (1968). This accounts
for the considerable accretion of material around Cape Hatteras where this
easterly drift meets the southerly drift coming from the north of the Cape.
The amount of accretion in this portion ranges from 80,000 to 400,00 cubic
yards, increasing in the direction of the Cape.
Inlet Changes
The north tip of Ocracoke Island receded southwesterly.covering a
distance of 8,100 feet, an average annual rate.of about 80 feet. The south
tip of Hatteras Island advanced southwesterly about 3,200 feet, an average
Annual rate of 30 feet. The width of Hatteras Inlet increased from 3,500
feet in 1852 to about 8,400 feet in 1958. Welch (1885) did some research
work on the account of the cutting through of Hatteras Inlet where he found
that there is substantial evidence from many reliable sources that this
inlet was opened during a great gale on September 7, 1846.
From available records, Oregon Inlet is
coke and Hatteras that has remained open at
other inlets along the coast have closed, or
time. New Inlet was artificially opened -in
alternately and finally closed again in 1947
Hatteras Island. Oregon Inlet is an opening
north of Cape Hatteras and 80 miles by ocean
the other inlet besides Ocra-
all times in the area. Numerous
opened and closed during this
1924, closed and then opened
joining up Pea Island with
in the barrier beach 40 miles
from Ocracoke Inlet.
•
0
•
•
•
•
•
•
63 0

SCALE: 1 inch a miles
DARE COUNTY ' �� 41w CURRITUCK COUNTY
1
E
O�°� `- Knotts
/�o� Monteo CURRITUCK SOUND
Island
/..,
°i a c
US 158
NC 12 ti0 �/ Oo°4 C`
ar ,y
oo 0
E y00y /r °�;/ w� //o
VIRGINIA
Erosion
Dune -3.4 -3.2 -5.1 -5.1 -3.7 -1.9 -1.0
Line 2.9 1.2
Accretion
Erosion
High -2.0 -0.3 -2.3 -3.0 -2.8 -0.1
Water o. 7
Line 6.5 0.5
Accretion
1949-1971 Data op1952-1971 Data
on
FIGURE 1
COMPOSITE MEAN ANNUAL RATES OF CHANGE
(FEET PER YEAR) FOR DUNE LINE AND
HIGH WATER LINE IN CURRITUCK AND
NORTHERN DARE COS. FOR 1949-1971

Dine
Line
v
0
High
water
Line
O
SCALE: 1 inch = 8 miles E
4O O �
HYDE COUNTY DARE COUNTY
/Ocracoke
O
�r /
O �
e
-
s
3.6
1962` 197, Data
PAMLICO SOUND o
4 oI
0
c i a
o
Hatteras
0
r
7
o �
° Erosion
' o'o Hottero
/ ew t
-fe Lon
sosion
Accretion

Records have shown that the width of Oregon Inlet was 2,770 feet at the
• baseline sometime in 1931. It had widened to 4,300 feet in 1935 and varied
in width from 4,000 feet in 1936, 4,300 feet in 1937, and 4,350 feet in 1939.
The increase in width was nearly equal on both sides of the inlet during the
period, so it was concluded it has no tendency to migrate except for its
previous history, that it moved southward about 1-1/2 miles in 65 years prior
to this period.
•
The existence and histories of inlets in the area were determined from
maps, surveys, charts and reports previously made. The oldest reliable
record is a map of the coastal section from the Virginia State line to Cape
Fear entitled "Chart of his Majesty's Province of North Carolina," signed
by James Wimble in 1738. It has been shown that since that time both
• Ocracoke and Hatteras Inlets migrated in a southwesterly direction.
Storm Recession Forecasts
Storm erosion of beaches and dunes of the Dare County coast has always
occurred, but it has not been a serious economic problem until recently
• when increased development of beachfront property has taken place. In some
locations, structures have been built seaward of the beach storm recession
line and have sustained considerable damage. In 1973, Knowles et. al,
presented the results of a study to determine the expected storm induced
beach erosion for storm occurrency of one in twenty-five, one in fifty, and
one in a hundred year frequencies. This erosion study provides preliminary
• information needed for coastal land management. The calculated storm rec-
essions for each of the piers analyzed in Dare County are presented in Table
The storm induced recession prediction presented here is considered to
be useful for determining the distance from the toe of the primary dune in
which any structures might be considered to be in danger. However, if a
• building setback line is to be established, additional factors such as long
time erosion, continuity of the dunes, size and shape of the dunes, potential
for overwash and other -existing features should be considered.
•
71

RESULTS OF
BEACH RECESSION
STUDY FOR NORTH
CAROLINA COASTLINE
County and
..Dune Height
Toe of
Dune
Recession
from toe
of dune (ft)
Pier Name
(ft. above
Height(ft)
Dist. from
for three
storms with specific
MSi:)
from MSL
MHW(ft)
return frequencies
in years
Dare County
1/25
1/50
1/100
Kitty Hawk
19.6...
12.1
215
11
34
54
Avalon
18.5
9.3
150
40
70
94
Nags Head
22.9
7.6
112
94
107
126
Outer Banks*
30.0
4.1
75
69
73
78
N Hatteras Island
21.7
2.2
102
99
104
108-
- Cape.Hatteras*
24.0
8.8
61
57
66
74
Source: "A Preliminary Study of
Storm Induced Beach Erosion For
N. C."

•
•
•
0
•
•
Estuarine, Sound Erodible Areas
These areas are defined as the area above ordinary high water where
excessive erosion has a high probability of occurring. The estuarine and
sound and river erodible areas are natural hazard areas especially vulnerable
to erosion. Development within this type land is subjected to the damaging
process of erosion unless special development standards and preventive measures
are employed.
In determining the landward extent of this area, 25 and 100 year reces-
sion figures are projected for certain reaches of the Dare County mainland.
This inventory was undertaken by the State Soil Conservation Service and is
available at the present time only for the Dare mainlands.
The reaches identified on Pale,-W=:3 represent segments of shore
which have similar erosive characteristics. The average width loss to erosion
was established by observing aerial photos over a twenty-two year period.
This figure represents the total loss to erosion during that time. Estuarine
recession figures for Roanoke Island and the west portions of the barrier
islands will be available when further information is supplied by the State
Geologist.
ESTUARINE,:SOUND AND RIVER EROSION IN DARE COUNTY
Reach No. l
Average width lost to erosion
Total length of shoreline
Average width lost to erosion per year
25-year shore recession forecast
100-year shore recession forecast
Reach No. 2
Aver age.width lost to erosion _
Total l engtl . of shorel one.
Average width 'lost to:ecosion per `'year
25-year shore recesszvndforecast
100-year shore recessift:forecast'
Reach No. 3
Average width lost to erosion';:'.
Total length of shoreline
Average width lost to erosion per year
25-year shore recession forecast
100-year shore recession forecast
44.4
feet
3.3
miles
2.0
feet
50
feet
200
feet
44.0
feet
4.1
miles
2.0
feet
50
feet
200
feet
44.0 feet
22.6 miles
2.0 feet
50 feet
200 feet
73

•
Reach No..4.
Average -width -lost -to erosion
Total 1 ength-of' shorel i ne'
Average width lost-to'erosion per year
25-year shore recession forecast
100-year shore recession forecast
Reach'No. 5
Average width lost to erosion -
Total length,of shoreline
�-Average.width-lost to -erosion per year
25-year-shore`recession forecast
100-year shore recession forecast
Reach No'. ,6 .
Average width- lost to erosion -
Total length"of shoreline
Average? wi dth l ost- to erosion per year
.25-year shore -recession forecast
100-year shore -recession forecast
Reach No. 7
Average -width lost to erosion-
Total length°of shoreline
Average- widths lost- to,.erosion per year
25-year-shore recession forecast
100-year shore recession forecast
•
44.0 feet
10.8 miles
2.0 feet
50 feet
200 feet
44.0 feet
8.7 miles
2.0 feet •
50 feet
200 feet
44.0 feet
9.3 miles
2.0 feet
50 feet
200 feet
•
44.0 feet
23.2 miles
2.0 feet
50.0 feet •
200.0 feet
•
•
•
74 41

i
s
•
Lm
•
9
L
L
i 4- O
nAPF COUNTY
I CAROLINA
A
l /
REACH -�
7
ESTUARINE EROSION FOR DARE COUNTY
75 FIGURE 3

L
B. Areas with Soil -Limitations*
r Areas with soil limitations are also considered as physical limitations
on development. Soils which occur together in a characteristic and repeating
pattern on the landscape constitute a general soil area or a Soil Association.
Soil Associations are named for two or more of the most extensive soil types
found on a particular landscape. The less extensive soil types may not be
included in the Association name.
A generalized soils map showing the locations and extent of six associa-
tions in Dare County has been prepared. This map, along with the accompanying
text and interpretations, provides the general soils data necessary for plan-
ning and efficient use and orderly development of the county's land resources.
This map will be useful to those who are interested in the location and extent
of soil types in the county, as well as to those who seek the locations of
areas suitable for agricultural, industrial, or other broad land use potentials
within the county.
It should be emphasized that this general soils map has been prepared for
broad planning purposes only. It does not accurately depict specific soil
types on individual tracts of land ands not suitable for detailed planning
of such tracts. A more detailed soil survey is necessary for detailed planning.
The accompanying soil interpretations table gives limitations of the main
soil types for dwellings, recreational areas, light industries, and highway_
development, as well. as suitability for general agriculture, woodland, and
pasture development.
The six soil associations in Dare County are discussed in the following
pages. (The accompanying maps, legends and tables were prepared by the Soil
Conservation Service assisting the Pamlico Soil and Water Conservation District.)
1. PACTOLUS-WAKULA-WAGRAM ASSOCIATION:
Moderately well and well drained soils with gray to dark gray loamy sand sur-
face layers and loamy sand to sandy clay loam subsoils.
A This association comprises about one percent (1%) of the county's total area.
It occurs as a small isolated area around Mann's Harbor on the mainland and as
larger acreages on Roanoke Island around Wanchese and Manteo. Large acreages
of the association are also located on the northern end of the Outer Banks
around Kitty Hawk, Sound Landing, and Collington. .
The majority of the acreage in this association is devoted to recreational
enterprises and urbanization. Agriculture is limited to small acreages and,
generally, is devoted to small garden plots.
a *From "Soil Map and Interpretations, Dare County, N. C."
A
76

!
2. NEWHAN-COROLLA-DUCK ASSOCIATION:
Excessively drained moderately well and poorly drained gray sandy soils that
contain marine shells.
This association comprises about thirteen percent (13%) of the county's total
acreage. Soils of the association are found exclusively on the Outer Banks
and primarily on the eastern side of the chain from the Currituck line to •
Hatteras in the South.
Soils of this association are unsuited for agriculture or forestry. They
generally have severe limitations for most potential uses and should be
considered as "high risk" areas for housing and industrial development. This
rating is based on soil characteristics as well as on their close proximity •
to the ocean and susceptibility to wind and water damage resulting from storms
and hurricanes.
3. DARE-PUNGO-PONZER ASSOCIATION:
Very poorly drained soils with thick to moderately thick organic surface over •
mineral subsurface layers ranging from sand to clays.
Soils of this association, along with other closely related organic and mineral
soils, comprise approximately seventy percent (70%) of the county's total area.
This association represents even a larger percentage of the total acreage of
the Dare County mainland. 41
Organic soils, as differentiated from mineral soils, are those in which 16
inches or more of the surface layer is composed predominantly of organic mat-
erials. In Date County these organic soils represent a large cross-section
of surface and subsurface conditions. Along with the unique nature of these
organic soils comes a large variety of associated and complex management !
problems.
The soils of this association are extremely wet year around, are extremely acid
unless limed, have large amounts of wood throughout the profile, contain high
percentages of unstable organic.materials and are extremely susceptable to fire
when dry. The characteristics for organic soils of this association indicate w
a limited potential for agriculture and forestry and.essentially no potential
for industrial development. Agricultural development is taking place on these
soils but sound management practices and large capital investments are required.
Although corn, soybeans and small grains are potential crops for these soils,:
indications are that these acreages may be best utilized for pasture or
forage crop production. •
4. WASDA-BLADEN ASSOCIATION:
Very poorly and poorly drained soils with thin organic loam to silt loam
surface layers over firm clay loam or clay subsurface layers.
f
w
77

•
This association comprises approximately ten percent (10%) of the county's
total acreage. It occurs as two large fairly homogenous areas on the main-
land of Dare County. One large area is located in the west -central portion
of the county and the other area extends from East Lake community along High-
way 64 and runs in a northeast -southeast band to highway 264.
Only a very small percentage of this association is now under cultivation; this
acreage is located in the East Lake Community. However, plans for development
of tremendous acreages of this association are in progress. These soils
respond well to applications of lime and fertilizer but a complete drainage
system must be installed and maintained in order to off -set the high water
table and periodic flooding. Potential uses of soils in this association
are, therefore, limited to agriculture and forestry.
5. CAPERS ASSOCIATION:
Very poorly drained soils with dark gray silty clay loam surface layers over
silty clay subsoils.
This association comprises about five percent (5%) of the county's total acreage.
Capers soils make up approximately ninety percent (90%) of the association.
The Capers soils are associated almost exclusively with level tidal flats and
estuaries bordering the Pamlico, Croatan, Currituck, and Albemarle Sounds.
These soils are flooded by saline or brackish water at least once per month
and in many areas, twice daily. Elevations for these soils range from sea
level to approximately three feet above sea level. Their chief use is that
of a natural habitat for shore and water birds and animals. They are also
chief nutrient source for shellfish and other important estuary marine life;
Vegetation consists chiefly of smooth cordgrass, black rush, glass wort, sea-
shore saltgrass, sea -oxeye, and other marsh related grass and shrub species.
6. DUNE SAND ASSOCIATION:
Unstabilized and partially stabilized sand dunes.
This association comprises about one percent of the county's total acreage
and is found exclusively on Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks from Nags Head
to the Currituck County line. Jockey's Ridge is included in the association.
A
The Duneland areas are hi-ghly susceptible to Mind erosion and in their natural
state are continually being shifted generally 'in a westward direction. Because
-of the unstable character of these dunes, they generally support little or no
vegetation. Occasional clumps of bitter panicgrass and bayberry may be found
on the lower slopes. Slopes generally range from 8 to 35 percent.
78

•
71
F,
SOIL INTERPRETATIONS
GENERAL SOIL MAP
DARE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
SOIL ASSOCIATIONS
% OF
ASSOC.
LIMITATIONS FOR
SUITABILITY FOR
DWELLINGS WITH
SEPTIC TANK
FILTER FIELDS
RECREATION
LIGHT
INDUSTRIES
ROADS AND
STREETS
GENERAL
AGRICULTURE
WOODS
PASTURE
CAMP SITES
PICNIC AREAS
INTENSIVE
PLAY AREAS
PACTOLUS-WAKULLA-WAGRAM 1%
35%
Sev.Fl Wt.LFC
Mod.Wt.Text.
Mod.Wt.Text.
Mod.Wt.Text.
1/
Sev.F1.Wt.
2/
Mod.Fl.
Good
Good
Good
Good
Pactolus
Wakulla
30%
Sit. to Mod.LFC
Sev.Text.
Sev. Text.
Sev.Text.
Slight
Slight
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Wa ram
20%
Slight to Mod.
Mod. Text.
Mod. Text.
Mod. Text.
Moderate
Slight
Good I
Good
Good
Good
NEWHAN-COROLLA-DUCK 13%
Newhan
35%
Slight LFC.Slope
Sev. Text.
Sev. Text.
Sev. Text.
Sev.Text.Fl,
Sev.Text.Fl.
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Corolla
25%
Sev.LFC. Wt.
Sev. Text.
Sev. Text.
Sev.Text.Wt.Fl.
Sev.Text.Fl.
Sev.Text.Fl.
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Duck
25%
Sev.LFC Wt.Fl.
Sev.F1.Wt.
Sev.Wt.Fl.
Sev.Wt.Fl.
Sev.Wt.Fl.
Sev.Wt.Fl.
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
DARE-PUNGO-PONZER 70%
Dare
40%
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.BS
Sev.F1.TSC
Poor
Poor
Fair
Poor
Pungo
25%
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.BS
Sev.F1.TSC
Poor
Poor
Fair
Poor
Ponzer
20%
Sev.Fl,
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.BS
Sev.F1.TSC
Poor
Good
Good
Good
WASDA-BLADEN 10%
Wasda
65%
Sev.F1.Wt.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.Wt.
Sev.F1.Wt.
Poor
Good
I Good
Good
Bladen
20%
Sev.F1.Wt.Perm
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.Wt.
Sev.Wt.Cor.
Sev.F1.Wt.
Poor
Good
Good
Good
CAPERS 5%
Capers
90%
Sev.F1.Wt.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.Fl.
Sev.F1.BS
Sev.F1.BS
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
DUNE SAND 1%
Dune d
90'/o
Sev.LFC Slope
Sev.Text.
_Sev..Text.
Sev.Text.
Sev. Slope
Sev. Text.
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
DEF INIT IONS OF SOIL LIMITATIONS
NONE TO - Soils have properties favorable for the rated use. Limitations are so minor that they can be
SLIGHT easily overcome. Good performance and low maintenance can be expected from these soils.
MODERATE - Soils have properties moderately favorable for the rated use. Limitations can be overcome or
modified with planning, design, or special maintenance.
SEVERE - Soils have one or more properties unfavorable for the rated use. Limitations are difficult
and costly to modify or overcome requiring major soil reclamation, special design, or intense
maintenance.
ABBREVIATIONS FOR LIMITING FACTORS:
F1 -
Flood Hazard
LFC -
Low Filter Capacity
Wt -
Water Table
Cor -
Corrosion Potential
Sh-Sw -
Shrink -Swell Potential
TSC -
Traffic Supporting Capacity
Perm -
Permeability
BS -
Bearing Strength
Text -
Texture
Sev.
- Severe Mod.
- Moderate
Sit. - Slight
1/ Structures whose footings are in subsoil.
2/ Refers to roads and streets that have subsoil for base.
3/ Tobacco, peanuts and truck.
4/ Corn, soybeans and small grain.
• U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA OCTOBER 1973 4—R-33423-1
USDA-SCS-FORT WORTH, TEX. t973

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
2
2
2
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SEASHORE EQEATIONI
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6 0 ro
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PEA ISLAND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL REFUGE
,S
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_
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"This General Soil Map is suitable for broad planning
purposes only. For more detailed planning on individual
tracts of land, a detailed soil survey is needed.
c
o
t/
N
T
Y
P�rtcaa%
a
h
\.OJT
=HOAo
VICINITY MAP
2
5
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA
LEGEND
(Tentative - Soi I Names Subject to Change)
1❑
PACTOLUS-WAKULA-WAGRAM association:
Moderately well and well drained soils with gray
to dark gray loamy sand surface layers and loamy
sand to sandy clay loam subsoils.
NEWHAN-COROLLA-DUCK association:
Excessively drained moderately well and poorly
drained gray sandy soils that contain marine shells.
❑3
DARE-PUNGO-PONZER association:
Very poorly drained soils with thick to moderately
thick organic surfaces over mineral subsurface
layers ranging from sand to clays. (Histosols)
WASDA-BLADEN association:
Very poorly and poorly drained soils with thin
organic loam to silt loam surface layers over firm
clay loam or clay subsurface layers.
El
CAPERS association:
Very poorly drained soils with dark gray silty clay
2
loam surface layers over silty clay subsoils.
6lDUNE
SAND association:
Unstabilized and partially stabilized sand dunes.
f; 2
�o
�i
A
CAVE HATTERAS NATIONAL
SEASHORE RECREATION AREA
c 5
a
CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL
SEASHORE RECREATION AREA
GENERAL
SOIL MAP
DARE
COUNTY
NORTH
CAROLINA
0 2 3 • 5
APPROXIMATE SCALE- MILES
Polyconic Projection compiled at 1:126,720 (1" = 2 miles) and
reproduced at I :126,720 (1 "
= 2 miles) and 1:253,440 (1 " = 4 miles)
Base compiled from General
Highway Map, 1970 Revision,
North Carolina State Highway Dept. and USOC, Bureau of
Public Roads.
_\N Y p 'L: H E
*
r
C O U N T
' d .
OCTOBER 1973( 4—R-33423
Revised 8-73 Base 4-R-32.610

r
C. Sources of Water Supply*
• Areas which contain the sources of water supply for the County could be
considered as physical limitations on development. The following discussion
is concerned with the County's groundwater and surface water supplies.
Groundwater
• Information on the subsurface geology of Dare County is primarily limited
to the study of well cuttings made throughout the area. It is generally ac-
cepted that the area was submerged during the Tertiary and Pleistocene periods.
Generally sandy materials of the Pleistocene -Pliocene Periods are encountered
to varying depths of approximately 180 feet. The materials are underlain by
_sediments from the Miocene Period to depths of about 1600 feet.
•
Water bearing formations are found in both the surficial"sands and deeper
units such as the Yorktown formation found in the upper miocene sediments.
This non -artesian aquifer is the principal source of water supply in Dare
County. Most wells on the mainland yield water from this aquifer. Test data:
indicate that the area south of Mann's Harbor is ideal for the development of
• large water supplies. This area includes or is adjacent to the center of
recharge and -also the greatest thickness of the aquifer.
The principal aquifer extends beneath all of Roanoke Island and has-been
the source of water supplies for many years. Test wells show the southern
half of the island to be very favorable for the development. of relatively
• large water supplies.
All fresh groundwater in the Dare Beaches area at least to the depth pene-
trated by test wells, is derived from precipitation falling on the area.
According to data collected by the U. S. Geological Survey, aquifers that crop
out on the mainland to the west and extend beneath the Outer Banks contain
• 'saline water. Present groundwater supplies on the "Banks" are obtained from
shallow wells, most of which are less than 40 feet deep.
Surface Water
The obvious surface water features in the County are the Alligator River
• and the tidal waters of Roanoke Sound, Croatan, Albemarle and Pamlico Sound
at the Atlantic Ocean, which is close -enough to have a definite salt spray
effect on the front line beach vegetation, and obviously affects weather condi-
tions. The numerous but peculiar freshwater..ponds have a significant if not
total effect on the water supply in the Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills area.
These lakes occur in the Nags Head Woods area..and are water -table lakes believed
• to be the product of wind -scooped depressions in this ancient dune section.
The lakes have large storage capacities. The volume of the largest lake
(Fresh Water Lake) was measured at a time when -.the' lake surface was at 9.4 feet
above mean sea level and the average maximum.depth of the lake was 15 feet.
At that time, Fresh Water Lake contained approximately 90 million.gallons of
water and its surface covered approximately 35 acres. The other unnamed fresh
water lakes in this area are smaller than Fresh Water Lake but theiraggregate'
water volume would be sizeable. The lakes are recharged by rainfall and by in-
flow from the upper aquifer.
*From Van Oesen Regional Water System
91

D. Areas Which Exceed 12% Slope
The incidence of areas which exceed 1.2% slope comprise a very small percent- •
age of total acreage within the county. With the exception of the live dune
areas of Jockey's Ridge and certain sectors of the frontal dune system, the
steep slopes within the county are stabilized with natural vegetation. Areas •
which exceed 12% slope within the County are:
(1) The relict dune system facing Roanoke Sound on the Northeast
section of Roanoke Island. The dunes are stabilized with
vegetation. This area is subdivided and most of the land is •
in residential use;
(2) The Jockey's Ridge live dune system;
(3) The maritime forest areas of Buxton Woods and Nags Head Woods;
(4) The Wright Memorial at Kill Devil Hills;
(5) A small area of inland dunes south of Frisco; and
(6) The frontal dune system within the County.
Previously, it was emphasized that the soils map and text -found in this
Land Use Plan were prepared for broad planning purposes only and of the need
for a more detailed soil survey for more detailed planning. This detailed
`survey is presently being prepared by the Soil Conservation Service. The
Service has evaluated soil.characteristics and related grading slope features
of property for development potentials in Dare County.
The texture of all soils types in areas which exceed 12% slope is sand.
There are two imajor distinguishing features of these sandy beach soils which
L
relate directly to their potential for quality urban development. These two
•
features are degree of wetness and degree of stabilization. Duneland, Newham
Fine Sand, and Fripp are the soil types found in steeply sloping areas within

•
Duneland is defined as areas of.well drained, sparsely vegetated (less
than 15%) and rapidly shifting sands. Therefore, the major consideration of
this soil is the lack of stabilizing vegetation. The high potential of shifting
sand can undermine or cover up structures and roads.
Newhan Fine Sand are deep, well drained and excessively drained sands.
The permanent water table or seasonal high water table is well below 36 inches
and is generally greater than six feet. These; soils are considered to be fairly
well stabilized as they have more than 40% of the surface vegetated. The soil
has good potential for development and a graded angle can be steeper than on
Duneland due to natural vegetation.
Fripp soils are found in areas of 25 to 60% slopes on undulating to rolling
dunes commonly adjoining beaches and waterways along the coast. Most sites are
5 feet to 50 feet above mean sea level. Flooding is rare and only on the lower
slopes. This soil is excessively drained with rapid permeability. Native vege-
tation for this soil consists of wax myrtle, live oak, slash pine, loblolly and
longleaf pine, sand pine, sea oats, sea coast bluestem and beach grass. In
Dare County, this soil type is found in the Nags Head Woods area, with=.steep
slopes up to 60%, but covered with what appears to be virgin timber.
I

•
II. FRAGILE AREAS
Fragile areas are those areas which could easily be destroyed by inappro-
priate or poorly planned development. The following discussion involves areas
which could be considered as fragile within Dare County.
A. Coastal Wetlands
Coastal wetlands are defined.as any,salt marsh or other marsh subject to •
regular or occasional flooding by tides;':. including wind tides (not to include
hurricane or tropical storm tides). Salf marshland or other marsh shall be
those areas upon which grow some, but not necessarily all of the following salt
marsh and marsh plant species. Smooth or salt water Cordgrass (Spartine alter-
niflora); Black Needlerush (Juncus romerianus); Glaswort (Salicornia. spp.);
Salt grass (Distichlis spicata); Sea Lavender (Limonium spp.); Bulrush (Scirpus
spp.); Saw Grass (Cladium Jamaicense); Cat -Tail (Typha spp.); Salt -Meadow Grass
(Spartina patens); and Salt Reed Grass (Spartina cynosuroides).
South of Chesapeake Bay salt marshes typical of those along the entire
South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts occur. These represent, in general, the best
development of salt marshes in the United States. In the southeastern states,
salt marshes are formed primarily in estuaries where major rivers, draining
large expanses of upland, deposit heavy silt burdens._ They also form behind
barrier beaches (as along the North Carolina coast north of'Cape Lookout), and
up bays and tributary rivers as far as there is an influence of salt water.
•
In Dare County, the soundside shore is generally covered by marshgrass.
The importance of these productive marsh areas has been emphasized;,'and re
emphasized over the past several years. Many species offish and'wildlife
which are an intricate part of the Dare economy are tied to these soundside
marsh areas for at least a part of their life cycles. Within the County there
are approximately 15,500 acres of irregularly flooded salt marshes and 500
acres of regularly flooded marshes.
Development on -land continguous with marsh areas also presents problems.
Presently the only means of treatment is septic tanks. Seepage'of wastewater-_
into the marsh areas could endanger the continued support.of'many fish and
wildlife species.
•
•
84 ., •

•
B. Sand Dunes Along the Outer Banks*
Sand dunes along the Outer Banks are considered fragile areas and defined as.
sand deposits of windblown (eolian) origin, whether or partly or wholly
vegetated with grasses, herbs, vines or woody plants.
The dunes comprise a major portion of the Outer Banks and represent a protec-
tive barrier for the sounds, estuaries, and the mainland. These sand deposits
represent a dynamic system that does not afford long term protection for incom-
patible development. Development with inadequate design or constructioni may
be subject to substantial damage due to the adverse effects of wind and water.
The stabilizing factor in the beach environment is vegetation. The grasses,
• shrubs, and trees common the Outer Banks area tend to capture the moving sand,
while the roots of these plants tend to hold the sand in place, preserving
the protective dune system.
There is a zonal distribution of vegetation on the barrier islands, owing to
variations in wind exposure, water.supply, soil salinity and.soil nutrients.
• The primary dune system is covered*by hardy dune grasses which are able to
survive the typically harsh conditions of the active beach area. The presence
of these dune grasses is essential to maintenance of the primary dune system
and its protective function. It is significant to note that these dune grasses
are able to withstand adverse wind and salt conditions, but like many plants,
they are unable to withstand trampling:
The secondary or inland dune system, is covered with mixed grasses and trees
with the backdune area primarily in forest cover. Like the dune grasses, the
vegetation on the secondary dune is highly important to the beaches. First,
the vegetation covering this dune system is.r_esponsible for its stability.
Second, although the relationship between the vegetation and the secondary
• dune. system and the groundwater supply has not been quantified, it is clear
that the two are interrelated.
The forests of the Outer Banks utilize a significant quantity of water, but
they prevent a much greater loss of water through evaporation from the bare
sand. Also, depletion`of the ground water supply through withdrawal or
• diversion would have the effect of destroying the forests by robbing them of
water. Thus, the vegetated secondary dunes of the Dare beaches are a fragile
and important resource for the continued development.of the area.
•
* From the Dare Beaches Sketch Development Plan and Chapter 10, Coastal Erosion.
40 85

On the Bodie Island sector of the Dare County Outer Banks, the area from the
southern boundary of Nags Head to Oregon Inlet is under the care of the
•
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area and the National Park Service
where extensive sand dune stabilization projects with the use of sand fences
and beachgrass planting programs are in progress. Dunes 15 to 20 feet in
height are continually built in the seashore under this program which tends to
make the area somewhat stable in spite of the continuous action by natural
erosion processes. Extensive commercial and residential developments are
•
found in the area north of Whalebone outside the park area. Continuous dunes
about 15 to 20 feet high protect this area northward up to Nags Head. Natural
dunes are not existing in the vicinity of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and
Kitty Hawk. These were probably leveled by erosion or in course of the
development of the area. Many structures were built close to the shoreline
with no apparent protection from encroachment of the ocean in the event of
•
storms or inclement conditions. Further north �in the vicinity of Duck, little
beach development exists. The beach is bounded by continuous dunes about 15
feet high, up to the Dare-Currituck County line. The area is rather low with
the road showing evidence of being flooded at times making it difficult to
travel. All these areas are sparely developed with isolated areas of resi-
dential developments.
•
The shoreline from Oregon Inlet_to the area north of the Cape Hatteras light-
house is relatively uniform with fairly wide beaches and artificial dunes
built with the aid of sand fences. The dunes are continuous, about eleven
feet high. Changes in the shoreline have occurred in the area north of the
lighthouse where heavy erosion is -continuing in spite of protective measures. •
Dunes were overtopped and eroded while damaging floods were experienced
behind the dune line. The beach at the southwest end of the island is wide
with adequate dunes back from the ocean about 8 to 12 feet high and covered
with vegetation. The beaches become more narrow toward the Cape with dunes
closer to the ocean.
•
Beach dunes north of Duck and the Jockey Ridge sand dunes are of statewide
significance. The Duck dunes contain'a variety of salt spray grasses including
several species at their southern limit. These dunes are threatened by com-
mercial-residential development. Jockey Ridge was designated a National Land-
mark in.1.974...
C. Ocean Beachea� d Shorelines (see Ocean Erodible Areas, p. 66)
•
•
•
86

D. ESTUARINE WATERS*
The State of North Carolina, in its Dredge and Fill Law of 1970 (G. S.
113-229 (n) (2)), defined estuarine waters as "all waters of the bays, sounds,
rivers, and tributaries thereto seaward of the dividing line between coastal
fishing waters and inland waters, as set forth in an agreement adopted by the
Wildlife Resources Commission and the Department of Conservation and Develop-
ment filed with the Secretary of State, entitled 'Boundary Lines, North
Carolina Commercial Fishing -Inland Fishing Waters, revised March 1, 1965'."
In other words, estuaries are semi -enclosed coastal water bodies having free
connection with the open sea and within which seawater is measurably di'l-uted
with fresh water drained from the adjacent land.
• According to the National Estuarine Pollution Study, there are 10 distinct
estuarine regions of the United States which contain 884 separate estuarine
systems encompassing 29.3 million surface acres of water (Chapman 1973). The
South Atlantic Estuarine Region, stretching approximately 800 miles from Cape
Hatteras to Fort Lauderdale, contains 83 separate estuarine systems (9% of
the total) and 4 million surface acres (14%�of the total). Of this, North
Carolina has an estuarine area of roughly 2.2 million acres or approximately
55t of that in the South Atlantic Estuarine Region (Shalowitz 1964); and in
size it is exceeded only by the systems of Alaska and Louisiana.
Estuaries have developed and evolved over geological time, and the plant
and animal communities dependent upon these systems have evolved to high
levels of productivity and diversity in response to the relatively large
changes in the natural environment. Man is a,newcomer, geolocially, to
estuaries, and since our country was first settled the Nation's estuaries have
served him well. Man has placed a multiplicity of demands upon'dstuarine and
coastal..environment as producers of food, as avenues of transportation, as
recept&cl.es of wastes, as living space, and as sources of recreational or
esthetic pleasure.
Because of the multiplicity of demands made by both man and the organisms
dependent upon these systems, it is imperative that we evaluate properly the
respective roles of the various parts of the system so that.we can manage this
environment wisely and derive the maximum user benefits from each of the com-
ponent parts.
In the state of North Carolina the 1973 commercial fishery harvest brought
a.d.ockside value to fishermen of about $16 million. Since less than one-half
of�the dockside landings were processed in the State, the economic value was
about'$50 million while the potential was over $100 million.
Recreational activities in and around estuarine areas also provide a
significant revenue to coastal regions. For example, in 1968 an estimated 112
million people spent approximately $14 billion seeking recreation in the
coastal strand. In 1975 it has been projected that approximately $5.4 billion
will be spent on sport fishing alone. About 16 million people will engage in
sport fishing in 1975 and this numger is growing at a rate of one-half million
per year (Teal, Jameson and Bader 1972).
*From "The Estuary - An Area of Environmental Concern" by Thayer.
40 87

•
Seasonal visitors to the estuarine zone also include waterfowl hunters
and vacationers; those who come for boating, canoeing, water skiing, and
swimming: Many business enterprises, large and small, cater to all of these
recreational seekers, such as hotels, beach cottages, restaurants, sporting
goods shops, marinas, bait and tackle dealers, and others. And, many seasonal
visitors, entranced with the beauty and loneliness of the estuarine area, buy
property there and build.upon it.
What makes these estuaries so important? The most important biological
characteristic of estuaries, which forms.a basis for much of our economy, is
the high productivity. High plant production has resulted in a very diverse
estuarine animal assemblage., The plants and animals die and during their
decomposition nutrient elements and dead tissue fragments are liberated into
the water. Tidal action and currents spread the nutrients which in turn are
utilized by the plants. Other organisms feed upon the plants and dead debris
and in turn are consumed by,still larger species. This is a self-sustaining
process but one whic4 is very susceptible to intervention by man.
Thus, our estuaries and their associated transition zones -salt marshes,
sounds, intertidal areas, etc. form a valuable natural resource. These
estuaries; which play an important life-support function have lost more than
7% of their fish and wildlife habitat to commercial and housing development
over the past few decades (Tihansky and Meade 1974), and are being lost for
fishery production at'a rate of about 1% per year. Because these estuaries
are located between .the:oceans.and the land and because a high percentage of
our population lives near the coast, a majority of the estuarine destruction
is a direct result of man's activities. Pollution, land -fill and dredging,
building-, draining of marshes, and increasing use of fresh water have all
taken their toll of estuarine areas.
Estuarine waters located in Dare County z re the Roanoke, Croatan, Curri-
tuck, Albemarle, and Pamlico Sounds.
E. Public Trust Waters
Public trust waters are described as all;waters-of the -Atlantic Ocean
from the mean high water mark to the seaward limit -of state jurisdiction; -
all. coastal waters subject to the ebb and -flow of -lunar tides:shoreward to
their mean high water mark; all navigable'rivers, lakes and streams, sounds
and artificially created water bodies to their ordinary high water mark pro-
vided that -any artificially created navigable water bodies must have navigable
connections to navigable natural water bodies or must have public areas or
must be publicly owned. The public has rights in these waters including navi-
gation, fishing and recreation. The protection and maintenance of the area is
necessary in order to preserve the public rights therein. (see list of surface
waters in Dare County)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
6

• • • • • • • • • • •
INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATERS, DARE CO.
Identity of Area
Location
Township Highway No.
Name Type of Area (Name) and Miles or Description of Area
Other Landmark
Atlantic Ocean.
Scenic (Water
Not
Eastern and
Ocean side of Outer Banks (barrier
and Shores)
Applicable
Southeastern
islands). Present use, recreation,
boundary of
swimming, fishing, bathing. Southern
county
section of Bodie Island and Hatteras
Island are in the Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Area.
Albemarle,
Scenic (Water
Not
Northern,
Coastal.waters and shores protected
CO Croatan, Currituck,
and'Shores).
Applicable
Eastern, and
from Atlantic Ocean by the Outer
Pamlico and Roanoke
Southern sec-
Banks (barrier islands).
Sounds
Lions of
county.

INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATERS, DARE
CO.
Name
Location
Description
Long Shoal River
From U.S. 264 to the Pamlico
1e3 miles long to .3 miles wide,
Sound.
3' deep. Brackish waters,
Excellent fishing, trout, mullet
bluefish, flounder. Fair duck
hunting. Good boating.
Deep Creek
11.2 miles south of Lake Worth.
1.2 miles long to .1 mile wide
Opening into Long Shoal River.
6' deep. Surrounded by marsh.
Good fishing, some hunting.
Pains Bay
4.7 miles south of Stumpy
4.6 miles long, to 1.2 miles
Point. Opening into Pamlico
wide, 6' deep. Surrounded by marsh.
Sound.
Good fishing.. Good access.
Parched Corn Bay
East of Long Shoal River
Small bay. Good fishing, trout
bluefish, mullet. Excellent
boating. Limited hunting.
Whipping Creek Lake
4 miles southeast of Stumpy
1.3 miles long. Surrounded by
Point. Off Alligator River.
marsh. Shallow waters. Limited
access.
Back Lake
1 mile west of Stumpy Point.
1 mile long, .3 miles wide,
surrounded by marsh. Limited
fishing. Good duck hunting.

INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATER, DARE CO.
Name Location Description
Stumpy Point Bay
South of Stumpy Point, Opening
2 miles long and 2 miles wide.
Pamlico Sound. East of Lake
7' deep. Good fishing, shad, rock,
Worth.
trout, perch, basso Good boating.
Great potential for development.
Sawyer Lake
East of Buffalo City site
1 mile long, to 300' wide. Sur -
Off Milltail Creek.
rounded by marsh. Limited fishing.
Ideal hunting, bear and deer.
Limited access.
Callaghan Creek
3 miles south of Manns Harbor.
3.3 miles long, to 100' wide. Mar -
Opening into Spencer's Creek.
shy areas. Excellent fishing,
white perch, rock, and bass. Some
duck hunting.
Spencer.
1.3 miles south of Manns
3 miles long, to 300' wide. Good
-Creek
Harbor
fishing, rock, bass and perch.
Some duck hunting.
Long Wretch Creek
5 miles south of Manns Harbor.
.5 mile long, 4.1 miles wide.
Bordering Croatan Sound.
Surrounded b y marsh. Good fish-
ing, bass, bream, perch. Good
crabbing. Limited access.
South Lake
Southern branch of East Lake
4.5 miles long, to 8' deep. Good
fishing, bass, rock and perch.
Good hunting, ducks, bear, deer.

INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATER, DARE CO,
Name
Location
Description
East Lake
Northern point of Dare County,
7.7 miles long, to 10' deep.
peninsula. Between Alligator
Surrounded by marsh. Excellent
River and Albemarle Sound,
fishing, bass, rotted,perch.
Good hunting, bear, deer, duck.
Tom Mann Creek "
Bay on North side of Durant
.4 miles long, 1.9 miles wide, to
Island. Opens into Albemarle
4'.deep. Surrounded by marsh.
Sound.
Good fishing, rock, bass, perch.
Some duck hunting.
Peter Mashoes Creek
2.1 miles north of Manns Harbor
1.9 miles long, .4 mile wide and
bridge. Junction Albemarle
to 5' deep. Good fishing, bass,
and Croatan sounds.
rock, and perch. Private boat ramp.
ko
N
Billy's Ditch
From highway 64 to South Lake
1.5 miles long. Surrounded by
marsh. Limited fishing. Good hunt-
ing, deer, bear. Access for out-
boards to South Lake.
Hidden Lake
1/2 mile east of Alligator.
500' wide, 1500' long. Surrounded
River. 1 mile south of East
by marsh. Limited fishing. Limited
Lake Landing.
access.
Spence Creek
Part of Peter Mashoes Creek
1.8 miles long, to 300' wide.
Surrounded by marsh. Good fishing.
Milltail Creek 1.8 miles south of.Bay Point 15 miles long, deep water for large
off Alligator River boats for 12 miles. Limited fish-
ing bream and jacks. Limited access.
Shallowbag Bay East of Manteo Good fishing, boating. Channel and
harbor. Limited duck hunting. Good
potential for development.
0 0 0 40 0 0 41 0 •0 0

- INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATERS, DARE CO.
Name Location Description
Broad Creek 2.6 miles south of Manteo. 2.2 miles long, .3 mile.wide, 4'
Opening to Roanoke Sound. deep. Good fishing, crabbing,
boating. Limited duck hunting.
Mill Creek South of Wanchese. Off .5 mile long, 200,'Wide. Deep
Roanoke Sound. waters to accommodate fishing
trawlers. Good fishing, boating,
access to Mill Landing Docks,
Baum Creek e3 mile west of Baumtown. .2 mile long, 50' wide. Limited
Off Croatan Sound. fishing and crabbing. Good boat-
ing, duck and goose hunting.
Great potential for development.
Oyster Creek 5 mile west of Wanchese. .3 mile long, 50' wide. Surround -
Off Croatan Sound. ed by marsh. Good fishing, trout
bass, perch. Some duck and goose
hunting.
Cedar Bush Bay .5 mile southwest of Wanchese. .5 mile wide, .8 mile long.
Off Croatan Sound. Marshy area. Good fishing, bass,
perch, trout,, croakers.
Kitty Hawk Bay. North of Collington Island, Excellent Bass fishing. Good duck
and Wright Memorial Bridge. hunting. Marina, boat ramp. Large
residential development.
Collington Creek From Kill
Devil Hills Bridge
.4 mile
long,
.2 wide. Good
to Buzzard
Bay.
fishing,
duck
hunting.
Lighthouse Bay .2 mile south of Bodie Island .4 mile long, .2 wide. Good
Lighthouse. fishing; Excellent hunting.

INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATERS, DARE CO.
Name
Location
Description
Motts Creek
South end of Bodie Island.
.2 mile
long, .1 wide. Good fish -
West side of Bonner Bridge.
ing. Excellent boating. Boat
landing,
Oregon Inlet Marina.
Eagle Nest Bay
North of Pea Island in
.7 mile
long. .5 mile wide. Sur -
National Seashore Park.
rounded
by swamp and shifting
sand dunes. Good boating and
fishing.
Goat Island Bay
North of Pea Island, in
.3 mile
long, to .3 wide. Good
National Seashore Park
fishing
of all types. Good boating.
The.Trench
In Pea Island Refuge, off
.3 mile
long, to .4 wide. Good
Pamlico Sound
boating
and fishing.
Pea Island Bay
In Pea Island Refuge, off
.5 mile
long, to .2 wide. Good
Pamlico Sound.
boating
and fishing.
Terrapin Creek Bay
1.2 mile northwest of Pea
.4 mile
long, to 1.4 wide. Good
Island Coast Guard Station.
fishing
and boating.
Beach Slue
.9 mile southwest of Pea
.8 mile
long, to .4 wide. Good
Island Coast Guard Station.
boating
and fishing.
Wreck Creek 1.5 miles southwest of Pea .6 mile long, to .1 wide. Sur -
Island Coast Guard Station rounded by marsh. Good fishing
and boating.
Brooks Creek 4 miles southwest of Buxton, .8 mile long, to .2 wide. Good
in Pamlico Sound. fishing, boating, and crabbing.
Good duo p nd goose hunting.
r

INVENTORY OF SURFACE WATERS, DARE CO.
Name Location Description
Joe Saur Creek 3 miles north of Hatteras Village. .5 mile long, .3 wide. Limited
Off Pamlico Sound fishing. Good boating. Fair
development potential.
Sandy Bay Northwest of Hatteras Village. .3 mile long, 1 mile wide.
Off Pamlico Sound Brackish water. -Good fishing.,
bass, flounder, trout.
Duck Pond .5 mile south of Hatteras Village. .4 mile long, 200' wide, 2' deep.
Limited fishing, boating. Good
development potential.
Isaac Pond South of Duck Pond .2 mile long, 200' wide, 2' deep.....
Good development potential.
Ln
Clubhouse Creek South of,Is.aac Pond .3 mile long, 10'to 800' wide.
Limited fishing, good boating,
Good area for development.
Hatteras Inlet Inlet':between Dare County and 3 miles long, .8 miie wide.
Hyde County on the soatherni­ Excellent fishing. Opens to
end of the Outer Banks Atlantic. Accommodates large
boats.

F. Complex Natural Areas
Complex natural areas are defined as lands that support native plant and
animal communities and provide habitat conditions or characteristics that
have remained essentially unchanged by human activity. Such areas are sur-
rounded by landscapes that have been modified but do not drastically alter
the conditions within the natural areas of their scientific or educational
value. •
Complex natural areas provide the few remaining examples of conditions
that existed within the coastal area prior to settlement by Western man.
Often these natural areas provide habitat conditions suitable for rare or
endangered species or they support plant and animal communities representa-
tive of presettlement conditions. •
(1) The following areas in Dare County were suggested as natural areas in
"Potential.for Outdoor Recreation in Dare County, N. C., 1974." (see following
list, pages 97 & 98)
Additional Dare County areas which may be considered as complex natural •
areas:*
(2) Maritime Forest and Fresh Water Ponds
Forests develop where there is elevation for protection from flooding salt
waters and where distance from the surf reduces wind-blown salt spray.
Scattered, small wooded areas occur sporadically along the Outer Banks, usually
on the soundside of the islands in the vicinity of villages, but the Nags Head
Woods contains approximately 50 acres and is located near Kill Devil Hills
west Af Rt. 158. The Nags Head Woods -Jockey's Ridge area 'is a characteristic
system of active and inactive dunes in various stages of migration and plant
succession. By.far the most prominent feature or features are the twin sand
dunes, reputed to be the highest in the eastern United States, which are refer-
red to collectively as Jockey's Ridge. These huge piles of sand, reaching
heights up to 140' are active and considere& to be live dunes, yet their phy-
sical appearance and location has not changed drastically since 1949 (based
on aerial photographic interpretation). This is not to say that a:state of
equilibrium has been reached as the peaks themselves shift their position
on the main body.of the dunes in response to wind variations. This apparent
stability -As in direct contrast with. -other active (live) dunes which gradually
migrate soundward.
This section.receives heavy use from..the,public, who have not been denied
access as they continuously clim.6-up and over the dunes. The moving sands
nightly erase the thousands of daily footprints.
*From "Environmental Assessment - Jockey's Ridge State Park"
96

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INVENTORY OF NATURAL AREAS
Identity of Area Location
Township Highway No.
Name Type of Area (Namel_, and Miles or Description of Area
Other Landmark
.Alligator River
Natural
East Lake
Western'section of
1/2 to 1 mi. wide and 20
Swamp
(Swamp)
county, adjacent
miles long. River swamp of
to Alligator River
Southern baldcyresss, tupelo
gum, pond pine and other wet -
site species. Present use,
woodland, hunting.
East Lake
Natural
East Lake
Northwestern sec-.
100' to 1 1/2 mi.. wide and 6
(Water and
tion of county,
miles. -long. Open fresh coas-
Swamp)
adjacent to Alli-
tal water with Southern bald-
gator River.
cypress, Atlantic whitecedar,
tupelo gum, pond pine growing
along shores. Present use,
fishing, hunting.
Lake Worth
Natural
Stumpy
Southeastern section
1 mi. long, 1/8 mi.wide.
(Black Lake)
(Water and
Bog) Point
of county 3.5 miles
Inland fresh water lake
west of Stumpy Point,
with pond pine, Southern
N. C.
baldcypress, switchcane
wax myrtle, and other bog
vegetation. Present use,
fishing and wildlife sanc-
tuary.
Pamlico
Natural
Stumpy
Western shore of
5 mi. long, 100' to 1/2 mi.
Sound
(Marsh)
Point
Pamlico Sound,
wide; Irregularly flooded
Marsh
salt marsh. Vegetation -black
needlerush, salt meadow
cordgrass and sawgrass...Pre-
sent use, waterfowl habitat.

INVENTORY OF NATURAL AREAS
Identify of Area
Name
Type of Area
Location
Township Highway No.
(Name) and Miles or
Other Landmark
Description of Area
Roanoke
Natural
Manns
Northeastern
7 mi. long, 100' to 2-1/2 mi. wide
Marshes
(Marshes)
Harbor
section of county.
-Irregularly flooded salt marsh.
Western shore of
Vegetation -black needlerush, salt
Croatan Sound.
meadow cordgrass and sawgrass.
Present use, wildlife habitat.
South Lake.
Natural (Water
East Lake,
Northwestern
6 mi. long 100' to 1/2 mia wide.
and Swamp)
section of county,.
Coastal open fresh water with
S. of Albemarle
Southern baldcypress. Atlantic
Sound.
whitecedar, tupelo gum, and pond
pine growing along shores. Pres-
ent use, fishing and wildlife
habitat.
Whipping
Natural (Lake East Lake
Southwestern sec-
3/4 mi.long100' to 1/4 mi. wide.
Creek Lake
and Swamp)
tion of county
Inland fresh water lake with
about 2 mi. E. of
Southern baldcypress, tupelo gum
Alligator River.
and Atlantic whitecedar growing
along shores. Present use, fish-
ing and wildlife habitat.
Milltail
Natural (Lake Manns
About 10 miles
7 mi. long. 20' to 400' wide.
Lake
and Swamp) Harbor
Southwest of
.Fresh water lake with Southern
Manns Harbor
baldcypress, tupelo gum and pond
pine growing along shores. Pres-
ent use fishing and wildlife habi-
tat.
0 0 1 i • • • • 0 • •

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Nags Head Woods is a prime example of relict dunes which have been stabilized
by forest cover. This cover forms a peculiar type of forest which appears
to be a combination of maritime and mixed hardwood -pine inland forest. The
forest type of loblolly pine, sweet gum, hickory, sour gum, beech, oak, and
holly is not represented in the present public lands of the National Seashore.
Within them occur many plants which are very near their northern limits
including live oak, Spanish moss, resurrection fern, and wild olive, to name
a few.
As would be expected, the topography within the woods is undulating with
elevations ranging from 10'.to 60' above sea level. The depressions in this
area contain dozens of unique freshwater ponds which were possibly created
by rainwater collecting in non -porous, wind scoured basins_ These ponds are
of varying productivity and chemical composition and are the subject of much
ongoing scientific investigation and research. The smaller dune east of the
woods, and the large active dune at the northern end (near the Wright Brothers
Memorial) are slowly and persistently marching toward the remnant woods, and
in some sections have overrun the forest and are beginning to slough off into
the Roanoke Sound, creating interesting sand bluffs.
# This area presents an interesting and fairly uncommon admixture of saltwater
ocean, tidal water sound, and freshwater pond. Add to the water and atmos-
pherl,,ic mix, the peculiar dune establishment and you have a truly unique site.
•
The botanical results of this association or mixture are apparent in a wide
range of plant communities such as
(1) salt -spray tolerant dune grasses and herbs;
(2) tangles of salt -spray tolerant shrubs, vines, and small trees;
(3) a peculiar maritime forest of magnificent loblolly pine, sweet
gum, hickory, sour gum, beech, oak and holly;
(W a peculiar aquatic population within the many freshwater ponds, and.
(5) tidal marshlands.
Many plants found here are very near their northern limits. Among these are
live oak, Spanish moss, resurrection fern, and wild olive.
A
The abundance of plant species indicates diverse habitat which should house a
diverse fauna. No research has been uncovered regarding animal populations but
there is`plenty of evidence to indicate large populations. Song birds should be
plentiful in the woods and thickets, while great numbers of water fowl and wading
birds can be seen along the sound. Kingfishers, hawks, owls and possibly ospreys
0 could find nesting agreeable in and around the vast Nags Head Woods. While few
animals were seen, it is probable that there are large populations of small and
medium sized rodents (mice and squirrels), rabbits, opossum, racoon, and pos-
sibly that a fox or bobcat is roaming around the woods. No evidence was seen
of any.large mammals such as deer. The reptilian and amphibian populations
should alsohave good representation due to the abundance of ponds and shore-
line. It is a known fact that there is some good fishing for bass and bream
in many of the ponds.
99

C]
A large stand of forest trees on the Dare County barrier islands occurs in
the Buxton Woods. The woods covers about 3,000 acres, 1,000 of which is
within the boundaries of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It covers the
slopes and crests of old dunes that rise to nearly 60 feet in several places.
Narrow interdunal areas are occupied by swampy woods, vine jungles, shrub
thickets and blackwater ponds. Wider interdunal areas are fresh marshes with
ponds included. These are discussed with the forest habitat because of their
close association. Dominant tree species include Loblolly pine, live oaks, f
laurel oaks, hollies, dogwood, hornbean and red bay. Common shrubs comprise
youpon wax myrtle, blueberry, American beautyberry, southern prickly ash,
Devil's walking stick and,palmettos. The latter may be the northernmost wild
palms in the eastern United States. Near them grow the northernmost Carolina
laurel -cherries. The woods have been drastically exploited by man; lumbering
pasturage and wild fires have taken their toll; as have storms with their
blistering salt winds.
Animals are abundant but hard to see in dense cover. The woods contribute
greatly to the variety of the fauna. Five mammals, about two dozen birds
(mostly songbirds) and about a dozen reptiles and amphibians are known in the
park only from Buxton Woods and vicinity. The opossum, once believed extinct
on Hatteras Island, appears to be returning. The gray fox may have already
invaded by crossing Oregon Inlet Bridge. The eastern mole, deer mouse and
cotton mouse might continue if the .forest were largely removed, but the gray
squirrel and white-tailed deer will depend on preservation of the park forest
for survival.
Ospreys have recently been dec lining rapidly throughout the eastern stat6s,
but several still nest each year in the Buxton Woods. Cottonmouths are
abundant in much of Buxton Woods and environs; canebrake rattlers are much
more scarce and local.
(3) Durant Island !!
Durant Island is a 3500-acre island at the mouth of the Alligator River.
Located in the area is an extensive fresh -water marsh and cypress swamp. No
development exists on the island except for a hunting club lodge on the north-
east point of Tom Mann Creek. Access is limited to boat. -The isolation of
the island would possibly lend itself to natural area protection.
(4) Dare County Pocosin
Dare County Pocosin is a vast bog -like area of stunted pines, wax myrtle,
evergreen shrubs, pitcher plants and numerous grasses which grow on a floating
mass of peatmoss. It has been suggested that several thousand acres should be
set aside. The Pocosin occupies the area lying west and northwest of U. S.
264 from the Dare County line to Mann's Harbor.
i
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r G. Areas That Sustain Remnant Species
Areas that sustain remnant species are those places that support native plants
or animals, rare or endangered, within the coastal area. Such places provide
habitat conditions necessary for the survival'of existing populations or com-
munities of rare or endangered species within the county. The'continued sur-
vival of certain native plant arld animals cannot be assured unless the relati-
vely few well-defined areas providing necessary habitat conditions are pro-
tected from development or land uses that might alter these conditions.
Rare and Endangered Species*
Endangered species which occur include the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and
American alligator. The red -cockaded woodpecker and the Atlantic sturgeon
.could occur but current records do not substantiate this assumption. Simi-
larly, more definite information is needed concerning occurrence and nesting
of the loggerhead turtle which is known to occur in coastal waters in ,the
Oregon Inlet area. The endangered Outer Banks king sn.ake.is reported'to
occur on Hatteras Island.
Rare plant species were referred to.in the Nags Head.Woods and Buxton Woods
discussion.
H. Registered Natural Landmarks
Registered natural landmarks are so designated by the Secretary of Interior.
They are true, accurate, essentially unspoiled examples.of natural areas
which posses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting
the natural.heritage of our nation. Examples in Dare County are Jockey's
Ridge and Nags Head Woods which have previously been discussed.
*From Wildlife and Land Use Planning with Particular Reference to Coastal
Counties. -
101

I Historic Sites*
M
As..authorized by the General Assembly, historic sites are among the
categories of fragile properties which the Coastal Resources Commission could
designate as interim areas of environmental.concern. In defining the cate-
gories of historic sites, three already established programs were used: the
National Register of Historic Places; National Historic Landmarks; and the
state historic site and grant-in-aid programs.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established the National
Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the -official list of
the nation's irreplaceable cultural resources. It is maintained by the
National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Following is'a listing
of the historic properties located in Dare County.
i
*From "Historic Sites" by Seapker.
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102

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HISTORIC SITES
DARE COUNTY
Historic places that are listed (NR), or have been approved for listing by: the North Carolina Historical
Commission (ANR) in the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to .the National Historic Preserva-
tion Act of 1966.
Historical, archaeological, and other places and properties owned, managed or assisted by the State of
North Carolina pursuant to G.S. Chapter 121;
Properties or areas that are or may be designated by the Seca of the Interior as .Registered Natural
Landmarks (NL) or as National Historic Landmarks (NHL):
Name Location Category Ownership
Wright Brothers National
Memorial
Kitty Hawk
*NR
Federal
Nags Head Woods
Between Nags Head and
Unknown
Kill Devil Hills
Fort Raleigh National
;,4,miles-N. of Manteo on
Historic Site
s 58: _
*NR
Federal
Jockey's Ridge
On.W. side of U.S. 158 by-.
pass at 12.5 mi. post,
***N L
State
Nags Head ..
Caffeyls Inlet Life Saving
Station
Duck vicinity
***ANR
Kitty Hank Life Saving
Station
Kitty Hawk
***ANR
Kill Devil Hills Life
Saving Station Kill Devil Hills ***ANR
Chicamacomico Life Saving
Station Rodanthe ***ANR
Creeds Hill Life Saving
Station Frisco vicinity ***ANR
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0
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HISTORIC SITES (Continued)
Name Location Category Ownership
Durants Life Saving Station Hatteras vicinity ***ANR
Drinkwater's folly Manteo vicinity ***ANR
Fearing House Nags Head *•**ANR
Beach Cottage Row Nags Head ***ANR
First Colony House Nags Head ***ANR

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III. AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL
•
(A) Productive Agricultural Lands
Some productive agricultural soils are being identified on the Dare County
Mainland by First Colony Farms, Inc. Most of these soils require exten-
sive.drainage and clearing to make them productive, however, so they are
presently more valuable for the timber and pulpwood they support.
(B) Potentially Valuable Mineral Sites
Dare County contains some commercially valuable deposits of sand, clay
and marl. However,.mineral resources are not at this time a significant
• factor in the economy of the County. There have been numerous explora-
tory attempts to locate oil and gas resources within the -county in the
past but these have yielded no positive results.
There are trace amounts of potentially valuable minerals present in well
cores from the Dare County Area but none have been identified as being
• available in economically feasible quantities with currently available
technology.
(C) Publicly Owned Parks
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area is one of the 181 areas
• in the country administered by the National Park Service under the
Department of the Interior, which comprise outstanding scenic, scientific
and historical areas of the United States. Cape Hatteras was the first
National Seashore Park in the National Park System. Extending from
Whalebone Junction at the southern boundary of Nags Head about 70 miles
southward through Ocracoke Island, the National Seashore preserves 45
• square miles of beach land. It is divided into three sections: Bodie
Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island. It covers the entire
area of the Outer Banks, except; for the eight unincorporated towns and
villages. The park area is included in the National Park Plan known
as "Mission 66." Museums have been established at Cape Hatteras and
Bodie Island. The National Park has constructed various recreational
• and community improvements in the area in addition to the extensive
erosion and sand dune rehabilitation projects.
(D) Pea Island Wildlife Refuge is a part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore
on the Outer Banks. The refuge was established in 1938 as a.refuge and
breeding ground for migratory birds and.other wildlife. It.is located
on the northern most 13.5 miles of Hatteras Island. Refuge lands also
include several small islands immediately off the main part of the
refuge in Pamlico Sound.
We need to consider wildlife in land use planning because:
(1) wildlife serves as an "environmental barometer" and constitutes
• an early warning system against environmental contamination
hazardous to human health;
•
105

•
(2) the observation of wildlife and its pursuit through hunting and
fishing constitute a,form of highly therapeutic outdoor recreation
for a substantial portion of our population;
(3) the recreational pursuit of fish and game generates expenditures
that contribute in a substantial way to local and state economies;
(4) the study of wildlife in its natural setting provides insight on
•
man's place in the natural order. and valuable clues to analysis
of human behavior and social organization, as well as derivation
of medical and industrial. products.of value to human welfare; and
Deer occur throughout the county in moderate numbers. Most of ,the county is
•
considered to be occupied range for the black bear, however, fewerrthan 100
are thought to exist. Their numbers are considerably reduced from the popula-
tion of two decades ago. Bear hunting is prohibited by law. All small game
species occur; however, due to limited agricultural operations, populations
of certain species are considered below average for the Coastal Plains area.
Marsh rabbits, woodcock, raccoon and'wildcat are plentiful; cottontail
•
rabbits, opossum, foxes, snipe and rails occur in moderate numbers; quail,
dove and squirrel are uncommon. Furbearers, including muskrat, mink, raccoon,
otter and nutria, are in plantiful supply. Waterfowl, including most species
which occur in the State, are present in ample numbers. The coastal marsh-
lands, and the shallow coastal waters of Currituck, Roanoke, Croatan and
Pamlico sounds provide great diversity of habitat to support ti-ping, diving,
•
and sea ducks; mergansers'; Canadra and greater snow geese; whistling swan and
American brant.
•
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CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Information in this section is based on previously published engineering
reports by Henry Von Oeson.and Associates, Inc. and by Moore -Gardner and
Associates, Inc. as well as interviews with municipal and county officials.
I. WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AREAS
(A) The Cape Hatteras Water Association is a private company which
provides water to about 823 customers in the village of Hatteras,
Frisco, and Buxton. The system is designed to deliver 1 MGD and
at present peak load in August of 1975 delivered 400,000 gallons of
water on the peak day. The permanent resident demand is approxi-
mately .19 MGD while seasonal loads increase the figure by about
.21 MGD. Main sizes in the system are 6" and 8" and are sufficient
for fire protection.
(B) The Towns of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills both constructed and
began operation of their systems in 1964. The Nags Head system began
operation with approximately 555 customers and currently has around
•
850 customers. The Kill Devil Hills system went into operation with
about 500 customers and currently serves slightly over 1000 customers.
This total of approximately 1850 customers represents service to
•
slightly less than fifty percent of the potential customers in the
service area, not including another 1100 or more trailer park and
campground sites that are not being served.
The source of supply for these systems is a fresh water lake which
is located on the boundary between the towns about 3200 feet westward to
the ocean and which is surrounded on the southwest and north by vacant
•
lands owned by the municipalities. This lake is recharged by rainfall
C
107

•
in the area and has provided ample supply until 1969 when an apparent
drop in the lake water level indicated the rate of withdrawal was •
greater than the area's recharge capacity. Since that time a growing
demand for water has caused greater water level drops and increasing
concern. Some shallow wells have been installed to supplement the •
lake supply. They have increased the supply by about 110,000 gallons
per day'. A second group of wells was recommended and is now being
contemplated that would increase this augmentation supply to 300,000 •
gpd. The lake was dredged in the spring of 1975 to increase its storage
capacity. Peak demand on these systems comes during the tourist season
when rainfall is least. The peak service day for Kill Devil Hills •
in 1975 was on July 5 when 833,000 gallons were pumped. For Nags
Head the 1975 peak day was July 6 with 866,000 gallons pumped.
(C) The Town of Manteo currently has three deep wells producing •
not less than 100,000 gpd. The plant capacity is 225,000 gpd with
ground storage for 225,000 gallons and elevated storage for 75,000
gallons. Their average daily usage is 90,000 gpd and the town peak
demand was about 175,000 gpd in the summer of 1975. The town's system
provides.water to customers within the town limits and in some areas
outside the town. They have sufficient capacity to provide the de- •
mands of domestic users at the present time. The sewage treatment
plant has a design capacity of about 300,000 gallons per day and a
normal load of 90,000 to.100,000 gallons per day. The peak day during •
the 1975 tourist season was 225,000 gallons. This plant is operating
well within its design capacity and should be sufficient to serve
expected growth.
•
108 40

In the spring of 1975 the citizens of Dare County approved a $5.5
million bond referendum for the construction of a central water system to
serve all of Roanoke Island and the Dare Beaches Complex from Oregon Inlet
North to.Duck. This system is in the design phase at the present time but
it should be sufficient to serve the expected growth of the service area
for a fifteen to twenty year period.
A sewage treatment facilities plan under the Environmental Protection
Agency 201 Planning Program is underway for the same service area. The
resulting system should serve the needs of the area adequately for the same
time period.
An additional 201 Wastewater Facilities is being undertaken for the
portion of the county from Oregon Inlet, South to Hatteras Inlet which is
the potential service area for the Hatteras Water Association.
The Village of Avon is presently in a critical position with regard to
water.supply due to salt water contamination of wells as a result of recent
storms. Avon was included in the preliminary study for the Cape Hatteras
Water Association System and could be served from that source. Extension of
a water line from Buxton to Avon has been given a high priority by the Dare
County Commissioners.
•
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109

(D) OTHER SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS
Ocean Acres Utilities - operates a 0.06 mgd contact stabilization type
waste treatment facility that discharges to Buzzard Bay, a class "SC" water.
This facility is being properly operated and maintained. The company plans
to expand the existing facility to•a total design capacity of 0.265 mgd with
49
subsurface disposal. Assimilative capacity calculations indicate that if
this facility maintains the minimum requirements for secondary type treatment,.
as defined by EPA, it should protect water quality in the receiving water.
The Villas - operates a 0.08 mgd extended aeration type waste treatment
facility that discharges to Buzzard Bay, a class "SC" waters. This facility
is being properly operated and maintained. Assimilative capacity calculations
indicate that if this facility maintains the minimum requirements for secondary
type treatment, as defined by EPA, it should protect water quality in the
receiving waters.
Wash Basket Laundromat - operates a 0.0075 mgd primary type waste treat-
ment facility that discharges to Cape Creek, a class "SA" stream. This
facility is presently being upgraded to provide tertiary type treatment which
will be attained by February, 1976. Assimilative capacity calculations indi-
cate that if this facility is upgraded to maintain the minimum requirements
for BPCT type treatment, as defined by EPA, it should protect water quality
in the receiving stream. An NPDES Permit for this discharge was issued
January, 1974
Cape Hatteras Naval Facility - operates a 0.018 mgd septic tank sand
filter type waste treatment facility that discharges to a drainage ditch.
This facility is being properly operated and maintained. Assimilative
capacity calculations indicate that if this facility maintains the minimum
requirements for secondary type treatment, as defined by EPA, it should protect
water quality in the receiving stream. An NPDES Permit for this discharge is
•
•
A
scheduled for issuance in July, 1976.-
110
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�M
Hatteras Inlet Coast Guard Station discharges untreated bilge water intermit-
tantly to the Pamlico Sound, a class "SA" water. Assimilative capacity calcu-
lations indicate that the Coast Guard Station should implement sufficient .
treatment to maintain the minimum requirements for BPCT type treatment, as
•
defined by EPA, in order to protect water quality in the receiving waters.
Ocracoke Coast Guard Station discharges untreated bilge water to Silver Lake,
• a class "SC" water. The Ocracoke Guard Station should implement sufficient
treatment to maintain the minimum requirements for BPCT type treatment, as
defined by EPA, in order to protect water quality in the receiving waters.
•
Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station discharges untreated bilge water to Oregon
Inlet, a class "SA" stream. Assimilative capacity calculations indicate that
the Coast Guard Station should implement treatment sufficient to meet the
•
mUlimum requirements for BPCT.type.treatment, as defined by EPA, in order to
protect"water quality in the receiving waters.
AN
•
EM

•
II. SCHOOLS
•
The Dare County Board of Education operates all public schools within
the county. All facilities are in excellent condition and all sites
are adequate for necessary expansion with the exception of the Manteo
•
High School site. It is anticipated that within 10-15 years a new
Junior High School site must be located somewhere on Roanoke Island
to accommodate grades 7 through 9.
•
(A) Hatteras: The site consists of around 17.8 acres with the Elemen-
tary School built in 1960 accommodating 350 pupils and the High School
built in 1965 with about 150 pupils. The service area for these schools
is from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet.
(B) Kitty Hawk: The site consists of 15.3 acres with an Elementary
School K-8 serving 280 pupils on the North Outer Banks area. The
•
school was built in 1960 with 5 additional classrooms added in 1975.
(C) Manteo: The Manteo Elementary School was built in 1965 on a 10
acre site and serves 540 pupils K-6 from the Nags Head area, Roanoke
•
Island and the Mainland communities. Manteo High School was originally
constructed in 1960 with additional classrooms added in 1965. It
serves 600 students in grades 7 through 12 from Roanoke Island, the
Mainland and from Oregon Inlet, north.
•
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112 •

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III. PRIMARY ROADS
The only project within Dare County included in the Statewide Seven
Year Highway Improvement Program is the widening and straightening
of U.S. 64 from the Alligator River Bridge to Manns Harbor.
1975 peak traffic counts indicate a deterioration of the capacity
and design speed of the U.S. 158 bypass in the Nags Head and Kill
Devil Hills area and on N.C. 12 toward Hatteras from Whalebone
Junction. The State Department of Transportation uses average
annual daily traffic counts as a basis for design and improvement
requirements which cannot take into account the tremendous load put
on the system by tourist traffic from June through September. The
most recent peak figures for these highways indicate that they are
sometimes dangerously overloaded.
N..C. 12 especially carried the majority of an estimated 1,525,000
visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore through September of
1975. This highway is in need of widening.to a standard width of
24 feet and resurfacing.
IV. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
Dare -County operates a sanitary landfill for the disposal of all
solid waste within the county including the Towns of Manteo, Kill
Devil Hills and Nags Head, all waste generated by the more than 1.5
million annual visitors to National Park Service facilities and Solid
Waste from Ocracoke Island in Hyde County.
The present nine acre site is being filled at.a rate of about 1.25
acres per year and has about two years capacity left. The county is
now seeking appropriate sites for expansion. The search could be
• 113

•
eased considerably if it were possible to use land within the boun-
daries of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is ironic that
federal law requires the disposal of refuse in an approved sanitary
landfill yet prohibits its disposal on the property which generates
the major load.
•
The residents of Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk have voted a tax to
cover door-to-door solid waste collection by the county in their
•
communities. The county maintains bulk solid waste containers in the
Roanoke Island and Mainland areas and a private contractor holds the
franchise for collection on Hatteras Island.
Dare County owns a TD-175 front-end loader and a TD-15 bulldozer packer
for maintaining the landfill. The county has three hand loaded packer
trucks for door-to-door pick-up and two container trucks to service
•
the bulk container sites.
V.. FIRE PROTECTION
Dare County outside the municipalities of Kill Devil Hills and Nags •
Head is served by six volunteer fire departments.
(A) Roanoke Island,including the Town of Manteo and Wanchese, and
on a call basis; the mainland communities of Mann's Harbor, East Lake •
and Stumpy Point, are served by the Roanoke Island Volunteer Fire
Department with stations at Manteo and Wanchese. The department con-
sists of 52 men and holds a fire insurance rating of 10 which will be •
reduced to 9AA upon delivery of two 1,000 GPM pumpers which are on
order. Present equipment includes a 1955 750 GPM pumper, a 1965
750 GPM pumper, two equipment trucks and a 4,000 gallon tanker. The •
volunteers are on a telephone alert system. The community of Stumpy
114 •

Point has -recently organized a volunteer department but until they
•
are manned and equipped will continue to rely on assistance from
the Roanoke Island Department or the N. C. Forest Service.
• (B) The area on the Outer Banks north of Kill Devil Hills is
served by a.volunteer department of 50 members with stations at
Collington Island, Southern Shores, and a newly completed headquarters
• in Kitty Hawk. There is a 1972 750 GPM pumper and a 1500 gallon
tanker at Southern Shores, a 1973 750 GPM pumper and maintenance
truck at Kitty Hawk and a 1973 750 GPM pumper at Collington Island.
• The department relies on a telephone alert system.
(C) The Town of Kill Devil Hills is served by a 32 man Volunteer
Fire Department with a station at the Town Hall. The town has an
•
excellent fire insurance rating of 8. Their equipment consists of
a 1970 American La France pumper, a 1964 Ford pumper andtwo half -ton
equipment trucks. The volunteers are on a telephone alert system.
(D) The Nags Head Volunteer Fire Department is composed of 39 certi-
fied volunteers who operate from two stations. One station is located
•
near the center of town and the other in South Nags Head. The town
also owns a lot near Whalebone Junction for construction of an addi-
tional station when this becomes necessary. The department has a 1974
•
Ford 1,000 GPM pumper and three 1962 Ford 5QO GPM pumpers. The town
has an excellent fire rating of 8.
(E) The area South of Oregon Inlet is served by four volunteer fire
•
departments with a telephone alert system in each community. The Salvo
Department of 22 members has a 1975 Bean 750 GPM pumper and a 1954
Chevrolet 750 GPM pumper.
115

The Avon Department with 30 members has a 1948 American La France
pumper. The Buxton Department has 15 members with a 1964 American
La France 500 GPM four-wheel drive pumper.
In Hatteras the 37-man department has a 1960 Dodge 500 GPM pumper r
with four-wheel drive, a 1971 equipment van and has a new pumper
on order.
•
VI. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESCUE
The Dare County Sheriff's Department maintains a 24-hour radio
dispatch center which links Law Enforcement, Emergency and Rescue
Services throughout this county and in the towns. The Department
is manned by ten deputies and three Certified Emergency Medical
Services technicians. The county has two fully -equipped ambulances
and six station wagons equipped as ambulances. The Department has
a helicopter based at Manteo Airport for use in air -evacuation
and for search and rescue operations.
There are also three N. C. State Highway Patrolmen stationed in
Dare County.
•
Ll
C7
116

SECTION IV
ESTIMATED DEMAND
117

0
ECONOMIC FORECASTS
Forecasts of Dare County`s future economic growth and ultimately its
population growth, are an important derivative of the study of its economic
base and employment projections. Since economic factors are closely related
to population growth, economic forecasts are widely accepted as the most
accurate basis for making population projections. By making appropriate
employment/population ratio assumptions, employment projections can be
converted to forecasts of total population.
Economic 'Growth Factors
A broad range of techniques are available for forecasting growth in Dare's
basic employment. The simplest of these involve projections based upon
historic growth trends. However, these techniques are most applicable in very
stable growth situations where past trends will likely mirror the future, not
in very dynamic counties like Dare where recent growth has been rapid and where
future growth is more directly related to external demand factors. Therefore,
• the kdy to forecasting the county's future economy is to determine those
external factors which are relevant to future basic employment levels.
Since the majority of Dare's basic employment is in recreationally -
oriented industries, visitors are the most important factor in the growth of the
County's basic sector. However, techniques for forecasting growth in visita-
tion are poorly developed.
Envirotek Incorporated, in their publication, Dare County Planning Program,
identified certain national trends which will have an impact on Dare's future
economy:
(1) Increasing Affluence. By 1980, the experts expect median family
income to increase to $10,400 and per capita disposable income
to increase to $3600
118

•
(2) Economic Stabilization. It is predicted that the economy will
stabilize and that unemployment will fluctuate in a narrow range
between 3 and 4.5 percent'
(3) Changing Attitudes Toward Work and Leisure. Total leisure will
increase. The four -day week will become the norm indicating a
dramatic increase in the demand for recreational activities.
. f
Stephens and Associates, in their 1974 publication; Dare County Economic
Development Plan, forecasted increases in Dare County's basic employment.
These forecasts were made by assuming that increased visitation in Dare is
•
a function of population and income growth in the recreation market area.
Recreation Market Area Growth Rates
As previously discussed on page 29, the county's recreational market •
area extends approximately 350 miles to the north, including most of the
New York Metropolitan area, conforming roughly to the eastern "Megalopolic
Corridor", extending to the west in Pennsylvania and Virginia and to the south •
in North Carolina. This market area comprises 15% of the total population
of the United States or approximately 35,000,000 people. Sophisticated popu-
lation and income projections from the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the •
Department of Commerce permit development of projections for Dare's market
area. The BEA projections are based on functional economic areas which have
been defined for the entire United States. Dare's market area includes the •
following seven economic areas:
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore •
Washington
Richmond
Norfolk -Portsmouth
Raleigh
119 0

MARKET AREA POPULATION AND.INCOME PROJECTIONS
170-0 1 -0
h 1970 1980 Growth 1990 Grow 20QQ Growth
Economic Area Actual Projection Rate Projection Rate Projection'' Rate
Population Growth (000)
1
New York
18,151.5
21,004.8 --
23,935.2 --
27,025.7 --
Philadelphia
7,229.4
8,334.3 --
9?426 A --
10,516.9 --
Baltimore
2,673.2
3,107.3 --
3,581.7 --
4,032.9 --
Washington
3,029.9
3,750.4 --
4;559.7 --
5,385.8 --
Richmond
1,009.6
1,196.4 --
1{370.5 --
1,597.6 --
Norfolk-Portsmouth
1,227.3
1,327.9 --
1;424.2 --
1,549.1 --
Raleigh
1,611.9
1,733.5 --
1,904.0 --
2,109.7 --
Total Market Area
34�32.8
40,45 6 15.8%
461 02. 14.20
52,217.7 13.0%
Personal Income (000
New York
80,814.4
125,418.5 --
180,487.8 --
266,694.7 --
Philadelphia
26,292.8
422256.4 --
61,642.5 --
91)980.0 --
Baltimore
9,462.9
15,303.0 --
22,799.2 --
34,535.8 --
Washington
12,054.2
21,086.3 --
32,654.5 --
51,163.4 --
Richmond
3,195.0
5,313.5 --
8,037.2 --
12,397.3 --
Norfolk -Portsmouth
3,661.6
5,591.5 --
7,984.0 --
11,560.9 --.
Raleigh
3,960.8
6,283.8 --
9,360.9. --
14,373.1 --
Total Market Area
139,441.7
T2-1,TS-T.T 58.7%
46.0%
TU-p7= 49.5%
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce, 1972.
0
N
0 0 w w 41 0 0 0 0 41 •

•
A detailed explanation of the BEA projection techniques would be quite lengthy;
•
however, in concept, they utilize a "stepdown" technique to determine each
.,economic area's share of projected.national economic growth. The "stepdown"
projection is widely recognized as one of the most accurate forecasting
•
methodologies.
Composite Growth Factor
Stephen's Associates derived a composite growth factor for Dare County`s
basic employment from the market area's population and -income growth rates for
each decade between 1970 and 2000. The basic assumption is that growth in
basic employment in Dare County is a function of the growth of population and •
income in its market area and that income is a more important determinant than
I population.
The composite factor is actually a weighted average of the two growth i
rates. In calculating the growth factor, a weight of 3.0 is assigned to the
market area's income growth and a weight of 1.0 to its population growth rate.
Dare County Basic Employment
Growth Factors
1970-2000
Market
Market
Income
Population
Growth
Decade
Growth
Growth
Factor
A
1970-1980
58.7%
15:8%
.480
1980-1990
46.0%
14.2%
.381
1990-2000
49.5%
13.0%
.404
Source: Stephens
Associates
Employment
Forecasts
The
composite growth factors for the market area
were used to forecast
the growth
of employment in Dare County's
basic sector.
Using these estimates
•
of future
basic employment, the county's
non -basic employment
was derived from
121

•
the basic/non-basic ratid.which was calculated from the analysis of the
economic base.
The estimates of Dare's future employment are found below.
Dare County
Average Annual Employment
Forecasts--1970-2000a
Total Average
Basic
Growth
Basic/Non-
Non -Basic
Annual
Year
Employment
Factor
Basic Ratio
Employment
Employment
1970b
968
.480
1.89
1,832
2,800
19$0
1,433
.381
1.90
2,723
4,156
1990
1,979
.404
1.90
3,760
5,739
• 2000
2,779
-
-
5,280
8,059
•
C7
11
•
aSource: Stephens Associates
b1970 Census employment figures corrected upward to reflect average annual
• employment.
• 122

POPULATION FORECASTS
Many sophisticated techniques have been devised for population studies.
None of these, however, are particularly suited for small, dynamic areas such
as Dare County. Forecasting the population of a resort area is quite different
from working with other areas. The main source of population increase in
Dare County is migration, which is less predictable than the natural increase
factor. Also, the employment is based on tourism, one of the least predictable
industries.
An examination of charts A and B reveals recent population projections
for Dare County. These population figures were either projected specifically
for Dare County or for the Dare Beaches Planning Area and then applied to the
entire county. The tremendous ranges between the high and low projections
•
are readily apparent. The dissimilarities in the various projections magnify S
the problem of realistically forecasting both resident and non-resident popu-
lation figures,which should take into account certain variables such as,Dare's
recent, dynamic growth trend; local economic trends and projections; economic.
and population growth trends_ in Dare's market area; and housing capacities.
Also, the county's physical constraints on development and the desires and
needs of the citizens as they relate to population growth must be carefully 40
considered.
A detailed explanation concerning the methodology of each projection is
not within the scope of this Land Use Plan. However, it is felt that the �►
resident projection done by Stephen's and Associates in the Dare County
Economic Development Plan (Forecast #4, chart A) accurately reflects all the
necessary factors discussed in the previous paragraph. The following resident
population discussion is based on the Stephen's findings.
123

80
70
60;
50
N
N T7
0 4D
v
Z
O
�V
J
a
O
a
-20
10
• • • • • • • • •
DARE COUNTY PERMANENT POPULATION PROJECTIONS -Chart A
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
YEAR

0
300
250
50
0 L,
1970
DARE COUNTY SEASONAL POPULATION PROJECTIONS —Chart B
1. Dare Beaches Econ. Dev. Plan
2. Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce
3. Dare Beaches Sketch Dev. Plan
4. Dare Beaches Water & Sewer Authority
1975
1980 1985
YEAR
4
3
2
1
1990
1995
266,000
107,000
74,000
I
A
-M-r "M
2000

•
Resident Population Forecasts
•
Dare's total employment forecasts provide the basis for further estimates
of the county's resident population. The estimation technique using employment
forecasts is simple. It assumes that the relationship between employment and
•
`total population in a base year will remain fairly stable throughout the
forecase period and that, therefore, the ratio of employment to population can
be used to relate empldyment forecasts to population.
•
In 1970 the ratio of Dare's average annual employment to total resident
population was 0.40. National and state trends, however, show this ratio
increasing. In North Carolina, for example, the employment/population ratio
•
increased from 0.32 in 1940 to 0.39 in 1970. To account for a probable
increase in labor force participation, the county's employment/population
ratio has been increased .005 per decade.
•
The table below contains estimates of Dare County's resident population
for 1970-2000 (also see Chart A, Forecast #2).
• Estimated Resident Population - 1970 to 2000
Average Annual Employment/Population Total Resident
Year Employment Ratio Population
• 1970 2800 .40 7,000
1975 3478 .4025 8,625
1980 4156 .405 10,262
1985 4948 .4075 12,370
1990 5739 .41 13,998
2000 8059 .415 19,419
•
• 126

-Non -Resident Forecasts
The year-round population is not the most relevant figure in a tourist
economy. Dare's seasonal visitors are an important aspect of the county's
total population because they place demands on the county's services and re-
sources similar to those of the resident population. Therefore, forecasts of
Dare'.s:future population levels must include estimates of the magnitude of the
non-resident seasonal population..
A technique devised ay Stephen's Associates in projecting Dare's non-
resident population will be employed in conjunction with updated transient
housing figures supplied by the Outer Banks -Chamber of Commerce. Resident
population projections and estimated day visitors are added to seasonal popula-
tion projections to produce a total peak capacity in Dare County. The under-
lying assumptions are: (1) that the county's peak population in the base year
(1975) is a function of its transient housing capacity and (2) that increases
An this visitor base can be forecast from the growth of income and population
in the county's recreation market -area.
Transient housing capacity consists of three major elements: motel and
hotel units, campsites, and rental cottages. A 1975 survey by the Outer Banks
Chamber of Commerce provides a fairly accurate enumeration of the county's
motel, hotel, and campsite accommodations; however, the number of rental cot-
tages must be derived from housing data published in the 1970 Census.
The Bureau of the Census classifies housing in two categories --year-round
and seasonal or migratory. In 1970, the Census recorded a total of 4,728
housing units (does not include motel and hotel units) of which 1,526 were
classified as seasonal. Of the 3,202 year-round units, only 2,452 were
occupied --a vacancy rate of over 30 percent. This high vacancy rate reveals
that some of the units classified as year-round are actually rental cottages.
7
•
127 •

•
Allowing for a more normal vacancy ratekof 6 percent, there are an additional
•
600 unitswhichcan be classified as tourist -oriented housing.
These 600 units, in addition to the 1,526 units classified as seasonal
by the Census, indicate a total of 2,126 rental cottages in Dare County.
•
The list below which contains this rental cottage estimate as well as the
results of the motel, hotel, and campsite survey, provides an estimate of
the 1975 transient housing capacity in Dare County.
•
1975 Dare
County
Transient Housing Capacity and
Non -Resident
Population Projection
Assumed
Non -Resident
• Type
No. Units Party Size
Population
Motel/Hotel
3380
3.0
10,140
Rental Cottage
2126
7.0
14,882
Campsite
1970
3.8
5,141
TOTAL
7476
30,163
•
Source: Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce; Stephen's Associates
Surveys in Dare County, as well as other resort areas, have established
• the average size -of parties utilizing the various types of transient housing
accommodations. These estimates of party size, also found ablve, have been
utilized to convert Dare's total supply of transient housing to an estimate
• of the county's 1975 non-resident population.
Based on this 1975 non-resident population projection, the composite
growth factor for the county's market area has been used to forecast the popu-
• lation in 5 year intervals to 1990 and for the year 2000. These forecasts along
with. permanent population forecasts and day visitors produce the total peak
capacity figures found on page 129.
•
• 128

Non -Resident and Total Peak
Capacity
Forecasts
•
Dare County -- 1975
to 2025
Non -Resident
Permanent
Day
Total Peak
Year
Growth Factor Population Population
Visitors
Capacity
1975
- 30,000
91000
7,500
46,500
•
1980
.24 37,200
10,200
10,000
57,400
1985
.190 44,270
12,130
12,250
68,650*
1990
.191 52,725
14,000
15,000
81,725
2000
.404 74,000
20,000
20,000
114,000
•
2025
.236 92,000
24,000
25,000
141,000
*It should be noted that Dare County will
attain a
non-resident
population
of approximately 95,000 if it experiences
a growth
rate similar
to those
•
of Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, or Ocean
City.
Source:
Stephen's Associates; Outer Banks
Chamber
of Commerce.
•
•
•
•
•
129 •

•
FUTURE LAND NEEDS
It is estimated that approximately 36,200 acres of land or roughly 15%
of the total land area of Dare County is suitable for development as indicated
on the Land Classification Map which accompanies this report* Under the
free market economic system which still prevails in this country it is impos-
sible to predict with any degree of accuracy where development capital will
• be invested within the bounds of legal governmental constraints. However, for..
.the purposes of this report the following allocations are made.
Of this acreage approximately 900 acres (less than one-half of 1%) are
• considered to be in the -Developed Classification. Even though water and
sewer services are available.in that area, the present population density is
ground one family per acre., Theareashould be able to accommodate the desired
• population growth with existing utilities. The Developed Classification in-
cludes many.previously platted under -sized lots which have not been built.
upon despite the availability of utilities. Some of those small lots have
•'' been combined to make more desirable properties for development and some were
required to be combined in order- to meet minimum acreage requirements for the
County Health or Zoning Codes.
• It is anticipated that the developed areas on Roanoke Island will attract
more permanent population than seasonal visitors.
Around 18,000 acres of developable land are included in the Transitional
.• category which represents less than 8% of the total land area of the County.
If this area is developed at the desired rate over the ten year period, the
resu,ltng gross density for both permanent and seasonal residents and day
visitors would be around 2.66 people per acre. Since most of the Transitional
lands are located in the most desirable areas of the county an even greater
'*See map pocket inside back cover.
• 130

•
rate of growth might be experienced. However, even if all of the desired
population increase for the entire county were to locate in the Transitional •
lands, the resulting load on the peak day during the tourist season with all
available accommodations filled would yield a gross density of around 3.75
people per acre.
The Transitional.lands also contain some previously platted lots which.
are smaller than present regulations would permit. The Dare County septic
tank regulations,prohibit the -development of those lots on which a septic tank
cannot be safely located until.the-necessary utilities are available to
serve it. The density at which development occurs within the Transitional
•
•
land will therefore be controlled to achieve the goal of preventing the.. 1•
pollution of estuarine and ground waters.
The Transitional lands are located in those areas of the County where
soil conditions and depth of water table are most suitable for development
without degradation of the environment. Within those areas, however, each
individual site must be evaluated and approved before it can be developed.
The towns of.Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills are designated growth centers
for the county and comprise approximately 7500 acres of Transitional land.
The Community Land Classification includes about 17,000 acres of land
which comprises less than 7% of the total land area of the County. On the
Mainland, the Community Classification encompasses only the existing small
communities of East Lake, Stumpy Point, Mann's Harbor and Mashoes. These
areas are not expected to attract additional population and should remain •
fairly stable for the planning period. Present overall density in these
Mainland areas, is around 0.14-vpeople/acre.
The lands in the Community_ Classification north of Kill Devil Hills •
to the Currituck County line contain considerable development and some
•
131

•
private water systems which could serve as a nucleus for necessary utilities
• beyond the ten year planning period. Until that time, however, the avail-
able land area should be developed at a low density under existing develop-
ment controls. The existing under -sized lots in the area will not be
•. developed until such time as the necessary utilities are available beyond
the ten year planning period. These areas will continue to accommodate
primarily seasonal population on roughly 10,000 acres of land. This would
• amount to almost one.quarter of the projected non-resident population of
the County by 1985 at a gross density of•around 1.09 people per, acre,
No population density is assigned to the 85,000 acres of land.in the
Rural Classification. Any residential development which might occur within
those areas would be required to comply with Dare County Subdivision and.
Septic Tank Permit Regulations which will determine lot size based on soil
• type and.depth to water table.
LM
•
•
•
132

•
COMMUNITY FACILITY DEMAND
Dare County and the incorporated municipalities are currently undertaking
studies to determine the cost of the major utility systems and other services
Which will be required to support the desired population growth which is
•
projected by this Land Use Plan. -The details of those. requirements will be
published as a Community Facilities Plan and Public Improvements Program which
will become an integral part of the comprehensive plan for the development of
Dare County. Without' -this kind of systematic examination of needs and re-
sources, it is impossible to give a meaningful estimate of the cost of growth
or to evaluate the potential methods of paying the cost.
At this time it is known that 5 million dollars worth of' bonds for
water system for the northern area of the County have been authorized by
the voters. An en9lneering report has estimated the cost of a sewage treat-
•
ment system for the same area to be in excess of 11 million dollars. Recent
storms have caused'salt water to contaminate wells in the Village of Avon.
But the federal funds which were available to help defray the cost of a water
•
line from a safe.source of supply in Buxton have been detained because of
pressure from a non-resident special interest group. This will result in an
unexpected increase in the local cost of providing.the urgently needed water.
C]
These needs and others must be given priorities and balanced against resources
which are available or anticipated to be available before elected officials
and voters can make rational choices from among the alternatives.
The private sector is required to participate in the cost of providing •
services required by new development through existing County ordinances and
policies. Developers are required to bear the cost of streets and water
distribution lines at this time and will be required to install sewage collection
•
systems for new developments when a central.sewage treatment facility is
133

available. It is County policy to provide other services such as solid waste
• collection and fire protection on a service district basis. This means that
those who receive the services are taxed to pay for them.
Upon completion of the Community Facilities Study and'the establishment
of a Public Improvements Program, the County and the municipalities will be
able to prepare a Capital Improvements Budget. The Capital Improvements
Budget is a means through which the -local government can most economically
• relate public expenditures to its long-range plan for necessary and desirable
public improvements while making the most effective use of the.fiscal resources
available to it, whether -from local, State, or Federal sources.
Facilities in addition to water and sewer systems which are known to be
required during the next ten years are:
A. Additional acreage for sanitary landfill.
• B. Site for the.construction of a new O nior High School.
C. Expanded volunteer fire fighting services for the mainland
communities,
• D. Expansion of U.S. Highway 158 By -Pass and upgrading of
N. C. 12.
•
•
•
134

•
SECTION V
PLAN DESCRIPTION
135

•
LAND CLASSIFICATION
The land area of Dare County is divided into five categories for the purposes
of guiding development into the most appropriate areas.
A. Developed Land
Description -
Developed lands, delineated in'-;rust,:Jc:olor on the Land Classification
Map, range from incorporated larger communities that contain sizeable
• permanent, seasonal and: -transient.popul.'ations with a diversity of.
residential, commercial, tour.st and light industrial development
and a high level of pub11c.services and.facilities, to smaller, less
varied communities with a lesser intensity and diversity of develop-
ment and a lower: Tertel°of public services and facilities.
Function and `Stan da*rds
• Developed lands Will.provide_the service and growth centers for Dare
County. They are intended to accommodate the greater portion of the
necessary and natural expansion of residential, commercial, and
industrial activities. The needs of Dare County's permanent,
-seasonal-and transient population for housing, recreation,.comnercial.
activity, social and professional services will be metlin.these areas.
The building intensity in the developed areas will allow the economic
feasibility of a high level of public and institutional services.
These areas will discourage the dispersion of development in the
conservation -areas of the County because they are concentrated in
character and are located in areas where existing development patterns
indicate the demand for and viability of growth centers.
0 136

•
B. Transition Land
Description -
Transition lands, delineated in hatched rust color on the Land
Classification Map, are those areas of Dare County where the capa-
bility of the natural resources and the anticipated need for future
development indicate that relatively intense development of primarily
residential character is suitable. The areas are located near or,
adjacent to developed lands, along highways or in areas where the •
soils and accessibility of services indicate a high development
potential.
Function and Standards -
Transition lands will provide for moderate intensity development in
areas where development will not significantly harm relatively tolerant
natural resources. These areas are designed to provide for residential
expansion and growth and to accommodate uses related to and compatible
with residential uses in the vicinity of developed lands where utili-
ties and community services can be most economically and readily pro-
vided. Development and the required services and utilities will be
at a generally less intense level than in developed lands.
C. Community Land
Description -
•
•
Community lands, delineated in cross hatched rust color on the 0
Development Guide Map, are those areas of Dare County characterized
by existing clusters of one or more different land uses in readily
accessible locations within reasonable proximity to a developed area •
where the natural resources are fairly tolerant to development at a
low intensity.
137 •

•
Function and Standards -
The community lands will provide for low intensity development
opportunities at levels that will protect the natural resources of
Dare County and still allow orderly growth and development. These
areas will primarily provide residential opportunities for permanent
residents as well as seasonal residents. Public services and
utilities will not be available in these areas at as high a level
as in the developed and transitional areas.
D. Rural Land
• Description -
Rural lands, delineated in white on the Land Classification Map,
are those areas of Dare County with little or no urban development
in relatively remote locations where there are natural resources in:
tolerant to intensive development. These areas are characterized
by forested or open, low-lying lands which would be suited for
• _ carefully managed resource utilization programs such as forestry,
agriculture or passive recreation.
Function and Standards -
•
Rural lands will provide areas for the long term management of
productive resources within the county which will. help to stabilize
the seasonal fluctuations of the economy. The potential economic
•
importance of these areas and their general unsuitability to support
intensive development makes the protection of these lands essential
to the county. Building construction, residential and related sup-
porting development should occur only on large lots in relatively
138

•
small clusters on carefully selected sites. Public services and
utilities in these areas will be limited to support only those uses
which are compatible with the concept of conservative resource
utilization. The rural classification will also provide large open •
areas within the county to serve as a buffer against incompatible
uses of land and to serve future land needs which cannot be anti-
cipated.
E. Conservation Land
Description
•
Conservation lands are delineated in dotted green on the Land •
Classification Map. These are land areas within Dare County where
development must be restricted because of an inherent incapability
of the land to support development because of fragility or hazardous •
conditions or because the natural resources represent a greater
value than the value of development.
Function and Standards -
There is sufficient land suitable for development in Dare County to
accommodate projected and desirable growth without infringing upon
•
areas which are unsuited for development. The classification of
conservation lands will direct development away from areas which
cannot support intensive development, where public services are not
•
and should not be made available, and direct it instead to more to
tolerant areas where services can be supplied more economically.
These areas are also designated to identify characteristics which
•
represent a potential hazard to development such as flood and erosion.
139 •

•
These hazard factors increase the public and private cost required
•
to support development. If.considered against the useful life of the
private investment and against the less apparent public cost through
provision of services and potential disaster assistance, the return
for development in these areas would be marginal. Management of
forestry and agricultural resources is a permitted use within Con-
servation Areas where suitable soils are found. Conservation Lands
4b
will protect areas identified as potential sources for public water
supply on the Outer Banks or as recharge areas for principal aquifers
on Roanoke Island and the mainland.
•
Privately owned wildlife refuges, wilderness areas and passive recrea-
tion areas will be classified as Conservation Land.
Large publically owned or controlled tracts will be included in the
•
conservation classification to further identify and protect historic,
cultural and natural resource areas. Development or alteration of
land is appropriate within conservation areas where it can be shown
that:
(1) The proposed development will not destroy or irretrievably alter:
A. Wetlands
•
B. Frontal Dunes
C. Beaches
• D. Estuarine or Impounded Surface Waters
E.- Prime Wildlife Habitat
F. Unique natural areas, historic or archeological sites
•
• 140

•
(2) The proposed development will not encroach upon or be endangered
by: •
A. Areas of special flood hazard
B. Ocean front erosive areas
C. Inlets and areas within range of their migration
D. Estuarine erosive areas
(3) The proposed development will not significantly affect .the
quality or reduce the value of: S
A. Public or privately owned forest, park, game lands,
sanctuaries or other non -intensive recreation areas.
B. Aquifers, or aquifer recharge areas, or public water supply !
watersheds or water supply areas.
(4) The proposed development will not require an increase in public
utilities or services beyond that provided by the developer.
Potential Areas of Environmental Concern
In addition to those areas included in the conservation land classi-
fication, there are some areas of the county which, because of their
over-riding importance, their fragility, or the hazard they represent,
should either be protected from development or developed only with
!
special precautions. Those areas in Dare County which might be desig-
nated as A.E.C.'s by the Coastal Resources Commission are:
A. Coastal Wetlands:
•
1. Description
The marsh areas located along the shoreline of Roanoke, Croatan,
Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
•
141 •

11
M
•
11
A
w
•
1
2. Permissible Uses
Erosion Control, fishing piers, docks, bulkheads (on upland
side), utility easements, dredging for access to navigable
waters and such other development requiring water access
which do not significantly alter the natural function of the
marsh.
B. Estuarine Waters:
1. Description
Those Sound waters which are classified S A for the taking
of shellfish.
2. Permissible Uses
Propogation of marine life, navigation, fishing,,swimming,
skiing, boating, fishing piers and docks.
C.--Resource Areas - Watersheds or Aquifers:
.1. Description
- The water impoundment and immediate area around the Fresh
Pond serving Nags Head and Kill Devil•Hills, and the well
fields of the Hatteras Water Adsociation and the Dare County
Water System.
2. Permissible Uses
Public water supply, recreation, and other development only
when provided with public wastewater disposal system.
D. Fragile, Historic or Natural Resource Areas:
1. Jockey's Ridge State.Park, Nags Hedd Woods, the Cape Hatteras
National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and
Wright Brothers National Memorial.
142

CA
2. Permissible Uses
•
On publicly owned land only these uses consistent with the
objectives for which the area was established. On privately
owned .land only such limited development as.would preserve
•
areas susceptible to environmental damage from more intensive
development should be undertaken only after approval of a
complete development plan which shows that the proposed
development will not destroy or significantly alter the
natural topography, vegetation, surface waters or other
unique natural features.
E. Areas Subject to Public Rights:
1. Description
The waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Croatan, Pamlico, Albemarle
and Roanoke Sound under the jurisdiction of the Corps -of
Engineers.
2. Permissible Uses
w
Propogration of marine life navigation, fishing, swimming,
boating, fishing piers, docks, bulkheads for erosion control.
F. Natural Hazard Areas:
1. Description
w
The ocean front and barrier dunes within one hundred and fifty
feet (150') of the mean high water mark of the Atlantic Ocean,
the portions of Sound shoreline with a recent history of ero-
sion problems, those areas of the county that have an identi-
fied special flood hazard with velocity as designated by the
Department of H.U.D. Flood Insurance Administration, and the
area within five hundred (500) feet of Oregon and Hatteras Inlets.
143

0
2. Permissible Uses
r
(a) Ocean front and barrier dunes;
Erosion and storm protection, beach and ocean access.
(b) Erodible areas of Sound Shoreline;
•
erosion prevention devices, piers, docks, bulkheads.
(c) Flood hazard areas;
residential, commercial, industrial, public and semi-
public uses which are developed according to the
standards of the Federal Insurance Administration.
(d) Ocean inlet areas;
•
erosion and storm protection, beach and ocean access.
•
0
A
V
• 144'

MANTEO
0
The Town of Manteo (1970 population 547) is located on the northwest end
of Roanoke Island and serves as the County Seat of Dare County. The govern-
mental functions of the County are primarily conducted in Manteo. From past
growth trends and characteristics it appears that Manteo has been and will
continue to be the primary "service center" of Dare County, particularly in
terms of medical, educational and other public or government services. It
is this urban atmosphere that has provided for -and is expected to continue
to provide for year-round residential,•commercial,.and other urban development
in the vicinity of the Town of Manteo.
In recent years the frings areas of Manteo.have grown at a much greater
rate than has the town itself. This is due primarily to the fact that land
for residential.and commercial development is not available within the present
town limits of Manteo. As a result of the growth which has taken place, much
of the fringe area of the Town is now developed at urban densities and is in
need of municipal services. Many; if not most, of the people living in the R
fringe areas work, trade and otherwise identify with the Town of Manteo.
The fact that the people in these areas have chosen locations of such close
proximity to the Town of Manteo to build homes and businesses demonstrates
their dependence on the existence of the Town of Manteo.
The future growth of the Town of Manteo will depend upon its annex-
ation policy which, in turn, depends upon the ability of this Town to except
municipal services to the developed areas surrounding its present Town limits.
Those areas which could potentially be annexed could expand Manteo's popula-
tion by approximately 430 people and increase its total area by about 150
acres.
145
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•
KILL DEVIL HILLS
The Town of Kill Devil Hills .(1970 pop. 357) is located on the Outer
Banks of Dare County. The town has experienced a steady population growth
since its incorporation in 1953 and now has an estimated population of almost
•
500 permanent residents. The Town experiences the additional impact of sea-
sonal population which was estimated for 1975 to be over 10,000 people on the . .
peak day.. Less than thirty percent of the available land in the Town is
developed with seasonal and vacation cottages interspersed among permanent
residences. Motels, tourist accommodations and commercial enterprises are
predominantly located along the ocean beach and along the by=pass highway.
•
The center of Kill Devil Hills is dominated by National Park Service land
•
surrounding the Wright Brothers Memorial.
Kill Devil Hills participated in the building and development expansion
which occurred during the early 1970's. Over 3 million dollars worth of
building permits were issued by the town in 1972 but as the national economy
began a recession this figure dhopped. to about one million dollars worth
w
in 1975. Building activity has again increased since the beginning of 1976
with the lowering of interest rates and indications.are that development
will return to the rate of the early 1970's.
The most severe constraints to development in Kill Devil Hills at this
time are the lack of a sufficient water supply and a sewage disposal system.
Kill Devil Hills joined Dare County and Nags.Head in approving a bond refer
endum to install a fresh water supply adequate for the needs -of the desired
population growth projected by this report. The water system is scheduled
to be completed by 1977 and until that time the town will supplement its
water supply with,shallow wells which have recently been approved by State
Health Officials
146

A central sewage treatment system to serve Kill Devil Hills, the developed
areas of the northern Dare County Beaches and Roanoke Island is presently 0
under study by engineering consultants. A central sewage system is necessary
to solve existing problems with septic tanks and to accommodate desired future
growth without endangering valuable estuarine waters or groundwater supplies.
Until a central sewage system is available for the Town, the County septic
tank regulations will maintain a control on residential density. These regu
lations set minimum lot sizes for new subdivisions and'will`prevent-bui.lding
on previously platted sub -standard lots until the necessary utilities are .
available.
The Kill Devil Hills Planning Board has adopted the following policy
objectives to guide development within the Planning Jurisdiction of Kill
Devil Hills consistent with the goals of the Dare County Land Use Plan.
•
Economic Policy Objectives: -
1. To promote tourism as the major industry of the community.
2. To encourage extension of the tourist season into the spring
and fall months.
3. To encourage permanent residential development which will
attract more year-round residents.
4. To promote wise development which will protect the unique and
fragile environment.of Kill Devil Hills.
Urban Growth Policy Objectives: •
1. To insure planned, orderly development for the most efficient
utilization of suitable land within the Town.
2. To provide for the separation of incompatible uses such as com- 0
mercial and residential areas by the use of natural barriers
and open spaces.
147
i

7
3.
To identify and consolidate centralized and compact business
•
areas.
4.
To encourage future residential development which will provide
more useable open space.and more cost effective utilization of
•
municipal services through clustered growth.
5.
To encourage the location of a suitable site for non-polluting
service industries to.support the tourist and development sector.
•
6.
To encourage the development of a community -wide recreation
program which will provide community parks, bike trails, ocean-
front access and other.appropriate facilities.
7.
To encourage and reinforce the family beach atmosphere that makes
Kill Devil Hills a pleasant place to live and to visit.
•
Institutional Policy Objectives:
1.
To work for closer cooperation with Dare County and with
adjacent municipalities.
•
2.
To improve municipal services and governmental organization: for
better responsiveness to public needs, '.
•
•
•
•
148

•
•
SECTION VI
SUMMARY AND MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

•
DATA ASSEMBLY AND ANALYSIS
•
The assembly of data for the preparation of the Dare County Land Use
Plan was initiated upon the completion of a comprehensive bibliography for
• Dare County specifically and the coastal plain area of North Carolina in
general. The County bibliography included all previously published reports
and studies involving such subjects as water and sewer, economy, demography,
• tourism, geology and groundwater, natural and historic areas, indigenous
flora and fauna, erosion, climate, fishing, soils, legal restraints, aerial
photo interpretation, coastal wetlands, recreation and planning to name but
• a few. (See list of references.)
Data was assembled and subsequently organized into general topics as
required in the State Planning Guidelines which includes: population and
• economy; current plans policies and regulations; physical limitations;
fragile areas, areas with resources potential, community facility capacities;
population and economic projections; future land needs; and future community;
• facility demands. The required data was then analyzed and, in conjunction
with results obtained from the citizen survey -questionnaires, was utilized
in formulating the Dare County Land Use Plan. The following discussion and
• summary represents major conclusions which were derived from the Land Use
Plan.
•
•
• 150

•
SUMMARY AND MAJOR CONCLUSIONS
I. Introduction •
The Dare County Land Use Plan spells out guidelines for the future physical,
cultural and economic development of the County.
The Plan was developed under the provisions of the North Carolina Coastal
Area Management Act of 1974 which requires the local governments of the coastal
counties to prepare blueprints for their growth and development. Private citi-
zens in Dare County worked closely with local government in the determination
of County goals. The Plan, therefore, sets forth an expression of what the
local. citizens want the County to be like, along with policies and standards
to be used in achieving the County goals.
The Plan encourages the development of suitable land in a manner which
would achieve a balance between desirable growth, long range expansion of the
County's'economic base, and the preservation of the County's natural and cul-
tural resources. While tourism and the service industry supporting it are
recognized as the major economic activity of the County, the Plan is mindful
•
of the need for stabilizing seasonal fluctuations by the further development
of other enterprises which are compatible with the County's environment,
heritage and traditions.
•
The County Commissioners have adopted the planning objectives, policies
and standards encompassing the Plan. The land use planning process is recog-
nized as a useful tool for evaluating changing future conditions against •
desired long-range objectives if it is properly implemented.
•
151

•
II. DARE COUNTY NOW
•
Population and Economy
Dare County had a resident population of 6,995 in the 1970 census which
represented an increase.,of over 18% from 1960. The largest growth in the County
•
occurred on the Dare Beaches, while the mainland experienced a population de-
cline. In -migration of new residents was the major cause of the population
growth. Most of these new residents were in an older age group which caused
a rise in the average age of the population.
The Dare economy has become increasingly dependent upon the tourist
industry since 1960 while employment in agriculture, forestry and fisheries
•
declined to less than 10% of the total. In response to recreational demand,
•
the retail trade industries --food stores, restaurants, motels and hotels--
became one fo the leading employers, increasing from about 16% in 1960 to over
25% in 1970. The service industry which is the largest employer in the County,
increased its share of total employment from 23% to nearly 28%.
_Land Use
Existing uses of the land.within Dare County are shown on the accompanying
land use map.
Two areas in Dare -County are expected to.undergo.major changes in land
use. These are the Dare mainland, where First Colony.Farms plans to convert
approximately 100,000 acres from forestry to pasture and row crops, and
• Wanchese,`where a major:fishing.port with dock facilities and seafood proces-
sing plants -are to be developed.
Compatibility of neighboring land uses is an important factor in planning
• new additions to communities. Many areas are now an uncontrolled mixture of
permanent residences, vacation homes and commercial enterprises. This often
results in the original land users leaving the area due to undesirable condi-
tions.
152

J
The unsuitability of the land to support a desired land use also presents •
problems. The destruction of natural vegetation can be costly, particularly
in a dune area, where the exposed sand becomes subject to the hazards of wind
erosion.
Sub -standard building lots and improper development of a marsh area can
cause serious health problems. Improperly installed septic tank systems can
pollute ground water supplies and lead to the closing of.shell -fish waters. •
Currently, the following plans, policies and regulations are in effect:
Dare County General Development Plan (1974), Engineering Report on Water and
Sewer Facilities (1973), Zoning Ordinance (1975), Subdivision Regulations •
(1972), Flood Insurance Regulations (1972), Dune Protection Ordinance (1971),
N. C. Building Code and County Health Department regulations governing septic
tank permits. •
III. DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTIVES. POLICIES AND STANDARDS
Public Participation
Substantial citizen involvement in the Land Use Plan was achieved through •
the coordinated efforts of the Commissioners, members of the Planning Boards
and community contact individuals in the County and the Municipalities. In .
addition to widespread publicity in the local press and on radio and TV, and •
to direct presentations to the general public, questionnaires were distri-
buted throughout the County to secure broad local input on County goals and
to identify problem areas relating to them.

•
Broad Objectives
• As a result of this inquiry, it was clear that Dare County citizens
placed highest value on the following qualities of living in Dare County:
Enjoyment of the natural environment_
• Freedom from pollution and population pressures
Slow pace of living and privacy
The preservation and enhancement of these qualities were held paramount in
• the development of the Plan.
Problem Areas "
The County citizens .identified a number of problem areas which will
require resolution if the County„is to develop in a sound and progressive
>. .
manner.- They are:
a. Population and economic trends. The'County is faced with a potential
population growth rate greater than.its existing utilities and
services can handle. Furthermore, most of_the growth will take
place on the Outer Banks, which is among the most fragile areas of
•
the County where improper development would be felt most keenly.
Continued dependence on tourism -as the.predominant economic base
for the County indicates an inherently unstable character for the
County economy.
b. Housing and community services. Uncontrolled. growth in.the-County
will result -in the development of neighborhoods incompatible with
•
the, -quiet low -density community living tradition of the region.
Increasing demands for Health and social services will accompany
population growth. A prerequisite for.orderly growth will be the
orderly expansion of all community services.
154

C7
c. Productive natural resources. Fisheries, forestry and farming all
•
contribute to the natural wealth of the County. The land and water
resources are closely related, and the.use of one affects the other.
Conservation of these resources requires not only the monitoring of.
•
their interaction but the continual review of their management. .
d. The natural environment. Dare County is already in a critical period
of growth with the closing of shellfish waters because -of pollution
and with the loss of wildlife habitat in some areas because of un
wise development. Dare County citizens seek to encourage the sound
development of the County, but not at undue loss to the natural
•
environment.
e. Cultural and historic resources. Dare County has played a unique
role in the development of this country, and a rich -cultural heri-
rM
tage is one of its most valuable assets. The.recognition of this
heritage may point the way to a kind of growth which could help
stabilize the economic base of the County and at the same time in-
•
stilt'a sense of community pride among residents.
f. Transportation. The increasing numbers of automobiles, buses, trucks,
and recreational vehicles will increase transportation problems in
•
the County in the future. The problems will be experienced principally
on the Outer Banks during the summer months. Continuing development of
the Currituck Outer Banks will give rise to a growing threat of a trans-
portation corridor to the north of Dare County. Unlimited access to and
from the tidewater cities in Virginia would-createa north -south
thoroughfare along the Dare Banks with devastating impact on the
natural environment and on the qualities of living in the area:
•
155

IV. POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
•
In keeping with the expressed desires of its citizens, the following
policies have been adopted to guide the physical, cultural and economic
development of the County:
•
a. To undertake a pattern of land use which places high importance
•
on the protection and conservation of Dare County's unique environment.
b. To undertake a pattern of land use which will provide a' -broad range
of living, working and recreational opportunities for permanent and seasonal
residents.
c. To undertake a pattern of balanced residential and commercial land
•
use based on the availability of adequate utilities and services.
d. To undertake a pattern of land use to provide for the concentration
of commercial services and facilities in suitable growth centers such as
the established towns and areas permitting such development.
e. To maintain tourism and the recreation industry as a major contri-
butor to the economic well being of the County.
•
f. To maintain Dare County's heritage as a fishing center and to
encourage the provision of modern seafood processing facilities in the County
to help insure its viability and growth.
'+ g. To encourage the County's tradition of independent craftsmen and
of trades such as boatbuilding and netmaking, to more fully utilize labor
resources available in the area.
h. To encourage the establishment of a center for wholesaling, ware-
housing and distribution of goods and services in support of the tourist
industry in a suitable location in Dare County.
• i. To encourage intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in
Dare County in the interest of working jointly toward the accomplishment of
goals.
• 156

j. To undertake to work with neighboring Counties and with State and
Federal agencies toward the objective of making the Outer Banks a destina-
tion area.instead of a major traffic throughway.
k. Community services and facilities will be established only in
suitable areas.
1. The Towns of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo and Nags Head are designated
as growth centers and will provide a nucleus of the services and utilities
necessary to support desirable development. Within each town detailed land,
use categories'will be assigned through the development codes of each juris-
diction.
The County has adopted and will continue to enforce regulations to control
the subdivision of land, to prevent the destruction of barrier dunes along the
ocean, to control the quality of water supplies, to control the installation
and maintenance of sewage disposal systems, to control construction of flood
prone areas, and to control the use of land where the intensity of development
is greatest..
New land and water uses within the County will be developed in accord
•
•
with the objectives and policies established for the Land Use Plan and with �
sound resource management principles. To assure that safe and fitting practices
are employed certain standards have been developed and incorporated in the Plan..
They are set forth under headings of general, residential, commercial and indus-
trial standards.
The general standards include basic engineering, ecological and planning
principles which apply to all new development. The residential standards are
those fundamental principles applicable to housing and neighborhood develop-
1
ment. The commercial and industrial standards, respectively, comprise the
principles basic to the reasonable and orderly development of commercial and
industrial enterprises. Industrial development in the County, however, will
further require an assessment of its impact on the local environment.
157
•

•
V. CONSTRAINTS
• The development of some areas of Dare County will be inhibited by natural,
physical and legal constraints; some other areas will be inhibited by economics
and lack'pf essential services.. Some of these areas and constraints have been
• identified and are considered below.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
These areas of the county because of their overriding importance, their
•
fragility, or the potential hazard to development should either be protected
•from development or developed with special precautions. Areas in Dare County
which.may be in this category are:
Coastal Wetlands: The marsh areas located along the shoreline of Roanoke,
Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. These areas may
be developed for erosion control, piers, or access to navigable
waters.
Estuarine Waters: Those sound waters which are classified SA for the
taking of shellfish. These waters may be used for the propogation
•
of marine life, navigation, -water sports, piers and docks:
Resource Areas - Watersheds or Aquifers: The water impoundment and
immediate area surrounding the Fresh_Pond serving Nags Head and
•
Kill Devil. Hills and the well fields of the Hatteras Water Associa-
tion and.the Dare Cbunty Water System. These areas may be used for
suitable development provided, however, that it contains adequate
•
public waste water.disposal facilities.

•
Fragile, Historic or Natural Resource Areas: Jockey's Ridge State Park,
Nags Head Woods, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh
•
National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers Memorial. These
areas may be used for limited development compatible with the area
and to preserve areas susceptible to environmental damage.
0
Areas Subject to Public Rights: The waters of the Atlantic Ocean,
Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico,.Albemarle and Roanoke Sound under the
jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers. These waters may be
used for propogation of marine life, navigation, water sports,
piers and erosion control.
Natural Hazard Areas: The ocean front and barrier dunes within one
hundred and fifty feet (150') of the mean high water mark of the
Atlantic Ocean, the portions of the Sound shoreline with a recent
history of erosion problems, -those areas of the county that have
an identified special flood hazard with velocity as designated by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Flood Insurance
Administration, and the area within five hundred feet (500') of
Oregon and Hatteras Inlets. These areas may be used for erosion
and storm protection, beach and water access or developed according
to the standards of the Federal Insurance Administration.
Capacity of Community Facilities
Further constraints are placed on development by the capability of public
services to encompass new demands. Some of these services which are in need
of immediate improvement and expansion include:
159
•
•
•
A
•
•
•

•
Transportation: The primary roads are inadequate for the summer tourist
load. Bypass U.S. 158 has deteriorated in capacity and design speed.
N. C. 12 needs immediate widening and resurfacing.
Solid Waste Disposal: There is one 9-acre sanitary landfill for the entire
County, which has a two-year capacity left. New sites for expansion
and improved collection are needed.
Water and Sewer Services: A water bond referendum was passed in 1975
which will answer the need for freshwater supply on the northern
beaches. New sewage treatment facilities are presently undergoing
engineering study.
Education: It.is expected that a new junior high school will be needed
in the near future.
Fire Protection: Services need to be expanded for the communities on
0 the Dare Mainland.
VI. LAND CLASSIFICATION
• The designation of areas.suitable for development is an essential element
of the Land Use Plan. The accompanying map was prepared according to the uni-
form land classification system developed under the Coastal Area Management
Act for the North Carolina coastal area. It must be updated every five years.
•
The system contains five classes of land:
Developed lands: Which can range from small communities to large incor-
porated cities, where population density is moderate to high and
where there are a variety of land uses which have the necessary
public services and utilities.
160

•
Transition lands: Which comprise areas suitable for moderately intensive
development and expansion of predominantly residential character.41
These areas are also capable of accommodating other.uses compatible
with such development. The level of public services and utilities
in these areas is less intense than in developed lands.
Community lands: Which include areas capable of low intensity residen-
tial development. Public sery ices and utilities in these areas
will be available at a lower level than in the developed and transi-
tion lands.
Rural lands: Which comprise areas with little or no urban development.
They are characterized by low-lying lands suited primarily for care-
fully managed programs such as forestry, agriculture or passive
recreation. The lands used for these purposes will help stabilize
the seasonal fluctuations of the County's economy. Public services
and utilities in these areas will be limited. Rural lands could
also provide open spaces to serve as buffer zones or to be held
An reserve for future uses as yet unanticipated.
Conservation lands: Which are areas where:development­must!be 'estrieted.
These Tands are incapable of supporting urban deVelopment'because of
their fragility or hazardous nature'or because the natural or agri-
cultural or..forestry resources'hold'.a.,higher.value thah their..value
for development. Conservation lands will protect areas representing
potential sources of public water supply or as water supply recharge
areas. Privately owned wildlife refuges, wilderness areas and pas-
sive recreation areas are classified consery ation lands. -In addi-
tion, large publically owned or controlled tracts are classified as
conservation'lands..to protect historic,'cultu'al; and natural resources.
161 1 0

•
•
VII ESTIMATED DEMAND
The following table depicts the desired population changes for Dare
County based on the stated objectives of orderly growth and development:
•
Non -Resident
Permanent
Day
Total Peak
Year
Population
Population
Visitors
Day
1975
30,000
9,000
7,500
46,500
1980
37,200
10,200
10,000
57,400
1985
44,270
12,130
12,250
68,650
• 1990
52,725
14,000
15,000
81,725
2000
74,000
20,000
20,000
114,000
2025
92,000
24,000
25,000
141,000
The rate of population growth in Dare County is based on the projected
•
economic growth in the major market area of the central Atlantic States.
This means that the projected increase will, as past experience has shown,
be a function of the availability of disposable income in the market area
•
for the purchase of second homes and for vacation trip expenditures.
Since the present water supply for the Dare Beaches is inadequate, the
voters of Dare County and the Towns of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, and Nags
•
Head have taken the first step to accommodate this growth by passing a Bond
Referendum to provide a dependable water supply. With that supply the growth
which is expected to__occur during the next ten year period can be accommodated
in the Transitional and Community classification areas established by this
Plan which comprise less than 15% of the total land area of the County.
This growth will of necessity be at a low density because it will be governed
• by the Dare County Septic Tank Regulations in order to prevent pollut ion of
estuarine waters and to prevent contamination of the ground water supply.
The desired growth for Dare County will yield an effective population density
• of less, than two people per acre in the Developed, Transitional and Community
land classes, on that peak tourist weekend in July or August of 1985 when
•
162

•
all the motel rooms and rental cottages and camp and trailer spaces are full.
If that entire population load were allocated to the Transitional lands alone,
the density would be 3.75 people or around one family per acre. The effect
of previously platted sub -standard lots on the population growth desired for
Dare County will be minimized by -the Dare County Septic Tank Regulations which
prohibit the development of such.lots until such time as an approved community
water supply or sewage disposal system is ava.il'able. The Dare County Subdivi-
sion Regulations require developers to install the necessary utilities and
streets so that the cost of these additional services should not increase the
general tax burden within the growth period.
To achieve the goals of protecting the vital shellfish waters and shallow •
ground water supply of the County A central sewage collection and treatment
system is required. Dare County and the municipalities have joined together
to examine this problem and to propose a solution to it. The cost of the
system which results from that study will again require a Bond Referendum
and a commitment from the voters of the County. Regional engineering studies
indicate that such a system might cost in excess of $11 million.. Due to the
fact that it is impossible to accurately predict future changes in Federal
and State guidelines regarding loan and grant programs for sewage systems
it -would be unwise to anticipate State or Federal assistance for such a pro- w
ject. Any available assistance would, of. course, reduce. -the cost of the
facilities to the local governments. The expenditures for treatment plants,
pumping stations and major collection lines may; be covered by Bond Referen- 0
dum and such additional.funding that may be available. But collection lines
for,municipalities or individual subdivisions and unincorporated areas must
be justified by the need and willingness to finance such service by the
ultimate users.
•
163

The intent of this Plan and the regulatory ordinances based on it is to
0 control the growth of the County to the level acceptable to its citizens and
within the limits of their willingness to support it.
This means that the tremendous population increases experienced by
other resort communities will not be felt by.Dare County because of the
restrictions the County has placed on development with individual septic -
tanks and eventually with central sewage treatment. The population densities
are keyed to the availability of a central sewage treatment system and until
such a system is available the density will remain very low.
Over 50% of the total.land area of.Dare County is in the conservation
40 category which is preserved from urban development.
Less than 15% of the total land area of Dare County has been classified
as suitable for urban development: Within--lhis area there will be individual
sites which cannot be developed due -.to the constraints mentioned in this
Synopsis. The complete development of this land would result in a popula-
tion density of one family per acre during the ten year period.
* The continued development of the County will require careful monitoring
to insure that the standards and policies of this Plan are maintained and
that the most economic use is.made of public funds to supply the required
• services.
U
•
U
164

r�
VIII. STEPS REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION
•
A. Land Use Policy
The publication of this document can have the desired influence on
the way the community develops in the future provided that it is
•
well publicized and understood by the citizens. For the Plan to
have a significant impact on development, however, it must be recog-
nized as a formally adopted statement of public policy -- a public
•
commitment to the goals which are considered to be the most desirable
goals for the future of the county.
The Land Use Plan must become a factor in the decisions made
•
by Federal, State, and local government. It must influence choices
between alternative courses of action which occur daily in the
governmental management. The Land Use Plan must also generate other
•
programs which will be necessary in order to achieve the goals out-
lined in it.
B. Regulatory Ordinances
•
Dare County has adopted a zoning ordinance to regulate the use
of land in those areas of the county where development pressure is
most intense. In the legislation passed by the N. C. General Assembly
•
to enable counties to enact zoning ordinances (N.C. G.S. 153A-341)
is the requirement that "such regulations shall be made in accordance
with.a comprehensive plan...". Thus, it is mandatory that the zoning •
ordinance and the Land Use Plan be in harmony and lead to the achieve-
ment of the stated goals for community development. Interpretations
of the zoning ordinance by the building inspector and Boards of Ad- •
justment should also reflect the influence of the Land Use Plan as
the ultimate statement of public policy on land use.
165 •

The regulation of new subdivisions provides an opportunity to
insure that development taking place within the county -occurs in
an orderly manner in accordance with the goals of the Land Use
Plan. The provision for review of subdivision plats by the county
planning board should insure that such development is coordinated
with the appropriate utility and thoroughfare systems and that the
development is of a quality and at a density that will further the
goals of the Land Use Plan.
The North Carolina Building Code, the Dare County Dune Protec-
tion Ordinance and -the Flood Hazard Ordinance are important regula-
tory tools to implement the Land Use Plan. Also, Dare County intends
to act as a permit -letting agency for minor developments as authorized
by the CAMA.
C. Public Investment
The most direct means of implementing the Land Use Plan is through
the preparation of a Public Improvements Program and Capital Budget.
This process is a commitment of public resources and facilities to
the goals of the Land Use Plan which will ultimately affect the pri-
vate sector of development and encourage growth and development of
the type and in the direction indicated by the plan. A thorough
examination of each county department is necessary to determine the
projects and facilities which will be required over the planning
period to accomplish the stated objectives. Careful consideration
of needs as related to objectives should result in a priority listing
of the major items of expense. Then, with a review of the fiscal
f..
resources available through general review, bonding capacity,
166

A
taxation, and possible state and federal assistance, a specific
•
budget for a program of public expenditure may be prepared. The
capital budget process is intended to provide a vehicle through
which the county can most economically relate public expenditures
•
to the Land Use Plan in order to make those necessary and desirable
public improvements with the most effective utilization of the
available fiscal resources.
•
IX. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNTY AND TOWNS
The development of this Land Use Plan represents a joint effort
between the Dare County Planning Board, the Planning Boards of Kill ~
Devil Hills, Manteo, and Nags.Head, and includes the opinions and
ideas of citizens of every community in the County. It is the intent
of the Commissioners of Dare County to continue to use this joint 0
forum or responsible citizens to provide for periodic review and
revision of these policies as changes become necessary and to insure
the role of the citizens of the County in guiding future development. •
The towns will continue to control development within their j oris-
dictions according to the policies and standards of this plan.
•
•
•
167 0

•
IMPLEMENTATION TECHNIQUES REQUIRING STATE LEGISLATION
•
The North Carolina General Statutes permit local governments to adopt
ordinances to regulate development in a variety of ways through ordinances
and utility extension policies. These methods are mostly negative in their
effect in that development is either prohibited or restricted in certain
areas.
Other statesl are using incentives programs such as preferential tax
structure for land remaining undeveloped, scenic easements for critical
property, and transfer of.development rights which allows suitable -property
• to be more intensely developed while preserving valuable or fragile natural
resources.
These techniques make use of the economic leverage that determines the
• mythological "highest and best use" for land to accomplish the same goal of
the restrictive ordinances. They have the added advantage of requiring no
additional permit system or enforcement agency and are much less expensive
• than outright -acquisition.
North Carolina has taken a step in this direction with N.C. G.S. 105-277
which provides for preferential tax assessment for farm land. This program
• should be more widely publicized and perhaps expanded to include other types
of land The other incentive techniques should be examined by the Coastal
Resources Commission for the applicability,in North Carolina.
w
1State of Maine Title 33, Chapter 667.
State of New Hampshire H.B. 747, Chapter 391.
•
• 169

X, SUMMARY
The Dare County Land Use Plan, made up of the goals, policies, standards
and.maps outlined above, provides guidelines for the physical, cultural and
economic development of the County. It was prepared with substantial citizen
involvement and reflects their desires to the fullest degree.
The Plan has been <adopted by the County Commissioners and will be used
as a basis for future planning in the County as well as a vehicle for evalua-
ting changing future conditions against desired long-range objectives.
The unique history of the County, along with its singular setting of
sea and sound, dunes and forest, make it particularly fitting in this Bicen-
tennial Year for the County to rededicate itself to the preservation of its
exceptional environment for enjoyment by present and future generations of
residents and visitors.

SECTION VII
REFERENCES AND APPENDICES
170

•
•
REFERENCES
Unless otherwise indicated, the information in certain subsections of this
Land Use Plan was obtained from the following list of references:
Albemarle Regional Planning and Development Commission, 1975. "Water Resource
• Management, Region R." Office of State Planning, Raleigh, N. C.
Barick, F. B:.and Critcher,'T. S., 1975. "Wildlife and Land Use Planning with
Particular Reference to Coastal Counties." North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission, Raleigh, N. C.
• Buckman, R. E. and Quintus, R. L., "Natural Areas of the Society of American
Foresters".
Chamber of Commerce, Nags Head, N. C., 1970. "Visitors Study." 3M National
Advertising Company.
• Clifford, William B., 1971 Population Change for N. C. and N..C. Counties,
1950-1960 and 1960- 9970: Estimate of Net Migration and Natural Increase,
Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Agricultural Experiment Station, N.C. State University.'
Coastal Resources Commission, 1975. "State Guidelines for Local Planning in the
Coastal Area Under the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974." Raleigh, N.C.
Dare Beaches Water & Sewer Authority, 1973. "Dare Beaches Sketch Development
Plan", N. C. Department of Natural and Economic Resources, Raleigh, N.C.
Dare Beaches Water & Sewer Authority, 1973. "Economic Study of the Dare
Beaches." Stephens Associates, Raleigh, N. C.
•
Dare.Beaches Water and Sewer Authority. 1973. "Preliminary. Engineering Report,
Regional Water System and Regional Wastewater Collection and Treatment."
Henry Von Oesen and Associates, Inc., Dare County, N. C.
Davis, A. C. et. al. 1974. "North Carolina's People, A Decade of Change, 1960-1970
• N. C. Agricultural Extension Service, Raleigh, N. C.
East Carolina University Regional Development Institute. (Travel, Industry,
Statistics, Dare County), "An Analysis of Tourism Inquiries, Jan. 1966
Jan. 1967."
• Endangered Species Committee of the Department of Natural and Economic Resources,
State of North Carolina, 1973. "Preliminary List of Endangered Plant and
Animal Species in North Carolina.", Raleigh, N. C.
Envirotek, Inc. "Dare County General Development Plan", 1974, Raleigh, N. C.
• Hayes, D. R., 1967. An Economic Study of Dare County, North Carolina. Department
of Economics, N. C. State University, Raleigh. 74 p.
40

Harris, W. H., and H.B. Wilder. 1964. Ground -Water Supply of Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Recreational Area, Part 3, Rep. Invest.'4. N. C.
Dept. Water Resources, Division of Ground Water, Raleigh, N. C.
Heath, Ralph C., 1975. Hydrology of the Albemarle -Pamlico Region, N. C.,
U.S.G.S., WRI, 9-75.
Kimrey, J.O., 1960.. Ground -Water Suyply of Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Recreational Area, Part 2. Rep. Invest. 2. N. C. Department Water
Resources, Division of Ground -Water, Raleigh, N. C.
Kimrey, J.O. 1961. Ground -Water Supply for the Dare Beaches Sanitary District,
Rep. Invest. 3. Dept. Water Resources, Division of Ground Water, Raleigh, N.C.
Knowles, C.E. et. al. 1973. "A Preliminary Study of Storm -Induced Beach Erosion
for North Carolina." Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, North Carolina
State University, Raleigh, N. C.
Kologiski, R. L. and D. Hill, 1972. "N. C.-Natural Area Survey Report, Buxton
Woods."
Langfelder, Jay, Dec. 1968. A Reconnaissance of Coastal Erosion in N. C.,
Civil Engineering Dept., North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N. C.
Langfelder, Jay et. al., 1974. "A Historical Review of Some of North Carolina's
Coastal Inlets." Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, North Carolina State
University Report No. 74-1, Raleigh, N. C.
Lloyd, 0. B. Jr. and H. B. Wilder,.1965. Ground -Water Supply of Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Recreation Area, N. C. Pt. 4, U.S. Geological Survey, 23 p.
Lloyd, 0. B., Jr., and H. B. Wilder. 1968. Ground -Water Supply of Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Recreational Area, North Carolina,. Part 4, Rep. ,Invest. 5, .
.Machemehl, J. L., 1974. Coastal Erosion, State of N. C., Dept. of Natural and
Economic Resources, Office of Water and Air Resources, Raleigh, N. C.
Moore, Gardner and Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers, 1968. Dare County,
North Carolina - Water and Sewer Plan, Asheboro, 32 p.
New England River Basins Commission, 1975. "People and the Sound: Supplement."
Long Island Sound Regional Study.
N. C. Department of Conservation and Development, Division of Community Planning,
"Development Plan, Dare County, N.,C.", 44 p., August 1964.
N. C. Division of Community Planning, 1963. "Population and Economy, Dare County,
N. C.", Department of Conservation and Development, Raleigh, N. C.
N. C. Division of Community Assistance, 1964. "Development Plan, Dare County,.
N. C.". Department of Conservation and Development, Raleigh, N. C.
0

•
N. C. Division of Community Planning, 1964. "Economic Function and Population
• Land Development Plan, Nags Head, N. C." N. C. Department of Conservation
and Development, Raleigh, N. C.
N. C. Division of Community Planning, 1965. "Population and Economy, Dare
County, N. C., Raleigh, N. C.
N. C. Division of Community Assistance, 1972. "Land Development Plan, Nags
Head, North Carolina." N. C. Department of Natural and Economic Resources,
Raleigh, N. C.
N. C. Division of Economic Development, 1974. "1974 North Carolina Travel
Survey." Travel Development Section, Department of Natural and Economic'
Resources, Raleigh, N. C.
N. C. Division of Ground Water, Office of Water and Air Resources, Department of
Natural and Economic Resources, 1972. Potential Ground -Water Supplies For
Roanoke Island and the Dare County Beaches, N. C., Report #9.
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "Classification of Commercial and
Inland Fishing Waters." Raleigh, N. C. .
Quay, T. C., 1959. The Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphebians of Cape Hatteras_
National Seashore Recreation Area. U.S. National Park Service.
Sales Management Magazine. 1973. "Survey of Buying Power."
Sharpe, Bill. 1954. A New Geography of North Carolina. State Magazine, Vol. 1,
Raleigh, N. C.
Stephens Associates, 1974. "Dare County Economic Development Plan." Raleigh, N.C.
• Stick, David, 1958. The Outer Banks of North Carolina, 1584-1958. University
of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N. C.
Stick, David, 1970. Dare County: A History. State Department of Archives and
History, 1970.
• U. S. Dept. of Agriculture., Soil Conservation Service. " An Appraisal of the 1974
Potential for Outdoor Recreation, Dare County, N. C." Pamlico Soil and
Water Conservation District, Manteo, N. C.
U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, 1975. "Environmental
Assessment - Jockey's Ridge State Park." Washington, D..C.
U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. "Mattamus-
keet - Swanquarter - Cedar Island - Pea Island Refuges Wilderness Proposal."
Hyde, Carteret, and Dare Counties, N. C.
•
0

.J
Wahls, H.'E. 1973. A Survey of N. C. beach erosion by air photo methods, 1973.
• Center for Marine Coastal Studies N. C. State University, No.- 73-1.
Wilkinson, R. R. and Dorst, P. R. 1972. "Critical Environmental Areas of N.C."
Office of State Planning, N. C. Department of Administration, Report No.
146.10, Raleigh, N. C.
Wyrick, G. G. and R. B. Dean, 1968. Ground -Water Supply of Cape Hatteras
National Seashore Recreational Area, North Carolina, Part 5, Rep. Invest. 6.
N. C. Dept. of Water and Air Resources and Ground Water, Raleigh, N. C.
•
•

The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 requires that a Land Use Plan be
•
adopted for each of the 20 coastal counties named in the Act.
i
If any county fails to develop a plan it will be done for that county
by an agency of the State.
The Dare County Commissioners have notified the State that the citizens
of Dare County intend to develop our own plan. This will give us the greatest
voice possible in the future of Dare County.
Doubtless you would like to see the county plan reflect your views of how
Dare County should grow and develop. Your voice will have the greatest impact
during the early stages of developing the plan. That time is now.
•
This questionnaire is one way to be heard. Please answer the questions
carefully since your answers will serve as an important foundation for the
writing of the plan.
•
Please remember that a Land Use Plan is not a zoning ordinance but a broad
statement of our goals for growth and development and broad allocation of our
land resources to meet those goals. The Land Use Plan will furnish guidelines
•
for development and will serve as the basis for future detailed planning.
This questionnaire will be divided into three areas:
(1) Personal profile questions asked for statistical purposes.
A
(2) Questions related to Dare County today.
(3) Questions related to Dare County tomorrow.
0
0
0

11
C1
i
•
SECTION I: PERSONAL PROFILE
1. Check the area primarily through which you are associated with Dare
County (normally the area of residence or of property holdings if non-
resident. If strong association with more than one area makes it impossible
to choose, check each and describe association to right of each area checked.)
Duck & North
Kill Devil Hills
Manns Harbor, Stumpy Point,
—fast Lake $ Other Mainland
areas.
Nags Head
Wanchese
Hatteras (Oregon Inlet South)
_Kitty Hawk (Includes area outside limits
of Kill Devil Hills and
North to Duck)
Manteo (City)
Manteo (Outside city limits)
North End Roanoke Island
2. Your age group. Circle one letter.
A. Below 18
B. 18-24
C. 25-34
D. 35-44
E. 45-54
F. 55-64
G. 65 or Over
2

SECTION I: PERSONAL PROFILE (Cont'd)
i
3. Are you a Dare County resident (includes communities located within
Dare County)?
0 Circle one letter.
A. Yes, and I own or am purchasing a home.
B. Yes, and I rent my home.
C. I am a nonresident who owns or is purchasing property in
Dare County.
D. I am a nonresident who does not hold property in Dare County.
• 4. What is your primary economic relationship with Dare County (circle
one letter)?
A. No income derived from Dare County.
B. Agriculture and related business or service.
•
C. Fishing and related business or service.
D. Tourism and related business or service.
E. Forestry and related business or service.
• F. Construction and related business or service.
G. Business or service used by general public and not specifically
related to any of above.
• H. Retirement income (if from one of above, indicate which ).
I. Other (Please Specify)
•
•
0 3

SECTION II - DARE COUNTY TODAY
S. If you were born in Dare County, check here
If not born in Dare County, check here
If you were born in Dare County, which of the following keep you
• here, or if you were not born in Dare County which of the
following attracted you (select three most important to you and
number then in order of importance).
A. Slow pace of living.
B. Privacy (inaccessibility)
C. Freedom from pollution and population pressures.
D. The natural environment and associated recreational
• activities.
E. My job or business or property holdings.
F. Belief that there will be future economic expansion
which will provide great personal opportunity.
•
G. Family
H. Other (Please Specify)
6. Of those things which attracted you to or keep you in Dare County,
which do you believe we are most likely to lose?
Most Likely
•
COMMENTS:
•
Next most likely
40 4

SECTION II - DARE COUNTY TODAY.(Cont'd)
• 7. Indicate your degree of concern with the following which have been cited
•
•
•
•
•
C
•
•
as problems or potential problems in Dare County:
Most Urgent Urgent Not A
PROBLEM. Concern Concern Problem
A. An adequate water supply
B. Traffic congestion
C. Sewage disposal
D. Trash & Garbage disposal (not collection)
E. High rise construction
F. Lack of medical services
G. Limitation on building height
H. Pollution of ocean & sounds
I. Over population
J. Commercialization
K. Lack of access to beaches, sounds,
inlets and ocean
L. Unattractive buildings
M. Small lots and crowded developments
N. Lack of reserved open space
0. Lack of community recreational
facilities
P. Destruction of dunes and beaches
Q. Lack of job diversification
R. Lack of usable land to accommodate
growth
S. Lack of comforts or conveniences avail-
able in more urban areas (such as TV &
radio, supermarkets, shopping centers,
etc.)
T. Lack of surface $ subsurface drainage
U. Erosion by wind and water
V. Other (Please Specify)
5
5

r
SECTION III - DARE COUNTY TOMORROW
8. Have you previously heard of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1974?
•
(Circle letter beside all that apply)
A. No
B. Yes, through newspaper
• C. Yes, through radio
D. Yes, through TV
E. Yes, by word of mouth
F. Yes, by other means (Please Specify)
•
9. Indicate the degree of encouragement or discouragement you believe should
be given the following, assuming that any change will affect the existing
balance (that is, encouraging one probably will discourage at least one of
the others). Check only one column beside each item.
• encourage encourage iw discourage Lisco
DARE COUNTY AS A PLACE TO WORK Strongly Moderat2L Change Moderately Stron
A. Agriculture & Related
B. Fishing Industry & Related
• C. Tourism $ Related
D. Forestry & Related
E. Construction & Related
•
F. Research/Development Industry
G. Light Industry (warehousing,
assembly, etc.)
• H. Heavy Industry (conversion
of raw materials
•
• 6

•
•
SECTION III - DARE COUNTY TOMORROW (9 Cont'd)
DAEb UUMIX Ab A rLAUb W Llvn encourage Lncourage No liiscourage lliscourage
OR VISIT Strongly lModeratelviChan2esiModeratelyiStron2ly
I.
Residential Development
•
J.
Single family residences
K.
High rise residences
L.
Low rise multi -family
residences
M.
Preservation of open space
N.
New & improved cultural
facilities (libraries,
art gallaries, theatres,
etc.)
•
0.
Increased accessibility
to Dare County
P.
Improved tourist facilities
(convention centers, etc.)
Q.
Urban growth
•
R.
Protection of residential
areas from encroachment
by commercial or industrial
enterprise
S.
Preservation of wildlife
•
habitat
T.
Regulation of dunes $
shoreline
U.
Soil conservation
V.
Other (Please Specify)
•
•
e——
• 7

•
SECTION III - DARE COUNTY TOMORROW (Cont'd)
* 10. Please check the degree of agreement or disagreement with each of the
following statements.
Agree Disagree
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
A. There is enough economic develop-
ment underway in Dare County.
B. Industry in Dare County would
improve the quality of life.
C. New industry locating in Dare
County should be required to
file an environmental impact
statement.
D. A person should be able to do
anything he wants with his land.
E. Planning can minimize con-
flict between economic de-
velopment and environmental
protection.
F. We have enough people living
in Dare County now.
G. We should try to attract more
permanent residents.
H. We should give high priority
to improved community or
county services (central or
area water systems, -sewage
disposal, etc.)
I. We must control growth to
allow services to keep pace
with the need.
J. We must control natural
resources to keep Dare
County a tourist attraction.
K. Other (Please Specify).

•
• SECTION III - DARE COUNTY TOMORROW (Cont'd)
11. Are you pleased with the direction Dare County development is
taking? Yes, No. Please use this space to write the reasons
• you are pleased or to indicate the changes you would like to see and
your reasons for them.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9 9

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
SUA4ARY OF QUESTIONNAIRE - DARE COUNTY RESIDENTS
#1 Of those residents who responded to the questionnaire, 3.7% were
from Duck and North, 13.4% from Kill Devil Hills, 2.5% from Mann's
Harbor and Stumpy Point, etc., 14.7% from Nags Head, 8.1% from
Wanchese, 6.8% from Hatteras, 32.1% from Kitty Hawk, and 14.9%
from Manteo and 4.0 % North Roanoke Island.
#2 65% of the residents are 45+
#3 86% of the residents either own or are purchasing a home.
14% rent
#4 The majority (35%) of those surveyed either receive no income from
Dare County or receive retirement income. Tourism and related (22.4%)
and business and services used by general public (18.6%) represented.
other major economic relationships with Dare County. Agriculture and
forestry accounted for only 0.4% and 0.8% respectively.
#5 72.2% of the residents surveyed were not born in Dare County. The
qualities which attracted them to Dare County are:
(1) Freedom from pollution and population pressures
(2) The natural environment and associated recreational activities
(3) Slow pace of living
#6 Of those qualities which attracted them, the two which they are
most likely to lose are:
(1) Freedom from pollution
(2) Slow pace of living
#7 Dare County citizens are concerned with the following problem areas:
(1) Lack of medical services
(2) Pollution of oceans and sounds
(3) Small lots and crowded developments
(4) Destruction of dunes and beaches
(5) Erosion by wind and water
(6) An adequate water supply
(7) Sewage disposal
(8) Limitation on building height
(9) Commercialization
(10) High rise construction
:7

Factors which present no problems are:
(1) Lack of usable land to accommodate growth
(2) Lack of comforts or conveniences
(3) Lack of job diversification
(4) Traffic congestion
#8 88.2% of the Dare County residents had previously heard of CAMA;
35.8% through the newspapers.
#9 The major factors which the Dare County residents feel should be
strongly encouraged are:
• (1) Preservation of open space
(2) Preservation of wildlife habitat
(3) Soil conservation
(4) Regulation of dunes and shoreline
(5) Fishing industry and related
(6) Protection of residential areas from encroachment
. (7) Single-family residences
(8) New and improved cultural facilities
Factors which are strongly discouraged are:
(1)
High rise residences
(2)
Heavy industry
.
(3)
Low rise multi -family residences
Agriculture
- No change
#10 Dare
County residents strongly agree with the following statements:
(1)
We must control growth to allow services to keep pace with the
need.
(2)
Planning can minimize conflict between economic development and
environmental protection.
(3)
We must control natural resources to keep Dare County a tourist
attraction.
(4)
New industry locating in Dare County should be required to file
an EIS.
(5)
We should give high priority to improved community or county
services.
#11 51.4%
of those surveyed are pleased with the direction Dare County
•
development
is taking.
•
0

A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF CITIZEN SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES
1
According
to the citizen survey results, Roanoke Island and the Mainland
differed
in varying degrees to the residents of the Outer Banks in a few
•
aspects.
Relatively speaking, Roanoke Island and Mainland residents sur-
veyed were:
(A)
younger, more dependent on fishing, services, and tourism.
(ques. 2 and 4)
(B)
attracted to Dare County to a greater degree by family
interests and job holdings. (ques. 5)
(C)
not as enviornmentally concerned. (ques. 7)
(D)
not as opposed to industrial endeavors. (ques. 9)
•
(E)
more concerned with the lack of job diversification,
comforts, improved community facilities, and the fishing
industry. (ques. 9)
(F)
less concerned with an adequate water supply, planning,
and environmental impact statements. (ques. 9)
Relatively
speaking, Outer Banks residents surveyed were:
(A)
older and more dependent on retirement income. (ques. 2 and 4)
•
(B)
attracted to Dare County by the environment. (ques. 5)
(C)
vitally concerned with all environmental problems in the
survey. (ques. 7)
(D)
opposed to all industrial endeavors. (ques. 9)
•
(E)
more concerned with an adequate sewage and water supply, over -
commercialization, and adequate medical facilities. (ques. 9)
(F)
less concerned with the lack of job diversification, lack
of access to the water, lack of conveniences, and lack of
•
tourist facilities. (ques. 9)
0

b
This report was financed in part by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the State of
North Carolina, and meets the requirements
of the North Carolina Coastal Area
Management Act of 1974.