Land Use Plan and Growth Management Policies-1988-1998

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DCM COPY DCM COPY !
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Division of Coastal Management Copy
ILr%INGJ-V�7L_ _1 LnrV
GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1988 - 1998
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY:
TALBERT, COX & ASSOCIATES, INC.
AN ESPEY, HUSTON COMPANY
LOCAL ADOPTION DATE:
APRIL 11, 1989
CRC CERTIFICATION DATE:
MAY 26, 1989

IIIIIIII
IL wi
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,
LAND USE PLAN
AND
GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1988 - 1998
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY:
TALBERT, COX & ASSOCIATES, INC.
AN ESPEY, HUSTON COMPANY
LOCAL ADOPTION DATE: CRC CERTIFICATION DATE:
APRIL 11, 1989 MAY 26, 1989

CALABASH LAND USE PLAN
AND
GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1988-1998
PREPARED FOR
TOWN OF CALABASH, NORTH CAROLINA
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Joel Landis High Keith Hardee
John E. High Edward Rice
R. Douglas Simmons, Mayor
Janet Thomas, Town Clerk
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
TALBERT, COX AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
The preparation of this report was financed in part through a grant
provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program through
funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.

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TOWN OF CALABASH, NORTH CAROLINA
LAND USE PLAN AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
1988-1998
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
SECTION I: Analysis of Existing Conditions
and Projected Demand 1
I. INTRODUCTION
A.
Background
1
B.
Purpose
1
C.
Plan Format
2
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS
A.
Population
4
1. Population Composition
6
2. Seasonal Population
6
B.
Economy
7
C.
Impact of Seasonal Population
8
D.
Existing Land Use Analysis
8
1. Current Conditions
8
2. Land Compatibility Problems
11
3. Problems from Unplanned Development
11
4. Areas Likely to Experience Changes in
Predominant Land Use
12
5. Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC)
12
E.
Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations
14
1. Transportation
14
2. Community Facilities Plans
15
3. Utilities Extension Policy
4. Recreation Policy
16
16
5. Prior Land Use Plans
16
6. Regulations and Enforcement Provisions
17
'
7. Federal and State Regulations
18
F.
Constraints: Land Suitability
19
1. Physical Limitations
19
2. Well Fields
20
3. Slopes
20
4. Fragile Areas
21
G.
5. Areas with Resource Potential
Constraints: Capacity of Community Facilities
21
22
1. Existing Water Service Areas
22
2. Sewer Service Area
22
'
3. Schools
23
4. Transportation
23
H.
Estimated Demand
24
1. Population Trends
24
1
2. Future Land Need
25
3. Community Facilities Needs
25
4. Summary of Trends and Facilities Demand:
Policy Issues
28

II
SECTION II: Policy Statements 30
A. Resource Protection: Estuarine System 31
1. Areas of Environmental Concern 31
2. Areas of Environmental Concern: Ocean
Hazard Areas
34
3.
Development in Areas with Constraints
35
4.
Hurricane and Flood Evacuation Needs and Plans
37
5.
Protection of Potable Water Supplies
38
6.
Use of Package Treatment Plants
38
7.
Stormwater Runoff
38
8.
9.
Marina and Floating Home Development
Industrial Impacts of Fragile Areas
38
39
10.
Development of Sound and Estuarine System Islands
39
B. Resource Production and Management
41
1. Recreational Resources/Fisheries 41
C. Economic and Community Development 42
1. Local Commitment to Providing Services to
Development
43
2.
I
Redevelopment
of Developed Areas
44
3.
Desired Urban
Growth Patterns
44
4.
Commitment to
State and Federal Programs
46
I 5.
Assistance to
Channel Maintenance and
Beach Renourishment
46
6.
Tourism
47
I 7. Beach and Waterfront Access, and Parking 47
D. Continuing Public Participation Policies 49
E. Calabash Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post -Disaster
IRecovery, and Evacuation Plan 50
SECTION III. Land Classification System 51
A. Developed 51
B. Transition 52
C. Conservation 53
D. Other Classifications 54
1. Community 54
2. Rural 54
SECTION IV: Relationship of Policies and Land
Classification System 55
A. Developed and Transition Classes 55
B. Conservation 55
ISECTION V: Intergovernmental Coordination 56

G E i
0
Scale in Miles
0 25-- 50 75 00 TOWN OF CALABASH
(BRUNSWICK COUNTY)
MAP I
Location Map

SECTION I
Analysis of Existing Conditions
and
Projected Demand
I

ICALABASH LAND USE PLAN
II. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND
' Since the enactment of the Coastal Area Management Act in
1974 (CAMA), all of North Carolina's 20 coastal counties
and many of the municipalities within those counties have
developed land use plans. Because the law requires each
plan to be updated every five years, and since the ini-
tial plans were developed in the 1975-77 time frame,
nearly all of the earlier plans have undergone two suc-
cessive rounds of updates. However, the small, but
regionally popular, seafood village of Calabash, tucked
away in the southeasternmost corner of Brunswick County,
has never undergone the CAMA planning process. This doc-
ument, therefore, represents the first efforts by the
Town of Calabash to develop its own "free-standing"
coastal management land use plan, including locally
adopted policies for managing growth.
B. PURPOSE
All of the North Carolina coast, with its generous endow-
ment of natural beauty --from the gentle ocean surfs and
sandy beaches, to the splendid winding waterways
and
abundant seafood --exists in a uniquely sensitive environ-
ment. Increasing permanent populations, the growth in
tourism, and ever-expanding residential and commercial
development along the coast bears something of a mixed
blessing. If poorly or improperly managed, such develop-
ment threatens the very vital resources, i.e., water,
sand, and marine life, which attracted growth and devel-
opment' in the first place. The Coastal Area Management
1
Act, specifically, the "Land Use Planning Guidelines"
contained in Subchapter 7B of the North Carolina Admini-
strative Code, as amended, gives coastal local govern-
ments the opportunity to develop their own policies for
protecting local physical and cultural resources, man-
aging growth, and to plan for the provision of needed
facilities and services.
' Included within the State's coastal management legisla-
tion are specific, statutorily defined, "Areas of Envi-
ronmental Concern" (AECs), which, due to their fragile
nature, require special measures of protection. The Town
of Calabash, located somewhat inland, may not be as

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Iof - affected by the presence of AECs as some beach oriented
communities, but still has valuable resources which need
protection and proper management, as well as land -use
related issues which must be addressed.
1 The purpose of this initial land use plan for Calabash is
not only to meet all of the required planning elements
contained in State guidelines, but also to provide a
1 viable, useful policy document that can form the basis
for managing growth and development in this small, but
unique, "seafood capital of the world."
C. PLAN FORMAT
In general accord with the CAMA guidelines, but modified
as needed to fit the needs of Calabash, this land use
plan will consist of four major sections, each with
appropriate supportive subsections, as follows:
1. Analysis of Existing Conditions: This includes
both a "snapshot" of existing population; land use;
economy; natural and cultural resources; availability
of water, sewer, and other utilities; as well as an
analysis of trends which indicate possible future
conditions. The future demand for land and services
will also be included in this part.
2. Policy Statements: After analyzing trends and
projected demand, as well as the possible implica-
tions for Calabash, specific policy statements, or
overall guiding principles on a number of issues,
will be presented. This will include all of the
areas specified in the CAMA guidelines and other
locally identified issues. The policy statements are
also based, in part, on direct citizen input which
1 was obtained through the use of a survey question-
naire and public meetings. Along with the statements
of policy are specific implementation steps or strat-
egies.
3. Land Classification System: All of the land areas
within Calabash's jurisdiction have been classified
1 for future uses, in accord with guidelines suggested
in the CAMA legislation and which are relevant to the
Town. These classifications are also depicted graph-
ically on a "Land Classification Map," which is also
an important part of this planning document.
4. Relationship Between Policies and the Land Classi-
fication System: This is the last major section
addressed in the plan and discusses briefly how the
policies interact with various uses permitted under
each land classification.
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Again, this document is expected to provide the Town of
Calabash with a useful policy document that addresses all
of the required CAMA planning guidelines and serves as a
growth/development management tool for the Town's future
over the next five years.
[I
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II. EXISTING CONDITIONS
A. POPULATION
The beginning point of analysis for a land use plan is
the population. Nearly all of the other planning ele-
ments depend on the number and geographic location of
people.
The Town of Calabash was formally incorporated in May
1973, and, therefore, did not make an appearance in the
U.S. Census of Population until 1980. Although the year-
round population has historically been very small --
starting with 136 in 1973, and showing only 140 in the
1980 Census --the real "population" impact upon Calabash
is substantially higher. There are two reasons for this.
First, the widespread notoriety of the Town's seafood
restaurants attracts thousands of tourists each year from
both Carolinas. However, unlike most tourists to coastal
destinations, most of Calabash's tourists come primarily
to enjoy its fine restaurants. More information on the
impact of the seasonal population influx will be pre-
sented later. The second major factor in the population
impact upon the Town of Calabash is the substantial resi-
dential development outside of the Town limits, but with-
in the one -mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. This fac-
tor will also be discussed later in greater detail.
Notice the population trends within the Town limits of
Calabash, as shown in Table 1, which follows.
TABLE 1: Calabash Population Trends, 1973-1988
----- Change-----
1
Year Population Number Percent
1973 136 --
1980 140 4 2.9
*1987 212 72 51.4
*1988 221 9 4.2
1973-1988 -- 85 62.5
Source: U.S. Census; Town Clerk's Office, Brunswick
County Planning Department
*Estimates provided by County Planning Department
Within the Town limits proper, the population of Calabash
has grown rather modestly during the 15 years since its
formal incorporation as a legal municipality. However,
this modest numerical gain was at a respectable com-
pounded annual rate of 3.3% for the 15-year period. But

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the population story, as indicated above, goes far beyond
the corporate limits of Calabash. In recent years,
Brunswick County has been one of the fastest growing
counties in North Carolina --growing by 52% from 1980 to
1987. The Shallotte Township, which includes Calabash as
well as the ocean -beach towns of Ocean Isle Beach and
Sunset Beach, grew at even a more phenomenal rate over
the same seven-year period. From 1980 to 1987, the
Shallotte Township nearly doubled in year-round resi-
dents --growing from 6,542 to 12,141 persons --a total
increase of 86%, or at a yearly compounded average rate
of 9.2%. It should be noted that most demographers con-
sider an annual average growth rate of 2% per year to be
favorable.
According to the 1987 Brunswick County Land Use Plan
Update, most of the growth took place in the unincorpo-
rated parts of the County, outside of the corporate
limits of existing municipalities. This phenomenon has
had a significant impact upon Calabash.
In 1978, a large mixed -use development (but primarily
single-family residential), known as Carolina Shores, was
begun in Calabash's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Today, this development represents the largest single
development in the Town's extraterritorial area, although
there are 10 other significant residential developments
in this area. (It should be noted that residents of
Carolina Shores have sought to incorporate into a separ-
ate municipality, but, to date, the efforts have not been
successful.) The impact and potential impact of popula-
tions from the extraterritorial area is illustrated by
the fact that of a combined total of 861 developed resi-
dential lots within both the Town proper and the extra-
territorial area, only 94, i.e., 11%, are located within
the existing Town limits.
According to the "Summary Tape File 3-A" of the
U.S. Census of Population and Housing for 1980, the aver-
age household size in Calabash was 2.33 persons per
household. The 1980 Census also indicated a vacancy rate
of 9%, i.e., 91% occupancy. However, Town officials
expressed a belief that the occupancy rate has been
increasing along with the expansion of the housing sup-
ply. Assuming the 1980 average household size could be
applied to Calabash's extraterritorial jurisdiction and
assuming a current occupancy rate of 96% in this area
(i.e., 4% of all units being vacant), then the estimated
population of the extraterritorial jurisdiction is as
shown in Table 2, which follows.
5

TABLE 2: 1988 Population Estimate - Calabash's Extra-
territorial Jurisdiction
No. Dwelling Units: 736 (767-96%)
Average Household Size: 2.33
IEstimated
Population: 1,715
Calabash Population: 221
Total Jurisdictional: 1,936
I
Source: 1980 U.S. Census; Field Surveys and Calcula-
tions, Talbert, Cox & Associates, Inc.
Table 2 points out clearly the impact of the extraterri-
torial population of Calabash --mainly that nearly 90% of
the people within its jurisdiction live outside of the
current Town limits. This factor may have serious impli-
cations for the Town's annexation policies. However,
this will be examined in the Policy Statements section of
this plan.
1. Population Composition
The 1980 Census reported that all--100%--of the resi-
dents within the Town limits of Calabash were white.
There were no racial minorities reported as living in
the Town. This is not true today, since there are
racial minorities in both the Town limits and in the
extraterritorial area.
The 1980 Census also reported that 79, or 56%, of the
then 140 persons were under the age of 30 and that
53% of the population was female. At that time, 58%
of the female population was under 30. Although it
will take the 1990 Census to verify any assumptions,
1
it is likely that with the growth of residential
developments in the extraterritorial area, more
retirees are locating in the general area, indicating
an aging population. The 1980 Census also reported
a
total of 27 school -aged children, i.e., from kinder-
garten through high school.
I2.
Seasonal Population
' Calabash, unlike beachfront communities, does not
have a preponderance of hotels, cottages, or condo-
miniums which could greatly increase its "resident"
population during the summer. There is only one
small, eight -unit motel in the Town. However, the
Town is literally flooded with thousands of "day
visitors" each year who may be spending vacations in
places from North Myrtle Beach to Holden Beach, but
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' who to the small "Seafood Capital of the
pilgrimage P
World" in search of the delicious bounty from the
' nearby ocean and water courses. Most visitors come
only to eat at one of the many seafood restaurants
and/or browse and shop at one of several souvenir and
' gift shops. It is virtually impossible to estimate
how many visitors flow through the Town on any given
day during the tourist season, but the numbers are
quite substantial.
B. ECONOMY
Unquestionably, the tourist -oriented seafood restaurant
business is the economic base of Calabash. In a list of
27 businesses within the Town limits obtained from the
Town Hall, 18, or 67%, were restaurants. Other business-
es include the small motel, souvenir and gift shops, con-
venience stores, and real estate offices. There is also
a "wacky" golf recreation facility adjacent to the Town
limits. It should be noted that there are a number of
businesses located outside of the "technical" Town
limits, including restaurants. (See Table 3 on the fol-
lowing page, which lists some of these businesses.)
Residential land development in the extraterritorial jur-
isdiction is also an important element in the Town's
economic picture. However, most of this development lies
outside of the Town's taxing jurisdiction, which is a
matter to be considered in the policy discussion. Ordi-
narily, an examination of the assessed valuation of prop-
erty indicates the economic impact of building and devel-
opment upon an area. Table 4, which follows, shows the
amount of assessed valuations, i.e., the Town's taxable
base.
ITABLE 4: Calabash's Assessed Valuations, 1982 to 1987
Year Assessed Valuation % Change
1982 6,017,527 --
1983 6,290,020 4.50
1984 7,055,239 12.20
' 1985 7,832,589 11.00
1986* 16,293,350 108.00
1987** 16,236,584 - 0.35
' Source: Town Clerk's Office
*Year of Revaluation
**Loss of personal property valuation, and two
businesses burned down
I

TABLE 3: Businesses in Calabash
1.
A & B Convenient Mart
2.
Calabash Seafood House
3.
Capt. Nance Restaurant
4.
Eastside Restaurant
5.
Larry's Seafood Barn
6.
Beck's Seafood Restaurant
7.
Farmer's Daughter Country Kitchen
8.
Calabash Seafood Hut
9.
Island House South
10.
Ella's Restaurant
11.
Llewelyn & Lewis Builders
12.
Bennett's Seafood Kitchen
13.
Calabash Motel
14.
Dockside Seafood House
15.
T/A Trawlers
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16.
High's Seafood Market
17.
original Calabash Restaurant
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18.
Calabash Beverage Mart
19.
Sea Cruiz, Inc.
20.
21.
Moore's Grocery
Tony's Pizza
22.
Tony's Kwik Mart
23.
Captain Johns Seafood House
24.
Haley's Restaurant
25.
Simmons Beverage Mart & Grocery
26.
Thomas's Seafood Restaurant
'
27.
Captain John's Riverside Restaurant
ISource:
Town of Calabash
7(a)

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C. IMPACT OF SEASONAL POPULATION
Although the average visitor to Calabash does not stay
for long periods of time, the impacts upon.the Town are
typical to that of similar communities hosting many "day
visitors." There is increased demand for water and sewer
services since all of the restaurants are busy. Since
June 1988, Calabash has had access to the Brunswick
County centralized water system. Some businesses within
the Town, however, have had access to the County water
system since 1983. Although most residents and busi-
nesses can now take advantage of centralized water ser-
vices, only a few have actually connected onto the sys-
tem. Prior to the initiation of the County water service
to Calabash, some businesses and residents still used
private wells and septic tanks. However, there are no
immediate or long-range plans for the provision of cen-
tralized sewer service within Calabash.
Another significant seasonal impact upon Calabash is the
demand for solid waste disposal services. During the
off-season, trash collection is twice per week for resi-
dences and businesses. However, during the tourist sea-
son, business trash collection must be conducted seven
days per week. The Town currently contracts with a pri-
vate solid waste firm for trash pick-up and disposal.
Traffic congestion and increased demand for parking are
other seasonal impacts of major concern in Calabash.
However, none of the seasonal impacts are currently per-
ceived as causing insurmountable problems.
D. EXISTING LAND USE ANALYSIS
1. Current Conditions
The actual land area within the Town limits of Cala-
bash is relatively small, consisting of about 240
acres (including areas recently annexed). However,
the extraterritorial area is substantially larger.
The Town of Calabash proper is located on the banks
of the Calabash River, which begins in Brunswick
County and runs west, then southward into Horry
County, South Carolina (see Map 2, attached).
a. Residential: Residential uses, primarily
single-family conventional units, but also a sig-
nificant number of mobile homes, are the predomi-
nant land use in Calabash's jurisdiction. Most
of the land in both the Town limits and the
extraterritorial area has been platted and sub-
divided into building lots, although a number of
these lots are vacant. However, within the Town
and in the extraterritorial area, there are
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several large, unsubdivided vacant tracts of
land. These individual tracts range in size from
17 acres to over 240 acres, for a total of 934
acres of unsubdivided, unplatted lands. As will
be discussed later, however, some of this land is
wooded and may be affected by poor soils or the
100-year flood zone. These factors inhibit, to
some degree, the area's overall development
potential. The number of platted lots, both
developed and vacant, is also substantial in both
the Town limits and in the extraterritorial area.
Notice Table 5, which follows, and the attached
Existing Land Use maps.
TABLE 5: Calabash Land Use Summary - Lot/Parcel
Count
Type of Use
Residential*
Commercial
Government and
Institutional
Total
Town Limits ETA Total
159 2,346 2,505
50 43 93
4 1 5
213 2,390 2,603
Source: Windshield Surveys, Feb. -March 1988,
Talbert, Cox & Associates
Town Clerk's Office
*Includes vacant lots, all of which are,
for planning purposes, assumed to be
residential
The overwhelming majority of the platted lots in
the Town's overall jurisdiction --both vacant and
developed --are located in the extraterritorial
jurisdiction. The assessment of vacant platted
lots, in terms of location, provides a strong
indication of potential land development trends
in the area. Notice Table 6, below.
TABLE 6: Vacant Platted Lots in Calabash's
Jurisdiction
Town Limits ETA Total
Vacant Lots 65 1,579 1,644
Developed Lots 148 811 959
Total 213 2,390 2,603
Source: Field Surveys, Talbert, Cox & Associates
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Table 6 shows that 1,644 of the existing 2,603
platted lots are yet undeveloped, i.e., 63%. The
potential for future residential development and
subsequent population increases --especially in
the extraterritorial area, is quite substantial.
Within the extraterritorial areas, there are
several major residential developments proposed
or under discussion within the Town. The pat-
terns and trends for continuing residential
development are strong. Notice the building per-
mit trends for Calabash's jurisdiction from 1982
(which is the year the Town began issuing its own
building permits) through 1986.
TABLE 7: Building Permit Trends, 1982-1986
Year
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
Total
---Town Limits--- - -----ETA-------
S.F. M.F. M.H. C S.F. M.F. M.H. C Total
-
- -
-
6 -
1
4
11
-
- -
-
66 126
13
6
211
94 -
15
7
116
8
5 6
3
56 -
21
2
101
4
- 2
-
43 -
33
-
82
2
- 2
-
50 -
38
-
92
14
5 10
3
315 126
121
19
613
Source: Town Clerk's Office
Considering the amount of vacant developable land
in the extraterritorial area, if water and/or
sewer is available, then the recent building
trends will likely continue throughout the cur-
rent planning period, i.e., 1988-1998.
b. Commercial Land Uses: Most of the commercial
activities are located within the Town limits of
Calabash and consist primarily of restaurants.
There is strip -commercial development along
N.C. Highway 179, which is the main thoroughfare
running through the Town, extending beyond the
Town limits. Most of the restaurants are located
along the two local streets which run south of
N.C. 179 toward the Calabash River, i.e., River-
view Road and Ivey High Road. Table 5, presented
above, showed that currently there are 93 commer-
cially utilized lots within the Town's entire
jurisdiction.
c. Government and Institutional: There is a total
of five lots currently utilized for governmental
and/or institutional purposes, including the Town
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2.
3.
Hall, Volunteer Fire Department, a fraternal
lodge, and two churches.
d. Recreational: There are no public recreational
lands within Calabash's jurisdiction. Private
recreation facilities include the extensive sys-
tem of golf courses developed for Carolina Shores,
the commercial "Wacky Golf" establishment on
N.C. 179 adjacent to the Town limits, and the
golfing establishments of Marsh Harbour and The
Pearl, located outside the extraterritorial area
of Calabash.
Land Compatibility Problems
In the conventional land use planning concept, a land
compatibility problem is generally identified when
two or more land use types are adjacent to each other
and one is somehow restricted from expansion because
of adverse conditions caused by the other use or
uses, thus possibly discouraging additional invest-
ment. This concept also extends to include a mixture
of uses, such as residential, commercial, industrial,
etc., which are not compatible with each other. Most
of the development within the Calabash Town limits
was completed without the benefit of enforced land
use controls or regulations such as zoning, and there
are instances where homes are next to businesses.
This is not as true in the extraterritorial area,
where the large Carolina Shores development was done
under the guidance of deed restrictions and restric-
tive covenants. However, Calabash did adopt a zoning
ordinance in, 1982, which, if consistently enforced,
should help to prevent serious incompatibility prob-
lems from recurring during the period covered by this
initial land use plan. It should be noted, however,
that the zoning ordinance is not consistently en-
f orced in either the Town or the extraterritorial
jurisdiction.
Problems from Unplanned Development
Although Brunswick County enforces subdivision regu-
lations in the area outside of Calabash and Calabash
has its own zoning ordinance, the regulations in both
ordinances are not strongly prohibitive to certain
types of development. For example, mobile home parks
or double -wide modular developments could theoreti-
cally be placed next to a medium to large lot single-
family conventional development. The Town does re-
cognize that it could benefit from having and enforc-
ing its own subdivision regulations. Another problem
from unplanned development is that Calabash did not
anticipate the extensive development taking place in
the extraterritorial area, but outside of the Town
limits. There are more people and houses in the
extraterritorial area than in the Town by far,
1
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and without any policies on annexation, the Town
could theoretically become an "island," surrounded by
'
developments and land uses over which it can exercise
little regulatory control.
Preservation of the Calabash River and provision of
waterfront access, as well as control of waterfront
development, is also a potential problem from un-
planned development. Other problems, to varying
degrees, include growing demands for water, sewer,
adequate parking, solid waste disposal, and public
recreational facilities.
4. Areas Likely to Experience Changes in Predominant
Land Use
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The areas within the Town's current jurisdiction
likely to experience changes in predominant land use
during the planning period are those areas which are
presently vacant, both in the Town's limits and in
the extraterritorial area. As previously mentioned,
there are several large tracts of developable land in
the Town's jurisdiction (including land on both sides
of the Calabash River) which will likely experience
some development during the planning period. (See
Map 2, attached.)
5. Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC)
Since one of the primary aims of the State's Coastal
Area Management Act (CAMA) is to protect the sensi-
tive coastal environment, the law contains statutori-
ly defined Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs)
which must be considered during the planning process.
The AECs for the Town of Calabash come under the
Estuarine System category and are defined as fol-
lows:
a. Coastal Wetlands, which 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 sources), provided this shall not include
hurricane or tropical storm tides. Coastal Wet-
lands also contain certain marsh plant species.
In Calabash, Coastal Wetlands occur almost exclu-
sively along portions of the immediate shoreline
adjacent to the Calabash River. The most sub-
stantial amount of wetlands appears to be located
on the southern bank of the river. Some of these
areas are important because the marsh contains
the high productivity of fish and shellfish and
12

11
1
G
E
H
the complex food chains which are typically found
in the estuaries.
b. Estuarine Waters are defined as "all the
water of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary
of North Carolina and all the water of the bays,
sounds, rivers, and tributaries thereto seaward
to the dividing line between coastal fishing
waters and inland fishing waters" (N.C.G.S. 113A-
113(b)(2). The Estuarine Waters are very impor-
tant for a number of reasons, mainly because they
serve as the birthplace and nursery areas of many
species of fish and shellfish. Estuarine Waters
support the valuable commercial and sports fish-
eries of the coastal area which are comprised of
estuarine -dependent species such as menhaden,
flounder, shrimp, crabs, and oysters. These
species must spend all or some part of their life
cycle within the Estuarine Waters in order to
mature and reproduce. The Estuarine Waters with-
in Calabash's jurisdiction include the Calabash
River and any of its tributaries in that area.
It should be noted here that the current water
quality classification for the Calabash River is
"SA," which is the highest level of protective
classification by the N.C. Division of Environ-
mental Management. This classification, theoret-
ically, protects the water for shellfishing. In
actuality, however, according to the N.C. Divi-
sion of Marine Fisheries, the Calabash River has
been officially closed for shellfishing for sev-
eral years. The reason for such closure is de-
graded water quality through high fecal coliform
counts. Septic tank leachate is one of the sus-
pected contributors to this problem.
c. Public Trust Areas, which are sometimes par-
tially defined as all waters of the Atlantic
Ocean and the land thereunder from the mean high
water mark to the seaward limit of State juris-
diction; all natural bodies of water subject to
measurable lunar tides and lands thereunder to
the mean high mark; all navigable natural bodies
of water and land thereunder to the mean high
water level or mean water level, as the case may
be. Public Trust Areas are used for both commer-
cial and recreational purposes. Current regula-
tions define that in Calabash, only the Calabash
River and tributaries are Public Trust AECs.
These areas possibly support recreational uses
such as swimming, boating, water skiing, and
sportsfishing, as well as commercial fishing.
13

d. Estuarine Shorelines are defined as non -ocean
shorelines which are especially vulnerable to
erosion, flooding, or other adverse effects of
wind and water and are intimately connected to
the estuary. This area extends from the mean
high water level or normal water level along the
estuaries, sounds, bays, and brackish waters for
a distance of 75 feet inland. These areas are
' significant because development within the shore-
lines can influence the quality of estuarine life
and can be subject to the damaging process of
' shorefront erosion and flooding. The shorelines
of the Estuarine Waters, i.e., both the north and
south banks of the Calabash River, described on
this page, and 75 feet landward are the Estuarine
I
Shorelines in Calabash.
Other Areas of Environmental Concern include the
' Ocean Hazards Areas category, which are those areas
considered to be natural hazard areas along the At-
lantic Ocean shoreline where, because of their spe-
cial vulnerability to erosion or adverse effects of
sand, wind, and water, uncontrolled or incompatible
development could be hazardous. Ocean hazard areas
include beaches, frontal dunes, inlet lands, and
other areas in which geologic, vegetative, and soil
conditions indicate a substantial possibility of
excessive erosion or flood damage. There are no
' Ocean Hazards AECs in Calabash's jurisdiction, since
it is not an oceanfront community.
E. CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS
The Town of Calabash has no previous land use plans and most
of the regulatory controls affecting the Town's jurisdiction
are imposed by County, State and Federal agencies. A review
of these plans, regulations and policies are included below:
' 1. Transportation
The Town of Calabash is included in the most recent
thoroughfare plan for Brunswick County prepared by the
' N.C. Department of Transportation, Planning and Reasearch
Branch. The Brunswick County Throughfare Plan, 1988, was
officially adopted by Calabash on September 28, 1987.
The document lists a number of deficiencies and proposed
improvements for a number of roads and bridges in the
County. However, except for a small segment of
' Thomasboro Road (S.R. 1165), no other improvements are
proposed for Calabash or its extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion.
I
Within the Town limits, most of the streets are paved and
are state -maintained. The Town does, however, receive a
1
14

2.
1
I
small allocation of Powell Bill funds annually, which it
utilizes for the maintenance or repair of some streets
within the Town limits on an "as needed" basis as the
funds permit. The Town does not have a local road im-
provement plan. It should be noted that during the peak
tourist seasons, traffic back-ups along Highway 179
through the Town and to U.S. 17 at the South Carolina
border are quite common. Except for occasional turning
lanes, Highway 179 consists of only two lanes all the way
through the Town.
Community Facilities Plans
a. Water: Until June 1988, Calabash did not have
centralized water within the Town limits. Throughout
the previous years, businesses and residences 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 near-
by communities, e.g., Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle
Beach, had been doing. However, there are still some
private wells in use. Although Brunswick County has
set no cap or limit on the amount of water Calabash
can receive, the distribution conduit for all of the
communities cited above is one single 12-inch line.
This could become a constraint in the future.
In the extraterritorial area, however, the large Car-
olina Shores development and other emerging subdivi-
sions and developments have had access to centralized
water for several years from a private utility.
Carolina Blythe Utilities, which is based in
Florence, South Carolina, has a water' plant in the
Town's extraterritorial jurisdiction with a current
capacity of 360,000 gallons per day (gpd). The cur-
rent peak usage is 75,000 gpd, so there is ample
excess capacity. In addition to serving all of
Carolina Shores (460 current residences out of 1246
total lots), the private utility has committed itself
to serving several new and proposed residential de-
velopments in Calabash's extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion, including the Village at Calabash, Saltaire
Village, and Marsh Harbour. According to officials
with the utility company, the company has the capa-
city to serve all of the developing extraterritorial
area, since it possesses expansion capacity.
a. Wastewater Treatment Plans: Calabash was included
in a 1978 201 Facilities Plan for southeast Brunswick
County. This plan, which showed a proposed waste-
water treatment plant using land application methods,
has never been implemented for Calabash. During
1985, meetings between the Town, area developers, and
businessmen were held to discuss the feasibility of
providing centralized sewer service to the area
15

' between Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Calabash.
The Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority acted
as lead agency in these discussions. Although a
' feasibility study was prepared and presented by a
consulting engineering firm, no action has been
taken. Calabash still relies on ground absorption
systems, i.e., septic tanks, for all sewage disposal
' with the Town limits. Septic tank placement is regu-
lated by the Brunswick County Health Department.
' Within the extraterritorial area, however, as with
the private water system, the same private utility
provides centralized sewer service to Carolina Shores
with the potential to serve other areas as well.
' The Town of Calabash has had discussions in the past
with private utility companies regarding sewer ser-
vices; however, plans have not yet been finalized.
' In addition to Carolina Blythe Utilities Company,
several new developments in the extraterritorial area
are proposing to develop package treatment plants.
3. Utilities Extension Policy
As noted above, Calabash began receiving water from the
' Brunswick County System in June 1988. As of the writing
of this report, the Town has not developed any definitive
water extensions policies. Also, as noted, the Town does
not have centralized sewer services and therefore, no
extension policies.
' 4. Recreation Policy
Calabash does not have any public recreation facilities
within its jurisidiciton. There are several private golf
courses in the extraterritorial area (existing and pro-
posed) and one mini -golf facility, but no other signifi-
cant recreational facilities. Presently, the Town does
Inot have any formal or informal recreational policies.
5. Prior Land Use Plans
' This current Land Use Plan for Calabash is the Town's
first attempt at developing its own land use plan. In
both 1976 and 1981, the Town was included as part of
Brunswick County's Plans. However, in 1975, Calabash
received assistance from the Wilmington office of the
North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic
' Resources, Division of Land Use Planning and Management
Assistance, to develop an issues, objectives, and poli-
cies paper. The brief report (two and one-half pages
long), titled "Existing Problems, Issues, Future Poli-
cies, and Objectives," contained listings of recognized
problems, needed community services and facilities, and
16

6.
r
future growth policies. The report was adopted
November 3, 1975, by the Town Board of Commissioners.
The Town officials determined in 1987 that it would be in
the best interest of Calabash to formulate its own land
use and land development policies, partly because of
increasing development within the extraterritorial area.
Unlike the 1975 policies and objectives paper, the previ-
ous County Plans did not contain specific, detailed poli-
cies for Calabash.
Regulations and Enforcement Provisions
a. CAMA Permits: Because of its proximity to the
Calabash River, a significant amount of new develop-
ment is regulated by the CAMA permit process. Local
permits are handled by either the Brunswick County
Planning Department or the Wilmington office of the
Division of Coastal Management. The Areas of En-
vironmental Concern which were described in the pre-
ceding section i.e., coastal wetlands, estuarine
waters and shorelines, and public trust areas, are
areas which need protection. Enforcement of the CAMA
permit processes is a principal means for that pro-
tection.
b. Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map: Calabash adopted
a Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map in September, 1982.
The Ordinance initially established six use districts
(three for residential uses, one for commercial uses,
a "conservation" district, and an agricultural dis-
trict). However, the Town has only enforced provi-
sions of two of these six districts, i.e., R-15 resi-
dential and general business and the enforcement has
been limited to the Town limits only, thus excluding
the extraterritorial area. The Zoning Map also shows
some land area zoned Agricultural. A minimum of
15,000 square feet lot area is required for the R-15
zone, subject to septic tank approval by the
Brunswick County Health Department. This ordinance,
since it is only partly enforced is somewhat confus-
ing, especially since most of the growth and develop-
ment is occuring outside of the Town limits. Since
zoning can be an effective land development tool, the
Town recognizes the need to reconsider its provisions
and/or revise the existing ordinance. Also, there is
some inconsistency between the Town's description of
its extraterritorial jurisdiction and the County's.
c. Subdivision Regulations: The Town of Calabash does
not enforce its own subdivision regulations. In the
early 1980s, however, the N.C. Division of Community
Assistance prepared a draft ordinance for the Town.
The ordinance was not adopted. The extraterritorial
area, however, is currently covered by the County
Subdivision regulations. The County regulations have
17

minimal design standards. With all of the growth
' occuring in its jurisdiction, the Town recognizes the
need to consider adoption of its own subdivision reg-
ulations.
d. Septic Tank Regulation: Currently, septic tanks
provide the only wastewater treatment system within
Calabash's town limits. There are both limited cen-
tralized sewer service and some proposed package
treatment plants in the extraterritorial area. Sep-
tic tank installation is regulated by the Brunswick
County Health Department. Each application is fol-
lowed up with a site evaluation by a County Sanitar-
ian, who determines suitability. If the lot or pro-
perty is determined to be suitable for septic tank
installation, a
permit is granted.
This practice
will continue unless at some point, all
of the Town's
jurisdiction is
served by centralized
sewer.
'
e. Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance:
Calabash, un-
like most other
communities in Brunswick County, did
not participate
in the emergency phase
of the Federal
Flood Insurance
Program in the 1970s.
However, as of
February 4, 1988, with the publishing of final Flood
Insurance Rate Maps by the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Administration, the Town entered the regular
phase of the program. Base flood elevation in the
Town is classified "A-E" and is 13 feet, all located
' along the Calabash River. The Flood Ordinance is
enforced as part of the Town's building permit pro-
gram and reviewed by the Building Inspector. (See
Map 3, attached.)
f. Sign Ordinance: Provisions for a sign ordinance,
which regulates the placement of all signs in the
Town are contained within the previously mentioned
Town Zoning Ordinance. This is designed to enhance
and maintain the Town's aesthetics, as well as pro-
tect property values. However, the sign provisions,
like other parts of the Ordinance, do not appear to
be strictly enforced.
7. Federal and State Regulations
In addition to the local ordinances and County regula-
tions listed and described above, there are various State
and Federal regulations which could also affect land de-
velopment in Calabash. The most notable is the "404"
Permit Process, for areas classified as 11404 Wetlands"
' and which is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of En-
gineers.
18

1
F. CONSTRAINTS: LAND SUITABILITY
1 As noted in the discussion of Existing Land Uses, there is
still a considerable amount of undeveloped land in both Cala-
bash's Town limits and the extraterritorial area which might
have future development potential. However, the Town recog-
nizes the importance of being aware of existing physical lim-
itations to development. Physical limitations are important
to recognize, both from the standpoint of guiding land use
decisions and in protecting the health, safety, and welfare
of the general public. Below is a discussion of the physical
limitations to development in Calabash's jurisdiction.
1. Physical Limitations
tThe only natural hazard areas in Calabash are basically
the same as the AEC's described and discussed previously
and the Flood Hazard Area (see Map 3, attached, "Com-
posite Hazards," which also shows the 100-year flood
area). These areas to some extent do present physical
limitations to development in Calabash. Although erosion
has not been a particularly severe problem in Calabash,
poor surface drainage does cause problems occasionally -
especially after unusually heavy rains.
Soil types which are not conducive for structural founda-
tions and/or septic tank placement can also present phys-
ical limitations to development. According to the 1986
report, Soil Survey of Brunswick County, all of the 17
soil types which occur within Calabash's town limits and
in the extraterritorial area, have severe limitations for
septic tank placement and/or heavy structural founda-
tions, except one. This soil type, Blanton, occurs
within the Town limits and has significant areas to the
immediate east and west of the Town limits (See Map 3,
attached). The 17 soil types and their general suit-
ability for septic tanks and building foundations are
listed below:
19
�

1
F1
TABLE 8: General Soils Limitations in Calabash
SOIL SERIES
SEPTIC TANK
SUITABILITY
STRUCTURAL*
FOUNDATIONS
Rains
Severe
Severe
Goldsboro
Severe
Moderate
Leon
Severe
Severe
Kureb
Severe
Slight
Blanton
Moderate
Slight
Tomahawk
Severe
Moderate
Muckalee
Severe
Severe
Mandarin
Severe
Moderate
Murville
Severe
Severe
Torhunta
Severe
Severe
Baymeade
Severe
Moderate
Pantego
Severe
Severe
Lynchburg
Severe
Severe
Wando
Severe
Slight
Bohicket
Severe
Severe
Pactolus
Severe
Moderate
Fireston
Severe
Slight
Source: Soil Survey of Brunswick County, N.C., USDA Soil Con-
servation Service, November, 1986
* Buildings without Basements
According to Soil interpretation records, 16 of the 17
types have severe limitation for septic tank placement,
and five have limitations for structural foundations.
However, these general declarations of limitations do not
mean that sites within those areas are absolutely unsuit-
able. The Soils Survey report points out that individual
on -site investigations must be conducted to determine
final suitability. A sanitarian with the Brunswick Coun-
ty Health Department stated that no general areas in
Calabash's jurisdiction had presented any severe problems
with septic tank placement. Reports of septic tanks dif-
ficulties are rather isolated, he added.
2. Well Fields
Although there are still some private wells in Calabash,
the Town's primary source of water, as of June 1988, is
the Brunswick County water system, and the balance of the
area has access to privately provided water. The remain-
ing wells in Calabash pose no physical limitations to
development.
3. Slopes
There are no areas where the slope exceeds 12 percent in
Calabash's jurisdiction.
20

1
4. Fragile Areas
These are areas which could easily be damaged or de-
stroyed by inappropriate or poorly planned development.
Again, in Calabash, the fragile areas coincide with the
'
previously mentioned Areas of Environmental Concern.
These areas are described in part of this section and are
summarized below:
° Coastal Wetlands: Some of the marsh areas adjacent
to both sides of the Calabash River, are considered
'
Coastal Wetlands.
° Estuarine Waters: This includes primarily the Cala-
bash River and related tributaries. (See discussion
on existing water quality in Section 5.6, page 13.)
° Public Trust Areas: According to current regula-
tions, all of the estuarine waters are the Public
Trust Areas of Calabash.
° Estuarine Shorelines: This applies to the shorelines
and 75 feet inward rom the Estuarine Waters noted
above.
' Calabash does not contain any of the following fragile
areas: complex natural areas; areas that sustain remnant
species; areas containing unique geologic formations;
' registered natural landmarks; wooded swamps, prime wild-
life habitats; or scenic or prominent high points. How-
ever, within the Town limits, there is one historic prop-
erty listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
i.e., the Hickory Hall Plantation House. Consultations
with the N.C. Division of Archives and History indicate
I that there are 15 archaeological sites within the general
vicinity of Calabash. As a general policy, the Town does
support the preservation of historic and archaeological
resources. In addition, the Town will consider the
' establishment of an "Historic District" in the area of
the Hickory Hall Plantation House.
' 5. Areas with Resource Potential
There is a significant amount of agricultural land within
Calabash's extraterritorial jurisdiction. There are none
of the following in the Town's jurisdiction, potentially
valuable mineral sites; publicly owned forests, parks,
fish, and wildlife gamelands; or non -intensive outdoor
' recreation lands (besides the golf courses), or private-
ly -owned wildlife sanctuaries. However, the Calabash
River and estuaries near Calabash are considered to be
Iimportant breeding areas for both finfish and shellfish.
21

Calabash River is still considered to be important com-
mercial fishing waters. Also, the golf courses can be
i considered areas with resource potential which pose phys-
ical limitations for those particular tracts of land.
' G. CONSTRAINTS: CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
1. ExistinQ Water Service Areas
' Since the Town has become a customer of the Brunswick
County Water System, and the private utility outside of
the Town appears to have excess capacity, the provision
of water may no longer be a constraint to further devel-
opment. According to the Brunswick County Water Depart-
ment, the County plans to double its pumping capacity to
' the Ocean Isle Beach -Sunset Beach -Calabash area, within
the next five years.
' It is unlikely that limited water supplies will pose a
constraint to development throughout the period covered
by this plan, i.e., 1988 1998. The Brunswick County
water system is proposed to eventually make centralized
I water available to the entire County. Presently, a lit-
tle less than half of the County is served. The County's
current water treatment plants can provide up to 24 mil-
lion gallons of water per day (MGD), whereas during the
peak month of July 1988, the average daily usage was
11.4 MGD, which is about 48% of capacity. Also, there is
no "cap" or limits proposed as to how much water Calabash
or other communities can purchase from the system. If,
by 1998, the daily average per capita water consumption
for the "resident" population within the Town limits is
70 gallons per day, and about 13 gallons per day for "day
visitors," the peak demand would be about 94,000 GPD.
Although the County will have the capacity, there is some
concern over the adequacy of distribution mains to the
South Brunswick communities.
2. Sewer Service Area
As discussed previously, Calabash does not have a cen-
tralized sewer system and is currently served by a ground
absorption disposal system, i.e., septic tanks. All sep-
tic tanks must be approved by and permits granted from
the Brunswick County Health Department. Although the
' most recent soils analysis reports indicate that most of
the general soils classifications in the Calabash juris-
diction area have limitations for septic tank placement,
the existing system appears to have worked very well in
general. It should be noted also that most of the de-
velopment is occurring in the extraterritorial area,
which has access to private sewer service and/or package
LJ
22

' treatment plants. The latter two occurrences help miti-
gate the soils limitation problem.
' 3. Schools
The relatively few school -age children who reside in the
Town's jurisdiction attend the three schools in Shal-
lotte, which is about 15 miles away. All of the three
schools, West Brunswick High School, Shallotte Middle
School, and Union Primary, are currently operating near
or over capacity levels. If the number of school -age
children increases significantly in the Calabash area,
' then an expansion of school facilities may be needed.
This is indicated by Table 9, below:
TABLE 9: Enrollment Levels and School Capacity:
Shallotte, N.C.
School
1987-88 Design Percent
Enrollment Capacity Utilization
W. Brunswick High (9-12) 967 1,000 96.7
Shallotte Middle (4-8) 1,111 1,200 92.5
Union Primary (K-3) 847 810 104.6
Source: Brunswick County Board of Education
However, by and large, residents in Calabash's jurisdic-
tion --especially the newer developments --consist of mid-
dle -age adults and retirees, a trend that is likely to
continue throughout the planning period.
4. Transportation
The major traffic arteries in Calabash's jurisdiction are
N.C. 179, which is the main commercial thoroughfare run-
ning through the Town and crossing the state line into
South Carolina. The other major access routes in the
Town's jurisdiction are S.R. 1167 (Persimmon Road),
S.R. 1168 (Calabash Road), and S.R. 1165 (Thomasboro
Road). All of these are paved and are maintained by the
State Department of Transportation. The design capaci-
ties of these roads is indicated by the Brunswick County
Thoroughfare Plan, as being adequate to handle present
and future traffic volumes (to the year 2005). However,
as stated previously, the current two lanes of Highway
179 are often backed up to the South Carolina line during
peak seasons.
' To summarize the discussion of Constraints, it should be
pointed out that it is difficult to separate the major
inhibitors of future development in Calabash into cate-
gories of "land suitability" and "capacity of facili-
ties" because the two areas of constraint are closely
1 23

connected. All of the
basis for discussion of
of policy alternatives.
H. ESTIMATED DEMAND
1. Population Trends
constraints, however, do form a
issues leading to the formulation
The demand for housing and other goods and services and
the use of public facilities is a direct function of pop-
ulation levels.
As noted in the discussion of the existing population in
Calabash, growth in the year-round permanent population
appears to be a definitive trend in Calabash's jurisdic-
tion, with this trend being especially pronounced in the
extraterritorial area. Within the extraterritorial area,
there is more availability of the key ingredients for
residential/population growth, i.e., developable land,
centralized water, and centralized sewer. However, the
pattern appears set, i.e., more residential development
in the form of retirement homes and second homes, will
take place in the extraterritorial area than inside the
Town of Calabash. (Calabash, however, does have access
to centralized water within its Town limits through the
Brunswick County Water System.) This will mean an even
greater population in the extraterritorial area than
inside the Town limits.
' The following population projections, prepared by Tal-
bert, Cox and Associates, are based on a careful analysis
of recent trends in population growth inside Calabash, in
the extraterritorial area, in the Shallotte Township, and
in the County as a whole. The projected annual rates of
growth were selected by Talbert, Cox and Associates.
TABLE 10: Calabash Jurisdictional Population
Projections 1988-1998
'
5-year 5-year
10-year
1988 Rate 1993 Rate
1998 Change
Town Limits 221 5.0% 282 (5%)
360 139 (63%)
Extraterri-
torial Area 1,715 9.5% 2,700 (9.5%)
4,250 2,538 (148%)
TOTAL 1,936 2,982
4,610 2,677 (138%)
SOURCE: Talbert, Cox & Associates, with data
provided by the
Brunswick County Planning Department.
As Table 10 shows, the permanent population is expected
to grow steadily, contributing to
the demand for land,
'
utilities, and other public services. This projection
24

11
2.
3.
does not include the transient "day visitor" population,
which should be substantially higher than year-round pop-
ulation during the seasonal peaks. According to the 1987
Brunswick County Land Use Plan, throughout Brunswick
County, the "peak day" population was an estimated
152,000 persons. The estimated 1988 population of Cala-
bash's entire jurisdiction is estimated to be 3.5% of the
County's 1988 population. If it is assumed that Cala-
bash's "share" of day visitors, although few come to stay
more than a few hours in the Town, is proportionate to
its permanent population share, then the "peak day" popu-
lation at Calabash would be 5,320 persons. This projec-
tion is important to consider because of the impact upon
the demand for parking, solid waste disposal, as well as
water and sewer services.
The year-round population projection, however, is impor-
tant to consider for the above -stated reasons and the
demand for land for new residences. For example, if
Calabash follows the current national trend of declining
average household size, then the 1980 2.33 persons could
be down to about 2.0 during the 1990s. At an average
household size of 2.0 persons, by 1998, the additional
139 in -town residents will need 70 new dwelling units,
while the 2,538 new extraterritorial residents would re-
quire 1,269 additional dwelling units. The absence of
consistently enforced local land use controls is signifi-
cant in light of this potential growth.
Future Land Need
Calabash, as noted previously, has considerable amounts
of undeveloped, but developable, land remaining, es-
pecially in the extraterritorial area, with many vacant
lots already platted. Tables 5 and 6, page 9 and the
"Existing Land Use Map" show that there are a number of
vacant, platted lots, as well as vacant, currently
undeveloped land. Because of the rather extensive
developable land, even without centralized sewer
services, the projected 1998 density should pose no
difficulties from the standpoint of land availability.
For example, in the extraterritorial area, there are
currently 1,644 vacant platted lots, but only 1,269
additional dwelling units are forecast as needed.
However, inside the Town limits, 70 dwellings are
forecast as needed, but there are currently only 65
vacant lots in town. Nevertheless, there are several
large, unplatted tracts of land within the current Town
limits.
Community Facilities Needs
a. Water: With the growth in populations at Calabash
w-ill come an increased demand for water services.
However, as discussed previously, Calabash, through
25

I
1
its connection with the Brunswick County regional
water system, will be able to tap a substantial sup-
ply of water to meet peak demands. Currently, the
County can pump up to 2 MGD to the Town. At an
assumed consumption rate of 70 gallons per day per
capita, the 2 MGD could serve a peak population of
over 28,500 people. This will be substantially more
than enough to meet Calabash's needs for some time to
come, without even considering the private water
company in the extraterritorial area. The County-
wide water system, which is to be completed prior to
1995, is projected to have a total capacity of 30.0
MGD. Although concern has been expressed over the
County's simultaneous provision of water to several
communities in tourist areas, sufficient water sup-
plies for Calabash should not be a problem during the
period covered by this plan.
b. Sewer: Centralized sewer service is not projected
to be available inside the Town limits of Calabash
during the planning period; thus, septic tank systems
(as permitted by the County Health Department) will
continue to be the primary source of sewage disposal
there. To date, no major difficulties have been
reported for Calabash. However, during the upcoming
planning period, the impact of increasing ground
absorption systems should be closely monitored.
Centralized sewer and package treatment plants will
likely be available in the extraterritorial area.
C. Solid Waste Disposal: The Town of Calabash pro-
vides its trash collection and disposal service
through a private contractor. The refuse eventually
ends up in the Brunswick County Landfill. According
to the County Landfill Director, at current rates of
disposal, the County landfill has a capacity of from
8 to 10 years. The Town has no plans to change its
system of solid waste disposal during the planning
period.
d. Recreation: The nearby oceanfront communities and
adjacent waterways, and increasingly so, golf
courses, provide the major recreational opportunities
for residents and visitors to the Calabash area.
Currently, there are no public parks or other Town -
provided recreational facilities. Additional public
recreational facilities may be needed for the in-
creasing levels of year-round residents and "day
visitors." Improved waterfront access and public
parking facilities are examples of recognized needs.
e. Police Protection: There are no local police offi-
cers employed by Calabash. The entire jurisdiction
is served by the Brunswick County Sheriff's Depart-
1
26

fl
ment. An officer from the Sheriff's Department is
assigned to the Calabash general area 24 hours/day.
According to the Sheriff's office, a call from Cala-
bash can be answered within 10 to 12 minutes. Al-
though some citizens have voiced concern over the
frequency of the Sheriff's patrol within Calabash,
there are no present plans by either the Town or
County to increase the current level of service.
f. Fire Protection: The Town of Calabash is served by
a Volunteer Fire Department, which perhaps with the
addition of more volunteers, should be adequate
throughout the planning period. The Volunteer Fire
Department provides fire protection for both the Town
of Calabash and a five -mile radius, including the
extraterritorial area. The department is well
equipped and is housed in its own building adjacent
to the Town Hall. The department currently has a 7/9
rating, i.e., with some residents being within 1,000'
of a fire hydrant (7), and some beyond 1,000' (9).
The equipment consists of two pumper trucks, with
capacities of 900 gallons and 750 gallons, respec-
tively; one 2,100-gallon tanker truck; one 280-gallon
brush truck; and ladders to meet the minimum State
standards. The staffing currently consists of 22
volunteers. If development densities increase, it
will be imperative that all access routes be well -
planned and clear of potential obstructions, e.g.,
on -street parking during peak population periods.
g. Emergency Rescue and Safety: Emergency medical
rescue services are provided by the Calabash Volun-
teer Rescue Squad. The rescue squad has two ambu-
lances, 14 certified EMTs, three Ambulance Attendants
(AAs), and a 24-hour emergency number. This service
is in need of more volunteers as EMTs or AAs during
the planning period, according to the Squad Director.
' h. Parking Facilities: Perhaps the most dramatic
impact of the projected influx of tourists and day
visitors over the next few years relates to public
parking. Currently, Calabash does not have any pub-
lic parking facilities. Restaurants and businesses
provide their own customer parking. Unless consider-
ation is given to developing at least some public
' parking facilities, or other alternatives, serious
traffic problems (both vehicular and pedestrian)
could result.
i. Thoroughfare Access: According to the Brunswick
County Thoroughfare Plan, the principal access roads
into Calabash appear adequate. In actuality, how-
1 27

7
LIB
ever, during the peak tourist seasons, traffic back-
ups are a daily occurrence in the restaurant areas
and all along N.C. 179 through the central part of
Town.
j. Administrative Services: Currently, all of Cala-
bash's administrative and personnel matters are co-
ordinated by the Town Clerk. The Town also employs a
part-time Building Inspector. As the population
increases, and especially if the Town annexes areas
currently in the extraterritorial area, the admini-
strative service load will also increase. The Town
may need to consider employing additional personnel.
4. Summary of Trends and Facilities Demand: Policy Issues
The following statements are presented in summary of
Section I of this Land .Use Plan for Calabash, analyzing
development trends and policy implications for the next
10 years.
° Both the in -town and extraterritorial populations at
t Calabash have shown increases in recent years and are
projected to continue increasing throughout the plan-
ning period, especially in the extraterritorial area.
D
J
The resort -tourist based economy of Calabash will in-
crease in strength, contributing to growing tourism
revenues in Brunswick County each year. Proposed de-
velopments in the extraterritorial area, such as more
golf courses, marinas, and hotels, if materialized,
will definitely affect the local economy.
Although residential and some commercial development
in the community will continue, it is unlikely that
all of the developable land within the Town's current
jurisdiction will be developed during the period.
At current and projected demand rates, water and solid
waste disposal capacities will need to increase during
the planning period in order to adequately handle
"peak" demands, particularly from growing numbers of
tourists. However, the issue of adequate water supply
has been addressed by the Town via the County water
system; sewage service will continue to be handled
primarily by ground absorption systems in the Town
limits, and by centralized sewer and package treatment
plants outside the Town limits in the extraterritorial
area.
Public safety, i.e., provision of adequate police and
fire protection needs, will have to be continually
r
M

' assessed. Internal traffic both e p destrian and vehi-
cular, as well as public parking provisions will also
have to be addressed.
° Although not stated elsewhere in this section, in-
creased development, if unplanned or poorly planned,
could easily be detrimental to the natural resources
in and around Calabash.
All of the above issues and others, including storm
hazard mitigation, and post -disaster recovery, will be
addressed in more detail in Section II of this Plan,
' "Policy Statements."
29

SECTION II
Policy Statements

II: POLICY STATEMENTS
The formulation of specific policies regarding growth, devel-
opment, and management objectives is perhaps the most impor-
tant part of any land use plan prepared under the State's
Coastal Area Management Act. Because of regulatory require-
ments, these policies must often strike a delicate balance
between desires and objectives of citizens and a local gov-
ernment such as Calabash and the objectives of the CAMA pro-
gram, as overseen by the Coastal Resources Commission. Land
development policies, which should be based on an analysis of
existing conditions and projected trends, serve as general
guides for effectuating desired development patterns. The
land use policies, ideally, also have important interface
with local regulations, such as the zoning ordinance or sub-
division regulations, as well as with State and Federal regu-
lations and programs. For example, development permits
issued under CAMA must be consistent with the local land use
plans. Also, projects supported by State and Federal funds
must be consistent with the local land use plans, prior to
allowing expenditures. Land Use policies can also provide an
indication where and when certain public services should be
extended.
Some relevant trends for Calabash's jurisdiction which were
identified in Section I of this Plan include: the population
of Calabash --especially in the extraterritorial area --is con-
stantly increasing, consistent with overall growth projec-
tions for Brunswick County and the Shallotte Township; there
will be continued growth in residential and commercial de-
velopment; additional demands will be placed on public faci-
lities and services, such as solid waste disposal, water,
sewer, police and fire protection, and parking, as the per-
manent population and tourists increase. However, it should
be noted that Calabash has taken steps to address water ser-
vice needs inside the Town by purchasing water from the
Brunswick County Regional Water System. Also, a private
utility serves a large portion of the current extraterri-
torial area. Another important trend is the intense develop-
ment in the extraterritorial area and the lack of enforcement
of regulations by Calabash. Water service should be adequate
during the period. These are some of the issues which need
to be addressed by the Town during the planning period.
The Coastal Resources Commission, recognizing the diversities
which exist among the coastal communities, requires the Town
to specify particular development policies under five broad
topics. In most cases, policies developed under these topics
will cover most of the local development issues, but in some
cases, they do not. In the latter case, Calabash has the
1 30

flexibility to address its own locally defined issues. The
five required broad topics are:
-- Resource Protection
-- Resource Production and Management
-- Economic and Community Development
-- Continuing Public Participation
-- Storm Hazard Mitigation
After an analysis of the existing conditions and trends and
input from the Town's citizens through surveys and public
information meetings, the following policies were developed
to provide an overall framework for guiding growth and devel-
opment in Calabash's jurisdiction throughout the next ten
years, i.e., 1988 through 1998.
A. RESOURCE PROTECTION: ESTUARINE SYSTEM
1. Areas of Environmental Concern:
Calabash recognizes the primary concern of the Coast-
al Resources Commission, in terms of protecting re-
sources, is managing Areas of Environmental Concern
(AECs). The Town also shares this concern for the
protection and sound management of these environment-
ally sensitive lands and waters. The AECs which oc-
cur in Calabash were identified in Section I of this
Plan on pages 12 through 14, with these areas occur-
ring only within the Estuarine System category. In
terms of developing policies, the Estuarine System
AECs, which include Coastal Wetlands, Estuarine
Waters, Estuarine Shorelines, and Public Trust Areas,
will be treated as one uniform grouping since they
are so closely interrelated. Another reason for
grouping these AECs together is the fact that the
effective use of maps to detail exact on -ground loca-
tion of a particular area, often poses serious limi-
tations.
Calabash's overall policy and management objective
for the Estuarine System is "to give the highest
priority to the protection and perpetuate the bio-
logical, social, economic, and aesthetic values and
to ensure that development occurring within these
AECs is compatible with natural characteristics so as
to minimize the likelihood of significant loss of
private property and public resources" (15 NCAC 7H.
0203). In accordance with this overall objective,
Calabash will permit those land uses which conform to
the general use standards of the North Carolina Ad-
ministrative Code (15 NCAC 7H) for development within
the Estuarine System. Specifically, each of the AECs
within the Estuarine System is discussed below.
31

I
r
a. Coastal Wetlands: Coastal wetlands, which
are defined as any salt marsh or other marsh
subject to regular or
tides, including wind tj
tide waters reach the
natural or artificial a
this shall not include
storm tides. Coastal
certain marsh plant s
coastal wetlands occur
adjacent to and on bott
River. Also, smaller amc
occasional flooding by
des (whether or not the
marshland areas through
ater courses), provided
hurricane or tropical
wetlands also contain
.)ecies. In Calabash,
generally in the areas
sides of the Calabash
unts of coastal wetlands
may occur along the banks of tributaries to the
Calabash River. These areas are important
because the marsh maintains the high productivity
of fish and shellfish and the complex food chains
which are typically found in the estuaries. The
first priority of uses of land in these areas
should consider "conservation" of the sensitive
areas, with conservation meaning the lack of
imposition of irreversible damage to the
wetlands. Generally, uses which require water
access and uses such as utility easements,
fishing piers and docks, will be allowed, but
must adhere to use standards of the Coastal Area
Management Act (CAMA: 15 NCAC 7H).
b. Estuarine Waters and Estuarine Shorelines:
The importance of the estuarine waters and
adjacent estuarine shorelines in Calabash was
discussed in Section I of this document on pages
13-14. The Town is very much aware that protec-
tion of the estuarine waters i.e., Calabash
River, and adjacent estuarine shorelines can be
important to fishing, both commercially and for
recreation, and for the continued maintenance of
quality development. Calabash recognizes that
certain actions within the estuarine shoreline,
which is defined as the area extending 75 feet
landward of the mean high waterline of the
estuarine waters, could possibly have a
substantial effect upon the quality of these
waters. The estuarine waters within Calabash's
jurisdiction include the Calabash River and
connecting tributaries. The adjacent shorelines,
up to 75 feet inland, are the estuarine
shorelines.
In order to promote the quality of the estuarine
waters, Calabash believes the uses should be
evaluated as to compatibility with both the
estuarine shorelines and the protection of the
32

I
1
d
estuarine system. Residential, recreational, and
commercial uses may be permitted within the
estuarine shoreline, after consideration has been
given to the following:
1. a substantial chance of pollution occurring
from the development does not exist;
2. development does not have a significant
adverse impact on estuarine resources;
3. development does not significantly interfere
with existing public rights or access to, or
use of, navigable waters or public
resources.
The Town will also consider the establishment of
standards for pier head lines along the Calabash
River.
C. Public Trust Areas: Calabash recognizes that
the public has certain established rights to
certain land and water areas. In Calabash, the
previously discussed estuarine waters and lands
thereunder are all Public Trust AECs. These
areas support recreational uses such as swimming,
boating, water skiing, and sportsfishing and
commercial fishing. These public areas also
support tourism and are of significant aesthetic
value both of which are important to Calabash
being known as the "Seafood Capital of the
World". Appropriate uses should include those
which protect public rights for navigation and
recreation. Projects which would directly or
indirectly block or impair existing navigation
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. Allowable uses
shall be those which do not cause detriment to
the physical, chemical or biological functions of
public trust areas. Such uses as navigational
channels, drainage ditches, bulkheads to prevent
erosion and inland canals, piers or docks, shall
be generally permitted, as long as they conform
to State development standards.
d. Policy Statements: Development in AECs:
Sections a, b, and c, above, included a brief
discussion of Calabash's policy on land uses in
the statutorily defined Areas of Environmental
Concern (AECs). Protection of environmentally
sensitive as well as vitally important public
33

11
resources is a strong ongoing concern of the Town
of Calabash. The overall policy of the Town in
'
relation to Resource Protection shall be as fol-
lows:
'
Calabash believes that priority should be given
to those uses which are compatible with appropri-
ate management of the Estuarine System. It is
'
the intent of the Town to safeguard and perpetu-
ate the system's biological, social, economic and
aesthetic values and to insure that any develop-
ment occurring within the system is compatible
'
with natural characteristics, so as to minimize
the likelihood of significant loss of private
property and public resources.
e. Policy Implementation:
(1) The Town will continue to support and comply
with the federal, state and local development
permits processes, as administered by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Division of
'
Coastal Management, and the Brunswick County
Health Department.
' (2) In FY89, the Town of Calabash will seriously
review its existing zoning ordinance for the
purpose of either revising the ordinance and
map and/or enforcing all of its provisions --
including the "conservation" district as an
estuarine system protective measure.
( 3 ) In FY89, the Town will expand enforcement of
its zoning ordinance to include its entire
jurisdiction, i.e., in -town and in the cur-
rent extraterritorial jurisdiction.
(4) Also, in FY89, the Town will seek technical
assistance from the N.C. Division of Communi-
ty Assistance, or a private consultant, to
help develop its own set of subdivision regu-
lations and other land use protective mea-
sures.
2. Areas of Environmental Concern: Ocean Hazards Areas
Unlike many other tourist -oriented coastal communi-
ties, Calabash is not on the oceanfront and therefore
has no Ocean Hazard Areas of Environmental Concern.
' 34
11

3. Development in Areas with Constraints
The constraints to development in Calabash were dis-
cussed in Section I, pages 18-23 of this report.
Elements posing constraints to growth and development
can relate to physical land capability constraints
such as availability of developable land, man-made or
natural hazards, AECs, special fragile areas, or
areas with soils limitations. Also, the capacity of
community facilities and services such as water,
sewer, solid waste disposal, police and fire protec-
tion and parking can often pose constraints to devel-
opment. The presence of special natural or cultural
resources, such as the historic Hickory Hall Planta-
tion House, which was discussed on page 21, is also a
"constraint" to be considered, in the sense that
special protective measures may be warranted. All of
these are factors which need to be considered by any
community in land development
proposing policies.
There are no known man-made hazards in Calabash pro-
hibiting development and the natural hazards are
closely linked to the AECs in the Estuarine System
category, as are also the "fragile" areas. Limita-
tions noted were: certain soil types, which were
described by the Brunswick County Soil Surveys as
having limitations for septic tank suitability, and
fragile areas that coincide with the Town's AECs and
which were included in the preceding policy discus-
sion. The 100 year flood zone was also listed as a
natural constraint. The only major limitation in
terms of community facilities is the lack of a cen-
tral sewer system for areas within the Town limits.
But the 100-year flood zones include a
significant
portion of
the Town's jurisdiction, both
inside the
Town limits
and in the current extraterritorial
area.
It is not
such areas.
practical to prohibit development in all
However, within both the Town and in the
extraterritorial
jurisdiction, there are
substantial
amounts of
land classified as either Zone
"C", Mini-
mally Flooded areas, or Zone "X", not subject to the
100-year flood.
As the discussion on pages 23-28 indicated, at cur-
rent and projected demand rates during "peak" utili-
zation, Calabash may need expanded capacity in the
provision of solid waste disposal, police protection,
' and fire protection services during the next 10
years. Also, the need for improved vehicular access,
and parking will increase in significance during the
rl
35

11
11
�I
planning period because of present limitations on
commercial and neighborhood roadways. Calabash has
developed from being a quiet, almost unknown river -
front fishing village, to a well-known location for
some of the best seafood restaurants in the south-
east. This appeal attracts thousands of visitors
each year. It is vital, therefore, to the Town's
economy that this appeal continue to be maintained at
the highest level. In consideration of all of the
constraints relating to the physical capacity of the
land, and the capacity of community facilities, the
following policies are proposed:
a. Policy Statements: Physical Constraints to
Development:
(1) Since in many cases, conditions posing
physical limitation to growth and development
in Calabash are closely associated with
identified areas of environmental concern or
other sensitive areas, the Town believes that
these areas should generally be protected
from any adverse or potentially adverse
development. Also, development in certain
areas which could result in unnecessary risks
to the safety and protection of life and pro-
perty will be seriously evaluated. specific-
ally:
(a) Calabash's policies on development in
fragile areas are basically the same as
those stated for Areas of Environmental
Concern.
(b) Until such time as a central sewage col-
lection and disposal system can be devel-
oped for the entire jurisdiction, growth
and development will not be permitted in
areas where septic tanks will not func-
tion. All septic tanks must be in com-
pliance with State Health Regulations
through the Brunswick County Health
Department.
(c) Development will be discouraged in areas
where soils are not suitable for proposed
construction. Development may be con-
structed if corrective measures for
stabilizing building foundations are
incorporated into development design.
(2) Allowable land uses in areas posing physical
constraints should be only those approved
through the CAMA and Army Corps of Engineers
36

F�
4.
"404" permitting processes and by the County
or Town of Calabash's building and develop-
ment ordinances.
(3) All uses allowed in the Town's Zoning Ordi-
nance shall be permissable in the 100-year
flood zones, provided that all new construc-
tion and substantial improvements comply
strictly to the Town's Flood Damage Preven-
tion Ordinance, which has been adopted in
conjunction with Calabash's participation in
the National Flood Insurance Program.
( 4 ) In relation to capacity of community facili-
ties, it shall be the policy of the Town of
Calabash to attempt to provide services, such
as water, fire protection (which is presently
being provided by volunteers), solid waste
collection, and traffic accessibility, to
meet needs and anticipated peak demand
throughout the planning period.
(5) The Town Board will give close attention to
provisions for adequate access and traffic
circulation for all new developments.
b. Policy Implementation:
(1) The existing local ordinances and building
regulations in Calabash, including the
County's subdivision regulations for the
current extraterritorial area shall continue
to be enforced. (See policies in Section e,
page 33.) Also, the Town will continue to
comply with State and Federal regulatory
programs for areas with physical constraints
to development, including CAMi A and the Corps
of Engineers 404 program.
(2) The Town Board will request technical assis-
tance from the Division of Community Assis-
tance of the North Carolina Department of
Natural Resources and Community Development,
or a private consultant to help review sub-
division plats and major development pro-
posals. (See policies in Section e, page 34.)
Hurricane and Flood Evacuation Needs and Plans
This area will be treated in a separate section of
this Land Use Plan, which will include policy state-
ments on hurricane and flood evacuation as well as
storm mitigation and post -disaster recovery poli-
cies.
37

5. Protection of Potable Water Supplies
Beginning in June 1988, some businesses and resi-
dences within Calabash began receiving their water
supply from the Brunswick County water system. The
Town would like to see all water users within the
Town limits eventually connect onto the County system
so that the existing private wells will no longer be
the principal source of potable water. The Town
recognizes the importance of protecting potable water
supplies, and is supportive of federal, state, and
other local initiatives to do so.
6. Use of Package Treatment Plants
Although there is centralized sewer service provided
outside of the current Town limits through a private
utility company, the Town of Calabash has no definite
plans for developing a centralized sewer system
because of the extensive costs. Currently, ground
absorption systems are the main means of sewage dis-
posal for the Town limits area. However, the Town
does allow package treatment plants if they can com-
ply with applicable state, local, and federal envi-
ronmental regulations.
7. Stormwater Runoff
The Town of Calabash shares the concern of the State
Division of Environmental Management (DEM) that
stormwater runoff from urbanized areas may be con-
tributing to declining surface water quality in some
areas. With significant existing development along
the banks of the Calabash River, maintenance of water
quality is of serious concern to Calabash. The Town
recognizes the value of water quality maintenance
both in terms of protecting commercial and recrea-
tional 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 recrea-
tional developments such as golf courses. The Town
will continue to enforce local ordinances and support
other state, environmental and building regulations
relating to stormwater runoff resulting from develop-
ment. The Town plans to seek assistance, perhaps
through CAMA planning funds, to conduct a drainage
improvement study.
8. Marina and Floating Home Development
The development of bulkheads, marinas, and private
boatslips has not been significant in Calabash
fl
m

although there is si nifian
g g s t w aterfrontage. How-
ever, a large marina -oriented development is being
developed in the extraterritorial area. Such uses
will be allowed, as long as they are in compliance
with State, federal and any additional local regula-
tions. Calabash is aware of, and supports, the
Governor's Coastal Initiatives Program, which seeks,
among other things, to increase the economic develop-
ment potential of waterfronts of many coastal commu-
nities.
In recent years, some coastal communities have become
' increasingly concerned over the issue of "floating
homes", i.e., waterborne vessels used not only as
"boats" but as permanent domiciles. The legal
I
aspects of this issue have been debated in many
areas.
In Calabash, the issue of floating homes has not been
'
a significant problem and the Town has never devel-
oped any ordinances or regulations regarding floating
homes. However, the Town is supportive of the
State's policies on "floating structures" and
believes that such structures should not be allowed
within Public Trust waters within its jurisdiction.
Because of the potential adverse impact upon the
water quality, Calabash does not support the concept
of "floating homes" in a marina or elsewhere. During
'
the planning period, the Town will seek assistance in
developing and will consider the adoption of local
regulations regarding floating homes.
9. Industrial Impacts of Fragile Areas
There are no conventional industrial impacts on fra-
gile areas in Calabash's jurisdiction and neither
does the Town anticipate any industrial development.
However, the Town is aware of proposals for OCS oil
'
and gas exploration in the northeast coastal area of
the State. The Town recognizes both the potential
economic impacts, as well as the potential environ-
mental degradation. Calabash, therefore, takes the
position of not being opposed to such operations,
provided adequate environmental impact assessments
were conducted and all recommended "safeguarding"
measures were strictly adhered to.
10. Development of Sound and Estuarine System Islands
'
Policies related to managing growth and development
in these environmentally sensitive areas would be
included in policy statements regarding development
'
39

1
7
1
11
in Areas of Environmental Concern and in areas with
physical constraints, particularly dealing with "fra-
gile" areas. However, there are no estuarine system
islands in Calabash's jurisdiction.
40

B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
'
1. Recreational Resources/Fisheries:
In most coastal counties and towns, "resource produc-
tion and management" usually relates to agriculture,
forestry, mining, and fisheries, as well as recre-
ational resources. In Calabash, however, recreational
and fisheries resources are the only primary concerns,
'
although there is a small amount of agriculture in the
extraterritorial area. In tourist areas such as Cala-
bash, because of the nearby beach communities (which
also contain Estuarine and/or Public Trust Waters),
recreational and fishery resources quite often over-
lap. Fishing, both as a recreational and commercial
'
resource, is very important to Calabash and to all of
Brunswick County. Proper utilization of water re-
sources is of utmost 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. Recreational opportunities,
'
such as boating, swimming, water skiing, and sports
fishing, are not only viable resources for Calabash,
but also are important economic attractions for the
overall area, bringing tourists to the Town's many
'
seafood restaurants. The tourist -based economy, as
noted in Section I of this plan, is dependent, to some
extent, upon the continued preservation and mainte-
'
nance of these resources. Projections for the 10-year
planning period indicate growth both in the number of
residents within its jurisdiction and tourists in
'
Calabash. Both the aesthetics and potential recre-
ational opportunities of the Town are important re-
sources which need to be protected and properly
tmanaged.
a. Policy Statements: With the above -stated con-
cerns in mind, the Town of Calabash adopts the
'
following policy:
(1) The Town supports current on -going State and
federal programs designed to enhance the
proper utilization of water resources within
its jurisdiction.
b. Implementation:
(1) The Town will continue to enforce local regu-
'
lations as well as support State and Federal
initiatives, related to maintaining and en-
hancing water quality and proper water use.
Having developed primarily as an inland community,
some of the typical resource production policy areas
are not relevant and will not be addressed here.
'
These areas include: commercial forestry and agricul-
ture, mining, and impact of off -road vehicles.
'
41

C. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
' The economic vitality of Calabash, although not a beach
community, still relates directly to tourism because of
' the Town's attraction as a "seafood capital". Also, the
continued growth of both residential and commercial devel-
opment within the Town's jurisdiction is an important ele-
ment in the local economy. A substantial amount of growth
is projected to take place in the extraterritorial area.
Some developments currently on the "drawing board" for the
extraterritorial area include a new motel, golf courses
' and a large mixed use marina -oriented community to be
called "Marsh Harbour Yacht Club." The Marsh Harbour
Yacht Club developers, although the project is still in
' the preliminary planning stages, have nearly completed the
basic marina. This development is also proposed to con-
tain a motel, and residential and commercial areas.
' In the existing land development patterns in Calabash's
jurisdiction, there is a mixture of residential and com-
mercial uses, although residential uses dominate. At the
writing of this report, there were more than 2,600 vacant,
platted lots in the Town's overall jurisdiction. Since
most of these lots are in or adjacent to residential
' areas, the existing development patterns are likely to
continue although commercial development will also in-
crease (See Map 2, attached and Table 6, page 9). Also,
as noted previously and as shown on Map 2, there are still
' large unplatted tracts of land within Calabash's jurisdic-
tion.
' The entire Town now has access to centralized water ser-
vices through the Brunswick County Water System and most
of the extraterritorial jurisdiction has access to sewer
service provided by a private utility company. Other
community and economic development issues that currently
face or that will face the Town over the next 10 years
include: annexation of developing areas in the extra-
territorial jurisdiction; possible provision of sewer
within the Town's limits; development and enforcement of
effective land development regulations at the local level;
' maintenance of the Town's "character"; improving aesthe-
tics along the waterfront; and provision of public recrea-
tion facilities.
Prior to presenting the Town's policy positions on these
and other community and economic development issues, it
should be noted that at the beginning of the land use
' planning process for Calabash, an extensive effort was
made to obtain the input of citizens and property owners.
A "1988 Land Use Plan Citizen Survey Form" was developed
and mailed to all the taxpayers in the Town (including
absentee landowners) in February, 1988. Most of the ques-
i
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tions dealt with the Town's land use and community devel-
opment concerns. A summary of the survey results is
presented below: (Also, see Appendix 1)
--- The top three "critical development issues" in Cala-
bash according to the respondents were (in order):
provision of adequate water and sewer, control and
guidance of land development within the Town, and
maintaining the "character" of the Town.
--- Most respondents wanted to see growth take place in
Calabash, but at a moderate rate.
--- Most respondents agreed that the Town needs more pub-
lic recreational facilities (several specifically
mentioned a waterfront park with a boat access ramp).
--- Annexation of adjacent developing areas was also fav-
ored by a majority of those responding to the survey.
--- Other local concerns expressed in the survey results
included improvements in trash pick-up, street
improvements, more frequent patrols by law enforcement
officers, and a concern over the number of mobile
homes in the area.
--- Additional information of interest obtained by the
survey included:
nearly 70% of residents have lived in Calabash 14
years or less
97% of residents own their residences, as opposed to
only 3% rentals
° 44% of property owners are non-resident owners, and
° more than one-half of the responding households had
household incomes over $30,000/year
The relevant policy areas to be addressed are discussed
below, along with the Town's policy position.
1. Local Commitment to Providing Services to Development
As areas develop, it will be the policy of the Town
that the developer/owner share in the financial
responsibility of providing basic urban services.
Within this initial planning period, the Town has
begun to be served by the Brunswick County water sys-
tem but does not expect to have a central sewer sys-
tem. The Town will remain committed to providing
water service to new areas as they develop. The citi-
zens of Calabash have expressed a desire to main-
1 43

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2.
3.
I
tain its relatively low -density, "seafood village"
character. The Town will not pursue development of a
centralized sewer system at this time, primarily
because of the cost of such a system.
Redevelopment of Developed Areas:
There are some areas of Calabash which may need to be
considered for redevelopment. It is feasible that in
some older sections of the Town, older structures,
including residences and commercial establishments may
be torn down to allow for the construction of new
similar uses on the same site. Calabash supports such
activity as a positive re -use of land resources,
enhancing the Town as a whole. Such redevelopment
shall 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
building and zoning regulations.
Desired Urban Growth Patterns
As noted in the citizen survey results, it is impor-
tant to the local citizens that the atmosphere and
character of Calabash, i.e., a quiet, seafood village
and low -density residential area, be maintained.
Calabash has no interest in developing heavy manufac-
turing industries within its current jurisdiction, for
example. Commercial accommodations and similar devel-
opments related to serving tourists are considered
desirable in Calabash. Continued residential develop-
ment is also regarded as desirable for the Town, as
long as no major or irreversible damage threatens any
environmentally sensitive area. Single-family
detached dwellings remain the predominant residential -
type in Calabash's jurisdiction, although some multi-
family units have been developed and others are pro-
posed.
Mobile homes are allowed within the Town's jurisdic-
tion and a number of units are currently located both
within the Town limits and in the extraterritorial
area. There are several mobile home parks in the
area. It is the Town's intention, as reflected in its
zoning ordinance and zoning map, to allow a mixture of
residential -type accommodations in a balanced manner.
a. Policy Statements:
(1) It is the desire of the Town of Calabash to
avoid incompatible land uses. The Town further
believes that land use regulations, along with
44

d
a building permit program, should be used to
help achieve a desired balance between commer-
cial and residential development. The Town
also supports the continued enforcement of the
State CAMA permit process and State Health
Regulations regarding septic tank placement
(until such time as a central sewer system may
serve the Town limits).
' (2) It is the belief of the Town of Calabash that
residents of developed areas in the extraterri-
torial area make substantial use of the Town's
' facilities; enjoy the benefits of access to the
Town's commercial areas; and to some extent,
share the community's interests, but do not
' share the responsibility for the support, main-
tenance, and future orderly development of the
Town. It shall be the policy of the Town of
Calabash, therefore, that such areas be con-
sidered for annexation, if allowable under
state regulations and are economically feasi-
ble.
b. Policy Implementation:
(1) The Town will continue to support and comply
with the federal, state and local development
permits processes, as administered by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Division of Coastal
Management, and the Brunswick County Health
Department.
(2) In FY89, the Town of Calabash will seriously
1
review its existing zoning ordinance for the
purpose of either revising the ordinance and
map and/or enforcing all of its provisions --
including the "conservation" district as an
estuarine system protective measure. The Town
will consider special provisions for mobile
homes and mobile home parks.
(3) In FY89, the Town will expand enforcement of
its zoning ordinance to include its entire
jurisdiction, i.e., in -town and in the current
extraterritorial jurisdiction.
(4) Also, in FY89, the Town will seek technical
assistance from the N.C. Division of Communtiy
Assistance, or a private consultant, to help
develop its own set of subdivision regula-
tions.
' (5) In FY89, Calabash will seek assistance from the
N.C. Division of Community Assistance or a pri-
1 45

vate consultant to conduct preliminary annexa-
tion feasibility studies in selected portions
of the current extraterritorial area.
4. 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. The Town will con-
tinue to cooperate with such programs, including
CAMA. The North Carolina Department of Transporta-
tion road and bridge improvement programs are also
very important to Calabash because of increasing
traffic volumes and resultant access and parking
problems during peak seasons.
Examples of other State and Federal programs which
are important to and supported by Calabash include:
the Governor's Coastal Initiatives Program, dredging
and channel maintenance by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, the NRCD Beach and Estuarine Access Pro-
gram, and Federal and State projects which provide
efficient and safe boat access for sports fishing.
5. Assistance to Channel Maintenance and Beach
Renourishment
Proper maintenance of channels, particularly the
Calabash River, is very important to the Town of
Calabash because of the impact of commercial and
recreational fisheries and general boating. Calabash
is supportive of the Corps of Engineers' maintenance
of the River, however, it has been more than 10 years
since the last dredging. Although local residents
say the River is in serious need of dredging, two
major obstacles have prevented timely dredging.
First, the inability to locate a suitable spoil site
has been a problem. Secondly, the mouth of the Cala-
bash River is in South Carolina and therefore under
the jurisdiction of the Charleston District of the
Corps of Engineers. According to the Town, the
Charleston District's dredging schedule has been
inconsistent with the timing considered best for
dredging by the EPA and North Carolina environmental
officials. If the Calabash River were to be included
in the Charleston District's maintenance program,
then, according to the Corps dredging officials, it
would be most economical and efficient to conduct the
operations during the same time the Atlantic Inter -
coastal Waterway is being maintained, i.e., during
the summer months. However, in North Carolina, there
is a moratorium on such dredging from April through
August. Therefore, until suitable spoil sites are
found and scheduling differences can be worked out,
the Calabash River may not receive maintenance by
46

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the Corps of Engineers. However, the Town would like
to see these obstacles overcome.
Calabash is also supportive of renourishment projects
in beach communities.
6. Tourism
The importance of tourism to Calabash is paramount,
as has been discussed in other parts of this plan.
The Town's reputation in the Carolinas as a seafood
haven has steadily grown, and along with its proximi-
ty to beach communities in both North and South
Carolina, golf courses and marinas, thousands will
continue to be attracted to Calabash. Tourism and
related expanded developments are vital generators of
income. The tourist season also provides employment
for some Town residents and for some residents of
other parts of Brunswick County as well. According
to the Travel and Tourism Division, North Carolina
Department of Commerce, in 1987, travel and tourism
accounted for $134,287,000 in expenditures in
Brunswick County compared to only $16.7 million in
1979. Although detailed figures are not available
for Calabash, relative to its size, the seafood com-
munity probably generates a respectable percentage of
this annual total. However, presently there is no
mechanism whereby Calabash can "recapture" some of
the tourist dollars to help improve or expand munici-
pal services. Such a mechanism, e.g., a special
"tax" needs to be considered as the number of tour-
ists and amounts of tourist dollars increase.
Policy alternatives concerning support of tourism are
few in an area where it essentially forms the econom-
ic base. In fact, all of the other policy statements
under Economic and Community Development relate to
tourism. Therefore, Calabash will continue to sup-
port and promote tourism as its main economic base.
The development of non -intensive recreational and
commercial land uses will be encouraged in order to
enhance services for the public. Also, the Town will
seek to become a "Coastal Initiatives" community, in
order to enhance its economic development and
resource protection goals.
7. Beach and Waterfront Access, and Parking
Free and open access to the Calabash River is pres-
ently limited.
There is one private boating access ramp in the Town
near Captain John's Restaurant. The owners have
traditionally allowed parking and boating access to
47

the public. The Town supports the provision of pub-
lic access to the River. The Town has discussed
attempting to lease this private access site from the
owners, make improvements, and utilize the area as a
public recreation and access site.
During the peak of the tourist season, the parking
lots of restaurants and shops are virtually filled to
capacity and parking is a problem. Currently, there
are no public parking facilities in Calabash other
than that associated with commercial establishments.
As the number of visitors to Calabash increase, ex-
panded parking facilities will also need to increase.
As a policy, the Town of Calabash will begin ex-
ploring both means to improve public parking and
pedestrian access. Calabash will seek state and
federal assistance in planning for waterfront access,
public parking and improved pedestrian access.
Specifically, the Town will seek assistance from the
N.C. Division of Wildlife Resources, the CAMA access
program, and the State Department of Transportation.
The Town hopes that plans for waterfront access can
be combined with plans for a public recreation facil-
ity, i.e., a waterfront park.
11

D. CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICIES
' Calabash recognizes that an important element in develop-
ing and implementing any local policies or plans regarding
the use of land in the Town,
is involvement of the
Town's
citizenry. From the initial
stages of development
of this
Land Use Plan, Calabash has
sought to provide open
oppor-
tunities for citizen input.
Although public involvement
1
was generated primarily through
the Town Board of
Commis-
sioners and through "public
information" meetings,
adver-
tised in local newspapers and
open to the general
public,
1 the principal vehicle for citizen input was through the
previously described survey questionnaire.
In February, 1988, a survey form questionnaire was mailed,
along with a letter of explanation, to owners -f property
in Calabash (See Appendix 1). The questionnaire consisted
of questions addressing issues such as provision of public
services (water, sewer, drainage, etc.), recreational
facilities, and the desired types of urban growth and
development patterns. Generally, the response rates were
good and the information was useful in developing policies
(especially those dealing with economic and community
development, as discussed in the previous section).
rAn advertised public information meeting and an advertised
public hearing were both held during the preparation of
this Land Use Plan. Additionally, several "work sessions"
were held with the Town Board of Commissionsers and all
such meetings were open to the public.
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The preliminary draft plan, prior to submission to the
CRC, was presented to the Town Board of Commissioners on
August 23, 1988.
In addition to direct citizens' input through the public
meetings, information was received from representatives of
various agencies in the Calabash -Brunswick County area.
These included the County Planning Department, Emergency
Management Office, County Health Department, and the North
Carolina Department of Transportation. The Town will con-
tinue to use published public notices to inform citizens
of pending decisions involving land use planning matters
in order to provide opportunities for input.
49

E. CALABASH STORM HAZARD MITIGATION, POST -DISASTER
' RECOVERY, AND EVACATION PLAN
Although Calabash is not an oceanfront community, the Town
is not located sufficiently inland so as not to feel the
direct effects of a hurricane or northeaster. In both
1984 and 1985, when Hurricanes Diana and Gloria, respec-
tively, visited the North Carolina coast, Calabash fared
relatively well, sustaining no damage. Nevertheless, it
is not totally inconceivable that a weather -related disas-
ter could strike the small community, and Calabash would
' definitely be affected by high winds, tides, and potential
flooding. Therefore, the Town of Calabash, in case of
such emergency, agrees to comply with the plans and pro-
cedures adopted by Brunswick County and contained in the
1987 Update of the Brunswick County Land Use Plan (see
Appendix 2).
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SECTION III
Land Classification System
11

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III. LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
The CAMA 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 particu-
lar locality. It is not a strict regulatory
device in the
sense of a zoning ordinance or zoning map.
It represents
more of a tool to aid in understanding the
relationships
between various land use categories and how these relation-
ships help 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 regula-
tions for the Coastal Area Management Act state:
I "The land classification system provides a framework to be
used by local government to identify the future use of all
lands in each county. 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) (a)
The five land classifications, along with a land classifica-
tion map, are therefore intended to serve as a visual repre-
sentation of the policies stated in Section 1T of this plan.
The map depicting these classifications must be as flexible
as the policies that guide them. (See the attached Land
Classification Map, Map 4.)
Only three of the Coastal Resources Commission's five land
classifications are relevant to the land development policies
of Calabash. They are identified and described below.
A. DEVELOPED
The developed class of land use provides for continued
intensive development and redevelopment of existing
cities. Areas to be classified as "developed" include
lands currently developed for urban purposes or approach-
ing a density of 500 dwellings per square mile that are
provided with usual municipal or public services, in-
cluding at least public water, sewer, recreational facil-
ities, police and fire protection. Areas which exceed
the minimum density but which do not have public sewer
service may best be divided into a separate class to
' indicate that although they have a developed character,
they will need sewers in the future.
Within Calabash's jurisdiction, the areas complying with
the above definition include the existing developed resi-
dential and commercial areas in both the Town limits and
1 portions of the extraterritorial area. Nearly half
1 51

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of all of the land area in the Town's jurisdiction has
been platted into building lots. A substantial number of
these lots in the extraterritorial area (especially in
Carolina Shores) have been developed or are undergoing
steady development. The most intensely developed areas
are classified as "developed". All of Carolina Shores
and most of the extraterritorial area have access to to
both centralized water and sewer services. However, it
should be noted that within the "proper" Town limits of
Calabash, only centralized water is currently available.
Nevertheless, the platted portions of the Town's limits
are, for all intents and purposes, "developed" (See Map
4, attached). It should be noted that a portion of the
"developed" area is in the 100 year flood hazard area
according to the most recent FEMA maps.
B. TRANSITION
Transition land is classified as those lands providing
for future intensive urban development within the ensuing
ten years on lands that are most suitable and that will
be scheduled for provision of necessary public utilities
and services. They may also provide for additional
growth when additional lands in the developed class are
not available or when they are severely limited for
development.
Lands classified "transition" may include:
1. lands currently having
2. other lands necessary
lation and economic
planning jurisdiction
urban services, and
to accommodate the urban popu-
growth anticipated within the
over the next ten years.
Lands classified for the latter reason must:
a. be served or be readily served by water, sewer,
and other urban services, including streets, and
b. be generally free of severe physical limitations
for urban development.
The "transition" class should not include:
a. lands of high potential for agriculture, fores-
try, or mineral extraction, or land falling with-
in extensive rural areas being managed commer-
cially for these uses, when other lands are
available;
b. lands where urban development might result in
major or irreversible damage to important envi-
ronmental, cultural, scientific, or scenic
values; or
52

' C. land where urban development might result in
damage to natural systems or processes of more
than local concern; and
d. lands where development will result in undue risk
to life or property from natural hazards or
' existing land uses, e.g., frequently flooded
areas.
' The lands in Calabash that will be classified "transi-
tional" are primarily those unplatted areas adjacent to
the currently developed areas. This includes some areas
where lots have been platted but not yet developed, as
well as the sizeable unsubdivided tracts.
The relationship between the "developed and transition"
classification is usually an important one. The first
class is meant to define the already intensively devel-
oped areas and/or those areas where intensive urban -type
development is likely to occur. Transitional lands are
those areas where public investment decisions will be
required to provide future necessary urban services.
These become important areas to closely monitor. The
1 Coastal Resources Commission has further clarified this
relationship as described below.
' The Developed and Transition classes should be the o:.ly
lands under active consideration by a county or munici-
pality 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 (water, sewer, urban
' street systems, etc.) will be guided to these areas.
Most of the "transitional" lands in Calabash's jurisdic-
tion already have access to centralized water service and
' in most of the extraterritorial area, sewer service.
C. CONSERVATION
' The "conservation" class provides for effective long-term
management of significant limited or irreplaceable areas.
This management may be needed because of its natural,
cultural, recreational, productive, or scenic values.
This class should be limited to lands that contain:
major wetlands; essentially undeveloped shorelands that
' are unique, fragile, or hazardous for development; neces-
sary wildlife habitat or areas that have a high probabil-
ity for providing necessary habitat conditions; publicly
owned water supply watersheds and aquifers; and forest -
lands that are undeveloped and will remain undeveloped
for commercial purposes.
In Calabash, the lands described as Areas of Environ-
mental Concern are included in this classification, i.e.,
1 53

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Coastal Wetlands; Estuarine Waters; Estuarine Shorelines
(excluding areas presently developed or adjacent to
already -developed lots); Public Trust Area. In addition
to the AECs, which are by law "conservation", shoreline
areas consisting of soil types described as being con-
sistently wet or flooded, according to the Brunswick
County Soil Survey, were also classified as conserva-
tions. Specifically, this applies to the Bohicket (Bo)
soils classification (see Map 4, attached).
D. OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS
According to planning guidelines, there are two other
major land use classifications, neither of which are
applicable in Calabash. They are described below:
1. Community
' The "community" classification provides for clustered
land uses to meet housing, shopping, employment, and
public service needs within the rural areas of a
county. It is usually characterized by a small
grouping of mixed land uses which are suitable and
appropriate for small clusters of rural development
not requiring municipal sewer service.
' 2. Rural
The "rural" class provides for agriculture, forest
management, mineral extraction, and other low -
intensity uses on large sites, including residences
where urban services are not required and where
natural resources will not be unduly impaired. These
are lands identified as appropriate locations for
resources management and allied uses: land with high
potential for agriculture, forestry, or mineral
extraction; lands with one or more limitations that
would make development costly and hazardous; and
lands containing irreplaceable, limited, or signifi-
cant natural, recreational, or scenic resources not
otherwise classified.
54

SECTION IV
Relationship of Policies
and
.end Classification System

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IV. RELATIONSHIP OF POLICIES AND LAND CLASSIFICATIONS
After the Land Classification System is developed, the Coastal
Resources Commission requires each land use plan to relate the
Policy Section to the land classification map and to provide
some indication as to which land uses are appropriate in each
class.
A. Developed and Transition Classes
As discussed in Section I, Analysis of Existing Condi-
tions, the development of primarily single-family struc-
tures is likely to continue in Calabash --especially in its
extraterritorial area. Some areas in the extraterritorial
area may be considered for annexation feasibility during
the planning period. The developed and transition classes
were specifically designed to accommodate the projected
ill VL C 111 UC1151 V C uuvu_LuNmunLs ana _Lana uses. Tnis may
include commercial uses, parks and open space, community
facilities, and transportation facilities. Hazardous or
offensive uses, such as power plants, airports, and
storage facilities, will not be in these classes. Where
identified constraints, such as poor soils, or other
fragile areas occur within these classes, the areas will
not be considered as Developed or Transit. -Lon. However,
since this is Calabash's first attempt at preparing a
local land use plan, prior development has already taken
place in areas which may otherwise be considered
"fragile." To the maximum extent practicable, this will
not be perpetuated.
B. Conservation
The Conservation Class is designated to provide for effec-
tive long-term management of significant limited or irre-
placeable areas which include wetlands; undeveloped shore-
lines that are unique, fragile, or hazardous for develop-
ment; wildlife habitat areas; publicly -owned watersheds
and aquifers; unique undeveloped forestlands; and cultural
and historical sites. Policy Statements under Resource
Protection and Resource Production and Management issues,
address the Town's intentions concerning the Conservation
Class.
55

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SECTION V
I Intergovernmental Coordination
1

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION
Throughout the preparation of this Land Use Plan, the Town of
Calabash had contact with various state and federal government
agencies as well as Brunswick County. These included -the N.C.
Division of Coastal Management, the Brunswick County Planning
Department, Town of Sunset Beach, and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Wilmington and Charleston Districts). Calabash
will continue to coordinate with various levels of federal,
state, and local governments throughout the implementation of
its planning program.
56

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h

CALABASH LAND USE PLAN
RESULTS OF CITIZEN SURVEY:
IDENTIFICATION OF 1988 PLANNING ISSUES
INTRODUCTION: As part of the Land Use Planning Process, the Town
of Calabash distributed 164 survey forms to all households and
property owners in Calabash, based on town tax records. The pur-
pose was to solicit citizens' input in the identification of pos-
sible policy issues which need to be addressed in the Land Use
Plan. Attached is a summary of the results of the survey: (32
responses to most questions)
1. Length of Residence: 69% of residents have lived here 14
years or less.
a. Type of Residence: 48% mobile homes; 52% conventional
houses
2.
3.
4.
�
5.
b. Tenure: 97% owner; 3% renter
C. Resident Owner: 56% resident; 44% non-resident
Household Income: Nearly all (93%) had income over $10,000
with 52% having income over $30,000.
a. Critical Development Issues (Top Three)
1. Provision of adequate water and sewer
2. Control and guidance of land development within the
Town
3. Maintaining the character of the Town
b. Summary of Frequent Comments/Concerns
1. Trash pick-up
2. Preservation of the river/riverfront development
3. Restrict burning by builders
How Calabash should grow: Most respondents would like to see
Calabash grow, but at a moderate rate.
Most respondents strongly agreed that the Town needs more
public recreational facilities. Some of the comments speci-
fied a desire for a waterfront park with a boat ramp facili-
ty.

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6. Slightly more respondents favored Calabash having a full-time
policeman, although nearly an equal number either disagreed
or strongly disagreed.
7-8. Most respondents did not think the Town needed its own rescue
squad, and very few volunteered for this service.
9. The response to keeping the Town's ordinances updated was
overwhelmingly positive (86% in favor).
10. More respondents felt the Town should have its own subdivi-
sion regulations, as opposed to relying on the County (82%).
11. There was much support for grants application for a sewer
system (80%).
12. Annexation of adjacent developing areas also received a fav-
orable response (24 of 32 responses--75%, with 6 (19%) ex-
pressing no opinion).
13. Most respondents favored the adoption of a leash law in Cala-
bash (88%).
14. About 60% of those responding would like to see a waterfront
park developed in Calabash, while 8 (29%) disagreed.
15. Generally, most respondents indicated a willingness to pay
more taxes for all of the services and/or facilities listed
on the form. However, the top three items, in order, clearly
were:
a. Sewer system
b. Water system
C. Street improvements
16. Other Land Use Issues:
a. Enforcement of existing zoning laws and CAMA
b. Too many mobile homes
C. Too far a distance to haul trash
d. Limit commercial development and signs
e. No high-rise buildings
f. Request more frequent patrolling by Sheriff's Department
and Highway Patrol.

n
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Summary: These issues will be further analyzed and the Town Board
' and Planning Board may propose specific policies to address these
issues. After policy formulation, citizens will again have a
chance to provide input.
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2.5 Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post -Disaster Recovery and Evacuation
Plan
Introduction
Brunswick County, like other coastal counties, is vulnerable to hurricanes. Because of this
vulnerability, the county must devise means by which development can be managed to
mitigate the hazards associated with hurricanes. To achieve this objective, hazardous areas
must be mapped in order to assess the county's vulnerability to damage, mitigation
processes must be identified and existing mitigation measures must be reviewed.
Flooding
' Flooding is a hazard along the rivers in the county as well as the area immediately adjacent
to the Intracoastal Waterway. Since much of this area is attractive for residential develop-
ment, there is considerable private investment in these flood prone areas. Information
gathered from a land use survey conducted in spring, 1985, indicated that nearly 1,500
residential structures were located in flood hazard zones as identified by the Federal
' Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA). The total value placed on these structures by the
Brunswick County Tax Supervisors office is approximately $41.2 million.
' FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps identify those areas of land with a one percent chance
of flood inundation in any given year. These flood prone areas are primarily the result of
flooding that would be the result of storm surge, i.e. water that is pushed upstream by
' strong winds. Some flooding on small tributaries could be attributed to the more typical
heavy rainfall over a short time period.
Storm surge flooding has been studied by the US Army Corps, of Engineers. The Special
Program to List the Amplitude of Surge from Hurricanes (SPLASH) model was used to
map Storm Surge Inundation Areas so that evacuation studies could be made. The SPLASH
map shows surge levels based on class one through class five hurricanes. By using these
maps, local emergency management authorities can plan evaucation routes based on
anticipated inundation levels. The SPLASH map is available for inspection at the Brun-
swick County Planning Office. Both the FEMA map and the SPLASH map are lacking in
accuracy due to the lack of detailed topographical information in Brunswick County.
The most populated unincorporated areas of the county are generally not subject to
flooding. Populated areas include, the Leland area, the area between Southport and Oak
Island, and much of the area near the Intracoastal Waterway from the Lockwood Folly
River westward to the South Carolina state line. Lands immediately abutting the waterway
are subject to flooding.
' Page 95 - Brunswick county Land Use Plan Brunswick county Planning Board

Winds
Hurricane force winds can cause serious structure damage as well as damage to overhead
utilities. Brunswick County is located in a zone identified by the State Building Code as
having a reasonable expectation of having 100 mph winds from a hurricane. The State
Building Code requires that any new structure built in the county be able to withstand
winds of 100 mph. The Building Code sets standards for design, anchorage and tie downs
for structures.
Composite Hazard Map
The Composite Hazards Map includes areas identified on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate
Map as being within the 100 year flood zone and areas identified by the Storm Surge
Inundation Areas Map. It serves as a general guide as to where flooding could occur;
however, it should not be used for site specific land use interpretation since detailed
elevation information is not provided.
Existing Development at Risk
Development in Brunswick County has historically taken place in a generally sweeping
pattern that runs east of NC 87 in the northeast, and south of US 17 in the Waccamaw area
which is in the northwest quadrant of the county. In the past five years, the greatest amount
of development has been occurring in those areas adjacent to the beach communities, the
Intracoastal Waterway and the rivers. This growth is primarily reflected in summertime
populations rather than permanent populations. Development within the county's mu-
nicipalities is addressed within individual municipal land use plans.
As stated earlier, there is considerable development located within flood hazard areas.
There are, however, no recurring flooding problems on the mainland. Highway 17 in the
Winnabow area is subject to flooding during extreme rainfalls. There are other isolated
drainage problems that usually are associated with small area drainage basins.
' None of the potentially hazardous industries located in Brunswick County (Sunny Point
Army Terminal, whichstores and transfers hazardous materials, Carolina Power and Light
nuclear facility, and Pfizer Company which produces citric acid) are located in flood hazard
areas. These facilities are all located on Highway 133 near Southport.
' Unfortunately, the same environmental conditions and geographic locations that make the
County so suceptible to hurricanes, also makes the County very attractive for seasonal,
second home and permanent populations. Land development in the flood prone areas will
' continue to occur as the tourism/retirement economy of Brunswick County continues to
expand. The County estimated that in 1985 there were residential structures valued at
approximately $41.2 million within flood prone areas. 1987 Planning Department esti-
mates the value of all structures within flood prone areas has increased to nearly $58
million.
Brunswick county Planning Board
Brunswick County Land Use Plan - Page %

2.5.1 Storm Hazard Mitigation
Storm hazard mitigation involves "activities which reduce the probability that a disaster
will occur and minimize the damage caused by a disaster. Such activities can range from
the establishment of a nationwide hurricane tracking system to the adoption of local land
use regulations which discourage residential construction in floodprone areas. Mitigation
activities are not geared to a specific disaster; they result from a long-term concern for
avoiding the damages of future natural disasters." (McElyea, et al, Before The Storm:
Managing Development to Reduce Hurricane Damages, 1982).
Current Measures
Current storm hazard mitigation measures are incorporated in various County and State
ordinances and guidelines including the following:
' - Brunswick County Flood Damage Preventors Ordinance.
- Brunswick County Building Code Ordinance.
- Brunswick County Subdivision Ordinance.
' - Brunwick County Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
- Guidelines for Areas of Environmental Concern.
- NC Residential Building Code.
Brunswick County regulates development in hazard areas primarily through the flood
plain management regulations which are outlined in Article 5, Articles A-E in Ordinance
No. 62, an Ordinance Enacting a Building Code for Brunswick County, North Carolina. All
development occurring in AEC areas must conform to state guidelines.
The following is a summary of findings relevant to the ability of current Brunswick County
regulaitons to adequately manage development in hazard areas:
BRUNSWICK COUNTY BUILDING CODE ORDINANCE
The Brunswick County Building Code Ordinance which was enacted April,1985 contains
an element entitled "Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction, (Article 5). This section cites
the requirements for new construction or substantial improvements in areas of special
flood hazard.
GENERAL STANDARDS
All structures shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
Construction materials and utility equipment must be resistant to flood damage.
Construction shall be by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.
Page 97 - Brunswick County Land Use Plan Brunswick County Planning Board

Ordinance does contain general design requirements as they apply to flooding. These
requirements are as follows:
All minor subdivisions shall be designed so as to minimize flood damage to any lots,
building, or other facilities within the development.
All utilities in a subdivision shall be designed and constructed so• as to eliminate or
minimize flood damage to those facilities.
All water supply and sewerage systems shall be designed so as to eliminate infiltration of
flood waters into the systems and to eliminate discharge from the systems into flood waters.
Adequate drainage shall be provided in all minor subdivisions so that exposure to flood
hazards will be at a minimum.
THE NORTH CAROLINA UNIFORM RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODE
The North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code is the tool that the County uses to
manage development to minimize potential wind damage. Structures must u designed
upon the size of the unit. The County does not have the authority to modify the Building
Code to better meet its needs. Under the laws of the State each county must enforce these
uniform regulations.
Zoning and Growth Management
Brunswick County does not have a zoning ordinance in effect in the unincorporated area.
Without a zoning ordinance, the county does not possess the primary means available to
local governments for controlling the location of different land uses and development in
general. It is apparent that the primary need of the County, in relation to storm hazard
mitigation, is the development of an ordinance to control how and where development
occurs.
Countywide zoning could serve as an effective tool to guide growth and development to
areas which would mitigate storm hazards. The provision, extension and timing of public
utilities such as piped water and sewer can also be an effective growth management and
storm hazard mitigation tool.
Storm Hazard Mitigation Policies
Policy 2.5.1(a)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHALL DISCOURAGE HIGH INTENSITY USES AND
LARGE STRUCTURES FROM BEING CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE 100-YEAR
FLOODPLAIN, EROSION -PRONE AREAS, AND OTHER LOCATIONS SUSCEP-
TIBLE TO HURRICANE AND FLOODING HAZARDS.
Page 99 - Brunswick County, Land Use Plan
Brunswick County Planning Board

Policy 2.5.1(b)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE OF NORTH CARO-
LINA, SHALL CONSIDER PURCHASING PARCELS LOCATED IN HAZARD AR-
EAS OR RENDERED UNBUMDABLE BY STORMS OR OTHER EVENTS, FOR THE
PURPOSES OF SHOREFRONT ACCESS. DEVELOPERS MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED
TO PURCHASE SUCH PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AS A CONDITION FOR
PROJECT APPROVAL.
Policy 2.5.1(c)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHALL CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THE NORTH CARO-
LINA BUILDING CODE, PARTICULARLY THOSE PROVISIONS WHICH REQUIRE
CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS TO MEET WIND RESISTIVE FACTORS, I.E., DE-
SIGN, WIND VELOCITY.
Policy 2.5.1(d)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY ENCOURAGES THE PLACEMENT OF UTILITIES UNDER-
GROUND FOR ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT.
2.5.2 Post Disaster Reconstruction
In order for the County to succeed in orderly reconstruction, each of the municipalities
must prepare reconstruction plans. This is especially imperative of the beaches since they
possess the greatest potential for destruction. The levels of hazard present in the County
and the small number of persons qualified to handle reconstruction, makes it necessary for
communities to make as many advance preparations as possible. The officials in each of the
jurisdictions in the county must review each of their policies to determine which ones will
be used in the guidance of reconstruction. Although each municipality will prepare its own
reconstruction plan, the plans will have to be coordinated. This is especially true of the
beaches because the beach communities are closely related and the actions of one munici-
pality may affect conditions in the others.
In the wake of a hurricane that causes a great deal of structural damage, the importance of
' jurisdictional boundaries may be completely ignored as property owners return to repair
or rebuild their property. A reconstruction plan prepared in advance will alleviate much
of the confusion and make it possible for residents of all areas to rebuild quickly. It will also
' offer the additional advantage of requiring them to rebuild safely.
The local authorities should work closely with the Division of Emergency Management to
' determine if adequate evaluation has taken place. Local government authorities should be
mindful of evaulation considerations when development is proposed in hazard areas.
' Brunswick County Planning Board Brunswick county Land Use Plan • Page 100

r
To insure that there is coordination between the various municipalities and County
government, periodic meetings are held. These meetings, which are both of a formal and
informal nature are conducted to assure a constant state of preparedness for any foresee-
able disaster or emergency. The County Emergency Management Coordinator acts as a
liasion between municipal and county government on emergency preparedness matters.
Major Reconstruction Steps
It is of primary importance that local officials be aware of the federal, state and local
procedures for assessing damages and filing for disaster aid. Due to this need, a discussion
of the current procedures followed by the various agencies will be presented. These
procedures provide the framework within which officials must work to carry out recovery
activities. The major federal legislation geared towards disasters is the Disaster Relief Act
of 1974, which embodies a variety of financial and direct assistance to local government and
private citizens. The steps to be taken after a major storm event are as follows:
I. Local damage assessment teams surveys the affected areas to determine the extent of
storm drainage within the community.
2. Damage information is compiled and the nature and extent of damage is reported to the
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (DEM).
3. The DEM evaluates the damage information and advises the Governor of the serious-
ness of the situation.
4. The Governor may declare a State of Emergency and put the State's disaster relief and
assistance plan into effect as well as direct state resources to places in needs.
5. If it is determined by the Governor that the severity of the situation exceeds the
capabilities of state and local government, the Governor may ask the President, via
FEMA to declare an "emergency" or "major disaster".
6. Federal relief assistance given to a community after a declaration of an "emergency"
usually ends one month after the initial Presidential declaration. Federal assistance for
emergency work after a major disaster has been declared typically ends 6 months after
the declaration and federal assistance for permanent work ends after 18 months.
Federal Disaster Assistance
' Federal disaster assistance programs in the past allowed communities to rebuild to the
same standards that existed before the storm. In recent years, however, policy has changed
in order to keep communities from repeating the same mistakes. The following are two
' examples of such legislation:
' 1. Executive Order 11988 - Flood Plain Management
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1
Directs federal agencies "to avoid to the extent possible the long and short-term adverse
' impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid
direct and indirect support of flood plain development wherever there is a practicable
alternative."
2. Section 406 - Hazard Mitigation
' FEMA can approve or prescribe hazard mitigation measures that a community must
undertake as a prerequisite for issuing federal disaster aid. This can take the form of
developing land use regulations, construction standards, and other means of avoiding
storm hazards.
' The County has a listing of -the Federal Disaster Assistance Programs that it may be
eligible for after a major storm event. The programs listed fall in the categories of
Temporary Housing, Home/Personal Property Loans, Aid to Major Sources of Em-
ployment, Repair of Public Facilities, and a variety of others. The County, due to
Hurricane Diana in September, 1984, has considerable expertise in identifying and
applying for aid for which it is eligible.
Local Damage Assessment Team
' A local damage assessment team must necessarily be composed of individuals who are
capable of giving reliable estimates of the original value of structures, estimations of the
' value amount of damages sustained, and an account of reparis. Due to the vast amount of
land and structures found in the unincorporated area, this calls for the organization of
several assessment teams. The following are recommended team members as are deline-
ated in the Brunswick County Disaster Relief and Assistance Plan.
PLAN PROPERTY SURVEY TEAM
' Building and Grounds (driver)
Parks and Recreation Department Representative
' Building Standard and Code Enforcer (Captain)
Architect
'
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SURVEY TEAM
Tax Collector (Captain)
Building Inspector
Realtor
Volunteer Fireman (driver)
PRIVATE DWELLINGS SURVEY TEAM
Tax Supervisor (Captain)
'
Volunteer Fireman (driver)
I
Brunswick County Planning Board Brunswick county Land Use Plan - Page 102

Realtor
Architect
PRIVATE DWELLINGS SURVEY TEAM
Building Contractor (Captain)
Civil Engineer
Realtor (driver)
Architect
The Emergency Management Coordinator should immediately begin efforts to secure
volunteers and several alternates needed to complete the damage assessment teams. It will
facilitate the speed at which the teams can be assembled if persons are already aware that
their services will be needed following a disaster. In addition, if the persons who are to form
these teams have already been chosen, then they can easily be informed of the necessity to
attend training sessions and also where to meet immediately following a storm. These
sessions will acquaint them with the damage classification procedures and reporting
requirements that are in effect.
It would be advantageous if the County established such a training program and opened
it to both County and local damage assessment teams. This would insure that all of the
teams are evaluating structures and recording the information in the same manner. Also,
to foster this goal and to increase preparedness, the team members should complete
damage assessment forms as part of their training programs. This will allow them the
opportunity to ask questions or receive clarification on any of the procedures.
It is extremely important that the status of damage assessment teams be updated on a
frequent periodic basis in order to maintain an accurate file.
Damage Assessment Procedures and Requirements
Damage assessment is a rapid means of determining, to the best extent possible, anestimate
of the amount of damage caused by either a natural or manmade disaster. In the advent of
a major storm, it is expressed in terms of 1) the total number of structures damaged; 2) the
extent of damage by type of structure, 3) estimated total dollar loss, and 4) estimated total
dollar loss covered by insurance.
Immediately following a major storm, Damage Assessment Team members should report
to the Emergency Operations Center for a briefing by the Emergency Management
Coordinator. In the aftermath of a storm, it may be difficult to determine which areas
received the most damages given the vastness of the County and possible unsafe road
conditions. Since it is imperative that the Damage Assessment Teams be deployed to those
areas that are worst hit, it would be particularly useful if those areas could be identified
from the air. An aircraft of some type would be able to cover a great distance and obtain
an overall picture of the damages. This information would assist the Emergency Manage -
Page 103 - Brunswick County Land Use Plan •
Brunswick County Planning Board

' ment Coordinator in dispatching spatching the Damage Assessment Teams to the most heavily
damaged areas. This could be accomplished through a prearranged commitment with
' organizations such as the Marine Corps or the Civil Air Patrol who could provide helicopter
assistance.
' The magnitude of damages will depend, to a large extent, on the severity of the storm and
where it enters upon land. Because of the potential of the task, the limited personnel
' available to conduct the assessments, and the limited time frame for assessing damages, the
first phase of the assessment should be restricted to external surveying of damaged
structures. After filing the initial damagereports, a more detailed second phase assessment
' can be conducted.
The first phase of damage assessment should make an estimate of the damage caused to
' each structure. This damage assessment should also identify the cause of the damage to a
structure - whether it be due to wind, flooding, wave action or a combination of events.
Damaged structures should be classified in accordance with the following suggested state
guidelines:
' DESTROYED - repairs that would cost more than 80 percent of the structure's value.
' MATOR - repairs that would cost 30 percent of the structure's value.
MINOR - repairs that would cost less than 30 percent of the structure's value, but the
' structure is presently uninhabitable.
11
HABITABLE - minor damage, with repairs less than 15 percent of the structure's value.
The Damage Assessment Team will color code tax maps according to the damage classifi-
cation scheme outlined in the preceding paragraph.
DESTROYED - red
MAJOR - orange
MINOR - yellow
HABITABLE - green
In many cases.mailboxes and other sources used to identify property will not be present
following a major storm. This could pose a significant problem, however, because of the
necessity of thoroughly documenting each assessment. One way to circumvent this
problem is to provide the Damage Assessment Teams with tax maps and cameras in order
to document their field observations. Enough information on each structure must be
gathered to complete the Damage Assessment Worksheet.
In the second phase of the Damage Assessment Operation, estimates of the value of
sustained damages must be calculated. This phase should be completed in the Office of
Emergency Management under the direct supervision of the Emergency Management
Brunswick county Planning Board
Brunswick County Land Use Plan - Page 104

Coordinator. The team who will be conducting these calculations should consist of the
County tax clerks, tax assessors, and other personnel who are similarly qualified. This team
should be organized by the Emergency Management Coordinator and included in the
Damage Assessment Plan.
The materials that are listed below should be available in the office of Emergency
Management. They will be needed in order to estimate total damage values.
• A set of property tax maps that are identical to those used by Damage Assessment Team
members.
• A set of aerial photographs.
• Several County maps which show the survey areas covered by each team.
A complete copy of County property tax records which indicate the estimated values of all
structures existing in the unincorporated area on the appropriate lots. It is recognized that
this would be a time-consuming task, but it would provide information that would be of
great use in the event of a disaster. Also, in order to keep the information up-to-date, it
should be reviewed annually before the onset of the hurricane season. This information
should be kept in the office of Emergency Management so that all data will be centrally
located.
The County should take responsibility for contacting area lending agencies to determine
the average value of flood insurance coverage carried by Brunswick County program
participants. This information should be updated on an annual basis before the hurricane
season begins. These updates should be kept in the office of Emergency Management and
be made available to all of the towns for estimating the value of sustained damages covered
by hurricane insurance.
The information on the value of damages sustained should be derived through the
following recommended methodology.
1. The number of businesses and residential structures that have been damaged within
unincorporated areas of the County should be summarized by damage classification
category.
2. The value of each damaged structure should be obtained from the market set of tax
maps and multiplied by the following percentages for appropriate classification cate-
gory
DESTROYED -100%
MAJOR DAMAGE - 50%
MINOR DAMAGE (uninhabitable) - 25%
HABITABLE -10%a
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1
3. The total value of damages for unincorporated areas of the County should then be
summarized.
4. The estimated value loss covered by hazard insurance should then be determined by:
1) estimating full coverage for all damaged structures where the average value of such
coverage exceeds the amount of damage to the structure; and 2) multiplying the number
of structures where damage exceeds the average value of insurance coverage by the
average value of such coverage.
5. Damage to public roads and utility systems should be estimated by utilizing current
construction costs for facilities by lineal foot (e.g. 10'water line replacement cost = xs/
L.F.)
SOURCE: Carteret County Storm Hazard Mitigation Plan and Post Disaster Recon-
struction Plan.
The procedures recommended above provide a relatively time efficient and uncomplicated
means by which to estimate overall property damage. In order for this method to be
utilized, however, it is necessary that flood insurance information is obtained and that the
value of each structure is placed on the tax maps. These two components must be attended
to immediately in order to insure'the effectiveness of the Damage Assessment Plan.
Organization of Recovery Operations
The preceding section dealt with the procedure and requirements that must be completed
during the emergency period in order to restore public health and safety. There are also
procedures and guidelines which must be followed after the preliminary damage assess-
ment has been completed. The state suggests that a Recovery Task Force be appointed to
guide restoration and reconstruction activities during the post -emergency phase. This task
force may be active from a period of a few weeks up to one year. The responsibilities of this
group will be as follows:
1. Develop a restoration schedule.
2. Set priorites concerning restoration.
3. Obtain a predisaster agreement between the localities and the County that covers the
pole of local officials and County officials during a disaster.
4. Determine the need for outside assistance and request such assistance when it is
needed.
5. Keep state officials abreast of conditions through the use of Situation and Damage
Reports.
6. Maintain accurate records of activities and expenditures through the use of standard-
ized forms that will be available at the office of Emergency Management.
7. Pronounce a local "State of Emergency" if such a determination is warranted.
8. Authorize debris removal and restoration of public utilities. (In the case of private
utility companies, the Task Force will act as coordinator for restoration activites.)
11
Brunswick County Planning Board Brunswick County Land Use Plan - Page 106

Ll
9. Commence the repair and restoration of public facilities and services in order of need.
' 10. Keep an up-to-date listing of various types of federal and state assistance that may be
available to private businesses and individual property owners.
11. Organize personnel to assist disaster victims in understanding the different types of
tassistance available and in applying for such assistance.
Because of the variety of duties that this Task Force must perform, it is necessary that it be
tcomposed of a cross section of the public. The Task Force should include the following
persons.
n
Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners
Brunswick County Manager
Emergency Management Coordinator
County Tax Appraiser
County Finance Director
County Building Inspector
County Engineer
Minor CAMA Permit Officer
State and Federal agencies need to confer with the State Major CAMA Permit Officer
during local recovery planning efforts.
It is not possible to devise a rigid schedule for local recovery decisions before a storm occurs
due to the unpredictability of those events. The amount of time that it takes to assess storm
damages and make reconstruction decisions directly correlated with the level of damage
caused in the community. It is possible, however, to establish a sequence of activities that
the County will need to follow in assessing damages and granting permits for repairs and
reconstruction. The sequence of activities that follow should be reviewed by the Recovery
Task Force and be amended as necessary after damage assessment operations have been
completed.
FAINNINy-
W1
I. Complete Initial Damage
Assessment
2. Begin Repairs to Critical Utilities
and Facilities
3. Access, Classify and Map Damages
4. Summarize Reconstruction
Priorities and Develop Master
Reconstruction Schedule
I
Immediately after storm is
over
As soon as possible after storm
is over
Complete by second week after
the storm
Complete one week after second
phase damage assessment is
completed
I
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5. Decide whether Temporary
Development Moratorium
is needed
6. Issue Permits for all Structures
needing Minor Repairs
7. Issue Permits for Conforming
Structures needing Major Repairs
TIME FRAME
One week after second phase
damage assessment completed
One week after second phase
damage assessment completed
Two weeks after second phase
damage assessment completed
'
S. Begin Assessment of Existing Two weeks after second phase
Mitigation Policies damage assessment completed
'
9. Evaluate Hazardous Areas and The length of time needed to
the Effectiveness of Mitigation conduct re-evaluations and
Policies receive comments from the
tstate
(not to exceed two months)
10. Amend Mitigation Policies and Two months after Development
'
Development Standards for Areas Moratorium is imposed
under Development Moratorium
and Lift Development Moratorium
'
for Major Repairs with Changes
to Conform
t
11. Issue Permits for New As soon as the TemproY Develop -
-
Development
Development ment Moratorium is suspended
Post
Disaster Reconstruction Policies
tPolicy
2.5.2(a)
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHALL
'
BE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERVISING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE DISASTER RELIEF AND
ASSISTANCE PLAN, AND THE POST -DISASTER RECOVERY POLICIES OF THE
'
LAND USE PLAN. UNDERGROUND UTILITIES WILL ALSO BE ENCOURAGED.
' •
Brunswick county Planning Board Brunswick County [and Use Plan - Page 108

'
Policy 2.5.2(b)
IN THE EVENT OF EXTENSIVE HURRICANE DAMAGE TO PUBLIC UTILITIE.
'
REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OR RELOCATION OF THESE UTILITIES, EFFORT
SHALL BE MADE TO LOCATE DAMAGED UTILITIES AWAY FROM HURRICAN
1
HAZARD AREAS OR TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
Policy 2.5.2(c)
'
PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE REPAIRS THAT WILL RESTORE SERVIC'
TO AS MANY PERSONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Policy 2.5.2(d)
' THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DECLARE A MORATORIUM
OF UP TO 180 DAYS ON THE PERMITTING OF ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, IN
CLUDING NEW UTILITY HOOKUPS, OR REDEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTIOr
' THAT WOULD INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF THE LAND USES EXISTING BE
FORE THE HURRICANE.
' 2.5.3 Evacuation Plan
' Evacuation refers to the range of activities involved in the assignment of evacuation route:
and shelter locations, the determination of when to issue an evacuation order, the proce
dures for notifying the public of both the evacuation routes and the order to evacuate, anc
' the implementation of the evacuation during the storm event. Evacuation activities an
related to both specific storm events (e.g., actual evacuations) and storm events in genera.
(e.g., establishment of evacuation routes and shelter locations; notification of the public o.
' routes and shelters).
Brunswick County has an official Hurricane Evacuation Plan which has been prepared ai
' the request of and approval by the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, and
mayors of towns and municipalities in the County. This plan was prepared with the
t assistance of the Brunswick County Civil Preparedness Agency and the North Carolina
Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, Division of Civil Preparedness.
Page 109 - Brunswick county Land Use Plan Brunswick County Planning Board

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1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Evacuation Policies
Policy 2.5.3
BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH EMER-
GENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY PERSONNEL IN THE PREPARATION OF THE
COUNTY'S EVACUATION PLAN. THE COUNTY SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO
PRESS FOR NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE EVACUATION OF
THREATENED AREAS.
Brunswick County Planning Board
Brunswick County Land Use Plan - Page 110 •

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