Land Use Plan Update-1994

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TOWN OF CALABASH
1994 LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
• • • � • • •,,,ice • �- .
Honorable George Anderson, Mayor
Jon Sanborn, Mayor Pro-Tem
Theodora Altreuter
Raymond Card
Keith Hardee
Forrest King
Robert L. Noe
Edward F. Schaack
_-zLal : • •
Alfred E. Smith, Chairman
Bruce Kibblehouse, Land Use Plan Liason
Anthony Clemmons
Terry Frink
John Hannaway
Phil Marlow
Billie Mitchell
Warren Pienack
Douglas Simmons
Mary Lou Taylor
TOWN STAFF
Janet Thomas, Town Clerk
Margaret Partridge
Mary Bruton
John Fazekas
Roger Bowman
PLANNING CONSULTANT
Margaret H. Hayes
HAYES & ASSOCIATES
2222 Mimosa Place
Wilmington, NC 28403
[phone]
FUNDING AGENCY
The preparation of this land use planning document with associated
maps was'financed in part through a grant provided by the North
Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided 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.

' TOWN OF CALABASH. NC
1994 LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
' SECTION/DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION 1
SECTION II: PRESENT CONDITIONS 4
A. POPULATION 4
1. Year-round population 5
2. Seasonal Population 8
3. Population Summary 10
4. Social Characteristics and Composition 11
5. Population Projections 11
B. ECONOMY 12
C. EXISTING LAND USE
17
'
1:
Residential
17
2.
Commercial
18
3.
Governmental/Institutional
18
4.
Recreational
18
5.
Manufacturing/Industrial Use
18
6.
Land Use Compatibility Problems
18
7.
8.
Problems from Unplanned Development
Areas Likely to Experience Changes in
19
19
Predominant Land Use
D. CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS
19
1.
Prior LAMA Land Use Plans
19
2.
Transportation
19
'
3.
4.
Water Distribution Plan
Waste Treatment Plans
20
20
5.
Utilities Extension Policy
20
6.
Recreation Policy
20
'
7.
Emergency Response Plan
20
8.
Waterfront Access Plan
21
9.
Calabash River Dredging Feasibiltiy Study
21
10.
Local Regulations and Enforcement
21
'
a. LAMA Permits
21
b. Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map
22
'
c. Subdivision Regulations
d. Septic Tank Regulation
22
22
e. Building Code
23
f. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
23
' 11. Federal and State Regulations 23

i
SECTION
III: LAND SUITABILITY
24
A.
Areas of Environmental Concern
24
'
1. Coastal Wetlands
24
2. Estuarine Waters
25
3. Estuarine Shorelines
25
4. Public Trust Areas
26
'
B.
Flood Hazard Areas
27
C.
Estuarine Erosion Areas
27
D.
Man-made Hazards
27
'
E.
Areas with Soil Limitations
28
F.
Sources and Estimated Quality of Water Supply
28
1. Groundwater
28
2. Surface Water Quality
29
G.
Closed Shellfishing Areas
29
H.
Slopes in Excess of 12 Percent
29
' I. Fragile Areas 29
1. Natural Resource Fragile Areas 29
2. Cultural Resource Fragile Areas 30
' J. Areas with Resource Potential 31
1. Agricultural, Forest, and Mining Resources 31
2. Productive Water Bodies 31
3. Non -intensive Outdoor Recreation Lands 31
SECTION IV: CONSTRAINTS - CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES 33
A.
Existing Water Service Areas
33
B.
Sewer Service Area
34
C.
Schools
35
D.
Transportation
35
'
E.
Solid Waste Collection
36
F.
Police Protection
37
G.
Fire Protection
37
' H. Emergency Rescue and Safety 38
I. Recreational Services 38
J. Administrative Services 39
' SECTION V• LAND USE POLICY STATEMENTS 40
A. Resource Protection 41
1. Areas of Environmental Concern 41
a. Estuarine System 42
(1) Coastal Wetlands 42
(2) Estuarine Waters 42
(3) Estuarine Shoreline 43
(4) Public Trust Areas 43
' (5) Outstanding Resource Waters 44
b. Ocean Hazards Areas 44

ii
1
2.
Other Natural Fragile Areas
44
a. Areas that Sustain Remnant Species
45
b. Prime Wildlife Habitats
45
c. Wooded Swamps and 404 Wetlands
46
d. Maritime Forests
46
e. Significant Archaeological and
Historical Resources
46
f. Shellfishing Waters
46
3.
Constraints to Development
47
4.
Protection of Potable Water Supplies
47
5.
Use of Package Treatment Plants
48
6.
Stormwater Runoff
48
7.
Marina, Bulkhead, and Floating Home
50
Development
8.
Industrial Impacts on Fragile Areas
50
9.
Development of Sound and Estuarine System
50
Islands
10.
Rising Sea Level
51
B.
Resource Production and Management
51
.1.
Recreational and Fisheries Resources
51
2.
The Impact of Residential and Commercial
52
Development on Natural Resources
C.
Economic and Community Development
52
1.
Growth Management
53
2.
Types of Development
54
3.
Capacity of Existing Facilities and
56
Local Commitment to Providing Services
4.
Desired Urban Growth Patterns
57
5.
Redevelopment of Developed Areas
57
6.
Commitment to State and Federal Programs
57
7.
Assistance to Channel Maintenance and
58
Beach Renourishment Policies
-8.
Energy Facility Siting and Development
58
9.
Tourism
58
10.
Coastal and Estuarine Beach Access
'58
and Parking
D.
Continuing Public Participation Policies
58
E.
Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post -Disaster Recovery, and
60
Evacuation Policies
1.
Mitigation
60
2.
Evacuation
62
3.
Post Disaster and Reconstruction Policies
62
SECTION
VI•
LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
65
A.
Developed
66
B.
Urban Transition
66
C.
Conservation
67
I
APPENDIX I• PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

iii
LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS
TABLES
PAGE
Table
2.1:
Town of Calabash Annexations, 1973-1994
4
Table
2.2:
Year-round Population for the Town of Calabash
6
and Brunswick County, 1970-1990
Table
2.3:
Town of Calabash Building Permits, 1982-1993
7
Table
2.4:
Year-round Population Estimates for
the Town of Calabash, March 1994
8
Table
2.5:
Seasonal Residential Population Estimates
for the Town of Calabash, 1994
9
Table
2.6:
Monthly Golf Players at Championship Golf
10
Courses in Calabash, 1993
Table
2.7:
Calabash Planning Area Population Summary, 1994
10
Table
2.8:
Residential Population Estimates and Projections
for the Town of Calabash Planning Area, 1994-2004
11A
Table
2.9:
Businesses in Calabash, August 1994
13
Table
2.10:
Calabash Assessed Valuations, 1982-1993
16
Table
2.11:
1994 Residential Land Use by Type, March 1994
17
Table
3.1:
Soil Characteristics for Calabash
28 A,B
Table
4.1:
School Membership and Design Capacity, 1994
35
Table
4.2:
Average Daily Traffic Counts for Calabash,
36
1984-1993
Map
1:
MAPS
Location of the Town of Calabash
PAGE
3
Map
2:
Existing Land Use and Zoning Map, 1994
Attached
Map
3:
Flood Hazard Areas, 1994
Attached
Map
4:
Primary Nursery Areas, Spring 1994
32
Map
5:
Land Classification Map
Attached

' SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
The North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act of 1974,
better known as "CAMA", requires that the 20 counties located in
the State's coastal region and their respective municipalities
prepare Land Use Plans. These land use plans, although developed
' according to State -provided guidelines, allow local governments
to establish and enforce policies to guide and manage growth and
development of their communities. Local land use plans were
developed initially in 1974-1976. The plans were to have a 10-
year outlook in terms of projecting population, economic, land
use, and community facility trends. However, because of the
social, economic, and environmental dynamics of the coastal area,
the State guidelines required that all plans be updated every
five years. Such periodic updates permit local governments to
reflect upon previously developed policies to see how they relate
to newly emerging trends.
Such is the case with the Town of Calabash. The Town of
Calabash was first incorporated in 1973 and is located in
southeastern Brunswick County as shown on Map 1. The initial
LAMA Land Use Plan was adopted and certified in 1989. As
indicated in the previous plan, population growth which requires
' an increasing utilization of land and resources, can lead to
undesirable consequences if the land and community facilities are
unregulated or improperly managed. Calabash, through the
development and subsequent updating of its Land Use policy
document and enforcement of existing local controls, is seeking
to avoid the negative impacts of unmanaged growth.
' This planning document will closely adhere to the CAMA
planning guidelines as contained in Subchapter 7B (as amended) of
the State Administrative Codes. Four major components which are
' required to be in the Land Use Plan document are as follows:
A. Data Collection and Analysis: This is an analysis of the
existing patterns and trends within the Town's jurisdiction as
far as population, the economy, land use, community facilities,
environmental, and other resources. Section II of this report
examines the present conditions of Calabash, Section III
' describes the environmental constraints, and Section IV examines
the constraints of the community facilities in terms of projected
growth.
B. Existing Land Use Map: Map 2, which is attached in the
back of this report, shows the existing land use of Calabash as
of March 1994.
C. Policy Discussion and Policy Statements: Based on a
thorough analysis of existing conditions, trends, and
' developments, Section V states the policy of the Town on a number
of important issues.

2
.D. Land Classification Map: Map 5 is the Land
Classification Map and is attached to the back of this report.
This map is intended to be a reflection of the Town's land use
policies, based upon the projected density of development, for
all the lands within its jurisdiction. The land classifications
designated on Map 5 are for general reference only, and the final
determination of a property's classification is determined by the
written description found in the Plan.
A number of data sources were utilized in the effort to
analyze the population, housing, economic, environmental, and
land use conditions in Calabash. Various state, county, and
local agencies were contacted for both general and specific
detailed information. Technical reports, the previous land use
plan, the 1980 and 1990 Census, and other documents were reviewed
as well. Extensive efforts were used to obtain citizen
participation. In April 1994 a survey was mailed to 325 property
owners and businesses in the Town and the extraterritorial
jurisdiction (ETJ). This survey had an excellent response rate
of 52 percent and the results are included in the Appendix.
Issues were further identified during three well -attended public
meetings conducted on March 9. May 16, and June 9 1994. The key
planning issues identified by public input for the Town of
Calabash are listed below:
* Need for a public sewer system
* Preserve and enhance small town character
* Minimize tax rate increase
* Commercial development
* Annexation
Other issues are also identified and addressed in other
sections of this planning document.

1
1
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MAP 1: LOCATION OF THE TOWN OF CALABASH, NC
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SECTION II: PRESBNT CONDITIONS
The beginning point of analysis for any Land Use Plan is an
assessment of the population trends and patterns. For resort
communities like Calabash subject to the seasonal fluctuations of
tourists and golfers, this analysis can be rather complicated.
However, many land use and growth management policies relate
directly to the number of people using local land and facilities
at any given moment. The following population analysis offers an
overview of Calabash's annexations, a study of the year-round
local and regional population, and an assessment of the seasonal
visitor population.
The Town of Calabash was chartered on May 9, 1973. The town
limits were only slightly altered by 5 subsequent annexations.
On August 31, 1989, the landmark merger with Carolina Shores
quadrupled the geographic area of the Town by adding 877 acres
and caused the town population to swell with the addition of
1,186 Carolina Shores residents. Only one satellite annexation
of the Town ABC Store has occurred since the 1989 merger. Table
2.1 notes the annexations and merger.
YEAR LOCATION
11/13/80 Dixon Property/Corner of Persimmon and Thomasboro
6/22/83 Block of Calabash East and Village Green
Subdivision
*2/27/84 Lots in Boundary Estate/Deli and Service Station
*4/22/85 Victoria's Ragpatch
10/10/87 VFW and Lewellyn-Lewis, Calabash East
-----------------------------------------------------------------
8/31/89 Merger of Calabash and Carolina Shores
*10/31/89 Lot in Boundary Estates. Town ABC Store
' * Satellite Annexation
Source: Town of Calabash
when incorporated in 1973, the Town of Calabash was
initially 217 acres. Another 13 acres were added to the Town
area with the 5 annexations between 1980 and 1987. The 1989
' merger with Carolina Shores added 877 acres and the Town of
Calabash is now 1,107 acres. At the time of the merger, the Town
was divided into two districts: District One which comprises the

5
former Town and District Two which includes Carolina Shores and
Carolina Shores Acreage Estates.
The Town of Calabash established an extraterritorial
jurisdiction (ETJ) on June 13, 1977. The initial ETJ boundaries
were done by the Brunswick County Planning Department and
consisted of an arc. The ETJ limits were redrawn on May 24, 1988
by using the proper guidelines and an agreement was established
with the Town of Sunset Beach in the Bonaparte area where both
town ETJ limits meet. The ETJ limits were extended again on to
the maximum one -mile limit on August 28, 1990 based on the new
town boundaries after the merger.
Calabash, like other resort communities, experiences a
fluctuation of population according to the season. Although the
year-round population of the "original Calabash" has historically
been very small, the real population impact upon Calabash is
substantially higher. The Town's reputation as the "Seafood
Capitol of the World" attracts thousands of visitors from both
the Carolinas to its restaurants and shops. The popularity of
Calabash's golf courses is steadily growing each year. This
report estimates the 1994 year-round population of the Town and
its ETJ as well as estimates the seasonal residential population
and discusses the impact of "day visitors" who come to Calabash
to enjoy its restaurants, shops, and golf courses.
The Town was incorporated in 1973 and made its first showing
in the 1980 U.S. Census with a permanent population of 140
persons. In 1990, however, the U.S. Census showed a year-round
population of 1,210 persons. This extraordinary growth is the
result of the merger of the Town of Calabash with the community
of Carolina Shores on August 31, 1989. Based on the 1994 land
use survey and housing count, it is estimated that the 1994 year-
round population within the town limits is 1,432 residents and
1,120 for the ETJ. The March 1994 estimated population for the
entire Planning Area is 2,552. Table 2.2 details the 1990 US
Census population characteristics for the Town and Brunswick
County.

BRUNSWICK
COUNTY
1970 -
1990
'
PERCENT
INCREASE
PLACE
1970
1980
1990
1980-1990
'
Calabash
-0-
140
1,210
764.2$
Brunswick County
24,223
35,777
50,985
42.5%
Township
Lockwood Folly
4,748
7,361
10,705
45.4%
'
Northwest
3,356
4,657
7,454
60.1%
Shallote
4,877
6,582
11,818
79.6%-
Smithville
4,346
6,838
9,488
38.8%;
'
Town Creek
5,215
8,357
9,260
10.8%;
Waccamaw
1,681
1,982
2,260
14.0g
' Source: United States Census, 1970, 1980, and 1990.
Town of Calabash LAMA Land Use Plan Update, 1989.
The year-round population growth at Calabash is somewhat
consistent with the strong overall growth trends in Brunswick
County and the neighboring Myrtle Beach-Horry County, SC.
Brunswick County grew by 47.7 percent between 1970 and 1980 and
' by 42.5 percent between 1980 and 1990. Over the twenty year
period between 1970 and 1990, Brunswick County had a significant
population growth of ill percent. As evident by the township
' data, most of Brunswick County's growth occurred in the beach
areas and in the mainland adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway.
As a case in point, Calabash, Sunset Beach, and Ocean Isle are
located in the Shallotte Township which experienced a 142 percent
population increase between 1970 and 1990 and a 79.6 percent
increase during the 19801s. Over one-third of Brunswick's County
population increase during the 1980's occurred in Shallotte
' Township and the County projects that 56 percent of the 1990's
growth will occur in Shallotte Township.
' Dramatic growth has also occurred in the Myrtle Beach-Horry
County, SC area which Calabash borders. The population of Horry
County, including Myrtle Beach, was 69,992 in 1970; 101,419 in
1980; and 144,053 in 1990. Thus the year-round population of the
1 Myrtle Beach area more than doubled between 1970 and 1990
according to the United States Census.
k
These growth trends were likewise evident in Calabash as
revealed by the building permit data. Notice Table 2.3. Between
1982 and 1993, the Town of Calabash issued a total of 1,087
building permits for both the Town and its ETJ. These permits
authorized the construction of an additional 1,172 dwelling units
and 59 commercial buildings within the entire Calabash Planning
Area. 'One should remember that the Town and ETJ boundaries
changed during this time period so that a permit authorized in
Carolina Shores prior to August 1989 was considered as an ETJ
permit while a permit after August 1989 was included in the Town
total.
I

7
TABLE
2.3:
TOWN OF
CALABASH
BUILDING PERMITS, 1982
-
1993
PLANNING
AREA
YEARS.F.
M.F.* M.H.
COM,
S.F.
M.F.*
M.H.
COM,
TOTAL
1982
-
- -
-
6
-
1
4
11
1983
-
- -
-
66
1 [126]
13
6
86
1984
-
- -
-
94
-
15
7
116
1985
8
5 6
3
56
-
21
2
101
1986
4
- 2
-
43
-
33
-
82
1987
2
- 2
-
50
-
38
-
92
1988
1
- -
4
79
-
37
5
126
1989
28
- 4
4
6
1 [8]
28
19
90
1990
36
- -
-
15
2[14]
37
3
93
1991
36
- 2
-
26
-
21
1
86
1992
38
- -
1
25
-
38
-
102
1993
34
- -
-
31
-
37
-
102
TOTAL
187
5 16
12
497
4[148]
319
47
1,087
TOTAL 187 5 16 -- 497 148 319 -- 1,172
D.U.
* Multi -family units includes single-family attached units in
Carolina Shores Resort, Marsh Harbour, and Belle Croft.
[ ] = Number of dwelling units (d.u.) permitted
Source: Town of Calabash and 1989 CAMA Land Use Plan
Table 2.4 shows the estimated 1994 year-round population for
the Town, the ETJ, and the total Calabash Planning Area. For
this report, a year-round resident is defined as a person who
resides in Calabash at least 6 months a year•. The Town estimates
were derived by assuming that growth since the 1990 United States
Census was similar to the population and housing characteristics
reflected by the Census. The 1990 United States Census reported
that 76 percent of all housing units were occupied and that there

E]
were 2.0 persons per household. It was assumed that these
occupancy figures reflected year-round versus seasonal housing
usage. Of the total 146 dwelling units built in the Town of
Calabash since 1990, it was assumed that 76 percent or 111 units
were occupied by year-round residents. This number of 111 year-
round units was multiplied by the occupancy ratio of 2.0 persons
per household to calculate that an additional 222 year-round
residents moved to Calabash since the 1990 United States Census.
Consequently, it is estimated that the 1994 year-round population
for the Town is 1,432 residents.
The 1994 year-round population estimates for the ETJ were
derived by the housing count obtained by the March 1994 Land Use
Survey. There are no 1990 Unites States population statistics
available for the ETJ; consequently, a slightly different
methodology had to be developed. The Land Use survey revealed
that there are 1,062 single-family housing units including mobile
homes in the ETJ. There are an additional 58 multi -family/
townhouse units located in Marsh Harbour, Carolina Shores Resort,
and Belle Croft for a total of 1,120 dwelling units in the ETJ.
There appears to be a greater occurrence of seasonal housing in
the ETJ than within the Town. Consequently, it was assumed that
50 percent, rather than 76 percent, of the ETJ households were
used year-round. The same year-round average persons per
household of 2.0 was used as for the Town; therefore, it was
estimated that there are 1,120 year-round residents in the ETJ.
NO. PERSONS YEAR-ROUND
AREA NO UNITS PER UNIT POPULATION
Town 716 2.0 1,432
ETJ 560 2.0 1,120
TOTAL 1,276 2.0 2,552
Source: Hayes & Associates
The seasonal population in Calabash is composed of three
groups: 1) out-of-town property owners who use their Calabash
residences on the weekends and during the summer; 2) the
overnight visitor population who rent condominiums or stay at the
Calabash Motel; and 3) "day visitors" who are tourists and
golfers who come to Calabash to enjoy its restaurants, shops, or
to play a round of golf.
Although it is difficult to differentiate between the
property owners who reside in Calabash versus the short-term
visitor, it is possible to estimate the peak seasonal population.

In resort communities like Calabash, vacant housing during the
off-season is typically second -property housing utilized by out-
of-town owners as either vacation homes or investment rental
properties. The 1990 United States Census showed that 24 percent
of the Calabash housing was vacant during April 1990. These
vacant housing units may be then be assumed to be seasonal
' housing, rather than year-round housing. Occupancy figures for
the ETJ were not specified in the Census. However, there appears
to be a greater proportion of seasonal housing in the ETJ;
' therefore, it was assumed that 50 percent of all housing in the
ETJ was used on a seasonal basis. Table 2.5 details the seasonal
housing and residential population.
' TABLE 2.5: SEASONAL RESIDENTIAL POPULATION ESTIMATES
FOR THE TOWN OF CALABASH. 1994
NO. PERSONS
SEASONAL
'
AREA N0,
OF UNITS
PER UNIT
POPULATION
Dwelling units
222
2
444
Motel
9
2
18
(TOWN)
(231)
(462)
ETJ
560
2
11120
TOTAL
791
----
1,582
Source: Hayes and Associates.
The next consideration in the Town's population is the
' number of "day visitors" who come to Calabash to enjoy its
restaurants, resort attractions, or to play a round of golf. The
"tourist" population has a more short-term impact upon the
Town's public facilities and services than the other components
' of the population. The most pronounced impact of this group is
upon traffic and parking while the impact upon water and sewer
service is noticed through restaurant, retail, and golf clubhouse
' usage.
It is rather difficult to estimate the total number of
tourist "day visitors" to this resort community. The Town is
' literally flooded each year with thousands of day visitors who
may be spending vacations in neighboring beach communities from
Myrtle Beach to Wilmington, but who make the pilgrimage to the
' small "Seafood Capitol of the World" to eat in one of the many
restaurants and/or browse in the many shops. The 1993 average
daily traffic count for NC 179 in the commercial district was
11,000 vehicles a day. This is the "average" year-round count
and it is difficult to judge what the maximum traffic count
during the peak summer season would be. Some business owners
estimate that approximately 12,000 visitors a day come to
Calabash during the peak summer season.
Statistics from the three championship golf courses give an
1 indication about the number of "golfer day visitors." Table 2.6

1 10
Icites the number of golfers by month for 1993. As shown by the
Table 2.6, 141,800 golfers played on the three courses during
' 1993 and the daily average number of "golfer day visitors" was
389 and the monthly average was 11,817. The peak golfing season
is from March 15 thru May 15 and from September 15 thru November
15. Consequently, the peak golfing seasons occurs in the
' "tourist shoulder seasons" of the Spring and Fall which helps to
extend business year-round.
TABLE
2.6: MONTHLY
GOLF PLAYERS
AT CHAMPIONSHIP
GOLF COURSES
IN CALABASH.
1993
MONTH
NUMBER OF GOLFERS
JANUARY
11,900
FEBRUARY
14,550
MARCH
15,300
APRIL
14,800
'
MAY
11,750
JUNE
8,600
'
DULY
AUGUST
10,000
9,500
SEPTEMBER
11,650
OCTOBER
13,500
NOVEMBER
11,050
DECEMBER
9,200
TOTAL 141,800
1
DAILY AVERAGE:
389 MONTHLY AVERAGE: 11,817
RANGE: LOW - JUNE
8,600
HIGH - MARCH
15,300
Sources: Marsh
Harbour, Ocean Harbour,
and Carolina
Shores Golf
Courses
'
3. Population
Summary
TABLE 2 7•
CALABASH PLANNING
AREA POPULATION
SUMMARY
1994
EXTRA -
POPULATION
CORPORATE
TERRITORIAL
COMPONENT
LIMITS
JURISDICTION
TOTAL
Year-round residents
1,432
1,120
2,552
Seasonal
462
1,120
1,582
Subtotal Residential
4,134
1,894
2,240
'
Day Visitors
12,000
12,000
-
Daily Golfer Average
--
389
'
TOTAL PEAK POPULATION
16.253
Source: Hayes & Associates. Based on housing count of 1994 Land
Use Survey and estimates of day visitors.

11
I
4 Social Characteristics and Population Composition
Social characteristics reported in the 1990 United States
Census reveal that Calabash town residents generally are older,
wealthier, and have recently moved to the area. The composition
of the Calabash population in terms of age consists mostly of
retirees which is significant in terms of planning purposes. The
1990 Census reported that 42 percent of the Town's population was
65 and over while only 5.6 percent was under 18. Not
surprisingly, because of this age characteristic, 10.3 percent of
Calabash residents over 16 reported a mobility or self -care
limitation. The per capita income for Calabash residents was
$16,040 in 1990 as compared to a per capita income of $11,688 for
Brunswick County residents and $12,885 for North Carolina
residents. The mean retirement income was $17,649. Only 6.0
percent of all persons were estimated to be below the poverty
level in Calabash as compared to 15.4 percent for Brunswick
County and 13.5 percent for North Carolina. Moreover, Calabash
is a town of "newcomers." Only 46 percent of the Town's
population had lived in the same residence as of 1985 and the
remaining 54 percent were predominantly "newcomers" to the area.
Of these, 42 percent had lived outside of North Carolina in 1985.
The town residents are predominantly white. There are
concentrations of minorities within the extraterritorial
jurisdictions, especially in the Shingletree or "Goretown" area.
An important aspect of the planning process is forecasting
the future population of an area. Unfortunately, population
forecasts are usually the least precise element of a land use
plan since so many factors such as annexation, the economy, and
new development plans directly impact demographic projections.
This is especially true for a town like Calabash which has
experienced a building boom as well as has expanded its original
town limits by 410 percent through the merger and annexations
since its original incorporation in 1973.
The fluctuating nature of town and extraterritorial limits
does not make a good point of reference for long term
projections. What will be the Calabash's town limits in 1999 and
2004?
A case in point is the population growth of Calabash which
is estimated to have occurred from the time the United States
Census was taken in April 1990 and the population estimates for
March 1994. Based on the 1994 housing survey stated in Table
2.11, 'it is estimated that the March 1994 town year-round
population is now 1,432, an increase of 222 persons over a four-
year period. An examination of building development explains
this growth. Since 1990, building permits have been issued for
another 146 dwelling units or an average of 36.5 units per year

Residential Population Estimates and Projections for Town of Calabash Planning Area,1994-2004
1994
1999
2004
Net Population
Gain 1994-2004
Percent Change
1994-2004
Town
Extra -Territorial Jurisdiction
*Year
Seasonal
Total
*Year
Seasonal
Total
Round
Round
1 A32
462
1,894
1,120
1,120
2,240
1,706
553
2,259
1 A25
1 A25
2,850
11980
644
2,624
1,730
1,730
3 A60
+548
+182
+730
+610
+610
+1220
+38.3%
+39.4%
+38.5%
+54.5%
+54.5%
+54.5%
*Resident who lives in Calabash area for at least 6 months or longer
Source: Hayes & Associates
Planning Area
*Year
Seasonal
Total
Round
2,552
1,582
4,134
3,131
1,978
5,109
3,710
2,374
6,084
+1,158 +792 +1950
+45.5% +50.1 % +47.2%

Residential Population Estimates and Projections for Town of Calabash Planning Area, 1994-2004
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1994 1999 2004
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ED seasonal
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1
12
11
which helps to explain the year-round population growth of 17.5
percent for the Town. In the ETJ an additional 244 dwelling
units were built between 1990 and 1994. The ETJ averaged 61
dwelling units a year. For projection purposes, it was assumed
that these building trends of an average of 36.5 new dwelling
units in the Town and 61 new dwelling units in the ETJ would
continue over the next five to ten years. It was also assumed
that the household size and occupancy statistics exhibited in the
1990 US Census which were used to derive 1994 population
estimates would continue as well. Table 2.8 and Diagram 2.1
shows the year-round and seasonal residential population
projections for the Town, the ETJ, and the Planning Area for the
years 1999 and 2004. Based on these assumptions, the Calabash
Planning Area would have 3,710 year-round residents and 2,374
seasonal residents within ten years which is a net residential
population increase of 47.2 percent. As Table 2.8 reveals, the
residential population will continue to grow.steadily,
contributing to the demand for land, utilities, and other public
services. Moreover, these projections do not include the
transient "day visitor" population, which would still be
substantially higher than the residential population during the
peak summer season.
B. ECONOMY
The resort characteristics of Calabash's
I little since the 1989 Land Use Plan Update.
dependent upon the restaurant district, real
tourism, golfing, and travel. Calabash lies
' South Carolina boundary and the town's reput
golfing attracts visitors from Myrtle Beach
towns in Brunswick County.
economy has changed
The economy is still
estate development,
just across the
ation for seafood and
as well as beach
Calabash's economic base consists mainly of services such as
the restaurants, gift and speciality shops, a motel, and
privately -owned recreational facilities which include the three
championship golf courses, commercial and charter fishing, and
marinas. Table 2.9 lists the 73 businesses within the town
limits and the 53 businesses in the ETJ as of August 1994.
Services are generally geared toward the traveling and
vacationing public and, as such, the businesses are financially
dependent upon the seasonal flow of visitors. The summer
population influx also produces what is, by in large, a seasonal
economy. However, more and more restaurants and businesses are
staying open year-round because of the area's increasing number
of permanent residents and the increasing popularity of tourism
and golfing in the "shoulder" and winter seasons. In fact, 92
percent of Calabash's businesses are now open year-round as shown
on Table 2.9. This is, indeed, a marked contrast to ten years
ago when most businesses in Calabash were closed during the off-
season.

13
TABLE 2 9 A• BUSINESSES IN CALABASH. AUGUST 1994
'
BUSINESSES IN THE INCORPORATED AREA
*1.
B & W Nursery and Landscaping
*2.
Bad Habit Deep Sea Fishing
'
*3.
Batchelor Sales
*4.
Beck's Seafood Restaurant
*5.
Bennett's Seafood Kitchen
*6.
Betty's Antiques & Collectible
'
*7.
Calabash A B C Board
*8.
Calabash Bakery and Deli
*9.
Calabash Deli
'
*10.
Calabash Florist
*11.
Calabash Golf Ball Outlet
*12.
Calabash Marina
*13.
Calabash Motel
*14.
Calabash Old World Coins
*15.
Calabash Photo Studio
*16.
Calabash Seafood House
'
*17.
Calabash Seafood Hut
*18.
Calabash Small Engine Repair
*19.
Calabash True Value Hardware
*20.
Callahan's Pro Shop
*21.
Callahan's of Calabash
*22.
Captain Jim's Marina- Fishing and Ocean Cruises
>23.
Captain John's Seafood House
'
*24.
Captain Nance Calabash Seafood
+25.
Captain Sam's Deep Sea Fishing and Ocean Cruises
*26.
*27.
Carolina Golf Balls
Carolina Blythe Utility-
*28.
Carolina Shores Golf Course
*29.
Cypress Dental.Lab
*30.
Cypress Jewelry - Repairs and Design
'
*31.
Don's Plumbing.and Water Service
*32.
Derbster's Restaurant & Tavern
*33.
Dockside Seafood House
*34.
Duncan & Associates Accountants
*35.
Eastside Calabash Restaurant
*36.
Ella's Restaurant
'
*37.
Gingerbread House Too!!!
>38.
Haley's Restaurant
+39.
Igloo
*40.
J & R Gifts & Crafts
*41.
J.M. Sports
*42.
Jimmy's Pantry
'
*43.
L & L Wings
Larry's Calabash Seafood Restaurant
>44.
* =
Open Year-round
> =
Open summer season, only weekends during shoulder season
+ =
Only open summer season
I
Source: Town of Calabash
1

E
14
f!
TABLE 2.9 continued: BUSINESSES IN CALABASH AUGUST 1994
*45. Lewellyn-Lewis Builders
*46. Lewellyn Reality
*47. Maxx Hair Gallery
*48. Mole Hole, Inc.
*49. Moore's Grocery
*50. Murphy's Construction
*51. Nations Realty
*52. 19th Green Tavern and Grill
>53. Ocean Atlantic,Inc.
*54. One Hour Photo
+55. Original Calabash Restaurant
*56. Pawn and Antiques
+57. Red Snapper. Charter Boat
*58. RPI Computer Sales & Service
*59. Santa's Attic
+60. Scoby Do Ice Cream Shop
*61. Seaside Animal Care, P A
*62. Sheila's Country Kitchen
*63. Simmons Beverage Mart & Grocery
*64. Simply Shaker Manufacturing
*65. The Carousel, Inc.
*66. The Photo Shop
*67. The Loft
*68. Thomas Seafood Restaurant
*69. Tony's Kwik Mart
*70. Tony's Pizza
*71. Trawlers Restaurant
*72. United Carolina Bank
*73. Victoria's Ragpatch
*74. William Temple Allen, CPA, PA
*75. Wings
1 _ ►I ► a 4:I: :4s44- : V :4 .1 Za 6 li• ' 1I1' • •� • s
*76. Art Plus Gallery
*77. Bagel Cafe
*78. Calabash Barber Shop
>79. Calabash Putt
*80. Carbo's Club
*81. Carolina Shores Resort
*82. Carolina Travel Agency
*83. Century 21 Real Estate
* = Open Year-round
> = Open summer season, only
+ = Only open summer season
Source: Town of Calabash
weekends during shoulder season

15
I
TABLE 2.9 continued: BUSINESSES IN CALABASH, AUGUST 1994
*84. Citgo Service Station
*85. Cutting Deck Hair
*86. Dr. Charles F. Loomis- Chiropractic Clinic
*87. Dr. Cheek and Dr. Deeb Family Dentistry
*88. Dr. Chris Moshourres Optometrist
*89. Dr. George L. Saunders, MD
*90. Elizabeth Newman's Ladies Apparel Outlet
*91. ERA Realty- Callahan, Teal, & Skelly Associates, Inc.
*92. Everpure Water Treatment
*93. Furniture Patch of Calabash
>94. Granny's Ice Cream
*95. Hearing Associates
*96. Hinkle Brothers Factory Store
*97. HJ's Marketing Company
*98. Jeffcoat & Pike Attorneys
*99. La Coquille Hair Design and Natural Nail
*100. Lil Donut Factory
*101. London Hair Company
*102. Low County Jewelers of Calabash
*103. Magnolia Lane Gallery
*104. Mama Brava's Italian Pizza Cafe
*105. Marsh Harbour Golf Links
*106. Marsh Harbour Marina
*107. Moonlight & Memories- CDs and Cassettes
*108. Nations Bank
*109. North Strand Medical Consultants
*110. Oceanside Corporation
*111. Pacific Beachwear
*112._Pinehurst Builders and Realtors
*113. Sandollar Reality
*114. Seashore Pharmacy
*115. Security Savings Bank
*116. Simply Shaker Furniture
*117. Tee Beaus Designer Western Wear
*118. The Book Nook
*119. The Calabash Gallery
*120. United States Post Office
*121. Waltons Accounting Service
* = Open Year-round
> = Open summer season and only weekends during shoulder season
+ = Open only during summer season
Source: Town of Calabash

1 16
Not surprisingly, there are no agricultural, farming, or
forestry uses within Calabash's town limits. Simply Shaker
' Manufacturing is a small furniture production use operating
within the Town. There is one industrial site, Kool-A-Brew, and
two farming operations in the extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Restaurants, real estate development, and golfing are still the
most significant factors in the resort community's economy.
Moreover, the impact of the three championship golf courses
is also significant as shown by the fact that 141,800 golfers
used the three courses located within the Calabash Planning Area
during 1993. These golfing statistics do not include the impact
of the 9 additional golf courses located just 3 miles away from
' Calabash. Golfing is, indeed, a regional economic factor for the
Myrtle Beach -Brunswick County area. The impact of golfing is
growing even more significant as more and more golfers are taking
advantage of special "winter packages" thus bringing more people
to the area during the traditional off-season.
The continuing real estate development and sales in the Town
will most likely foster a continual growth in the number of
permanent residents. As permanent residents increase, the demand
for local services also increases. As local commercial services
and activities increase, the Town may witness even more expansion
of its economic base.
Another indication of the significant and continuing growth
trend of the Town's economy is the growth in property valuations
in recent years. Notice Table 2.10:
TABLE 2 10• CALABASH ASSESSED VALUATIONS 1982-1994
TAX
ASSESSED
PERCENT
YEAR
RATE
VALUATIONS
CHANGE
1982
$
6,017,527
--
1983
$
6,290,020
4.53
1984
$
7,055,239
12.20
1985
$
7,832,589
11.02
1986*
$
16,293,350
108.02
1987**
$
16,236,584
-0.35
1988
.230
$
16,329,864
.58
1989
.240
$
16,531,471
1.24
1990
.150
$
16,679,866
.90
Merger
1991
.105
$
88,502,580
430.60
1992
.095
$
91,241,893
3.10
1993
.095
$
94,693,424
3.78
1994*
.085
$
114,770,606
21.20
Source: Town of Calabash
* Years of Re -valuation
** Loss of personal property valuation and two businesses burned

r
17
'C. EXISTING
' Although the town boundaries and land area have changed
significantly since the 1989 Land Use Plan, the actual land use
patterns in the Calabash area has basically stayed the same. The
' Town of Calabash quadrupled in size when it merged with Carolina
Shores in August, 1989. The former mixed uses of the
restaurant/downtown area are now combined with the 877 acre
Carolina Shores golf course residential community. Notice Map 2,
the 1994 Land Use Map, which shows the 1994 land use and zoning
patterns and is attached in the back of this report.
1. Residential Land Uses
Most of the residential land uses in Calabash consists of
single-family homes including mobile homes. Table 2.11 shows the
type of housing and vacant platted residential lots for the Town
and ETJ. Eighty-nine percent of all dwelling units within the
Calabash Planning Area are single-family homes. Many of the
multi -family units are condominiums which are individually owned,
but some of which are rented out on a short-term basis or are
used as time share units. In this capacity, many of these
condominiums actually function more like a motel in terms of
housing use.
There are still a substantial amount of vacant platted
residential lots available in Calabash. Nearly 60 percent of all
platted lots in the Town have been developed thus far while only
37.7 percent of the platted lots in the ETJ have been developed.
' Many of these vacant lots outside of the Carolina Blythe sewer
service area have not been developed because the lot is deemed
unsuitable to obtain a septic tank permit. Moreover, there are
1 still large tracts of land in the ETJ which have not yet been
subdivided. Consequently, there is significant amount of vacant
residential land left in the Calabash Planning Area which could
' be developed, especially if centralized sewer becomes available.
TABLE 2.11: RESIDENTIAL LAND USE BY TYPE, MARCH 1994
'
TYPE
TOWN
ETJ
PLANNING AREA
DEVELOPED
Single-family 749
1,062
1,811
Multi -family* 155
58
213
'
TOTAL DEVELOPED
Motel 9
9
2,033
913
1,120
VACANT PLATTED
LOTS 627
1,852
2,479
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL
LOTS 1,540
2,972
4,512
'
PERCENT
DEVELOPED 59.3%
37.7%
45.1%
* Multi -family
includes condominiums and town
houses some of
which are
rented on a short-term basis
or used
as time-share
'
units.
Source:
1994 Land Use Survey

1 18
2. Commercial Land Uses
' Most of the businesses located within the Town limits are
restaurants and retail shops. There is a strip commercial
development along NC 179, which is the main thoroughfare running
' through Town. Most of the restaurants are located along
Riverview Road and Oak Street which run south of NC 179 towards
the Calabash River.
' 3. Government and Institutional Uses
There are a total of 9 lots currently utilized for
' governmental and institutional purposes, including the Town Hall,
the Calabash Volunteer Fire Department, the Calabash EMS Station,
the United States Post Office, two fraternal lodges, two
' churches, and a utility substation. The Town of Calabash has
purchased 10 acres located on Persimmon Road which is intended as
the future site of a new Town Hall.
' 4. Recreational Uses
There are no public recreational lands within Calabash's
' jurisdiction. Private recreation uses include the private pools,
tennis courts, and other facilities located in many of Calabash's
subdivisions; the three championship golf courses of Carolina
' Shores, Marsh Harbour, and Ocean Harbour; and the commercial
"Wacky Golf" establishment located on NC 179 in the "downtown"
area. There are also two private campgrounds and two marinas.
' 5 Manufacturing/ Industrial Use
Two small manufacturing uses, Simply Shaker Manufacturing
' and Kool-A-Brew, are located within the Planning Area.
6. Land Compatibility Problems
In the conventional land use planning concept, a land
compatibility problem is generally identified as when two or more
land uses are adjacent to each other and one use is somehow
' restricted from expansion because of the adverse conditions
caused by the other use which discourages additional investment.
This concept also extends to a mixture of uses such as
' residential, commercial, and industrial which are not usually not
considered compatible with each other. Most of the development
in the original Town of Calabash was built prior to the enactment
of land use controls and there are numerous instances of a
residence being located next to a restaurant or store. In many
cases, this mixed use pattern was the result of a business owners
wanting to live next to their restaurant or shop. Today this
' pattern continues and one can find private residences within the
hustle and bustle of "Restaurant Row." This traditional mix of
residential and commercial uses is now recognized as part of the
1

19
' "character" of Calabash and permitted in the "Mixed District"
zoning classification.
t7 Problems from Unplanned Development
Several problems have resulted from the fact that most of
the Calabash area was developed without the benefit of
subdivision and zoning regulations. Development was built with
little regard to stormwater management and the increased
' pollutant loading from stormwater runoff impacts the quality of
Calabash's waters. Many of the restaurants and retail
establishments have inadequate and poorly planned parking
facilities. Many subdivisions are a mixture of older mobile
' homes and conventional housing. Some streets do not meet any
minimal standards.
' u Areas Likely to Experience Changes in Predominant Land Use
Vacant land areas, especially several large tracts in the
' ETJ, are the areas most likely to experience land use changes
over the next 5 to 10 years. Development will be more likely if
centralized sewer is extended to these tracts. It is also likely
that housing will be built along the Marsh Harbour and Ocean
' Harbour Golf Courses as originally planned. Provision of sewer
to the downtown commercial area may result in some redevelopment.
Many speculate that several hotels may be built in the downtown
' area. There is considerable amount of vacant land along US 17
which will probably be developed over the next 5 to 10 years.
D. CURRENT PLANS POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
' 1. Prior CAMA Land Use Plans
' The Town of Calabash had its first CAMA Land Use Plan
prepared in 1988. In both 1976 and 1981, the Town was included
as part of the Brunswick County's Plans. The 1994 CAMA land Use
' Plan Update is the first plan to be completed after the merger of
Calabash in 1989.
2. Transportation
' The most significant feature of North Carolina's
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) pertaining to Calabash
' is the proposed widening of NC 179 to a three lane curb and
gutter roadway from the South Carolina state line to Clariday
Road (SR 1164) north of Calabash. The right-of-way and
construction is scheduled to begin in 1995. The current widening
' of US 17 to a four -lane divided highway improves access to
Calabash. There are no other major road improvements for
Calabash included in the 1993-1999 TIP. The 1988 Brunswick
' County Thoroughfare Plan contained no road improvements for the
immediate Calabash area, except for the widening of US 17 to a
four -lane divided highway.

' 20
' 3. Water Distribution Plan
Most of Calabash outside of Carolina Shores is now a part of
the Brunswick County Water System. Until June 1988, Calabash did
not have centralized water within the Town limits. Throughout
the previous years, businesses and residencies alike relied on
' private wells for water. However, in June 1988, the Town began
purchasing water from the Brunswick County Water System as
several other nearby communities such as Sunset Beach and Ocean
' Isle had been doing. However, there are still some private wells
in use.
' The large Carolina Shores development and some other
neighboring subdivisions have access to a centralized water and
sewer system from Carolina Blythe, a private utility company
which is based in Florence, South Carolina.
' 4. Waste Treatment Plans
' Calabash outside of the Carolina Blythe service area still
relies on ground absorption systems for all sewage disposal as
permitted by the Brunswick County Health Department. The Town of
Calabash is investigating the need for a centralized sewer
' system. -In 1991, the Town commissioned the consulting firms of
Powell Associates and Piedmont Olsen Hensley to perform a
Comprehensive Wastewater Study of the town and surrounding area.
' As a result of the study, the Towns of Calabash and Sunset Beach
formed the Southwest Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer Authority
which is in the process of implementing sewer service to the
' region. The Calabash Board of Commissioners is also pursuing
other means of providing centralized sewer services to the areas
of Town not currently served by Carolina Blythe.
' 5. Utilities Extension Policy
The Town's policy concerning extending waterlines to newly
developed areas is for the developer to pay all costs of
extension and installation. After construction, all the lines
become the Town's property.
' 6. Recreation Policy
Currently, the Town does not have a formal recreation policy
and does not operate parks, public boat accesses, or similar
public recreational facilities. Many of the subdivisions within
Calabash offer pools, tennis courts, and playgrounds for private
' use by the neighborhood residents. The three championship golf
courses within the Calabash Planning Area are open to the public.

21
7. Emergency Response Plan
The Town of Calabash does not have a local emergency
response plan and relies upon the Brunswick County Emergency
Response Plan and Procedures.
8. Water Access Plan
In 1992, a Waterfront Access Plan was prepared for the Town
of Calabash. The plan was funded, in part, through a grant
provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program. The
Plan suggested ways that the Town of Calabash could improve
public waterfront access for both residents and visitors.
9. Calabash River Dredging Feasibility Study
' In 1994 the Town of Calabash contracted with the Army Corps
of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study concerning the
proposed dredging of the Calabash River.
14, Local Regulations and Enforcement Provisions
The Town of Calabash has recently codified its local
' ordinances in order to improve administration. The Town of
Calabash employs a Code Enforcement/Fire Inspector and Building
Inspector to administer the land use regulations.
' (a) LAMA Permits
Because of Calabash's location and geographic features, only
' new development along the Calabash River and the Intracoastal
Waterway is regulated by the CAMA permit process. The Areas of
Environmental Concern described in the forthcoming section are
' areas which need protection. Enforcement of the CAMA permit
process is a major means of that protection and is currently
administered by the State CAMA officers in Wilmington.
Eventually, the Town plans for the Building Inspector to become
certified to issue the LAMA permits.

22
' (b) Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map
Calabash adopted a Zoning Ordinance and Map in September,
1982. The original ordinance originally established six use
districts (three for residential, one for commercial uses, a
"conservation" district, and an agricultural district.) The
' current Zoning Ordinance now has the following 13 districts:
(1) R15 - Residential District;
' (2) R8 - Residential District;
(3) R6 - Residential District;
(4) MFH - Manufactured Home District I;
(5) MD - Mixed District;
' (6) CB - Central Business District;
(7) HC - Highway Commercial District;
(8) AD - Agricultural District;
' (9) ID - Industrial District, Light
(10) MFH II - Manufactured Home District II;
(11) MFH II P - Manufactured Home Parks;
' (12) CD - Conservation District; and,
(13) PUD - Planned Unit Development.
The Building Inspector likewise functions as the Zoning
Officer. In conjunction with the Zoning Ordinance, the Town also
has a Planning Board and a Board of Adjustment as well as employs
a Code Enforcement/Fire Inspector.
' (c) Subdivision Regulations
As of November 11, 1993, the Town of Calabash adopted
subdivision regulations, which have been utilized to guide the
general design of newly developing areas within the Town's
jurisdiction. A subdivision is the division of any parcel or
tract of land into two or more lots for the purpose of
development. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish
procedures and standards for the development and subdivision of
' land within the territorial jurisdiction of the Town of,Calabash.
It is further designed to provide for the orderly growth and
development of the Town and for the coordination of streets and
highways within proposed subdivisions with the existing or
' planned streets and community facilities. The Calabash Planning
Board reviews all subdivision plats and makes recommendations to
the Board of Commissioners.
' i Septic Tank'Regulation
Large areas within Calabash outside of Carolina Shores are
served by ground absorption waste disposal systems that are
permitted by the Brunswick County Health Department. Any system
generating more than 3,000 gallons of waste per day is designed
' by engineers and submitted to the North Carolina Department of
Human Resources for approval. Building permits are not issued
until a septic tank permit or an approved site plan is presented.
' A final inspection is not given or a certificate of occupancy

' 23
' completed until an inspection slip from the Health Department is
in the Town file indicating that the waste disposal system was
' installed as permitted.
(e) Building Code
' In 1982, the Town of Calabash adopted the N.C. State
Building Code and revised the local building code on November 3,
1993. The Town Building Inspector issues building permits and
' inspects construction to ensure strict compliance with all code
requirements.
(f) Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
' Calabash, unlike most other communities in Brunswick County,
did not participate in the emergency phase of the Federal Flood
Insurance Program in the 19701s. As of February 4, 1988,
Calabash adopted a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and began
participating in the Regular Phase of the Federal Flood Insurance
' Program. First floor building elevation requirements is 13 feet
in the 11AE1' zone along the Calabash River. The Flood Ordinance
is enforced as part of the Town's building permit program. The
Town Building Inspector is also the enforcement officer.
' 11. Federal and State Regulations
In addition to the local ordinances and county regulations
listed and described above, there are also various state and
federal regulations which could also affect land development in
I Calabash. An important consideration is the consistency review
required to be performed by federal and state authorities as
mandated by the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, the
North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Act (CAMA), and the NC
' Executive Order 15 issued by Governor Hunt in 1977. Application
for federal and state permits as well as acquisition, use, and
disposition of lands in the coastal areas must be consistent with
' the North Carolina Coastal Management Plan, including the CAMA
local land use plans such as this one for the Town of Calabash

24
SECTION III: LAND SUITABILITY
Development in a community such as Calabash is often limited
by constraints, factors which preclude or place restrictions on
development. This section identifies possible features of the
land or landscape which limit or could pose serious constraints
to development such as Areas of Environmental Concern, flood
hazard areas, estuarine erosion areas, man-made hazards, areas
with soil limitations, sources of water supply, natural resource
fragile areas, and areas with resource potential.
One of the most significant aspects of the legislation which
created CAMA was the designation of special "Areas of
Environmental Concern" (AECS). These areas which are defined in
the NC state statues require special protective consideration as
far as land use planning is concerned. AECS are further
designated under two major groupings, the Estuarine System and
the Ocean Hazard AECS. Because of its interior mainland
location, Calabash has only Estuarine System AECS which are
described below. All development and development -related
activity within Calabash's designated AECS is currently regulated
by the Coastal Area Management Act permit process.
The Estuarine System AECS include Coastal Wetlands,
Estuarine Waters, Estuarine Shorelines, and Public Trust Areas.
The recently created Outstanding Resource Waters designation does
not pertain to Calabash. These areas and their general
occurrence in Calabash are discussed as follows:
These areas are defined as any salt marsh or other marsh
subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides, including
wind tides (whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland
' areas through natural or artificial water courses), but not
including hurricane or tropical storm tides. Salt marsh or other
marsh shall be those areas which grow some but not necessarily
all of the following salt marsh and marsh species: Smooth or
' Salt Water Cordgrass; Black Needlerush; Glasswort; Slat -Meadow
Grass; Sea Lavender; Bulrush; Saw Grass; and Salt Weed Grass. In
Calabash, coastal wetlands generally occur in the marsh areas
' along both sides of the Calabash River and along the small
section of the Intracoastal Waterway which is located in the
Calabash ETJ.
' These wetlands along our coast serve as a critical part of
the ecosystem. Estuarine dependent species like fish and
shellfish make up over 90 percent of the total value of North
' Carolina's commercial catch. These coastal wetlands should be
considered unsuitable for all development and for those land uses
which alter their natural functions. Inappropriate land uses
' include, but are not limited to the following examples:

25
' restaurants and businesses; residences; apartments, motels,
hotels, and trailer parks; parking lots and offices; spoil and
dump sites; wastewater lagoons; public and private roads and
highways; and factories. Examples of acceptable land uses may
include utility easements, fishing piers, docks, and certain
agricultural uses, except when excavation or filling of navigable
' waters is involved.
2. Estuarine Waters
' This AEC is defined as all the waters of the Atlantic Ocean
and the bays, sounds, rivers, and tributaries thereto, seaward of
the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland
' fishing waters. The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission
classifies waterways as being either coastal, joint, or inland
waters. Only coastal and joint waters are designated as
estuarine waters. The Calabash River and the Intracoastal
Waterway are designated as being Estuarine Waters AEC.
The high productivity associated with the estuary results
from its unique circulation patterns caused by tidal energy,
fresh water flow, and shallow depth. The nutrient trapping
mechanisms add protection to the many organisms. The circulation
' pattern of estuarine waters performs a number of important
functions, including transporting nutrients, propelling the
plankton, spreading seed stages of fish and shellfish, flushing
' wastes from animal and plant life, cleaning the system of
pollutants, controlling salinity, shifting sediments, and mixing
the water to create a multitude of habitats.
' Secondary benefits include commercial and sports fisheries,
waterfowl hunting, processing operations, and tourist -related
industries. In addition, there is considerable non -monetary
value associated with aesthetics, recreation, and education. (15
7H .206)
Appropriate uses in and around estuarine waters are those
which preserve the estuarine waters so to safeguard and
perpetuate their biological, economic and aesthetic values.
Highest priority is to be allocated to the conservation of
estuarine waters. Second priority may be given to water
dependent uses such as navigable channels, piers and docks, and
mooring pilings, provided that they do not directly or indirectly
' block or impair existing navigation channels, increase shoreline
erosion, deposit patterns, violate water quality standards or
cause degradation of shellfish waters.
' 3. Estuarine Shorelines
Estuarine shorelines, although characterized as dry land,
' are considered a component of the estuarine system because of the
close association with the adjacent estuarine waters. Estuarine
shorelines are those non -ocean shorelines which are especially
' vulnerable to erosion, flooding, or other adverse effects of wind

26
' and water and are intimately connected to the estuary. The
extent of the estuarine shoreline area extend from the mean high
water level or normal water level along the estuaries, sounds,
bays, and brackish waters as adopted by the Wildlife Resources
Commission of the NC Department of Environment, Health, and
Natural Resources, for a distance of 75 feet landward.
' As previousily discussed, the Calabash River and
Intracoastal Waterway are classified as Estuarine Waters AEC;
' therefore, the shorelines of these water systems and 75 feet
landward are the estuarine shorelines in Calabash. Because
development within the estuarine shoreline AEC can harm the
marshland and estuarine waters, and because of the inherent
' dynamic and hazardous nature of coastal shorelines, specific
standards have been adopted by the State for construction in
these areas as outlined in NCAC T 1507H.029. A CAMA permit must
also be obtained. By regulation all projects cannot weaken
natural barriers to erosion, shall have limited impervious
surfaces, and shall take measures to prevent pollution of the
estuary by sedimentation and runoff.
4. Public Trust Areas
' These are described as (1) all the waters of the Atlantic
Ocean and the lands thereunder from the mean high water mark to
the seaward limit of state jurisdiction; (2) all natural
' bodies of water subject to measurable lunar tides and lands
thereunder to the mean high water mark; (3) all navigable
natural bodies of water and land thereunder to the mean high
water level or mean water level as the case may be, except
privately -owned lakes to which the public has no right of access;
(4) all water in artificially created bodies of water containing
significant public fishing resources or other public resources
which are accessible to the public by navigation; and (5) all
waters in artificially created bodies of water in which the
public has acquired rights by prescription, custom, usage,
dedication or any public means.
Public trust areas in Calabash are the Calabash River and
the Intracoastal Waterway. The significance of the public trust
' areas is that the public has rights to them, including navigation
and recreation. In addition, these public trust areas support
valuable commercial and sports fisheries, have aesthetic value,
., and are important resources for economic development. (15 7H
.0207)
' The State allows appropriate private development within
public trust areas, provided the development is not detrimental
to the environment or to public access. Navigation channels,
piers, marinas, and bulkheads to control erosion are examples of
' uses which may be found acceptable.

1 27
IB. FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
There is potential for flooding along the lower elevation
areas bordering the Calabash River and the Intracoastal Waterway.
As of February 4, 1988 Calabash began participation in the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance
' program. The Flood Ordinance is enforced as part of the Town's
building permit program as administered by the Building
Inspector. Map 3, which is attached, shows the general location
' of Calabash's flood hazard areas and there are three
classifications which are pertinent:
' Zone VE: The VE zone corresponds to the 100-year coastal
floodplains which have additional hazards associated with storm
waves. Based on detailed hydraulic analysis, FEMA projects that
floodwaters during a 100-year storm could reach depths of 16 feet
' (i.e. base flood elevations). The lowest elevation land
bordering the Intracoastal Waterway in the Calabash ETJ is
designated as being a VE zone.
I
0
ZONE AE: These areas are within the 100-year floodplain and
have a base flood elevation of 13 feet. Land bordering both
sides of the Calabash River with elevations ranging up to 13 feet
are designated by FEMA as being in the AE Zone as well as some
land bordering the Intracoastal Waterway. Currently, some
riverside restaurants, the marina and dry boat storage area, and
some residences along Oak Street and River View Drive as well as
some residences along River Drive are located in the AE Zone.
The last time that major flood damage occurred was during
Hurricane Hazel in 1954.
ZONE X: These areas are designated as light gray on the
FEMA flood insurance maps. These Zone X areas correspond to the
500-year floodplain or areas of the 100-year flooding where
depths are less than one -foot [which would be areas of minimal
flooding during a 100-year storm.]. Small pockets of Zone X
border some parts of the AE Zone along the Calabash River.
Calabash has extensive marshes bordering its estuarine
shorelines which protects the shorelines from erosion.
There are no known man-made hazards in Calabash prohibiting
development. However, the maintenance of golf courses requires
application -of pesticides, nematicides, herbicides, and other
chemicals and the on -site storage of these chemicals could pose a
threat if not handled properly or in the event of a fire or
accidental spill. The three Calabash golf courses take proper
safety precautions by maintaining the chemicals in storage sheds
and by maintaining a minimum supply as needed. The Calabash Fire
Department maintains an inventory of the chemicals stored at each
17

28
' golf course and has plans on how to contain an accident or fire
until additional assistance arrives.
' E. AREAS WITH SOIL LIMITATIONS
A soil survey and maps for Brunswick County was completed in
' 1986 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation
Service. The report contains detailed descriptions and maps of
the soil types and properties for Brunswick County with the
' discussions of the suitability for various uses such as dwellings
without basements, septic tank absorption, sanitary landfills,
and recreation. Soil maps for the Calabash Planning Area are
shown on Sheet 14 and on insets on Sheets 13 and 17 of this soil
' survey report.
Soils in Calabash are typical of those found in coastal
' floodplains, marshes, and uplands. Table 3.1 lists the general
characteristics of the twenty-two soil types found in Calabash
and discusses their suitability for dwellings without basements
' and septic tank absorption. This Table shows that the soils in
Calabash are typical of the rest of Brunswick County. Most of
these soils are poorly drained and subject to high water tables
or frequent flooding. Eleven out of the 22 soils have severe
' structural foundation limitations for dwellings without
basements. Nineteen out of the 22 soil types have severe
limitations for septic tank absorption because of wetness,
' flooding, ponding, or poor filter characteristics. While these
characteristics do not preclude development, these soil
characteristics do suggest that a careful site investigation be
' conducted by competent, qualified persons before development
begins or commitments are made.
The lack of soils generally suitable for septic tank
' placement is a major concern for Calabash. Currently,
approximately 45 percent of the Town, including the
commercial\mixed uses of District I and most of Carolina Shores
' Acreage Estates, does not have a centralized sewer system. Many
residential areas in the ETJ rely on septic tanks as well.
However, the general declaration of limitations does not mean
that sites within these soil types are absolutely unsuitable.
Individual on -site investigations must be conducted to determine
final suitability. The Brunswick County Health Department issues
permits for septic tanks if all applicable county, state, and
' federal regulations are met. A final decision is based on soil
testing and other site requirements as determined by local
subdivision and zoning requirements.
' F. SOURCES AND ESTIMATED QUANTITY OF WATER SUPPLY
1. Groundwater
' Most Calabash residents and businesses purchase their water
from either Carolina Blythe or the Brunswick County Water System.
' Few remaining households in Calabash now use private wells and

' 28 a
ITABLE 3 1-A• SOIL CHARACTERISTICS FOR CALABASH
'
SOIL TYPES
GENERAL DWELLINGS
CHARACTERISTICS WITHOUT
BASEMENTS
SEPTIC
TANK
ABSORPTION
'
Baymeade
Gently sloping soils on
Slight
Moderate
lower coastal plains
'
Blanton
Moderately well drained
Slight
Moderate
sandy soil of interstream
'
areas
Bohicket
Poorly drained soils in
Severe
Severe
coastal marshes
'
Foreston
Nearly level, well drained
Slight
Severe
soils in interstream areas
'
Goldsboro*
Moderately well drained
Moderate
Severe
soils on uplands
'
Grifton++
Poorly drained soils
Severe
Severe
on uplands
Johns++
Poorly to moderately well
Moderate
Severe
'
drained soils on stream
terraces .
'
Kureb
Excessively drained soils
Slight
Severe
on uplands
Leon
Nearly level, poorly drained
Severe
Severe
'
soils in interstream areas
Lumbee++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
'
stream terraces
Lynchburg++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
'
uplands
Mandarin
Nearly level, poorly drained
Moderate
Severe
'
soils on uplands
' * Prime Farmland Soil
++ Prime Drained Farmland Soil
' Source: U.S.D.A., Soil Survey of Brunswick County. NC November 1986.
Brunswick County Soil and Water Conservation Service

TABLE 3.1-B: SOIL CHARACTERISTICS FOR CALABASH
SOIL TYPES
GENERAL
DWELLINGS
SEPTIC
CHARACTERISTICS
WITHOUT
BASEMENTS
TANK
ABSORPTION
Muckalee
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
low flood plains
Murville
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
upland depressions
Norfolk*
Well drained soils on
Slight
Moderate
uplands
Pactolus
Nearly level and gently
Moderate
Severe
sloping with moderate and
poorly drained soils
Pantego++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
uplands .
Rains++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
uplands
Tomahawk
Poorly to moderately well
Moderate
Severe
drained soils on uplands
Torhunta++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
uplands and stream terraces
Wando
Excessively drained soils
Slight
Severe
in interstream areas
Woodington++
Poorly drained soils on
Severe
Severe
uplands
* Prime Farmland Soil
++ Prime Drained Farmland Soil
Source: U.S.D.A., Soil Survey of Brunswick County NC November 1986.
Brunswick County Soil and Water Conservation Service.

' 29
' these remaining wells pose no physical limitations to
development. All three golf courses utilize ponds to capture
rainfall as their major source of water for their sprinkling
systems. Two courses do utilize freshwater wells as a back-up
supply to water their grounds.
' 2. Surface Water Ouality
In November 1991, the North Carolina Department of
' Environment, Health, and Natural Resources issued a report for
the waters of the Lumber River Basin which includes the
classification of the Calabash River. The Calabash River along
its entire length and the Intracoastal Waterway are classified as
11SA11 waters which indicates a tidal salt water system used for
shellfishing, primary recreation, aquatic life propagation and
survival, fishing, wildlife, and secondary recreation. The
' - relationship between land development, stormwater runoff, and
surface water quality is a growing concern for the Division of
Environmental Management (DEM) and the Town of Calabash. The
' increased pollutant loading from stormwater runoff may degrade
water quality, adversely impact best usage, or otherwise violate
water quality standards.
G. CLOSED SHELLFISHING AREAS
While the Calabash River is conducive for shellfish breeding
' as indicated by its SA classification, the Calabash River has
been closed for shellfishing for many years. The quality of the
Calabash River has deteriorated to the point that the North
Carolina Division of Environmental Health, Shellfish Sanitation
' Branch has banned shellfish harvesting in the Calabash River.
H. SLOPES IN EXCESS OF 12 PERCENT
' Calabash lies on a low -elevation coastal plain. Generally,
there is no land within the Town which has slopes in excess of 12
' percent which would pose a constraint for development.
I. FRAGILE AREAS
' These are areas which could be easily damaged or destroyed
by inappropriate or poorly planned development. Fragile areas
include the CAMA defined coastal Areas of Environmental Concern
' (AECS) which were previously discussed. However, there are other
potential fragile areas in Calabash which are not classified as
Areas of Environmental Concern, but nevertheless, due to either
natural or cultural significance, are environmentally sensitive.
' These areas -will be discussed below as either "Natural Resource
Fragile Areas" or "Cultural Resource Fragile Areas".
' 1. Natural Resource Fragile Areas
Natural resource fragile areas are generally recognized to
' be of educational, scientific, or cultural value because of the

30
' natural features of the particular site. Features in these areas
serve to distinguish them from the vast majority of the
landscape. As described below, the Colkins Neck area is an area
' that sustain remnant species. However, there are no other
significant natural areas such as complex natural areas, unique
geological formations, or registered natural landmarks.
' According to a February 25, 1994 letter, the North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program has specific records of several
significant natural features within the current Calabash Planning
Area. The most significant feature is a highly threatened
example of the extremely rare Calcareous Coastal Fringe Forest
natural community located in the Colkins Neck area along the
' South Carolina border. The Natural Heritage Program has named
this site as the Colkins Neck Remnant and has given it a State
Significance in its 1993 Natural Heritage Priority Areas List.
' This significant area is now being developed into the Ocean
Harbour Golf Course and has already been severely impacted by
development.
' Two other significant animal and plant species have been
reported in the Calabash area. The Natural Heritage Program has
reports that Bachman's sparrows (Aimophila aestivals) have been
sighted in the Calabash area. This sparrow species is a C2
Federal Candidate and a State Special Concern species. Bachman's
sparrows inhabit rather open strands of longleaf pine with a
' thick groundcover. Such habitats are rapidly disappearing in
Brunswick County. The Natural Heritage Program also has records
that coralbean (Erythrina herbace) has been sighted in the
Calabash area. This significantly rare plant is limited to
' maritime forests, mainly in Brunswick County. It is likely to be
found in the Colkins Neck area which is now being developed into
the Ocean Harbour Golf Course.
' 2. Cultural Resource Fragile Areas
Fragile coastal cultural resource areas are generally
' recognized to be of educational, scientific, aesthetic, or
cultural value because of their special importance to our
understanding of past human settlement. The 1988 Plan reported
' that there were 15 archaeological sites and one National Register
of Historic Places located within the Calabash Planning Area.
However, recent documentation from the Division of Archives and
' History reveals that only nine of these archaeological sites are
located within the current Calabash Planning Area and that
Hickory Hall Plantation is not listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Three of the archaeological sites are historic
' period cemeteries and six are prehistoric sites. Hickory Hall
Plantation dates back to 1801 as stated by hand -forged numbers on
the chimney and may be suitable for National Register listing.
1

1 31
' J. AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL
(1) Agriculture. Forest. and Mining Resources
' Calabash has no major commercial agricultural, forest, or
mining activities located within its planning area. There are
' pockets of prime and drained prime farmland soils located in
Calabash. There are no peat or sand mining operations located in
Calabash.
' (2) Productive W
According to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Division,
the waters of the Calabash River east of the bridge on SR 1164/NC
179 are designated as a Primary Nursery Areas (PNA). Most of the
PNA area lies within the Town of Sunset Beach Planning Area and
' only a small portion lies within Calabash's ETJ as shown on Map
4. The PNA areas have been designated by the State as being
highly productive for juvenile habitat for marine species.
' Destruction of these beds, either physically by dredging or
filling or by pollution, reduces their productivity which is the
reason they were designated as PNA's. The Calabash River west of
the SR 1164/NC 179 bridge is not designated as a Primary Nursery
Area, but is still classified as SA waters as previousily
mentioned.
Numerous boaters come to visit and fish along the waterways
of the Calabash River. There are no publicly owned forests,
fish, or gamelands within Calabash. Moreover, there are no
privately owned wildlife sanctuaries in Calabash.

33
iSECTION IV. CONSTRAINTS: CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
' Of crucial importance to any community experiencing growth
and the pressures for more growth is its capacity to accommodate
that growth. In the case of a community, at the point which the
population growth reaches the maximum service capacity of that
' community, it can be said to have reached its critical threshold,
or its "carrying capacity." In a broad sense, carrying capacity
is reached when any necessary parameter reaches its limit,
t whether natural or man-made. However, the concept of "carrying
capacity" will generally be applied to Calabash with emphasis on
service provisions. The ability of the current and proposed
water, sewer, education, transportation, solid waste, police,
fire, rescue, recreation, and town administrative systems will be
examined to determine whether each system has sufficient
capacity to accommodate the projected 1999 Planning Area's 5,109
peak seasonal residents.
A. EXISTING WATER SERVICE AREA
' Two water systems currently supply the Town of Calabash and
its extraterritorial area. Carolina Shores, with the exception
of most houses in Carolina Shores Acreage Estates, and several
' other subdivisions are served by Carolina Blythe, a private
utility company which may be purchased by the Town of Calabash.
The remainder of the Town and some of the ETJ is served by the
' Brunswick County Water System. All Carolina Shores with the
exception of the Acreage Estates residents are required to be
connected to the Carolina Blythe system; however, it is optional
for town and ETJ residents who have access to the Brunswick
' County system to be connected. Most households utilize either
the public or private water systems and there are only a few
private wells functioning in.the Calabash area. Some
' subdivisions such as Shingletree Acres which are located on the
west side of US 17 do not have any access to either water system
at this time.
' Brunswick County acquires its raw water from the Lower Cape
Fear Water and Sewer Authority. This authority obtains raw water
from the Cape Fear River and the raw water is transported by 13
' 1/2 miles of 48 inch lines to a 24 MGD (million gallons per day)
surface treatment plant which has a 4 million gallon storage
facility. The treatment plant is located in the Leland area.
After treatment, the water is distributed throughout the county
by a network of distribution lines ranging from 48 to 8 inches.
The Brunswick County Water Service has a total treatment capacity
' of 30 million gallons per day.
The water distribution system in District I is a network of
town and county water lines. The Town of Calabash owns the water
' lines along River Road, Oak Street, River View Drive, and in the
Village Green subdivision. The Brunswick County Water Service
actually leases these water distribution lines from the Town of
' Calabash, maintains these lines, and bills its water customers

' 34
' directly. The exact number of county water service customers who
reside within the Calabash Town and ETJ boundaries is not known
and can not be determined readily. Water lines along sections
' of Beach Road (NC 179), Persimmon Road, and Thomasboro Road are
owned and maintained by the County Water Service. The Brunswick
County Water Service recently completed a $8 million capital
' improvement project which increased the size of the distribution
lines to the Calabash area. The Brunswick County Water Service
has provided water to Carolina Blythe system when additional
water was needed by the private system.
' The Brunswick County Water Service and the Town of Calabash
water distribution system will have sufficient capacity to
' accommodate the projected 1999 peak seasonal residential planning
area population of 5,109 residents. At an assumed consumption
rate of 70 gallons per day for each resident, the highest peak
day demand would be 357,630 gallons per day. The improved
Brunswick County system has a capacity of 30 million gallons per
day. The projected peak demand for Calabash is estimated to be
' only 1.2 percent of the County's total capacity. Sufficient
water supplies will be available from the Brunswick County Water
System to met the needs of its own customers as well as Carolina
Blythe's customers if the need should arise.
tB. SEWER SERVICE AREA
' As discussed previously, approximately 45 percent of the
Town area, including the commercial/restaurant district and most
of Carolina Shores Acreage Estates subdivision, does not now have
a centralized sewer system. Septic systems as permitted by the
Brunswick County Health Department serve these areas. Most of
the ETJ utilizes septic tanks as well. A package treatment plant
serves the Hidden Valley subdivision.
Carolina Shores, with the exception of most of the Acreage
Estates, and several other ETJ subdivisions are served by the
Carolina Blythe which is currently a private utility company.
The Towns of Sunset Beach and Calabash have formed the
Southwest Brunswick Regional Water & Sewer Authority. The
implementation of the proposed sewer system has been a major
planning issue for the Town of Calabash. The issue has not been
whether to develop a sewer system, but whether sewer service
should be provided by the regional authority, by the Town
purchasing Carolina Blythe, or perhaps even a combination of both
a Town and regional system.
Results of the April 1994 survey revealed that out of the
166 survey respondents who answered the specific question about
the proposed sewer system 73 percent favored implementing such a
system while only 9 percent did not. Another 18 percent had no
opinion or were not sure at that time. Town residents favored
purchasing Carolina Blythe by a 2 to 1 margin while more ETJ
residents and business owners supported the regional authority.
r

35
' Meanwhile the South Brunswick Water and Sewer Authority is
' planning the sewer service for District I. Construction will -
begin following the issuance of all required state and federal
permits which is anticipated to occur during this Plan's 5 to 10
year planning period.
C. SCHOOLS
' There are relatively few school -age children in Calabash.
According to the 1990 U.S. Census, only 5.6 percent of the
population in Calabash was under 18. By and large, Calabash
residents consist of middle -age adults and retirees and this
' trend is likely to continue. Growth in Calabash should have
little impact upon the Brunswick County School System. Table 4.1
shows the 1994 school membership and the design capacity for the
' schools that Calabash students attend. While growth in Calabash
itself has probably had little direct impact upon the school
system, the growth of Shallotte Township as a whole has had an
impact on the schools. Union Primary School was over 150 percent
capacity during the 1991-1992 school year. A new elementary
school in Supply which opened in the Fall of 1992 somewhat
alleviated this overcrowding. However, the Brunswick County
' School System is determining whether another elementary school
may be needed to be built in the Calabash area within a few years
in order to realign grades served by elementary schools (K-5),
' middle schools (6-8), and high schools (9-12) in accordance with
State guidelines.
TABLE 4.1: SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP AND DESIGN CAPACITY. 1994
' 1994 DESIGN PERCENT
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP CAPACITY UTILIZATION
' Union Primary (K-4) 720 792 90.9%
Shallotte Middle(5-8) 861 900 95.6%-
' W. Brunswick (9-12) 888 820 108.3%
Source: Brunswick County Board of Education
' D. TRANSPORTATION
US Highway 17 transverses the Calabash Planning Area and
' provides the major north/south traffic link to Calabash. This
highway has been upgraded to a four -lane median facility which
greatly enhances the accessibility of the Calabash area to the
' rest of the region..
The major traffic artery in Calabash is NC 179 which is the
main commercial thoroughfare running through the Town and
' crossing the state line into South Carolina. The average daily
traffic count for sections of NC 179 was 11,000 to 11,700
vehicles a day in 1993 and this road is heavily congested during
the peak tourist season. NC 179 is scheduled to be widened into

I
M3=
G
a three -land road during 1995. The other major access routes in
the Towns jurisdiction are S.R. 1167 (Persimmon Road); SR 1168
(Calabash Road); SR 1163 (Old Georgetown Road); and SR 1165
(Thomasboro Road). The other streets in the Town are
neighborhood streets which are maintained by the Town. With the
exception of the NC 179, the design capacity of these state roads
is estimated to be sufficient to handle current traffic volumes.
Table 4.2 shows the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts for the 6
locations in Calabash where traffic counts were consistently
taken from 1984 to 1993.
A B C D E F
YEAR US17 NC179 NC179 SR1167 SR1165 SR1164
1984
4900 5000 3000
--
--
--
1985
-- -- --
500
1100
500
1986
4900 4500 7000
--
--
--
1987
4900 4400 6200
400
1200
500
1988
5300 5100 7200
400
1200
600
1989
5300 -- --
800
1200
600
1990
5300 10400 11400
--
--
--
1991
7600 10400 11100
800
1200
550
1992
8200 8800 11000
--
--
--
1993
9100 11000 11700
1100
1500
600
A = US 17 near Thomasboro Crossroads
B = NC 179
(Old Georgetown Road) near
Calabash
EMS
C = NC 179
(Beach Road) near River Road
D = SR 1167
(Persimmon Road)
E = SR 1165
(Thomasboro Road)
F = SR 1164
(Clariday Road)
Source: North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The Town of Calabash leases a dump site at the Carolina
Shores P.O.A. facility on Persimmon Road. All town residents use
this site for depositing recycling materials and yard debris.
Curbside collection varies in Calabash by district. Currently,
the Town of Calabash contracts with a private contractor for
residential garbage collection in District I. Residential
collection occurs twice a week year-round. District II elected
not to have curbside garbage pick-up and these residents take
their refuse directly to the Town refuse station where it is
collected by a private contractor and then transported to the
Brunswick County landfill three times a week. Businesses and
restaurants must arrange for their own solid waste collection.

37
Calabash ETJ residents must arrange their own refuse
collection and now must utilize the Brunswick County recycling
station on NC 904.
Solid waste is disposed of in the 55-acre Brunswick County
Landfill after being dumped in a compaction unit at the Ocean
Isle Beach Transfer Station. The Brunswick County Landfill is
projected to last until 1998 at which time the County by State
mandate must operate a lined landfill. The County is now
exploring its options on how best to meet the 1998 State mandate.
The capacity of the local solid waste management will be
sufficient through 1999. Private contractors have the capacity
to respond to increased local demand. However, Brunswick County
must begin seeking options to accommodate future landfill needs
of its growing population which will satisfy stricter state and
federal guidelines.
Calabash provides no local police services and depends upon
the Brunswick County Sheriff Department for protection. A
Community Neighborhood Watch is implemented in Carolina Shores
and Calabash Acres. Brunswick County implemented a 911 system in
June 1992. In the April 1994 survey, 35 percent thought that
sheriff protection was adequate, 41 percent thought sheriff
protection was inadequate, and 24 percent were not sure or had no
opinion. The need for additional police protection may become
more important as the population continues to grow. Most survey
respondents favored having additional protection by establishing
a Brunswick County sheriff sub -station rather than by forming a
local police department. Calabash is the fifth largest Town in
Brunswick County and most towns its size have their own police
department.
The Calabash Volunteer Fire Department is located at
Persimmon Road and this department with 27 volunteers serves the
Town, the extraterritorial area, and the outlying area within 5
miles of the fire station. The Town and County governments and
local residents make annual financial contributions to the
Volunteer Department. The fire station's equipment includes two
750 gpm pumper trucks, one 1,000 gpm pumper truck, and one 2,000
gallon fire tanker. The tallest fire ladder available is a 35
foot portable ladder with an estimated height access of 25 feet
and it is estimated that the three-story buildings would need a
35 to 40 ladder truck. Consequently, the Calabash Volunteer Fire
Department relies upon the aerial fire trucks located at either
the Ocean Isle Fire Department or the Little River Fire
Department in order to fight structural fires. The Fire
Department does have back-up call agreements with the Sunset
Beach, Ocean Isle, and Little River Volunteer Fire Departments.
P

38
' The fire insurance rating for Calabash is currently 7A for
the planning area where fire hydrants are available and a 9A for
' the area not served by hydrants. Fire hydrants are located
throughout most of the Calabash Planing Area served by either the
Carolina Blythe or Brunswick County Water Service; however, fire
hydrants are not located in the Shingletree Acres area and some
' other residential areas located across of US 17. Both water
systems have sufficient capacity to supply water for fire-
fighting purposes according to the Calabash Fire Marshall.
' However, the growth of the Calabash area is a major
challenge for the Volunteer Fire Department according to the
current Fire Chief. The Fire Chief contends that greater
' financial support from the Town of Calabash is needed for the
Volunteer Fire Department to keep pace with growth as well as to
have sufficient fire -fighting capacity. The Volunteer Fire
Department needs to replace its outdated pumper trucks, to
acquire either an aerial truck or a fire ladder truck in order to
fight structural fires, and to update accessory equipment such as
' breathing apparatus.
H. EMERGENCY RESCUE AND SAFETY
' The Calabash Emergency Medical System provides services to
the Calabash, Sunset Beach, and Grissettown areas. This
volunteer squad has 20 members on its roster and these volunteers
have had EMT training. The squad has two ambulances which are
equipped with standard basic life support systems and Advanced
Life Support (ALS) systems. The Calabash Fire Department is
receiving First Responder training in order to support the rescue
' squad. The Brunswick County EMS Service also provides back-up
support. Most emergency patients are transported to the Brunswick
Hospital which is approximately 20 miles from Calabash. This
' volunteer organization obtains financial support from Calabash,
Sunset Beach, and Brunswick County governments as well as accepts
donations from local residents. A Thrift Shop is also operated
' as a fund-raising project.
I. RECREATIONAL SERVICES
' The Calabash River and the three championship golf courses
provide the major recreational opportunities for residents and
visitors at Calabash. Currently, the Town does not have a formal
recreation policy or operates parks, public boat accesses, or
similar public recreational facilities. Although 85 percent of
the April 1994 survey respondents thought that recreational land
use should be encouraged only 17 percent were willing to pay
additional taxes for recreational facilities. Apparently,
residents would prefer for recreational facilities to be provided
by the private sector.

39
' J. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
' The Town of Calabash employs a Town Clerk, two support
office staff members, a Building Inspector, and a Code
Enforcement/Fire Inspector. An addition to the Town Hall has
been recently completed. A new town hall is anticipated to be
' built within 5 years. The Town of Calabash plans to hire a town
administrator and additional support personnel.
1

40
' SECTION V: LAND USE POLICY STATEMENTS
The formulation of specific policies regarding growth,
' development, and management objectives is perhaps the most
important part of any land use plan -- especially those prepared
under North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act. Because of
regulatory requirements and local peculiarities, the policies,
often attempt to strike a delicate balance between desires and
objectives of local citizens, the local government, and the
' objectives of LAMA itself. Land development policies, which
should be based on analyses of existing conditions (including
consideration given to natural and man-made constraints) and
projected trends, are to serve as general guides for future
' desired development. Under LAMA, the overriding issue is that.of
growth management while protecting coastal resources. The
special resources and constraints within Calabash were identified
in the previous sections of this plan. The policy statements
contained in this section will both address growth management and
protection, and maintenance of these resources.
The Coastal Resources Commission, recognizing the
diversities which exist among the coastal communities, requires
each locality to delineate specific development policies under
' five broad categories, each with its own subset of policy areas.
The five required topics, addressed in order in this section,
are:
' * Resource Protection
* Resource Production and Management
* Economic and Community Development
' * Continuing Public Participation
* Storm Hazard Mitigation
' Although policies developed under these topics cover most of the
local development issues, in some cases they do not.
Calabash has the flexibility to address specific community issues
' within the scope of this plan and they have done this.
It is important to understand the significance of local LAMA
policy statements and how they interact with day-to-day
' activities of Calabash. Three areas are affected. First, the
policy statements will regulate the issuance of LAMA minor and
major permitting as required by N.C.G.S.-113A-118 prior to
undertaking any development in any Area of Environmental Concern.
A local government must adopt policies which are, at a minimum,
equal to and consistent with the State's minimum use standards.
The local government may, however, adopt minimum use standards
' which are stricter than the State's and the local government's
stricter standards would become the determining factor whether a
CAMA permit should be issued.
' The second area of application is that of establishing local
policies and regulations which guide Calabash's growth and
' development. Under North Carolina legislation, land use plans

41
are not regulatory controls. Policy statements must be
consistent with and implemented through local land use ordinances
such as zoning or subdivision ordinances.
The final area of application is that of "Consistency
Review." Proposals and applications for state and federal
assistance or requests for agency approval of projects are
normally reviewed against a jurisdiction's land use plan to
determine if the project is consistent with local policies.
Inconsistencies of a federal or state project with local policies
will serve as grounds for denial or revision of a project.
The Town of Calabash employed several means of soliciting
meaningful citizen participation in developing policies. Monthly
meetings with Calabash Planning Board and planning consultant
were held since February 1994 in order to prepare the Land Use
Plan Update and these meetings were open to the public. Well -
attended public meetings were held on March 9, May 16, and June
9, 1994. Citizens helped to identify planning issues as well as
to suggest policy alternatives. A survey was mailed to 325
property owners and businesses in both the town and its
extraterritorial area in April 1994. By the April 27 deadline,
169 out of the 325 questionnaires had been received for a total
response rate of 52 percent. This is an excellent response rate
since most mail surveys usually have a response rate between 30
to 35 percent. It should be noted that the survey elicited a
voluntary response and therefore, it is not considered to be a
scientific, random survey. However, the survey was a valuable
form of input. A detailed summary of the public meetings and
survey results are included in Appendix 1.
The foregoing policies were developed to provide a general
framework for guiding growth and development in Calabash over the
next five years.
A. RESOURCE PROTECTION
' i. Areas of Environmental Concern
Calabash will support and enforce through its LAMA
permitting capacity the State policies and permitted uses in the
Areas of Environmental Concern (AECS). The State's policy
statements for AECS offer protection for Calabash fragile areas
through the CAMA permitting procedures. In accordance with those
policies set forth in Subchapter 7H of the North Carolina
Administrative Code, Calabash adopts the following policies
' concerning AECS within its jurisdiction. The Areas of
Environmental Concern for Calabash were previously discussed in
Section III, pages 24-26.

42
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I
1
a. The Estuarine System
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION:
In recognition of the enormous economic, social and
biological values the estuarine system has for North Carolina,
Calabash will promote conservation and management of the
Estuarine System as a whole which includes the individual
subsystems of coastal wetlands, estuarine waters, public trust
waters, and estuarine shorelines.
The management objective for the system shall be to give
highest priority to the protection and coordinated management of
all the elements as an interrelated group of AECs in order to
safeguard and perpetuate the above stated values, and to minimize
the likelihood of significant loss of private property and public
resources.
Specific policies regarding acceptable and unacceptable uses
within the individual AECS of the estuarine system are stated
below. In essence, the permitted land uses in these areas shall
be those which are water dependent. In all cases the particular
location, use, and design characteristics shall be in accord with
the general use standards for coastal wetlands, estuarine waters,
and public trust areas as stated in 15A NCAC 7H.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
It shall be the policy of Calabash to restrict land uses in
coastal wetlands to those that guarantee wetlands conservation
and which do not affect their delicate balance. Calabash shall
permit water dependent uses such as docks, boat ramps, piers,
marinas, utility easements, and culverts, consistent with the
definition and use standards of 15 NCAC 7H. Each proposed use
will be evaluated for water dependency.
Unacceptable land uses may include, but would not be
limited to restaurants, businesses, residences, apartments,
motels, hotels, floating structures other than boat docks, and
parking lots.
In some instances, it may be necessary and in the public
interest for roads to transverse wetland areas. Where this is
absolutely necessary, state and federal regulations may allow
such with certain safeguards and/or mitigation measures.
In recognition of the importance of estuarine waters for the
fisheries and related industries as well as aesthetics and
recreation, Calabash shall promote the conservation and quality

1 43
1 of this resource. Appropriate uses may include simple access
channels, structures which prevent erosion, navigational
channels, boat docks, piers, marinas, and mooring pilings which
1 are consistent with 15 NCAC 7H.
The proposed centralized sewer system shall be encouraged as
1 a means to eliminate pollution from malfunctioning or inadequate
septic systems and/ or package treatment plants.
Boat launching, wet -slip marinas, and dry -storage boat
1 docking facilities shall be supported as a means of providing
public water access provided that their development shall not
adversely impact estuarine or public trust areas. Marinas and
1 dry -storage boat facilities should have pump -out stations.
Floating structures other than boat docks shall be banned in
1 order to protect our estuarine and public trust areas.
The Town will support those projects which will increase the
productivity of the estuary such as oyster reseeding or dredging
1 projects which will increase the flushing actions of tidal
movements.
1 (3) Estuarine Shorelines
Suitable land uses within the estuarine shorelines are those
1 compatible with both the dynamic nature of estuarine shorelines
and the value of the estuarine system. Calabash recognizes the
close association between estuarine shorelines and the adjacent
estuarine waters; the influence that shoreline development has on
1 the quality of estuarine life; and that the damaging processes of
shorefront erosion and flooding to which the estuarine shoreline
is subject.
1 Within the Estuarine Shoreline Area, the Town of Calabash
believes that certain developed uses should only be allowed to
1 take place which are consistent with 15 NCAC 7H and as further
defined by the Towns building and development ordinances, and
which satisfy the following requirements: 1) natural barriers
to erosion are not weakened or eliminated; 2) development does
1 not interfere with present public access or use of navigable
waters or public trust areas; 3) the amount of runoff is
unchanged; 4) no pollution is generated; 5) standards of the
1 North Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Act of 1973, amended 1990,
are upheld; and 6) the construction of impervious surfaces and
areas not allowing natural drainage is limited to that necessary
for development.
1 (4) Public Trust Areas
1 The State of North Carolina and the Town of Calabash holds
its waters in public trust and promotes public access to these
areas. In the absence of overriding public benefit, any use
1 which significantly interferes with the public right of

' 44
' navigation or other public trust rights which apply in the area
shall not be allowed. Projects which would directly or
' indirectly block or impair navigational channels, increase
shoreline erosion, deposit spoils below mean high tide, cause
adverse water circulation patterns, violate water quality
standards, or cause degradation of shellfish waters shall not be
' allowed.
For the Town of Calabash, a navigational channel will be
' defined as any water channel which is passable by boats during
high tide. Permanent obstruction of these navigational channels
will not be allowed. Improvements such as bridges and docks must
be built to allow boating access.
Uses that may be allowed in public trust areas shall not be
detrimental to the public trust rights and the biological and
' physical functions of the estuary. Examples.of such uses include
the development of navigational channels or drainage ditches, the
use of bulkheads to prevent erosion, and the building of piers or
' docks.
Such uses shall generally be permitted as long as they conform to
State development standards.
' (5) Outstanding Resource Waters
There are no designated outstanding resource waters within
' the Calabash Planning Area.
b. Ocean Hazard Areas
' Unlike many other tourist -oriented coastal communities,
Calabash is not on the oceanfront and therefore, has no Ocean
Hazard Areas of Environmental Concern.
' IMPLEMENTATION:
' Calabash believes that the existing development permit
system enforced by CAMA, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, combined
with the Town's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations
represent adequate measures to protect the discussed resources.
' Enforcement of these provisions will continue.
2. Other Natural Fragile Areas
' ISSUE IDENTIFICATION:
' Uncontrolled or incompatible development may result in the
major or irreversible damage to fragile coastal resource areas
which contain environmental, natural, historical or
archaeological resources of more than local significance. In
' recognition of this, it is the policy of Calabash to encourage
the protection of such natural or cultural resources.
Development of such areas should not be permitted or if allowed,

45
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to be developed in such a fashion as to preserve its natural
significance.
As discussed in Section III, pages 29-31 of this report,
Calabash has the following types of natural and cultural resource
areas within its jurisdiction: coastal areas that sustain
remnant species, prime wildlife habitats, wooded swamps and 404
wetlands, maritime forests, and significant archaeological
resources, and historic architectural resources. However, there
are no coastal complex natural areas, unique geological
formations, currently registered natural landmarks, scenic or
prominent high points located within the Calabash Planning Area.
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Coastal areas that sustain remnant species are those areas
that support native plants and animals which are threatened to be
rare or endangered. According to the Natural Heritage Program,
rare and endangered species are located in the Colkins Neck area
now being developed as the Ocean Harbour Golf Links. The
integrity of this natural area has been damaged by development
and is no longer a pristine natural area. However, sporadic
occurrences of endangered plant species may occur in the Colkins
Neck area.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
All development plans for areas that are likely to contain
remnant species will be carefully reviewed prior to the issuance
of development permits in order to ascertain.whether there are
any endangered species located within the project area. If
endangered plant and animal habitats are discovered, the
development must be,designed to protect the habitat from
disturbance.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will amend its development ordinances
to require that development permits will not be issued for areas
that may contain remnant species until the Natural Heritage
Program has been contacted and it is ascertained whether the
development will impact the habitat.
The coastal marshes along the Calabash River serve as prime
wildlife habitats. Development in these areas will be regulated
by the CAMA major and minor permitting process and local
development ordinances discussed previously.

1 46
' c. Wooded Swamps and 404 Wetlands
Calabash has some wooded swamps and wetlands located within
' its jurisdiction which should be regulated by the 404 wetlands
regulations of the Corps of Engineers. The Town of Calabash
supports the preservation of wetlands through the enforcement of
' 404 regulations.
d. Maritime Forests
' According to the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program,
most of the once extensive maritime forests in Calabash have been
altered by golf course and residential development.
e. Significant Archaeological and Historical Resources
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
The mainland of Calabash was inhabited by Indians and 6 pre-
recorded archaeological sites and 3 historic period cemeteries
have been recorded. Most of these sites have already been
disturbed by development. Moreover, Hickory Hall Plantation may
be a significant historical structure.
' POLICY STATEMENT:
' There may be some undisturbed archaeological resources
within Calabash's Planning Area. The Town believes that all
development plans in such identified areas should be carefully
reviewed prior to approval and that the NC Division of Archives
' and History should be contacted. Moreover, the State Division of
Archives and History will be contacted if any additional
archaeological sites previously not recorded are discovered.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
' The Town of Calabash will maintain information concerning
the location of archaeological sites within its Planning Area.
If a development permit request is submitted for an area that
contains a prerecorded site, the applicant will be informed and
' the State Division of Archives and History will be contacted
prior to the approval of the requested permit.
' f. Shellfishing Waters
All of the waters of the Calabash River are now closed for
shellfishing. The Town of Calabash hopes to reverse the negative
' impact of water pollution by supporting more effective local and
regional stormwater management and by providing a centralized
sewer System.

47
3. Constraints to Development
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
' Calabash has two major physical constraints for development:
the general lack of soils suitable for septic tank use and the
' amount of land included in the 100-year floodplain as discussed
in Section III of this report on pages 27-29. The lack of soils
generally suitable for septic tank use is a major concern for the
' Town and ETJ area not currently served by a centralized sewer
system. The South Brunswick Water and Sewer Authority is
pursuing developing a sewer system to serve those areas currently
not served. There are no man-made hazards such as heavy
' industries or airports located within the Town which would limit
development.
' POLICY STATEMENTS:
(1) Until such time as a central sewage collection and
' disposal system is developed, growth and development will not be
permitted in areas where septic tanks will not function. All
septic tanks must be in compliance with State Health Regulations
through administration by the Brunswick County Health Department.
' (2) Development may be constructed in areas with limitations
for building foundations only if corrective measures for
' stabilizing foundations are incorporated into the building
design.
(3) All new construction and substantial improvements in the
100-year flood zones must comply strictly to the Town's Flood
Damage Prevention Ordinance which has been adopted in conjunction
with Calabash's participation in the National Flood Insurance
' Program.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
' The Town of Calabash will continue to enforce its Flood
Damage Prevention Ordinance and Building Code as well as support
the enforcement of the septic tank regulations by the Brunswick
' County Health Department.
4. Protection of Potable Water Supplies
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Carolina Blythe utilizes wells to supply water to its
' customers in the Calabash area. Only a few private wells, mostly
in the ETJ area, are utilized in Calabash. Development near the
public or private wells does not pose any hazards.

48
CIS
POLICY STATEMENT:
Sources of potable surface and groundwater for the Town of
Calabash shall be protected to the maximum extent possible.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will regulate land uses near wells
through its zoning ordinance and will enforce site requirements
that private wells be located suitable distances from septic tank
systems.
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
' Ground absorption systems are the main means of sewerage
disposal for the Town and ETJ area not served by Carolina Blythe.
There is one package treatment plant now in Calabash which serves
' the Hidden Valley subdivision. If the centralized sewer system
is not developed, one can anticipate that additional package
treatment plants may be built to serve larger residential
development. This is especially true since much of the remaining
' undeveloped soils are "hard -pan" soils which are not suitable for
septic tanks.
L
C
(1) It shall be the policy of Calabash to allow package
treatment plants where they are deemed necessary and if they can
be constructed with the overall intent of this plan and meet all
federal and state environmental regulations. If and when
centralized sewer facilities are made available to areas served
by package plants, hookup to the sewer facilities will be
required, and the package plant(s) eliminated.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will support enforcement of package
treatment plant regulations by the Brunswick County Health
Department. The Town of Calabash subdivision ordinance will be
amended in order to require that the developer of a package
treatment plant must submit a maintenance plan to ensure proper
servicing of the plant, that the package treatment plant is sited
to provide minimal negative impact on the environment and
proposed development, and that the package plant will be
eliminated upon the availability of centralized sewer service.
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
The Town of Calabash shares the concern of the State
Division of Environmental Management (DEM) that stormwater runoff

49
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from urbanized areas is contributing to declining surface water
quality. According to the DEM, the increase in stormwater runoff
associated with land development can substantially increase
inputs of waste constituents present in stormwater. The
increased pollutant loading from stormwater runoff may degrade
ambient water quality, adversely impact best usage, or otherwise
violate water quality standards. Maintenance of water quality is
a concern to Calabash. The Town recognizes the value of water
quality maintenance both in terms of protecting commercial and
recreational fishing resources and providing clean water for
other recreational purposes. The Town is also very much
concerned about the potential adverse effect on water -quality
from large open -area recreational development. Improving
stormwater management in order to protect the coastal waters was
a major concern expressed in the April 1994 survey.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
(1) Stormwater runoff from new development will be reduced
by enacting improved stormwater control regulations.
(2) The Town of Calabash encourages the use of "innovative"
systems which utilize pervious or semi -pervious materials and the
retention of natural vegetation which functions as a filter which
minimizes the rapid release of pollutants to coastal waters
through stormwater runoff. The general intent of the stormwater
regulations will be to encourage the percolation of stormwater
into the ground and avoid direct discharge of stormwater into the
coastal waters.
(3) The proposed centralized sewer system is supported as a
means to eliminate runoff of surfaced effluent from
malfunctioning or inadequate on -site septic systems.
(4) Stormwater management planning can best be handled on a
river system drainage basis. The Town of Calabash supports the
preparation of a regional comprehensive stormwater management
plan for Southwest Brunswick County.
(5) The Town of Calabash supports the maintenance of the Caw
Caw Drainage system by Brunswick County.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will continue to enforce its building
code regulations which pertain to stormwater control. The Town
will determine whether these regulations need to be revised to
conform to the North Carolina Stormwater Control and the State
Sedimentation and Erosion Control policy. The proposed
centralized sewer system will reduce pollution from surfaced
effluent. The existing stormwater drainage system will be
evaluated. The Town of Calabash will support efforts to conduct
a regional stormwater management plan.

' 50
' 7 Marina Bulkhead and Floating Structure Development
The development of bulkheads, private boatslips, and marinas
' are permitted uses in the Town's zoning ordinance and must meet
LAMA regulations. Damage to existing marshes by bulkhead
installation or replacement, groins, or seawalls will not be
' permitted.
According to the CAMA guidelines T15A:07H.0208, marinas are
defined as any publicly or privately owned dock, basin or wet
boat storage facility constructed to accommodate more than 10
boats and providing any of the following services: permanent or
transient docking spaces, dry storage, fueling facilities,
haulout facilities and repair service. Excluded from this
definition are boat ramp facilities allowing access only and
temporary docking facilities which do not have any of the
' preceding services. In order to minimize environmental impact,
the Town of Calabash prefers dry -boat stacking storage rather
than wet slip marinas.
' According to CAMA guidelines T15A: 07M .0602, floating
structures are defined as any structure, not a boat, supported by
a means of flotation, designed to be used without a permanent
foundation, which is intended for human habitation or commerce.
A structure will be considered a floating structure when it is
used for human habitation or commercial purposes for more than
' 30 days in one location. A boat may be deemed a floating
structure when its means of propulsion has been removed or
rendered inoperative and it contains at least 200 square feet of
living space.
' In Calabash, the issue of floating structures has not been a
significant problem and the Town has never adopted any ordinances
' or regulations regarding floating structures. The Town is
supportive of the State's policies on floating structures and
believes that they should not be allowed within the Town's Public
' Trust Areas,
8. Industrial Impacts on Fragile Areas
' There are two industries now located within the Calabash
Planning Area. .Both of these industries are located some
distance from any Areas of Environmental Concern. Industrial use
is not a permitted use for any zoning district containing AEC's
in the Town's zoning ordinance. Consequently, the Town does not
anticipate any negative impacts by industrial use on the Town's
fragile areas.
9 Development of Sound and Estuarine Svstem Islands
' There are no estuarine system islands in Calabash's
jurisdiction.

51
10, Rising Sea Level
The Town of Calabash will closely monitor research on sea
level rise and its effects on coastal areas. It is the policy of
the Town to consider any State or Federal policies prior to
issuing specific statements regarding sea level rise and
restriction of development in potentially susceptible locations.
Specifically, development within areas up to 5 feet above sea
level may be prone to sea level rise and wetland loss.
' B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
In most coastal counties and towns, "resource production and
' management" usually relates to agriculture, forestry, and mining
activities as well as recreational and fisheries resources. For
Calabash, only recreational and fisheries resources pertain since
there are no major commercial agricultural, forestry, or mining
resources within the Planning Area.
1. Recreational and Fisheries Resources
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
In resort communities such.as Calabash, the abundant water
and marsh areas become the predominant resource supporting
recreational and fishing activities. The Town recognizes the
value of water quality maintenance in terms of protecting
commercial and recreational fishing resources and providing clean
water for other recreational purposes such as swimming, water
skiing, and boating. A portion of the marshes within Calabash
are designated as Primary Nursery Areas by the North Carolina
Division of Marine Fisheries as shown on Map 4. The Calabash
River system and marshes are also classified as Areas of
Environmental Concern previously discussed. The Calabash River
and the Intracoastal Waterway are classified as SA waters. For
these reasons, Calabash recognizes that by protecting the water
quality within its jurisdiction that it is also protecting its
economic base.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
(1) The Town of Calabash encourages the protection and
enhancement of North Carolina's sport and commercial fisheries
industry. Any development or activity which will profoundly
affect coastal and estuarine waters will be discouraged. Only
development consistent with 15 NCAC 7H and the Town's building
and development ordinances will be allowed to be placed adjacent
to coastal and estuarine waters. In the design, construction,
and operation of water dependent structures, efforts must be made
to mitigate negative effects on water quality and fish habitat,
as determined by 15A NCAC 7H, the Division of Environmental
Management, and the Coastal Resources Commission. The developer
and/or owner will bear the cost of any such mitigation.

' 52
' (2) Calabash supports the NC Division of Marine Fisheries in
their development of regulations and policies, including those on
' trawling and gill netting in ocean and estuarine waters.
(3) In order to expand Calabash's sport and commercial
fishing, Calabash will permit private and public dredging
' activities which will positively affect those industries. It is
recognized that in dredging and stabilization activities, some
fish habitat damage may occur. Only those projects which have a
' reasonable likelihood of providing greater benefits than damage
for marine life will be supported. All dredging and
stabilization projects must be performed in order to minimize any
unavoidable damage to fish habitat.
(4) Calabash supports projects which increase the
productivity of coastal and estuarine waters. Projects such as
' oyster reseeding programs and properly constructed artificial
reef construction have proved successful in the past, and
therefore, will be supported in the future.
' POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash supports current State and Federal
' programs designed to enhance the proper utilization of water
resources. The CAMA major and minor permitting program will be
enforced to protect these Areas of Environmental Concern.
' Establishment of a centralized sewer system and effective
stormwater management will help to maintain water quality in
Calabash.
' 2. The Impact of Residential and Commercial Development on
Natural Resources
Calabash's waters are used for all types of recreation,
including fishing for pleasure. These water resources are vital
to the community's "Seafood Capitol" tourist economy. The Town
' of Calabashis committed to the protection and enhancement of its
waters. The land use controls of Calabash are and will continue
to be written and enforced to insure that proper and adequate
measures are incorporated into the design, construction, and
' operation of residential and commercial development so that any
substantial negative impact to the unique coastal ecosystem is
minimized.
' C . ECONOMIC AMID COMMUNITY DEVELOPN�N'P
' POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
The Town of Calabash experienced rapid growth during the
1980's and early 19901s. Growth will continue during the next 5
to 10 years as a result of new residential construction as well
as the possible extension of the town corporate and
extraterritorial limits. During this planning process, there has
' been much discussion about what type of growth should occur. The

53
' consensus of the public meetings and the April 1994 survey was
that Calabash should remain a low -scale retirement community with
' predominantly single-family housing. The prospect of either
high-rise residential or commercial development is widely viewed
as a threat to the "fishing village" image of the Town. Most
survey respondents supported additional single-family, shopping,
' and recreational development but thought that duplexes, multi-
family, mobile home, and industrial development should be
discouraged. Nearly 71 percent of the survey respondents
' considered that the rate of growth was about right while about 19
percent thought that the rate of growth was too high or that the
Town had enough growth. The summer seasonal and tourist
population was considered about right or low compared to other
coastal towns by 77 percent of all the survey respondents.
The Town of Calabash recognizes that improperly managed
growth can actually harm or "destroy" the very appeal which
attracts new residents and seasonal visitors to the area in the
first place. Therefore, the Towns overall attitude toward
' growth is expressed in the following policy choices.
POLICY STATEMENTS.
' (1) Growth Management
a. To manage and direct the Towns growth and development in
' balance with the availability of public services.
b. To protect the Town from adverse development and growth by
considering these factors when considering land use:
' * the suitability of land to accommodate the use;
* the capacity of the environment;
* the compatibility of the land use with the goals and
objectives of the Town;
* density of the development and the proposed height
' of the structures; and
* the availability of support facilities and services.
c. To prepare for a continuing population growth.
d. To institute continuous land use planning and growth
direction by enforcing the relevant ordinances.
' e. To guide new development away from Areas of Environmental
Concern (AECS) and other special and sensitive areas, as
reflected in the policies for Resource Protection and Resource
' Production and Management.
f. To guide new development away from hazardous areas where there
' is a tendency for septic tank problems and flooding.
g. To institute annexation proceedings and the extension of the
' extraterritorial limits in a timely manner in order to guide
171

54
growth of ETJ areas within the current town boundaries and in the
surrounding areas adjacent to Calabash.
h. To retain a 35 foot height limitation for residential,
commercial, and institutional structures. The Board of
Commissioners will study the feasibility of requiring that the
building height restrictions can only be changed by a public
referendum.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will administer its development
ordinances such as zoning and subdivision regulations with these
above policies in mind. Improvements to the Town's infrastructure
will be done as needed in order to provide adequate services as
demand from population growth increases. As new development
occurs in the areas surrounding the town limits, Calabash will
evaluate the feasibility of annexation and the extension of the
Town's extraterritorial limits.
The above statements reflect the Town's general attitude
towards.growth. Additional policy issues required to be
addressed by the CAMA Planning Guidelines as well as additional
locally recognized issues are addressed below.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
(a) It shall be the policy of Calabash to encourage the
development of a variety of housing types to meet the needs and
desires of current and future citizens through the following:
* To maintain areas exclusively for conventional
single-family dwellings for the growing population.
* To provide areas for mobile home parks and
manufactured housing development.
* To allow multi -family and condominium development
within certain zoning districts.
(b) The Town wishes to enhance and promote quality
commercial development through the following:
* Calabash's economic base consists mainly of services
pertaining to tourism as the "Seafood Capitol of the World".

' 55
' * The Town will continue to enforce its current development
ordinances and local building permit process in order to achieve
a desired balance between commercial and residential development.
' Adequate buffering between residential and commercial development
will be required.
' * The appearance of commercial development will be enhanced
by the enforcement of zoning sign and landscaping regulations.
' * The Town of Calabash will support efforts to landscape
public areas and to encourage beautification of commercial areas
within the Town.
' * The Town of Calabash should consider the feasibility of
developing additional sources of public revenues from tourist -
related activities.
' * The Town of Calabash shall encourage US 17 to be developed
as a highway commercial area and for NC 179 to be a commercial
area with small-town character.
1 * The feasibility of providing sidewalks and ornamental
lighting in the Central Business District in conjunction with the
' widening on NC 179 will be evaluated.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
' The Town of Calabash does support light industrial
development in the outlying ETJ areas. Zoning restrictions
requiring buffering with some adjacent land uses will be
' enforced.
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
with the exception of churches, institutional use in
Calabash is now limited to those government and utility sites
necessary to provide adequate services to the Town and its
' Planning Area. This land use pattern will continue. The Town
of Calabash shall encourage land use compatibility between
institutional development and neighboring residential and/or
' commercial development.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will continue to enforce its zoning and
subdivision ordinances and that the zoning building height limit
will be restricted to 35 feet in all zoning districts. The Board
of Commissioners will study the feasibility of requiring that the
building height restrictions will only be changed by the approval
of a public referendum. The Town will continue to enforce the
' State CAMA permit process. The Town will also support the State
Health regulations regarding septic tank placement until such
time that a central sewer system may serve the entire Town and
' Planning Area.

56
3 Capacity of Existing Facilities and Local Commitment to
Providing Services to Development
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
The capacity of community facilities was discussed in
Section IV, pages 33-39, of this report. Carolina Blythe and the
Brunswick County Water System will have sufficient capacity to
serve the projected 1999 peak seasonal residential population of
5,109. The sewage system may be built by 1997 which is
eventually planned to serve the entire Planning Area of Calabash.
Population growth of Calabash is anticipated to have minor impact
upon school enrollment in Brunswick County. Two road
improvements are recommended to improve traffic flow and public
safety in Calabash: the scheduled widening of NC 179 in 1995 and
the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of NC 179
and Country Club Drive. Calabash will ensure that its private
contractor for solid waste collection has the capacity to handle
the peak seasonal population in 1999. The Town urges Brunswick
County to upgrade its landfill capacity to meet stringent federal
and state regulations which will be effective by 1998. The Town
of Calabash supports the recycling program of Brunswick County.
The feasibility of establishing.either a sheriff sub -station or a
local police department will be explored. Volunteer fire
protection services are adequate. The Calabash Town Hall has
been expanded to provide adequate space for town administrative
services. A new Town Hall will be built within 5 years.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
(1) As areas develop, it is the policy of the Town that the
developer/owner share in the financial responsibility of
providing basic town services.
(2) In order to protect the quality of its coastal waters,
the Town of Calabash will pursue developing a centralized
sewerage treatment and collection system.
(3) In order to protect its coastal waters, the Town of
Calabash will improve stormwater management.
(4) To alleviate traffic congestion, the Town of Calabash
supports the scheduled widening on NC 179 and the installation of
a traffic light at the intersection of NC 179 and Country Club
Drive.
(5) To promote public safety, the Town of Calabash supports
the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of
Country Club Drive and US 17.
(6) The Town of Calabash supports the development of a
regional bicycle route system throughout Brunswick County and
adjoining municipalities.

1 57
' 7 The Town of Calabash is committed to acquiring land for
( ) � g
recreational use.
' POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town of Calabash will continually evaluate the provision
of public services to determine whether there is sufficient
capacity. As undeveloped areas of the Planning Area are
' developed, it is the policy of the Town that the developer/owner
share in the financial responsibility of providing public
services.
4. Desired Urban Growth Patterns
As it is very important that the "fishing village"
' atmosphere be maintained, Calabash is not interested in promoting
high-rise development within its Planning Area. Residential
development is considered as desirable as long as there is no
major or irreversible damage to environmentally sensitive areas.
It is the Town's intentions, as reflected in its zoning ordinance
and zoning map, to allow a mixture of residential development in
a balanced manner throughout its Planning Area.
' 5. Redevelopment of Developed Areas
As the structures begin to age in Calabash, additional
redevelopment of residential and commercial buildings may occur,
especially in the "Mixed District" of "Old Calabash" which has
restaurants, dwellings, and mobile homes as well as in some of
' the older mobile home areas in the ETJ. Calabash supports
redevelopment activity as a positive re -use of land resources
which enhance the Town as a whole. Such redevelopment may be
' permitted as long as the activity complies with the spirit and
intent of existing regulatory requirements. It is the Town's
policy that density allowances for redevelopment areas conform to
' existing Town building and zoning regulations.
6. Commitment to State and Federal Programs
' Calabash is generally receptive to State and Federal
programs, particularly those which either enhance or improve the
Town's facilities. Examples of State and Federal programs which
are important to and supported by the Town include: CAMA major
and minor permitting program; dredging, channel maintenance, and
404 wetlands permitting by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the
EH Coastal and Estuarine Water Access Program; the NCDOT
' improvements to NC 179, and Federal and State projects which
provide efficient and safe boat access for sports fishing.

W.
' Proper maintenance of channels, particularly the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway, is very important to Calabash because of
the impact of commercial and recreational fisheries and general
' boating. Calabash is supportive of the Corps of Engineers
maintenance of the Calabash River and the Intracoastal Waterway.
' 8. Energy Facility Sitirtg and Development
11
11
n
11
The Town of Calabash discourages offshore continental
drilling for gas and oil. Also, the location of support
facilities for offshore drilling at Calabash would be
inappropriate and is strongly discouraged.
As the "Seafood Capitol of the World", the Town of Calabash
draws most of its livelihood from tourism, golfing, marine
recreation, and fishing activities. The Town supports the
continuation of these activities. The Town of Calabash should
consider the feasibility of developing additional sources of
public revenues from tourist -related activities.
10. Coastal and Estuarine Beach Access and Parkincr
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Relatively free and open access to the waterways is an
important consideration for any waterfront community.
POLICY STATEMENT:
The Town of Calabash is committed to the public having
access to public trust land and waters, provided that such means
do not conflict with the rights of residents for the use and
enjoyment of their property. Calabash supports the utilization
of state and federal, as well as local resources, to develop
public access areas.
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Calabash recognizes that an important element in developing
and implementing any local policies or plans is the involvement
of its citizens. Public involvement with this LAMA Land Use Plan
Update started in February 1994 as the planning process began.
Monthly meetings with the Calabash Planning Board composed of ten
members were held. Public meetings which were advertised in the
Brunswick Beacon, on notices posted in key locations throughout
the Town, and mailed to 25 neighborhood property owner
associations were held on March 9, May 16, and June 9, 1994.

1 59
Approximately 27 people attended the March 9th meeting. In
order to identify major planning issues in the Town, each
' participant was given the opportunity to state issues most
important to them and 29 issues were identified. Then each
person was given 5 "stars" and each participant put a star by the
' 5 most important issues to them. A summary of these issues and
their ranking is included in Appendix 1.
' A survey of 325 Calabash town and ETJ property owners and
businesses was conducted in April, 1994. Of these 200 were sent
to town property owners and 100 were sent to property owners
living in the Town's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The
questions on the survey addressed issues identified in the March
9th meeting as well as concerns of the Planning Board and Town
Administration. By the April 27 deadline, 169 out of the 325
' questionnaires which had been mailed had been received for a
total response rate of 52 percent. This is an excellent response
rate given that most mail surveys usually have a response rate of
' 30 to 35 percent. It should be noted that the survey elicited a
voluntary response and therefore, is not considered a scientific,
random survey. However, the survey was a valuable form of input,
especially since it gave non-resident property owners a chance to
' state their opinions. A detailed summary of the survey results
is also included in Appendix 1.
r�
11
The May 16 public meeting was attended by 40 participants.
At this meeting, the planning consultant gave a brief
presentation about the issues identified at the March 9th meeting
and the April survey results. The preliminary population
projections and major planning issues were also presented.
Inadvertently, the May 16th meeting was not advertised in the
Brunswick Beacon as stipulated by the Town's Citizen
Participation Plan. Consequently, this meeting was repeated on
June 9th with proper notice being given in the Brunswick Beacon
and 5 participants attended.
A joint planning workshop with the Calabash Planning Board
and Board of Commissioners was conducted on August 2nd to review
the preliminary land use plan update. The draft was revised
accordingly and the public was notified by a classified newspaper
advertisement that the preliminary plan was available for review
at the Town Hall. A public hearing concerning the preliminary
draft plan was held on September 13th prior to the submission of
the update to the Coastal Resources Commission in September 1994.
Throughout the plan updating process, Calabash has
demonstrated its desire to keep citizens informed of the planning
process by giving them opportunities to provide public input and
thereby participate in the decisionmaking process.

W
11
POLICY STATEMENT:
Calabash believes that its Planning Board which has
regularly scheduled meetings, all of which are open to the
public, provides opportunities for citizens to air their views
and concerns about planning matters. The Planning Board will
continue to be the primary vehicle for citizens, input.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
The Town will continue to use published public notices in
the local newspaper to inform citizens of pending decisions
involving land use planning matters in order to provide
opportunities for input.
As of 1994, Calabash does not have a locally adopted Storm
Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation, and Post -Disaster Recovery Plan
and relies solely upon the Brunswick County Storm Hazard
Mitigation, Evacuation, and Post -Disaster Plan. The Town of
Calabash is developing a Hurricane Evacuation Plan and an
Emergency Response Plan with County and State assistance.
Although Calabash is not an oceanfront community, the Town
' is located sufficiently inland so as not to feel the direct
effects of a hurricane or northeaster. Calabash has fared
relatively well since Hurricane Hazel in 1954 which did damage
the waterfront restaurant area. However, it is important for the
' Town not to be lured into a false sense of security, especially
since recent hurricanes such as Hugo and Andrew did so much
damage to inland communities.
1. Storm Hazard Mitigation
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
There is potential for flooding in the VE and AE zones
bordering the Intracoastal Waterway and the Calabash River.
These flood hazard areas are subject to a number of local, state,
and federal standards which limit the placement of structures.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
In order to minimize the effects of a hurricane or other
major storm, Calabash endorses the following:
(a) High Winds
Calabash supports enforcement of the NC State Building Code.
The Town will continue to enforce the State Building Code on wind
resistant construction with design standards of from 120 to 150
mph wind loads.

61
11
fl
1
L1
Calabash is an active participant in the National Flood
Insurance Program and is supportive of hazard mitigation
elements. Calabash is participating in the regular phase of the
insurance program and enforces a Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinance. Calabash also supports continued enforcement of the
CAMA and 404 wetlands development permit processes in areas
potentially susceptible to flooding.
• •� t WERF• - - • •
Calabash is supportive of the CAMA development permit
process for estuarine shoreline areas and the requisite
development standards which encourage both shoreline
stabilization and facilitation of proper drainage.
The Town of Calabash shall continue to discourage high -
intensity uses and large structures from being constructed within
the 100 year floodplain, erosion -prone areas, and other locations
susceptible to hurricane and flooding hazards.
The Town of Calabash shall consider acquisition of parcels
located in hazard areas or rendered unbuildable by storms or
other events, for the purpose of public water access and
conservation of open space.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
(1) All new development must meet as a minimum the
provisions of the North Carolina Building Code.
(2) The Town's zoning ordinances set out requirements for
low density residential development by setting standards for lot
sizes, building heights, and building setbacks.
(3) The Town's policies are in support of and consistent
with State policies and regulations for development in Areas of
Environmental Concern.
(4) The Town's flood plain development policies conform with
all Federal and State requirements and are enforced by the Town
Administrator and/ or zoning officer.
(5) Most of the mobile and manufactured homes in Calabash
are located outside the 100-year floodplain. New manufactured
homes are required to be tied down and blocked to meet North
Carolina design -wind requirements for this area.

62
' The Town of Calabash enforces these stated policies through
its zoning ordinance, the Flood Ordinance, North Carolina
Building Code, and the CAMA minor development permit process.
Through these policies and equipped with these tools for
enforcement, Calabash is dedicated to the mitigation of future
storm damage.
2. Evacuation
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Calabash participates in a regional evacuation planning
process administered by the Brunswick County Office of Emergency
Management. Adequate shelter for evacuees is present inland at
designated shelters. Total evacuation to these shelters is the
safest procedure for Calabash to follow when a significant storm
' is imminent. Calabash does not have a warning system, therefore,
evacuation efforts as directed by the Brunswick County Sheriff
Department will be done by use of a public address system or by
' sending personnel door-to-door.
POLICY STATEMENT:
' Calabash will provide for an orderly and timely evacuation
of town residents and visitors during a declared emergency by
following established procedures set forth by the Calabash
' Evacuation Plan and by the Brunswick County Emergency Management
Agency.
' POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
Town officials will implement the County Evacuation Plan if
an evacuation is ordered during a Hurricane warning. Town
' officials recognize that evacuation time is dependent upon the
number, of visitors and residents. The lead time for an
evacuation will be greater if a hurricane occurs during a peak
' period.
3. Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Policies
POLICY IDENTIFICATION:
Until such time that a town disaster and reconstruction plan
is adopted, the following reconstruction policies outline the
procedures for allowing residents to return to their properties,
the issuance of building permits, and the restoration of public
' facilities.
POLICY STATEMENTS:
' (1) After a hurricane strikes, the Mayor of Calabash shall
appoint a "Post -Disaster Recovery Task Force" and this team may
include the following: the Town Clerk or Administrator; the Town
' Building Inspector; Board of Commissioners members; and other
II
u

63
' representatives deemed appropriate. The Recovery Task Force will
be responsible for overseeing the reconstruction process and any
' policy issues which may arise after a storm disaster.
(2) Generally, reconstruction shall be held at least to the
same development standards as before the storm in accord with the
' NC Building Code, the Calabash Zoning Ordinance and Flood Plain
Management Regulations, and CAMA regulations and setback
requirements. However, destroyed structures which did not
conform to these development regulations must be 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 damaged structures which were
' built in conformance with the Town's building code and storm
hazard mitigation policies, shall be issued automatically. All
structures suffering major damage will be repaired according to
' the Town s building code. All structures suffering minor damage,
regardless of their location, will be allowed to be rebuilt to
the original condition prior to the storm.
' (3) Because of the density of development at Calabash and
the possible extensive damage caused by a major storm, it may be
necessary for the Town to suspend 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 whether existing policies 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 to 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 determined by the Board of Commissioners.
(4) In the event of extensive hurricane damage to public
' utilities requiring replacement or relocation of these utilities,
efforts shall be made to locate damaged utilities away from
hurricane hazard areas or to strengthen their construction.
(5) Priority shall be given to the repair of public
utilities which will restore service to as many persons as soon
as possible.
' (6) The Board of Commissioners may request that a new
assessment of hazard areas be performed, depending upon the
extent of flooding and the changes to shoreline and inlets caused
' by the hurricane.
(7) Public expenditure of funds for the repair or
' reconstruction of any private road or vehicular easement which
is damaged or destroyed as a result of an intense storm event
shall not occur, except in the conjunction with the repair of
1

64
' town utilities. All other private roads will be the
responsibility of the individual property owners.
POLICY IMPLEMENTATION:
(1) The Town of Calabash shall closely monitor all
' construction efforts involving both public and private utilities,
including roads, to provide for less vulnerable redevelopment
after a storm. After a major storm, reconstruction and/or
' relocation of structures must be consistent with the NC Building
Code, the Calabash Zoning and Flood Plain Management regulations,
and CAMA regulations and setback requirements.
' (2) The Town of Calabash shall continue to support these
policies for evacuation, recovery, and reconstruction as well as
support planning efforts by the Brunswick County Emergency
' Services Agency.

M
The land classification system provides a uniform way
of looking at how the use of land interacts with
environmentally sensitive areas and with the development
needs of a particular locality. It is not a strict
regulatory device in the sense of a zoning ordinance or a
zoning map. It represents more of a tool to aid in the
understanding the relationships between various land use
categories and how these relationships shape local policy.
Particular attention is focused on the intensity at which
land is used and the level of services needed 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 government 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)
"By delineating land classes on a map, local
government and its citizens can specify where certain
policies (local, state, and federal) will apply. The
land classification system is intended to be supported
by zoning, subdivision and other local growth
management tools and these local tools should be
consistent with the classification system as much as
possible. Although specific areas are outlined on a
land classification map, it must be remembered that
land classification is merely a tool to help implement
policies and not in the strict sense of the term a
regulatory mechanism." (7B.204) (a)
The seven alternative land classifications authorized
by 7B.204 (c), along with the Land Classification Map, are
therefore intended to serve as a visual representation of
the policies stated in Section V of this plan. The map
depicting these classifications must be as flexible as the
policies that guide them. (See the attached Map 5: Land
Classification Map for the Town of Calabash.)
Only three of the Coastal Resources Commission's seven
types of land classifications are relevant to Calabash. The
developed, urban transitional, and conservation classes are
further identified and described below.
L

m
A. DEVELOPED
According to the CAMA planning regulations, the
developed class of land provides for continued intensive
development and redevelopment of existing cities, towns,
their urban environs. Areas meeting the intent of the
developed classification are currently urban in character
where minimal undeveloped land remains, or are scheduled
the timely provision of public services such as water,
sewer, streets and roads, police and fire protection.
Urban in character includes mixed land uses such as
residential, commercial, institutional, and other uses.
(7B.0204) (d) (1)
and
for
Within Calabash, the areas complying with the above
definition include the existing residential and commercial
areas including those developed portions of the
extraterritorial jurisdiction. Lots in these areas are
nearly completely developed, and the undeveloped acreage
could be developed by or before the year 2004.
According to the CAMA planning regulations, the purpose
of the urban transition class is to provide for future
intensive urban development on lands that are suitable and
that will be provided with the necessary urban services to
support urban development. Areas meeting the intent of the
urban transition classification are presently being
developed for urban purposes or will be developed in the
next five to ten years. These areas are in, or will be in
an urban "transition" state of development going from lower
intensity uses to higher intensity uses and as such will
require urban services. Examples of areas meeting this
class are lands included within the municipal and
extraterritorial planning boundaries. This classification
should not be applied to any Areas of Environmental Concern,
lands of special value such as those containing
archaeological sites or wildlife habitats, or areas subject
to frequent flooding.
(7B.0204) (d) (2)
The lands in Calabash which are classified as urban
transitional are those vacant land areas adjacent to
currently developed areas including the extraterritorial
jurisdiction. This includes some areas where lots have been
platted as well as large tracts of unsubdivided land. Both
the Marsh Harbour and Ocean Harbour golf courses are
included in the urban transition class because it is
anticipated that these developed golf courses will further
be subdivided for residential development over the next ten
years.
L

1
67
rThe
relationship between the "developed" and "urban
transition" classification is an important one to
'
understand. The first class is meant to define the already
intensively developed areas and/or those areas where
intensive development urban -type development is likely to
occur. Urban transitional lands are those where public
investment decisions will be required to provide the
'
necessary urban services. These become important areas to
monitor.
'
The Coastal Resources Commission has further clarified
this relationship. The Developed and Urban Transition
classes should be the only lands under active consideration
'
by a local government for intensive 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 such as water, sewer, and
urban street systems will be guided only to these areas.
'
Most of the urban transition lands of Calabash, including
those in the extraterritorial area, already have access to
either the Brunswick County Water Service or Carolina
Blythe's water and sewer system. It is also anticipated
'
that land classified as "urban transition" will be served by
a centralized sewer system within the next 10 years. Other
urban services such as solid waste collection are only
available to those areas within the corporate limits who
'
want such services.
The development of primarily single-family structures
'
and golf course development is likely to continue in
Calabash and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The
developed and urban transition classes were specifically
designed to accommodate these more intensive developments
and. land uses. This may include commercial, community
facilities, and transportation facilities. Hazardous or
'
offensive uses such as power plants, heavy industries,
airports, and storage facilities will not be included in
these classes. Where identified constraints such as poor
soils, AIWW easements, or other fragile areas occur within
'
these classes, the areas will not be considered as Developed
or Urban Transition.
' C. CONSERVATION
The purpose of the Conservation class is to provide for
the effective long-term management and protection of
significant, limited, or irreplaceable areas. Areas meeting
the intent of this classification include Areas of
Environmental Concern such as coastal wetlands, estuarine
' waters and shorelines, and public trust areas as well as
other unique lands that may not be afforded protection by
another agency but are known for their natural,- scenic,
' historical, cultural, or hazardous nature.

M
Because of their unique, productive, cultural, or
natural features, lands within the Conservation class should
not be developed at all, or if developed, done so in an
extremely limited and cautious fashion. Urban services,
public or private, should not be provided in these areas as
a catalyst to stimulate intense development. In most cases
limited on site services will adequately support any limited
development within this class and will also protect the very
features which justify the area's inclusion in the
Conservation class. It should be understood that even
though AEC standards occasionally permit urban development
on a lot by lot basis within the various AECS and that
services are occasionally provided, this is the exception
rather than the rule, and the primary intent of the
conservation class is to provide protection for the
resources included therein. (7B.0204) (d) (7)
In Calabash, the lands described as the following
Areas of Environmental Concern are listed in this
classification: coastal wetlands, estuarine waters and
shorelines, and public trust areas.
k

= m m = m m m m = m m = m = m = = m m

TOWN OF CALABASH, N.C.
1994 LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN
Subchapter 7B of the N.C. Administration Code, CAMA Land Use Planning
' Guidelines, requires that the plan update process be conducted in the
public arena. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the local
government to involve, inform, and educate a broad cross-section of
' the population. There should be a continuous structure in place which
both reaches out and invites diversified segments of the community to
participate within its jurisdictional boundaries.
' The Town of Calabash is aware of this responsibility and will seek to
carry out this obligation throughout the updating of its 1994 Land Use
Plan. ' The following steps will be taken in order to provide information to the public and to maintain citizen involvement
throughout the process:
1. Designation of Principal Local Board and Planner -in -Charge
Ms. Margaret H. Hayes of the firm Hayes & Associates will serve as the
Planner -in -Charge and will supervise the project. Mr. Bruce
Kibblehouse and Mr. Al Smith will serve as the preliminary contacts
between the Town of Calabash and the Planning Consultant. The
Calabash Planning Board will be the principal local board directing
' the 1994 Land Use Plan Update with the Mayor and Board of
Commissioners being involved.
' 2. Public Information Meetings
Included as part of this plan is a schedule of events to inform and
' receive input from the citizens as well as from Town officials. The
schedule includes three (3) public meetings and a survey of town and
ETJ residents. The March 1994 Public Meeting will focus on the
' identification of planning issues and an explanation of the CAMA Land
Use Planning Process. A survey of 300 town and ETJ residents will
then be conducted in April 1994. The May 1994 Public Meeting will
focus on the survey results, the presentation of data analysis and the
existing land use map, and an assessment of the Town's land use
policies. In June 1994, the draft policies, draft land classification
map, hurricane mitigation and post disaster recovery policies, and
plan sections will be presented to the Mayor, Board of Commissioners,
and Planning Board in a joint planning workshop. Copies of the
preliminary plan will then be available for public review during July
' 1994. The final public meeting will be conducted on August 1994 prior
to the submission of the preliminary plan to the Coastal Resources
Commission. In addition to the meetings outlined above it is
anticipated that the Planning Consultant will meet at least monthly
' with the Town of Calabash Planning Board. These meetings will be open
to the public and will be conducted on either the first or third
Monday evenings of each month from February 1994 through September
' 1994.

Public Notification of the Land Use Plan Update Meetings
' The public will receive notice of all its opportunities for input
through the legal advertisement of the public meetings in the
' Brunswick Beacon, the local newspaper which is widely read by many of
Calabash residents. Announcements concerning the public meetings will
also be posted at the Calabash Town Hall as well as other key
locations throughout the Town. Citizens will also be notified about
' the land use plan update through the Survey Questionnaire. All
economic, social, ethnic, and cultural viewpoints will be considered
in the development of the land use plan update.
I1Q4AL:&QA-4
Adopted this the V day of ; 1994 by the Board
of Commissioners of Calabash, North Carolina.
By: 5;��� X-I�, Town Seal
Title: Mayor
11
I r 0 F�A
CORPORATE S
SEAL : w
:'�G %

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
' SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1994 TOWN OF CALABASH LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
TENTATIVE DATE* EVENT
January 25, 1994 Board of Commissioners approves planning
contract with Hayes & Associates.
February 22, 1994 Board of Commissioners adopts Citizen
r Participation Plan.
March 9, 1994 Public Meeting: Assessment of Land Use Issues
for Calabash
April 1994 Citizen Survey Questionnaire distributed to
sample of 300 Calabash Town and ETJ
households.
May 16, 1994 Public Meeting: Assessment of current
land use policy statements, discussion of
survey results and March public meeting,
and presentation of data analysis and
existing land use map.
June 13, 1994 Joint planning workshop with Board of
' Commissioners and Planning Board to develop
policy statements.
July, 1994 Draft plan available for review in Town Hall
and Brunswick County Planning Department.
September 12, 1994 Public Meeting: Calabash Board of
Commissioners approves submission of Draft
Final Plan to the Coastal Resources
Commission.
* Actual dates subject to change as needs and circumstances dictate.

11
11
TOWN OF CALABASH
. PUBLIC MEETING
A public meeting will be held Wednesday, March 9th at
7:00 pm at the Calabash Fire Station concerning the
1994 CAMA Land Use Plan Update. The objective of
the meeting is to assess land use issues for the Town
of. Calabash and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The
public is invited to attend.
Brunswick Beacon, :arch 3, 1994
TOWN OF CALABASH
CAMA LAND USE: PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC MEETING
A public meeting. will be held on Thursday, June 9, at
4:00 pm at the Calabash Town Hall. The objective of
the meeting is to present the survey results and dis-
cuss the major planning issues for the Town of
Calabash and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The same
information will be presented as was discussed at the
public meeting held on May 16. The public is invited to
attend.
3runswick Beacon, June 2, 1994
TOWN OF CALABASH
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
1994 CAMA LAND USE -PLAN UPDATE -
CALABASH TOWN HALL
TUESDAY,' SEPTEMBER 13;199417:00 PM
The Town of Board of Commissioners will conduct a
public. hearing to solicit comments regarding the Draft
CAMA Land Use Plan Update prior to submitting the
draft plan for state review. Copies of the plan are
available in the Town Hall during regular office hours.
Rr riswi _k Beacon, August 259 1994

11
I
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Town of Calabash will hold a public hearing on
Tuesday, February 28, 1995 at 6:00 pm at the Town Hall of
Calabash.
PURPOSE: To hear and receive written comments on the
proposed CAMA Land Use Plan Update prior to the Town
Board of Commissioners adoption and submission of the
plan to the Coastal Resources Commission for certification.
All citizens are invited to attend. The plan is available for
review at the Town Hall of Calabash during regular office
hours Monday thru Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The plan
is also available for review at the Brunswick County Planning
Department located at the Brunswick County
Courthouse/Government Complex in Bolivia during regular
office hours. The plan is being considered under the 5-year
update requirements of the NC Coastal Area Management
Act.
Janet Thomas, Town Clerk
Town of Calabash
Brunswick Beacon, January 19, 1995

SUMMARY OF PLANNING ISSUES IDENTIFIED AT THE
MARCH 9, 1994 TOWN OF CALABASH MEETING
'
RANK*
ISSUES
(1)
16
No more commercial rezoning along NC 179
'
(2)
13
Need centralized sewer in areas not currently served
(3)
12
Unify Town limits by annexing areas within town
'
boundaries
(4)
11
Need New Town Hall
'
(5)
10
Need Police Protection
7
Need Town Manager
7
Put stoplight at NC 179 and Country Club Drive
'
7
Keep ETA as is -- No more annexations outside current
town limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
6
Better enforcement of current laws
6
Develop Public Waterfront Park
6
Do more beautification of commercial areas
'
6
------
BrunswickCountyshouldprovide more services to ETA
- - -
5
Pave roads in ETA
5
Stop pollution of Calabash River -- Keep river pristine
'
5
relations between Town and ETA
---------
------Develop-better
4
-----------------------------------------------
Extend County water to areas not currently served
--------------Limit
4
Growth'-- Keep -Calabash -as is
3
Minimize tax rate increases
3
Preserve and enhance small town character
'
Dredge
-------3-------
2
-Calabash -River
----------------------------------
Reduce Storm Water Runoff
2
More land for commercial use
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Protect Ground water
1
Recycling
'
1
Install Directional Signs
1
Provide Sidewalks and Gutter Downtown
1
Annex ETA
0
Better utilization of waterwa s for recreation
0
Do not need town manager
'
* Rank
indicates number of meeting participants who cited issue as
problem

' TOWN OF CALABASH SURVEY
APRIL, 1994
' Dear Fellow Residents of Calabash and the Greater Calabash Area:
The Town of Calabash is in the process of updating its 1989 CAMA
' Land Use Plan which identifies issues and policies regarding land
development over the next 5 to 10 years. Your involvement in this
process by completing the following questionnaire is considered vital.
' All responses are confidential. Please return the questionnaire in
the enclosed pre -addressed and stamped envelope by April 27th.
Questionnaires are being mailed directly to Hayes & Associates, the
' planning firm which is preparing the land use plan update, in order to
facilitate processing and ensure confidentiality. Thank you!
Sincerely,
George Anderson
' Mayor
' 1. How long have you lived in Calabash?
Two years or less
Two to five years
Five to ten years
' More than ten years
Native of the Calabash Area
' 2. Which of the following best describes your relationship to the Town
of.Calabash?
Permanent resident of the Town
' Permanent resident of the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
(ETJ)
Non-resident property owner/seasonal visitor of Town
' Non-resident property owner/seasonal visitor of ETJ
Owner/operator of business in Calabash area
Other (please specify)
3. What, in your opinion, is the most important problem facing
Calabash that the Town can do something about?
4. If you are a permanent resident, what was the major reason why you
' choose this area as your home?
To enjoy the quiet family atmosphere
Proximity of ocean and waterway
' Golfing facilities
Low taxes
Climate
' Employment/ Business Opportunity
All of the above
Other

' 2
5. If you are a non-resident property owner, what was the major reason
why you acquired your property?
' For rental purposes/investment property
For your family's enjoyment of the ocean /waterway
Low taxes
Golfing
For future use as a retirement home
All of the Above
Other
' 6. In future years, would you like to see Calabash develop as:
A Retirement Community
Seafood and Restaurant Center/ Fishing Village
A Golfing Resort Community
All of the above
Other:
' 7. Do you feel that Calabash is growing . . .
Too fast
' Too slow
Just about right
Calabash has.had enough growth
8. Do you feel that the summer seasonal and tourist population .
Exceeds Town's capacity
Is about right
' Is low compared to other coastal towns
9. What type of development should be encouraged or discouraged?
' TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT ENCOURAGED DISCOURAGED
Single-family residential
' Duplexes
Multi -family residential
Mobile homes
Shopping facilities
Industry
' Recreational Use
10. a. At the present time, many areas do not have a sewer system.
' Should the Board of Commissioners work towards establishing a
community -wide sewer system?
Yes
No
' Not Sure
No opinion
' b. If yes, should the Town provide sewer by:
Participating in the South Brunswick Water & Sewer
Authority
Purchasing and expanding the Carolina Blythe Sewer System
Other:
Not Sure

' 3
11. What do you think are the most important issues now facing
Calabash? Rank each item below according to the following scale:
' 2= Major Issue; 1= Minor Issue; 0= Not an Issue
Preserve and enhance small town character
Improve street lighting
Upgrade all housing to minimum building code standards
Limit commercial rezoning along NC 179
' Annex unincorporated areas which are within the current town
limits
Annex ETJ areas outside of existing town limits
Hire Town Manager
Provide sidewalks and gutters in Restaurant/Commercial Area
Expand and/or Build New Town Hall
Provide stoplight at NC 179 and Country Club Drive
' Improve enforcement of existing ordinances and land use
regulations
Develop public waterfront park
' Pave dirt roads
Improve street maintenance
Provide boat and water access along Calabash River
Do more beautification of restaurant/commercial area
Improve water quality of Calabash River
Improve stormwater management
Minimize tax rate increases
' Protect groundwater
Keep Calabash River navigable by dredging
' COMMENTS:
12. a. Is police (sheriff) protection in Calabash adequate?
Yes
No
Not Sure/ No Opinion
b. If no, how should the Town provide additional police protection?
Establish Town of Calabash Police Department
' Contract with the Brunswick County Sheriff Department to
provide local sheriff sub -station
Other:
' 13. Do you feel that the existing land use ordinances are sufficiently
protecting your property interests?
' Yes
No, Why not
No opinion

' 4
14. Are you currently satisfied with the following public services
available in Calabash? If no, why not?
' YES NO SERVICE IF NO. WHY NOT?
Town Administration
' Planning
Building Inspection
' Brunswick County Sheriff Protection
' Volunteer Fire Protection
Volunteer Rescue Services
' Trash Collection
Water System
(1) Brunswick County
(2) Carolina Blythe
' Street Lighting
Street Maintenance
' Street Paving
Traffic Control
' Storm Drainage
Town Cleanliness
Mosquito Control
' Evacuation Planning
15. I would be willing to pay more taxes for the following:
NO
vQe Wn nn u
More recreational facilities
'
Fire Department
Rescue Squad
Police Department
Water System
'
Sewer System
Street Improvements
Drainage Improvements
'
Public Garbage Collection
Preservation of River
Waterfront Park Development
'
Others (Please Specify)

' 5
Thank you for your participation. In closing, the following
information will be helpful in evaluating the results of the survey.
Your responses will be kept confidential and will not be used for any
other purpose.
16. What is your age group?
' Under 30
30 - 49
50 - 64
' Over 65
17. What is the size of your household?
' 1 person
2 Person
3 person or more
18. Which best describes the type of residence? -
Conventional Home
Pre-fab Home
' Mobile Home
Condominium
' 19. Do you own or rent the house in which you live?
Own home
Rent
Own undeveloped lot(s)
I
20. How many months of the year do you live at your Calabash
residence?
Year-round resident
6 - it months
3-5 months
less than 3 months
21. What is the work status of the head(s) of household?
Retired
Working 40 hours week
Working part-time
22. My family income is approximately:
Under $10,000
$10,000 - $29,999
$30,000 - $49,999
Over $50,000
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
After completing the survey, please mail the questionnaire in the
enclosed pre -stamped and self-addressed envelope. The questionnaires
are being mailed directly to Hayes & Associates in order to facilitate
processing and to insure confidentiality.
PLEASE MAIL THE QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE HAYES & ASSOCIATES NO LATER THAN
APRIL 27, 1994.
THANK YOU!

1
RESULTS OF APRIL 1994 SURVEY
1994 CALABASH CAMA LAND USE PLAN UPDATE
QUESTION
Number of Surveys Sent
Number of Surveys Received
Percent Return
TOTAL
TOWN
ETJ
BUSINESS
325
200
100
25
169
127
35
7(5)*
52$
64%-
351;
28%-
' * 5 Town residents who responded were also business owners in
Calabash. These responses were included in the business section.
LJ
1. How long have you lived in Calabash?
2 years or less
16
11
3
2
2 to 5 years
36
28
7
1
5 to 10 years
51
38
it
2
More than 10 years
58
42
13
2
Native of Calabash Area
8
3
1
4
2. Relationship to Town
Permanent Resident of Town
131
121
-
10
ETJ Permanent Resident
32
-
31
1
Town non-resident property owner
2
2
-
-
ETJ non-resident property owner
3
-
3
-
Operator of Business
1
-
-
1
4. Permanent Resident: Major Reasons
Live in
Calabash
Family Atmosphere
89
62
25
2
Ocean and Waterway
90
68
21
1
Golfing Facilities
69
57
11
1
Low Taxes
82
61
18
3
Climate
90
70
18
2
Employment/Business Opportunity
13
8
3
2
All of Above
26
23
1
2
Native of Area
7
3
-
4
5. Seasonal Residents: Major Reasons Choose Calabash
Rental Purposes/Investment
3
1
1
1
Ocean and Waterway
4
1
2
-
Low Taxes
4
1
2
1
Golfing
3
2
1
-
Future Retirement Home
4
1
2
1
All of Above
-
-
-
-
6. In the future, Calabash should develop as:
Retirement Community
45
33
12
-
Seafood Restaurant/Fishing
village 25
17
5
3
Golfing Resort Community
19
15
4
1
All of Above
84
61
16
7

QUESTION TOTAL
7. Do you feel that Calabash is growing
Too fast 19
Too slow 16
Just about right 116
Calabash has had enough growth it
TOWN
.
13
8
90
6
ETJ BUSINESS
4 2
7 1
19 7
5 0
8. Summer seasonal population is:
Exceeds Towns capacity
35
20
12
3
Is about right
91
69
16
6
Low compared other coastal towns
29
24
4
1
9. What type of development should
be encouraged or
discouraged?
(Responses reported as encouraged/discouraged)
Single-family residential
151/3
113/2
33/1
11/0
Duplexes
28/90
20/70
5/19
3/1
Multi -family residential
17/109
9/87
4/20
4/2
Mobile Homes
16/114
9/87
6/19
1/8
Shopping Facilities
100/44
69/36
24/7
7/1
Industry
33/94
22/72
7/18
4/4
Recreational Use
112/19
80/16
25/3
7/0
10a. Should Town establish sewer system?
Yes
121
85
27
9
No
15
12
3
1
Not Sure
24
19
3
2
No Opinion
6
5
1
-
b. Town should provide sewer by:
Participate in South Brunswick
Water
and Sewer Authority
49
28
17
4
Purchase Carolina Blythe
56
52
3
1
Not Sure
38
25
9
4

11. Summary Ranking of Major Issues
235
Preserve and enhance small town character
233
Minimize tax rate increase
227
Provide stoplight at NC 179 and Country Club Drive
217
Protect groundwater
208
Improve enforcement of existing ordinances and land use
regulations
203
Upgrade all housing to minimum code standards
193
Limit commercial rezoning along NC 179
187
Improve stormwater management
184
Improve water quality of Calabash River
183
Improve street maintenance
170
Annex unincorporated areas which are within the current
Town limits
164
Keep Calabash River navigable by dredging
157
Do more beautification of restaurant/commercial area
156
Pave dirt roads
146
Improve street lighting
136
Expand and/or build new Town Hall
118
Develop public waterfront park
115
Provide sidewalks and gutters in Restaurant/Commercial
area
101
Annex ETJ areas outside of existing town limits
94
Provide boat and water access along Calabash River
71
Hire Town Manager
QUESTION
TOTAL TOWN ETJ BUSINESS
12a. Is police
(sheriff) protection adequate?
Yes
55 42 9 4
No
66 48 16 2
Not Sure/No Opinion 38 26 8 4
b. If no, how should Town provide additional protection?
Establish
Town Police Department 11 5 4 2
Co. provide sheriff sub -station 74 54 15 5
' 13. Do you feel that existing land use ordinances protect your
property interests?
Yes 85 70 11 4
No 18 12 5 1
No Opinion 48 29 15 4

i14.
Are you currently satisfied with the following public services
available in Calabash? ( Yes/No)
QUESTION TOTAL
TOWN
ETJ
BUSINESS
Town Administration 109/19
90/11
12/5
7/3
Planning 101/13
85/4
9/6
7/3
'
Building Inspection 106/19
85/11
16/4
5/4
Brunswick Co. Sheriff Dept. 83/59
66/43
13/12
4/4
Fire Protection 145/5
Rescue Services 140/11
111/4
106/9
26/17
26/2
8/0
8/0
Trash Collection 107/21
92/11
7/8
6/2
Brunswick Co. Water Service 60/10
36/9
16/0
8/1
'
Carolina Blythe 83/25
76/20
5/3
2/2
Street Lighting 110/28
94/14
12/8
3/6
Street Maintenance 101/33
80/26
17/3
4/4
Street Paving 96/31
79/21
14/6
3/4
Traffic Control 70/51
55/41
13/5
2/5
Storm Drainage 74/44
62/31
11/7
1/6
'
Town Cleanliness 87/39
Mosquito Control 54/59
68/32
41/45
14/5
9/10
5/2
4/4
Evacuation Planning 74/20
60/16
10/1
4/3
'
COMMENTS ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICES:
TOWN ADMINISTRATION
Argue too much, too much infighting
All Yankees!
Extremely rude and hard to deal with!
Poor attendance and have accomplished little.
Still
fighting
Northerners!
PLANNING
Too haphazard.
'
Have not heard enough of Planning Board, where are they?
Needs to be more independent.
Give Planning Board more authority.
Needs to be more independent with Businesses
trying to
direct
people
to their business with signs.
'
BUILDING INSPECTION
Inconsistent/ Too autocratic
The worst!
Should be even-handed and inspector should know what
he is doing.
A good friend of mine has been misused by Inspection.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
2- Need more sheriffs.
We pay high taxes, why not more protection?
4-Too long to get here/ too far to travel.
4- Need substation.
Only available on call.
Break-in/Robberies.

' FIRE PROTECTION
Very good/ excellent.
Need more volunteers.
' RESCUE SERVICES
2- Need faster response
' Need more volunteers
Need more training requirements
911 is poor
' TRASH COLLECTION
4-ETJ- What trash collection?
Business Response:Has been disbanded to reduce Yankees taxes.
' More dumpsters needed.
Fee is too high.
2- Need dumping station to be opened each day.
' BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SERVICE
Needs to be available for all.
We have well water, county water not available.
' County can do more.
CAROLINA BLYTHE WATER SYSTEM
Stale at times.
Water charge for non -house use should not be so high.
Water too high-priced.
' 2- Water tastes bad. Must use bottled water for cooking and drinking.
STREET LIGHTING
Need more in Carolina Shores.
(ETJ) None available unless we pay for our own. Don't have any.
2-Need more at intersections, crossroads, etc.
STREET MAINTENANCE AND PAVING
Poor patching
4- Some streets need paving
Roads too narrow/ too long to repair potholes
Could be better
Problem with drainage and ditches
' TRAFFIC CONTROL
6- Need stoplight at NC 179 and Country Club Drive
NC 179 too crowded to US 17
' 3- There is no traffic control
3- Some intersections need stoplights
Slow down traffic on Country Club Drive
STORM DRAINAGE
3- Too much water in ditches
Needs to be controlled more
' Water from uphill washes me away
2- Inadequate for growing area
Sections of NC 179 and Carolina Shores needs improvement

TOWN CLEANLINESS
2- Businesses can do better job
Disappointed that local businesses seem to think, "Let Elks do it!"
Cover all trash bins
Dirty roadsides
Create volunteer groups
Culverts, Ditches - litter is bad
MOSQUITO CONTROL
5- Do we have any?
Need to do more than just Carolina Shores
2- Too much standing water
Difficult to control safely
Do more often in summer
EVACUATION PLANNING
' What road should I take?
3- What plan?
Not aware of any.
' 15. I would be more willing to pay more taxes for the following:
QUESTION TOTAL TOWN ETJ BUSINESS
(Yes/No)
Recreational facilities
20/97
12/79
4/15
4/3
Fire Department
56/64
39/52
12/10
5/2
Rescue Squad
57/61
40/49
13/9
4/3
Police Department
54/24
41/12
11/10
4/2
Water System
38/78
24/65
8/11
6/2
Sewer System
46/71
29/62
11/9
6/0
Street Improvements
38/72
26/60
10/10
2/2
Drainage Improvements
44/58
34/49
6/8
4/1
Public Garbage Collection
22/96
7/80
12/12
3/4
Preservation of River
44/59
34/46
5/11
5/2
Waterfront Park Development
27/64
21/53
4/7
2/4
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
TOTAL
TOWN
ETJ
BUSINESS
16. What is your age group?
Under 30
0
0
0
0
30 -49
8
6
1
1
50- 64
51
31
14
6
Over 65
100
82
15
3
17. What is the size of your household?
1 person 21 13 6 2
2•persons 121 96 21 4
3 persons or more 17 9 4 4

IDEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS TOTAL TOWN ETJ BUSINESS
18.
Which describes your type of residence
'
Conventional home 145
117
18
10
Pre-fab Home 4
1
3
Mobile Home 9
2
7
-
'
Condominium 1
1
-
-
19.
Do you own or rent the home in which you live?
-
'
Own home 158
Rent 1
121
-
27
1
10
Own Undeveloped Lot 2
2
20.
How many months of the year do you live at
your Calabash
residence?
Year-round Resident 148
112
28
8
'
6 - 11 months 5
5
3- 5 months 1
0
1
-
less than 3 months 1
-
-
1
21.
What is the work status of the head of household?
Retired 121
100
20
1
'
Working 40 hours a week 27
15
5
7
Working part-time 18
10
6
2
'
22.
My family income is approximately .
Under $10,000 3
2
1
-
'
$10,000 - $29,999 46
29
15
2
$30,000 - $49,999 57
46
7
4
Over $50,000 31
25
2
4
'
COMMENTS/OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
3.
What is the most important problem facing Calabash
that the
Town
'
can do something about?
SEWER
'
38
- Sewer or Water and Sewer
County should do sewer
4 -
Prefer buying Carolina Blythe and letting
Sunset
Beach go
their
own way
'
Resolve sewer issue practically, not politically
We need sewer more than anything else because
Calabash is
growing
too fast and our land can only take
care of
so much.
'
Go forward with Regional South Brunswick
Resolving the water sewer problem in the
best interest of
Calabash
1

'
SEWER.
continued
Face up to the fact that we are a small town. Let professionals
extend water and sewer service (Carolina Blythe) - with 2/3
'
of the Town adequately covered why risk going into debt when
Carolina Blythe can and is willing to extend service into
unserved areas.
We are too small to be major backer of new sewer authority.
'
Carolina Shores has water and sewer. Town was offered several
times the opportunity to hook up and they refused!
'
Therefore, Carolina Shores should not be taxed for town sewers.
APPEARANCE
3
- Prevent the look of North Myrtle Beach - tacky.
'
Continue to clean-up the river front. Area behind dockside
restaurant could be a small park.
The development of Rt. 179 (must eliminate the US/17 Myrtle Beach
type of development.)
'
Improve appearance of downtown.
4
- I like Calabash the way that it is.
'
3
Keep it quiet.
- Maintain quaint reputation as seafood capital of South, not honky
tonk commercialism
2
- Cheap businesses operating- Gambling casinos, Wings, Eagles,etc.
2
- Don't want town to lose small. town look
'
5
- Enforce clean-up of property (trash, abandoned cars,etc.)
Removal of unoccupied, dilapidated, unsafe housing
Make businesses clean-up and paint. "Looks like hell"
'
Pick-up trash.
2
- Beautify waterfront/waterfront development.
2
- Too commercial/Limit commercialism in Town.
'
Clean-up waterways.
No lighted signs.
Mobile homes and selling wares beside them.
Some commercial areas are a mess. Enforce regulations to make
'
them presentable. Empty or not used lots should be cleaned,
landscaped, and improved at owners' expense.
The restaurants should take pride in the improvement of its area
and pay for it.
Parts of the original town are not kept to minimum standard,
cleanliness, and some order of acceptability for tourists.
Don't stick noses in business owners' business as long as
'
business is kept respectable.
Architecture on NC 179 should be quaint, no Wings!
'
GROWTH/ANNEXATION
4
- Planning/Zoning.
2
- Too rapid and uncontrolled growth/Growth.
'
Too many restrictions - want too much to control people - wanting
to change Town to New York.
Minimize strip commercial zoning - takes away from small town
feel.
'
Minimize multiple housing.
Mobile homes should be done away with. Biggest drawback of Town.
'
Cooperative understanding of the future of the Town.

'
GROWTN/ANNEXATION,
continued
Quit trying to change everything. I moved here because I like
it the way it is. If someone wants to live in a
metropolitan area, let them move.
Control of growth. We do not need hi -rise condos, another
Barefoot Landing, shopping malls, more restaurants, or
topless bars.
'
Zoning trailers. Strictly enforce health codes, building codes.
Calabash is a quiet, peaceful town and we like it that way. It's
getting too crowded with people building, not being
'
satisfied with the building, and then building over again.
This represents a full menu to be sure, but with careful planning
we can see it all happen in its own good time.
Limited space should take care of overdevelopment.
Calabash is a wonderful area and great care should be exercised
before "change for changes sake" takes place. We need to
work together.
'
Pay for professional planning services.
Protecting the waterfront & surrounding marine life for both the
'
original residents and those of us who are "newcomers."
I think Calabash Acres and some other surrounding areas should be
annexed into the Town.
If the people outside the City limits don't want to be annexed
then leave them alone.
'
Annex satellite areas.
I don't think annexing areas outside of Town is good. If force
annexation, then there will be hard feelings. Areas will
'
come when they want to.
Keep Calabash small town - no annexation of ETJ!
'
PUBLIC
SERVICES/TOWN ADMINISTRATION
2 -
Get more people involved in town affairs in order to unify Town.
More information made public on board meeting decisions.
Education.
Clean water.
2 -
Hire independent, experienced town manager to keep us out of
'
financial difficulties, yet show progress towards reasonable
goals.
Sometimes doing nothing on many issues is the best thing for
taxpayers.
Improve and maintain storm water trenches or we all will die of
'
malaria.
With sewers, the dredging of the Calabash River is a must and
will help remove pollution.
Important that taxes are controlled, because not to control
brings fraud.
A pure water system that can be affordable and meet future needs
'
of community.
Town employees are not lifetime residents and are very rude and
nasty. Give positions to locals who are not retired from
the North.
Cut growth in drainage ditches.
6 -
Pave roads/ road improvements.
'
4 -
Sidewalks/bike paths along NC 179 and perhaps Country Club.

'
PUBLIC SERVICES/TOWN ADMINISTRATION, continued
4 - Need Calabash Police Department.
Push County for park near here.
'
Keep Raleigh politicians out of businesses unless
we request.
3 - Runoff/Storm drainage.
Make sure property assessments are correct. Should
be market
value, not replacement value.
'
Since new government took over, no new services at
all but pay
taxes so Yankees live comfortably.
2 - Dredging of Calabash River.
'
No county water some places.
People putting garbage on undeveloped land beside
property.
Taxes high enough. Cut welfare and put people to
work in county
'
jobs.
Concerned about crime. Can't handle with current
sheriff system.
Un-merge Town with Carolina Shores.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
7 - Put stoplight at NC 179 and Country Club Drive.
Be careful of number of drives opening unto Highway 179.
2 - Traffic control.
Improve traffic control during summer.
Roads and traffic conditions around Persimmons Road,
Thomasboro Rd., and Pinewood Drive.
THER
2 No supermarket.
Control American Golf from ruining value of homes in Carolina
Shores.
Treat Acreage as equal to Carolina Shores.
Calabash too small for snowbirds.
5 - Stop infighting between Carolina Shores and Old Calabash - the
world doesn't revolve around Carolina Shores.
Golfing relations.
As a member of the clergy, I do appreciate the opportunity to
participate and want the best for both the old and new
residents.
Surveys of this nature are useless if our elected officials do
not act upon them as we have directed..
Good survey!
Will the results of this survey be made public?
rl
C

A I!\ YA

Map 3:
Flood Hazards in
ZONE X
ZONE AE (16EL) �.
Iwrw• Lois r• I —
IZONE VE (16 EL)J
� I
I `
bash'Planning Area.'
�i - ,\
Y �/
Source: Firm Maps (Exact Areas Must Be Determined By Official Firm Maps)
CALABASH
North Carolina
®ZONE AE - 100 YEAR FLOOD ZONE WITH
BASE ELEVATIONS DETERMINED
ZONE VE - COASTAL FLOOD AREA WITH
- VELOCITY HAZARD (WAVE ACTION)
ZONE X - AREAS OF 500 YEAR FLOOD ZONE
ZONE X - AREAS OUTSIDE 500 YEAR FLOOD ZONE
SCALE 1" - 1200'
THIS MAP WAS PREPARED BY THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE FOR THE TOWN OF CALABASH, NORTH CAROLINA.
Source: Brunswick County Tax Maps, Map Date: 1994
rIIrASA:I,X Of 7H,.S RAP WAS tINANCID IN FAST THOUGH A GIANT FROVIDID BY TNI NORTH
CAROLINA COASTAL NANACDQNT ISOGIAA. TIBOUCN rL'NDS ?NOV IDID TNI COASTAL ZONI
K4XAGMaNT ACT Or 1972, AS ANINDID, VNIC11 IS ADNINISTINID ET TRI OFFICI OF OCIAN AND
COASTAL IISOVSCI NANAGatINT, NATIONAL OCLWIC AND ATNOS►NIIIC ADNINISTIATION.

2:
alabash
J Use Map
1994
ry
INA.
DHD BY THE NORTH
PREPARATION OF THIS PLAY MAJ r in^^"' THROUG• UGH FUNDS _PROVIDED THE COASTAL ZONE
CAROLINA COASTAL MANACEMENT PROGRAMS T
COASTAL R.ESOURCEPMANAOEMENT1972, AS ,NATIONAL OCEANICNDED, WHICH IS AAND NATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.ISTERED BY THE OFFICE or AND
I