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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Use Plan Update-1995 (2)MW 40- J7, ,<<< 1995 LAND USE PLAN UPDATE TOWN OF BRIDGETON, NORTH CAROLINA Prepared for: Town of Bridgeton, NC 1996 Board of Commissioners Michael Whaley, Mayor Barbara Howlett, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Toler Robert Toler Frank Benton Prepared. By 1995 Board of Commissioners Peter Harmatuk, Mayor Janet Williams, Town Clerk With Technical Assistance From: Mid -East Commission P.O. Box 1787 Washington, NC 27889 Jane Daughtridge, AICP Planner -In -Charge Rhoda Raymond Planner/GIS Technician Local Adoption: May 6, 1996 CRC Certification: May 24, 1996 Keith Tyndall Donna Harmatuk Donna Harmatuk Barbara Howlett The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY m= m m m m m m i� m m i= m F 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Town of Bridgeton is one of the smallest in Craven County, but its population of 485 is increasing at a rate of about 0.5% per year and is projected to continue that trend. The town is located along the northeast side of the Neuse River in close proximity to the City of New Bern, connected by the Neuse River bridge along U.S. Highway 17. This bridge is scheduled for relocation in the State's Transportation Improvement Plan, and the old bridge will be removed. The community once was supported by industry related to forestry and chemicals, but Georgia Pacific is no longer operating and the chemical interests have moved the bulk of their operations elsewhere. Still, the economic condition of citizens is relatively healthy and the percent of persons in poverty actually decreased between 1980 and 1990. The industrial base at this time is centered around boat building and fish packing, with metal fabrication and chemical industries still present as well. Commercial interests support the primary daily needs of a small community as well as limited services- for highway travellers. It is presumed that Bridgeton could benefit from some of the growth in retiree relocation and sailing or other boating enthusiasts present in nearby Pamlico Count and New Bern. Although most of its waterfront properties are already developed, some opportunity for expansion exists if improvements can be made to the sewer system to accommodate such growth. Relocation of the bridge could provide a positive, unifying influence in the community to remove nuisance pass -through traffic which has split the town into two distinct sectors in the past. The town exercises local zoning, sub -division review, mobile home park regulations, and flood damage prevention requirements to supplement enforcement of the State building code. The town shows evidence of both coastal and "404" jurisdictional wetlands, but does not object to development in these areas when mitigation plans are acceptable to State and Federal authorities. The entire jurisdiction is within FEMA Zone A6, special flood hazard area. Man-made hazards are few, but their presence was experienced recently with the explosion of a passing fuel truck inside the town limits. Fortunately, damage was not catastrophic in this incident. Historic resources are present in the area, but public opinion has not given these resources priority for conservation at this time. The river/waterfront represents a significant natural resource for the town and there is great local interest in creating more opportunities for the public to interact with the water by creating access points at stub streets or on property currently used for scout activities. It is also anticipated that the State will dedicate the property at the foot of the existing bridge to the Town when the bridge is relocated. Water is provided by Craven Sanitary District. Sewer is provided by the Town. The existing system is a small package system with a design capacity of 50,000 gpd. usage is around 80% but fluctuates considerably with weather conditions. This problem with capacity limits new development potential and the town is seeking funding assistance to upgrade the facility as soon as possible. A review of the policy statements in their 1989 Land Use Plan indicates that the Town experienced an overall implementation rate of 81% for policy statements that were pursued or attempted during the planning period. New policies in the category of Resource Protection essentially rely on state and federal regulators for direct protection of natural resources. Local zoning and flood regulations support these protective efforts. In the categories of Resource Production & Management and Economic and Community Development, the Town acknowledges state and federal authorities but relies most heavily on local ordinances to guide appropriate development and redevelopment. Continued Public Participation policies provide ample opportunities for the public to know about and express opinions in local matters relating to growth and development. Storm Hazard issues are managed largely by the County's Emergency Management Plan with input from local ' governments. The town is subject to high winds and flooding during severe storm events. Land Classification footprints a mostly developed classification, with areas on the east side of Highway 17 expected to receive services to stimulate growth within the planning period (Urban Transition). The 75 foot estuarine shoreline is the only area classified as Conservation. Some multi -family residential development and limited commercial/industrial activities already exist in this area, but recent amendments in the zoning ordinance have steered industrial uses away from the waterfront area in an effort to encourage more public access opportunities, commercial marina trade and added residential uses. The town's initial Land Use Plan was certified in 1989. This represents their first update effort. TABLE OF CONTENTS BRIDGETON LAND USE PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Background H. Date Collection & Analysis A. Population B. Housing C. Economy Implications III. Land Use A. Existing Conditions B. Recent Development & Future Growth C. Land Use Concerns D. Devlopment Controls E. Development Constraints 1. Land Suitability 2. Facility Limitations Implications Projected Demand IV. Assessment of 1989 Initial Land Use Plan Policies V. Policy Statements Resource Protection Resource Production & Management Economic & Community Development Continuing Public Participation Public Survey Results Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post Disaster Recovery, & Evacuation Plan A. Storm Hazard Mitigation B. Post Disaster Reconstruction VI. Land Classification VII. Relationship of Policies . and Land Classification MAPS: Map 1: Existing Land Use Map 2: Development Constraints Map 3: Land Classification 1 1 1 2 3 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 11 12 13 14 19 19 22 23 26 27 30 30 31 35 38 Appendix A BACKGROUND/DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS TOWN OF BRIDGETON 1995 LAND USE PLAN UPDATE I. BACKGROUND Bridgeton was originally settled around the turn of the twentieth century. The settlement can be attributed to the lumber and associated industries, which experienced a boom from 1905 to 1929. In 1907, the town incorporated. The name "Bridgeton" originated from the town's location at the foot of the Neuse River bridge connecting the town to New Bern; however, Bridgeton "was historically separate from New Bern, both physically and economically" (Little 19). Growth of the town was a result of the location of lumber mills in Bridgeton, and not as a result of its proximity to New Bern. Some buildings in present day Bridgeton date back to the lumber boom. Historic buildings in town include the Methodist Church (cornerstone 1904), the Christian Church (cornerstone 1909), and the Baptist Church (cornerstone 1920). The location of the Neuse River Bridge has had an impact on the business district over time. For many years, the commercial center of town was on Bridge Street, leading directly from the bridge and extending for two blocks. The construction of the concrete bridge led to a shift of the business district by four blocks from Bridge Street onto highways 17 and 55. H. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS A. Population Bridgeton is one of eight incorporated areas in Craven County. The County itself occupies about 760 total square miles of eastern North Carolina and is the 16th largest county in the state. Between 1980 and 1990, the population of towns in Craven County grew at widely varying rates. Cove City and Dover experienced population losses. Update Table 1 shows the population changes over time. Bridgeton's population gain was the smallest among municipalities which grew. The adjusted census count for 1990 was 498 persons, compared to 461 in 1980. (All tables here include the unadjusted figure of 485 because the Census does not adjust any variable other than total population.) The 1993 estimate for Bridgeton is 505 persons, representing a three year gain of just over 1 %. The age structure in Bridgeton has shifted since 1980 with the greatest gain in age group 35-44, which increased from 9 % of the population to 18 %. The largest decrease was in the age group 55-64, but there was also a significant loss in the age group over 65. Slight losses are also represented in the age groups 14 and under. The implications of this change reflect a stabilizing effect on the economy as working age population matures but remains in the workforce. At the same time, losses in the younger age groups might result in heavy reliance on in -migration for future population growth. Update Table 2 shows the age breakdown. Nationwide, demographers note that the population is aging. Median age for Bridgeton actually shifted in the opposite direction between 1980 and 1990, moving from 36.2 years in 1980 to 35.1 years in 1990. This would be consistent with the losses in the upper age groups. Additionally, 39 % of the population reported living outside the county five years prior to the 1990 census, indicating a large in - migration. TABLE 1 POPULATION 1980-1990 PERCENT PROJECTED PERCENT YR 1990 YR 1980 INC/DEC YR 2000 INC/DEC Craven County 81,613 71,043 14.88% 93,955 15.12% ' Bridgeton 485 461 5.21% 509 4.95% Cove City 484 500 -3.20% 468 -3.31% Dover 464 600 -22.67% 348 -25.00% ' Havelock 20,268 17,718 14.39% - 22,818 12.58% New Bern 17,363 14,557 19.28% 20,169 16A 6% River Bend 2,408 959 151.09% 3,857 60.17% Trent Woods 2,366 1,177 101.02% 3,555 50.25% Vanceboro 946 833 13.57% 1,059 11.95% ' Source: LILAC State Data Canter 2/95 TABLE 2 TOWN OF BRIDGETON AGE STRUCTURE ' 1980-1990 1980 % OF 1990 % OF MALE FEMALE TOTAL TOTAL KALE FEMALE TOTAL TOTAL UNDER 5 17 7 24 5.21% 8 15 23 4.74% 5 TO 14 40 25 65 14.10% 32 30 62 12.78% 15 TO 24 35 40 75 16.27% 46 31 77 15.88% ' 25 TO 34 30 30 60 13.02% 35 44 79 16.29% 35 TO 44 21 22 43 9.33% 51 39 90 18.56% 45 TO 54 9 25 34 7.38% 21 24 45 9.28% 55 TO 64 44 41 85 18.44% 22 24 46 9.48% 65 + 30 45 75 16.27% 23 40 63 12.99% TOTAL 226 235 "1 100.00% 238 247 485 100.00% SOURCE: LINO, STATE DATA CENTER, 2/95 ' B. Housing The Town's 1980 population was housed among 214 dwelling units (Update Table 3). The number of housing units increased nearly 46 % between 1980 and 1990 to 312 units. Of these, 212 were reported as occupied. Owner occupied units decreased from over 48 % in 1980 to about 33 % in 1990, confirming the local opinion that many residents have moved to other places and converted their homes to rental units. A significant portion of the additional units represents the town's only multi -family ' development, built in 1989. The number of vacant units has significantly increased from 24 in 1980 to 100 in 1990. More than half (170) of the units were built before 1960. Total households increased slightly, as did the number of one -person households. This may imply that there are more elderly widows or widowers than in 1980. Nearly 10 % of the housing stock is made up of mobile homes, but this represents about a 7 % decrease since 1980. Household size increased from 2.3 persons in 1980 to 2.4 persons in 1990. This is also the opposite of national trends in 1990 which showed household size decreasing. 1 TABLE 3 CRAVEN COUNTY HOUSING DATA 1990 HOUSING VACANT RENTER OWNER MOBILE PERSONS UNITS UNITS OCCUPIED OCCUPIED HOMES PER HSHLD Craven County 32,293 2,751 10,837 18,705 5,380 2.65 BRIDGETON 312 100 117 95 31 2.41 Cove City 193 7 42 144 39 2.56 Dover 189 18 38 133_ 21 2.8 Havelock 6,096 435 3,972 1,689 479 3.12 New Bern 8,024 760 3,575 3,689 575 2.32 River Bend 1,173 150 226 . 797 0 2.19 Trent Woods 919 21 52 846 11 2.62 Vanceboro - 417 36 150 231 59 2.43 SOURCE: STATE DATA CENTER 2/95 C. Economy The economic condition of Bridgeton citizens is healthy, even though the unemployment rate increased from 5.6 % in 1980 to 8.1 % in 1990. Income increased significantly at all levels. Actual per capita income increased over 130 % between censuses. Adjusted for inflation, spendable income increased just over 35 %. The number of persons in poverty decreased nearly 20 % between the 1980 and 1990 censuses. Update Table 4 shows socio-economic data from the 1990 Census Sample Data. rTABLE 4 CRAVEN COUNTY INCOME 1990 ' 1989 1979 1989 1979 1990 1980 INCOME INCOME MEDIAN MEDIAN PERCENT PERCENT PER CAP. PER CAP. FAMILY FAMILY POVERTY POVERTY Craven County S11,619 $5,650 $29,109 $14,945 13.59 18.49 BRIDGETON $11,607 $5,024 S26,484 $12,941 7.69 25.93 Cove City $8,435 $4,723 $22,083 $16,786 21.28 15.22 Dover S7,618 $4,336 $17,778 $13,083 25.05 20.49 Havelock $9,204 S4,916 S24,421 $12,477 10.55 11.97 New Bern $10,893 S5,629 $25,102 $14,159 23.2 27.75 River Bend $18,089 N/A S41,366 N/A 3.47 N/A Trent Woods $25,819 $13,345 $53,639 $28,833 2.7 1." Vanceboro $10,285 $5,727 S25,833 $14,000 25.05 17.01 SOURCE: STATE DATA CENTER 2/95 New Bern is the commercial center of the County, however Bridgeton has a number of commercial ' enterprises and is home to several industrial sites. Many of the commercial operations are highway -related uses such as gas stations, convenience stores and motels. ' The largest employment sectors in 1990 were Retail Sales (16.7 %), Construction (10.3 %), and Public Administration (10.3 %). The Town has 3 industrial or manufacturing firms inside its planning jurisdiction. The largest local employer is Bridgeton School which employs about 60 persons. Water -related enterprise includes ' a boatyard located on A Street. The following businesses are now operating in the Town of Bridgeton: 3 TABLE S. BRIDGETON BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS TYPE OF BUSINESS Industrial/Manufacturing Yachts Metal Fabrication Chemicals Fish Packing ' Retail/Service Barber Shop Beauty Shop Pet Groomer ' Auto Body Shop Service Stations Used Car Lots Radiator Shop ' Real Estate Office Sign Shop ' Tile Contractor Fire Extinguisher shop Furniture Store Hardware store Convenience Stores Supermarket Blueberry farmloutlet Poultry Market ' Produce Market Trading Card Shop Florist ' Gift Shop Motel Restaurant NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS 4 Source: CAMA Land Use Plan Committee (Town Board), March, 1995. 32 1 1 4 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The North Carolina Department of Transportation is currently working toward replacement of the existing Neuse River Bridge with a highrise facility in a different location. This project will re-route traffic and may open the possibility for a public waterfront area in the future. Highway oriented business will undoubtedly shift to accommodate any new traffic pattern; however, most activities in Bridgeton are oriented toward residential uses and neighborhood retail and services. The anticipated traffic shift will actually enhance community character, blend areas currently divided by a major highway, and improve overall safety by eliminating long -haul truck traffic through town. With the closing of military installations in Pensacola, Florida, there were plans to shift those operations to Cherry Point Naval Air Station, bringing an influx of about 3,000 military families. An alternative proposal to shift the personnel to Virginia Beach instead of North Carolina was presented and adopted so that the actual in -migration has been less significant than anticipated throughout most of this planning process. It now appears that a total of about 1,300 civilian personnel will be reassigned to Cherry Point and this represents the full extent of this realignment for our area. The continuing growth of the area as a haven for retirees and sailing enthusiasts could also represent future development possibilities, either directly or indirectly, through retail and service industries - to accommodate the nearby population. 4 I Implications Bridgeton may benefit from growth in the nearby area. People are expected to be moving into the town and the surrounding area based on proximity to New Bern and Cherry Point and the Neuse River. A major highway divides the Town presently but planned highway improvements to replace the Neuse River Bridge will have a significant impact to re-route future traffic flow and recombine the presently divided sections of town. The town's ' sewer system, currently under improvement, is already instigating the possibility of an annexation. Soils throughout the area poorly accommodate septic tanks, so public sewer service is a continuing criteria for future development. As the Town continues to grow, the need for proper land use planning increases. This plan represents a major local effort to prepare the community for the changes it is likely to experience over the next ten years. J LAND USE m = m m = = = = = = = = = m m m ■■i m m 1 M. Land Use A. Existing Conditions The Town encompasses an area of about .35 square miles. The planning area is essentially rectangular, excepting the irregular waterfront boundary. U. S. 17 bisects the area and intersects with Highway 55 at the foot of the Neuse River Bridge. Most of the area within the Town limits has been developed (see map 1). Development is largely ' residential in nature, however there are also a good many commercial and industrial uses for such a small community. There is no central business district. Along the highway are retail operations. Near the railroad tracks in the northernmost portion of the jurisdiction is a grocery store and several industrial uses. The Town has a large industrial area adjoining the rail line. A considerable amount of residential development has occurred, but the majority of units were associated with a multi -family development abutting A, B, and Mill Streets. 11 I B. Recent Development and Future Growth There have been few changes in land use since 1990. A total of 27 zoning permits were let between 1990 and 1994, but only 3 were for new development of all types. The remaining 24 were primarily for residential additions. Only one zoning permit was issued for new residential development, and that was for a mobile home in 1994. The Table below shows zoning permits issued for new development between 1990 and 1994. Local development has been severely limited over time by lack of septic alternatives; however this condition changed in 1992 when the Town installed its sewage treatment facility. The system is in need of expansion at this time to adequately accommodate new development. This topic is discussed further in the section on Development Constraints. TABLE 6. ZONING PERMITS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT Residential Mobile Homes: Conventional Dwelling: Multi -Family Units: Business Body Shop Warehouse TOTAL Source: 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 TOTAL 0_ 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 Bridgeton Zoning Permit records Map 1 in Appendix A shows the existing land uses in the Town of Bridgeton. 3 C. Land Use Concerns The Town has few land use concerns at this time. There is a good deal of mixed uses along the Highway 17 corridor, but they do not appear to pose significant incompatibility problems for the Town. In fact, a recent zoning amendment creates a mixed use district near the bridge. Mobile home development is a concern for the town, but control of mobile homes -is addressed in the zoning ordinance. The multi -family townhouse development on Mill Street is considered undesirable by some residents, but there have not been significant problems associated with traffic or parking. 6 ID. Development Controls Land development in the Town is controlled by a variety of local, state and federal regulations. Plans and policies enacted by the Town, the County and various state agencies influence local land use decisions as well. For example, State Building Codes are enforced for the Town by Craven County Building Inspector. Point source wastewater dischargers are controlled by the State Division of Environmental Management; and dredge and fill activities on 404 wetlands are limited by the US Army Corps of Engineers. CAMA permits are required of all development within 75 feet of the normal high ' water mark along all of the Town's waterfront, as well as for development in the public trust areas, estuarine waters and coastal wetlands of Bridgeton. ' 1. Regulatory Controls Local ordinances controlling land use decisions are described below. The Bridgeton Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1980 and updated in 1987. Various amendments have been made over time. Currently under revision, the zoning ordinance will reflect an added mixed use district and there has been a rezoning of Industrial acreage to a Waterfront Industrial designation. Subdivision Regulations were adopted in 1991. Mobile Home Park Regulations are included in the zoning ordinance. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance was adopted in 1987. The State Building Code was originally adopted in 1963 and is enforced by the County Building Inspector. 2. Development Plans The state's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists one project currently under way that will effect development in the Bridgeton area. It proposes a relocation of the Neuse River bridge. The Town has no official Capital Improvement Plan. The Town has not received Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for housing improvements in the past but considered application for another in 1995. The need for sewer improvements to support the required annexation has blocked that project for the time being. The Bridgeton CAMA Land Use Plan was first adopted and certified in 1989. This document is the first update of that original plan. Reconstruction in the event of a natural disaster would be directed by the County's storm plan ' developed by the Craven County Emergency Management Coordinator. ' 3. Development Policies The Town's official Utilities Extension Policy is reflected in its Sewer Use Ordinance which was ' adopted in 1992. Water extensions are under the control of First Craven Water District. The CAMA Land Use Plan lists policies on resource and development issues within the jurisdiction. E. Development Constraints 1. Land Suitability Several physical factors constrain land development in the Bridgeton area. Physical 7 n constraints can be classified into one of three categories: physical limitations, fragile areas, and areas of resource potential. ' Physical Limitations for Development. A variety of factors determine the suitability of land for development. These include soils and subsoil conditions, topography, potential for flooding, and existing land uses in the development area (see map 2 in Appendix A). a. Man -Made Hazards: ' There are no significant man-made hazards other than lumber trucks, occasional hazardous cargo hauled by rail or roadway, and heavy machinery transiting the area. Underground fuel storage tanks probably still exist at convenience stores and service stations. The Craven County Building Inspection Department oversees modification and installation of underground storage tanks within the Town Limits. Encee Chemical has reduced the scope of its operations in Bridgeton since the 1989 plan, and there is little storage of chemicals at this site now. ' Bridgeton is not located in any high, moderate, or low danger areas associated with low -flying military aircraft or military operations, according to the Naval Air Systems Command. P U Man-made hazards do not represent a serious constraint to development in Bridgeton. b. Flood Hazard Areas: A detailed flood insurance study was performed by the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) and submitted to the Town of Bridgeton on May 4, 1987. According to the flood insurance map, all of the Town is located with a special flood hazard area (Zone A6), or within the boundaries of the 100 year flood experience. The 100-year flood level in Bridgeton is 9.1 feet above NGVD (Navigational Geodetic Vertical Datum), but the land surface is only 9 feet or less above NGVD. The principal source of flooding in Bridgeton would be storm surge, generated by tropical storms and hurricanes which would raise the water level in the Neuse River. In the past, several hurricanes have caused widespread flooding and structural damage in Bridgeton. The 100-flood zone location represents a constraint to development because it places property at risk and because increased elevation restrictions and special building requirements can result in increased building costs. In order to secure flood insurance and finance development at a federally insured institution, developers must comply with the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance adopted by the Town in 1987. C. Soil Limitations: Based on Soil Conservation maps prepared for Craven County by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, the soil types within the Bridgeton town limits are confined to the Murville series and the Seabrook series, with some Dare Muck soils scattered along the shoreline. The Seabrook soils are predominant in the southern third of the town, then run through the town's center before tapering off in the northern third of town. The Murville soils are also predominant in the northern half of town and to the east of US Highway 17 in the northern two-thirds of town. Murville soils are also predominant throughout the northernmost quarter of town. 1 The Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) has not yet published an inventory of soil resources for Craven County. They have soils interpretation records available for the Murville and Seabrook series. These records outline specific soil properties such as plasticity and permeability, and they describe soil suitability for use as sanitary facilities, construction material, building site development and water management. Under the suitability analysis, the term "moderate" means the soil quality is favorable for specified uses if careful planning and design criteria are followed to offset weaknesses. The term "severe" means that the soil properties are so unfavorable for a given use that activities such as soil reclamation, special design, and intensive maintenance may. be required to mitigate the unsuitability of the soil prior to use. In the original land use plan, soil suitability for septic placement was an important constraint to development because the soils were poorly drained and the town had a long history of septic failures. Since Bridgeton has installed its wastewater system, the soils constraint has been virtually removed as a roadblock to development, although the sewage capacity remains an important consideration. d. Potable Water Resources: Groundwater is the sole source of potable water for public and private use in Bridgeton. There are three principal aquifers yielding water to wells in Craven County - surficial deposits, the PeeDee formation, and the limestone unit. In Bridgeton, no public or private wells extend to the PeeDee formation, which is a sand/clay formation underlying the limestone unit and used as a source of public supply in the western portions of the county. Private wells in Bridgeton draw primarily from the surficial deposits, while the public supply is drawn from the limestone unit. The static water table in the town is generally less than 10 feet below ground level, even during dry periods. The use of well points to obtain supplemental domestic water supplies is a common practice due to the relatively small expense involved. Underlying the surficial geologic deposits in Bridgeton which extend down approximately 20-25 feet, there are beds of unconsolidated sand, clay, marl, and shell material which compose the Yorktown and River Bend limestone formations. These extend down to about 40-50 feet from the surface where the Castle Hayne limestone formation is encountered. Knowledge of proper well construction techniques and local well depths and yields is very important to obtaining a satisfactory water supply from deeper limestone unit wells in the Bridgeton Area. The First Craven Water District supplies the Town of Bridgeton and surrounding area with potable water. The District obtains water from two 100-foot wells located off Highway 55 within one mile of Bridgeton. Both wells draw from the Castle Hayne aquifers and have a sustained individual yield of 300 gallons per minute. Current demand is discussed in the section on facilities constraints which follows on page 10. The only condition which could significantly impact public groundwater for Bridgeton is the unlikely event of saltwater intrusion from a deeper aquifer or from lateral movement of the river bed. Based on the abundant yield from other deep wells in the New Bern area, it is likely that the Sanitary District could locate a convenient supplementary well if needed. e. Surficial Water Resources: Although the Neuse River does not serve as a water supply for the Town of Bridgeton, the significance of the river as a recreational, cultural, and general economic resource cannot be underestimated. Proximity to estuarine waters presents certain 9 ' constraints to development just by virtue of the fragile nature of water bodies and shorelines. ' Fragile Areas. Fragile areas are those which could be easily damaged or destroyed by inappropriate or poorly planned development. More specifically these are: coastal wetlands, sand ' dunes, ocean beaches and shorelines, estuarine waters and shore lines, public trust areas, complex natural areas, areas that sustain remnant species, areas containing unique geological formations, registered natural landmarks, and others such as wooded swamps, prime wildlife habitats, scenic and prominent high points, and archaeological and historic sites. There are four fragile areas ' defined in Bridgeton: Estuarine waters, estuarine shoreline, coastal wetlands,and underwater archeological sites. The estuarine system Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs) are defined in NCAC 7H. Each of the Bridgeton fragile areas is discussed below. a. Estuarine Waters: All surface waters of the Neuse River fronting the Town of Bridgeton are ' classified by the Coastal Area Management Act as an Estuarine Waters AEC. b. Estuarine Shoreline: All of the land within 75 feet of the normal high water level of the Neuse River ' . is classified by the Coastal Area Management Act as an Estuarine Shoreline AEC. C. Coastal Wetlands: ' The Coastal Wetlands AEC designation applies to all regularly and occasionally flooded marshland subject to wind or water tides and exhibiting the presence of any of ten species of plants associated with wet area. The original land use plan noted ' waterfront areas where at least two of the ten species were present. Actual designation of a property as coastal wetland is the purview of the Division of Coastal Management regulatory personnel; however, a wetland designation does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of development. Property owners should ' be encouraged to consult with CAMA field personnel whenever waterfront property is considered for development. '404' wetlands are regulated by the US Army Corps of Engineers and deals ' specifically with dredge and/or fill activities. The COE wetland designation system is slightly different from the one used by CAMA and has been under scrutiny nationally for several years. The Corps also has certain exemptions or special allowances that can be ' accessed for development which is deemed to have insignificant impact on the wetland. Mitigation plans can also be presented by developers when dredge and fill activities can be offset with reasonable alternatives. As with the coastal wetlands, property owners anywhere in the coastal area are encouraged to contact the Army Corps of Engineers field ' offices prior to any development to determine if wetlands are present and what action may be necessary to legitimize the desired project. d. Underwater Archaeological Sites: A comprehensive inventory of architecturally or historically significantproperties has not been performed for Bridgeton. there has been some inquiry into potential historic properties, but none have been nominated to the National Register at this point in time. The remains of a schooner, were identified during an Army Corps of Engineers site assessment for Eastern Shores Townhouses Marina in 1985. According to the N.C. Underwater Archaeology Branch, there is a strong possibility that other such sites could ' exist along the Bridgeton waterfront. It is also possible that terrestrial sites and structures of cultural significance could exist along the waterfront since the town has a long association with the commercial waterfront area, but no sites have been identified to date. 10 Waterfront property is currently utilized for a variety of purposes in Bridgeton and there are no major constraints to future uses which are well planned and regulated. ' Coastal wetlands exist within the current mix of developed uses as isolated pockets without apparent continuity within the broader concept of a wetland system and might be appropriate for development within the standards set by the State Division of Coastal Management. e. Public Trust Areas: Public Trust AECs cover waters and submerged lands in the coastal region ' where the public has rights of use and/or ownership, including rights of navigation and recreation. The waters and underlying lands of the Neuse River adjacent to Bridgeton are considered Public Trust Areas. Areas of Resource Potential. State forests and parks, private game preserves, and areas underlain with valuable mineral deposits are considered areas of resource potential. No such areas ' have been identified in the Bridgeton jurisdiction. 2. Facility Limitations ' As a community grows, service demands increase. More police and fire protection may be needed; additional classrooms or schools may be necessary. Demand for public water and sewer service increases. Planning for future service demands helps to avoid shortfalls in the ' provision of public services. Development can be severely constrained when the demand for vital services such as water and sewer, exceeds supply. Bridgeton has grown in recent years. It is anticipated that the Town will grow slowly ' but steadily over the next decade. Increases in Craven County as a whole between 1990 and 2000 are projected at 15.1%. Bridgeton is predicted to grow nearly 5% between 1990 and 2000. Water Service. Over 99 % of all properties within the corporate limits are serviced with ' public water. The capacity of the First Craven Sanitary District's storage tanks total 600,000 gallons or about 2 days of water supply. The two wells in the district draw from aquifers which have a sustained yield of 300 gpm. Plant production for the district runs about 500 gpm, but the average demand is only about 265 gpm. Overall, the average demand runs about 382,000 gpd, or about 224.7 gpd per customer. In Bridgeton, this would calculate to demand of only about 59,770 gpd. ' The Town appears to have an adequate supply of water to serve demand. Even assuming a usage increase to accommodate the proposed development, current water well capacity would be adequate. Location of a new water -consumptive industry could dramatically increase demand. Should such an industry propose to locate in the area, the Town should coordinate with the water ' district. ' Sewer Service. The Town's sewer system has a design capacity of 50,000 gpd. Average demand fluctuates between 38,000 and 42,000 gpd. Under extreme weather conditions, the system has reached near maximum capacity at 48,000 gpd. While the system represents a ' significant improvement in town services since the last Land Use Plan, it is operating at about 80 % capacity, limiting the potential for new development. Current usage averages about 158 gallons per day per hook-up and there are 266 hook-ups. At this level of usage, the system would max out at 316 customers. A major fast food chain has expressed interest in locating in ' Bridgeton, but current sewer capacity prevents new businesses with significant demand from locating inside the city limits. 11 7 ' Public Schools. Bridgeton pupils attend New Bern/Craven County Schools. One facility is located inside the town. Bridgeton school has a capacity of 450 students and hosts grades K-6 ' with an enrollment of 453 students. Presently, two relocatable classrooms are on site to help offset overcrowding. Protective Services. The Town of Bridgeton currently has no police department. Protection is administered under the Craven County Sheriffs Department. Town officials have considered low cost alternatives for providing police protection but have not committed to paid service at this time. Fire protection is currently provided by a volunteer department. The Bridgeton Volunteer Fire Department maintains a membership of approximately 28 persons. The Department maintains an inventory of 4 fire -fighting vehicles; three fire trucks and one equipment van. Fire ladders ' accommodate up to 35 feet in height. This height was required when Eastern Shores Townhouses developed. The developer was required by the town to provide the added fire equipment needed to service the new units. Rescue services are provided by Bridgeton EMS. Though it is housed in Bridgeton, the service is funded through Craven County. The squad is staffed by 45 volunteer EMTs and is supported by 2 ambulances, 2 rescue boats, an equipment truck, a supply truck (for pulling the boat), and a first responder truck. The EMTs' service area extends far beyond the Town of ' Bridgeton planning area into Askin, Cayton, Sandy Point, and Fairfield Harbor. In addition, the unit provides support services for the northern portion of New Bern. The squad has recently upgraded their service level to EMT-D, allowing for Advanced Life Support and patient defibrillation. The nearest hospital is Craven Regional Medical Center in New Bern. The rescue squad recently received a land donation along Highway 17 near the Post Office. They are planning to build a new facility on that site in the summer. The old site may be sold. Public Administration. The Town employs four persons who provide administrative support for all of the town's business and services. Roads. Lack of service by a major interstate highway is often cited as one of the major factors that has limited growth in northeastern North Carolina. It is unlikely that this situation will change in the foreseeable future given the limited federal funding available for. highway construction. Highway facilities in the Bridgeton area will be able to accommodate the increased demand projected for the next decade. Implications ' The Town is expected to grow at a slow rate over the next decade, but potential military personnel or retiree influx could significantly alter that expectation. The County Water District's public water supply is likely to be able to meet the demands of the next decade without major improvements. Locally, the public school is at ' capacity, but the Town has little influence over the consolidated school system. Highway capacity appears suitable to serve local needs for the next ten years with consideration of the planned improvements. These improvements are not expected to be in place for at least two more years. In areas such as police, fire, and public administration, ' the Town realizes additional personnel and equipment may be needed to service demand as the community grows. The Town's public wastewater system will not provide sufficient capacity for new residential and industrial growth. Increasing the system's capacity will be intrinsic to new growth and should be aggressively pursued. 12 L IPROJECTED DEMAND Bridgeton challenged the 1990 Census of Housing and Population results and they were awarded an adjustment from 453 to 498. The Census also showed 100 vacant housing units in town, but no one can identify these vacant units. There are currently 266 sewer customers, including 37 business establishments, and there are ' about 6 households which have not yet tapped onto the sewer system. This would imply a total of 235 households. Assuming the household size of 2.41 persons is correct, the current population would be estimated at 566 persons. This is well above the State's population projection for the turn of the century (509). Projecting demand becomes ' very difficult when the official base information is questionable. If we operate from the assumption that the yearly rate of growth will mirror the 1980-1990 rate (about 1/2 percent per year), and if we err conservatively and adjust the current population estimate to presumption of a smaller household size (2.25) than reported by the flawed Census (2.41), the formula would yield a current population of ' 529. Extending from this base at the 0.5 % annual growth rate results in a conservative population estimate for the year 2000 of about 542 persons. Again assuming the 2.25 person average household size, this nets an expected 240 households. A further assumption for demand projection purposes is that there will be no net gain in the number of businesses in the next 5 years. This is primarily assumed because of the limited sewer capacity. Securing funding for and completing any substantial expansion of the treatment plant will likely take 3 to S years to accomplish. ' Also, changes in the highway alignment may have an initial unsettling impact on highway commercial establishments. Land availability for new development purposes of any type is more than adequate to meet projected demand and capacity. There are still a few vacant lots along the waterfront in the south end of town which are suitable for single-family residential use. as well as scattered vacant land all along B and C Streets. The current Highway 17 corridor also offers adequate land availability for any allowable uses. Realignment of the highway may impact land availability near the current intersection of Highways 55 and 17, but generally, the five year growth ' expectation can be easily accommodated. The Town continues to voice concerns about public access to the Neuse River, and there is an expectation that land will be donated to the Town when the existing bridge is removed. These are the primary demand issues facing the Town during the next update period. I� 13 POLICIES m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m s m m m 1 1 IV. ASSESSMENT OF 1989 INITIAL LAND USE PLAN POLICIES In the 1989 Land Use Plan, the Town described specific policies to be pursued in the broad issue areas of Resource Protection, Resource Production and Management, Economic and Community Development, Public Participation, and Storm Hazard Mitigation. The Land Use Plan Update committee has reviewed these policy statements to determine the Town's implementation performance. A very simple, self reporting evaluation process was used: for each statement, the committee reported whether or not they had attempted or accomplished the stated actions. If the stated policy had no application in the planning period, this was also noted but not counted against the total score. Positive accomplishments or attempted actions were scored with a plus or a 1/2 score, based on the committee's report of the Town's actions. If no action was attempted, a minus score was assigned. The total number of policy statements was determined and the total number of attempts or accomplishments was tallied. The implementation score is a simple percentage of the accomplishments against the total policy statements. The Town's overall implementation score is 81 %. This represents actions or attempted actions on 39 of 48 applicable policy statements. Resource Protection A.1. Soils: + Enforce all current regulations related to septic tanks + coordinate all development activity with appropriate regulatory personnel + complete town -wide public sewer adopt local ordinance requiring system tie-in within 90 days of system completion + require all new sewage generators to tie in to public sewer system 4 of 5 A.2. Flood Hazard Areas: + Continue to coordinate development within Special Flood Hazard Area with appropriate agencies + continue to enforce existing zoning and flood damage ordinance and storm hazard mitigation plan + During planning period, refine restrictions pertaining to waterfront development... 3 of 3 A.3. Groundwater/Potable water supply: 1/2 Coordinate local development activities involving chemical storage or underground storage tank installation/abandonment with appropriate personnel; review and amend zoning ordinance with regard to underground chemical and gasoline storage tanks to ensure minimum risk to local groundwater 1/2 of 1 A.4. Manmade Hazards: N/A no policy statements required A.S. Stormwater runoff: continue to enforce state and CAMA regulations relating to stormwater runoff resulting from development; consider adoption of local stormwater management regulations to minimize ' contamination of waterfront resources 0 of 1 A.6. Natural Fragile Areas: + continue to give priority to uses which are supportive of protection and coordinated management 14 of estuarine system and wetlands + continue to support State and Federal development permit system + encourage harmonious combination of single family residential, marine -related commercial and public recreational or institutional uses along the riverfront; refine zoning ordinance to make permitted and conditional uses more compatible in fragile areas 3 of 3 A.7. Cultural/Historic Resources: - Amend zoning ordinance to require coordination of development with Division of Archives and History coordinate code enforcement and redevelopment with Division of Archives and History to ID and preserve significant architectural details and buildings + Coordinate public works projects with Division of Archives and History to ensure ID and preservation of waterfront or terrestrial sites 1 of 3 A.8. Industrial Impacts on Fragile Areas: + Town will revise the industrial classification in zoning ordinance to better define types of permitted uses in industrial zone located on the waterfront; no parcels in conservation areas will be re -zoned for industrial use. ' lofl Miscellaneous Resource protection A.9. Hurricane and Flood Evacuation Needs: N/A Policies outlined elsewhere A.10. Package Treatment Plant Use: + No additional package treatment plants will be constructed in the Bridgeton town limits; policy will be incorporated in to the sewer use ordinance. I of 1 A.11. Local Resource Development Issues: N/A Discussed elsewhere A.12. Marina and Floating Home Development: + regulated in zoning ordinance --continue to allow as long as no adverse impacts + Prohibit rezoning of existing waterfront residential to marine highway commercial or industrial districts which allow marina development + Town does not support floating homes, but not addressed in zoning ordinance In areas outside of town's limits (potential ETn, encourage mix of waterfront uses. 3 of 4 15 1 RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT B.I. Recreational Resources: + (a) Encourage compatible waterfront mix of uses + (b) refine existing zoning to provide more unified waterfront character 1/2 (c) define need for, finance, and construct publicly owned waterfront recreation facilities 2 1/2 of 3 B.2. Residential and Commercial Development: + encourage regional tourism by following conservation and development policies in plan rather than extending services as incentive 1of1 ' B.3. Other Resources: N/A No other resources were defined ' ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT C.1. Water Supply: ' + (1) require all new residential and commercial on sewer to also be on First Craven Sanitary water + (2) allow installation of private wells for irrigation only + (3) ensure policies above are carried out through zoning permit process ' 3 of 3 C.2. Sewer System: + development outside the town limits which wants to tap onto sewer must petition for annexation lofl ' C.3. Schools: N/A No issues require a statement CA Stormwater: review and revise zoning ordinance in re conservation areas and incorporate regulations affecting stormwater management into a single ordinance ' 1/2 cooperate with State and Federal agencies in mitigating stormwater runoff impact by support of DEM stormwater retention permitting process; apply for funds and utilize Powell Bill funds to improve stormwater drainage systems on existing rights -of -way ' 1/2 of 2 C.5 Transportation: + (a) revise and amend zoning ordinance to provide commercial access, parking, and lot size regulations to alleviate traffic congestion + (b) review local ordinances relating to speed and traffic flow ' + support county, regional, and state transportation plans + support Neuse River Bridge replacement. (NOTE: The statement that the Town objects to abandonment of the existing swing bridge is not correct.) 4 of 4 16 ' C.6. Community facilities: develop a stand alone community services/facilities plan to assess needs, prioritize projects, and ' identify funding sources 0 of 1 C.7 Redevelopment of Developed Areas: (a) Adopt a Minimum Housing Code 1/2 (b) apply for Community Development Block Grant funds ' (Tried but sewer capacity was inadequate) + coordinate redevelopment efforts with county Building Inspections Department 1 1/2 of 2 C.8 Urban Growth patterns Desired; Location of Industries: + confine heavy industry to current Industrial zones; draw commercial to Highway 17 corridor; draw ' residential away from Highway 17; provide for restricted uses in waterfront conservation areas (NOTE: All 8 sub -categories related to the above statement were addressed. This will count as 1 statement.) ' 1of1 C.9. Local Commitment to Providing Services to Development: + attempt to provide services in developing area consistent with growth management policies ' 1 of 1 ' C.10. Commitment to State and Federal programs: + actively support all programs consistent with stated policies. lofl ' CAL Tourism: N/A Discussed elsewhere ' C.12. Estuarine Access: N/A support shoreline access policies of the State; provide specific access site locations in its community services/facilities plan ' C.13. Density of Residential Development: + Town will consider lot size in undeveloped residential areas as a constraint to development when revising zoning ordinance ' 1 of 1 CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION + continue to solicit public input through advertised and publicized public meetings; keep citizens fi informed 1 of I ' STORM HAZARD MITIGATION High winds: + continue to enforce wind resistance design standards of 110 mph wind loads (Building code design ' standards increased over the planning period) 1 17 Flooding: + participate in Flood Insurance Program; enforce Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance; support enforcement of CAMA and 404 permit processes ' Implementation -Storm Hazard Mitigation: + (1) continue to enforce State Building Code + (2) continue to support enforcement of State and Federal programs ' 4of4 n 1 18 ' V. POLICY STATEMENTS RESOURCE PROTECTION A. The only Areas of Environmental Concern in the jurisdiction are estuarine shoreline, estuarine waters, coastal wetlands, and public trust waters of the Neuse River. The waterfront area of town is about 85-90% developed in a broad range of uses, but residential uses predominate. There are two marinas along the waterfront. One is associated with the multi -family condominium complex on A Street and the other is a commercial ' establishment associated with boat building and sales. The Town feels comfortable with this mix of uses and believes future development of residential or marina activities in conjunction with local zoning restrictions would be appropriate, compatible, and desirable. Any ' industrial development should be water -dependent and limited to the western area near the railroad tracks. There is no Historic Preservation effort by the Town, although -several citizens are interested in historic resources and the State's Division of Archives and History has identified an historic district eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The citizen survey rated establishment of a Historic District last in priority ' for the Town. Should the Town wish to reconsider, the State can assist in the designation process. B. Resource Protection issues are limited in the Bridgeton jurisdiction. There are three basic approaches to ' any resource issue: Preservation, Conservation, and Exploitation. The concept of Preservation implies that the resource is so important, limited, and fragile that it should only be used in a way which does not diminish it or it should not be used at all in order to keep it in its present state for future generations. This concept recognizes that removing the resource from use will be controversial and will result in increased pressure from market forces but it places the highest priority on keeping the resource in tact and out of use. The concept of Conservation implies that the resource is relatively limited, slowly renewable, or non-renewable such that use should be restricted in order to conserve the resource over a long period of time to be shared by future generations. This concept recognizes that laws and regulations will interfere with the market forces pressing to utilize the resource and will slow development but imposes those laws and regulations as the device for planned and managed resource use. The concept of Exploitation implies that the resource is readily available, renewable in the short term, or easily replaced with substitutes and may be used in an unrestricted manner based solely on market forces. This concept does not require special laws and restrictions. It de -values the resource and allows for unlimited use. Most of the policy statements in this Land Use Plan reflect a Conservation approach. ' (i) Constraints to Development: (1) Soils. This issue has significantly decreased in importance for Bridgeton since the last Land Use Plan, because the Town now has a public wastewater treatment system in place. All new development is required to tap on to the Town's system, so septic tanks are no longer an issue. It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to continue maintenance and upgrade of its wastewater treatment system in order to accommodate future development. This shall be accomplished by utilization of the Capital Reserve/Sewer Expansion Fund and possibly through Community Development Block Grant applications which can assist in such matters, and exploration of any other grant opportunities for such purposes. ' (2) Flood prone areas. This issue affects the entire jurisdiction according to National Flood Insurance maps. 1 It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to support regulations limiting the potential property losses which might be incurred by flooding. This shall be accomplished by continued enforcement of the local flood damage prevention ordinance and through appropriate coordination with the public, Craven County Inspections Department, NC Division of Coastal Management, FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers. 19 Local Resource Development Issues in re: AECs or near ORWs: I There are no Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) associated with the Bridgeton jurisdiction. The primary development issue relative to Areas of Environmental concern surround the designation and allowable uses of coastal wetlands, public trust areas, estuarine waters, or estuarine shorelines. ' It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to support appropriate development of waterfront properties already surrounded by urban uses according to the State's standards for development in AECs. The Town supports CAMA regulation of Areas of Environmental Concern. I(iii) Other hazardous or fragile land areas: There are a few historic resources in the Town but citizens have not given them a priority for protection. Man-made hazards are related to small chemical storage or bulk fuel storage situations and do not represent a true resource issue for the town. It is likely that "404" Wetlands will be present within the community. ' It shall be the Town's policy to rely on local zoning to regulate appropriate land uses and to rely on the Army Corps of Engineers to regulate development in areas deemed to be "404" jurisdictional wetlands. ' (iv) Hurricane and flood evacuation needs and plans: All evacuation needs are developed and enforced through the Emergency Management Coordinator for Craven County. It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to support and endorse the County's evacuation plan ' relative to hurricanes and floods. The Town will be represented on the planning committee for the overall hazard mitigation plan and will 1 sign endorsement of the document whenever updated. (v) Means of protection of potable water supplies: ' The town is served by First Craven Sanitary District for its potable water needs. All water resources come from groundwater and no significant recharge area is located within the Bridgeton jurisdiction. Therefore, no local action can establish protection of potable water supplies. ' It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to rely on State and Federal regulations related to groundwater and water treatment as the means of protecting potable water. ' (vi) Package treatment for sewage disposal: The system utilized by the town is a package treatment plant. Once this system became the public service, ' the town now requires new development to hook onto this system. Any development of such a size to require a package treatment system would have to negotiate with the town through its sub -division regulations and zoning ordinance. It is more likely that the Town would require contributions to upgrade ' the existing public system rather than installation of a new private system. 20 ' It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to discourage private wastewater treatment package systems. ' This shall be accomplished by consistent enforcement of the town's sewer ordinance and zoning restrictions for new development. (vii) Stormwater runoff: There are few agricultural activities in the town's jurisdiction and no mining operations of any sort. The issue of runoff relates primarily to residential development and public highways. The town recognizes the value of water quality maintenance for the purpose of protecting fragile areas and providing clean water for recreational purposes. ' It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to rely on State enforcement of stormwater runoff regulations to minimize contamination of the Neuse River from urban uses or development. ' (viii) Marina and Floating Home Development: There are two marinas in the Bridgeton jurisdiction and another commercial marina is likely to develop in ' the near future. One of the marinas is associated with a condominium complex and is not of a commercial nature, nor is it likely to expand significantly over the planning period. There are no situations which constitute floating home development at this time. It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to support development of marinas in appropriate areas identified on the local zoning map and under the restrictions imposed by the Coastal Area Management Act. This shall be accomplished through strict enforcement of local zoning laws and cooperation with CAMA permitting procedures as necessary to appropriately accomplish acceptable development. ' (ix) Industrial impacts on fragile areas: ' At present the only industrial site which may have had an impact on fragile areas in Bridgeton is the former Georgia-Pacific site in the northwest section of town There has been a diesel spill on the property which is being cleaned up now and there is asbestos in the boilers and pipes. There has been no known impact on the wetland or water areas resulting from these conditions. The current zoning requirements and CAMA regulations related to estuarine shoreline or surface waters are deemed to be adequate protections. It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to help protect fragile areas from negative industrial impacts by vigorously enforcing its zoning ordinance and by general support of State and Federal requirements of industries in proximity to fragile areas. ' This shall be accomplished through routine refusal of requests to rezone additional waterfront properties for heavy industrial uses and through cooperation with the local CAMA permit officer related to industrial development. ' (x) Development of sound or estuarine islands: This issue does not apply. e 21 ' (xi) Restriction of development in areas up to 5 feet above mean high water: The mechanisms for restriction of development in low-lying areas of Bridgeton are the North Carolina building code and the local Flood Damage Prevention ordinance. According to the USGS map for the area, elevation of 5 feet is prevalent along the waterfront area. The remainder of the town rises gradually to only about 9 feet above sea level at the highest point. It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to allow appropriate development in low-lying areas subject to sea level rise in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. ' This shall be accomplished by consistent enforcement of local zoning, flood damage prevention ordinance, state building codes, and federal flood insurance requirements. ' (xii) Upland excavation for marina basins: ' The marinas currently sited in Bridgeton are direct access facilities. Because of the development pattern already established in the town, there is no site in the jurisdiction which could reasonably be considered for upland excavation for marina development. This issue does not apply. (xiii) Damage of existing marshes by bulkhead installation: There are no significant marshes in the Bridgeton jurisdiction, but it is possible that bulkhead installation could occur along the waterfront areas. It shall be the town's policy to rely on the State's minimum use standards to allow bulkhead installation within the jurisdiction. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT A. In the Bridgeton jurisdiction, there is one large agricultural interest, no direct forestry operations, no mining, one commercial fishing concern, and few publicly accessible recreational resources. Since Bridgeton is a small town, there is little sentiment for development of policies which deal with prime farmland or commercial forests, although the economic impact of agriculture and forestry is felt here from the surrounding area. There are no identified primary nursery areas for commercial fish species adjacent to the Bridgeton jurisdiction, but like other ' primary extraction industries, commercial fishing plays a small role in the local economy. The production and management issue of most interest to the town is appropriate waterfront development and public water access for recreation. B. These issues, like the Resource Protection group, are suited to the concepts of Preservation, Conservation, and Exploitation described under Resource Protection. The applicable policy statements cited here follow a Conservation point of view to use and develop the resources, but it should be done in such a way as to prolong the life and usefulness of the resource and not to destroy it. (i) Productive Agricultural Lands: While the town is generally known for blueberries, only one of the blueberry farms has any land inside the city limits. Agriculture does not have a significant presence within the jurisdiction of the town of ' Bridgeton. , No local policy is necessary. 22 ' (ii) Commercial Forest Lands: ' This issue does not apply. (iii) Existing and potential mineral production areas: This issue does not apply. ' (iv) Commercial and recreational fisheries: No commercial fishing operations are based here, other than some crabbing in the river. Recreational fishing takes place not only from boats, but also waterfront yards and the railroad trestle. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to allow and encourage recreational fishing consistent with state laws. Thus, the town will rely on the Division of Marine Fisheries control to regulate fishing in the Bridgeton jurisdiction. ' (v) Off -road vehicles: This issue does not apply. (vi) Residential, commercial, and industrial land development impacts on any resources: ' Bridgeton's waterfront constitutes its greatest physical resource. While the water is predominately abutted by residential uses, the abandoned Georgia Pacific site is a concern not only for appearance, but also pollution potential. The town recently amended the zoning ordinance to prohibit heavy industrial uses along the waterfront. development It shall be the policy of the Town of Bridgeton to encourage residential and commercial on the waterfront consistent with local zoning and State requirements for development in AECs. ' Implementation of this policy will occur through strict enforcement of the zoning ordinance and support of State standards. (vii) Peat or phosphate mining impacts: This issue does not apply. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT A. The primary constraint to development from the last land use plan was poor soils for septic tank placement. In the past five years, the town began operation of a public wastewater treatment facility for its citizens, however, the system is near capacity and needs to be upgraded to accommodate new growth. There is no extraterritorial jurisdiction exercised by Bridgeton, and there is little land within the current town limits which would be appropriate ' for further subdivision. Even so, there are many existing vacant lots which could be developed. The Town's first preference for additional development would be single-family residential and commercial or institutional development which would not over -burden municipal services. Industrial development would be ' welcomed if municipal services could be, provided and if no significant degradation to the community's quality of life would result. 1 23 B. The Town of Bridgeton relies on its local ordinances to regulate all new development. These regulations work in conjunction with State building codes and in addition to County Laws and State and Federal environmental ' requirements. (i) Types and locations of industries desired and local assets desirable to such industries: Industry in Bridgeton currently consists of chemicals and boat building. The primary inducement to all I of these industries is the availability of cheap land. The town encourages the conversion of existing heavy industry to light industry, commercial, or service oriented uses. ' It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to encourage light, non -environmentally intrusive uses subject to the availability of municipal services. This shall be accomplished through enforcement of the existing regulations, including sewer ordinance, zoning and subdivision regulations. (ii) Local commitment to providing services to development: The town of Bridgeton is currently attempting to upgrade local services, especially municipal sewer. The search for funding sources is delaying the process. Currently, town services are availale only to areas inside the corporate limits. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to limit municipal services to areas inside the city limits. This shall be accomplished through the the enforcement of the sewer ordinance, which sets forth that annexation must occur prior to the provision of city services. ' (iii) Types of urban growth patterns desired: It is anticipated that future growth patterns will result in in -fill of vacant areas within the town. This is considered desirable and appropriate by the town. Annexations could add territory when local sewer capacity is improved. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to support current growth patterns through the enforcement of local ordinances. (iv) Redevelopment of developed areas, including relocation of structures endangered by erosion: There is limited erosion in the Bridgeton area and no structures are currently endangered. Some areas of town are in poor condition. It shall be the town's policy to encourage redevelopment and rehabilitation of deteriorating properties. This shall be accomplished by periodic investigation into Community Development Block Grant Applications for housing rehab or other improvements to relieve blighted conditions. (v) Commitment to state and federal programs: The town of Bridgeton has continually participated in state and federal programs. Bridgeton is a member of the Neuse River Council of Governments and the League of Municipalities. The town has received federal grant monies for the fire department and sewer system. The town adopted the FEMA Flood Ordinance. The town is currently interested in a CDBG application and CAMA Public Access Program. _ It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to continue participation in existing state and federal programs, especially with regard to expansion of sewer system. 1 24 (vi) Assistance to channel maintenance and beach nourishment: This issue does not apply. (vii) Energy facility siting and development (including electric generating plants and inshore or OCS exploration and attendant activities): The issues of energy development in the town of Bridgeton are not likely to occur. The town would ' discourage electric generating plants should there be an interest. OCS has no impact locally, but the town has no municipal objections to natural gas exploration. The local policy shall be to discourage development of electric generating plants. (viii) Tourism: Bridgeton has not been a major destination for tourism. Tourists tend to pass through Bridgeton en route to New Bern and Morehead City. However, the town would like to encourage tourist growth. The new marina may draw some individuals seeking recreational opportunities. In addition, the town is attempting to develop a blueberry festival, which would draw tourists in mid summer. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to support tourism in their jurisdiction, through the development of recreational opportunities. This shall be accomplished by support of marina development and local activities to encourage individuals 1 to visit Bridgeton. (ix) Public beach and waterfront access: There is no current public access park available to Bridgeton residents. The end of Bridge Street and adjacent lot is utilized by town residents seeking a view of the river, but the site is not maintained. With the replacement of the Neuse River bridge, the state is planning to dedicate land around the current bridge for a public park. The town hopes to develop more access points as mini parks on streets which stub out at the riverfront throughout the jurisdiction, and plans to seek grants from Coastal Management's Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program, land trust organizations and any other organization with available funding to try and remedy this deficiency. Specifically, the Town would like to improve Bridge ' Street stub -out, Highway 17-foot of existing bridge, and "B" Street accross the railroad tracks on the Boy Scout property. ' It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to pursue funding sources for the development of public access points from the Coastal Management Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program. (x) Types, densities, location, units per acre of anticipated residential development and services necessary to support such development (including solid waste disposal): ' The town of Bridgeton has designed three zoning districts with varying degrees of intensity. The waterfront lots have a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet. The residential corridor, along the highways, require a 5,000 square feet minimum, and RR20 has lot size of 20,000 square feet. Water ' supply is ample, but current sewer capacity is limited. Solid waste disposal is provided by a private contract carrier. Vacant land is primarily located to the east of US 17 and along the margins of the jurisdiction. Vacant land also increases in the northern end of the jurisdiction. The development of lots along E Street for residential uses would pose a serious constraint to existing sewer capacity. 1 25 ' It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to allow more intense development away from the waterfront, but less intense development along waterfront, as sewer capacity is expanded. This shall be accomplished through enforcement of zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A. Describe the means for public education on planning issues: The town of Bridgeton adheres to state statutes concerning public involvement by advertising public hearings on land use and planning issues as necessary. In addition, the Planning and Zoning board has a regular meeting schedule, at which the public is invited to attend. The quarterly bulletin is also mailed to town residents, keeping citizens informed of current issues and events in the town. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to keep its citizens well informed of events occurring in the town. This shall be accomplished through the dissemination of information by mail and meetings. B. Describe the means for continuing public participation in planning: The town has developed and is now implementing a number of citizens' committees. The committees are focused around areas of concern for the town, including public image, street maintenance, sewer, fire and rescue, and police. Each board member has been assigned to a citizen committee. Additionally, the citizen survey described below has been publicly posted. It shall be the policy of the town of Bridgeton to encourage public participation. This shall be accomplished through the citizens committees and input at meetings. C. Describe the means for obtaining citizen input in developing land use plan policy statements: The town conducted a public survey which asked for opinions on issues addressed in the land use plan and any other issues of interest to the town. The response was very good and the Town not only has incorporated those views into this plan, but also posted the results in the Town Hall and referred to them ' when developing its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The results of the survey are as follows: 1 26 PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS The Town of Bridgeton sent surveys to all households and establishments on the sewer customer listing. Two hundred sixty-six surveys were sent and 71 were returned, for a sample result of nearly 27 %. Citizens were asked to mark each issue according to the degree of priority the respondent felt it deserved. (1) High priority means you would be willing to pay more in order to have that item; (2) Medium priority means you would do without some of the others in order to have that; (3) Low priority means it is needed, but other things are more important; (4) Unimportant now is self-explanatory. The responses were then weighted with high priority given a weight of 4 points, etc. in reverse order. The maximum possiblescore for any issue would have been 284 (71 X 4). Results of the survey were as follows: 1. Develop appearance standards for mobile homes. 203 T2. Upgrade and expand Town streets. 190 ' 72. Support development of new retail business. 190 4. Prevent pollution due to inadequate storm drainage. 188 5. Improve storm drainage ditches. 186 6. Improve public safety by establishing a police department. 183 7. Promote new residential development. 182 rT8. Increase public access to the water. 172 T8. Promote services and facilities for the elderly. 172 10. Recruit industry which is not dependent on the water. 167 11. Conserve wetlands/areas of environmental concern. 157 12. Increase public access to boating/fishing. 156 13. Conserve primary and secondary fisheries nursery areas. 149 14. Recruit and expand water -dependent industry. 148 ' 15. Develop the waterfront for tourism rather than industry. 143 16. Expand cultural and recreational facilities. 142 17. Promote tourism in nearby areas. 130 18. Initiate historic preservation efforts. 122 19. OTHERS (Write In): Need to clean up town/improve existing areas: police department: new business-, tax too high -no amenities: expanded sewer system: enforce laws -more aggressive board: loose animals: support current business: waterfront access: residential zoning for waterfront: street repair. 1 27 IPUBLIC SURVEY - PART H PLEASE CHECK THE ONE ANSWER WHICH BEST DESCRIBES YOUR FEELINGS: (1) Residential areas in Bridgeton 14.1 % generally give a good first impression to people passing through. 78.1 % are mostly in need of improvement. They leave a poor first impression. -0- are quaint and attractive. They are a source of pride for the Town. (2) 7.8 no answer Where business is concerned, I wish Bridgeton had 10.1 more specialty shops. 62.3 more retail stores of all types. 8.7 more medical and personal services. 5.8% none (i.e., no businesses) 13.1 no answer ' (3) Cultural and recreational opportunities in Bridgeton are 20.0% adequate if people would take advantage of them. 32.3 o not entertaining enough for our population. We need new things to do. ' 10.8 % not organized to include all the population. 9.2 not focused enough on the young. 10.8 % not focused enough on the elderly. 16.9 % no answer (4) Marketing Bridgeton for future growth should include 33.3 % a strategy to attract retirees to move here from other parts of the Country. 12.7 more focus on tourism as a source of business. Let strangers visit and leave rather than move in to stay. 36.5% I like Bridgeton just the way it is. Don't market it for growth at all. ' 17.5 no answer (5) State and Federal regulation of water quality, wetlands, and other natural resources has 66.7 helped me understand some of the problems associated with developing land in areas that are near the water. I am more sympathetic to conservation of our environment today than I was 10 years ago. 9.5 % irritated me no end. The land is here for Man to use as he sees fit. Nothing in Nature is more important than that. 4.8 % confused me. I still don't understand why there is a problem with development in coastal areas. 19.0 % no answer 1 (6) One thing I like BEST about Bridgeton is: Small town/home town atmosphere Location near water and New Bern ' The people Nice place to live ' Churches Townhomes are fenced Safety Fire protection Low cost housing School Can always leave 28 (7) One thing I like LEAST about Bridgeton is: Poor community appearance Lack of police department Must travel to New Bern for most goods and services Board revises ordinances to fit public opinion Opposition to townhouses ' Inadequate parking Dogs on the loose Little return on services for taxpayers Division between natives and newcomers No mail delivery Lack of waterfront access ' Noise Lack of jobs for young people Disrepair of streets Lack of zoning enforcement Lack of vision for future Lack of annual event ' Too many used car dealers Townhouses are fenced in People Poor government ' People who support growth 29 ISTORM HAZARD MITIGATION, POST DISASTER RECOVERY, AND EVACUATION PLANS ' A. Storm Hazard Mitigation: Discussion Evacuation procedures are the responsibility of the Division of Emergency Management, but the Town ' served on a planning committee for a Multi Hazard Plan. The primary shelters serving Bridgeton residents in the event of a storm are Farm Life in Vanceboro or a number of shelters, including Trent Park, H.J. McDonald and Grover C. Fields (Old New Bern High School). Not all of these shelters may be open, but the media will disseminate information on these shelters as they are opened. ' Hazard mitigation, or actions taken to reduce the probability or impact of a disaster could involve a number of activities or policy decisions. The starting point, however, is to identify the types of hazards (including ' the relative severity and magnitude of risks), and the extent of development (including residential, commercial, etc.) located in storm hazard areas. Hurricanes are extremely powerful, often unpredictable forces of nature. The four causes of ' fatalities and property damage are high winds, flooding, wave action, and erosion. Two of these, high winds and flooding, apply to Bridgeton. ' 1. High Winds High winds are the major determinants of a hurricane, by definition, i.e., a tropical disturbance with sustained winds of at least 73 miles per hour. Extreme hurricanes can have ' winds of up to 165 miles per hour, with gusts up to 200 miles per hour. These winds circulate around the center or "eye" of the storm. Although the friction or impact of the winds hitting land from the water causes some dissipation of the full force, there is still a tremendous amount of ' energy left to cause damage to buildings, overturn mobile homes, down trees and power lines, and destroy crops. Although North Carolina's barrier islands are often the first areas hit, inland areas relatively close to sound areas, like Bridgeton, can also suffer major wind damage. Also, tornadoes are often spawned by hurricane wind patterns. Wind stress, therefore, is an important consideration in storm hazard mitigation planning. 2. Flooding The excessive amounts of rainfall and the "storm surge" which often accompany ' hurricanes can cause massive coastal and riverine flooding causing excessive property damage and deaths by drowning. (More deaths are caused by drowning than any other cause in hurricanes.) Flooding can cause extensive damage in inland areas, since many coastal areas have low elevations and are located in high hazard or "Zone A" flood areas according to the Federal Emergency ' Management Agency maps. Based on recent (1987) flood insurance maps prepared for Bridgeton, all of the town is classified as being in the 100-year "high hazard" flood zone, or Zone A (see Map 3.) Consideration of potential flood damage is important to Bridgeton's efforts to develop ' storm mitigation policies. The 1993 real property valuation for the Town was $9,509,000. ' 3. Policy Statements: Storm Hazard Mitigation In order to minimize the damage potentially caused by the effects of a hurricane or other major storm, Bridgeton proposes the following policies: 30 ' High Winds Bridgeton supports enforcement of the N.C. State Building Code. The town will continue to enforce the State Building Code on wind resistant construction with design standards of 110 mph wind loads. ' Floodine Bridgeton is an active participant in the National Flood Insurance program and is ' supportive of hazard mitigation elements. Bridgeton is participating in the regular phase of the insurance program and enforces a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. The base flood elevation, as set out in the ordinance, is 9.1 NGVD. Bridgeton also supports continued enforcement of the ' CAMA and 404 Wetlands development permit processes in areas potentially susceptible to flooding. ' Implementation: Storm Hazard Mitigation a. Bridgeton will continue to enforce the standards of the State Building Code. ' b. The town will continue to support enforcement of State and Federal programs which aid in mitigation of hurricane hazards, including CAMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit as zoning and flood damage prevention regulations. B. Post -Disaster Reconstruction Plan ' Bridgeton recognizes that in the event of a major storm, it will be very important to have a general recovery and reconstruction plan. This section of the Land Use Plan will address this issue. 1. Appointment of a "Post -Disaster Recovery Team" In the event of a major storm having landfall near Bridgeton, when evacuation orders are issued the mayor shall appoint a "Post -Disaster Recovery Team." The total team may consist of the following: a. Mayor b. Fire Chief (team leader) C. Town Zoning Administrator d. Town Board of Aldermen members ' The Fire Chief will serve as the team leader and will be responsible to the Mayor. The base of operations will be the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) designated by the governing body. The Post -Disaster Recovery Team will be responsible for the following: ' a. Establishing an overall restoration schedule. b. Setting restoration priorities. C. Determining requirements for outside assistance and requesting such assistance when beyond local capabilities. ' d. Keeping the appropriate County and State officials informed. 31 2. 3. e. Keeping the public informed. f. Assembling and maintaining records of actions taken and expenditures and obligations incurred. g. Recommending to the mayor to proclaim a local "state of emergency" if warranted. h. Commencing and coordinating cleanup, debris removal and utility restoration which would include coordination of restoration activities undertaken by private utility companies. i. Coordinating repair and restoration of essential public facilities and services in accordance with determined priorities. j. Assisting private businesses and individual property owners in obtaining information on the various types of assistance that might be available to them from Federal and State agencies. Immediate Clean -Up and Debris Removal As soon as practical after the storm, the Post -Disaster Recovery Team will direct appropriate town personnel, and as necessary, request State and/or Federal assistance to begin clearing fallen tees and other debris from the town's roads and bridges. Long -Term Recovery/Restoration The Post -Disaster Recovery Team will be responsible for overseeing the orderly implementation of the reconstruction process after a major storm or hurricane in accordance with the town's building and land use regulations and policies. Damage Assessments Damage assessments will be necessary to determine as quickly as possible a realistic estimate of the amount of damage caused by a hurricane or major storm. Information such as the number of strictures damaged, the magnitude of damage, and the estimated total dollar loss will need to be developed. As soon as practical after the storm, i.e., clearance of major roadways, the Post -Disaster Recovery Team Leader shall set up a Damage Assessment Team (DAT) Zoning Administrator, a local realtor or building contractor, and appropriate personnel from the Craven County Tax Department. The DAT will immediately begin to make "windshield" surveys of damaged structures to initially assess damages and provide a preliminary dollar value of repairs or replacement. The following general criteria shall be utilized: a. Destroyed (repairs would cost more than 80 percent of value). b. Major (repairs would cost more than 30 percent of the value). C. Minor (repairs would cost less than 30 percent of the value, but the structure is currently uninhabitable). Q 32 u d. Habitable (some minor damage, with repairs less than 15 percent of the value). Each damage assessment will be documented according to the County tax records. Also, town tax maps and/or records may be used for identification purposes. The total estimated dollar value of damages will be summarized and reported to the Post -Disaster Recovery Team Leader. NOTE: Any structure damaged over 50 % of its value is considered "destroyed" under CAMA regulations and a new CAMA permit will be required for reconstruction if the structure is located in an AEC. Reconstruction Development Standards Developed structures which were destroyed or sustained "major damage" and which did not conform to the town's building regulations, zoning ordinances, and other storm hazard mitigation policies, i.e., basic measures to reduce damage by high winds, flooding, wave action or erosion, must be repaired or redeveloped according to those policies. In some instances, this may mean relocation of construction, or no reconstruction at all. Building permits to restore destroyed or "major" damaged structures which were built in conformance with the town's building code and town storm hazard mitigation policies shall be issued automatically. All structures suffering major damage will be repaired according to the State Building Code and town Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. All structures suffering minor damage, regardless of location, will be allowed to be rebuilt to the original condition prior to the storm. Development Moratoria Because of the density of development at Bridgeton and the possible extensive damage caused by a major storm, it may be necessary for the town to prohibit all redevelopment activities for a certain period of time after a storm. This "moratorium" could allow the town time to carefully assess all damage in view of existing policies, building regulations, and ordinances, in order to help determine whatever existing policies, etc., should be revised to mitigate similar damage from future storms. The intent of such a moratorium would be to learn all the lessons possible and try and determine what steps and precautions the town can take in rebuilding so as not to suffer damage to the same extent. If a moratorium is established, the time frame will be commensurate with the extent of the damage. The actual time frame will be established by the Board of Aldermen. Repair/Reconstruction Schedule The following schedule of activities and time frame are proposed with the realistic idea that many factors of a hurricane may render the schedule unfeasible. Activit Complete and Report Damage Assessments. Begin Repairs to Critical Utilities and Facilities Permitting of Reconstruction activities for all damaged structures ("minor" to pre -storm original status, "major" or "destroyed" to State Building Code and hazard mitigation standards) Time Frame Two weeks after storm As soon as possible after storm After a 90-day moratorium, and completion of all assessments 33 IRepair and Replacement of Public Utilities ' If sewer pump stations or the sewage treatment plant is damaged and it is determined that the facilities can be relocated to a less hazardous location, then they will be relocated during reconstruction. This activity will be coordinated with Carolina Power and Light Company, for 11 'J 1 11 electrical service. The Mayor will be responsible for overseeing the repair or replacement of public utilities. 34 LAND CLASSIFICATION m m m m i m m m m m S m m m m m m m IVI. LAND CLASSIFICATION ' The land classification system provides a uniform way of looking at how the planned use of land interacts with environmentally -sensitive areas and with the development of a county or town. It is not a strict regulatory device in the sense of a zoning ordinance or zoning map. It represents more of a tool to understand relationships H between various land use categories and how these relationships help shape local policy. Particular attention is focused on how intensely land is utilized and the level of services required to support that intensity. The regulations for the Coastal Area Management Act state: "The land classification system provides a framework to be used by local governments to identify the future use of all lands. The designation of land classes allows the local government to illustrate their policy statements as to where and to what density they want growth to occur, and where they want to conserve natural and cultural resources by guiding growth." (7B.0204) (b) There are seven general land use classifications under CAMA regulations: Developed, Urban Transition, Limited Transition, Community, Rural, Rural with Services, and Conservation. In applying the land classification system, each local government should give careful consideration to how, where and when certain types of, and intensity of, development will be either encouraged or discouraged. A brief summary of the five broad classifications, as contained in the CAMA rules, might illustrate this: "Urban land uses and higher intensity uses which presently require the traditional urban services should be directed to lands classified developed. Areas developing or anticipated to develop at urban densities which will eventually require urban services should be directed to lands classified transition. Low density development in settlements which will not require sewer services should be directed to areas classified as community. Agriculture, forestry, mineral extraction and other similar low intensity uses and very low density, dispersed residential uses should be directed to lands classified rural. Generally, public or private water or sewer systems will not be provided in areas classified rural as an incentive for intense development." (7B.0204) (c) The purpose of the conservation class is to "provide for the effective long-term management and protection of significant, limited, or irreplaceable areas. " Consequently, urban services (whether public or private) should not be provided to those areas as an incentive to "stimulate" more intense development. Each of these classes must be represented on a Land Classification Map. The seven land classifications and Land Classification Map are therefore intended to serve as a visual reflection of the policies previously stated in Section II. Ideally, the map which depicts these classifications should be as flexible as the policies that guide them. Of the stated five land classifications, only three, Developed, Transition, and Conservation, are applicable to Bridgeton (see Map 5, Land Classification Map in Appendix A). These three land use classifications, as they will be applied in Bridgeton, are identified and defined below. A. DEVELOPED The developed class of land use provides for continued intensive development and redevelopment of existing cities or municipalities. Areas to be classified as "developed" include lands currently developed for urban purposes or approaching a density of 500 dwellings per square mile that are provided with usually municipal or public services, policy and fire protection. In other words, such areas must be currently "urban" in character, i.e., have mixed land uses such as residential, commercial, industrial and institutional, or other uses as high to medium densities. All of the developable land in Bridgeton located west of U.S. 17 comes under this classification. Additionally, there are isolated areas of high -density developed property within the existing town limits east 35 of U.S. 17, most notably the areas of intensive mobile home development, which are scheduled to be among the initial areas served by the town sewer system currently in the design phase. These areas have also been classified as "developed." URBAN TRANSITION Transition land is classified as those lands providing for future intensive urban development within the ensuing ten years on lands that are most suitable and that will be scheduled for provision of necessary urban utilities and services (whether from public or private sources). They may also provide for additional growth when additional lands in the developed class are not available or when they are severely limited for development. According to the North Carolina Administrative Guidelines for CAMA Land Use planning (7B.0204), lands classified "transition" may include: 1. Lands currently having urban services; 2. Lands necessary to accommodate the population and economic growth anticipated within the planning jurisdiction over the next five to ten years; 3. Areas which are in, or will be in, a "transition" state of development; i.e., going from a lower intensity to a higher intensity of uses, and will eventually require urban services. Transition lands must further: 1. Be served or be readily served by public water, sewer, and other urban services including public streets; and 2. Be generally free of severe physical limitations for urban development. The "transition" class should not include: 1. Lands of high potential for agriculture, forestry or mineral extraction, or land falling within extensive rural areas being managed commercially for these uses, when other lands are available; 2. Lands where urban development might result in major or irreversible damage to important environmental, scientific, or scenic values; or, 3. Land where urban development might result in damage to natural systems or processes of more than local concern; and 4. Lands where development will result in undue risk to life or property from natural hazards or existing land uses. Areas to be classified as "urban transition" in Bridgeton include all areas within the existing town limits and located east of U.S. 17 not designated as "developed." These areas contain some isolated residences and commercial properties which are currently provided public water services and available town services, and which can easily be served by municipal sewer service during the planning period. Additionally, these areas contain vacant land which is generally free of physical limitations to development and able to accommodate residential and commercial development with less potential for negative environmental impact than vacant land closer to the Neuse River. The areas defined on the Land Classification Map as transition will undoubtedly undergo a change to higher -density development during 36 Ithe planning period. There are areas adjacent to the eastern town limits which can also be technically classified as "transition". However, although the development of these properties toward a higher -density use is a probability during the planning period, such development is not within the town's current planning jurisdiction or is it "necessary" to accommodate population and economic growth in Bridgeton during the planning period. These areas have therefore not been classified in this initial land use plan; however, the development of these areas is a planning issue facing the town. The Developed and Transition classes should be the only lands under active consideration by a municipality for intense urban development requiring urban services. The area within these classes is where detailed local land use and public investment planning will occur. State and Federal expenditures on projects associated with urban development (water, sewer, urban street systems, etc.) will be guided to these areas. . C. CONSERVATION The final land use category for Bridgeton is the "Conservation" class, which provides for effective long-term management of "significant, limited, or irreplaceable areas". This management may be needed ' because of its "natural, cultural, recreational, productive, or scenic values" (7B.0204a4). This class should be limited to lands that contain: major wetlands, essentially undeveloped shorelines that are unique, fragile, or hazardous for development, necessary habitat conditions, and publicly owned water supply watersheds and aquifers. Development should be limited to residential development and commercial uses, piers, bulkheads, marinas and other appropriate uses which will not be detrimental to water quality and meet the use standards set forth in Chapter 15 NCAC, Subchapter 7H and consistent with local zoning. In Bridgeton, the environmentally -sensitive areas identified as Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs), i.e., the coastal wetlands, estuarine waters, the 75 foot estuarine shorelines, and public trust waters, are classified as "Conservation." The Boy Scout lot situated at the northern end of the shoreline is designated for conservation, such that only a small structure such as a scout but would be encouraged on this property. The potential "404" wetlands area located between Pine and Academy Streets west of U.S. 17 could possibly be developed for urban purposes with permitting -type mitigation, if approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. The area is located adjacent to existing industrial/highway commercial districts that would severely inhibit an attempt at conservation and protection as a protected wetland. ' D. LAND CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY The proposed classification of land, according to the levels of intensity and provision of public services in Bridgeton, were presented in parts A. through C., above. These classifications relate directly ' to the "policy statements' contained in Section II of this plan. Additional information on the relationship between the land classification system and policies will be presented in the following Section IV. 1 37 1 VH. RELATIONSHIP OF POLICIES AND LAND CLASSIFICATIONS As required by the Coastal Area Management Act, the land use plan must relate the policies section to the land classification map and provide some indication as to which land uses are appropriate in each class. A. DEVELOPED AND TRANSITION CLASSES As mentioned in the discussion of existing conditions, the majority of Bridgeton is developed, and most of the urban transition tracts of land should be under development within the planning period. This ' is the area where basic services such as water, sewer, and community support services are available and/or will be available within the planning period. The developed and urban transition.classes were specifically designated to accommodate the more intensive land uses, including residential, commercial, and open space, community facilities and transportation. Hazardous or offensive uses such as heavy industry and hazardous chemical storage facilities are currently located in this area, but such uses are limited and expansion is not encouraged. Land uses will be strictly regulated by the town's existing and amended zoning and development regulations. Policy statements addressing these classes were primarily directed at development issues, avoiding incompatible land use and unplanned development, and the issues of municipal services, community facilities and transportation. The Town relies on enforcement of local ordinance and County and State building codes to guide future growth development. B. CONSERVATION CLASS The conservation class is designated to provide for effective long-term management of significant limited or irreplaceable areas which include Areas of Environmental Concern. Development in the estuarine system should be restricted to such uses as residential development, commercial uses, piers, ' bulkheads, marinas, and other uses which are judged not to be detrimental to water quality or the overall integrity of the environment through pollution, etc., and which meet the use standards as set forth in 15 NCAC 7H and consistent with local zoning. Policy Statements under Resource Protection, and Resource Production and Management in Section H of this plan, address the town's intentions under this class. ' Generally, the Town relies on State and Federal Regulations to protect natural resources and local ordinance to restrict development. The town does not intend to impose any additional local restrictions on development in these areas at this time. 38 APPENDIX A m m m m m m w m m m m m m m m m m m m 3 y C-� tv • • IBM r O rD b b f CD p A D� C. z C •F-rt cr O O n p ... J O qQ ° _�`�� z �� rDrD m Boundary line on the North side, of Bridgeton is currently under dispute. TO AWASHINGTON i, P-1k. Onmtil & RR pine 3ucd Piw Surcct _t M Acadcut Srucct F9 ss DN 7 IM00 ID -EAST z 0 r)z of Bridgeton lies entirely within the 100 year flood plain. DEVELOPMENT CONSTRAINTS Natural and Technological Hazards TOWN OF BRIDGETON Technological Hazards Soils: Chemical and Fuel Storage: Murville A1u Underground fuel storage A Seabrook Se Aboveground fuel storage Dare DA Bulk chemical storage A 1995 0 75' 150' 300' NIAP 2 UEVELOP,MENT CONSTRAINTS TO ORIENTAL TO NEW BERN The preparation of this map was financed 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 Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. MNo ID -EAST 0 oz Conservation Urban Transition Developed LAND CLASSIFICATION TOWN OF BRIDGETON NOTE: Due to map size and scale, locations of Conservation classified AECs are approximate and are included for general informational purposes only. Exact locations must be identified on site by the appropriate permitting agency. 1995 0 75' 150' 300' The preparation of this map was financed 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 Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admistration. MAP 3 LAND CLASSIFICATION TO ORIENTAL TO NEW BERN