CAMA Land Use Plan Update: An Addendum-1995

Amendments
For
The Town of Bridgeton's 1995
CAMA Land Use Plan Update:
An Addendum
Local Public Hearing: April 6, 1998
Local Adoption: April 7, 1998
CRC Certification: May 29, 1998
The preparation of this document was funded in part through a grant provided by the North
Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by the Office of Coastal
Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Prepared
for
Mayor Michael Whaley
and the
Town Board
Robert Toler, Mayor Pro Tern
Graham Brown
Barbara Howlett
Keith Tyndell
and
Janet Williams, Town Clerk
Technical Assistance Provided By:
John Crew
Coastal Consortium, Consulting Planners, Inc.
116 Spruce Street
Washington, NC 27889
Phone/Fax [phone]

Table of Contents
Citizen Participation Plan — Notice to area local
governments —News Articles
U. Plan Amendments
III. Public Hearing Notice

11-03-97-01
RESOLUTION BY THE
TOWN OF BRIDGETON
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
1997-1998 CAMA LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
The Town of Bridgeton has adopted by resolution this Citizen Participation Plan to provide
citizens, residents, property owners and other interested parties opportunities to participate in
proposed amendments to the TowWs 1995 CAMA Land Use Plan Update.
1) The Town Board of Commissions are responsible for amending the 1995 plan. The
Commission will guide and supervise any amendments and shall take final actions on any
amendments.
2) The Board of Commissions will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at
the new Town Hall and during these meetings will consider several proposed
amendments. These amendments will deal with issues including: discussing surface water
quality, establishing a basic policy on resource protection, resource production and
management, economic and community development, a general vision statement for the
future, relocation of Hwy. 17 bridge, mooring of vessels, and other issues of local
concern.
3) All Commission meetings are open to the public and public comments are welcomed and
encouraged.
4) Affected local governments in Craven County will be notified of these proposed
amendments and their attendance is welcomed and encouraged.
5) News items concerning each Commission meeting shall be submitted to the New Derr Sun
Journal to advise interested parties of these proposed amendments.
6) Other participation opportunities, should the need arise, will be provided.
7) Upon completion of the proposed plan amendments, the Board of Commissions will
advertise and hold a public hearing for the purpose of providing the public with another
opportunity to provide input into these amendments. This hearing, in accordance with the
Coastal Resources Commission Guidelines, will be advertised at least 30 days prior to the
date of the hearing.
This Resolution is adopted on the 3 ltd day of /l%9rle`nbzr— 1997.
To

HONORABLE MAYOR
Michael A. Whaley
November 5, 1997
U"laffin laf Njn"�ggtan
Post Office Box 570
Bridgeton, North Carolina 28519-0570
[phone]
The Honorable Don Phillips
Administration Building
406 Craven Street
New Bern, N.C. 28563
Dear Chairman Phillips:
FINANCE OFFICER
Janet T. Williams
The Town of Bridgeton will be amending its 1995 CAMA Land Use Plan over the next several
months. The amendments will deal with new requirements called for in the Coastal Resources
Commission's updated Land Use Planning Guidelines. A.
New issues the town will be considering in its plan amendments include: the mooring of
vessels, a general vision statement for the future, basic policy on resource protection, resource
production and management, and economic and community development. The town will also
discuss surface water quality matters, the impacts of Hwy. 17 bridge relocation and other issues
of local importance.
Meetings held to discuss these matters will be 6:30 p.m. in the new Town Hall on the first
Monday of each month.
Your local government is welcome to attend these meetings to provide input as to how these
amendments may affect your unit of government.
Thank you in advance for your consideration on these matters. If you have questions please
feel free to call Town Hall at 637-3697.
Sincerely,
Janet Williams
Town Clerk
cc: Donald Baumgardner -Planning Director, County of Craven

HONORABLE MAYOR
Michael A. Whaley
November 5, 1997
afn of Wri gfan
Post Office Box 570
Bridgeton, North Carolina 28519-0570
[phone]
The Honorable Tom A. Bayliss
Mayor of City of New Bern
P. O. Box 1129
New Bern, N.C. 28563-1129
Dear Mayor Bayliss:
FINANCE OFFICER
JanetT. Williams
The Town of Bridgeton will be amending its 1995 CAMA Land Use Plan over the next several
months. The amendments will deal with new requirements called for in the Coastal Resources
Commission's updated Land Use Planning Guidelines.
New issues the town will be considering in its plan amendments include: the mooring of
vessels, a general vision statement for the future, basic policy on resource protection, resource
production and management, and economic and community development. The town «ill also
discuss surface water quality matters, the impacts of Hwy. 17 bridge relocation and other issues
of local importance.
Meetings held to discuss these matters %trill be 6:30 p.m. in the new To«n Hall on the first
Monday of each month.
Your local government is welcome to attend these meetings to pro -Vide input as to how these
amendments may affect your unit of government.
Thank you in advance for your consideration on these matters. If you have questions please
feel free to call Torn fall at 637-3697.
Sincerely,
Janet Williams
Town Clerk
cc: Mike Avery -Planning Direction, City of New Bern

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Bridgeton to Amend CAMA Land Use Plan
The Town of Bridgeton has received a CAMA planning grant to assist in amending. its 1995 land use
plan update. These.. amendments will deal with issues the Coastal Resources Commission has include
in its new land use planing guidehnewhich all LAMA plans must adhere to. `
Issues to be discussed will include establishing a policy on the mooring of vessels, a general. vision
statement for the-future,:a basic policy on .resources protection, resource production'!and;
managemenf arid.economic and community developrnent. The town will also discuss'surface water.
quality. matters; the impacts of Hwy. 17 bridge relocation and other issues of local importance
Meeting held to discuss these matters Nvill be at 6:30 p.m. in the new Town�Hall on the first Monday
of each month.
When these amendments are completed in the next several months, the town will schedule and hold
. a public hearing to consider adopting the amendments.
All persons having an interest in these matters are welcome to attend these meetings and the town
will consider input provided. Anyone with questions concerning these matters can call the Bridgeton
Town Hall at 631,3697.
All twenty coastal counties and approximately seventy-five municipal governments have CAMA land
use . plans and these plans are updated every. five years. Plan amendments_' can occur •aft ;'* ie Ithe
local government chooses. Upon approval by the Coastal Resources Commission, land use plans'.
become a part of�the State's coastal management plan, and plans are used by state and'federal:
agencies in decisions about that local government.
Janet T. Williams
Finance Officer

Bridgeton Begins CAMA Land Use Plan Amendments
At 6:30 pm on December 1" in the Town hall, the Town Board of Commissioners
began discussing several proposed amendments to the Town's CAMA Land Use Plan.
These amendments will bring the 1995 Plan into compliance with new 1996 policy
guidelines established by the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) last year. CAMA
plans must be updated in their entirety every five years.
The state is making efforts for all local governments within a county to update
their plans in the same year. This should encourage discussions of common issues and a
transfer of information useful to all. New Bern, River Bend and Trent Woods are
preparing full five year updates now, but Craven County and Havelock join Bridgeton in
preparing amendments as their plans were certified by the CRC recently. Bridgeton has
received a planning grant from the state to help prepare the amendments, and John Crew,
Coastal Consortium, Consulting Planners, Inc. from Washington. NC is assisting the
Town.
At the December meeting, surface water quality, the mooring of vessels in public
trust waters, basic policies on natural resource protection, resource production and
economic and community development were discussed. A general vision statement for
the future was also presented. Many of the Town planning board members were present
and participated in the discussions.
The Commissioners will be meeting at 6:30 pm on the first Monday of each
month to discuss amendment topics. In January, Highway 17 and the bridge relocation
and other local issues will be considered.
The public is welcome to attend these meetings and provide input. When the
amendments are completed later in the year, the Town will conduct a public hearing
before adopting any amendment.
Any questions concerning this process can be directed to the Town hall at 637-
3697.

Bridgeton Continues CAMA Land Use Plan Amendments
The Town Board of Commissioners met at 6:30 pm on January 5th to continue discussing
several proposed amendments to the Town's 1995 CAMA Land Use Plan. Items discussed
included impacts of Highway 17Bridge relocation, pedestrian access to public waters, potential
town policy on the mooring of vessels and other matters.
Mrs. Kathy Vinson, District Planner with the Division of Coastal Management from
Morehead City, also attended the meeting. Mrs. Vinson reminded the Town that the reason for the
plan amendments is to help the Town comply with changes to the Coastal Resources Commissions
(CRC) planning guidelines. These guidelines were adopted by the CRC after the Town had
completed its five year plan update in 1995. She advised ;that once these amendments are approved
by the CRC, the Town will not need to update its plan for another five years.
Mr. Mike Avery, Planning Director for the City of New Bern, also attended the meeting.
Mr. Avery was interested in how Bridgeton's plan amendments might affect New Bern. Mr. Avery
offered some suggestions as to possible mutual impacts of the Highway 17 relocation project.
Mr. John Crew, a consulting planner assisting the;Town with its amendments, will ask NC
Department of Transportation (DOT) officials to attend the Board's February meeting to discuss
progress on the relocation project.
The Commissioners meet the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall and
interested parties are welcome to attend and provide input. Proposed amendments will be finalized
over the next several months, then sent to the CRC for certification.

BRIDGETON NEARS COMPLETION OF CAMA LAND USE PLAN
AMENDMENTS
At its February 2, 1998 land use planning meeting, the Board of Commissioners
authorized submittal of a number of proposed plan amendments to the state for review.
Those amendments deal with matters the CRC now requires in its 1996 planning
guidelines, which were adopted after the Town completed its 1995 five year plan update.
Proposed amendments address surface water quality, a general vision statement
for the future, a basic policy statement on community attitude toward growth, resource
production and management, economic and community development, public beach and
waterfront access, and the mooring of vessels/mooring fields. The state will review these
proposed amendments and provide comments as to how they meet the state's planning
guidelines. Hopefully at the March meeting following any necessary changes, the
Commissioners can advertise the required public hearing on these amendments for local
adoption.
One highlight of the meeting was Mr. Dwayne Alligood with DOT who spoke
about the impacts of Hwy 17 and the bridge relocation project. He advised the Neuse
River Bridge should be aper atioral by August of 1999. He also outlined both temporary
and final traffic patterns resulting from the highway/bridge relocation.
The Town Board and others expressed concern about landscaped medians to
soften road improvements, access to the post office, what would happen to the old 17
bridge site in terms of possible public access to the river and several other matters. Mr.
Alligood is to provide more information on these issues which may result in additional
plan amendment language by the Town Commissioners in the future.
Mr. Mike Avery, Planning Director in New Bern, attended and provided
insightful comments. The Commissioners will meet again on March 2 at 6:30 to continue
these matters.

Plan Amendments

NOTE: All of these amendments should be read in context with information contained in
the referenced page number in the 1995 Plan.
See page 16. Surface Water Quality
CAMA planning guidelines for land use plans or amendments call
for local governments to discuss the issue of small watersheds. The intent
here is for local governments to recognize the connections between the use
of the land and surface water quality. The Division of Coastal
Management has provided information to assist in this exercise.
According to this data, Bridgeton lies totally within the
Neuse River Basin. About 6,200 square miles drains into the Neuse
watershed. There are 3,293 miles of freshwater streams in the basin, about
328,700 acres are classed as salt waters, and there are thousands of acres
of impoundments Bridgeton also lies within a sub -basin of the Neuse
known as sub -basin 07. Agricultural land in this basin is estimated to
contribute over 20% of the nutrient loading to the entire Neuse River
mainstream between Falls Lake and New Bbrn. The state further has
identified smaller areas of watersheds called "14 digit hydraulic units".
Bridgeton lies within unit 3020204030010 and state supplied data notes
that 100% of the Town is in this watershed and that 1.30% of the
watershed is occupied by the Town.
Recent highly visible water quality problems in the Neuse include
hog waste lagoon spills and concerns over pfiesteria. Local, state and
national media attention has highlighted these concerns during the last
year.
State data on the quality of surface water in watersheds notes the
types of uses which should be or are being supported in each water body.
Each of the four categories of surface water are Full, Threatened, Partial
and Non -supporting. Surface waters with tidal influence (i.e. having
salinity) have the prefix of "S"" Several use classes for these surface
waters include SC. Use class indicate the type use a water body is or
should be supporting. For example, class SB waters primarily support
recreational uses including swimming while SC waters should support
aquatic life propagation and survival, fishing, secondary recreation
including boating and non-food related uses. Additional supplemental
classes also may apply. For example "Outstanding Resource Waters"
(ORW) is used to identify a particularly high quality water for natural
resource production. Also "Nutrient Sensitive Waters" (NSW) notes
additional nutrients may result in depleted oxygen or other reactions.
"Swamp" (Sw) indicates waters having limited flow, velocities and a high
organic content.
Throughout the watershed there are sampling stations where water
samples are taken. These samples are then tested for a variety of items:
various metals (mercury, zinc, lead, etc.), the amount of dissolved oxygen,
water temperature, turbidity and various bacteria including fecal coliform.

For a water body to "fully support" it's intended use, no more than 10% of
any one of the pollutant can exist. Water bodies having "partially
supporting" status cannot have any one pollutant exceed 11-25% of the
measurement, and "non -supporting" status applies when any one pollutant
exceeds 25% of the measurement.
Bridgeton lies adjacent to the Neuse River where the river is
classified SC. It is further classified as swamp, nutrient sensitive.
While this data may be useful in understanding present conditions,
there is no apparent way to relate local land uses within the Town's
relatively small one square mile planning area and causes of water quality
problems in the much larger watershed or subwatershed.
It can be noted however, that Town policies for resource protection
include relying on CAMA and Corps of Engineers 404 permits and this
could be said to have positive water quality impacts.
See page 6 C. Potential Impacts of Highway 17 and Bridge Relocation
For years the Highway 17/bridge corridor has had a dominating
impact on the Town. This heavily used north -south thoroughfare provides
for national, inter and intra state, regional and local traffic. The sheer
volume and diversity of traffic is noted daily. Seasonal, holidays and
weekends increases are also notable. Development east of Town in
Pamlico County during the last decade has escalated and the NC 55
intersection has experienced much additional traffic and congestion as a
result.
The Town's zoning practice of keeping residential land uses away
from the Highway 17 corridor has helped minimize conflicts with
residential use. However, businesses located there do contribute to
through -turning traffic conflicts. While the majority of development in
Town is west of Highway 17, the corridor has also acted as a physical
barrier separating east and west areas of Town.
When the new 17 relocation becomes operational at the June 1999
target date, some of the aforementioned problems will be diminished or
eliminated. Certainly through traffic will be drastically reduced, providing
less congestion and conflicts for local traffic. Similarly the physical
separation of the Town may also be somewhat diminished.
As these situations will occur they raise several important
questions for the Town. Past zoning practices along the corridor may need
revisiting as the "old" corridor will change in character. Reduced through
traffic will have a great impact on the character of the corridor, but local
zoning, more than any other local management tool, can also help better
define and perhaps redefine the desired character of the area. Aesthetics
may also be considered. Another issue is that of public water access at the
"old" bridge site. In the past there has been dialogue concerning a public
water access facility here.

Seepage 19. vii. A general vision statement for the future:
The Town desires to continue its present land use patterns and
encourages development compatible with local quality of life. These
goals must be accomplished consistent with local, state and federal
regulations and within the Towns ability to provide adequate services to
support this desired development.
See page 19 B.Basic policy statement as to the community attitude toward:
Resource Protection — The Town acknowledges that the Neuse River and
adjacent shorelines are its most visible natural resources. As most of the
shoreline is presently developed, redevelopment and continued new
development may be appropriate in the future as long as local, state and
federal regulations dealing with natural resources, stormwater runoff,
groundwater and stormproofing are met. The Town also will strive to
improve its wastewater disposal system so resources are protected.
This policy is important enough to the Town that no realistic alternatives
exist. This policy will be continuous and ongoing throughout the planning
period and may be reconsidered during the next Plan update.
See page 21 viii. Mooring of vessels/mooring fields:
The mooring of vessels in coastal public trust areas can interfer
with the publics rights to navigation and may pose public safety problems.
The Coastal Resources Commission has adopted rules that regulate the
placement and operation of mooring devices in coastal waters.
Town policy is to rely on the states regulations concerning
moorings. If circumstances become a problem or change in the future, the
Town may revisit this policy and consider a local policy that might be
better suited to future town needs.
This policy shall be accomplished by relying on state regulations
for the placement and operation of moorings and mooring fields.
See page 22 A. Resource Production and Management
Few conventional resource production and management issues,
such as agriculture, forestry, commercial fishing etc. exist in Bridgeton.
Public water access for recreation and waterfront development are of
interest to the Town. The Town policy is to encourage waterfront
development consistent with local zoning and state requirements for AECs
and to encourage recreational fishing consistent with state laws.
This policy is important enough to the Town that no realistic
alternatives exist. This policy will be continuous and ongoing throughout
the planning period and may be reconsidered during the next Plan update.

See page 23 A. Economic and Community Development
The Town desires single family residential, commercial and
institutional development that would not over burden municipal services.
Industrial development would be welcomed if services could be provided
and no degradation of local quality of life results. The Town also supports
redevelopment of deteriorating properties, expansion of its sewer system
and supports tourism and public water access.
This policy is important enough to the Town that no realistic
alternatives exist. This policy will be. continuous and ongoing throughout
the planning period and may be reconsidered during the next Plan update.
See page 25. ix. Public beach and waterfront access
Funds from other programs such as the States' Land and Water
Conservation Funds and the Division of Marine Fisheries Pedestrian
Fishing Pier Program may also be sought.

Public Hearing Notice

• • v
Taffin laf 7,011-4don
Post Office Box 570
Bridgeton, North Carolina 28519-0570
HONORABLE MAYOR [phone]
Michael A. Whaley
March 3, 1998
Mrs. Kathy Vinson
Coastal Management
Hestran Plaza H
151B Iiwv 24
Morehead City, NC 28557
Dear Kathy:
FINANCE OFFICER
Janet T.-Williams
In. accordance with GS 11.3A-1 I0(e). T 15.A:07B et at I am proNdding il-ifonnation concerning
proposed amendments for the Town of Bridgeton's 1995 CAMA Land Use Plan Update.
As you know, these proposed amendments deal with various issues and the attached public
hearing notice enumerates them. The Board of Commissioners has set the public hearing date
for 7:30 p.m. on April 6, 1998. The location will the new Town Hall. We will provide a cope
of our advertisement for the hearing upon its availability.
We look forward to completing this matter soon. Thanks for any help you may pro -vide.
Enclosure
Sincerely,
Janet 1'. Williams
Finance Officer

Affidavit of Ablic: ti.on
gun -Journal
New Dorn, N. C.
Personally appeared before me, a Notary Public of the County of Craven,
State of North Caroli.na,• on this the 4 day of fYljrbh, 1993
of the E in Jo nal, who being duly sworn, states that the notice -entitled
Public F Oring N.
1)
a true copy of which is printed herewith, appeared in the Sun Journal, a
newspaper published in the City of New tern, County of Craven, State of
North Carolina.
1 day a weed: for 1 week, on. the following dates:
Marche 5, 1958
Public Hearing Notice
Town of Bridgeton CAMA Land Use Flan Amendments
Jn accordanco with GS 113-110 (e), T'15007t 0402 et al, the Town
Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the Eth dayof
April at 7:30p. m. in the Bridgeton Town Hall. The purpose of the
hearing is to consier adopting several amendments to the Town's 1S?5
CAMA Land Use flan Update.
The amendments dealwtih issues including surface water quality, E.
general vision statement for the future, a basic policy statement oil
community attitude toward growth, resource production and management,
economic and community development;, public beach and waterfront
access, the mooring of vessels/morrinn Fields and local impacts of .'"i:'-':
17 and bridge relocation.
copies of the proposed amendments will be avabi lalbe for public
inspection at the Town Hall During noamal working hours Monday
through Friday. At the public hearing, public and private parties
shall have the opportunity to present comments and recommendations.
Janet i . Williams
Finance Officer
icer
March 5, 1998
Subscribed and
�sworn to this 4 day of March 1998
Notary Ml is
MY commisssxm expires October 21, 2001
MOREHEAD CITY
OFFICE COPY