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Home My WebLink AboutCoastal Area Management Act Land Use Plan-1978NOTICE TO USERS All major policy related maps and documents are either included within the text or attached to the back of the plan. However, due to the expense and technical limitations required for reprinting some illustrations may be omitted. Complete copies are available for inspection at the N. C. Coastal Resources Commission offices in Raleigh or at the local government offices. ,y Tzbie of Contents I. Introduction ................................................. II. Description of Present Conditions ........................ ' III. Public Participation Activities ............................. at IV. Constraints .................................................. �? 9 V. Estimated Demand .............................................. �(c VI. Plan Description ......................... ................. VII. Potential Areas of Environmental Concern .................... k'9 .- VIII. Summary- ......... ............................................ 6 IX. City -County Plan Relationship ............. .. ............ b a 0 PLANNING DEPARTI4E14T CARTENET COUNTY p, O. DRAWER 630 BEAUFORT► N• C• ? ,51a The Town of Atlantic Beach has prepared this Land Development Plar.'in co pliance with the Coastal Area I^anagement Act of 1974. The planning process and contents of the plan were set forth in the Guidelines for Local Planning as adopted by the Coastal Resources Cormssion. Technical assistance through- out the planning process ias provided by the Carteret County Planning Depart- ment, but it must be emphasized that input of elected and appointed officials, as well as citizens of Atlantic Beech is responsible for the ideas and the direction it is hoped this plan will offer to Atlantic Beach. It is also. hoped this plan will fit in and become an inteEral part of an overall county p3.an- The formulation of this plan has taken place over a period of several months. During the planning process the Coastal Fesources Co=Fission has stressedthedesire that each local government involved in the Coastal Area isna&e.nent net obtain as much public input in the development, of local plans as possible. iris desire to obtain public input was shared by the elected and appointed officials of Atlantic Beach. Basically, input was obtained through a series of public meetings, the extensive use of questionnaires, and personal interviews uith many leaders in the coi-nnunity. Current land use slaps were made available to as many people as possible, and seen.ed to stimulate ideas and constructive criticisms of present and future land use. The primary objective of the Coastal Area %Ianage=nt Act of 1974 is to • form a basis for a "comprehensive plan for the protection, preservation, orderly development, and manaSe;aent of the coastal area of I.Iorth Carolina". it is hoped this objective trill he achieved by the development .of plans such as the 3 cne here -In prc;sir__ ed fc,r :a,.. _- . is e ch. The citizens of Atlantic Beach, along tid.th its elected ane appointed officials, realize atlantic Beach is located within a region that contains ;mny Potential Areas of v rwimental Concern (as defined within the plan), and at ti;c sam time is stioject to a period of rapid growth. This is why the planning process, as required by the Coastal Area Management Act, is important to Atlantic Beach and, for the most part, is well accepted. Without good plarniig, areas such as Atlantic Beach will slowly deteriorate, and so too will the coastal area of North Carolina. .The Coastal Area Hannagement 1,et of 1974 has taken into account -that the coastal area of North Carolina is a'lli.:ited co,raodity, n and has set out to speed up the planning process so as to preserve this "co: sodity." At first dance one can tell this plan is somet-rhat diffE:rent fromany other land use plan now in existence. For instanr-e, Potential areas of Environ, mental Concern are defined and will be designated by the Coastal Resources Co,:�ussion at a later date. Also, .a .ne:: system of land classifica- tion is incluc:ed along with other ideas that are rarticulay-Dr, to applied to . the coastal areas of :forth Carolina . itodern land use plaiLling, as This plan contains nine sections. Following this introduction, the plan deals faith the present conditions of Atlantic Beac1: including discussion _. on opula Lion, econo„iy, and existing land use. hlext, the plan deals with the development of objectives for local planing, the constra--rts or. land n development) and subsccuently .the dezond the projected groerth ;2i? have on the ?.:n^. 1,11 of this information is finall-* brought together by the State ,1 L:nd Classification sy stem. The final sections s i x2arize the entire planning process and explain how this plan_ relates to .the overall co: prehensive covunt; Plan.. To und�,rctand this somewhat different lsrd use plan it seems there must first of all be an understanding of the legislative goals a5 stated in G.S. 113A-112 (b). 1. To provide a r„anacemert system capable of preserving and managing the natural ecological conditions of the estuarine system, the : barrier dune system, and the teaches, so as to safeguard and per- petuate their natural productivity and their biological, economical and aesthetic values. 2. To insure that the development or preservation of the land and water resources of the coastal area proceeds in a ;ginner consistent ::nth the capability of the land -and i-.rater for development, use., or preservation based on ecological considerations. 3.- To insure the a.derly-and balanced use and preservation of our coastal resources on behalf of the people of North Carolina and the nation. 4. To establish policies, guidelines and standards for the conservation of resources; the economic development of :•he coastal area; the use of recreational lands and tourist. facilities; the bride development - of transportation and enhancement of historical, cultural -and sci- entific aspects of the region; and. -the protection of co-mon late and public ri;,hts in the lands --and waters of the coastal area. Tn order for these goals to be realized there must be a conscious effort to follow this plan. This can only be made possible by folio;ring up the plan ti:ith good land use ir.aplementation methods that are enforceable and supported by the citizens of Atlantic Beach. The citizens must continue to participate in order to achieve the objectives of the overall planning.process. LOCATION AND D. SCRIPTION' Atlantic Beach is a vacation resort area on the barrier island system of North Carolina. Located within Carteret County and being on the eastern end of Bogue Banks, Atlantic Beach is a very scenic area. It is bordered on the north by Boaue Sound, on the south by the Ntlantic Ocean. This gives it the unique characteristic of having a beach area that faces South instead of the normal eastwardly direction. It is bordered on the east by the Fort Macon State Park, the site of an old Civil War Fort and by Beaufort Inlet. On the west there is a portion of.county area followed by the city of.Pine Knoll -.Shores= which is two.(2) miles from the Atlantic Beach City Limits. Atlantic Beach is separated entirely from the mainland by water, and access to this strip of the barrier island is provided by -two bridges. One bridge connects Morehead City, the largest city in Carteret County;- to the Atlantic Beach main resort area. The other bridge is located some 25 miles away and connects the Town of Emerald Isle. to -the mainland near. Cape Carteret .._ and Swansboro. Access to the remainder of the county is provided basically by N. C.•Highway 70, N. C. Highway 24, and N. C. ?highway 58. - During the summer months, Atlantic Beach becomes -the hub of the resor-t activities in the county. The presence of the Atlantic --Beach Public Beach, and the numerous entertainment establishments attract -people to the - county. -in great numbers. -The county in general enhances the atipeal of Atlantic Beach -by providing many hotels, restaurants, fishing, and general retail business that vacationers are looking for. Additionally, Atlantic -Beach is -complemented- by the Fort Macon State Dark, numerous fishing piers along the "banks area", and other tourist areas along the outer banks. The Town of Atlantic Beach and its one mile extra -territorial jurisdiction has grown around a beautiful public beach extending approximately 2500 feet and the business area associated with the beach strand. The most rapid de- velopment of Atlantic Beach occurredduring the late sixties and early seventies. Most of this development has been in the form of residential growth accompanied by tourist related businesses. The year around population in 1470 was 300, but the population section will explore current year around seasonal populations as well and future population projections and desires. The climate of Atlantic Reach can be basically described as having warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall in this area ranges between 45 and 65 inches per year. The land area of Atlantic Beach.is.typical of the Outer Banks in.that it is sandy with moderate amounts of vegetation onthe dunes and as one get further from the frontal dune line more vegetation appears. The north side of the town has marsh and other areas typical of sound areas. The major changes to the natural habitat of this area is that many of the frontal -dunes have been destroyed and "much" of the marsh area has been filled in order to accommodate residential structures. Still, Atlantic Beach remains a beautified and viable hart of the barrier island of North Carolina. II, Present Conditi. ns u A. Population In any land development plan a careful study of the current population of an area, along with an analysis of past trends and future population desires is absolutely -essential. Only after the population is analyzed an future population desires are d etermired, can the planning process continue in a constructive manner. 1.1ot only should the actual numbers be considered, but also characteristics of the population. Since -the 1960 Census count of 76 persons, the year around population of Atlantic Beach (city limits) has grown very rapidly. Between 1960 and 1970:the Bureau of Census indicated there was approximately a 400% increase or a near total population of 300.-During the 1960Ts Bogue Banks in general bagan to grow and develop into a major vacation resort area. Development ranged from small cottages and mobile homes to large hotel and condomimium complexes. -A considerable investment has been made in this area by irany developers and many citizens looking for a p�� ce to spend their vacations and free ti:-z. 7nis invest'""ent, in ma.V cases, has made Atlantic Beach more attractive to vacationers, and has been the major factor in the increased population. In addition to increased investment, annel:ation has added to the Atlantic Beach population Table ;41 Atlantic Beach Planning Area Population Estirate 1940 1950 1960 1970 1975 Year Around — 49 76 300 500 = Sum-ner — — — 41.31 ''360 '.'Includes the one—:rd1e extra —territorial area The year around population projections in the preceeding chart have been provided by the Bureau of Census, except for the 1975 figure of 500 ti:hich cs'L.Lated 'he '-LLantic Beach Plarining Board. The summer pop lLtion is much nore difficult to determine, and much more important in the planning process for Atlantic Beach. The summer projection included in the preceeding chart for 1975 has been determined by the atlantic Beach Planning Board. The total ni=ber of accommodations were considered and an average acceptance rate of four people per unit during peak periods was used to determine peak popula— tion. This takes into consideration that many more than four people stay in some living units, and some living units are unoccupied. The older areas of Atlantic Beach provide accommodations that are designed for large groups; uhile_the newer development is designed for family adcom:riodations. It should be noted that the 1975 figures take into consideration the one mile area. Iiost of the recent, residential growth in the Atlantic Beach Planning Area hms occurred on she north side of Fort I•acon Boulevard in Atlantic Beach Isles Subdivision and So::nd Vie;., Isles Subdivision. There has also been some significant residential developent in the one ,mile area to the East. It should be noted that most of the new development is designed for — family use; i-rhereas the older development is composed for multi —fan ly or _ broup use. A detailed land use analysis urill be presented in the next section of this plan. The population figures in this section did not consider day visitors. The purpose of this section was to determine the number of people that are acco -modated by the living units in itlantic Beach. Me Economy Section and • Facilities Demand Section -wrill place more e:aphasis on dad* visitors. s B. Economy The Atlantic Beach Planning Area is a Vacation Resort Area and the economy of the area is based on this 'premise. The permanent residents of the Atlantic Beach Planning Area are basically made up of individuals who operate or work for tourist related businesses, and those individuals who are retired. Tourism in the Atlantic Beach Planning Area is promoted by the presence of 83 businesses, including 17 motels, all designed to supply tourist with a diversity of entertainment and services. The growth that has occurred in the sixties has also added to the total economic picture of the Atlantic Beach Planning Area. -It seems that population and economic growth occur simultan iously in most- areas- of -Bocue Banks. The Atlantic Beach PlanningAreais separated from the mainland by Bogue Sound, but seems to he the hub of summer resort activities in Carteret County. Many businesses and other economic factors in other parts of.the county are affected by the ability of Atlantic Beach to attract summer vacationers. The presence of public access beach area in the center of Atlantic Beach is - probably the single most important factor in attracting vacationers. This area along'with the beach area at.the Fort Macon State Park'are the only two public access areas to the Atlantic Ocean along-Bogue Banks. Both areas attract people to Atlantic Beach, and in turn, promote the overall tourist industxy in the county. - In the past, the economv of Atlantic B�:ach was basically geared toward • day time activities for all aces, but night time activities were geared to the e3= l0 very young in the form of the amusement center; and geared toward teenagers in the form of dancing areas. It seems the current trend is to continue pro- viding nir:ht time entertainment for the young people, but also to include nicht time entertainment for the adult population. This is a part of the over- all all attempt to provide services and recreation for an entire family. As previously discussed, the economy of Atlantic Beach is almost entirely geared to providing services or entertainment to summer time vistors. Examples of the service and entertainment that are provided include: motels, restaurants, night clubs, fishing piers,, -tackle shops, boat sales, - service stations, -amusement centers, boat storage, beach ware sales, and _ convenience stores. The location of the existing business community begins along both sides of the causeway between the bridge and Fort Macon Boulevard. From -there it - extends around the "entertainment circle" and along Fort Macon Boulevard to the east and west. The existing businesses along Fort Macon Boulevard do not extend to the city limits at the -present time. Business composes approx- Imately 12% of the developed area in Atlantic Beach (refer to the Land Use Section of this Land Development Flan for more details -on current land use.) The economy of the entire -county is more diverse than -the concentration on tourism of the Atlantic Beach community. Factors such as the Fishing In dustry, Retail Trade, Cherry Point Marine Base, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Tourism affect the county as a whole. A disc�ission of.these factors should provide a basis for understanding the economy of the county as a whole • and how the econ-my of Atlantic Beach relates to the remainder of the county. __9_ The following tame reflects the :Work Force Chan_:es in Carteret C cunty between 1962 and 1972. WORK FORCE CHANGES Table # Year Civilian Work Force Manufacturing Non -manufacturing Agriculture 1962 70410 1,100 3,430 610 1963 79620 1,160 3,580 620 1964 7,830 1,140 3,860 500 1965 8,540 1,200 4,050 440 1966 9,080 1,340 42410 420 1967 9,070 1,430 41460 390 1968 9,450 12440 4,830 350 1969 9,600 11500 5,050 340 1970 101200 1,610 5,410 330 1971 10,190 11430 5,510 330 1972 10,660 1,540 5,780 310 Average, - .:.- 9,059 19357. : 41579 - - 421 As the county becomes more diversified, certainly the Town of Atlantic Beach will profit in terms of investment and economic stability. The pre ceeding chart indicates Carteret County is becoming diversified. Although the economy of the county is becoming diverse, there is still a growing reliance on the tourist industry. -It is very difficult to gauge the affect of the tourist industry because of - the many supportative businesses that are connected with tourism. In order.to get an idea of tourist expenditures in Carteret County refer to the following tables.•.. CARTERET COUNTY TRAVEL INCOME Table # Year Total Travel Expenditures 1963.- 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 $50151000.00 1969 6,317,000.00 1970 79020,000.00 Total Sales _ $ 44329,000.00 7,159,000.00- St0149000.00 =- 8,575,000.00 9,270,000.00 10,482,000.00' 13,410,000.00 Not Available IZ 1971 7,39000^0.03 Not Available 1972 8,050,000.00 17,182,000.00 Source: Dr. Lewis Copeland - University of Tennessee The preceeding table demonstrates that the Total Travel Income is a very significant element of the Carteret County economy. As has been mentioned, Atlantic Reach is responsible for a very large portion of these expenditures in the county. Chart # k , indicates the number of visitors at Fort Macon State Park. Since all visitors to Fort Macon have to go through Atlantic -Beach, this will give an idea of the magnitude of the day vistors on Atlantic -Beach. - This -chart is not intended to estimate -the day vistors on Atlantic Beach. --- Number Visitors Fort Macon State Park Year Visitors - 1940 13, 000 1950 193,364 1960 443,624 1965 5780961 1966 599,149 1967 5802867 1968 642,595 1969 712,361. 1970 750,653 1971 785,249 1972 862,711 Source: North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources, Division of State Parks _44- This -section concerning the economy of Atlantic Beach is intended to indicate the importance of the tourist industry. Also, the reference to the economy of Carteret County in general is intended to indicate a greater stability of the economic situation for Atlantic Beach and all other areas of the county. 4- C. r3:isting land Use For the purposes of this land development plan the existing 1-and use vrLll be analyzed according to' six mia jor categories. These categories include urban and built—up, undeveloped land, vrater, wetland, and barren. In general, a review of the current land use map #1 indicates Atlantic Beach and its one mile extra —territorial jurisdiction is predorrdnantly, residential or undeveloped. The following chart is an analysis of the existing land use vri.thin Atlantic Beach and the one mile extra— territorial jurisdiction. h:;isting Land Use Atlantic Beach Planning Area Total Percent Pdurzqber of Acres Of Development Urban and B-,Lilt—Up 1. residential 265 00/0 2. , Cos ercial 48 12% 3. Transrortation, Co.:mni— cation, and Utilities 75 18ce 4. Governmznt and Insti—tutional. 5 l� 5. Cultural, Entertaiment, and Recreation 18 4p Total . Developed land 411 -'Undeveloped Iand 275 This refers to undeveloped land that could potentially be c:eveicped._ .1-3— 15-- Use Within the broad category of urban and built-up, residential is by far the Lost predominant use. The following is a breakdown of the t;-pe of resi- dential uses within Atlantic Beach *Housing Units 749 11obile Homes 629 17 Motels :with a total of 462 units 1840 total living units -Within Atlantic Beach it is difficult to tell exactly how many units are irithin one structure. For that reason the total housing units vay be low;. An analysis of this chart indicates that Atlantic Beach is a vacation resort area. This conclusion can be drawn from the presence of numberous :Hotel and mobile home units. It has been estLaated that the peak seasonal p6pulation of the Atlantic Beach Planning Area is 7360. Commercial land Use The general category of urban and built-up land also includes conurt ercial land use. Acres Percent of Total Development Commercial Usage 48 1 n Within the 48 acres of commercial development, almost all are tourist related businesses. There are a total of 83 businesses including motels which are considered co,-,nercial, but they supply a large portion of'residential lodging. The most coon business uses are those t?-:at supply entertairLnent and minimum ser- vices for tourists. The land use chart indicates that the commercial coomunity is built around the exTectation of sumner vacationers. It seems that recent trends in housing and commercial development have been geared toward the development of a vacation resort area for family use. The significance of this state:.-n.t is that up until recently the beach co=a- ercial and housing style was Leared tot:ard the interest of younger poeple. ihis ..0 16 1oF15 eviftr:cec? 'J the IF,Ci; of entex-t-alri:ion't, .or the adult population. Also, entertairLiont for the very young had lost some interest, and therefore, the family attraction of the beach uras not present. Refer to the section of this plan on objectives for future direction of local planning efforts. Also refer to the section on Future Land Ueeds for information concerning the type of land uses and the amounts of land that urill be needed during the Planning period. Transportation Of the remaining land uses, the only significant use at this time is "Transportation." The chart indicates that the street right -of -hays in Atlantic Beach.amount to appro,,dsmately 75 acres. This is a rough estimate and sho.-Id only be used to indicate that development requires a significant amount of land for street rights -of -way. This is important to remember in planning for future land development. Problems Related to Past Development_ Atlantic Beach is a vital part of the tourist industi- of Carteret County and seeds to be growing steadily. Some problems have resulted from unplanned development on Atlantic Beach. These problems include: (1) Very dense development in -some areas,_uhich detract from the toun's natural beauty. (2) Development with little regard to the frontal dune system. (3) Past development which has not protected the wetlands that border Atlantic Beach on Bogue Sound. (4) Proper zaaster disposal systems have not been used in some areas. That is to say, some development t:kat is too near the sound or on fill dirt may be causing pollution of the estuarine or ground eaters._.. 17 (5) ,o::: e.rciaJ. and residential development have not ali—ays been adequately separated. (6) In mkny cases, building techniques have given little regard to the fact that Atlantic Beach is a Flood Prone Area. (7) Roads have been poorly planned. The roads have not been built to accommodate the amount of traffic they have to handle. These are some etanples of the poor planning Vrhich has allowed this type of development to take place. — It. is hoped that this plan-.:i-rill aid future development -to- avoid_: such mistakes. The areas of Atlantic Beach that are most likely to experience significant growth pressures in the planning period include the Sound View Isles and At]a ntic Beach Isles Subdivisions and the one mile extra —territorial area to the east and west. D. Cu••rent Plens, Policies, ano ReInilations Currently the.Toti•m of Atlantic Beach and its one mile extra —territorial jurisdiction is deeply involved in land use planning and implementation of these plans. This concentration on planning has come as a result of the shortage of developable land in the Atlantic Beach Planning Area, as well as the extremely fragile nature of Bogue Island and its surrounding waters. In addition, the CA2•1A has helped to bring out the significance of local land use planning, and has helped to speed up the entire planning process tre— mendously. A list of local plans, policies, and reV. ations, and more methods of implementation, are included below.. (1.) Atlantic Beach has an existing Land Use Survey and Analysis, and Land Development Plan prepared in 1972. This document is an integral part of the Planning Process and has acted as a good base for the development of this Land Use Planning Process: Current .land use policies are based on this document. It is hoped the current planning process will update this document, as well as ex,Tand on some important areas this pLin did not cover in detail. (2) The Department of Transportation prepared a throughfare plan for Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, and Beaufort. This plan has not been approved by the local governments. (3) The Tovm of Atlantic Beach is participating in the development of the I•`_�orehead City 201 regional Sewer Plan. It is hoped that this plan will be approved shortly. (4) The Tovm of Atlantic Beach provides recreation in the form of a Public Beach Area. It is the policy of the To= to raiaitain this area for the general public.. W- 1 � ;,cr unions (1) Zoning Ordinance - The Atlantic Beach Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1958 and now includes the one mile extra -territorial jurisdiction. The Building Inspector is the zoning enforcement officer for the Tovrn of Atlantic Beach. All requests for zoning changes and amendments must be presented to the Planning Board for a recommendation and to the Tovm Board for final approval. All decisions concerning zoning charges or amendments require a public hearing. (2) Subdivision Regulations were adopted by the ToUn of Atlantic Beach in 1975• The Planning Board has --the responsibilityof reviewing all subdivision requests, and the Town Board has the.. responsibility of giving the final decision. (3) Croup Housing Project Ordinance- This ordinance -was adopted .in 1975• The Planning Board reviews all proposed projects and the Tolm Board has the respopsibility for final approval. The Building Inspector inspects these projects to insure compliance vrith the ordinance. (4) Mobile Home Park Ordinance - This ordinance v:as- adopted in 1975. . The Plarn :- Board reviews all proposed projects and the Tovm Board has the responsiblity for final approval. -The Building Inspector inspects these projects to insure compliance vrith the ordinance. (5) Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance - This ordinance was adopted in 19750 The Planning Board reviev,s all proposed projects and the Town Board has the responsibility of final approval. The Building Inspector - inspects these projects to insure compliance with the ordinance. (6) Marina Ordinance - This ordinance was adopted in 1975. The Planning Board reviews all proposed projects and the To= Board has the responsibility of final approval. The Building Inspector inspects these projects to insure ccinapliance with the ordinance. (7) State Building Code - The state building code is enforced by the Atlantic Beach Building Inspector in all areas of the Planning Area. (8) .Idninmri F.ousino Code — This code .::)s . dap,.ed in 15,75 anc' is enforced by the Atlantic Beach Building Inspector. (9) Carteret County Outer Banks land Protection Ordinance — The Carteret County Outer Banks Protection Officer enforces this ordinance on all areas of Bogue Banks, including Atlantic Beach. This ordinance requires a permit from the.Outer Banks Land Protection Officer for all work involving the destruction of any ve$etation on Bogue Banks. (10) Water and Sewer Regulations — The Carteret County Health Department regulates the. installation of septic tanks withing the planning area of Atlantic Beach. -The Atlantic Beach Water System is regulated by the State of North Carolina, but does not service all residents of the planning area. The placement of individuals. wells in this planning area is regulated by the Carteret County Health Department. (11) There are marry State and Federal regulations that affect de— velopment within Atlantic Beach. These regulations are not available at this time for inclusion in this document. All property ovaiers are en— coura.bed to become aware of the regulations before the.T be -in any construction. It is hoped this section will provide an adequate representation of the e.-tisting situations within Atlantic Beach. A careful analysis of this section will help explain some of the public input that is included in the following section. These two sections will be very valuable in the decision making process. III. Public Participation Activities In order for a Land Development Plan to be effective, it must reflect the der-ires of the local people. Th'e Atlantic Beach Town Board and Planning Board have attempted to determine the desires of the local people through an extensive public participation program that has been carried out over the past year. The input received has helped determine the major land use issues that will have to be faced during the planning period, and to deter- mine objectives, policies, and standards for future land development. The following discussion will summarize the public input and relate the objectives, policies, and standards to -the public input. Public Input Process - Public input. was solicited by two basic methods during the past year. (A) Questionnaires were sent out to all property owners i.n-the Planning Area of Atlantic Beach. There was a total of 500 questionnaires mailed and one hundred and -seventy-five (175) were returned for a total of 35 percent. The following -questions- from the questionnaires were easily slimmarized. 1. Would you like to see Atlantic Beach remain much the same - as it is now?--. Yes 93 No 76 2. Do you think Atlantic -Beach needs more commercial development? Yes 55 - No 88 3. What type commercial development, if any, do you.feel Atlantic Beach needs: A. Motels 20 B. Dance Halls 7 C. Retail Stores 55 D. Amusement 30 E. Restaurants 61 �-z 4. Do you feel Atlantic Beach should encourage ,T;ore residential growth within the city limits: Yes 95 No 66 5. .11ow do you feel the one mile extra -territorial jurisdiction should be developed over the next ten (10) years? A. Single family 120 B. Multi -family 39 C. Commercial 18 D. Mobile home parks 4 E. Camper Trailer Parks 5 F. Combination of the above 18 6. Do you feel Atlantic Beach should encourage the development of the proposed sewer system for East Bogue Banks? Yes 72 No 36 7. Do you feel beach access areas are adequate in Atlantic Beach? Yes 0 No all 8. If you feel beach access areas are not adequate, do you feel .l the Town of Atlantic 3each should attempt to provide access areas and parking for these areas? Yes 67 No 102 9. Do you feel Atlantic Beach should engage in an Urban Redevelop- ment procram if the opportunity should arise? Yes 80 No 71 10. Do you feel the height of buildings, especially in the one area, should be an important factor in planning? Yes 119 No 41 The remaining questions of the questionnaire required a written response. Each individual response can -be viewed at the Atlantic Beach Town Hall. The summary of the public input bv.the Planning Board included in this section attempts to incorporate these responses in the planning process. (B) public Meetings - Five public meetings were held in the Atlantic Beach Town Hall for the purpose of explaining the requirements and objective - of tb-�ossfa7'�11iea r:anagement Act, and to solict public input in the planning process. These meetings were scheduled so as to allow both permanent and summer residents of Atlantic Beach to participate. Approximate1y.90 individuals participated in these public meetings. All Planning Board meetings during the past year have devoted time to discuss the land development plan and solicit public input. A summary of the public input received during the past year has indicated to the Atlantic Beach Planning Board that the following land development ideas are shared by a majority of those.participating in..the public input system. Most property owners indicated they would like to see Atlantic Beach remain basically a residential resort area. Many expressed concern about current high density levels, and indicated they would like to see future density sonewhat lower. Consistent response indicated a need to separate entertainment activities from other commercial activities. -There-was a strong indication of a need to encourage entertainment activities for all residents and property owners as well as basic commercial development. Most participants indicated a need to protect and preserve the "public beach". as well as the natural resources --- of the beach area. Municipal services such as water, sewer, police, fire, rescue, and solid waste disposal were mentioned repeatedly.. Finally, emphasis was placed upon private property rights and governii ental coordination. Public Tnput Analysis -� During the public input process, the Planning Board -and Town. -Board analyzed the results of the questionnaires and the public meetings. Once certain consistent trends t)ec,an to be evident, the planning consultant asked to devclop these trends in a written form in accordance with the Guidelines for Land Planning as adopted by the Coastal Resources Commission. After several drafts, the two Boards felt that the desires of those participating in the input system were reflected in the plan. The following discussion of issues, • objectives, policies, and standards are the result of the public input process. Land Ilse Issues An integral part of any planning process is the identification of the land development issues that will have to be faced during the planning period. Thrnugh careful. analysis of public input as well as an analysis of the present and past land use conditions, land use issues for the Atlantic Beach Planning Areas were determined. These issues are the basis for the land development objectives, policies, and standards that will determine the decision making process during the planning period. Without facing up to these issues, planning will not be effective. The following issues have been identified by the par- ticipants in the planning process. 1. The impact of population trends will.certainly be of great importance in the Atlantic Beach Planning? Area. -The built-in growth of four hundred eighty- seven (487) vacant lots in the planning area and the approximately two hundred seventy-five (275) additional vacant acres indicate the magnitude of this issue. It should be noted that due to the small nature of many of these lots it is estimTted by the Planning Koard that three hundred twenty-four (324) dwelling units could be -built on these lots. If this population growth occurs, there will be many impacts on the • area. There will be additional demands for water and sewer services as well as all other municipal services. Also, there will be additional pressure placed on the existence of the natural resources within the planning area so that i2 5 the nature of the entire resort area will be affected. Land development decisions must be made as to what type and what level of development is desired. Without these decisions and their implementation, the planning process will not be effective. Economic trends are equally important. The amount and type of commercial • development in Atlantic Beach has a great deal of influence on the overall de- ` velopment pattern. It influences the number and type of people that visit the area. Decisions have to be made as to where and what type of commercial de- velopment should occur. The needs of the year around residents as well as the summer residents must be`considered:. Planning efforts.should-always consider -- the economic needs of the town,• -and -the needs -generated by population growth-.. during the planning period. 2. The protection,of natural.enviroments,-anal the preservation of pro- ductive natural resources is an important land use issue in the --Atlantic Beach Planning.Area. Atlantic Beach is located on the fragile Outer Banks of North Carolina. The frontal dunes and beaches of Atlantic Beach are not only beautiful, but -also add to the stability of the entire area.. The wetlands and estuarine waters of Bogue Sound are productive natural resources. Planning - effect development will have on these and efforts must recognize the potential other -:resources -of- the Atlantic Beach --Planning Area.. _If this is- not done, de- -- velopment•-will-be a liability instead of an asset... 3. The need for municipal-.services'is also a -very important issue for Atlantic -Beach.- This area of the Outer Banks is growing rapidly and the resi- dents and property owners are demanding more and more from the local.govern went.- The most important service needed at this tune is a central water and sewer.system. The existing development, as well as future development, demands-- 0 !.I'VViCC 111r '.; i l!Irnit it, 1'.,i •ry development will be �cv. 7c.1y r�` tricted. In addition, the nv ed for expanded fire, police, rescue and solid waste dis- posal services will be present as development occurs. Tf Atlantic Beach is going to continue to develop, the type and level of services provided by the town must be addressed in the planning process. Alternatives After reviewing the issues that must be faced during the planning period, one can see that the citizens of Atlantic Beach have many alternatives. They can encourage the development of water and sewer services and a great deal of additional development. On the nther hand, they could elect to remain mt.±ch the same as they are now. The citizens must decide those things that Atlantic 3each needs, and those things Atlantic Beach does not need. The Town of Atlantic Beach is like almost any other town in easterri North Carolina, in that it could choose to develop in many different ways. The input received during the planning process has indicated to the Town Board and Planning Board the desires of t}!nse who participated. The fol]owing.objectives, policies', and standards indicate that alternatives have been considered, and decisions have been made. Land Use Objectives Folici:cs and Standards Once the major land use issues have been identified, a Method of handling these issues must be formulated. This has been done in the Atlantic Beach land development plan by the identification of land use objectives, policies, and standards. These objectives for local planning have been developed by the participants in the public input system. It is believed they reflect the wishes and desires of the majority of the residents and property owners of the Atlantic Beach Planning Area. It is important to remember that all lard use objectives are not eauallydttainable. With this in mind, "trade-offs" must be made in order to arrive at decisions that are consistent with the overall desires of the residents and property owners of the Atlantic Beach planning Area. A. %n; •:ar&ge the develo l-,;ant of a family or=ented rc-=::iential vacation reFort area L., ough: 1. Land use regulations that encourage basically low density single family residential development, and some well planned multi -family development. 2. Encourage commercial development that will provide. services and entertainment for all residents of Atlantic Beach as well as day visitors. 3. Encourage development that will be compatible with existing development. (a) Emphasize-- the separation of residential and commercial uses. (b) Emphasize the separation of commercial uses and entertainment uses that may not be compatible. B. Encourage and strive for the preservation of the barrier island system that Atlantic Beach is a part of through: 1. Seeking assistance in preventing erosion of the "Public Beach" provided by the Town of Atlantic Beach. 2. Protection of vegetation in the undeveloped areas. 3. Protection of all remaining frontal dunes. 4. Protection of wetland and estuarine waters by establishing land use regulations that will minimize fresh water runoff and the likelihood of septic tank seepage into the estuarine waters. C. Preserving the natural beauty of the barrier island system through: (a) Land development that conforms to the topography of the Outer Banks. (b) Land development that conforms to existing development. D. Encourage commercial development that will address the needs of the resi- dential development that is projected for the Town of Atlantic Beach by: — 6- ). Encouraging commercial development that will addre.-s the needs and desires of all ace groups visiting or residing in Atlantic 3each 2. Encouraging full enjoyment of private property rights. (a) Providing adequate facilities, such as parking, so visitors will not be encouraged to infringe on private property rights. (b) Encouraging land development that is compatible with existing development so as to protect private property rights. (c) Encouraging the development of better access to Bogue Banks, and easier access along Bogue Banks in accordance with the Department of Transportation's plan to improve the two land road along Bogue Banks. (d) Emphasizing and protecting the public beach area provided by Atlantic Beach, through: 1. Promoting programs to prevent littering. 2. Promoting programs to emphasize proper maintenance of the Public beach area. 3. Encouraging the development of additional parking areas near. • the beach area. 4. Encouraging the coordination of all local governments on Bogue BankE so as to maximize the economic potential of -the area while protecting the aesthetic.and environmental integrity of the area. E. Provide those services that will be necessary to serve the existing population and projected population by: 1. Encouraging the development of regional water and sewer services.. 2. Emphasizing police, fire, and rescue protection that will accommodate - the projected population demands. (Year -around population is - ►,ecoming more significant and should be considered as well as summer peak population.) 3. Continue to provide solid waste disposal services in accordance with projected growth. 4: Coordinating transportation efforts with the Department of Trans- portation and the development patterns of Atlantic Beach. 5. Evaluating all taxes, permits, and fees to assure that all citizens using city services are assessed equally for these services. I IV. C0.•'STF_r,IVTS In the coastal area of North Carolina there are many constraints on development to be expensive or in fact, not appropriate. I•lost of these constraints stem from the potential of the land and the capability of the comunity facilities to support development. A. - Physical Limitations 1. Hazard Areas - These conditions constitute physical limitations that are extremely expensive, and, in some cases, Lipossible to overcome. The inability to overcome these limitations may result in severe damage to construction. Hazard areas.in_Atlantic Beach include: Excessive Erosion Areas - In the Planning Area of Atlantic Beach excessive erosion areas include Sound Erodiable Areas along Boo a Sound, and Ocean Erodiable Areas along the Atlantic Ocean. Those areas subject to a high probability of excessive erosion are considered constraints on development. In these areas, a 25 year recession line will be used to identify the extent of the erosion areas. These areas. wil also be in- cluded in the Potential Area of Enviromental Concern. section. Refer to that section for a more detailed discussion of these areas. Flood Hazard Areas - These are areas that are adjacent to Bowe = Sound and the Atlantic Ocean and are v.•ithin the 100 year flood line. Inproper development in these areas may unreasonably endanger life and property. The Flood hazard area map prepared by the Department of ;?ousinr and urban Development is on file in the Atlantic Beach Toan Hall. •- 3' / 2. Areas !:ith :oil Idiaitations - The AtLantic Beacl; Ylannin- Area does have limitations imposed by the type of soil. leap '- is a portion of the detailed soil survey that is being prepared for Carteret County. This map indicates that the soils within Atlantic Beach are very sandy, and therefore pose potential problems to waste disposal. Sand.perruts an extremely high rate of perculation, but is a very poor filtering agent. Since Atlantic Beach does not have a central sewage treatment facility the sa'nl can be considered a Limitation on development. With- out central sewage disposal services, some areas should not be develop- ed, and some areas should be limited as to density. 3. Source of !-,later Supply - The existing privately owned water system within the town limits does not supply an adequate amount of water for both domestic and fire protection purposes in the planning area of Atlantic Beach. The supply of water in Atlantic Beach is adequate, but the i•:ater system is the liimitation. At present tLe tl=4ntic Beach system is used by 585 customers and is supplied by 6 deep wells. It should be noted that the ground grater table on the Outer Larks is extremely sensitive to development without sewage treatment facilities. The inability of the soil to purify effluent properly will endanger the ground water table. 4. Steen Slopes - The Sand dunes vrithin Atlantic Beach have created some "steep slope" conditions that may cause development to be hazardous. Special attention to the topography of these areas is required in order to develop in these areas. It should be noted that most of the steep slopes are also fragile areas. This weans that development should also corrsid er the effect on the stability of the sand dunes. 4Q- 32 B. Fragile Areas - These are areas th t may be damaged or destro;ed by inappropriate or poorly planned_ development. In Atlantic Beach these areas include: l (1) Coastal Wetlands - Coastal w(tlands are defined as "any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding to tides, including wind tides (whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland or artificial watercourses), provided this shall not include hurricane or tropical storm tides. (2) Estuarine Waters - Estuarine waters -are defined as "all the_._. waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary -of 11orth Carolina. and all the ~waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries, thereto seaz:.ard of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters as set forth by the Wildlife Resources Co,=* ssion and the Department of Conservation and De- velopment. (3) Areas Subject to Ptiolic Rir.-hts - Areas such as Ovate. mys and lands under -or flowed by tidal waters or navigable waters, to which the public may have rights of access..or public. trust rights. (4) Sand Dunes along the Outer Barks - These areas are defined as ridges or mounds of loose wind-bloum material, usually sand... Dunes comprise a major portion -of the Outer Banks and the barrier islands and represent a protective barrier for the sounds, estuaries, and mainland. (5) Ocean Beaches and Shorelines (on the Outer Banks) -..These are defined as land areas without vegetation covering, consisting of unconsolidated solid naterial that extends landward f rom the mean low tide to a point where any one or combination of the follouring occur: (1) vegetation, or (2) a distinct change in predominant soil particle size, or (3) a change in slope or elevation which alters the ph,7siographic lard form. C Cnnacit: of th.- -Co: z au-L, i':•ci'ities An analysis of e>dsting com-amity facilities and the scope of their ,services is an essential part of an overall comprehensive planning process. By analyzing current facilities, a local government can program expansion of services to coincide with land use needs and desires. Without adequate coma unity facilities, development may be constrained. It should be noted that Atlantic Beach is a small town with a limited financial base. The large summer population does not provide sufficient revenue to allow the City.of Atlantic Beach to su.ply a full range of municipal services. --•�- 1. 'Hater -and Sewer Services :- The water system in Atlantic Beach is owned and operated by a •private - - - -- enterprise. Currently, the water company -serves 585 users, most of which are in the city linits. Most businesses -do not use the water- _ system., because it is inadequate for co.mmiercial use. Currently, this System is supplied by six deep wells. It is estimated that the system is operating near capacity at present. Without the development of ... improved viater facilities, development Vrill be constrained. One of the major constraints on development for Atlantic Beach is the lack of a central sewer system. 'Hithout a sewage system, the density of development wilI-be much lower than the public had indicated- as desirable. 2. Roads - The access to and from Bogue Banks is a constraint on development, not only: to Atlantic Beach, but to all of the Banks. In particular,_ the narrow bridge linking Atlantic Beach with ?Morehead City is inadequate to handle the volume of traffic is generated by the seasonal populatior, of Bogue Banks. s 5-Y , c ,:, Z 1. : ; r; 1150 i;hich ex:.end alonr Bode are inadequate to handle current volumes of traffic. Plans are under -way to improve these roads, but without better access to the ., inland the major problem will not be solved. 3. Schools The Carteret County School System seeps to be able to accommodate the existing demands on the school facilities. Some schools in the county are near capacity, but plans have been made to develop new facilities. (Contact the Carteret County Board of Education for specific information concerning future plans). The capacit,- of the comunity facilities that have been mentioned is important to the development of Atlantic Beach. Unless these facilities are adecuately provided, development will be a liability instead of an'asset. The Town of Atlantic Beach offers many other important services to its residents. These include fire, police, rescue, sanitationand street main- tenance, and general administrative services. These services need to be adequately provided in order to facilitate development. An analysis of these services has been rm de and is included in this plan. Fire Protection The Atlantic Beach Fire Department is a volunteer fire department made of approxdmately 28 active members. The location of the fire department building is adjacent to the Toi;-n Hall on Fort Macon Boulevard 1•1est. The structure that houses the fire department is a new two story brick and frame building containing approximately 4,000 square feet. It is estimated that the averaCe response time for all volunteer fire departments in the county is three minutes. a39: CL-, The nerzal jurisdiction of the Beach Volunteer Fire Department includes an area beginning at the Fort ilacen State Park and extending to and including Pine Knoll Shores. Major equipment available to the Atlantic Beach Volunteer Fire Department is as follows: ATLANTIC BEACH VOLURTEER FIRE DEPARTIERT 'Vehicle Year ►Dater Tank Capacity_ Pumping Capacity International P/T 68 1,000 gal. 750 gpm Chevrolet (T) 62 1,500 gal. 145 gpm Ford(P) 74 750 gal. 750 gpm Police The Atlantic Beach Police are located in the newly_ renovated city hall building. At the present time they -employ eight regular deputies: and three au.:? Lary policera-an and trsee radio operators: During the summer months they normally `add two extra pblicemen. 'Major equipment includes: 1. Three Police cars 2. One 4 wheel drive scout 3.'One motor cycle 4. Communication equipment Their area of service is within.the city limits. major problems include narcotics traffic associated with the summer tourist., explosion, and a lack of continuing training opportunities for all police officers. Street and Sanitation Department 'ihe Atlantic Beach Street and Sanitation Department is based at the Tours Hall. This department is responsible for garbage collection, some street maintenance, and general clean up requirements. '.The Atlantic Beach Fire Department is connected to the county communication center. , 3 7 At the present time there are four full time employees and two employees from emergency employment program offered through Carteret County. Raring the sunmer months the personnel is approximately doubled. Rescue Squad The Atlantic Beach Rescue Squad is also a volunteer organization and is made up of approximately 22 active members. Current regulations require rescue squad members to successfully complete the MIT (Emergency Medical Training) course before they can administer emergency medical aid as a rescue squad member. For this reason, all members of the Atlantic Beach Fescue Squad are highly trained. The Atlantic Beach Rescue Squad is located in the approximately 4,000 square foot building that also houses the fire department. Major Rescue Squad Equipment 1. 1974 Dodge Ambulance— fu'-1y equipped including a heart and lung resuscitator 2. 1964 Ford Arsbulance General Admd ni.stra tion In general, the remaining major services are provided by the Toim Board of Aldermen, two part=time building, inspectors, one town clerk, one tax collector, and the ISayor. Currently, these department are handled adequately -but as the land use in the area increases they slut be increased accordingly. Sur- :.a r This sectiori"'has brought out some of the characteristics of Atlantic Beach that may constrain development. Hitheut a proper understanding of these factors�-development in htlantic Beach rZ be costly or may cause undesirable consequences. If these factors are understood and included in the decision making process, the development of Atlantic Beach frill bo facilitated. V. ESTIMATED DE'.ANDS In order to plan properly for the future, the estimated demands on the land must be considered and analyzed. This section will consider the demand for land that will stem from the year around population, the seasonal pop- ulation, and the economic trend. From this analysis, the future land needs and the future demand on the services offered by Atlantic Beach will be estimated. A Population The population demands within the planning jurisdiction of Atlantic Beach will.be a function of local objectives, -the built = in growth factor, seasonal population; --'social and economic changes, and whether or not water -and sewer services are provided.. The previous section indicates there are many constraints .on land - development that occur within the planning jurisdiction of Atlantic . Beach. This section will analyze the demands stemi.ng from the desired population growth, and the capability of the land and water to sustain this Growth. Particular attention will be given to the 10 year population projection. After careful consideration of the land use objectives, policies; and standards, as well as past and present land use conditions and trends; the following projected population conditions and trends are expected to occur in the Atlantic Beach Planning Area. POPULATION ESTIMATES FOR THE ATLANTIC BEACH AREA- 1975 1980 1985 2000 2025 Winter__- 500 600 700 1000 - 1500 - Summer 7,360 7,848 8,317 9 764 11,189 It should be noted that the following discussions consider only the seasonal population. The year around population in itself is not A expected to cause significant land development in the planning period. The preparation of these population projections have taken into account the following factors: Relationship of the Projections to the'Desires of the People The public input received during the planning process has indicated definite trends in public opinion that have been incorporated in the objectives for local planning. These include the development with some commercial development, and the desirability of basic multi -family and single family development in the one mile area. These factors indicate a desire to continue well planned residential development. Bui lt-In-Growt-h___: - In order to'project population desires, the Town Board and Planning Board analyzed the Built-7n-Growth-Factor of the Planning area. The results of this analysis indicated there were 487 vacant lots in the city limits. Due to the small nature of many of the lots it was estimated that only 324 of the lots could be developed for residential purposes. By adding the lots together it is estimated there are 50 acres of resi- dential property in the Town limits. Within the one mile area of Atlantic Beach there are approximately 225 developable -acres. It should be noted that low lands, marshes, frontal dune areas, and_:rights-of-way have-not been included in this total. --Re- feting . t_o_ the -objectives for local planning it can be determined that low. density single family and well planned multi -family are desirable for this area.• With=th-isin mind an average density of 3.5 dwellings per acre. was assigned for the purpose of determining potential density. This con- siders that the multi family will probably be more dense and the single family will be less dense. The following chart will indicate the Potential Development that could occur in the planning area. (This is not the desired projections for the planning period). Vacant Residential Acres Vacant Acres *Potential Living Units City Limits 50 324 One Mile 225 700 Total 275 1,024 *Potential living units have been based on the development of central water and sewer services. Trends Past trends have indicated that Atlantic Beach has developed in spurts,. Growth is expected to occur in the same manner in the future. The large property owners in the one mile area have mentioned a desire to develop in the near future indicating a possible spurt in the next 10 years. This desire is contingent upon the development of adequate water and sewer services. Desired `Population and the Demand for Land The determination of a desired population is a difficult task. After careful consideration of all the facts in this section, the Atlantic Beach Planning Board and Town Board have determined that in 50 years approximately 95% of the potential development will occur. This means that approximately 973 living units will be added by the year 2025. Assuming the average dwelling density is 4 on Atlantic Beach this would account for an additional 3,829 people during peak periods. The total Plannina Area Population during peak periods in 50 years will be approximately 11,189. The 10 year estimated population is more difficult to determine. The Plannina Board and Town Board have estimated that 250 of development will occur in the next 10 years accounting for an additional 957 people and a total peak population of 8,317. This is directly related to public input from the large property owners in the one mile area that have indicated a desire to begin development in the near future. The 257o gdrowth figure is is only an estivate, but is intended to indicate significant growth figure in the next 10 years. The public input throughout the planning process has indicated well planned growth is desirable. The 10 year estimate indicates that between 65 and 75 acres of potential residential property could be developed. .This would include single family and multi -family. The Relationship of the Capability of the Land and Water to Support Projected Growth In order to preserve the beauty, the stability, and the natural environment of the planning area of Atlantic Beach this projected growth must be well -planned.- Without proper planning many adverse effects may occur. The planning process must -consider the design of lots, separation from and preservation of fraoile areas, open space, preservation of, vegetation, and the method of disposing of sewage. Most of these elements of planning are now being implemented within the Planning Area. The disposal of sewage is expected to be the most difficult problem.to overcome. _, The Town of Atlantic Beach is involved=in regional sewer -planning and is anticipating the development of a sewer system within the next 10 years.. The desire -to develop this system has been'evidenf throushout'the planning process. The Town Board -has passed a.resolution indicating the intent of forming a regional organization that will be able to operate such a system. _ Without the development- of a sewaae system the population potential of the planning area should be reconsidered. The density -of this area is subject -to the installation of a progressive sewage system— Unless the the developers can finance proper sewage treatment then the projected density will have to be lowered considerably. These considerations have been made because of the many valuable resources, that surround Atlantic Beach. The estuarine waters, the wetlands, the ocean and beaches could be adversely affected by improper development. Constant ti -Z- effort must be 1-.1u:3e to assure that the land and water can accommodate the orowth that is projected. B. Economy 0 The demand for land in Atlantic Beach will certainly be affected by the economic trends. Unless the tourist business prospers, the projected population growth of Atlantic Beach may not occur. It should be noted that anticipated multi -family development has been considered residential development, but in fact is a business. These type businesses are directly related to the well being of the tourist industry. Almost all of the 'development that occurs within Atlantic Beach will be affected by the economy. In addition to the anticipated demand for land use, as described in the preceeding analysis, there will also be a demand for commercial property. Currently, approximately 12 percent of development is commercial. The objectives for local planning have indicated additional commercial development is desirable provided -t is planned for properly. The public input seemed to indicate that approximately the same percent of development should be commercial. Therefore, - there could be potentially an additional six to ten acres in the next ten years developed for commercial purposes. (Not including multi --family development). C. Community Facilities` Demand The ten year seasonal population estimate of 8,317 will certainly make increased demands on the community facilities of Atlantic Beach. (1) Water and Sewer - The ten year seasonal population estimate of 8,317 will certainly require central water and sewer services. Currently, Atlantic Beach is participating in the Morehead Area 201 Sewer Plan. It is hoped this regional sewer plan will enable the desired population projections to be attained: The Morehead 201 Plan is being revised and should be completed --in the near future. This plan will consider the population projections in this plan. Central water services should also be expanded to facilitate the anticipated ten year projections. The existing water system serves 585 users, most of which are in the city limits. Without improvements it cannot supply the domestic uses that will be required in the future, nor will it be able to provide adequate fire protection. Specific plans for the future of the water system are not available at the present time. The Town Board feels an adequate water system is of. upmost importance, and are attempting to evaluate their needs at the present time. (2) Fire Protection, Rescue, Police Street -Maintenance, -and Sanitation.- These services.have been emphasized during the--planning.process as important.. As the population increases, the demand for these services will also increase. -The -Town of Atlantic Beach will analyze the need for these services in light of the ten year population pro- jection. Within the next year, it is hoped that needed equipment and manpower can be planned for, using the population projections in this plan: (3) Recreation - Currently, Atlantic Beach supplies a public beach access area. It is anticipated that this will. be the only public recreation area that will be--provided-by-.the city. -Certainly much planning must go into -its maintenance -and protection as:an•integral part of the planning process (4).-Transportation - The increase population projections for Atlantic.Beach as well as the. remainder of Bogue-Banks will -certainly need to -be- aralized:. The access to and from Atlantic•Beach is inadequate at=the - present time. The improved two lane road that is proposed from Atlantic ------ Beach to Emerald Isle will certainly be a big help, but will not alleviate the transportation problem. Future planning efforts should be coordinated with the Department �f Transportation.so as to develop a plan that will � y� allow additional access to and from Bocue Banks. (5) Schools - The additional population for Atlantic Beach will not have a significant affect on the Carteret County School System because most of the population is expected to be seasonal. The projections in this plan has been conveyed to the Board of Education for their review. VI. --.Ilan Description The Coastal Area Kinagement Act requires that all of the land within the twenty coastal counties be classified one of five land classifications. This classification is an attempt to identify areas that are expected to experience similar growth patterns, and demand similar services from the local government. The five land classes include: 1. Developed Purpose: The developed class identifies developed lands which are presently provided with essential public services. Consequently, it is distinguished from areas where significant growth and/or new service requirements will occur. Continued development and redevelopment should be encouraged to provide for the orderly growth in the area. Description: Developed land are areas with a minimum gross population density of 2,000 people per square mile. At a minimum, these lands contain existing public services including water and sewer systems, educational systems,, and road systeyas -- all of which are able to support the present population and its accompanying --land uses including commercial, industrial, and institutional 2.-Transition Purpose: The Transition class identifies lands where moderate to high density growth is to 'be encouraged and where any such -roi-th that is to be encouraged and i4here any such growth that is permitted by local regulation will be pros-ided with the necessar;-, public services. 1*3 ct & -cscription: 'Phe area to be designated as `=ransition rust he no greater than that required to acco,-nmodate the estimated count; population growth at a minirnun gross density of 2,00d people per square mile. In addition, the minimum services which will be required are the necessary water ans sewer facilities, educational services, and roads. Consideration must be given to the cost of public services in the Transition area. Each local government is encouraged to esti::ate the approximate cost of providing public services where they do not already exist. 3. Coamuni.ty Purpose: The Community class identifies existing and new clusters of low densikv development not requiring major public services. Descriptions. 1) The co=nunity class includes existing clusters of one or more land uses such as a rural residential subdivision or a church, school, Zeneral store, industry, et;. (Cluster is defined as a number of structures grouped together in association or in physical proximity - W,'ehster's Dictionary). . 2) This class will provide for all new rural `ro:•rbh when the lot size is ten acres or less. Such clusters of growth may occur. in new areas, or withing existing community lands. 3) New development in the Coranuni.ty class areas will be subject to subdivision regulations under the Enabling Subdivision Act (G.S. 153A-330 et. seq.) 4) In every case, the lot size must be large enough to safely assort modate on -site sewage disposal and where necessary hater supply _ so:that._no public sewer services will be required now or in the future. j,A47 51 I_Lldted public services should be provided in the Community class such as public road access and electric power. 6) As a guide for calculating the amount of land necessary to accom- modate new rural community growth, a gross population density of 640 people per square mile or one person per acre should be used. 4 - Rural Purpose: The Rural class identifies lands for long-term manage- ment for productive resource utilization, and where limited public services will-. be provided. -Development in- such- areas...should-be compatible'-uith resource -production.` Description: The R'ural.Class includes all lands not in the developed, Transition, Co..munity and Conservation classes. 5. Conservation: Purpose: The Conservation class identifies land which should be maintained essentially- in its natural state and where verb limited::._ . or no public services are provided. Description: I,-nds to be placed in the Conservation class are the _. least desirable for development because: 1) They are too fragile to withstand development without losing their natural value; and/or.:. 2) They have severe or hazardous limitation to development; anal/or. 3) Though -they are not highly fra-ile or hazardous, the natural= resources the;; represent are too valuable to -endanger by development. All of the local governments in Carteret County have worked together in cla ssifyiig the land--;-.d-thin their jurisdiction. The Coastal Area i:ana`_:: :a ;ct requires that the classification of ' the land 1•rithin the municipalities take in consideration the needs of the overall county. The Classification of land throughout the county has attempted to identify adequate amounts of all land classifications in order to accommodate the anticipated demand on the land for the next ten years. This will add to the coordination of growth patterns throughout the entire county, and insure that all growth is planned, and provided the necessary services. The Town. of Atlantic Beach has coordinated their classification efforts -Vrith.the county and has considered the -needs of the county as well as the Town of Atlantic Beach. The classification of land in Carteret County will also help coordinate and encourage consistency between all local land use policies and those of the state. The classification of land in the municipalities or any other area of the county may need to be changed from time to time. If this cc:urs, the needs of the entire county, as well as the local area, must be considered with particular attention to the services that will be demanded. AtLintic Beach Land Classification Atlantic Beach is an integral part of the overall county land classifi— cation system, The classification of land t:=ithin Atlantic Beach has been based on the desires of the citizens, and will be analyzed in the following discussion. Due to the overall character of the development of Atlantic Beach, and its one mile extra —territorial jurisdiction, the developable land area has been classified transitional. The wetlands, estuarine Craters, beaches, frontal dunes, ocean and sand erodible areas, and flood hazard areas have be been classified conservation. (It should be noted that the flood hazard areas overlap with some transitional areas). Transitional - The transitional classification is intended to identify land where moderate to hi, density growth is to be encouraged, and where any such groti:-th that is encouraged brill be provided with the . I / R'c/ necessary public services. (In particular, venter and .sewer service-). Tran- sitional areas should have a r..i.UMUM gross density of 2,000 per square mile. The decision by the Atlantic Beach Town Board to classify all of the developable land in Atlantic Beach and its one mile extra -territorial juris- diction transitional was based on the following information. 1. Based on the ten year seasonal population estimate, the Atlantic Beach Planning Area will have a population of 8:31-7 people occupying appro:—_Lmately two square miles. 2. 1-,later and sewer 'services are being- planned,- and should" be.- imple- - mented within .ten years: -• 3. To further support the transitional classification, one should. refer to the objectives for local planning which indicates , a desire to continue residential -growth-�rith-a-combination of single-family and multi -family development... It is felt this transitional classification Zs necessary to plan -Tor the anticipated seasonal population of Carteret County. The Carteret County-: Plan has indicated that significant seasonal development is'anticipated on Bogue Banks, and that the transitional classification of.Atlantic Beach fits into..the overall Carteret County . Land Development Flan'.`....._ Conservation -There are many areas of Atlantic Beach that have been classified conservation. This has been done in an atte-mpt to identify lands"which should be_maintained essentially in their natural state. and shere very limited public services are provided. 1-ithin Atlantic Beach these -areas include beaches, frontal dunes, wetlands, ocean erodible, sand erodible, and flood hazard areas. These . areas are defined in the "Constraints" section of this plan beginning on page 29 For the most part.,' development is not desirable in these areas. One major exception is the flood hazard area. Techniques in building will allow significant development in some of these areas. During the implementation efforts of this planning process, a more detailed determination of land use policy for these areas will be made. The determination of conservation areas are consistent with the overall Carteret County Plan. During the next year, land use criteria will be developed for all of these areas. VII. Potential Areas of Environmental Concern— The Coastal Area Management Act. has charged the Coastal Resources Commission with the responsibility of identifying Areas of Environmental Concern in the twenty coastal counties affected by the Act. The Coastal .Red ources Commission has also been instructed to determine what type ,of uses or development are appropriate within such areas. Due to the importance of this responsibility, the local governments pre- paring land development plans in compliance with the Coastal -* Area .-Management-Act have been requested to give special attention to those areas within their jurisdiction that may become Areas of Environmental Concern. The Townof Atlantic Beach has identified the following areas as:Potential-Areas-of. Environmental- -= Concern. These areas were defined and discussed in the State Guidelines For Local Planning in Coastal Areas hnder the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974. Coastal wetlands - General Coastal wetlands are defined as any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides, including wind tides (whether • or not the tide waters reach the'marshland areas through natural or arti- ficial watercourses), provided'..W s shall not include hurricane or tropical storm tides. Coastal Wetlands - Low Tidal Marshland a. Description - Defined as marshland usually subject to inundation by the normal rise and fall of lunar tides.- b. Significance - Low tidal marshland serves as a critical component in the coastal ecosystem. The marsh is the basis for the high net yield system of the estuary through the production of partially decomposed plant material which is the primary input source for the food chain of the entire estuarine system. c. Appropriate Land. Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to give the highest priority to the perservation of low tidal rnarshland.. Coastal wetlands - Other Coastal Marshland a. Description - All other marshland which is not low tidal marshland. b. Significance_- This marshalnd type contributes to the production of partially decomposed plant material. The higher marsh types offer quality wildlife and waterfowl habitat depending on the biological and physical conditions of the miarsh. c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to give a high priority to the preservation and management of the marsh so as to safeguard and perpetuate their biological, economic and aesthetic values. Estuarine haters a. Description - Estuarine waters are defined as all the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary of North Carolina and all the waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries thereto seaward of -"the dividing line between coastal fishing waters, as set forth in an agreement adopted by the Wildlife Commission and the Department of Conservation and Development. b. Significance - Estuaries are among the most productive natural environments in Borth Carolina. They not only support.valuable commercial and sports fisheries, but are also utilized for com mercial navigation, recreation, and aesthetic purposes. c. Appropriate Land Uses. Appropriate uses shall be.to preserve and manage estuarine waters as to safeguard and perpetuate their biological, economic, and aesthetic values.. rn areas Subject to Public Rights - Certain Public Trust Areas_ L Description - All waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder from the mean high water mark to the seaward limit of State jurisdiction; all natural bodies of water subject to measurable lunar tides and lands thereunder to the mean high water mark; all navigable natural bodies of water and lands thereunder to the mean high ~eater mark or ordinary high water mark as the case may be, except privately. -owned lakes to which the public has no right of access; all waters in artificially created bodies of water in which exists significant pub lic-- 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; all waters' in artificially created"bodies of water in which the public has acquired rights by prescription, custom, usage, dedication or any other means. b. Significance_- The public has rights in these waters including navigation and recreation. In addition, these waters support valuable commercial and sports fisheries, have aesthetic value, and are important potential resources for economic development." c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to protect public rights for navigation and recreation and to preserve and manage the public trust waters so as to safeguard and perpetuate . their biological, economic and aesthetic value. Natural Hazard Areas - Sand Dunes along the Outer Banks a. Description - Dunes are defined as ridges or mounds of loose wind-blown material, usually sand. b. Significance -.Dunes comprise a major portion of the outer banks and barrier islands and represent a protective barrier for the sounds, estuaries, and mainland. c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to insure that development which is undertaken utilizes sound engineering practices to minimize the erosive effects--of--wind and water. --- Natural Hazard Areas -Ocean Leaches and Shorelines (on the Outer Banks) a. Description - These are defined as land areas without vegetation;•:-. covering,.consisting of. unconsolidated soil material thaf extends landward from.the mean'low tide to a point where any one or com bination.of-the following occur: (1) vegetation; or (2) a distinct change in predominant soil.particle:asi.ze, or (3) a change. - _ in slope or elevation which alters the' physiographic land.form.. . b. Significance_ Sand deposits of ocean beaches and shorelines -- represent a-dynamic-zone-which'does'not afford--lorig term= protection== for development.. The nature -of tidal action and the force of_ storms Js; such= that they -cause. the beach* areas to cons tan tlyahift:-_ c: Appropriate- Land Uses..- Appropriate land.*uses*shall- be;to *preserve_ -- . to the greatest extent feasible -the opportunity to enjoy' -the physical, aesthetic, cultura and recreational"qualities of the natural shorelines of the State and to allow that type development which will withstand the prevalent natural forces and not unreason ably interfere with the rightful use and enjoyment of the beach area: . M Natural Hazard Areas -Coastal Floodplains a. Description — Coastal floodplain is defined as the land areas adjacent to coastal sounds, estuaries or the ocean which are prone to flooding from storms with an annual probability of one percent or greater (100 year storm). These areas are analogous to the 100 year floodplain on a river. Information necessary to identify these areas will be supplied by the State Geologist. b. Significance - Coastal floodplains are those lands subject to flooding or wave action -during severe -storms or hurricanes. They are lands where uncontrolled, incompatible, or improperly designed building, structures, -facilities, and developments can unreasonably endanger life and property. c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to insure that all buildings, structures, facilities and developments are properly designed and built to maintain their stability, integrity, and safety in the event of flood surge from a 100 year storm. Natural .!azard Areas - Excessive Erosion Areas - Ocean Erodible 'areas a. Description - Defined as the area above mean high water where excessive erosion has a high probability of occurring. In delineating the landward extent of this area a reasonable 25 r year recession line shall be determined using the best scientific data available. The information necessary to identify these areas will be supplied by the -State Geologist. b. Significance - Ocean erodible areas are extremely dynamic lands _ highly susceptible to becoming completely -displaced by water. c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropriate land uses shall be to limit unnecessary hazards to life or.property or unreasonable require- ments for public expenditures to protect property or maintain _ safe conditions. Natural Hazard Areas - Excessive Erosion ,"seas - Estuarine and River Erodible Areas a. Description - Defined as the area above ordinary high water where excessive erosion has a high probability of occurring. In delineating the landward extent of this area a reasonable 25 year recession line shall be determined using the best avail- able information. The information necessary to identify these areas will be supplied by the Stat Geologist: b. Significance - The estuarine and sound -and river erodible areas are natural hazard -.areas especially vulnerable to erosion. c. Appropriate Land Uses - Appropria_te land uses shall be toinsure that development occurring wi thin.'thes.e areas is compatible with-'. Ahe dynamic nature of the erodible lands thus minimizing the likelihood of significant loss of property. n Development Standards Applicable to all Areas of Enyironi,lental Concern a. No development should be allowed in any Area of Environmental Concern which would result in a contravention or violation of any rules, regulations, or laws of the State of Worth Carolina or of local governemnt in:which the development takes place. b. No development should be allowed in any Area of Environmental Concern which would have a substantial likelihood of causing. pollution of the waters of the State to the extent that such waters would be closed to the taking of shellfish under standards - set by -the Commission for Health Services pursuant .to G.S. 130- 169.01. - It is important that the final designation of Areas of Environmental Concern and the determination of appropriate uses within these areas, receives as much local _input as possible. '• Proper coordination befiieen the Coastal Re sources Commission 'and the local governments i s 'the ke to proper `management 'J y t w of these areas. 4 Once these areas are adopted as final Areas, of Environmental Concern, a'^ *T permit mill be required before development can occur from :the Coastal :Resources Commission or the local government. Mi nor... projects,.' defined as projects." than'20 acres or:_~vhich'•: irivolve-construction= of; =one: or more structures fiay.ing an "area less than E0,000 square feet,iwi11 be processed by the 'local governrzent..� o'ects,"defined as.pro�ects currently needingstate permits,�those of Major-Dr�. O.acres=in_size,:.tfiose that :involve drill�ngror excavatina..natura7 ` '-reater than.2 u _ . resources on land or undervrater;• and those involving construction of one or more structures having an area in•excess'of_60;000 feet vrill require.a permit from the . Coastal Resources Commission. VIII. Summary The development of this plan has taken approximately one year. During that year as much information as possible concerning the current land use, the population, and economy was collected. At the same time, questionnaires were being distributed and public meetings were being held. The data collection and results of the questionnaires were used at public meetings to help partici- pants become aware of the feelings of other citizens. Finally, the Atlantic Beach Planning Board and Town Board began to detect consistent trends in the. input that was being received. They instructed the planning consultant to incorporate the trends they had detected in a written form. After a great deal of discussion and debate this plan was adopted by the Town' Board. In general, this plan indicates the citizens of Atlantic Beach desire a family oriented, residential resort town. Like most other eastern North Caro- lina areas, Atlantic Beach will certainly be subject to many growth- pressures during the planning period. It is hoped this plan will aid the Planning Board and Town Board in making decisions that will allow the Town of.Atlantic Beach maintain those characteristics that are important to the citizens and residents. It is important that this plan is implemented properly. The decision making process must be based on the desires of the citizens that are expressed in this plan. Land development tools such as the zoning ordinance and subdivision regu- lations should be reviewed to assure they are based on the objectives for local planning. The implementation of the -Land Classification System will be an important element of the planning process. Atlantic Beach is an integral part of the over- all county classification system and must continue efforts to coordinate the planning of Atlantic Beach with the overall planning of Carteret County. Finally, Atlantic Beach must coordinate efforts with the Coastal Resources Commission to properly protect the areas that will be determined Areas of .Environmental Concern. This will be a difficult task, but will be vitally k important to the future of Atlantic Beach and the Coastal Mea of North Corolina. e w{ F "" City -County Plan Relatiorsh The Coastal Area Management Act requires that all municipal plans are. an integral part of the county plans. -This is very important to the success ' of the act. The Town of Atlantic Beach has. attemped to insure the consistency of this plan with the Carteret County Plan throughout the planning process. The fact that the Carteret County Planning Department added technical assistance during the planning process was very helpful in insuring consistency, with the county plan. All of the county township public meetings for Bogue Banks and the municipal=public meetings.for Atlanti c:Beach. were; conducted by'the Carteret- -= County Planning Department.- These meetings were attended by many of the same people and issues -concerning the county and the town were discussed at both the county and town meetings The final' assurance- that- this: plan. for the* Townof,.-- Atlantic Beach was consistent with the county plan was made when -the Carteret County Commissioners held a public hearing to review all of the municipal plans - in the county for consistency. The results of this hearing indicated that in the opinion of the Carteret County Commissioners and the Atlantic Beach Board of Commissioners, the county plan and the Atlantic Beach Plan are consistent._