Land Use Plan Update-2003

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Dare County
Land Use Plan
Adopted by the ®are County Board of Commissioners on May 5, 2003.
Certified by the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission
on July 24, 2003.

� 2003 Dare County Land Use Plan
County Commissioners
■ Warren Judge, Chairman
John Robert Hooper, Vice- Chairman
■ Cheryl Byrd
Renee Cahoon
Richard L. Johnson
Virginia Tillett
Stan M. White
Planning Board
Elmer R, Midgett, Chairman
■ John Finelli
Jim Kinghorn
John G. B. Myers III
' Marcia Parrott
Joseph Thompson
Ricky Scarborough, Jr.
Technical Assistance on Plan
■
Dare County Planning Department
Raymond P. Sturza II, Planning Director
Donna V. Creet Senior Planner
Dare Countv Information Technoloev Department
■ Greg Ball, GIS Mapping
Sherry Hunter, Website Coordinator
' Public Participation
Glenn Harbeck Associates, Wilmington, NC

' TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
Goals and Objectives
2
Overview of Policies
5
SECTION ONE - DATA COLLECTION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
Information Base
12
Current Conditions
Demographics
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(a) Population
12
(b) Economy
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(c) Impact Of Seasonal Population
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Community Land Use Analysis
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(a) Individual Village Analysis
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(b) Overall Community Analysis
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r( c) Significant Land Use Compatibility Issues
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(d) Issues Associated With Unanticipated Development
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Plans, Policies and Regulations
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(a) Local
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(b) State
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(c) Federal
27
(d) Enforcement of Plans, Policies, and Regulations
27
(e) Evaluation of Existing Land Use Plan
28
' Land Suitability
Physical Characteristics 29
(a) Natural Hazard Areas 29
(b) Manmade Hazard Areas 30
(c) Soil Characteristics - 30
(d) Vegetation and Elevated Dunes 32
' (e) Water Supply 32
Fragile Areas 33
Areas with Wildlife & Mineral Resources 34
Community Facilities and Services
Water
35
Wastewater
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Transportation
40
Law Enforcement
42
Fire Protection
42
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Public Schools
43
Parks and Recreation
47
Solid Waste
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Anticipated Demand
' Demographic Projections
Future Land Use Needs
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SECTION TWO —POLICY SECTION
' Wetlands
Ocean Shoreline
Estuarine Waters/Shoreline
Public Trust Areas
Public Water Supply AECs
Groundwater Resources
' Surface Water Quality
Shoreline Access
Channel Maintenance
' Beach Nourishment
Development Impacts on Resources
Mineral Resources
Fisheries Resources
Maritime Forests
Commercial Forestry
Productive Agricultural Lands
Archaeological/Historic Resources
Wildlife Resources
Topographic Conditions
Stormwater Management
Marinas
Floating Structures
Land Disturbing/Tree Removal
Manmade Hazards
Beach Driving/Off-road Vehicles
Federal and State Support
' Wastewater
Transportation
Solid Waste
Community Growth Patterns
Residential Development
Commercial Development
' Re -development
Industrial Development
Energy Facilities
' Tourism
Natural Resources
Regulatory Issues
Growth and Development
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Bikeways/Walkways/Greenways
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Storm Hazard Mitigation/Reconstruction and Recovery
Storm Hazard Mitigation 85
Evacuation Plan 86
Post Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery 87
Public Participation
Public Participation Plan
SECTION THREE —LAND CLASSIFICATION
Purpose and Relationship to Policies
Land Classification System
Interpreting the Map
SECTION FOUR — INTERGOVERMENTAL
CKoil].11i71Z/." IIto) ZI
SECTION FIVE — PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
APPENDICES
Appendix A — Analysis of 1994 Implementation Strategies
Appendix B -- Public Participation Support Documents
B-1 Survey Results
B-2 Results of Land Use Plan Workshops
B-3 Planning Board Policy Analysis Worksheets
Appendix C — Property Use Tables for Individual Villages
Appendix D — Synopsis of 2002 Policy and Implementation Strategies
Appendix E — Maps
Existing Use Maps
Storm Surge Map
Land Classification Map
Primary Nursery Area Map
Outstanding Resource Waters Map
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LIST OF TABLES
Page Number
Table 1 Population Figures for Dare County 12
Table 2 Average Annual Growth Rate 12
Table 3 Households 12
Table 4 Age Breakdowns 13
Table 5 Racial Composition 13
Table 6 Housing Units and Occupancy 13
Table 7Income Estimates
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Table 8 Labor Force Estimates 14
Table 9 Services Impacted by Population Surge
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Table 10
Classification of Soil Types for Septic
Tank Suitability
Table 11
Average Monthly Water Use in MGD in 2000
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Table 12
Four Major Wholesale Purchasers for 2000
Table 13
Future Population and Water Demand
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Table 14
Average Distribution MGD
Table 15
2000 Monthly Distributions
Table 16
Average Daily Traffic Counts for 2000
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Table 17
School Enrollment 2001
Table 18
10-Year Student Population Projections
Table 19
10-Year School Facilities Plan
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Table 20
Population 1970-2000
Table 21
Population Projections for Dare County
Table 22
Vacant Land Analysis
Table 23
Class SA Water in Dare County
Table 24
Oceanfront Shoreline by Jurisdiction
Table 25
Assessed Values by Tax Districts — January 2002
Table 26
Projected Evacuation Times
Table 27
Recovery and Re-entry Stages
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LIST OF GRAPHS
Graph 1 Building Permits Issued in Unincorporated
Dare County 1995-2001
Graph 2 Building Permits Issued According to Geographic
Location of Unincorporated Dare County 1995-2001
Graph 3 Subdivisions Recorded in Unincorporated
Dare County 1995-2001
iGraph 4 Subdivisions Lots Recorded in Unincorporated
Dare County 1995-2001
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' Introduction
Located along the eastern seaboard and bordering 85 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, Dare County is
' known as the "land of beginnings". The nickname reflects Dare County's historic role in the
founding of the New World. Sir Walter Raleigh helped establish the first English speaking
settlement in the New World on Roanoke Island in 1587. This settlement later disappeared due to
' unknown circumstances and even today is the subject of speculation about the fate of the "Lost
Colony".
In 1903, another historic first took place in Dare County, when the Wright Brothers launched the
beginning of powered flight from the blowing sands near Kitty Hawk. The 100-year anniversary of
this extraordinary feat will be celebrated in 2003.
Today, Dare County is recognized as one of the United States' top vacation destinations thanks to our
abundance of natural resources and historic past.
Dare County's Land Use Plan
Since 1974, when the North Carolina General Assembly ratified the Coastal Area Management Act
(CAMA), each of the local governments in the twenty county coastal region have been developing
and updating land use plans. As part of the twenty county coastal region, Dare County has been
' developing land use plans since 1976. In addition to complying with the CAMA regulation, the land
use plan is a tool for use by local officials and citizens as a guide to the future development of
unincorporated Dare County. This edition, completed in 2003, seeks to provide a set of policy
' guidelines to manage growth and development in unincorporated Dare County over the next five
years.
The 2002 Plan is divided into five sections. The first section contains demographic and economic
information for Dare County and other data that were collected and analyzed as part of the update
process. The second section addresses policies. It includes narrative discussions of land use issues,
the policies chosen by the County to address these issues, and an implementation strategy or
strategies that will be used to carry out the policies. The third section of the LUP describes the land
classification designations used in unincorporated Dare County. Land classification maps,
developed in conjunction with this update, reflect these designations and are found in Appendix E.
Section Four discusses intergovernmental cooperation for this plan. Section Five contains
information on public participation activities used during the update process. Finally, several
appendices provide supporting data for the update. Collectively, these components combine to
create a document that can be used by regulatory agencies, the business community, and individual
citizens to determine what can be expected about land use in unincorporated Dare County for the
next five years.
While the first section provides vital information and demographics about Dare County and its
infrastructure, the policy statements contained in the second section are the essential component of
' the document. These policy statements reflect the intentions and goals of the Dare County officials
concerning our natural resources and their protection, resource production and management and the

County's attitudes toward growth and development of our area. Accompanying these policy
statements are implementation strategies that are recommended actions to carry out the stated
position of the policies. These policies have been re -stated at the end of this executive summary for
quick reference.
Section Three deals with the land classification system and associated maps. Each area of the
County is assigned a land classification based on patterns of development and available infrastructure
and/or utility services. The basis for these land classifications is provided by the CAMA legislation
with some adjustment offered by Dare County in the form of sub -classes.
Although, this executive summary provides a general overview of Dare County's land use policies,
users are referred to Section Two for a more detailed discussion of the issues and the selected policy
statements. The land classification section and map should be consulted by individuals applying for
CAMA major permits.
Future of Dare
Since the adoption of the Coastal Area Management Act in 1974, the first Dare County Land Use
Plan in 1976, and all subsequent versions have featured several reoccurring themes. . These
themes include natural resource preservation; a focus on residential development as the preferred
principal land use; commercial development that reflects the historic architectural patterns found in
Dare County and the recognition of tourism's role in the economy of Dare County.
As Dare County and its incorporated municipalities evolved over the period from 1976 to 2003, the
need for additional school facilities to meet the requirements of its growing student base has emerged
as a priority issue. Transportation has also emerged as a priority issue as seasonal populations have
exceeded 200,000 creating an urban -like atmosphere during the peak periods. Greater expenditures
on public safety such as law enforcement, emergency medical and fire prevention are also needed
during the months of seasonal population increases. These issues combine to present Dare County
with the unique challenge of facilitating the needs of its seasonal populations while maintaining a
high quality of life for its permanent residents. The policies of this latest version of the land use plan
reflect an effort by the Dare County Board of Commissioners, the Dare County Planning Board, its
Planning staff, and the citizens and non-residents property owners of Dare County to address this
challenge.
Goals and Objectives
The following have been identified as goals and objectives of the update. These items have been
written based on public input throughout the process and identified by Dare County as the direction
which our community should move over the course of the next 5-10 planning period: —General
statements of the vision for Dare County are followed by more specific goals for resource protection,
resource production and management, and growth and development.
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General Vision Statements
' 1. Manage the growth and development in a manner that preserves the historical, cultural, and
natural resources that make Dare County a desirable place to live and visit.
' 2. Unincorporated Dare County should retain the rural characteristics typical of the entire County
before the incorporated municipalities experienced urban style -growth.- It is the goal of Dare
County to shape the growth of the remaining villages in unincorporated Dare County in such a
' manner that they retain this rural character and avoid the need for urban -type services like central
wastewater collection and treatment. It is the desire of Dare County that its unincorporated
places would remain a disbursed collection of villages distinctly different from the melded
urbanization typical of the incorporated towns along the oceanfront.
3. Use existing patterns of village communities as "nodes" of activity and living space in a manner
that relates to the vast publicly owned lands and historical landmarks.
Resource Protection
1. Facilitate development at a rate that ensures sustainability of our important natural resources
especially ocean and estuarine water quality.
1 Resource Production and Management
l . Direct development to fit the natural conditions and landscape rather than modify the natural
conditions and landscape to accommodate development.
2. Resource production goals are minimal with 80% of the County's land publicly owned and
tourism as the economic base of Dare County. Our resource production goals center on
maintaining water quality to ensure the viability of commercial fisheries, recreational fishing and
boating. These activities coupled with boat building interact with tourism to serve as the
foundation of the Dare County economy.
' Growth and development
1. Maintain our coastal village atmosphere with an emphasis on residential development and small
locally owned commercial establishments.
2. The preferred pattern of residential development is detached low density homes that are
compatible in size and scale with existing patterns of development.
3. Expand options for housing to meet the diverse needs of the year-round and seasonal employees.
4. Commercial development should reflect the traditional "coastal village" architecture found
throughout the Outer Banks.
5. Develop the foundation for an alternative means of transportation that connects the various
population nodes for pedestrians and bicycles and provides a means of movement other than
traditional reliance on automobiles.
6. Use land use planning and zoning techniques to abate the tendency of rapid growth communities
to lose their "sense of place" or be homogenized by growth. Such techniques should include size
limitations on bulk commercial structures, limited dwelling density and placement of multifamily
structures, architectural standards to reflect traditional coastal building design, lighting and

landscaping standards to minimize visual blight and light pollution and standards for the display ,
of outdoor advertising and signage.
Noteworthy Changes
1. Planning Jurisdiction --Since the 1994 update of the LUP, the planning jurisdiction of
unincorporated Dare County has been impacted by two changes. In May 2002, the village of
Duck became the sixth municipal area of Dare County. As an incorporated town, Duck will now
be responsible for its own land use ordinances.
In October 2000, the community of Martins Point reverted back to the planning jurisdiction of '
Dare County having previously been designated as an extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction (ETJ) of
the Town of Southern Shores. Martins Point is a platted subdivision with land uses restricted to
single-family residential structures and associated accessory uses. A small portion of the
commercial area of the Martins Point Subdivision that fronts along US 158 remains under ETJ '
designation of Southern Shores.
2. Off -Road Vehicles -- The 2003 Plan recognizes the long-standing tradition of beach driving in '
Dare County and includes policy language that opposes efforts to impose additional restrictions
on beach driving activities. The 1994 policy recognized the need to properly balance the use of
off -road vehicles. The current policy clearly states the County's support of beach driving. '
3. Wetland Mitigation — The 2003 policy on wetland mitigation supports the use of mitigation for
public purpose projects. It also reserves the right to approve private sector projects that propose
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mitigation and addresses an identified substantial public need on a case by case basis. The 1994
policy supported wetland mitigation for public purpose projects only after all other means of
avoiding or minimizing wetland losses had been exhausted. The strict language of the 1994
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policy has caused problems with some public purpose projects, such as the new Virginia Dare
Bridge. The 2003 policy will provide more flexibility and not preclude projects that may be
beneficial to Dare County and its citizens.
4. Water Quality — The 2003 LUP continues to recognize the importance of water quality, both
surface and groundwater, to Dare County and its key role in the natural and economic
development of our area. A new policy that encourages the need for basin -wide water quality
efforts in the inland portions of North Carolina has been added to the 2003 update.
5. Beach Nourishment -- Shoreline stabilization and management is a pervasive theme in the long-
term planning for the barrier island portions of Dare County. For the past decade, Dare County
has been the sponsor of a lengthy study that resulted in congressional authorization of an
extensive shoreline protection project using federal, state, and local funds. If authorized an
appropriation, this beach nourishment project will address shoreline stabilization issues for the
incorporated towns of Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and portions of Kitty Hawk. A similar study
sponsored by the NC Department of Transportation is evaluating options for addressing shoreline
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movement and erosion on Hatteras Island particularly as it pertains to NC 12. One endangered
structure that was the subject of considerable debate has been successfully resolved for at least
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the next decade. In 2000, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was relocated approximately 2,900fner
feet inland to ensure its safety from storms and erosion.
6. Residential Development -- The 1987 version of the Dare County Land Use Plan, the policy for
community growth patterns stated that single- family detached residential development was the
preferred type of development. This policy was repeated in the 1994 update and has been
reaffirmed in this most recent update. The market in Dare County has adjusted to this stated
preference and resulted in the construction of hundreds of residential structures that are designed
and constructed solely for use as weekly seasonal rentals units. The most recent trend has been
toward large rental homes that are often incompatible with the scale of existing residential
structures thereby creating concerns about adequate parking and impacts on infrastructure. As a
result, in August 2002 the Dare County Board of Commissioners adopted standards for the
Zoning Ordinance that link the lot size to the number of permitted bedrooms and wastewater
capacity. The LUP narrative discussion on residential structures recognizes the diverse needs
of the seasonal and year-round population that has contributed to a shortage of moderate priced
residences for year-round residents and seasonal workers.
Overview of Policies
This Land Use Plan provides 74 policies in 39 categories. A reference to the specific policy numbers
follows the category name. The overview is intended to convey an understanding of the approach
Dare County has taken to development of these policies. However, to fully grasp the decisions and
issues that lead to these policy statements, readers are strongly advised to read the narratives in
Section2 of this Land Use Plan.
1. Wetlands (Policies 1, 2, 3) - Generally, Dare County relies on federal and state regulatory
programs for protection of wetlands. Wetland mitigation is acceptable for public purpose
projects, but a private sector project that meets a public need could be approved.
2. Ocean Shoreline (Policy 4) - Dare County primarily relies on CAMA regulations for protection
of the ocean shoreline and ocean hazard areas. It also meets the requirements to participate in the
National Flood Insurance Program
3. Estuarine Waters / Shoreline (Policies 5, 6, 7) - Dare County relies on CAMA designation of
Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs) and the CAMA permit program to manage estuarine
shoreline development. In addition, the County supports the use of estuarine bulkheads, but will
encourage the use of methods such as offshore breakwaters, slopes, rip -rap and voluntary
setbacks greater than 30 feet where such methods are good alternatives.
4. Public Trust Areas (Policies 8, 9) - Dare County supports the public's right to access and use
public trust areas and waters and will develop local management strategies to manage the use of
these areas by competing recreational users as needed.
5. Public Water Supply AECs (Policy 10) - Development in any public water supply AEC will be
managed to protect the long-term viability of the groundwater resources in accordance with
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CAMA standards for public water wellfield AECs and the special provisions of SED-1 zoning ,
for the Buxton Woods maritime forest. .
6. Groundwater Resources (Policy 11) — The protection of groundwater is identified as a high ,
priority in Dare County. Dare County will continue efforts to provide central water to all parts
of unincorporated Dare County. The County anticipates development of a permitting program
for private wells used for drinking water
7. Surface Water Quality (Policies 12,13)- The protection of surface water quality is a high
priority of Dare County and is reflected in the policies on surface water quality. Dare County
supports efforts by local, state and federal agencies to preserve, protect and improve surface
water quality; it also encourages the management of water quality using a basin -wide approach
that includes inland areas beyond the reach of CAMA regulations.
8. Shoreline Access (Policy 14)- Dare County supports North Carolina's shoreline access policies '
and recognizes the importance of shoreline access for our local tourist economy. Thus, it will
continue to seek opportunities to expand access and to acquire federal funding for beach
nourishment in order to maintain sandy beaches in public ownership.
9. Channel Maintenance (Policies 15,16 - Dare County plans to maintain all existing navigable
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channels and will continue to seek authorization and federal funding for jetties to stabilize
Oregon Inlet. The County will secure CAMA permits for non-federal projects where they are '
needed.
10. Beach Nourishment (Policy 17) - As noted under "Shoreline Access" above, Dare County '
believes in public access to the shoreline. Thus it supports the beach nourishment approach to
maintaining the ocean beaches of Dare County and to protecting route NC 12 where it is
vulnerable to ocean over -wash. Dare County will continue to be the non-federal sponsor of the '
Dare Beaches Hurricane Protection Plan.
11. Development Impacts on Resources (Policy 18) - All development proposals will be designed
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and constructed to minimize detrimental impacts on surface water quality, groundwater quality,
and air quality. Structures should also be designed to fit the natural topographic conditions and
vegetation versus modifications to natural conditions to accommodate structures.
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12. Mineral Resources (Policy 19) - Dare County will evaluate the need for local regulations for
those mining activities that are not subject to permit authorization by the State of North Carolina.
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13. Fisheries Resources (Policies 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) - Dare County will continue to support
efforts to restore and protect the coastal ecosystems that are essential to productive commercial
and recreational fisheries. This includes designated primary nursery areas and other areas that
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serve as habitat for our fisheries. The County will rely on the state and federal agencies which
have the authority to manage these resources and will implement and enforce CAMA 30-foot
buffer rules and other setbacks to protect surface water quality needed for productive fisheries.
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14. Maritime Forests (Policy 25)- Dare County provides special protection to the Buxton Woods
maritime forest through limitations on development in a local SED-1 zoning ordinance.
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Currently, there are no plans for protection of other maritime forest remnants on Roanoke Island
or in Colington except for modest development limitations provided by Dare County Zoning
ordinances in those areas.
15. Commercial Forestry (Policy 26)- Dare County supports commercial forestry projects that are
done in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the U. S. Forest Service and the
best management practice program of the State of North Carolina.
16. Productive Agricultural Lands (Policies 27, 28)- Dare County supports crop agriculture on
certain portions of Mainland Dare County, advocates voluntary use of the State of North
Carolina's best management practices for farm management, and opposes wholesale or industrial
livestock operations anywhere in the County.
17. Archaeological/Historic Resources (Policy 29)- Dare County supports the protection of
structures, lands and artifacts that have been identified by the NC Department of Cultural
Resources as archeologically or historically significant. If possible, the County will undertake a
comprehensive inventory of resources not already in public ownership for use in planning for
their possible future protection.
18. Wildlife Resources (Policy 30) - Extensive wildlife preserve areas are located in Dare County
and managed by federal and state agencies. Dare County advocates public access to these areas
for managed wildlife harvesting and observation.
19. Topographic Conditions (Policies 31, 32)- Because much of Dare County is susceptible to
flooding during hurricanes and other serious storms, the County supports the administration and
enforcement of all applicable floodplain management regulations and the National Flood
Insurance Program. In addition, Dare County will rely on CAMA standards and regulations for
development in CAMA designated AECs.
20. Stormwater Management (Policies 33,34) - Dare County recognizes that stormwater runoff
needs to be managed to protect the quality of public trust waters and to address public health and
safety issues associated with ponding of stormwater on roadways and in ditches. The County will
develop a stormwater management ordinance to address projects that are not subject to State
' regulation. It will also consider regulations address the use of fill material on lots to alter the
natural ground elevation.
21. Marinas (Policy 35) - Dare County supports the development of marinas to provide boating
access to the area's water bodies, insofar as marina development complies with all state and
federal guidelines and is consistent with the land use classifications established in this document.
22. Floating Structures (Policy 36)- Dare County opposes mooring of floating homes or other
floating structures anywhere in the public trust waters surrounding the County and is
' contemplating local regulations to enable a prohibition of them.
23. Land Disturbing/Tree Removal Activities (Policy 37) - Dare County relies on the best
management practices of the NC Forest Service for tree removal and the Dare County Zoning
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Ordinance for sand dune protection. The County will consider regulations to address the use of ,
fill material on lots to alter the natural ground elevation.
24. Manmade Hazards (Policies 38, 39)- The primary manmade hazards in Dare County are the ,
Dare County Regional Airport and the federally owned bombing range on Mainland Dare
County. Dare County does not support expansion of the regional airport except to address safety
issues. It would consider expansion of the bombing range after weighing the importance to the
Nations' defense against the impact on local communities and the Dare County economy.
25. Beach Driving/Off-road Vehicles (Policy 40) - Dare County supports access to the beaches of ,
Hatteras Island by four-wheel drive vehicle. Dare County does not support efforts to prohibit
driving on federally managed areas and will continue to monitor activities that may result in '
additional closing or restrictions.
26. Federal and State Support (Policy 41) - In general, Dare County will review new or expanded
Federal and State regulatory programs on a case by case basis to determine their benefits and
impacts on the County and its economy. The County reserves the right to support, oppose,
review and comment on all such proposed programs. Dare County advocates that well advertised
informational meetings and public hearings should be conducted before the adoption of any new
or expanded regulatory programs that impact the County.
27. Wastewater (Policies 42,43,44,45) - Dare County advocates the use of on -site septic tank- '
drainfield systems as the primary method of wastewater treatment where natural soil conditions
permit their use in unincorporated Dare County. Non-traditional methods of wastewater
treatment, including package treatment plants, may be allowed in areas where natural soil
conditions do not support traditional septic systems. However, the use of these alternative
systems will not be used solely to accommodate larger structures or higher dwelling density, nor
will these systems be permitted to have excess capacity, unless the area proposed for '
development is specifically zoned for such uses or capacity. Similarly, if central wastewater
treatment is needed to remedy water quality problems created by outdated septic systems, the
introduction of such a system will not be used to change minimum lot size standards. Dare
County plans to create a wastewater treatment commission to address wastewater treatment
issues and monitor impacts of various wastewater systems on our ground and surface waters.
28. Transportation (Policies 46,47,48,49) - Dare County advocates intergovernmental cooperation
with its municipalities and neighboring counties to study and address the County's transportation
needs. It will also continue to work with NC DOT and the Task Force on NC 12 for Hatteras '
Island to develop and support long-term strategies for stabilization of the corridor, including a
replacement for Bonner bridge, elevation of portions of NC 12 and beach nourishment. Dare
County will not assume responsibility for maintenance of private roads; the county advocates that '
all future private roads be built to state standards, if at all possible. The County also will
investigate an assessment program for maintenance and repair of private roads.
29. Solid Waste (Policy 50) - Dare County participates in a regional solid waste authority and '
operates voluntary recycling efforts.
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30. Community Growth Patterns (Policies 51, 52, 53, 54) - In order to protect the unique rural
characteristics of the villages in unincorporated Dare County, use -specific zoning maps will be
developed for those areas, which are currently not zoned or minimally zoned. Private developers
will also be encouraged to incorporate features in their designs that harmonize with the village
where the development will be located. The County will provide public services, such as central
water, to meet needs, but not to promote development in these areas. If needed, the County
reserves the right to acquire additional private property to meet public needs. Finally, the County
will contract with a planning consultant for an updated Carrying Capacity Study for Dare County.
This will enable the County to better assess the impacts of future growth and resources necessary
to manage it.
31. Residential Development (Policies 55, 56) - Detached single family homes are the preferred
type of housing in year round residential areas of unincorporated Dare County. Dare County
recognizes the diverse housing need of the community and will work with the private sector to
expand the housing opportunities for year-round residents. Regional efforts to address the
housing needs will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Possible amendments to the Zoning
Ordinance to delete the use of "single family" will be considered to recognize the varying
patterns of residential development, to address the use of residential structures for home
occupations, and to provide more stringent nuisance regulations.
32. Commercial Development (Policies 57, 58, 59) - Dare County encourages the development of
locally owned businesses in unincorporated Dare County. The County will address locations for
commercial development as it pursues continued zoning of the unincorporated area. It will also
encourage large franchise operations to moderate their building plans to reflect the character of
the villages where they plan to locate.
33. Redevelopment (Policy 60) - When areas of Dare County are redeveloped, new development
must meet current standards. The County will encourage the re -use of historical structures versus
destruction since these structures provide links to our past.
34. Industrial Development (Policies 61, 62) - Dare County encourages industrial development if it
is environmentally compatible with the challenges associated with maintaining high quality
surface and ground waters. It especially supports the traditional commercial fishing, boat
building and construction industries. Locations for industrial development will be identified
during the zoning process for the rest of unincorporated Dare County.
35. Energy Facilities (Policy 63) - Dare County is opposed to development of any aspect of the
petrochemical industry within its jurisdictional lands or waters. This includes both off -shore and
on -shore facilities and activities associated with the exploration for or production of
petrochemical products of any kind. Dare County does support research and development of non -
fossil fuel alternatives for energy production.
36. Tourism (Policies 64, 65, 66) - Tourism is vitally important to the economy of Dare County. The
County invites visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, its cultural resources and the
recreational opportunities afforded by the pristine environment. Dare County's success as a
tourist destination has placed increasing demands on the County's infrastructure. Dare County
will use tourist -generated revenues to address the needs and impacts of our seasonal tourist
population.
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37. Bikeways/Walkways/Greenways (Policy 67) - Dare County supports the continued
development and construction of sidewalks, bike paths, greenways and other similar pathways as
the means for safe enjoyment of the natural and cultural resources of the area. The County also
recognizes their value as alternative transportation routes.
38. Storm Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation, and Post -Disaster Recovery (Policies 68,
69,70,71,72,73) - Dare County is especially vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms and other
serious weather events because of its location next to the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the County has
developed and is committed to maintaining processes and procedures that recognize the need to
deal with the aftermath of such disasters. These processes and procedures include: zoning
regulations and construction standards which mitigate the effects of major storm events; a full
time emergency management department and emergency operations centers; policies and
procedures for recovery and reconstruction after a major disaster; restoration of highway and
utility infrastructure as the highest priority, followed by businesses and homes that serve the year
round population of the County; and, use of whatever authority is necessary to provide for an
orderly recovery while also mitigating against similar future disasters.
39. Public Participation (Policy 74) - Dare County supports active public participation by its
citizens in all County planning activities, including its land use planning process, ongoing zoning
activities, long range planning initiatives and the County Planning Board. The County will
actively seek such participation through education, workshops, releases of information to the
news media, surveys and public hearings.
10

Section One
Information
and
� Demographics

SECTION 1 — Data Collection and Anal�sls_
Information Base
The Coastal Area Management Act guidelines for land use plans require an analysis of existing
conditions and future trends be completed before policy statements are established. The intent of this
requirement is to ensure that policies reflect current conditions and issues facing the County. Key
components of the analysis may be broken into four categories:
1. Current conditions including demographic information, existing land use, and current plans and
regulations.
2. Land suitability including physical limitations on development, fragile areas, and areas with
resource potential.
3. Community facility and service constraints including water, sewer, transportation, police, fire,
schools, solid waste, and parks and recreation.
4. Anticipated demand including demographic projections, future land use needs, and community
facility needs.
Collectively, these elements summarize past and present conditions while providing an essential
reference tool for estimating future conditions.
Current Conditions
Demographics
a) Population
Dare County is located in a remote portion of northeastern North Carolina. For many years, just
getting to Dare County was a challenge due to its lack of adequate roads and bridges. However
during the mid 1900s, Dare County was slowly developing as a destination for sportsman and
naturalists and was not known as a retirement community or a resort area. Better roads and bridges
were constructed that allowed more access to Dare County, but still it remained a relatively unknown
area. Land prices were cheap and subdivisions were developed by real estate speculators in the
1960s and 1970s that have remained vacant for many years. However, Dare County has experienced
tremendous growth since 1970 with average annual growth rates of 6.7% in the 1970s decade and
5.5% in the 1980s decades. Growth has continued throughout the 90s decade although the average
annual growth rate has slowed to 2.8%. Figures from the 2000 US Census indicate the permanent
population for Dare County has doubled since the 1980 census count. The following tables
demonstrate the changing demographic characteristics of Dare County.
12

Table 1— Population Figures for Dare County
Population in
Dare County
Absolute Increase
1990-2000
1900
4,757
1910
4,841
1900-1910
1920
5,115
1910-1920
274
1930
5,202
1920-1930
87
1940
6,041
1930-1940
839
1950
5,405
1940-1950
(636)
1960
5,935
1950-1960
530
1970
6,995
1960-1970
1,060
1980
13,377
1970-1980
6,382
1990
22,746
1980-1990
9,369
2000
29,967
1990-2000
7,221
Table 2 — Average Annual Growth Rates
1950-1960
1.0%
1960-1970
1.7%
1970-1980
6.7%
1980-1990
5.5%
1190-2000
2.8%
Average annual growth rates are derived using the compound interest formula. These figures were calculated using Microsoft Excel.
The US Census defines a household to include all of the people who occupy a housing unit. In Dare
County, the number of households in 2000 increased by 36% from the 1990 census, or an annual
growth of 3.6% per year. For the same period, the number of households in North Carolina
increased by 24% or an annual growth rate of 2.4% per year. The average household size for Dare
County is smaller than the average for the State of North Carolina. One possible factor for this
smaller size may be the number of retired persons residing in Dare County.
Table 3- Households
1990
2000
Total # of
Households
Average
Household Size
Total # of
Households
Average
Household Size
Dare County
9,349
2.41
12,690
2.34
North Carolina
2,517,026
2.54
3,132,013
2.49
The age breakdown analysis for Dare County indicates that a larger percentage of the County's
population is over 65 years of age compared to the figures for the entire State. The median age for
Dare County listed in the US Census is 40.4 years, an increase over the 1990 median age of 35.2.
These figures reflect the number of retired individuals in the Dare community. The median age for
13

' the State in 1990 was 33.2 and the 2000 census figures show a slight increase in the median age to
35.3. The following table depicts a more detailed breakdown.
Table 4 - Age Breakdown -2000
Under 5
5-17
18-64
65+
Dare
1,547
5.2
4,864
16.2
19,432
64.8
4,124
13.8
NC
539,509
6.7
1,424,538
17.7
5,116,248
63.6
969,048
12.0
' The racial composition of Dare County is predominantly white and the percentage for the County is
much higher than the percentage of whites found in North Carolina.
Table 5 - Racial Composition 2000
White
Black or African
American
Other
Dare
28,393
94.7
797
2.7
777
2.6
NC
5,804,656
72.1
1,737,545
21.6
507,112
6.3
According to the 2000 Census, there are 26,671 housing units in Dare County, with 52.4% listed as
vacant. This large percentage of vacant housing units reflects the abundance of housing units that are
offered for short-term occupancy in Dare County. Over 50% of the vacant housing units in Dare
County are categorized as seasonal or recreational use. Year-round residents in Dare County
occupied 47.6% of these units compared to the 88.9% of year-round occupancy found in the
remainder of North Carolina.
Table 6 - Housing Units and Occupancy
Dare County
North Carolina
Housing Units
Percent
Housing Units
Percent
TOTAL
26,671
100.0
3,523,944
100.0
Occupied
12,690
47.6
3,132,013
88.9
Owner Occupied
9,460
35.5
2,172,355
61.6
Renter Occupied
3,230
12.2
959,658
27.2
Vacant
13,981
52.4
391,931
11.1
For Rent
277
1.0
92,893
2.6
For Sale Only
117
0.4
44,007
1.2
Rented or Sold
70
0.3
26,523
0.8
Seasonal/Recreational
Rental or Use
13,355
50.1
134,870
3.8
For Migrant Workers
5
0.0
1,890
0.1
Other Vacant
157
0.61
91,748
2.6
14

b) Economy
Dare County's per capita and median family incomes are close to the figures for North Carolina as a
whole. Dare County trails the State on the per capita income figures, however the median family
incomes for Dare County are almost equal to the State figures.
Table 7 — Income Estimates
Per Capita Income/1999
Median Family Income/2000
Dare County
$24,566
$50,300
NC
$27,194
$50,200
The majority of jobs in Dare County are in some way related to the tourism industry, with retail trade
and services the largest employment sectors in the County. These industries combine for a total
56.6%. In North Carolina, the same sectors represent 41.5% of the State's job base. The boat
building industry represents the limited number of manufacturing jobs (3.9%) compared to 21.3% for
the State. Construction and real estate services employ many County residents as well as the public
sector jobs offered by the local, State and Federal governments. There is also a small sector of the
population employed in the commercial fishing industry.
Table 8 — Labor Force Estimates
Sector
2000
% of DC
% of NC
Agriculture
159
0.8
1.4
Construction
1,362
6.6
5.8
Finan/Ins./Real Estate
2,548
12.4
4.7
Government
2,447
11.9
15.7
Manufacturing
658
3.2
21.3
Services
4,379
21.4
23.5
Wholesale Trade
464
2.3
5.0
Retail Trade
8,059
39.3
18.0
Trans/Comm/ Utilities 1
413 1
2.0
4.6
TOTAL 1
20,489 1
100.01
100.0
Demographic information obtained from NC State Data Center, 2000 US Census Data and NC Dept of Commerce
c) Impact of Seasonal Population
As the seasonal population descends upon Dare County every year, the demand for public services
and the impact on public facilities increases at a proportional rate. The year-round population of
Dare County, according to the 2000 Census is 29,967. The seasonal population peak is
approximately 200,000. Public services and facilities must be designed to accommodate peak period
demand, and then operate according to the demand level during non -peak periods.
The traditional peak population period is during the summer months or generally between Memorial
Day and Labor Day. However, the non -peak periods have grown increasingly popular as well,
extending the tourist season or "shoulder season" from Easter weekend in the spring to Thanksgiving
15

weekend in the fall. Also, the property owners of the resort homes offered for short-term rentals
often use their property for their personal vacations during these spring and fall months. During the
winter months, Dare County reverts to its static population base, with reserve capacity for almost
every public service. However, even during these winter months, Dare County is subject to
occasional bursts in population due to three-day weekend holidays in January and February.
The major impact of the seasonal population is on the service delivery and infrastructure support.
Water and other utility systems must be designed to meet the capacity needs of the peak demands but
most of the time, operate at much less than peak demands. The most overstressed of the local
infrastructure are the transportation improvements, particularly on rainy days that result in heavy
traffic flows and in certain areas, like Duck or Manteo, result in traffic back-ups on the highways.
The increased traffic affects the response times and travel times of the emergency medical services in
addition to their services being impacted by the increase on the number of emergency calls due to the
population surge. Law enforcement officials also face challenges similar to those of the emergency
medical personnel.
There also are impacts on the quality of life of the permanent population in that the peak population
increases frustrate efforts to complete one's daily activities such as grocery shopping and commutes
to work sites. As the peak populations continue to increase with each passing season, there is a
growing sentiment of being overwhelmed by the number of visitors. However, most everyone
realizes the importance of the tourism industry in Dare County and accepts the increased demands
placed on the local service and transportation infrastructure. This frustration is countered with the
revenues that Dare County receives from the tourist population in the forms of the occupancy tax, a
prepared meals tax, and a retail sales tax. Many residents also recognize the benefits of having
'clean' industry such as tourism versus more manufacturing or industrial economies.
Table 9 -- Services Impacted by the Population Suree
1. Water Production and Distribution
2. Transportation Infrastructure
3. Solid Waste Management
' 4. Emergency Medical and Air Ambulance
5. Law Enforcement and Detention
6. Electrical Services
' 7. Animal Control
8. Parks and Recreation Areas
' Community Land Use Analysis
Analyzing the existing land uses throughout the community serves a number of functions. The
primary function is to provide an overview of development patterns and a basis for determining
growth trends over time. The analysis or survey identifies what development has occurred, where the
development has occurred, and what kind of development has occurred. The survey also shows the
' relationship between different kinds of land use and their compatibility with the surrounding
properties.
' Current land use information is fundamental to the preparation of the land use plan. Not only is the
survey helpful in preparing policies for the plan, but it is also useful in identifying water and sewer
expansion areas or needed changes to zoning maps or ordinances. Data provided by the existing
' 16

land use survey is helpful to both the public and private sectors. For the public sector, the need for
new schools or recreation areas may be identified during the land use survey, while the private sector
might use the information in decision -making processes about development plans or real estate
purchases.
The analysis area for the land use survey corresponds to the planning jurisdiction of Dare County,
which includes the unincorporated areas of Martins Point, Colington, the Hatteras Island villages of
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras, the Mainland villages of Manns
Harbor, East Lake and Stumpy Point, and Roanoke Island including Wanchese. Not included in the
study area are the incorporated towns of Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head,
and Manteo. The towns prepare Land use plans for these areas separately. Duck became the sixth
municipality in Dare County on May 2002 but will continue to use the Dare County Land Use Plan
until the Town can adopt its own land use plan. Therefore, the individual analysis includes Duck.
The Planning staff completed an analysis of each village using existing tax records. A narrative
description for each village is included below. Appendix C at the end of the update includes
property use tables for each village taken from the Dare County tax records illustrating the existing
uses of the total parcels for each village and color -coded maps prepared by the Dare County
Information Technology Department.
a) Individual Village Analysis
DUCK — In November 2001, the registered voters of Duck voted to incorporate their village into
Dare County's sixth municipality. On May 1, 2002, Duck officially became a Town. A contract for
planning and building inspector services was signed by the County and the Town of Duck to
continue to provide these services for an additional 12 months. The Town of Duck will use the Dare
County Land Use Plan until they are able to adopt their own Plan sometime in 2003.
Duck is the northernmost portion of Dare County and lies between the Southern Shores municipal
boundary and the Currituck County line. Access to Duck is via NC 12, also known as Duck Road.
The primary land use is residential structures that are generally not the principal residences of the
owners. These vacation homes are often made available for short-term rental during the summer
months. In addition, there are several multi -family developments scattered throughout the village. A
federal research pier operated by the Army Corps of Engineers is located in the middle of the village.
Commercial development is limited to a portion of land adjacent to and along NC 12. This "village
commercial" district has established a special sense of identity for the village due to the limited scope
of permitted uses. Only those retail and service related businesses that are necessary for the daily
needs of the immediate village are permitted in this VC district. The scope of uses in Duck prevents
the introduction of destination -type attractions and has discouraged the carnival -like atmosphere
typical of many other coastal resort areas. Vacant land in Duck is limited to undeveloped lots in
previously recorded subdivisions. In 1999, the largest remaining undeveloped tract, known as the
Gard tract, was approved as a 131-lot subdivision called Four Seasons. Although there are a couple
of isolated tracts of 2-3 acres of undeveloped land, the land use pattern for Duck village is now
established pending any redevelopment proposals that may be forthcoming in the next decade.
The most influential change in the development trends has been the increase in the size of residential
structures versus the existing residential development that had been a more traditional 3-bedroom, 2-
bath "cottage". As of the millennium, this concept has evolved into multiple bedrooms, multi
17

bathroom up -scale structures with individual pools. These structures are largely marketed as rental
resorts for short-term rental. The proliferation of this style of occupancy has generated issues
pertaining to off-street parking, wastewater treatment capabilities, and general overcrowding.
In terms of commercial development, ordinance amendments have been adopted for the VC district
in Duck to address the proportionality of commercial structures to the land use patterns of a village
setting. The amendments limit per building floor area and establish lighting and aesthetic standards
for the district.
As was the case in 1994, traffic congestion and vehicle movement continues to be a critical issue
during the peak summer season months. Although a popular bicycle trail has provided an alternative
means for those who chose to use it, the automobile remains the principal means of transportation in
Duck. The primary transportation route is the two-lane NC 12 that also facilitates all traffic destined
further north into the beaches of Currituck County. It is anticipated that traffic congestion will
continue to be a problem. The much -discussed Mid -County Currituck Bridge continues to be the
only hopeful alternative for alleviating much of the congestion associated with travel to points further
north. Unfortunately, it appears that the Mid -County Bridge is at least 8-10 years away from
completion. The widening of the existing roadway represents the only other congestion relief
alternative but is widely opposed as incompatible with the village setting of Duck.
MARTINS POINT — Martin's Point Subdivision is located adjacent to the Town of Southern Shores
' with commercial development along the frontage of US 158 and the majority of the subdivision is
platted as residential lots. A manned guard gate limits access to the residential section. For years,
the development of Martins Point was under the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of Southern
t Shores, however, the residential portions of the subdivision reverted back to the County's jurisdiction
in October 2000. The commercial areas remain under the ET7 of Southern Shores.
' KDH OUTSIDE/COLINGTON — The KDH Outside tax district includes the area locally known as
Baum Bay and is located adjacent to the Kill Devil Hills municipal boundary and continues to the
first bridge along Colington Road. The development patterns for Baum Bay and Colington can be
' distinguished by the variation of land uses found throughout the islands. This variation in land use is
the result of decades of unregulated land use. However, in 1997, a zoning map was adopted for all of
Colington and the Baum Bay area. The largest subdivision in the area, Colington Harbour was zoned
' in 1985. Both areas continue to be a largely year-round community with a mix of single-family
residences, mobile homes and a handful of commercial uses. The presence of rich estuarine
shorelines prompted the Colington area to be a fishing village with an emphasis on crabbing prior to
t the discovery of the Outer Banks as a tourist resort. Commercial fishing and crabbing continues to
be an important source of income for many Colingtonians and a source of recreational pleasure for
visitors. Commercial fishing and traditional land uses played an important role in the development
' of a zoning map to facilitate these uses but limit the commercial growth potential of Colington.
The development of the First Flight Schools complex nearby serves as an additional attraction to
' many families moving to the area.
Access to the area is along SR 1217, a winding two-lane road with limited right-of-way width. This
heavily traveled secondary road represents a major challenge to transportation planners in NCDOT
V district. Plans for a 400-unit community on land that adjoins the Baum Bay Harbor Subdivision
18

and the construction of a high school on the Baum tract adjacent to the existing First Flight Middle
and Elementary schools will further impact traffic on Colington Road.
RODANTHE — Traveling south from Oregon Inlet on NC 12, Rodanthe is the first Hatteras Island
village after the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge. Similar to the other areas of unincorporated Dare
County, Rodanthe lacks any defined pattern of development other than that which is found along NC
12, the only major transportation route in the village. Another cluster of commercial development
surrounds the Hatteras Island Fishing Pier. Elsewhere, residential lots and structures of various sizes
and ages can be found throughout the village.
In 1997, the County constructed a reverse osmosis plant for the Rodanthe Waves Salvo area. The
development potential for the village has been enhanced by this central water supply but continues to
be limited by poorly drained soils. The availability of a central water supply has contributed to the
quality of life in Rodanthe be eliminating the need for private wells for potable water. In the past,
private wells had been inundated by ocean over wash, saltwater intrusion, and encroachment by
multiple drainfield/septic tank systems.
The Rodanthe village areas continues to be one of the last frontiers in unincorporated Dare County in
terms of the residents continued resistance to land use controls. However, as the land use almost
everywhere else in Dare County comes under zoning ordinances, the introduction of unpopular or
incompatible uses and/or structures has prompted some civic leaders to rethink the need for zoning.
There are two principal transportation issues in Rodanthe. The first is largely a result of the absence
of subdivision regulations decades ago that has left the village with a multitude of private roads in
poor condition. Secondly, the principal route, NC 12, is at times unreliable due to ocean overwash
and a regulatory/environmental dilemma that has stymied transportation planners at NCDOT.
However, a multi -agency task force has been working for several years in an effort to develop both
short-term and long-term alternatives for the management and maintenance of NC 12.
WAVES — The village of Waves is predominantly detached residential structures with some
commercial development. Like, Rodanthe, free market forces have established themselves along NC
12. In addition, a number of large travel trailer parks and campgrounds are located in Waves. The
village has also benefited from the construction of the reverse osmosis plant but development is still
limited by soil characteristics that are poorly drained.
SALVO — Salvo is bordered by the village of Waves on the north end and the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore on the south end. The development of Salvo is similar to Rodanthe and Waves with both
residential and commercial structures located along NC 12. The commercial development is
focused mainly on providing services to the seasonal population. The construction of the reverse
osmosis plant has removed the reliance on private wells for the Salvo residents but development is
still limited by the poorly drained soils found throughout Hatteras Island. Salvo will continue to
develop in the established patterns with a mix of permanent homes and businesses along NC 12 and
seasonal residents along the immediate ocean and estuarine shorelines.
AVON — Avon village can be separated into two distinct areas within its boundaries. The first is the
residential development and businesses established to serve the seasonal visitors and the other, the
year-round population located within the old village of Kinnakeet. Along the NC 12 corridor, the
majority of land is already developed with mostly residential structures offered for resort rentals or
19

platted as residential lots. The commercial establishments along NC 12 cater mainly to the seasonal
population's needs but also provide services to the year-round populations as evidenced by the island
only franchise grocery store and newly developed medical center. Inside the village, neighborhoods
are residences of the year-round population of Avon, with a mixture of single-family homes and
mobile homes. The influence of commercial fishing is evident within the old village, particularly
along the harborfront. Avon is a blend of the old and the new with the soundside village
composed of extended families and the new areas developing as a resort accommodations and service
community
BUXTON — Buxton is a growing commercial and institutional mid -point of Hatteras Island. The
existing Cape Hatteras School is located in Buxton and a new elementary school is under
construction also. Buxton is comprised of mostly year-round residents and serves as a commercial
hub for the entire island. The County constructed a multi -use recreational facility known as the
Fessenden Center in Buxton in the mid 1990s that is widely used for recreational sports and other
community gatherings. The Group Cape Hatteras Coast Guard base located in Buxton lends to the
strong sense of community of the village. The Buxton Woods maritime forest influences a good
portion of the residential development occurring in Buxton. Development in the Buxton Woods
forest must comply with the County's special zoning regulations established to preserve the maritime
forest setting. Buxton will continue to serve as the commercial and institutional center of Hatteras
Island with a mix of single-family homes and modest residential development serving the year-round
residents of the area.
FRISCO — Similar to Buxton, development in Frisco is influenced by the maritime forest known as
' Buxton Woods. Several older subdivisions on the soundside of Frisco are beginning to develop with
seasonal and year-round homes. Minimal zoning regulations of the S-1 district that permits all uses
is established outside the areas zoned SED-1 for the maritime forest. In 1998, efforts to adopt more
restrictive zoning were unsuccessful due to the lack of a community consensus of desired land use
patterns along the vacant road frontage on NC 12. As a result, commercial development has
continued to dominant the NC 12 road corridor. This pattern of development is expected to continue
' in Frisco due to the restrictive nature SED-1 zoning of Buxton Woods and the lack of use -specific
guidelines of the S-1 zoning.
HATTERAS — Hatteras village is the southern most village of Hatteras Island and serves as an entry
point for Dare County as a result of the location of the Hatteras -Ocracoke ferry landing at the
village/County boundary. The influence of commercial and sport fishing is evident in Hatteras
village and many year-round residents make their homes in Hatteras. Large seasonal resort homes
line the oceanfront of Hatteras village. Commercial development is centered along NC 12 that runs
through the village. A commercial hub has also developed around the ferry landing as part of the
Hatteras Landing planned unit development approved by Dare County in the early 1990s. Hatteras
has done well in retaining its coastal village character while accommodating growth directed to the
seasonal population.
ROANOKE ISLAND (outside Manteo) — This area of Dare County is predominantly made up of a
year-round population. A mixture of single-family residential structures and mobile homes are
located in the area. This section of Dare County is the oldest and most traditional setting for year-
round residency. The location of central sewer lines along the portion of US 64 that stretches from
the southern Manteo town boundary to the Pirates Cove development has influenced the commercial
20

development of Roanoke Island. Commercial developments have been constructed along this section
of US 64 that fall under the planning jurisdiction of Dare County but are connected to the central
sewer service of the Town of Manteo. The availability of central sewer from Manteo and the
construction of a new bridge from the Mainland to the US 64/NC 345 intersection will continue to
influence this area of Roanoke Island. The construction of a new County courthouse and visitors
bureau near the new bridge landing will result in a new center of activity away from the traditional
downtown area of Manteo. One of the unique features of the area is the overlay corridor district that
runs from the Umstead Bridge to Baum Bridge that establishes architectural and vegetation
protection provisions along the frontage of US 64. Roanoke Island is also home to the Dare County
regional airport and several cultural facilities, including the North Carolina Aquarium and Fort -
Raleigh -Elizabethan Gardens complex.
SKYCO — the Skyco area is located south of the Washington Baum Bridge on Roanoke Island along
NC 345 and north of large wetlands areas that separate Skyco from the village of Wanchese. The
area is predominately single family residences along NC 345 and Skyco Road and Toler Road.
There are scattered commercial uses in the Skyco area that front on NC 345 including storage
warehouses and an automobile repair shop.
WANCHESE — Located at the southern end of Roanoke Island, Wanchese is best described as a
coastal fishing community with land development supporting this industry. A large portion of the
community has been developed as the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park by the State. In recent
years, this facility has finally begun to develop some established businesses, but has yet to reach its
full potential due to the uncertainly of the dynamic and unreliable conditions of Oregon Inlet, which
is the only ocean inlet for northern Dare County. Wanchese is also home to several boat
manufacturing firms. Other commercial development is devoted to the immediate community
needs. The population is almost entirely year-round residents of extended families. Residential
development is a mixture of single-family homes and mobile homes. The area is unzoned.
Wanchese is a year-round community with strong ties to the commercial fishing and boating
industries.
MANNS HARBOR— Manes Harbor is located on the Mainland of Dare County. Rural in nature,
Manns Harbor is comprised mostly of year-round residents with limited commercial development.
However, the landing of the new Roanoke Sound Bridge is located at the US 64 intersection in
Manns Harbor and it is anticipated that this will greatly influence the community over the next
several years. Although Manns Harbor is currently unzoned, there has been considerable interest in a
possible zoning map as a result of the residents recognizing possible changes associated with the new
bridge landing. Existing development patterns reflect a somewhat disorganized mix of residential
uses, service -related businesses and even some light manufacturing (boat building). Manns
Harbor is the largest of the Mainland villages.
MASHOES — The small village of Mashoes is located off US 64 from Manes Harbor. It is a small
community with a handful of year-round residents and no commercial land uses. The area is
unzoned and relies on private wells and individual on -site septic systems for wastewater treatment.
EAST LAKE — The majority of the Mainland area is under the jurisdiction of the Federal
government as either the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge or the US Navy/Air Force bombing range.
There is little development in East Lake except for the residential uses for the area's handful of
21

' permanent residents. Most homes are located along US 64. Dare County's heritage as a rural area
and sportsman paradise remains evident in East Lake. Like Manns Harbor, this area is unzoned.
STUMPY POINT — Located off US 264, Stumpy Point is somewhat isolated from the other areas of
Dare County with a majority of the property owned by permanent residents. The influence of
commercial fishing is evident in Stumpy Point due to its proximity to the Pamlico Sound. The poor
soils and low elevations have limited development in Stumpy Point despite being a waterfront
community. A central water system solely for Stumpy Point is being constructed by the County to
provide more suitable potable water for the residents, who currently use private wells with an
' undesirable water quality. Stumpy Point is also unzoned and the residents have not indicated any
dissatisfaction with this state.
b) Overall Community Analysis
Over the last decade, Dare County has continued to grow as many of the subdivision lots that were
recorded in the previous decades were developed, as either permanent single-family homes or into
seasonal resort rentals or investment homes. Subdivision of land has slowed since the 1980s with
mostly smaller subdivisions taking place over the last several years. The construction and real estate
industry has enjoyed a robust period of growth during the late 1990s and early part of 2000. One
factor of the construction industry that is of particular interest is the increasingly popularity of pools
as an amenity of seasonal rental homes. The pool construction industry has experienced
phenomenal growth since the early 1990s with most new homes planned as rentals being constructed
with a pool. Many of the existing rental homes have been forced to retrofit their sites with pools to
compete with the newer structures.
The graphs and tables included below depict information on the issuance of building permits and
subdivisions in unincorporated Dare County. Although there were increases almost every year
between 1995 and 2000, there was a considerable jump in the number of permits from 1999 to 2000.
The second graph depicts the number of permits issued by each of the building inspection offices.
The south office is for Hatteras Island, the central office is for permits on Roanoke Island and the
Mainland, and the north office is for permits in Duck and Colington. Reviewing these graphs it is
evident that the Hatteras Island office has realized a steady increase in the number of permits issued
since 1995, with the numbers for the Roanoke Island office fluctuating within this same period.
However, the north beach office figures depict a substantial increase from 1998 to 1999 and 2000.
22

Graph 1- Building Permits Issues for Unincorporated Dare County 1995-2001
Permits Issued 1995-2001
1000
800
'
Y
1995
i
r-
1
"• 1997 1998 1999 2000 11
Graph 2- Building Permits Issued According to Geographic Location of Unincorporated Dare
County 1995-2001
Permits by Geographic Region
❑ South E3 Central ❑ North
500
400
300
200
100
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
23

The next graphs depict subdivision information over the period of 1995-2001. There is no
discernible trend as the numbers fluctuate from year to year except for the year 2000 during which
over 200 subdivisions lots were recorded. For the year 2000, three phases of the Kinnakeet
Shores Soundside Subdivision in Avon were recorded. These plats were granted preliminary
approval in the mid 1990s under a phasing agreement with Dare County but were not recorded until
2001. Also, the largest remaining undeveloped tract in Duck was recorded in 2000 accounting for
the majority of lots recorded throughout the unincorporated area.
Graph 3 — Subdivisions Recorded for Unincorporated Dare County 1995-2001
Subdivisions Recorded 1995-2001
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Graph 4- Total Subdivision Lots Recorded 1995-2001
Total Lots Recorded 1995-2001
250
20077
150
100
50
01
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
24

c) Significant Land Use Compatibility Issues
Before the expansive growth periods of the past three decades, land use in Dare County was a mix of
dispersed home sites and essential -need service establishments. During the growth period, market
forces directed the establishment of a variety of land uses into the existing setting. As a result of this
"mixing" of land uses, compatibility issues have developed. Further contributing to the
compatibility issue is a lack of zoning controls or formalized zoning maps for some areas of
unincorporated Dare County. This lack of zoning has often resulted in incompatible land uses
located adjacent to one another or in incompatible architecture style in close proximity to existing
structures. A recent trend among the developed areas is a pattern of new and larger residential
structures that do not match the scale of existing development.
Another compatibility issue concerns the development of land along the County's major
transportation routes, NC 12, US 158 and US 64. Movement of traffic along these routes has been
drastically impeded by commercial land use accessed from these roads and a series oftraffic signals,
particularly during peak summer months.
All of the compatibility issues in Dare County are_compounded by the extraordinary amount of land
held in public ownership. These publicly owned properties include the Alligator River National
Wildlife Refuge, the Fort Raleigh complex, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Pea Island
Wildlife Refuge, the US Air Force/Navy bombing ranges, and the Buxton Woods Coastal Preserve.
Over 80% of the total land area of unincorporated Dare County is in public ownership. There is a
great deal of pressure to use and develop the remaining 20% of the privately owned land. In
addition, the privately owned lands are further limited by a number of State and Federal regulatory
programs.
d) Issues Associated With Unanticipated Development
Protection of Dare County's abundant natural resources is a priority issue in Dare County. This is
particularly true along the estuarine shoreline where stormwater runoff threatens water quality and
aquatic life. Pressure for increased development will continue but must be balanced by the need to
protect our natural resources.
Land that is suitable for development is becoming harder to find and more costly to develop due to
regulatory and topographical constraints. The robust market of the past several years has been able
to absorb the extra costs of developing marginal lots and still make a satisfactory profit. As such,
attempts to circumvent land use regulations are becoming more frequent.
Another issue is the ability of local government to keep pace with the latest construction trends.
Quick responses to undesirable construction practices are generally not possible since local
governments must adhere to strict notification procedures established by North Carolina General
Statutes before adopting new land use regulations.
An equally important, but less quantifiable issue is the potential loss of identity as a result of
unanticipated development. Often, residents of a community feel their "sense of place" is threatened
by changing developing patterns or the market adjusting to increases in the permanent population.
25

Plans, Policies, and Regulations
There are several important Federal, State and local documents and regulations that are used to
manage growth in Dare County. The following is a list of these plans, policies, and regulations:
a) Local Plans, Policies, and Regulations
1. 1994 Dare County Land Use Plan — This plan continued the goal of the 1987 Land Use Plan to
zone the portions of unincorporated Dare County that lack development standards. Progress
toward this goal has been on -going since the adoption of the 1994 LUP. Growth has been
continuing at a fast pace since the 1994 LUP and policies in that Plan have provided some
direction during this period of high growth.
2. Dare County Zoning Ordinance — This document is used within the zoned portions of
unincorporated Dare County, including Colington, Roanoke Island and Hatteras Island. Since
the 1994 LUP, the County has amended the Zoning Ordinance several times to establish
standards for lighting and gross floor area limitations in Duck village; a detailed set of standards
for the location and construction of communications towers; zoning standards for Martins Point
Subdivision; and a text amendment for bed and breakfast homes in the RS-1 district; established
a new Commercial Services CS district in conjunction with the Colington zoning map and
parking standards for residential structures with 4 or more bedrooms. The Dare County Planning
Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.
3. Dare County Subdivision Ordinance — All of unincorporated Dare County, including the unzoned
portions, are covered by this ordinance. Subdivision plats are reviewed by the Planning Board
and approved by the Board of Commissioners with staff assistance from the Planning
Department.
4. Dare County Mobile Home Park and Travel Trailer Park Ordinance — This document provides
standards used to guide the development of mobile homes parks and travel trailer parks.
5. Dare County Nuisance Ordinance — This ordinance was adopted in 1992 and gives the Planning
Director the authority to declare certain structures or properties as public nuisances. Since its
adoption, the ordinance has been used to help with the clean up of oceanfront structures
destroyed or damaged by erosion, remnants portions of burned structures, and used to address
potential collapse hazards associated with sand mining activities in Colington Harbour
Subdivision.
6. Dare County Health Department — This local agency is responsible for the issuance of septic
permits and well placement. The staff also submits general comments on all proposed
subdivisions and projects reviewed by the Planning Board. Their jurisdiction is Countywide,
including the municipalities.
7. Dare County Regional Water Service Plan — This plan is prepared and updated on an annual basis
by the staff of the Dare County Water Department. The plan provides usage rates for the past
year, anticipated demand for the upcoming year, and infrastructure needs.
b) State Plans, Policies, and Regulations
1. Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Division of Coastal Management/Coastal
Area Management Act of 1974 — This state regulatory program is responsible for the
development of the twenty coastal counties within North Carolina. All proposed development
within the CAMA Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs) must be reviewed and approved
26

under these standards. The adoption of 30-foot buffer regulations along all estuarine water
bodies in 2000 by the State has had significant impact on development in Dare County.
2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Division of Land Resources — This State
agency is responsible for issuing erosion and sedimentation permits, mining permits, etc.
3. Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Division of Water Quality — This agency is
responsible for statewide regulatory programs in groundwater and surface water protection,
including the issuance of stormwater management permits and water quality monitoring
programs.
4. Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Division of Environmental Health — This
agency is compromised of five sections: Environmental Health Services, Public Water Supply,
On -Site Wastewater, Public Health, and Pest Management. This agency oversees the regulation
of on -site wastewater treatment, enforcement of public water supply rules, safe harvesting of
shellfish and sanitation of shellfish processing establishments, and the public health of public
pools.
5. Department of Cultural Resources — Division of Archives and History — The responsibilities of
this agency include the identification and protection of historical and archaeologically significant
lands and structures.
6. Department of Insurance — This department has supervision and regulatory authority over the
State building codes that are used and enforced by the Dare County Building Inspectors and Fire
Marshal.
7. Department of Transportation — Thoroughfare Improvement Plan — This plan outlines proposed
highway infrastructure improvements. The plan is updated on an annual basis through hearings
conducted by the Transportation Board.
c) Federal Plans, Policies, and Regulations
1. Army Corps of Engineers — The Corps has regulatoryjurisdiction over wetlands, dredging
projects, and beach nourishment, etc.
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency — This Federal agency is responsible for the
enforcement of floodplain management regulations. A local Floodplain Administrator is on staff
with Dare County to ensure that all construction within the County is built to comply with the
flood elevation standards. FEMA also sponsors a Community Rating System that involves a
series of incentives for local governments to promote proper construction techniques and public
education of floodplain regulations in exchange for community -wide discounts on flood
insurance rates. Dare County participates in the CRS program and currently qualifies for a 15%
discount on flood rates in unincorporated Dare County.
3. Department of Interior — The National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service both
own large amounts of land in Dare County. Their management plans and policies greatly
influence activities of the local government and Dare County citizens, particularly on Hatteras
Island and the Mainland.
d) Enforcement of Plans, Policies, and Regulations
Dare County employs a full-time Planning Department that is responsible for the implementation and
enforcement of all local regulatory programs pertaining to land use. Enforcement is achieved
through a review process that requires the submission of development plans and/or subdivision plats
to the Planning Board for a recommendation. The Board of Commissioners has the final approval
authority and the staff personnel monitor to ensure compliance.
27

New construction is regulated by a local permit process that includes review by a zoning enforcement
officer, a local CAMA permit officer, and the County's floodplain administrator before the issuance
of a local building permit. All new construction must meet the standards of the NC State building
codes.
The authorization and installation of on -site septic tank/drainfield wastewater treatment systems is
regulated by the Dare County Health Department. A staff of professional sanitarians certified by the
North Carolina Division of Environmental Health oversees this permit program.
The Dare County Planning Department also enforces the Dare County Mobile Home Park and Travel
Trailer Park Ordinance. The review procedures for this ordinance are similar to the subdivision
review process.
The Nuisance Ordinance is enforced by the Planning Department with the Planning Director
authorized to declare public nuisances and identify remedial measures.
Dare County relies on the NC Division of Water Quality for standards for stormwater management
' and the Division of Land Resources for enforcement of standards for sedimentation and erosion
control.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is the responsible agency for the protection, management and
identification of wetlands.
e) Evaluation of Existing Land Use Plan
Since 1994, the policies of the Dare County Land Use Plan have played important role in several
' land use issues that have dominated public policy debates in unincorporated Dare County.
The underlying theme of the 1994 LUP, as expressed in a resolution included with the Plan, was to
maintain the "coastal village atmosphere" of unincorporated Dare County. Most illustrative of the
effort to prevent the loss of a sense of place has been the conflict between market forces seeking to
deliver national retail franchise businesses to Dare County's evolving population base and the desire
' of citizens and local merchants to preclude the introduction of these uncharacteristic retailers and
their large floor area structures. The result of this debate was the adoption of an ordinance to limit
floor area ratio in the Village Commercial zoning district in Duck. In addition, as of 2001, the Dare
County Board of Commissioners had established a moratorium on all large commercial structures
greater than 20,000 square feet. The purpose of the moratorium was to provide staff time to
develop ordinances and standards to help insure that buildings in unincorporated Dare County did not
overpower the landscape or represent future eyesores once abandoned or vacated. In March 2002,
the Board adopted a gross floor limitation of 20,000 square feet for retail structures in all commercial
and industrial zoning districts.
' Perhaps, more controversial than the conflict with big box retailers was an effort by the Dare County
Board of Commissioners to use its land use plan to prevent the relocation of the Cape Hatteras
Lighthouse. Attempts by the Board of Commissioners to include language in the LUP stating the
County's preference that a shoreline stabilization technique be used instead of relocation met
28

resistance from the NC Coastal Resources Commission. The matter was eventually resolved and the
Lighthouse was relocated.
The LUP's policy on wastewater treatment played a decisive role in a decision to preclude the
construction and operation of a central wastewater treatment plant in conjunction with the
development of a 65-acre parcel in Duck. Developers had proposed to use such a facility and the
Planning Board and staff determined doing so would be contrary to County policy. The subdivision
was eventually approved but the proposed central wastewater treatment system was eliminated.
Although the developer argued that the controlled treatment of wastewater was preferable, the
County maintained its position that privately owned wastewater treatment plants have a poor
maintenance track record and are often only used to bolster lot coverage or development density.
The 1994 Plan also recognized competition for the use of public trust waters that are so important to
the tourist economy of Dare County. As the use ofpersonal watercraft, privately owned and rented,
continued to create controversy, the County Commissioners sought legislative authorization from the
NC General Assembly to regulate activities in the County's public trust waters. A bill providing
Dare County regulatory powers over the public trust waters was ratified in May 2001. It is
anticipated that a plan for zoning the waters will be developed in the period between 2002 and 2004.
As has been the case since the early 1980's, the County continues its efforts to extend detailed zoning
maps throughout the unincorporated areas. Given the unpredictable nature of the political climate,
this long-term goal will continue to be a challenge in the coming years.
An analysis of the 1994 policies and the associated implementation strategies is included as
Appendix A of this update.
LAND SUITABILITY
Physical Characteristics
Dare County is located along the coastal plain of North Carolina and is best noted for its lengthy
strands of barrier island beaches. The County's boundaries encompass approximately 800 square
miles of which 390 square miles are land area and the remaining 410 square miles are covered by
water. Dare County geographically divides itself into a mainland area, a northern and southern
stretch of islands, and historic Roanoke Island. These land masses are surrounded by water bodies
that include the Atlantic Ocean to the east and to the west include the Pamlico Sound, the Albemarle
Sound, the Roanoke Sound, the Croatan Sound, the Currituck Sound and the Alligator River.
a) Natural Hazard Areas
Due to the proximity of Dare County to the Atlantic Ocean, three kinds of natural hazard areas have
been designated as Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs) by the NC Coastal Resources
Commission. All three fall into the general category of Ocean Hazard Areas:
1. Inlet Hazard Areas that are lands adjoining Oregon and Hatteras Inlets for variable distances as
determined by the Coastal Resources Commission.
29

2. Ocean Erodible Areas, which overlaying the frontal dune include the distance landward from the
first he of stable natural vegetation along the entire oceanfront.
3. High Hazard Flood Areas are areas subject to high velocity waters during a 100-year storm event.
These are identified as V zones on the National Flood Insurance rate maps.
Also much of Dare County is located adjacent to the Pamlico, Albemarle, Roanoke, Croatan, or
Currituck Sounds and their tributaries. Similar to those portions of Dare County exposed to the
Atlantic Ocean, these soundside areas are susceptible to flooding during hurricanes or other weather
events where extended periods of gusty winds push the estuarine waters up their banks. In the early
1990's weather patterns made soundside flooding a dominant issue. In the latter half of the decade,
ocean overwash from tropical storms, hurricane, and nor'easters changed the focus and directed
attention to the issue of beach erosion and the vulnerability of NC 12 on Hatteras Island to these
conditions.
b) Manmade hazard Areas
The only manmade hazards identified in Dare County are those associated with civilian and military
aircraft operations. The civilian aircraft operations in Dare County are the Dare County Regional
Airport located on Roanoke Island, First Flight Airstrip location in Kill Devil Hills, and the Billy
Mitchell Airstrip located on Hatteras Island. The US Air Force and US Navy operate bombing and
artillery ranges with air space restrictions on the Mainland portion of Dare County near Stumpy
Point.
Land within the three civilian airport facilities approach zones is subject to hazardous conditions
' associated with aircraft take -offs and landings. Land development near these civilian facilities
must be carefully evaluated to ensure that it does not interfere with the safe operation of the facilities.
1 A new issue arose in the late 1990's as mosquito -borne diseases created fears about both animal and
human infection. It was noted that many coastal communities, in an effort to address stormwater
retention, had turned to on -site retention basins as a means of preventing runoff. Unfortunately, and
not considered at the time, these ponds can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and thus the
need to consider other means of addressing stormwater management.
c) Soil Characteristics
Soil characteristics and their ability or inability to accommodate on -site septic systems play an
important part in the land development of Dare County. On the Mainland portion of Dare County,
ground elevations are from 3 to 7 feet above mean sea level and soil conditions are predominantly
poorly drained with thin organic loam to silt loam surface layers. Along much of the Outer Banks
' portion of the County, the soils are generally well to moderately well drained sand. On Roanoke
Island, soils range from loamy sand surfaces with sandy clay loamy subsoils to silty clay loam
surfaces.
In addition to these broad differences between the three main geographic land masses, soil types can
vary significantly within relatively small areas. The Dare County Soil Survey can provide more
specific information on the soil types found in Dare County. This document is available from the
Dare County Agricultural Extension Office or the Dare County Soil and Water Conservation Service
office.
30

1
Throughout Dare County, existing natural soils conditions have been altered by drainage
improvements and the introduction of soils from external origins. One trend in land development is
to place large amounts of fill material on undeveloped lots to bring the ground elevation to the base
flood level. This practice creates problems for the adjoining properties due to the changes in the
natural topography.
Wetland soils are also a factor in land development in Dare County. The Clean Water Act delegates
the protection of wetland areas to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps manages wetland
activities under a permit process. However, the definition of what constitutes a "wetland soil" is
subject to interpretation. The criteria used by the Corps staff have changed over the years and as
such the amount of land identified as wetlands in Dare County changes with the criteria.
The high degree of variability in soil types, combined with a generally high, seasonally fluctuating
water table, makes large scale land use planning difficult. The Soil and Water Conservation Service
in Dare County has divided the entire County into four general categories for septic tank suitability.
suitable, marginal, unsuitable, and questionable. The next table contains a summary of the soil types
found in Dare County and their suitability according to the S WC classification.
Table 10 — Classification for Soil Types for Septic Tank Suitability
Soil Type
Depth to Water Table
Suitability Designation
Duneland
6.0'
Suitable
Fxipp Fine Sand
6.0'
Suitable
Newhan Fine Sand
6.0'
Suitable
Newham Complexes
Varies
Suitable
Pactolus-Wakula-Wa Associates
NA
Suitable
Corolla Fine Sand
IS to 3.0'
Marginal
Soil Type
Depth to Water Table
Suitability Designation
Corolla Fine Sand
IS to 3.0'
Marginal
Beach Foredune Association
0 to 3.0' foredunes 6.0'
Unsuitable
Corolla Duckston Complex
Unsuitable
Hobonny Soils
0 to 2.0'
Unsuitable
Duckston Fine Sands
1.0' to 2.0'
Unsuitable
Duckston Fine Sands, Forested
1.0' to 2.0'
Unsuitable
Carteret Soils, High
1.0' to 3.0'
Unsuitable
Conaby Soils
0 to 1.0'
Unsuitable
Currituck Soils
0 to 3.0'
Unsuitable
Wasada-Bladen Association
NA
Unsuitable
Capers Association
NA
Unsuitable
Dredge Spoil
3.0'
Questionable
Madeland
0 to 2.0'
Questionable
Prior to construction, all of these factors and an individual site analysis performed by the Dare
County Health Department are completed to determine the suitability of a site for development. The
Health Department's analysis includes the necessary amount of fill material needed to meet the State
on -site septic regulations. As the amount of suitable land in Dare County that is available for
31
1
1
J
F�
L _7

development diminishes, the use of fill material and alternative engineered septic systems for land
with unsuitable, marginal or questionable soils will become more prevalent.
d) Vegetation and Elevated Dunes
Vegetation types vary throughout the County from the wooded wetlands of the mainland to the relic
maritime forests of the barrier islands. Wetland vegetation is abundant and diverse. Coastal
wetlands occur throughout the estuarine shorelines and "404" or freshwater wetlands are located in
most of the geographic areas of Dare County. The northern and southern beaches include vegetative
sand hills that occasionally reach elevations of 50 feet or more above mean seal level. Most notable
of these areas are the dune system facing Roanoke Sound on the northeast section of Roanoke Island,
the Jockey's Ridge live dune system in Nags Head, the maritime forests areas found in Buxton
Woods, Nags Head Woods and Kitty Hawk Woods, a small area of inland dunes south of Frisco and
some portion of Colington Harbour Subdivision, and the frontal dune system along the County's
ocean shoreline.
e) Water Supply
' Dare County is dependent upon several different sources of raw water, but all are entirely or partially
dependent on groundwater. Underlying the County is a system of layers that contain three aquifers.
The first layer contains a shallow aquifer that ranges in depth from 50 feet on Roanoke Island to its
' maximum thickness of 100 feet at Kitty Hawk. This aquifer is recharged by precipitation and is used
by a small number of people on Roanoke Island, the northern beaches of Dare County and Hatteras
Island as a source of water for private wells. The land surface for recharge of this upper aquifer is
Roanoke Island. Additionally, this aquifer is hydraulically linked to the second aquifer and some
recharge occurs from the upper aquifer to the next aquifer below.
' The second aquifer serves as the primary source of potable water for the County. Its depth varies
from 100 feet on Roanoke Island to 45 feet of depth in Nags Head. The depth to the surface of this
primary aquifer ranges from approximately 100 feet on Roanoke Island to 200 feet along the northern
' beaches of the County. This aquifer receives recharge from the Mainland portion of Dare County
and Roanoke Island and may be affected by leakage for the upper aquifer. The estimated total annual
recharge capacity to the primary aquifer is 19,439 million gallons, which might produce a yield from
100,000 to 150,000 gallons per day. This figure may be not reached because the exact recharge of
the primary aquifer depends on many factors including annual rainfall.
The third or lowest aquifer is considered an abundant source of water and is used by the County's
RO plants in Kill Devil Hills and Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. The water quality is unsuitable for
direct potable usage because its chloride concentrations exceed the maximum allowable levels of
chlorides. In addition, recharge to this aquifer is suspected to be from further inland in Mainland
' North Carolina. Since it is surrounded by clay layers that do not allow for infiltration once water has
been withdrawn, it is considered safe from surface contamination.
The Fresh Pond is a 2.7-acre lake located halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and Roanoke Sound
and is divided by the municipal boundaries of the Towns of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. The
water in the Fresh Pond comes from rainfall as well as some flow from the upper or first layer of the
groundwater aquifer system underlying Dare County. The yield from the Fresh Pond is estimated at
a safe, sustainable level of 900,000 gpd in a years' time. For emergency purposes, a withdrawal of
1.5 million gpd is possible for a short duration, the maximum being four days. This area is a
32

designated Area of Environmental Concern under the CAMA guidelines due to its water supply
status.
Water on Hatteras Island comes from either private wells or the County's 1.0 million gpd Reverse
Osmosis (RO) plant in the village of Rodanthe for Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo. In the four villages
of Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras, water is supplied by the central RO/Anion Exchange water
system managed by the County Water Department.
The Southern Hatteras fresh water treatment (Anion Exchange) draws its raw water from an aquifer
system that lies underneath Hatteras Island. This system consists of two aquifers; the first is a water
table aquifer extending from the land surface to the first confining beds. The second aquifer, a semi -
confined aquifer, is below and between these confining beds. The fresh groundwater fluctuates in
size, as it is a lens -shaped mass that floats on heavier saltwater and is subject to seasonal and tidal
variations. The aquifer system is recharged by rainfall and the estimated annual recharge is 2.178
billion gallons based on an average annual rainfall of 50 inches.
The southern Hatteras Island RO treatment draws its raw water from the third or chloride ridden
lower aquifer. The RO process is excellent for removal of chlorides and other salts (>90%) from the
source water. The brackish water is abundant, and is considered a relatively untouched source of raw
water for RO desalination for the future of Hatteras Island.
Fragile Areas
The unique physical setting of Dare County includes a number of features that could be damaged or
destroyed by incompatible development activity. These features include coastal wetlands, ocean and
sound beaches, all surrounding water bodies, unique geological formations, and other areas
susceptible to man's intrusion.
Many of these unique features have been offered regulatory protection as Areas of Environmental
Concern (AECs) under the Coastal Area Management Act. The AECs are discussed in detail in
Section Two. Although not a designated AEC, Buxton Woods forest is one of Dare County's most
unique physical setting. A special zoning district with land clearing restrictions was adopted for the
Buxton Woods forest in 1988 by Dare County. The Federal and/or State governments have
purchased some other special areas and their development potential has been limited to conservation.
These publicly -owned lands include the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Pea Island Wildlife
Refuge, the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge, Fort Raleigh complex and the Buxton Woods Coastal
Reserve. The Division of Coastal Management also uses a wetland functional assessment model
called the North Carolina Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland Significance. This is a watershed -
based wetlands functional assessment model that uses geographic information systems (GIS)
software and data to assess the level of water quality. Wildlife habitat, and hydrologic functions of
individual wetlands. The primary objective of the NCCREWS wetland assessment is to provide
users with information about the relative ecological importance of wetlands for use in planning and
overall management of wetlands. Local governments can use this model as a planning tool to
define suitable classes or types of development or conservation practices for each wetland type to
protect the integrity of the ecosystems and coastal landscape.
In addition, to the Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs), there are other areas or lands that may
be deemed as unsuitable for development or least suitable for development. Some of the remaining
33

vacant or undeveloped lands may contain soils that are deemed unsuitable to support septic systems
for wastewater treatment and therefore have remained in their undeveloped state.
Throughout the LUP, a high emphasis is placed on surface water quality and ground water quality.
In addition, the relationship between high quality and functional wetlands has been acknowledged in
' continued viability of our fisheries and other natural resources. Development in areas that may be
contrary to the protection of these natural resources and water quality should be evaluated, avoided,
or carefully reviewed to insure no unacceptable decline in the natural resource or water quality will
occur as a result of development.
Finally, Dare County's status as the origin of the first English settlement provides a past rich with
history. Archaeological and historical sites can be found throughout Dare County. The vast
majority of these sites have been inventoried and purchased for preservation, including the Fort
Raleigh site on Roanoke Island and the Wright Brothers Memorial site in Kill Devil Hills.
Areas with Wildlife and Mineral Resources
Areas with wildlife and mineral resources include: productive and unique agricultural lands,
potentially valuable mineral sites, publicly owned forests, parks, fish and gamelands, and other non -
intensive outdoor recreation lands and privately -owned wildlife sanctuaries.
Many of these areas are owned and operated by Federal agencies. The mineral extraction potential
on Federal lands designated as wildlife resource areas or national parks is strictly regulated by the US
Department of the Interior. Similar protection is extended to wildlife resources on lands owned by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The remaining privately owned portions of Dare County that have mineral resources include the
Mainland communities of East Lake, Mans Harbor, Mashoes, and Stumpy Point. While there have
been past discussions of major agricultural development and possible peat mining, to date these
possibilities have not been pursued.
The final category of areas with resource potential are the numerous locations for potential mining of
sand, clay and marl. Mining activities that involve more than one acre of land are regulated by the
State of North Carolina. Activities on land less than one acre in size are not subject to any regulation
at the State or local level. However, in 2001, Dare County did establish inland sand dunes
standards that preclude dune alterations or disturbances unless associated with building activities or
approved by the County.
The State ofNorth Carolina classifies certain farmlands as "prime" farm areas that are suitable for
' farming but are also able to support other lands uses because of the suitable soils contained in these
areas. Over the past several years, areas that are considered as "prime" farmland have been
developed as subdivisions resulting in the loss of some of North Carolina's most valuable farmland.
There is approximately 5,500 acres of "prime" farmland located on the Mainland of Dare County.
However, over 75% of the area is included in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the
likelihood of development is minimal due to this Federal ownership.
34

Community Facilities and Services
Over the past several decades, unincorporated Dare County has undergone a transition from sparsely
developed and populated villages to a seasonal resort area featuring a mix of commercial and
residential development. The demand for infrastructure improvements and public services has
increased significantly during this transition period. A discussion of each of these items as follows:
Water
The major water supply system for all of Dare County, including the municipalities, is the Dare
County Regional Water Supply System (DRWSS). The remaining areas of unincorporated Dare
County not supplied water from either of these two agencies rely on private wells for potable water.
The provision of drinking water for the public water supply systems on the northern beaches of Dare
County is accomplished by producing water at the Skyco Ion Exchange water plant on Roanoke
Island, the reverse osmosis desalination water treatment facility in Kill Devil Hills, and the Nags
Head managed Fresh Pond surface water facility in Nags Head.
The DRWSS was formed to succeed the Dare Beaches Water Authority as a vehicle to develop an
adequate water supply for the overall northern beaches of the County. The DRWSS is not to be
confused with the Dare County Water System, which provides and maintains the water supply
system for the Towns of Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk. The village of Duck, Colington Island,
and some portions of Roanoke Island are also served by the Dare County Water System.
Concerns about financing, and the need for an authority to finance through issuance of revenue
bonds, led the North Carolina Local Government Commission to recommend that Dare County be
the political entity responsible for development of an adequate water supply for the Dare beaches.
The County's involvement began in the early 1970s and led to the development of a groundwater
supply on the southern end of Roanoke Island to supplement the only plant in operation at that time,
the Fresh Pond surface water treatment plant.
Water delivery by the DRWSS to the municipalities began with the first gallons going to the Town of
Manteo on June 20, 1980. Shortly after, in August of 1980, water service to the Towns of Kill Devil
Hills and Nags Head began. Service to the customers in unincorporated areas of Roanoke Island
began a couple of days later with service to the Towns of Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk and the
village of Duck coming on-line later in November and December of 1980. The initial installation of
meters for water service was approximately 1,000 meters. By September 2001, a total of 19,147
metered service connections were being served through the main master meters that deliver water to
the Towns from the DRWSS, and a total of 23,681 throughout Dare County.
The average annual daily water use for the DRWSS in 2000 was 4.408 MGD. The maximum
monthly average water use for the year 2001 was 8.090 MGD in July with 7.376 MGD for an
average day in August 2000. The minimum's day usage occurs every year during the winter months.
The lowest consumer usage month was recorded in February when the average gallonage totaled
only 2.974 MGD. The year's lowest consumer usage day was January 19t' when the entire
distribution system used no more than 1.891 million gallons. This creates a maximum to minimum
water usage ratio of almost 5:1. During peak days in the summer months of 2001, the demand
reached as high as 9.035 MGD. Table 11 shows the average monthly water use in MGD for each
month.
35

Table 11— Average Monthly Water Use in MGD for 2000
January
2.956
February
2.793 Minimum
March
3.069
April
3.671
May
4.757
June
6.268
July
7.439
August
6.873
September
4.727
October
4.039
November
3.373
December
2.845
There are 4 major water users who purchase water from the DRWSS and in turn distribute and
maintain their own water systems. Their average daily use is listed in the next table.
Table 12 — Four Major Wholesale Purchasers for 2000
Name of User
Avg MGD
Dare County
1.843
Kill Devil Hills
1.164
Nags Head
1.030
Manteo
0.198
All groundwater delivered by the DRWSS is produced at either the Skyco plant or the Reverse
Osmosis desalination plant in Kill Devil Hills. Nags Head manages the production of water at its
Fresh Pond surface water treatment facility, which also supplies water for delivery by the DRWSS.
The Skyco plant is located on the southern half of Roanoke Island. It is supplied by a series of 10
permanent wells drilled down to between 170 and 220 feet below the surface into the upper
Yorktowne aquifer, pulling water at various screened intervals between 120 and 220 feet. The
combined 12-hour yield of all wells is 2.722 MGD and the production capacity exceeds 5.0 MGD.
The plant was built in 1979 to supply additional water to the then only sources of drinking water for
the County's public water supply systems; the Fresh Pond water treatment plants operated by both
the Towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head.
The North RO plant is located in Kill Devil Hills on a tract of land known as the Baum tract. It is
presently supplied water by a series of 8 wells drilled down to 425 feet below the surface on the same
tract of land as the plant. Two additional wells were installed for added supply in December 1994.
The North RO plant is supplied raw water from a different and unconnected portion of the
Yorktown aquifer that supplies the Skyco plant. The combined 12-hour yield of all wells is 3.600
MGD and production capacity is 3.0 MGD.
' The NRO plant was brought on-line in August 1989 to supply additional water when customer
demand approached the upper limits of the production capabilities of the Skyco plant and the Nags
36

Head Fresh Pond plant. Once the Skyco plant came on-line, there was little need for the Kill Devil
Hills treatment of Fresh Pond water to continue and the plant was dismantled shortly thereafter.
The Fresh Pond surface water treatment facility is located at the western municipal boundaries of the
Town limits separating Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. This pond is utilized most often during the
peak tourist season in the summer and is the only large surface source of fresh water on the Outer
Banks.
Built in 1964 as the first source of fresh water supply to the original water supply systems of Kill
Devil Hills and Nags Head, this plant can produce almost 1.5 MGD over a short period of time.
Estimates of a long-term, sustained yield of 900,000 gallons per day can be achieved without causing
an unacceptable drain on the pond. There is an estimated 106.2 million gallons of water in this pond
when full.
Total sustained present maximum production capacity of the three treatment plants supplying water
to the DRWSS is 8.9 MGD.
Throughout Dare County, tourism plays a major part in the future in determining water customer
demand. The following table lists future population and water demand projections until the year
2020.
Table 13 — Future Population and Water Demand
Year
County
Population
Year-round
System
population
% Of
County
Population
Avg. MGD
Day Total
peak MGD
1990
22,746
2.469
6.319
1997
7,764
31.46
9.032
2000
29,967
8,464
26.11
2.694
9.855
2010
37,269
10,538
25.01
3.407
12.463
2020
44,061
12,600
24.30
4.174
15.269
Best estimates point to the fact that an expansion in the production capabilities of the DRWSS will
need to be started well in advance of the anticipated increases in demand prior to the year 2010.
Present production and an additional 18.805 million gallons in storage throughout Dare County's
northern beaches and Roanoke Island should be sufficient to handle the peak anticipated demand and
fire flow protection until the turn of the century. But, once again, these figures are based on best
calculated, estimated customer demand figures as anticipated in 1997, and should be reviewed and
re-evaluated annually.
Based on the present views of the withdrawals of water from the wellfield on Roanoke Island,
expansions in the production capabilities of the DRWSS will most likely be accomplished with new
wells on the beach and not at the Skyco plant.
The reverse osmosis plant in Kill Devil Hills was built with three RO units installed and room for the
installation of five additional 1.0 MGD reverse osmosis skids for a total plant production capacity of
8.0 MGD when fully expanded. The installation of two wells per each additional RO unit installed
will be necessary. The anticipated site of these wells is to the south of the present location of the RO
plant. As stated earlier, the expansion of the wellfield and the production of water must occur prior
to customer peak demand reaching 9.855 MGD around the year 2000.
37

Water for the unincorporated areas of Roanoke Island not serviced by the DRWSS rely on private
wells for potable water, as does the mainland areas of Dare County.
' On Hatteras Island, the villages ofAvon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras are serviced by the Dare
County Water Department. Hatteras Island's economy depends on tourism and this accounts for
wide fluctuations in population during the winter and summer months.
The combination RO/AE water treatment plant processes water drawn from 19 shallow wells, located
in the Buxton Woods surficial aquifer. Four brackish wells in the Mid-Yorktowne aquifer supply
water for RO treatment. The total average recharge on the surficial aquifer is approximately 7.5
MGD and the average daily withdrawal is .698 MGD.
The following table illustrates the distributed amounts for each month during 2000. The minimum
water use month was March, with 0.438 MGD. The maximum water use month was July at 1.098
MGD, with the peak day on July 0 at 1.223 MGD.
Table 14- Average Distribution MGD
January
0.491
February
0.518
March
0.43 8
'
April
0.601
May
0.732
June
0.974
July
1.098
August
0.987
' September
0.702
October
0.704
November
0.590
' December
0.445
The other Hatteras Island villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo rely on private wells and the
'
County's 1.0 MGD RO Plant for potable water. The private well water in these villages, while safe
for drinking, is of poor quality.
The following table illustrates the distributed amounts for each month during the year 2000. The
minimum water use month was January with 63 thousand gallons used per day. The maximum water
use month was July, with a daily water use of 0.367
MGD. This is also during the peak tourist
season and the peak was July 6th 2000 with a usage of 0.468 MGD.
Table 15 — 2000 Monthly Distributions
January
0.063 mgd
February
0.049 mgd
March
0.075 mgd
April
0.141 mgd
May
0.168 mgd
June
0.301 mgd
July
0.367 mgd
August
0.327 mgd
'
38

September 0.199 mgd
October 0.158 mgd
November 0.128 mgd
December 0.076 mgd
The Stumpy Point water system project, when completed around the beginning of the year 2003, will
provide the County's first public water supply on the Mainland from two brackish water wells drilled
to 170-190 feet deep located within the plant site. The reverse osmosis (RO) process will desalt the
water using a RO unit that can produce 64,000 gallons per day (gpd). The average water system
usage is calculated to be approximately 15,000 gpd with a peak summer day usage of 36,350 gallons.
The RO unit will store processed water in a 10,000-gallon tank on the ground level adjacent to the
plant. This water will then be pumped 145 feet up into the 75,000 gallon elevated tank to maintain
the system pressure anticipated to be at least 50 pounds per square inch throughout the system.
Source: Bob Oreskovich, Dare County Utilities Director
As noted throughout the information provided by the Dare County Utilities Director, the future
capacity of the water infrastructure over the next 10 year period is careful monitored and re-evaluated
each year.
Wastewater
Publicly owned wastewater treatment in Dare County is only available from the Town of Manteo,
which operates a central wastewater treatment plant. The capacity of this plant is 600,000 gpd with
current demand usage at approximately 200,000 gpd. The Town does offer excess wastewater
capacity to projects within the unincorporated areas of Roanoke Island that are adjacent to its service
boundaries. It is recognized that these projects that choose to use the central wastewater treatment
from Manteo will eventually be annexed by the Town. There is little prospect for other publicly
owned central wastewater treatment plants due to environmental constraints with surface water
discharge and a lack of suitable soils for land application.
There are several privately owned and operated central wastewater treatment plants in Dare County.
The two are located within the County's unincorporated boundaries. The Baycliff Subdivision in
Colington features a small package treatment plant for this residential subdivision. The Kinnakeet
Shores Soundside Subdivision is also serviced by a central package treatment plant. The soundside
residential phases of this division and the commercial complex known as the Hatteras Island Plaza
are connected to this treatment plant. There are other privately owned plants are located within the
municipalities of the County.
On -site septic tank and drainfield systems serve as the predominant method of wastewater treatment
in Dare County. In situations where the intensity of land use or soil limitations preclude the use of a
traditional septic system, alternative engineered methods of wastewater treatment have been used.
These include low-pressure systems and peat systems. These systems have become more popular in
the past several months, but their maintenance record remains unknown since the use of the systems
is relatively new in North Carolina.
W,

ITransportation
' The island geography of Dare County greatly influences the transportation infrastructure. Bridges
are a key component of this infrastructure and serve as entryways to Dare County, except on the
southern end of Hatteras Island, which is accessed by ferry service from Ocracoke Island. Most
' travel within the County occurs on two arterial routes, NC 12 and US 158. US 158 runs north -south
from Southern Shores to the Whalebone area of Nags Head. NC 12 runs north -south from the
Dare/Currituck line north of Duck to the southern end of the County in
' Hatteras Island. Movements on and off the outer islands to the west are confined to US 64/264
through the Mainland and on US 158 along the Currituck Sound Bridge. Ferry service from Hatteras
' village also serves as an alternative egress from Hatteras Island.
Traffic flows within the County vary according to the roadway section, season, and day of the week.
Typical of a resort area, the roadway system in Dare County experiences sizable variations in traffic
demands. The following table illustrates average daily traffic counts provided by NCDOT for
several key locations in Dare County.
Table 16 — Average Daily Traffic Count for 2000
Approximate Location of Counter
ADT for 2000
NC 12 Between Duck and Sanderfing
12,000
US 158 —Wal-Mart Shopping Center
28,000
US 158 — Kitty Hawk/ south of Duck exchange
30,000
US 158 - Colin on Road Intersection
34,000
US 158 —Nags Head/Whalebone Junction
22,000
NC 12 — Southern Shores
18,000
NC 12 — Ocean Bay Blvd. Intersection
9,000
NC 12 —Nags HmMennette's Pier
7,700
NC 12 — south of entrance to Pea Island
7,800
NC 12 — Avon
7,800
NC 12 — Buxton
6,200
US 64 —Nags Head Causeway/Pond Island
20,000
US 64 — East Lake/ Alligator River Bride
2,900
US 64/264 Intersection
3,600
US 64 — Causeway west of Pirate Coves
17,000
US 64 — Roanoke Island/COA entrance
15,000
NC 345 — Just south of Midway Intersection
5,600
' The island geography of Dare County also makes bridges an essential component of expedited traffic
movement. This factor is critical in determining time necessary to evacuate the County during a
hurricane event. The time will vary based on the time of the year and the seasonal population.
' During the peak periods, it could take as long as 27 hours to evacuate and during off-season periods,
it is estimated to take between 13 and 18 hours.
t Since the mid 1990s, there have been several large transportation construction projects completed
including,
' • Construction of a second parallel bridge spanning Currituck Sound
• Widening of the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway to 4 lanes
• Various 4-1ane improvements to Route 158 in Currituck County and Dare County
' 40

• A high-rise replacement of the drawbridge across Roanoke Sound.
A new bridge from Manns Harbor to the intersection of US 64 and NC 345 on Roanoke Island is
currently under construction and is slated for completion in late 2002. A new visitors center will be
constructed at the landing of this bridge site.
Other projects included in the State's Transportation Improvement program over the next ten -years
include:
• Construction of a flyover at the intersection of US 64/NC 345 on Roanoke Island for traffic
heading to the northern beaches and Hatteras Island.
• Replacement of the Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet
• Continued widening of US 64 to four lanes through East Lake and Manns Harbor
Perhaps the most important transportation issue in Dare County is the protection of NC 12 on the
northern beaches and Hatteras Island. Ocean overwash and erosion have endangered portions of NC
12 in Kitty Hawk and along Hatteras Island. The NC Department of Transportation has made the
stabilization of the threatened portions of NC 12 a priority project. A task force was appointed in
the late 1990s to study NC 12 and several improvements, including relocation of several portions of
NC 12 on Hatteras Island, have been completed as the result of this task force's work.
The safety of US 158 and the seasonal traffic increases were a high priority of the persons attending
the public participation workshops held at the beginning of the update process.
Bicycle/walkways along many of the major transportation routes in the County have been
constructed over the last seven years and these alternate transportation routes are popular among
residents and visitors to the area. Plans for similar improvements, including widening of NC 12 in
Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk are underway.
Dare County has limited capacity of other modes of transportation. Air transportation is limited to
the Dare County Regional Airport on Roanoke Island, the First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills, and
the Billy Mitchell Airstrip on Hatteras Island. At present, there are no scheduled passenger services
by a regional carrier. Past attempts to establish a commuter service to the Norfolk Airport have
failed due to lack of passengers. A proposal to extend the runways at the Dare County Regional
Airport has been reviewed by the Airport Authority. However, there is local opposition to this
proposal and environmental constraints as well. In addition to serving the civil aviations needs of
Dare County, these three airports have served as important staging centers for aviation -related
activities during hurricanes and other storm events.
Dare County is not served by any bus or railroad operations however there are a number of taxi
services available for hire.
In order for Dare County to successfully address its transportation needs a greater emphasis on
intergovernmental coordination will need to be developed. The roads in unincorporated Dare County
are maintained by NCDOT, as is the highway system.
As the traffic congestion problem continues to grow there will be a greater need to look into
dependable public transportation and alternative means of movement such as water taxis and perhaps
41

' more ferries. It appears that a regional approach will also be necessary if Dare County is to ever
achieve the goal of scheduled commuter airline service.
' As of the date of this plan, there are insufficient funds at the State level to accommodate all of the
demands generated by automobile traffic, particularly during the peak population periods. The
County will continue to work with its delegation in the General Assembly and the N.C. Department
of Transportation to secure additional transportation improvements to insure safe movement of
people and automobiles.
' Law Enforcement
' Law enforcement in Dare County is administered at various levels of government ranging from
Federal enforcement agencies to municipal police departments.
' The National Park Service has personnel who patrol the south beaches of Dare County that are
included in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The State Highway Patrol has officers stationed in
Dare County with Countywide jurisdiction but focus mainly on the unincorporated Dare County.
' In 2001, the Sheriff's Department employed 53 deputies plus the Sheriff and administrative staff.
The Department has offices located on Roanoke Island, Hatteras Island and in Kill Devil Hills. The
Sheriff's Department is also responsible for staffing and managing the Dare County Detention Center
located on Roanoke Island. The jail has a total capacity of 122 inmates with room for 110 male
inmates and 12 female inmates. The jail employs approximately 48 detention officers. The
tCommunications Department is also under the supervision of the Sheriff.
The municipalities in Dare County operate their own police departments. These departments provide
mutual aid to other law enforcements agencies when necessary.
Fire Protection
' Fire protection is provided throughout the 860 plus square miles of Dare County by 350 volunteer
and career firefighters in 16 individual fire districts that support 18 fire stations. The Towns of
' Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo make up the five municipal
fire districts with the Town of Duck being the sixth starting in May 2002.
' The unincorporated fire districts of Dare County are Martins Point, Colington, Manes Harbor,
Stumpy Point, Hatteras, Frisco, Buxton, Avon, Salvo, Rodanthe-Waves, and Roanoke Island. These
departments are funded through a fire district tax that is collected by the Dare County and distributed
under a fire protection contract.
Wild land fire suppression is provided in a joint effort b US Fish and Wildlife, US Park Service and
PP p J Y
the NC Department of Forestry, by contractual agreement, also protects lands of the US Navy and
' Air Force bombing ranges.
The Dare County Fire Marshal acts as the liaison between the Dare County Board of Commissioners
' and its fire districts and is also responsible for the enforcement of the NC State Fire Code, does fire
investigations, and cause and origin determinations. This office maintains a county- wide fire data
' 42

reporting system and is active in the area of fire prevention, designing programs in education that are
geared toward all of our County citizens.
Public Schools
The education system in Dare County is directed by an elected seven -member Board of Education.
A superintendent in charge of the administrative duties of the school system is appointed by the
Board of Education. Funding for the school system is a combination of State funds and local funds
allocated by the Dare County Board of Education.
The school system consists of nine facilities located throughout Dare County. Specifics for the
schools are detailed below:
Table 17 - School Enrollment
School
Grades
Capacity
Enrollment
Se t 2001
Kitty Hawk Elementary
K-5
696
701
Manteo Elementary
K-5
672
530
First Flight Elementary
K-5
528
599
Cape Hatteras Elemen
K-5
288
293
Manteo Middle
6-8
396
350
First Flight Middle
6-8
650
702
Cape Hatteras Secondary
6-12
553
366
Manteo High
9-12
720
1,133
Dare County Alternative
9-12
40
20
TOTAL I
I
4,694
Table 18 -- Ten Year Student Population Projections
K 5
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
1 2011
Hatteras Island
292
291
302
304
319
324
329
334
340
346
North Beaches
1311
1307
1332
1398
1426
1489
1555
1623
1695
1770
R.Island/Mainland
546
545
539
537
535
537
538
539
541
542
Total
2149
2143
2173
2239
2350
2350
2422
2496
2576
2658
Hatteras Island — based on 2.10% annual increase using 3-year kindergarten average class size population
Northern Outer Banks — based on 4.41% annual increase using 3-year kindergarten average class size population
Roanoke Island/Mainland based on .46% annual increase using 3-year kindergarten average class size population
6-8
2002
2003
1 2004
2005
1 2006
2007
2008
1 2009
2010
1 2011
Hatteras Island
160
150
150
156
144
153
152
165
167
170
North Beaches
737
791
774
740
739
737
777
775
809
844
R.Island/Mainland
329
324
304
290
292
285
282
280
281
281
Total
1226
1265
1228
1186
1175
1 1175
1211
1220
1257
1295
9-12
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hatteras Island
209
224
227
227
221
201
211
205
204
214
North Beaches
782
808
877
910
950
970
921
943
925
935
R.Island/Mainland
392
396
415
421
415
411
391
380
377
371
Total
1383
1428
1519
1558
1586
1582
1523
1528
1506
1520
43

K-12 Totals
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Hatteras Island
661
665
679
687
684
678
692
704
711
730
North Beaches
2830
2906
2983
3048
3115
3196
3253
3341
3429
3549
RIsland/Mainland
1267
1265
1258
1248
1242
1233
1211
1199
1199
1194
Total
4758
4836
4920
4983
5041
5107 1
5156
5244
1 5339
5473
Table 19- Ten -Year School Facilities Plan
10-Year Facilities Plan (Escalated to project start)
New
Construction
Renovation
Program
Interim
Requirements
Directed
Maintenance
Staff and
Support
Equipment
TOTAL
-
Estimated
Cost
48,286,459
26,204,753
5,977,240
4,464,878
1,506,338
86,439,668
2001
1,000,000
50,000
2,000,543
859,294
157,300
4,067,137
2002
12,316,423
1,210,569
1,166,152
369,192
164,182
15,226,518
2003
19,513,240
2,553,272
1,043,245
342,200
168,395
23,620,352
2004
11,835,128
2,603,555
473,929
320,000
175,173
15,407,785
2005
3,047,483
4,860,950
208,309
383,200
182,099
8,682,041
2006
574,185
6,683,754
200,734
412,800
190,410
8,061,883
2007
0
2,500,000
478,045
442,200
129,323
3,549,568
2008
0
4,862,879
20,000
384,246
132,866
5,399,991
2009
0
879,774
386,283
436,200
138,272
1,840,529
2010
0
0
0
515,546
68,318
583,864
TOTALS
48,286,459
26,204,753
5,977,240
4,464,878 1
1,506,338
1 86,439,668
New Construction
' This plan provides for:
1. A high school on the Baum tract (core capacity 1,200), $30,000,000. Project completed by 2004.
' 2. An elementary school in Nags Head (core capacity 750), $15,099,791. Project completed by 2004.
3. Eight new classrooms at First Flight Middle School, $1,528,778. Project completed by 2005.
4. New bathrooms at Kitty Hawk Elementary School, $320,514. Project completed by 2006.
' 5. Gym toilets, locker rooms, and structural bracing at Cape Hatteras Secondary School, $1,337,376.
Project completed by 2006.
Renovations
This plan provides for the following projects:
' * Manteo Elementary School -- Upgrade/replace existing building mechanical systems, roofing at
core building, carpeting, windows, kitchen equipment, HVAC, toilets, fire alarmisecurity system, and
revise traffic flow. Cost: $$4,398,856. Work is scheduled to start this year and be completed by
January 2003.
1 44

* Manteo Middle School -- Upgrade/replace existing building mechanical systems, roofing, tiling,
windows, plumbing systems, lighting systems, power service, fire alarm/security system, and expand
the cafeteria. Cost: $6,194,959. Work is scheduled to start August of 2003 and be completed by
January 2006.
* Cape Hatteras Secondary School -- Upgrade/improve/replace existing building mechanical
systems, electrical systems, roofing, and plumbing. Cost: $6,699,745. Work is scheduled to start
March 2005 and be completed by September 2007.
* Manteo High School -- Upgrade existing building mechanical systems, fire alarm, site electrical
service, interior lighting, windows, doors, storm water drainage, bathroom fixtures, walkways, entry
canopy, painting, and repair of ceilings. Cost: $5,551,879. Work is scheduled to begin July 2006 and
be completed by August 2008.
• Kitty Hawk Elementary School -- Upgrade/replace HVAC and window systems, carpeting, tiling,
plumbing fixtures, and various interior improvements. Cost: $3,190,774. Work is scheduled to
begin September 2007 and be completed by August 2009.
Projects Schedule
Construction (includes planning and design)
Project
North Beach High School
Nags Head Elementary School
First Flight Middle School
Cape Hatteras Secondary
Kitty Hawk Elementary
Timeline
April 2001-April 2004
April 2002-July 2004
January 2004-July 2005
May 2004-May 2006
March 2005-August 2006
Renovations (includes planning and design)
Project
Manteo Elementary School
Manteo Middle School
Cape Hatteras Secondary
Manteo High School
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
Timeline
April 2001-January 2003
August 2003-January 2006
March 2005-September 2007
July 2006-August 2008
September 2007-August 2009
45

Interim Requirements
Interim requirements are specific building maintenance items that are required prior to renovation.
Since renovation efforts cannot be carried out at every building immediately or simultaneously,
certain areas must be addressed in order that students and staff are provided a suitable educational
facility. Total cost of interim requirements is $5,977,240 and includes the following projects:
* Manteo High School - Replacement of major equipment and HVAC components to
modernize/bring school up to accepted standards. Cost: $1,040,476.
* Manteo Middle School - Replacement of major equipment and HVAC components to
modernize/bring school up to accepted standards. Cost: $449,777.
* Manteo Elementary School - Replacement of HVAC components to modernize/bring school up to
accepted standards. Cost: $74,607.
* Kitty Hawk Elementary School - Upgrade/replacement of kitchen equipment and septic system to
modernize/bring school up to accepted standards. Refurbish exterior metalwork and revise traffic
flow. Cost: $651,407.
' * Cape Hatteras Secondary School - Upgrade/replace/replenish/repair kitchen equipment, HVAC
components, gymnasium, and roof to modernize/bring school up to accepted standards. Cost:
$669,048.
' *First Flight Schools - Replacement of HVAC chiller system, gym refinish, site drainage work, and
metalwork/painting to modernize/bring school up to accepted standards. Cost: $1,294,387.
' * Transportation garage - Installation/repair of existing facilities/equipment. Cost: $437,361.
* Maintenance and Construction Management - Installation/repair of existing facilities/equipment.
Cost: $150,682.
' * Modular Units - Installation and subsequent removal of modular classrooms district wide. Includes
addition of six units at FFES, three units at FFMS, and two units at MHS. Cost: $843,000.
' Information on Dare County Schools provided by Jeff Ziegler, BOE Public Information
The future needs of the Dare County school system is the responsibility of the Dare County Board of
' Education and these needs are outlined in the information detailed above from their 10-year facilities
plan. This plan is intended to address the school system needs over the next 10-year planning
period in terms maintenance of existing facilities and proposed new construction.
Parks and Recreation
The abundance of natural resources in Dare County provide many opportunities for recreational
activities. For years, the County did not appropriate funds for construction of recreational facilities.
However, with the continued increase in the permanent population the need to address the lack of
' 46

facilities was identified and several capital projects have been completed since 1994. A full-time
Dare County Parks and Recreation Department is staffed and responsible for overseeing the
recreational needs of the County residents. Some of the projects have been joint public -private
ventures such as the youth center in Kill Devil Hills near the First Flight Schools. Other facilities
constructed by Dare County include Walker Field in Wanchese and a recreational field in Stumpy
Point.
In total, the Parks and Recreation Department operates 51 public recreation facilities. This includes
11 ball fields, 5 basketball courts, 5 neighborhood centers, 4 community centers with gymnasiums, 7
picnic areas, 10 playgrounds, 1 soccer field, 5 tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts, and a % mile leisure
trail. Dare County currently owns 6 special purpose facilities that are spread throughout the
County and offer a variety of special recreational opportunities such as boat ramps, swimming areas,
and community centers.
Within Dare County, there are additional recreation amenities that are utilized by the County but
owned by others. These include 29 recreation facilities ranging from ball fields to leisure trails.
The shared use of school facilities also greatly increases the recreational resources available to
County residents. The Recreation Department works closely with the Board of Education in
utilizing these school facilities for after-hours use.
Programmed activities offered by the Parks and Recreation Department include adult aerobics, youth
basketball, arts and crafts, soccer, gymnastics and cultural trips. The most popular are youth
basketball, baseball/softball, and youth soccer. Softball and basketball are the most popular adult
activities. During 1999, approximately 7,400 residents participated in 47 County —sponsored
recreation programs.
A comprehensive parks and recreation master plan was developed by Dare County in May 2001 that
provides more detailed information on the projected recreational and cultural needs of the residents
of Dare County. Copies of this plan are available from the Dare County Parks and Recreation
Department. This plan includes information on the adequacy of the County's parks and recreation
system over the next 10-year planning period.
Solid Waste
Solid waste collection from both residential and commercial properties in Dare County is handled by
local governments. Dare County contracts with Kitty Hawk and Southern Shores for solid waste
pick-up in these two towns and is also responsible for pick up in the unincorporated areas. The
Towns of Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo provide their own solid waste pick-up.
Dare County owns and operates transfer stations in Buxton and Manteo. In 1994, the County
entered a regional solid waste authority and all solid waste from Dare County is transported to Bertie
County, NC. This regional landfill has a contractual obligation to provide for an additional ten
years of solid waste capacity according to the Dare County Public Works Department, anticipated
renewal potential for an additional 50-year period of routine solid waste. It is anticipated that this
will be adequate to address the routine solid waste needs of Dare County during this 10-year period.
Measures to address debris from future storm events or hurricanes may impact this capacity.
47

ANTICIPATED DEMAND
Demographic Projections
One goal of the Dare County Land Use Plan is to project population growth and then devise a
strategy for addressing the impacts population changes may have on the County. As the population
changes, so does the demand for a broad range of services and facilities provided by the local
government.
For many years, population growth in Dare County was modest. However, this changed beginning in
the 1970s and since then Dare County has consistently experienced exceptional growth and has
ranked as one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina and the southeastern portion of the
United States. The following table illustrates the population changes since 1970.
Table 20 Population 1970- 2000
Population in Dare County
1970
6,995
1980
13,377
1990
22,746
2000
29,967
In 1985, Dare County contracted with a private consulting firm to develop a management plan for the
time period of 1985 to 2000. This plan addressed a wide range of issues from population growth to
school construction needs and the environmental constraints of the County's poorly drained soils.
The 1985 Carrying Capacity Study was most effective in providing direction to the local officials in
projected populations, issues of concern and needed infrastructure improvements from 19865-2000.
Much of this information aggregated in that plan is now outdated, particularly the population
projections. One goal of the County is to update this document to serve the coming decade. The
State Data Center provides population projections through the year 2020. These figures project a
continued increase in permanent population with a year-round population in 2010 listed as 37,112
persons and a total in 2020 of 44,061. The following table depicts the population projections from
the State Data Center
Table 21 -- Population Projections for Dare County
YEAR
PROJECTION
July 2005
33,505
Jul 2010
37,269
July 2015
40,594
July 2020
44,061
One of the most difficult statistics to generate reliably is the seasonal peak population of Dare
County. The difficulty is centered on the summer months when beautiful weather can result in
thousands of spontaneous visitors in addition to the planned vacationers. These guests may choose
from a variety of accommodations that include hotels, motels, campgrounds, rental cottages, and the
unannounced visit to a friend's house. A new trend in resort accommodations in Dare County is the
48

construction of multiple bedrooms large structures that resemble single-family homes but are built to
be occupied by multiple parties on a short-term rental basis. These structures often include generous
amenity packages including spas and pools.
Best estimates of the summer seasonal population are approximately 200,000. This number assumes
full occupancy of every available mode of occupancy listed above. Given the dynamic nature of
tourism, an exact figure is almost impossible to calculate. For purposes of planning for many capital
needs and service demands, Dare County must use the peak population figures because at any given
time, the peak population or some variant thereof will generate a related demand for services.
It is anticipated that the year-round and seasonal populations for Dare County will continue to
increase over the next five years. This growth will occur in both the unincorporated areas of the
County and the municipal areas. Although there remains more undeveloped land in the
unincorporated areas, the suitability of the soils, the availability of utility services and location of
shopping and other service businesses will result in smaller increases in population growth in the
unincorporated areas versus the municipal areas that feature the infrastructure and services desired by
most residents relocating to the area.
Future Land Use Needs
Future land use needs in unincorporated Dare County will center around development in existing
residential subdivisions and a limited amount of commercial development, mostly focused on the
seasonal population. However, as the permanent population of Dare County continues to grow the
focus of the commercial development will shift to meeting the needs of the year-round population as
well.
The capacity of the remaining undeveloped land in Dare County to accommodate new development
will be limited by the availability of soils that can support septic tank systems. As previously stated,
there are no publicly owned central wastewater treatment plants in unincorporated Dare County and
no such system is planned. Alternative engineered wastewater systems, such as peat systems and
low-pressure pipe systems, are being used more extensively then before but these systems are more
costly and their maintenance record is undetermined at this point. Most development will continue
to function with traditional septic tank nitrification fields, thus the amount of suitable lands available
in Dare County for development serves as an natural growth inhibitor.
Current zoning ordinances limit minimum lot sizes for new subdivisions to 15,000 square feet for
central water or 20,000 square feet for private well use. The maximum dwelling density allowed
under the current zoning codes is 10 units per acre. Dare County does not provide. dwelling density
increases for the provision of central wastewater and it is unlikely that minimum lot sizes will be
decreased. These regulations will influence the future land development patterns. However, it
should be mentioned that the residual capacity of the central wastewater treatment plan for the Town
of Manteo will impact the section of Roanoke Island that in within the service district of this
treatment plant. Annexation requests and line extension requests may result in increased
development and dwelling densities in this area of unincorporated Dare County.
As discussed throughout this Plan, residential development is the preferred land use. Although,
commercial usage is generally considered the "highest and best " use for commercially zoned
property, this is not always the case in Dare County, where the seasonal accommodations market
49

results in the development of commercially zoned land with residential structures offered for short-
term occupancy.
As the year-round population continues to grow, public infrastructure projects such as schools,
recreation facilities, transportation improvements and other public needs will compete for the
remaining undeveloped land.
All of these factors are compounded by the large amount of publicly owned land in Dare County.
Over 80% of the land in Dare County is under federal, state or otherwise protected ownership that
precludes its development. This extraordinary amount of public ownership increases development
pressures on the remaining privately owned parcels. Balancing the needs for services and goods of
our residents and visitors on this limited amount of privately owned land is a major influence on the
future land use of Dare County.
The Planning staff completed an analysis of the tax files in an effort to determine the number of
vacant individual parcels and vacant platted subdivision lots in unincorporated Dare County. The
individual parcels vary in size and it was not evident from the tax records the size of the individual
parcels. It should be understood that these parcels may possibly be subdivided into smaller tracts if
the minimum lot size requirements can be met. The following table details the results of this
analysis. This table is for the unincorporated portions of Dare County and does not include
information on the individual municipalities. Appendix C includes detailed tables for each tax
district in unincorporated Dare County.
Table 22—Vacant Land Analysis (January 2002)
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land
Individual Parcels
2162
Subdivision Lots
3738
Property Owners Association
180
Religious
6
Non-profit
5
Washouts
29
Utilities
3
Federal
31
State
59
Dare County
95
Other Municipalities
3
TOTAL
6,311
Although as much as 80% of the land area of Dare County is publicly owned and not likely to be
available for development, the remaining privately owned lands are still sufficient to accommodate
the growth anticipated over the next ten years. It is anticipated that redevelopment of existing
residential and even commercial structures will be an important element in that growth pattern. The
re -development will offer a more intense use of the site versus the smaller structures lost to
demolition. in addition, new technologies for on -site wastewater disposal will provide for a greater
level of use then the traditional septic tank systems typical of the previous decades.
50

1
The areas most suitable for future development will be those already developed and suitable for re-
development and with elevations and soil types suitable for on -site wastewater disposal systems. '
Areas least suitable for development include those with poorly drained soils, those already in public
ownership, and those portions of lots already recorded that have new regulatory constraints such as
limitations on development activities adjacent to estuarine water bodies. '
51 1

m m m m= m m m r== r m m m = = = =

Throughout this document there are references to the desire of Dare County to reserve the right o
gh ty gh t
examine issues on a `case -by -case" basis. When the reader encounters this language it should be
tassumed it is added to a particular issue or policy for emphasis. This occurs out of the County's
reservation about the "one size fits all" tendency of State and Federal regulatory agencies and Dare
County's unique characteristics versus the other costal communities in North Carolina. It is for this
' reason that Dare County often finds that what may be wise in some areas in terms of regulatory
policy is contrary to the best interest of the citizens of Dare County.
There are many existing State and federal regulatory programs for resource protection that apply in
Dare County. In some instances, such as fisheries management or wetland protection, there are no
local regulatory programs and Dare County relies on these State and federal programs in the absence
of local programs. However, the absence of local regulations should not be interpreted as a lack of
concern about resource protection. The absence of local regulation may be due to the inability of the
local elected officials to develop a consensus about regulatory standards or may be a desire to avoid
regulatory duplication in a matter where other agencies already exercise regulatoryjurisdiction.
The Dare County Land Use Plan is established to provide policies and implementation strategies for
resource protection, resource production and management and growth and development. The
elected officials, advisory boards and planning staff should use these policies and implementation
strategies in considered rezoning proposals, development and re -development proposals, and
ordinance enactments and amendments. Although measures are taken to avoid conflicts between
the LUP and County ordinances, in instances when they do occur, the ordinance will take precedence
since the LUP is a non -binding policy document. The resolution of such conflicts may be
accomplished through an ordinance amendment or a change of the LUP policy as may be appropriate
on a case by case basis.
' WETLANDS
Coastal wetlands are defined as any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional
flooding by tides, including wind tides, whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland areas
through natural or artificial sources, providing this shall not include hurricanes or other storm tides.
In Dare County, the estuarine shoreline is generally covered by coastal marsh grass. The position of
these wetlands, often between usable high ground and deeper navigable waters, has placed
considerable pressure on these environmentally significant areas.
In addition to coastal wetlands, there are areas known as freshwater marshes or freshwater wetlands
that are subject to the regulatory provisions of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, hence these areas
are often referred to as 404 wetlands. The US. Army Corps of Engineers has been delegated the
regulatory responsibility of managing these 404 wetland areas and interpreting the rules that apply to
freshwater wetlands. Over the years, the federal definition of what constitutes a freshwater wetlands
has changed depending on federal policy guidelines, but generally a freshwater wetland can be
described as soils that are hydric, that sustain plant life that depends on periodic flooding, or are areas
that are frequented by migratory birds. One of the Corps' programs used to manage freshwater
' wetlands is known as the Nationwide permit program. Nationwide permits are available for fill
activities that involve small areas or "pockets" of freshwater wetlands. Discussion by the
Planning Board indicated continued support of the existing federal regulatory program administered
' 53

by the Corps and the nationwide permit program. However, concern was noted about the rigid
interpretations and delineations of wetlands pockets that sometimes preclude otherwise acceptable
development projects.
Another aspect of wetlands management is the concept of mitigation. Mitigation involves the
creation of, or dedication of wetlands sites, to compensate for the loss of wetlands as a result of
development activities. In simple terms, mitigation can be thought of as a trade-off of wetlands at
one site for the alteration or loss of wetlands in another area. Generally, the topic of mitigation is
categorized as public purpose projects (those projects undertaken by the public sector) and mitigation
in conjunction with private development projects. The Planning Board discussed this issue
extensively during the update process. There was a consensus of support for wetland mitigation for
public sector projects among the Planning Board and among respondents to the land use plan
questionnaire. For private sector projects that may propose wetland mitigation, the Planning Board
felt that private projects should be reviewed on an individual basis and judgments based on any
benefits the project may provide to the community.
Development within any coastal wetland AEC should be constructed according to any applicable
local, State or Federal regulations.
Policy #1
Dare County advocates the use of existing (2002) State and Federal regulatory programs for
protecting and preserving coastal wetland areas of environmental of concern. Dare County reserves
the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or programs that may
affect the regulation of coastal wetland areas of environmental concern.
Policy #2
Dare County supports the use of mitigation for the loss of wetland areas for public purpose projects.
Private development projects that proposed wetland mitigation may be supported by Dare County if
such projects will serve an identified public need and/or policy of the land use plan. For both public
and private mitigation projects, up to 25% of the mitigation should take place on site or in Dare
County.
Policy #3
Dare County supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nationwide permit program as administered
in 2002. This support is based on the current scope of permitting limits on the nationwide program
and not on any changes that may result in a different policy.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of CAMA use standards for coastal wetland AECs as identified
under 15NCAC7H, Sections .0205 and.0208.
2. The County will continue to administer the CAMA local permit enforcement program and
maintain the staff necessary for this work.
3. As may be necessary to facilitate implementation of permit programs for wetland management.
OCEAN SHORELINE
The immediate oceanfront area on any barrier island quickly identifies itself for special management
guidelines. Management alternatives include setback standards to address erosion, minimum
54

elevations for first floor construction to allow for ocean overwash, and regulations to prevent
unnecessary loss of oceanfront dunes.
' The CAMA guidelines establish specific types of ocean hazard areas of environmental concern
(AECs) as described below:
�i 1. Ocean erodible area: This is the area in which there exists a substantial possibility of excessive
erosion and significant shoreline fluctuation. The seaward boundary of this area is the mean low
water line. The landward extent of this area can generally be described as 60 times the average
annual erosion rate for the particular location, plus the distance that the shoreline is likely to
erode as a result of a 100-year storm. For specific language concerning these distances, the
reader should consult the CAMA AEC standards, Section .0304.
2. High Hazard Flood Area: This is the area subject to high velocity waters (including but not
limited to, hurricane wave wash), and a storm having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year, as identified as zones V 1-30 on the flood insurance rate maps of the Federal
Insurance Administration. In Dare County, virtually all of the ocean shoreline along the Outer
Banks is included in a high hazard flood area AEC. Fortunately, an extensive system of natural
and manmade dunes has been preserved and/or created in the majority of the high hazard flood
area zones. As a result, most of the so-called V zones in the unincorporated areas of Dare County
are confined to an area oceanward of the dune system.
3. Net Hazard Area: The inlet hazard areas are natural hazard areas that are especially vulnerable
to erosion, flooding, and other adverse effects of sand, wind, and water because of their
proximity to dynamic ocean inlets. The inlet hazard area AEC extends landward from the mean
low water line to a distance sufficient to encompass that area in which the inlet, will, based on
statistical analysis, migrate and shall consider such factors as previous inlet territory, structurally
weak areas near the inlet (such as an unusually narrow barrier island, an unusually long channel
feeding the inlet, or an overwash area), and external influences such as jetties and
channelizations. These areas are identified on inlet hazard area maps approved by the
Coastal Resources Commission.
Development within these ocean hazards areas should be constructed according to any applicable
local, State or Federal regulations to minimize the hazards to structures located within these
designated AECs.
Policy #4
Oceanfront shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and preserve the natural
and recreational resources along the oceanfront. Dare County reserves the right to review,
comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or programs that may affect the regulation
of ocean hazards areas of environmental concern.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for ocean hazard areas as contained
in 15NCAC7H, Sections .0306 through .0310.
2. Implementation and enforcement of the National Flood Insurance Program's base flood elevation
standards, including the standards for those areas where wind driven waves create potential for
damage by velocity also known as V zones.
' 55

ESTUARINE WATERS/SHORELINE
Estuarine waters can be defined as semi -enclosed coastal water bodies having free connection to the
open sea and within which seawater is measurably diluted with fresh water drained from the adjacent
land. In Dare County, estuarine waters include the Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico and
Roanoke Sounds.
Estuarine shorelines; although characterized as dry land, are considered a component of the estuarine
system because of the close association with the adjacent estuarine waters. Estuarine shorelines are
those non -ocean shorelines that occur along the estuary. In North Carolina and Dare County,
estuarine shorelines are generally non -ocean shorelines along estuaries, sounds bays and brackish
waters extending waterward from mean high water or normal water level for a distance of 75 feet
landward.
Two issues related to estuarine shoreline development that were discussed as part of the update
process were the use of estuarine bulkheads and the designation of estuarine buffers. Estuarine
bulkheads have been used for decades in Dare County as a means of shoreline protection and are an
accepted feature. There was strong support among the Planning Board for the continued use of
estuarine bulkheads. This is also supported by the results of the land use plan questionnaire.
In August 2000, the Coastal Resources Commission established a 30-foot buffer along estuarine
shorelines. Only water -dependant uses, as defined by the CAMA regulations, may be located within
this 30-foot buffer area. These buffer regulations were established to protect surface water quality
by minimizing impervious coverage along the shoreline and thereby minimizing runoff. The 30-
buffer rules have been amended to allow fences, landscaping and some open decking, however, some
property owners have expressed the opinion that the rules are still too stiff and do not allow
traditional structures and uses, such as crab shedders and net houses.
There are a number of natural and manmade islands in the estuarine waters that are accessible only
by boat and that are basically undeveloped. These islands may be attractive to certain parties seeking
an isolated setting for day trips.
Development along the estuarine shoreline should be constructed according to any applicable local,
State or Federal regulations to minimize the hazards to structures located within these designated
AECs. Development proposals along the estuarine shoreline should be evaluated for effects on
surface water quality and groundwater quality and efforts to minimize any negative impact on water
quality should be considered as part of the review and approval process.
Policy #5
Estuarine shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and preserve the natural
resources of the estuarine waters and the estuarine shoreline. The appropriate tools for this is the
existing CAMA permit program and the Areas of Environmental Concerns (AECs) designated under
the CAMA program. Dare County reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any
proposed regulations or programs that may affect the regulation of estuarine waters and/or the
estuarine shoreline.
56

Policy #6
Dare County supports the installation and maintenance of estuarine bulkheads. Offshore
breakwaters, slopes, rip -rap, and voluntary setbacks in excess of CAMA 30-foot buffer rules should
be promoted as additional methods for estuarine shoreline management in lieu of estuarine bulkheads
along estuarine shorelines where these less invasive techniques would be equally effective in abating
a shoreline erosion problem
Policy #7
Development of estuarine systems islands that are only accessible by boat shall be carefully
managed. Low intensity uses such as open space, recreation, and detached single family residential
development shall be the preferred uses of these islands.
' Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for estuarine shoreline AECs as
stated in 15NCAC7H, Section .0209
2. Refer property owners to the Elizabeth City regional office for assistance with bulkhead permits.
3. Oppose efforts to eliminate or prioritize the use of estuarine bulkheads.
PUBLIC TRUST AREAS
Public trust areas are all waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder from the mean high
' water mark to the seaward limit of State jurisdiction, all natural bodies of water subject to
measurable lunar tides and lands thereunder to the mean high water mark; all navigable natural water
bodies of water and lands thereunder to the mean high water level or mean water level, as the case
' may be, except privately owned lakes, to which the public has no right of access; all water in
artificially created bodies of water containing significant public fishing resources or other public
resources which are accessible to the public by navigation from bodies of water in which the public
' has rights of navigation; and all waters in artificially created bodies of water in which the public has
acquired rights by a prescription, custom, dedication, or any other means. These public trust areas
are classified as Areas of Environmental Concern in the CAMA regulations. Proposed development
' in these AECs are subject to permit review and approval by the Division of Coastal Management. In
Dare County, public trust waters include the Atlantic Ocean, Albemarle, Croatan, Pamlico,
Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds, and over more than 40 bays, lakes, creeks, ponds, canals, and inlets.
' Canals may be determined to be public trust waters based on their jurisdiction to other waterways
and their navigability as determined by the Division of Coastal Management.
' In 2001, Dare County was authorized by HB 726 enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly
to regulate the surrounding ocean and estuarine waters of our jurisdiction. This legislation provides
Dare County with the authority to "zone" the surrounding waters and to address the use of personal
' watercraft, swimming, littering, and surfing and other issues that may arise as the demand for access
to public trust waters continues to increase. Discussion among the Planning Board indicated support
for regulation of personal watercraft and consideration of a limit on the number of rental agencies as
' the proper response to personal watercraft as opposed to banning their use, which would be difficult
and costly to enforce.
' Development proposals that encroach or limit the public's use of these trust areas should be
evaluated carefully.
57

Policy #8
Dare County supports the preservation and protection of the public's right to access and use of the
public trust areas and waters.
Policy#9
Dare County advocates a local level management program to address the competition among
recreational users of the public trust waters. Dare County reserves the right to review, comment,
advocate, or oppose any proposed Federal or State regulations or programs that affect the public trust
waters or public trust areas.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for public trust areas AECs as
stated in 15A NCAC 07H, Section .0207.
2. Consideration of Dare County management standards for the use of public trust waters by various
competing recreation users.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY AECS
Public water supply AECs include small surface water supply watersheds and public water supply
wellfields. Small surface watersheds are defined as catchment areas situated entirely within the
coastal area that contain a water body classified as A -II by the NC Department of Environment and
Natural Resources. This classification recognizes the maximum beneficial use of these water bodies
is to serve as public water supply areas.
Public water supply wellfields are defined as areas of well -drained sands that extend downward from
the surface into the shallow groundwater table, which supplies the public with drinking water. These
surficial wellfields are confined to a readily definable geographic area as identified by the State, with
assistance and support from affected local governments.
In Dare County, there are two public water supply AECs. The first is the Fresh Pond located
between Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. The management of this AEC is the responsibility of these
two towns and is addressed in their respective land use plans.
The second public water supply AEC is the Cape Hatteras Wellfield located in Buxton Woods on
Hatteras Island. The CAMA standards describe this AEC as " the wellfield AEC is bounded to the
north, south, east, and west by aline located 1000 feet from the centerline of the wellfield". In
addition to the wellfield AEC established by the State, the County has established a Special
Environmental (SED-1) zoning district for the Buxton Woods maritime forest to ensure additional
protection of the aquifer located underneath the maritime forest.
Although there are public water supply wells located on Roanoke Island, they have not been declared
to be an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) under CAMA guidelines.
Development within these public water supply areas should be constructed according to any
applicable local, State or Federal regulations to minimize the impacts within these designated AECs.
Policy #10
Development in any public water supply AEC should be managed to protect the long-term viability
of the groundwater resources.
58

Implementation Strategies:
1. Continued support for the CAMA use standards for public water supply wellfield AECs as
contained in 15NCAC7H, Section .0406.
2. Dare County will continue to implement and enforce the provisions of the SED-1 zoning
' ordinance for the Buxton Woods maritime forest.
3. Nomination of Skyco public wellfields for designation by the Division of Coastal Management
as a Public water Supply Area of Environmental Concern..
' GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
Drinking water for residents of unincorporated Dare County is supplied by two means — central water
1 from Dare County or from private wells. Protection of the groundwater resources that supply the
public drinking water for Dare County is a high priority for both residents and non-resident property
owners in Dare County. Participants at the land use plan workshops indicated concerns about
' protecting our groundwater resources and respondents to the questionnaire ranked the protection of
groundwater resources as a high priority.
In an effort to provide a better quality of drinking water for the residents of unincorporated Dare
County, expansion of the central water system has continued to receive funding priority from the
elected officials. A reverse osmosis plant for the Rodanthe Waves Salvo area was completed in 1996
' offering the residents and property owners of this area the opportunity to replace their private wells
that supplied a poor quality of water with a reliable water source. In 1999, the County completed
construction of a reverse osmosis plant in Frisco as part of the takeover of the Cape Hatteras Water
' Association. This plant supplies the four southern villages of Hatteras Island. A central water
supply for the village of Stumpy Point on the Mainland is currently underway. The private wells
used by Stumpy Point residents provide a marginal quality of water and the central water system will
' be a great improvement for this village.
Policy #11
' Dare County recognizes groundwater resources as an essential element for the County's drinking
water supply. The management of groundwater resources and their protection is a priority issue in
Dare County.
' Implementation Strategies:
1. To continue efforts to make a central water supply available to all areas of unincorporated Dare
County. Coordinate with Water Department (multiple years, Stumpy Point 2003)
2. Review any proposals by private sector withdrawals greater than withdrawals for individual
residential private wells.
' 3. Dare County will consider a permitting program for private wells used as a drinking water supply
(2004)
4. Contract with independent planning consultant to update Carrying Capacity Study for Dare
' County. (2004)
SURFACE WATER QUALITY
' As stated earlier, Dare County is surrounded by important bodies of water. Water quality, both
surface and groundwater, plays a key role in the natural and economic development of Dare County.
' 59

Surface water quality is important to fisheries resources, boating, all recreational water sports, and as
an indicator of the overall health of the area's ecosystem. The participants in the land use plan
survey and workshops identified surface water quality as a high priority.
Over the last few years, there has been an effort to address water quality on a basin -wide approach
instead of just regulating the coastal regions. The basin -wide approach recognizes that water quality
is an inland issue as well as a coastal issue and should be regulated as such, since a great deal of the
water quality degradation actually occurs inland and not solely from development on or near the
shorelines.
All surface waters in North Carolina are assigned a primary classification by the NC Division of
Water Quality (DWQ). Class SC includes all tidal salt waters protected for secondary recreation
such as fishing, boating, and other activities that involve minimal skin contact; aquatic life
propagation and survival, and wildlife. Class SB is surface waters that are used for primary
recreation, including frequent or organized swimming and all SC uses. Class SA is surface waters
that are used for shellfishing or marketing purposes and all SC and SB uses. Stormwater controls
are required under CAMA regulations for these three classes of water. Domestic wastewater
discharges are not allowed in Class SA waters.
All SA waters are also considered High Quality Waters (HQW) by definition. This is a
supplemental classification that is intended to protect water with quality higher that State water
quality standards.
Another supplemental classification, Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), is intended to protect
unique and special waters having excellent water quality and being of exceptional state or national
ecological or recreational significance.
The State of North Carolina has classified portions of the Alligator River area in Dare County to be
Outstanding Resources Waters (ORWs). This area encompasses approximately 575 feet of shoreline
along the Alligator River on the Mainland of Dare County. Outstanding Resources Waters are those
waters that have exceptional state or national recreational or ecological significance and that have
exceptional water quality. A copy of a map illustrating the ORWs located in Dare County is
included in Appendix E of this Plan.
Dare County is in the Pasquotank River Basin, which in its entirety consists of 3,697 square miles of
low-lying lands and vast open waters including the Albemarle Sound and numerous small watersheds
that drain into the Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan, Roanoke and Pamlico Sounds. A management
plan for the Pasquotank River Basin was approved by the NC Environmental Management
Commission in September 1997 and is used as a guide by the NC Division of Water Quality in
carrying out its duties and responsibilities.
The basin is broken down into several sub -basins and the details the overall acres of Class SA waters
in each sub basins and the amount of this acreage that is considered impaired by DWQ. The
following table details this information as provided in the Pasquotank River Basin Plan:
Me

Table 23 — Class SA Waters in Dare County
Subbasin
Class SA
Impaired SA
Waters
Waters
03-01-51( includes the Alligator River, Croatan Sound and
54,750 acres
1,959 acres
a portion of the Albemarle Sound watershed)
03-01-55 (includes northeastern Pamlico Sound)
320, 132 acres
1,361 acres
03-01-56 (includes Roanoke Sound and small portions of
20,487 acres
1,712 acres
the Albemarle and Currituck Sounds)
' Policy #12
Dare County supports efforts by local, state, and federal agencies to preserve, protect and improve
water quality. These efforts include the designation of Outstanding Resource Waters and shellfish
water classification criteria established by the State of North Carolina.
' Policy #13
Dare County encourages the management of surface water quality on basin -wide approach
recognizing the importance of water quality in other inland regions influence and impact the water
quality of the coastal regions.
' Implementation Strategies:
P 1p
1. Continue local water quality monitoring program.
2. Support State legislation for basin -wide water quality regulations, as exemplified by HB 1858
introduced in the NC House in 2000, which proposed that counties upstream from the coastal
area develop and implement water quality management plans.
SHORELINE ACCESS
' Access to the ocean and estuarine shorelines by the public is a key attraction of the Dare County
coastline. The demand for access opportunities continues to grow as the seasonal and permanent
populations continue to grow. Access to the County's shorelines is a vital component of our tourist
economy. Access opportunities.vary according to location. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore
features 45 miles of undeveloped ocean and estuarine shorelines set aside for the express purpose of
the public's enjoyment. Throughout the municipal areas of Dare County, there are numerous access
' facilities that provide convenient parking for vehicles, dune overwalks, and at the larger sites,
restrooms with outdoor showers. Opportunities for public access in unincorporated Dare County are
less common due to the presence of private streets that exclude public access and parking by anyone
who is not a property owner on the private street. The following table illustrates the miles of
oceanfront in Dare County and how that shoreline is divided by governing jurisdiction.
Table 24 -- Oceanfront Shoreline by Jurisdiction
Federal Government
45.0 miles
Kill Devil Hills
4.5 miles
Kitty Hawk
3.5 iriiles
Nags Head
12.0 miles
Southern Shores
4.5 miles
Duck
6.0 miles
Unincorporated Dare County
9.5 miles
TOTAL
85.0 miles
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Policy #14
Dare County supports North Carolina's shoreline access policies as stated in 15A NCAC 7M, Section
.0303. Dare County recognizes shoreline access to both ocean and estuarine shorelines as a key
component in the local tourist economy. (See also policy #8 — public trust areas).
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to evaluate opportunities for additional access facilities and grant funding programs to
provide money for their construction.
2. Continue to pursue federal Shoreline Protection Plan for beach nourishment to provide sandy
beaches and public ownership.
CHANNEL MAINTENANCE
Throughout Dare County, there are a number of channels and waterways that are essential to the safe
movement of commercial and recreational boating traffic. Some of these waterways are officially
unnamed and others, such as Oregon Inlet, are well known. In order to ensure that these passages
remain navigable, dredging activities to removing shoaling must be completed. Given the
importance of these channels, the County advocates the continued maintenance.
The County's most important waterway for both commercial and recreational boats is Oregon Inlet.
Since 1970, Dare County has consistently advocated the construction of jetties to stabilize Oregon
Inlet and provide for safe and reliable passageway through this inlet.
Policy #15
Dare County advocates the maintenance of all existing navigable channels and will
work to secure permit authorization for those non-federal projects that require CAMA permit
authorization.
Policy #16
Dare County advocates and supports the permit authorization and federal funding necessary to
construct jetties to stabilize Oregon Inlet.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Continued funding for Oregon Inlet and Waterways Commission and staff to provide support for
the on -going efforts to secure jetty permit authorization.
BEACH NOURISHMENT
With almost 100 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean on two barrier islands separated by a
dynamic inlet, Dare County is both blessed and challenged by these important natural features.
The lengthy shoreline attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year that come to enjoy the
waters of the Atlantic and the sandy beaches along the water's edge. A vibrant infrastructure has
grown along the water's edge as well; hotels and rental cottages top the list of structures that line the
privately owned property just behind the public trust portions of the oceanfront. As the summer
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season approaches, these hotels and rental homes are filled with seasonal guests who generously
stimulate the local economy with over $1 billion in retail sales alone.
The water's edge also presents a challenge, however, as much of the tourist industry's infrastructure
is located on each of the County's two barrier islands (Bodie Island and Hatteras Island). Under
natural conditions barrier island migrate with the flow of sand along the seaboard and over hundreds
of years tend to "retreat" or rollover and move in an inland direction. When this process occurs
along a developed shoreline it eventually collides with private property or public infrastructure and
comes to be described as "beach erosion." During weather related events like hurricanes or winter
storms, the beach erosion can be quick and severe and threaten or destroy improved oceanfront
properties by undermining the foundations of structures along the shoreline.
There are a number of theoretical alternatives that can be applied as management tools to address this
dilemma. One alternative advocated by some in academia is to allow this natural process to occur
and give up the infrastructure at the water's edge. Other coastal communities have attempted to tame
the natural forces by using engineered wave energy refraction structures like seawalls and bulkheads
to stabilize the shoreline. Although these structures can be successful in establishing a stable
shoreline they often result in the loss of the natural sand supply and rob the shoreline of sandy
beaches except at periods of low tide. Another alternative is to replace sand lost due to natural
processes or storm tides by borrowing material from another location and placing it along the
shoreline. This alternative is known as "beach nourishment."
Given the importance of the improved private property and public infrastructure on the barrier
islands to Dare County's primary industry (tourism), neither retreat or armoring of the shoreline
represent attractive or even feasible alternatives. As a result, Dare County has selected beach
nourishment as its preferred alternative for managing the conflict between the natural tendency of
barrier island shorelines to move and the tendency of people and economies to seek permanence and
prosperity along the shore.
Policy #17
Beach nourishment is the preferred shoreline management alternative along the ocean beaches of
Dare County.
' Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to serve as the non-federal sponsor of the Dare Beaches Hurricane Protection Plan.
2. Use the Dare County Beach Nourishment Committee to advise the County Commissioners on
policy issues related ocean shoreline management.
3. Coordinate with NCDOT and the appropriate federal agencies on matters relating to shoreline
movement and its impacts on NC 12.
DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS ON RESOURCES
' The protection of the natural resources of Dare County is a priority. The continued viability of the
resources of the area is important to tourism and the commercial and sporting fishing industries.
Protecting these resources protects the livelihoods of our residents that rely on tourism and fishing
' industries. Impacts from residential, commercial and industrial development should be analyzed for
any potential benefits to the County's residents and visitors and any potential negative results that
may affect the resources discussed on pages 76-81. The policies for each of these resources should be
' 63

consulted in reviewing any residential, commercial, and/or industrial development and re -development
proposals in addition to the applicable zoning regulations.
Policy #18
Development projects shall be designed and constructed to minimize detrimental impacts on surface
water quality, groundwater quality and air quality. Structures should be designed to fit the natural
topographic conditions and vegetation versus modifications to natural conditions to accommodate
structures.
Implementation Strategies
1. Consider tree removal and vegetation protection standards for commercial sites.
2. Encourage property owners to design residential sites limit impacts on the natural topography
and vegetation.
MINERAL RESOURCES
Mineral production activities are limited in Dare County. Currently, Dare County relies on the NC
Division of Land Resources to manage all mining activities that exceed 1 acre. Smaller sand mining
projects have generated some concern about the need for local standards to address those activities
under the State threshold. As a result, the Dare County Board of Commissioners adopted
sloping/dune alternation standards for the zoned portions of unincorporated Dare County in late
2001.
Policy #19
Dare County advocates local level management of those mining activities that are not subject to
permit authorization by the State of North Carolina.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Enforcement of dune standards contained in Dare County Zoning Ordinance
2. Dare County will evaluate the need for local level regulations to address mining activities that are
exempt from State -level permitting. (2004)
FISHERIES RESOURCES
Fisheries resources play an important role in the economy of Dare County. Commercial fishing, both
shore -based and from vessels, has been a source of livelihood for generations in Dare County.
Recreational fishing is also a key component of our tourist economy. The important role of fishing,
both recreational and commercial, highlights the need for water quality management programs in the
ocean and estuarine waters of Dare County. The need for basin -wide water quality programs was
also discussed in earlier sections of the Land Use Plan.
There are three areas in Dare County that are designated by the State of North Carolina as Primary
Nursery Areas (PNAs). Primary nursery areas are those areas in the estuarine system where initial
post -larval development takes place. These areas are usually located in the uppermost sections of a
system where populations are uniformly very early juveniles. In Dare County, these areas are
Doughs Creek, Scarborough Creek, and Broad Creek, which are located on the east side of Roanoke
Island. Since commercial and recreational fishing plays such an important role in the Dare County
economy, the longevity and vitality of the primary nursery areas is important to Dare County. The
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' map below, provided by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, illustrates the primary nursery areas
discussed in this paragraph.
In addition to primary nursery areas as designated by the Division of Marine Fisheries, there are
many other locations that serve as important habitats for fish, crabs, shrimp, and other species.
' While these areas are not granted any special regulatory status like the primary nursery area
designation, these areas deserve recognition for their importance to the area resources. As previously
stated, water quality is a high priority for Dare County and the protection of our water quality is
' directly linked to the continued productivity of our area's water bodies for commercial and
recreational fishing. This priority extends to protecting those areas designated at SA waters or High
Quality Waters (HQW)
rFrom time to time, issues concerning competition for marine resources between commercial
fishermen and recreational fisherman arise. Discussions at the policy workshops indicate that these
concerns are best managed by the state and federal agencies with regulatory responsibility of
fisheries resources.
Aquaculture or fish farming is a form of fisheries resources, although the practice is not as
' widespread in the United States and North Carolina as in other countries. Advocates of aquaculture
have requested the inclusion of a policy in the Land Use Plan.
' Policy #20
The continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries shall be fostered through
restoration and protection of the unique coastal ecosystems upon which they depend. (See policy 12
and 13- surface water quality)
Policy #21
' Dare County supports measures to protect and preserve designated primary nursery areas. Dare
County also recognizes the importance of all areas in our surrounding waters that serve as habitats
for the area's abundant fisheries resources. (See policy 12 and 13- surface water quality)
' Policy 922
State and federal agencies with the authority to manage fisheries resources should be the responsible
parties for the resolution of conflicts involving fisheries resources in Dare County. However, Dare
County reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or
programs that may affect the fisheries resources or management.
' Policy #23
Dare County supports the development of the aquaculture industry as a source of fishery production
as long as the proposed fishery or fish species does not negatively impact native or indigenous fish
species.
' Policy #24
Dare County recognizes the traditional practices of commercial fishing in Dare County and supports
the use of traditional shellfish and other fish harvesting methods including trawling.
1
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Implementation Strategies:
1. Support efforts for basin -wide water quality regulations. As such programs are developed, Dare
County will become engaged in the process using resolutions and other techniques to
demonstrate our support of basin wide water quality efforts.
2. Continued implementation of CAMA 30-foot buffer rules, CAMA AEC regulations, and other
local zoning setbacks.
MARFrUVIE FORESTS
According to information provided by the NC Division of Coastal Management, "maritime forests
are those woodlands which have developed under the influence of salt spray. These woodlands are in
the final stage of plant succession on stable barrier islands, i.e. those areas that are no longer under
the direct influence of seawater flooding or migrating dunes. Those trees and shrubs closest to the
ocean, which have the most salt spray influence, are sculpted by the spray and are very low nearer
the ocean with increasing height away from the ocean."
On Hatteras Island, the Buxton Woods forest has been identified as an example of one of the most
unique maritime forests in North Carolina. Recognizing the value of this unique area, a Special
Environmental zoning district (SED-1) has been established that accommodates a minimal level of
development with land clearing and wetland buffer standards.
In addition to the voluminous acreage of the Buxton Woods maritime forest complex, there are also
smaller remnant maritime forest areas in Colington and the north end of Roanoke Island.
Policy #25
Dare County advocates a combination of limited development guided by the local SED-1 zoning
ordinance and a program of public acquisition to manage the Buxton Woods maritime forest.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continued enforcement of SED-1 zoning district.
2. Support of funding sources, like the Clean Water Trust Fund, for acquisition of lands in Buxton
Woods and other maritime forest settings.
3. Consideration of other measures on vegetation protection incentives for the maritime forest areas
on Colington and Roanoke Island.
COMMERCIAL FORESTRY
Commercial forestry has only a minimal role in the economy of Dare County. On occasion, some
sites are harvested for timber rights, but there are no large-scale commercial forestry activities in
Dare County.
Policy #26
Commercial forestry activities shall be supported by Dare County, so long as activities are done in
accordance with the standards and recommendations of the U.S. Forest Service. The County also
advocates the voluntary participation in the State of North Carolina's best management practice
program for forestry management.
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Implementation Strategy:
No strategy necessary at this time due to minimal amount of commercial forestry activities in
Dare County
PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS
There has not been a great deal of agricultural activity in Dare County in the recent past. The
Mainland portions have some limited farming and livestock farming has been limited as well. The
majority of the lands on the Mainland that would support agricultural practices have been donated to
or acquired by the Federal government to form the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
Policy #27
Dare County supports the use of certain portions of the Mainland area for crop agriculture. The
County also advocates voluntary participation in the State of North Carolina's best management
practices program for farm management.
' Policy #28
Wholesale or industrial livestock operations are opposed.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Monitor and advocate State -sponsored legislative efforts that address the location and permitting
of wholesale livestock operations.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES
Certain tracts of land and certain structures in Dare County have been identified as important
cultural, historical, or archaeological resources. A number of these sites and structures are currently
listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the majority of them are in public ownership for
the purpose of preservation.
Policy #29
The Dare County Board of Commissioners supports the protection of structures, lands, and artifacts
' that have been identified by the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and
History, as archaeologically or historically significant. On a case -by -case basis individual
protection/management strategies should be implemented to ensure archaeological and/or historical
' resources are not destroyed.
Implementation Strategy:
' 1. Seek funding from the State of North Carolina to undertake a comprehensive inventory of those
historic architect and landscape, not already in public ownership, to be used as a planning tool to
identify any historic, cultural, and/or archeological resources.
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WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Although noted for its fisheries resources, Dare County also has a significant base of wildlife
resources. This is particularly true on the mainland where sportsmen enjoy a variety of species
include bear, deer, foxes, and wild fowl.
Policy #30
Dare County supports the maintenance of preserve areas for wildlife habitat and access to the public
to these areas for managed wildlife harvesting and observation.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Work with appropriate federal agencies to allow the continued access to federal property in Dare
County for hunting, fishing and other similar activities.
TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS
The topographic conditions of Dare County serve as a natural limitation on development and land
use. The lack of natural ground elevation to preclude flooding from adjacent water bodies is a factor
in every development project. To the east, the barrier islands of Dare County are bordered by the
Atlantic Ocean and subject to overwash due to hurricanes and/or other storm events. To the west, the
barrier islands are bordered by the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and their related tributary waters.
The estuarine shoreline is subject to flooding from hurricanes and other storm events. Roanoke
Island, Colington and the Mainland are also subject to soundside flooding during severe weather
events.
Dare County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces all applicable
state and federal guidelines for construction in flood prone areas. The County participates in the
Community Rating System program sponsored by FEMA. The CRS program awards participation
points for certain public awareness and mitigation activities about flood hazards and construction
techniques for flood prone areas. These points are credited in the form of flood insurance rate
discounts for residents in the specific jurisdiction. In October 2001, Dare County was awarded a
15% discount for flood insurance premiums in unincorporated Dare County.
The elevation of structures to meet the base flood standards established by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency is one construction technique that is used to compensate for the lack of natural
ground elevations. Another construction technique that has gained in popularity is the use of borrow
material or fill soil to modify the natural ground elevation to a height equal or greater than the base
flood elevation. In most locations, this involves trucking and dumping sand to elevate a construction
site to the applicable base flood height. This practice also has resulted in conflict with adjoining
property owners in existing subdivisions due to the impact the fill has on established drainage
patterns. Debate on the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative technique continues.
Should the practice of using fill continue to grow in popularity, the supply and location of borrow
sites could become an additional issue for Dare County.
Policy #31
Dare County supports as minimum standards, the administration and enforcement of all applicable
floodplain management regulations and the National Flood Insurance Program.
68

Implementation Strategy
1. Continue to participate in the Community Rating System and implementation and enforcement of
the Dare County Flood Ordinance.
Policy #32
Dare County believes that there is insufficient, reliable data to quantify the rate of sea level rise. The
phenomenon needs additional study. Until a more reliable and conclusive database has been
established, Dare County will continue to rely of CAMA standards for development in CAMA
designated "areas of environmental concern" or AECs.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Stormwater runoff is the rain that runs off streets, rooftops, parking lots, lawns, and other land
surfaces. As communities develop, more impervious surfaces are created and less rainfall can soak
into the ground. Stormwater runoff and its management is of particular concern in Dare County due
to its proximity to sensitive water bodies. The protection of water quality has been identified in the
update as a high priority, this includes protecting adjacent surface waters from stormwater runoff
particular Class SA waters.
Ponding of stormwater is also a concern. The lack of natural ground elevations and poorly drained
soils also contribute to the County's stormwater problems. Large ponds of stormwater that do not
adequately drain can create hazardous driving conditions on roadways and serve as natural breeding
grounds for disease -carrying mosquitoes. Drainage ditches that were installed decades ago have not
been maintained and have in some cases been filled by adjoining property owners. This lack of
ditch maintenance is a source of drainage problems and standing stormwater. The continued
reliance on retention basins for stormwater management should also be evaluated since these areas
serve as mosquito breeding grounds.
A stormwater plan for unincorporated Dare County was developed in 2001. This plan discusses
' stormwater in general, current federal and state regulations on stormwater runoff and specific
stormwater problems areas in unincorporated Dare County with suggested solutions for the identified
areas. A draft stormwater ordinance for Dare County was also developed as part of this plan.
Currently, Dare County has no local standards for stormwater runoff but relies on State guidelines for
projects that exceed one -acre in scope.
Another issue that has been identified is the practice of placing large amounts of fill material on sites
to raise the natural ground elevation before construction. This practice often results in stormwater
runoff onto the surrounding properties that are lower in elevation or onto adjacent streets. On larger
' sites, this practice may not create problems for adjoining sites, but on smaller lots that were platted in
the 1960s and 1970s, drastic variations in elevations due to the use of fill material creates stormwater
problems on neighboring properties and rights -of -way. The Planning Board discussed this issue
' extensively but no consensus could be reached on the appropriate standards to regulate this practice,
although all agreed that the matter did need to be addressed.
' Respondents to the land use plan survey indicated strong support for the establishment of a full-time
County program for stormwater management and drainage ditch maintenance. However, the use of
1
69

public funds to address drainage problems on private property did not receive support. Attendees at
the public participation workshops also expressed concerns about stormwater management.
Policy #33
Stormwater runoff should be managed to the greatest degree possible to protect the water quality of
the public trust waters surrounding Dare County, particularly Class SA waters.
Policy #34
Dare County recognizes the public health issues associated with mosquitoes and standing areas of
water and the public safety issue for motorists presented by stormwater ponding on roadways.
Implementation Strategies
1. Consideration of stormwater management ordinance to address those projects that are not subject
to State stormwater regulations with an emphasis on addressing stormwater runoff on sites that
are adjacent to Class SA waters.
2. Recommendation of a full-time stormwater/ditch maintenance program. (coordinate with Public
Works Department and NC Department of Transportation.
3. The Dare County Planning Board shall continue to address drainage issues associated with
proposed new subdivisions.
4. Draft amendments to the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to address the use of fill material on
vacant sites to alter the existing natural ground elevations and drainage as the need arises.
(2204/2005)
MARINAS
Boating access to the area's water bodies is a major element of the Outer Banks vacation experience
for our many visitors and is also essential to the residents who make their livings as commercial
fishermen and charter boat captains. Recreational boating and sport fishing are important
components of our tourist economy. However, this high demand for boating access must be
balanced with our desire to maintain high water quality levels. Development of any new marina is
subject to extensive federal and state review and consistency determinations.
The CAMA regulations define marinas as any publicly or privately owned doc, basin, or wet boat
storage facility constructed to accommodate more than 10 boats and providing any of the following
services: permanent or transient docking spaces, dry storage, fueling facilities, haulout facilities and
repair services. All marinas require a CAMA major permit.
Policy #35
Dare County supports the development of marinas to provide boating access to the area's water
bodies. Marina development should comply with all State and federal guidelines concerning location
and design. The County encourages the dry stack option of boat storage.
Implementation Strategies
1. Dare County will rely on local land use plan consistency review process used by State and
Federal agencies to implement this policy since all proposed marinas require a CAMA major
permit.
2. Examine the Dare County Zoning Ordinance and shorelines to ensure the proper location or
exclusion of marinas and marina development.
70

FLOATING STRUCTURES
In some coastal communities, floating homes and other structures are allowed on a permanent or
semi -permanent basis. The topic of floating structures was discussed by the Planning Board at their
policy workshop, with several concerns being noted. The main concerns were sewage disposal,
water quality impacts, aesthetics and the infringement of others to access and enjoy the public trust
waters of our area. In most instances, floating structures must rely on shore -based sewage disposal
such as dumping stations at marinas. Respondents to the land use plan survey expressed opposition
to the presence of floating structures.
Policy #36
Dare County is strongly opposed to the mooring of floating homes and other floating structures, as
defined in 15A NCAC 7M0602, anywhere in Dare County and its surrounding waters.
Implementation Strategy
' 1. Consideration of local regulations to prohibit the location of floating homes and structures in the
surrounding public trust waters of Dare County. (2004)
' LAND DISTURBING/TREE REMOVAL ACTIVITIES
Dare County has no tree removal or other land disturbing regulations that apply to private property
L except for the SED-1 zoning standards that apply to the Buxton Woods maritime forest. The
Planning Department often receives complaints about land clearing and other land disturbing
activities. However, public sentiment, as expressed on the land use plan survey, does not support the
' adoption of local land clearing or tree removal standards. Land disturbance in designated Areas of
Environmental Concern (AECs) does require permit authorization or exemption letters from the NC
Division of Coastal Management. The cutting of tress is not considered land disturbance under the
CAMA standards although, the removal of stumps and root systems would require authorization
from Coastal Management.
There are two land disturbing issues that demand attention. One is the removal of soil material on a
scale of less than i acre. This level of activity is not subject to the State's mining regulations but
often prompts concern, particularly when conducted in residential areas. In November 2001, Dare
' County adopted standards to address sloping and collapse hazards for soil removal activities on
dunes and ridges not regulated by CAMA.
' The second land disturbing activity involves the placement of borrow material on construction sites
to facilitate drainfield systems or to elevate the site to base flood elevation. A lucrative real estate
and development economy has made the cost of moving large amounts of fill economically feasible.
' The wisdom of this practice remains subject to debate with no consensus among Planning Board
members during their discussions on this issue. General agreement is that if stormwater can be
adequately managed, then fill practices are more acceptable. However, it is recognized that as
' development continues to increase, then the need to address the use of fill by the local government
will also increase. The ramifications are considered a matter to be resolved between adjoining
property owners by civil actions or other methods of arbitration.
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Policy #37
Dare County advocates best management practices of the NC Forest Service for tree removal and
land clearing on private property.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Enforcement of sand dune protection standards in the Dare County Zoning Ordinance.
Draft amendments to the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to address the use of fill material on
vacant sites to alter the existing natural ground elevations and drainage as the need arises.
MANMADE HAZARDS
Dare County's primary manmade hazards are the three airports including the Dare County Regional
Airport on Roanoke Island, the Billy Mitchell Airstrip in Frisco and the First Flight Airstrip in Kill
Devil Hills/Colington. The US Air Force/Navy bombing range on the Mainland is also recognized as
a manmade hazard due to the military training activities conducted at this site. For years, the Dare
County Airport Authority that oversees activities at the Dare County Regional Airport has discussed
plans for an expansion of the infrastructure at the airport to accommodate commuter jet service.
This expansion plan was strongly opposed by the residents of Roanoke Island during the 1994 Land
Use Plan update process. Public sentiment remains strongly against this proposal therefore the 1994
policy has been restated in this update.
The issue of expansion of the existing bombing ranges on the Mainland of Dare County was
identified at the Planning Board workshops. The Planning Board agreed that such federal proposals
should be evaluated on a case -by -case basis.
Policy #38
Due to potential land use conflicts and hazardous conditions. Dare County does not support the
expansion of the Dare County Regional Airport at its current location.
Policy #39
Proposals to expand the area of the existing bombing ranges on the Dare County mainland should be
reviewed on a case -by -case basis with support or opposition offered depending on the terms of the
proposal and its potential impacts on the local community and the importance to our Nations'
national defense.
BEACH DRIVING/OFF-ROAD VEHICLES
Beach driving and off -road vehicle use is a long-standing tradition in Dare County. Before the
installation of NC 12 on Hatteras Island, the residents drove on the beach on a daily basis for travel
to other villages and to the northern beaches. With the installation of NC 12, driving on the beach
was no longer a daily necessity, but remains an integral part of the tourist/fishing economy of
Hatteras Island. Access ramps are provided along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to
accommodate four-wheel drive access to the Hatteras Island beaches. The National Park Service
does impose restrictions on the driving areas to protect turtle nesting areas and other
endangered/threatened species areas. Recently, there has been some concern that beach driving on
the Cape Hatteras Seashore would be prohibited by the U.S Department of Interior. There is strong
opposition to this proposal. During the Planning Board discussions, the Board members felt that
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' there were ample Federal regulations in place to control four-wheel drive access to the federal lands
in Dare County and that no more restrictions are needed.
Beach driving in other areas of the County is regulated by the individual municipalities with
oceanfront jurisdictions.
Policy #40 .
The County recognizes the importance of four-wheel drive vehicle access to the beaches of Hatteras
Island that are under the management authority of the federal government. Efforts to prohibit beach
driving on these federally -managed areas are not supported. Proposals to impose additional driving
restrictions will be reviewed on a case by case basis with support or opposition offered depending on
the proposal and its potential negative impacts on the local tourist economy.
Implementation Strategy
1. The County will continue to monitor actions of the U.S Department of Interior to further restrict
' beach driving and/or initiate other management programs that will impact or prohibit beach
driving access along Hatteras Island. These monitoring activities may include participation at
public hearings and workshops or correspondence with our congressional delegation and other
' federal officials.
FEDERAL AND STATE SUPPORT
s As previously stated throughout this plan, over 80% of the land in Dare County is held in public
ownership. Of the remaining land in private ownership, there are several federal and state regulatory
programs that directly impact or limit the use of this private land. Throughout the history of Dare
County, the relationship with the federal and state agencies present in Dare County has ranged from
cooperative to confrontational depending on the issue at hand. It is often felt that not enough local
input is sought by Federal and State agencies before they adopt regulations or restrictions that impact
Dare County.
Policy #41
Additional Federal or State regulatory programs or expansion of existing programs will be reviewed
on a case by case basis. Dare County reserves the right to support, oppose, review, or comment on
additional regulations that may impact Dare County and its economy. Local Public Hearings by
federal or state agencies should be extensively advertised and conducted in Dare County before any
new regulations are adopted or existing programs are expanded.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Monitor federal and state proposals and participate as needed.
WASTEWATER
Throughout the unincorporated portions of Dare County, on -site individual septic tank/nitrification
field systems are the primary method of wastewater treatment. The suitability of soils for use as
drainfields limits the scope of development. Over the past several years, alternative methods of
' wastewater treatment have been developed to compensate for the natural limitations of the soils
found in Dare County. This will continue to be the case as the limited amount of land available for
development in Dare County is used. The topics of septic systems and central wastewater treatment
' 73

systems were discussed at the public participation workshops with some attendees expressing the
opinion that central wastewater treatment was the only way to gain some control over the location of
development as well as reduce pollution from malfunctioning septic systems. Others felt that central
wastewater treatment only increases the pressure to reduce the minimum lot size standard and the
likelihood of more intense development. The Planning Board discussed the merits of central
wastewater treatment versus traditional septic systems at length during their policy workshops. The
long-term maintenance ofprivately owned package treatment plants was sited as a major concern by
the Planning Board members. In many instances, package treatment plants proposed as part of a
construction project are intentionally permitted and designed with excess capacity. The potential
sale of this excess wastewater capacity for off -site development was also listed as a drawback of
central treatment facilities. The Board agreed that central wastewater treatment plants should not be
completely shunned and that there might be some instances where package treatment plants are
feasible alternatives to traditional on -site septic systems. However, the Board stressed that the
availability of central wastewater should not be a catalyst for increased levels of development or a
reduction in the minimum lot size. The Board also discussed alternatives methods of wastewater
treatment such as the "peat" systems and expressed concern about the unknown maintenance since
these are relatively new systems that are being used. It was noted that these peat systems are
approved systems by the NC Department of Health and therefore could not be precluded from use at
the local level without special legislative authorization from the General Assembly.
Any desire to transition unincorporated Dare County to a central collection and treatment for
wastewater will be dependant upon a suitable means of discharge. In the past most publicly owned
systems have discharged treated wastewater into a receiving water body. In Dare County, the
surrounding waters are the Atlantic Ocean and the estuarine waters of the various sounds, neither of
which represent ideal discharge locations. In the absence of a water body for receiving discharge,
land application is necessary. However, suitable and available land, for such purpose is limited and
would be extremely expensive.
The use of off -site wastewater treatment and collection systems to accommodate development on
parcels that are unsuitable for on -site wastewater systems is a concern. Projects that propose to
locate off -site wastewater systems on other tracts that are currently dedicated to other uses has been
identified by the Planning Board as questionable and the approval of these systems seen as unwise.
Dare County has initiated efforts to obtain grant funding for a feasibility study of central wastewater
treatment in the village of Stumpy Point. The majority of the existing septic systems in Stumpy
Point are acknowledged as detriments to water quality due to their direct outfall to Stumpy Point
Bay. The poor soil conditions of the area also contribute to the unsuitability of septic tank use. To
address these issues, the need for some type of centralized wastewater treatment is being
investigated.
The Land Classification Map that accompanies this update should be referenced in the review of
rezoning requests, ordinance development and other land use decisions to ensure consistency with
these policies on wastewater treatment systems. Land not classified for uses that require urban -style
wastewater treatment should not be used for development that demands such services.
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Policy #42
The current minimum lot size standards shall not be reduced regardless of the availability of central
wastewater treatment or the availability of a combination of central wastewater treatment and a
central water supply.
Policy #43
Dare County advocates the use of on -site septic tank/drainfield systems as the primary method of
wastewater treatment in unincorporated Dare County. Non-traditional methods of wastewater
treatment should be used only when natural soil conditions dictate their use and not solely to
accommodate larger structures or a greater dwelling density.
Policy #44
Package treatment plants may be considered only when natural conditions prohibit the use of septic
systems, as remedial efforts to correct existing failing septic improvements, or if required by
ordinance and should be constructed to serve a specific development without excess capacity for off -
site wastewater treatment connections.
Policy #45
Maintenance of privately owned package treatment plants should be supervised by the NC Utilities
Commission or other public agencies.
Implementation Strategies
1. The creation of a wastewater treatment authority or commission to address wastewater treatment
issues including the maintenance of traditional septic/drainfield systems, package treatment
plants, non-traditional methods of wastewater treatment, such as the peat systems, and the
monitoring of existing septic tank and nitrification fields. (2004-2006)
2. Continue to pursue opportunities to address wastewater issues in unincorporated Dare County
including construction of a publicly -owned package treatment plant or publicly -owned small
centralized treatment plant as a remedial measure to replace existing outdated septic systems that
threaten estuarine water quality due to their location in poorly drained soils or to facilitate a
publicly -financed or publicly -endorsed housing developments.
TRANSPORTATION
Traffic and transportation infrastructure is an issue of great concern to the residents of Dare County
as evidenced by the comments received at the public participation workshops. Due to the linear
geography of Dare County and its limited number of transportation routes, our residents and visitors
are greatly impacted by the seasonal traffic demands on *our infrastructure. The danger of the center
turning lane of Highway 158 was mentioned at all of the public participation workshops. The
seasonal demands placed on US 158 currently exceed its design capacity with no easy solutions for
its expansion due to the limited width of the northern beaches and displacement issues associated
with the existing development along US 158. One hopeful alternative is a thoroughfare plan that is
currently under consideration by NCDOT. Although this plan will only address traffic on US 158 in
the municipal portions of Dare County, it nevertheless impacts all of Dare County and its residents.
FAJ
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Public transportation systems and entry tolls are often sited as possible solutions to our traffic
congestion problems. The issue of entry tolls to fund transportation improvements did not receive
support on the land use plan survey. Residents and property owners indicated support for a public
transportation system but past efforts to operate public bus routes have not been successful. The
Planning Board expressed the need for an intergovernmental approach to all aspects of transportation
planning.
Regarding NC 12 on Hatteras Island, including Bonner Bridge, the Planning Board stressed the
importance of this highway and the need to ensure its continued existence. The importance of NC
12 to the residents of Hatteras Island and to the tourist economy of Dare County cannot be
overemphasized. The County has worked with the NC Department of Transportation and its Task
Force on NC 12 to identify short-term and long-term options to protect NC 12. Emergency ferry
landings have been constructed at Rodanthe and Stumpy Point in case road/bridge access to Hatteras
Island is disrupted. Continued attention to protection of NC 12 is a high priority of the citizens and
elected officials of Dare County.
Private streets are allowed under the Dare County Subdivision Ordinance but must be constructed to
the standards of the NC Department of Transportation. Under North Carolina law, county
governments do not have legislative authority for street maintenance. Subdivision streets are either
State -maintained or private roads that are the maintenance responsibility of the property owners of
the subdivision. While support for the construction of private roads in newly developed
subdivisions was expressed by the Planning Board, it was emphasized that private roads should
continue to be constructed to the same standards as State -maintained roads. In addition, for every
private road recorded as a part of the subdivision approval process, the recordation of homeowner
association documents clarifying maintenance of the private road is required.
Policy #46
Dare County recognizes the vital importance of NC 12 to Hatteras Island and the need to protect this
transportation route, including Bonner Bridge. Recommendations by the NC Department of
Transportation on NC 12, including beach nourishment, the replacement of Bonner Bridge, elevated
sections of the highway, or other options that may be identified, will receive the highest level of
consideration from Dare County.
Policy #47
Dare County encourages intergovernmental cooperation with the municipalities and its surrounding
counties to study of the transportation needs of Dare County and our region.
Policy #48
Dare County shall not be responsible for the cost of maintaining or repairs to privately owned streets.
Experimental programs sponsored by the State to maintain private roads shall be supported.
Policy #49
Whenever possible, local roads should be designed to interconnect to result in alternative
transportation routes subordinate to the principal and well-known highway system
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1
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1
I
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Implementation Strategies
1. Continue to require all subdivisions that feature private roads to bear a disclaimer stamp on the
final plat indicating that Dare County shall never be responsible for the road maintenance.
Restrictive covenants shall also contain language concerning the road maintenance responsibility.
2. Work with our State legislative delegation to secure authorization for a NC Department of
Transportation private road maintenance and repair assessment program.
SOLID WASTE
Dare County participates in a regional solid waste authority with its surrounding counties. Garbage
is trucked to Bertie County, North Carolina. This method of solid waste disposal was chosen based
on the high costs associated with the construction of a new landfill on the Mainland of Dare County.
Dare County continues to operate a voluntary recycling program. The need for additional large item
pick-ups ad hazardous materials pick-ups was identified during the Planning Board policy workshops
Policy #50
Daze County advocates participation in a regional solid waste authority and continued operation of
voluntary recycling efforts. Additional programs for hazardous materials disposal and large item
pick-ups are encouraged.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Develop a public information campaign using public information office brochures and local
governmental access channel to circulate information about hazardous waste collections and
large item pick-up schedules. (2003)
COMMUNITY GROWTH PATTERNS
One common theme that is expressed by the residents and property owners of Dare County is the
desire to maintain the coastal village atmosphere that is found throughout the area. This desire is
often stated at hearings or workshops where development projects or issues are discussed. However,
market forces and the limited amount of privately owned land available for development in Dare
County often conflict with the attempt to maintain this coastal village atmosphere.
Use -specific zoning with an emphasis on residential zoning districts has been one technique used by
Dare County officials to manage the growth and development of our area. Since the early 1990's,
zoning maps for the villages of Hatteras, Avon, Buxton and Colington have been adopted. County
efforts to establish zoning maps for the other villages of Dare County were supported on the land use
plan survey and these efforts will continue.
The construction of the new bridge from Mainland Dare County to the intersection of US 64 and NC
345 on Roanoke Island will have tremendous influence on the growth patterns of these two landing
areas. Currently Manns Harbor is unzoned but the need for land use regulations to address the
impacts of the bridge on the village has been identified. On Roanoke Island, the presence of the
new bridge landing and the availability of central sewer from the Town of Manteo are influencing the
land use patterns for this area. A new Dare County Courthouse and Dare County Visitors Center is
planned for the general vicinity of the new bridge landing. This area of Roanoke Island will
77

continue to be the focus of development pressure due to the central wastewater service lines located
along the US 64 right-of-way.
In other areas of unincorporated Dare County, free-market forces continue to fuel the County's
development without the need to provide any type of economic stimulators for growth. However,
in early 2002, the Dare County Board of Commissioners adopted a gross floor limitation of 20,000
square feet for retail structures in all commercial and industrial zoned areas of unincorporated Dare
County. This limitation will impact the growth patterns of unincorporated Dare County and the type
and scale of the development that choose to locate in our community.
The land use plan survey respondents indicated support for acquisition of additional lands for
projects. However, over 80% of the land in Dare County is currently held in public ownership with
most dedicated to preservation purposes. Additional acquisitions should be for weighed carefully
and balanced with the need for other land demands. Members of the Planning Board expressed
concerns about the impacts to the tax base once lands are removed from private ownership.
Policy #51
Dare County values its coastal village atmosphere and will continue to work toward the development
of use -specific zoning maps for those areas currently unzoned.
Policy #52 -
Private sector development is encouraged to acknowledge Dare County's coastal village qualities and
incorporate these traits in their development plans and building designs.
Policy #53
Public services shall be provided to meet the needs o% but not to serve as an incentive to growth and
development.
Policy #54
Dare County reserves the right to review additional acquisitions of private property for public
ownership on a case -by -case basis.
Implementation Strategies
1. Continue work to develop use -specific zoning maps for those portions of unincorporated Dare
County that are unzoned or have minimal S-1 zoning. (2002-2005)
2. Work with the Town of Manteo to coordinate regulation of development on Roanoke Island
where the County's unincorporated boundary joins the Town's boundary.
4. Contract with independent planning consultant to update Carrying Capacity Study for Dare
County. (2004)
5. Draft for Dare County Board of Commissioners consideration a set of building design,
landscaping, and parking standards for commercial uses as overlay districts along NC 12 on
Hatteras Island and other areas of unincorporated Dare County.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Public opinion supports residential development as the preferred type of land development in Dare
County with an emphasis on single family detached structures. The market has adjusted to this
preference and as a result, residential structures are being developed to accommodate our year-round
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population as well as to provide rental accommodations for our seasonal visitors. This is one factor
that distinguishes Dare County from other resort areas. Our rental accommodations take the form of
residential structures that are rented on a daily or weekly basis versus other areas that offer a larger
array of motels, inns, and condominiums. This regulatory philosophy advocating "single family"
zoning has created a housing stock that doesn't function as traditional detached residential structures
found in other non -resort areas. The use of the term "single family" seems inappropriate since the
rental market provides large multi -bedroom houses that accommodate numerous persons and
extended families with associated amenities such as pools and spas. Residents attending the public
participation workshops expressed concerns about the lack of on -site parking, excessive noise, over -
occupancy of the rental structures. Although residential development is the stated preference of
land use, the mode of occupancy of the housing units is different from the traditional concept of
"single family" homes and should be recognized in our land use standards. It was the feeling of the
Planning Board that "single family" was a term that would create the idea that the neighborhood did
not contain weekly rentals or structures occupied contrary to a traditional nuclear family residence.
There has been some community interest on Hatteras Island to amend the Zoning Ordinance to
decrease the dwelling density standards of the existing zoning districts that permit multi -family
dwellings. Currently, some of the districts permit ten units per acre that is viewed by many to be
excessive. The need to amend the dwelling densities standards to lower the maximum number of
units per acre has been identified.
' Another aspect of residential development that was discussed by the Planning Board was home
occupations. While the Board agreed that a policy statement on home occupations was not
necessary, the need for a better definition of what constitutes an acceptable "home occupation" was
' identified. This issue is often the source of many complaints received by the Dare County Planning
Department.
1
Respondents to the land use plan survey and public workshops attendees both expressed the need for
more attention to unsightly structures and conditions in unincorporated Dare County. Currently,
the Dare County Nuisance Ordinance is used for the removal of collapsed structures, the remnants of
burned structures, or other similar situations that are threats to public health instead of merely
unsightly properties.
Over the past two years, there has been renewed efforts to focus attention on the lack of housing that
is dedicated or constructed strictly for year-round residents in the community and for the seasonal
employees brought to the area by local businesses during the summer months. It is difficult for many
residents of the Outer Banks with low to median incomes to find adequate housing that fits their
economic status. As a result, many residents find themselves allocating over 50% of their incomes
for housing. Many business owners are unable to employ enough workers to adequately service their
customers because the majority of rental housing is intended for short-term resort accommodations or
for year-round occupancy. Several factors contribute to this problem: the limited amount of land
available in Dare County, the high cost of living of the region, or the higher profit margins offered by
construction of luxury second or rental homes. The predominant development of single family
structures versus the construction of multifamily structures also contributes to the problem. The
stated policy of single family residential development has contributed to the absence of multifamily
structure construction, which could be used to address the issue of moderately priced housing units.
These housing constraints influence the quality of life of many Dare County residents —those who
cannot find adequate housing with their salary range or the business owner that cannot recruit enough
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summer employees because there is a shortage of seasonal housing accommodations. Some private
sector employers purchase or construct residential structures for the sole purpose of providing
housing for their summer employees. The location of employee housing in year-round
neighborhoods generates some complaints from neighbors whose lifestyles are incompatible with
those of the mostly college -aged seasonal employees.
There are no simple solutions but most people agree that a regional approach from both the private
sector and public sector is needed to address the matter. Intergovernmental cooperation will be
imperative to identify possible solutions to providing a housing inventory that meets the diverse
housing needs of the community. Partnerships between local governments and the private sector
may be necessary to address the year-round housing needs for median income residents of Dare
County. Opportunities to expand the housing inventory for year-round residents should be
considered by the private sector and supported by the public sector.
Residential development in designated Areas of Environmental Concern require permit review by the
Division of Coastal Management. Depending on the extent of the proposed development, CAMA
permits or exemptions letters may be needed.
Policy #55
Detached residential structures shall be the preferred land use in unincorporated Dare County.
Although the expanding market for seasonal accommodations as structures that resemble traditional
domiciles has resulted in a shortage of year-round housing, it is agreed that the policy advocating
residential structures as the preferred land use shall continue.
Policy #56
Dare County recognizes the diverse housing needs of the community. Private sector development
projects intended to expand housing opportunities for year-round residents are encouraged.
Partnerships between the private sector and the public sector will be reviewed on a case -by -case basis
when appropriate. Regional efforts to address the housing needs of the Outer Banks will also be
reviewed on a case -by -case basis.
Implementation Strategies
1. Amend the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to delete the term "single family" residential houses
and replace with "detached individual residential housing units" in recognition of the possibility
that neighborhoods may contain seasonal rentals or that structures in the neighborhood may be
occupied by unrelated'individuals. (2003)
2. Adopt standards that address unsightly structures and conditions that are more flexible than the
current Nuisance Ordinance, which is designed to address public safety and welfare issues rather
that eyesores. (2004)
3. Amend Zoning Ordinance to better define an acceptable level of home occupations (2004)
4. Consider revisions to Zoning Ordinance to lower the number of permitted dwelling densities for
multifamily structures. (2003)
5. Consideration of an intergovernmental task force on housing issues. (2003)
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
With residential detached housing acknowledged to be the preferred land use, the introduction of new
commercial development is sometimes opposed, particularly when introduced on land bordered by
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existing residential development. In addition, as the year-round and seasonal population of Dare
County has increased, the market for national retail franchises has prompted organized opposition to
' these larger commercial projects. There is a strong public sentiment, as expressed in the land use
plan survey and recent land use decisions in Dare County, that national chain retailers diminish local
village character. Balancing the preservation of local village character and commercial
development will continue to present challenges to the local Dare governments. Land use planning
' techniques such as architectural design standards, landscaping standards and gross floor area
limitations can be used to address those aspects of commercial development that the public views as
contrary to our local character. To address these concerns, Dare County amended the Zoning
tOrdinance in March 2002 to establish a 20,000 square foot floor area limitation for retail structures.
Additional amendments to address building design and re -use standards remain under consideration.
Policy #57
Dare County will address opportunities for commercial development by adopting zoning maps for
those portions of unincorporated Dare County currently unzoned or with minimal S-1 zoning
regulations.
Policy #58
Dare County encourages the continued existence and development of locally owned businesses in
unincorporated Dare County.
' Policy #59
Large franchise operations proposing to locate in unincorporated Dare County are encouraged to
individualize their establishments to reflect Dare County's coastal village character and not rely
' solely on corporate building designs, color designs or manner of construction.
Implementation Strategies
' 1. Adopt zoning amendments to include building design standards, landscaping, lighting and sign
control standards. (2003)
2. Continue zoning initiatives with focus on detached residential development with limited
' commercial areas. (2003-2005)
RE -DEVELOPMENT
Market forces in Dare County continue to direct re -development patterns in Dare County. Old
structures or buildings of little value are being destroyed or moved to accommodate new
development. Local government initiatives to encourage re -development are not needed in Dare
County, as is often the case in other areas.
' Over the past several months, numerous older oceanfront motels on the Outer Banks have been
demolished and replaced with residential structures intended for seasonal rentals. The demolition of
the hotels has created concerns about the economic impact of displacing this type of overnight
accommodations and that the trend will eventually result in a lack of hotels and motels along the
oceanfront.
As the redevelopment trend, such as the hotel issue discussed above continues, historical uses and/or
structures are likely to be displaced or destroyed. Many of these historical structures provide an
1
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important link to the County's history and coastal village atmosphere. Whenever financially feasible,
the re -use of these structures should be considered prior to any decision to abandon or destroy them.
Re -development is often an issue after a natural disaster or accident. In these instances,
redevelopment will be authorized but only under the terms of contemporary development regulations
and building codes.
Policy #60
Redeveloped areas and structures shall conform to current development standards.
Implementation Strategies
I. The County shall enforce the NC State Building Codes for coastal construction and the Dare
County Flood Ordinance in the event of reconstruction.
2. Whenever feasible, non -conforming structures destroyed by an act of nature or an accident will
be rebuilt to comply with applicable zoning codes.
3. The re -use and rehabilitation of historic structures is encouraged as a means of preserving Dare
County's coastal village environment.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The land in Dare County is generally not suitable for traditional industrial development due to the
presence of wetland soils, sensitive adjacent water bodies, and air quality standards associated with
the national parks and refuges located in Dare County. Over the decades, tourism has emerged as
the leading industry in Dare County. Commercial fishing and boat building continue to be factors in
the local economy. The construction and real estate industries are also major employment sectors in
Dare County due to the robust growth we have experienced over the last several years.
A common theme expressed at the public participation workshops was the need for economic
diversification to reduce the County's dependence on tourism. This opinion is based on the potential
of hurricanes devastating our tax base and thus our tourism base and the need for higher -paying jobs
so that our young people can return to the area after college for more year-round jobs offered by an
expanded economy.
The concept of dedicating County -owned land on the Mainland for future development as an
industrial park or site for public -private partnerships has been identified.
Policy #61
Industrial development that is environmentally suited to Dare County and its surrounding water
bodies is encouraged. Dare County also supports the traditional industries of commercial fishing,
boat building, and construction.
Policy # 62
Opportunities to diversify and expand Dare County's local tourist economy should be investigated.
Implementation Strategies
1. Proposals for industrial development in zoned areas will be reviewed for compatibility under the
provisions of the Dare County Zoning Ordinance. For unzoned areas and those areas currently
zoned S-1, use -specific zoning maps will be established and the designation of industrial zoned
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' areas thoroughly evaluated based on geographic proximity to water bodies and other sensitive
natural areas.
' 2. Update the Zoning Ordinance to evaluate the scope of uses allowed in the I-1 zoned areas of
unincorporated Dare County.
3. Investigate the need for a County -owned industrial park on the Mainland of Dare County.
' ENERGY FACILITIES
' Over the past decade, the topic of offshore natural gas and oil exploration has been raised several
times. Different corporations have sought permits to explore for natural gas and oil off North
Carolina's coast. Each time, circumstances have resulted in the failure to obtain the necessary
' permits. Public sentiment has been strongly opposed to these proposals. The 1994 policy continues
to accurately represent public opinion in Dare County and is re -stated in this Plan.
Policy #63
Dare County is opposed to the development of any petro-chemical energy facility or related
improvements within its jurisdictional lands and/or waters. This includes all structures, operations,
and activities associated with petro-chemical energy facility development such as, but not limited to
on -shore support bases for offshore exploration activities, staging areas, transmission and/or
productions pipelines, pipeline storage yards, and other similar structures activities, and
improvements related to Petro -chemical energy facility development, exploration, or production.
Dare County supports research and development of non -fossil fuel alternatives for energy production.
Implementation Strategies
1. Any major energy facility proposed to be located in Dare County shall make a full disclosure of
all costs and benefits associated with the project. This disclosure shall be in the form of an
environmental impact statement independent of and not funded by any petro-chemical company
' or the Mineral Management Service.
2. In the event an energy facility is proposed for Dare County, the County will support the policy
statements and administrative regulations referenced in 15NCAC7M, Section .0400 entitled
"coastal energy policies."
' TOURISM
Tourism is the number one industry in Dare County and creates a large number of local jobs and
generates a great deal of revenue for Dare County and the State of North Carolina. Tourism is
viewed as a relatively "clean" industry from an environmental perspective and is compatible with the
abundant sensitive natural resources of the County. These abundant natural resources will continue
to be a drawing card for tourists and tourism will continue to be the leading economy in Dare
County.
' While the residents of Dare County recognize the importance of tourism to our economy, there is a
growing cognizance of the quality of life issues related to our seasonal population surge. The need to
balance quality of life issues for year-round residents is gaining significance as a by-product of the
' dominating influence of tourism on Dare County. Ensuring a positive vacation experience for our
visitors is also an important link to the quality of life issues. Our seasonal population influx
challenges the County's transportation infrastructure and frustrates the year-round residents as they
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go about their daily lives and the seasonal visitors as they attempt to shop, eat and sightsee. A lack
of affordable housing for seasonal employees and the private sector's inability to provide an adequate
workforce to accommodate our seasonal visitors are also sited as negative consequences of our
tourist economy.
Policy #64
Dare County recognizes the vital importance of tourism to our local economy and supports efforts to
maintain our status as a desirable place to visit and vacation. Dare County also recognizes the need
to address the infrastructure and service demands of our seasonal populations. The use of tourist -
generated revenues, such as occupancy taxes, to address the year-round and seasonal population
needs is encouraged.
Policy #65
Dare County supports the concept of combining natural resources and tourism to promote the area's
ecological values, known as "eco-tourism".
Policy #66
The quality of life of Dare County residents should be carefully balanced with the growing tourist -
based economy of the Outer Banks. Maintaining a good quality of life for our permanent population
and ensuring a safe and enjoyable vacation experience should be a goal of all local, state, and federal
agencies responsible for the promotion of tourism in Dare County and North Carolina.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Use revenues generated by tourism to fund quality of life related projects such as sidewalks,
bikepaths, streetscape and landscaping improvements and open space acquisitions
BIKEWAYS/WALKWAYS/GREENWAYS
Over the past decade, numerous bikeways/greenways have been constructed throughout Dare County
and are very popular with both the year-round residents and visitors to the Outer Banks. The
bikeways serve as alternative transportation routes and represent an opportunity to enjoy the
outdoors. The continued construction of these greenways was encouraged at all of the public
participation workshops and during the Planning Board policy workshop.
The Planning Board also discussed the need for crosswalks along US 158 to provide safe settings for
pedestrian movement across this thoroughfare. The need for further investigation of elevated
crosswalks at major tourist destinations such as Jockey's Ridge and the Wright Brothers Monument
was identified.
Policy #67
Dare County supports the development and construction of sidewalks, bike paths, greenways, and
other walking/jogging trails to provide a safe setting for these types of outdoor recreation and as
alternative transportation routes.
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Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to work with participating agencies to pursue opportunities for construction of
additional walkways/bile paths throughout all of unincorporated Dare County, including
interconnection of the Roanoke Voyages multi -use path into Wanchese
2. Request revenues through local funding or grants to provide an areawide greenway plan (2004)
Storm Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation, and Post -Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery
The unique configuration of Dare County's barrier islands makes these areas particularly susceptible
to hurricanes and other storm events. In addition, much of the lands in Dare County lack sufficient
elevation to preclude floodwaters associated with storm tides.
The purpose of this section of the LUP is to describe the County's polices on managing development
' to mitigate flood and storm damage, evacuation concerns, and reconstruction strategies for use after a
storm event or natural disaster has occurred. Each of these topics are discussed below:
Storm Hazard Mitigation
Storm hazard mitigation involves activities, policies, and practices that help to reduce the likelihood
' that property damage will be catastrophic in the event of a strike by a hurricane. The key mitigation
technique practiced in Dare County is the enforcement of base flood elevation standards designed to
allow rising floodwaters to flow freely under elevated structures. In addition, Dare County enforces
the wind load requirements established in the NC State building codes for hurricane prone areas.
A storm surge map prepared according to CAMA guidelines, has been included as part of this LUP.
' This map illustrates in shaded colors those portions of Dare County subject and not subject to storm
surge inundation (flooding) during a FEMA category 1 or 2 storm. In the event of a stronger
category storm, flooding would be more extensive. The most obvious point illustrated by this map
' is that there are few areas of Dare County that feature enough natural ground elevation to preclude
some degree of flooding during a minimal storm. A few elevated areas may offer protection from
floodwaters, but they are more vulnerable to wind damage during the more intense storms.
Projections of storm surge impact vary based on the intensity of the storm, its forward speed, the
cycle of lunar tides at the time of landfall, and the directional track of the storm as it makes landfall.
Under worse cases scenarios, much of Dare County could be flooded by storm tides and/or wind -
driven waves. Only those areas with natural elevations that exceed 20-30 feet above sea level can be
excluded from the threat. These areas include certain elevated sections on the north end of Roanoke
Island, a narrow strip of Duck and Southern Shores, a very small portion of Colington, and the
wooded maritime forest areas of Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Buxton.
The vulnerability of the barrier island setting leaves much of Dare County subject to extensive
' property loss in the event of a category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane. The table below illustrates the value of
improvements that are at risk:
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Table 25 — Assessed Values by Tax Districts Including Exempts --January 2002 '
District
# of
Parcels
Land Value
Improvement
Value
Total Value
Avon
2012
251,355,200
155,990,300
407,345,500
Buxton
1177
122,970,600
89,888,200
212,858,800
Colin on
2672
68,505,200
139,860,200
208,365,400
Duck
2891
299,713,400
426,279,100
725,992,500
East Lake
162
25,063,100
2,463,100
27,526,200
Frisco
1602
171,523,900
87,941,800
259,465,700
Hatteras
1206
134,054,200
94,356,300
228,410,500
KDH Outside
182
6,059,600
16,960,900
23,020,500
Kill Devil Hills
7194
264,302,800
555,343,300
819,646,100
Kitty Hawk
3694
149,655,000
308,755,800
458,410,800
Manns Harbor
441
15,900,700
16,019,400
31,920,100
Manteo (out)
2726
105,022,000
164,945,000
269,967,100
Manteo (town)
1517
76,918,200
192,748,700
269,666,900
Martins Point
380
27,751,600
51,868,400
79,620,000
Mashoes
53
780,100
387,500
1,167,600
Nags Head
5515
371,584,800
565,768,500
937,353,300
Rodanthe
768
166,895,800
42,674,700
209,570,500
Salvo
785
50,602,700
46,387,500
96,990,200
Southern Shores
2980
210,638,700
309,704,100
520,342,800
Stumpy Point
236
5,912,100
5,939,100
11,851,200
Wanchese
1049
25,455,500
43,938,700
69,394,200
Waves
460
29,157,400
34,032,600
63,190,000
Sounx_ Daze County Tax Appraisal
Evacuation
In 1992, the Dare County Emergency Management Control Group was established to administer the
Dare County Emergency Operation Plan that outlines evacuation procedures in the event Dare '
County is evacuated due to the threat of hurricanes or other storm events. The Control Group is
comprised of the mayors of the municipalities in Dare County, the Superintendent of the National
Park Service, the Dare County Sheriff and the Chairman(or his appointee) of the Dare County Board '
of Commissioners. The representative of the County Board serves as the Chairman of the Control
Group. The Control Group is assisted by a number of representatives of essential services that will
be in demand before, during and after a natural disaster. This group is known as the Support Group '
and the Dare County Manager serves as the Support Operations Officer.
Due to the unique island geography of Dare County, emergency operations centers have been '
established in Manteo and Buxton in order to ensure that operations can continue even if
communications are lost.
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Whenever the National Weather Service issues advisories concerning weather systems, the
Emergency Management staff monitors the situation and acts according to the Dare County
' Emergency Operations Plan. As the likelihood of a strike to the Dare County coast increases, various
response procedures are implemented. Based on information received from the National Weather
Service and the State Emergency Management Office, the evacuation will be fully implemented if
necessary and the emergency powers of the Control Group will be exercised.
The following table depicts information from 2000 Hurricane evacuation study regarding the amount
' of time needed to evacuate Dare County depending on a storm intensity
Table 26- Projected Evacuation Times
Dare County catl 2 3 4 5
US 158 only 16Hrs 22Hrs 22Hrs 22Hrs 30Hrs
US 64 only 16 22 24 24 32
158/64 combo 14 16 16 16 18
calculated for high density population
' Post -Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery
' After a natural disaster, Dare County will initiate a set of pre -determined, coordinated activities to
guide the County through post -disaster reconstruction and recovery from the natural events. A
reconstruction and recovery plan will be implemented that includes financial assistance information,
economic recovery information, and prioritized schedule for the repair and reconstruction of
replacement of infrastructure improvements and service facilities.
Re-entry Procedures
Until a comprehensive post -disaster recovery plan has been adopted by the Dare County Board of
' Commissioners, the following steps represent an outline for re-entry after a storm event or other
natural disaster:
1. During an emergency, the various response plans developed by the Dare County Emergency
Management staff and used by the Emergency Control Group will be implemented.
2. Once the situation has been stabilized and dangerous or unhealthy conditions have abated, the re-
entry and recovery elements of the disaster response shall begin.
3. Re-entry after an evacuation will be authorized by the Dare County Control Group based on the
following priorities:
' a) Personnel necessary to restore key facilities and provide relief for emergency management
staff that did not evacuate.
b) Supply vehicles, delivery services necessary to replace essential commodities lost due to the
' disaster.
c) Residents of Dare County that display a "resident" re-entry sticker or Dare County driver's
license, whichever is applicable. There may be a limited re-entry based on conditions in any
particular portion of the County.
d) Non-resident property owners will be authorized re-entry when all essential services have
been restored.
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e) All other persons seeking to enter Dare County will be authorized re-entry when the
prioritized re-entry procedures have been completed.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction strategies will vary based on the degree of damage. Listed below is a table of
damage classifications that will be used by Dare County officials.
Destroyed: more than 80% of value to repair, unusable, uninhabitable
Major damage: more than 30% of value of structure, uninhabitable
Minor damage: 30% or less of the value of a structure, uninhabitable
Habitable: Damage amounting to 15% or less of value of structure
In the event of a tropical storm or a weak category 1 hurricane, structural damage will probably be
limited to broken glass, minor roof damage, trees uprooted, and signs and canopies blown down. It is
also anticipated that there will be ocean overwash and soundside flooding that may damage ground
floor enclosures or pre -FIRM structures. None of this will be considered substantial enough to
trigger post -disaster reconstruction procedures and repair work will be authorized through the routine
building permit process.
However, should a strong category 2 or 3 hurricane make landfall in Dare County, then the post -
disaster reconstruction strategies will be more complicated and will vary depending on the level of
damage. Under this scenario, the potential for major damage or destruction and major flooding
increases significantly. Structures that are classified as destroyed will be required to conform with
all applicable Federal, State, and local codes if reconstructed. Structures classified as having
sustained major damage will have to be upgraded so that all repair work conforms with applicable
Federal, State or local codes. Damage classified as minor, similar to that described in the previous
paragraph will be authorized for repair by normal permit procedures or a general permit declared by
the Board of Commissioners.
The final reconstruction scenario is a response to a catastrophic natural disaster such as the landfall
of a hurricane 4 or 5 in Dare County. Widespread destruction and the loss of the entire
infrastructure, including critical roads and bridges, are possible. The reconstruction strategy for this
scenario will be lengthy. The top priority, once damage assessment is complete, will be the
restoration or replacement of essential access routes, utility services, and medical and emergency
management facilities. Once the essential infrastructure has been restored, the reconstruction of all
subordinate structures will be authorized in phases based on their intended use and purpose.
Essential commercial and primary residential structures will be the next priority for reconstruction.
Non -essential commercial and secondary residential structures will be authorized once the higher
priorities have been processed.
In each case, the reconstruction of public and private structures will be evaluated in an effort to
mitigate any features that contributed to damage or loss during the disaster. All reconstruction will
be reviewed for compliance with applicable Federal, State, or local regulations. This review will
include members of the Planning and Building Department and may be augmented by a recovery task
force designated by the Dare County Board of Commissioners.
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The following table presents the various recovery and re-entry stages and the actions that will occur
under each scenario:
Table 27 --- Recovery and Re-entry Stages
RS-5 Catastrophic damage has rendered transportation routes impassable; destroyed or severely
damaged essential communication and utility production or distribution systems; and created
dangerous debris or unsanitary conditions countywide. A state of emergency and/or marital
law remains in effect for an indefinite period of time. Re-entry is limited to emergency
response and damage assessment personnel; equipment, vehicles, vessels, and aircraft at
manned entry stations to the County.
RS-4 Major to intermediate damage has impacted transportation routes, communication systems,
utility production and/or distribution systems and created dangerous debris or unsanitary
conditions county -wide. A state of emergency is in effect for approximately 10 days. Re-
entry is limited to emergency response and damage assessment personnel, equipment,
vehicles, vessels, and aircraft. Entry stations are operational.
RS-3 Intermediate to minor damage has impacted portions of transportation routes, communication
systems, utility production and/or distribution systems and created dangerous debris or
unsanitary conditions in certain portions of the County. Re-entry will be limited to
emergency response and damage assessment personnel, equipment, vehicles, and vessels in
those portions of the County where the damage has occurred. In those areas where dangerous
or unsanitary conditions are not present or have abated, re-entry will be authorized for
individuals with "resident" re-entry permits or service vehicles with temporary entry permits.
A state of emergency is in effect for damaged areas and will be discontinued in areas where
dangerous or unsanitary conditions are no longer present. Check points are used for those
areas that remain closed for unlimited re -re-entry because of dangerous or unsanitary
conditions.
RS-2 Minor damage or flooding has temporarily discontinued access to certain areas or resulted in
isolated disruptions of utility services. Re-entry will be authorized for all vehicles displaying
a Dare County re-entry permit and all service and supply vehicles. There will be no
restrictions on vessels or aircraft.
RS-1 All transportation routes are fully operational and all utility systems are on line. Unlimited re-
entry will be declared in 12 hours.
RS-C unlimited re-entry is declared at daylight of the first day following condition RS-1. All
control points are dismantled and the Emergency Operations Center is deactivated.
It should also be noted that repairs and reconstruction for damaged or destroyed structures located in
designated Areas of Environmental Concern must comply with 15A NCAC 07J Sections .0210 and
.0211. Under these sections of the CAMA codes, some structures determined to be "destroyed"
may not be replaced unless in full compliance with current CAMA regulations.
Policy #68
Dare County shall use construction standards and zoning regulations to mitigate the effects of high
winds, storm surge, flooding, wave action, and erosion.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Dare County will continue to enforce all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations relating
to construction in storm hazard areas.
' 89

Policy #69
Dare County is committed to maintaining a full-time emergency management department and
emergency operation centers and places a high a priority on hurricane preparedness and response.
Policy #70
The Dare County Board of Commissioners shall be ultimately responsible for supervising the
implementation of various policies and procedures regarding reconstruction and recovery after a
natural disaster.
Policy #71
Recovery priority shall be directed to restoring or repairing infrastructure improvements such as
transportation routes, utilities and medical and emergency management facilities. Once the
infrastructure has been restored, recovery priorities shall then be directed at essential commercial and
primary residential structures.
Policy #72
In the event of extensive hurricane damage to publicly -owned utilities or other improvements
requiring replacement or reconstruction, alternative locations that will mitigate the potential for
similar repetitive losses will be examined and implemented wherever feasible and practicable.
Policy #73
In the event of a damaging hurricane or other disastrous event, the Dare County Board of
Commissioners may declare a moratorium on all building permits and/or rezoning requests pending
an evaluation of the damage and any reconstruction strategies that may serve to mitigate future
damage or repetitive losses.
Public Participation
As part of the update process, a Public Participation Plan was developed and adopted by the Dare
County Board of Commissioners. The goal of the Plan was to identify strategies to provide the
citizens of Dare County numerous opportunities to participate in the update process by providing
input at workshops and review of the draft plan. A copy of the Public Participation Plan as adopted
by the Board of Commissioners is included as Section Five of this update. Appendix B includes
other public participation information such as the land use public opinion survey and the workshop
results.
In addition to public participation during the LUP process, public participation and comment is
encouraged by Dare County at the Board of Commissioners meetings. A Public Comment period is
included at every Board of Commissioner meeting and citizens may speak on any matter they wish to
discuss. In addition, the Board meetings are taped and televised twice weekly on a local access
channel for viewing by interested parties. The County's Public Relations Office also updates the
local access channel, as needed with information about County and municipal government activities.
This access channel is provided as part of the franchise agreement with the local cable provider.
The Planning Board maintains a mailing list of individuals and businesses and copies of their
monthly agendas are mailed to these persons.

Information about Board meetings and Hearings is also posted on the County's website at
www.co.dare.nc.us.
Policy # 74
' Dare County supports the active involvement of all interested persons in its land use planning and
policy development activities.
' Implementation Strategies
1. The County will continue efforts to inform, educate, and involve the public in planning for the
future of the County, primarily through the regular and special meetings of the Dare County
' Planning Board and Board of Commissioners.
2. The County will encourage continued representation by a broad range of Dare County residents
on its Planning Board.
3. Continue to maintain the mailing list for the Planning Board meetings.
1
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Section Three
I Land Classification
H
1
92

Purpose of Land Classification Map
A land classification system has been developed as a tool to assist in the implementation of the
policies included in the Dare County Land Use Plan. The delineation of land classifications on a
map enables Dare County to specify the areas where certain policies are applicable. The CAMA
guidelines suggest a general format for the land classification system, but this format may be
modified by local governments to better suit their needs. The designation of land classes helps the
County illustrate anticipated growth patterns and conservation areas of natural and cultural resources.
It is important to note, that the land classification map serves a tool to assist with policy
implementation and is not a strict regulatory mechanism. However, the land classification map
may be referenced by local officials in the review of development proposals such as rezoning
petitions, subdivision submissions, and ordinance development/revisions.
Land Classification System
The CAMA guidelines identify seven different land classifications of which six are used on the Dare
' County land classification map. Dare County has also identified two sub -classes. These
classifications are shown on the land classification map and described in narrative form as follows:
Developed- The purpose of this class is to provide for continued intensive development and
redevelopment of existing towns, cities, and their urban surroundings.
In Dare County, this classification applies to the incorporated towns of Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk,
Nags Head, Manteo, Southern Shores and the newly incorporated town of Duck.
Urban Transition — the purpose of the urban transition class is to provide for future intensive urban
development on lands that are suitable and that will be provided with the necessary urban services to
support intense urban development. This area is depicted in blue on the land classification map.
There is one area of unincorporated Dare County that fits the characteristics of the urban transition
class as defined by the CAMA guidelines.
The portion of unincorporated Dare County that has been classified as urban transition lies between
the southern boundary of the Town of Manteo and the annexed Pirates Cove development. The area
is served by the Dare County regional water system and the infrastructure for the central wastewater
treatment from the Town of Manteo is located along this section of US 64 that runs to Pirates Cove.
The Roanoke Island landing of the new Midway Bridge lies within this area and a new Dare County
Courthouse is under construction as well, with occupancy scheduled for late 2002. The availability
of central wastewater from the Town of Manteo will continue to serve as a major influence on the
urbanization of this portion of Roanoke Island. Recognizing this fact, the area has been designated
as urban transition on the land classification map. Portions of this area are zoned as industrial and/or
or C-3 commercial which permits land uses that are consistent with an urban type setting. These
districts also permit multifamily structures at a dwelling density of ten units per acre.
' Limited Transition — The purpose of the Limited Transition class is to provide for development in
areas that have some services but are suitable for lower densities than those associated with the
Urban Transition class, and are geographically remote from existing towns and municipalities.
t93

Single-family residential uses are the preferred pattern of development in each of these areas, with a
minimum lots size of 15,000 square feet for new platted lots. Multifamily uses are permitted at
densities ranging from 3 units per acre to10 units per acre in certain zoning districts, however soil
suitability general serves as a natural constraint for high density development at more than 3 units per
acre. Limited transition areas have been colored yellow on the land classification map.
There are several areas of unincorporated Dare County that qualify as Limited Transition. The areas
are moving from undeveloped land to a developed state. The level of development varies from
village to village. In each case, certain urban -style services are available but the full range of those
services that might be found in an urban setting are not present or planned. This is particularly true
concerning central wastewater treatment that is available from privately owned and operated plants,
but in a limited capacity. A more detailed discussion of each area follows:
Martins Point -- In October 2000, the Martins Point Subdivision reverted back to the planning
jurisdiction of Dare County. Previously, the area had been designated as an extraterritorial zoning
area by the Town of Southern Shores. However, this ETJ designation was dissolved and the
residential portions of Martins Point are now under the zoning and planning jurisdiction of Dare
County. The area is a comprised of large residential structures, mostly for year-round residents.
Access to the area is limited by a manned guardhouse. Central water is supplied by Dare County
and individual on -site septic systems are used for wastewater.
Colington — Limited transition has been applied to a 500-foot area from the right0of-way of SR 1217
or Colington Road from the beginning of the area recognized as Kill Devil Hills outside to the
beginning of the Colington Harbour entrance. The application along the road frontage of SR 1217
recognizes the changing patterns of land use along this transportation route. The Kill Devil Hills
outside/Colington area is mostly year-round residents with a several businesses located along
Colington Road including storage warehouses, a convenience store, two restaurants. The zoning in
the area is consistent with the land classification with areas of commercial zoning designated along
the length of Colington Road.
Rodanthe-Waves Salvo- Limited Transition has been applied to the entire area of these three
Hatteras Island villages to reflect the S-1 zoning that applies in these villages. S-1 permits all uses
including multifamily uses. Development along NC 12 continues to support the tourist -oriented
economy of Dare County. Central water from Dare County water system is available in this area.
It is anticipated that this portion of Hatteras Island will remain in a state of transition until more
detailed zoning maps for the villages are established that delineate specific residential and
commercial zones.
Avon —Similar to the Colington area, a 500-foot wide designation of limited Transition has been
applied to NC 12 throughout Avon. Most of the property along NC 12 is zoned commercially and
supports existing commercial development marketed to the tourist -economy of Dare County.
Buxton — An overlay of limited transition has been applied to Buxton village along NC 12 and the
Buxton Back Road. This overlay extends 500 feet out from the right-of—way of NC 12 and Buxton
Back Road as illustrated on the land classification map. The zoning maps for Buxton establishes
commercial and industrial areas in this limited transition classification. Existing development
patterns reflects Buxton's status as the location of the educational facilities on Hatteras Island and is
0 ,i

a mix of businesses serving both the year-round population and the tourist population. Central water
is available throughout Buxton village from the Dare County central water supply.
Community — The purpose of the community class is to provide for clustered, mixed land uses at low
densities to help meet the housing, shopping, employment and other needs in rural areas.
Minimum lot size, according to the Dare County Subdivision Ordinance is set at 20,000 square feet
' for those areas served by private wells and 15,000 for those areas served by central water from the
Dare County water systems. Central wastewater treatment services are not available except as noted
in the individual village discussions and then only to serve specific platted subdivisions where soils
conditions precluded the use of traditional on -site septic tank drainfield systems. The areas
designated as Community appear in pink. This classification has been applied to numerous areas of
unincorporated Dare County as detailed below:
This classification has been applied to numerous areas of unincorporated Dare County as detailed
below:
' The Communityland classification is used for the Mainland villages of Stumpy Poin Manes
g pY >�
Harbor, Mashoes, and East Lake. The villages are largely in character but do feature some
' commercial development that focuses on the needs of the immediate area. Although the village of
Manus Harbor does not feature any urban style services, it can be expected that the village will be
impacted by the construction of the new Midway Bridge and the intersection near the bridge landing
will become a focus for more intensive commercial development. The vast federally owned
Alligator River Wildlife Refuge and the Navy bombing range limit the growth potential of the
Mainland. All three of the villages rely on private wells and on -site septic tank systems.
Kill Devil Hills Outside/Colington — The remaining areas of Colington not included in the Limited
Transition applied along Colington Road have been classified as Community. This includes Baum
Bay Harbour Subdivision, WatersEdge Subdivision, Colington Harbour Subdivision, Colingwood
Subdivision, Cliffs of Colington Subdivision and Swan View Shores Subdivision. Traditionally, this
area has been a village -oriented community with a history of commercial fishing. The residential
' development is primarily year-round residents with a mixture of long-term rentals.. The area is
served by the Dare County regional water system but is dependant on septic tanks for wastewater
treatment. However, the existing Baycliff development approved in the late 1980s is served by a
small privately owned package treatment plant. The zoning maps for Colington is consistent with
this Community classification with mostly residential districts applied to the platted subdivisions
listed above. There are currently no areas zoned for multifamily development in the areas assigned
the Community classification in Kill Devil Hills Outside/Colington.
Avon/Buxton -- The areas outside of the Limited Transition overlay in Avon and Buxton villages
' have also been classified as Community. This recognizes the mostly residential nature of the
remaining portions of these villages. There are a handful of existing commercial businesses in the
"village proper" area of Avon that reflects its history as a commercial fishing village. The areas in
Avon and Buxton that have been designated Community are zoned with a residential classification
that is consistent with the Community classification. Central water is available in all of the
seven villages from the Dare County regional water system. Except for the soundside portion of the
' Kinnakeet Shores Subdivision in Avon that is served by a private package treatment plant, on -site
septic systems are used for wastewater treatment. Multi -family development is limited by the
zoning maps designations.
' 95

Community Neighborhood --This is a sub -class of the Community classification. The community
neighborhood class applies to the area generally known as "Skyco" on Roanoke Island and depicted
in the color turquoise on the Land Classification Map. The purpose of this sub -classification is to
identify an area where the predominant land use is low -density residential dwellings. Urban style
utility services such as central water, central wastewater collection and treatment, and package
wastewater treatment plants are not compatible with this classification and are not encouraged in
areas designated "Community Neighborhood."
The goal of this classification is to preserve existing low density residential neighborhoods and to
prevent the introduction of incompatible land uses such as sand mining, other land disturbing
activities that alter natural vegetation or drainage patterns, and multi -family dwellings with a density
greater then two units per acre.
Community Village -- This is a sub -class of the Community classification. The community village
class applies to the area generally known as the village of Wanchese located on the south end of
Roanoke Island and Hatteras village on Hatteras Island. It is depicted in the color orange on the
Land Classification Map. The purpose of this sub -classification is to identify an area where a
mixture of low -density residential dwellings combined with various commercial services and small
retail businesses to create a village environment. Water related land uses and facilities are also
characteristic of this class, such as boat building, fishing, and fish processing, and crabbing.
The goal of this classification is to preserve the unique mix of land uses that characterize a non -
urbanized coastal village and to prevent the introduction of urban influences or development that
changes or overwhelms the patterns of existing land use in a manner that destroys the "village"
environment. In order to maintain the village setting, central wastewater collection and treatment is
not deemed compatible with this land classification except if located within the confines of the
Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park, for facilities and operations internal to the Seafood Industrial
Park. Central water is considered compatible with this district as a means of insuring a water supply
to the village that is not vulnerable to fluctuations in the shallow water table and the introduction of
pollution from on -site septic systems. Land disturbing activities that alter or remove vast amounts of
vegetation, alter natural drainage patterns, or which divert storm water to surface waters are
considered incompatible with this land classification.
Community Residential -- This is a sub -class of the Community classification. The "community
residential" classification applies to the area of Roanoke Island generally known as the "north end"
or the unincorporated land north of the Town of Manteo and depicted in the color purple on the Land
Classification Map. The purpose of this classification is identify an area where low density
residential dwellings, small businesses, governmental services, educational services and passive
recreational activities occur in the midst of a number of important natural, cultural, and historic
resources.
The goal of this classification is to preserve the natural, cultural, and historic resources present on the
north end of Roanoke Island and to weave into this setting a mix of compatible low density
residential structures and service uses. Central water is considered consistent with this classification
as a means of insuring a water supply for uses compatible with and not detrimental to existing
natural, cultural, and historic resources. Central wastewater is not considered compatible or
necessary for land uses found in this classification. Land disturbing activities that alter or destroy
01

existing natural vegetation, drainage, topography, and sand hills are not considered compatible and
are discouraged. Prescriptive vegetation removal and best management practices of the NC Forest
Service are encouraged where development is authorized in this classification.
Rural — The rural class is to provide for agriculture, forestry, mineral extraction, and other allied uses
traditionally associated with an agrarian region. Other land uses, due to their noxious or hazardous
nature and negative impacts on adjacent uses may also be appropriate here is sited in a manner that
minimizes their negative effect on surrounding land uses or natural resources.
In unincorporated Dare County, this classification can be applied to the remaining lands on the
Mainland that are not publicly owned or included in the Community land class.
Conservation -- The purpose of the Conservation Classification is to provide for the effective long-
term management and protection of significant, limited, or irreplaceable areas. Management is
needed due to the natural, cultural, recreational, scenic, or natural productive values of such lands
from local, regional, and national perspectives. This classification includes all CAMA AEC's, such
as but not limited to, coastal wetlands and all federal and state owned lands except the bombing
ranges on the Mainland. Areas classified "Conservation" are depicted in the color green on the Land
Classification Map.
Development is not encouraged in lands classified "Conservation" and when authorized should be
limited to residential development and traditional accessory uses permitted in CAMA AEC's such as
but not limited to piers, docks, and crab -shedders. No urban -style services are considered compatible
with the Conservation classification of land use. Land disturbing activities should not occur in the
Conservation classification unless in conjunction with an authorized development. Authorized
development should include provisions and conditions that minimize impacts to any and all natural,
cultural, historic, and scenic values of the areas authorized for development.
Limited Conservation — this is a sub -class of the Conservation class. The purpose of this sub -class is
to provide for the management and long-term viability of essentially undisturbed land that is
compatible with a limited range of uses under a specified set of guidelines. Land placed in the
Limited Conservation sub -class includes maritime forests. Limited Conservation areas appear in
shaded green on the land classification map.
' All privately owned land in Buxton Woods maritime forest has been designated as Limited
Conservation. Also, the area that is included in the SED-1 buffer zone is classified as Limited
Conservation.
Development in the Limited Conservation class should be limited to single-family residential
structures and service -oriented commercial uses.
In areas classified Limited Conservation and zoned as Special Environmental District or included in
the SED-1 buffer zone as described in the Dare County Zoning Ordinance, development shall be
consistent with the standards of the SED-1 district. Lots sizes in the SED-1 zoning district are
restricted to 40,000 square feet. Land clearing and mining activities are restricted by the County
' ordinance within the SED-1 zoning district. Land clearing is restricted within the SED-1 buffer zone
also.
97

Interpreting the Land Classification Map
The land classification map included with this LUP provides a general description of the location of '
each of the land classifications established in this section. This map should not be used for site -
specific interpretive purposes since its scale precludes detailed use. AEC areas have not been
illustrated due to the scale of the map. '
In addition, at the time of review, the Dare County Board of Commissioners indicated the desire to
clarify a long running dispute between various parties concerning the site of the Globe Fish Company ,
docks. It is the position of the Board of Commissioners that this site is a natural deep water port and
has been in use for shipping and harbor activities since before the Civil War. Commercial shipping
activities at this site pre -date all regulatory agencies and/or land planning documents in Dare County,
and this site continues to hold potential for commercial shipping, aquaculture, aquaculture related
research facilities, and loading, and barge docking use. Given the historical background, it is the
Board's opinion that the best use class, transition, should be applied to this tract despite the presence '
of indicators that might otherwise lead to the placement of this tract in a more restrictive land use
class.
98 1

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Section Four
Intergovernmental
Coordination
all]

Intergovernmental Coordination and Implementation
Dare County has six municipalities within its jurisdiction and each local government is responsible
for its own land use planning guidelines and zoning regulations. Although different Boards and
individuals are responsible for the administration of these standards, efforts to coordinate our
individual land use policies and goals for future land is important. During the update process, the
Planning staff reviewed the most recent versions of the Towns' land use plans for consistency of
policies. (Duck was not incorporated until May 1, 2002 and no LUP for this town was available) In
most instances the County policies for growth and the Towns policies were consistent and in some
instances it was not possible for a consistent policy due to the difference between the various levels
of government and their respective levels of responsibility. However, there were some
inconsistency with the municipal policies, for example, the Town of Manteo has a central wastewater
treatment system and does not allow the installation of on -site septic systems. This is inconsistent
with the County's policies on wastewater treatment that prefer on -site septic systems.
Draft copies of the LUP were circulated to various State, Federal and local agencies in Dare County
for their comments. In addition, a policy analysis workshop was conducted with representatives of
these organizations invited to attend and participate in the workshop. A listing of the agencies that
received a copy of the draft LUP is below:
National Park Service
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Soil and Water Conservation Service
NC Division of Coastal Management
US Army Corps of Engineers — Regulatory Branch Wilmington District
NC Department of Transportation — First District Engineers Office
Dare County Health Department
Dare County Emergency Management Department
Town of Manteo
Town of Nags Head
Town of Kill Devil Hills
Town of Kitty Hawk
Town of Southern Shores
Town of Duck
100
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Section Five
Public Participation
101

From the beginning of the update process, the Dare County Planning Board and staff set out to
ensure that the citizens and property owners in Dare County would have a role. In order to involve
both residents and non-resident property owners, a Public Participation Plan was developed and
adopted by the Board of Commissioners at the beginning of the process. The Plan is included below.
Although the actual implementation varied somewhat from the prescribed Plan, public participation
' played a vital role in the update and frequent opportunities for public input were offered.
The use of the Dare County website and the local government access channel provided new forms of
contact for residents and property owners. Notice of the workshops on the draft version of the
update was run on the local access channel and copies of the draft plan were available for viewing
and downloading from the County website.
' Dare County Public Participation Plan
Public participation is an integral component of the land use plan update process. Public comments
' and identification of pertinent issues are the basis for the policies drafted and adopted by Dare
County. This Public Participation Plan outlines the opportunities for public involvement in the LUP
update process as identified during the initial stages of the update process in August 2000. Since
' this document was the first section of the LUP update to be drafted and adopted, some of the dates
and locations for meetings and hearings are tentative.
' The Dare County Planning Board will serve as the steering committee for the update process. The
Planning Board will have an active role throughout the preparation of the LUP. The most important
function of the Planning Board will be to encourage public participation and use this public input as
' the foundation for policy development. All Planning Board meetings will be open to the public and
will be designed to gather public input in a meaningful and constructive fashion.
' The following is a summary of the key meetings and opportunities that will be provided for public
input throughout the LUP update process.
' Future of Dare Week — Issue identification for Dare County will consist of a series of "listening
sessions" or public meetings held at different geographic areas of Dare County. All three meetings
will be clustered in a single week (Future of Dare Week) to maximize public involvement and media
' coverage. The Planning Board will host each of these meetings. Notices of these meetings will be
advertised in the local newspapers, including The Coastland Times and The Virginian Pilot. Public
service announcements will also be sent to the local radio stations. These hearings have been
' scheduled for the first week in October (October 2-5)
Northern Beaches — Kitty Hawk Town Hall, Kitty Hawk NC — October 3, 2000
Hatteras Island -- Fessenden Center Buxton NC — October 4, 2000
R. Island/Mainland — Dare County Annex, Manteo, NC — October 5, 2000
Questionnaire — An essential tool used for public input will be a questionnaire specifically designed
for the update process. The results of this questionnaire, when combined with other sources of public
input, will provide the foundation for discussion and policy development by the Planning Board
members. This questionnaire will be available on the County's website for instant response and
completion. Press releases about the website questionnaire will be sent to local media and civic and
' 102

professional groups. Postcard notification of the Internet survey will be mailed to the non-resident
property owners in unincorporated Dare County. Copies of the questionnaire will be inserted into an
edition of The Coastland Times to solicit comments from persons residing in Dare County. Copies
of the survey will also be available at all of the County's Planning offices, the three libraries in the
County, and other appropriate public offices. The survey results will be compiled and analyzed by
the Planning staff with assistance from the County's Information Technology Department. The
results will be presented to the Planning Board and Board of Commissioners and will be made
available to the local media and general public. The Planning Board and planning staff will study
the results and use the conclusions in the development of the growth policies. The tentative
timeframe for these activities call for the release of the questionnaire in early October with the survey
results available for presentation to the Board of Commissioners in late November.
Work Session #1 -- With the results of the public input, the Planning Board and Planning staff will
prepare a draft set of growth policies. Policies on issues identified by the CAMA guidelines, as
well as other important issues of local concern will be drafted and reviewed by the Planning Board in
an all -day work session(s). This all -day session will allow review of the entire range of issues and
discussion on their rank of importance and their relationship to other issues. At the same time, this
session will allow for policy modification, deletion, or additions. The Land Classification Map will
also be discussed during this work session. A preliminary map will be prepared and used for mark-
up purposes. This will allow the Planning Board members to see proposed changes during the
workshop. Based on the information gained in this work session, growth policies will be drafted and
a preliminary land classification map will be prepared. This workshop is tentatively scheduled for
early January 2001.
Work Session #2 — A second all -day workshop for the Planning Board and Planning staff will be held
to discuss the implementation strategies needed to accompany the draft policies. Unlike previous
LUPs, this section of the plan will be developed separately to allow for annual updates on the
implementation strategies without the entire LUP being altered. If possible, the narratives for the
policy sections will also be discussed during this work session. If time does not allow, then a third
work session will be scheduled. Second workshop is proposed for mid February 2001.
Following completion of these work sessions, a draft set of policies, draft land classification map,
and draft implementation strategies will be prepared in accordance with the Planning Board
directives and comments.
Presentation of Draft Plan to Planning Board — A complete draft plan including the demographic data
sections will be presented to the Planning Board for their review and comments. Tentative schedule:
late March 2001
Public Review of Draft LUP — An open meeting (or meetings if needed) will be held for public
comment and review of the update. Policy analysis worksheets will be provided for the public and a
draft version of the land classification map will also be available for review. This information will
also be posted on the Dare County webpage. Tentative schedule April 2001 Location: TBA
Work Session #3 — In this work session, the Planning Board will consider the comments received at
the public review of the draft LUP and evaluate revisions based on these comments. Necessary
revisions will be made to the draft document based on the Planning Board's instructions. Following
103

' this last round of revisions, the draft document should be in a format ready for a recommendation by
the Planning Board and forwarding of the document to the Board of Commissioners. Tentative
' schedule: May 2001
Presentation of the Draft LUP to the County Commissioners -- Following the Planning Board's
recommendation of the draft LUP, the document will be presented to the Dare County Board of
Commissioners for consideration. This presentation does not constitute official adoption of the
plan, which can only occur following a formal public hearing in accordance with CAMA
requirements. It is anticipated that a date for the public hearing on the draft document will be
' scheduled at this time. Tentative schedule: July 2001
' Adoption of the Plan — the Dare County Board of Commissioners are required under the CAMA
guidelines to conduct a formal public hearing on the draft LUP. This hearing must be duly
advertised in a newspaper of general circulation and available for public review at locations
' throughout the County. Efforts to provide a copy of the draft page on the Dare County web page
will be made. Following the close of the public hearing, the Board of Commissioners may chose to
adopt the plan or make additional revisions based on comments received at the hearing. Once
satisfied with the document, the Board can officially adopt the LUP and forward the same to the NC
' Coastal Resources Commission for certification. Tentative schedule: September 2001
104

� Appendices
Appendix A — Analysis of 1994 Implementation Strategies
Appendix B — Public Participation Support Documents
B-1 Survey Results
' B-2 Land Use Plan Workshop Results
B-3 Policy Analysis Workshop
Appendix C -- Property Use Tables for Individual Villages
Appendix D — Policy and Implementation Strategy Synopsis
' Appendix E — Maps
Existing Land Use Maps
Storm Surge Map
Land Classification Maps
Primary Nursery Areas Map
Outstanding Resource Waters Map
105

M M M w M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
ANALYSIS OF 1994 LUP POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
RESPONSE
Policy 2.1.1 (a) Dare County supports the
The County will continue to enforce minimum
Fully implemented, the County continues to enforce the
administration and enforcement of Title 10, Chapter
State standards for septic tank and nitrification field
minimum State standards and regulations for septic systems
10, Subchapter 10-A, Section .1900 of the laws and
systems through the Dare County Board of Health
through the Dare County Health Board and departmental
rules for sanitary sewage collection, treatment, and
and staff sanitarians.
staff.
disposal. In doing so, it is the County's intent to
protect existing groundwater resources, the natural
conditions of estuarine waters, and the public
health, safety, and general welfare.
POLICY 2.1.1(b) Dare County supports, as
The County will continue to enforce the Federal
Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
minimum standards, the administration and
Emergency Management Agency guidelines for
employee responsible for the administration and enforcement
enforcement of all applicable floodplain
construction in special flood hazard zones and N.C.
of FEMA codes.
management regulations, and the National Flood
Building Code specifications for coastal
Insurance Program.
construction.
POLICY 2.1.1. (c) Dare County believes that there
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
is insufficient, reliable data to quantify the rate of
sea level rise. The phenomenon needs additional
study. Until a more reliable and conclusive
database has been established, Dare County will
continue to rely on AEC standards to rely on AEC
standards for development limitations.
Policy 2.1.2 (a) Dare County advocates the use of
1. Implementation and enforcement of CAMA use
Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
existing State and Federal regulatory programs as
standards for coastal wetland AECs as identified
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
adequate measures for protecting and preserving
under 15NCAC7H, Sections .0205 and .0208.
administration of the CAMA regulations.
coastal wetland areas of environmental concern.
2. The County will continue to administer the
CAMA local permit enforcement program and
maintain the staff local permit officer.
106

APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.1.2 (b) Estuarine shoreline development
1. Implementation and enforcement of CAMA use
1. Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
should continue to be managed to protect and
standards for estuarine waters as contained in
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
preserve the natural resources of the estuarine
15NCAC7H, Sections .0206 and .0208.
administration of the CAMA regulations.
waters. In addition, development located in
2. The County will continue its initiative to
2. The County continues are efforts to adopt use -specific
estuarine waters shall be water -dependant, related
establish zoning maps for all unzoned portions of
zoning maps for the unzoned portions of the County. In
to development on the estuarine shoreline, or an
unincorporated Dare County in an effort to reduce
1997, a use -specific map for Colington was adopted. In 1998
accessory use to a structure located on the estuarine
the potential for incompatible development adjacent
efforts to adopt a use -specific map for Frisco were
shoreline.
to estuarine waters.
unsuccessful due to lack of consensus among property
owners in Frisco.
POLICY 2.1.2 (c-1) Dare County supports the
Dare County supports the CAMA use standards for
The County continues to support CAMA regulations that
preservation and protection of the public's right to
public trust areas as contained in 15NCAC7H,
govern public trust waters.
access and use the public trust areas and waters.
Sections .0207 and .0208.
POLICY 2.1.2 (c-2) Dare County advocates a
1. The County will encourage State and Federal
1. No response
management program at the State or Federal level
agencies that traditionally address only resource
2. The County continues to support CAMA regulations that
to address the competition among recreational users
management to expand their scope of operations to
govern public trust waters.
of public trust waters. However, dare county
include conflict resolution among the various users
3. Staff assistance to the Oregon Inlet Waterways
reserves the right to review, comment, advocate or
of public trust waters.
Commission is also provided on dredging and other
oppose any proposed regulations or programs that
2. Dare County supports the CAMA use standards
waterways projects.
may affect the public trust waters.
for public trust areas as contained in 15NCAC7H,
Sections .0207 and .0208.
3. The Dare County Waterways Commission has
been established in an effort to provide for
maintenance of existing waterways and harbors and
to provide for additional access to public trust
waters.
POLICY 2.1.2 (d-1) Estuarine shoreline
Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use
Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
development should continue to be managed to
standards for estuarine shoreline AECs as stated in
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
protect and preserve the natural resources along the
15NCAC7H, Section .0209. 0
administration of the CAMA regulations.
estuarine shoreline.
POLICY 2.1.2 (d-2) Dare County supports the
Dare County will continue to implement the
Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
installation and maintenance of estuarine bulkheads
bulkhead permit standards of the Coastal Area
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
properly aligned and permitted by the U.S. Army
Management Act.
administration of the CAMA regulations.
Corps of Engineers and the Division of Coastal
Management. Whenever possible, offshore
estuarine breakwaters may be considered as an
alternative to bulkhead construction.
107

M M M M M M M M M M. M M M M i ! M M M
APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.1.2 (e) Oceanfront shoreline
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA
1. Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
development should continue to be managed to
use standards for ocean hazard areas as contained in
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
protect and preserve the natural resources along the
15NCAC7H, Sections .0306 through .0310.02.
administration of the CAMA regulations.
oceanfront.
Implementation and enforcement of the National
2. Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
Flood Insurance Program's base flood elevation
employee responsible for the administration and enforcement
standards, including the standards for those areas
of FEMA codes.
where wind driven waves create potential for
damage by velocity also known as V-zones.
POLICY 2.1.2 (1) Development in any public water
1. Dare County supports the CAMA use standards
1. Fully implemented, the County maintains a full-time
supply AEC should be managed to protect the long-
for public water supply wellfield AECs as
employee who serves as a local permit officer for the
term viability of the groundwater resources.
contained in 15NCAC7H, Section .0406.02. Dare
administration of the CAMA regulations.
County will continue to implement and enforce the
2. Fully implemented, the County continues to enforce the
provisions of the SED-1 zoning ordinance for the
SED-1 standards.
Buxton Woods maritime forest.
POLICY 2.1.2 (g) Dare County advocates the
No implementation strategy included in the Plan
No response
management of fragile coastal, natural, and cultural
resource areas as defined in 15NCAC7H, Section
.0500. When such areas are of local significance,
Dare County supports the use of local zoning
ordinances as the appropriate management tool.
POLICY 2.1.2 (h-1) Dare County supports the
In instances when improvements to publicly -owned
Implemented as needed
Coastal Resources Commission's policy to mitigate
or managed facilities conflict with freshwater
losses of coastal resources for those projects shown
wetland protection programs, an alternatives
to be in the public interest As defined by the
analysis should be conducted in an effort to avoid
standards in 15NCAC7M.0700 et. seq. and only
wetland loss or alteration. For projects that involve
after all other means of avoiding or minimizing
County -owned facilities or land, Dare County will
such losses have been exhausted.
conduct an alternatives analysis for these projects.
However, should the analysis determine that there
is no practicable alternative; a mitigation permit
proposal shall be implemented. Mitigation
activities and improvements designed as
compensation for wetland loss occurring in Dare
County shall be located, whenever possible, in Dare
County and in proximity to the loss.
POLICY 2.1.2 (h-2) Dare County supports the U.S.
1. As may be necessary to facilitate
Implemented as needed for permit applications
Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide permit
implementation of permit programs for wetland
program.
management. ❑
108

APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.1.2 (i) Dare County advocates a
1. Continue implementation and enforcement of the
1. Fully implemented, the County continues to enforce the
combination of limited development guided by the
SED-1 zoning ordinance.❑2. Support the North
SED-1 standards.
local SED-1 zoning ordinance and a program of
Carolina Buxton Woods Coastal Preserve
public acquisition to manage the Buxton Woods
program. ❑
maritime forest.
POLICY 2.1.3 (a) The Dare County Board of
Support public acquisition of significant historical,
Implemented as needed on a case -by -case basis.
Commissioners supports the protection of
cultural, or archaeological lands or structures at fair
structures, lands, and artifacts that have been
market value. The Board may offer resolutions of
identified by the NC Department of Cultural
support, negotiate land exchanges, or provide tax
Resources, Division of Archives and History, as
incentives for acquisition initiatives.
archaeologically or historically significant. On a
case -by -case basis, individual
protection/management strategies should be
implemented to ensure archaeological and/or
historical resources are not destroyed.
POLICY 2.1.3 (b) The development of Dare
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
County's airports and the surrounding areas shall be
carefully reviewed to minimize potential land use
conflicts and hazardous conditions. Dare County
does not support the expansion of the Dare County
Regional Airport at its current location.
POLICY 2.1.4 Dare County recognizes
1. The approval of development proposals, such as
1. Comments from the Dare County Water Department are
groundwater resources as an essential element for
new subdivisions and other large water consuming
solicited as part of subdivision and site plan review.
drinking water supply. The management of
projects, will be linked to the availability of
2. No implemented
groundwater resources and their protection is a
drinking water.
priority issue in Dare County.
2. A program for permitting and monitoring private
wells used as a drinking water supply in
unincorporated Dare County will be developed and
implemented by 1995.
POLICY 2.1.5 (a) Dare County supports efforts by
1. In an effort to address water quality issues and
1. The Clean Water Advisory Committee was disbanded
local, state, and federal agencies to preserve water
receive recommendations by affected parties, the
after the County established and staffed a full-time water
quality under existing natural conditions and to
Dare County Board of Commissioners has
monitoring program. The monitoring staff works
improve water quality where a decline has been
appointed a Clean Water Advisory Committee.
closely with the State water quality monitoring program
identified. These efforts include the designation of
2. Monitor the meetings and work of the North
and samples numerous sites on a regular basis in Dare
outstanding resource waters and shellfish water
Carolina Environmental Management Commission.
County.
classification criteria established by the North
3. Support the objectives of the Comprehensive
Carolina Division of Environmental Management.
Conservation Management Plan of the Albemarle
Pamlico Estuarine Study.
109
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APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.1.5(b) Stormwater runoff should be
1. The development and implementation of a
1. Plan completed in April 2001.
managed to the greatest possible degree to protect
comprehensive stormwater management plan for
2. The SWC staff receives Planning Board packets for
the quality of water in all water bodies surrounding
unincorporated Dare County by 1996.
review on a monthly basis.
Dare County.
2. Continue to incorporate comments and
recommendation from the Dare County Soil and
Water Conservation Board and staff into the
development review process of the Planning Board.
POLICY 2.1.5 (c) Dare County supports the
1. Dare County will rely on the local LUP
Implemented as needed
development of marinas to provide for boating
consistency review process used by State and
access to the area's water bodies. Marina
Federal agencies to implement this policy since
development is encouraged in upland basins and in
almost all proposed marinas will require a CAMA
waters NOT open for shellfish harvesting and
major permit.
should comply with all State and federal regulations
concerning location and design. The County
encourages the dry stack option of boat storage.
POLICY 2.1.5 (d) Dare County is opposed to the
1. Dare County will consider a zoning map for
1. Not implemented
mooring of floating homes and floating structures
surface waters should it become necessary to
2. Implemented as needed.
anywhere in Dare County or its surrounding waters.
further address the issue of floating homes and
structures.
2. Dare County will rely on the local LUP
consistency review process used by State and
Federal agencies to implement this policy.
POLICY 2.1.6 Development of sound and
Dare County will use zoning, subdivision review,
Implemented as needed
estuarine system islands shall be carefully
and building permit procedures to manage the
managed. Low intensity uses such as open space,
development of sound and estuarine system islands.
recreation, and low density residential development
shall be the preferred uses of these islands.
POLICY 2.1.7 The County advocates a program of
Develop a brochure that can be distributed by
Not implemented. An application for CAMA funds to assist
public information on best management practices
building inspectors and displayed at County offices
with the development of this brochure was not chosen for
for tree removal and land clearing on private
to inform property owners about best management
funding.
property. ❑
practices on tree removal and land clearing. Target
date: Fiscal year 1994 -95.
POLICY 2.2.1 Dare County supports the use of
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
certain portions of the Mainland area of the County
for agriculture. The County also advocates
voluntary participation in the State of North
Carolina's best management practice program for
farm management.
110

APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.2.2 Commercial forestry activities shall
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
be supported by Dare County, so long as such
activities are done in accordance with the standards
and recommendations of the U.S. Forest Service.
The County also advocates the voluntary
participation in the State of North Carolina's best
management practice program for forestry
management.
POLICY 2.2.3 Dare County advocates local level
1. Draft and submit for Board of Commissioners'
1. Not implemented
management of those mining activities that are not
approval, an ordinance to manage mining activities
2. The County continues to review mining applications as
subject to permit authorization by the State of
proposed in unincorporated Dare County which are
needed.
North Carolina.
not subject to review and approval by the N.C.
Division of Land Resources. Target date: FY 95-
96.
2. Continue to review mining permit applications
submitted to the N.C. Division of Land Resources
and to submit comments concerning such
applications.
POLICY 2.2.4-a The continued productivity of
In an effort to address water quality issues and
The Clean Water Advisory Committee was disbanded after
commercial and recreational fisheries shall be
receive recommendations by affected parties, the
the County established and staffed a full-time water
fostered through restoration and protection of the
Dare County Board of Commissioners has
monitoring program. The monitoring staff works closely
unique coastal ecosystems upon which they depend.
appointed a Clean Water Advisory Committee.
with the State water quality monitoring program and samples
numerous sites on a regular basis in Dare County.
POLICY 2.2.4-b Dare County supports measures to
In an effort to address water quality issues and
The Clean Water Advisory Committee was disbanded after
protect and preserve designated primary nursery
receive recommendations by affected parties, the
the County established and staffed a full-time water
areas.
Dare County Board of Commissioners has
monitoring program. The monitoring staff works closely.
appointed a Clean Water Advisory Committee.
with the State water quality monitoring program and samples
numerous sites on a regular basis in Dare County.
POLICY 2.2.4-c State and Federal agencies with
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
the authority to manage fisheries resources should
be the responsible parties for the resolution of
conflicts involving fisheries resources in Dare
County. However, Dare County reserves the right
to review, comment, advocate or oppose any
proposed regulation or programs that may affect the
fisheries resources or management.
POLICY 2.2.4-d Dare County supports the
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
development of the aquaculture industry as an
alternative source of fishery production.
III
M M

r r r r r r r r r� r r� ■■� r� r r r r r■ i�
APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.2.5 (a) Efforts to properly balance and
The County's ordinance governing ORV use on
The County continues to enforce the ORV ordinance as
control the use of off -road vehicles along the
Dare County beaches will be maintained for
needed.
County's beaches, dune areas, and estuarine
enforcement as necessary.
shorelines shall continue to receive support from
County government.
POLICY 2.2.6 Dare County supports the
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
maintenance of several preserve areas for wildlife
habitat and access by the public to these areas for
managed wildlife harvesting and observation.
POLICY 2.3.1 (a) Dare County recognizes
1. The approval of development proposals, such as
Fully implemented. The availability of potable water is
groundwater resources as an essential element of
subdivisions and other large water consuming
discussed during subdivision review and other site plan
the drinking water supply. The management of
projects, will be linked to the availability of
reviews.
groundwater resources and their protection is a
drinking water.
priority issue in Dare County.
POLICY 2.3.1 (a) Dare County recognizes
The approval of development proposals, such as
Fully implemented. The availability of potable water is
groundwater resources as an essential element of
subdivisions and other large water consuming
discussed during subdivision review and other site plan
the drinking water supply. The management of
projects, will be linked to the availability of
reviews.
groundwater resources and their protection is a
drinking water.
priority issue in Dare County.
POLICY 2.3.1 (b-1) Dare County advocates the use
Dare County will continue to enforce the minimum
Fully implemented. Dare County maintains a full-time staff
of on -site septic Tank-drainfield systems as the
State standards for septic tank and nitrification field
of sanitarians responsible for enforcing State regulations on
primary method of wastewater treatment.
systems through the Dare County Board of Health
septic systems and other wastewater systems.
and staff sanitarians.
POLICY 2.3.1 (b-2) Dare County will authorize the
Dare County will evaluate proposals for package
Fully implemented
use of package treatment plants as an alternative to
treatment plants based on comments received from
septic tanks only when soil conditions preclude the
the Dare County Health Director during the review
use of septic tanks and/or if a reduction in the risk
process. ❑
of environmental damage is achieved.
Policy 2.3.1 (b-3) The current minimum lot size
The County will continue to enforce the minimum
Fully implemented. Lot size minimums are strictly enforced
standards shall not be reduced regardless of the
lot size standard of 20,000 square feet of soils
for new subdivision lots.
availability of central wastewater treatment or the
classified as suitable for septic tanks for new
availability of a combination of central wastewater
subdivision lots that will feature on -site septic tank
treatment and central water supply.
systems and private wells as a source of drinking
water. The minimum lot size standard of 15,000
square feet of soils classified as suitable for septic
tanks for new subdivision lots will be enforced
when the lots will be served by on -site septic tank
systems and a central water supply.
112

POLICY 2.3.1 (c) Dare County supports efforts to
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
upgrade electrical service to those portions of
unincorporated Dare County served by electric
membership cooperatives to increase the reliability
and quality of the power supply.
POLICY 2.3.1 (d-1) Dare County advocates a dual
Enter into and continue to participate in a regional
Fully implemented. Dare County remains a partner in a
system of a local solid waste management site and
solid waste authority. This was implemented prior
regional solid waste authority.
participation in a regional solid waste management
to the completion of the LUP update with a regional
authority.
solid waste authority being established in mid 1993.
POLICY 2.3.1 (d-2) Dare County will consider a
Dare County will conduct a study of the issue of
Recycling efforts in Dare County continue on a volunteer
mandatory recycling program to include roadside
mandatory roadside recycling by 1996.
basis.
-pick-up.
POLICY 2.3.2 -Dare County shall strive to
Continue the initiative started in 1987 to establish
A zoning map for Colington was adopted in 1997. Efforts to
maintain its coastal village atmosphere by using
zoning maps for all unincorporated portions of Dare
establish a use specific map for Frisco were defeated when a
land use planning techniques to guide private sector
County, where feasible.
consensus among property owners could not be reached.
market forces in the direction of minimal
commercialization with single-family homes as the
preferred type of development.
POLICY 2.3.2-b Public services shall be provided
1. Dare County shall continue to lobby the North
.1. Dare County submits comments at annual TIP hearings
to meet the needs of, but not to serve as an
Carolina Department of Transportation for
in conjunction with the other 5 local governments in Dare
incentive to, growth and development.
necessary improvements to transportation facilities,
County.
especially those serving as evacuation routes from
the Outer Banks.
2. Dare County will continue to seek additional
revenues from sources other than ad valorem real
estate taxes to provide for those capital
expenditures identified in Section One
POLICY 2.3.2-c Dare County does not advocate
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
unlimited public acquisition of additional privately
owned lands but reserves the right to review and
support or oppose each acquisition proposal on a
case -by -case basis.
POLICY 2.3.3-a Single-family housing shall be
1. Continue the initiative to establish zoning maps
A zoning map for Colington was adopted in 1997. Efforts to
encouraged as the preferred land use in
for unzoned portions of unincorporated Dare
establish a use specific map for Frisco were defeated when a
unincorporated Dare County. The desired density
County.
consensus among property owners could not be reached.
for any proposed multi -family structure is 5 units or
2.Continue to enforce the Zoning and Subdivision
less per acre.
Ordinances already adopted by the Board of
Commissioners.
113

APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.3.3-b
Continue to require all subdivisions which feature
Fully implemented. All subdivisions recorded with private
Dare County shall not be responsible for the cost of
private roads to bear a disclaimer stamp on the final
roads must include disclaimers and covenants language
maintaining or repairs to privately owned streets.
plat indicating that Dare County shall never be
declaring road maintenance responsibility for property
required to maintain the roads. Restrictive
owners.
covenants shall also contain language concerning
the road maintenance responsibility.
POLICY 2.3.4 ❑ Dare County does not advocate
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
the use of zoning incentives, such as density
increases, permit fee waivers and review fast -
tracking, as a means of stimulating affordable
housing construction. Private sector initiatives for
affordable housing will be reviewed on a case -by -
case basis.
POLICY 2.3.5 Dare County will address
Continue the initiative to establish zoning maps in
A zoning map for Colington was adopted in 1997. Efforts to
opportunities for commercial development by
such a manner where commercial zoning is
establish a use specific map for Frisco were defeated when a
adopting zoning maps for unzoned portions of
secondary to residential zoning.
consensus among property owners could not be reached.
unincorporated Dare County and allow free market
forces to meet the demand for goods and services in
those areas zoned for commercial land uses.
POLICY 2.3.6 Redeveloped areas and structures
1. The County shall enforce the North Carolina
1. Fully implemented. Dare County continues to enforce
shall conform to current, more restrictive
State Building Codes for coastal construction and
all applicable State building codes for coastal construction
development standards.
the Dare County Floodplain Ordinance in the event
and maintains a full-time foodplain administrator.
of reconstruction.
2. Whenever feasible, non -conforming structures
destroyed by an act of nature or an accident will be
rebuilt to comply with applicable zoning codes.
POLICY 2.3.7 Industrial development which has
As the development of zoning maps for unzoned
Implemented as needed.
excessive noise, odor, or other harmful pollution,
parts of unincorporated Dare County continues,
shall be discouraged from locating in Dare County,
those areas that are compatible with industrial
unless such adverse impacts can be clearly
development will be considered for industrial
overcome through effective mitigation. Industrial
zoning. Proposals for industrial development in
sites shall be located on land which is
zoned areas will be reviewed for compatibility
environmentally suitable and has unique locative
under the provisions of the Dare County Zoning
advantages for industry. I
Ordinance.
114

APPENDIX A
POLICY 2.3.8 Dare County is opposed to the
1. Any major energy facility to be located in Dare
Fully implemented. Dare County continues to monitor
development of any petro-chemical energy facility
County shall make a full disclosure of all costs
efforts for offshore drilling.
or related improvements within its jurisdictional
and benefits associated with the project. This
lands and/or waters. This includes all structures,
disclosure shall be in the form of an
operations, and activities associated with petro-
environmental impact statement independent of
chemical energy facility development, such as, but
and not funded by any petro-chemical
not limited to, on -shore support bases for offshore
company or the Minerals Management Service.
exploration activities, staging areas, transmission
2. In the event that an energy facility is proposed
and/or production pipelines, pipeline storage yards,
for Dare County, the County will support the
and other similar structures, activities, and
policy statements and administrative
improvements related to petro-chemical energy
regulations referenced in 15NCAC7M, Section
facility development, exploration, or production.
.0400 entitled "Coastal Energy Policies".
Dare County supports research and development of
non -fossil fuel alternatives for energy production.
POLICY 2.3.9-a Dare County supports the
The County will continue to support the efforts of
Fully implemented
promotion of the Outer Banks as a tourist
the Dare County tourist Bureau to promote the
destination and the development of season-
Outer Banks as a resort area.
extending promotions during the non -peak periods
of the calendar year.
POLICY 2.3.9-b Dare County supports the concept
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
of combining natural resources and tourism to
promote the area's ecological values, also known as
"eco-tourism".
POLICY 2.3.10 Dare County supports North
1. Dare County will seek funding under the CAMA
1. This action has not been completed.
Carolina's shoreline access policies as stated in
shoreline access program to develop a shoreline
2. The County continues efforts to improve shoreline access
15NCAC7H, Section .0300. Dare County
access master plan for the unincorporated portions
opportunities.
recognizes shoreline access to both ocean and
of Dare County. This plan shall include both ocean
3. Dare County maintains the OIWC.
estuarine shorelines as a key component in the local
and estuarine shorelines. Target date -- FY 1994-
tourist economy.
1995.
2. Dare County will continue to work with other
State and Federal agencies to fund and construct
access facilities on State and Federal properties.
3. Shoreline access planning and implementation
activities will be coordinated with the Oregon Inlet
and Waterways Commission.
POLICY 2.3.11-a Dare County advocates routine
No implementation strategy included in Plan
Dare County pursues dredging funds and projects as needed
maintenance of all existing navigable channels and
through work of the OIWC and Army Corps.
will work to secure permit authorization whenever
necessary,
POLICY 2.3.11-b Dare County advocates and
Dare County shall continue the funding of the
Dare County continues its effort to secure funding for the
supports the permit authorization and Federal
Oregon Inlet and Waterways Commission and staff
Oregon Inlet jetties.
funding necessary to construct twin jetties to
to provide support for the on -going efforts to secure
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M M M r r M W A M = = M = = M M= M
1
stabilize Oregon Inlet.
jetty permit authorization and funding.
POLICY 2.3.12 Beach nourishment is Dare
1. Continue to participate in the feasibility study
1. The Feasibility Study for the Dare Beaches hurricane
County's preferred shoreline management
being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of
Protection Plan is nearing completion and the County is
alternative
Engineers for a beach nourishment project for the
working for authorization of the project by Congress.
northern beaches of Dare County. Funding of the
2. Dare County and the beach towns have established a
feasibility study should be a cost -share among the
Dare County Beach Nourishment Committee to assist with
local governments in Dare County involved in the
this activity.
project and should not include local property tax
funds.
2. Investigate funding alternatives for the
construction of a beach fill project upon completion
of the feasibility study. Funding alternatives to be
considered include occupancy tax revenues,
prepared-.
POLICY 2.3.13 Dare County supports the
The County will continue to lobby the North
Partially implemented. Numerous bicycle paths have been
development of sidewalks, bike paths, greenways,
Carolina Department of Transportation for bicycle
constructed in Dare County over the past several years on
and walking/jogging trails to provide a safe setting
and pedestrian improvements to be included in the
Hatteras Island, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Duck and
for these types of outdoor recreation in
Transportation Improvement Plan. The County will
Roanoke Island. Efforts for additional bicycle improvements
unincorporated Dare County
also coordinate this effort with the Dare County
continue on Hatteras Island and in Kitty Hawk.
Department of Parks and Recreation and the
National Park Service.
POLICY 2.3.14-a Dare County supports those
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
Federal and State programs that provide funds for
the implementation of land planning, environmental
protection, and/or economic development. Dare
County does not support those Federal or State
programs that involve legislative mandates to local
governments without financial support. In addition,
programs that are funded should direct funds to the
local government with minimal administrative
guidelines.
POLICY 2.3.14-b State and federally funded
1. The County encourages the development
Fully implemented. A task force for the study of NC 12 has
water and highway transportation projects shall
and implementation of a long-term plan for the
been established and meets on a regular basis. A new bridge
receive the highest level of support, in light of their
protection and maintenance of N.C. 12 on Hatteras
from Manns Harbor to the Midway intersection is under
potential impact on the public safety and economic
Island. ❑2. The County will continue to support
construction and should be completed within five years.
health of the area.
the proposal to construct a new bridge from Manns
Harbor to the intersection of N.C. 345 and U.S.
64/264 on Roanoke Island.
POLICY 2.4.1-a Dare County's policy on coastal
Dare County will continue to enforce all applicable
Fully implemented.
storm hazards is to use construction standards and
Federal, State, and local regulations relating to
zoning regulations to mitigate the effects of high
construction in storm hazard areas.
winds, storm surge, flooding, wave action, and
erosion.
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A'PPPXTnTV
POLICY 2.4.1-b Dare County does not advocate
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
the use of County funds to acquire parcels located
in hazard areas or rendered unbuildable by storms
or other events.
POLICY 2.4.2 Dare County is committed to
An annual evacuation exercise will be conducted
Fully implemented. The Dare County Control Group meets
maintaining a full-time emergency management
and in the event the Dare County Evacuation Plan
as needed during storm events and a full-time emergency
department and emergency operations centers and
must be implemented, decisions will be based on
management staff is maintained by Dare County for storm
places a high priority on hurricane preparedness
the pre -determined sequence established in the
preparation and mitigation administration.
and response.
plan.
POLICY 2.4.3 (a) The Dare County Board of
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
Commissioners shall be ultimately responsible for
supervising the implementation of various policies
and procedures regarding reconstruction and
recovery after a natural disaster,
POLICY 2.4.3 (b) Recovery priority shall be
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
directed to recovery and priority to restoring or
repairing infrastructure improvements such as
transportation routes, utilities, and medical and
emergency management facilities. Once the
infrastructure has been restored, recovery priorities
shall then be directed at essential commercial and
-primary residential structures.
POLICY 2.4.3 (c) In the event of extensive
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
hurricane damage to publicly -owned utilities or
other improvements requiring replacement
requiring reconstruction, alternative locations that
will mitigate the potential for similar repetitive
losses will be examined and implemented whenever
feasible and practicable.
POLICY 2.4.3 (d) In the event of a damaging
No implementation strategy included in Plan
No response
hurricane or other disastrous event, the Dare
County Board of Commissioners may declare a
moratorium on all building permits and/or rezoning
requests pending an evaluation of the damage and
any reconstruction strategies that may serve to
mitigate future damage or repetitive losses.
117

APPENDIX B-i SURVEY REPORT
' Public participation is an essential element of the update process for the Dare County
Land Use Plan. In October 2000, the Dare County Board of Commissioners adopted a
public participation plan in conjunction with the Land Use Plan update process. This
plan outlines the various opportunities that will be available throughout the update
process for the citizenry of Dare County to provide input on land use issues affecting
Dare County.
One of the unique characteristics of Dare County is the high number of non-resident
property owners. In an effort to reach these non-residents, a mail -out questionnaire was
developed. This questionnaire was mailed to all property owners, both resident non-
resident property owners, in unincorporated Dare County (13,035) and 12,000 copies of
the survey were inserted in the two locals newspapers, The Outer Banks Sentinel and The
Coastland Times. The survey was also available on the Dare County website. A total
of 4,079 completed questionnaires were returned to the County for a 16% response rate.
The newspaper inserts were used in addition to the property owner mail out to allow
residents in the municipalities an opportunity to participate in the questionnaire process.
' Of these 4,079 responses, 52% or 2,118 surveys were completed by full time residents of
Dare County and non-resident property owners completed 48% or 1,941 responses.
Of the full-time residents who responded to the survey, 98% were property owners versus
' renters. Responses from residents in the five municipalities in Dare County accounted
for 22.4% of the total number of responses we received. Among the non-resident
property owners in unincorporated Dare County, 47.1% of the responses were from
' Hatteras Island property owners, with 30.2% from Duck and 7.9% from Colington.
Among full-time Dare County residents, the largest responding community was Hatteras
Island with a 22.1% response rate, with Roanoke Island at 16.2% and Colington at 15.2%
respectively. A complete breakdown of responses according to geographic areas of Dare
County is included in Charts 2 and 3.
All local governments in the twenty -county coastal region are required under the North
Carolina Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) to adopt and update land use plans.
The CAMA guidelines identify certain issues that must be addressed in the land use plan
' with policy statements. The questions on the County's survey focused primarily on the
policy issues but also probed other important local matters. The results of the survey will
be combined with the results of other pubic participation activities and used by the Dare
' County Planning Board and Board of Commissioners in the development of policy
statements for the land use plan update, scheduled for completion in late 2001, or early
2002.
118

This report contains a detailed analysis of the survey results. A Likert Scale (strongly
agree, agree, no opinion, disagree, strongly disagree) was the response format used for
each of the questions. All of the completed responses were entered into a computer
program by the Planning staff. The staff in the Dare County Information Technology
Department then totaled the results and the total number of responses to each question
were tabulated and sorted according to resident or non-resident status. A response of
"no opinion" was indicated when no response was chosen by the respondent. This
aggregation of data allows the policy makers to compare how residents and non-residents
each respond to certain issues.
ISSUE ANALYSIS
The first two questions discussed the use of bulkheads along the estuarine (sound)
shoreline and the use of vegetative buffers along estuarine shorelines. While a large
majority of the respondents (74.1 %) agreed or strongly agreed that estuarine vegetative
buffers should be supported, 53.9% of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed
with the discontinuance of the use of bulkheads along the estuarine shoreline. The
responses were nearly identical among both residents and non-residents. Nine percent
(9%) of the total responses indicated "no opinion" on the bulkhead question with a
smaller percentage of 5.8% offering no opinion on the use of vegetative buffers.
Concerning the increase of oceanfront setbacks, a great majority of the responses (81%)
strongly agreed or agreed with this concept. Within this majority, the largest number of
respondents indicated strong agreement with the need for increased oceanfront setbacks,
with slightly more residents favoring an increase of oceanfront setbacks.
Question #4 concerned County regulation of land clearing and tree removal on private
property. The prevailing opinion (64.7%) was disagreement with this type of
governmental regulation, with 689 residents reporting strong disagreement with the
concept. Among those in support of tree clearing regulations, a larger percentage (57.4)
was of non-residents. In a similar question, respondents were asked about the regulation
of the placement of fill on lots. There was overall support (53.6%) for this question
among residents and non-residents versus 41.3% of respondents not supportive of the
regulation of fill. Among the majority opinion, non-residents were more supportive than
full-time residents of the County. A small percentage (3.1 and 5.0 respectively)
indicated no opinion or did not respond to these two questions.
Three questions on the survey dealt with the use of personal watercraft (jets skis) on the
waters of Dare County, ranging from an outright ban of the watercraft, to simple
regulation, to limiting the number of businesses offering watercrafts for rent. All three
regulatory methods received support, with regulation of personal watercraft receiving a
strong support (78%) from those persons responding to the questionnaire versus 50.5% in
support of a ban and 71.3% in support of limiting the number of businesses that offer jet
ski rentals. Among the responses, more non-resident property owners favored the three
choices of regulation than residents of Dare County. Overall, Dare County residents
119

' were supportive of the regulation of jet skis and the limiting of the rental businesses with
a slight majority disagreeing with a total ban of their use in our waters. No opinions
' accounted for 6% or less of the responses on each question.
Question 9 addressed surface water quality as a high priority. An overwhelming 96.4%
' of the respondents strongly agreed (59.0%) or agreed (37.4%) with this statement.
Support was evident from both of the response groups. The no opinion responses
accounted for less than 2% of the total count.
' The focus of question 10 was the regulation of competing recreational uses in public
waters. A large majority (71.3%) of the respondents were supportive of this concept.
' The votes were spread evenly among residents and non-residents.
Similar to question 9, the ranking of groundwater as a high priority was the focus of
' question 11. Again, both residents and non-residents demonstrated overwhelming
support (96.5%) of groundwater protection as a high priority in Dare County.
1 The topic of wetland replacement or wetland mitigation was addressed in two questions.
The questions differentiated between wetland loss being acceptable for public purpose
projects and private development projects. 49.3% of the respondents supported
' wetland mitigation if associated with public purpose projects versus 46.8% who
disagreed with this practice. However, the survey respondents were not supportive
(60.6%) of wetland loss associated with private purpose development.
' Two questions on the survey concerned marina development in Dare County in waters
q Y P t3'
that are open for shellfish harvesting and waters that are closed to shellfish harvesting.
' A strong consensus (82.7%) was evident from the responses that marina development
should not be in or near waters open to shellfish harvesting. The non-residents (1671)
outnumbered the residents (1465) in this consensus. There was no solid conclusion
from the responses on the second question about marina development in waters closed for
shellfish harvesting. Of the responses, 44.2% strongly agreed or agreed and 42.8%
disagreed or strongly disagreed. No opinions accounted for 12.9% of the responses, with
444 residents offering no opinion.
' In a related matter, question 16 concerned a prohibition on floating homes in Dare
County. Out of 3,727 responses, 73.9% supported a prohibition on floating homes, with
the strongly agreed choice generating the most response.
' Question 17 posed the question that the competition for marine resources (fish) between
commercial and recreational fisherman should be regulated and managed. While there
was a large majority who strongly agreed or agreed with this concept (74%), this support
was generally from non-resident property owners.
120

A strong consensus (71.7%) of the respondents agreed that all unzoned portions of the
County should be zoned. Among the supporters, the non-resident property owners
outnumbered the residents in support of zoning. Among the 21.7% who disagreed with
zoning, full-time residents (499) outnumbered the non-resident responses (295). No
opinions accounted for 6.7% of the responses with 242 residents selecting "no opinion"
as a response.
What type of development should be prevalent in Dare County was the focus of question
19. Over 85% of the responses favored single family homes as the prevalent type of
structures in Dare County, with 1,014 non-residents voicing strong support versus 728
residents offering strong support. Among the 474 persons that disagreed, the large
majority (64.8%) were residents of Dare County. The next question concerned the
allowance of multi -family residential housing, with an emphasis on low -density. The
majority of the persons responding supported low -density multi -family housing with
24.1% indicating strongly agreement and 31.4% in agreement combining for a 55.5%
majority. Although the consensus was in support of multi -family housing, it is important
to note the support was based on the multi -family development being limited to low -
density projects.
Next the respondents were asked if the County should provide zoning incentives to
encourage private contractors to construct affordable housing. A weak majority (54.1%)
agreed that such incentives should be provided with 1,364 of this majority agreeing with
the concept versus only 602 who "strongly agreed" with incentives for affordable
housing. This support was mainly from residents and not non-resident property owners.
This trend was also evident in the 39.7% who disagreed with the question. The full-time
residents of Dare County are more sympathetic to the issue of affordable housing and the
lack of such housing in Dare County than the non-residents that responded to the survey.
Question 22 focused on the operation of single-family homes that are rented on a short-
term basis and whether these types of structures should be considered as "commercial"
activity with different parking and solid waste standards. No consensus could be
established from the responses. The categories of strongly agreed or agreed garnered
44.9% of the total responses and the categories of disagreed and strongly disagreed
received 49.5% of the total vote with 5.7% choosing no opinion as their response.
However, there was a trend evident among the type of respondents. Non-residents
clearly did not favor the treatment of single-family homes offered for short-term rentals
as commercial activity. Almost 35% of non-residents either disagreed or strongly
disagreed with this concept versus 15% of residents who disagreed with this concept.
This trend can be attributed to the fact that a large number of the non-resident property
owners offer their properties for rent on a short-term basis.
Parking lot/street vendors and their operations were examined in question 23. Of the
3,698 responses, 64.2% did not support the allowance of parking lot vendors. Among
this percentage, the responses were evenly spread among the answer options of disagree
and strongly disagree. No opinions accounted for 7.5% of the responses.
121

More flexibility in the standards for home occupations/home offices was explored in the
next question. There was considerable support (57.1%) of more flexible home
occupation zoning regulations with 28.8% of the respondents opposed to expanded
standards. There was large number of "no opinions" offered (14.1 %). Residents were
slightly more supportive of this topic than their non-resident peers. The results of this
question indicate weak support for zoning regulations that are more favorable for home
occupations than the zoning current standards.
The next two questions dealt with a pubic transportation system in Dare County. The
first question asked if such a system should be developed in Dare County. 59.1 % of the
respondents supported a public transportation system with 33.0% opposed. Of the
majority, 1123 residents were supportive with 886 of non-residents offering a positive
response to the question. The second question asked if public funds should be used to
supplement a private transportation system. In contrast to the first question, the
majority, (63.7%) did not support public funds used to augment a private transportation
system. So while many indicated support for a public transportation system, the
respondents felt such a system should be operated solely by private funds.
Three questions addressed the issue of beach driving or the use of 4-wheel drive vehicles
on public beaches. The questions asked whether such practices should be prohibited, by
permit only or entirely without restrictions. Regarding the prohibition of beach driving,
64.5% of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed, with the strongly disagree
choice receiving the most votes. The margin of majority dropped in the second question
with 50.6% opposing a permit system and 45.5% in support of a permit system. The
third question resulted in a large margin of response (78.4%) expressly opposed to beach
driving with no restrictions, with the strongly agreed response category receiving the
largest number of responses (1057). Using the responses of these three questions, it
appears that most people feel that beach driving should be allowed to continue with some
restrictions or permit program.
Less than one percentage point separated the total responses on the question that asked if
Dare County should adopt zoning regulations to inhibit national chain retail stores.
47.6% of the responses were supportive of inhibiting national chain stores with 46.9%
opposed to zoning regulations designed to inhibit national chain retailers. No opinions
' accounted for 5.4% of the responses. Non-residents were more supportive than full-time
residents. Among those opposed to such zoning inhibitors, residents (972) outnumbered
the non-resident vote (811). In a related question, persons were asked if national chain
�+ retailers diminished local village character. A discernible majority, 68.5% agreed with a
higher number selecting "strongly agree" (1464) particularly non-resident property
owners. So while most respondents agreed that national chain retail stores diminish local
character, there was no clear majority in support of zoning regulations to inhibit their
presence in Dare County.
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Question 32 asked whether building construction should be regulated by an annual limit
or cap. The majority of the respondents (57.7%) supported an annual limit with non-
resident property owners representing 1,193 of the favorable votes and full-time residents
representing 937 votes of this majority. In the same fashion, more full-time residents
disagreed with an annual limit on permits than their non-resident counterparts.
Do large multi -bedroom rental structures contribute to the traffic problems? An
overwhelming number of residents and non-resident property owners (81.2%) indicated
that these types of residential structures do negatively impact our traffic problems. Of
this majority, 1,632 indicated strong agreement. The results were evenly spread between
both sets of respondents.
The next question focused on transportation again, and whether Dare County should
initiate a transportation improvement program independent from the State of North
Carolina. The results were mixed, with no clear consensus. 45.8% supported a separate
transportation program and 39.6% opposed a separate system. No opinions represented
14.7% of the total votes. This large no opinion percentage explains the lack of a 50%+
majority.
Item 35 posed the question that Dare County should initiate a fee for multiple vehicles at
rental cottages. 61.3% of the responses were opposed to this concept, with the largest
opposition coming from the non-resident property owners. Of those in support of the
fee, 30.8% were full-time residents of Dare County.
Regarding the charging of entry fees to Dare County, 72.5% of 3,843 responses were
opposed to entry fees. Non-residents outnumbered residents in opposition to this by a
vote of 1,578 to 1,211. The opposition from non-resident property owners was expected
since similar questions on past land use plan surveys generated the same responses from
this group.
The issue of seasonal peak populations and quality of life in Dare County were explored
in question 37. When asked if seasonal populations have improved the quality of life in
Dare County, 50.7% disagreed (1016) or strongly disagreed (812) with this statement.
Among this percentage, residents outnumbered the non-resident property owners who felt
that seasonal populations have not improved our quality of life. 44.1 % of respondents
strongly agreed (394) or agreed (1195) that our seasonal populations have improved our
quality of life. Those not sighting an opinion represented 5.1%.
Question 38 offered five choices of possible funding for shoreline stabilization.
Respondents were not limited to one choice but could select as many of the options as
they felt were viable funding methods. The five options were occupancy tax, special
district tax, user fees, federal/state funding or property tax. Out of 8, 115 responses
federal/state funding received 38.9% of the vote with occupancy tax ranking second with
21.9% and user fees ranked third with 19.8% of the vote. Special district tax and
property tax both received 9.7% of the total responses. In breaking down the options,
123

' residents preferred federal/state funding and occupancy tax as the top two funding
options for shoreline stabilization with user fees, special district taxes and property taxes
ranked respectively. Among non-residents, the ranking was federal /state funding, user
fees, occupancy taxes, property taxes, and special district taxes.
Item 39 explored the issue of federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and the
US Fish and Wildlife, and their relationship with Dare County citizens. When asked if
these federal agencies facilitate the needs of our residents, an overall majority of 67.5%
agreed with this statement. Most of the disagreement (22.6%) with the statement was
from full-time residents of Dare County. This may be explained by the fact that full-time
residents have day-to-day interaction, and sometimes conflicts, with federal agencies due
to the dominant federal presence in Dare County.
Question 40 asked whether lot sizes should be decreased to allow for greater density.
This question received the largest percentage consensus (94.9%) majority with 1,051
respondents disagreeing with the issue and 2,739 respondents indicating strong
disagreement.
' The issue of sea level rise was explored in the next question. When asked if the sea level
is rising to a degree that public response is necessary, 49.5% agreed that a public
Lresponse was needed, 38.1% disagreed, and 12.4% indicated no opinion on this matter.
The responses were spread evenly among both residents and non-residents.
The need for additional programs for more shoreline access was examined with 53.1 %
opposed to the topic and 40.2% indicating a need for more shoreline access. A greater
number of residents felt the County needed more shoreline access programs and a greater
number of non-residents were opposed to additional shoreline access. One possible
explanation for this difference is that a high percentage of the immediate shoreline,
especially the oceanfront is owned by non-resident property owners. Full-time County
' residents must compete with the seasonal visitors for shoreline access opportunities and
therefore may be more supportive of additional access facilities.
A similar topic, the acquisition of additional lands for future public purpose projects, was
the topic of the next question. 65.3% of the respondents were supportive and 27.0%
disagreed with this question. There was no discernible difference among residents and
non-resident responses.
Item 44 examined the compatibility of outdoor amusements such as go-carts and
miniature golf with the family resort goals of Dare County. A weak majority (56.4%) of
the responses strongly agreed or agreed with this issue. 37.0% selected disagree or
strongly disagree. Among those disagreeing with the issue, the majority were non-
resident property owners. These results were somewhat of a surprise since it has been
the County's experience that these types of land uses generate controversy and localized
opposition.
124

In response to the creation of an industrial park on the mainland for commercial storage
activities, 57.5% were supportive of this concept, with most selecting the agree option.
The no opinion option represented 15.1 % of the responses.
A large majority (64.4%) of the survey respondents indicated that existing regulations
and enforcement activities regarding unsightly structures and conditions are inadequate.
Of the 3,328 responses, 1,207 residents felt the current measures were inadequate and
938 non-residents felt the measure were inadequate. A total percentage of 26.8%
indicated that current measures are adequate, with an equal vote between both groups of
respondents.
Question 47 offered four alternatives for implementation of shoreline management:
abandon shoreline (do nothing), beach nourishment, seawalls, groins and similar
structures, and relocate inland. A total of 3,825 responses were received with a clear
consensus (62.1 %) or 2,375 votes, indicating beach nourishment as the preferred
response. Abandon shoreline or do nothing received the second highest vote with
22.6% or 866 votes. Seawalls, groins and similar structures ranked third with 344 votes
or 9.0% of the total. The relocate inland selection received the least number of votes at
240 or 6.3% of the total responses. Beach nourishment was the first choice among
both residents and non-resident property owners.
The last two questions on the survey concerned stormwater ponding and drainage. The
first question asked if public funds should be spent to address stormwater ponding and
drainage problems on private property. The second question asked if Dare County should
establish a full-time stormwater management and ditch maintenance program In
response to the first question a slight majority 57.6% disagreed or strongly disagreed with
the expenditure of public funds to address drainage problems on private property. 36.7%
were supportive of public finds being used to address problems on private property with
most selecting the agree choice. 5.7% indicated no opinion. A much larger percentage
(84.7%) was supportive of a full-time County stormwater and ditch maintenance
program. Of this majority 1,033 respondents selected strongly agree and 2,179 selected
the agree option. Among those opposed to a full-time County program (10.7%) 282
selected disagree and 126 indicated a strong disagreement. So while a strong consensus
supported the establishment of a full-time County program, most felt the program should
not address problems on private property.
SUMMARY: As stated earlier these survey results will be used with the results of other
public participation activities, including a series of public participation workshops held in
October 2000, to draft policies for an updated version of the Land Use Plan. While it is
important to note that the results of this mail -out questionnaire are not a scientifically
selected random sample or `poll", the results can be helpful in the identification of issues
that are likely to be divisive and those on which there appears to be a consensus. The
survey information will serve as a reliable indication of public sentiment and represent a
valuable research component. The results of the questionnaire, the public participation
workshops and the common-sense discretion of the Planning Board will all weigh heavily
in the development of policies for the Dare County Land Use Plan.
125

Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
No
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Opinion
Disa ree
The installation of bulkheads along the estuarme'shoreline should be
560 6 6 ,
'689"i;-,<20.°4�303:910'-'1006'
2981.,,813
`
24:1'
f�
>TOTAL
1249. 37.0 303
90..
. ` _ ...
1819
State regulations mandating vegetative buffers along the estuarine
1290 33.2
1589 40.9
225
5.8
294 7.6
225
5.8
shoreline should be supported.
TOTAL
2879 74.1
225
5.8
519
13.4
Oceanfront setbacks for development should be increased
1575 43.1 1387 �-37 9
147
40
312 8 5 236
6.5
TOTAL
2962 810
I47
4,0
.
Dare County should regulate land clearing and tree removal on your
451 11.6
805
20.7
119
3.1
1 232
31.7 1282
33.0
private property
TOTAL
1256
32.3
119
3.1
2514
64.7
Dare County should adopt rules regulating the placement of fill on,,-,
625- -16.6
1392i
37.0
188
5 0 ,
902
24.0 652
17.3
lots.
.TOTAL
2017
53 6
188 _
S;0
1SS4
41.3
Dare County should BAN the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) in
1269 33.2
661
17.3
228
6.0
1103
28.9 557
14.6
the waters of unincorporated Dare County.
TOTAL
1930
50.5
228
6.0
1660
43.5
Dare County should REGULATE.the use of.personal watercraft (jet
1494 38.9
1501
39.1..
193
5:0
339
8.8 316
' 8.2
skis) iri the waters of unmcorporated Datyre.Coun
-
TOTAL
_
. 2995
.78 0 193
;5if
Y GSS,.
170
Dare County should limit the number of personal watercraft (jet skis)
1523 39.9
1198
31.4
227
5.9
572
15.0 298
_ .. ,
7.8
in the waters of unincorporated Dare County.
TOTAL
2721
71.3
227
5.9
870
22.8
Surface g,water ;duality should be a high priority: .. , - ; _.
2325 ' 59.0
..1473
.37 4
�74
19 >
47
12 23
.fi
a
�.. a
TOTAL 3'798
96 4
'74
• ^ 19
70
Competing recreational uses in public waters should be regulated.
936 24.6
1773
46.7
260
6.8
578
15.2 253
21.9
TOTAL
2709
71.3
260
6.8
831
21.9
7. Protection of groundwater'should-be-a�high priority .,n 2455 61.4 'A402 "35.1
72 - .8 51 -
1 3 w. IT­
W-; 4
TOTAL
3$57 ' 96.5
72
::18 -
68
1.7
126

412 10.7 1482
38.6
145
3.8
905 23.6 891
23.2
Wetland loss due to PUBLIC purpose projects is acceptable if replaced by
manmade wetlands
TOTAL
1894
49.3
145
3.8
1796
46.8
-Wetland•loss due,to PRIVATE purpose`prajeots is acceptable ifreplaced :
337 : 8.7' i075
27 6 120
- 3:1
-1016 °26.1 -r1342
34 5
by manmade wetlands
TOTAL;
1412 36 3 120 31
:2358
:,60.fi
Marina development in or near waters OPEN TO shellfish fishing should
1427 37.6 1709
45.1
209
5.5
324 8.5 122
3.2
be discouraged.
TOTAL
3136
82.7
209
5.5
446
11.7
Marina development in or near waters NOT,OPEN TO shellfish.fishing
630 18.1 } ; 906
26.1
.,449. '_ 12.9
1222 35.2 ..: 265
7;6-
should be -discouraged ,.. _
TOTA> ,
1536"
44 2
` 449
;12 9
14$7" .42:$'
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
No
Disagree
Strongly
Ajaree
O inion
Disagree
Floating structures/homes should be prohibited
1544
; °41 4 1210 32:5
173
=7;6`
2754 , . 73 9 '313
$;4
660
17,7
The competition for marine resources (fish) between commercial and
1083
28.5
1731 45.5
194
5.1
491
12.9
303
8.0
recreational fisherman should be managed and regulated.
TOTAL
2814 74.0
194
5.1
794
20.9
All, unzoned portions of Dare County -should. be zoned -�u -
- k 1119, -.-30 4
1520 413
ry 245
6:7 w
q 67
127 327
8 9
_..
TOTAL , - ;_-
2639 .717 , 245
6.7
,
.
.
*794
21:G
Single family structures should be the prevalent type of land use in
1742
44.7
1530 39.2
154
3.9
394
10.1
80
2.1
Dare County
TOTAL
3272 83.9
154
3.9
474
12.2
Only low density multi family housmg should be allowed m Dare
921 .24 1 1194 3'14
209 S=S
=878 2340 608 15.9
County,.
; r;
TOTAL , ..'
2120 :55 5 209
....5 5 ,
1486
38.9
The County should provide zoning incentives to encourage private
602
6.6
1364 37.5
228
.
6.3
-..:` ....
846
, ..:..,
23.3
597
16.4
contractors to build affordable housing.
127

TOTAL
1966
54.1
228
6.3
1443
39.7
Single-family homes that are rented on aahort4erm basis should be
689
18 2 1012
26 9
217
5 7 1022
27 0 8521,22.5
'considered as commercial activity with different standards for par mg,
and trash pick IT applied to these uses
" --
,'TOTAL
1701
_.
.44 9
S 7
1874 .:
4
Current zoning regulations should be amended to allow parking
202
5.5 842
22.8
278
7.5 1191
32.2
1185
32.0
lot/street vendors to operate during the summer season.
TOTAL
1044
28.3
278
7.5
2376
64.2
Home occupations/home offices should be expanded to allow standards
405
12.2 1496
44 9.
470 " 14J 633
19.0
325
9.8
thal.arernore-flexible
`
_..
TOTAL
1901 _.
"57.1
470 14.1
958
28.8;
A reliable, regularly scheduled public transportation system should be
700
19.6 1409
39.5
283
7.9 727
20.4
451
12.6
developed in Dare County.
TOTAL
2109
59.1
283
7.9
1178
33.0
Public'funding should be used to supplement a private transportation
240
6.6 831
22.7 ..
259
7.1 1348
36.9
980
.26.8
TOTAL
-
- 1071
'_71 ,
2328,
617,
Beach driving should be PROHIBITED.
804
20.7 516
13.3
128
3.3 1114
28.7
1390
35.8
TOTAL
1320
34.0
128
3.3
2504
64.5
Beach driving should be BY PERMIT ONLY.. °.
642
16.fi .1119 '
28 9n
' 153 .
4.0 929
' 24.0
1029 -..
26.6
,' TOTAII
':1761
.45 5 .-, iS3
4.0
1958.
5Q.6
Beach driving should be WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS.
483
12.1 303
7.6
72
1.8 1184
29.8
1934
48.6
TOTAL
786
19.7
72
1.8
3118
78.4
Dare County should ddopt`zonmg'regulations"designed to inhibit'
;`942
24 8."" 867 '22 8
:207
5 4 "1144 ` 30 1 ' '
639 : '
16.8'.
national.cham retail stores;
'.
TOTAL
1809
47 6 ' 2Q7 <5.4
183
46.9
"
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly Agree
Agree
No Opinion
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
National chain retail stores' diminish local village character. 1464 -. 37.5
TOTAL 2474
1210' : 3"1;0 ;' 158 4 0 ' .800 20.5 272 7.0
' 68 5 :1072 " 27 5
128

Building permit construction should be regulated by an annual permit limit
923 25.0
1207
32.7
315
8.5
863 23.4
379
10.3
TOTAL
2130
57.7
315
8.5
1242
33.7
Large multi bedroom rental structures contribute to the traffic problems in
1632 . 42 5 1486 38 7 118
3 1
449 11 I.T. 157
. - 4.1.'
Dare County.
t
TOTAL `
3118' 81.2`' 118
'' 3.1 '
_ ..
"`606"
Dare County should initiate a transportation improvement program
360 10.7
1177
35.1
493
14.7
926 27.6
402
12.0
independent of the State -funded program.
TOTAL
1537
45.8
493
14.7
1328
39.6
Dare Coun ty. should initiate �a fee for multiple -vehicles at rental cottages.
491 ~ 12:9 ; 683 `
17 9 298 7.8 '
141 9 37.2
919
TOTAL
1174 30.8
-- 298
7 8 ,
2338
61.3
Entry tolls should be collected and used to fund transportation
294 7.7
565
14.7
195
5.1
1416 36.8
1373
35.7
improvements.
TOTAL
859
22.4
195
5.1
2789
72.5
Seasonal peak populations have improved the quality of life in :Dare-
u
394. 10.9 'x i 195'
,33.2
:185
`, 5.1
1016 _28.2
°' 812
-22 5:
.,County
_
TO TAL
1589:;
441 -
185
. ` 5.1
1828
50.7:
Federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and US Fish and
565 16.1
1805
51.4
349
9.9
506 14.4
288
8.2
Wildlife Service facilitate the needs of the residents and visitors of Dare
County.
TOTAL
2370
67.5
349
9.9
794
22.6
T.nt` riaPc' elirntl�l-rlecreac l tri'-a11nw fni renti r dPnaitv'nf dfivPlnnment'
717-::; 1: R r -; Od'r
. ,1 0 ,:;, - Co
" i c :
.,'l nc l , _:nc '2
: nn1n .
co c.
The sea level is rising to a degree that public response is necessary.
558
16.3 1137
33.2
425
7-7
12.4
937 27.3
372
10.8
TOTAL
1695
49.5
425
12.4
1309
38.1
Additional programs to provide more shoreline access should be initiated
354
9.4 1159 :
30.8
-252
6.7
1326 35.2
675
17.9
TOTAL °, .
1513
40:2= <252
:: 6.7
2001
53.1
Acquisition of addit
ional tional lands for future public purpose projects should be
630
17.1 1776
48.2
285
7.7
658 17.9
337
9.1
supported.
TOTAL
2406
65.3
285
7.7
995
27.0
Outdoor recreational facilities (go-carts; rnniature golf, etc) are
233
6 2 1897, .
50 2
253
6 7
762 20 2
b3S
16.$
compatible with the familyxesortgoals of Dare County.: = ,
_t
129

TOTAL'7­
3-7.
The creation of an industrial park on the Mainland of Dare County for
328 9.8 1601 47.7 508
15.1 507 15.1
415
12.4
commercial storage activities should be considered.
TOTAL 1929 57.5 508
15.1
922
27.5
Existiiigregulatioiis-�and,,pnfpFFFi�piit'activitiFsregardingu�,_�__
�_._
, 826.
24.8
s 'ctures as
di ion's,ar-e'.ac'e'quai.,,-,..,..-
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
No
I
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Opinion
Disagree
#
I %
%
#
%
#
%
,Public fimds: should be spent to address'stoffnwater ponding and: -
'320, 83
4031,28.0;:�,,,212
,:,5.7
1401
38.0
724 19:6
m pr a 16bi6fi Proper
private'P'
,
TOTAL �3 3&7`­,� 212
3.7
21 25�­
S7.6,
... ...
Dare County should establish a full-time program for stormwater
1033 27.2
2179 57.5
171 4.5
282
7.4
126 3.3
management and ditch maintenance.
TOTAL
—
3212 84.7
171 4.5
408 10.71
Question 38
Occupancy
Tax
Special District
Tax
User Fees
Federal/State
Funding
Property
Tax
TOTAL
Which of thd.following options should be used to
fund shoreline stabilization
Total'
%:
178V­ 2L9: ,,9.7: 1604 -,19.& 8115:1
9.7.,
Question 47
Abandon
Shoreline
Beach
Nourishment
Seawalls, groins, and
similar structures
Relocate
inland
TOTAL
The barrier island communities of Dare County should
implement which of the following:
# I %
# F—./—.
# %
Total
866 22.6 2375 62.1 344 9.0 240 6.3 3825
130

NON-RESIDENT/ RESIDENT RESPONSE ANALYSIS
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
I I
No
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
O inion
Disagree
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R INR
The installation of bulkheads alon g the estuarine shoreline should be . -
�288 :272 .308
-381 ..297 �� 6 �:
549 ° 457
499:
314
discon mued ..
Total
1249' 303
_ _.
_
813 `
State regulations mandating vegetative buffers along the estuarine shoreline
635 655 753
.
836
_
224 1
181 113
148
77
should be supported.
Total
2879
225
519
Oceanfrontsetbacks for development should bemcreased,
849 726 656
731 144 3
155 157 137 99
Total 2962 147
548'_v
Dare County should regulate land clearing and tree removal on your private
223 228 312
493
117 2
600 632
689
593
property
Total
1256
119
2514
Dare County should adopt rules regulating the placement of fill on lots
317 308 586
.106 184
483 = 419
371,,
; 281 =
:.
Total
2017
188 `
1554
Dare County should BAN the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) in the waters
540 729 285
376
225 3
580 523
311
246
of unincorporated Dare County
Total
1930
228
1660
Dare County should REGULATE, the ,,'use of personal watercraft (jet skis).in the',-;
_ 672 822 719
782
189 4 186 : 153
175
141
waters of uriincorporated'Date'County..
Total
2!*
655'
Dare County should limit the number of personal watercraft (jet skis) in the
668 855 594
604
223 4
286 286
170
128
waters of unincorporated Dare County.
Total
2721
227
298
Surface.water quality should bea htgh priority
1144 1181 784
70.' 4 27
12
Toal
t
3798
.�°
.74
�0
Competing recreational uses in public waters should be regulated.
P g P �
418 518 808
965
255 5
331 247
129
124
Total
2709
260
831
Protection ofgroundwater;should be a high priority _
1176 .,.1279 :. 658
744
68 �4..
- �31_
Total
3857 72
68
Wetland loss due to PUBLIC purpose projects is acceptable if replaced by
217 195 703
779
143 2
418 487
460
431
manmade wetlands
Total
1894
145
1796
Wetland loss due to.,PRIVATE purpose protects is.acceptable if replaced by
I67 170 5071. 568
116: 4 .
477 539
674
668
manmade wetlands :.. _ ..:.
.1412
' .:110
:.
2358
131

Marina development in or near waters OPEN TO shellfish fishing should be
670 757
795
914
205
4
196
128
75
47
discouraged.
Total
3136
209
446
Marina development in or, near waters NOT OPEN TO shellfish fishing should
293 337
406
500
444
' S'
648:
• 574
, 150
115
bechscouraged _. ..
Total
_
,.
1536
449.
1487
Floating structures/homes should be prohibited_
656 888
560
650
311
2
306
181
108
65
Total
2754
313
660
The competition for marine resources (fish) between commercial and
471 612
807
=924
.192 2; `
272
219
. 199
104 :.
recreationahfisherman°shouid<bemamged and regulated`.
Total
794
All unzoned portions of Dare County should be zoned.
513 606
687
833
242
3
267
200
232
95
Total
2639
245
794
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
I
No
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Opinion
Disagree
R
NR
I R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
Single family, structures should be the prevalent type of lan&use in Dare' County
; ,` ;
728 1014 755 ,775 151 3.,"
254 ," 140
53 ": 27
Total
3272
154
474
Only low density multi -family housing should be allowed in Dare County
399
522
627 572
206
3
437 441
272
336
Total
2120
209
1486
-The .Countyshould provide zoning incentives t6 encourage private.contractots#o
211
build affordable housing `"
Tv}aI"
106
_. 228
1443
Single family homes that are rented on a short-term basis should be considered as
531
158
636 376
214
3
358 664
202
650
commercial activity with different standards for parking and trash pick-up
Total
1701
215
1874
a lied to these uses.
Current zoning°regulation's should be amiended to`allow, parking:lot/street
137 65 493 349 �- '274
vendors'fo operate during the summer. season. ' _. .
Total
1044 . "
278
-. 2376
Home occupations/home offices should be expanded to allow standards that are
241
164 782 714 462
8
321 312 135 190
more flexible
Total
1901
470
958
=A reliable; regularly scheduled publtc transportation systemahould bedeveloped
455 ._..
245 :.768 641 274 ...
9, ;.
284. 443 � r160 291..;;
in Dare County• •. `
Total
2109
2$3
1178
Public funding should be used to supplement a private transportation system.
149
91 461 370 253
6
648 700 430 550
Total
1071
259
2328
132

.Beach driving should be PROIIIBITED.:._ . ; _
298:.
S06
. , 238 278 :
,:<126 .
. 2
577 537 - _ 702
688...
Total
1320
128
.,
2504`
Beach driving should be BY PERMIT ONLY.
307
335
579 540
150
3
433 496 472
557
Total
1761
153
1958
Beach driving Aould be.WFTHOUT_ANY RESTRICTIONS.;877
..::1057
Total
_
78672`'
3118
Dare County should adopt` zoning regulations designed to inhibit national chain
355
587
410 457
..,.
204
3
592 552 380
259
retail stores.
Total
1809
207
1783
National chain retail stores diminish local village character
~ < 545
,- 919 587 623 --
154
4
486 = 314 ~ 169
' 403- ,
Total
2674
158
1072'
Building construction should be regulated by an annual permit limit.
386
537
551 656
310
5
464 399 230
149 -]
Total
2130
315
1242
Large multi-bedrooin_rental structures contribute to the traffic problemsan Darer 866 766_... 664 °:822 =.v.113 5. > 221. 228 77 80-
C°"r'ty
A.
Total
318
118`
�606'
Dare County should initiate a transportation improvement program independent
192 168 611
566 485
8
450 476 203 199
of the State -funded program.
Total
1537
493
1328
Dare County should initiate a fee for multiple vehicles at tental cottages. ;
342 149 ! 430
253 293
5 ; 614 = ; 805 262 , 657
:.
Total
;.
i>l74 298
38
En tolls should be collected and used to untransportation improvements.
�' ttfd p p
211 83 327
238 192
3
668 748 543 8 30
Total
859
195
2789
Questions 1-49 except for 38 and 47
Strongly
Agree
No
Disagree
Strongly
A ree
Opinion
Disagree
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
Seasonal peak, populations have improved the quality of life in Dare County.
161 i. 233 ',
557638
181 ; 4
524
492 ,
:518 294-
Total:,
-1589
.185
,.
1828
Federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife
254 311
840 965
345 4
302
204
200 88
Service facilitate the needs of the residents and visitors of Dare County.
Total
2370
349
794
Lot, sizes .should be decreased to allow for greater density of development;
36 36 :
51 23 ,: =
57 2 .
503
548
1294 1445:.
Total
146
59
3790
133

M w. M= M M= M M= M= M
The sea level is rising to a degree that public response is necessary.
292
266
582
555
419
6
464 473
184 188
Total
1695
425
1309
Additional programs. to provide more shorelineaccess should be initiated
214
140
628
531
248
4 ,
596 - 730
: 255 420
Total`.
1513
252
2001
Acquisition of additional lands for future public purpose projects should be
336
294
870
906
281
4
303 355
151 186
supported.
Total
2406
285
995
Outdoor recreational facilities (go-carts, miniature golf, etc.) are compatible
123
,.. 110
1003
894 .
247
6
331 431
237 398
with the family resort goals of Dare County.
Total .
2130
253
1397'
The creation of an industrial park on the Mainland of Dare County for
207
121
802
799
499
9
249 258
184 231
commercial storage activities should be considered.
Total
1929
508
922
Existing regulations and enforcement activities' regarding unsightly structures
69
57
' 381 .
386
284
6
698 621
;,509 317
and/or conditions are adequate.
Total
893
290
2145
Public funds should be spent to address stormwater ponding and drainage
187
133
505
526
208
4
673 728
368 356
problems on private property.
Total
1351
212
2125
Dare County should establish a full-time program for stormwater management
578
455 ;
985
11941
166
5
143 139
69 57
and ditch maintenance.
Total ,
3212
171 '
408
Question 38
Occupancy
Tax
Special District
Tax
User Fees
Federal/State
Funding
Property
Tax
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
R
NR
Which of the following options should be used to fund"
shoreline stabilization . _LmTotal
R
40401
437
354
'814 '
' 790
1425
1731 '
245
; S39
1780
791';
1604
3156
784
8115
Question 47
Abandon
Shoreline
Beach
Nourishment
Seawalls, groins, and
similar structures
Relocate
inland
The barrier island communities of Dare County should
implement which of the following:
R
440 1426
1057 1318
172 1 172
154 1 86
Total
866
2375
344
240
3825
134

Chart 1
Non-residents
52%
Total Responses to Survey
IS Residents IN Non-residents
Residents
48%
Page 135

Chart 2
Resident Responses by Geographic Area
m o not ❑ 3.3%
❑7 3%
■ 6.0%
16.4%
716.2%
■ Colington
■ K Hawk
❑ R. Island
❑ Duck
■ Nags Head'i
® Hatteras
■ S. Shores
O KDH
■ Manteo
■ Mainland
❑ Martins Pt.
Page 136

Chart 3
Non-resident Responses by Geographic Area
❑ 30.2%
■ 47.1'
■Colington
■ K Hawk
O R. Island
O Duck
■ Nags Head
i Hatteras
■ S. Shores
® KDH
■ Manteo
■ Mainland
• Martins Pt.
Page 137

� � � ll� lilll� lllll� lllll� l� � lllll� llll� ll� lll� llll� lll� lll� llll� lllll� lllll�
Chart 4
Estuarine Shoreline Management
The installation of bulkheads along the State regulations mandating vegetative buffers
estuarine shoreline should be discontinued along the estuarine shoreline should be
supported
■AGREE ■DISAGREE ONO OPINION
page 138

Chart 5
Land Disturbing Activities
Dare County should regulate land clearing Dare County should adopt rules regulating
and tree removal on your private property the placement of fill on lots
■AGREE
■ DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 139

Chart 6
Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis)
Dare County should BAN the Dare County should Dare County should limit the
use of personal watercraft REGULATE the use of number of rentals businesses
personal watercraft
❑ AGREE
■ DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 140

>• I� Ili � l� I� I� r I� � � � Illll� I� � � � I� �
Chart 7
All unzoned portions of Dare County should be zoned.
AGREE DISAGREE
■ RESIDENT ■NON—RESIDENT
Page 141

Chart 8
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The County should provide zoning incentives to encourage private contractors
to build affordable housing
■ AGREE
■ DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 142

Chart 9
Single-family homes that are rented on a short-term basis should be considered as
commercial activity with different standards for parking and trash pick-up applied to these
uses.
■AGREE ■DISAGREE ❑NO OPINION
Page 143

m m
Chart 10
Beach Driving Alternatives
PROHIBITION BY PERMIT u0 FSTRICTIC:�
■AGREE ■DISAGREE

l� �■■ Illy ■■� � � ■� illy I� ■� ■■� � l� ■� llll� w l� �■ �
Chart 11
Large Commerical Structures
National chain retail stores diminish local Dare County should adopt regulations
village character designed to inhibit national chain retail
stores
■AGREE
■ DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 145

w w w Iw w w w w w �w � w w w w� w ■■ w
Chart 12
Traffic Issues
Large multi -bedroom rental structures Dare County should initiate a fee for
contribute to traffic problems in Dare multiple vehicles at rental cottages.
County
Y AGREE
■DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 146

w w w w w w w ■� w o w ■w iw w l� w ■� w w
Chart 13
Stormwater Issues
Public funds should be spent to address The County should establish a full-time
stormwater problems on private property program for stormwater and ditch
maintnance
®AGREE
■DISAGREE
❑ NO OPINION
Page 147

i i i = i
Chart 14
Which of the following options should be used to fund shoreline stabilization
Property Taxes
10%
Federal/State Fundin
38%
Occupancy Tax
1)1)oi
User Fees
20%
Special District Taxes
10%
Page 148

Chart 15
The barrier island communities of Dare County should implement which of the following:
Abandon shoreline
naoi
Seawalls, groins, and
similar
9%
Relocate it
6%
nourishment
62%
Page 149

APPENDIX B-2
Introduction
This report presents a summary of the issues identified, ranked and discussed during three public input meetings
held from October 3-5 in Kitty Hawk (Northern Beaches), Buxton (Hatteras Island) and Manteo (Roanoke Island/The
Mainland), respectively. The report may be used to suggest the principal areas in need of research and policy
development during the preparation of the Dare County Land Use Plan.
' How the Issues Were Identified
Shortly after each meeting was convened, the following question was presented on a flip chart for consideration by
' the citizens in attendance
What are some important growth and development issues.
facing Dare County and your local area?
After two or three minutes of quiet brainstorming, a "prompt sheet' was then shown on the flip chart suggesting
' several potential categories of concern for the group to consider. In view of the issues typically addressed in a land
use plan, the prompt sheet suggested the following categories:
• land use
• housing
• environmental issues
• economic development
• parks and open space
' • community appearance
• storm hazards
• roads/ transportation
• historic preservation
' shoreline access
• water/sewer
• drainage/stormwater
Participants first recorded their issues on 3 x 5 cards. These concerns were then transferred to flip chart sheets in
one or two small groups. After all the issues were listed on flip charts, participants were invited to choose their top
priority issues (from among all items) by a simple voting process using "sticky back' dots. The following pages
I contain a list of the issues that were identified during the three special public input meetings. All issues have been
typed up just as they were recorded on the flip charts. For the purpose of follow-up discussion, all issues have been
sorted into categories and arranged by location of the meeting. The assignment of any one issue to a particular
' category is a judgment call and is subject to other equally valid viewpoints. Similar issues have not been combined so
as to preserve the original content of each issue and to show the number of times that the same issue came up. The
individual issues within each category have been arranged in order of the number of priority votes received. The
results of the process are printed beginning on the next page.
Structure of This Report
' This report is presented in three sections as follows:
Section 1. Summary Ranking of Growth and Development Categories
Section 2. The Top 25 Growth and Development Issues
Common Themes and Objectives for the Dare County Land Use Plan
Section 3. Detailed Listing of Growth and Development Issues
Comparisons by Category, Ranking, and Location of Meeting
1
IHalifax County and Glenn Harbeck Associates
June 14, 2000

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
Section 1
Summary Ranking of Growth and Development Categories
The table below presents a summary of some 39 growth and development categories derived from public
comments received during "Future of Dare Week", October 3-5, 2000. The three meetings were held in Kitty
Hawk (Northern Beaches), Buxton (Hatteras Island), and Manteo (Roanoke Island and Mainland Dare County).
Expanded descriptions of the issues making up the top 25 categories listed in this table are presented in the
pages immediately following.
Rank
Order
Total of Priority
Votes from aff
Three Meetings
Growth and Development Issue Identified
1
39
Water Quality, Sewage Disposal, and Stormwater Management
2
35
Water Supply and Sewage Treatment
3
28
Economic Diversification
4
24
Schools and Education
5
22
Traffic Congestion
6
21
U.S. 158 Bypass
7
20
Growth Generally
8
20
Midway Bridge Roanoke Is)
9
18
Affordable Housing
10
17
Biking and Walking Paths
11
17
Intergovernmental Cooperation
12
17
Road Corridor Appearances, General)
13
14
Solid Waste Management/Recycling
14
14
Underground Utilities
15
13
NC 12, Function
16
12
NC 12, Appearance
17
12
Shoreline Erosion, Stabilization and Renourishment
18
11
Mass Transit
19
10
Channel Maintenance
20
9
Bonner Bridge
21
9
Large Rental Homes
22
8
Beach and Sound Access
23
7
Open Space and Greenways
24
7
Parks and Recreation
25
6
Wetland Consrvation
26
5
Beach Driving
27
5
Emergency Management
28
5
Mid -County Bridge
29
4
Code Enforcement
30
4
Mosquito Control
31
3
Light Pollution
32
2
Communications Technology
33
2
Competing Use of Waterways
34
2
Parking in Manteo
35
1
Architectural Planning
36
1
Borrow Pits
37
1
Historic Preservation
38
1
Offshore Drilling
39
0
Clearcuttin of Trees
--
5
Miscellaneous
Section 2
The Top 25 Growth Issues
Common Themes and Objectives for the Dare County Land Use Plan
The following common themes and objectives were derived from public input received during "Future of Dare Week",
October 3, 4, and 5, 2000.
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 151

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County land Use Plan
1. Water Quality, Sewage Disposal, and Stormwater Management
Maintaining and protecting water quality, particularly in the sounds, is perhaps the single greatest growth issue facing
Dare County. Measures to control stormwater runoff from development and agriculture, and pollution from septic
tanks or other inadequately treated waste, must be a primary focus of the land use plan.
2. Water Supply and Sewage Treatment
The debate continues regarding the pros and cons of centralized sewage treatment. On one side are those who view
centralized sewage treatment as the only way to gain some control over the location of urban development as well as
to reduce pollution from poorly functioning septic systems. On the other side are those who believe central sewers
would create enormous pressure for higher density development, perhaps changing the "low -profile" landscape of the
Outer Banks forever. The Land Use Plan should address this issue and seek to resolve it, if possible. (Note: The
divergence of opinions involving centralized sewage treatment does not appear to apply, to nearly the same extent,
when discussing centralized water distribution systems.)
3. Economic Diversification
Dare County should look for opportunities to diversify its economic base, and reduce its level of dependence on the
tourism dollar. A single devastating storm could wreck the economy and destroy the tax base, setting the area back
for years. A more diverse economy would also provide jobs for young people to return home after college and would
expand the economy to include more year-round jobs.
4. Schools and Education
Improvements in educational opportunities, particularly at the college -level, are needed and could bring many
benefits to Dare County. Young people would not have to leave the area to receive a college education. Training in
business management and high technology could bring in new businesses to diversify the local economy. Specialized
study in, for example, alternative energy sources could return Dare County to the forefront of innovation, in the
tradition of the Wright Brothers. A diverse economy would also be a more year-round economy.
5. Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion has become the most visible negative consequence of Dare County's continuing popularity as a
tourism destination. Some sections of the County's major roadways come to a complete standstill during peak
summer visitation periods. As the County's seasonal population has grown, the number of vehicles and vehicle trips
on the county's major roadways has grown exponentially. Solutions must be found to address this growing problem.
Such solutions must include alternatives other than simply adding another lane on the highway.
6. U.S. 168 Bypass
The U.S. 158 bypass exemplifies the type of roadway conditions that most Dare County residents disdain. This
uninterrupted, broad expanse of pavement divides many of the County's northern beach communities in half. A large
number of driveways and turning movements, combined with a central turning lane (a.k.a. "chicken lane", "suicide
lane") create a traffic environment conducive to accidents. Discussions about widening the roadway to create even
more traffic lanes make the U.S. 158 corridor all the more hazardous for pedestrians and bicyclists and would further
erode the appearance of the area. Converting the current "suicide land' into a landscaped central median with
controlled turning intersections could do much to improve both the function and appearance of U.S. 158.
7. Growth Generally
There appears to be a growing sentiment, (more noticeable than just five or six years ago) in which people are
repeating the question "How much growth is enough?" Underlying this question are concerns that the County's rapid
growth is exceeding the available infrastructure (i.e. especially roads, water, and sewer) and causing significant
adverse impacts on the natural environment. Questions also arise concerning the fundamental purpose of more
growth. Some suggest that the area's citizens should together decide upon a clear vision for the future and then
employ the land use plan and other growth management tools to work toward that vision.
8. Midway Bridge
The Midway Bridge from Mann's Harbor to Roanoke Island will introduce a variety of changes to the landscape on
both sides of the new bridge. Most public concerns relate to new traffic patterns that will occur as a result of the new
bridge, as well as the drainage situations created by the approaches to the bridge. There is a good opportunity to
coordinate land use and transportation planning at these important new intersections.
9. Affordable Housing
As the cost of real estate continues to mount, construction costs escalate, and the demand for vacation property bids
up rental rates to record levels each year, affordable housing has become increasingly rare on the Outer Banks. The
problem is particularly acute for young families looking for their first home, and for seasonal workers in need of
temporary housing during peak season months. Innovative development practices, such as allowing apartments
above retail stores and restaurants, may be part of the answer.
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 152

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
10. Biking and Walking Paths
The gradual introduction of biking and walking paths on Roanoke Island and in several of the northern beach
communities has heightened public awareness as to the desirability and usefulness of such facilities. Area citizens
view such paths as a very visible, beneficial amenity for both seasonal visitors and year-round residents alike. The
prospect of installing a complete network of biking and walking paths throughout Dare County has near universal
support.
11. Intergovernmental Cooperation
The need for improved intergovernmental cooperation cuts across all levels of government and could potentially
involve a host of functions. At the local intergovernmental level, examples include the consolidation of law
enforcement and fire protection services and greater cooperation between the County and its municipalities
concerning land use planning. At the federal -local government interface, Dare County has vital interests related to the
management of lands under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Coast Guard,
etc. These interests should be bome out in the land use plan.
12. Road Corridor Appearances, Generally
Residents have observed a discrepancy in community appearance and development standards in the unincorporated
County when compared to the municipal areas of Dare County. Concerns may be identified at two levels. The first
level relates primarily to code enforcement issues such as junked cars, construction equipment, trash in yards and
other eyesores. The second includes broader issues related to development standards controlling signage and the
proliferation of chain store strip development along some of the County's most heavily traveled roadways. Will Dare
County preserve the uniqueness that is the Outer Banks or will It become "Anywhere USA°?
13. Solid Waste Management/Recycling
Citizens are aware that Dare County has a solid waste management problem heightened, in part, by the lack of
suitable disposal sites and by the distances that trash haulers must travel to reach disposal locations outside the
County. Greater recycling has the potential to reduce the volume of waste that must be handled. Support for greater
recycling may come from seasonal visitors to the area who are already accustomed to recycling programs in their
home communities.
14. Underground Utilities
Support for the undergrounding of utilities is based upon both functional and aesthetic objectives. The
undergrounding of utilities, including telephone, cable, electricity, and broadband Internet, would make the County
less vulnerable to service interruptions during storm events, as well as improving the aesthetic image of the area.
16. Highway NC 12, Function
The functional utility of Highway NC 12 is threatened by two problems. The first problem relates to the increasing
traffic congestion and total reliance upon this single artery for all north -south travel on Hatteras Island. Traffic during
peak summer season months can slow to a crawl. The second problem relates to the growing vulnerability of the
highway to oceanside erosion and washover. The challenges of building on a dynamic barrier island have become
more evident as the efforts to save NC 12 are compromised by an unrelenting ocean. County policies should provide
clear direction to State and Federal authorities in resolving this issue.
16. Highway NC 12, Appearance
Highway NC 12 has many of the appearance problems noted above under Road Corridor Appearances, Generally
(#12 above). Foremost among the concerns are signage problems including, particularly, the elimination of off -
premises signs and sandwich board signs. Observers noted that billboards and sandwich signs are already prohibited
in the County zoning ordinance but there is little enforcement. Potential solutions include a concerted effort at code
enforcement of existing standards or the establishment of "special highway corridor zoning" similar to that already in
place on Roanoke Island.
17. Shoreline Erosion, Stabilization and Renourishment
Shoreline erosion is an ongoing challenge that threatens both public infrastructure investments, such as roads and
utilities, as well as private property, such as oceanfront and soundfront real estate. Beach renourishment is the
favored method of addressing shoreline erosion along the oceanfront.
18. Mass Transit
Mass transit has merit in Dare County. The limited number of transportation routes in the County are becoming
increasingly congested, particularly during the peak summer season. The linear nature of the county's barrier island
communities lends itself especially well to a north -south transit service. Mass transit could provide a transportation
alternative to workers, especially if land use and development patterns were designed to support transit stops.
19. Channel Maintenance
Water dependent commerce and recreation are at the foundation of Dare County's economy and way of life.
Commercial fishermen and recreational boaters alike rely upon somewhat predictable navigation channels for
industry, enjoyment and safety on the water. Can the County take on a more proactive role in seeing that primary
navigation channels remain clear and open?
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn HarbeckAssodates 153

' Growth and Development Issues for the Dan: County Land Use Plan
20, Bonner Bridge
' Recent discussions about an uncertain future for Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet has all Dare County citizens, but
particularly Hatteras Island residents, very concerned. The Land Use Plan must take a firm stance in support of this
Vital transportation link.
21. Large Rental Homes
Many residents are concerned about the impacts that large rental homes are having on the County's infrastructure
and services, as well as on other residences in their vicinity. Such impacts include cars parked all over the yard and
street, excessive paved areas (to park multiple cars), trash cans overflowing, light pollution from swimming pool lights
left on all night, and septic systems unable to keep up with the volume of wastewater generated. Other issues relate
to the loss of community character and include the destruction of traditional waterfronts being displaced by expensive
rental homes, historic beach cottages being tom down and replaced by "mini hotels" and views to the water being
totally blocked by these huge structures. From a regulatory standpoint, there are concerns that such "mini hotels" are
subverting the intent of the Dare County zoning ordinance with regard to single-family residential districts.
22. Beach and Sound Access
As the beach and sound waterfronts of Dare County become increasingly developed, opportunities for public access
to the water become more scarce. The number of waterfront access sites is simply not increasing at a rate
commensurate with the overall population growth of the county. At the same time, water access is fundamental to the
attractiveness of Dare County as a place to live and vacation.
23. Open Space and Greenways
Despite the relatively large percentage of the County land area in public ownership, there is, nonetheless, concern for
a lack of greenspace, particularly within developed areas. Efforts to procure more greenspace might include
cooperative arrangements for the multiple uses of lands held by the federal government, and greater use of cluster
zoning.
. 24. Parks and Recreation
In an area like Dare County, virtually surrounded by nature and the outdoor opportunities made available, it is
sometimes easy to overlook traditional park and recreation needs. Ball fields, tennis courts, and other structured
recreational facilities are in heavy demand in Dare County. More are needed, particularly in those parts of the County
currently underserved.
25. Wetland Conservation
Wetlands contribute to the environmental health of the estuarine ecosystem in a number of important ways. Wetlands
absorb and filter stormwater runoff; they help reduce flooding; they provide nursery habitat for estuarine wildlife; and
they protect soundside shorelines from wave action and erosion. Their conservation should continue to be an
important objective of the Dare County Land Use Plan.
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 154

APPENDIX B-2
Section 3
Detailed Listing of Growth and Development Issues Comparisons by Category, Ranking and Location of Meeting
Total Votes
Issues from
Votes
Issues from
Votes
Issues from
Votes
from all 3
Northern Beaches Meeting
I
1
Hatteras Island Meeting
Roanoke Island/Mainland Meeting,
Meetings
October 3, 2000
October 4, 2000
October 5, 2000
39
Water quality, Sewage Dlsposal,,and ,
12
ater, Quality, Sewage Disposal, and
8', .:
.Water;Quallty,; swage Disposal, and
19
Stormwa#er Mana `ement:r;
StormwaterMana ement.';:;
u, ` .
Stormwater Mara "ement
Maintaining water quality in the sounds
4
Protect/increase water quality in sounds
4
Water quality -- ocean, sounds,
5
working in concert with our neighboring
groundwater, aquifers -- new methods
counties. i.e. septic tanks, stormwater
regarding waste and alternatives to
runoff, farm runoff, etc.
central sewage
Problems with water runoff and drainage -
4
Would like to see comprehensive
4
Sound water quality
5
- e.g. parking lots to have permeable
stormwater management plan
material rather than asphalt.
implemented (in process now) --
needed 4 years ago (from last land use
Ian
Water quality in sounds -- for humans and
4
With new bridge discharging to U.S. 64
3
fish life -- stormwater runoff, hogs
going west -- they're creating a major
upstream, etc..
drainage problem -- will drain primarily
into three yards
Unlined dump sites in regard to water and
3
round quality
Stormwater management concerns
2
Clean out existing ditches
1
Stormwater management in Manteo --
0
cleaning out ditches is not enough. Look
at new technologies -- other than
dumping water overboard quickly'
Halifax County and Glenn Herbeck Associates June 14, 2000

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
35
Water Supply and Sewage Treatment
8,
Water, Suppli and Sewa a°,Treatment
1
Water:Su I sand: Sewa e.Treatment
26 ..
Septictsewage disposal --commercial and
4
If we continue development as in the
1
Fire protection for unincorporated areas.
7
domestic -- e.g. Inspect periodically —
past, we need to be looking and water
Extension of waterlines.
there probably Won't be central sewage
at sewer.
on the beach side
Countywide sewer and water
3
Countywide central sewerage
6
Inspection of existing sewage systems.
1
Water quality -- ocean, sounds,
5
(Especially close to estuaries)
groundwater, aquifers -- new methods
regarding waste and alternatives to
central sewage
All county infrastructure -- e.g. water
0
Quality of drinking water. Particularly well
4
supply and distribution, sewage treatment,
water.
etc.
Manteo central sewer not expand out into
2
County areas, to prevent sprawl.
Central water throughout Count
1
Sewerage system or solution for Stumpy
1
Point
28 "°
Economic, Diversification:'.
131,
-Economic,'Diversification
2:
EconomicDiversiflcation :
13 -
Diversification of economic base (not just
10
Diversification of County's economy --
1
Forman economic development council to
5
tourism)
more technology — schooling for
allow our young college graduates to
technology -- not total reliance on
come back here (bring in other types of
tourism
jobs -- white-collar) big insurance
company, e.g.
Incubator for new businesses and
2
Set up business incubators as joint
1
Creating new economic zones for
4
commerce
venture between local government,
redevelopment
Chamber of Commerce, and private
sector -- small, affordable spaces for
startup businesses.
Incentives to small, nonpolluting industry
1
Economic development other than
4
to locate on the mainland
tourism.
Attracting a permanent workforce
0
Expansion of ear -round jobs
0
Need for development of higher paying
0
jobs
24
Schools and: Education
10
Sc�iools and Education,... , T� . ,
6 ;
Schools and Education
8
Educational opportunities above the 14
6
School — provide same opportunities to
5
Dare County to approach North Carolina
4
year level"
kids on Hatteras as in other areas of the
University system to get real university
County (e.g. qualified teachers)
here -- for business management and
high-technology -- would create winter
population, would attract jobs/companies
too.
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Hanbeck Associates 156

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
Improvement costs of school system.
2
Access to new elementary school --
1
Planning is for the future -- we should be
4
current access is through a residential
the first small community to support
area -- more direct access, NC 12 and
alternative energy in a big way. (Look at
new power lines.
what Wright Brothers did) Start a college
here for solar, wind power, etc.
Vocational training
1
Local higher education opportunities --
0
to at least 4 year college -level
Need a twenty-year plan -- for schools
1
(elementary, college, etc.), senior citizens
22
TrafficCon
12 �
Traffic -Con estion
2`>
Traffic;Con estlon ; ,
8
Traffic congestion in entire County
6
Traffic, congestion, safety -- need for
2
Flow of traffic 64/264 through Manns
4
alternative travel study, mass transit,
Harbor, Manteo to the beach, especially in
additional ferry services, etc.
summer. New bridge and "bypass" of
Manteo may help.
What's the feasibility of alternate north --
4
Concern for maintenance and minimum
2
south routes to link our communities?
standard for old roads
Heavy traffic on Collington Road West--
2
Summer traffic congestion (countywide)
2
new development will add to the problem
Danger of Collington Road and possible
0
improvements
21•,
ss
9
Elimination of middle turn lane from 158 --
4
Overtaxing our infrastructure -- e.g.
8
"the chicken lane".
U.S. 158 going to seven lanes -- (not
advocating) the answer shouldn't always
be more, bigger and "better". Rethink our
ultimate goal.
Widening of 158 -- adding two more lanes
2
Middle lane of U.S. 158 -- elimination
1
-- how many more can we have without
just becoming a big parking lot?
Traffic hazards, excessive driveway
1
access -- too many turnings on and off
major streets
No crown on bypass creates hydroplaning
1
problems
Overhead crosswalks -- over 158
2
20
Growth General) .�,�,,t
2
-Growth�Generall ,: ;; -
�5`.
.-GrowthGenera l�
13
Dealing with growth in reference to quality
1
Ask the question: "What's the limit?"
5
Plan for County's desirable density in
8
of life
(Revisit County and Hatteras Island
2040, (the right density) and then work it
Carrying Capacity Study)
backward. (What we want it to look like,
quality of life/language of "tourists" versus
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates
157

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
a safety standpoint. E.g. people coming residential areas.
out of driveways.
Expansion of bike trails 0 Upgrading of Airport Road and addition of 1
bike paths
17..,, ._ ...
.. me overnmentat;Coo eration,
8
'Inte overnmentalCoo eration
4;,
Inter overnmental Coo ration
6 ;
Regionalization -- consolidation of our
5
Government owns 80 percent of land --
4
More cooperation between the County
3
municipalities e.g. police department, fire
better sharing of land area between
and municipalities regarding connections
department, etc.
local government and federal
of land use plans
overnment
Duplication of services
3
Consolidation of services
1
Better coordination between Dare Co and
1
federal agencies, i.e. Coast Guard,
Wildlife, Park Service, etc.
Road Corridor Appearances, Generally
3 ^
Road Corridor Appearances,
Road Corridor Appearances, Generally
14
General)
Enforcement of existing regulations:
3
we don't have any appearance
7
wetlands, signage, things that are
ordinances in the unincorporated area.
supposed to help with our growth issues
Need to address appearance at least
along the right-of-way (Hope your
company comes at night.) (e.g. old cars,
construction equip., trash
We're beginning to lose those qualities
4
that visitors come to see. We're starting to
look like everywhere else. (Strip
development, chain stores, fast food
restaurants, etc.
Elimination of abandoned cars and other
3
eyesores.
14
Solid Waste ManagemenVRacycling
4
Solid Waste Management/Recycling
7 ;.
Solid Waste Mana ement/Rec clip
3
Long-range plan on trash disposal is
4
Trash hauling/disposal for whole
4
Cost of landfill dumping -- no solution but
3
needed.
County, but especially for Hatteras
it's a problem (construction debris going to
Island.
Currituck instead of going to C&D landfill.
Expand our recycling program --
3
centers in every village on Hatteras
Island.
14
Under round:Utiltties
7
Vndec round'Utllities .
7'
Under round;Utillties.
All weather utilities including phone, cable,
5
Reduction of utility outages
4
and broadband Internet.(Electricity too)
Hurricane preparedness and mitigation
2
Underground or buried electric cables --
2
recovery -- underground utilities,
in favor of
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harheck Associates
159

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
"visitors/guests"
How much more growth can the County
1
Does anyone on planning board/in
0
At what time do we stop collecting a
5
take? Based on infrastructure, roads,
planning department know how close
special tax to bring even more people
environment, etc.
Hatteras Island in the County are to
here? -- when we're already maxing out
build out?
our infrastructure.
20
Midway t3rid a Roanoke is
Midway Bridge Roanoke is
Midway Bride` Roanoke 1s
20 .
How to deal with new traffic pattern on
7
Roanoke Island at this end of the bridge.
Flow of traffic 64/264 through Manns
4
Harbor, Manteo to the beach, especially in
summer. New bridge and "bypass" of
Manteo may help.
Highway 64 West in Manns Harbor --
3
traffic light to be considered at new bridge
where traffic comes off.
With new bridge discharging to U.S. 64
3
going west -- they're creating a major
drainage problem -- will drain primarily
into three yards
Structuring of the midway intersection
2
when the new bridge opens
Intersection of the Manns Harbor side of
1
new bridge
Inclusion of corridor from new bridge to
0
Baum Bridge
Concern for "old" 64 corridor
0
Affordable:Housin
8
Affordable;Housin ,
4:
Affordable Housin
6
Affordable housing
5
Affordable housing for our residents --
4
Affordable housing -- lack of it -- affecting
3
workforce -- single-family and multi-
workers for every industry.
family.
Multifamily affordable housing --
2
Affordable housing
3
especially for the workforce
Affordable housing, single-family --
1
shortage
1T_ :, _ .
:Biking andWaikin :Paths
4
; Bikin and,. `;Paths.° : -
i3'
Bikin .and=Walkin :Paths � : � . -
5
County walk/bike path that connects all
2
Bike and walk paths -- intra Hatteras
4
Equity throughout County with amenities,
3
the communities and takes advantage of
Island villages, exclusive of Park
i.e. bike paths
existing paths in So. Shores, Manteo, Kitty
Service properties.
Hawk, etc.
Overhead crosswalks -- over 158
12
1 Bike paths -- how to fund, address from
4
1 Require developers to put sidewalks in
1
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 158

M
Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
especially power. Cooperation between
the County and Feds on dune
maintenance and sand fencing.
Visual impact of aboveground 1
owerlines
13 -
NC 12, function
13
NC':12:Function :: ,..._;:
NC 12` Function:
Make NC 12 an all weather Highway
a
Highway 12 access -- so congested now.
3
It's going to get worse, plus erosion
problem. How to keep it viable. -- travel
time is so long.
Hurricane preparedness and mitigation
2
recovery -- underground utilities,
especially power. Cooperation between
the County and Feds on dune
maintenance and sand fencing.
12 .:.
NC 12,° A earance . , ,, : I-. . ;. 4 -
12 ..
NC.12, A earance
NC 12,;A sarance ,
Control signage on Hatteras Island --
5
eliminate off premises signs billboards
Enforcement of existing regulations:
3
wetlands, signage, things that are
supposed to help with our growth issues
Corridor zoning for all of Hatteras Island --
3
e.g. as in Manteo, some controls over
major thoroughfares. -- Could work in
Hatteras Village, in particular.
Eliminate sandwich board signs, Highway
1
12 right-of-way -- they're all over. (As
prohibited in County zoning ordinance
Some type of land use control along NC
0
12 -- e.g. junkyards, so much trash --
eyesores and danger -- reasonable
restrictions.
Stabilization and 7 reline Erosion, Stabilization and 5 ;,Shoreline Erosion, Stabilization and
? Renourishnent �',.: Renourlshrnent• Renourlshment
Beach nourishment 4 Beach nourishment -- areas with high 5
erosion should be renourished.
Shoreline erosion rates, threatened 3
structures and infrastructure
Stabilization of sound side erosion 1 0
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 160

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
Storms/storm damage. Shifting islands --
0
what to do about NC 12, houses falling
into ocean
11
Mass:Translt
3
Mass.Transtt
2
Mass:- Transit;
S
Public mass transit
3
Traffic, congestion, safety -- need for
2
Look toward public transportation -- deal
6
alternative travel study, mass transit,
with traffic congestion and give workers
additional ferry services, etc.
an alternative (buses, water taxis) land
use patterns to support transit. (Perhaps
look at Wright Brothers, other major
locations as stops)
public transportation affordable
0
10
Channel Maintenance ... ; . „ : ; . ;
6 ; .:
:ChannelMaintenanc®
4
Channel Maintenance
County should look into dredging some
4
Oregon Inlet, maintenance and
2
channels -- people constantly hitting
engineering to keep the inlet open, for
bottom
sand bypass and for use of sand in
renourishment
Maintenance of shipping channels
2
Need to deepen sound navigation
2
channels, especially for commercial
use.
9
Bonner:2rid a
5 • :•�
Bonner Brld a : _
;4�
Bonn er;Brid e..
Undependability of passage on NC 12 on
2
Oregon Inlet Bridge -- What are we
4
Bonner Bridge and south
going to do about it?
Bonner Bridge -- replacement,
2
reconstruction(keep the County linked
Bridges: maintenance of and development
1
of new bridges
9 .
Lar e'Rental Homes
6
Lar a Rental Homes
4
Lar a Rental;Homes
0
How to deal with "mini hotels" enormous
3
Regulation of house size, or regulations
3
Define "single family home" in regard to
0
single-family' houses for rent
associated with big house problems --
mini -hotels
cars parked all over, trash cans
overflowing, too much concrete parking
area, etc.. Rental mini -motels
Impact of large rental homes
2
Preservation of historic places and
1
ways of life. E.g. any older home,
waterfront "home-tels" are forcing out
commercial fishing.
Ocean and sound side developments
0
blocking views of the water from roadways
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates
161

= = = = = = = = i = = M = w = = = w
Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
8
Beach and Sound Access
2
Beach and Sound Access'
4
Beac and Sound Access
2
Expansion of beach accesses
0
More public accesses to both sound
and ocean.
4
Sound access on the east side of
Roanoke Island
2
Expansion of accesses to the sounds
2
7
Open S ace'and Greenwa s
2
Open Space and Greenwa s
4
Open Space and Greenwa s ..
1
Rapid, unchecked growth versus the need
2
Government owns 80 percent of land --
4
Cluster zoning to save greenspace, we
1
for open/greenspace
better sharing of land area between
don't have to have lots so big.
local government and federal
government
Future opportunities of greenways
0
Smart growth, balancing growth with the
0
need for green and open space.
7, . r; .. , ,.,.,
,Parks a nds:,Recreatlon....
0
Parks and Recreation
3
Parksand Recreation ...
4.
Common land devoted to the youth of our
0
Need greenspace, parks, tennis courts
3
Parks and recreation areas — public -- all
4
community -- parks and recreation as in
in middle of Hatteras Island (Rodanthe,
groups, all over the County.
other communities
Waves, Salvo
Creating new recreational areas (ball
0
fields, etc..
6
Wetland onservation °
3
Wetland Conservation ,
3
Wetland: Conservation . .
Stricter rules on wetland transfers --
2
Enforcement of existing regulations:
3
(mitigation away from your property as
wetlands, signage, things that are
excuse to fill wetlands)
supposed to help with our growth issues
Protection of sound side vegetation
1
(weeds andgrasses)
Wetland protection is important for water
0
quality, many other things
5
Beach Dry n
5
:BeachDrivin
Beach Drlvin
Preserve beach driving -- plans at
5
moment could lead to severe restrictions -
- need beach driving for Fall economic
boost.
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 162

Growth and Development Issues for the Dam County Land Use Plan
5
Emergency Management
1
Eme enc Mana ement
2
Emer enc :Mana ement
2
Development of better emergency
1
Hurricane preparedness and mitigation
2
Controlling density in flood prone areas --
1
management system
recovery -- underground utilities,
e.g. Pirates Cove so dense (in
especially power. Cooperation between
floodplains).
the County and Feds on dune
maintenance and sand fencing.
.
Study of loss of tax base in case of
1
catastrophic event
5
Mld=Coun ,:Brad" e , .
2 ;:
Mid -County Bride
3
Mid -County Bride
Bridges: maintenance of and development
1
Mid -County Bridge in Currituck to
3
of new bridges
alleviate traffic problems up there.
We need big help in Duck -- all those
1
people going up to Currituck-- if they
widened NC 12 in Duck, it would destroy
the village. (Obvious solution is midcounty
bridge)
4 ,"Cod
'Enforcement
3
Code Enforcement
Code -Enforcement
1 .
Enforcement of existing regulations:
3
Development of minimum housing
1
wetlands, signage, things that are
standards.
supposed to help with our growth issues
4
Mos' uito,,ControV�
1
Mosquito Control
2
;Mosquito, Contro
1
Mosquito control -- information, system of
control ditches to keep areas drained.
1
In Buxton, mosquito control -- both
I drainage andspraying.
2
Elimination of mosquitoes and their breed
areas.
1
_.
Li ht Pollution
°3
. Li ht�,Pollution
Light all night long from private swimming
0
Lights and light pollution/lighting
3
pools of rental houses
ordinance for the County. (Security
lighting could be shielded, ground
li htin of si ns could be controlled
2
Communications Technolo
2
ommunications,Technolo .� ,, .
Technology
Development of a broader band of
1
Internet access
Telecommunications services quality
1
Opportunity to renegotiate cable contract
0
to bring in the latest technology -- the
County should drive the contract rather
than the contractor
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates
M M r M r M
163

Growth and Development Issues for the Dare County Land Use Plan
2
Use of Waterways
2,
se'of:Waterwa s .
Use o ;Waterwa s
Uses in the waterways --increasing uses
2
and conflicts -- e.g. kayakers, jet skis,
1
swimmers, fishermen, etc.
2 Parking In Manteo Parkin In Manteo + Parkin In Mantew2:'
I I I I I I improve parking ion Manteo 1 2 1
1
Architectural Planning,
1
Architectural Planning
Architectural Planning
Architectural planning-- put planning in
1
place to control aesthetic appearance of
our towns
1 Borrow Pits: Borrow Pits .Borrow'Pits
Concern about borrow pits on Roanoke 1
Island -- lowering land elevation.
1
Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation
A,
Historic Preservation
Preservation of historic places and
1
ways of life. E.g. any older home,
waterfront "home-tels" are forcing out
commercial fishing.
1 Offshore Drilling1 Offshore Drillin Offshore Drilling'
Impact on the county in the event of 1
offshore drilling
0
`Ciearcuttin of Trees
Clearcuttin of Tcees •
0:
Clearcuttin of Trees-
No unnecessary clearcutting of
properties being developed.
0
5
Miscellaneous
0
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
5
Lighted rest areas for safety
0
Better use of 800 plus acres of land
3
between Manns Harbor and Stumpy
Point.
Future development of Sk co area
2
Expansion of runway and commercial
0
services at airport
Dare County Planning Board and Glenn Harbeck Associates 164

APPENDIX B-3
Wetlands
Existing policies
Policy 2.1.2 (a) Dare County advocates the use of existing State and Federal regulatory programs
as adequate measures for protecting and preserving coastal wetland areas of environmental
concern.
Policy 2.1.2 (h-1) Dare County supports the Coastal Resources Commission's policy to mitigate
losses of coastal resources for those projects shown to be in the public interest as defined by the
standards in 15NCAC7M.0700 et. Seq. and only after all other means of avoiding or rrLnimi�ing
such losses have been exhausted.
Policy 2.1.2 (h-2) Dare County supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nationwide permit
program.
Survey: Wetland loss due to PUBLIC purpose projects is acceptable if replaced by manmade
wetlands.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1894
149.3
1796
46.8
145
3.8
Survey: Wetland loss due to PRIVATE purpose projects is acceptable if replaced by manmade
wetlands.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1412
1 36.3
2358
1 60.6
120
3.1
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County supports wetland mitigation in order to accommodate public purpose projects.
b. Dare County does not support wetland mitigation in order to accommodate public purpose
projects.
c. Dare County supports wetland mitigation in order to accommodate public purpose project
only when other alternatives have been exhausted.
d. Dare County supports wetland mitigation in order to accommodate private purpose projects.
e. Dare County does not support wetland mitigation in order to accommodate private purpose .
project.
f. Dare County supports wetland mitigation in order to accommodate private purpose projects
only when other alternatives have been exhausted.
Staff Comments: All of the existing policies are adequate and continue to represent the
County's positions on wetland issues. Although the issue of wetland mitigation for public
purpose projects did not receive widespread support among the survey respondents, there are
some instances where wetland mitigation is unavoidable. The new Midway Bridge is one
example of a public purpose project that involves wetland mitigation.
165

Ocean Shoreline
Existing policy --
Policy 2.1.2 (e) Oceanfront shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect
and preserve the natural resources along the oceanfront.
Survey: Oceanfront setbacks for development should be increased.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
2962 1
81.0
548
15.0
147
4.0
Alternatives for Consideration
a. An increase in the oceanfront setback should be advocated.
b. The setback formula should remain unchanged.
c. A decrease in the oceanfront setback should be advocated.
d. The setbacks on the oceanfront should be eliminated.
e. Increase of oceanfront setbacks should be considered during reconstruction and/or a
component of a post -disaster reconstruction plan.
Staff Comments: Currently, there is an initiative under study by the Coastal Resources
Commission to increase the oceanfront setbacks for large residential structures. Staff is unsure
of the logic behind this initiative and questions the wisdom of the CRCs actions compared to the
controversy sure to evolve as the initiative proceeds to public hearing. Although the survey
results indicate support for an increase in oceanfront setbacks, the current setbacks applied to
new construction are adequate. Staff feels the existing policy is adequate, however, it may be
helpful to include some language specifically addressing an increase in setbacks in response to
the CRC's initiative.
Estuarine Shoreline
Existing Policies —
2.1.2 (b) Estuarine shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and preserve
the natural resources of the estuarine waters. In addition, development located in estuarine
waters shall be water -dependant, related to development on the shoreline, or an accessory use to
a structure located on the estuarine shoreline.
2.1.2 (d-1) Estuarine shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and
preserve the natural resources along the estuarine shoreline.
2.1.2 (d-2) Dare County supports the installation and maintenance of estuarine bulkheads aligned
and permitted by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Division of Coastal Management.
Whenever possible, offshore estuarine breakwaters may be considered as an alternative to
bulkhead construction.
166

2.1.6 Development of sound and estuarine islands shall be carefully managed. Low intensity
uses such as open space, recreation, and low density residential development shall be the
preferred uses of these islands.
Survey: The installation of bulkheads along the estuarine shoreline should be
discontinued.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
%
#
1249
37.0
1819
53.9
303
9.0
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Continue to support the use of estuarine bulkheads in policy statements.
b. Adopt policies that do not support the use of estuarine bulkheads.
c. Encourage alternate shoreline protection techniques in addition to estuarine bulkheads
d. Encourage alternate shoreline protection techniques in lieu of estuarine bulkheads.
Survey: State regulations mandating vegetative buffers along the estuarine shoreline should be
supported.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
1
2879
1 74.1
519
1 13.4
225
5.8
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Adopt policies that recognize the importance of estuarine buffers but emphasize the need to
monitor the program and other possible CRC initiatives regarding estuarine shoreline
protection and development.
b. Adopt policies encouraging the repeal of State -mandated vegetative buffers along the
estuarine.
Survey: Dare County should BAN the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) in the waters of
unincorporated Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
1 %
#
%
1930
1 50.5
1660
1 43.5
228
6.0
Survey: Dare County should REGULATE the use of personal watercraft (jet skis) in the waters
of unincorporated Dare County.
Results:
Favorable I Unfavorable I No Opinion]
167

#
I %
#
%
#
%
2995
1 78.0
655
17.0
193 1
5.0
Survey: Dare County should limit the number of personal watercraft (jet skis) rental businesses
in unincorporated Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
27211
71.3
870
22.8
227
5.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies that encourage the outright ban of personal watercraft
b. Dare County should adopt policies that encourage the regulation of personal watercraft
c. Dare County should adopt policies that encourage limiting the number of PWC rental
businesses in Dare County.
Staff Comments: Policies 2.1.2 (b), 2.1.2 (d-1) and 2.1.6 included above are satisfactory in
staffs opinion.
If the Planning Board is inclined to continue support of estuarine bulkheads, then a more strongly
worded policy on bulkheads may be needed since there is currently an effort within the Coastal
Resources Commission to discourage/oppose the use of estuarine bulkheads. Staff suggests
that a general policy on estuarine shoreline protection measures and acceptable activities may be
needed to provide direction for future endeavors by the State/CRC.
Earlier this year, the Dare County Board of Commissioners sought assistance from the General
Assembly in the form of a local bill that authorized Dare County to adopt ordinances to regulate
and control personal watercraft and other activities in our territorial waters. This legislation was
adopted in May and now the County can address the use of PWC as desired. A policy on the
preferred methods regarding personal watercraft would be the appropriate first step.
Public Trust Waters
Existing Policies
Policy 2.2.2(c-1) Dare County supports the preservation and protection of the public's right to
access and use of the public trust areas and waters.
Policy 2.1.2 (c-2) Dare County advocates a management program at the State or Federal level to
address the competition among recreational users of public trust waters. However, Dare County
168

reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or programs
that affect the public trust waters.
Survey: Competing recreational uses in public waters should be regulated.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1
2709
1 71.3
870
122.8
227
5.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Competing recreational uses in public waters should be left unregulated.
b. Competing recreational uses in public waters should be regulated by State and Federal
agencies.
c. Competing recreational uses in public waters should be regulated by Dare County.
Staff Comments: The issue of competition among recreational users of public trust waters does
not seem as pronounced as it was during the 1994 update. However, staff still feels that this
issue is worthy of a policy statement. Both of the existing policies are adequate, unless the
Planning Board's discussion proves otherwise. As previously, mentioned in the worksheets on
estuarine shoreline, the County has be authorized by the NC General Assembly the right to
regulate our public trust waters, both estuarine and ocean.
Groundwater Resources
Existing Policies:
Policy 2.1.2 (f) Development in any public water supply AEC should be managed to protect the
long-term viability of the groundwater resources.
Policy 2.1.4 Dare County recognizes groundwater resources as an essential element for
drinking water supply. The management of groundwater resources and their protections is
apriority issue in Dare County.
Policy 2.3.1(a) same as 2.1.4
Survey: Protection of groundwater should be a priority.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
3857
1 96.5
68
1.7
72
1.8
Alternatives for Consideration
a. A study and/or groundwater quality monitoring program should be established in Dare
County.
b. Protection of groundwater is not a high priority in Dare County.
169

Staff Comments: Both of the existing policies on groundwater protection are satisfactory and
staff sees no reason for a change. A reference to a groundwater monitoring program may be
considered as an implementation strategy for these policies.
Surface Water Quality
Existing Policy —
Policy 2.1.5 (a) Dare County supports efforts by local, state and federal agencies to preserve
water quality under existing natural conditions and to improve water quality where a decline has
been identified. These efforts include the designation of Outstanding Resources Waters and
shellfish water classification criteria established by the North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management.
Survey: Surface water quality should be a high priority.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
3inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
3798
1 96.4
70
1.8
74
1.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Additional regulatory efforts to manage stormwater runoff should be adopted.
b. Point source discharges into receiving waters should be opposed.
c. Additional State regulations to address water quality issues on a basin wide approach should
be encouraged and supported by Dare County.
d. Surface water quality protection should not be a high priority.
Staff comments: Over the last few years, there has been an effort to address water quality on a
basin -wide approach instead of just regulating the coastal regions. The basin -wide approach
recognizes that water quality is an inland issue as well as a coastal issue and should be regulated
as such, since a lot of waxer quality degradation actually occurs inland and not solely from
development on or near the shoreline. Staff suggests that a new policy recognizing the
importance of water quality beyond the 20-county CAMA region be included in the update.
During the public workshops held in October 2000, the attendees ranked surface water quality,
particularly estuarine water quality as their highest concern.
Shoreline Access
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.10 Dare County supports North Carolina's shoreline access policies as stated in
15NCAC7H, Section.0300. Dare County recognizes shoreline access to both ocean and
estuarine shorelines as a key component in the local tourist economy.
Survey: Additional programs to provide more shoreline access should be initiated.
170

Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
mion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1513
1 40.2
2001
53.1
252
6.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should support efforts to increase shoreline access opportunities.
b. Dare County should oppose efforts to increase shoreline access opportunities.
Staff Comments: The general statement of the 1994 policy remains effective in recognizing that
shoreline access is essential to Daze County tourist economy. Although, the survey question
reflects a slight majority opposed to more shoreline access facilities, this majority is mainly non-
residents, many of whom own oceanfront or soundfront property and think of additional
shoreline access opportunities as an intrusion of their privacy.
Channel Maintenance
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.11 Dare County advocates routine maintenance of all existing navigable channels
and will work to secure permit authorization whenever necessary.
Policy 2.3.11-b Dare County advocates and supports the permit authorization and federal
funding necessary to construct twin jetties to stabilize Oregon Inlet.
Staff Comments: The survey did not contain any questions pertaining to channel maintenance.
Workshop attendees stressed the importance of reliable navigation channels to commercial
fisherman and recreational boaters. Recently, the National Park Service has indicated that all
dredging work at Oregon Inlet will require their approval as special use permits. Based on this
development, the language in included in Policy 2.3.11 may need adjusting to recognize the
importance of maintenance dredging.
Beach Nourishment
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.12 Beach nourishment is Dare County's preferred shoreline management alternative.
Survey: Which of the following options should be used to fund shoreline stabilization.
Results:
Occupancy
Tax
Special
District Tax
User Fees
Federal/ State
Funding
Property tax
#
I %
#
1
%
#
%
#
%
#
I %
1780
121.9
791
9.7 1
1604
119.8
3156
38.9
784
9.7
Survey: The barrier island communities of Dare County should implement which of the
following:
171

Results:
Occupancy
Tax
Special
District Tax
User Fees
Federal/ State
Funding
Property tax
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
#
%
#
%
1780
21.9
791
9.7
1604
19.8
3156
1 38.9
784
1 9.7
Alternatives for Consideration:
1. Use existing policy supporting beach nourishment as the preferred shoreline management
alternative.
2. Draft new policy that does not support beach nourishment and discourages further
expenditure of funds for construction of a nourishment project on the northern beaches of
Dare County.
Staff Comments: For the past decade, Dare County has served as the non-federal sponsor of a
detailed study on alternatives for managing erosion along the northern beaches. The Hatteras
Island beaches are owned by the federal government with the NC Department of Transportation
delegated responsibility for insuring that access to the island is maintained. There appears to be
consensus that beach nourishment is the preferred alternative.
Mineral Resources
Existing Policy
Policy 2.2.3 Dare County advocates local level management of those mining activities that are
not subject to permit authorization by the State of North Carolina.
Staff Comments: There was no issue related to mineral production included on the survey. The
current policy is acceptable however, a specific policy on beach nourishment (sand) as a mineral
resource not subject to traditional mining limitations may be worthy of consideration.
Fisheries Resources
Existing policies
Policy 2.2.4-a The continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries shall be
fostered through restoration and protection of the unique coastal ecosystems upon which they
depend.
Policy 2.2.4-b Dare County supports measures to protect and preserve designated primary
nursery areas.
Policy 2.2.4-c State and federal agencies with the authority to manage fisheries resources should
be the responsible parties for the resolution of conflicts involving fisheries resources in Dare
County. However, Dare County reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any
proposed regulations or programs that may affect the fisheries resources or management.
Policy 2.2.4-d Dare County supports the development of the aquaculture industry as an
alternative source of fishery production.
172

Survey: The competition for marine resources (fish) between commercial and recreational
fisherman should be managed and regulated.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
%
#
%
#
%
2814
1 74.0
794
20.9
194
5.1
' Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should seek legislative authority from the North Carolina General Assembly to
establish regulations to address the competition for marine resources between commercial
' and recreational fishermen.
b. Dare County should continue to rely on State and Federal agencies to address the competition
for marine resources between commercial and recreational fishermen.
' c. Competition for marina resources between commercial and recreational fishermen should not
be regulated at the local level.
Staff Comments: The existing policies are satisfactory in staf's opinion.
IMaritime Forests
' Existing Policy
Policy 2.1.2 (i) Dare County advocates a combination of limited development guided by the
local SED-1 zoning ordinance and a program of public acquisition to manage the Buxton Woods
maritime forest.
Staff Comments: There was no issue related to maritime forests included on the survey. Staff
' recommends use of the 1994 policy.
tCommercial Forestry
' Existing Policy
Policy 2.2.2 Commercial forestry activities shall be supported by Dare County so long as such
activities are done in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the U.S Forest
' Service. The County also advocates the voluntary participation in the State of North Carolina's
best management practice program for forestry management.
' Staff Comments: There was no issue related to commercial forestry included on the survey.
Staff recommends use of the 1994 policy.
173

Productive Agricultural Lands
Existing Policy
Policy 2.2.1 Dare County supports the use of certain portions of the Mainland area of the
County for agriculture. The County also advocates voluntary participation in the State of North
Carolina's best management practices program for farm management.
Staff Comments: There was no issue related to agriculture included on the survey. Staff
recommends use of the 1994 policy.
Archaeological/Historic Resources
Existing policies
Policy 2.1.3 (a) The Dare County Board of Commissioners supports the protection of structures,
lands, and artifacts that have been identified by the NC Department of Cultural Resources,
Division of Archives and History, as archaeologically or historically significant. On a case -by -
case basis, individual protection/management strategies should be implemented to ensure
archaeological and/or historical resources are not destroyed.
Staff Comments: This issue was not addressed on the survey. Staff feels that Policy 2.1.3 (a)
can be used in the updated LUP.
Wildlife Resources
Existing Policy
Policy 2.2.6 Dare County supports the maintenance of several preserve areas for wildlife habitat
and access by the public to these areas for managed wildlife harvesting and observation.
Staff Comments: There was no issue related to wildlife resources included on the survey. Staff
recommends use of the 1994 policy, with a possible inclusion of language specific to hunting
access on the federal lands.
Topographic Conditions:
Existing policies-
2.1.1. (b) Dare County supports as minimum standards, the administration and enforcement of
all applicable floodplain management regulations, and the National Flood Insurance Program.
2.1.1(c ) Dare County believes that there is insufficient, reliable data to quantify the rate of sea
level rise. The phenomenon needs additional study. Until a more reliable and conclusive
database has been established, Dare County will continue to rely on CAMA AECs standards for
development limitations.
174

Survey: The sea level is rising to a degree that public response is necessary.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
%
#
%
#
%
1695
49.5
1309
38.1
425
12.4
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Adopt policy in support of the FEMA program, specifically mentioning the importance of the
CRS rating system and its impacts on lowering insurance rates.
b. Use existing 1994 policy.
c. Draft new policy on sea level rise.
Staff Comments: No questions were included on survey questionnaire regarding construction
standards in the floodplain. Staff feels policy 2.1.1(b) is satisfactory. The concept of sea level
is a difficult topic to address but CAMA guidelines require a policy on sea level rise.
Stormwater Management
Existing Policy
Policy 2.1.5 (b) Stormwater runoff should be managed to the greatest possible degree to protect
the quality of water in all water bodies surrounding Dare County.
Survey: Public funds should be spent to address stormwater ponding and drainage problems on
private property.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
I %
#
%
1351
36.7
2125
1 57.6
2125
5.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy stating that public funds may be used to address
stormwater ponding and drainage problems that exist on private property.
b. Dare County should adopt a policy that state that public funds should not be used to address
stormwater ponding and drainage problems that exist on private property.
Survey: Dare County should establish a full-time program for Stormwater management and
ditch maintenance.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
I No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
3212
1 84.7
408
1 10.7
1 171
1 4.5
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should establish a full-time program to address the County's stormwater and
drainage needs.
175

b. Dare County should not establish a full-time program to address the County's stormwater
and drainage needs.
Staff Comments: We are currently in the process of developing a stormwater/drainage plan for
unincorporated Dare County. The draft plan has been circulated for comments and hopefully
will be adopted by the Board of Commissioners later this spring. The development of a
stormwater plan was included as an implementation strategy in the 1994 update. The Planning
staff has also requested funds in the upcoming budget cycle to begin addressing some of the
problem areas identified in the stormwater plan. While the survey responses indicate strong
support for a full-time County stormwater and ditch maintenance program, the respondents also
indicated that public funds should not be used to address problems on private property. The
issue of stormwater management was also ranked highly at each of the public participation
workshops held last year in October.
Marinas
Existing policy
Policy 2.1.5 ( c) Dare County supports the development of marinas to provide boating access to
the area's water bodies. Marina development is encouraged in upland basins and in waters not
open for shellfish harvesting and should comply with all state and federal regulations concerning
location and design. The County encourages the dry stack option of boat storage.
Survey: Marina development in or near waters OPEN TO shellfish fishing should be
discouraged.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
3136
1 82.7
446
11.7
209
5.5
Survey: Marina development in or near waters NOT OPEN To shellfish fishing should be
discouraged.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1536
1 44.2
1487
1 42.8
449
1 12.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should continue to rely on State and Federal regulations for determining the
location and development of marinas.
b. Dare County should adopt a'policy opposed to the development and location of marinas in or
near waters currently classified as shellfish available (SA).
c. Dare County should adopt a policy supporting the development and location of marinas in or
near waters currently designated as shellfish available (SA).
d. Dare County should adopt a policy opposed to the development and location of marinas in or
near waters currently classified as shellfish closed (SC).
176

e. Dare County should adopt a policy supporting the development and location of marinas in or
near waters currently designated as shellfish closed (SC).
Staff Comments: Development of marinas require numerous federal and State permits after a
lengthy and extensive review by approximately 21 federal and State agencies. The CAMA
guidelines require that the County have a policy statement on marina development, including
upland basin marina development, and dry stack storage boat facilities. Staff recommends use
of the existing policy.
Floating Structures and Homes
Existing Policy
Policy 2.1.5 (d) Dare County is opposed to the mooring of floating homes and floating
structures anywhere in Dare County or its surrounding waters.
Survey: Floating structures should be prohibited.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
%
2754
73.9
660
17.7
313
8.4
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should continue to rely on State and Federal regulations for floating structures.
b. Dare County should adopt a policy opposed to floating structures.
c. Dare County should adopt a policy supporting floating structures.
Staff Comments: Public sentiment still is strongly opposed to floating structures based on the
survey results. The issue of wastewater treatment and water quality seems to be the biggest
drawbacks of such structures. Staff recommends the existing policy be used in the update with
reference to the need to adopt an ordinance prohibiting floating structures use as an
implementation strategy of the policy.
Tree Removal/ Land Disturbing Activities
Existing Policy:
Policy 2.1.7 The County advocates a program of public information on best management
practices for tree removal and land clearing on private property.
Survey: Dare County should regulate land clearing. and tree removal on your private property.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1256
1 32.3
2514 1
64.7
119
3.1
Survey: Dare County should adopt rules regulating the placement of fill on lots.
177

Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
I %
#
%
2017
1 53.6
1554
141.3
188
5.0
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Land clearing and tree removal regulations should be established in Dare County.
b. Land clearing and tree removal on private property should remain unregulated in Dare
County.
c. Dare County should adopt standards regulating the placement of fill on lots, exempting fill
needed for septic requirements.
d. The placement of fill on lots should remain unregulated.
Staff Comments: Over the past few months, the staff has received numerous calls/complaints
about the placement of fill on lots. Most of the complaints have involved situations where
adjoining property owners have brought in fill material and raised the natural ground elevation to
the base flood elevation. Fill material is almost always required for the installation of septic
systems. A new type of septic system, called a peat system, often results in large amounts of fill
being placed on a property thus creating problems for adjoining lot owners. While the survey
indicated a slight majority in favor of regulations on fill, property owners are clearly opposed to
tree removal regulations on private property. Perhaps, a policy on the new peat systems
should be considered since the use of these systems requires a great deal of fill material.
Manmade Hazards
Existing Policy:
Policy 2.1.3 (b) The development of Dare County's airports and the surrounding area shall be
carefully reviewed to minimize potential land use conflicts and hazardous conditions. Dare
County does not support the expansion of the Dare County Regional Airport at its current
location.
Staff Comments: There were no questions included on the survey or mentioned at the
workshops about manmade hazards. The expansion of the Dare County regional Airport was a
major issue during the 1994 LUP update. Staff plans to seek input from the Airport Authority
on this issue.
Off -road Vehicles/Beach Driving
Existing Policy
Policy 2.2.5 (a) Efforts to properly balance and control the use of off -road vehicles along the
County's beaches, dune areas, and estuarine shorelines shall continue to receive support from
County government.
Survey: Beach driving should be PROHIBITED.
178

Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1320
1 34.0
2504
164.5
128
3.3
Survey: Beach driving should be BY PERMIT ONLY.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
1 %
1761
1 45.5
1958
1 50.6
153
1 4.0
Survey: Beach driving should be WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
%
786
19.7
3118
78.4
72
1.8
Alternatives'for Consideration
a. The County of Dare should support efforts by the Federal government to prohibit beach
driving on Hatteras Island.
b. The County of Dare should support a federal permit system of beach driving on Hatteras
Island.
c. The County of Dare should support beach driving with no restrictions on Hatteras Island.
d. The County of Dare should take no position on this issue.
Staff Comments: For some time now, there has been speculation that the National Park Service
intends to limit or prohibit the use of off -road or four-wheel drive vehicles on Hatteras Island.
Among the respondents, a majority felt that beach driving should not be completely unrestricted
but should not be completely prohibited either. The questions, as presented on the survey, did
not specifically mention beach driving on Hatteras Island. Some respondents may have assumed
that the questions included beach driving on the municipal beaches and in Duck. Regardless, a
policy statement that clearly states the County's position on this issue is important, as this issue
will continue to be debated by the Park Service.
Federal and State Support
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.14-a Dare County supports those federal and state programs that provide funds for
the implementation of land planning, environmental protection, and/or economic development.
' Dare County does not support those federal or state programs that involve legislative mandates to
local governments without financial support. In addition, programs that are funded should direct
funds to the local government with minimal administrative guidelines.
179

Policy 2.3.14-b State and federally water and highway transportation projects shall receive the
highest level of support, in light of their potential impact on public safety and their economic
health of the area.
Survey: Federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife
Service facilitate the needs of the residents and visitors of Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
%
#
%
2370
1 67.5
794
122.6
349
9.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies recognizing the need for better cooperation between Dare
County, its citizens, and its visitors and the Federal agencies responsible for the management
of the large amounts of public lands in Dare County.
b. Dare County does not need a policy on our relationship with the Federal agencies responsible
for management of the large amounts of public lands in Dare County.
Staff Comments: Due to the large amount of publicly owned land in Dare County, there is a
great deal of interaction between our visitors and residents and the agencies responsible for the
management of the public lands. From time to time, the management objectives of the agencies
and the citizens' use of the land clash. A policy acknowledging the need for good federal and
state cooperation with local government and its citizens is needed in addition to the other 1994
policies.
Wastewater
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.1(a) Dare County recognizes groundwater resources as an essential element of the
drinking water supply. The management of groundwater resources and their protection is a
priority issue in Dare County.
Policy 2.3.1(b-1) Dare County advocates the use of on -site septic tank-drainfield systems as
the primary method of wastewater treatment.
Policy 2.3.1(b-2) Dare County will authorize the use of package treatment plants as an
alternative to septic systems only when soil conditions preclude the use of septic tanks and/or if a
reduction in the risk of environmental damage is achieved.
Policy 2.3.1(b-3) The current minimum lot size standards shall not be reduced regardless of the
availability of a central wastewater treatment or the availability of a combination of central
wastewater treatment and a central water supply.
Survey: Lot sizes should be decreased to allow for greater density of development.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
imon
#
%
#
I %
#
%
146
3.7
3790
1 94.9
59
1.5
180

Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy opposing a decrease in the minimum lot size
requirements.
b. Dare County should adopt a policy supporting a decrease in the minimum lot size
requirement.
Staff Comments: The issue of decreasing the minimum lot size requirement was strongly
opposed by the survey respondents. As growth continues in Dare County, there are less suitable
sites for development and developers are seeking alternative methods of treating wastewater than
the traditional gravity -fed septic tank/drainfield systems. The issue of privately -owned package
treatment plants and other more innovative methods of wastewater treatment will continue to be
submitted for approval as the suitable land left for development is developed. Policies on these
issues will be important. During the public participation workshops, there was some debate
about the merits of centralized wastewater treatment. Some attendees expressed the opinion that
central wastewater treatment was the only way to gain some control over the location of urban
development as well as reduce pollution from malfunctioning septic systems. Others believe
that central wastewater would create tremendous pressure for higher density development. The
1994 LUP stated that package treatment plants would be supported only in instances where soil
conditions preclude the use of septic systems. The Planning Board will need to discuss the
issue of central wastewater treatment in depth. It will be important that the updated plan provide
a reliable indication of the County's stance on central wastewater treatment, both publicly and
privately owned facilities. The use of the new "peat" septic systems should also be discussed
and a possible policy on their use considered.
Transportation
Survey: A reliable, regularly scheduled public transportation system should be developed in
Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
2109
1 59.1
1178
F33.0
283
7.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies that support a public transportation system.
b. Dare County should adopt policies that oppose a public transportation system
c. Dare County should initiate efforts to develop a public transportation system.
d. Dare County does not need to address this issue with a policy statement.
Survey: Public funding should be used to supplement a private transportation system.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
1#
%
#
%
#
%
1071
29.3
2328
1 63.7
259
1 7.1
181

Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies supporting the supplement of a private transportation
system.
b. Dare County should adopt policies opposing the supplement of a private transportation
system.
c. Dare County should adopt polices stating that private transportation plans should be reviewed
on a case by case basis in terms of funding supplements.
Survey: Entry tolls should be collected and used to fund transportation improvements.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
%
859
22.4
2789
72.5
195
5.1
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies endorsing the funding of transportation improvements
through the use of entry tolls.
b. Dare County should adopt policies opposing the funding of transportation improvements
through the use of entry tolls.
Survey: Dare County should initiate a transportation improvement program independent of the
State -funded program.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
%
1537
45.8
1328
1 39.6
493
1 14.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should initiate a transportation improvement program independent of the State -
funded program to address the County's transportation needs that are unfunded by the State
Department of Transportation.
b. Dare County should not initiate an independent transportation improvement program.
Staff Comments: The survey indicated strong opposition to entry tolls for funding of
transportation improvements but some support for a public transportation system. There is no
doubt that the traffic demands of the seasonal populations impact the quality of life of Dare
County residents and the vacation experience for our visitors. In light of the budget shortfalls
currently experienced by the State government, policies that at least recognize alternative means
of transportation or funding of transportation improvements may not be so far-fetched. Further
investigation of mass transmit alternatives was also stated at the participation workshops.
Traffic congestion was listed as a major concern at the public participation workshops, with this
problem seen as a negative consequence of our continuing popularity as a tourist destination.
US 158 and the hazardous driving conditions during the summer months was mentioned by
numerous citizens. The center turning lane, in particular, was noted as a dangerous feature that
should be redesigned for safety purposes and functionality. The protection of NC 12, including
182

Bonner Bridge, was also mentioned, especially at the Hatteras Island workshop. A strongly
worded policy on the importance of protecting NC 12 should be included in the Plan.
Other Services
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.1(c ) Dare County supports efforts to upgrade electrical service to those portions of
unincorporated Dare County served by electric membership cooperatives to increase the
reliability and quality of the power supply.
Policy 2.3.1(d-1) Dare County advocates a dual system of local solid waste management and
participation in a regional solid waste management system.
Policy 2.31(d-2) Dare County will consider a mandatory recycling program to include roadside
pick-up.
Staff Comments: Policies on issues such as solid waste and electrical service are required by
CAMA guidelines. Support for underground utility installation was voiced at the public
participation workshops. The citizens attending the public participation workshops held in
October 2000 expressed the need for more college -based educational facilities in Dare County.
Community Growth Patterns
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.2-a Dare County shall strive to maintain its coastal village atmosphere by using land
use planning techniques to guide private sector market forces in the direction of minimal
commercialization with single family homes as the preferred type of development.
Policy 2.3.2-b Public services shall be provided to meet the needs of, but not to serve as an
incentive to, growth and development.
Policy 2.3.2-c Dare County does not advocate unlimited public acquisition of additional
privately owned lands but reserves the right to review and support or oppose each acquisition
proposal on a case -by -case basis.
Survey: All unzoned portions of Dare County should be zoned.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
1 %
#
%
2639
1 71.7
794
121.6
245
6.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. The County should continue its efforts to zone the remaining unzoned portions of
unincorporated Dare County.
b. The County should continue its efforts to zone the remaining unzoned portions of
unincorporated Dare County only if there is support for zoning in the specific community
under consideration.
183

c. The County should discontinue its efforts to zone the remaining unzoned portions of
unincorporated Dare County.
Survey: Acquisition of additional lands for future public projects should be supported.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#I
%
#
%
#
%
2406
1 65.3995
27.0
285
7.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should support the acquisition of land for future public projects.
b. Dare County should oppose the acquisition of land for future public projects.
c. Dare County should review acquisition of land for public projects on a case -by -case basis.
Survey: Building permits construction should be regulated by an annual permit limit.
Results
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
2130
1 57.5
1242
1 33.7
318
8.5
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should establish an annual limit to regulate the number of building permits
issued for construction in unincorporated Dare County.
b. Dare County should not establish an annual limit to regulate the number of building permits
issued for construction in unincorporated Dare County.
Staff Comments: There were several survey questions under the topic of "urban growth" that
need some discussion. While some of the questions included on the survey may seem too
aggressive, it is important that extreme measures, such as a building permit annual cap, be
examined. Citizens attending the public workshops expressed concerns about growth and the
ability of our infrastructure to support our continued growth.
Since 1990, the County has adopted use -specific zoning maps for Avon, Buxton and Colington.
Efforts to zone Frisco were unsuccessful due to the lack of consensus among the village residents
concerning the commercial development along NC 12. The continuation of zoning initiatives for
the unzoned portions of Dare County should undoubtedly be supported if the communities can
demonstrate a community consensus.
The lack of public services, such as central wastewater, has not served as an inhibitor to
development as evidenced by this latest cycle of robust growth we have experienced over the
past several years.
Almost 80% of our land area in Dare County is currently in public ownership. The acquisition of
land for public purpose project is a good idea, but staff feels that each situation should be
reviewed on its own merits.
184

1
F
F
Residential Development
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.3-a Single family housing shall be encouraged as the preferred land use in
unincorporated Dare County. The desired density for any proposed multi -family structures is 5
units or less per acre.
Policy 2.3.3-b Dare County shall not be responsible for the cost of maintaining or repairs to
privately owned streets.
Survey: Single family structures should be the prevalent type of land use in Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
3272
1 83.9
474
1 12.2
154
3.9
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should encourage the development of single family homes as the prevalent type
of land use.
b. Dare County should oppose the development of single family homes as the prevalent type of
land use.
Survey: Only low -density multifamily housing should be allowed in Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
2120
1 55.5
1486
1 38.9
209
5.5
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy advocating multi -family dwellings only at low densities.
(3-5 units per acre).
b. Dare County should adopt a policy advocating multi -family dwellings at medium densities.
(6-10 units per acre).
c. Dare County should adopt a policy advocating multi -family dwellings at high densities.
(greater than 10 units per acre).
Survey: Single-family homes that are rented on a short-term basis should be considered as
commercial activity with different standards for parking and trash pick-up applied to
these uses.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1701
1 44.9
1874
1 49.5
217
5.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy supporting the regulation of rental homes as commercial
uses with different standards for parking and trash pick-up
185

b. Dare County should not adopt a policy supporting the regulation of rental homes as
commercial uses with different standards for parking and trash pick-ups.
c. Dare County should study the impact of rental homes and recommend specific standards for
those aspects of rental homes that are need attention.
Survey: Home occupations/home offices should be expanded to allow standards that are more
flexible.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1901
f 57.1
958
28.8
470
1 14.1
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Current zoning regulations should be amended to allow more flexibility in the operation of
home offices/home businesses.
b. Current zoning regulations for home occupations are adequate.
Survey: Large multi -bedroom rental structures contribute to the traffic problems in Dare
County.
Survey Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
#
%
3118
81.2
606
F105—.8
118
3.1
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy advocating limits on large -multi bedroom rental
structures due to their impacts on traffic
b. Dare County does not need a policy on the traffic impacts of large multi -bedroom rental
structures.
Survey: Dare County should initiate a fee for multiple vehicles at rental cottages.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
1174
30.8
2338
61.3
298
7.8
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should investigate different fee schedules for addressing multiple vehicles at
rental cottages.
b. Dare County should investigate different parking standards for rental cottages in lieu of fees.
c. Dare County should not take no action to address multiple vehicles at rental cottages.
Survey: Existing regulations and enforcement activities regarding unsightly structures and/or
conditions are adequate.
Results:
186

F
1
1
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
#
%
#
%
893
26.8
2145
164.4
290
8.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should consider stronger regulations for the removal of unsightly structures
and/or conditions.
b. The existing regulations for the removal of unsightly structures and/or conditions are
adequate.
Staff Comments: The survey results reflect a strong consensus for single family homes as the
prevalent type of land use in Dare County with only low density multi -family allowed. As a
result of this regulatory philosophy, the rental market has reacted with the construction of large
multi -bedroom structures that are considered "single-family" but function in a different capacity
than single family homes that are occupied on a year-round basis. There is some movement
toward recognizing the difference between a year-round single family structure and the single
family structures offered as rental homes in terms of parking standards and trash pick-up. There
is even some resistance from year-round residents to the large single family structures although
the structures are being developed under our stated preference for single family residential
development. Most of the complaints received by the Planning office concerning large multi -
bedroom structures are the lack of sufficient on -site parking that results in parked vehicles along
rights -of -way. Many residents expressed these same concerns at the public workshops. Their
concerns included cars parked on streets, excessive noise, overloaded septic systems, and mini -
motels subverting the intent of single family residential zoning districts. We have also been
receiving complaints about the use of rental homes for employee housing in traditional year-
round neighborhoods, which concerns the mode of occupancy of the structure. These are all
difficult issues that will require considerable attention from the Planning Board.
The issue of home occupations and at what point is the threshold for commercial activity
breeched is often debated. No doubt, there are numerous home businesses that exceed the
established definition in our zoning code of "home occupation". The wisdom of a separate
policy on home occupations is left to the discretion of the Planning Board.
The survey demonstrated a consensus that the existing standards for unsightly
structures/conditions are inadequate. The issue was also mentioned by numerous citizens
attending the public workshops held last year. The inclusion of language recognizing the need
for more attention and easier to enforce standards should be discussed by the Planning Board
Affordable Housing
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.4 Dare County does not advocate the use of zoning incentives, such as density
increase, permit fee waivers and review fast -tracking, as a means of stimulating affordable
housing construction. Private sector initiatives for affordable housing will be reviewed on a
case -by -case basis.
187

Survey: The County should provide zoning incentives to encourage private contractors to build
affordable housing.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1966
54.1
1443
39.7
228
6.3
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should advocate the use of zoning incentives to encourage private contractors to
build affordable housing.
b. Dare County should not advocate the use of zoning incentives to encourage private
contractors to build affordable housing:
Staff Comments: The issue of affordable housing has received considerable interest over the
past few weeks because of a seminar sponsored by the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce
focusing on the need for more affordable housing and possible solutions to address this need.
The fact remains that there are no easy solutions to this issue due to the limited land supply in
Dare County and the resistance to projects marketed as "affordable" from the existing
neighborhoods where such projects may be proposed. The survey indicated weak support for
the County providing zoning incentives with more residents than non-residents responding
favorably to the question. Concerns about the lack of affordable housing, especially for young
families, were expressed at the public participation workshops. One suggestion from the
workshop was the encouragement of apartments over retail shops. The appropriate response
may be a regional approach involving agreements with our surrounding counties. While there
have been some efforts in the private sector to provide housing for seasonal employees,
opportunities for year-round residents are lacking. It appears that some sort of governmental
response will be necessary to facilitate affordable housing development. A policy recognizing
the dire need for affordable housing and support for private sector developments should be
considered instead of the current 1994 policy.
Commercial Development
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.5 Dare County will address opportunities for commercial development by adopting
zoning maps for unzoned portions of unincorporated Dare County and allow free market forces
to meet the demand for goods and services in those areas zoned for commercial areas.
Survey: Dare County should adopt zoning regulations designed to inhibit national chain retail
stores.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
1
#
%
#
%
1809
1 47.6
1783
146.9
207
5.4
188

Survey: National chain retail stores diminish local village character.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
%
#
%
2674
1 68.5
1072
F7.5
158
4.0
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt zoning regulations designed to inhibit national chain retail stores.
b. Dare County should not adopt zoning regulations designed to inhibit national chain retail
stores.
c. Dare County should adopt zoning standards for the construction and operation of large retail
chain stores while allowing free market forces to dictate the location of these types of
retailers.
Survey: Current zoning regulations should be amended to allow parking lot/street vendors to
operate during the summer season.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
I %
#
%
#
%
1044
128.3
2376
1 64.2
278
7.5
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt rules prohibiting the operation of itinerant merchants.
b. Dare County should adopt rules that allow itinerant merchants with specific conditions for
their location and operation.
Survey: Outdoor recreational facilities (go-carts, miniature golf, etc.) are compatible with the
family resort goals of Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
inion
#
I %
#
I %
#
%
2406
1 65.3
995
127.0
285
7.7
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt a policy recognizing that outdoor recreational facilities are
compatible with the family resort goals of Dare County.
b. Dare County should adopt a policy recognizing that outdoor recreational facilities are
incompatible with the family resort goals of Dare County.
c. Dare County does not need a policy on outdoor recreational facilities but should rely on the
current zoning regulations to governing their location.
Staff Comments: Outdoor recreation activities, such as go-cart tracks, are often the catalysts
for community interest in use -specific zoning regulations even though the respondents to the
questionnaire felt that these types of land uses were consistent with the family resort goals of
Dare County. There seems to be a shift in public sentiment that local governments need to
establish some limitations on development, particularly large commercial structures. However.
189

even though a majority of the survey respondents felt that national retail chains diminish local
character, there was no definable consensus on the question that the County should adopt
standards to inhibit their presence locally. The continuation of zoning initiatives for the
unzoned portions of Dare County should undoubtedly be supported if the communities can
demonstrate a community consensus. Some of our villages that have been zoned for years may
be ready for more fine-tuned commercial standards that address building design, landscaping,
etc. The survey respondents expressed opposition to parking lot vendors or "itinerant"
merchants. Our current regulatory documents provide no guidance on these types of vendors
and we do get several requests each year from itinerant merchants desiring to operate in
unincorporated Dare County. Some direction from the Planning Board on this issue would be
helpful.
Re -development
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.6 Redeveloped areas and structures shall conform to current, more restrictive
development standards.
Staff Comments: The survey did not contain any questions to address redevelopment issues.
The existing policy is satisfactory.
Industrial Development .
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.7 Industrial development, which has excessive noise, odor, or other harmful
pollution, shall be discouraged from locating in Dare County, unless such adverse impacts can be
clearly overcome through effective mitigation. Industrial sites shall be located on land which is
environmentally suitable and has unique locative advantages for industry.
Survey: The creation of an industrial park on the Mainland of Dare County for commercial
storage activities should be considered.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No O
3inion
#
%
#
I %
#
%
1929
57.5
922
127.5
508
15.1
Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should pursue the creation of an industrial park for commercial storage on the
Mainland of Dare County.
b. Dare County should not pursue the creation of an industrial park for commercial storage on
the Mainland of Dare County.
190

I Energy Facilities
' Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.8 Dare County is opposed to the development of any petro-chemical energy facility
or related improvements within its jurisdictional lands and/or waters. This includes all
structures, operations, and activities associated with petro-chemical energy facility development,
such as, but not limited to, on -shore support bases for offshore exploration activities, staging
areas, transmission and/or production pipelines, pipeline storage yards and other similar
structures, activities, and improvements related to petro-chemical energy facility development,
exploration, or production. Dare County supports research and development of non -fossil fuel
alternatives for energy production.
Staff Comments: The survey did not contain any questions about oil and/or natural gas
exploration. Staff feels the 1994 policy should be used in the updated version.
Tourism
Existing Policies
Policy 2.3.9 Dare County supports the promotion of the Outer Banks as a tourist destination
and the development of season -extending promotions during the non -peak periods of the
calendar year.
Policy 2.3.9-b Dare County supports the concept of combining natural resources and tourism to
promote the area's ecological values, known as "eco-tourism."
Survey: Seasonal peak populations have improved the quality of life in Dare County.
Results:
Favorable
Unfavorable
No Opinion
#
%
U%1#15/ro
1589
1 44.1
1828 1
50.7
1 185
1 5.1
' Alternatives for Consideration
a. Dare County should adopt policies regarding seasonal populations and their positive impacts
on our quality of life.
' b. Dare County should adopt policies regarding seasonal populations and their negative impacts
on our quality of life.
' Staff Comments: Tourism is the number one industry in Dare County and the number two
industry for the State of North Carolina. However with each passing year it becomes more
difficult for the year-round residents of Dare County to cope with the impacts, such as traffic and
other demands on our infrastructure, that accompany the tourist economy. All of us recognize
the vital importance of tourism to the Dare County economy but we must also acknowledge the
negative impacts that are associated with our seasonal population increases. There seems to be a
' backlash of public sentiment that instead of continued mass market advertising of the Outer
Banks perhaps our focus needs to be on ensuring a positive vacation experience for the visitors
once they get here. A common theme expressed at all three of the public participation
191

workshops was the need for economic diversification to reduce the County's dependence on
tourism This opinion is based on the potential of hurricanes devastating our tax base and thus
our tourism base and the need for higher -paying jobs so that our young people can return to the
area after college for more year-round jobs offered by an expanded economy.
Bikeways/Walkways/Greenways
Existing Policy
Policy 2.3.13 Dare County supports the development of sidewalks, bike paths, greenways, and
walkingrogging trails to provide a safe setting for these types of outdoor recreation in
unincorporated Dare County.
Staff Comments: There were no specific questions on the survey addressing
greenways/bikeways. However, several attendees of the public participation workshops
mentioned the usefulness and popularity of the existing bikeways in the County. Support for
continued construction of these amenities was voiced. The existing policy is satisfactory and
staff recommends its re -use in the 2001 LUP.
192

Appendix C
IDUCK — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
22
Subdivision Lots
420
Property Owners Association
96
Sub Total
538
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
State
Dare County
Non -Profit
1
Sub Total
I
Residential Use
Detached
1952
Mobile Homes
3
Duplexes (2 units)
6
Townhouse
51
Condominiums
202
Timeshare
31
Co -Ownership
66
Sub Total
2,311
Commercial Use
Retail
9
Restaurant
6
Professional
10
Multi -use
9
Commercial Condominium
7
Private museum, gallery
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
2
Recreational
9
Sub Total
53
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
2
Utility
2
Property Owners Association
51
Secondary Improvements
6
Sub Total
62
Government Uses
Federal Buildings
1
Dare County Buildings
2
Sub Total
3
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
2,968
193

Appendix C I
MARTINS POINT — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
0
Subdivision Lots
150
Property Owners Association
8
Sub Total
158
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
State
1
Dare County
Non -Profit
Sub Total
1
Residential Use
Detached
205
Mobile Homes
Duplexes (2 units)
Townhouse
Condominiums
Timeshare
Sub Total
205
Commercial Use
Retail
Restaurant
Professional
2
Leasehold (medical office)
3
Horticultural
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
Recreational
Sub Total
6
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
Utility
Property Owners Association
3
Secondary bn rovements
10
Sub Total
14
Government Uses
Federal Buildings
Dare County Buildings
Sub Total
0
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
384
194 '

Appendix C
KDH OUTSIDE — January 20002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
5
Subdivision Lots
32
Property Owners Association
Sub Total
37
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
State
2
Dare County
2
Non -Profit
Sub Total
4
Residential Use
Detached
116
Mobile Homes
8
Duplexes (2 units)
Townhouse
Condominiums
8
Apartments
44
Sub Total
176
Commercial Use
Retail
Restaurant
3
Professional
1
Multi -use
2
Commercial Condominium
Private museum, gallery
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
1
Recreational
2
Sub Total
9
Other Uses
Cemeteries
Churches/Religious buildings.
1
Utility
Property Owners Association
Secondary Improvements
Sub Total
1
Government Uses
Sub Total
0
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
227
195

Appendix C I
COLINGTON — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
41
Subdivision Lots
924
Property Owners Association
22
Sub Total
987
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
State
1
Dare County
1
Non -Profit
Sub Total
2
Residential Use
Detached
1497
Mobile Homes
145
Du lexes (2 units)
12
Townhouse
0
Leasehold
2
Mobile Home Parks
5
Sub Total
1661
Commercial Use
Retail
2
Restaurant
1
Professional
2
Multi -use
9
Warehouse
3
Recreational
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
Manufacturing
1
Sub Total
19
Other Uses
Cemeteries
5
Churches/Religious buildings.
2
Utility
3
Property Owners Association
3
Secondary Improvements
20
Sub Total
33
Government Uses
Dare County
2
Sub Total
2
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
2704
196 1

Appendix C
IRODANTTTE -- January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
59
Subdivision Lots
267
Washouts
29
Property Owners Association
9
Sub Total
364
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
3
Dare County
31
Public Utility
1
Non -Profit
2
Sub Total
37
Residential Use
Detached
293
Mobile Homes
11
Duplexes (2 units)
3
Townhouse
0
Condominiums
27
Timeshare
1
Mobile Home Parks
1
Sub Total
335
Commercial Use
Retail
7
Restaurant
2
Professional
1
Multi -use
8
Warehouse
1
Vacant Commercial
2
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
3
Recreational
4
Sub Total
28
Other Uses
Cemeteries
6
Churches/Religious buildings.
1
Non-profit buildings
1
Property Owners Association
3
Secondary Improvements
3
Sub Total
14
Government Uses
Dare County buildings
7
Sub Total
7
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
785
197

Appendix C I
SALVO — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
31
Subdivision Lots
254
Property Owners Association
4
Sub Total
289
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
1
State
0
Dare County
0
Non -Profit
0
Sub Total
1
Residential Use
Detached
439
Mobile Homes
43
Duplexes (2 units)
0
Mobile Home Park
1
Condominiums
0
Timeshare
0
Sub Total
482
Commercial Use
Retail
1
Restaurant
2
Professional
3
Multi -use
9
Warehouse
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
5
Recreational
2
Sub Total
23
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
2
utility
0
Property Owners Association
0
Secondary Improvements
4
Sub Total
7
Government Uses
Sub Total
0
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
802
198 1

Appendix C
IWAVES — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land - Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
32
Subdivision Lots
171
Property Owners Association
5
Sub Total
208
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
1
State
0
Dare County
0
Non -Profit
0
Sub Total
I
Residential Use
Detached
221
Mobile Homes
20
Duplexes (2 units)
0
Townhouse
0
Condominiums
0
Sub Total
241
Commercial Use
Retail
3
Restaurant
2
Professional
4
Multi -use
7
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
3
Recreational
3
Sub Total
22
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
0
utility
3
Property Owners Association
1
Secondary Improvements
2
Sub Total
7
Government Uses
Sub Total
0
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
479
199

Appendix C I
AVON — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
115
Subdivision Lots
454
Property Owners Association
2
Sub Total
571
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
1
State
0
Dare County
2
Non -Profit
0
Sub Total
3
Residential Use
Detached
1269
Mobile Homes
66
Duplexes (2 units)
13
Mobile Home Parks
3
Condominiums
49
Sub Total
1400
Commercial Use
Retail
14
Restaurant
5
Professional
8
Multi -use
15
Warehouse
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
3
Recreational
2
Wholesale Distributors
5
Horticultural
1
Sub Total
54
Other Uses
Cemeteries
8
Churches/Religious buildings.
2
utility
4
Property Owners Association
4
Secondary Improvements
15
Sub Total
33
Government Uses
Federal
1
Dare County
1
Sub Total
2
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
2063
200 1

Appendix C
IBUXTON — January 2002
1
I
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
184
Subdivision Lots
226
Property Owners Association
5
Sub Total
415
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
1
State
24
Dare County
12
Public Utility
2
Sub Total
44
Residential Use
Detached
449
Mobile Homes
106
Du lexes (2 units)
25
Mobile Home Park
4
Condominiums
0
Timeshare
2
Sub Total
586
Commercial Use
Retail
16
Restaurant
8
Professional
6
Multi -use
15
Commercial Condominium
4
Warehouse
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
14
Recreational
4
Manufacturing
1
Sales
1
Service
7
Private Schools
1
Sub Total
78
Other Uses
Cemeteries
16
Churches/Religious buildings.
5
Utility
4
Property Owners Association
2
Non-profit Organizations
3
Secondary Improvements
8
Sub Total
38
Government Uses
Federal Buildings
4
State Buildings
1
Dare County Buildings
12
Sub Total
17
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
1173
201

Appendix C I
FRISCO — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
102
Subdivision Lots
490
Religious
1
Property Owners Association
14
Sub Total
607
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
0
State
12
Dare County
4
Non -Profit
2
Sub Total
18
Residential Use
Detached
794
Mobile Homes
118
Duplexes 2 units)
0
Mobile Home Park
1
Sub Total
913
Commercial Use
Retail
2
Restaurant
3
Professional
3
Multi -use
15
Warehouse
3
Private museum
2
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
0
Service
8
Manufacturing
3
Recreational
7
Sub Total
46
Other Uses
Cemeteries
12
Churches/Religious buildings.
5
Utility
2
Non-profit organizations
1
Secondary Improvements
25
Sub Total
45
Government Uses
Federal buildings
1
Dare County
4
Sub Total
S
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
1634
1
KIYA

Appendix C
HATTERAS — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
144
Subdivision Lots
197
Property Owners Association
11
Sub Total
352
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
2
Dare County
2
Sub Total
4
Residential Use
Detached
603
Mobile Homes
28
Duplexes (2 units)
5
Mobile Home Park
1
Multi
3
Condominium
103
Sub Total
743
Commercial Use
Retail
5
Restaurant
4
Professional
8
Multi -use
23
Wholesale distributors
2
Vacant commercial building
1
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
8
Service
4
Boatslips
37
Recreational
5
Sub Total
97
Other Uses
Cemeteries
12
Churches/Religious buildings.
3
Utility
3
Property Owners Associations
10
Non-profit organizations
1
Secondary Improvements
15
Sub Total
44
Government Uses
Federal buildings
3
State buildings
4
Dare County
5
Sub Total
12
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
1249
1
203

Appendix C
MANTEO OUTSIDE
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
700
Subdivision Lots
233
Religious
3
Property Owners Association
28
Sub Total
964
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
9
State
24
Dare County
30
Non -Profit
2
Town of Manteo
2
Sub Total
67
Residential Use
Detached
1356
Mobile Homes
189
Duplexes (2 units)
5
Condominiums
21
Multi
2
Mobile Home Park
24
Sub Total
1597
Commercial Use
Retail
12
Restaurant
2
Professional
3
Multi -use
16
Warehouse
3
Wholesale distributors
5
Horticultural
1
Private museum
1
Hotels, motels, Gotta a courts
1
Service
8
Manufacturing
1
Sales
1
Recreational
1
Sub Total
55
Other Uses
Cemeteries
13
Aircraft
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
7
Non-profit organizations
7
Secondary Improvements
33
Sub Total
61
Government Uses
Federal buildings
1
State buildings
5
Dare County
9
Town of Manteo
1
Sub Total
16
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
2764
r
204

Appendix C
u
1
WANCHESE — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
119
Subdivision Lots
194
Religious
1
Property Owners Association
0
Sub Total
313
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
0
State
3
Dare County
12
Town of Nags Head
1
Sub Total
16
Residential Use
Detached
412
Mobile Homes
186
Duplexes (2 units)
2
Bed and Breakfast
1
Mobile Home Park
7
Sub Total
608
Commercial Use
Retail
2
Restaurant
0
Professional
4
Vacant Commerical Building
3
Multi -use
20
Warehouse
2
Wholesale distributors
6
Hotels, motels, cottage courts
1
Service
6
Manufacturing
8
Sales
1
Recreational
1
Sub Total
54
Other Uses
Cemeteries
9
Churches/Religious buildings.
3
Public Utility buildings
3
Secondary Improvements
29
Sub Total
44
Government Uses
Federal buildings
1
State buildings
1
Dare County
4
Sub Total
6
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
1
205

Appendix C I
MANNS HARBOR — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
86
Subdivision Lots
47
Religious
1
Property Owners Association
4
Sub Total
138
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
0
State
3
Dare County
0
Sub Total
3
Residential Use
Detached
162
Mobile Homes
82
Duplexes 2 units)
4
Mobile Home Park
9
Sub Total
257
Commercial Use
Retail
4
Professional
1
Multi -use
7
Warehouse
I
Wholesale distributors
1
Horticultural
1
Service
2
Manufacturing
2
Sub Total
19
Other Uses
Cemeteries
4
Churches/Religious buildings.
4
Secondary Improvements
12
Sub Total
20
Government Uses
Federal buildings
1
State buildings
2
Dare County
3
Sub Total
6
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
443
206 1

Appendix C
IMASHOES — January 2002
fl
1
1
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
28
Subdivision Lots
11
Sub Total
39
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
State
Dare County
Sub Total
0
Residential Use
Detached
14
Mobile Homes
4
Duplexes (2 units)
0
Mobile Home Park
0
Sub Total
18
Commercial Use
Retail
Restaurant
Professional
Multi -use
Sales
Recreational
Sub Total
0
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
Non-profit organizations
Secondary Improvements
1
Sub Total
2
Government Uses
Federal buildings
State buildings
Dare County
Town of Manteo
Sub Total
0
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
59
207

Appendix C I
EAST LAKE — January 2002
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
43
Subdivision Lots
30
Sub Total
73
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
7
State
2
Dare County
2
Sub Total
11
Residential Use
Detached
35
Mobile Homes
41
D lexes (2 units)
0
Mobile Home Park
0
Sub Total
76
Commercial Use
Retail
Restaurant
Professional
Multi -use
1
Sales
Recreational
Sub Total
1
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
3
Secondary Improvements
3
Sub Total
7
Government Uses
Federal buildings
4
State buildings
1
Dare County
2
Sub Total
7
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
208

Appendix C
ISTUMPY POINT — January 2002
fl
1
1
i
EMSMG LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
89
Subdivision Lots
0
Sub Total
89
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
5
State
3
Dare County
2
Sub Total
10
Residential Use
Detached
86
Mobile Homes
24
Duplexes (2 units)
0
Mobile Home Park
0
Sub Total
110
Commercial Use
Retail
1
Restaurant
Professional
Multi -use
5
Wholesale Distributors
3
Vacant Commercial building
1
Sub Total
10
Other Uses
Cemeteries
1
Churches/Religious buildings.
3
Non-profit organizations
1
Secondary Improvements
7
Sub Total
12
Government Uses
Federal buildings
0
State buildings
1
Dare County
3
Sub Total
4
GRAND TOTAL RECORDS
235
1
209

Appendix C I
Vacant and Residential Land Use for All Tax Districts
EXISTING LAND USE
NUMBER
Vacant Land — Private Ownership
Individual Parcels
2,162
Subdivision Lots
3,738
Property Owners Association
180
Non-profit
5
Church/Religious
6
Washouts
29
Sub Total
6,120
Vacant Land — Public Ownership
Federal
31
State
59
Dare County
95
Other Municipalities
3
Public Utilities
3
Sub Total
191
Residential Use
Detached
9,903
Mobile Homes
1,074
Duplexes (2 units)
75
Multi (3+ units)
5
Townhouse
51
Condominiums
410
Timeshare
34
Co -ownership
66
Apartments
44
Bed and Breakfast
1
Mobile Home Park
56
Sub Total
11,719
TOTAL
18,030
L
210 1

Appendix D
I WETLANDS
' Policy #1
Dare County advocates the use of existing (2002) State and Federal regulatory programs
for protecting and preserving coastal wetland areas of environmental of concern. Dare
' County reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed
regulations or programs that may affect the regulation of coastal wetland areas of
environmental concern.
Policy #2
Dare County supports the use of mitigation for the loss of wetland areas for public
purpose projects. Private development projects that proposed wetland mitigation may
be supported by Dare County if such projects will serve an identified public need and/or
policy of the land use plan. For both public and private mitigation projects, up to 25% of
the mitigation should take place on site or in Dare County.
' Policy #3
Dare County supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nationwide permit program as
administered in 2002. This support is based on the current scope of permitting limits on
the nationwide program and not on any changes that may result in a different policy.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of CAMA use standards for coastal wetland AECs
as identified under 15NCAC7H, Sections .0205 and.0208.
2. The County will continue to administer the CAMA local permit enforcement program
' and maintain the staff necessary for this work.
3. As may be necessary to facilitate implementation of permit programs for wetland
management.
OCEAN SHORELINE
Policy #4
Oceanfront shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and preserve
the natural and recreational resources along the oceanfront. Dare County reserves the
right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or programs that
may affect the regulation of ocean hazards areas of environmental concern.
IImplementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for ocean hazard areas
' as contained in 15NCAC7H, Sections .0306 through .0310.
2. Implementation and enforcement of the National Flood Insurance Program's base
flood elevation standards, including the standards for those areas where wind driven
' waves create potential for damage by velocity also known as V-zones.
212

Appendix D
ESTUARINE WATERS/SHORELINE
Policy #5
Estuarine shoreline development should continue to be managed to protect and preserve
the natural resources of the estuarine waters and the estuarine shoreline. The appropriate
tools for this is the existing CAMA permit program and the Areas of Environmental
Concerns (AECs) designated under the CAMA program. Dare County reserves the
right to review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed regulations or programs that
may affect the regulation of estuarine waters and/or the estuarine shoreline.
Policy #6
Dare County supports the installation and maintenance of estuarine bulkheads. Offshore
breakwaters, slopes, rip -rap, and voluntary setbacks in excess of CAMA 30-foot buffer
rules should be promoted as additional methods for estuarine shoreline management in
lieu of estuarine bulkheads along estuarine shorelines where these less invasive
techniques would be equally effective in abating a shoreline erosion problem
Policy #7
Development of estuarine systems islands that are only accessible by boat shall be
carefully managed. Low intensity uses such as open space, recreation, and detached
single family residential development shall be the preferred uses of these islands.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for estuarine shoreline
AECs as stated in 15NCAC7H, Section .0209
2. Refer property owners to the Elizabeth City regional office for assistance with
bulkhead permits.
3. Oppose efforts to eliminate or prioritize the use of estuarine bulkheads.
PUBLIC TRUST AREAS
Policy #8
Dare County supports the preservation and protection of the public's right to access and
use of the public trust areas and waters.
Policy#9
Dare County advocates a local level management program to address the competition
among recreational users of the public trust waters. Dare County reserves the right to
review, comment, advocate, or oppose any proposed Federal or State regulations or
programs that affect the public trust waters or public trust areas.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Implementation and enforcement of the CAMA use standards for public trust areas
AECs as stated in 15A NCAC 0711, Section .0207.
2. Consideration of Dare County management standards for the use of public trust
waters by various competing recreation users.
213

Appendix D
' PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY AECS
Policy #10
' Development in any public water supply AEC should be managed to protect the long-
term viability of the groundwater resources.
tImplementation Strategies:
1. Continued support for the CAMA use standards for public water supply weufield
AECs as contained in 15NCAC7K Section .0406:
' 2. Dare County will continue to implement and enforce the provisions of the SED-1
zoning ordinance for the Buxton Woods maritime forest.
3. Nomination of Skyco public wellfields for designation by the Division of Coastal
Management as an Area of Environmental Concern.
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
Policy #11
Dare County recognizes groundwater resources as an essential element for the County's
drinking water supply. The management of groundwater resources and their protection
is a priority issue in Dare County.
Implementation Strategies:
1. To continue efforts to make a central water supply available to all areas of
1 unincorporated Dare County. Coordinate with Water Department (multiple years,
Stumpy Point 2003)
2. Review any proposals by private sector withdrawals greater than withdrawals for
' individual residential private wells.
3. Dare County will consider a permitting program for private wells used as a drinking
water supply (2004)
' 4. Contract with independent planning consultant to update Carrying Capacity Study for
Dare County (2004).
' SURFACE WATER QUALITY
Policy #12
Dare County supports efforts by local, state, and federal agencies to preserve, protect and
improve water quality. These efforts include the designation of Outstanding Resource
Waters and shellfish water classification criteria established by the State of North
Carolina.
Policy #13
Dare County encourages the management of surface water quality on basin -wide
approach recognizing the importance of water quality in other inland regions influence
and impact the water quality of the coastal regions.
214

Appendix D
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue local water quality monitoring program.
2. Support State legislation for basin -wide water quality regulations, as exemplified by
BB 1858 introduced in the NC House in 2000, which proposed that counties upstream
from the coastal area develop and implement water quality management plans.
SHORELINE ACCESS
Policy #14
Dare County supports North Carolina's shoreline access policies as stated in 15A NCAC
7M, Section .0303. Dare County recognizes shoreline access to both ocean and estuarine
shorelines as a key component in the local tourist economy. (See also policy #8 —
public trust areas).
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to evaluate opportunities for additional access facilities and grant funding
programs to provide money for their construction.
2. Continue to pursue federal Shoreline Protection Plan for beach nourishment to
provide sandy beaches and public ownership.
CHANNEL MAINTENANCE
Policy #15
Dare County advocates the maintenance of all existing navigable channels and will
work to secure permit authorization for those non-federal projects that. require CAMA
permit authorization.
Policy #16
Dare County advocates and supports the permit authorization and federal funding
necessary to construct jetties to stabilize Oregon Inlet.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Continued funding for Oregon Inlet and Waterways Commission and staff to provide
support for the on -going efforts to secure jetty permit authorization.
BEACH NOURISHMENT
Policy #17
Beach nourishment is the preferred shoreline management alternative along the ocean
beaches of Dare County.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to serve as the non-federal sponsor of the Dare Beaches Hurricane
Protection Plan.
2. Use the Dare County Beach Nourishment Committee to advise the County
Commissioners on policy issues related ocean shoreline management.
215

I. Appendix D
' 3. Coordinate with NCDOT and the appropriate federal agencies on matters relating to
shoreline movement and its impacts on NC 12.
' DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS ON RESOURCES
' Policy #18
Development projects shall be designed and constructed to minimize detrimental impacts
on surface water quality, groundwater quality and air quality. Structures should be
designed to fit the natural topographic conditions and vegetation versus modifications to
natural conditions to accommodate structures.
' Implementation Strategies
1. Consider tree removal and vegetation protection standards for commercial sites.
' 2. Encourage property owners to design residential sites limit impacts on the natural
topography and vegetation.
' MINERAL RESOURCES
Policy #19
' Dare County advocates local level management of those mining activities that are not
subject to permit authorization by the State of North Carolina.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Enforcement of dune standards contained in Dare County Zoning Ordinance
2. Dare County will evaluate the need for local level regulations to address mining
activities that are exempt from State -level permitting. (2004)
FISHERIES RESOURCES
Policy #20
The continued productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries shall be fostered
' through restoration and protection of the unique coastal ecosystems upon which they
depend. (See policy 12 and 13- surface water quality)
Policy #21
' Dare County supports measures to protect and preserve designated primary nursery areas.
Dare County also recognizes the importance of all areas in our surrounding waters that
serve as habitats for the area's abundant fisheries resources. (See policy 12 and 13-
surface water quality)
Policy #22
' State and federal agencies with the authority to manage fisheries resources should be the
responsible parties for the resolution of conflicts involving fisheries resources in Dare
County. However, Dare County reserves the right to review, comment, advocate, or
oppose any proposed regulations or programs that may affect the fisheries resources or
management.
216

Appendix D
Policy #23
Dare County supports the development of the aquaculture industry as a source of fishery
production as long as the proposed fishery or fish species does not negatively impact
native or indigenous fish species.
Policy #24
Dare County recognizes the traditional practices of commercial fishing in Dare County
and supports the use of traditional shellfish and other fish harvesting methods including
trawling.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Support efforts for basin -wide water quality regulations. As such programs are
developed, Dare County will become engaged in the process using resolutions and
other techniques to demonstrate our support of basin wide water quality efforts.
2. Continued implementation of CAMA 30-foot buffer rules, CAMA AEC regulations,
and other local zoning setbacks.
MARITIME FORESTS
Policy #25
Dare County advocates a combination of limited development guided by the local SED-1
zoning ordinance and a program of public acquisition to manage the Buxton Woods
maritime forest.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Continued enforcement of SED-1 zoning district.
2. Support of funding sources, like the Clean Water Trust Fund, for acquisition of lands
in Buxton Woods and other maritime forest settings.
3. Consideration of other measures on vegetation protection incentives for the maritime
forest areas on Colington and Roanoke Island.
COMMERCIAL FORESTRY
Policy #26
Commercial forestry activities shall be supported by Dare County, so long as activities
are done in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the U.S. Forest
Service. The County also advocates the voluntary participation in the State of North
Carolina's best management practice program for forestry management.
Implementation Strategy:
No strategy necessary at this time due to minimal amount of commercial forestry
activities in Dare County at this time.
217

I. Appendix D
I PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS
Policy #27
Dare County supports the use of certain portions of the Mainland area for crop
agriculture. The County also advocates voluntary participation in the State of North
Carolina's best management practices program for farm management.
Policy #28
Wholesale or industrial livestock operations are opposed.
■ Implementation Strategy:
1. Monitor and advocate State -sponsored legislative efforts that address the location and
' permitting of wholesale livestock operations.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES
Policy #29
The Dare County Board of Commissioners supports the protection of structures, lands,
and artifacts that have been identified by the NC Department of Cultural Resources,
Division of Archives and History, as archaeologically or historically significant. On a
case -by -case basis individual protection/management strategies should be implemented to
ensure archaeological and/or historical resources are not destroyed.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Seek funding from the State of North Carolina to undertake a comprehensive
inventory of those historic architect and landscape, not already in public ownership,
to be used as a planning tool to identify any historic, cultural, and/or archeological
resources.
I WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Policy #30
Dare County supports the maintenance of preserve areas for wildlife habitat and access
to the public to these areas for managed wildlife harvesting and observation.
tImplementation Strategy:
1. Work with appropriate federal agencies to allow the continued access to federal
property in Dare County for hunting, fishing and other similar activities.
TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS
Policy #31
' Dare County supports as minimum standards, the administration and enforcement of all
applicable floodplain management regulations and the National Flood Insurance
Program.
218

Appendix D
Policy #32
Dare County believes that there is insufficient, reliable data to quantify the rate of sea
level rise. The phenomenon needs additional study. Until a more reliable and
conclusive database has been established, Dare County will continue to rely of CAMA
standards for development in CAMA designated "areas of environmental concern" or
AECs.
Implementation Strategy
1. Continue to participate in the Community Rating System and implementation and
enforcement of the Dare County Flood Ordinance.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Policy #33
Stormwater runoff should be managed to the greatest degree possible to protect the water
quality of the public trust waters surrounding Dare County, particularly Class SA waters.
Policy #34
Dare County recognizes the public health issues associated with mosquitoes and standing
areas of water and the public safety issue for motorists presented by stormwater ponding
on roadways.
Implementation Strategies
1. Consideration of stormwater management ordinance to address those projects that are
not subject to State stormwater regulations with an emphasis on addressing
stormwater runoff on sites that are adjacent to Class SA waters. (2003)
2. Recommendation of a full-time stormwater/ditch maintenance program. (coordinate
with Public Works Department).
3. The Dare County Planning Board shall continue to discuss drainage issues associated
with proposed new subdivisions.
4. Draft amendments to the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to address the use of fill
material on vacant sites to alter the existing natural ground elevations and drainage as
the need arises.
MARINAS
Policy #35
Dare County supports the development of marinas to provide boating access to the area's
water bodies. Marina development should comply with all State and federal guidelines
concerning location and design. The County encourages the dry stack option of boat
storage.
Implementation Strategy
1. Dare County will rely on local land use plan consistency review process used by State
and Federal agencies to implement this policy since all proposed marinas require a
CAMA major permit.
219

I. Appendix D
2. Examine the Dare County Zoning Ordinance and shorelines to ensure the proper
location or exclusion of marinas and marina development.
FLOATING STRUCTURES
Policy #36
Dare County is strongly opposed to the mooring of floating homes and other floating
structures, as defined in 15A NCAC 7M0602, anywhere in Dare County and its
surrounding waters.
Implementation Strategy
1. Consideration of local regulations to prohibit the location of floating homes and
structures in the surrounding public trust waters of Dare County. (2004)
LAND DISTURBING/TREE REMOVAL ACTIVITIES
tPolicy #37
Dare County advocates best management practices of the NC Forest Service for tree
removal and land clearing on private property.
Implementation Strategies:
1. Enforcement of sand dune protection standards in the Dare County Zoning
Ordinance.
2: Draft amendments to the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to address the use of fill
material on vacant sites to alter the existing natural ground elevations and drainage as
the need arises.
MANMADE HAZARDS
Policy #38
Due to potential land use conflicts and hazardous conditions. Dare County does not
support the expansion of the Dare County Regional Airport at its current location.
Policy #39
Proposals to expand the area of the existing bombing ranges on the Dare County
mainland should be reviewed on a case -by -case basis with support or opposition offered
depending on the terms of the proposal and its potential impacts on the local community
and the importance to our Nations' national defense.
BEACH DRIVING/OFF-ROAD VEHICLES
tPolicy 140
The County recognizes the importance of four-wheel drive vehicle access to the beaches
' of Hatteras Island that are under the management authority of the federal government.
Efforts to prohibit beach driving on these federally -managed areas are not supported.
Proposals to impose additional driving restrictions will be reviewed on a case by case
' 220

Appendix D
basis with support or opposition offered depending on the proposal and its potential
negative impacts on the local tourist economy.
Implementation Strategy
1. The County will continue to monitor actions of the U.S Department of Interior to
further restrict beach driving and/or initiate other management programs that will
impact or prohibit beach driving access along Hatteras Island. These monitoring
activities may include participation at public hearings and workshops or
correspondence with our congressional delegation and other federal officials.
FEDERAL AND STATE SUPPORT
Policy #41
Additional Federal or State regulatory programs or expansion of existing programs will
be reviewed on a case by case basis. Dare County reserves the right to support, oppose,
review, or comment on additional regulations that may impact Dare County and its
economy. Local Public Hearings by federal or state agencies should be extensively
advertised and conducted in Dare County before any new regulations are adopted or
existing programs are expanded.
Implementation Strategy:
1. Monitor federal and state proposals and participate as needed.
WASTEWATER
Policy #42
The current minimum lot size standards shall not be reduced regardless of the availability
of central wastewater treatment or the availability of a combination of central wastewater
treatment and a central water supply.
Policy #43
Dare County advocates the use of on -site septic tank/drainfield systems as the primary
method of wastewater treatment in unincorporated Dare County. Non-traditional
methods of wastewater treatment should be used only when natural soil conditions dictate
their use and not solely to accommodate larger structures or a greater dwelling density.
Policy #44
Package treatment plants may be considered only when natural conditions prohibit the
use of septic systems, as remedial efforts to correct existing failing septic improvements,
or if required by ordinance and should be constructed to serve a specific development
without excess capacity for off -site wastewater treatment connections.
Policy #45
Maintenance of privately owned package treatment plants should be supervised by the
NC Utilities Commission or other public agencies.
Implementation Strategies
l . The creation of a wastewater treatment authority or commission to address
wastewater treatment issues including the maintenance of traditional septic/drainfield
221

Appendix D
systems, package treatment plants, non-traditional methods of wastewater treatment,
such as the peat systems, and the monitoring of existing septic tank and nitrification
fields. (2004-2006)
2. Continue to pursue opportunities to address wastewater issues in unincorporated Dare
County including construction of a publicly -owned package treatment plant or
publicly -owned small centralized treatment plant as a remedial measure to replace
existing outdated septic systems that threaten estuarine water quality due to their
location in poorly drained soils or to facilitate a publicly -financed or publicly -
endorsed housing development.
TRANSPORTATION
Policy #46
Dare County recognizes the vital importance of NC 12 to Hatteras Island and the need to
protect this transportation route, including Bonner Bridge. Recommendations by the
NC Department of Transportation on NC 12, including beach nourishment, the
replacement of Bonner Bridge, elevated sections of the highway, or other options that
may be identified, will receive the highest level of consideration from Dare County.
Policy #47
Dare County encourages intergovernmental cooperation with the municipalities and its
surrounding counties to study of the transportation needs of Dare County and our region.
Policy #48
Dare County shall not be responsible for the cost of maintaining or repairs to privately
owned streets. Experimental programs sponsored by the State to maintain private roads
shall be supported.
Policy #49
Whenever possible, local roads should be designed to interconnect to result in alternative
transportation routes subordinate to the principal and well-known highway system
Implementation Strategies
1. Continue to require all subdivisions that feature private roads to bear a disclaimer
stamp on the final plat indicating that Dare County shall never be responsible for the
road maintenance. Restrictive covenants shall also contain language concerning the
road maintenance responsibility.
2. Work with our State legislative delegation to secure authorization for a NC
Department of Transportation private road maintenance and repair assessment
program.
SOLID WASTE
Policy #50
Dare County advocates participation in a regional solid waste authority and continued
operation of voluntary recycling efforts. Additional programs for hazardous materials
disposal and large item pick-ups are encouraged.
1
222

Appendix D
Implementation Strategy:
1. Develop a public information campaign using public information office brochures
and local governmental access channel to circulate information about hazardous
waste collections and large item pick-up schedules. (2003)
COMMUNITY GROWTH PATTERNS
Policy #51
Dare County values its coastal village atmosphere and will continue to work toward the
development of use -specific zoning maps for those areas currently unzoned.
Policy #52 -
Private sector development is encouraged to acknowledge Dare County's coastal village
qualities and incorporate these traits in their development plans and building designs.
Policy #53
Public services shall be provided to meet the needs of, but not to serve as an incentive to
growth and development.
Policy #54
Dare County reserves the right to review additional acquisitions of private property for
public ownership on a case -by -ease basis.
Implementation Strategies
1. Continue work to develop use -specific zoning maps for those portions of
unincorporated Dare County that are unzoned or have minimal S-1 zoning. (2002-
2005)
2. Work with the Town of Manteo to coordinate regulation of development on Roanoke
Island
where the County's unincorporated boundary joins the Town's boundary.
3. Contract with independent planning consultant to update Carrying Capacity Study for
Dare County. (2004)
4. Draft for Dare County Board of Commissioners consideration a set of building
design,
landscaping, and parking standards for commercial uses as overlay districts along NC
12 on Hatteras Island and other areas of unincorporated Dare County.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Policy #55
Detached residential structures shall be the preferred land use in unincorporated Dare
County. Although the expanding market for seasonal accommodations as structures that
resemble traditional domiciles has resulted in a shortage of year-round housing, it is
agreed that the policy advocating residential structures as the preferred land use shall
continue.
Policy #56
Dare County recognizes the diverse housing needs of the community. Private sector
development projects intended to expand housing opportunities for year-round residents
are encouraged. Partnerships between the private sector and the public sector will be
223

Appendix D
reviewed on a case -by -case basis when appropriate. Regional efforts to address the
housing needs of the Outer Banks will also be reviewed on a case -by -case basis.
Implementation Strategies
1. Amend the Dare County Zoning Ordinance to delete the term "single family"
residential houses and replace with "detached individual residential housing units" in
recognition of the possibility that neighborhoods may contain seasonal rentals or that
structures in the neighborhood may be occupied by unrelated individuals. (2003)
2. Adopt standards that address unsightly structures and conditions that are more
flexible than the current Nuisance Ordinance, which is designed to address public
safety and welfare issues rather that eyesores. (2004)
3. Amend Zoning Ordinance to better define an acceptable level of home occupations
(2004)
4. Consider revisions to Zoning Ordinance to lower the number of permitted dwelling
densities for multifamily structures. (2003)
5. Consideration of an intergovernmental task force on housing issues. (2003)
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Policy #57
Dare County will address opportunities for commercial development by adopting zoning
maps for those portions of unincorporated Dare County currently unzoned or with
minimal S-1 zoning regulations.
Policy #58
Dare County encourages the continued existence and development of locally owned
businesses in unincorporated Dare County.
Policy #59
Large franchise operations proposing to locate in unincorporated Dare County are
encouraged to individualize their establishments to reflect Dare County's coastal village
character and not rely solely on corporate building designs, color designs or manner of
construction.
Implementation Strategies
1. Adopt zoning amendments to include building design standards, landscaping, lighting
and sign control standards. (2003)
2. Continue zoning initiatives with focus on detached residential development with
limited commercial areas. (2002-2005)
RE -DEVELOPMENT
Policy #60
Redeveloped areas and structures shall conform to current development standards.
224

Appendix D
Implementation Strategies
I. The County shall enforce the NC State Building Codes for coastal construction and
the Dare County Flood Ordinance in the event of reconstruction.
2. Whenever feasible, non -conforming structures destroyed by an act of nature or an
accident will be rebuilt to comply with applicable zoning codes.
3. The re -use and rehabilitation of historic structures is encouraged as a means of
preserving Dare County's coastal village environment.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Policy #61
Industrial development that is environmentally suited to Dare County and its surrounding
water bodies is encouraged. Dare County also supports the traditional industries of
commercial fishing, boat building, and construction.
Policy # 62
Opportunities to diversify and expand Dare County's local tourist economy should be
investigated.
Implementation Strategies
1. Proposals for industrial development in zoned areas will be reviewed for
compatibility under the provisions of the Dare County Zoning Ordinance. For
unzoned areas and those areas currently zoned S-1, use -specific zoning maps will be
established and the designation of industrial zoned areas thoroughly evaluated based
on geographic proximity to water bodies and other sensitive natural areas.
2. Update the Zoning Ordinance to evaluate the scope of uses allowed in the I-1 zoned
areas of unincorporated Dare County.
3. Investigate the need for a County -owned industrial park on the Mainland of Dare
County.
ENERGY FACILITIES
Policy #63
Dare County is opposed to the development of any petro-chemical energy facility or
related improvements within its jurisdictional lands and/or waters. This includes all
structures, operations, and activities associated with petro-chemical energy facility
development such as, but not limited to on -shore support bases for offshore exploration
activities, staging areas, transmission and/or productions pipelines, pipeline storage
yards, and other similar structures activities, and improvements related to petro-chemical
energy facility development, exploration, or production. Dare County supports research
and development of non -fossil fuel alternatives for energy production.
Implementation Strategies
1. Any major energy facility proposed to be located in Dare County shall make a full
disclosure of all costs and benefits associated with the project. This disclosure shall
be in the form of an environmental impact statement independent of and not funded
by any petro-chemical company or the Mineral Management Service.
225

IAppendix D
2. In the event an energy facility is proposed for Dare County, the County will support
the policy statements and administrative regulations referenced in 15NCAC7M,
Section .0400 entitled "coastal energy policies."
TOURISM
Policy #64
Dare County recognizes the vital importance of tourism to our local economy and
supports efforts to maintain our status as a desirable place to visit and vacation. Dare
County also recognizes the need to address the infrastructure and service demands of our
seasonal populations. The use of tourist -generated revenues, such as occupancy taxes, to
' address the year-round and seasonal population needs is encouraged.
Policy #65
Dare County supports the concept of combining natural resources and tourism to promote
' the area's ecological values, known as "eco-tourism".
Policy #66
The quality of life of Dare County residents should be carefully balanced with the
growing tourist -based economy of the Outer Banks. Maintaining a good quality of life
for our permanent population and ensuring a safe and enjoyable vacation experience
should be a goal of all local, state, and federal agencies responsible for the promotion of
tourism in Dare County and North Carolina.
Implementation Strategy:
t 1. Use revenues generated by tourism to fund quality of life related projects such as
sidewalks, bikepaths, streetscape and landscaping improvements and open space
acquisitions
' BIKEWAYS/WALKWAYS/GREENWAYS
' Policy #67
Dare County supports the development and construction of sidewalks, bike paths,
t greenways, and other walking/jogging trails to provide a safe setting for these types of
outdoor recreation and as alternative transportation routes.
' Implementation Strategies:
1. Continue to work with participating agencies to pursue opportunities for construction
of additional walkways/bike paths throughout all of unincorporated Dare County,
' including interconnection of the Roanoke Voyages multi -use path into Wanchese
2. Request revenues through local funding or grants to provide an areawide greenway
plan (2004)
' Storm Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation, Post -Disaster
Reconstruction and Recovery
1
226

Appendix D
Policy #68
Dare County shall use construction standards and zoning regulations to mitigate the
effects of high winds, storm surge, flooding, wave action, and erosion.
Policy #69
Dare County is committed to maintaining a full-time emergency management department
and emergency operation centers and places a high a priority on hurricane preparedness
and response.
Policy #70
The Dare County Board of Commissioners shall be ultimately responsible for supervising
the implementation of various policies and procedures regarding reconstruction and
recovery after a natural disaster.
Policy #71
Recovery priority shall be directed to restoring or repairing infrastructure improvements
such as transportation routes, utilities and medical and emergency management facilities.
Once the infrastructure has been restored, recovery priorities shall then be directed at
essential commercial and primary residential structures.
Policy #72
In the event of extensive hurricane damage to publicly -owned utilities or other
improvements requiring replacement or reconstruction, alternative locations that will
mitigate the potential for similar repetitive losses will be examined and implemented
wherever feasible and practicable.
Policy #73
In the event of a damaging hurricane or other disastrous event, the Dare County Board of
Commissioners may declare a moratorium on all building permits and/or rezoning
requests pending an evaluation of the damage and any reconstruction strategies that may
serve to mitigate future damage or repetitive losses.
Implementation Strategy: .
1. Dare County will continue to enforce all applicable Federal, State, and local
regulations relating to construction in storm hazard areas.
Public Participation
Policy # 74
Dare County supports the active involvement of all interested persons in its land use
planning and policy development activities.
Implementation Strategies
1. The County will continue efforts to inform, educate, and involve the public in
planning for the future of the County, primarily through the regular and special
meetings of the Dare County Planning Board and Board of Commissioners.
2. The County will encourage continued representation by a broad range of Dare County
residents on its Planning Board.
3. Continue to maintain the mailing list for the Planning Board meetings.
227

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