Land Use Plan Update-1982

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DARE COUNTY
LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
- CAMA-
DRAFT
ADOPTED:
MARCH 22, 1982
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CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION.........................................1-1
II. SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
INFORMATION BASE.....................................2-1
SUMMARY AND MAJOR CONCLUSION .........................2-2
POPULATION...........................................2-4
ECONOMY ....................•...,•. .. .............2-10
EXISTING LAND USE,......... .2-23
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CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, REGULATIONS .................. 2-28
CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT
LAND SUITABILITY ................. ...................... 2-43
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES...........
.......2-53
ANTICIPATED POPULATION GROWTH ......... ............... 2-56
III. DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
INTRODUCTION.........................................3-1
AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN .......................3-2
CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT ...........................3-8
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ...................3-19
RESOURCE PRODUCTION A14D MANAGEMENT ...................3-33
IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION..................................4-1
V. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.............5-1
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VI. FOOTNOTES............................................6-1
APPENDICES
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I. INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION
+ The Congress of the united States enacted the Coastal Zone Management
Act (CZMA) in 1972 because of the recognized need for increased protection
of the physical and biological -resources of the coast. Population growth
and economic development have placed unbearable pressure on the ecological
systems. of the coast as well as on the cultural, historic and aesthetic
values of the area.
CZMA authorized federal financial assistance to states covered by the
act for the purpose of designing and.carrying out programs ,to manage these
resources more effectively than existing law allowed. The act was (and
remains) optional for the states, i.e., states were not required to partic-
ipate in the program and, indeed, four have withdrawn from_it (Georgia,
Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia). Participating states must meet federal
• planning and management standards for continued financial assistance.
North Carolina has chosen to join the majority of eligible states in
recognition of the severe problems facing state and local governments in
• our coastal area. The state enabling legislation, the Coastal Area Manage-
ment Act of 1974 (CAMA) has been characterized as one of the longest, most
complex, and "most amended piece of legislation ever to be approved by
the North Carolina General Assembly. As planning legislation, CAMA differs
0 radically from all other North Carolina law in several respects. First,
it applies to only part of the state: the twenty coastal counties, col-
lectively termed the "coastal area." Second, CAMA requires, rather than
merely permits, the initiation of a local land use planning program by the
coastal area counties. Third, the planning process and subsequent process of
plan implementation is a responsibility shared by state and local govern-
ment. The state, acting through the Coastal Resources Commission, retains
the power to. approve local plans and certain aspects of plan implementation.
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GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF THE PLAN
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This land use plan deals principally with the unincorporated areas
of Dare County. Four of the County's five municipalities have elected to
prepare their o•rn plans. Kitty Hawk, incorporated in April, 1981, is and
• will remain tinder the jurisdiction of the county plan until the Town de-
cides to prepare a plan of its -own. CAMA planning guidelines, however,
require consistency of plan proposals between adjacent units of local
government. Thus, this plan contains frequent reference to these units
regarding existing conditions, projected future conditions, development
policy, and land classification.
Dare County also contains several communities of interest which,
• though unincorporated, are important elements of the county's overall de-
velopment pattern. These require detailed attention in the.planning pro-
cess. They include:
Avon
• Buxton
Duck
East Lake
Frisco
Hatteras
Manns Harbor
Rodanthe
• Salvo
Stumpy Point
Wanchese-
Waves
Coordination of proposals with adjoining counties is also required.
This will be effected by reviewing plans for those counties to identify
conflicting policies for the use of land and water along mutual boundaries.
If any are found, it is the responsibility of the respective counties to
resolve the differences. The Coastal Resources Com,nission is authorized to
intercede, if necessary.,
1-3

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DARE COUNTY
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LAND USE PLAN
1980
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LAND USE PLAN
1980
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ORGANIZATION OF T}lE PLAN
The Coastal Resources Commission is responsible to the Governor and
• General Assembly for carrying out the Act.- The Coiaiiission is aided in this
task by the Coastal Resources Advisory Council (CRAC) and the Office of -
Coastal Management (OCII), an agency of the Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development. OCM serves as staff to the Commission.
Part of the Commissi-on's responsibility is to set standards for the
preparation of local land use plans to insure they meet the objectives of
CAMA. The Commission Advisory Council and OCH have thus established an out-
line by which plans are to be prepared. The outline is set forth in the
North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC). The checklist appearing on the"
following five pages represents a distillation of the Code requirements and
is also intended to serve as a device to facilitate review of the plan by
state and federal agencies.
The planning guidelines can be summarized as requiring:
* A statement of existing conditions in the community emphazing
population, economic structure, constraints to develoment,
growth prospects, and other planning activity;
* A set of policy statements by the community setting forth its
intended course of.action to deal with development issues
identified in the analysis of existing conditions:
* A land classification map showing those lands which are developed
at urban densities or are likely to be so developed within the
next few years, areas which should be maintained in their
natural state, small communities not likely to require water and
sewer services in the near future, and finally, rural, areas;
* A mechanism for citizen participation in the planning process.
The guideline/requirements are set forth in more detail below.

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CHECKLIST FOR LAND USE PLANS
REQUIREMENTS
DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS
Establishment of information base, including
1. manner in which data was assembled
2. 'statement of the major conclusion
Present conditions and economy, including
1. present population and economy analysis
2. impact of seasonal population
Existing land use analysis
1. significant land use compatibility problems
2. problems and implications from unplanned
development
3. identification of areas experiencing or
likely to experience changes in predominant
land use
4. areas of environmental concern
5. map of existing land use
Current plans, policies and regulations, including
1. listing and summary of significant existing
local plans and policies
.2. listing and description of the means for enforce-
ment of all local existing land use regulations
3. listing of all relevant federal and state
regulations
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Constraints: Land suitability
1. physical limitations to development
a. hazard areas (man-made/natural)
• b. soil limitation areas (shallow, poorly
drained, septic tank limitations)
c. water supply sources
d. excessive slope areas (over 12%)
2. fragile areas (minimum requirement 1514CAC 7H)
3. areas with resource potential
Constraints: Capacity of community facilities (Discuss)
1. existing water and se�•;er service areas
2. design capacity of the existing water, and
sewage treatment plants, schools, and
primary roads
3. percentage at which existing facilities
I are utilized
Estimated demand
1. population estimate for the upcoming ten years
2. future land need discussion
3. community facilities demand (types of facilities
and densities at which land is to be developed.
POLICY STATEMENTS
Resource Protection Policies
• I. policies on types of uses appropriate within
the locality's AECs
2. constraints to development
3. specific local resource development issues
relative to 15NCAC 7H
4. other hazardous or fragile land areas
5. hurricane and flood evacuation needs and plans
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Resource Production and Management Policies
1. discussion of importance of agriculture,
forestry, mining, fisheries and recreational
resources
a. identification of most productive areas
b. discussion of values of protecting these areas
2. policy statements on:
a. productive agricultural lands
b. commercial forest lands
c. existing and potential mineral production
areas
d. commercial and recreational fisheries
e. off -road vehicles
Economic and Community Development Policies
1. discussion of types of development
which are to be encouraged
a.. discussion of redevelopment of older
areas/creation of new subdivisions, etc.
2. 'policies on types and locations of industries
desired
3. policies on local commitment to providing
services to development
4. policies on types of urban growth
patterns desired
5. policies on redevelopment of developable areas
6. policies on commitment to.federal and state
programs in the area
7. policies.on assistance to ohannel. maintenance
and beach nourishment
a. policies on energy facility siting and development
9. policies -on tourism or beach and waterfront access
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LAND CLASSIFICATION
Land classification Map Showing the Following:
1. Developed land
2. Transition land
i 3. Community land
4. Rural land
5. Conservation land
6. additional breakdown of standard
5 classes. (optional)
CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICIES
1. discussion of means by which•public
• participation in planning matters was
encouraged in plan update process
2. description of the means to be used for
public education on planning issues
3. description of the means to be used for
continuing public participation
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In addition to the general requirements above, the Coastal Resources
Commission has directed Dare County to consider the following specific
issues in updating its land use plan:
Peat mining
Wanchese Harbor development
Alternative methods of access to Currituck banks
Oregon Inlet stabilization proposals
Super -farms: impact of fresh water drainage
National Park -Wildlife Refuge impacts
Oceanfront erosion
Unincorporated beach communities
Seasonal vs. year round economy
IIWater quality in the sounds
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II. SWIMARY OF EXISTI14G CONDITIONS

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INFORMATION BASE
This document is an updated version of Dare County's first CAMA land use
{ plan t,rhich was prepared in 1976. Section II contains a description of existing
conditions within the County. Planning parameters covered in this section
• I include the following:
* Population
* Economy
• * Land Use
* Current plans, policies, and regulations
* Constraints to development
Estimated population groti°,rth: 1980 - 2000
Because of its exhaustive treatment of these subjects, the 1976 plan has II'
served as the point of departure for the present work and as a major source of
reference. It has been updated to the extent possible through a review of
• standard secondary sources of planning information in North Carolina. Cita-
tions to these sources are provided throughout this report.
Secondary sources have been supplemented by personal interviews with local
• officials (particularly, the County Manager and Director of the Health Depart-
ment). The managers of the Towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head provided
essential insights into county -municipal planning relationships as did the
Mayor of Manteo. Plans for Currituck and Tyrrell Counties were also made
• available to the consultant for identification of interjurisdictional problems
and policy consistency. Finally, personnel of the North Carolina Division of
Community Assistance provided many hours of their time on both technical
matters and the history of planning in Dare County.
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SUMMARY AND MAJOR CONCLUSION
Five major themes dominated the 1976 land use plan:
* Rapid growth of permanent and seasonal population
* Potential for environmental damage resulting from unwise
development practices
• * Economic dependence upon tourism
* Imbalance between the supply of and demand for public facilities
* Conflicts between traditional and contemporary life styles of
Dare County residents.
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None of these issues stands independent of the others and the 1976 plan
described their relationships in detail. Rapid population groath places im-
mediate demands upon local government for additional police and fire protec-
tion, for potable water, for garbage collection, street lights and other serv-
ices. Environmental damage occurs in the form of dune breaches, -filling of
marshland for residential and commercial construction, increased septic tank
effluent into marshes and ground water. High employment during the tourist
season turned to high unemployment during the winter. Dare County has three
airports but no hospital. The only sanitary sewer system is confined to the
Town of Nanteo where it serves a small fraction of the county's population.
The approach to this updated plan has been to identify changes which have
occurred in Dare County since 1976. The Planning Board has specifically at-
tempted to identify changes of such a nature or magnitude as would require a
fundamental re -orientation of thought regarding the future development of the
county. Planning theory states there are three conditions under which such a
re -orientation might be required: -
* A finding of error in earlier work.
* Receipt of information indicating a change of condition on which
earlier decisions were correctly based.
* Changes of attitude on the part of the public and its elected re-
presentatives, i.e., changes of political,,,philosophy.
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A review of the 1976 plan indicates no errors of fact, nor of interpreta-
tion of these facts, leading to the proposals of the plan.
Similarly, there appears to have been no substantial change in political
Philosophy in Dare County over the past five years. County leadership long
ago recognized certain weaknesses in the economic dependence upon seasonal
tourist trade, in the county's ability to deal alone 1%,ith environmental pro-
tection, and the.need for improved public services. Actions have been taken
over the past five years to deal with many aspects of these problems.
The analysis of population, economic, and other data conducted for this
plan update do reveal certain subtle changes which suggest refinement, if not
re -direction, of future planning activity. These include:
Lengthening of the 'tourist season
* -Increased permanent population
* Development of mineral production
* Revitalization of commercial fishing and associated industries
* Increased agricultural production
* .Increased demands for public services on a year-round basis
I� In historical terms, it can be stated that most of the major development
decisions have already b' een made for Bodie Island and*for the northern end of
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Roanoke Island. These decisions include:
* The acquisition of much of Bodie Island by the National Park Service
The location of five municipalities, growing centers of permanent
population and tourism activity
* The recent construction and start -of -operation of the county water
system
The selection of a cost effective wastewater treatment system and
its assumed construction within the next five years
It is the major conclusion of this plan that the county's planning pro-
gram must focus increasingly on the remainder of the county: Hatteras Island,
the Wanchese area, and the mainland.
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[) D111 ATTOM
Dare County's population structure and long term trends in population
growth are described in the 1976 plan, pages 7 - 17. Table 1 summarizes
population growth in Dare County over the past century.
The most reliable source for population studies is the decennial census of
population. Because the 1980 Census is not yet complete, it is not possible
here to report changes in the age structure, racial composition, male -female
ratio, nor migration trends since the 1970 census. The only data yet available
from the 1980 Census is the total permanent population and number of dwelling
units within the county's municipalities and townships. These data are of much
importance for this plan and are discussed below.
OVERALL POPULATION GROWTH
Preliminary results of the 1980 Census show that Dare County's population
grew by 91 percent in the past ten years. In 1970, county population was
officially recorded at 6,995 persons. The 1980 data, though preliminary and
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subject to revision, show the population of the county to be 13,377, an increase
of more than six thousand persons.
Table 2 shows population for all ten counties of Region R from 1950 through
1980, including Dare County. The table shows that.Dare County has far outpaced
any of the other nine counties over the past 30 years with a 147.4 percent
increase. Currituck County, a part of the Norfolk metropolitan area, ranks
second with a 30-year increase of 78.8 percent.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
Dare County's population is not distributed uniformly throughout the
county. Most of the mainland is essentially unpopulated while vast expanses of
Bodie Island and Hatteras Island have been set aside as part of the Cape
Hatteras National Seashore. Roanoke Island's population tends to be clustered
near Manteo.
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Table 3 illustrates the distribution of permanent population in Dare County
by township for 1960 - 1980. The table reveals that flags [lead is the most
heavily populated township in the county at this time, containing 37.1 percent
Of the total county population. East Lake, on the mainland, has the lowest
population (112) of the county's six townships.
Table 4 illustrates the growth of Dare County townships for the three
decades ending in 1980. All townships except East lake have experienced
population growth since 1960. From 1970 to 1980, Atlantic Township, the area
north of Kill Devil Hills, grew -most rapidly: an increase of 227 percent. This
was followed by Hatteras Township with an increase of more than one hundred
percent. Kinnekeet Township was the third fastest growing.of the 1970 - 1980
decade, posting a gain of over eighty percent for the decade.
Hatteras and Kinnekeet Townships comprise Hatteras Island. Together they
accounted for over thirty percent of the county population growth over the past
decade. Their combined rate of growth for that period was 102.4 percent.
Croatan and East Lake Townships continued to decline in share of total
county population from 1970 to 1980. Both, however, grew in terms of absolute
numbers reflecting a modest amount of new development at Mann's Harbor and
Stumpy Point.•
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TABLE 3
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DARE COUNTY
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POPULATION
DISTRIBUTION
BY TOWNSHIP
1960 - 1980
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%
%
n
TOWNSHIP
1960
TOTAL
1970 ' TOTAL
1980*
TOTAL
ATLANTIC
864
14.6
1,141
16.3
3,737
27.9
CROATAN
545
9.2
540
7.7
714
5.3
EAST LAKE
115
1.9
88
1.2
112
0.8 E
HATTERAS
1,217
20.5
1,333
19.1
2,873
21.4
° KINNEKEET
434
7.3
565
8.1
1,060
E
7.9
NAGS HEAD
2,760
46.5
3,328
47.6
4,971
37.1 • �I
COUNTY TOTAL
5,935
6,995
139377
*1980 Census data
are preliminary and subject -to change.
I�
i
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H .
TABLE 4
DARE COUNTY
POPULATION GROWTH
BY TOWNSHIP
1960 1980
1960.
% CHANGE
1970 % CHANGE
.1980
% CHANGE
73
TOWNSHIP
POPULATION
1950-1960
POPULATION 1960-1970
POPULATION*
1970-1980
ca
ATLANTIC
864
29.9
1,141 32.1
3,737
227.5
CROATAN
545
5.2
540 - 0.9
714
32.2
EAST LAKE
115
5.0
83 -23.5
112
27.2
HATTERAS
1',217
16.3
1,333 9.5
2,783
108.7
KINNEKEET
434
-24.6
565 30.2
1,060
87.6
NAGS HEAD
2,760
14.0
3,328 20.6
4,971
49.3.
COUNTY TOTAL
5,935
9.8
6,995 17.9
13,377
91.2

•
[7
•1
Elio
*1
•1
•1
ECONOMY
Tourism is the pre-eminent fact of economic life in Dare County. Its•
dimensions and structure have been described in the 1976 land use plan
(pp. 19 - 31) and in several other publications. This industry accounts for
thousands of jobs in the county and for millions of dollars in retail sales
and services.
It is also responsible for wide swings in the rate of employment:
employment approaches 100% of -the labor force during the summer months but
drops to depression levels in the winter.
Tourism has not always held this position. Dare County residents have
traditionally earned their income from the sea as fishermen, boat builders,
sail makers, and to a lesser extent from agriculture and government service.
The rise of tourism was made possible initially. by the construction of
bridges spanning Currituck Sound, the Alligator River, Croatan Sound,
Roanoke Sound, and most recently, Oregon Inlet. These projects wiped away
much of the county's isolation and brought about a permanent change in the
county's economy and the very life-style of its residents.
EMPLOYMENT
The availability of employment opportunities - jobs - is the key deter-
minant of the economic health of a community. Both the civilian labor force
and total employment among Dare County residents have risen sharply over the
past ten years. These data are shown in Table 5.
Growth of the labor force over the past ten years is thus computed to be
117 percent. This is even faster than the -rate of population growth. It is
indicative of an expanding economy and of population growth among persons in
their working years. The latter item contrasts with the notion that "most"
new residents of Dare County are retirees. This judgment must be regarded as
tentative, however, pending receipt of more detailed data from the 1980 Census.
0
2-10

�1)
CIVILIAN
YEAR
LABOR FORCE
1970
2,930
1971
3,080
1972
3,620
1973
4,020
1974
4,250
1975
4,510
1976
5,050
1977
5,560
1978
6,180
1979
6,360
TABLE 5
DARE COUNTY EMPLOYMENT
1970-1979
(2)
(3)
TOTAL
EMPLOYMENIT
SHARE
EMPLOYMENT
WITHIN COUNTY
WITHIN COUNTY
2,790
2,000
71.7
2,890
2,080
72.0
3,420
2,460
71.9
3,800
2,790
73.4
4,000
3,000
75.0
4,260
3,170
74.4
4,770
3,570
75.6
5,240
3,920
74.8
5,920
4,490
75.8
6,020
4,700
78.1
Source: North Carolina Employment Security Commission
2-11
•

Perhaps even more important is the increase in employment opportunities
within Dare County itself. "In -county" employment rose from about seventy-one
percent of total employment in 1970 to seventy-eight percent in 1979. It is
not possible to determine from available data that "in -county" jobs are ac-
tually held by county residents. If commuting pattern data from the 1980 Cen-
sus support this, Dare County will have maintained its position as a net
"importer" of labor. This is favorable to Dare County resident -workers
because they do not incur the high costs of commuting and thus Have higher
net incomes. Workers commuting into the county represent a market opportun-
ity for the Dare County business community. The 1976 plan pointed out that
this group spent most of its money at home rather than in Dare County. The
plan recommended that the county encourage the development of suitable housing,
year-round recreational and cultural facilities, and improved medical serv-
ices to attract in -commuters.
Examination of unemployment data reveal a clearly favorable trend. Nigh
rates of unemployment during the winter months:have long been a characteristic
of Dare County's economy. Figure 2illustrates fluctuations in the rate of
unemployment for the years 1975 - 1979. The graph shows that seasonally high
rates of unemployment have been declining throughout the past five years.
Off-season unemployment declined from its 1974 high of 20.6% to 12.2% in 1979.
Reduction in seasonal unemployment is being accompanied, however, by a
slight rise in permanent unemployment. If the low points in Figure 2 were
replotted, the curve would have a positive slope indicating a rise in the
general level of unemployment.
These trends are supported by increasing visitorship to the Cape Hatteras
National Seashoi�b during the winter --months (Figures 3 and 4) as well as by
observation of the number of motels and restaurants now open throughout the
year.
The general conclusion from these data is that employment in Dare
County is less subject to seasonal fluctuations today than it has been in the
2-12
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MONTHLY VISITORSHIP
CAPE HATTERAS' NATIONAL SEASHORE'
SOURCE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'
• WILLIAMS Q WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
2-14
DARE .COUNTY
-CAMA-
FIGURE 3-
LAND USE PLAN
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2-15

•
past. This is due to a lengthening of the tourist season and, consequently,
the transformation of seasonal jobs into year-round jobs. The explanation
for the longer season appears to be twofold:
• *' Changes in consumer tastes;
An active marketing program, e. g. the efforts of the Dare
County Tourist Bureau to attract visitors throughout the year.
• The rise in permanent unemploSmzent and reduced seasonal unemployment
are not mutually exclusive. Taken together they suggest a trend toward a
more normal economy, one in which tourism is maturing and stabilizing as an
industry in much the same sense as an inland trade center: Too, it is likely
that some permanent unemployment can be attributed to the in -migration of
persons employed in their previous place of residence but unable to find
work in Dare County. .In other words, the county's economy is not expanding
rapidly enough to absorb the growing labor force.
•
EMPLOYIMENT BY INDUSTRY GROUP
Table 6 summarizes changes in employment .by industry group since 1975.
Retail trade has grown the most in that period, an increase of 103.2%. This
was followed -by growth of governmental employment (66%) and by the finance
insurance and real estate group (36%). Manufacturing has remained essen-
tially stable at approximately 140 persons.
r
Only trade and governmental employment have increased as a share of
county employment on a place -of -work basis.
• 11 - COMMERCIAL FISHING
Employment data presented above do not adequately indicate the impor-
tance of commercial fishing in the Dare County economy. Dare is home port.
to a large part of North Carolina's commercial fishing fleet. W anchese and
Stumpy Point are hailing ports for the Dare County fleet. The dollar value
of the commercial catch for the years 1975-1979 is' shown in Table 7.
2-16

EMPLOYMENT, TOTAL 1)
Agricultural
Non -Agricultural, Wage & Salary
All Other Non -Agricultural
MANUFACTURING 2)
TABLE 6
DARE COUNTY
EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
GROUP
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
4260
4770
5240
5920
6020
20
20
20
20
20
3150
3550
3880
4400
•4450
1090
1200
1340
1500
1550
140
110
140
140
140
NON -MANUFACTURING 2) 3030 3460
Construction 300 260
Transportation, Communication 120 100
c
Trade 950 1270
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 250 270
Service 860 1010
Government 500 490
Other Non -Manufacturing 50 60
1) Data by place of.residence
2) Data by place of work
Source: North Carolina Employment Security Commission
CHANGE
1975-1979
41.3
0
41.2
42.2
0
3780
4350
4560
50.5
290
320
330
10.0
90
110
110
- 8.3
1510
1800
1930
103.2
270
290
340
36.0
970
1050
1010
17.4
620
780
830
66.0
30
0
10
-80.0

r-�
LJ

- t
i
f
RETAIL SALES
Table 8 summarizes the dollar value of retail sales in Dare County for the period 1969 - 1979. Most of this is a direct result of the county's =
tourism business. The data are presented in terms of current dollars, not
corrected for loss of purchasing power. If corrected, they would show a =
gain of,approximately 120% over that period. These data include sales of
food in restaurants as well as income from rental of motel rooms and
vacation cottages.
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
A full analysis of the Dare County family income structure cannot be
presented until completion of the 1980 Census.. However, a good insight into
the present distribution -of income can be obtained from a private source,
the Survey of Buying Power. Table g shows the Effective Buying Income --
(EBI) for Dare County in 1973 and 1978. EBI represents total family income
less taxes, fines and a few additional minor items. The EBI thus represents
the amount of money available to a family for housing, transportation, re- `
tail goods and similar expenditures.
The table shows that Dare County incomes are rising and that a shift
toward a "normal" distribution is occurring. The percentage and absolute
number of families having EBI less than $8000 has declined markedly since
1973. Several inferences can be made from the table depending upon hog: the
income ranges are re -grouped. Looking at the total population, the tendency
.toward a statistically normal distribution is indicated by the convergence
of mean and median income. As this ratio approaches unity (1), normality
is approached.
Incomes, however, are not typically distributed along a normal curve. =
The general tendency is for more families to have high incomes. In Dare -
County, the lowest income group is becoming smaller. The middle range,
$8000 - 14,999, has declined slightly over the past five years as a share of
total families. The highest income group; $15,000 +, has more than doubled
2-19

J
•
:7
7
•
TABLE 8
DARE COUNTY
RETAIL SALES
FISCAL
YEAR.
RETAIL SALES
% INCREASE
1968
- 69
$ 20,783,047
----
1969
- 70
23,490,677
13.0
1970
- 71
28,290,561-
20.4
1971
- 72
32,222,254
13.9
1972
-.73
37.881,600
17.6
.1973
- 74
44,676,070
17.9
1974
- 75
48,731,661
9.1
1975
- 76
58,898,486
'20.7
1976
- 77
68,376,390
16.1
1977
- 78
81,248,887
18.8
1978
- 79
97,425,336
19.9
°6 INCREASE
1974-75 -= 1978-79:
99.9
Source:
N.C.
Department of Revenue
N
z-zu
{
t

• in that time. This is thought to be•the result both'of income in
flation and .
the in -migration of relatively wealthy families. A comparison of the highest
and lowest income groups reveals that they are of approximately the same size
(the high income group is slightly larger). Both are larger than the middle
group. This means the income distribution curve is actually taking on a bi-
modal shape: it bulges and sags slightly in the middle. This is
at the ends
illustrated in Figure 5. Several interpretations are possible. First, there
• may be an error in the compilation of data with respect to the .size of the
. middle class. .Second, the middle class in Dare County is actually shrinking
relative to the upper and lower income groups. This, of course, is not a
favorable development. Third, the reduction in the size of the middle class
• is part of a longer term movement toward a more typical distribution of in-
comes. It is masked by the rather broad groupings reported in the Survey of
Buying Power. This phenomenon should be more carefully analyzed when income
I data from the 1980 Census become available.
lJ
TABLE 9
HOUSEHOLD
EFFECTIVE BUYING INCOME
1973 - 1978
'
INCOME
GROUP
PERCENT OF
1973
HOUSEHOLDS
1978
$ -
$ 8,000
52.6
33.8
8,000 -
.9,999
11.3
7.5
•
10,000 -
14,999
18.5
21.3
15,00b -
24,"999
�17.6
23.0
25,000+
14.4
a
Median
EBI
$ 7,645
$11,806
Mean
EBI
10,208
14,790
EBIMD/
EBIA
74.9
79.8
2-21

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EXISTING LAND USE
A field survey of exisitng land use was conducted as part of this plan
update in Novem.ber 1980. Information from the survey was recorded on county
tax maps (scale: 1'= 400' or on U.S. Geological Survey quadrangles (scale:
1" = 2000') where tax maps were not available. These maps. are available for
inspection at the Dare County Administrative Building, Health and Environ-
mental Management Department.
SIGNIFICANT LAND USE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS
Land use compatibility problems were described in the 1976 plan, p. 41.
Problems identified there included strip commercial development along major
highways, and the conflicts between tourist -oriented development and the
homes of permanent residents.
Most of these problems occur within Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.
However, the same pattern exists within Kitty Hawk, Collington Island,
and the unincorporated areas near Manteo. Strip commercial development is
also increasing along NC 12 on Hatteras Island. Buxton and Hatteras ap-
pear to be the areas most affected by this trend. .Traffic congestion is
severe at times during the tourist season. In many cases, building setbacks
from the highway are inadequate and commercial uses are scattered indis-
criminatly among residences.
Three other areas of incompatible land uses were observed during pre-
paration of this plan. Residential development is found just north of runway
04-22 at Manteo Airport. A few homes are very old, substandard, and ought
to be demolished under the Community Development Program. These are
squeezed in between airport property and the county landfill. Other homes
are relatively new including a mobile home park on the east side of Old
Airport Road. The Maola Dairy Plant tends toward incompatibility with the
residential area here. The plant is attractiJtly designed and maintained,
9-91

however, and the traffic generated seems light.. 'It may in the long run en-
courage the development of additional industrial firms here.* County zoning
policy should encourage this consistent with airport development needs. At
the same time, further residential development under the runway approaches
should be discouraged.
The NCDOT ferry boat maintenance yard at Mann's Harbor represents an
• industrial use which has the potential to adversely impact nearby residential
development: '-The yard is located at the south end of SR 1105. Its effect
on residential development here depends considerably upon its ultimate em-
ployment and operational characteristics - noise, visual, pollution, traffic.
• An alternate means ofaccess and construction of a cul-de-sac on SR 1105 could
solve future traffic problems. Landscaping and screening could reduce appear-
ance problems:
• The mixture of industrial and commercial uses. at Wanchese Harbor is
another area of land use incompatibility. Actually, this is also a matter of
poorly planned development. Buildings of various business firms are jammed
cheek -to -jowl, off street parking and loading is totally unorganized, and
• actually occurs on the road, causing traffic congestion. Junk - old tanks,
piping, boat hulls and other scrap - is strewn casually about the vacant land
west of NC 345. The Wanchese waterfront is without question an exciting
place for visitors, and this is responsible for the presence of restaurants
• and retail seafood sales outlets. Its appearance and functioning for all
uses could be vastly improved if the business community would agree on some
overall plan for parking and circulation, appearance,.and the development of
new or enlarged firms.
PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS OF UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT
No development is completely unplanned. The simplest decision to
• build a residence on the sound rather than ocean front to minimize storm
damage is the outcome of a limited planning process. What is commonly found
is development based upon non -comprehensive planning and development which
utilizes design standards not acceptable to an independent observer. The
•
2-24
0

term "unplanned" is often used to denote "unregulated" development, develop-
ment which occurs in the absence of zoning and subdivision ordinances, build-
ing codes, septic tank installation standards, and similar measures. Such
development, however, is not necessarily "bad" at the time of completion.•
The passage of time tends to render obsolete many developments which were
adequately "planned" at the time of construction. Residential lot sizes,
floor plans, and street right of way widths are classic examples of design
standards which have changed through time and appear today to be unplanned.
The 1976 plan identified the most apparent problems and implications
• of unplanned development (pp.. 41-42). These included: loss of property
resulting from development in the active beach area; reduction of the pro-
tective function of the barrier dune; pollution of marshes and groundwater
by septic tank seepage:
All of these problems still exist in some degree. Regulations governing
development within Areas of Environmental Concern have reduced future
problems in ocean erodible areas and near the marshes. County subdivision
• regulations have been strengthened to require larger lots for development
served by septic tanks. The regulations governing development in ocean erod-
ible areas, however, have created anew problem.. Under current regulations,
many ocean front lots are unbuildable. Property owners are properly con-
cerned that the regulations exceed constitutional guarantees against -"taking
.without compensation. Estimates prepared by OCM in mid-1980 indicate that
over.two hundred lots in Dare County are unbuildable due to inadequate depth
from front (road .side) to rear .(seaward). The distribution of these lots is
shown on Table 10.
El
•
2-25
El

rV
TABLE 10
UNBUILDABLE LOTS IN
OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS
LOCATION NUMBER OF LOTS
Kill Devil Hills 37 - 38
Kitty Hawk 117
Nags Head 35 - 40
Hatteras Island 38 85
TOTAL 219 - 280
Source: The Coastland Times, October 21, 1980;
attributed to N. C. Office of Coastal Management
AREAS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE CHANGES IN PREDOMINANT LAND USE
Two areas - the mainland and Wanchese Harbor - are described as subject
-to land use change in the 1976 plan (pp.42-45). The mainland issue is the
conversion of timberland to pasture and row crop production by the First
Colony Farmers. At Wanchese, the State of North Carolina is cooperating with
Dare County and private interests to bring about major improvements to the
commercial fishing port.
Since 1976, peat deposits of commercial significance have been iden-
tified on the mainland. If mined, these could prove to be an alternate source
of fuel for electrical power generation.
AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
The federal Coastal Zone Management Act requires participating states
to identify "areas of particular public concern" and to establish mechanisms
for protecting them from unwise development. North Carolina has responded
L-L0

to this by establishing Areas of Environmental Concern ("AEC"). CAMA pro-
vides that local land use plans ". give special attention to the protec-
tion and appropriate development of Areas of Environmental Concern."
AEC's are land and water areas whose physical and biological nature
render them especially fragile and subject to rapid, and irreparable damage
by careless development practices. Their contribution to the economic,
ecological and aesthetic balance of the coastal region make their proper man-
agement a matter of.concern not just to Dare County but to the state as a
whole. Accordingly, CAMA establishes a joint program of management for AEC
shared by the county and the state.
The Coastal Resources Commission has designated the following AEC's
within Dare County. Others may be designated in the future.
Coastal wetlands: marshes, as defined in 15 NCAC 7H ,.0205
* Estuarine waters: Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico, and Roanoke
Sounds; Alligator River and others as defined in 15 NCAC 7H .0206
* Estuarine shorelines: a seventy-five foot wide strip, landward
of estuarine waters, measured from the mean high water mark
* Ocean erodible areas: virtually the entire ocean front for a
variable distance landward as determined by the CRC
* Inlet hazard areas: lands adjoining Oregon and Hatteras Inlets
for variable distances as determined by the CRC
* Small surface water supply watershed: the watershed in which
"Fresh Pond" is located in Bodie Island
* Public Trust Area: virtually all surface waters, whether estuarine or
not, e.g. Miltail Creek
* Public water supply well fields: Cape Hatteras well field
* Coastal complex natural areas: Nags Head Woods
2-27
0

•
•.I
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CURRE14T PLANS, POLICIES, REGULATIONS
Dare County has a relatively long history of planning for a county
with such a small permanent population: The seasonal population fluctua-
tions and environmental considerations have been the motivating forces
behind this planning program. Plans, policies, and regulations in effect
• in 1976 are described on pp. 45.- 46 of the 1976 CAMA land use plan.
.Listed below are documents prepared or substantially revised since 1976.
LOCAL PLANS
Flood Insurance Regulations
The county building inspector enforces flood insurance regulations
for structures located in flood prone areas. All of Dare -County, including
its municipalities, are enrolled in the Federal Insurance Administration's
(FIA) Regular Program for flood insurance. Maps showing flood prone areas
were submitted by FIA to Dare County in 1980. These do not show the
elevations of various flood levels, however.
Subdivision Regulations
All of Dare County is covered by subdivision regulations. A major
revision of the county ordinance in 1981 raised the minimum lot size
from 15,000 to 20,000'square feet where individual wells and septic tanks
are to be used. If public water is used, the minimum lot size is
15,000 square feet.
Subdivision plats are reviewed by the County Planning Board and
approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Professional assistance
to the Planning Board for plat review is provided by NRCD, Division of
Community Assistance.
2-28
�I

©l®
Zoning Ordinance
Dare County's zoning jurisdiction includes the unincorporated portion
of Bodie Island (the area north of Southern Shores to the Currituck County
line) and the northern portion of Roanoke Island (generally, the area north
of U.S. 64 - 264 and Skyco Road).
The county's five municipalities all enforce zoning ordinances
within their corporate limits.
Major' areas not covered by either municipal or county zoning are
Collington Island, Wanchese, Hatteras Island, and the mainland.
Dune Protection Ordinance
Dare County enacted a dune protection ordinance in 1971, several years
before the passage of CAMA. The county rescinded the ordinance following
the establishment of Areas of Environmental Concern and repeal of state
enabling legislation for this ordinance.
CAMA Permits for Minor Developmewnts in AEC
Dare County has established a program to enforce state guidelines
for development within Areas of Environmental Concern. Applications for
minor developments (as defined by CAMA) are reviewed and acted upon by
the Local Permit Officer ("LPO"). Dare County's program was approved
by OCM in 1978.
Both the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations were amended
in 1978 to conform with AEC requirements..
Sanitary Sewer Service -
Planning for wastewater treatment facilities in Dare County is being
conducted under SEction 201 of the Federal Water Quality Act Amendments
of 1972. Dare County contains two "201 facility planning areas. Roanoke
and Bodie Islands comprise the "Dare County Complex" facility planning area.
2-29
0

7.
It includes the Towns of Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills,'Southern
Shores as well as Wanchese, Kitty Hawk and Duck. The second area, the
Hatteras Island facility planning area, includes all of Hatteras Island
from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet.
The 201 process consists of three basic steps:
* Step 1 - The study or planning phase, in which treatment needs
are documented.-
* Step 2 - Engineering design of the cost effective treatment
alternative identified in Step 1.
* Step 3 - Construction phase.
IThe Step 1.plan for the Dare County Complex was submitted to DEM
for review in March 1977.. The plan calls for construction of a single
0 regional wastewater treatment plant located at Nags Head. The effluent
would be discharged to the Atlantic Ocean via a submarine outfall.
The precise location for the outfall and certain additional design
data were to be determined through a site survey, conducted as an amendment
to the Step 1-plan. The survey was begun in mid-1980 and is expected to
be complete by early 1981. This amendment must be reviewed and approved
by DEM and EPA. Final approval of the amended Step 1 thus is not expected
before the end of 1981.
Step 2, engineering design, could be complete by late 1982. Step 3,
construction, is' estimated to require almost two years. Operations, then,
may begin in early 1985; nearly five years behind the original estimate.
The foregoing assumes, of course, that construction funds will be
available from federal and state grants, and from a local bond issue.
It assumes further that additional funds will be available for the sewage
collection system to connect individual properties to the interceptors and
treatment facility.
9_,�n
0

0
•
It should be noted, too, that in spite of their inclusion in the
Dare County Complex facility planning area, Kitty Hawk, Collington Island,
Southern Shores, and Duck will not be served by the facilities proposed
in the Step l plan. They were omitted due to the relatively lower density of
population there and consequent lower priority. Future service there will
apparently require a further amendment to the Step 1 plan.
The Hatteras Island 201 facility plan has received much less attention
than its northern counterpart due mainly to the fact that the latter is
more heavily populated both permanently and seasonally. Thus, water quality
problems on Bodie and Roanoke Island have been deemed more pressing than
those on Hatteras Island. The past five years have seen much development take
place in the southern island and water quality concerns are thus becoming
stronger.
Most of the island is held by the National Park Service. Several
unincorporated communities on the island are.sur rounded by federal property:
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Frisco, Buxton, and Hatteras.
Step 1 of the Hatteras Island 201 facility plan was authorized in 1976.
The draft report is scheduled to be submitted to DEM in February, 1981.
Review of the plan by'DEM and EPA will require approximately one year and
substantial revisions in the plan are possible following those reviews.
The recommendations of both 201 plans may be affected by the outcome of yet
an study: the "generic" environmental impact statement for wastewater
treatment plans for the barrier islands of North Carolina. This study is
now.being conducted by EPA and includes six 201 study areas in North
Carolina: _
2-31
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* Dare County Complex
* Dare County, Hatteras Island
* Carteret County Complex
* Onslow County, Topsail/Surf City
* Southeastern Brunswick County
* Southwestern Brunswick County '
The purpose of the generic EIS is to evaluate alternative -procedures
for administration of the 201 construction grants program on barrier
islands. General alternatives cited by EPA are as follows:
• * Existing Procedure - this alternative is the current program
for review and approval of wastewater facilities on barrier
islands. This alternative of continuing with existing procedures
represents the "no federal action" alternative.
* Moderate Level of Protection - this -alternative may include.
several options for utilizing existing programs, policies, and
regulation more effectively in protecting barrier islands.
These options involve alternative criteria and guidance which
EPA would consider in its decision -making on wastewater facilities
on barrier islands. -
* High Level of Protection - this alternative would require stringent
criteria and guidance be used for EPA decision -making on waste-
water facilities on barrier islands to minimize actual and
potential adverse impacts.
Barrier.islands have been recognized -by EPA, Region.IV as unique
components of the coastal zone warranting special consideration. Issues
identified at this time include concern that the construction of waste-
water collection, transmission, and treatment facilities for major portions
of the barrier islands may result in adverse environmental impacts on
sensitive natural areas such as wetlands, floodplains and dunes. A further
concern involves the cost effectiveness of providing federal funds to serve
2-32
•

developments on barrier islands which may be subject to major damage or
-;loss-.due to storm activity. -An-evaluation of -appropriate technologies
• for wastewater disposal on the North Carolina -Barrier Islands will also
be addressed in this generic EIS.
Site specific EIS may be required by EPA following completion of the
generic EIS. There appears to be a high probability that the•Dare County
Complex facility plan will be the subject of a site specific EIS. This
is not likely to hasten the construction of proposed facilities. It is
.not yet possible to determine the probability of a site.specific EIS
for the Hatteras Island plan.
STATE PLANS
North Carolina Rail Plan
The State of North Carolina (NCDOT) has initiated a statewide plannipg
program for railroad service in response to -the federal Railroad Revitali-
zation and Regulatory Reform Act ("4R") of 1976. The 4R Act authorizes
planning assistance funds to states for the purpose of determining current
and future rail service needs. The Act also authorizes financial assistance
both to states and, through the states, to railroad companies for railroad
systems rehabilitation, operating subsidies, and outright purchase of
lines subject to abandonment.
Dare County is one of less than a dozen counties in North Carolina
which have no railroad service. No railroad service is proposed for Dare
County in the state Rail Plan and none of the other proposals contained
therein appear to have any measurable effect on Dare County.
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan ("SCORP")
The purpose of SCORP is to provide the Governor and General Assembly
with a tool to assist them in .examining and selecting investment alter-
natives for outdoor recreational facilities. The scope of the plan is to
maintain an inventory of existing recreational facilities in North Carolina;
2-33
•

to determine current and future demand for such facilities; to analyze
the capabilities of various providers of recreational opportunities to
meet these needs; and to make recommendations as to actions which would
_most effectively meet these needs. SCORP is updated regularly by NRCD.
Standards for various types of facilities, including local facilities,
40 are set forth as a guide for more detailed planning at the local level.
The lack of recreational opportunities for permanent residents of Dare
County was noted in the 1976 Land Use Plan. There seems to have been little
improvement in this matter over the past five years. The continued growth
41 of permanent population in the county is likely to result in heightened
demands for this service.
The only proposal contained in SCORP for recreational land acquisition.
in Dare County by the state is that required to complete Jockey's Ridge
State Park in Nags Head.
SCORP.also discusses the state's trails plan. Dare County contains
40 a segment of the Mountains -to -the -Sea Trail. The majority of the Trail
is on federal land, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, running from
Hatteras northward to Jockey's Ridge. The Trail will consist of.both
hiking and biking segments.
North Carolina Airport System Plan ("NCASP")
NCASP is prepared by NCDOT, Aeronautics Division. The plan presents
recommendations concerning the type, location, and timing of airport
development needed to establish a balanced system of public airports in
North Carolina over the next twenty years.
NCASP identifies four airports within Dare"County, their use classif-
ications, proposed improvements, and potential hazards associated with them.
The hazard assessment is discussed in this report under the section dealing
with constraints to development.
9- IA
40

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(322) fi{]adlErown G.al is
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• rd - = pp ///ii/a/iaii//Z///i/iV//////�/i//i/ii�iiiiia iii/iai"'Lr ✓aaiUij/'.,.2
Holland
on =`= � w vu • � '�+ � ���
quart PA41LiC0 8 f,hoA •� �
18000r TO BUT NOT INCL FL 180 :�
HOURS O USETHS: E3INTERMITTENT 0700-2200.'.mON-FRI / �� I _ ,,= `. �-.�•_�._ _ ,' OER TIMES NOTAM s �
GONTAC:T NEAREST FSS ��' 7�
• •-. r. Avon -
/
IDnd cl°HPoint BILLY MITCHELL -
SWANOUARTER NATIONAL 1-Z33
/ wILOLIFE wEFucE V290 within PAMUCO'D MOA
SON Y and obo.c does not exist
/� when the MOA is act;"'red. A EL�Y 1fJT -
5� . a.� 7� 80� 13r%//�
• / % HATTER INLET �' "�� 3D4'
�j Hatt
nrc -
TILE APE:HATEEP-AS'
6. Mon-Fri7 j // •, • • r /� °. '
2700, cOonlo- 22 4 j // rs.._ .:.:: ., 4. �_ • ///////il,- p{
� • c1 Cherry � x�i. ..It rv'ra• �--iv- � = . � � /•�/% // � _ J -
•as.?�
DARE COUNTY
-CAMA-
-AIRPORTS- •
FIGURE 6- F.
• SOURCE: FAA• LAND USE PLAN
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
V �:r

•
Manteo Airport: tlanteo Airport is located on Roanoke Island approxi-
mately' -one mile northwest of the Town of Manteo.. It is owned by Dare County
and its operations are governed by the Dare County Airport Authority.
Its FAA ossification is Basic Utility while NCASP classifies it as
tertiary. The ultimate classification by FAA is Basic Transport.
Manteo Airport has three runways. Their lengths and orientation are
as follows:
Runway 3 / Existing Ultimate
Orientation Length x Width Length
04-22
3300'
x 150'
4600.'
10-28
3180'
x 150'
3180'
16-34
3290'
x 150'
3290_'
The•master plan for Manteo Airport is now being revised and cost
estimates prepared for an expansion program. Major proposals include
the construction of a new terminal building and extension of Runway 04-22. -
The extension would be accomplished by.building it on a revetment extending
into Croatan Sound. This proposal is likely to require preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement due to the proposed disturbance to
public trust waters and alteration of the shoreline.
The area surrounding the airport is covered by the Dare County
zoning ordinance which should reduce potential conflicts between aircraft
operations and adjacent land uses.
Billy Mitchell Airport: This airport is located near Frisco on.
Hatteras Island. It is owned and operated by NCDOT. The airport is
classified by the Federal Aviation Agency as a Basic Utility Field. For
state planning purposes it is classified as a part of the tertiary
subsystem by the NCASP. There are no proposals for upgrading these class-
aficationS within the CAMA planning period.
r.
2-36

Its one -runway is 3,000 feet long and 75 feet. wide, with an orientation
6-24 I northeast - southwest).
Because'it is located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore,
the airport is in no danger of being surrounded by incompatible development.
Thus there appears to be no need for the establishment of an airport
zoning district at this time.
First.Flight Airport: This facility is located at the Wright Brothers
Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. It is owned and operated by the National
Park Service. Its FAA classification is Basic Utility. The NCASP assigns
it a tertiary classification. There are no plans to upgrade these classifi-
cations during the CAM1A planning period.
Its one runway is 3,000 feet long, 50 feet wide, and has an orientation
of 01-19 (north - south).
The airport is located within the Town of Kill Devil Hills, an area
highly developed for urban purposes. The use of land surrounding the
airport is governed by the Town's zoning ordinance and by federal ownership
of the immediately adjoining area. This should minimize potential conflicts
between aircraft operations and adjacent land uses.
Mid -Hatteras: NCASP recommends the construction of a fourth airport in
Dare County.. This would be a Basic Utility airport with a 3,000 foot
runway. Its orientation has not yet been determined. No specific site
has been designated though it is likely to be in the Rodanthe - Waves -
Salvo area. Construction is proposed for the period 1991 - 2000. Due to
its proximity to National Park Service property, it is likely that an
Environmental Impact statement will be required.
Transportation Improvement Program
.This is a statewide schedule of hiqhway improvement projects to be
undertaken during the seven year period 1980-1986. The following projects
are scheduled for Dare County:

•
t
:R-503*• NC 12 Hatteras Island villages Cost: $4,800,000'
--R-601 NC 12 Banner Bridge protection Cost: 4,200,000
e
*Upgrade NC 12 to modern 2-lane standards
-
.' ;
Feasibility Study of State Acquisition
of the Private Road From Dare County to Corolla
This study by NCDOT describes the problems with public access to
Corolla from Dare County and the alternatives to this action. The conclu-
sion reached was that the only financially.feasible and environmentally
sound action which could be undertaken in the near future was the State
'
taking of the road from Duck to Corolla. An environmental impact analysis
is currently underway to determine if significant environmental impacts
will.be expected from the proposed action. (Date: 1979).
_=
Wanchese Harbor
The Wanchese Harbor and Seafood Industrial Park project is a joint
effort of local., state and federal government. The overall objective of the
project is to assist the revitalization of the commercial fishing industry.
STATE PERMITS AND REGULATIONS
Table 11 lists the various regulations under North Carolina law which
affect the development and use of land in the coastal area.
r
FEDERAL PERMITS AND REGULATIONS
Table 12 lists the various regulations under federal law which affect
Y
the development and use of land'and water in the coastal area.
.
s
-
j:
L
i
t
2-38

LI
,��•ABLE 11
.STATE LICENSES ANO.PERMITS
Agency
Licenses and Permits
.Department of Natural Resources and
- Permits to discharge to surface
Community Development
waters or operate waste water
Division of Environmental Management
treatment plants or oil discharge
permits; NPDES Permits,
(G.S. 143-215
- Permits for septic tanks with a
capacity over 3000 gallons/day
(G.S. 143-215.3).
- Permits for withdrawal of surface
or ground waters in capacity use
areas (G.S. 143-215.15).
- Permits for air pollution abate-
ment facilities and sources
(G.S. 143-215.108).
- Permits for construction of com-
plex sources; e.g. parking lots,
subdivisions, stadiums, etc.
•
(G.S. 143-215.109).
- Permits for construction 'of a
well over 100,000 gallons/day
(G.S. 87-88).
Office of Coastal Management
- Permits to dredge and/or fill in
estaurine waters, tidelands, etc.
(G.S. 113-229).
- Permits to undertake development
in Areas of Environmental Concern
(G.S. 113A-118).
NOTE:. Minor development permits
are issued by the local
government.
Department of Natural Resources.and.
- Permits -to alter or construct'a
Community Development
dam (G.S. 143-215.66).
Division of Earth Resources
- Permits to mine (G.S. 74-51).
Permits to drill an exploratory
oil or gas well (G.S. 113-381).
2-39

4
7
•
A
TABLE 12 '
FEDERAL LICENSES AND PERMITS
Agency
Army Corps of Engineers
(Department of Defense)
Coast Guard
(Department of Transportation).
Geological Survey
Bureau of Land Management
(Department of Interior)
Nuclear Regulatory Con mission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
9-Al
Licenses and Permits
Permits required under
Sections 9 and 10 of the Rivers
and Harbors of 1899; permits to
construct in navigable waters.
Permits required under Section
103 of the Marine Protection,
Research and Sanctuaries Act
of 1972.
Permits required under Section
404 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act of 1972;
permits to undertake dredging
and/or .filling activities.
Permits for bridges, causeways,.
pipelines over navigable waters;
required under the General
Bridge Act of 1946 and the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
Deep water port permits.
Permits required for off -shore
drilling.
Approvals of OCS pipeline
corridor rights -of -way.
Licenses for siting, construe-
tion and operation of nuclear
power plants; required under
the Automic Energy Act of 1954
and Title II of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974.
Permits for construction,
operation and maintenance of
interstate pipelines facilities
required under the Natural Gas
Act of 1938.
Orders of interconnection of
electric transmission facilities
under Section 202 '(b) of the
Federal Power Act.

- Permission required for abandon-
=ment of natural gas pipeline
-and associated facilities under
-Section 7C(b) of the Natural
Gas Act of 1938.
- Licenses for non-federal hydro-
-electric projects and associated
transmission lines under Section
-4 and 15 of the Federal Power Act.

CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT
• LAND SUITABILITY
The fundamental premise of land use planning is that distinctions exist
between masses•of land which make them suitable for various types of develop-
0 ment. Conversely, not all lands are suitable for the same types of develop-
ment. The plan is an attempt, first, to identify those distinctions and,
second, to guide public and private decisions in a manner consistent with
the land's ability to absorb development.
•
The Coastal Resources Commission has identified a group of constraints
to future development which must be examined as part of the land use plan
update process. Most of these were discussed in the 1976 plan. This section
• contains references to that discussion and provides additional data where
changes have occurred since 1976.
HAZARD AREAS
Airports.
The land underlying approaches to airports is exposed to obvious crash
hazards and inconveniences due to noise from aircraft. Dare County'-s three
airports thus present certain constraints to the development of nearby land.
The reverse situation is also true: improper development causes hazards
to the safe operation of aircraft, e. g. electrical power lines, tall build-
ings. NCASP includes references to several potential conflicts between air-
port operation and the use of land surrounding Dare County's airports.
These are shown in Table 13. -
In addition, the military bombing ranges on the Dare County mainland -
are obvious hazards to human activity as well as to the natural environment.
i
•
2-43

TABLE 13
DARE COUNTY AIRPORTS '
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND HAZARDS
MANTEO MITCHELL FIRST FLIGHT
Causal Arlatlon Acttvttles
•
Conatrvelion
Opantlons
Other operatmr
Nose sci—f.es
Recreation a natural
O
0
A
R aselrea"henapatlwlt WpdLta
a recreation areas
s
0
Forest
0
NIA
'
0
0
e
•
•
Hrsloric
Historic
Archeolo7.cal
Q
NA
0
j
i �
<
Eswa,me
©
N.'A
p:.naliha
Wetlands
0
N'A
0
j
title atua
©
N/A
0
CI
` I`Wdplarns
takes. natural scucowses
0
WA
0
Animals
Q
Q
O
•
C
E.�dangand spaces
0
a
Plains
Q
MIA
Reix31.0n
A
0
0
sonsltlN human area! Hazards
0
NA
0
Ad;a:enl land use
0
0
0
Air yual;ty 0 WA 0
l e�.M eaw�••ti.y-denr.VW.�M CwllKl rt A. NW Aty1K.D�a
O.rbaM1r<UV ppMi.ar twn{t
- � Sri FlpwuW iwr.il '
Causal Avlat%n Acthitl
Consiruelbn Opamt;orla
O:h"
w:,so r•
a
}L7} •
f
E
a
C
m
0.
Revestten a "twat
O
0
Rostneeo management
WUdlde
O
0 -
a "emotion areas
Forest
O
WA
Hotodc
0
Q
Historic
Archeotolical
Q
N;A
Eetuwna
Q
N;A
sensitive water ants Wetlands
0
141.14
floodpls;na
O
AA
lakes, natural watercourses
0
H:A
Animals
0
0
Endangered apeeea
.
- Rants
0
MIA
Rflocabon
O
0
sensitive human ones Hatards
0
- NIA
AdIKMI land use
0
0
Air ejually
0
N.A
teg". 0W.M•al Del ree 611 M CW Nn t 61A. iM Aedssbe
O mv".I.i" We fii cemmd
ea.pnJ<.M prM4• iMllyd
Q FMwll.. ao1MIW ewnd
NOTE; Additional aviation -related hazards are imposed by Restricted Areas R-5313 and R-5314
<, ,
as shown r G These re Military !rations Areas M A Hazards include noise,
s ow on Figure e ese a i� 0 0 o se
O Y p t )
low altitude operation of high performance combat aircraft, and delivery of ordnance.
SOURCE: NCASP

• ti CHARLES WELLS
VICE CHAIRMAN
WILMINGTON
t fces C ARTHUR W.000PER
RALEIGH
C DEWITT L. DARDEN
PARKER CHESSON �� �'.. 2'� NEW BE RN
J. R. a 8 �✓ MAYME W. DAVENPORT
CHAIRMAN u E
CHARLES EVANSVANS
P. 0. BOX 1752 NAGS HEAD
ELIZABETH CITY, N. C. 27909 i. FRANK FURLOUGH, JR.
COLUMBIA
GIBBS
KENNETH D. STEWART j �F3t' wILUAM
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ORIENTAL
.' : t� NTAL
i KAREN GOTTOVI
P.O. BOX 27687 WILMINGTON
DESTY
RALEIGH, N. C. 27611 JERKY W. HAMOYOCK
JUN y T. ERIE HASTE, IR.
Telephone [phone] l�z HERTFORD
M(� GENE R. HUNTSMAN
(4,r. BESO HAVELOCK
May 25, 1982 JI/ CWQ �I��s L+OIa LAMES E DCITY
YKES
MOREHEH CITY
W. RANDOLPH THOMAS
r « +y JACKSONVILLE
... M EUGENE B. TOMLINSON. I R.
• SOUTHPORT
Mr. John S. Bone, Jr., Chairman
Dare County Commissioners
P. 0. Box 1000
Manteo, NC 27954
Dear Mr. Bone:
At their meeting on May 21, 1982, the Coastal Resources Commission reviewed
the locally adopted Dare County Land Use Plan Update you recently submitted for
final review. The Commission felt the plan was quite good and addressed most of
the issues pointed out in their review of your preliminary plan last August. The
Commission also recognized that the county is facing a variety of complex develop-
ment issues and problems and thus there are several areas which the Commission
felt additional clarification was necessary.
Subsequently the Commission certified your plan conditioned that the following
be satisfactorily met:
(1) inclusion of an existing land use map
(2) clarification of the existence of a complex natural area AEC in the county
(3) inclusion of a policy on future public participation, rather than only a
list of recommendations
(4) inclusion of a policy on off road vehicles
(5) inclusion of a policy on neat fired and similar energy facilities
(6) clarification on the types and densities of single family residences
permitted in the conservation land classification.
Of course the clarification in your letter of March 26, 1982 indicating the
correct one mile conservation buffer on the mainland should also be inserted into
the body of the plan. This will ensure the county's intentions are clearly under-
stood.
The next CRC meeting has been tentatively scheduled for July 1-2, at which
time the Commission will give final certification to the plan if these conditions
are satisfactorily met. We ask that these clarifications be submitted to the
Office of Coastal Management by June 21 if ycu are planning to resubmit the plan
for the July 1-2 meeting.

Mr. John S. Bone, Jr.
Page 2
May 25, 1982
I assure you that the Commission and its staff are committed to continue
working with you so that your plan can be finalized in the near future. We
appreciate the time and effort you have devoted to this important task and stand
ready to provide any assistance we can. If you have any questions about the
land use plan process or need further clarification or assistance, please contact
John Crew in our Washington office at 946-6481.
Sincerely,
vo-i�'.' e" .
J. Parker Chesson
JPC/aw
cc: Jack Cahoon
Terry Wheeler
Elmer Midgett
Lee Downie
John Crew t/
Gaile Pittman

A T L A T/O
— �.
w.
i Y. NON wo A O N — —
r,.u.e... o e, w .d 0-- v —
•�� ,. .... u ' / „} e .�.•" w. w.ie nuow ..a.e .ewee ..'_;:r....\
\ r
LAND CLASSIFI ATION /~ Jr ,� F i\may 4 -'
�. L MUNICIPAL
NEWTRANSITION �.... or..Ti. \ /��� r •� o / • _—
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY — \+ ENTIAL
\ uNh
✓d✓
CONSERVATION'
.RURAL t�tl �C DARE COUNTY
1 _U` ` pl j I �\ - \ x,• @ /' '! NORTH CAROLINA
7 •" i . L `" .y MOM uRM► DE7ART �r a TwuroRTAMN
f /J i �� \� . ..I t,�� I • %b \� � mm..n.c.iw+as�n.»..o ..e.a..o..wcr
fiu ,', '� n. I „_a. � . s.s."'•oa.. �"•. /' • rra w.e..

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
DARE COUNTY LAND USE PLAN
The North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 requires twenty
coastal counties to prepare, adopt, and update at five year intervals
land use plans to guide their physical development.
This Executive Summary presents the major findings and recommendations
of the Dare County Land Use Plan which was updated during 1980-1981.
The plan was drafted by the Dare County Planning Board and adopted by
the Board of County Commissioners on March 22, 1982.
The plan is composed of four major sections:
* Summary of Existing Conditions
* Development Policies
* Land Classification
* Public participation
The summary of existing conditions outlines the major changes in the
population and economic structure of Dare County which have occurred
in recent years. Briefly, the county's population has nearly doubled
over the past decade, reaching 13,377 as recorded by the 1980 Census.
Projections indicate a further increase to approximately twenty-five
thousand permanent residents by the end of this century.
Employment in Dare County has also grown. While manufacturing
employment is minuscule, other non-agricultural employment has
increased by nearly fifty percent during the past five years. There
exists some evidence that the county's economy is less volatile than
in the past,'as shown by decreased fluctuations in seasonal
unemployment rates. Proposals for the development of natural
resources on the Mainland and public investments in the commercial
fishing industry portend further diversification of the economy.
Development policies adopted as part of the plan indicate the County's
intended course of action in dealing with certain land use issues.
These include but are not limited to:
* Support for continued availability of federal flood insurance
* Continuation of efforts to implement wastewater treatment
facilities plans
* Investigation of central water system alternatives for
Hatteras Island
* Joint efforts by county and municipal governments to secure
public access to the beach
* Extension of the zoning ordinance to other parts of the
county
* Development of the county's natural resource base consistent
with high standards of environmental quality

._y
The Land Classification section describes in general terms the growth
pattern proposed for the county and is itself a major statement of
policy. This section also recognizes the land use plans prepared by
four of the county's municipalities to guide their development. The
Town of Kitty Hawk, incorporated while the county plan was in
preparation, is covered by the Dare County plan and will remain thus
until the Town prepares its own plan.
The Public Participation section describes the Planning Board's
efforts to insure adequate opportunity for public input to the plan.
This section concludes with recommendations for strengthening the Dare
County planning program with emphasis on public participation.
MI

-Ocean Erodible Areas -
These are the areas above mean high water where shoreline erosion is
occurring. These are discussed on p. 66 of the 1976 land use plan. Erosion
• rates were re -determined by the Coastal Resources Commission in 1980 and maps
prepared -showing these rates for the entire length of Bodie and Hatteras
Islands. Briefly, the highest rates occur on the north side of Oregon Inlet
(25 feet per year average), and just -north of Rodanthe (16 feet per year
• average).
Inlet Hazards
As noted above, erosion•is occurring rapidly at Oregon Inlet. Accretion,
• the opposite of erosion, is occurring on the Dare County side of -Hatteras
Inlet.
Flood Hazard Areas
• The vast majority of Dare County's land area is subject to flooding.
Maps prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration in 1978 indicate only
two areas which are subject to "minimal" flooding: Roanoke Island west of
Manteo, and part_of Bodie Island north of Southern Shores. Most of the re-
• mainder of Bodie and Hatteras Islands are subject to various flood hazards
including the "Zone V_" area: areas of 100 year coastal flood with velocity
(wave action). Zone V is found along the length of•Hatteras Island, the
southern part of Roanoke Island including Wanchese and a strip along the
mainland shore from Long Shoal River to Manns Harbor. Maps delineating flood
hazard areas are available from NRCD and, for inspection, in the Dare County
Administration Building.
• Estuarine Erodible Areas
These are the areas above ordinary high.water where.excessive erosion
is occurring. The entire shore line of the Dare County mainland is subject
to this process.. Erosion rates for various reaches of the.shoreline were
reported in the 1976 plan (pp. 73-75).
Erosion rates for Roanoke Island and the barrier islands have been
established by the State Geologist and are shown in. Figure 7.
2-45

•
Ocracoke Inlet to Hatteras Wet
•. r'�'•f A M L / —Q O i .O Y It r hi
• 1
71
7I
7
• -II
16
o 14 1
F 12 1
v
o G I y
o 4-
2-
STATION NUMBER
DARE COUNTY
-OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS— —CAMA— f
FIGURE T.A
SOURCE: OCM• AFTER DOLAN. PRIDDY & CARRAWAY
• LAND USE PLAN
1980
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
K. 2-46
T'1

Hatteras Inlet toame Hatteras
rl
2s 20 >:
V 20
J
5
_
K
30
o
c
O EROSION
ACCRETION'
20
u 1B _...
= 16
14 _
12
u 10
z 8
n 6
0
Y
4
2
0
. yy G Y' N z Cr {J Yy I. r = N V yN P S �OJ yE '••.
••� N N N M �i iti Y Y a O Y N
STATION NUMoER �•
DARE COUNTY !:
-OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS- -CAMA-'`
I"
FIGURE 7.13
SOURCE: OCM; AFTER DOLAN, PRIDDY & CARRAWAY �.
LAND USE PLAN
1980
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
Iry 2— 7i

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III
5
EROSION
• /�CCFETION
• I I
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1 U
N N O
It
STATION NUMBER
!. i
!
DARE .COUNTY
r
: t
-OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS-
-CAMA-
FIGURE 7.D
1
_
f1
SOURCE: OCM; AFTER DOLAN. PRIDDY & CARRAWAY
LAND USE PLAN
: !
t �.
$
1980
t
WILLIAMS 8 WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
:n

1
• II
•
2 8
0
0 �'
4
2
O
Oregon Inlet to Corolla— Sheet 1
20
I
u ..
EROSION I
I ALCRE"ON
I � .J•-L I I
I
I
u
L
u
Y 6
b'. •` bt. is � � � � � id � � � � � S a 6 — r N N N ., Y Y Y
• � — � � � m � N ;, N � a � � � a 23 S Y °° . � a a � s; p a 2t fs; a � -
STATION NUMBER
i
I
t
DARE COUNTY
—CAMA= -
c
FIGURE 7.E
SOURCE: OCM; AFTER DOLAN. PRIDDY & CARRAWAY
LAND USE PLAN
1980
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
t
2-50
—OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS —
b'. •` bt. is � � � � � id � � � � � S a 6 — r N N N ., Y Y Y
• � — � � � m � N ;, N � a � � � a 23 S Y °° . � a a � s; p a 2t fs; a � -
STATION NUMBER
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DARE COUNTY
—CAMA= -
c
FIGURE 7.E
SOURCE: OCM; AFTER DOLAN. PRIDDY & CARRAWAY
LAND USE PLAN
1980
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
t
2-50
—OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS —

Oregon Inlet to Corolla —Sheet 2
-
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EROSION
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iTAT10N NUMBER
sci-
47
DARE COUNTY
-OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS-
-CAMA-
`
FIGURE 7.F
SOURCE: OCM; AFTER DOLAN. PRIDDY & CARRAWAY
•
LAND USE PLAN.
1980
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
'i
2-51

;AREAS WITH SOILS LIMITATIONS
Soil characteristics for Dare County were reported in the 1976 plan
(pp. 76-80).
Since 1976 a more detailed survey of soils in the barrier islands has
been prepared by the Soil Conservation Service. The report describes soil
characteristics in detail and the various types of soils are mapped at a
scale of .1" = 1000'. These are available for inspection in the Dare County
Administration Building.
• AREAS WITH STEEP SLOPES -
Steep slopes occur in three areas:
* The frontal dunes on the barrier islands (including
Jockey's Ridge) =
* The northern shore of Roanoke Island
* The sound shore near Buxton
FRAGILE AREAS =
Areas classified as "fragile" were identified.in the 1976 land use plan
• (pp. 84-104). These•areas correspond very closely to the Areas of Environ-
mental Concern. They are discussed as part of Section III of the present
report, "Development Policies.
WATER SUPPLY
•
_
Ground and surface water supplies are discussed in
the 1976 plan, p. 81.
•
In mid-1980, the Dare County water system was connected
to the systems of
Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, and Nags [lead. The county's
source, ground water
-
on Roanoke Island, means that Fresh -Pond and Manteo's
wells have been re-
legated to back-up status as the source•for the three
communities. The water-
shed surrounding Fresh Pond is still a protected area,
however, as is the
Manteo well field.
�►
2-52

The. other well fields are on Hatteras Island, serving the four south-
ern villages, and on Roanoke Island supplying the Dare County System, near
•
Manteo.
All remaining areas of the county rely on individual wells.
AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL
Areas with resource potential were discussed in the 1976 plan, pp. iO5-106.
The only change which has occurred since 1976 is the finding of commer-
cially.valuable peat deposits on the mainland.
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY_ FACILITIES
WATER AND SE14ER SERVICE AREAS
Cape Hatteras Water Association
The Association provides water to approximately 1,500 customer accounts
in Hatteras, Frisco, Buxton, and Avon. This represents an increase of almost
700 accounts since 1976 and is an indicator of the development which has oc-
curred on Hatteras Island during the past few years. Finished water storage
facilities include the following:
Ground Storage (at plant)
Elevated (at Hatteras)
Elevated (at Buxton)
Elevated (at Avon)
TOTAL
200,000 gallons
100,000 "
100,000 "
100,000 "
500,000 "
Peak seasonal demand on the system is approximately 0.7 MGD, an increase.
of 75 percent since 1976. To satisfy this demand, pumps are required to
operate 18-20 hours per day. The system is clearly approaching its capacity
(804,000 GPD) for seasonal demands.
2-53 UJ

The National Park Service has recently indicated a desire to divest it-
-self of its water distribution system on Hatteras Island. Discussions are
underway which may soon lead to the Association's acquisition of the Park Serv-
ice system on'the southern part of the island.
Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head
Water treatment plants for Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head sit literally
side -by -side at the joint corporate limit near Fresh Pond. By late 1980,
both towns were purchasing most of their water from the Dare County system.
Water is brought in from the county's treatment plant on 'Roanoke Island via a
24-inch diameter transmission main. The two treatment plants, thus, tend to
operate largely as booster stations rather than for their original purposes.
Fresh Pond, however,J s still used as a back-up supply, treatment capabilities
maintained, and water quality monitored by both toms. Pumping capacity of
each plant is 1.4 million gallons.per day.
Finished water storage facilities are as follows:
Kill Devil Hills
Elevated (at plant)
Elevated (at Town Hall)
Ground (at plant)
TOTAL
250,000 gallons
200,000 "
500,000 "
950,000 "
Nags Head
Elevated (at Town Hall) 300,000 "
Ground (at plant) 500,000 "
TOTAL 800,000 "
In August 1980, peak daily demand was 0.98 MGD for Kill Devil Hills
(70% of pumping capacity) and 1.09 MGD for Nags Head (78% of pumping capacity).
Not all of Kill Devil Hills water consumption was generated within the Town,
however. Much water (approximately 9 % was sold to residents'of Collington
Island, just west of the Town.
0

•
•
•
•
a
Nags Head is now negotiating with the National Park Service to acquire
the latter's distribution system south of the Town. The proposed agreement
includes the eventual grant of an elevated tank site to the Town. This would
serve the purpose of increasing water pressure in South Nags Head; thereby,
improving fire fighting capability.
Kill Devil Hills proposes to construct a booster station on the line to
.Collington Island for the same purpose.
Manteo
The Town of Manteo operates a water treatment plant and is also connected
to the county system. The plant has a pumping capacity of 225,000 GPD.
Storage facilities total 300,000 gallons (including 75,000 gallons elevated).
IAverage daily usage is approximately 100,000 gallons with a peak summer day
demand -in 1980 of approximately 200,000 gallons (88% of capacity).
Manteo operates the only public sewer system in Dare County- The plant
operates at near capacity during the summer months (250,000 GPD). Discharge
is into Shal'lowbag Bay. Under the proposed 201 Wastewater Facilities Plan,
the Manteo treatment plant will be abandoned and wastewater pumped out to the
regional plant at Nags Head.
Dare County Water System
The Dare 'County water system became operational in mid-1980. The treat-
ment plant is located on PAC 345, just south of US 264 near.Manteo. Pumping
capacity is presently 5 MGD. The county system is intended to serve all of
Roanoke Island and the Dare Beaches area from Oregon Inlet to Duck. The.treat-
ment plant is capable of expansion to 8.4 MGD. Storage facilities are as
follows: _
Elevated (at plant)
Ground (at plant)
Elevated (at Southern Shores)
Ground (at Kitty Hawk)
TOTAL
225,000 gallons
2,000,000 "
500,000 "
500,000 "
3,225,000 "

i
- ANTICIPATED POPULATION GROWTH
Population projections for Dare County are prepared by the Division of
Environmental Management (DEM). Current projections, dated March, 1980, are
shown below:
DARE COUNTY
PERMANENT POPULATION
'
•
1980 - 2000
Year Population Range
1980 .10,700 - 11,300
•
1990 14,800 - 16,000
=
2000 20,500 - 22,600
Source.: DEM; March 24, _1980
These projections have official standing with DEM and EPA for 201 waste-
water treatment planning and areawide •rater quality management planning.
Because of,Dare County's participation in the 201 program and possible entry
into the latter program, it is proposed that DE14 figures be employed as the
•
basis for projections in its land use planning program. However, it is clear
that the 1980 projection is considerably below the actual population recorded by
.the 1980 Census. Further, there is no reason to believe that the projections
for 1990 and 2000 will not also prove to be low. An upward adjustment thus
_
•
appears to be justified at least for local land use planning purposes.
The data below are recommended county population totals for the years 1990
and 2000. These were developed by factoring up the DEM projections at the rate
•
of under -estimate for 1980 (18.4%).
-
REVISED POPULATION
-
PROJECTIONS, DARE COUNTY
-
Year Population Range
1990 17,523 - 18,944
2000 24,272 - 26,758
t
2-56

A tentative distribution of the total county population by township is
F
nted-below for the years 1990 and 2000. The.key assumption here is that
township will continue to.hold the same share of total county.population as
d in 1980.
DARE COUNTY
TENTATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION
BY TOWNSHIP: 1990 - 2000
Township 1990 2000
Atlantic 4906 - 5304, 6796 - 7492
Croatan 876 - 947 1213 - 1337
East Lake 175 - 189 242 - 267
Hatteras 3679 - 3978 5097 - 5619
Kinnekeet 1401 1515 1941 2140
Nags Head 6486 - 7011 8903 - 9903 .
TOTAL 17,523 - 18,944 24,272 - 26,758
The population growth forecast above amounts to a virtual doubling of Dare
County's population by the end of this century. This will result in continued
demands for public service increments and in the consumption of land for
residential and commercial development. Detailed calculations of land "needs"
for various types of development are not particularly useful since much of this
development will occur within municipalities.
Hatteras Island seems to be the likely high growth area, with a potential
increase of nearl'' four thousand permanent residents. At current family sizes
(2.5-3.0 persons/household), and assuming half -acre lots per family, this
indicates the potential consumption of 670 - 800 acres of land for homesites
alone. The island of course, contains thousands of platted but vacant lots,
more than sufficient to accommodate the anticipated growth.
2-57

REGION R
POPULATION PROJECTIONS'
1930 - 2000
COUNTY
1980
1990
2000
Camden
6,200 -
•6,500
6,700 -
7,000
7,200 -
7,500
Chowan
11,500 -
12,000
12,600 -
13,200
13,300. -
14,000
Currituck
12,400 -
13,100
20,700 -
22,300
35,000 -
38,700
Dare.
10,700 -
11,300
14,800 -
16,000*
20,500 -
22,600
Gates
8,500 -
8,900
8,600 -
9,000
8,500 -
9,000
Hyde
5,500 -
5,800
5,800 -
6,100
6,300 -
6,700
Pasquotank
29,200 -.
30,700
30,500 -
32,900
31,900 -
35,300
Perquimans
9,500 -
9,900
9,900 -
10,700
10,300 -
11,300
Tyrrell
4,100 -
4,300
4,400 -
4,600
4,600 -
5,100
Washington
15,600 -
16,400
16,500 -
17,800
17,400 -
19,200
REGION TOTAL
113,200 -
118,900
130,500 -
139,600
155,000 -
169,400
Dare County as
Share of Region*
9.5%
11.4%
.13.3%
*Mean values
Source: DEM; March
24,1980

I
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;_.INTRODUCTION
'DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
The most prominent feature of virtually every land use plan is the plan map
itself, showingproposals for new streets, community facilities and.the land
P Y � .use pattern to be developed in coming years.
The land classification maps and others showing the location of Areas of ,
Environmental. Concern fulfill this function in CAMA and, typically,, they receive
the bulk'of attention from elected officials and the general public during the
plan design and review process. Those maps, however, do not by any means
constitute the entire .plan. They are merely graphic representations. of certain
goals, objectives, and policies adopted by the community as the real guides to
future development. =Y
The Coastal Resources Commission recognizes the limitations of maps as =r
policy documents and requires that communities covered by the Act specify their _s
development policies, in written form, for several broad topics:
t
* Resource protection
*'Resource production and management
* Economic and community development -
This section contains recommended policy statements on a variety of topics
identified by the Coastal -Resources Commission as necessary components of local -
land use plans.
r
The format of this section is as follows. First, a brief description of = i
how each topic relates to.Dare County is provided. Second, a set of alternative
policies which'the County might adopt to -deal with each.issue is presented along
with comments on the likely consequences of each. Finally, a preferred - :f
recommended - policy is identified with a suggested implementation scheme.
Where alternatives to existing policy were regarded as superfluous, none are
described. In some cases a "no action" alternative is described. Where the
issue is not germane to Dare County the -reason is given.
3-1
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i r
RESOURCE PROTECTION
APPROPRIATE USES FOR AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
�r
Areas of Environmental Concern were established by CAMA in response to the
requirements of the federal Co.astal Zone Management Act. Development within ={•
AECs is managed through a cooperative system of local, state, and federal
I permits:
Dare County contains the followingAECs:
_t
f-
* Coastal wetlands: marshes, as defined in 15 NCAC 7H .0205
-t:
* Estuarine waters: Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico, and Roanoke Sounds; =F
Alligator River; others as defined in 15 NCAC 7H .0206 (a) �f
* Estuarine shorelines: a seventy-five foot wide strip, landward of
estuarine waters, measured from the mean high water mark
* Ocean erodible areas: virtually the entire ocean front for a R
variable distance landward as determined by the CRC
* Inlet hazard areas: lands adjoining Oregon and Hatteras Inlets
for variable distances as determined by the CRC
* Fresh Pond: located between Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills
* Public Trust Areas: most surface water, whether estuarine or not.
* Public water supply well fields: Cape Hatteras well field
* Coastal complex natural areas: Nags Head Woods }
CAMA planning guidelines require that the plan contain a list of land uses
which the county feels may appropriately be developed within each type of AEC. `
As a practical matter, this choice is not made solely by local government for
the Act assigns this responsibility to the Coastal Resources Commission. Dare
County, then, has the following options:
* It may find that current land use standards are sufficient to protect
the county's AECs
to
3-2

* It may find that additional uses . are appropriate and recommend that
.-Coastal Resources Commission policy be revised accordingly
* It may find that current use standards are not sufficient.to protect
• the county's AECs and recommend that Coastal Resources Commission policy
-be revised accordingly
With respect to the third alternative, Dare County could take action
.unilaterally where permits for minor development in AECs are involved; This
would be implemented through zoning ordinance amendments and through the
county's CAMA implementation program.
Use standards for Dare County's AECs are set forth below, summarized from
the North Carolina Administrative Code.
Estuarine Group - General Use Standards
• All four of the following AEC types are governed by the following general use
standards which supplement those for.individual AEC types.
Uses which are not water dependent will not be permitted in coastal wetlands, l
estuarine waters, and public trust waters. Restaurants, residences, apartments,,
motels, hotels, trailer parks, private roads, factories, and parking lots are
examples of uses that are not water dependent. Uses that are water dependent
may include: utility easements; docks; wharfs; boat ramps; dredging; bridges and
bridge approaches; revetments; bulkheads; culverts; groins; navigational aids;
mooring pilings; navigational channels; simple access channels and drainage
ditches.
Coastline Wetlands AEC
Use Standards. Highest priority of use shall be allocated to the conservation
of existing coastal wetlands. Second priority of coastal wetland use shall be
given to those types of development activities that require water access and
cannot function elsewhere.
Unacceptable land uses may include, but would not be limited to, the following.
examples: restaurant and businesses; residences, apartments, motels; hotels, and
trailer parks; parking lots and private roads and highways; and factories.
Examples of acceptable land uses may include utility easements, fishing pi.ers,
docks, and agricultural uses, such as farming and forestry drainage, as
permitted under North Carolina's Dredge and Fill Act and/or other applicable
laws.
3-3

• Estuarine Shoreline AEC
Use Standards. No uses are absolutely prohibited. The shoreline tends to -be
impacted by uses of land and water on either side of the shoreline, however,
and may as a practical matter be limited thereby.
Estuarine Waters AEC
Use Standards. Highest priority of use shall be allocated to the conservation
of estuarine waters and its vital components. Second priority of estuarine .
waters use shall be given to those types of development activities that require
water access and use which cannot function elsewhere such as simple access
channels; structures to prevent erosion; navigation channels; boat docks,
marinas, piers, wharfs, and mooring pilings.
.,Public Trust Areas AEC
Use Standards. In the absence of overriding public benefit, any use which
significantly interferes with the public right of navigation or other public
trust rights which the public may be found to have in these areas shall not be
allowed. The development of navigational channels or drainage ditches, the use
of bulkheads to prevent erosion, and the building of piers, wharfs, or marinas'
are examples of uses that may. be acceptable within public trust areas, provided
that such uses will not'be detrimental to the public trust rights and the
biological and physical functions of the estuary. Projects*which would directly
or indirectly block or impair existing navigation channels, increase shoreline
erosion,. deposit spoils below mean high tide, cause adverse water circulation
patterns, violate water quality standards, or cause degradation of shellfish
waters are generally considered incompatible with the management policies of
public trust areas.
Ocean Hazard Group - General Use Standards
This group includes two types of AECs in Dare County:
* Inlet Hazard Areas AEC
* Ocean Erodible Areas AEC
Unlike,the Estuarine Group, no specific list of appropriate uses or unacceptable
uses has been established for the Ocean Hazard Areas group. Instead, "....all
development not otherwise specifically exempted or allowed by law or elsewhere
in [North Carolina Administrative Code, Sub -Chapter 7H] shall be located
according to [certain performance standards set forth in Section .0306-.0308].
These standards are of considerable length and therefore not reproduced in this
plan. They are available for inspection at the Dare County Courthouse,
Department of Health and Environmental Management.
3-4

:c
Public Water Supplies Group a
This group contains two types of AECs:
Small Surface Water Supply Watershed AEC
s
* Public Water Supply Well Field AEC
t
Again, no specific uses are listed. Development is controlled by performance
standards.
• :t
Small Surface Water Supply Watershed AEC
Use Standards. The CRC or local designated official shall approve an
application upon finding that the project is in accord with the following
minimum standards:
(1) Ground absorption sewage disposal systems shall be located a minimum
of 100 feet from A -II surface waters.
(2) Development requiring a national pollution discharge elimination
system (NPDES) permit will be denied an AEC permit until the NPDES
permit is secured,
(3) Land -disturbing activities (land clearing, grading, and surfacing)
shall be in compliance with the mandatory standards of the North
Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Control Act 'of 1973 (G.S. 113A-57).
(4) In instances where a detailed hydrologic study of a small surface
water supply watershed has been made, more detailed standards may be
applied.
Public Water Supply Well Field AEC
Use Standards, The CRC or the local designated official shall approve an
application upon finding that the project is in accord with the following
minimum standards:
(1). The project does not use ground absorption sewage disposal systems
within the designated boundary of the well field.
(2) The project does not require subsurface pollution injection within
the designated boundary of the AEC..
(3) The project does not significantly limit the quality of the water
supply or the amount of rechargeable water to the well fields.
(4) The project does not cause salt water intrusion into the public
water supply or discharge toxic and/or soluble contaminants.
Natural and Cultural Resource Areas Group
This group includes the following AEC within Dare County:-
* Coastal Complex Natural Areas AEC
•

Permits for development in designated fragile coastal natural or cultural
resource areas will be approved upon finding that:
(1) The propoposed design and location will cause no major or irrever-
sible damage to the stated values of a particular resource. One or
more of the following values must be considered depending upon the
stated significance of the resource:
(a) Development shall preserve the values of the individual resource
as it functions as a critical component of a natural system.
(b) Development shall not adversely affect the values of the resource
as a unique scientific, associative, or educational resource.
(c). Development shall be consistent with the aesthetic values of a
resource as identified by the local government and citizenry.
.(2) No reasonable alternative sites are available outside the designated
AEC.
• (3) Reasonable mitigation measures have been considered and incorporated
into the project plan. These measures whall include consultation with
recognized authorities and with the CRC.
(4) The project will be of equal or greater public benefit than those
benefits lost or damaged through development.
Dare -County recognizes that the identification and protection of AECs is one of
the central concerns of CAMA. Governmental intervention in the land development
market place is necessary to assure the proper functioning of the physical and
biological systems represented by AECs.
The county's basic position on the use of AECs was established In its decision
to issue permits for minor developments within AECs. By so *choosing, it agreed
that the uses deemedappropriate under state administrative regulation were
necessary and represented the best available information. No information has
since become *available to .the county which would allow it to argue effectively
for a less restrictive set of uses. Nor has any information come to the county
which makes apparent the need for a higher level of protection.by adopting a.
more restrictive set of uses. Therefore, Dare County proposes to continue to
guide -the use of AECs in accordance with the standards set forth in existing
regulations. Dare County will also exercise its option to advise the Coastal
Resources Commission of changes in appropriate uses'as'new information becomes
available.
3-6. i

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CONSTRAINTS TO DEVELOPMENT
FLOOD PRONE AREAS
Much of Dare County is subject to flooding. Flood hazard maps showing these
areas have been prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration. The county is
enrolled in the Regular Flood Insurance program which offers federally
subsidized insurance against flood damage.
It is proposed that the county maintain its insurable status by keeping
its program current with federal regulations.
Alternatives to maintenance of federal subsidy eligibility include: (1)
complete reliance on the private sector and (2) adoption of local building
regulations requiring a higher level of -protection than necessary under the
• federal program. Reliance on the private sector is thought to be unrealistic
since premiums would certainly be much higher than at present. The other
alternative would commit the county to a series of studies and decisions as to
the desirable level of flood protection and possibly a more elaborate
enforcement program than necessary under the present program.
3-8

FRAGILE AREAS
Dare County contains many properties of historic, architectural, and
archaeological significance. The county also contains natural areas-pocosins,
-wooded swamps, forests which are of scientific interest and are important
elements of the overall natural system of the county. Management decisions
concerning this latter group must be made in light of the contrasting present
and future uses.
i
With respect to the first group of fragile areas, the North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives -and History, has prepared
the -following statement as a guide to local governments in the CAMA program.
i
Historic and architecturally significant -buildings can be adversely
affected, both directly and indirectly, by a large number of activities.
All construction projects have the potential to require the demolition of
important, though simple, structures on a site as well as to alter the use
• of nearby land, thereby causing secondary impacts to a building of historic
or architectural importance. Existing buildings may be amenable to
adaptive reuse, often for uses quite different from that intended at the
time of a building's construction. Rehabilitation has been cited as more
energy conservative and job intensive than new construction, and recycles
elements of the coastal historic character into everyday use.
Archaeological resources are fragile and nonrenewable. Such resources
include both historic and prehistoric sites. on land. These sites are found
in urban and rural areas, as well as along the shores. Archaeological
sites contain vast amounts of information about our past; information that,
at times, can be found nowhere else.
Due to the fragile nature of these resources, many different types of
activities damage or destroy archaeological sites. Most activities that
involve ground disturbance, such as construction, grading, excavation, and
even agricultural and timbering activities that do not necessarily involve
ground disturbances can also affect archaeological sites. These activities
include recreational use, flooding, erosion and soil compaction.
Underwater cultural resources often hold a wealth of information due
to excellent artifact preservation and their normally undisturbed
condition. Exploration and -study of historic waterfronts, abandoned or
wrecked vessels, etc., can shed light on many aspects of maritime history
associated with this planning area which might otherwise be unknown.
Therefore, the understanding and proper management of these irreplaceable
cultural resources is extremely important to prevent their loss during
future development.
3-9

r.:
Disturbance of submerged bottom lands, particularly during new channel
dredging and extensive waterfront development,�should consider possible effects
to underwater cultural resources during the earliest stages of planning. In
areas that have been historically used for maritime activities, documentary '
investigations should be initiated to determine whether an underwater
archaeological survey is necessary. Known shipwrecks, many of which are plotted
on USGS maps or Coastal Geodetic Survey charts, should be avoided or
investigated and assessed for historical significance prior to final planning
' stages.
The Dare County Board of Commissioners endorse this assessment and propose
to employ it as a statement of policy. The County will observe federal and
state regulations relating to the protection of historic properties listed in
Table 15. Alternative methods of protecting individual properties will be
considered as proposals for the development of nearby areas are made. Many of
the Dare County's historic and architecturally significant properties are
located within the county's municipalities or on federal property. These are
beyond the reach of county regulation (as by historic district zoning or
designation as Areas of Environmental Concern). Dare County may, however, wish
to offer financial and/or technical assistance to municipal preservation
efforts. The County should also participate in federal preservation efforts as
opportunities are presented. Dare County's expressed preferences for federal
action to save the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is an example of such action.
The unincorporated areas of the county contain some properties which may
qualify for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Others are
not of national significance but are worthy of protection on a local basis.
Like many counties, no comprehensive inventory and evaluation of historic
properties has been undertaken for Dare County. It is recommended that Dare
County conduct such a study as part of the American Four Hundredth Anniversary
Celebration. The study should include preparation of documentation to support
r.'
nomination to the National Register, where warranted. '
The natural fragile areas present a different set of problems. The demand
for cleared agricultural land.and peat extraction may conflict with the desire
to preserve wildlife habitat and with the need to maintain desired levels of
salinity and nutrients in the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. -Areas that sustain
remnant plant and animal species may adjoin aqd be adversely impacted by urban
development.
3-lu

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�7
TABLE 15
HISTORIC PROPERTY INVENTORY
--DARE COUNTY - NATIONAL REGISTER PROPERTIES
Bodie Island Light Station
Bodie Island Life Saving Station
Caffey'.s Inlet Life Saving Station (North of Duck)
:Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Buxton)
Chicamacomico Boathouse (Rodanthe)
Chicamacomico Life Saving Station
Civilian Conservation Corps House (Buxton Cabins)
George Washington Creef House (Budleigh St., Manteo)
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Manteo)
Hatteras.Weather Station
.Little Kinnakeet Coast Guard Station (Avon vicinity)
Nags Head Beach Cottage Row Historic District
Oregon Inlet Station
U.S.S. Monitor•(National Heritage List)
Wright Brothers Hanger Building (Kill Devil Hills).
Wright Brothers National Memorial (Kill Devil Hills)
DARE COUNTY - STUDY LIST AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT PROPERTIES
SL
- Creed's Hill Life Saving Station (Frisco vic.)
SL
- Durant's Life Saving Station (Hatteras. vic)
SL
- Drinkwater's Folly (Manteo vic. at jct of US 64 and 345)
SL
- Fearing House (Nags Head)
SL
- First Colony House (Nags Head)
•
SL
- Kill Devil Hills Life_Saving Station (Kill Devil Hills)
SL
- Kitty Hawk Life Saving Station (Kitty Hawk)
SL
- Theodore Meekins House (Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo)
George Wright Wescott House (Manteo vic., N side SR 1123, near
jct with
SR 1121)
Esther Meekins House (Manteo vic., N side SR 11-15, .3 mi from
jct. with
•
SR 1116)
Roanoke Island Baptist Church (Manteo vic., E side US 64-264,
.1 mile W
of jct SR 1116)
Carter B. Beacham House (Kitty Hawk vic., N side SR 1208).
Harris Midgett House
Village of Stumpy Point
•
Shiloh United Methodist Church (Stumpy Point,.N side SR'1100,
.4 mi E of
SR 1156)
Wanchese'Academy (Wanchese)
Gus Etheridge House
Dare Co. Courthouse (Manteo; Corner Queen Elizabeth and Budleigh
Streets)
John Evans House (Manteo, 310 Sir Walter Raleigh St.)
S
Mount Olive United Methodist Church (Manteo)
Pugh-Meekins House (Manteo, corner of Sir Walter Raleigh St. &
Uppowoc Ave.
James House (Nags Head, E side US 158)
Arlington Hotel (Nags Head)
Ed Outlaw Cottage (Nags Head).
First Colony House (Nags Head, E side US 158)

TABLE 15
HISTORICPROPERTY INVENTORY
continued
DARE COUNTY - STUDY LIST AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT PROPERTIES
• Dr. Frank Graham House (Nags Head)
Fearing House (Nags Head, Sound Side Road)
George Midgett House (Nags Head, Old Sound -Side Road)
Carolina Motor Hotel (Carolinian) (Nags Head)
Lourina Midgett House (Rodanthe)
Fessenden Tower Site (Buxton)
East Lake Methodist Church (East Lake, N side US 64, near jct with SR 1103)
Creef Family Cemetery (East Lake Vic., NE corner of jct of SR 1169 & US 64)
Nancy Cain Cabin (East Lake vicinity, SR 1102)
East•Lake Primitive Baptist Church (East Lake, E side SR 1102, .4 mi N of
jct. with 64)
Sam Jones House (SR 1237, Hatteras)
House (Hatteras)
Mt. Carmel Methodist Church (Mann's Harbor, W side US 64-264, .4 mi S of
jct with SR 1107)
I Outer Banks Windmill (Nags Head, US 158, Milepost 16)
SOURCE: N.C. Dept. Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History
3-12

'?ABLE 16
FEDERAL AND STATE CONTROLS
AFFECTING HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
•
FEDERAL
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
The Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, Public Law 93-291
Executive Order 1.1593, Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural
Environment, 16 U.S.C. 470 (Supp. 1, 1971)
National Environmental Policy Act, Public Law 91-190, 42 U.S.C.
4321 Et. Seq. (1970)
Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383: Environmental
r
Review Procedures for the Community Development Block Grant Program
(40 CFR Part 58)
Procedures for the Protection of Historic and Cultural Properties
(36 CFR Part 800)
i
Comprehensive Planning Assistance Program (701) as Amended by Public
f
Law -93-393
.
;
t
The Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-670
Identification and Administration of Cultural Resources: Procedures
of Individual Federal Agencies
•s
STATE
G.S..121-12(a) Protection of Properties in the National Register
�f
State Environmental Policy Act, Article 1 of Chapter 113A of the,
General Statutes
a
Executive Order XVI
Indian Antiquities, G.S. 70.1-4
Salvage of Abandoned Shipwrecks and Other Underwater Archeological
Sites: G.S. 121-22, 23; 143E-62 (1) g, (3)
Archeological Salvage in Highway Construction, G.S. 136-42.1
Provisions for Cultural Resources in Dredging and Filling
Operations, G.S. 113-229
_
3-13

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et lerytl•AT[e ADD AMDAorOLS rllxl3 AAD Iisprol pA 1.
DARE COUNTY :���,r'- i
►amu eAsITAT trpts or PASTIMAe \ \,.V - - r 1,•p Pr•• •^... ►.re° 3•..n.A Ar.0 •�l
11POeTA\CC TO tltDWrt COsSCstATI011 ~'� t, ice ` �+►' IF^{�!sA.. sp... i.1 Aru• -
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r

A serious problem exists in attempting to protect these ,areas. The North
Carolina Coastal Area Management Plan has=not yet resulted in the development of
a systematic program to identify and establish these resources as Areas of
Environmental. Concern on a region wide basis. Presently, this task is left to a
-voluntary nomination system which may not ensure resource evaluation in time to
prevent damage by unwise development. The nomination process allows for
establishment of the following fragile areas as AECs:
* Coastal areas that sustain remnant species
* Coastal complex natural areas
* Significant coastal archaeological resources
* Significant coastal historic architectural resources
* Unique geological formations
Virtually all land disturbing activities - agriculture, highway
construction, mining, subdivision development - are potentially destructive
agents. Yet, some •are exempt from AEC regulations: These lands are some of
North Carolina's most fragile coastal resources but their locations are not
sufficiently defined nor their significance adequately measured to allow AEC
designation without site specific studies. This is beyond the technical and
financial capability of most county governments including Dare County.
A great deal of fragile land in Dare County has Icome under federal owner-
ship thus affording what many feel to be the ultimate in resource protection.
This has all. occurred on the barrier islands. The mainland of Dare County,
however, is still largely in private ownership. Development proposals for
peat mining and agricultural production are being made which could change the
basic character of the area, possibly damaging other resource values. Barrick
and Critcher (1975) have identified several types of wildlife habitat on the
Dare mainland:
* Bogs and pocosins north of US 64 and east of US 264
* Wooded swamps fringing South Lake, the Alligator River,
Miltail Creek, and Whipping Creek.Lake
* Freshwater marsh (Durant Island)
* Saltwater marsh adjoining Cr.oatan and Pamlico Sounds
3-15

Great 0 r
ISlapd o
�a
�k. Q Bald Pt
R.
w Bn ton..Landi g'
re
LD
_-1�=-'=_E3htS:3-._,=11�•'`%>•rn-• ��`k�=' ��.. '�ir..u6•�==��„-.�,- - -_ �'-�. •:.( -
-a• "� p<��.a' ••'isUXfOT1 =�=� ...sy �_ .— ^J-Tank i�.
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Light (C) • • . `,�3 _'0' • _ _ — _. _�.. _ -- - �� :j'
• � •��N,. =:--may cam} � 3��i •- � =—_ — � • i_•i : _ — {. f
ate; i _ "_ - - _� - '�-�'=-•— -_ � _ . - • I ' !-"
� •' _ , �._• �'
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—rr T-' i �f • Cis �.: _ _ EI -- • �• • .r -
__� Y•�- 1 :?�?-�:v�-1����ror-�r (' � —tea — — _ �- � «• j'�
A-m7 N =�_ _ "- U ��_ __ .- _-=,.��•..� y'�t^ICap Hatteras
thouse (Abnd)(C)
a
{
I
—BUXTON WOODS-=
SOURCE: USGS•
WILLIAMS a WORKS, INC. SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINI
DARE COUNTY
—CAMA--
FIGURE 9
LAND USE PLAN

The 1376 plan specifically mentioned the possibility of "natural area
protection" for Durant Island and a proposal that several thousand acres of
pocosin on the mainland be "set aside."
• Buxton Woods, at the south end of Hatteras Island, also exemplifies the
concept of a natural fragile area. Approximately one-third of this 3,000 acre
tract lies within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The remainder is
privately held and subject to increasing development pressure. The area is not
zoned at this time nor.has it been designated an AEC.
At least four policy options are available to Dare County for the
protection - of these areas:
* Low density zoning
* Conservation classification
* Designation of AECs irrespective of zoning and land
• classification system
* Selective purchase by public agencies or non-profit
preservation organizations
• Zoning, land classification, and AECs are useful tools for achieving
preservation objectives. It must be remembered, however, that these tools do
not actually produce anything. They are regulations which respond to market
forces by attempting to reduce the most undesirable side effects of development
• proposals.
Nor are these tools substitutes for one another. Each is aimed at
achieving specific objectives. Zoning and AEC regulations presuppose
development by the private market though neither can prevent clearing of land
for agriculture and consequent destruction of wildlife habitat. Land
classification has much to do with utility construction and policy relationships
between federal, state, and local governments. The limits of land
• classification as a regulatory mechanism have not been completely explored yet.

• 1!
Purchase of selected areas is the surest means of protection. It is also
the most expensive and fraught with political problems. Like the other
.measures, purchase too has a specific objective: absolute prohibition of private
development. Thus, purchase -should be reserved for the most critical
situations.
It is clear from this that Dare County's preservation objectives with
respect to fragile areas must be carefully established. This is turn requires
additional knowledge of physical and biological conditions in the field. It is
recommended that Dare County conduct studies of Durant Island, the mainland
and Buxton Woods to nominate AECs and to identify. specific tracts for which
public purchase `is desirable. This -work could be funded through grants from
CAMA.
In the meantime some protection for fragile areas is offered by the land
classification system, existing AECs, and other regulatory devices. Dare County
will not extend or participate in the extension of water and/or sewer lines to
fragile areas designated as Conservation lands. on the land classification map
unless there is no reasonable alternative to supplying those services to other
areas. In Dare County it is likely that conservation lands will be crossed by
water, sewer, and electrical lines for this reason. The crossing of lyational
Park Service Property on.Hatteras Island in the 1970s to allow construction of
water and electric pottier lines is a good example of this type of necessity. As
Hatteras Island's population grows, additional construction of this sort seems
likely. The County will continue to enforce the standards for minor
developments in fragile areas designated as AECs by the Coastal Resources
Commission. The County will also participate actively in 6the review of
applications for major development permits in such areas. /— Finally, the County
is mindful that some fragile areas are protected by state and federal
regulations other than those governing AECs, (See Tables 11, 12, 16). Pending
further analyses of the need to establish additional.AECs, Dare County will
attempt to preserve fragile areas through enforcement of those regulations
within its jurisdiction.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TYPES AND LOCATIONS OF DESIRED INDUSTRY
Dare County -has one of the lowest rates of industrial plant development and
expansion of North Carolina's one hundred counties. For the sixteen year period
1960 - 1976, only Tyrrell County experienced a smaller investment ($260,000) in
'new and expanded industry than Dare ($290,000). * For the 1976 - 1979 period,
the pace quickened somewhat ($781,000) but Dare still ranks near the bottom.
Tourism and industrial development are not mutually exclusive, however.
Dare County, in cooperation with the N.C. Department of Commerce and U.S.
• Economic Development Administration, has proceeded on the theory that the
county's natural resource base should be more thoroughly utilized to produce a
more stable economy. The Wanchese harbor seafood industrial park is the outcome
of this work.
It is assumed that Dare County citizens wish to see additional industrial
development occur, consistent with existing environmental law and traditional
life styles. To achieve this goal the choices confronting the county include:
* The level of involvement by county government in the industrial
recruitment effort
* The types of industries to be sought
* Proposed locations for industrial development
The roll of government in guiding private investment is well established in
theory, law, and practice. The alternative is a purely Laissez faire approach
in which government is only passively involved in economic development. All
decisions would be made exclusively in the private sector and county government
would merely accept or reject proposals made there. Dare County is not the only
* Source: N.C. County Profiles. This comparison is not entirely fair to Dare
County since the data do not include investments in fishing boats and
related equipment. Nor do the data include investments in the tourist
trade, Dare's major "industry."
3-19

possible location for many. -industrial developments; however, and it- is certain
that neighboring communities will.compete_for the investment dollar. This plan,
therefore, reaffirms the County's :intent to influence future industrial
.development in a positive manner.
Dare County would welcome a variety of industrial firms. Realistically,
however, it prospects are limited due to the county's distance from major
markets, lack of rail services, and inferior highway. access. The county's
present development strategy is aimed appropriately at fishing, boat building
and related industrial groups. -
Add * it-ional opportunities may arise from proposed large-scale farming and
peat mining on the mainland. Increased agricultural production suggests the
possible development of food processing and packing industries. Peat mining
could itself become a major employer.
The Manteo Airport also represents a resource for industrial development.
Firms which manufacture products of high value and low weight as well as
perishable goods are often attracted to airport locations for product
transportation convenience. Firms manufacturing aviation products (power
plants, air frames, avionic equipment, etc.) also require airport sites. An
airport location would also be suitable for the development of warehousing and
wholesale operations.
3-20

DESIRED URBAN GROWTH PATTERNS ,
Dare County's settlement pattern consists of several densely developed
:-urban clusters on Roanoke, Bodie, and Hatteras Islands. These are separated by
vast expanses of water and federal land. Mantis Harbor and Stumpy -Point
constitute the major settlewments on the mainland. East Lake, also on the
mainland, is less well-defined physically and regarded as rural -nonfarm
economically.
'One of the many objectives of CAMA is for each county to examine•its
settlement pattern, identifying problem areas and opportunities for shaping
future urban development in accordance with local desires. North Carolina law
provides many tools by which the county can influence the.pattern of future
development. The ability to shape the future settlementpattern has important
meaning for environmental protection, for efficiency in providing local
government services, and economic development. Taken together, these amount to
nothing less than insuring Dare's desirability .as a place to live. It is, of
• course, utterly impractical to consider a wholesale re -design and reconstruction
of the present settlement pattern regardless of the efficiency benefits which
might result. Thus, it is the future development pattern with which this plan
is mainly concerned.
Federal purchases on Bodie and Hatteras Islands have done much to define
the future settlement pattern. The limited amount of privately -held land on
Hatteras Island makes it proper utilization even more important to Dare County
than is the usual case. The villages there represent opportunities to
accommodate moderately dense development in the midst of a near -wilderness.
This scheme is in danger of breaking down at the southern of the island,
however. The land use survey of Buxton, Frisco, .and Hatteras indicates a trend
toward strip development between the three which can only end in the loss of
their individual identities as has happened between Kill Devil Hills and Nags
Head. The same sort of pattern is developing at the north end of Bodie Island
from U.S. 158 to the Currituck County line.
On Roanoke Island, pressure for development between Wanchese and Manteo is
likely to increase with the development of Wanchese harbor industries.
3-21

Dare County government and the citizens of these areas should attempt to
maintain this cluster system of development. The Land Classification map
adopted as part of this plan illustrates the proposed growth pattern. It
reflects the existing pattern to a great degree: -a series of urban -clusters
centered upon the county's municipalities and villages. Areas to be retained in
their natural state are delineated in accordance with the policies of the
.Coastal Resources Commission.
The principal tooAs for bringing about this pattern are:
* Utility construction plans for public water and sanitary sewer service
* CAMA regulations governing development within Areas of Environmental
Concern
* Septic tank regulations promulgated by the N.C. Division of Health
Services and enforced by the Dare County Health Department.
* Municipal1 and development codes', (i.e. zoning and subdivision)
* Coastal Zone Management Act provisions for consistency of federal
actions with state plans
* Preferential assessments for farm and forest land
* Dare County's voting membership in the Albemarle Regional Planning and
Development Commission, empowering it to participate in, discussions and
decision making on projects of regional significance- which might affect
the proposed settlement pattern.
* Zoning ordinance - (Dare County)
• * Subdivision.regulation - (Dare County)
The federal and state licenses and permits listed in Tables 11, 12, and 16
also have varying levels of influence on the development pattern.
w
The county zoning ordinance is one of the most powerful tools for shaping
the development pattern. It has not yet been effectuated on Hatteras Island or
in the Wanchese area. No hard criteria exist by which to judge the necessity of
additional coverage by the ordinance. It is clear, however, that both Hatteras
Island and Wanchese are undergoing development at such a pace that zoning should
be considered for both areas.
• II
3-22
L'

PROVISION OF SERVICES
The projected growth of permanent and seasonal population in Dare County
[7
•1
indicate increasing demands for county services. Dare County is not expected to
meet any unique problems in providing traditional services such as police and
fire protection, schools, etc. A new landfill has been approved on the mainland
near East Lake, thus ending a difficult search for a suitable site. Its
distance from much of the county's seasonal population concentration makes high
operating costs (for transportation) inevitable.
Water and sewer service do pose some interesting problems over the next few
years. As noted above, the Dare County water system became operational in 1980.
The county system provides treated water to the Manteo, Kill Devil Hills, and
Nags Head municipal systems. The county also.provides direct service to
residents of Southern Shores and the unincorporated areas north of Kill Devil
Hills. No problem is anticipated in meeting tinter demands here for the next
five years.
The Cape Hatteras Water Association provides water to the villages of
Hatteras, Frisco, Buxton, and Avon. The other three villages - Rodanthe, Waves,
and Salvo - rely on individual wells. These communities are growing rapidly and
are likely to warrant the construction of a central water system within the next
3-5 years. The major planning parameters in providing water services are:
* Supply source
- On site wells
- Transmission from the Cape Hatteras Water Association system
- Transmission from the Dare County system
* Organization, Ownership
-,Part of the Dare County system
- Part of the Cape Hatteras Water Association system
- Sanitary district
Incorporation of the villages
The transmission alternatives involve great distances and, although they
appear to be physically possible, they may not prove economically feasible.
The Cape Hatteras well field on the other hand, may not be capable of supplying
the required amount of water.
3-23

The selected alternative for organization will be determined to some extent
on political grounds: Interest in creation of one or more new municipalities in
Dare County may spread south to Hatteras Island.
It is proposed that Dare County take the lead by initiating work toward a
water system for the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo area. A preliminary study should
determine water demand through the year 2000; examine alternative supply sources
and organizational arrangements; and determine costs for the various
alternatives.
Sewer service is even more problematic. Dare County contains two
wastewater treatment facilities study areas ("201 areas"). The northern 201
area covers Roanoke and Bodie Islands. The southern area covers Hatteras
Island. As the latter has not yet been published it will not be discussed
further in this report. Dare County faces several difficult issues with respect
to the northern area:
1 .
* Results of the ocean outf all feasibility study (an amendment to the
Step 1 plan, in progress)
* Results of the generic environmenta
l impact statement (in progress)
)
1 Results of a site specific environmental impact statement (assumed to
be required)
* The need to begin planning the sewage collection system for Roanoke
Island, Nags Head, and Kill Devil Hills.
1
* Growing need to expand the proposed service area to Kitty Hawk.
Dare County can do little or nothing to -influence the outcome of studies
now in progress though obviously it should take an active interest in their
!'1 conduct and in bringing them to completion in a timely .manner. A site specific
environmental impact statement for the proposed treatment facility and
interceptors may be required upon completion of the first two studies. Dare
County should be prepared to include its share of the cost in its budget.
1
®a
an

The last two issues are of a different nature. The Step 1 Plan must at
some point be amended again to deal with sewage collection facilities in Kill
Devil Hills, Nags Head, and on Roanoke Island. The Step 1 Plan does not
identify either the types of collection facilities needed, the probable cost of
providing them, nor the financial capacity of town and county governments to
bear those costs. If the treatment plant went into operation immediately, it
would benefit only Manteo which has a collection system. The treatment plant,
however, is intended to serve a much larger area than Manteo: design and
construction costs are accordingly much higher than necessary to serve only
Manteo.
If all environmental studies were satisfactorily completed today, EPA
may not offer grants for Step 2 and Step 3 (design and construction) for the
treatment facility without *commitments from Dare County, Kill Devil Hills, and.
Nags Head for collection systems. Since no cost estimates have yet been
Iprepared, neither the county nor the towns can make such a commitment.
It is assumed that Dare County wishes to pursue this program. Available
options, then, are concerned with timing and cost sharing for 'further amendments_
to the Step 1 plan. First, the county could decline to take any action at this
time. On -going studies would continue to completion. Eventually, the Step 1
plan would be.amended to deal with collection systems. The principal drawbacks
of this course are that it is likely to mean further delay in treatment plant
construction and that the cost of the facilities would continue to rise
throughout the lengthened planning period.
The other course of action is for Dare County, Kill Devil Hills and Nags
Head to join in analyzing collection system costs and alternatives at this time
-based upon the existing Step 1 Plan. As lead agent for wastewater treatment
facilities planning, Dare County would apply for a Step 1 grant increase to
finance the study. The county and towns would share the local portion of the
project cost on some mutually agreeable basis. This is the preferred
alternative. It could reduce the length of time required for treatment facility
construction and hasten the abandonment of the existing Manteo treatment plant.
Moreover, it would allow all three units for the first time to understand the
complete financial requirements and physical alternatives for sewer service.
3-25

Provision of sewer service to•Kitty Hawk was discussed briefly in the Step
I plan. However, the area was foundtobe insufficiently developed to warrant
inclusion in the first phase service area. Service was recommended for the 1991
— 2000 period. Current census reports and the land use survey reveal that much
development *has occurred here in the past five years. Atlantic Township's
population increased by 227 percent between 1970 and 1980, not counting seasonal
increases. It is apparent that this area will become sufficiently developed
during the next few years to warrant wastewater treatment facilities study.
This will require yet another amendment to the Step 1 plan, but independent of
those described above. Federal and state grants are increasingly tied to the
• policy statements of CAMA land use plans. It is recommended therefore that Dare
County express its long range interest in providing cost effective wastewater
treatment facilities to this area. This policy is reflected in the Land
Classification Map, indicating the Transition class between Kill Devil Hills and
Southern Shores. Application for a grant to revise the Step 1 plan to include.
this area ought to be made as soon as a Step 2 grant is approved for the
treatment facility (approximately, FY 1984)..

• REDEVELOPMENT
Every county in North Carolina contains at least a few neighborhoods
-characterized by substandard housing and, usually, inadequate public facilities.
Dare County is no exception though fortunately it has a very low incidence of
substandard housing compared to others. This is due in part to the fact that
much of Dare County's housing stock is quite new, constructed by relatively
wealthy families, and under several sets of development regulations.
Only one of Dare County's four municipalities, Manteo, has' identified an
area in sufficient need of improved housing conditions to take direct action.
The unincorporated portions of the county, however, contain areas within which
individual homes could benefit from a similar program: Mann's Harbor, along S.R.
1217 to Collington Island, Buxton, and Stumpy Point. Loans and grants to repair
houses, septic tanks, pave streets, and provide street lights could be made to
low and moderate income owner -occupants through the federal Community
Development program. The program can also be used for other purposes such as
the acquisition and development of land for local (i.e. non -tourist oriented)
recreational facilities.
It is recommended that the Dare County Planning Board conduct a detailed
review of the 1980 Census to determine redevelopment needs on a countywide
basis. The needs assessment would identify areas of the county requiring
community development activities, the type of treatment needed, cost estimates,
and priorities for undertaking the projects. This work probably cannot begin
until late in FY 1982 or early FY 1983 depending upon delivery dates for the
Census data.
•
•
•II

•
•
•
•1
BEACH ACCESS
State and federal coastal management acts view the provision of public
access to ocean beaches as a growing concern to property owners, tourists, and
all levels of government. It would seem that no problem would exist.in a county
such as Dare whose Atlantic Ocean shore is approximately 85 miles long.
This is not the case, however, for several reasons. First, private
property extends generally from street and highway right-of-way seaward to the
highwater mark. Property owners may restrict access by refusing to let
pedestrians cross their land to the publicly -owned beach. Second, the federal
government owns and controls access to the beach along a 45 mile stretch of Dare
County's shoreline. Federal management policies for this land are largely
benevolent but there have been occasional disagreements between federal and
local governments over these policies and how they -affect non-federal property.
Finally, four of Dare County's municipalities.- Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head,
Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores - control a good deal of the non-federal ocean
front: approximately 24 miles. Dare County's planning and regulatory
jurisdiction, then, covers a relatively small part of its entire shoreline.
DARE COUNTY OCEAN SHORE
Controlling Agency
Federal Government
Kill Devil Hills
Kitty Hawk
Nags Head
Southern Shores
Dare County
TOTAL
3-28
Length in Miles
45.0
4.5
3.5
12.0
4.5
15.5
85.0
•

Dare County's ability and responsibility to -provide public access to the
beach may be even further reduced in the future -if the villages on Hatteras
Island follow the lead of their northern counterparts by incorporation.
The county's present policy on providing adequate access to the beach
consists of two elements: :
* Participation in management planning for federal property. .
* Subdivision regulation provisions allowing the county to require
easements to the mean high water mark if the subdivision is adjacent
to the Atlantic Ocean.
Obviously, Dare County ought to continue its participation in planning for
the development and management of federal property.. State government ought to
assist in this process by insuring that proposed federal policies are consistent
with the County's needs and objectives.
.The subdivision ordinance provision for beach access is clearly a useful
tool when new -development is undertaken. Just as clearly, it is limited to the
new development case: it is not useful for older areas of the beach which were
subdivided prior to ordinance adoption. A problem may arise in providing beach
access for owners of property lying west of the beach front, as well as for day
visitors. Dare County needs to consider whether or not it should be more active
in providing these facilities. Several options exist:
* No change in present policy
* County purchase of selected property.and construction of parking lots
and related facilities. .
* County participation with municipalities in providing public .access
facilities.
If one of the acquisition options is chosen, site selection and financing
questions arise. Lots severely restricted by AEC requirements might be easily
acquired. Financial assistance from the state and federal governments may be
available to assist the county and municipalities in acquiring and developing
the facilities. _
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The status quo option, of course, has attractive features: no_ new public
expenditures would be required and no objections would be encountered from
adjoining property owners.
A final option would be to change the nature of the existing subdivision
ordinance provision from discretionary to mandatory provision of beach access
via a public street.
Recent joint meetings of Dare County's local planning boards provide a
potentially useful forum for -county -municipal cooperation as suggested above.
It is recommended that the six boards explore in -detail the demand for
additional beach access and methods by which the required facilities can be
provided on an equitable basis. The County Planning Board would alone be
responsible for recommendations regarding Hatteras Island. The Board ought,
however, to work with established citizens groups and homeowners associations
here.
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• COMMITMENT TO STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Several state and federal projects are underway in Dare County in addition
to previously mentioned projects. These include:
• * Maintenance of the Intracoastal Waterway and other channels
* Stabilization of Oregon Inlet
* Ferry service across Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke
* Wildlife Resources Commission programs, such as boat - access point
• provision, gamelands
* National Park Service efforts to preserve Hatteras Lighthouse
* Ferry maintenance facilities.at Manns Harbor
* Beach nourishment projects for areas subject to rapid erosion
• * Defense installations and research facilities
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The Intracoastal Waterway is located in the Alligator River west of the
Dare County mainland. It is a major avenue forrecreationalboating and
commercial goods movement. Other channels have been constructed in Croatan,
Roanoke, and Pamlico Sounds. These provide access to the open ocean from
Wanchese, Manteo and Stumpy Point via Oregon Inlet. The maintenance of these
facilities is absolutely vital to the Dare County economy for both tourism and
commercial fishing. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for their
maintenance. Proposed improvements to the Manteo-Oregon Inlet Channel and inlet
stabilization have been approved by the Dare County Board of Commissioners
following a review of the environmental impact statement for the project.
Dare County is on record as opposing reductions in ferry service across
Hatteras Inlet and favoring retention of the reservation system.
In 1980 and 1981, erosion of the ocean front at Hatteras Light became very
serious, threatening to topple the historic landmark in the very near future.
Dare County has urged the National Park Service'and'the State of North Carolina
to take steps to preserve the structure, preferably on its present site,
notwithstanding federal policy to permit natural processes to occur without
human intervention.
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HURRICANE PREPAREDNES
Dare County adopted a Hurricane Evacuation Plan in 1977. The purpose of
the plan is to provide for an orderly and coordinated evacuation to minimize the
effects of hurricanes on residents and visitors to,Dare County. The plan
• provides for alerting selected officials,'the evacuation of the public from
danger areas, and designation of shelters for evacuees. It also provides for
re-entry into evacuated areas when appropriate.
Hurricane preparedness is a civil_.defense-type function of county
government and only marginally related to land use planning. The County's Civil
Preparedness Agency is charged with maintenance of the plan and, therefore, not
further addressed in -the land use plan.
SPECIFIC LAND USES
Dare County encourages the development of land in accordance with the Land
Classification System and the regulations governing the use of AECs. In
addition, the zoning ordinance governs the development of the North End of
Roanoke Island and the community of Duck. The ordinance specifies districts
within which various types of residences, businesses, industry, and
institutional development may occur.
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RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
Unlike most of North Carolina's coastal counties, neither agriculture
nor commercial forestry is a major factor in Dare County's economy at this
time. Commercial and sports fishing are the most significant resource
. production issues currently, but corporate farming and possibly peat mining
on the mainland appear to be in the County's future. Proposed policies for
mining on the mainland are discussed in this section. Large-scale farming
is discussed briefly in Section IV, Land Classification.
Commercial and sports fishing, along with recreational boating (sailing,
skiing) and swimming are all.reflective of the attractiveness of the county's
sound and ocean water quality. The preservation of clean water in North
Carolina's coastal streams and sounds is one of the highest priorities of the
Coastal Area Management Act. Dare County policies enacted over many years
support this objective. These policies include:
*-Undertaking wastewater treatment facilities plans_
* Water quality monitoring in the sounds
* CAMA permit implementation and enforcement program
* Subdivision regulations specifying minimum lot sizes for development
served by wells and septic tanks
'In addition, the County's active participation in planning for improve-
ments to Oregon Inlet and Wanchese Harbor are in direct support of commercial
and recreational fishing. Both projects also have potentially favorable
implications for oil and gas exploration activities on the Outer Continental
Shelf. An improved channel, docks, and repair facilities at Wanchese could
lead to Dare County's becoming a base for off -shore drilling operations.
Manteo Airport•would also contribute by serving as a helicopter base. All
of this is speculative at the present time, and the establishment of more
detailed policies than those expressed in the Land Classification section
is not warranted.
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�. PEAT MINING
Coastal North Carolina contains an estimated 800,000 acres of peat, a
low-grade fossil fuel which can be converted into several forms of 'energy.
Extensive peat deposits are owned by timber companies, corporate farms, state
and federal government.
These areas now provide wildlife habitat, act as reservoirs for
groundwater, control flooding, and help maintain a balance between the salt
water of the estuaries and fresh water in the region.
Perhaps the most significant potential change in Dare County's future is
the possible mining of peat.on the mainland. Peat mining could eventually lead
to the creation of hundreds -of jobs for residents of Dare, Tyrrell, and Hyde
Counties. Multiplier effects on retail sales, home building, and other segments'
of the Albemarle region's economy could also be produced. This would have a
favorable impact on the traditional pattern of seasonal unemployment.
Mining, however, could also produce a number of adverse impacts. The
mining technique is basically a strip mine process. Due to the high water table
on the Dare mainland, the mine site must be kept dry by pumping. The Dare
mainland is the recharge area for the aquifer underlying Roanoke and Bodie
Islands. It is possible, in theory, to damage the county's groundwater supply
by excessive pumping at the mine. A second potentially adverse impact is the
removal of wildlife habitat. The Dare mainland is populated both by deer and
some black bear. The animals need extensive range for survival. The
combination of mining, farming, and military activities which require cleared
I and could cause a serious reduction in suitable range. Drainage also has the
potential to damage shellfish nursery areas by introducing large volumes of
fresh water where a saline condition is necessary. Soil run-off, erosion, is
also a potential problem with mining resulting in increased turbidity of surface
water. Finally, mining would require consideration of reuse of the mine upon
completion of extraction operations.

If mining is proposed, it would be subject to regulation by several state
-.and/or federal agencies depending upon its precise location and type.of
operations. Mining permits in North Carolina are issued by the N. C. Mining
Commission. If the mine site is located within an Area of Environmental
Concern, the owner would have to obtain a CAMA permit (either from the CRC or
the county permit officer). Permits from the Corps of Engineers may be required
if dredging and filling.operations are proposed.
The basic issue facing Dare County is whether or not it wishes to encourage
mining in the county. --
The issue is relatively -new and little is known for certain about both the
beneficial and adverse impacts which could result from mining. Thus, it is not
possible to answer the question in a "yes" or "no" fashion at this time.
Regardless of the ultimate answer, the County should consider the following.
First, the state and federal agencies which review applications for mining and
associated permits must determine whether or not their decisions are consistent
with the county's land use plan. The Land Classification Map which is part of
the plan will be one criterion of consistency. Thus, the map should represent,
as best it can, the county's policy as it exists today.
Second, the decision to permit mining will -be made by agencies whose
responsibilities require them to maximize the welfare of a much broader region
than Dare County alone. It is not sufficient to assume that higher levels of
government will attempt to maximize Dare County's interest. Thus, Dare County
must take an active role in the review of documents which lead to permit
decisions.
Third, there may be opportunities for Dare County to guide certain aspects
of the mining process apart from federal and state regulations. These include:
* Designation of the specific parcels of land to be disturbed by mining.
* Height and bulk of building
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WATER QUALITY
The only area in which Dare County has not taken the lead regarding water
quality is in the Areawide Water Quality Management process. This *is a federal
assistance program created in Section 208 of the 'Federal Water Quality Act of
1972. This program is designed specifically to look at non -point sources of
water Pollution and to identify the best practical management system for the
community. It covers such topics as Pollution resulting from mining,
agricultural runoff (fecal coliforms* nutrients) urban storm runoff, and erosion.
In recent months several other counties bordering the Albemarle Sound have
requested .the .State of North Carolina to undertake a management plan of this
nature. In view of reports citing declining quality of water in the Pamlico,
Currituck, and Albemarle Sounds, Dare County should consider joining in this
effort. The need for such a program is likely only to become more serious as
proposals are made for . drainage, mining and farming' on the Dare mainland.
3-37
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LAND CLASSIFICATION
-� DESCRIPTION -
A land classification system has been developed as a means of assisting in
the implementation of the policies adopted by the County. By delineating land
,classes on a map, local government and its citizens can specify those areas
where certain policies (local, state and federal) will apply. Although specific
areas. are outlined on a land classification map, it must be remembered that land
classification. is merely a tool to help implement policies and: not a strict
regulatory mechanism. The designation of land classes allows the County to
illustrate its policy statements as to where and to what density it wants growth
to occur, and where it'wants to conserve natural and cultural resources by
• guiding growth. Where the County has enacted zoning controls which apply in the
various land classification areas, appropriate land uses are specified'by the
zoning map and ordinance
The land classification system includes five broad classes. These may be
subdivided into more specific land use designations. Any sub -classes which are
used should be amenable to aggregation back to the original five broad classes.
..The five general land classes are: Developed, transition, community, rural and
conservation.
(1) DEVELOPED
A Purpose. The purpose of the developed class is to provide for
• continued. intensive development and redevelopment of existing
cities.
(B) Description. Areas to be classified developed include lands
currently developed for urban purposes at or approaching a
density of 500 dwellings per square mile that are provided with
usual municipal or public services including at least public
• water, sewer, recreational facilities, police and fire
protection. Areas which exceed the minimum density but which do
not have public sewer service may best be divided into a separate
class to indicate that although they have a developed character,
they will need sewers in the future.
(2) TRANSITION
0Purpose. The purpose of the transition class is to provide for
future intensive urban development within the ensuing ten years
on lands that are most suitable and that will be scheduled for
provision of necessary public utilities and services. The
transnsition lands also provide for additional growth when
additional lands in the developed class are not available or when
• they are severely limited for development.
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(6) Description.
( i) Lands to be classified transition may include: (1) lands
currently having urban services, and (2) other lands
necessary to accommodate the urban population and economic
growth anticipated within the planning jurisdiction over
the ensuing ten year period.
( ii) Lands classified transition to help meet the demand for
developable anticipated population and economic growth
must: (1) be served by public water, sewer, and other
urban services including public streets, and (2) be
generally free from severe physical limitations for urban
development. .In addition, the transition class should not
include: (1) lands of high potential for agriculture,
forestry, or mineral extraction, or land falling within
extensive rural areas being managed commercially for these
uses, when other lands are available; (2) lands where
urban development might result in major or irreversible
damage to natural systems or processes of more than local
concern.
.(iii) In determining the amount of additional transition lands
necessary to meet projected urban population and economic
growth, the County may utilize estimates of average future
urban population density that are based upon local land
policy, existing patterns and trends of urban development,
and densities specified in local zoning, if any; an
estimate of additional Transition class lands should be
based upon a guideline density of 2,000 persons or 500
dwellings per square mile.
(C) Discussion. The developed and transition classes should be the
only lands under active consideration for intensive urban
-development requiring urban services. The area within these
classes is where detailed local land use and public investment
• planning must occur. State and Federal expenditures on projects
associated with urban development water, sewer, urban street
systems, etc.) will be guided to these areas. Large amounts of
vacant land suitable for urban development within the Developed
class should be taken into account when calculating the amount of
additional lands needed to accommodate projected growth. The
total area shown as Transition should be equal to the land needed
for proposed population increases that can not be accommodated in
the vacant developed areas. The designation of Transition lands
Will be a very difficult and political process.- Counties and
municipalities with declining populations may show some limited
transition lands as.an inducement for future growth. As will be
the case in all areas, however, the amount of transition lands
shown should remain within reasonable limits, taking into account
any significant amounts of undeveloped lands within the developed
class.
(3) COMMUNITY
A Purpose. The purpose of the community.class is to provide for
clustered land development to help meet housing, shopping,
employment, and public service needs within the rural areas of
the county. .
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(B) Description. Lands.to.be'classified community are those areas
within the rural areas of planning jurisdictions characterized by
a small grouping of mixed land uses, (residences, general store,
church, school, etc.), and which are suitable and appropriate for
small clusters of rural development not requiring municipal sewer
service.
(C) Discussion. It should be stressed that the community class
applies to clustered rural development which usually occurs at
crossroads. Some "communities" that nonetheless should not be
classified developed or transition may have, or may require,
public services to correct an existing condition or to avert an
anticipated public health problem. Many of these communities
might have their own water system because the density of the
development precludes having both private wells and septic tanks.
Due to the small size of most communities, it might suffice to
identify them by a symbol on the land classification map.
(4) RURAL
ju—Purpose. The purpose of the rural class is to provide for
agriculture, forest management, mineral extraction and other low
intensity uses. Residences may be located within "rural" areas
where urban services are not required and where natural resources
will not be permanently impaired.
(B) Description. Lands that can be identified as appropriate for
resource management and allied uses include lands with high
-potential for agriculture, forestry, or mineral extraction; lands
with one or more limitations that would make development costly
and hazardous; and lands containing irreplaceable, limited, or
significant natural, recreational or scenic resources not
otherwise classified.
(C) .Discussion. The rural class is the broadest of the five classes.
In order to manage these lands effectively local governments will
be encouraged to create sub -classes within the rural class. For
example, the rural class could be subdivided into two classes,
rural -production to provide for the effective management of large
agricultural, forestry, and mineral extraction areas, etc., and
rural -residential for low density rural residences.
(5) CONSERVATION
(A)— Purpose. The purpose of the conservation class is to provide for
-effective long-term management of significant limited or
irreplaceable areas. This management may be needed because of
its natural, cultural, recreational, productive or scenic values.
These areas should not be identified as transition lands in the
future. _
(B) Description. The conservation class should be applied to lands
that contain: major wetlands; essentially undeveloped shorelands
that are unique, fragile, or hazardous for -development; necessary
wildlife habitat or areas that have a high probability for
providing necessary habitat conditions; publicly owned water
supply water sheds and aquifers; and forest lands that are
undeveloped and will.remain undeveloped for commercial purposes.
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SUMMARY OF LAND CLASSiFiCAT10Ns
Land Classes Purpine .
Developed To provitie for continued inter►-
sive development and redevelap-
nicnL of existing cities
Transition To provide for future. Intensive
urban development o6 lands that
are most suitable and that are
most likely to I)c scheduled
(car provisie►m or necessary
public utilities and services
Coamunity
.tom
Cliaracter ist ice►
Lands currently devotlmd for urban
purposes with urban services available
Lands being developed for urban pur-
poses but which do not yet have; usual
urban services, lends necessary to
accoinimdate population groatth for the
next ten year period, Lords which
can be readily serviced with usual
urban services. lands !generally free
from severe physical limitations for
development
To provide for clustered mix Lands characterized by a cluster of
uses to lielp shopping, housing, residential and commercial land
cn>hloymcnt and public set -vice uses in rural area!;
needs within the surrounding
.yr•ca
Rural Tit provide for agriculture,
forest ntonatlenrnt, mineral ex-
tractions and various low
Intensity uses on lar•!le sites
including residences where urban
services are not required and
natural resources will not be
unduly impaired
Conservation To provide for effective long-
term innage,imit of tracts or .r
land consistent with their sl!i-
nifican t, limited, or
irreplaceable natural,
reereationai, productive or
scenic resources with the intent.
tltf(1t they will not be dent i rled
tic. Tranclliun inttcis In the
Lands identified as ntll•i!ntr►oty
locations for n-itural t•••�1�rrC
mana!lement and allied ore:•,. lands
with one or more 1imitatiovs that
would make 'dove i vimlen t coca l y and
hazardous
Lands that contain major wetlands,
necessary w iti i fe habitats,
publicly owned water -supply woterstte;ds
and icquifers, hinds providing siq-
ni f icant recharge to groundwater, and
lands which contain significant natural
scenic, recreational or productive
resources .
Services
Usual municipal or public servic
including water, sewer, recreatt
facilities, police, and fire
protection
Usual municipal or public service
to be made available at the time*
of development or soon thereafter
Limited ntunicipsl lvitc•iservlces
sucii as fire protection, . etc.
may have public wato!r but no
public sewer systf.• %. Pulrlle
!-ewers possible or►ly to ol►rrect
.In exist ing or projecrnd public•
health hazard
Private septic tank; and well -a.
Other cervices such as rc%tu•!
squat.is , police and f 1 re• itro-
tcctiun, etc.
No services and limited access
only
Immadlate future
. ..+ ...t It tit •I It. Il•,1 tl;t'ttt.i1191•111 fill V-11,111'!!airigIt t7;r�'ft't'I1•t elltt Ili fill iffft,lI'll tat6l.r^f1-1111.11II 1•itr.fld!1••1I.fU.;y,.i,t•I rat t.• 1 I•t 1af 1.•t ern f"111:1fr to I Jr? t f•• I t•f f I. It!' 11«t.tle•.i t• t..t n,•r►r.rr..t

a
4zzzWeveloped
j({ '•...
e 0 0 p 0
O l O O O O O p \
pOO e ! e°O°O eee p0 O°on 0 e0 e° °e0 0°°0000 a°°pOoo an`^°°O
O ° Do e ° O ^ O p p 0 O O O e p 0
d�e b oee° a e° po p ^e°p°eo ° °e^°pe °o o°o o ° .....
po o e o ee ` Conservation
ppeee° oo ° a oeo� a eee�eo 0 0
0 o e `
r
transition%n,
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•} tl •t ••ii• L .••••••••••••
r•iIYY a L L�L� _ •••••••••. ice'.
'!: ...;; a '•'��,!`�:
f• r '•C; ••• 1
F
community
Under the land classification system ail fond will be placed Into one of ilia classes.
The Community class will include assisting clustered rural
:..I,.::.•:: resldentlaf and commettlal areas such at erossroodi deteloptdenit.
,;.t'•,' These areas may requite a public water tysltm but public uwers
should not be allowed.
CIII��
The Developed class will Include exissing urban oleos "I
are currently iupDl,ed wills a full range of public t► victs including
Q
The nvrof class will Identify that finds good for aytitulture,
forestry. mining, and • outer fond fists such at . tural il,ousint
Witte end seevtr Ludilles.
d,,IiPWing an priysit wells and vptie tanks.
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1
The Timilion tl•el will idinpfy Ihnl' Areal with land Qntid
is' 7rbsn dtye►anrnanf which will be. suoohed wish rubl,c,er-Its
•• mnmrnfait future pupulshon Ind oronomc growth.
•'� -.J1.
The Conten Allan tilts will idrnlily thole firess which clue to
their significant• limited, or nrrolactable nstutsl, tetrIltional, of
tecnle resuut"I "tell to in prnlecled,
rfr«:ta,t••+t••t„ tt •1::,:::r:::t.^•s:;:, :r:st
,l ,;-�: •, , ,;•s�•:i; ail ss„s',stit'ii�: tl,s ,; ,i,,.(slitt•t`arstastt.iltutstit"tl!stltisl,::slij:t:gss;•,11;jtl•t►!i'itsillJiilll!11►tiIIIIlot1Itrl.t�tfTilt�l1i��1!��

APPLICATION TO DARE COUNTY: 1976
Dare County's 1976 land use plan employed a slightly different land
classification system than that described above. It is reviewed here for
convenience in comparing the two systems, the newer of which will be employed in
the 1981 plan.
* Developed lands: Which can range from small communities to large
incorporated 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.
* -Transition lands: Which comprise areas suitable for moderately
intensive development and expansion of predominantly residential
character. These areas are also capable of.accommodating other
uses compatible with such development. The level of public
service and utilities in these areas is less intense than in
developed lands.
* Community lands: Which include areas capable of low intensity
residential development. Public services and utilities in these
areas will be available at a lower level than in the developed
and transition lands.
* Rural lands: Which comprise areas with little or no urban
development. They are characterized by low-lying lands suited
primarily for carefully 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
servo as buffer zones or to be held in reserve for future uses as
yet unanticipated.
* Conservation lands: Which are areas where development must be
restricted. These lands are incapable of supporting urban
development because of their fragility or hazardous nature or
because the natural or agricultural or forestry resources hold a
-higher value than 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 passive recreation areas
are classified conservation lands. In addition, largely publicly
owned or controlled tracts are classified as conservation lands
to protect historic, cultural, and natural resources.
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These classes were mapped as follows:
Developed: The Town of Manteo and the U.S. 64-264 corridor to its
intersection with N.C. 345.
Transition: The Town of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and part of Roanoke
Island surrounding Manteo, and several other unincorporated areas:
Wanchese, Hatteras, Buxton, Frisco, Avon, Salvo, Waves, and Rodanthe.
Community:- East Lake, Stum'py Point, Mashoes, Manns Harbor, Colington
Island, Kitty Hawk and the remainder of Bodie Island to the Currituck
County line, western Roanoke Island,
Conservation: The Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island Wildlife
Refuge; several islands in Kitty Hawk Bay, Pamlico and Roanoke Sounds;
the southern and western tips of Roanoke Island as well as the marsh
area across mid -island; Durant Island and much of the mainland shore;
all surface waters.
Rural-:. Generally, the interior of the mainland.
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APPLICATION TO DARE COUNTY: 1981 -
Since 1976, the Coastal Resources Commission has refined the Land
Classification system in several respects. The refinements include, first, a
relaxation of mapping standards for the Developed and Transition classes with
respect to population density. Second, the provision of public water service to
the Community class is clarified. The Rural -class is now specifically intended
for identification of areas in which natural resources are brought into
production: e.g., farming, mining, and commercial forestry; low density
residential -development is also envisioned within Rural areas, largely as an
adjunct to farming. Finally, mapping standards have been relaxed for the
Conservation class.
The various classes are shown on the Land Classification Map and described
as follows:
Municipal: The Towns -of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Nags Head, and Southern
Shores are 'covered by plans prepared by each. For the purpose of the
county plan, all are shown on the Land Classification Map as
Municipal. The reader is referred to the Towns' individual plans for
details.
Transition: Kitty Hawk and Colington Island are proposed for inclusion in
the Transition class This is a re-classification (from the Community
class), intended to denote existing and proposed high density
development in both areas with sewer service proposed late in the
coming decade.
71-
-The area immediately north and west of Manteo is shown in the
Transition class, as it was in the 1976 plan. The Transition class
also adjoins U.S. 64 south _of Manteo toward the causeway. Similarly,
Wanchese and all villages on Hatteras Island are within the Transition
class consistent with the 1976 plan, and in anticipation of the
eventual provision of water and sewer service throughout these areas.
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Community: This class includes all land north of the Town of Southern
Shores to the Currituck County line. It also includes the mainland
villages of East Lake, Manns Harbor, Stumpy Point, and Mashoes. In
addition, part of Roanoke Island near Manteo is classified as
Community reflecting the limit of sewerage service proposed in the 201
plan.
Community Residential: Community Residential is a sub -class of the
•Community Land Classification. The "Community Residential" Classifi-
cation is intended to provide for primarily single family residential
and passive recreational land uses. Public water and sewer services
will not be provided in these areas unless they are required to
correct a public health problem.
Conservation: All of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore including the Pea
Island Wildlife Refuge is classified Conservation as in 1976. Federal
property on Roanoke Island is also within the Conservation area. Much
of the interior of Roanoke Island - the marshes - is -proposed for
retention in the Conservation class. Finally, the majority of the
Mainland is classified as Conservation. Special development standards
for the Conservation class, created by the Planning Board, are set
forth below and are additive to the classification system established
by the Coastal Resources Commission.
Development or alteration of land including the construction of single
family residences on suitable 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
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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:
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.
Rural: Most of the interior of Dare County's mainland was classified Rural
in 1976, surrounded by a substantial fringe of Conservation land. The
classification of the mainland is a major policy issue for Dare County
as noted in the discussion of possible peat mining and large scale
farming. The Land Classification system encourages farming and mining
in the Rural class. Thus, it cannot be employed indiscriminantly in
view of the potential environmental hazards associated with large
scale land clearing and drainage on the mainland. On the other hand,
the Conservation class cannot be applied without consideration of the
• potentially chilling effects on private development of the area if
federal and state permits are requested for drainage and/or mining.

•
•
Plans for agricultural development of the Mainland were begun some
years ago and discussed extensively during preparation of the 1976
Land Use Plan. During the past five years the developers have
detailed their plans and have begun to seek the required state and
federal permits. Review of these plans during the Land Use Plan
update process by the Planning Board and County Commissioners
indicates that the 1976 classification should be changed. A portion
of the Mainland is thus classified as Rural, consisting of
approximately 23,000 acres, believed to be satisfactory for
agricultural use. However, in no case shall any area within one mile
of Alligator River or Milltail Creek and within one-half mile of East
Lake, South Lake, Whipping Creek Lake, Laurel Bay Lake or Sawyer Lake
be classified Rural. The Planning Board's policy statement describes
the intent of this classification:
The intent of these one mile and one-half mile limits
is to state to all people and agencies who review this
land use plan that the people of Dare County are concerned
about maintaining water quality within their planning
jurisdiction and recognizing that further agricultural
developments in these areas poses a serious impact to
the maintenance of that good water quality. So to
overcome that and to provide some safeguards, we are
proposing and naming a Conservation classification around it.
A 11

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
,I The Dare County Planning Board is the duly authorized and constituted local
planning agency for Dare County, North Carolina. It was created by the Board of
County Commissioners under the authority of G.S.153A.
The land use plan update, therefore, was prepared by the Planning Board and
transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.
In preparing the plan, the Planning Board employed several methods to en-
courage citizen participation. First, all Planning Board meetings were open to
the public under G.S.143-318.2. All regular meetings were held at the.Dare
County Administration Building.
The lack of public participation at its regular meetings prompted the Board
to hold a series of special meetings devoted exclusively to the land use plan.
These included meetings on Hatteras Island for residents.of the villages there;
on the mainland at Manns Harbor for residents of Stumpy Point, East Lake, and
Manns Harbor; and two in Manteo for residents of Roanoke Island. One.of these
was a joint meeting with the Manteo Planning Board.
All of these special meetings were preceded by large -format advertisements
in local newspapers, announcing the time, date, and location of each meeting.
Copies of the plan were made available for inspection prior to the meetings at
each location.
In addition, copies of the draft plan were submitted to local newspapers.
This resulted in the publication of feature stories summarizing the draft plan.
An editorial in one paper also urged attendance at Planning Board meetings and
participation in the update process.
D-1

At each meeting, the discussion focussed on development issues which
appeared to be of specific interest to that part of*Dare County. These are
.listed below:
*• Hatteras Island
' - Wastewater treatment plan
- Central water supply for Rodanthe,
Waves and Salvo
- Need for a zoning ordinance
- Incorporation of villages
- Areas of environmental concern
Proposed Rod anthe Airport
- National Park Service: facility
opening schedule, Hatteras Light,
development permits
* Mainland
- Peat mining
- Agriculture
- Water supply for Stumpy Point,
Manns Harbor
- Areas of Env.ironmental Concern:
Durant Island, Miltail Creek, etc.
- Water quality in sounds
* Roanoke Island
- Wastewater treatment plan and
collection sewers
- Water quality in sounds
- Zoning: Wanchese area
- Airport development
M
�-G

Land classification was discussed 'at all meetings. The two meetings held in
Manteo resulted in the Dare County Planning Board's supplementing the Community
Class with a policy statement clarifying the type of development to be encour-
aged north of Manteo. The Manns Harbor meeting produced much discussion of the
Mainland classification. One participant asked whether the land classification
system addressed the use of land for hazardous waste disposal sites and whether
the mainland could be used for this purpose.
Copies of the county plan were also furnished to the Towns of Kitty Hawk and
Manteo. A joint meeting with the Kitty Hawk Planning Board is proposed.
• During the months of'September and October the Planning Board will continue
to receive public comment on the plan prior to submission to the Board of County
Commissioners. The Commissioners' public hearing will constitute the.final pub-
lic participation activity for the land use plan update.
Dare County's planning process, however, does*not terminate with adoption of
the land use plan update. The planning process must be recognized, first, to be
a continuing function of county government. Second, it must be recognized as
• dealing with virtually all facets of the physical and economic development of
the county. The Dare County planning program viewed in this context includes
these functional planning and plan implementation activities as implicit in the
land use plan:
* Airport development
* Beach access, recreation
* Community development program
* Designation of new Areas of
Environmental Concern
* Environmental*Impact Statement review
* -Historic preservation
* Industrial development
* Water system extension
* Wastewater treatment
* Zoning feasibility studies
5-3

Added to these items are the Planning Board's statutory responsibilities for
zoning and land subdivision. These two 'activities alone occupy the vast major-
ity of the Planning Board's time: it is no criticism of Dare County to say that
the Planning Board is so busy it has no time to plan. The broad interpretation
of "planning program", however requires much more attention to public works,
-economic development, and cultural matters than they have received over the past
few years. -
The recent appointment of a Deputy County Manager for.Planning offers Dare
County an opportunity to re -structure and broaden its planning program along the
lines suggested above. The realization that planning requires full-time atten-
tion is central to the creation of the post. Its placement at a high level
within county government is evidence of the planning -function's prestige. The
intended result is to strengthen the Planning Board's ability to advise the
County Commissioners on the entire spectrum of development issues facing the
county.
The Planning Board must have clear guidance from the County Commissioners as
to the priority of issues on which advice is needed. Thus, it is recommended
that the two groups establish a multi -year planning work program based upon
mutually agreeable priorities. Much of the program is suggested within the land
use plan. -
In carrying out its expanded program, the Planning Board should serve as a
public forum for all planning matters coming before Dare County. The County
Commissioners should officially designate the Planning Board as the lead agency
for obtaining citizen input to the planning program and reporting that input to
the Commissioners. Many of the planning program elements listed above require
public participation either by statute or by administrative regulation. Others
should be brought before the public simply as a matter of local policy. It is
recommended that the Deputy Manager for Planning inventory the public participa-
tion requirements for the many activities in which Dare County is involved.
From the inventory a consolidated list of hearings, scoping meetings, progress
reports and similar activities would be developed and placed on'the Planning
fa

Board's calendar. Media representat•aives should be•invited to all Planning
Board meetings but special reminders should be -employed where actions or reports
on matters other than routine zoning and subdivision cases are scheduled.
Specific public participation techniques should, of course, be selected
consistent with the work at hand. Projects involving particular geographic
areas of impact might, for instance, be examined at on -site meetings rather than
all at the Administration Building.
In summary, Dare County's planning program ought to be formalized and ex-
panded through the office of the Deputy County Manager. A multi -year work pro-
gram should be prepared and the Planning Board should assume the central respon-
sibility for public participation in the planning -process.
5-5
•

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•FOOTNOTES
1� p.2-27. Dare County contains several types of areas which might
be designated as Areas of Environmental Concern by the Coastal
Resources Commission through its "nomination" procedure. These
' are listed below with Dare County's "candidate" sites.
* Coastal areas that sustain remnant plant and animal
species: Pea Island Wildlife Refuge and parts of the
mainland
* Unique coastal geologic formations: Jockeys Ridge
*,Significant coastal archeological resources: shipwrecks
* Significant coastal historic architectural resources:
any of the properties listed in Table'15.
2/ p.2-36. The "tertiary" subsystem of North Carolina airports con-
sists of those which lie outside the state's major population
centers. None of the tertiary airports are served by scheduled
airlines or commuter service.
3 /
p.2-36. Runway orientation numbeSs represent magnetic azimuth,
_
measured clockwise from north (0 ) along the runway centerline
,
from the approach end, recorded to the nearest ten degrees with
c
the last zero omitted. This means that the number facing the
approaching pilot corresponds closely to the compass heading.
t
4/ p.2-55. Dare County also contains several non -municipal sewage
,
treatment plants. Some are actually owned by public bodies but
their service areas are so small thet they are regarded as pri-
vate. These include:
* Wanchese Harbor
* Cape Hatteras Water Plant
* Daniels Seafood
;.
* Ocean Acres Utility
* Wash Basket Launderette
t
* Russel Quidley Seafood
°
* Dare County Water Plant
* The Villas Condominiums
* Wanchese Fish Company n2
5/ p.3-18. The Office of Coastal Management has stated that local
governments do not participate actively in the review of permit
applications for major developments in Areas of Environmental
Concern. Local governments, in fact, are not even directly noti-
fied of the filing of such applications. They are submitted to
t,
and processed by OCM. Local participation is thus limited to de-
velopment policies set forth .in the land use plan and "...simply is
not 'actively involved' in any other ways"
Dare County's participation in the AEC - major development process
'
6-1

As recommended as policy. It recognizes the ability and
responsibility of Dare County government to:
• *conduct investigations into the nature and
effects of such developments independent of
the Coastal Area Management Act;
*report its findings to the.Coastal Resources
Commission and other agencies of state and
federal government as •appropriAte; and
*take all other actions authorized by law to
..influence the development.
6-2.

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i1RGCD - COASTAL RANAGENENT
.. 78 .0400
t
�
SECTION .0400 - LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT PROCESS
611
.0401 LAND USE PLAIT IMENDISENT
613=s
°
i
The land use plan may be amended * as a whole by a single:
615
resolution .or .in parts -by successive resolutions. The successive
616
"
resolutions may address geographical sections, county divisions,,
617
or functional units of subject matter. _
History Note: StatutoryAuthority y G.S. 113A-110;
620
Eff. May .10, 1978..
621
.0402 PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED
623
'
Sa) The - land use plan nay be amended only after* a properly
held public hearing. Notice of public hearing gust
625
77
'
appear at
least 30 days prior to. the public hearing and must state. the
626
627
-
-
date, time, place, proposed action, and that copies of the
-
amendment may be viewed at a particular office in the county
courthouse. during designated hours. The notiue- must appear at
.628
629
least once in -a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
630
-
.
•(b) When the land use plan subject to amendnent is a city land
631
=
use plan, the amendment shall also' be . made available during
632
=
•
specified hours at a particular office, in the tourn or
=
.hall
equivalent facility and the public hearing notice shall so state_
633,
History Note: Statutory Authority G.S. 113A-1'10; 636
E€f. gay 10, 1978. 637
0.01103 NOTICE TO COASTAL RESOURCES COIigISSION 639
Sa) The executive secretary shall receive written notice 0f 641
the public hearing, a copy of the proposed amendment, and the 642
reasons for amendments 30 days prior to the public hearing_ .643
After the public hearing, the executive secretary shall receive a
copy of the amendment as adopted. E44
_Jb) The unit of government amending the land use plan shall 645
puhmit the full text of any proposed amendment in full page units 646
as it Would appear in the land use plan if adopted in the 647
proposed form. Any maps (such as the land classification map)
that are the subject of the amendment or that rill be affected by 648
the- amendment shall also be submitte3 as they would appear if the 649
proposed a me ndmen t vere adopted_ Proposed amendments shall be 650
submitted to the executive secretary vith the notice of the
public hearing.
JC) The executive secretary shall receive a copy of the 651
amended text or maps, or certification of 33option as • proposed. 652
Oxithin seven days after adoption. If the adopted amendment
varies from the proposed revision, the adopted amendment shall be 653
NORTH CAROLINA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
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02/20/80
7-18
7W

NR6 CD — COASTAL MANAGEMENT
submitted in the manner
proposed amendments.
History Note:
' 7B .6400
described in. (b) of this Rule for 654
Statutory Authority G.S:: 113A-110; 657
Eff_ May 10, 1978. 6 L:
.040q WAIVER OF FORMAL REVIFW BY THE CRC
660
When the governmental . unit amending the land use plan
deems the amendment sufficiently insubstantial,
662
t=
it shall request
a waiver of the f ormal amendment procedure when
663-`
giving notice to
• the executive secretary. The executive secretary shall wake such
determination in
664
1.
accordance vith specific CRC standards and
policy, and. mail written notification to the local
665
government no
later than two weeks after receipt of notice_
666
..fib) If the waiver is granted and the amendment is adopted as
proposed, it shall become final local.
667
_
upon adoption and is not
• subject to con mission review as noted in ?yule .0405 of this
668
669
Section.. -The executive secretary shall receive certification
that the amendment
was adopted as propos
after adoption. ed within seven daps
670
(c) If .the waiver .is granted and the amendment is not adopted
gas proposed , the adopted amendment shall be 'to '
671
submitted the
executive secretary, shall be subject to commission reviet� as
6 7 2
67.3
noted in Rule ..0405 of this Section, and. shall become final only
after such• commission
review.
S•d) . If the request. for waiver is denied by the executive
secretary, the vaiver
674
provisions of these rules sball not apply_
•The 'amendment finally adopted shall be reviewed by the commission
675
as if the waiver .had been requested.
676
History Note: Statutory Authority G-s. 113A-1109
679
Eft, nap 10, 1978. •'
680
_
0.0405 CONSISTENCY AND ADOPTION
Sa) The amended land' use plan must remain consistent with 15
HCAC 7B, Land .Use Planning .Guidelines,
682
664
_
and 15 NCAC 7D, Generally
Applicable Standards of Review, and adjacent city or county
685
:.
plans. —.686
• .fib) The Coastal Resources Commission shall • review locally
adopted land use
687
_ plan amendments that are not subject to the
waiver provisions. at the first regularly scheduled meeting held
688
after the executive secretary has received notification of local
adoption.
689
Jc) Failure of the CRC to take negative action at its first
Wegularly scheduled meeting after notification to ' the
690
_
executive
-secretary of the adopted amendment indicates compliance with
691' "=
692
.these standards and commission approval of the amendment.
:.
NORTH CAROLSNA ADMIHISTRATIVE CORE 02/20/80 7-19
•
17!
G;

�•.
XB&CD - COASTAL 11ANAGENEHT 78
.0400
'
jd) Any final amendments to the.tex't or maps of the land use 693 -
plan shall be incorporated
in context in the land use plan 'and 694
shall be dated to indicate the date the amendment became
final_
The amended land hse plan shall be maintained as required by G_S..
_ 695
696
i 13A-110 (g) • -
History Note: Statutory Authority G.S. 113A-110;
699
-Eff. Hay 10, 1978.. -
700
.0406 STANDARDS FOR WAIVER OF FORIIAL REPIEA
702
The executive secretary's authority to uai ve formal review of
proposed land us,e plan amendments is limited
704
to the following
instances:
705
.11) minor changes. in policy statements or objectives that are
the
707
result .of public participation,
708
,j2) nodification of any classification that- does `-affect.709
_not
transition or conservation classes.'
710
J3) new data compilations and associated Statistical
7,11
a'd jnstcaents that do not suggest' major sabstantive
712.
revisions,
:-
(4) more detailed identification of existing lead uses or
713
•
Additional maps of existing or natural conditions, *
... SS) identification of fragile areas to ' -u
7-14
be brought. nder
locally initiated protection,
?'15
„(6) changes in land classifications to reflect new
71
717
designations or deletions of AECs,
718
S7) changes certified by the executive secretary to :be•'719
•
consistent with specific CRC comments..
720
History Note: Statutory Authority G.S. 113).-110;
723
Eff. May 10, 1978.
724
F
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r
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i .

APPENDIX B
COASTAL.WETLANDS DEFINED
•
SOURCE: 15 NCAC 7H
.0.205 COASTAL WrTLANDS ',
204
( a) Description. coastal vetla nds are de£ inea as any salt
206
.Marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding by
207
tides,, including wind tides' (whether or not the tide graters reach
208
the marshland areas through natural or artificial watercourses),
provided this shall not include . hurricane or tropical storm
209
•
tides.. '
Coastal wetlands contain some, but not necessarily all, of the
210
follcwing marsh plant species:
211
(1) Cord Grass (Spartina alterniflora),
273
(2) Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus) ,
214
•
(3) Glasswort (Sa licornia spp.) ,
215
(4) Salt Grass (Dist.ichlis spicata) ,
216
(5) Sea Lavender (Limoniun spp.),
217
(6) Bulrush (Scirpus spp. ),
218
(7) Saw Grass (Cladium jamaicense) ,
219
(8) Cat -tail (Typha spp.) ,
.220
•_
(9) Salt "IPadov Grass (Spartina patens) ,
221
(10) Salt Reed Grass (Spartina cynosuroides) .
222
[ncluded in this definition of coastal wetlands is "such
224
contiguous land as the Secretary of NRECD reasonably deers
225
necessary to affect by any such order in carrying out the
purposes bf this Section. G.S. 113-230 (a) ]
226
•
•
•