Land Use Plan and Policies for Growth and Development 1987 Update-1987

Dare County, North Carolina
.A Land Use Plan
(A 0:_ and
Policies for Growth and Development
1987 Update
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

County of Dare
County Commissioners
Michael P. Daniels, Chairman
Jesse F. Ambrose, Vice -Chairman
Gaskill Austin
Louise Dollard
Robert V. Owens, Jr.
Jack Cahoon, County Manager
Terry Wheeler, Assistant County Manager
Planning Board
Elmer R. Midgett, Jr., Chairman
William W. Wheeler, Vice -Chairman
Barton Bauers
Larry Bray
David Lang
Timothy W. Midgett
Richard Scarborough
Frank Stone
t Raymond P. Sturza II, Planning Director
Donna V. Creef, Assistant Planner
Janice E. Williams, Clerk to Planning Board
Lorraine Tillett, Zoning Administrator
' Technical Assistance:
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
215 South Front Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
The preparation of this document was financed, in part,
through a grant provided by the N.C. Coastal Management
Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

' Table of Contents
Executive Summary..............................................1
1. Data Collection and Analysis.. Section 1, Page 1
1.1 Information Base..............................................2
1.2
1.2.1 Population and Economy .....................2
1.2.2 Existing Land Use Analysis .................9
1.2.3 Current Plans, Policies and
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Regulations...........................................16
1.3 Constraints; Land Suitability ........................23
1.3.1 Physical Limitations for
Development ...
1.3.2 Fragile Areas ........................................
23
29
1.3.3 Areas With Resource Potential ..........32
1.4 Constraints; Community
Facilities and Services....................................34
1.4.1 Water.....................................................34
1.4.2 Sewer ...................................................38
1.4.3 Transportation.....................................39
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1.4.4 Law Enforcement................................41
1.4.5 Fire Protection......................................42
1.4.6 Public Schools......................................43
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1.4.7 Parks and Recreation ..........................45
1.4.8 Solid Waste...........................................47
1.5 Anticipated Demand.....................................49
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1.5.1 Population and
Economic Projections ..........................49
1.5.2 Future Land Use Needs ......................52
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2. Policies for Growth
and Development .......................Section 2, Page 1
Introduction to the Policies....................................2
2.1 Resource Protection.........................................4
'
2.1.1 Constraints to Development ................4
2.1.2 Areas of Environmental Concern ........5
2.1.3 Other Hazardous or Fragile
'
Land Areas............................................16
2.1.4 Hurricane and Flood
Evacuation............................................20
2.1.5 Protection of Potable
WaterSupply.......................................20
2.1.6 Package Sewage Treatment Plants .... 21
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2.1.7 Stormwater Runoff..............................23
2.1.8 Marina and Floating Home
'
Development ........................................ 24
2.1.9 Industry in Fragile Areas ...................25
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan

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2.1.10
Development of Sound and
.
Estuarine Systems Islands..................................26
2.2 Resource Protection and
Management Policies......:................................................27
2.2.1
Productive Agricultural Lands ..........................27
2.2.2
2.2.3
Commercial Forestlands ...................... .............28
Mineral Production Areas..................................28
2.2.4
Fisheries Resources..............................................30
2.2.5
2.2.6
Off -Road Vehicles..........31
Development Impacts .........................................
31
2.2.7
Trees and Vegetation...........................................32
2.3 Economic and Community
Development
Policies......................................................33
2.3.1
Types and Locations of
Desired Industries................................................33
2.3.2
Provision of Services to
2.3.3
Development........................................................34
Urban Growth Pattern.........................................35
2.3.4
Redevelopment....................................................36
2.3.5
State and Federal Program
Support..................................................................37
2.3.6
Channel Maintenance and
Beach Nourishment .... :........................................
38
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2.3.7
Energy Facilities...................................................39
2.3.8
Tourism and Beach and
Waterfront Access................................................40
2.3.9
Coastal and Estuarine
L2.3.10
WaterAccess.........................................................41
Residential Development....................................42
2.3.11
Commercial Development..................................43
2.3.12
2.3.13
Solid Waste Disposal...........................................44
Low and Moderate Income
Housing.................................................................45
2.3.14
2.3.15
Land Clearing .......................... .......................45
Street Maintenance..............................................46
2.3.16
Bikeways / Walkways..........................................47
2.4 Public
2.4.1
Participation Policies...........................................48
Public Participation..............................................48
2.5 Storm
Hazard Mitigation, Post -Disaster
Recovery and Evacuation Plan......................................50
2.5.1 Storm Hazard Mitigation .................. ....50
2.5.2 Post -Disaster Reconstruction .............................53
1 2.5.3 Evacuation Plan....................................................55
Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

3. Land Classification .....................Section 3, Page 1
3.1 Purpose of Land Classification
and Relationship to Policies 2
3.2 Land Classification System .............................3
4. Intergovernmental Coordination and
Implementation ...........................Section 4, Page 1
4.1 Intergovernmental Coordination
and Implementation........................................2
4.2 Area Development Coordination
Agency............................................................... 3
5. Public Participation ....................Section 5, Page 1
5.1 Public Participation.........................................2
Appendices
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan

1
Executive
�
Summary .
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Executive Summary, Page 1

Dare County has grown very rapidly during the last 15 to 20
' years. The attractiveness of the County's natural features,
combined with higher levels of disposable income in the
' nation as a whole, and larger amounts of leisure time, has
created a tremendous boom in growth and development in
the County.
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As the area becomes more densely settled, however, new
problems must be faced, including: land use conflicts, as
different uses are forced closer together; large public expen-
ditures for the services and facilities required by this new
growth; and possible degradation of the natural features of
the County.
The intent of the Land Use Plan is to anticipate and plan for
this growth, in a manner which helps protect the existing
quality of life of area residents and avoids unreasonable
increases in the local tax burden. The North Carolina General
Assembly recognized these issues when it passed the Coastal
Area Management Act of 1974, which requires coastal local
governments to develop land use plans and update them
every five years. The first Dare County Land Use Plan was
adopted in 1976 and updated in 1982; this 1987 update
refines the 1982 plan and policies to reflect current conditions
in the County.
The Land Use Plan performs several important functions for
local governing bodies and the general public; these func-
tions are briefly described below:
• Source of Information - The plan's technical studies
provide information on a number of topics, including
the local economy, population, environmental
features, housing trends and facility needs.
• Guidance for Government Decisions - Once a
governing body adopts a plan, it then has a blueprint
for guiding future decisions on budgets, ordinances,
and zoning and subdivision applications.
• Preview of Government Action - Business decisions
of the public in general, and developers in particular,
are easier to make when the probable outcome of
governmental decisions is understood; the adoption
of a Land Use Plan increases the predictability of
government actions.
Introduction
Need For Planning
Functions of the Plan
' Executive Summary, Page 2 - Daze County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

' • Public Participation in Managing Growth - Public
meetings and hearings held during the plan's
preparation helped to insure that the plan expresses
' the will of the area's citizens.
Ingredients of the Several major steps were involved in the preparation of the
Plan Dare County Land Use Plan. First, a number of technical
studies were made on the past and present conditions in the
County. From these intial studies, forecasts for future
' growth and development of the area were summarized.
Finally, policies and a land classification map were devised
to address present and future needs.
Technical Studies A number of basic studies are required before sound policy
' decisions can be made. These basic studies include the
following subjects:
Population and Economy
Existing Land Use Analysis
Current Plans, Policies and Regulations
Physical Limitations for Development
Fragile Areas
Areas with Resource Potential
Water Supply
Sewage Treatment
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Transportation Facilities
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Police Protection
Fire Protection
Schools
Parks and Recreation
Solid Waste
Population and Economic Projects
Future Land Use Needs
Community Facility Demands
Collectively,these studies summarize past and resent con-
ditions, while providing the essential yardsticks for estimat-
ing future conditions. The results of these studies are con-
tained in full in Section 1 of the Dare County Land Use Plan.
In addition, detailed mapping of existing land use is avail-
able for inspection at the offices of the Dare County Planning
Department.
Highlights of the
Technical Studies
Population
In 1985, there were an estimated 17,243 residents in the
County, up from about 7,000 residents in 1970. The total
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Executive Summary, Page 3

permanent County population is expected to reach approxi-
mately 35,000 persons by 1995.
Dare County continues to be very heavily dependent upon
the tourist and service sectors of the economy. A very low
percentage of the County's total employment is involved in
manufacturing, compared to the State of North Carolina as a
whole. Despite recommendations over the years that the
County attempt to diversify its economic base, these recom-
mendations have not come to fruition.
' The 1987 Existing Land Use Survey revealed that the County
is beginning to see increasing levels of higher density resi-
dential development, particularly along the Outer Banks.
Also, a slow but steady trend toward the strip commerciali-
zation of the major highways in the unincorporated villages
along the Outer Banks is escalating. With the establishment
of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, more land
area than ever is under Federal government jurisdiction.
Though the statistics are not readily available to demonstrate
the fact, the general consensus and knowledge among local
residents is that there is a shortage of low to moderate income
' housing in the County. This problem is becoming greater as
more seasonal residents with higher levels of disposable
income compete for the available housing stock in the
County.
Nearly all residences and businesses in the County are de-
pendent either directly or indirectly on groundwater. In
addition, all future plans for expanded public water supply
systems recommend the use of groundwater for the supply
source. Citizen interest in protecting this resource from
declines in quality and quantity was highly evident during
plan development.
The suitability of area soils for septic tanks continues to be
one of the primary constraints on the future growth and
development of the County. While the availability of public
central sewage treatment plants could help alleviate some of
the environmental problems associated with septic systems,
these central facilities could also provide a very strong incen-
tive for higher density development.
Economy
Land Use Analysis
Housing
Groundwater
Wastewater Disposal
' Executive Summary, Page 4 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Transportation Facilities The roadway system of the County is currently inadequate
to accommodate emergency evacuation situations, and is
proving to be inadequate in certain sections of the Outer
Banks. The County's extreme variance in population levels
from peak to off-peak seasons creates problems in planning
for transportation facilities, as well as many other types of
public facilities and services.
Policies For Growth The technical reports described above were geared to gath-
and Development ering and summarizing information related to the growth of
the planning area. Building upon this information, a num-
ber of policies were prepared for consideration by the Dare
County Board of Commissioners.
The policies which are presented in this document are the
results of this process; as officially adopted policies of the
County, they will serve as the basis for future decisions on
capital improvements, ordinances, zoning requests, special
use permits, subdivision approvals, and other similar mat-
ters.
Land Classification Some of the policies make reference to specially mapped
Map areas; the Land Classification Map contained in the Land
Use Plan illustrates these areas. The seven land classification
categories (Municipal, Transition, Community, Commu-
nity -Residential, Rural, Conservation and Limited Conser-
vation) were adapted from the Coastal Area Management
Act's land use planning guidelines. By assigning the land
classes to specific parts of the County, the map shows
visually where and at what density growth should occur,
and where significant natural resources are to be conserved.
The classes are as follows:
Municipal The Towns of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Nags Head, Southern
Shores, and Kitty Hawk are covered by plans prepared by
each local government. For the purpose of the County plan,
all are shown on the land classification map as Municipal.
The reader is referred to each Town's individual plan for
details.
Transition The purpose of the Transition class is to provide for future
urban development within the ensuing 10 years on lands
that are most suitable and that will be scheduled for provi-
sion of necessary public utilities and services.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Executive Summary, Page 5

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For the 1987 update to the Dare County Land Use Plan, the
land areas in Transition remain largely unchanged from the
1982 plan. Included in the Transition class are the following
areas: Colington and the area outside Kill Devil Hills,
portions of Roanoke Island outside the Town of Manteo, as
well as parts of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco, and Hatteras.
The purpose of the Community class is to provide for clus-
tered land development to help meet housing, shopping,
employment, and public service needs within the rural areas
of the County. This class includes, for example, the commu-
nities of Mashoes, Manns Harbor, East Lake, Stumpy Point,
and Duck."
Community Residential is a subclass of the Community land
classification. The Community Residential classification is
intended to provide for primarily single family residential
and passive recreational land uses. Public water and sewer
services will not be provided in these areas unless they are
required to correct a public health problem. An example of
the land class occurs on the north end of Roanoke Island.
The purpose of the Rural class is to provide for agriculture,
forest management, mineral extraction, and other low inten-
sity uses. Residences may be located within Rural areas
where urban services are not required and where natural
resources will not be permanently impaired. The primary
example of this land class occurs on the Dare County main-
land generally south of U.S. Route 64.
The purpose of the Conservation class is to provide for
effective, long-term management of significant limited or
irreplaceable areas. This management may be needed be-
cause of its natural, cultural, recreational, productive or
scenic values. By definition, all Areas of Environmental
Concern (AECs) are included in this class.
The purpose of the Limited Conservation class is to provide
for the management and long-term viability of essentially
undisturbed land that is suitable for only a limited range of
uses under a specified set of guidelines. The Limited Conser-
vation class should be applied to lands that contain valuable
species of plant and/or animal life or topographical features
that necessitate such guidelines to insure their survival. Such
lands may include maritime forests or inland dunes not
subject to CAMA AEC guidelines.
Community
Community Residential
Rural
Conservation
Limited Conservation
IExecutive Summary, Page 6 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Major Changes From
the 1982 to the 1987
Updated Policies
Transition Areas Refined Due to recent availability of National Wetlands Inventory
Maps prepared by the National Wildlife Service, the
boundaries of Transition areas contained in the Land Classi-
-fication Map have been refined to reflect the general occur-
rence of wetlands in the County.
These refinements to the Transition areas should not affect
the amount of developable land in these areas, however, due
to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and
CAMA over development in wetland areas.
Rural Area of Mainland Due to the establishment of the Alligator River National
Reduced Wildlife Refuge on the mainland of Dare County, some
formerly Rural areas that were in private ownership have
been reclassified to Conservation.
Limited Conservation This new land class was created to allow for the proper
Land Class Established development of certain inland dune and maritime forest
areas of the unincorporated County. Included are generally
undisturbed lands that have not been designated as Areas of
Environmental Concern, yet hold certain environmental or
cultural values deserving of protection. At the same time,
the class allows for reasonable development to occur within
specified guidelines.
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Executive Summary, Page 7

Section 1:
Data Collection
and Analysis
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 1

The CAMA guidelines for preparing land use plans in the
coastal area of North Carolina require that an analysis of
existing conditions and future trends be performed prior to
policy development. The intent of this requirement is to
insure that the policies as developed respond as closely as
possible to current problems and issues facing the County.
Key components of the analysis may be described in four
categories: 1) present conditions, including population,
economy, existing land use, and current plans and regula-
tions; 2) land suitability constraints, including physical
limitations for development, fragile areas, and areas with
resource potential; 3) community facility and service con-
straints, including water, sewer, transportation, police, fire,
schools, parks and recreation, and solid waste; and 4) antici-
pated demand, including population and economic projec-
tions, future land use needs, and community facility de-
mands.
Collectively, these studies summarize past and present
conditions, while providing the essential yardsticks for
estimating future conditions.
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Dare County's population growth was negligible until
'about 1970. Over the 90 year period from 1880 to 1970, the
total population of the County increased by only about 4,000
people. In contrast, over the 15 year period from 1970 to
1985, over 10,000 new people made their permanent homes
in Dare County.
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Another way to look at the County's population growth is to
examine the average annual growth rate, which is based on
the standard compound interest formula. An annual
growth rate higher than 2% per year is considered to be quite
substantial by many demographers. During the decade of
the 1970s, Dare County had a dramatic annual growth rate
of 6.7% and, despite the presence of a larger population base
in 1980, the County's growth has continued at a rapid dip of
5.2% per year.
1.1 Information Base
1.2.1 Population and
Economy
1.2.1(a) Population
Section 1, Page 2 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Dare County Population Growth
1880-1985
County Population
1880_-----------3,243
1890 — — — — — — — — — — — — 3,768
1900_-----------4,757
1910----------- 4,841
1920-------------5,115
1930 — — — — — — — — — — — — 5,202
1940_----------_-6,041
1950-----------.-5,405
1960 — — — — — — — — — — — — 5,935
1970 — — — — — — — — — — — — 6,995
1980 — — — — — — — — — — — — 13,377
1985_----------._17,243
Absolute Increase
1880-9(L----------525
1890-00— — — — — — — — — — 989
1910-20---------_274
1920-30— — — — — — — — — 87
1930-40_----------839
1940-50L----------(636)
1950-60----------_530
1960-70 — — — — — — — — — — - 1,060
1970-80----------- 6,382
1980-85— — — — — — — — — - 3,866
Average Annual Growth Rate*
1950-60 — — — — — — — — — — — 1.0%
1960-70L----------1.7%
1970-80_----------6.7%
1980-85_---------.5.2%
'Average annual growth rates are derived using the compound interest formula:
Pn=Po (l+r)n. Where Po is the initial population, Pn is the population at the end
of the time period, and r is the average annual rate of change.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 3

To understand how rapid Dare County's population Population and House -
growth has been, one need only compare it to the growth hold Growth,1970-1980
rate of the State of North Carolina. While North Carolina's
' total population increased by a healthy 15.7%, Dare
County's population growth was an incredible 91.2% over
the decade. These relative growth rates are also reflected in
' the percent change in households over the same period. In
both the County and the State, the tendency toward smaller
' household sizes was evident.
Regarding household size, Dare County's average house-
hold was comprised of about 2.5 persons, while the State's
was significantly higher at 2.8 persons per household. The
County's smaller household size may be a reflection of the
number of retired householders in the County.
Population and Household Growth,1970-1980
'
Persons/
% Change
% Change
Household,
Population
Households
1980
Dare County 91.2
117.4
2.48
'
State of NC 15.7
35.4
2.78
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Source: U.S. Census, 1980
Compared to the population of the State of North Carolina, Racial Composition, 1980
Dare County's racial composition in 1980 was overwhelm-
ingly white, with only 6.2% of the population black.
' Racial Composition, 1980
% White % Black % Spanish Origin
' Dare County 93.2 6.2 0.4
' State of NC 75.8 22.4 1.0
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Source: U.S. Census, 1980
' Section 1, Page 4 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Age Breakdown, 1980 The age breakdown for the County vs. the State again
reveals the tendency of Dare County toward a greater
retirement aged population. This is evident across the
' board with fewer persons under 18 years of age and signifi-
cantly more in the 65-year-old and over category. The
median age of Dare County residents was nearly four years
' older than the median age for the State in 1980.
'
Age Breakdown, 1980
Under 18 18-64 65 Years Median
Years Years And Over Age
Dare Co. 23.2 64.1 12.6 33.2
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State of NC 28.2 61.6 10.3 29.6
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Source: U.S. Census, 1980
Educational Attainment
Dare County residents in general tend to be better educated
of Residents, 25 Years
than those residents of theStateas awhole. While55%of the
Old and Over, 1980
State's population over 25 years of age had graduated from
high school, about 65% of Dare County residents were high
'
school graduates. There were also slightly more college
graduates in Dare County as a percentage of the total
'
population relative to the State.
Educational Attainment of Residents,
'
25 Years Old and Over, 1980
% Completed
'
% High School 4 or More Years
Graduate s f College
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Dare County 64.7 15.4
State of NC 54.8 13.2
Housing Characteristics,
The seasonal nature of Dare County's population base is
1980
well reflected in the housing characteristics for the area. For
example, while nearly 98% of all housing units in the State
were for year-round occupancy, only 56% of those in Dare
'
County were in year-round use. On April 1,1980, the day
the census was taken, only about 10% of all housing units in
the State were vacant. Contrast that figure with Dare
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 5

' County, where fewer than half of the County's housing
units on April 1 were occupied during the off-season.
' Regarding housing tenure, Dare County exhibited a ten-
dency toward greater owner occupany at the time of the
1980 census. Of all occupied housing units on April 1 of
t1980, only 23% were renter occupied, compared with nearly
32% for the State. If the census had been taken during one
' of the peak season summer months, the percentage of rental
occupancy would no doubt be much higher.
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Housing Characteristics, 1980
Total
Housing
Units
Dare
Co. 11,006
Occupied
Year
%
Housing
Round
% Occu-
Housing
Year pied
% %
unita
Round April 1
OwnerRenter
6,112 55.5 48.7
State of
NC 2,274,737 2,223,007 97.7 89.8
77.1 22.9
68.4 31.6
Source: U.S. Census, 1980
* Occupancy statistics compiled for April 1, 1980
Dare County's median household and family income in
1979 was very close to the statewide figures. However,
when the per capita incomes are compared, Dare County
comes out significantly ahead of the State of North Carolina.
With over $2,000.00 more per person in Dare County, the
income on a per capita basis is consistent with the County's
much smaller household and family size. Thus, while Dare
County households have about the same median income as
other households in the State, there is more money to
go around per person in Dare County.
Median and Per Capita Income in 1979 (Dollars)
Per
Capita
Households Families Income
Dare County
14,347
17,000
8,346
State of NC
14,507
16,819
6,182
1.2.1(b) Economy
Median and Per Capita
Income in 1979 (Dollars)
' Source: U.S. Census, 1980
Section 1, Page 6 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Employed Persons 16 Dare County has an extreme lack of manufacturing indus-
Years and Over - try compared to the State of North Carolina. This is evident
Percent in Manufacturing by the fact that less than 7% of the total employed persons
Industries,1980 16 years and over work in a manufacturing industry.
Contrast that small figure with the State of North Carolina,
where almost one out of every three persons is employed in
a manufacturing industry.
Employed Persons 16 Years and Over -
Percent in Manufacturing Industries,1980
Dare County 6.7
State of NC 32.8
Source: U.S. Census,1980
Travel Related Compared to the State as a whole, Dare County is over-
Employment,1984 whelming dependent upon travel related industries for a
significant portion of its employment base. In 1984, over
36% of all private sector employment in the County was in
some way related to the travel industry, while in the State as
a whole, less than 10 % of all private sector employment was
travel related. Thus, while the State looks to the production
of manufactured products as a prime foundation of its
economy, Dare County's economic base is very heavily
service -oriented and produces few products for sale or
export. While the commercial fishing industry of Dare
County is a notable exception to this statement, the relative
financial contribution of the industry to the total County
economy is rather limited.
Travel Related Employment,1984
Dare County
State of NC
Number of
Travel Related
Employees
2,122
176,775
% of Total
Private Sector
Employment
36.5
8.27
Source: North Carolina Travel and Tourism Division
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 7

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The impact of seasonal population on Dare County is dra-
matic and profound. During 1985, for example, there were
an estimated 19,600 permanent residents in the County.
Over the course of the year, the visitor population averaged
close to 60,000 people, and during the summer season, peak
visitor population reached 125,000 on some days (Dare
County Service Requirement and Development Options
Cost Report, March 21,1986).
This kind of explosive seasonal growth makes planning for
public facilities and services very difficult. Local govern-
ments in Dare County must design their facility and service
capacities to meet the peak seasonal demand, as opposed to
the demand created by the permanent population. By way
of example, the collective pumping capabilities of the vari-
ous local governments in Dare County for potable water
was a little over 7 million gallons per day in 1985. During the
majority of the calendar year, the County's permanent
population required an off-peak demand of only slightly
over 1 million gallons per day. However, on certain days
during the peak of the summer tourist season, total water
demand throughout the County was nearly 6 million gal-
lons per day. Thus, there is considerable idle capacity in the
County's water system and other public facilities during
much of the year.
If an analogy were to be made between Dare County and a
major airline company, it might be said that better than four
out of every five planes are grounded and out of service for
the majority of any given year. As might be imagined, this
situation would create fiscal havoc with a major business,
and indeed poses significant fiscal problems for a relatively
small local government like Dare County's.
The influence of peak seasonal population on the ability of
the County to provide services has an impact on virtually
every County facility or service, except perhaps education
and fire protection. Most public services and facilities in
Dare County were found to be at or in excess of their
capacities during the peak summer season of 1985, and well
within their limits during the balance of the year.
1.2.1(c) Impact of
Seasonal Population
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Section 1, Page 8 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

A policy implication provided by the 1985 Carrying Capac-
ity Study was that Dare County could easily accept addi-
tional permanent population without having to expand its
existing facilities and services, but that any additional visi-
tor population would require the outlay of additional funds
to meet these peak demands. The heart of the issue seems
to rest on two points: 1) Does the County wish to make a
conscious decision to encourage permanent population
over visitor population? and 2) If such a conscious decision
could be made, does the County have the necessary tools to
implement such a policy? On its face, it would appear that
the present political, institutional, and legal environment of
the County does not lend itself to the implementation of
such clearly defined policy choices.
1.2.2 Existing Land Use
Analysis
Purpose The existing Land Use Survey and Analysis serves a num-
ber of useful functions. The primary function is to provide
a "snapshot" of development patterns, and a basis for deter-
mining growth trends over time. The survey identifies
where development has occurred, what kind of develop-
ment it is, and at what density. The survey also shows the
relationships between different kinds of land use, and
whether or not they are compatible.
Current land use information is fundamental to the prepa-
ration of a land use plan. Not only is the survey helpful in
preparing growth and development policies, but it is also
useful in identifying, for example, where it may be cost
effective to provide public services, such as water and
sewer. Accurate information on existing land use can also
be helpful in making changes to an existing zoning ordi-
nance, or in providing new zoning where none was present
before.
Data provided by the survey is also useful to both the public
and private sectors in considering specific development
proposals. For the public sector, the land use survey can
assist in siting a school or park, while in the private sector,
the information might be helpful in locating a future shop-
ping center or residential development.
Study Area The study area for the existing land use analysis corre-
sponds to the planning jurisdiction of Dare County. The
planning jurisdiction consists of all unincorporated areas of
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Edward D. Stone, jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 9

' the County that are subject to development, including:
Duck, Colington, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco, Hatteras, Roanoke Island (outside Manteo), and the
' mainland (including Manns Harbour, Stumpy Point,
Eastlake and Mashoes). Not included in the study area are
the incorporated municipalities of Nags Head, Kill Devil
' Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Manteo. For infor-
mation regarding existing land use within these incorpo-
rated areas, the reader is directed to the respective land use
plans prepared separately for each of those areas.
The existing Land Use Survey and Analysis conducted for
the 1987 Dare County Land Use Plan represents a significant
improvement over previous land use surveys conducted for
the 1976 and 1981 land use plans. First, parcel level base
' maps were obtained for all unincorporated areas of the
County subject to development. Second, black -and -white
' and color aerial photography dated 1984 to 1986, was used
to examine overall development patterns and to help iden-
tify specific land uses. Land uses that could not be readily
discerned from the aerial photography were flagged tempo-
rarily on the base maps. Third, a windshield survey was
conducted to verify existing land uses on the ground and
record any signficant changes in land use since the date of
the aerial photography. Color -coded land use maps were
' then prepared at full tax map scale, and served as the basis
for the existing Land Use Survey contained in this report.
These color -coded maps, which are generally at a scale of
' 1 "=400', have been retained on file in the offices of the Dare
County Planning Department. The following paragraphs
summarize existing land use patterns in each of the unincor-
porated areas of the County.
Duck is the northernmost unincorporated area of Dare
' County. Route 1200 is the only access road into the Duck
area, and forms the primary spine from which all develop-
ment patterns have emerged. The majority of the develo-
pable land in Duck has been platted for single family resi-
dential use. The majority of the platted land between Route
1200 and the Atlantic Ocean has been developed as such.
' The Duck area also includes, however, six to eight multi-
family developments, a campground, the U.S. Army Corps
' of Engineers Research Station and Pier, and a growing
commercial area adjacent to Currituck Sound. There are a
few land parcels of significant size remaining in Duck that
' have not yet been platted for development. These occur at
Methodology
Duck
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the extreme north end of Duck adjacent to Currituck
County and in the southern area of Duck near the commer-
cial district.
Colington and Area The development pattern for Colington has been clearly
Outside Kill Devil Hills established by the subdivision plat for Colington Harbour.
The area has been platted exclusively for single family
residential on small lots adjacent to canals feeding into
Albemarle Sound. An older area of single family residential
development occurs along Colington Bay on the east side of
Colington Harbour. Most of the balance of the unincorpo-
rated area outside Kill Devil Hills is sparsely developed for
single family residential use. There is a scattering of small
commercial establishments along 1217 between Colington
Harbour and the Kill Devil Hills town limits.
Rodanthe This area has a mixed development pattern. While nearly
all of the residentially platted parts of Rodanthe are devel-
oped for single family use, there is a significant amount of
commercial development along Route 12. Lot sizes vary
considerably in this area, as do street patterns and age of
housing. Using the 1976 Existing Land Use Survey as a basis
for comparison, a substantial amount of commercial devel-
opment has taken place here in the last 10 years. The
National Park Service has jurisdiction over a fairly broad
strip of property along the area's entire ocean frontage.
Waves This less densely developed area is characterized by single
family residential uses with a minor amount of commercial
development. In terms of acreage, the most signficant
commercial development is a campground. A substantial
number of single family homes are located on the west side
of Route 12 in Waves, backing up to Pamlico Sound. Gen-
erally, lots on the west side of the road are larger and of older
origin while the lots on the east side of the road are part of
more recently platted subdivisions. As in Rodanthe, the
National Parks Service has jurisdiction over a band of
property along the entire length of the area's frontage on the
Atlantic Ocean.
Salvo Salvo is the least commercialized of the three adjacent
communities. Nearly all development is contained on the
east side of Route 12 and is dominated by single family
residential dwellings. Generally, single family parcels are
of uniform size and this results in a fairly uniform develop-
ment density within the area. Three or four small commer-
cial establishments are located near the southern part of
Salvo, and there are also a half dozen or so real estate sales
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 11

offices located in the area. As in Rodanthe and Waves, the
National Parks Service controls a significant band of prop-
erty along the Atlantic Ocean for the entire length of the
' Town's ocean frontage.
Avon is located on a portion of Hatteras Island that is wider,
east to west, than Rodanthe, Waves, or Salvo. Avon is also
unique in that the location of Route 12 in this section of
Hatteras Island leaves a greater amount of land on the west
' side of the road than to the east toward the ocean. Much of
the limited ocean -oriented acreage has already been devel-
oped for single family use. Like Rodanthe, there .is also
commercial development occurring in the area, especially
toward the northern half of Avon. A comparison with the
' 1976 Existing Land Use Survey shows that while the south-
ern portion of Avon had no development ten years ago,
there is now emerging a considerable amount of single
' family residential.
The Buxton area exhibits a mixed concentration of residen-
tial,. institutional, and commercial uses. ' Commercial uses
can be found along every major thoroughfare in the commu-
nity, including 1231,1232, and NC 12. Institutional uses also
' show a concentration here, including the U.S. Coast Guard
Station near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the Cape Hat-
teras High School, the weather station, and several
churches. Residential uses in Buxton have generally been
developed one lot at a time, and show little evidence of
large-scale planned development. Two platted subdivi-
sions can be found, however, on the road leading to Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse. In general, there is limited segrega-
tion of land uses in the Buxton community. The National
Park Service maintains a very substantial amount of land in
public ownership on the south side of Buxton.
Development patterns in Frisco are heavily influenced by
the location of NC 12 through the community. In addition
to single family residential uses, there are perhaps a dozen
or more commercial uses oriented toward the highway. In
comparing the 1986 Land Use Survey with the 1976 survey,
it can be observed, however, that some single family resi-
dential development is now occurring off NC 12 adjacent to
' Pamlico Sound. Included as examples are Brigon's Bay and
Indian Town Shores near the Buxton side of Frisco. As is the
case with Buxton, the National Parks Service maintains a
large area of land between Frisco and the Atlantic Ocean for
public use and conservation.
Avon
Buxton
Frisco
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Hatteras Hatteras is the southernmost unincorporated area of Dare
County subject to development. Its historical development
as a commercial fishing village is well reflected in its exist-
ing land use pattern. Commercial fishing uses predominate
along the creeks feeding into Pamlico Sound. Service -
oriented commercial uses tend to locate along NC 12, re-
flecting perhaps both in -town demand for services as well
as passing traffic from the Ocracoke -Hatteras ferry.
Single family residential uses are scattered throughout the
balance of the community, wherever wetlands do not pre-
clude development. Most lots tend to be irregular in size,
with the exception of several small planned subdivisions
adjacent to the National Park area and in the Sandy Point
area.
Roanoke Island (Outside With most commercial uses being concentrated within the
Manteo) corporate limits of Manteo, the balance of the island is
mostly residential in character. Notable exceptions include
Manteo Airport and its immediate environs, Highway 64/
264 heading out of Manteo to the south and east, and
Wanchese, where there is a notable presence of the commer-
cial fishing industry. Wanchese, while being predomi-
nately single family residential, has a scattering of small
commercial uses throughout the community, as well as a
concentration of commercial/industrial uses around Wan-
chese Harbour. The area of Roanoke Island just north of
Wanchese is significant for its undeveloped character in
that this area serves as the primary source of potable water
for much of Dare County.
Mainland Because of the overwhelming predominance of wetland
areas on the mainland of Dare County, as well as the recent
designation of most of the mainland as the Alligator Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge, very little of mainland Dare County
is developed or is likely to be developed. Pockets of devel-
opment occur at Manns Harbour, East Lake, Mashoes, and
Stumpy Point. Manns Harbour is mostly single family
residential, but with a scattering of small commercial uses
within the community. The North Carolina State Shipyard
occupies a large tract at the south end of the community.
Stumpy Point, Mashoes, and East Lake have small resident
populations in single family structures, with minor
amounts of resource -based commercial activity. Other
significant land uses on the mainland include the Navy and
Air Force bombing ranges, the County landfill site at East
Lake, and the remaining acreage of Prulean Farms, which is
generally south and west of Highways 64 and 264.
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Most of the major problems in the County regarding land
use compatibility stem from a mixing of residential and
non-residential uses in the small, unincorporated commu-
nities. In some areas, such as Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo,
commercial uses are distributed along various segments of
NC 12. In others, such as Buxton, Hatteras, and Wanchese,
commercial uses occur randomly throughout the commu-
nity with few sizable areas developed solely for residential
purposes.
It should be noted, however, that this intermixing of com-
mercial and residential uses in these small communities is
oftentimes the result of historical patterns of development
related to the commercial fishing industry. In Hatteras,
Wanchese, and Stumpy Point, for example, home sites were
originally selected for their access to navigable water and
for the ability to combine a business and residence on the
same site. Therefore, the mixing of such uses in these small
communities has not historically been as objectionable as it
might be in other communities.
As development escalates and becomes more intensive,
conflicts between non -compatible uses will increase, how-
ever. The mixing of incompatible uses that may have been
acceptable in the past is likely to come under closer scrutiny
in the future. Another factor is that newcomers to the area,
unaccustomed to this traditional mixing of uses, maybe less
tolerant of the situation. It is worth noting that over the
course of this plan's preparation, the County has been
successful in establishing zoning in certain unincorporated
areas of the County, most notably the Buxton Woods area.
There are several problems facing Dare County that, to a
large extent, are the result of unplanned development. One
problem mentioned repeatedly at the public meetings held
for the Land Use Plan has been traffic congestion on existing
thoroughfares. Beyond the sheer volume increase in traffic
from greater amounts of growth and development, com-
mercial establishments fronting on the highway can be
sources of congestion. Curb cuts and multiple driveways
from individual commercial uses reduce the capacity of the
highway to handle traffic volumes.
A second problem resulting from unplanned development
has been the loss of natural resources and amenities of the
land. Residents at the public meetings mentioned, for
example, the clear cutting of vegetation prior to develop -
Significant Land Use
Compatibility Problems
Major Problems From
Unplanned Development
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ment, the destruction and leveling of sand dunes, and the
loss of scenic beauty.
A third major problem is the issue of providing public water
and sewer services to keep pace with the demand created by
new higher density forms of development. This problem
was made most evident by the recent 1985 Carrying Capac-
ity Study conducted for the County. There is a need for
improved coordination, planning and capital budgeting by
all the government entities within the County.
In addition to the problems associated with the carrying
capacity, the issue of sea level rise is emerging as a factor
that could pose a significant problem in the coming decade.
Although not completely understood or quantified at this
time, the rise of sea level and the tendency for development
to locate as close as possible to the shoreline represents a
potential for property loss in Dare County that deserves
regulatory attention as the issue becomes better under-
stood.
Finally, a significant potential problem is the possibility that
the County's potable water supply might be threatened by
development in primary aquifer recharge areas. An idea
that received considerable support at the public meetings
was a hydrological study of Hatteras Island to determine
exactly what the critical areas of the island are, and how they
might best be protected. In any event, it is recognized that
the Hatteras Island Wellfield AEC affords a certain level of
protection to this important aquifer.
Areas Experiencing Or Due to the recent rapid growth of the County and the
Likely To Experience prospect for likely continued rapid growth over at least the
Changes in Predominant next ten years, it is possible that virtually any of the remain -
Land Uses ing developable lands within the County could experience
significant changes in land use. While Dare County is a very
large county in terms of overall acreage, only a relatively
small portion of the unincorporated County is actually
available for development. Nearly all of the mainland, and
much of the Outer Banks must be ruled out due to the
presence of wetlands, as well as the National Seashore area,
the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, and the Alligator River
Wildlife Refuge. Any remaining high ground area is, there-
fore, a potential candidate for development and, thus,
change in predominant land use.
In general, the County will continue to develop for residen-
tial purposes, and commercial establishments will follow
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 15

' on the heels of the residential development in an effort to
serve the new and expanding market. Commercial devel-
opments are likely to continue to concentrate along the
' major thoroughfares, while residential developments will
occur away from the thoroughfares under more controlled
conditions. This will be especially evident in the unincorpo-
rated communities located on the Outer Banks.
As a means of coordinating the various planning activities
' of Federal, State and local governments in Dare County, a
summary of important plans, policies and regulations is
' included here.
1. 1976 Dare County Land Use Plan - This was the first
' countywide Land Use Plan prepared under the
guidelines of the Coastal Area Management Act. The
plan established the initial land classification system for
the County, and recommended balanced economic
' growth, including diversification of the local
employment base away from primarily tourism and
service industries.
2. 1982 Dare County Land Use Plan Update - This plan
' picked up on the economic diversification theme
established in the 1976 plan, suggesting several specific
actions that could be taken, including:
' ° lengthening of the tourist season
° increased permanent population
° development of mineral production
' ° revitalization of commercial fishing and
associated industries
' ° increased agricultural production
° increased demands for public services on a year-
round basis
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The plan's major conclusion was that the County's
planning program should focus its attention
particularly on development issues facing Hatteras
Island, the Wanchese area, and the mainland.
3. Dare County Complex- 201 Wastewater Management
Plan (1976) - This plan covered the areas of Nags Head,
Kill Devil Hills, Whalebone Junction - South, Manteo
and Wanchese. It recommended a regional treatment
facility in Nags Head providing a capacity of 3.6 mgd of
secondary treatment with effluent disposal via ocean
outfall. This plan was eventually shelved, in large
measure due to the environmental issues surrounding
the ocean outfall.
1.2.3 Current Plans,
Policies and Regulations
(a) Local Government
Plans and Policies
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4. Hatteras Island Complex - 201 Wastewater
Management Plan (1984) - This plan covered all of
Hatteras Island. The findings of the plan indicated that
a centralized wastewater collection transport and treat-
ment facility was not justified due to low demand and
high costs. The study did indicate, however, that the
feasibility for such a facility might increase as develop-
ment densities and water quality problems increased.
5. Dare County Carrying Capacity Development Study
1985 - This plan prepared a comprehensive analysis of
Dare County's development options. The overall
purpose of the study was to determine the facilities,
services, and funding required to enable the County and
its towns to cope with growth through the year 2000. The
study recommended the creation of the Area
Development Coordination Agency, which is currently
in place.
6. Dare County Disaster and Assistance Relief Plan (1984)
- This plan deals primarily with disaster prevention and
mitigation, communications and warning, shelter
responsibilities, and damage assessment and recovery
operations. It includes an annex for each major disaster
which could affect Dare County, in addition to plans for
setting up shelter operations, damage assessment teams,
and disaster assistance centers.
7. Dare County Hurricane Evacuation Plan (1977,
Revised 1983) - The intent of this plan is to provide for an
orderly and coordinated evacuation to minimize the
effects of hurricanes on residents and visitors in Dare
County. The plan provides for the alerting of selected
officials, the evacuation of the public from danger areas,
and the designation of shelters for evacuees. It also
provides for re-entry into evacuated areas when
appropriate.
8. Draft Master Plan/Environmental Assessment For
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Dare
County, North Carolina (1986) - This plan and
environmental assessment is a comprehensive planning
document which includes the actual refuge master plan
as well as an outline of public involvement in the
planning process. The plan includes an explanation and
description of three alternatives, an examination and
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Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 17

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evaluation of the impacts of the alternatives, and a
justification for the selection of a preferred alternative. In
general, this plan outlines a strategy for the long-term
management of the Wildlife Refuge.
9. General Management Plan and Amended
Environmental Assessment For Cape Hatteras
National Seashore (1984) - This National Parks Service
plan proposes a general management plan for Cape
Hatteras National Seashore that provides for the
preservation of the cultural resources and the flora,
fauna, and natural physiographic conditions, while
allowing appropriate recreational use and public access
to the oceanside and soundside shores. Included in the
plan are provisions for controlling off -road vehicles,
providing for accessible oceanside and soundside sites,
allowing natural seashore dynamics to occur, controlling
exotic vegetation, preparing natural and cultural
resource studies, and cooperating with State and local
governments to achieve mutual planning objectives.
1. Flood Insurance Regulations - The County Building
Inspector enforces flood insurance regulations for
structures located in flood -prone areas. All of Dare
County, including its municipalities, are enrolled in the
Federal Insurance Administration's regular program for
flood insurance. Up-to-date maps of all flood -prone
areas have been delivered to the County within the past
year.
2. Subdivision Regulations - All of Dare County is
covered by subdivision regulations. A major revision of
the County ordinance in 1981 raised the minimum lot size
from 15,000 to 20,000 square feet where individual wells
and septic tanks are to be used. If public water is used, the
minimum lot size is 15,000 square feet. Subdivision plats
are reviewed by the County Planning Board with
technical assistance provided by the County Planning
Department.
3. Zoning Ordinance - Dare County's zoning jurisdiction
includes the unincorporated portion of Bodie Island
(Duck) and the northern portion of Roanoke Island
(generally, the area north of US 64-264 and Skyco Road).
The County's five municipalities all enforce zoning
ordinances within their corporate limits. It should be
noted that at the time of this writing, the County has been
Regulations
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successful in establishing new zoning controls in certain
critical areas of the unincorporated County, the most
notable of which is the Buxton Woods area.
4. Dune Protection Ordinance - Dare County enacted a
dune protection ordinance in 1971, several years before
the passage of LAMA. An updated revision of this
ordinance prohibits off -road vehicles from traveling on
the dune and beach during peak summer seasons.
Commercial fishermen and emergency vehicles are ex-
empted from the ordinance. The National Parks Service
also has its own rules and regulations regarding the use
of off -road vehicles in the dune and beach area.
5. CAMA Permits for Minor Developments in AECs -
Dare County established a program to enforce State
guidelines for development within areas of environ-
mental concern in 1978. Applications for minor develop-
ments, as defined by CAMA, are reviewed and acted
upon by the local permit officer (LPO).
1.2.3(b) State and STATE LICENSES AND PERMITS
Federal Government
Licenses and Permits Department of Natural - Permits to discharge to
Resources and surface waters or to operate
Community Develop- waste water treatment
ment Division of plants or oil discharge per -
Environmental mits; NPDES Permits,
Management (G.S.143-215).
- Permits for septic tanks with
a capacity over 3,000 gallons/
day (G.S.143-215.3).
- Permits for withdrawal of
surface or ground waters in
capacity use areas (G.S. 143-
215.15).
- Permits for air pollution
abatements facilities and
sources (G.S.143-215.108).
- Permits for construction of
complex sources; e.g. parking
lots, subdivisions, stadiums,
etc. (G.S. 143-215.109).
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- Permits for construction of a
well over 100,000 gallons/
day (G.S. 87-88).
Division of
- Permits for any development
Coastal Management
in Areas of Environmental
'
Concern (G.S. 113A-118).
NOTE: Minor development
permits are issued by the local
government.
Department of Natural
- Permits to alter or construct
'
Resources and
a dam (G.S.143-215.66).
Community, Develop-
ment, Division of
- Permits to conduct geo-
Earth Resources
physical exploration (G.S.
113-391).
'
Department of
'
Natural Resources
Community Develop-
ment, Secretary of
NRCD
' Department of
Human Resources
- Sedimentation erosion
control plans for any land
disturbing activity of over
one contiguous acre (G.S.
113A-54).
- Permits to construct an oil
refinery.
- Easements to fill where lands
are proposed to be
raised above the normal
high water mark of
navigable waters by filling.
(G.S. 146-6(c)).
- Approval to operate a
solid waste disposal site
or facility (G.S. 130-166.16).
- Approval for construction
of any public water supply
facility that furnishes water
to ten or more residences
(G.S. 130-160.1).
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FEDERAL LICENSES AND PERMITS
Army Corps of - Permits required under
Engineers (Department Sections 9 and 10 of the
of Defense) Rivers and Harbors of
1899; permits to construct
in navigable waters.
- Permits required under
Section 103 of the Marine
Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
- Permits required under
Section 404 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control
Act of 1972; permits to
undertake dredging and/
or filling activities.
Coast Guard
- Permits for bridges,
causeways, (Department
of Transportation) pipelines
over navigable waters; re-
quired under the General
Bridge Act of 1946 and the
Rivers and Harbors Act of
1899.
- Deep water port permits.
Geological Survey
- Permits required for off -
Bureau of Land
drilling.
Management (Depart-
ment of Interior)
- Approvals of OCS pipeline
corridor rights -of -way.
Nuclear Regulatory
- Licenses for siting, construc-
Commission
tion, and operation of nuclear
power plants; required under
quired under the Automic
Energy Act of 1954 and Title
II of the Energy Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1974.
Federal Energy - Permits for construction,
Regulatory operation and maintenance
Commission of interstate pipelines
facilities required under the
Natural Gas Act of 1938.
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Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 21

- Orders of interconnection of
electric transmission facilities
under Section 202(b)
' of the Federal Power Act.
- Permission required for
abandonment of natural gas
pipeline and associated
' facilities under Section 7C(b)
of the Natural Gas Act of 1938.
' - Licenses for non-federal
hydroelectric projects and
associates transmission lines
' under Sections 4 and 15 of
the Federal Power Act.
' Most of the attention given to the Dare County Land Use Plan
since it was last updated in 1982 has focused on the Land
Classification Map. This attention to the land classification
map has resulted for a number of reasons. First, actual policy
statements are not easily located in the text of the document.
Consequently, both public officials and private developers
' have focused their attention heavily on the land classifica-
tion map without benefit of policy statements for more
detailed interpretation and explanation. Secondly, lack of
clear policy statements has occasionally hampered the clear
interpretations of the local Land Use Plan by State and
' Federal government agencies.
The Conservation class of the land classification map has
' been the subject of particular controversy over the years,
owing to varying interpretations of its intent. Improvements
to the 1987 update to the plan, therefore, have focused in
' three specific areas:
1. providing clear, identifiable, and easily located policy
statements to address each of the policy issues identified
in the CAMA guidelines, as well as issues of primarily
local concern.
2. consolidating and clarifying the various layers of
definitions for the land classes as contained in the 1982
plan. (The 1982 plan contained three layers of definitions:
from the 1976 plan, from the State CAMA guidelines, and
from the 1982 plan.)
3. improving the relationship of the various land classes to
' the natural features of the land, including recent
wetlands inventory mapping.
1.2.3(c) Evaluation of
Previous Land Use Plan
Effectiveness
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1.3 Constraints; Land
Suitability
1.3.1 Physical
Limitations for
Development
1.3.1(a) Natural Hazard
Areas
In Dare County, the Coastal Resources Commission recog-
nizes three kinds of natural hazard areas, all of which fall
under the general category of Ocean Hazard Areas:
1) Inlet Hazard Areas, which are lands adjoining
Oregon and Hatteras Inlets for variable
distances as determined by the CRC.
2) Ocean Erodible Areas which, overlaying the
frontal dune, include the distance landward
from the first line of stable natural vegetation
along the entire ocean front, and
3) High Hazard Flood Areas, which 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.
1.3.1(b) Man -Made Man-made hazards in Dare County are limited primarily to
Hazard Areas civilian and military aircraft operations. Land areas within
the approach zones of the County's three airports are obvi-
ously hazardous locations in which to develop, especially if
such activities generate concentrations of human activity.
Inappropriate development can also be a hazard to airport
operations, in that distracting lights or tall obstructions can
be dangerous to aircraft.
Dare County Regional Airport on Roanoke Island has a
limited amount of development in its immediate environs.
First Flight Airport on Bodie Island and Billy Mitchell Air-
port on Hatteras Island typically handle only small aircraft
and do not pose a significant threat to public safety.
The military operates a bombing range on the mainland for
training Navy pilots. As appropriate, the location of the
bombing range is remote from human activity. The main
problem presented by the military operations have been
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 23

' conflicts with civilian traffic seeking convenient access to
and from the County's Regional Airport. Recently, the
military has agreed to certain procedural concessions to
' improve civilian aircraft operations. The military has also
agreed to restrict low flying runs and over -flights of the
villages. All of these efforts should serve to reduce aircraft -
related hazards in the County.
' Soil limitations are perhaps the singlemost constraining
natural factor in limiting growth and development in the
unincorporated areas of Dare County. The 1985 Carrying
' Capacity Study for the County used 34 pages of detailed
narrative and tables to document and discuss the issue. The
following is a summary of some of the key findings of that
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study.
Dare County has one of the most diverse series of soil types
' of any County in coastal North Carolina. 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. The mainland area is
' predominantly poorly drained soils with thin organic loam
to silt loam surface layers. In addition to these broad differ-
ences between the three main land masses, soil types can
' vary significantly within relatively small areas.
The high degree of variability in soil types, combined with a
' generally high, seasonally fluctuating water table, make
large-scale land use planning difficult. Nonetheless, the
Carrying Capacity Study used Soil Conservation Service soil
' maps to divide the entire County into four general categories
for septic tank suitability:
' Suitable
Marginal
' Unsuitable
Questionable
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A summary of the classification of soil types for septic system
suitability in Dare County is contained in the table on the
following page.
1.3.1(c) Soil Limitations
Section 1, Page 24 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Classification of Soil Types for Septic Tank Suitability
Depth to
Soil Type Water Table Suitability
Duneland
6.0'
Suitable
Fripp Fine Sand
6.0'
Suitable
Newhan Fine Sand
6.0'
Suitable
Newhan Complexes
Varies
Suitable
Pactolus-Wakula-Wagram
Association
NA
Suitable
Corolla Fine Sand
1.5 to 3.0'
Marginal
Corolla Fine Sand, Forested
1.5 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
Source: Dare County Carrying Capacity Study (1985)
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 25

' Dare County, in response to concerns for protecting its
groundwater, has required that lots platted after January,
1981, must be a minimum of 15,000 sq. ft. when connected to
a public water supply and a minimum of 20,000 sq. ft. when
using a private well. A more complete discussion of the
implications of these requirements on future growth levels is
' contained in Section 1.5 of the plan.
The table below represents a summary of land acreage
' available for development in various parts of the County.
Included are only those acreages that are undeveloped and
' environmentally suitable for development, but not includ-
ing lands that are already dedicated to uses not compatible
with development (e.g. National Seashore Areas, airport
' areas, park areas, etc.). As can be seen from the table, of the
County's total 16,200 remaining available acres of develo-
pable land, only about 1/3 or 6,600 acres are left in the
' unincorporated area. These figures are particularly pro-
found in light of the total 250,000 acres of land within Dare
County's borders.
' Jurisdictional Summary of Total Acres
Available for Development
' jurisdiction Acres
' Nags Head 1,600
Kill Devil Hills 1,500
Kitty Hawk 2,750
Southern Shores/Martins Point 2,700
Manteo 1,000
' Unincorporated -Dare
° N. Beaches
- Colington-Baum Bay 900
' - Duck/North 1,300
° N. Hatteras
- Rodanthe-Salvo-Waves 300
° S. Hatteras
- Avon 110
' - Buxton 560
- Frisco 350
- Hatteras 330
' ° Roanoke Island 2,500
° Mainland 300
TOTAL 16,200
Source: Dare County Carrying Capacity Study (1985)
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Section 11 Page 26 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

1.3.1(d) Water Supply Dare County is dependent upon several different sources of
raw water supply, but all are wholly or at least partially de-
pendent upon groundwater. The following water supply
analysis is excerpted from the 1985 Dare County Carrying
Capacity Study.
I
Underlying the County is a system of layers of three aquifers.
The shallow upper aquifer ranges in depth from 50 feet on
Roanoke Island to a maximum thickness of 100 feet at Kitty
Hawk. This upper aquifer receives new water or is re-
charged by precipitation and is used by a limited number of
people on Roanoke, the Northern Beaches, and Hatteras
Islands as a source of water for private wells. Roanoke Island
serves as the land surface for recharge into this upper aqui-
fer. The upper aquifer is hydraulically linked to the next
aquifer below and some recharge occurs from the upper to
the next aquifer below.
The next aquifer, known as the primary aquifer (since it is the
primary source of potable water for the County), ranges
from 110 feet deep on Roanoke Island to 45 feet deep at Nags
Head. The depth to the surface of this primary aquifer ranges
from about 100 feet on Roanoke Island to 200 feet along the
Northern Beaches. This aquifer receives recharge from the
mainland and Roanoke Island and may be affected by leak-
age'from the upper aquifer.
The estimated total annual recharge capacity to the primary
aquifer is 19,439 million gallons, which might produce a safe
yield from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 gallons per day. Since
exact recharge to the aquifer depends on numerous factors
including annual total precipitation, the 15,000,000 GPD
may not be realized.
The lowest aquifer is not considered a plausible source of
potable water due to a variety of factors. The water quality
of this aquifer is unsuitable for water supply development
since its chlorine concentrations are in excess of maximum
allowable chlorine concentrations. Although no hydraulic
data currently exists for this aquifer, recharge is suspected to
be limited since it is bounded by clay layers and thus once
water is withdrawn, rapid recharge is unlikely.
Fresh Pond, located on the Northern Beaches, is a 2.7 acre
lake half way between the sound and the ocean and bisected
by Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. The water in the lake
comes from precipitation as well as some flow from the
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 27

groundwater upper aquifer. Engineers estimate it could
produce a safe, sustainable yield of 900,000 gallons per day
during one year's time. For emergency purposes, a with-
drawal of 1,500,000 is possible for periods of short duration,
the maximum being a four day period.
' The Cape Hatteras Water Association draws its raw water
from an aquifer system underlying the Island. The system is
' comprised 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 is not
static in size as it is a lens -shaped mass which floats on
heavier saltwater and is subject to seasonal and tidal fluctua-
tions. This aquifer is recharged by precipitation. According
to an Evaluation of Potential Ground Water Development on
Hatteras Island,1984, the estimated annual recharge is 2.178
' billion gallons based on an average rainfall of 50 inches per
year.
' The area of Hatteras Island north of Avon depends exclu-
sively on private wells as its source of potable water. The
' water is drawn from a shallow water table aquifer averaging
15 feet thick for which precipitation is the sole source of
freshwater recharge. Although there is a general lack of data
' available to establish water quality trends, the residents of
Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo have indicated that the water
quality varies considerably from the ocean side and sound
' side of the island. Due to the hydrogeologic structure of the
area, the ocean side can obtain good quality fresh water from
a shallow aquifer underneath the dune ridge system. The
' sound side of these communities obtain potable water which
is not contaminated yet appears, tastes and smells unpleas-
ant.
' The incidence of areas which exceed 12% comprise slope rise a
P
very small percentage of the total acreage of the County.
' With the exception of the live dune areas of Jockey's Ridge
and certain areas of the frontal dune system, the steep slopes
' within the County are stabilized with natural vegetation.
Areas which do exceed 12% slope within the County are: 1)
The dune system facing Roanoke Sound on the northeast
' section of Roanoke Island; 2) the Jockey's Ridge live dune
system; 3) the maritime forest areas of Buxton Woods and
Nags Head Woods; 4) the Wright Memorial at Kill Devil
' Hills; 5) a small area of inland dunes south of Frisco; and 6)
the frontal dune system along the County's ocean shore.
1.3.1(e) Areas Which
Exceed 12% Slope
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While Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head Woods, and the Wright
Memorial are not located within the unincorporated area of
Dare County, they are included here for the sake of com-
pleteness.
The texture of all soil types in areas which exceed 12% slope
is sand. In general, the depth to the water table is well below
3', the soils are well drained, and are either sparsely vege-
tated or vegetated by plants which can survive in very dry
conditions: wax myrtle, live oak, slash pine, loblolly and
longleaf pine, sand pine, sea oaks, sea coast blue stem and
beach grass.
1.3.2 Fragile Areas As defined in the CAMA guidelines, fragile areas are those
areas which could easily be damaged or destroyed by inap-
propriate or poorly planned development. Fragile areas can
include: coastal wetlands, sand dunes along the outer banks,
ocean beaches and shorelines, estuarine waters and estuar-
ine shorelines, public trust waters, complex natural areas,
areas that sustain remnant species, areas containing unique
geologic formations, registered natural landmarks, and
others such as wooded swamps, prime wildlife habitats,
scenic and prominent high points, archeologic and historic
sites, etc.
Dare County is blessed with many unique and fragile natu-
ral and historic areas. The significance of many of these areas
has long been recognized by the State Coastal Resources
Commission as well as local governments in Dare County.
As a result, much of the lands encompassing these fragile
areas have been designated as Areas of Environmental
Concern, with associated special management controls and
development permitting procedures. Foremost among
these specially recognized and protected fragile areas are
coastal wetlands, ocean beaches and shorelines, estuarine
waters and shorelines, and public trust waters. For a discus-
sion of the significance of these areas, the reader is referred
to Section 1.2.1 of this document.
Fragile areas not protected by AEC designation, but which
are of particular significance in the unincorporated area of
Dare County include the following:
a) Complex natural areas - A good example of this type of
fragile area is Buxton Woods. This area is significant as
one of the last prime examples of maritime forest in the
State of North Carolina. It is also an important area for
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 29

' recharge to the groundwater aquifer providing potable
water to Hatteras Island. It is worth noting that over the
course of preparing this plan, options were being
' considered at the State and local level as to the bes t course
of action to take to ensure that complex natural areas such
as Buxton Woods are not destroyed by improper
^' development. After extensive dialogue among the
various interests involved, the decision was made to
establish a Special Environmental District under the
' County's local zoning authority. Nomination of Buxton
Woods as an Area of Environmental Concern was
' eventually discontinued in lieu of the adoption of local
development controls.
' b) Sand dunes along the outer banks -jockey's Ridge is the
most well known example of this type of fragile area. Of
less notoriety, but also of great significance to Dare
' County residents, are the numerous other smaller inland
sand dunes found throughout the Outer Banks portion of
the County. In recent years, concerns have arisen
' regarding the apparent indiscriminate bulldozing and
leveling of these sand dunes by some developers. Sand
mining has also been identified as a concern, particularly
' when such mining destroys the natural topography and
visual quality of the land.
' c) Prime wildlife habitats - Dare County is the home of
several important and extensive wildlife habitat areas.
' Included are the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the
Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, and the Alligator River
Wildlife Refuge. Because they are Federally -owned
' lands, however, and subject to the careful control of the
Federal agencies responsible for their management,
destruction of these fragile areas is of lesser concern than
' for those lands held in private ownership. Nonetheless,
local governments and the public in general have shown
an active interest in the proper use of these areas, as
' evidenced by public review and comment on
management plans and environmental impact studies
prepared for these areas.
' d) Archaeologic and historic sites - € Yr Regarding these types
b
' of fragile areas, the North Carolina Department of
Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History,
has stated:
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A number of small archaeological surveys and
excavation projects .have been conducted in and
around Dare County over the years and have resulted
in the identification of many prehistoric and historic
archaeological sites. Dare County has one of the
longest histories of European settlement, beginning
with the famous 'Lost Colony' of John White in the
sixteenth century. In addition, the Native American
presence is well known, spanning nearly 10,000
years. However, since the villages and early
settlements are not readily visible to the eye, and since
relatively little on=the-ground survey has been
conducted in the region, our information concerning
the nature and distribution of sites is limited.
Based on the available information, we have
identified areas considered to have a high probability
for containing archaeological sites.... These areas
include most of the sound shoreline, stream and river
shorelines, and some high ground within or around
low-lying marshland. Since much of this area has
been built upon in recent years, the remaining
undeveloped lands take on increasing importance for
identifying and learning about the past.
We have conducted a search of our maps and files,
and have located [five] structures in the
unincorporated areas of Dare County which are
currently listed in the National Register of Historic
Places, and one house which is on the Division of
Archives and History's Study List for future
nomination to the Register. These properties are ...
[as follows]:
National Register
1--Caffey's Inlet Life Saving Station
2--Chicamacomico Boathouse
3--Chicamacomico Life Saving Station
4--Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
5--Hatteras Weather Station
Study List
1--Drinkwater's Folly (Dough House)
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 31

' Since a comprehensive cultural resources inventory
of Dare County has never been conducted, there may
be other properties of architectural and/or historical
significance of which we are unaware located in the
planning area. (Letter communication, May 21,1987)
' Areas with resource potential 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.
' The most extensive areas having resource potential in Dare
County are those lands included in the Federally -owned
' National Seashore and Wildlife Refuge areas. The Cape
Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area is administered by
the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior.
' The Seashore encompasses some 70 miles of the Outer Banks
and extends from Whalebone Junction at Nags Head south-
ward beyond Dare County onto Ocracoke Island. The Sea-
shore covers all areas of the Outer Banks not part of the
incorporated municipalities.
' Pea Island Wildlife Refuge is part of the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore. The Refuge was established in 1938 to protect the
breeding grounds of migratory birds and other wildlife. It
encompasses approximately 14 miles on the northernmost
end of Hatteras Island. Also included in the Refuge are
' several estuarine system islands adjacent to the main area in
Pamlico Sound.
' The most recent addition to the system of Federally -owned
lands in Dare County is the Alligator River National Wildlife
Refuge. Created since the last Land Use Plan Update of 1982,
this 118,000-acre Refuge includes the majority of all areas on
the mainland of Dare County. Most, if not all, of the Refuge
is comprised of lands with a groundwater table at or near
land surface, and the entire area is subject to flooding during
a major storm event. Due to the extensive undeveloped and
uninhabited acreage of this Refuge, the area supports a
diverse and abundant stock of wildlife. Typical species are
thought to include: black bear, cottontail and marsh rabbits,
' woodcock, raccoon, wildcat,. opossum, foxes, snipe, rails,
muskrat, mink, otter, duck, mergansers, geese, swan, and a
host of others.
1.3.3 Areas With
Resource Potential
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Section 1, Page 32 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

' In the past year, red wolves have been reintroduced to the
area from the West Coast of the U.S. with the hope that this
declining species will multiply under favorable conditions
' of the Wildlife Refuge.
The remaining portions of mainland Dare County which are
' not part of the Refuge nor included in the few small commu-
nities there (East Lake, Mashoes, Stumpy Point, Manns
Harbor) are largely in private ownership as private game
' reserves or for commercial forestry. While there has been
discussion of major agricultural development and possible
' peat mining at various times over the years, to date these
possibilities have not come to fruition.
The final category of areas with resource potential are the
numerous locations for potential mining of sand, clay or
marl. At present, sand mining is probably the most preva-
lent of the three, but is not yet considered to be a significant
element of the local economy. This issue as well as each of the
other resource areas mentioned above are also discussed in
' the policy section of this document.
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 33

' As discussed in the preceding section, the suitability of land 1.4 Constraints;
for development presents one set of constraints on the future Community Facilities
growth of Dare County. These mostly natural constraints and Services
' are largely beyond the control of man, without considerable
and oftentimes costly modification of the land resource.
' A second set of constraints, however, has to do with local
government's ability to provide and pay for community
facilities and services in the face of continued growth. While
' such ability is linked to some degree to the natural systems
upon which certain facilities (such as water) depend, the
' provision of such facilities and services is more a function of
conscious decisions on the part of local government as to
whether such services are needed, who will pay for them,
' how, and when.
Dare County's recent explosive growth rate has led to a
' concern about the County's ability to keep pace with such
growth. In response to this concern, the County contracted
in 1985 with Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Inc. to conduct the
i previously referenced Dare County Carrying Capacity
Study. The purpose of this $150,000 study was to determine
the facilities and funding that will be required to enable Dare
' County to cope with its growth and development through
the year 2000. The study contains extensive analysis of both
' existing capacities and future demand for facilities and
services. Therefore, the following sections of the Land Use
Plan are largely key excerpts from the Carrying Capacity
' Study. In some instances, the text has been modified or
revised to reflect more recent information.
' Description of Dare County Public Water Systems
Consumers receive their water from either the County Re- 1.4.1 Water
' gional water system, which includes Fresh Pond, the Cape
Hatteras Water Association, or from private wells. Each
system obtains its raw water from discrete yet interrelated
' water sources. The Dare County system and any private
wells on Roanoke Island and the Northern Beaches rely on
' the acquifer system as a source of freshwater. The Fresh
Pond system taps a surface water source which is linked to
the upper aquifer. Water for the Cape Hatteras Water
' Association comes from a water table groundwater aquifer
system which floats on top of an underlying saltwater sys-
tem.
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All incorporated towns as well as unincorporated areas of
the Northern Beaches receive potable water from the County
Regional water system. Areas which are not serviced by the
County water system include Hatteras Island, the mainland
and portions of Roanoke Island. To service its customers, the
County water department draws fresh water from the pri-
mary aquifer through ten wells in the Wanchese area of
Roanoke Island. Total current pumping capacity of the
system is 5.5 million gallons per day (MGD) while the current
treatment plant capacity is 7.2 MGD.
Limited by its pumping capacity of 5.5 MGD, the County has
allocated this total potable water capacity among the various
areas it serves as either a wholesaler or retailer. The current
County customers and their allocations include:
° Manteo - allocated 0.4 MGD at wholesale rate
° Nags Head - allocated 2.0 MGD at wholesale rate,
plus one-third of actual production from Fresh
Pond once operational
° Kill Devil Hills - allocated 2.0 MGD at wholesale
rate, plus one-third of actual production from
Fresh Pond once operational
Overall county customers - receive an additional
one-third of actual production from Fresh Pond
The County maintains the water lines for only those custom-
ers in Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and the unincorporated
areas to the north. Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Manteo
maintain their own distribution lines.
The County's storage capacity of 3,200,000 gallons is from
four tanks; one ground tank of 500,000 gallons near the
border of Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk; an elevated tank
of 500,000 gallons near the Kitty Hawk elementary school
(both tanks are intended to service areas north of Kill Devil
Hills); a 2.0 million gallon ground tank at the main plant on
Roanoke Island; and a 200,000 gallon elevated tank located at
the main plant, which is used to service Manteo and the
surrounding limits.
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' A joint venture between the County, Nags Head and Kill
Devil Hills, the Fresh Pond water system can yield approxi-
mately 1.5 MGD at maximum capacity. Only about 1.5 MGD
' can be continuously pumped for no more than four days
without damaging the water source. Of the total capacity,
0.90 MGD are considered Fresh Pond's safe sustainable yield
iallocated to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and the County at
0.30 MGD each. Each jurisdiction is allocated one-third of
current water production regardless of total production.
Storage facilities for Kill Devil Hills comprise a total of 1.65
' million gallons. The town has two elevated and three
ground storage tanks. Of the two elevated tanks, one is at 8th
Street which holds 250,000 gallons and the other is located at
the Town Hall, holding 200,000 gallons. Also at the 8th Street
plant are two ground storage tanks with capacities of 500,000
and 200,000 gallons. The third storage tank is located at the
Town Hall and can store 500,000 gallons.
Nags Head has a total of 1.3 million gallons of storage
capacity. A 300,000 gallon elevated tank is located at the
Town Hall and two 500,000 gallon ground storage tanks are
' located one each at the Gull Street plant and the 8th Street
water plant. Nags Head expects to construct another ele-
vated tank holding between 300,000 to 500,000 gallons on
' Park Service land for the area south of Whalebone junction.
No date for construction has been set.
' In 1985, 2,000 customers from the Villages of Avon, Buxton,
Frisco and Hatteras were supplied by the Cape Hatteras
Water Association. The Association obtains its raw water
' from the Buxton Woods Aquifer and operates a 1 MGD
pumping and treatment facility assuming continuous 24
' hour operations. The plant can safely produce approxi-
mately 800,000 gpd of treated water. The Association only
sells water to its members on a retail basis. The total storage
' capacity for the area is currently 900,000 gallons which in-
cludes a ground level 200,000 gallon tank located at the water
plant, three elevated 100,000 gallon tanks, (one for each of
the Hatteras, Buxton and Avon areas), and a new tank of
400,000 gallons built in 1986 in Buxton.
The Dare County Regional Water System, together with the
Fresh Pond and Cape Hatteras Water As are ca-
pable of producing 7.2 million gallons of water per day on a
' sustained basis. The breakdown of this total is as follows:
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Current Water Systems Treatment Capacities
System/Source MGD
Dare County Regional 5.5
Fresh Pond 0.9
Cape Hatteras .8
7.2 MGD
Dare County Water Demand
The average daily water use for the entire County from the
Dare and Cape Hatteras system ranges from 4.3 MGD during
the peak season to 1.2 MGD during non -peak season. The
1985 average figures indicate water demand below the pro-
jected capacity for all systems of 7.2 MGD. Although the
average daily water use provides a guideline for what the
water systems are handling overtime, the actual peak daily
use should be compared against the water supply capacity to
determine how much remaining capacity is available on a
short term basis.
Peak consumption in 1985 for the towns and Cape Hatteras
is presented below. The potential daily peak consumption
has been derived based on the highest water use for each area
regardless of the date. These figures are summed to illustrate
the maximum capacity required if each system were simul-
taneously pumped the same total gallons as their single peak
day.
Note: In the time since the initial draft of this Plan was
written, the construction of a 15 MGD reverse osmosis desali-
nization water plant has begun. The plant is expected to
come on line by the Fall of 1989. This new plant will further
supplement at the County's existing regional water supply
system. The projectis ajointeffortof theTowns of Nags Head
and Kill Devil Hills, and Dare County.
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 37

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Potential
Peak
Consumption
'
Town/Area
MGD
Date
Nags Head
2.23
July 5
'
Kill Devil Hills
1.82
July ul 4
'
Manteo
0.50*
-
N. Bodie
0.90*
-
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' Regional System 5.33 July 25
Cape Hatteras
' Water Association 0.86 July 6
ITOTAL 6.31
' * Estimated
These figures represent the potential for pumping at the 6.3
MGD capacity during a peak period not including extra
capacity from Fresh Pond.
' Community sewer service in Dare County is limited to the 1.4.2 Sewer Service
municipal wastewater treatment plant at Manteo. The Town
' operates a surface water discharge plant with additional
land application capacity. The plant's service area is limited
to residents and businesses within the Town. With a total
capacity of 375,000 gallons per day and a peak flow of
200,000 gallons per day in 1985, excess capacity is estimated
at 175,000 gallons per day.
' There are no other publicly operated a treatment
p Y p sewage
' plants in Dare County, and little prospect in the immediate
future of any being developed. (Also see Section 1.5.3 for
future facilility demands.)
' Septic systems have been and will likely continue to be the
method of choice for sewage disposal in most of the County.
' There are also, however, a significant number of package
treatment plants operating in the County, with prospects for
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the continued development of these systems increasing
steadily. (See Section 2.1.6 for a focused discussion of
package sewage treatment plants.)
Present Road Network
Most travel within Dare County occurs on two arterial
routes. For either north -south or east -west travel, motorists
in Dare County are limited in the choice of possible travel
routes. The arterial roadway system in the County is shown
on the accompanying "Key Roadways" map and consists of
the following major links.
For north -south traffic, Route 158 (Croatan Highway)
and N.C. 12 (Virginia Dare Trail) serve the Southern
Shores to Whalebone areas, while N.C.12 (Ocean Drive)
serve the northern and southern island areas, respec-
tively.
Movements on and off the outer islands to the west
are also confined to the Route 64 and Route 158
bridge crossings and, on a more limited scale, to ferry
connections at Ocracoke Island.
On the mainland, travel is also limited to Route 64 and
Route 264.
Except for portions of Route 158 which are three and
five lanes in width, all roads and bridges are two lanes
in width.
The narrow widths of the barrier islands minimize the vol-
ume of traffic flows on cross streets which intersect the
arterial roads. Because of this, the major intersections in the
County are formed by the approach roads to the various
bridge crossings. These serve to transfer east -west flows to
and from the north -south direction.
Traffic flows within the County vary widely according to the
roadway section, season, and day of week. Typical of a resort
or recreational area, the roadway system in Dare County
experiences sizable variations in traffic demands. While
most evident on the bridge crossings and primary arterials,
travel throughout the County will vary in response to visitor
activity. A summary of 1984 Average Daily Traffic as deter-
mined by NCDOT is shown on the accompanying "Vehicle
Counts" map. While mostroadways in theCounty had traffic
flows of less than 5,000 vehicles per day, several key roadway
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 39

PEA
I\ `1 tixoau...ovFrtq rl
CAPE HAItERAS NATIONAL •
T - SEASHORE RECREATION AREA
I'mr ' , epPEAAo s• r D A...... E. i o e � o' o �:T..�..•,,.~\_ r.,��.....,,
\ i ! Y
mr
O U
t't ` '\ O +' �• i� PEA ISLAND NATIONAL WADUFE REFUGE tN•.:.n.
( •. ,;,\\. .I /'.` \ � .. A.. P •fit '��Y, _..•A /� �^`� J`
T U C R C O U N T Y
N
.// A, J
B � �7, it � \. ` •�•, �
C•,
J
CAPE HATIEIAS NATIONAL I
S Fru.xuAA 4.xvrr. �\ SEASHORE RECREATION AREA 3•
%i ALLIGATOR RIVER NATIONAL
A E B / \�Gp EAST '~ ` '-'� ! '• ..4 4
WILDLIFE'
�\\ •� ~ . ' •� I 'f ' 4 ALLIGATOR RIVER
r - [>r , ^� Y4scM lyn+M R�tafdwsW
\ s NATIONAL 0m . Y h,.tltutforRel
cc' 00
F=• \•\ yl+•" r - ML %-'� \ \ Camrnunloasfonr ties
•\'� i. 110, O / y �. , \ ! °, Wer.hourshm O Mdu.srftd
'•b.� �( - U'
WILDLIFE y� A.QMRARR 0 Open spaws
REFUGE ?a_ - C 1 - tr V.O�Y6 O:aTd.IF.IaYO.d f�
'•�� w� Federal VAbcfllto S
•�•\, o - / _ REFUGE
PreMrv.tsm Amen
CAPE HATT RAS NATIONAL
' •, \ tiA. \ i �' I.. .,b SEASHORE RECREATION AREA
A „-.. .;\ < ' — — _. A,F \' - GENERALIZED
EXISTING LAND USE
LAW USE PLAN UPDATE 1987
O 4
DARE COUNTY
g6`� ,\ j ���'�; � / / \1 •' � NORTH CAROLINA . NORTH CAROUNA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
aYIsaPE Of HIGHWAYS- w PLANNING AND RESEARCHRRANCN
,�•
� . V S. DEPARTMENFEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Of TRANSPORTATION
i1 1 ■ y� C \ �'�e A��
Ld1,iI 177,
(Cu r
EdEoaAdA' ./► C o u N T r
s w...e•t N a a ron ....cuo•s o.. wn ...xro.p.w C_� �. t 1'._i:�.�=_-r_r.
/ �r.O.rrn sfnwr n•M � - \ K/+r Ny RMA.OI..INn
� re. �. DwRE .mE1RY

sections and bridges had average daily flows of 10,000 to
14,000 vehicles per day. However, during peak seasons, sub-
stantially higher volumes occur:
1 ° Peak season traffic flows can exceed average day
conditions by more than 60 percent.
' ° Weekend flows during the peak season are typically
YP Y
the highest and these can exceed average day
' conditions by more than 160 percent.
' Physical conditions such as roadway alignment, width, in-
tersection operations, or vehicle type influence traffic flows
on any roadway segment. Within Dare County, these con-
ditions are prevalent on the various bridge approaches
which regulate traffic flows on and off the island communi-
ties. For this reason, the movement of vehicles on and off the
' Route 158 and 64 Bridges is the key to the overall County
transportation system. Other areas which restrict or influ-
ence traffic movements include:
' ° Turning movements in the more densely developed
areas of the County such as between Southern Shores and
' Whalebone;
° Bridge geometry at Oregon Inlet;
1 0
Sharp roadway curves north of Rodanthe and Buxton;
and
° Ferry operations at Hatteras Island.
' Dare County has limited capacity in other modes of transpor-
tation. Air transportation is limited to the Dare County
' Regional Airport, the First Flight Airport and the Billy Mitch-
ell Airport in Hatteras. At present, there are no scheduled
passenger services by a regional carrier. However, a com-
muter service airline has been proposed to serve the Dare
County Regional Airport and the Dare County Board of
Commissioners is on record in favor of providing commuter
' air services to the Dare County area. Other modes of trans-
portation are the ferry operation between Hatteras and Ocra-
coke Islands. Sea transportation is relatively unavailable as
' passage through Oregon Inlet is restricted to small sport and
fishing craft. A limited bus service is run between Manteo
' and Norfolk and Dare County is not served by any railroads.
I
Section 1, Page 40 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

[ s r{
A-
.` Cao11a
7caln,oc><
Camde+ •Aydlelt;
KEY ROADWAYS
`.
�. `G 6 DARE COUNTY
t? E. c S. L. \ ,
i �U S. COAS 3_
tD AM STA 1 �
9 ;o moo,
34
�', SantlMinQ
Ouc1i
`5uuthefn
`:.3Aaes
Ifitty'':. 15LS
Hxb«� HaMk ' tus
•;R.9„,�, a.od/ A<c.0
%
Fill Oevil Hills
/Collln`tonE:t
1 pURANr
58 lock Rkdp�
Fort l.andilillf IStAwO
Newfoundland
Nags Hea SRegP m fredl Acceu
Mashoes �Pr'sa'
�'
Eliroeak
S 64
Columbia ♦ - ..;East
bt>
t Whalebone
Mantis
'> Utz s:.«t Galati
Harbor • •
J... 64 +ti0 rOWt
S MAno
C?
``
n
1 }
fb•—on Wet
11 i D A
s
R R E L
stumpy
Gum Nea i
% 1
Pant
Rodanthe
D E
b
x Waves
94 <:;:r'
\f
; Salvo
rr
,,
a f o
y,
4
1
T
.an Quarlef
Avon
Z
\ 0
�\
` Hattesasr' r
>.
\
` Oaa
d4.E
Jo A.
Source: Dare County
Carrying
Capacity Study 1985

lJ
U
11
V
Corolla
Co�nlock
len /. Aydl, .
> + i, 6
8 \ `
'a STA 5 � 3 ``
\\o� \ Sandertlna
�� Duda
�. Coal.. h r 1
1 7� 4001,.
t
i Pant IKitty
O ! Harbor ; Hswa
I " Collin ton
DU"wvr -
Fat lsnd�sef WAMO Nags
Mashoes R,
Newfoundland ' 1,850 6,
i I, 264
ColumO�a East Mann$ a
♦ Il / Lake Harhor
1984 AVERAGE DAILY
VEHICLE COUNTS
SOURCE: NCOOT
.n 2.500
:� 7,500
14,000
ISI
ws
''..W &@am Acceis3,200
Kin De HillsMaMMA-
r-- —•_
� / 11,900 9,000
Hea Stow hni
" 1 A
3,600 017 EF.oeu V.7 .------
ant Whmeoone
'i 9,600
4
11 64 `� �,yf tOdE s n' 20L 3,500 3,300
r I+ Wsnchese o.
I 1,800 2,800 '
r).rpnn /n/N
:l r� D A R E
R R E L.L �` 264 10,000
400 stnmoy
Gum Neck i
I Point
]a
Y r D E 254 `b
ly
I
6
pan Quarter
r �
Hatteras g /
IRodanthe
Waves
Salvo
I=
Von
\ Humerus 1n1w
ti
IN. �N,
Quacok o
y-Secondary Source: Dare
County Carrying Capacity

I-
L
I
C'
Transportation System The capability of the existing transportation system to evacu-
Capacities ate area residents and visitors during a hurricane event is the
most critical factor in determining system capacities in Dare
County. Therefore, the transportation capacity analysis
prepared by Booz, Allen and Hamilton, focused most closely
on hurricane evacuation times.
The 1985 Carrying Capacity Study concluded that, owing
largely to bottlenecks at the Route 158 Bridge and the Route
64 Bridge, evacuation times for the Bodie and Hatteras Island
Area could range up to 27 hours. If both bridges were equally
available for evacuation and traffic was distributed between
them, the total evacuation time could be reduced to approxi-
mately 20 hours. As such, a range in evacuation times of 20
to 27 hours was estimated for peak season conditions. Dur-
ing average or off-peak season times, evacuations could be
accomplished in 13 to 18 hours. A further reduction could be
made if the bridges had both lanes available for outgoing
vehicles during critical hours of an evacuation.
Beyond the concern about hurricane evacuation, island resi-
dents at public meetings expressed near universal concern
that the main thoroughfares through their respective com-
munities were already incapable of handling peak season
traffic loads.. Further, the County has been disappointed in
recent years over the projects that have been approved for
funding through the State's Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP). Prospects for the future remain uncertain.
1.4.4 Law Enforcement The Dare County Sheriff's Department has approximately
thirty deputies plus the sheriff, three secretaries, and six
jailers. The Department is housed in four office locations
including the main office and annex in Manteo, plus satellite
offices in Duck and Hatteras. The thirty deputies are about
evenly distributed among three districts: (1) Roanoke Is-
land/Mainland, (2) the Beaches, and (3) Hatteras Island.
Equipment owned by the Department includes 34-35 patrol
cars, a Bell helicopter, and a canine unit for drug enforce-
ment. Emergency 911 communications are coordinated by
the Dare County Communication Center, whose main office
is in Kill Devil Hills, with branch centers in Manteo and
Hatteras.
I
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 41

' The Department recently requested additional deputies in
the 1987-88 budget but the request was denied. The County
is in need of a new Courthouse and jail to meet existing and
future law enforcement activities, and plans are under con-
sideration for the financing and construction of such new
facilities.
I
I
The incorporated municipalities of Southern Shores, Kitty
Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo also maintain
their own police departments. In addition, the National Park
Service has patrolmen which concentrate mainly on the
beaches, but will provide assistance on request. Officers of
the State Highway Patrol focus their activities primarily in
the unincorporated areas of the County.
(Source: Telephone Communication with Sergeant Almey
Gray, Dare County Sheriff's Department, July 30,1987)
Dare County is divided into
municipalities:
Roanoke Island
Northern Beaches
Nags Head
Kill Devil Hills
Kitty Hawk
Southern Shores
Colington
Duck
Hatteras Island
Salvo
Rodanthe/ Waves
Frisco
Buxton
Avon
Hatteras
Mainland
Manns Harbor
Stumpy Point
15 fire districts including four 1.4.5 Fire Protection
' The four municipalities provide their own services, equip-
ment and funding; the fifth municipality, Manteo, is served
by the Roanoke Island district. All of the fire districts have
signed mutual aid agreements with their neighboring fire
departments.
Recent statistical indicators of activity by fire departments
have revealed increases in the number of calls responded to
ranging from about a 60% annual increase to over 200%
Section 1, Page 42 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

' annually. Many if not all of the departments have plans to
expand their fire fighting capability. Current handicaps
include an apparent decreasing availability of volunteer
firemen, insufficient water pressure in some locations, in-
creasing numbers of taller structures, and existing roadways
of substantial width.
' (Source: Dare County Carrying Capacity StudY,1985)
1.4.6 Public Schools Public schools in Dare County are consolidated under the
direction of a five person, elected Board of Education and are
' administered by an appointed superintendent. Six separate
school facilities serve the County as follows:
Pupil Membership
Name of School Grades Capacity April 8,1987
' Kitty Hawk Elementary K-5 440 511
Manteo Elementary K-5 638 529
Manteo Middle 6-8 440 467
Manteo High 9-12 616 613
Cape Hatteras K-12 725 512
Dare County Alternative
High School 9-12 70(Est.) 47
(Source: Interview, Mr. Willie Huber, Assistant Superinten-
dent, Dare County Public Schools, May 13,1987)
'
As can be seen from the above table, two of the County's six
educational facilities, Kitty Hawk Elementary and Manteo
Middle School, are currently operating above their planned
capacities. A third, Manteo High School, has reached its
capacity.
'
The Dare Count Board of Education has prepared estimates
Y p P
of future enrollments at each of the County's schools through
the 2000:
year
�I
I
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 43

State Board Board Board
'
Projec- Projec- Projec- Projec-
Present tion for tion for tion for tion for
'
School Capacity 1987-88 1987-88 1989-90 1999-2000
Kitty Hawk
Elemen. 440 400 516 602 1301
Manteo
Elemen. 638 262 559 616 1004
Manteo
Middle 440 390 521 574 936
'
Manteo
High 616 585 735 810 1320
Hatteras 725 532 502 522 637
TOTALS 2859 2533 2833 3124 5198
'
Source: Dare County Carrying Capacity Study,1985
To keep pace with the projected growth in the public school
Capital Improvements
enrollment in Dare County, the Board of Education has
Planned for School
outlined a program of capital improvements for the school
System
system over the next six to seven years. These improvements
include additions and renovations to existing school build-
ings, the acquisition of land and construction of new school
facilities, as well as administrative and support buildings.
The various planned improvements are summarized in the
table below.
Nature of
Cost
Year
Improvement
Estimate
Comment
'
1987
Major expansion to Kitty
$3.2 million
Increased
Hawk Elementary
capacity to
1987
Cape Hatteras cafeteria
$370,000
638 students
1988
New middle school/Baum
$7 million
Planned
tract, Nags Head Woods Area
capacity 700
students
1989
Addition to Cape Hatteras
$200,000
Library
1989
Reroofing of Cape Hatteras
$150,000
'
School
1989
Expansion of Manteo Middle
$300,000
Add four
School
classrooms
1989
Reroofing of Manteo Middle
$150,000
School
1989
Addition to Manteo
$300,000
Expand
Elementary
capacity to
700 students
1989
Reroof Manteo Elementary
$100,0()0
'
1989
Reroof and refurbish
$100,000
Section 1, Page 44 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Nature of Cost
Year Improvement Estimate Comment
Alternative High School
'
1989 Land acquisition and $200,000
construction of maintenance shop
1989 Land acquisition and $100,000
construction of school bus garage
1990 Property acquisition and $560,000
construction of administration
building
'
1990 Expansion of Manteo $800,000 Increased
High School capacity to
950 students
'
1991 New Alternative High $300,000
School
1991 Improvements to athletic $150,000
facilities
'
1991 Activity bus storage facilities N/A
at each school
'
1992 Elementary school construction $5 million
at Baum Tract
1993 Construction of new high $8 million Planned
school capacity for
'
600 students
In summary, the Dare County Board of Education has
'
planned an approximate $27 million capital improvement
program from 1987 through 1993. Deliberations are cur-
, 1.4.7 Parks and
The Dare County Recreation Department was established in
Recreation
January of 1984 with an initial annual operating budget of
'
$50,000. In subsequent years, the growth of the department
and its services to the County have been reflected in the
growth of the County's annual operating budget: FY 1984-85,
'
$150,000; FY 1985-86, $195,000; and FY 1986-87, $226,000.
The Recreation Department is heavily program -oriented, in
that the County actually owns only one recreational facility,
that being a tennis complex on five acres in Nags Head. For
'
recreational facilities, the County relies heavily upon the
existing facilities located at each of the County's school sites,
as well as certain park facilities in several of the local munici-
'
palities in the County. The Recreation Department maintains
cooperative agreements with the school system and the
municipalities for programming these facilities. For ex-
ample, the Town of Kill Devil Hills owns an outdoor athletic
complex, but relies upon the County Recreation Department
for programming the facility. During the summer months,
'
the Department also programs the use of the various school
facilities in the County, and assumes maintenance responsi-
bilities during this period.
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 45

' Program activities arranged by the Department include the
following: softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, youth
baseball, dance, gymnastics; senior games, arts and crafts,
' etc. These activities are organized and operated by a perma-
nent staff of six full-time employees and three part-time
employees. In addition, the Department has a "professional
services" account in its budget, which allows the Department
to hire special purpose instructors for specific activities
' throughout the year. In the 1986-87 budget, this professional
services account amounted to $35,000.
Owing largely to the many natural opportunities for outdoor
recreation afforded by the area, Dare County has not tradi-
tionally placed strong emphasis on organized outdoor rec-
reation. This is reflected in the general lack of County owned
park and recreation facilities. However, as the County con-
tinues to grow, there will undoubtedly be an increasing call
for more organized athletics and recreational opportunities.
The primary near term (five years) need appears to be for
additional ballfields. The Recreation Director indicated that
there is perhaps the highest need for an additional ballfield
complex in the Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills area and one
other ballfield complex in Manteo.
Buildings and equipment for the Recreation Department are
also fairly limited at this time. For administrative activities,
the Department shares a building with the Tourist Bureau
and Mental Health Center at the corner of Budleigh and
Highway 264 in Manteo. Existing equipment includes two
pickup trucks and one large riding lawnmower, all of which
are stored at the County Public Works yard.
For indoor recreation, the Department makes use of the
various community centers located throughout the County.
In addition, for swimming activities the Department makes
arrangements with hotel and motel facilities to use their
pools.
(Also see Section 2.3.8 of this Plan for a discussion of beach
and waterfront access.)
Section 1, Page 46 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

F
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1.4.8 Solid Waste The County -and the municipalities provide facilities and
services for the disposal of solid waste for both residential
and commercial properties. There are three major phases of
solid waste disposal:
° Collection services for private residences and commercial
establishments and transport of the waste from the
locality to the transfer station on Roanoke Island.
° Collection trucks off-load the waste into a County trailer
truck at the transfer station.
Shipment of the waste from the transfer station to the
landfill at East Lake on the mainland.
The County is responsible for the transfer station and ship-
ping functions but has a shared role with the municipalities
for collection and transport of the solid waste to the transfer
station.
Collection services vary between the County and the individ-
ual municipalities. There are three municipalities currently
providing services to residents and commercial establish-
ments within their respective city limits:
Manteo
• Nags Head
• Kill Devil Hills
The County currently provides collection services for the
remaining municipality:
° Kitty Hawk
The County also provides services to the unincorporated
areas and Ocracoke Island. The East Lake landfill site is
owned and operated by the County. There were 120 transfer
trailer truck trips to the landfill for the week of July 21,1985.
Assuming this to be a weekly average for the peak season, an
estimate of 208,800 cubic yards of waste transported to the
landfill for the five months of the peak season is calculated.
The off-peak season generates approximately 37% of the
peak season volume or 77,256 cubic yards. The total annual
average is estimated to be 286,056 cubic yards for 1985. Using
this figure, with a 10% annual increase in waste products, an
estimate of the remaining life of the landfill is expected to be
in the range of 7 to 10 years.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 47

. I
'I
U
. I
East Lake Landfill Life Expectancy
At a 10% Growth Rate in Solid Waste
Volume of
Landfill Remaining
Year
(cubic yards)
1985
5,047,999
1986
4,761,943
1987
4,447,218
1988
4,101,153
1989
3,723,412
1990
3,304,597
1991
2,843,901
1992
2,337,135
1993
1,779,692
1994
1,166,504
1995
491,998
New Remainder
Inflow of Waste
for Volume
at 10% Growth
of Landfill
(cubic yards)
(cubic yards)
286,056
4,761,943
314,662
4,447,281
346,128
4,101,153
380,741
3,723,412
418,815
3,304,597
460,696
2,843,901
506,766
2,337,135
557,443
1,779,692
613,187
1,166,504
674,505
491,998
741,995 FULL as
of August 1,1995
' _ Landfill started operations in early 1982
At a 10% growth rate in the volume of waste disposed in the landfill, life expectancy is to
August 1,1995.
' - Total years of projected operation from date of opening is 131/2 years.
Total years of projected operation from 1985 is 91/2 years.
Using a straight line method of growth, life expectancy from date of opening is 18 years.
I
Section 1, Page 48 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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1.5 Anticipated
Demand
1.5.1 Population and The purpose of this section is to anticipate how future
Economic Projections population projections may impact upon the need for addi-
tional developable land and facilities in Dare County. These
projections have a direct bearing on the amount of land
allocated, for example, to the Transition Class of the Land
Classification Map. This is more fully explained in the
paragraphs that follow.
As noted earlier under Section 1.2.1, the population growth
rate for Dare County was fairly modest until about 1970.
During the decade of the 1970s, however, the County's
average annual growth rate accelerated to a rather substan-
tial 6.7% per year. At this rate of growth, the County's
permanent population nearly doubled in just ten years.
North Carolina's Office of State Budget and Management
estimates that the County's permanent population reached
17,278 persons in 1985. If this estimate is accepted, the
County's growth rate for the first half of the 1980s is esti-
mated at about 5.2% compounded annually.
The Office of State Budget and Management is also respon-
sible for producing future population projections for all
counties in North Carolina. The most recent population
projections for the County are as follows:
Dare County Population Projections As Prepared By the
State
Year Population
1985
17,278
1990
20,827
1995
24,574
2000
28,582
2010
36,375
Source: Mr. Bill Tillman, Office of State Budget and Man-
agement, Raleigh, NC, First Quarter 1987
It should be noted that past population projections for Dare
County have been uniformly low, and there is reason to
believe that this most recent set of projections may also be
very conservative. Follow-up discussions with a represen-
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 49

' tative of the Office of State Budget and Management revealed
that the above projections are based on fairly conservative
trend lines from the recent past. The representative also
' indicated that any special demographic studies prepared for
the County might very well be more accurate than those of
the State. The explanation given was that the State's projec-
tions must rely upon known factual information from the
past and extrapolations therefrom, as opposed to more lo-
cally specific conditions and trends.
Th
e 1985 Carrying Capacity Study for Dare County included
' a location specific analysis suitable for projecting future
population levels in the County. In developing the projec-
tions, the consultants for the County used carrying capacity,
' both natural and manmade, as the basis for making esti-
mates. Based upon the amount of available developable land
in the County, and three alternative scenarios for providing
' public services to the County, the study produced the follow-
ing sets of population projections for Dare County:
' Dare County Popoulation Projections As Prepared By
'
Booz, Allen and Hamilton
'
Permanent
Scenario
Scenario
Scenario
Residents
I
II
III
'
1985
19,600 �
19,600
19,600
1990
23,796
24,484
31,608
1995
25,738
31,683
54,320
'
2000
27,886
39,470
95,166
Comparing the carrying capacity population projections
with the projections of the State, it is evident that the State's
projections are indeed conservative. Scenario I, or the low
growth scenario of the Carrying Capacity Study, most
' closely approximates the population projections prepared
by the State. Scenario II would show roughly 10,000 more
' permanent residents in the County in the year 2000 than as
projected by the State. Scenario III would have more than
triple the number of permanent residents compared to the
' State's projection of 28,500 in the year 2000.
Most local officials have indicated that Scenario II is the most
likely alternative for population growth of the County.
Scenario II would add roughly 11,000 new residents to the
' Section 1, Page 50 - Dare County Land Use. Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

40,000
37,500
35,000
32,500
1 Low to Moderate Growth
II Moderate to High
30,000
III High, Free Market
27,500
25,000
........
22,500
...........................
............................
20,000
17,500
15,000
12,500
10,000
7,500
5,000
mom
2,500
0
1880 1890
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980 1990
2000
POPULATION GROWTH AND PROJECTIONS
1880 TO 2000
DARE COUNTY
Source: Division of State Budget and Management,1987 EDSA
Dare County Carrying Capacity Study, 1986 EDWARD D. STONE. JR. AND ASSOC.
PLANNERS � LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

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County during the decade of the 1980s, a figure not unrea-
sonable in light of the minimum 4,000 residents added
during the period 1980-85.
For purposes of the ten year planning period for this update
to the Dare County Land Use Plan, the 1995 Scenario II
estimate of population has been deemed most accurate, and
is therefore adopted. It should be noted that the Scenario II
estimate was updated in April of 1987. Projections for 1995
and the year 2000 now stand as follows:
Scenario II Population Projections (Revised)
1995 2000
Permanent Residents
34,885
45,565
Peak Visitors
161,921
204,460
Day Visitors
9,995
6,740
GRAND TOTALS
206,801
256,765
Source: Preliminary Development Projections
Thus, the officially recognized permanent population
projection for Dare County in 1995 is 34,885.
Subarea Population Population projections prepared for various subareas of
Projections Dare County are revealing in terms of anticipated alloca-
tions of future growth to specific parts of the County. The
table below shows, for example, that of the total 15,000
additional permanent residents that will be added to the
County's population between 1985 and 1995, roughly 9,000
will be located in the incorporated towns, and the remaining
6,000 will be located in the unincorporated areas.
Regarding peak visitors, however, out of a total increase of
60,000 persons, about 45,000 visitors will stay at accommo-
dations in the incorporated towns, while only 15,000 will
stay in the unincorporated areas.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 51

' Population Projections By Subarea
Estimated Estimated
' Permanent Peak Visitors
Residents By Area By Area
19851 19952 19851 19952
' Unincorporated
Areas
Roanoke Island 1,615 3,000 8,805 12,331
Mainland 1,100 1,230 150 185
Colington 1,940 3,750 660 825
Duck/North 1,400 3,160 5,550 9,460
R, S, W 1,700 1,960 3,855 4,900
Avon 500 710 4,600 6,600
' Buxton 600 700 4,620 6,425
Frisco 550 635 3,555 4,500
Hatteras 11550 1,790 3,595 4,560
Sub Total 10,955 16,935 35,385 49,786
Grand Total 19,370 34,885 102,035 161,121
lEstimate for July 1985 contained in "Carrying Capacity/
2evelopment Study, Scenario II."
' Revised estimate for July of year indicated made in April 1987.
Source: Preliminary Development Projections, Homer Porter, April
1987
' Future land use needs for Dare County are determined as a
function of total population growth, as specifically distrib-
uted to the various subareas of the County. Such population
distributions must take into account several important fac-
tors including, particularly: the environmental suitability of
' the land, the availability of urban services (especially water
and sewer), and local area self determination as incorporated
into County -wide growth policies.
As noted in Section 1.2.2, Dare County is a very large County
in terms of overall acreage, yet has a limited supply of land
available for development. This is particularly true for the
Unincorporated area of the County, where much of the land
is taken up by Federally owned park and wildlife refuge
' areas. Included among these Federally owned properties are
the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area, which
' includes all lands on Hatteras Island not part of the unincor-
porated villages, and the Alligator River National Wildlife
for future development due to the presence of wetlands, a
' high water table and other environmentally sensitive fea-
tures of the land. Thus, in light of the County's continued
1.5.2 Future Land Use
Needs
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rapid population growth and limited supply of land avail-
able for development, estimates of future land use needs are
not so much a function of supply and demand, but rather
supply alone. The exercise of determining future land use
needs, therefore becomes a question of first determining the
desired population level, and then allocating that popula-
tion to various parts of the County based on the ability of
each subarea to accommodate appropriate levels of devel-
opment. This is essentially what the Carrying Capacity
Study did in 1985.
The subarea population projections of Section 1.5.1 are sig-
nificant in that they seek to consolidate the various environ-
mental, public facility, and local growth policy factors nec-
essary to allocate future land uses. The County's Land Clas-
sification Map, which is part of this plan, is the geographic
representation of the County's growth policies, key devel-
opment factors and desired population levels. For example,
according to the population projection for unincorporated
Roanoke Island, some 1,400 new permanent residents are
expected to locate there by 1995. Roanoke Island has signifi-
cant amounts of undeveloped land suitable for develop-
ment, relative to the balance of the unincorporated area.
Thus, the two areas of the Island most suited for urban level
development have been designated Transition on the Land
Classification Map (found in the back of this document).
For the Mainland, however, only 130 new permanent resi-
dents are expected. As a result, the few remaining areas of
the Mainland suited for development have been designated
as "Community." The balance of the Mainland is either in
"Rural" or "Conservation."
In summary, land use needs for Dare County over the next
ten years are likely to include all land that is environmen-
tally suitable, tempered only by the intensity of develop-
ment desired. The Land Classification Map therefore iden-
tifies all such environmentally appropriate lands, and clas-
sifies them according to their intended level of development
density.
1
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 1, Page 53

Section 2:
Policies for
Growth and
Development
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 1

Introduction to the
Policies
The data collection and analysis described in Section 1 of this
plan was geared to gathering and summarizing information
related to the growth of Dare County. Building upon this
information, a series of official local government policies are
hereby set forth. As officially adopted policies of the Dare
County Board of Commissioners, they serve as the basis for
future decisions on capital improvements, ordinances, re-
zoning requests, subdivision approvals, and other similar
matters.
Policy Format
Each major policy category in the 1987 update to the Policies
for.Growth and Development is addressed according to the
following format:
Discussion- A brief summary of the issues and
relevant findings.
Policy Statement- A statement of local government
principal designed to achieve
legitimate public objectives related to
the issue.
Implementation - Assignable actions designed to carry
Actions out the policies, and which can be
accomplished within the 1987-1992
timeframe.
It is important to understand that discussion and implemen-
tation actions are not policies, and do not carry the same
degree of importance as the actual policy statements. The
narrative in each discussion section is designed to provide
background and rationale for the ensuing policy statement.
In most instances, the discussion serves to identify a problem
or issue, and may present a summary of findings from other
technical studies. There is no intent to establish policy within
any discussion section.
Short-term (Le. within five years) implementation actions
are designed to suggest several possible courses of action
available to a County government to carry out the policies.
The suggested actions are not intended to be all-inclusive,
nor are they binding. In other words, as conditions change,
additional actions may be added to the list and others re-
moved.
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Section 2, Page 2 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

' The policy statements, on the other hand, must be viewed in
a wholly different light. As statements of local government
principle, the policies should remain substantially un-
changed during the five year planning period. Frequent
changes to the policies would undermine their effectiveness
in achieving intended goals and objectives. Indeed, the
policies are designed to maintain a consistent and predict-
able direction for local government decisions affecting the
' local growth and development of the County during the
planning period. Therefore, in reviewing the pages that
follow, the reader is asked to focus greatest attention on the
' policies, while relying upon the discussion and implementa-
tion actions primarily as explanations as to intent.
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2.1 Resource Protec-
tion
2.1.1 Constraints to
Development
Development activities in Dare County are constrained by a
variety of natural and manmade limiting factors, as dis-
cussed in Sections 1.3 and 1.4 of this plan. Of the various
natural limitations on development in Dare County, the
suitability of soils for septic tanks is the singlemost signifi-
cant constraint presently facing the County. Citizen com-
ments expressed at the public meetings related to the Land
Use Plan reveal that there is a general desire to use soil
limitations as a means of "naturally" constraining the density
of development in Dare County, particularly along the Outer
Banks. Concern was expressed that if municipal wastewater
treatment facilities were built to serve the Outer Banks, such
facilities would encourage a much higher density of devel-
opment than is currently being experienced. Such develop-
ment would further clog the already overburdened primary
transportation network, and would heighten existing hurri-
cane evacuation problems.
Regarding the mechanics of septic tank approvals, it was
noted that there needs to be improved coordination among
Building Inspections, the Health Department, and the Plan-
ning Departments.
The other major natural constraint to development in Dare
County is the extensive occurrence of flood prone areas
throughout the County. SLOSH maps of Dare County, as
prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reveal that
nearly all of the unincorporated area of Dare County is
inundated during a major storm event. By general consen-
sus, flooding is not considered to be a "show stopping"
constraint on development, when compared to soil suitabil-
ity for septic tanks. In general, development can be permit-
ted in flood prone areas, so long as all building construction
requirements and environmental standards are achieved.
Environmental standards include, specifically, those use
standards listed by the Coastal Area Management Act
Guidelines for areas of environmental concern and those
regulations administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers for wetland areas.
Section 2, Page 4 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Policy 2.1.1(a) DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATION
AND ENFORCEMENT OF TITLE 10, CHAPTER 10,
SUBCHAPTER 10-A, SECTION .1900 OF THE LAWS
AND RULES FOR SANITARY SEWAGE COLLECTION,
TREATMENT, AND DISPOSAL. IN DOING SO, IT IS
THE COUNTY'S INTENT TO PROTECT EXISTING
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES, THE NATURAL CON-
DITIONS OF ESTUARINE WATERS, AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE.
Implementation Actions 1. The County will continue to enforce minimum State
standards for septic tank and nitrification field systems
through the Dare County Board of Health and staff
sanitarians.
Policy 2.1.1(b) DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATION
.AND ENFORCEMENT OF ALL APPLICABLE
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, AND
THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
Implementation Actions 1. The County will continue to enforce the Federal
Emergency Management Agency guidelines for
construction in special flood hazard zones and N.C.
Building Code specifications for coastal construction.
2.1.2 Areas of The Coastal Area Management Act of North Carolina calls
Environmental Concern for the identification of certain environmentally fragile and
important land and water areas that are judged to be of
greater than local significance. The Coastal Resources
Commission, in cooperation with local governments in the
20 county coastal area, has developed a program of permit
review and coordination within these "areas of environ-
mental concern" (AECs). The intent of the regulatory pro-
gram is not to stop development, but rather to insure the
compatibility of development with the continued produc-
tivity and value of certain critical land and water areas.
While the CAMA program identifies some 13 specific cate-
gories of AECs in the total Coastal Area, there are currently
only nine categories of AECs located in Dare County. These
existing AEC's are summarized in the following table and
discussed individually in the Plan sections that follow.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 5

Areas of Environmental Concern in Dare County
Dare County Resource
AEC Classification Definitions
Estuarine System
a. Coastal Wetlands
Marshes as defined in 15
NCAC 7H .0205.
b. Estuarine Waters Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico
and Roanoke Sounds;
Alligator River; others as
defined in 15 NCAC 7H .0206
(a).
c. Public Trust Areas Most surface water, estuarine
or other.
d. Estuarine 75 foot wide strip, landward of
Shorelines estuarine waters from normal
high water.
Ocean Hazard Areas
a. Inlet Hazard
Lands adjoining Oregon and
Areas
Hatteras Inlets for variable
distances as determined by
CRC. .
b. Ocean Erodible
Overlaying Frontal Dune,
Areas
distance landward from first
line of stable natural
vegetation along entire ocean
front.
c. High Hazard
Areas subject to high velocity
Flood Area
waters during a storm having
1 % chance of being equaled or
_
exceeded in any given year.
Identified as zone V1-30 on
flood insurance maps.
Public Water Supplies
a. Small Surface
Fresh Pond
Water Supply
Watersheds
b. Public Water
Cape Hatteras well field,
Supply Well
Buxton Woods
Fields
Section 2, Page 6 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

2.1.2(a) Coastal Coastal wetlands are defined as any salt marsh or other
Wetlands 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 hurricane or tropical storm
tides.
In Dare County, the soundside shore is generally covered by
coastal marshgrass, as evidenced by mapping prepared by
the National Wetlands Inventory, Fish and Wildlife Service
of the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Draft Maps,1983.)
The position of these wetlands, often between buildable
high ground and deeper navigable waters, has placed con-
siderable pressure on these environmentally significant
areas. However, stricter enforcement of State and Federal
dredge/fill laws in recent years has done much to curtail the
destruction of these valuable wetlands. For the Dare County
Land Use Plan, the critical importance of coastal wetlands
has been recognized by including all such areas in the
Conservation category of the Land Classification Map.
Policy 2.1.2(a) DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS REASONABLE EFFORTS
BY ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO
PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND ECONOMIC VALUES OF COASTAL WETLAND
AECS.
Implementation Actions 1. The County supports CAMA use standards for Coastal
Wetland AECs as identified under 15 NCAC7H,
Sections .0205 and .0208. Highest priority of use shall
be allocated to the conservation of existing coastal
wetlands. Second priority of coastal wetland use shall
be given to those types of development activities that
require water access and cannot function elsewhere.
Examples of acceptable land uses may include utility
easements, fishing piers, docks, and agricultural uses,
such as farming and forestry drainage, as permitted
under NC's Dredge and Fill Act and/or other
applicable laws.
2. The County will continue to administer the CAMA local
permit enforcement program and maintain the staff
Local Permit Officer.
2.1.2(b) Estuarine Estuarine waters are defined as "all the water of the Atlantic
Waters Ocean within the boundary of North Carolina, and all the
water of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries thereto,
seaward of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 7

' and inland fishing waters, as set forth in an agreement
adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission and the
Department of Natural Resources and Community
Development, found in 15 NCAC3F. 0200 in the most current
revision of the NC Fishing Regulations for Coastal Waters."
Another way of defining estuarine waters is to say that
' estuaries are semi -enclosed coastal water bodies having free
connection with 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 Roanoke,
Croatan, Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico Sounds. Public
comments received at meetings related to the Land Use Plan
' Update indicated strong support for the continued protec-
tion of the water quality of the County's estuarine waters.
While shellfish area closings are not as frequent an occur-
rence in this part of the coastal area as, for example, the
heavily urbanized area of southeastern North Carolina,
there is nonetheless considerable concern that estuarine
water quality remain at a high level.
'DARE COUNTY SHALL DISCOURAGE DEVELOP-
MENTS THAT HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SERI-
OUSLYIMPACTING THE WATER QUALITY OR ENVI-
RONMENTAL VALUES OF THE ESTUARINE RE-
SOURCE FROM LOCATING ADJACENT TO ESTUAR-
INE WATERS.
' 1. Dare County supports the CAMA use standards for
estuarine waters as contained in 15NCAC7H, Section
' .0206 and .0208. Highest priority of use shall be allocated
to the conservation of estuarine waters and its vital
' components. Second priority of estuarine waters use
shall be given to those types of development activities
that require water access and use which cannot function
elsewhere, such as simple access channels; structures to
prevent erosion; navigation channels; boat docks,
marinas, piers, wharfs, and mooring pilings.
' 2. The County will establish zoning classifications in those
parts of Dare County currently unzoned in an effort to
reduce the potential for incompatible development
' adjacent to estuarine waters.
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
Policy 2.1.2(b)
Implementation Actions
2.1.2(c) Public Trust
Areas
Section 2, Page 8 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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subject to measurable lunar tides and lands thereunder to the
mean high water mark; all navigable natural bodies of water
and lands thereunder to the mean high water level or mean
water level, as the case maybe, 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, usage, dedication,
or any other means.
In Dare County, public trust waters include the Atlantic
Ocean, Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, Pamlico and
Roanoke Sounds, and over 40 bays, lakes, creeks, ponds, and
inlets. A complete listing of all these various public trust
waters and their general description is contained on pages
89-95 of the 1976 CAMA Land Use Plan for Dare County. In
considering development on any body of water in Dare
County, it is best to presume that the water is in the public
trust, unless otherwise specifically documented.
It goes without saying that Dare County is heavily water -
oriented, from both a commercial fishing and recreational
standpoint. Residents attending public meetings for the
Land Use Plan Update, as well as members of the Dare
County Planning Board, expressed a strong desire that the
public's right to access and use of public trust waters is
preserved.
Policy 2.1.2(c) IT IS THE POLICY OF DARE COUNTY TO PROTECT
PUBLIC RIGHTS FOR NAVIGATION AND RECREA-
TION, AND TO PRESERVE AND MANAGE PUBLC
TRUST AREAS SOAS TO SAFEGUARD AND PERPETU-
ATE THEIR BIOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND AES-
THETIC VALUE.
Implementation Actions 1. Dare County supports the LAMA use standards for
public trust areas as contained in 15NCAC7H, Sections
.0207 and .0208. In the absence of overriding public
benefit, any use which significantly interferes with the
public right of navigation or other public trust rights
which the public maybe found to have in these areas shall
not be allowed. The development of navigational
channels or drainage ditches, the use of bulkheads to
prevent erosion, and the building of piers, wharfs, or
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 9

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marinas are examples of uses that may be acceptable
within public trust areas, provided that such uses will not
be detrimental to the public trust rights and the biological
and physical functions of the estuary.
2. A Dare County Waterways Commission will be
established in an effort to provide for maintenance of
existing waterways and harbors and to provide for
additional access to these waters.
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 which
are especially vulnerable to erosion, flooding, or other ad-
verse effects of wind and water, and are intimately con-
nected to the estuary. This area extends from the mean high
water level of normal water level along the estuaries,
sounds, bays, and brackish waters as set forth in an agree-
ment adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission and
the Department of Natural Resources and Community De-
velopment for a distance of 75' landward.
' Estuarine shorelines in Dare County are. generally non -
ocean shorelines along estuaries, sounds, bays, and brackish
waters extending landward from -mean high water or nor-
mal water level for a distance of 75'. It is useful to emphasize
that where the range of saltwater influence on freshwater
streams ends is also the approximate location where the
estuarine AEC ends. In reviewing the estuarine shoreline
issue, Planning Board members expressed concerns that
these shorelines should be preserved in their undisturbed,
' natural condition, unless there is a serious problem and an
overriding need for shore stabilization.
' DEVELOPMENT ALONG ESTUARINE SHORELINES
SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A MANNER THAT
'PRESERVES THELONG-TERM NATURAL INTEGRITY
OF THE ESTUARINE SHORELINE. EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS POLICY SHALL BE MADE ON A CASE -BY -CASE
BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAMA STANDARDS.
1. Dare County supports the CAMA use standards for
' estuarine shoreline AECs as stated in 15NCAC7H,
Section .0209. All development projects, proposals, and
designs shall substantially preserve and not weaken or
' eliminate natural barriers to erosion. All other specific
development standards for estuarine shoreline AECs as
2.1.2(d) Estuarine
Shorelines
Policy 2.1.2(d)
Implementation Actions
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Section 2, Page 10 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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contained in Section .0209 shall be adhered to in
reviewing site plans for specific development proposals.
2.1.2(e) Ocean Hazard The ocean hazard system of AECs contains three specific
Areas types of areas:
1. The 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 is determined by one of two methods.
In general, the first method maybe described as 60 times
the average annual erosion rate for the particular location
or 120' landward, whichever is less. The second method
involves the determination of the new shoreline that
would likely be established in the event of a 100-year
storm. For the specific language concerning these
distances, the reader should consult the CAMA AEC
Standards, Section .0304.
2. The 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 equalled or exceeded in any given year, as
identified as zoned V1-30 on the flood insurance rate
maps of the Federal Insurance Administration, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. 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 these high hazard flood area zones. As a
result, most of the so-called V zones in the
unincorporated county are confined to an area
oceanward of the dune system.
3. Inlet Hazard Areas: 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 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
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' hazard area maps approved by the Coastal Resources
Commission.
' As a group, the ocean hazard system of AECs comprise a
"red flag warning system" that should receive considerable
' attention during development approvals. Review of the
ocean hazard area issues at the Planning Board Land Use
Plan work session revealed a desire to limit the density and
' overall magnitude of development in such areas, to notify
prospective developers and owners of the dangers of build-
ing in such areas, and to discourage the disruption of any of
' the County's system of frontal dunes.
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN OCEAN ERODIBLE
Policy 2.1.2(e)
AREAS, HIGH HAZARD FLOOD AREAS, AND INLET
HAZARD AREAS SHALL BE CAREFULLY CON-
TROLLED. IF DEVELOPMENT MUST OCCUR IN
'
THESE AREAS, SUCH. DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE
OF A LIMITED DENSITY AND SCALE, AND SHOULD
RESPECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE DUNE SYSTEM.
1. Dare Count u y supports the CAMA use standards for
Implementation Actions
ocean hazard areas as contained in 15NCAC7H, Section
'
.0306 through .0310. These standards fully describe
appropriate development within the ocean hazard
system of AECs, and all prospective developers and
owners are encouraged to consult with these standards
prior to considering development in such areas.
'
2.. Dare County will continue to enforce the CAMA local
permit program, including the staff necessary for
enforcement, and will consider the establishment of
'
zoning districts in those parts of Dare County currently
without zoning guidelines in an effort to ensure the
'
compatibility of future uses with the unique
environmental features of these areas.
This AEC category includes valuable small surface water
2.1.2(f) Public Water
'
supply watersheds and public water supply wellfields.
Supply AECs
Small surface water supply watersheds are defined as catch-
ment areas situated entirely within the coastal area which
contain a water body classified as A -II by the Environmental
Management Commission. This means the maximum bene-
ficial use of these bodies of water is to serve as public water
supply areas.
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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 potable water. These surficial wellfields are confined to
a readily definable geographic area as identified by the State,
with assistance and support from affected local govern-
ments.
In Dare County, there are two public water supply AECs: 1)
"Fresh Pond" located between Kill Devil Hills and Nags
Head on Bodie Island, and 2) the Cape Hatteras wellfield
located south of NC 12 on Hatteras Island between Frisco
and Buxton. The Fresh Pond AEC is located outside the
planning jurisdiction of unincorporated Dare County; there-
fore the reader is directed to the respective land use plans of
Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head for further information.
The Cape Hatteras Wellfield AEC, however, has been a
subject of recent concern and discussion. As described in
NCAC7H, Section .0406, the wellfield AEC is described as
being "bounded to the north, south, east, and west by a line
located 500' from the centerline of the wellfield. The well -
field consists of 35 wells in line and is approximately 20,000'
in length in an east -west direction." With the support of the
Dare County Board of Commissioners, the N.C. Coastal
Resources Commission recently voted to expand the existing
AEC zone surrounding the well field from a 500' perimeter
to a 1000' perimter. Residents attending one of the general
input public meetings on the Land Use Plan Update on
Hatteras Island voiced strong concern for the absolute pro-
tection of this. potable water source. Comments received
included the desirability of conducting a detailed hydrologi-
cal study of the groundwater resource on Hatteras Island,
including what past actions may have done to the water
supply.
Policy 2.1.2(f) DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS ALL APPROPRIATE AC-
TIONS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE LONG-
TERM VIABILITY OF THE GROUNDWATER AQUI-
FERS SERVING DARE COUNTY.
Implementation Actions 1. Dare County supports the CAMA use standards for
public water supply wellfield AECs as contained in
NCAC7H, Section .0406.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 13

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As defined in the CAMA guidelines for AECs, these areas
contain "environmental, natural or cultural resources of
more than local significance in which uncontrolled or incom-
patible development could result in major or irreversible
damage to natural systems or cultural resources, scientific,
educational, or associated values for aesthetic qualities."
Within the system of natural and cultural resource AECs,
there are five distinct subcategories:
1. Coastal areas that sustain remnant species - These are
areas that support native plants or animals determined to
be rare or endangered (synonymous with threatened and
endangered), within the coastal area.
2. Coastal complex natural areas - These are lands that
support native plant and animal communities and
provide habitat qualities which have remained
essentially unchanged by human activity.
3. Unique coastal geological formations - These are sites.
that contain geologic formations that are unique or
otherwise significant components of coastal systems, or
that are especially notable examples of geologic
formations or processes in the coastal area.
4. Significant coastal archaeological resources - These are
areas that contain archaeological remains (objects,
features, and/or sites) that have more than local
significance to history or prehistory.
5. Significant coastal historic architectural resources - Such
resources are defined as districts, structures, buildings,
sites or objects that have more than local significance to
history or architecture.
Currently, there are no natural or cultural AECs located in
the unincorporated area of Dare County. During the course
of preparing this plan, there was considerable discussion,
both locally and at the State level, regarding the nomination
of the Buxton Woods area of Hatteras Island as 'a Coastal
Complex Natural Area Of Environmental Concern. The
inventory and study of this natural area was quite extensive.
The preliminary conclusion of the Coastal Resources Com-
mission and its staff was that Buxton Woods maritime forest
fulfilled all eligibility requirements of NCAC7H .0506 for
nomination as a Coastal Complex Natural AEC. However,
the nomination process was eventually discontinued in lieu
of the adoption of local zoning and development controls by
the County.
2.1.2(g) Natural and
Cultural Resource
Areas
I
Section 2, Page 14 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

For the record; comments received on the nomination from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service described the maritime
forest of Buxton Woods as among the most ecologically
valuable and the most thredtenedby urbanization or conver-
sion in the State. Other comments received by the Division
of Coastal Management in its review of the nomination
-included the importance of the groundwater resource un-
derlying Buxton Woods, the need to keep public water
withdrawals at a moderate level to maintain the surface
water table and prevent saltwater intrusion, and the level of
uncertainty as to how much impact a maritime forest can
' absorb from human activities and still remain a maritime
forest. Discussion of the Buxton Woods issue at public meet-
ings related to the Land Use Plan Update focused on the im-
portance of the maritime forest area as a recharge area for the
groundwater supply and as a wildlife habitat. Some resi-
dents mentioned the need to identify potential uses of the
Buxton Woods area that would be in keeping with the
protection of the habitat.
At the March 25, 1988 meeting of the Coastal Resources
Commission, the proposed Buxton Woods AEC nomination
' was referred back to the Commission's Planning and Special
Issues Committee for potential further consideration at a
later date. The rationale was that if the recently adopted Dare
County Special Environmental District should prove inef-
fective in providing natural resource protection for Buxton
Woods, then the AEC nomination could be reactivated and
adopted.
Policy 2.1.2(g) DARE COUNTY ENCOURAGES THE IDENTIFICA-
TION AND PROPER LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF
FRAGILE COASTAL, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL
' RESOURCE AREAS AS DEFINED IN NCAC7H, SEC-
TION .0500.
' Implementation Actions 1. At a special meeting of the Dare County Board of
Commissioners held on March 21, 1988, the Board
adopted a new zoning classification for the Buxton
Woods area known as "Special Environmental District
No. 1." The effect of this action was to imitate stronger
local control over the future land use and development of
the Buxton Woods area.
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 15

At the time of preparation of the last Land Use Plan Update
in 1982, there were literally hundreds of thousands of acres
of freshwater marshes that were in private ownership in
Dare County. The most significant of these marsh areas were
located on the Dare County mainland, and served as signifi-
cant wildlife habitats. The 1982 Land Use Plan Update
referenced a study done by Barrick and Critcher (1975)
which identified several types of wildlife habitat on the Dare
mainland:
° Bogs and pocosins north of U.S. 64 and east of
U.S. 264
° Wooded swamps fringing south lake, the
Alligator River, Mill Tail Creek, and Whipping
Creek Lake
° Freshwater marsh (Durant Island)
° Saltwater marsh adjoining Croatan and Pamlico
Sounds
In addition to the natural areas on the mainland and Durant
Island, the 1982 Land Use Plan also recognized Buxton
Woods as an area that might be deserving of designation as
an AEC.
Shortly after the 1982 Land Use Plan Update was completed,
Peacock and Lynch (1982) completed aNatural Areas Inven-
tory of Mainland Dare County. The 1982 study affirmed the
value of the marshes and pocosins north of U.S. 64 and east
of U.S. 264, the freshwater marsh on Durant Island, and
added three new areas known as the Alligator River Swamp
Forest, the Faircloth Pond pine stand, and the U.S. 264 low
pocosin.
In March of 1984, approximately 118,000 acres in Dare and
Tyrrell Counties were donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service by Prudential Life Insurance Company as the new
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. As a result of this
action, most of these valuable natural areas were taken out of
' private ownership and placed in theNatural Wildlife Refuge.
Only the 3,500-acre Durant Island and the 21,000-acre U.S.
264 low pocosin southeast of the military bombing range
remain in private ownership. Access to Durant Island is
limited to boat, and no development exists on the island
' except for a hunting club.
2.1.3 Other Hazardous
or Fragile Land Areas
2.1.3(a) Freshwater
Swamps and Marshes
Section 2, Page 16 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

The 264 pocosin is centered inside a broad,12-mile curve of
U.S. 264 which begins at the Dare/Hyde County line and
ends in the vicinity of the Stumpy Point fire tower. Current
1
ownership is by First Colony Farms, Inc. and by the Depart-
ment of Defense. Exploitation of peat for energy must be
considered a potential activity at the site, depending on
various factors of energy economics. The 1982 study recom-
mends preservation to the greatest extent possible for both
of these natural areas.
One of the comments received during State and Federal
agency. review of the draft Land Use Plan concerned road
access across (primarily) freshwater wetlands. Specifically,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed a concern
regarding requests for private driveways across wetlands to
gain access to buildable sites. Specific examples given were
in Buxton Woods and Rodanthe, where lots are fairly nar-
row and contain a series of parallel high ground ridges and
wetland swales. The Corps felt that the cumulative impact
of frequent individual access roads across wetland areas
was significant, in that the fill necessary would result in a
substantial loss of wetlands. The Corps therefore recom-
mended that "collective access" road plans be developed for
certain areas such as Buxton Woods and in Rodanthe,
"which would provide reasonable access to private prop-
erty while minimizing wetland impacts." (Letter from
Charles W. Hollis to John Crew, February 3,1988)
1 Policy 2.1.3(a)
DARE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
EFFORTS OF THE CAMA PROGRAM AND THE U.S.
CORPS OF ENGINEERS 404 PERMITTING PROGRAM
TO PROMOTE PROPER USE AND DEVELOPMENT IN
SENSITIVE FRESHWATER SWAMP AND MARSH
AREAS.
'
Implementation Actions
p
1. Dare Count will continue to support an studies and
Y pp Y
actions which promote a better understanding of the
'
potential impacts of peat mining on the County's
extensive areas of freshwater marsh.
'
2. Dare County will make use of the National Wetlands
Inventory Maps in helping to interpret the County's
Land Classification Map, specifically concerning
Conservation Areas.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Daze County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 17

3. Dare County will assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
in reviewing community access easements and driveway
requests across wetland areas.
According to information provided by the NC Division of 2.1.3(b) Maritime
Coastal Management, "maritime forests are those wood- Forests
' lands 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 sea -water flooding or
migrating dunes. Those trees and shrubs closest to the ocean,
which have the most salt spray influence, are sculpted by the
spray --very low nearer the ocean with increasing height
away from the ocean."
As discussed under Policy Section 2.1.2(g) above, the unin-
corporated area of Dare County contains one of the best ex-
amples of maritime forest in the State of North Carolina:
Buxton Woods. Much of the discussion centering on the
Buxton Woods AEC nomination and Special Environmental
Distric zoning is relevant to this policy section as well.
MARITIME FORESTS IN DARE COUNTY SHALL RE- Policy 2.1.3(b)
CEIVE A HIGH LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRO-
TECTION WHEN CONSIDERING PROPOSED PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SECTOR USES. WHEN DEVELOPMENT
IS CONSIDERED, PREFERRED USES SHALL BE FOR
LOW INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT.
1. In March,1988, the Dare County Board of Commissioners
Implementation Actions
adopted a new zoning classification for the Buxton
1
Woods area. This "Special Environmental District" was
designed specifically to address the resource manage-
ment needs of the maritime forest which comprises
Buxton Woods.
As noted in Section 1.3.2, the State Division of Archives and
2.1.3(c) Cultural and
1
History has stated that there are five structures in the unin-
Historic Resources
corporated areas of Dare County which are listed in the
National Register of Historic Places, and one house which is
on the Division of Archives and History's Study List for
future nomination to the Register. The State has also noted
that "there may be other properties of architectural and/or
historical
significance of which we are unaware."
'
Further, the State office has observed that areas along the
County's sound shoreline, stream and river shorelines, and
Section 2, Page 18 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

some high ground areas within or around low-lying marsh-
land have a particularly high probability for containing
archaeological sites. Support for the protection and en-
hancement of cultural and historic resources has tradition-
ally been very strong among Dare County residents, as
' evidenced by an active local historical society, annual pro-
ductions of theLostColony, the Wright Brothers siteatKitty
Hawk, the numerous historic life saving stations along the
Outer Banks, and current initiatives under way to save the
Hatteras Lighthouse, to name a few.
Policy 2.1.3(c) THE IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION, AND RESTO-
RATION OF STRUCTURES AND SITES OF HISTORIC
AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE SHALL BE
ENCOURAGED.
Implementation Actions 1. Recognizing that the resources of the State Historic Pres-
ervation office are limited, the County welcomes further
investigation investigations of cultural, historic, and ar-
chaeological sites that may be located within the plan-
ning jurisdiction of the County.
2.1.3(d) Manmade As discussed more fully under Section 1.3.1(a), Dare
Hazards County's primary manmade hazards are its three airports
plus the military bombing range on the County's mainland.
At the present time, conflicts between airport operations
and surrounding land uses are not significant. As develop-
ment activities continue to escalate in the County, however,
there will undoubtedly be increased pressure to develop
properties in closer proximity to the airports. At the same
time, increased population levels in the County will cause
increased traffic at the airport facilities, with associated
pressures for further expansion.
The military bombing range on the mainland is isolated
from development and poses no immediate hazard to the
' residents of Dare County. Agreements between the County
and the military to restrict low -flying exercises over popu-
lated areas have also reduced noise conflicts and the possi-
bility of an aircraft crashing into a developed area.
' Policy 2.1.3(d) THE DEVELOPMENT OF DARE COUNTY'S AIR-
PORTS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS SHALL BE
CAREFULLY REVIEWED TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL
' LAND USE CONFLICTS AND HAZARDOUS CONDI-
TIONS. THE COUNTY SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE MILITARY TO MINIMIZE NOISE
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 19

CONFLICTS AND HAZARDOUS FLIGHT PATHS
OVER DEVELOPED AREAS.
Section 2.5 deals exclusively with the subject of storm hazard
mitigation, post disaster recovery, and evacuation. The
reader is referred to that section, which also includes a policy
' statement on hurricane and flood evacuation.
Protection of the potable water supply for Dare County ranks
as a very high priority concern for most County residents,
second only to the broader issue of properly managed overall
'growth and development. As noted in Section 1.4.1, all
unincorporated areas of the County are dependent upon
groundwater as the sole source of potable water. The drilling
depth to potable groundwater varies considerably in the
County, from a maximum of about 200' along the northern
beaches, to 100' on Roanoke Island, to the groundwater table
in surficial sands on Hatteras Island.
The vulnerability of the County's groundwater resources is
an issue well recognized by nearly all County residents, and
has gained attention, particularly on Hatteras Island. Re-
cently, the Hatteras Island wellfield AEC has received con-
siderable discussion regarding a possible expansion of the
AEC to help insure the protection of the groundwater re-
source. And, as previously noted, the Buxton Woods area
was nominated for designation as an AEC, at least in part due
to its significance as a primary aquifer recharge area for the
1 groundwater resource on Hatteras Island.
The opponents of a golf course development, which has been
'proposed for the Buxton Woods area, cited possible contami-
nation of groundwater by golf course pesticides as a major
concern and deterrent to the project. Considerable public
comments has been received on the issue, from both the
general public and from State and Federal agencies. Much of
the technical commentary received from reviewing agencies
' has indicated that there is a great deal of uncertainty sur-
rounding the potential adverse impacts of development in
general, and particularly a golf course development.
Proponents of the golf course development have stated that
'they have gone to great lengths to insure that water quality
is protected, and that any development will be done in an
environmentally sensitive manner.
rl
2.1.4 Hurricane and
Flood Evacuation
2.1.5 Protection of
Potable Water Supply
1 Section 2, Page 20 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Opponents of the golf course development have responded
that the level of uncertainty surrounding the development
outweighs any guarantees that may be set forth by the
developer. As development pressures increase in Dare
County, the issue of groundwater protection is likely to
become even more highly charged.
Policy 2.1.5 THE COUNTY'S GROUNDWATER RESOURCES
SHALL RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTEC-
TION POSSIBLE TO INSURE THE CONTINUED
QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF POTABLE WATER FOR
CURRENT RESIDENTS AND FUTURE GENERA-
TIONS.
Implementation Actions 1. The County supports the preparation of a hydrological
study for the Buxton Woods area. Such a study could be
done in conjunction with a comprehensive sub -area
management plan for the area.
2. The County will seek legislative assistance to improve
water quality of all major aquifer recharge areas
affecting Dare County.
3. The County will consider the adoption of a well
ordinance to provide for ambient water quality
standards, regulations of privately owned well points,
and the periodic testing and certification of privately
operated well systems.
2.1.6 Package Sewage In Dare County, the treatment and disposal of sewage canbe
Treatment Plants handled by one of three methods: municipal sewage
treatment plants, septic tanks, and package sewage
treatment plants. For the unincorporated parts of Dare
County, conventional septic tanks are far and away the most
common method of sewage disposal. Package sewage
treatment plants are typically not economically justified
unless there is a higher development density proposed, or
soil conditions preclude the use of conventional septic
tanks. A summary table of several existing and planned
package domestic treatment plants was prepared and
included in the 1985 Carrying Capacity Study. (See
following table.)
Several observations can be made about these package
treatment plants. First, six out of seven were privately
owned. Of the six private plants, total capacities ranged
from 45,000 gallons per day for the Holiday Inn at Kill Devil
Hills to 200,000 gallons per day for the Ocean Reef Motel
also in Kill Devil Hills. The package sewage treatment
plants serve both commercial and high density residential
customers, and utilized both surface water discharge and
land application.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 21

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Operations of package sewage treatment plants are moni-
tored by the State Division of Environmental Management,
though the frequency of inspections is sometimes limited
due to the staffing levels of the agency. Treatment plant
operators must also be approved by the State, and are re-
quired to conduct monitoring tests, with samples sent to a
State approved laboratory for analysis.
Despite the monitoring requirements of the State, the pri-
mary concern regarding package treatment plants is the
continued maintenance and proper operation of the plant
following its initial installation. Some members of the Plan-
ning Board favored the greater use of package treatment
plants, so long as greater assurance could be provided as to
the proper maintenance of the facility. One alternative
suggested was for the County to add additional local en-
forcement manpower, funded by fees applied to and derived
from package plant owners. There are at least four reasons
why package sewage treatment plants present an attractive
alternative to other methods of sewage treatment and dis-
posal:
1. Dare County has no plans to build publicly financed and
operated sewage treatment plants in the foreseeable
future.
2. The County's sandy soils and high water table oftentimes
preclude the possibility of using conventional septic tank
systems.
3. As land values continue to escalate, development
densities are likely to increase, making the use of a
package treatment plant more cost effective.
4. Under certain circumstances, the configuration of a
particular tract of land may lend itself more readily to a
sewage treatment plant operation, than to individual
septic tanks on separate lots.
It is apparent that, for all of the reasons outlined above,
package treatment plants will continue to present a viable
option for domestic and commercial sewage disposal in
unincorporated Dare County.
DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS THE USE OF PACKAGE Policy 2.1.6
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS ONLY WHEN UNSAT-
ISFACTORY SOIL OR HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
PRECLUDE THE USE OF SEPTIC TANK/DRAINFIELD
' SYSTEMS AND WHEN THE USE OF SUCH PLANTS
WILL RESULT IN INCREASED PROTECTION OF EX-
iSection 2, Page 22 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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ISTING LAND AND WATER RESOURCE THAN
WOULD OCCUR WITH THE USE OF CONVEN-
TIONAL SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS. DARE COUNTY
WILL NOT PROVIDE FOR INCREASED DWELLING
DENSITY RATIOS DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF
PACKAGE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS.
Implementation Actions 1. The County will meet with State officials for the purpose
of assessing fees against new and/or existing package
sewage treatment plants, the assessments of which
could be used to hire additional local manpower to
monitor and enforce the proper maintenance and
operation of the plants.
2. Dare County will amend the Dare County Subdivision
Ordinance to include language to clearly indicate that
dwelling density or minimum lot size reductions will
not be provided regardless of the availability of off -site
waste -water treatment.
2.1.7 Stormwater Ralph C. Heath, noted hydrogeologist who has studied
Runoff hydrological conditions in North Carolina, has stated that:
"Construction on the Outer Banks of North Carolina of
multi -story condominiums, motels, and other vacation fa-
cilities, with their parking lots, tennis courts, and swimming
pools, is resulting in the creation of large expanses of imper-
vious areas. Disposing of the runoff from these areas during
storms in a manner that is not detrimental to the adjacent
sounds and ocean is among the most pressing water -man-
agement problems now confronting the developer and the
public officials in this area." (News: Water Resources Re-
search Institute of the University of North Carolina, No-
vember 1986).
The continued rapid development of the unincorporated
areas of Dare County, particularly on the Outer Banks, is
reflecting much of what Mr. Heath has described above.
The construction of large impervious surfaces associated
with major commercial and residential development, accel-
erates the rate at which rainwaters reach the estuarine
sound waters. This rapid influx of freshwater can change
the natural salinity of the sound water and disrupt the
biological balance of the natural system. The water can also
carry higher than normal levels of nutrients and other
biodegradable materials that can create excessive oxygen
demand for decomposing the material.
IEdward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 23

1 While Dare County requires that a stormwater management
plan be submitted as part of a development proposal, the
plans typically receive a limited amount of review and less
enforcement than desired.
Another issue related to stormwater runoff concerns the
' potential for peat mining on the Dare County mainland. Due
to the presence of a groundwater table at or very near the
' surface on the mainland, the peat mine requires continual
pumping to keep the site dry. If this groundwater is pumped
directly into adjacent estuarine sounds and bays, the volume
of freshwater can cause significant changes in the salinity of
the sound. It is therefore important that any permits for peat
mining take into consideration the method by which the
' groundwater will be disposed of. The whole issue of peat
mining is alsocovered more fully under Section 2.2.3 of this
plan.
RUNOFF AND DRAINAGE FROM DEVELOPMENT,
AGRICULTURAL, AND MINING ACTIVITIES SHALL
BE OF A QUALITY AND QUANTITY AS NEAR TO
NATURAL CONDITIONS AS POSSIBLE.
1. The County supports the Sedimentation and Erosion
Control Program to manage runoff from development.
2. The County will support and participate in the Dare
County Soil and Water Conservation Review Program.
According to CAMA guidelines, a floating structure is "any
structure, not a boat, supported by a means of flotation
designed to be used without a permanent foundation, which
' is used or intended for human habitation or commerce. A
structure will be considered a floating structure when it is
inhabited or used for commercial purposes for more than 30
days in any one location. A boat may be deemed a floating
structure when its means of propulsion has been removed or
rendered inoperative and it contains at least 200 square feet
' of living space area."
' From time to time, the Dare County Planning Board receives
requests for the location of floating structures within public
trust waters. In one instance, a request was received to allow
' the location of a floating sales office adjacent to a parcel of
land being subdivided for a proposed residential develop-
ment. The County has, in the past, had no formal policy
' dealing with floating homes. At the'Planning Board level,
Policy 2.1.7
Implementation Actions
2.1.8 Marina and
Floating Home
Development
' Section 2, Page 24 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

most of the concern has centered on the potential impact of
such structures on shellfishing waters.
Requests for residential and commercial marinas continue
to occur in the County as a result of steady growth and de-
velopment. The County has also not had a formal policy on
'
the location and development of marinas.
Policy 2.1.8 (a)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLOATING HOMES AND
STRUCTURES IN DARE COUNTY SHALL BE IN AC-
CORDANCE WITH COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT
ACT POLICIES FOR THESE USES. THESE POLICIES
INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT SUCH STRUC-
TURES WILL ONLY BE APPROVED IN PERMITTED
' MARINAS, AND SHALL BE IN CONFORMANCE
WITH LOCAL REGULATIONS FOR ON -SHORE SEW-
AGE TREATMENT.
IImplementation Actions
1. The County will support Coastal Area Management Act
Policies as described in 15NCAC7M, Section .0600.
Policy 2.1.8(b) IN DETERMINING THE LOCATION AND DEVELOP-
MENT OF MARINAS, DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS ALL
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES AS
ADMINISTERED BY COASTAL MANAGEMENT OF-
FICIALS AND THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGI-
NEERS.
Implementation Actions 1. 'In reviewing development proposals that include a
marina, the Dare County Planning Board and staff will
coordinate very closely with the CAMA and U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers permitting authorities.
2.1.9 Industry in Dare County has a history of very little industrial develop -
Fragile Areas ment. Traditional reasons for lack of industrial develop-
ment include, for example, lack of convenient transporta-
tion access to major markets, lack of significant public
utilities, lack of suitable extensive areas of land at reason-
able prices, and a general incompatibility with the desired
lifestyle of many Dare County residents. The presence of
extensive Federal wildlife and recreation areas in the
County has also resulted in the designation of this area of the
Outer Banks as a Federal air quality "area of no significant
deterioration." This designation has posed a problem, for
example, in finding a location anywhere in the County
where a solid waste incinerator can be located.
I
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 25

The land use questionnaire conducted as part of the 1987
Land Use Plan Update for Dare County revealed very strong
opposition to any heavy industrialization in the County and
moderately strong opposition to any light industry or re-
search and development industry. This opposition would no
doubt be expressed even more forcefully if the industrial
development were proposed for construction in a fragile
area.
INDUSTRY SHALL BE DISCOURAGED FROM LOCAT-
Policy 2.1.9
ING IN FRAGILE OR ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSI-
TIVE AREAS. RESOURCE -LINKED INDUSTRIES
SHALL BE REVIEWED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
1. -Dare County officials will continue to support applicable
Implementation Actions
'
State and Federal regulations as they relate to the siting of
new industry, and particularly industry in
environmentally fragile areas.
A
review of this issue with the Dare County Planning Board
2.1.10 Development of
revealed a variety of opinions regarding the County's policy
Sound and Estuarine
on the use of estuarine system islands. Some Planning Board
System Islands
members felt that so long as development on the islands met
the same standard of review as developments elsewhere in
the County, development would*not be objectionable. Oth-
ers added that such development would be acceptable so
long as there was strict compliance with environmental
'
standards of protection. Another recommended that only
low density residential development be allowed, while yet
another favored a policy of no development whatsoever.
The compromise position was that the County should en-
courage property owners and developers to use these islands
'
wisely to preserve their unique natural qualities. However,
if a property owner chooses to develop his or her land, there
is little the County can do to prevent such development;
rather the County should encourage the property owner to
develop such islands for low intensive uses.
' . DEVELOPMENT OF SOUND AND ESTUARINE SYS- Policy 2.1.10
TEM ISLANDS SHALL BE CAREFULLY CONTROLLED.
'IF DEVELOPMENT MUST OCCUR, LOW INTENSIVE
USES SUCH AS OPEN SPACE, RECREATION, AND
LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SHALL
BE PREFERRED.
1. Dare County shall consider zoning of estuarine system Implementation Actions
' islands where possible to structure allowable develop-
ment in such sensitive areas.
7
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Section 2, Page 26 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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2.2 Resource Protection .
and Management
Policies
2.2.1 Productive In general, Dare County has not had a history of extensive
Agricultural Lands agricultural development. Beginning in the 1970s, how-
ever, interest in the large-scale agricultural use of Dare
County's mainland heightened considerably. Extensive
clearing of trees occurred over several thousand acres, the
water table was lowered as necessary, and the required
State and Federal permits were secured. The area of greatest
interest for agricultural use was designated in the 1982 Land
Use Plan as Rural. Concern about the potential runoff of
fertilizers and other chemicals from these extensive agricul-
tural lands prompted the County to require that no land
area within 1 mile of Alligator River, Mill Tail Creek, East
Lake, South Lake, Whipping Creek Lake, Morrell Bay Lake
or Sawyer Lake be classified as Rural.
Despite the 1 mile buffer of Conservation land between the
estuarine waters and the productive agricultural lands,
there continues to be concern about the potential for chemi-
cal runoff into the area waters. As noted under Section 2.1.7
of this plan, the pumping of surficial groundwater from
these large productive areas into the estuarine system is also
a concern.
Since the time of the last Land Use Plan Update in 1982,
extensive areas of the Dare County mainland have been
placed under the authority and jurisdiction of the Alligator
River National Wildlife Refuge. Some of the remaining
lands not included in the National Wildlife Refuge are
currently in the ownership of First Colony Farms. Com-
ments received from the Planning Board regarding this
issue indicated that the existing operations should be al-
lowed to continue within the confines of the land already
cleared, but that tighter controls and monitoring should be
exercised over potential chemical pollution and freshwater
runoff.
Policy 2.2.1 THE CONTINUED PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL
USE OF LANDS ON THE DARE COUNTY MAINLAND
SHALL BE SUPPORTED, PROVIDED THAT SUCH
ACTIVITIES HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE
IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF
DARE COUNTY'S ESTUARINE SYSTEM WATERS.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 27

1. The County will request that State agencies provide the
Planning Board with relevant reports on water quality as
related to agricultural runoff.
2. The County will support the Sedimentation and Erosion
Control Program to manage runoff.
3. The County shall encourage use of the State cost share
' program.
Despite the presence of extensive wooded areas on the Dare
County mainland, commercial forestry has not been a major
resource industry in Dare County. The general lack of
' concern about the issue was reflected in the limited number
of comments received from Planning Board members about
commercial forestry. Citizen responses as recorded in the
' Land Use Plan questionnaire also revealed a neutral posi-
tion, for the most part, on the issue of forestry and related
industries.
COMMERCIAL FORESTRY ACTIVITIES SHALL BE
SUPPORTED BY DARE COUNTY, SO LONG AS SUCH
ACTIVITIES ARE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
U.S. FOREST SERVICE, AND CAN BE SHOWN TO
HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON
Implementation Actions
2.2.2 Commercial
Forestlands
Policy 2.2.2
OTHER NATURAL RESOURCE SYSTEMS.
1. The County will encourage use of the Dare County Soil Implementation Actions
Survey to manage and plan woodland production.
2. The County will support the Sedimentation and Erosion
Control Program, as pertaining to commercial forestry
activities.
Mineral production activities that have the greatest potential 2.2.3 Mineral Produc-
for impact to the County's land resources are for peat mining. tion Areas
Peat is a low grade fossil fuel that is typically obtained
through strip mining. The mainland of Dare County con-
tains extensive peat deposits.
At the time of the last Land Use Plan Update in 1982, the
potential benefits and costs of peat mining were being
weighed. On one hand, it was noted that peat mining could
provide a significant number of jobs to Dare County resi-
dents, and because it would be a basic (exporting) industry,
it could have multiplier effects on other service sectors of the
local economy.
Section 2, Page 28 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

1
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On the other side of the issue, were the potential adverse
impacts on the natural environment of the mainland. These
adverse impacts included: a drawdown of the surficial
water table, the pumping of large quantities of freshwater
into nearby estuarine waters, and.the removal of extensive
areas of wildlife habitat.
The issue as defined in 1982 remains essentially unchanged
today. Peat mining activities on the Dare County mainland
involved tradeoffs between economic development and the
natural hydrologic and wildlife systems.
Another mineral production issue typically involving less
acreage but perhaps having an equally significant impact is
the practice of sand mining. With the abundance of sand on
the Outer Banks, and significant construction occurring in
response to the rapid growth of the County, it is not surpris-
ing that sand mining is beginning to emerge as a mineral
production issue. Comments received at the Planning
Board level indicated that the greatest concerns regarding
sand mining involved indiscriminate borrowpit operations
and large area mining pits where adverse impacts on the
environment of adjoining properties were apparent.
Policy 2.2.3 THE LOCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL
PRODUCTION AREAS IN DARE COUNTY SHALL BE
CAREFULLY CONTROLLED. APPROVAL OF ANY
MINING SITE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A REVIEW OF
POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE SITE'S
NATURAL CONDITIONS, AND THE VISUAL AND
OTHER IMPACTS ON ADJOINING LANDS.
Implementation Actions 1. The Planning Board will monitor public and private
action regarding mining in Dare County and report its
finding to the County Commissioners as it deems
necessary.
2. The County will coordinate with State and Federal
agencies which review applications for mining and
associated permits to determine whether or not their
decisions are consistent with the County's Land Use
Plan. Large-scale mining operations, such as peat
mining, shall be limited in location to Rural areas under
the County's land classification system.
3. In reviewing proposals for mining operations, the
Planning Board may want to consider the following
aspects of the mining process:
I
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 29

' ° Designation of the specific parcels of land to be
disturbed by mining.
Height and bulk of buildings associated with the
' mining operation.
° Parking and traffic flow.
° Utility extension and design.
' ° Auxilliary development.
° Reclamation plans.
' 4. The County will develop a local ordinance to prohibit
sand mining activities that are not otherwise authorized
by State or Federal regulatory agencies.
' Commercial and recreational fishing has a long and colorful 2.2.4 Fisheries
history in Dare County. Local names such as Hatteras are Resources
' synonymous with the fishing industry worldwide. Wanch-
ese and Stumpy Point are homes for significant numbers of
commercial fishing vessels. Statistics on commercial fish
' landings compiled over many years by the NC Division of
Marine Fisheries have revealed that, while Dare County
landings are not the largest in the State, they are the largest
' in the northern part of the State.
' Commercial fish landings are not necessarily the best indica-
tor of the impact of the fisheries resource on the overall
economy of the County. Much of Dare County's tourism
' driven economy is derived from both the real and perceived
image of an area with close ties to the sea. Support for the
continuation of a healthy fishing industry was made most
' clear in responses of Dare County residents contained in the
Land Use questionnaire. Residents favored encouragement
of the industry over discouragement by a ratio of approxi-
mately 25 to 1. At the Planning Board level, concerns focused
on the control of landside development to minimize adverse
impacts on water quality in the estuary, and particularly
' primary nursery areas and shellfish areas.
'THE CONTINUED PRODUCTIVITY OF COMMERCIAL Policy 2.2.4
AND RECREATIONAL FISHERIES SHALL BE FOS-
TERED THROUGH RESTORATION AND PROTEC-
TION OF THE UNIQUE COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
UPON WHICH THEY DEPEND.
' 1. All policies and implementation actions designed to Implementation Actions
protect the estuarine system of AECs will be further
supported and carried out under the fisheries resource
' policy heading.
I
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1
' 2. Studies designed to evaluate and recommend corrective
measures to the estuarine pollution problem and to
improve management and production of all fisheries
' resources will be supported by Dare County.
3. The County shall continue to voice its support for the
protection of shellfish and primary nursery areas to
' appropriate State level agencies.
2.2.5 Off -Road Vehicles Concern for the environmental impacts of off -road vehicles
' in coastal North Carolina is primarily oriented toward
beach and near -beach dune areas. Off -road vehicle traffic
' can easily destroy fragile dune vegetation, exposing the
dunes to wind and wave erosion, thereby reducing their
effectiveness as storm buffers. Wildlife particularly suscep-
tible to improper ORV use includes ghost crabs, loggerhead
turtles, and colonial nesting birds. Nevertheless, proper
ORV use in controlled areas can provide convenient access
' to the beach for fishermen and other beach users. Such ORV
use is a long held tradition in Dare County.
' As a means of addressing the issue fairly, Dare County has
enacted an ordinance prohibiting the use of ORVs on
beaches in the County from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
' ORVs operated by commercial fishermen and emergency
vehicles are exempted from the ordinance. It should also be
' noted that the National Parks Service controls the use of
ORVs on all Hatteras Island beaches. Improper use of ORVs
was not identified as a major concern at public input meet-
ings, in the Land Use questionnaire, or at the Planning
Board policy development work session.
' Policy 2.2.5 EFFORTS TO PROPERLY BALANCE AND CONTROL
THE USE OF OFF -ROAD VEHICLES USE ALONG THE
COUNTY'S BEACHES, DUNE AREAS, AND ESTUAR-
INE SHORELINES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
SUPPORT FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
' Implementation Actions 1. The County's ordinance governing ORV use on Dare
County beaches will be maintained for enforcement as
' necessary.
2.2.6 Development All of the County's major development impact issues, such
' Impacts as peat mining, industrial development, high density resi-
dential development, and stormwater runoff, etc. are cov-
ered under specific policy area headings in various parts of
' this plan. The reader is directed to the table of contents as a
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 31

0
means of quickly identifying any particular development
impact issue.
DARE COUNTY SHALL COOPERATE FULLY WITH
ALL FEDERAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL
AGENCIES IN THEIR REVIEWS OF DEVELOPMENTS
OF POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
The County of Dare is opposed to the indiscriminate removal
' of trees from the landscape of the County. The presence of
trees throughout the undeveloped section of the County is
' considered to be a natural resource valuable for shade, soil
stabilization, and aesthetics.
'THE COUNTY OF DARE IS OPPOSED TO INDISCRIMI-
NATE LAND CLEARING AND TREE REMOVAL AC-
TIVITIES.
' 1. Dare County will incorporate tree protection language
and tree removal guidelines into the Dare County Zoning
' Ordinance.
n
Policy 2.2.6
2.2.7 Trees and
Vegetation
Policy 2.2.7
Implementation Actions
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Section 2, Page 32 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

2.3: Economic and
Community
Development Policies
Introduction
This policy section is concerned with those issues associated
with the development and redevelopment of Dare County.
Included are the types and locations of desired develop-
ment, the willingness of the County to provide public serv-
ices for development, the desired pattern of development,
local support for State and Federal programs influencing
development, and the provision of access to public open
space and land and water recreational areas.
2.3.1 Types and Section 2.1.9 discussed many of the reasons why Dare
Locations of Desired County has traditionally not received significant levels of
Industries industrial development. Chief among those reasons were,
for example, lack of convenient transportation access to
major markets, lack of significant public utilities, lack of
suitable extensive areas of land at reasonable prices, and the
general incompatibility with the desired lifestyle of many
Dare County residents.
The only extensive land areas of Dare County that are away
from significant residential developments are located on the
mainland. The vast majority of the mainland, however, is in
the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The remaining
higher, drier sites are located in relatively small areas near
existing communities such as East Lake, Stumpy Point,
Manns Harbor, or Mashoes. Further, the narrow strip of
barrier islands comprising the Outer Banks of the County
affords no opportunity for extensive, large-scale industrial
development. While portions of Roanoke Island present
some opportunity for industrial development, this island is
also becoming rapidly developed for residential and non-
industrial commercial uses.
Judging from input received at public meetings for the Land
Use Plan, the land use questionnaire, and Dare County
Planning Board members, a policy which encourages devel-
opment of light, clean industries would appear to receive the
mostsupport. There is also support, however, for a continu-
ation of traditional resource -based industries in Dare
County, such as commercial fishing.
Policy 2.3.1 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE EX-
CESSIVE NOISE, ODOR, OR OTHER HARMFUL POL-
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 33

'LUTION, SHALL BE DISCOURAGED FROM LOCAT-
ING IN DARE COUNTY, UNLESS SUCH ADVERSE
IMPACTS CAN BE CLEARLY OVERCOME THROUGH
'EFFECTIVE MITIGATION. INDUSTRIAL SITES
SHALL BE LOCATED ON LAND WHICH IS ENVIRON-
MENTALLY SUITABLE AND HAS UNIQUE LOCA-
' TIONAL ADVANTAGES FOR INDUSTRY.
1. The County shall use local zoning and site plan review
ordinances to regulate the availability of industrial sites
and permitted industrial uses to insure the compatibility
of all proposed uses with the surrounding environment.
Dare County finds itself in a dilemma with regard to the
provision of services to development. On one hand, there is
concern that existing development, including septic tanks, is
causing a slow decline in the surface and groundwater
quality of the area. The existing road system is also not
capable of handling traffic during the peak tourist summer
season, and is particularly inadequate to handle emergency
evacuations of the Outer Banks. The provision of public
sewage facilities and improvements to the County's existing
roadway system could help alleviate the potential problems
with septic tanks and small private sewage treatment plants,
while improvements to the road system could help handle
summer traffic loads and evacuation emergencies.
On the other hand, the provision of public sewer to the
unincorporated barrier island areas of Dare County would
provide a tremendous incentive for much higher density
development. As conditions presently stand, the capability
of area soils to absorb septic tank effluent is the primary
constraining factor on the density of development on the
Outer Banks. If this natural land -based constraint were to be
eliminated, the ever-increasing cost of land on the Outer
Banks would encourage developers to press for more heated
square footage per unit of land area. This higher density of
development would, in turn, require that the existing road-
way system be further improved to handle the larger traffic
loads. Thus, a vicious circle between the provision of serv-
ices and the density of development would be created.
The prevailing opinion is that services should be pro-
grammed to keep pace with development, but not as a
means to induce further development.
Implementation Actions
2.3.2 Provision of
Services To
Development
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Section 2, Page 34 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Policy 2.3.2 PUBLICLY FINANCED URBAN SERVICES SHALL BE
FUNDED AND PROVIDED TO KEEP PACE WITH, BUT
NOT SERVE AS AN INCENTIVE TO, GROWTH AND
' DEVELOPMENT.
Implementation Actions 1. Dare County shall continue to lobby NC Department of
Transporation for necessary improvements to
transportation facilities, especially those serving as
' evacuation routes from the Outer Banks.
2. Dare County will continue to seek additional revenues
from sources other than ad valorum real estate taxes to
provide for those capital expenditures identified in
Section One.
2.3.3 Urban Growth The preferred pattern of urban growth in the unincorpo-
Pattern rated areas of Dare County is one of low density, primarily
single family development. This desired pattern of develop-
ment is consistent with the policy of the County regarding
the provision of urban services. A dispersed pattern of
development is felt to be more in keeping with traditional
' development patterns in Dare County, as well as being more
compatible with the natural carrying capacity of the land
resource. Low density development allows for maximum
' recharge to the groundwater, and minimizes runoff into the
estuarine waters. A dispersed urban growth pattern also
' avoids the creation of traffic congestion and bottlenecks
associated with more densely developed areas.
' Results of the land use questionnaire revealed that there is a
high level of concern regarding "small lots and crowded
developments" and "highrise construction." Of the types of
development activities to be encouraged or discouraged,
respondents to the questionnaire heavily favored single
family residences, while wishing to discourage highrise
' residences and low-rise multi -family residences. At the
Planning Board level, the desire to encourage low density
development was affirmed. At general public input meet-
ings, as well as policy development work sessions with the
Planning Board, there was some mention of the need to do
away with small lots, and encourage larger lot zoning.
Another urban growth trend identified through the existing
' land use survey is the continued stripping of commercial
uses along the major highway in virtually all the small,
unincorporated communities along the Outer Banks. This
I
strip development causes traffic congestion during the
' Edward D. Stone, jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 35

'summer months, and if allowed to continue, will further
erode the usefulness of the highway.
'Discussion at the Planning Board level focused on the need
to implement zoning in those parts of the County experienc-
ing rapid development that are currently unzoned, such as
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Since
zoning was identified as the most appropriate tool to control
the size of lots in these areas, the Board of Commissioners
'has adopted a limited range of land use controls on Hatteras
and Colington Island and the Planning Staff has conducted
exploratory meetings in Wanchese. Although support for
'zoning was mixed at the public meetings conducted in
conjunction with the Land Use Plan Update, support was
strong at public hearings held later in the year. As a result,
' only the mainland and the village of Wanchese remain free
of land use guidelines.
1
WHERE URBAN SERVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED,
LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES AND
ONLY LOW DENSITY, MULTI -FAMILY RESIDENCES
SHALL BE THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT FORM.
COMMERCIAL STRIP DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE
DISCOURAGED.
1. Dare County will investigate the feasibility of
extending zoning to the unincorporated areas of the
County, and establish multi -family density guidelines
not to exceed five units per acre for any zoning district.
2. Minimum lot size guidelines shall be established and
enforced and the recombination of existing substandard
lots shall be encouraged. The use of local zoning
guidelines to disperse patterns of concentrated
commercial growth shall be encouraged as well as
patterns of clustered commercial centers.
Due to Dare County's negligible growth through about 1970,
nearly all of the unincorporated areas building inventory is
fairly new. Notable exceptions include a limited number of
homes in Manns Harbor, along State Road 1217 to Colington
Island, Buxton, and Stumpy Point. There are few structures
in other parts of the unincorporated County that could be
considered substandard to the point of public condemna-
tion.
Policy 2.3.3
Implementation Actions
2.3.4 Redevelopment
Most concern at the Planning Board level centered on the
redevelopment of existing tracts to higher development
densities. Typically, an individual large lot with an older
single family structure on it is purchased and redeveloped
for multiple housing units. Without zoning in place, the
Section 2, Page 36 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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County has very little control over this development prac-
tice.
The need was also mentioned to encourage previous higher
density developments to be redeveloped at current, more
restrictive standards, if applicable.
In general, the need for traditional redevelopment seems to
take care of itself moreso in Dare County than in other
counties that are less influenced by dramatic growth and
escalating property values.
Policy 2.3.4 REDEVELOPED AREAS AND STRUCTURES SHALL
CONFORM TO CURRENT, MORE RESTRICTIVE DE-
VELOPMENT STANDARDS.
Implementation Actions 1. The County shall enforce the State building code for
coastal construction in the event of reconstruction.
2. The County shall enforce current zoning and floodplain
ordinances.
2.3.5 State and Federal State and Federal programs of most significance to Dare
Program Support County are primarily related to transportation. In the area of
water transportation, for example, maintenance of Oregon
Inlet and access to Wanchese Harbor are considered top
priority transportation concerns. The County also supports
the continued maintenance of the Intracoastal Waterway
and the Alligator River west of the Dare County mainland.
Other boating channels in Croatan, Roanoke, and Pamlico
Sounds provide access to the ocean from Manteo and
Stumpy Point.
In terms of ground transportation, the bridges leading in-
land from the Outer Banks have been identified as a choke
point in terms of emergency evacuation during hurricane
events. There is a continued pressing need to make improve-
ments at these points for the general safety of the public.
Improvements to the main roadway spines in the unincorpo-
rated communities of the Outer Banks has also been identi-
fied as a concern by area residents. Bikeways, funded and
built in conjunction with State and Federal road projects,
received noticeable support from area residents at public
meetings for the Land Use Plan. If properly constructed,
such bikeways could provide a safe alternative to the further
congestion of area highways by the automobile.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 37

' While residents expressed no opposition to continued State
and Federal support for beach and estuarine access, this was
not identified as a major public concern when compared to
' the transporation issue.. (Also see Section 2.3.9, Coastal and
Estuarine Water Access.)
STATE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED WATER AND
HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS SHALL
RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT, IN
LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE PUB-
LIC SAFETY AND THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE
AREA.
1. Funding and support of the lobbying effort for jetty
approval at Oregon Inlet shall be maintained.
2. The County staff should closely monitor Federal and
State programs, with the intent of informing County
Commissioners and the Planning Board of important
information or changes in these programs.
3. The County shall participate in Albemarle Commission
review of State and Federal projects. Contact shall be
maintained with legislators.
As discussed in the preceding policy section, channel main-
tenance is a very high priority concern in Dare County.
Open, navigable channels are essential to both Dare
County's tourism -based economy, as well as the future of
commercial fishing industry locally. While concern for
channel maintenance was not raised at the general public
input meetings for the Land Use Plan, it was clearly identi-
fied as a priority by the Planning Board.
Beach renourishment, on the other hand, received little or no
support from Planning Board members when compared to
the channel maintenance issue. Comments included: "Let
nature take its course on ocean beaches," "Enact ordinances
to prohibit beach nourishment," "No beach nourishment at
all except as associated with channel maintenance," and
"Allow limited beach nourishment."
CONTINUED MAINTENANCE OF NAVIGABLE
CHANNELS IN DARE COUNTY SHOULD RECEIVE A
HIGH LEVEL OF SUPPORT AT THE STATE, FEDERAL
AND LOCAL LEVEL. BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJ-
ECTS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A PRIORITY
FOR FUNDING IN COMPARISON TO OTHER, MORE
ESSENTIAL PUBLICLY FINANCED NEEDS.
Policy 2.3.5
Implementation Actions
2.3.6 Channel
Maintenance and Beach
Nourishment
Policy 2.3.6
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Implementation Actions 1. The County shall support the Dare Waterways Commis-
sion.
! 2.3.7 Energy Facilities As defined in the CAMA guidelines, "Major energy facilities
are those energy facilities which, because of their size,
magnitude and scope of impacts, have the potential to
' significantly affect the coastal zone. For purposes of this
definition, major energy facilities shall include, but are not
! necessarily limited to the following: 1) Any facility capable
of refining oil; 2) LPG-LNG-SNG terminals and associated
storage, handling or processing facilities; 3) any oil or gas
! storage facility that is capable of storing 15 million gallons or
more on a single site; 4) electric generating facilities 300
MGW or larger; 5) thermal energy generation; 6) major
' pipelines 12" or more in diameter that carry crude petro-
leum, natural gas, LNG -LPG or synthetic gas."
! Concern about energy facilities was not identified at the
general public meetings related to the Land Use Plan, the
land use questionnaire, or at the policy development work
' session of the Planning Board. All but one member of the
Dare County Planning Board indicated that the develop-
ment of energy facilities was not a major concern in Dare
' County. The one Planning Board member who did choose to
comment, stated that the local environment of Dare County
! would not support any major energy installations, and that
they should therefore be discouraged in the County. In the
event that an energy facilility were to be proposed in the
! County, a thorough assessment of its potential impacts
would be in order. This latter statement is consistent with
the State's intent for major energy facilities in the coastal
! area.
Policy 2.3.7 DARE COUNTY IS OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT
(Revised 8189) OF ANY PETRO-CHEMICAL ENERGY FACILITY OR
RELATED IMPROVEMENT WITHIN ITS JURISDIC-
TIONAL LANDS OR WATERS. THIS INCLUDES ALL
! STRUCTURES, OPERATIONS, AND ACTVITIES AS-
SOCIATED WITH PETRO-CHEMICAL ENERGY FA-
CILITY DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIM-
ITED TO, ON -SHORE SUPPORT BASES FOR OFF-
SHORE EXPLORATION. ACTIVITIES, STAGING AR-
EAS, TRANSMISSION AND/OR PRODUCTION PIPE-
LINES, PIPELINE STORAGE YARDS, AND OTHER
.SIMILAR STRUCTURES, ACTIVITIES, AND IM-
PROVEMENTS RELATED TO PETRO-CHEMICAL
ENERGY FACILITY DEVELOPMENT, EXPLORATION
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 39
!

Policy 2.3.7 OR PRODUCTION. DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS RE -
(Revised 8189) SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NON -FOSSIL FUEL
ALTERNATIVES FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION.
Implementation Actions 1. Any major energy facilities to be located in Dare County
(Added 8189) 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.
2. In the event that 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."
3. The Dare County Zoning Ordinance shall be amended to
prohibit petro-chemical energy facilities and other land
uses associated with petro-chemical energy facility
development, exploration, or production.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 39(a)

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As Dare County's permanent and seasonal population con-
tinues to grow, the demand for public access to the beach
grows commensurately. At the same time, opportunities for
public access grow smaller each year as more and more of
the developable shoreline is built upon. The State's policy on
shorefront access is clearly stated in 15NCAC7M, Section
.0300, and is worth repeating here: •'It is the policy of the
State of North Carolina to foster, protect, improve and insure
optimum access to recreational opportunities at ocean and
estuarine water beach areas consistent with public rights,
rights of private property owners, and the need to protect
natural resources, especially sand dunes and marsh vegeta-
tion. The State's ocean and estuarine water beaches are a
resource of statewide significance held in trust for the use
and enjoyment of all the citizens."
As a result of statewide concern for continued public access
to NC's beaches, the State created a Coastal and Estuarine
Beach Access Program for the purpose of acquiring, improv-
ing and maintaining recreational property along the
oceanfront and estuarine shoreline. This program provides
limited amounts of money each year to carry out the intent
of the program.
The 1982 Dare County Land Use Plan Update contained a
useful table summarizing the Dare County ocean shore as it
occurs in various Federal and local government jurisdic-
tions:
Dare County Ocean Shore
Controlling Agency Length in Miles
Federal government
45.0
Kill Devil Hills
4.5
Kitty Hawk
3.5
Nags Head
12.0
Southern Shores
4.5
Dare County
15.5
TOTAL 85.0
The table points out that while there are approximately 85
miles of ocean shoreline in Dare County, only slightly
over 15 miles are actually under the control of Dare
County government.
2.3.8 Tourism and
Beach and Waterfront
Access
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At the present time, Dare County has a provision in its
subdivision regulations in which the County may require
the developer to provide easements to the mean highwater
mark if the subdivision is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
Discussion at the Planning Board level indicated a desire to
make public access a requirement in such developments.
Specific parts of the County where waterfront access is
deemed by the Planning Board to be particularly inadequate
include Duck, Manns Harbor, Roanoke Island, and sound -
side areas in general.
Support for beach access from the public at large, however,
varies considerably according to different parts of the
County. In Hatteras, for example, support for additional
beach access was revealed in both the results of the land use
questionnaire, and by the residents attending the public
input meeting there. In Duck, on the other hand, most
residents liked beach access the way it was and several
wished to discourage beach access. These findings were
confirmed at the first general public input meeting held in
Duck, when a majority of the residents present did not voice
support for additional public access. In the case of Duck, this
may reflect the desire of permanent residents to discourage
seasonal and day visitors from using Duck area beaches. The
County as a whole, however, recognizes the need for public
access to the beach and sound, and is interested in providing
additional access opportunities for both permanent resi-
dents and seasonal visitors.
Policy 2.3.8 DARE COUNTY SUPPORTS NORTH CAROLINA'S
SHOREFRONT ACCESS POLICIES AS STATED IN
15NCAC7H, SECTION.0300. THESE POLICIES RECOG-
NIZE THE NEED TO PROVIDE REASONABLE PUBLIC
ACCESS TO BEACHES AND ESTUARINE WATERS.
IImplementation Actions
1. Where possible, Dare County will encourage developers
to provide public access prior to subdivision plat ap-
proval.
2.3.9 Coastal and Much of the discussion contained in Section 2.3.8 above
Estuarine Water Access applies equally well to the issue of coastal and estuarine
water access. The need for public access to the water at
locations such as Manns Harbor and Roanoake Island is
worth repeating and commenting upon, however. It would
seem that with the exception of Duck, most Dare County
residents have a reasonable level of satisfaction with the
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 41

' amount of public access to the oceanfront beach. Access to
the area's sounds and estuaries, however, appears to be less
adequate in general. This sentiment is affirmed by a survey
' that was conducted by NC's Division of Coastal Manage-
ment, the results of which were issued in a report entitled,
"Understanding Coastal Water Access Needs" (September,
1986). In summarizing the survey, the report states that in
northern oceanfront counties, respondents indicated a de-
sire for additional sound or estuarine access. In support of
this need and concern, therefore, the following policy state-
ment is established.
P
7�
IN ADDITION TO OCEAN BEACH ACCESS, DARE Policy 2.3.9
COUNTY SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF PUBLIC
ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO ESTUARINE WATERS,
INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARKING, BOAT-
ING AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
1. Dare County supports the C.A.M.A. Shoreline Access
Plan, and the N.C. Wildlife Resoures Commission Ac-
cess Program.
' As mentioned under Section'2.3.2 above regarding the pro-
vision of services to development, most residents of Dare
County, as well as members of the Planning Board, favor the
' predominance of low density single family residential de-
velopment. This is especially true on Hatteras Island, where
there are concerns regarding higher density residential
development which include: increased consumption of the
limited amount of potable water on the island, increased
impervious surface areas and runoff into estuarine waters,
' increased traffic congestion and evacuation times, and po-
tential destruction of natural areas.
' SINGLE FAMILY LOW DENSITY HOUSING SHALL BE
ENCOURAGED AS THE PREFERRED RESIDENTIAL
'FORM IN DARE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN IN-
STANCES WHERE HIGHER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS WOULD PLACE A STRAIN ON
'WATER SUPPLY, SEWAGE TREATMENT, INCREASED
STORMWATER RUNOFF, OR TRAFFIC CONGESTION
AND EVACUATION. MULTI -FAMILY DEVELOP-
MENT SHALL BE ENCOURAGED TO LOCATE IN
AREAS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY URBAN SERVICES,
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUITED FOR SUCH DE-
VELOPMENT.
Implementation Actions
2.3.10 Residential De-
velopment
Policy 2.3.10
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Implementation Actions 1. The County shall work toward the implementation of
zoning for the entire County to reflect mostly single
family uses with commercial and multi -family zones in
areas with urban services and a suitable environment.
2.3.11 Commercial Dare County recognizes that as the area continues to develop
Development for residential purposes, commercial uses are likely to fol-
low. In most urban areas, there is a natural tendency for
commercial uses to locate in a stripped fashion along the
area's major highways. Such stripping provides maximum
exposure to the traveling public and allows developers to
pick scattered sites where real estate prices are less competi-
tive.
Unfortunately, this pattern of development has many public
cos ts:
1. The use and efficiency of the highway is diminished
by the number of driveway cuts and turnouts onto the
highway. This can cause an unpredictable flow of
traffic, resulting in congestion and increased accidents.
In most instances, it eventually results in the loss of the
highway for its originally intended purpose, that of
moving traffic through the area. Parallel roads must
then be built at additional public expense.
2. This stripped development pattern is also more costly
to service with regard to the extension of water and
sewer lines, police and fire protection, and trash
collection.
3. Strip commercialization can eventually lead to visual
blight due to a proliferation of signs, variable setbacks,
unplanned parking areas with minimal landscaping,
etc.
The 1987 Existing Land Use Survey identified a continuation
of such a commercial strip development pattern along each
of the major highways serving the unincorporated villages
on the Outer Banks. This commercial strip development
trend was especially apparent in Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco, and Hatteras. For many of these areas, the narrow
width and the existing development pattern would preclude
the construction of a parallel bypass highway around these
emerging commercial areas. It is, therefore, important that
the County take steps now to control strip commercializa-
tion in these unincorporated areas. Discussion at the Plan-
ning Board level revealed strong support for the establish-
ment of zoning in these unincorporated areas to discourage
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 43

11
H
further strip commercialization, and encourage a more fa-
vorable clustered pattern of commercial development
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS SHALL BE LO-
CATED AND EXPRESSLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THE MARKET AREA THEY ARE IN-
TENDED TO SERVE, CONSISTENT WITH THE
COUNTY'S LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. UN-
CONTROLLED STRIP DEVELOPMENT BY COMMER-
CIAL USES SHALL BE DISCOURAGED.
1. The County Planning Board will work with the residents
and property owners of the unincorporated villages on
the Outer Banks to educate and inform them of the
benefits and need for zoning in these areas. The long-
term consequences of continued strip commercialization
will be pointed out as one major reason for the need for
zoning.
Concern about solid waste disposal varies considerably
from one part of the County to another. For example, at
public input meetings in Manteo and Hatteras, solid waste
disposal was identified as a number one concern. For
Hatteras Island in particular, residents pointed out that
trash, bo th toxic and household, was being dumped "allover
the island." This in turn led to concerns about the impacts
this waste might eventually have on the island's groundwa-
ter. At Duck, on the other hand, residents assigned solid
waste disposal a low priority.
While the East Lake landfill is projected to be able to serve the
needs of the Couny for the next 7-10 years, there is some
concern that leachate from the landfill may be reaching
estuarine waters. Suitable alternative sites for a landfill are
extremely difficult to locate, due to the widespread occur-
rence of an seasonally high water table throughout much of
the County mainland.
Permits for a regional incineration facility may also be diffi-
cult to secure for a site within a reasonable distance of the
Dare County population. Extensive areas of the County are
contained in Federally owned wildlife and recreation lands,
resulting in the application of very stringent air quality
standards under Federal air quality legislation. In fact, Dare
County is in the highest air quality classification, calling for
"no significant deterioration."
Policy 2.3.11
Implementation Actions
2.3.12 Solid Waste
Disposal
I
Section 2, Page 44 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

From the above discussion, it is apparent that the solid waste
disposal issue is a complicated one with no easy solutions.
Nonetheless, it is a problem that is likely to intensify over the
next 5-10 years, when the East Lake landfill reaches capacity.
'
Policy 2.3.12
DARE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR A
REGIONAL SOLUTION TO THE SOLID WASTE ISSUE,
AND WILL WORK DILIGENTLYTOWARD THAT END.
'
Implementation Actions
1. The Dare County Commissioners will establish a study
committee to research alternatives for a future regional
solid waste disposal facility.
2. The County shall continue to coordinate studies with
adjacent counties in the Albemarle Region.
3. The County shall support local incentives for recycling
and solid waste separation, will support similar action by
the Dare County municipalities, and will consider sup-
port for legislative initiatives or glass bottle and alumi-
num can recycling for the 1989 N.C. General Assembly
session.
2.3.13 Low and
Dare County, like other resort -oriented coastal communi-
'
Moderate Income
Housing
ties, has a shortage of low and moderate income housing.
The need for such housing was identified most strongly at
the general public input meeting on Hatteras Island, and was
'
affirmed by several members of the Dare County Planning
Board. The problem stems, in part, from the competition for
housing between permanent residents and seasonal resi-
dents. Seasonal residents and second home owners often-
times have higher levels of disposable income available to
spend on housing. At the same time, the tourist driven
'
service economy of the County provides the highest number
of jobs in the lower pay scales. There is a need to meet the
housing needs of these lower to moderate income perma-
nent residents.
Policy 2.3.13
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR EFFORTS TO MEET
'
THE HOUSING NEEDS OF LOW TO MODERATE IN-
COME RESIDENTS SHALL BE SUPPORTED.
Implementation Actions
1. Dare County shall investigate the applicability of various
State and Federal housing programs for low to moderate
income residents.
' 2.3.14 Land Clearing Some area residents at the general input meetings for the
Land Use Plan expressed concern that lots are oftentimes
' "indiscriminately cleared" prior to issuance of building per-
mits and the commencement of construction. In their view,
such clearing practices destroy the natural beauty of the
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 45

' Outer Banks.
d
a
Views expressed by the County Planning Board were mixed
on the issue, but leaning in the direction of greater controls.
The issue probably requires special discussion and atten-
tion, apart from the Land Use Plan.
DEVELOPMENTS WHICH PRESERVE THE NATURAL
FEATURES OF THE SITE, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT
EXISTING VEGETATION, SHALL BE ENCOURAGED.
1. Dare County shall investigate the feasibility of
establishing a tree protection and landscape ordinance as
may be appropriate.
Concern was voiced at public meetings related to the Land
Use Plan about the deterioration of subdivision streets in the
County due to lack of maintenance. Poorly maintained
streets are at best an inconvenience for area residents, and at
worst a serious handicap to the efficient delivery of emer-
gency services. Many private streets were developed years
ago without clear responsibilities for maintenance deter-
mined. Many were also developed without adequate stan-
dards for construction. They are not included on the State
road system, and are therefore not subject to maintenanceby
NCDOT. The County also does not wish to accept respon-
sibility for maintenance of private streets.
Alternative suggestions for the solution of the problem put
forth by Planning Board members included: requiring adja-
cent property owners to maintain streets, requiring Home-
owners Associations to accept responsibility; placing
County assessments against property owners where the
delivery of emergency services is seriously impaired; and
simply staying out of the issue.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT ABSORB THE
COSTS OF MAINTAINING PRIVATELY OWNED
STREETS.
1. The County will continue to seek assurances that future
privately developed and owned streets shall be properly
maintained by those benefiting from the construction
and use of such streets.
Policy 2.3.14
Implementation Actions
2.3.15 Street
Maintenance
Policy 2.3.15
Implementation Actions
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Section 2, Page 46 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

2.3.16 Bikeways/
Residents attending the general input meetings for the Land
Walkways
Use Plan held in Duck and at Hatteras identified the need for
a bikeway and/or walkway along the highway as a high
'
priority item. In addition, a local bicycle club has been
formed, called the Wheels of Dare, and has been active in
promoting bicycling on the Outer Banks. In December,1986,
'
the club announced that it was beginning the process of
preparing a long-range plan for bicycle facilities along the
'
Outer Banks under a grant of funds from the Outer Banks
Community Foundation. The club has written memoran-
dums and letters to various local government officials along
the Outer Banks summarizing several key aspects of the plan
'
and asking for review and comment. The plan will ulti-
mately include bike lanes and bike routes incidental to
'
highway projects, as well as independent bicycle projects.
Policy 2.3.16 DARE COUNTY ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT
OF BIKEWAYS AS PROJECTS INCIDENTAL TO HIGH-
WAY IMPROVEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION PROJ-
ECTS. THE DESIGNATION AND/OR DEVELOPMENT
' OF OTHER BICYCLE FACILITIES AND ROUTES NOT
DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGHWAY
' SHALL ALSO BE ENCOURAGED.
Implementation Actions 1. The County shall request bicycle improvements in the
State Transportation Improvement Program for the First
District.
I -
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 47

Public participation is important in planning for the future of
Dare County. Two key elements must be included to de-
velop an effective public participation program: 1) public
education, and 2) public involvement. The most effective
format for public participation involves two-way communi-
cation between citizens and local planning officials.
The public participation strategy that has been implemented
for the development of the Dare County Land Use Plan has
' provided opportunities for effective communication. Atten-
dance at meetings held in Manteo, Duck, and Hatteras
during the early stages of plan preparation were well at-
tended and generated high levels of citizen involvement and
issue identification. The issues as identified at those meet-
ings and ranked according to their level of importance are
' included in Section 5 of this plan. The degree of importance
given to each issue has been reflected in the various policy
sections contained in the plan.
' The land use unction withl
questionnaire, developed in conjunction q P
the planning process, received excellent exposure in the
County. In addition to the questionnaires that were distrib-
uted at the public meetings for the Land Use Plan, the
questionnaire was also publicized in its entirety in both
areawide newspapers. In total, over 300 questionnaires
were received, the majority of which were taken out of the
newspaper and mailed in. This willingness to respond to a
general newspaper printing of the questionnaire revealed a
high level of interest and motivation on the part of Dare
' County residents, compared to the more traditional mailout
questionnaire and self-addressed stamped envelope. The
final tabulations are printed in full in Section 5 of this plan.
' Finally, the publicly advertised policy development work
session of the Dare County Planning Board received a high
' level of commitment from Planning Board members. A day-
long work session was held in which each policy issue
' identified in the Coastal Area Management Act guidelines
was reviewed by the Planning Board members. Individual
opinions of each Planning Board member were recorded on
' worksheets and later translated into a consensus policy
statement.
2.4 Public
Participation
Policies
2.4.1 Public
Participation
' Section 2, Page 48 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

1
Policy 2.4.1 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT WITH
LAND USE ISSUES SHALL BE PROVIDED ON A
CONTINUING BASIS TO ALL RESIDENTS AND WILL
BE SCHEDULED FOR EVENING MEETINGS TO EN-
COURAGE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE PARTICIPA-
TION.
' Implementation Actions 1. The Count will continue efforts to inform educate and
P Y
' 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 County Commissioners.
2. The County will encourage continued representation by
a broad cross-section of County residents on all citizen
advisory boards.
11
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Daze County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 49

According to historical information compiled by the Federal
office of Coastal Zoned Management (Natural Hazard
Management in Coastal Areas, Washington, DC,1976), Dare
County has the highest relative probability of a hurricane
strike of any area on the East Coast of the U.S. north of South
Florida. One need only look at the configuration of NC's
coastline to understand why the barrier island chain in Dare
County is particularly susceptible to hurricanes. In addition,
the mainland portion of the County, while not as directly
exposed to the path of hurricanes, has such low elevations
that it is very susceptible to near total inundation during a
major storm event.
Unfortunately, the same environmental conditions and
geographic location that make the County so susceptible to
hurricanes, also make the County very attractive for sea-
sonal, second home, and permanent populations. As noted
in Section 1.2.1, the County has had one of the highest
growth rates in the State and nation since about the mid-
1970s. Nearly all of this new growth has focused on the
barrier island chain of the County, the area that is least able
to evacuate quickly in an emergency situation.
The purpose of this section of the Dare County Land Use
Plan is to document the County's policies on managing
development in hazardous areas, and to determine how
areas might be rebuilt following the occurrence of a major
destructive storm event. Each of these concerns will be
addressed in the paragraphs that follow.
Storm hazard mitigation involves "activities which reduce
the probability that a disaster will occur and minimize the
damage caused by a disaster. Such activities can range from
the establishment of a nationwide hurricane tracking system
to the adoption of local land use regulations which discour-
age residential construction in floodprone areas. Mitigation
activities are not geared to a specific disaster; they result
from a long-term concern for avoiding the damages of future
' natural disasters." (McElyea, et al, Before The Storm: Man-
aging Development to Reduce Hurricane Damages,1982)
2.5 Storm Hazard
Mitigation, Post -
Disaster Recovery
and Evacuation
Plan
Introduction
2.5.1 Storm Hazard
Mitigation
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Section 2, Page 50 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

1
For the Dare County Land Use Plan, primary emphasis will
be on those mitigation activities that are within the authority
of the County.
Composite Hazards For the purposes of this study, a composite hazards map has
Map been prepared in accordance with the CAMA guidelines,
and included in the back of this report. The composite
hazards map shows all areas of Dare County that are not
subject to storm surge inundation during a FEMA Category
1-2 storm and no t included in any CAMA estuarine or ocean
hazard AEC. In other words, the dark areas on the map are
the only areas of the County that would not be under water
in the event of a Category 1 storm.
It should be noted that a Category 1 storm is the least
intensive of the three types of hurricanes that the Federal
Emergency Management Agency uses to classify storm in-
tensities. In the event that a Category 3 storm should strike
Dare County, only a very few parts of the entire County
would not be under water. Those relatively high ground
areas include the following locations: north end of Roanoke
Island, a narrow strip of Duck and Southern Shores, a very
small part of Colington, and some significant parts of Kill
Devil Hills and Nags Head.
The previously referenced Dare County Carrying Capacity
Study completed in 1985 contains some useful information
regarding development and assessed evaluation by local
jurisdiction in Dare County. According to that study, there
were approximately 17,000 single family homes, hotel
rooms, apartments, and condominiums in Dare County in
1985. Using these statistics, and the existing Land Use
Survey of 1987, it can be estimated that at least one-third of
the County's total residential housing units and accommo-
dations would be subject to flooding during a Category 3
storm event. It should also be emphasized that this percent-
age is a conservative estimate. The following table shows the
relative amounts of property by assessed valuation located
in each of the small area jurisdictions within the County.
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section Z Page 51

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'
Dare County Assessed Valuation
(In $000)
'
1985
Jurisdiction
'
Nags Head
$273,460
Kill Devil Hills
$261,455
'
Kitty Hawk
$113,225
Southern Shores
$117,512
Manteo
$34,749
'
Total Incorporated
$800,401
'
Duck/North
$135,846
Colington
$49,312
'
Roanoke Island
Mainland
$104,589
$22,436
Rodanthe/Salvo/Waves
$45,142
Avon
$48,277
'
Buxton
$29,405
Frisco
$32,374
'
Hatteras
$36,135
Total Unincorporated
$5a3,518
Grand Total
$1,303,919
' If we assume that the one-third estimate from above is true,
and that it is also conservative, then we should be able to
' estimate that no less than one-third of the County's total tax
base would also be subject to flooding during a Category 3
storm. It is recognized that commercial developments are
' more likely to concentrate in the relatively high ground areas
of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head adjacent to the highway.
Therefore, while the total housing unit count subject to
' inundation may range from 33 to perhaps 40% of the total
count, assessed valuation subject to flooding is conserva-
tively estimated at 33% or perhaps slightly less.
DARE COUNTY SHALL DISCOURAGE HIGH INTEN-
'SITY USES AND LARGE STRUCTURES FROM BEING
CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE 100-YEAR
FLOODPLAIN, EROSION -PRONE AREAS, AND
OTHER LOCATIONS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HURRICANE
AND FLOODING HAZARDS.
Policy 2.5.1(a)
ISection 2, Page 52 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Policy 2.5.1(b) DARE COUNTY, IN COOPERATION WITH THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, SHALL CONSIDER
PURCHASING PARCELS LOCATED IN HAZARD
AREAS OR RENDERED UNBUILDABLE BY STORMS
OR OTHER EVENTS, FOR THE PURPOSES OF SHORE-
FRONT ACCESS. DEVELOPERS MAY ALSO BE RE-
QUIRED TO PURCHASE SUCH PROPERTIES FOR
PUBLIC ACCESS AS A CONDITION FOR PROJECT
APPROVAL.
Policy 2.5.1(c) DARE COUNTY SHALL REQUIRE ALL NEW CON-
STRUCTION TO CONFORM TO CURRENT COASTAL
CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE PROVISIONS WHICH REQUIRE CONSTRUC-
TION TO MEET WIND RESISTIVE FACTORS, I.E.,
DESIGN, WIND VELOCITY.
' Implementation Actions 1. The County shall continue to enforce the State Building
Code and CAMA setback requirements.
i Ll
2.5.2 Post -Disaster Post -disaster reconstruction involves the full range of reha-
Reconstruction bilitation and reconstruction activities which seek to return
the community to normal. These include financial assistance
to cover property damages, economic recovery plans, reas-
sessment of the community's land development policies and
the repair, reconstruction, and relocation of damaged struc-
tures and utility systems. Recovery activities may continue
for years after a particular disaster.
Dare County has an officially adopted Disaster Relief and
Assistance Plan which was completed in April of 1984. The
document is a "comprehensive plan dealing primarily with
disaster prevention and mitigation, communications and
warning, shelter responsibilities, and damage assessment
and recovery operations. It includes an annex for each major
disaster which could affect Dare County, in addition to plans
for setting up shelter operations, damage assessment teams,
and disaster assistance centers." (George Spence, Emergency
Management Coordinator, August 1984)
The 1984 plan includes a detailed description of the "Dare
County emergency mangement control group" including
the names and phone numbers of primary members and
alternates for each local government jurisdiction in Dare
County. Also included are area coordinators by different
parts of the County, and a "support group" comprised of line
agencies such as the Sheriff's Department, Social Services,
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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 53

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public schools, the Health Department, the tax office, and
others. Contact persons and phone numbers for all volun-
teer fire departments as well as local police departments are
also included.
In addition to identifying all of the key agencies and persons
involved in a disaster situation, the plan also includes clear
lines of communication for both pre -event and post -event
timeframes.
The Disaster Relief and Assistance Plan also includes a
Damage Assessment Plan specifying operations that are to
occur during a) pre -disaster, b) during the disaster, c) post -
disaster conditions. In addition to detailed written proce-
dures, the plan includes an organization chart indicated how
various experts from different disciplines will work together
to survey four categories of property: 1) public property, 2)
business and industry, 3) private dwellings (percent of value
method), and 4) private dwellings (direct dollar method).
' Detailed forms and procedures for preparing damage as-
sessment reports are included in the plan. The following
classification system is also included for determining the
' degree of damage to structures immediately following a
disaster:
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; usable for intended purpose
The plan includes methods and forms to determine damage
to essential public services including: public streets,
' stream/drainage channels, bridges, water control facilities,
public buildings, equipment, and communications, public
water and sanitary sewer, and medical or other emergency
facilities.
'THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF Policy 2.5.2(a)
DARE COUNTY SHALL BE ULTIMATELY RESPON-
SIBLE FOR SUPERVISING THE IMPLEMENTATION
'OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN
THE DISASTER RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE PLAN,
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AND THE POST -DISASTER RECOVERY POLICIES OF
THE LAND USE PLAN.
Policy 2.5.2(b) IN THE EVENT OF A DAMAGING HURRICANE, OR
OTHER DISASTROUS EVENT, THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DECLARE A MORI-
TORIUM OF UP TO 180 DAYS ON THE ACCEPTANCE
OF ANY REQUEST FOR REZONING OTHER THAN
FOR REZONING TO A LESS INTENSE USE, UNLESS
THAT REZONING REQUEST IS INITIATED BY THE
COUNTY.
Policy 2.5.2(c) IN THE EVENT OF EXTENSIVE HURRICANE DAM-
AGE TO PUBLIC UTILITIES REQUIRING REPLACE-
MENT OR RELOCATION OF THESE UTILITIES, EF-
FORTS SHALL BE MADE TO LOCATE DAMAGED
UTILITIES AWAY FROM HURRICANE HAZARD
AREAS OR TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CONSTRUC-
TION.
Policy 2.5.2(d) PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE REPAIRS
THAT WILL RESTORE SERVICE TO AS MANY PER-
SONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Policy 2.5.2(e) THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY
DECLARE A MORITORIUM OF UP TO 180 DAYS ON
THE PERMITTING OF ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION,
INCLUDING NEW UTILITY HOOKUPS, OR REDEVEL-
OPMENT CONSTRUCTION THAT WOULD INCREASE
THE INTENSITY OF THE LAND USES EXISTING BE-
FORE THE HURRICANE.
Implementation Actions 1. Copies of this Land Use Plan and Policies, particularly
regarding Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post Disaster
Recovery and Evacuation, shall be made available to
appropriate local emergency management groups and
agency representatives.
2.5.3 Evacuation Plan Evacuation refers to the range of activities involvedin the
assignment of evacuation routes and shelter locations, the
determination of when to issue an evacuation order, the
procedures for notifying the public of both the evacuation
routes and the order to evacuate, and the implementation of
the evacuation during the storm event. Evacuation activities
are related to both specific storm events (e.g., actual
evacuations) and storm events in general (e.g., establishment
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 55

' of evacuation routes and shelter locations; notification of the
public of routes and shelters).
' Dare County's Hurricane Evacuation Plan, prepared by the
County Emergency Management, Agency, is dated May 31,
1977 and was revised in August of 1983. The plan establishes
an organization for managing evacuation in the event of a
storm event.. At the heart of this organization are three
groups which may be described as follows:
' 1. A Control Group,whose mission is to "exercise a c se overall
' direction and control of hurricane evacuation operations
including decisions to institute countywide increased
readiness conditions and such other action necessary
due to the situation." The Control Group is comprised of
the highest elected officials of each local government
jurisdiction in Dare County, plus the superintendent of
the National Parks Service, and is chaired by the
chairman of the County Board of Commissioners. The
County Civil Preparedness Coordinator also serves as an
advisor.
2. The Support Group, whose mission is to "provide
personnel and material resources for the implementation
' of pre -planned actions and actions as directed by the
control group and area coordinators; provide direction
to personnel engaged in operations; and to provide
information, data, and recommendations to the control
group and area coordinators." The Support Group is
' comprised primarily of the highest level local
government managers for each major line agency in the
County, and other appropriate volunteer, State and local
' agencies. The County Manager serves as the Support
Group Coordinator.
3. Area Coordinators, whose mission is "to be responsible
for their area under direction of their Control Group; to
provide direction to personnel engaged in operations;
and to provide information, data, and recommendations
' to the Control Group." Area Coordinators are
determined primarily by geographic distribution, and
their base of operations is typically in a town hall, fire
department, law enforcement office, or community
building.
In general, the established organization for handling emer-
gency evacuations appears to be adequately structured.
J
' Section 2, Page 56- Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

A single sheet supplement to the Dare County Hurricane
Evacuation Plan has also been developed by the Dare
County Emergency Management Agency in conjunction
with the NC Division of Environmental Management. This
summary sheet is appropriate for widespread distribution
and explains the basics of hurricane safety rules, hurricane
facts, and includes a map of hurricane evacuation routes.
The 1985 Dare County.Carrying Capacity Study contains an
analysis of the capability of the County's current transporta-
tion system to handle emergency evacuations. The major
findings of the study may be summarized as follows: "The
road and bridge network will not be able to handle traffic
demands on a timely basis in the event of a hurricane
evacuation. The evacuation routes, of necessity, are limited
to the major arteries in the County, and it is estimated that it
will take 20-27 hours to evacuate Dare County during peak
season; 13-18 during the off-peak season. These estimates
are based on a single lane of traffic on the bridges leaving the
island. These estimates have significant impacts on hurri-
cane evacuation planning inasmuch as the National Weather
Service can provide only 12 hours notice, with limited accu-
racy, as to when and where the hurricane will make landfall."
The report also notes that the key to the successful evacu-
ation of the Outer Banks area of the County rests with the
ability of the Route 158 and 64 bridges to accept the evacu-
ation traffic.
Policy 2.5.3 DARE COUNTY SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY PERSONNEL IN THE PREPARATION OF
THE COUNTY'S EVACUATION PLAN. THE COUNTY
SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR NECESSARY
IMPROVEMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE EVACUATION OF
THREATENED AREAS.
Implementation Actions 1. The County shall lobby for transportation improvements
with emphasis on adequacy of evacuation routes.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 2, Page 57

Section 3.0
Land
Classification
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 3, Page 1

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A land classification system has been developed as a means
of assisting in the implementation of the policies adopted by
the. County. By delineating land classes on a map, local
government and its citizens can specify those areas where
certain policies (local, State, and Federal) will apply. Al-
though specific areas are outlined on a land classification
map, it must be emphasized that land classification is merely
a tool to help implement policies and not a strict regulatory
mechanism. The designation of land classes allows the
County to illustrate its policy statements as to where and at
what density growth should occur, and where natural and
cultural resources should be conserved by guiding growth.
Where the County has enacted zoning controls which apply
in the various land classification areas, appropriate land uses
are specified by the zoning map and ordinance.
While North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act
Guidelines for Land Use Planning suggest a general format
for the land classification system, local governments may
modify the system within reason to meet local area needs.
3.1 Purpose of,Land
Classification and
Relationship to
Policies
Section 3, Page 2 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

' 3.2 Land
For Dare County, seven general land classes have been
Classification
devised to cover all parts of the County. The various classes
System
are shown on the land classification map and may be de -
scribed as follows:
Municipal
The Towns of Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Nags Head, Southern
Shores, and Kitty Hawk are covered by plans prepared by
each local government. For the purpose of the County plan,
all are shown on the land classification map as Municipal.
The reader is referred to each Town's individual plan for
details.
1 Transition The purpose of the Transition class is to provide for future
urban development within the ensuing 10 years on lands
that are most suitable and that will be scheduled for
provision of necessary public utilities and services.
For the 1987 update to the Dare County Land Use Plan, the
land areas in Transition remain largely unchanged from the
1982 plan. Included in the Transition class are the following
areas: Colington and the area outside Kill Devil Hills,
portions of Roanoke Island outside the Town of Manteo, as
well as parts of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton,
Frisco, and Hatteras.
It should be noted that the boundaries of the Transition areas
have been refined somewhat from the 1982 plan, due to the
availability of the National Wetlands Inventory Mapping
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These refinements
should have no appreciable impact on the amount of
available developable land, due to the fact that the areas not
included in Transition will, in most instances, fall under the
permitting jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and the CAMA permitting officials.
Community
The purpose of the Community class is to provide for
clustered land development to help meet housing,
shopping, employment, and public service needs within the
rural areas of the County.
'
This class includes all land north of the Town of Southern
Shores to the Currituck County line (i.e. Duck). It also
includes the mainland villages of East Lake, Manns Harbor,
Stumpy Point, and Mashoes. In addition, an area of Roanoke
Island south of the Transition area outside of Manteo is
classified as Community, reflecting the fact that the area
does not have public water.
' Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Daze County Land Use Plan - Section 3, Page 3

Community Residential is a subclass of the Community
land classification. The Community Residential
classification is intended to provide for primarily single
family residential and passive recreational land uses. Public
water and sewer services will not be provided in these areas
unless they are required to correct a public health problem.
For the 1987 Update to the Land Use Plan, the Community
Residential class has been applied to the north end of
Roanoke Island (the same as for the 1982 plan).
The purpose of the Rural class is to provide for agriculture,
forest management, mineral extraction, and other low
intensity uses. Residences maybe located within Rural areas
where urban services are not required and where natural
resources will not be permanently impaired.
The amount of land in Dare County dedicated to,the Rural
classification has been steadily declining with each update of
the Land Use Plan. For example, in the 1976 Land Use Plan,
mos t of the interior of Dare County's mainland was classified
as Rural, surrounded by a substantial fringe of conservation
land. For the 1982 Land Use Plan, the amount of land in the
Rural class was pared down considerably to identify
primarily those areas that were under consideration for
large-scale agricultural use.
As noted previously in this plan, most of Dare County's
mainland has now been transferred in ownership to the
Alligator River Wildlife Refuge. Therefore, for the 1987 plan,
only those parts of the mainland that are not specifically
included in the Wildlife Refuge have been retained in the
Rural classification. These areas, of course, do not include
those areas specifically dedicated to the Community class.
The purpose of the Conservation class is to provide for
effective, long-term management of significant limited or
irreplaceable areas. This management may be needed
because of its natural, cultural, recreational, productive or
scenic values. The Conservation class should be applied to
lands that contain: major wetlands; essentially undeveloped
shorelands that are unique, fragile, or hazardous for
development; necessary wildlife habitat or areas that have a
high probability for providing necessary habitat conditions;
publicly owned water supply, watersheds and aquifers; and
forestlands that are undeveloped and will remain
undeveloped for commercial purposes.
Community Residential
Rural
Conservation
Section 3, Page 4 - Dare County Land Use Plan
Edward D. Stone, jr. and Associates

For Dare County, the Conservation class includes all State
and Federally owned lands, including the Cape Hatteras
National Seashore, the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, the
Alligator River Wildlife Refuge, all present and future public
acquisitions of the Buxton Woods Forest, and parts of
Roanoke Island. The Conservation class also includes by
reference all CAMA AECs, and all wetland areas under the
jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit
Program.
Special development standards for the Conservation class
were created by the Planning Board for the 1982 plan and are
set forth below as additions and clarifications to the
definition of Conservation as established in the CAMA
Iguidelines:
Development or alteration of land, including the
construction of single family residences on suitable land, is
appropriate within conservation areas where it can be
shown that:
1. The ro osed development will not destroy or irre-
P Y
trievably
trievably alter a) wetlands, b) frontal dunes, c) beaches,
d) estuarine or impounded surface waters, e) prime
wildlife habitat, f) unique natural areas, historic or ar-
chaeological sites.
2. The proposed development will not encroach upon or be
endangered by: a) areas of special flood hazard, b)
oceanfront erosion areas, c) inlets and areas within range
of their migration, d) estuarine erosion areas.
3. The proposed development will not significantly affect
the quality or reduce the value of. a) public or p r i -
vately owned forest, park, gamelands, sanctuaries, or
other non -intensive recreation areas, b) aquifers, or aqui-
fer recharge areas, for public water supply watersheds
for water supply areas.
4. The proposed development will not require an increase
in public utilities or services beyond that provided by
the developer.
' As noted, the immediately foregoing deals with single
family residences. The increasing variety of residential con-
struction types leads occasionally to differences of interpre-
tation as to exactly what constitutes a single family resi-
dence. Such distinctions are properly found in the zoning
ordinance. As a general rule, however, it is the intent of this
plan to encourage only the construction of completely de -
IEdward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 3, Page 5

tacked residences on individual lots in Conservation areas, if
any residential development is proposed. The County will
not take any action to encourage other types of residential
' development in such areas. The density of such develop-
ment, if any, will be controlled through applicable law.
LThe purpose of the Limited Conservation class is to provide
for the management and long-term viability of essentially
undisturbed land that is compatible with only a limited
range of uses only under a specified set of guidelines. The
Limited Conservation class should be applied to lands that
contain unique geological, hydrologic, or topographic fea-
tures and/or plant and animal life that necessitates such
guidelines in order to insure that such features are not
destroyed or altered to the point where their natural, cul-
tural, economic or scientific values are lost. Land placed in
the Limited Conservation class may include, but is not lim-
ited to, maritime forests, inland dunes, heavily wooded
areas, and other land determined by the Board of Commis-
sioners as suitable for the guidelines associated with the
Limited Conservation Classification.
Development and land clearing activities in the Limited
Conservation class should be managed through the creation
of a special use district and permit process, to be established
' by the Board of Commissioners, and should, at a minimum,
conform to the following guidelines:
' 1. Primary Use - The primary permitted use of land in the
Limited Conservation Classification should be detached
single-family residential structures and a limited range of
service -oriented commercial uses.
2. Dwelling Density - Residential and commercial struc-
tures should be permitted at a dwelling or use density
equivalent to one dwelling unit per 40,000 square feet of
land area.
3. Lot Coverage - The alteration of an land in the Limited
g Y
Conservation Classification should not result in a total lot
coverage of impervious material greater than 35% of the
total surface area of the site being improved or altered.
' 4. Terrain Alteration and Vegetation Removal - Develop-
ment %J land clearing activity in the Limited Conserva-
tion Classification should not alter existing grades or
remove existing vegetation any more than shall be neces-
sary to facilitate:
Section 3, Page 6 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Limited Conservation

L
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a. The foundation of any proposed structure or im-
provement, and
b. Access to the site where the structure or improvement
is to be located, and
c. The installation of any underground utility improve-
ments associated with the structure or improvement.
5. Pavement Improvement Standards - Subdivision roads
installed upon lands included in the Limited Conserva-
tion Class shall not exceed a maximum pavement width
of 40' and surface drainage of such roads shall not be by
curb and gutter systems.
6. Wetlands Alteration - Existing natural wetlands, ponds,
and swales within the lands included in the Limited
Conservation Class shall not be dredged, filled, or other-
wise altered unless authorized as minor road crossings
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In each case, construction techniques and materials should
be of the best available technology to mitigate any potential
adverse impacts to the existing vegetation, terrain, or water
quality of the land and waters of any Limited Conservation
District. Development of land in the Limited Conservation
class shall not create a significantly deleterious impact upon
any underground water supply, aquifer, or aquifer recharge
area used as a source of potable water.
Examples of areas where this class has been applied are the
Buxton Woods area and the undeveloped portions of
Colington Island on Buzzards Bay.
Interpreting the Land As noted previously, the land classification map contained
Classification Map in the back of this document provides a general description
of the location of each of the land classes established in this
section. This land classification map should not be utilized
for site specific interpretive purposes; its scale precludes
such detailed use. Site specific questions concerning prop-
erties described on the land classification map should be di-
rected to the Dare County Planning Department.
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 prior
IEdward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 3, Page 7

1
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to the Civil War. Commercial shipping activities at this site
pre -date all regulatory agencies and/or land planning docu-
ments in Dare County, and the site continues to hold poten-
tial for commercial, shipping, loading, and barge docking
uses. Given the historical background, it is the Board's
opinion that this 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.
ISection 3, Page 8 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Section 4:
Intergovernmental
Coordination and
Implementation
0
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 4, Page 1

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The Dare County Land Use Plan, including the policies for
growth and development and the land classification map,
will serve as the basic tools for coordinating numerous poli-
cies, standards, regulations, and other governmental activi-
ties at the local, State and Federal levels. Such coordination
is achieved in three ways:
1. State and Federal government agencies are required to
review local land use plans when considering any ac-
tions or activities under their jurisdiction. Their actions
are to be consistent, whenever possible, with the intent
of the local Land Use Plan.
2. The policies and land classification system described in
the Land Use Plan provide a basis for planning and
budgeting for the provision of public facilities and serv-
ices such as water and sewer systems, roads and
schools.
3. The County Land Use Plan can serve as a coordinating
instrument in helping to bring together the various
regulatory policies and decisions of the local govern-
ment into one document.
The preparation of the Dare County Land Use Plan and
Policies has proceeded in a manner which recognizes the
planning activities of other local government jurisdictions,
and Federal agencies. In preparing the plan, copies of other
local government land use plans were obtained and re-
viewed, as well as plans and environmental impact state-
ments for Federal areas such as the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore, and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
A representative of the local Soil Conservation Service was
contacted and consulted, as well as agency representatives
in the following areas: National Wetlands, Cultural Re-
sources, Parks and Recreation, Wildlife, local Health De-
partment, Emergency Management, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, local CAMA permit officer, as well as periodic
progress reports with the CAMA land use planning coordi-
nator for the State.
4.1 Intergovermental
Coordination and
Implementation
Section 4, Page 2 - Dare county Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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4.2 Area Development In response to recommendations received in the 1985 Dare
Coordination Agency County Carrying Capacity Study, theCountyhas established
an Area Development Coordination Agency. The agency
consists of top elected officials of the separate governmental
bodies in Dare, plus 10 citizen members who were selected in
an attempt to represent various career and professional back-
grounds.
Areas of concern recommended for consideration by the
agency include:
1. coordination of the development of area -wide services,
such as water supplies, subject to service demands gener-
ated by individual jurisdictional development decisions.
2. coordination of land use policies adopted by individual
jurisdictions which impinge on the preogatives of neigh-
boring jurisdictions.
3. coordination of local policies concerning services and
facilities, such as streets and highways, which are pro-
vided by third party agencies.
4. monitoring of key development and financial indicators
against predicted performance. Appropriate revisions of
goals or of programs may be recommended as a result of
such monitoring activites. Coordination of such other
matters as may be brought before the agency by one of its
constituent members.
Also recommended is the production of an annual Develop-
ment Information Report summarizing growth activities in
the area, to be reviewed by the Area Development Coordina-
tion Agency.
As of the writing of this plan, members of the ADCA have
been appointed and are beginning their responsibilities. Mr.
Glen Miller, a resident of Duck, has been appointed as agency
chairman.
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 4, Page 3

Section 5:
Public
Participation
4
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 5, Page 1

Since its inception, North Carolina's Coastal Area Manage-
ment Act Program has placed a high level of emphasis on
public participation in the development of local land use
plans and policies. The intent is to insure that the resulting
plan and policies reflect, as closely as possible, the will of the
people in the community. Much of the public participation
strategy employed for the development of the Dare County
Land Use Plan is discussed in Section 2.4 of this document.
However, the following concise summary of program
phases/key meetings for the 1987 Land Use Plan Update
and their respective accomplishments is presented here for
the sake of completeness.
1. Strategy Development - The first priority in developing
a public participation strategy for the Dare County Land
Use Plan was to meet with key local officials to agree
upon an overall plan for citizen involvement. For the
initial kick-off meeting, the Planning Consultant met
with the Chairman of the Planning Board and his staff to
identify appropriate boards and commissions in the
County, their regular meeting dates, and customs and
protocol. From the outset, it was decided that, in
accordance with the intent of State planning enabling
legislation, the County Planning Board would have
primary responsibility for development of the Land Use
Plan, but with recognition that the Board of County
Commissioners would have the ultimate authority for
final review, approval, and adoption.
.Early in the strategy development phase, it was decided
that there would be two primary methods for securing
public input at the front end of the planning process: 1)
Land Use Week, and 2) a questionnaire. Each of these
two items are discussed more fully in the paragraphs that
follow.
2. Issue Identification - Issue identification for the Dare
County Land Use Plan consisted of providing the public
with the opportunity to make their concerns known
about growth and development issues facing the
County. The intent was to accomplish this task as early
as possible in the planning process, so that these concerns
might be recorded and used as a foundation for the
preparation of the policies for the Land Use Plan. The
following describes the methods by which this public
input was obtained.
5.1 Public
Participation
Public Participation:
Program Phases/Key
Meetings
Section 5, Page 2 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

Land Use Plan Questionnaire - A draft questionnaire for
use with the Dare County Land Use Plan was prepared
during the month of December, 1986, reviewed by the
Dare County Planning Board and staff, and revised in
accordance with recommendations received. In general,
the content of the questionnaire conformed as closely as
possible with a similar survey instrument prepared for
the 1976 CAMA Land Use Plan Update for Dare County.
This close similarity between the two questionnaires was
done purposefully to allow for a comparison of
responses, as might be desired, for the two timeframes
about ten -years apart.
So as to maximize public exposure for the questionnaire
as well as the Land Use Plan, two local newspapers
serving Dare County were approached and agreed to
publish the questionnaire in full. The cooperation of the
local newspapers also helped minimize the County's
costs that would normally be associated with the
handling and mailing of a questionnaire. The response of
the public to the "newspaper" questionnaires was
substantial, with over 300 questionnaires received
during late January through mid -February of 1987.
In addition, extra copies of the questionnaire were
printed and made available during all public meetings
held during Land Use Week. The results of the
questionnaire are tabulated in full in the appendix to this
section.
Land Use Week - By proclamation dated January 16,
1987, Robert V. Owens, Jr., Chairman, Board of County
Commissioners of Dare County, declared the week of
January 19-23,1987 as Land Use Week. The purpose of
Land Use Week was three -fold: 1) to call attention to the
fact that the Dare County Land Use Plan was being
updated, 2) to receive citizen input on the major growth
and development issues facing the County, and 3) to
educate the public as to the purpose and scope of a CAMA
Land Use Plan.
To encourage attendance and input during this phase of
plan development, it was decided to hold three separate
meetings in geographically dispersed locations in the
County. The locations chosen were as follows: Manteo,
to serve Roanoke Island and the Mainland; Duck, to serve
Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Dare County Land Use Plan - Section 5, Page 3

the northern beach area; and Buxton, to serve the area of
the County south of Oregon Inlet.
The public participation method used to solicit public
input was a modified nominal group technique using
index cards and display sheets. Following the
identification of issues at each meeting, an indication of
the relative priority of each issue identified was
determined through a simple showing of hands by the
audience. In all, a total of some 200 people attended the
three meetings during Land Use Week. The meeting size
ranged from about 45 in Manteo to over 90 citizens in
Buxton. At each meeting, some 60-70 issues were
typically identified and assigned relative priorities. A
complete listing and ranking of all issues as identified at
these meetings is contained in the appendix to this
section.
Policy Development- On Monday, February 9, the Dare
County Planning Board met in a specially advertised
policy development work session. The meeting began at
approximately 8:30 a.m. and continued in a charette-type
fashion until 5:30 p.m.
Planning Board members reviewed with the Consultant
the preliminary results of the questionnaire, as well as the
lists of issues and rankings as identified during the public
meetings of Land Use Week. Following the review of the
issues, the Planning Board addressed each of the policy
issues identified in the CAMA guidelines for Land Use
Plans. After each required issue was addressed, the
Board members then discussed other additional issues
that had been identified at the public input meetings, and
that were beyond the scope of the CAMA guidelines.
During the course of the all day meeting, over 100 policy
development worksheets were prepared by the Planning
Board members as input and direction to the Planning
Consultant in preparing a set of draft policies for the
Land Use Plan.
The last item discussed during the work session was the
County's current Land Classification Map. The existing
map was evaluated on an area by area basis, as to its
relevancy to current growth and development
conditions and trends. Modifications were suggested as
necessary.
Section 5, Page 4 - Dare County Land Use Plan Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates

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Edward D. Stone, Jr. and Associates
Appendix
Dare County Land Use Plan - Appendix

M= r = M M M M= r i M= M M = = M
APPENDIX
DARE COUNTY GROWTH ISSUES
LAND USE WEEK
PUBLIC MEETING - DARE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
MANTEO, NC
JANUARY 20, 1987
(3) 1. The County's ability to provide and pay for services.
(3) 2. Point and non -point water pollution.
(1) 3. Solid waste disposal.
(2) 4. Lack of zoning of unzoned areas.
(3) 5. Controlling the development density on marginal lands.
(2) 6. Lack of adequate water supply.
(1) 7. We don't want to have urban services imposed on us
because of the demand created by dense development.
(1) 8. Overdevelopment of commercial development.
(1) 9. Spot zoning (rezoning on demand).
(2) 10. Lack of citizen input in land use planning.
(3) 11. Too much commercial zoning/development. We need to
rezone some areas out of commercial and back into
residential.
(2) 12. Oceanfront and mainland soil erosion.
(1) 13. Inadequate sewage disposal countywide and its impact on
water quality and the density of development.
(3) 14. Insufficient building setbacks from wetlands.
(1) 15. Potential loss of small town charm and historic
atmosphere (cultural assets).
(1) 16. It's too easy to change zoning.
(3) 17. Lack of public access to the water.
(2) 18. Curbing development by out -of -county developers.
(2) 19. Protecting the natural environment of the north end of
Roanoke Island.
(3) 20. Inadequate roads for emergency evacuation.
(3) 21. Lack of consolidation of county and town services.
(3) 22. More attention to permanent resident needs; less to
tourists.
(2) 23. Maintain current rural land classification for north end
of Roanoke Island.
(3) 24. Lack of full-time professional staff planner.
(1) 25. Development beyond the natural carrying capacity.
(1) 26. Against rezoning from residential to commercial.
(2) 27. Uncertainty about airport's overexpansion.
(1) 28. Inadequate/unsafe bridge between Manteo and Nags Head.
(3) 29. Uncontrolled signs/signage.
(3) 30. Town's calling upon County to provide services that they
should provide.
(3) 31. Stormwater runoff.
(3) 32. Lack of enforcement of septic tank regulations on
non -perking properties.
(3) 33. Lack of light industry/jobs other than construction or
tourism.
(3) 34. Lack of planning and coordination for new bridge spanning
from Dare County line to Currituck County line.
(3) 35. Problem of a no development attitude.
(3) 36. Lack of a comprehensive hydrological study for the
mainland and Stumpy Point.
(2) 37. Lack of coordination between towns and the County on
development.
(3) 38. Lack of studies of alternative sewage disposal methods
(using current technology).
(1) 39. Uncontrolled development.
(2) 40. Unnecessary development of Manteo airport.
(3) 41. overbuilding on Roanoke Island.
(2) 42. Need for maintenance of inlets and waterways.
(3) 43. Minimum lot sizes for multi -family dwellings.
(2) 44. Increasing the tax base without increasing long-range
planning.
(3) 45. Height regulations on buildings.
(1) 46. Protection of the fresh water supply on Hatteras Island.
(2) 47. Providing areas of aquaculture.
(2) 48. Provide adequate school facilities for population.
(3) 49. Development of an industrial park utilizing geothermal'
water.
(2) 50. Development of desalinization plants.
(2) 51. No land taxes for people 65 years and older.
(3) 52. Enlarge recreational activities and sites.
(3) 53. More control over CAMA.
(2) 54. Town development of senior citizens' sites.
(1) 55. Lack of housing for low income people.
56. Keep purity in estuarine environments, as well as ground
water and ocean.
(1) 57. Protection of animal environment, natural environment,
and wetlands.
(1) 58. House and highway identification.
(3) 59. Planning for a naval base.
GRHS/68

DARE COUNTY GROWTH ISSUES
LAND USE WEEK
PUBLIC MEETING - DUCK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
DUCK, NC
JANUARY 21, 1987
(3) 1. Solid waste management.
(1) 2. Road in Duck can't handle traffic; need for widening
of Duck Road.
(3) 3. Concern about population impacts on sound as the
major estuary.
(3) 4. Insufficient parking for commercial uses.
(3) 5. No planning for summer crowds.
(1) 6. Repair and drainage of present road.
(3) 7. Protection and provision of the potable water supply.
(1) 8. Lack of representation for Duck on the County
Commissioners.
(3) 9. Loss of open space.
(2) 10. Insufficient limitation of building heights.
(3) 11. Electrical power outages.
(3) 12. Public beach and sound access.
(2) 13. No more commercial development in Duck.
(2) 14. Concern about more and faster stormwater runoff from
dense development.
(2) 15. County Commissioners need to fulfill pledges for
Duck.
(1) 16.' Prevention of highway along Outer Banks to Virginia
Beach.
(3) 17. Law enforcement can't keep up with increased
population.
(3) 18. Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.
(3) 19. Alternative methods to bulkheading for soundside
erosion prevention.
(1) 20. Protection of the natural environment.
(1) 21. Hurricane evacuation.
(3) 22. Questionableness of central sewer as a cure for
density problems.
(1) 23. Spoilage of natural beauty.
(1) 24. Jogway/walkway/bikeway adjacent to highway.
(2) 25. The problem of land use compatibility.
(1) 26. County government doesn't enforce current land use
laws.
(1) 27. Lack of coordination between the planning board, the
health department and building inspections on permit
monitoring.
(3) 28. Development actions taken without proper permits.
(3) 29. No site review board.
(1) 30. Concern about the ability of wells to keep up with
water demand.
(1) 31. Representative amount of taxes taken from Duck needs
to be returned to Duck.
(3) 32. Advocates conservation uses of Buxton Woods, Nags
Head Woods, and the north end of Roanoke Island.
(3) 33. School transportation.
(3) 34. Look at what's happened to Nags Head, Kill Devil
Hills, and Kitty Hawk.
(3) 35. Improvement of cultural atmosphere of County.
(2) 36. Too much commercial development.
(1) 37. Need more Town and County participation in agencies.
(2) 38. Need more professional management.
(3) 49. Inadequate school systems.
(2) 50. Shopping traffic controls.
(3) 51. Problems with multi -family developments.
(2) 52. Need to enforce existing zoning ordinance.
53. Need for a comprehensive plan in the overall County
to provide services for projected population growth.
(3) 54. Need for protection of the sound waters by
communicating with surrounding counties.
(3) 55. Overbuilding along the oceanfront.
(2) 56. Concern about changes in special development permits
without proper public participation in government.
(2) 57. Need for a hospital.
GRH5/69

DARE COUNTY QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS
1. Check the area of Dare County with which you are primarily associated.
(Normally your area of residenoe or of property holdings.)
AREA 1:
152 (includes Duck and North, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk,
Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head)
AREA 2:
103 (includes Hatteras, Oregon Inlet South)
AREA 3:
48 (includes North End Roanoke Island, Manteo, Skyco/Wanchese,
Manns Harbour, Stumpy Point, East Lake and Other Mainland Areas)
TOTAL:
303
2. your age group. Circle one letter.
A.
Below 18: 0 D. 35-44: 70 F. 55-64: 78
B.
18-24: 0 E. 45-54: 50 G. 65 or over: 64
C.
25-34 40
3. Are
you a Dare County resident? (Includes communities located within Dare County.)
Circle one letter.
A.
Yes, and I own or am purchasing a hone.
218
B.
Yes, and I rent my home.
18
C.
I am a nonresident who owns or is purchasing property in Dare County.
59
D.
I am a nonresident who does not hold property in Dare County.
7
4. Vtiat is your primary economic relationship with Dare County? Circle one letter.
A.
No income derived from Dare County.
82
B.
Agriculture and related business or service.
0
C.
Fishing and related business or service.
14
D.
Tourism and related business or service.
61
E.
Forestry and related business or service.
0
F.
Construction and related business or service.
22
G.
Business or service not specifically related to any of above.
32
H.
Retirement income (if from one of above, indicate which ).
53
I.
Government worker, City/County/State/Federal.
30
5. Check appropriate answer.
were you born in Dare County? Yes: 27
No: 263
Select
the three most important reasons for visiting or living in Dire County:
A.
Slow pace of living
188
B.
Privacy (inaccessibility)
127
C.
Freedom from pollution and population pressures
240
D.
The natural environment and associated recreational activities
250
F.
Believe that there will be future economic expansion which will
provide great personal opportunity
20
G.
Family
42
6. Of those reasons you selected for visiting or living
in Dare Canty, which do you
believe we are most likely to lose?
Next
Most
Most
Likely
Likely
A. Slow pace of living
39
51
B. Privacy (inaccessibility)
32
30
C. freedom from pollution and population pressures
133
74
D. The natural environment and associated
recreational activities
75
97
F. Believe that there will be future economic
expansion which will provide personal opportunity
2
3
G. Family
0
0
7. Indicate your degree of concern with the following which
have been cited as
problems or potential problems in Dare County. Use only one number beside each
item.
Most
Urgent
Urgent
Not a
Concern
Concern
Problem
A. An adequate water supply
183
80
19
B. Traffic congestion
94
132
52
C. Sewage disposal
154
86
37
D. Trash and garbage disposal (not collection)
91
137
44
E. High rise construction
171
84
27
F. Lack of medical services
33
96
141
G. Limitation on building height
118
93
59
H. Pollution of ocean and sounds
181
81
20
I. Overpopulation
169
84
27
J. Commercialization
164
93
30
K. Lack of access to beaches, sounds,inlets and ocean
34
86
153
L. Unattractive Buildings
50
ill
100
M. small lots & crowded developments
128
121
29
N. Lack of Reserved Space
67
101
101
O. Lack of community recreational facilities
22
72
181
P. Destruction of dunes and beaches
181
81
20
Q. Lack of job diversification
17
50
200
R. Lack of usable land to accommodate growth
34
55
180
S. Lack of comforts & conveniences available in more
urban areas (such as TV, radio, supermarkets,
shopping centers, etc.)
8
11
259
T. Lack of surface and subsurface drainage
58
116
91
U. Erosion by wind and water
93
110
70

8. Indicate the degree of encouragement or discouragement you believe should be given
following, assuming that encouraging one activity may
discourage at least one of
the others. Use only one number beside each item.
No
Dis-
Encourage Changes Courage.
Agriculture & Related
60
163
39
Fishing Industry & Related
184
87
5
Tourism & Related
58
151
71
Forestry & Related
130
ill
33
Construction & Related
11
73
187
Research/Development Industry
65
76
135
Light Industry (warehousing, convention centers, etc.)
42
80
160
Heavy Industry (conversion from Encroachment by Commercial
of raw materials)
2
17
265
Residential Development
44
134
100
Single Family Residences
125
140
24
High Rise Residences
2
17
265
Low Rise Multi -Family Residences
26
73
185
Preservation of Cpen Space
269
14
6
New and Improved Cultural Facilities (libraries, -art
galleries, theaters)
137
118
26
Increased accessibility to Aare Co.
71
110
97
Unproved tourist facilities
31
110
143
Protection of Residential Areas From Encroachment by
Commercial or Industrial Enterprise
261
14
19
Preservation of wildlife Habitat
269
18
4
Regulation of Dunes and Shoreline
249
34
4
Soil Conservation
256
24
4
Beach Access
112
143
33
9. Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with
each of the following
statements.
Agree
Neutral
Disaa_ree
There is enough economic development under way in
Dare County.
232.
40
19
Industry in Dare County would improve quality of life.
23
47
220
New industry locating in Lore County should be required
to file an environmental impact statement.
284
7
3
A person should be able to do anything he wants with
his land.
12
22
262
Planning can minimize conflict between economic
development & environmental protection.
273
14
8
We have enough people living in Dare County now.
150
118
26
We should try to attract more permanent residents.
71
ill
104
we should give high priority to improved community or
county services (central or area water systems,
sewage disposal, etc.)
208
49
30
we must control growth to allow services to keep pace
with the need.
271
18
5
We must control natural resources to keep Dare
County a tourist attraction.
243
27
15
10. Are you pleased with the direction Daze County development is taking?
Yes: 40
NO: 232
GRH6/23

DARE COUNTY GROWTH ISSUES
LAND USE WEER
PUBLIC MEETING - HATTERAS PUBLIC SCHOOL
HATTERAS, NC
JANUARY 22, 1987
(1) 1. Need for proper permits before clearing land.
(1) 2. Need for levy fines for pollution.
(1) 3. Need for communication between volunteer fire
departments and developers on larger projects and
buildings.
(2) 4. Adequate educational facilities.
(2) 5. Stop sand mining.
(2) 6. Need for zoning.
(2) 7. Reasonable access to local government
representatives.
(3) 8. Good growth with the residents having control, as
opposed to CAMA.
(3) 9. Unsanitary garbage collection.
(1) 10. Need to confront water and sewer problems now for the
future.
(1) 11. Need for a study into what past actions have done to
the water supply.
(3) 12. Rising cost of living for year-round residents,
especially housing.
(3) 13. Lack of recreational facilities.
(3) 14. More senior citizens' services.
(3) 15. More law enforcement to accompany new growth.
(3) 16. Controls on dogs and cats.
(1) 17. Need to stop condominium development, especially if
they exceed maximum height limits.
(1) 18. Deteriorating subdivision streets with no maintenance
responsibility.
(2) 19. Improvement in medical facilities.
(1) 20. Destruction of dunes from traffic and litter.
(3) 21. The increase in growth accompanied by the increase in
erosion.
(3) 22. More control by permanent residents over services
such as cable and electric, in addition to roads.
(3) 23. Improved access for improved egress in times of
emergency.
(2) 24. Consider environmental factors when building.
(3) 25. Tourists and sail boarders interfering with
commercial fishermen.
(3) 26. How might zoning affect existing businesses?
(3) 27. Tension between private property rights and public
domain; overpopulation densities in land zoning
categories.
(3) 28. Lack of usable land for growth.
(2) 29. Need to protect wildlife habitats.
(2) 30. Hatteras needs to develop own character (not like
northern beaches) to attract its own kind of tourism
trade.
(1) 31. Dumping of trash (toxic and household) all over
island where it shouldn't be.
(1) 32. Pollution of shell fishing areas.
(1) 33. Protect the interests of commercial fishermen so
they're not squeezed out by development.
(1) 34. Ban on high rise time share units consuming excessive
water and other services.
(2) 35. Any new businesses/additions should be attractive and
sensitive to the environment.
(3) 36. Assist in economic growth for the seven communities
on Hatteras, especially by the parks service and
local government.
(2) 37. Repair some of the damage that's already been done to
the environment, especially wetlands.
(2) 38: Need for a hydrology study of Buxton Woods.
(3) 39. Advocates use of Buxton Woods (or part of) for a
local park or other natural use.
(1) 40. Limit growth density before public sewage is needed.
(3) 41. Land being monopolized by large companies and being
sold at inflated prices.
(2) 42. Legislation requiring erosion control by the
Department of Interior is needed.
(1) 43. Minimum lot size too small now.
(1) 44. Need no multi -family complexes (apartments, condos,
etc.)
(2) 45. Inadequate setbacks from ocean and sound.
(3) 46. Lack of good year-round housing for residents.
(2) 47. Need for rebuilding wetlands.
(1) 48. More local government representation for Hatteras.
(3) 49. The problem of unplanned areas along Route 12.
(1) 50. Need to keep water clean.
(1) 51. Protection of natural resources.
(3) 52. Lack of sidewalks in built-up areas.
(2) 53. Uphold laws in wetlands.
(2) 54. Need to upgrade a power source in the County or on
the island.
(2) 55. Need to upgrade the evacuation program.
(3) 56. Need for more multi -family dwellings.
(2) 57. County Commission should work more closely with
Planning Board.
(2) 58. Need for better community services for the expanding
growth.
(2) 59. Need for sewage treatment facilities.
(1) 60. Need for more growth control.
(1) 61. Need to equalize tax benefits throughout the County.
(3) 62. Need for a permanent dump site somewhere near the
Buxton area.
(2) 63. Need for a water system.
(1) 64. Protect the topography of the land.
(2) 65. Call for an end to the grandfather clause for the
minimum lot sizes currently platted.
(3) 66. Make lot setbacks fairer along the ocean.
(1) 67. Protection of wildlife.
(1) 68. Bikepath along Route 12.
(2) 69. Stiffer penalties for building violations.