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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAMA Land Use Plan-1976PROPERTY OF DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE I 1 1 1 own of �cAfapzdi an Rand Mayor P. 0. Box 245 cRic%i('anc�s, A"o-A eatoflna 28574 1 t Mr. Thomas D. Eure Department of Natural and Economic Resources Coastal Resources Commission Post Office Box 27687 Raleigh, NC 27611 1 r— L L Dear Mr. Eure: I ALAVIA WYRICK, Town Clerk certify that this is a true copy of the Town of Richlands Land Use Plan and Synopsis adopted by the Board of Commissioners on May 4, 1976 in fulfillment of the requirements of the North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act of 1974. Sincerely, VIA WYRICK TOWN CLERK TOWN OF RICHLANDS Alavia Wyrick Clerk 1 RICHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA ' PLAN COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ACT LAND USE PREPARED BY RICHLANDS TOWN COUNCIL ' N AND, MAYOR GENE CAVANAUGH ' CARL BOGGS G. S. OWENS � CLIFF BOSSLEY MARVIN TROTT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY 1 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES ' LOCAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES SECTION SOUTHEASTERN FIELD OFFICE JOHN J. HOOTON, CHIEF PLANNER MELBA THOMPSON, PROJECT PLANNER 1 Tom of Richlands ' Land Use Plan Synopsis ' INTRODUCTION ' North Carolina's coastal lands and waters are among the state's most valuable resources. The coastal area, and in particular the estuaries, are ' among the most biologically productive regions of this state and of the nation. The area has an extremely high recreational and esthetic value which should be preserved and enhanced. Increasing industrial development and population are threatening the beauty and resources of the coastal area as we know them today. The General Assembly, ' therefore, finds that an immediate and pressing need exists to establish a comprehensive plan for the protection, preservation, orderly development and ' management of the coastal area of North Carolina. The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 came into being as a result of this need to protect North Carolina's coastal lands. Each of the twenty coastal ' counties is required to prepare a land use plan which will guide its future growth and reflect the desires, needs,and best judgement of the citizens residing ' within its boundaries. When completed, each individual plan will be a part of ' the comprehensive plan for the protection and management of the coastal area for our use and enjoyment and that of future generations. ' Richlands is not a beach community, but is a part of the coastal area where prudent and responsible development must occur. A land development plan has ' been formulated by the Town based upon the desires expressed by the citizens of ' Richlands. The following is a synopsis of the land use plan which can be ob- tained from the Richlands Town Hall. ' PRESENT CONDITIONS ' Population and Economy While Onslow County's population has increased 20% in the last ten years, ' Richlands has lost 13% of its population during the same ten year period. Richlands Township has had a 3% population gain in the same time period. ' The most significant change f-om 1960 to 1970 in Richlands occurred in the 5-14 age group. In 1960 there were 254 young people between the ages of ' 5 and 14 and in 1970 this number decrea>ed to 184. The largest increase ' occurred in the age group of 65 and older which increased from 66 in 1960 to 86 in 1970. ' Richlands is centered in an agricultural region where the main cash crop is tobacco. There is even land devoted to agricultural production within ' the Town limits. ' The major industry within the Town and the largest civilian employer in the county is Richlands'Textile, Inc. It employs approximately 450 people ' in the manufacture of ladies ready to wear. Onslow Feed and Grain Company, although not a large employer, is located in the central business district of ' Richlands. y - Existing Land Use ' An existing land use map of Richlands has been prepared which shows the development pattern within the Town limits. The map was the result of a field ' survey conducted in May of 1975. Following the survey, the land uses identified in the field were classified into the eight basic categories listed below: ' Land Use Acrea a Percent Residential 98 15 Commercial 28 4 Industrial 7 1 Transportation, Communication & Utilities 66 10 ' Government & institutional Cultural, Enter;.ainn;ent, & Recreation 37 2 6 3 Agriculture 90 14 Undeveloped 343 51 ' Total � 100 ' Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations The only regulation in existence in Richlands is a Zoning Ordinance. ' The enforcement of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance is the responsibility of the building inspector or any other person designated by the Board of ' Commissioners. For the past few years, the Zoning Ordinance has not been enforced. However, the Town Council has recently appointed a building inspector the existing Ordinance. and the Town Intends to enforce 9 ' PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVIT?ES ' Major Land Use Issues Based upon citizen opinion obtained from public meetings, the Town Council, ' and questionnaires mailed to the Town's residents, the basic problems and issues facing the Town have been stated, and goals and objectives for the land use plan ' have been formulated. ' Richlands experienced a population decline from 1960 to 1970. The loss of population is attributed to the out -migration of young adults. The lack of ' employment and entertainment forces young people to leave their hometown in search ' of opportunity. Medical and recreational facilities are inadequate in Richlands. For medical care, one must travel to Jacksonville which is 16 miles away. The citizens of Richlands would like to see their own Town able to provide basic medical services ' for its inhabitants and surrounding communities. Richlands is very interested in providing recreational facilities for its citizens of all ages. Present ' recreation and entertainment are limited to just a few activities. ' Retail shopping services do not adequately meet the needs of the Richlands' citizen. Just as medical services must be sought outside of the Town, the shopper roust look to larger cities in the area for variety in their shopping needs. The L j central business district of Richlands has deteriorated over the years to a point where it no longer can compete with larger cities in the area, nor can it attract new business to locate within it. Goals and Objectives Based upon the wishes expressed by the people of Richlands, a set of goals for the development of the Town have been formulated. Since Richlands is neither a beach community, nor associated with an appreciable amount of environmentally sensitive areas, the goals formualated are developmentally oriented. It is felt that an attack on reaching these goals through a land development plan will encourage orderly and thoughtful development in Richlands. It is the desire of the people of Richlands for their Town to reach self- sufficiency. In order to attain this desired state, the following goals must be pursued. For clarification, some frequently used terms are defined as Ifollows: goal - a desired future condition ' objective - a task or course of action to be performed policy - a commitment to action to reach a goal ' Goal: Provide convenient, reliable medical care for all the citizens of Richlands Objective -- organize citizen committee to recruit doctors to locate ' in Richlands Goal: Develop potential for industrial development ' Objectives -- work with Onsiow County Development Commission and the economic developer with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources in finding industries ' interested in locating in the area ' -- identify sites available for industrial development Goal: Increase commercial activity ' Objectives -- renovate vacant buildings in downtown area for use as retail stores -- establish a downtown beautification council composed of ' citizens, merchants and town officials to check and correct the deterioration o` . e central business district t L C -- small business which desire to locate in Richlands or improve existing facilities should seek aid of Small Business Administration Business Loans if the necessary money cannot be obtained elsewhere. Goal: Provide recreation facilities for every age group Objectives -- a recreation committee should be organized to investigate methods of achieving adequate recrea- tional facilities revitalize use of community building -- cooperate with local school officials in organizing a summer recreation program and use of school recreation facilities. -- allocate money in Town's budget to acquire land for the establishment of a park and playground -- apply for Federal grants to assist Town in creating recreational facilities -- seek assistance of recreation consultant with the Depart- ment of Natural and Economic Resources Goal: Develop vacant land within City limits rather than the fringe areas Objectives -- provide municipal services to all areas within the corporate limits before furnishing these services outside the limits. -- reexamine the Town's Zoning Ordinance to determine if it encourages growth within the Town limits. CONSTRAINTS Physical Limitations Physical limitations for development can be defined as areas having con- ditions that would make development costly or create an undesirable effect if developed. Richlands is homogeneous enough to be able to say that development constraints are almost identical throughout the Town. The two most important constraints for Richlands to consider are sources of water supply and soil limitations. ' Sources of plater Supply: The source of potable water supply for all users in Richlands ' is groundwater. Three wells with a total depth of 450 feet provide ' grounewater to serve a regional population of 2,000 and one textile industry. The quality and quantity of water provided by these wells ' is sufficient for present and projected future needs. ' Soils: Richlands is situated entirely in the Rains - Lynchburg - ' Goldsboro soil association. This association occurs in broad interstream uplands of the coastal plains. The soils are somewhat ' poorly drained with moderate permeability. The Goldsboro series has slight limitations for most non -industrial development. Soil analysis ' are necessary on all tracts of land to determine the exact soil restric- tions for development. Fragile Areas ' Historic Sites: There are two sites of historic significance in the Richlands planning ' area. One of the oldest houses in the county, the Koonce House, is located one mile east of Richlands on U.S. Highway 258. The house was used as a school in early 1900. At present, it is privately owned and unoccupied. ' The second historic site is the J.T. Shackleford Cemetary located within Richlands. This is the family cemetary of U.S. Senator Shackleford from ' Onslow County in 1880. ' CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES ' Water System The.exceptional quality of the water in Richlands has earned it the name ' of "The Town of Perfect Water." Three wells supply the water which is stored in two overhead tanks with a combined capacity of 400,000 gallons. An average of 1 340,000 gallons of water are used a day on a system which has a maximum capacity ' of 928,000 gallons. The excess availability of over 588,000 gallons a day is more than adequate for growth within the development framework established by the Town. ' Wastewater Treatment ' Richlands presently operates a satisfactory wastewater treatment facility. Waste load projections indicate the present design capacity of the facility to 1 be adequate until and beyond 1980. However, the system should be upgraded in ' the future to protect the water quality in the receiving stream of Mill Swamp. Schools and Roads Richlands children attend county schools. Even though the elementary school and the high school are located in the Town of Richlands, they serve children outside the planning jurisdication as well. The overall adequacy of ' the Richlands'schools has been analyzed by the Onslow Planning Department and is under the jurisdiction of the Onslow County Board of Education. Richlands ' should stay in close contact with the Onslow County Superintendent of Schools to advise him of the affect of increased population on the area's school facilities. ' The construction and maintenance of non -state numbered roads are the Town's responsibility. In the areas designated for future growth in this plan, ' road construction will be required. The extent of development will determine the precise amount of road construction needed. ' ESTIMATED DEMAND ' Population No planning effort can be adequate without consideration for possible charges or desired growth. Over the past sixty years, the population of Richlands has increased by an average of 14%. If this trend continues, the population projection ' for Richlands will be as follows: L ' Year Population 1980 1066 1985 1131 ' 2000 1328 2025 1655 The population projection is based upon the assumption that Richlands will continue to grow as it has in the past. A major change, such as the location of a large industry within or near the Town, may cause the projection ' to become invalid. Future Land Needs Richlands has shown interest in land use control in the past as evidenced ' by the existence of a Zoning Ordinance. However, if a Zoning Ordinance is to be of any value it must evolve from the goals and objectives established by ' the Town and from the capability of.the land to support various uses. The Town of Richlands is 50% (by acreage) developed. This affords the ' Town an excellent opportunity -to witness sound development if guided by a ' land use plan. The population of Richlands could double and still allow the Town to maintain its character. A population of 1800 would require 336 1 additional dwelling units. Three hundred thirty-six lots, one-third acre large, would require only 112 acres of the 226 acres available for residential ' 99 development. It is suggested that the.remaining 114 acres be left in an p undeveloped category. Also land immediately west of Highway 258 should be designated low density residential in order to discourage further strip com- ' mercial development. The amount of acreage devoted to commercial use is felt to be adequate. However, the central business district has been allowed to deteriorate to the ' point that it is no longer attractive to shoppers and prospective merchants. The cooperative effort of merchants, town officials and citizens is required to ' renovate and revitaliza the commercial activity of the central business district. ' The existing Zoning Ordinance has allocated approximately 60 acres of land within the Town limits for industrial use. This amount is considered more ' than adequate to meet future industrial development needs. Additional land within Richlands should be devoted to recreational use. The Recreation Committee and the Downtown Revitalization Committee should ' cooperate in establishing a mini -park in the central business district that agrees with the renovation theme. The acquisition of land by the Town for the construction of tennis courts and a basketball court is deemed necessary to meet present recreational needs. Future consideration should be given to the establish- ment of a park -playground which would serve all age groups. ICommunity Facilities Demand The existing community facilities serving the Town of Richlands are con- sidered adequate to meet the needs of the Town's projected growth. Water and sewer lines will need to be extended as development occurs, however, this poses no foreseeable problem. The water system is operating below capacity as is ' the sewage treatment plant. Street construction will coincide with development of new areas within the Town. Richlands is capable of handling the projected growth which this land use plan has formulated. LAND CLASSIFICATION The State guidelines for local planning in the coastal area under the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974, requires that a land classification map be prepared for all planning jurisdictions in the coastal area. The five classes of land prescribed in the North Carolina Land Classification System are: developed, transition, community, rural and conservation. Unfortunately, this system cannot be applied in some municipal cases. Richlands is a prime T Town is of course developed, however the density is simply not example. he p � Y ' high enough to reach the 3.124 persons per acre required for the developed class. Richlands'density in developed areas is only 2.1 persons per acre. ' Consequently, the land classification map is felt inappropriate and has been substituted by a future land use map. AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN ' dunes, Areas of Environmental Concern include marshlands, beaches, sand ' navigable waters, national and state parks and areas of historic importance. None of these areas exist within the Town limits of Richlands. Implementation and Review 1 In order to attain the goals formulated in this land use plan, the Town ' of Richlands must have a method to follow for implementing recoff nendations. The following steps indicate such a method: ' 1. The citizens of Richlands elect a Town Board; t2. The Town Board appoints a Planning Board; 3. The Planning Board is responsible for making recommendations, plans ' and policies to the Town Board on land use, recreation, housing and community facilities; ' 4. The Town Board considers the recommendations and plans of the Planning Board for adoption; ' 5. The recommendations and plans may be implemented through: a) ordinances such as: ' -- zoning -- subdivision ' -- housing code -- building code, and b) fiscal policy including: -- budgeting -- State grants ' -- Federal grants -- revenue sharing The plans and policies implemented by the Town Board need to be kept current. ' The tools for implementation should be updated periodically. Each year the plan should be re-examined and new recommendations made if needed. A thorough review of the entire plan -should be made every five years. Included in the five year ' review should be new citizen and land use surveys and population projections. 1 t i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. Present Conditions A. Population and Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 B. Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 C. Current Plans and Policies 1. Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2. Local Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 III. Public Participation Activities A. Major Land Use Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 B. Development Alternatives . . . . . . . 9 C. Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 D. Methods for Securing Public Participation . . . 12 IV. Constraints A. Land Potential 1. Physical Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 a. Soil Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 b. Water Supply Areas . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2. Fragile Areas a. Historic Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 B. Capacity of Community Facilities 1. Water and Sewer Systems . . . . . . . . . . 15 2. Wastewater Treatment Plant . . . . . . . . . 15 3. Schools and Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 V. Estimated Demand A. Population and Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 B. Future Land Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 C. Community Facilities Demand . . . . . . . . . . 21 TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Cont.) VI. Land Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 22 ' VII. Areas of Environmental Concern i . . . . . . . . . . 24 ' VIII. Implementation and Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 IX. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 X. City -County Coordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 E 1 1 I. Introduction North Carolina's coastal lands and waters are among the state's most valuable resources. The coastal area, and in particular the estuaries, are among the most biologically productive regions of this state and of the nation. The area has an extremely high recreational and esthetic value which should be preserved and enhanced. Increasing industrial development and population are threatening the beauty and resources of the coastal area as we know them today. The General Assembly, therefore, finds that an immediate and pressing need exists to establish a comprehensive plan for the protection, preservation, orderly development and management of the coastal area of North Carolina. The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 came into being as a result of this. need to protect North Carolina's coastal lands. The Act is a state law which requires each of the twenty coastal counties to prepare a land use plan which will guide its future growth and reflect the desires, needs, and best judgment. of the citizens residing within its boundaries. When completed, each individual plan will be a part of the comprehensive plan for the protection and management of the coastal area for our use and enjoyment and that of future generations. The twenty counties which are included in the Coastal Area Management Act are: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrel and Washington. State level administration and coordination will be handled by the Department of Administration and Department of Natural and Economic Resources. The Act creates two citizen agencies: Coastal Resources Commission - The Commission is a 15-member body appointed by the Governor. All members are residents of the coast. Twelve were chosen from among nominees made by counties and towns in the coastal area. Three are,appointed at the discretion of the Governor. The Commission is responsible for establishing planning guidelines, approving land use plans and issuing permits for con- struction when required. Coastal Resources Advisory Council - The Council is a 45-member body made up of locally appointed representatives from each coastal county, plus representatives from six state government departments. It includes a broad cross section of coastal interests. The Council advises the Commission on those matters before the Commission, and assists local governments. There are three major land use management tools created by the bills: land use plans, areas of environmental concern and a permit system. 1. Land Use Plans - Each county will prepare a land use plan:- The plans will be based on the goals of the people in the county, the resources available in the county, and the most reasonable path for reaching toward those goals with the resources available. After the plans are adopted, use of the land must agree with the plans. 2. Areas of Environmental Concern - These areas and their boundaries will be designated by the Coastal Resources Commission. We know from experience to be cautious when using these areas. They include marshlands, beaches, sand dunes, navigable waters, national and state parks and areas of historical importance. Designation of an area as one of environmental concern does not prohibit use of that area. It is a warning sign to be careful. 3. Permit System - Any development within an area of environmental concern must have a permit. The Act does not require permits for development outside areas of environmental concern. The Act requires the following. projects in areas of environmental concern to obtain a permit from the Coastal Resources Commission: those projects currently needing state permits; those of greater than 20 acres in size; those that involve drilling or excavating natural resources on land or underwater; those which involve construction of one or more structures having an area in excess of 60,000 square feet will require a permit from the Coastal Resources Commission. Local governments will establish regulations for what types of -2- developments in areas of environmental concern will need permits from them. Richlands is not a beach community, but it is a part of the coastal area where prudent and responsible development must occur. A land development plan has been formulated by the Town based upon the desires expressed by the citizens of Richlands. -3- r] II. Present Conditions 1 A. Population and Economy ' Denographic data for the Town of Richlands cannot be compiled through the use of available published information due to the small size of the Town. There- fore, observations �y staff and conversations with local people are employed to briefly describe some of the significant qualities of Richlands. 1 While Onslow County's population has increased 20% in the last ten (10) years, 1 Richlands has lost 13% of its population. This is not really an alarming statistic since Richlands is situated in an agricultural region and the township has gained 1 3% in the same time period. There is the expected concern, however, about the decrease in the young adult population. For example, there were 254 people in the 5-14 age group in 1960 and in 1970 only 160 are remaining. This is a typical__ 1 occurrence in small towns due to service in the military and college. Also, the.: attractions of larger cities and outside employment opportunities drain this age 1 group considerably. Richlands has lost 37% of the people that were 5-14 in 1960. Comparatively, Swansboro, another small community in Onslow County, has lost 25% 1 in this age group while their total population is on the increase. 1 Richlands Population 1970 1 Male Female <5 53 30 1 5-14 105 79 15-24 78 71 25-34 61 66 35-44 59 58 1 45-54 47 47 55-64 36 48 65 31 55 1 Richlands Population (cont.) Richlands Richlands -Township <5 83 779 5-14 184 1699 149 1499 '15-24 25-34 127 950 _ 35-44 117 825 - 45-54 94 748 ' 55-64 84 611 ' 65 86 463 ' 1960 1970 <5 137 83 ' 5-14 254 184 15-24 174 160 25-34 155 127 ' 35-44 126 117 45-54 84 94 55-64 83 84 ' > 65 66 86 ' Richlands is centered in an agricultural region with the predominant crop being tobacco. The existing land use map illustrates the significant amount of agricultural land in and about the Town. This is an important factor to consider ' for future growth of the Town. ' Richlands is predominantly residential with some industry present. Richlands Textile, Inc., which employs about 550 people in the manufacture of ladies' blouses, ' is the largest civilian employer in the county. Onslow Feed and Grain Company, although not a large employer, is a major land user in the central business district ' also. As is typical of smaller towns in the Coastal Area, a sizeable afrlount of economic activity centers around local retailers and services. This activity is divided between Richlands store owners and the attractive Jacksonville market, however. This may indicate a need for the development of the Richlands market in order to strengthen the economic base of the Town. B. Existing Land Use The existing land use map of Richlands has been preparEd which shows the ' development pattern within the town limits. The map was the result of a field survey conducted in May, 1975. Following the survey, the land uses identified in the field were classified into eight basic categories. Listed below are the eight land use categories found in Richlands, its acreage, and percent of the total. Land Use Acreage Percent ' Residential 98.4 14.6 Commercial 27.6 4.2 Industrial 7.3 1.1 Transportation, Communication and Utilities 65.91 37.15 9.8 5.5 Government and Institutional Cultural,. Entertainment ' and Recreation 2.2 •3 Agriculture 90.48 13.5 ' Undeveloped 342.96 51.0 Total 672 100 ' The above table indicates that 51% of the total acreage within the town limits of Richlands is undeveloped. The.second largest land use is devoted to residential ' use. There is a total of 98.4 acres of residential land on which 327 dwelling units are located. Richlands has 27.6 acres of commercial land which, relative to the ' population, is a significant amount. However, many of these commercial services require large tracts of land but serve only one need or are not used by the average citizen very often. Examples are the car and tractor dealerships. Much commercial activity has shifted from the Richlands Central Business District to strip commercial development which is occurring along the Highway 258 By -Pass. The central business district has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it ' is no longer attractive to shoppers or merchants who would possibly open retail stores in the downtown area. Therefore, the shopper and prospective merchant have focused their attention to the 258 By -Pass area. Not only is this strip develop- ment aiding in the continuing deterioration of the central business district, but it is also hindering traffic flow on the intended By -Pass around Richlands. -7- --------------------------------------------- fir .�r__r�_•.n _�. .M____ ----��----------------- r RICHLANDS NORTH CAROL i N A 400 _0 400 ----gn0 (20 —'— :600 SCALE IN FEE' I N I EXISTING LAND USE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL IND`U_STRI)� TRANSPORTATION, COM!4UNICATION, and UTILITIES GOVERNMENT and INSTITUTIONAL ULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT, and RECREATION UNDEV OPED LAND AGRICUL URE 1 ' C. Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations 1. Plans ' At the present time, Richlands is involved in a program to revitalize and renovate the central business district. The title of the program is Project ' PROUD which stands for Program to Revitalize Our Urban Districts. Local merchants, store owners and town officials have organized to initiate public interest,and)to ' decide upon a theme for the renovation project. The cost of renovating the build- ings will be the individual store owner's responsibility; however, the entire Town will benefit from the effort. A more attractive central business district will attract both shoppers and new merchants. ' A recreation committee composed of area residents was appointed in early 1976. The committee's purpose is to determine the Town's recreational needs, ' inform and work with the Town Council to reach the desired recreational facilities. The committee't first accomplishment was the acquisition of basketball goals which ' were erected in a vacant paved lot in the downtown area. ' 2. Local Regulations The only local reaulation in existence in Richlands is a Zoning Ordinance. ' The enforcement of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance is the responsibility of the building inspector or any other person designated by the Board of Commissioners. ' For the past few years, the Zoning Ordinance has not been enforced. However, the Town Council has recently appointed a building inspector and the Town intends to ' enforce the existing Ordinance. I III. Public Participation Activities ' A. Major Land Use Issues Based upon citizen opinion, the basic problems and issues facing the Town ' of Richlands have been identified. The following passages state these issues. ' Richlands experienced a population decline from 1960 to 1970. The loss of population is attributed to the outmigration of young adults. Employment opportu- nities for young people in Richlands are few. Consequently, the young Richlands ' citizen must search outside of his native town for gainful employment. The Jacksonville job market is attractive to the Richlands- citizen, for this affords ' him the opportunity of working in Jacksonville while residing in Richlands. However, employment outside of the Town of Richlands usually results in relocation. ' Medical and recreational facilities are inadequate in Richlands. For medical ' care, one must travel to Jacksonville, which is 16 miles away. The citizens of Richlands would like to see their own town able to provide basic medical services ' for its inhabitants and surrounding communities. Richlands is very interested.in providing recreational facilities for its citizens of all ages. Present recreation and entertainment are limited to a few activities such as a private swimming pool, ' a downtown pool hall and athletics associated with the public school system. There is no provision within the town for a park -playground area which would be beneficial ' to all ages. ' Retail shopping services do not adequately meet the needs of the Richlands' citizen. Just as medical services must be sought outside of the town, the shopper must also turn to the larger cities in the area for variety in their shopping needs. ' The central business district, which should be the nucleus of activity in Richlands, has deteriorated over the years to a point where it can no longer compete with ' larger cities in the area, nor can it attract new business to locate within it. IB. Development Alternatives The goals and objectives formulated by the Town which will appear in Section C ' are a.result of the Town's desire to grew and prosper. The alternatives considered would be to do nothing. This would result in the Town's continued deterioration. ' f -9- ' C. Goals and Objectives Based upon the wishes expressed by the people of Richlands, a set of goals ' for the development of the Town have been formulated. Since Richlands is neither a beach community, nor associated with an appreciable amount of environmentally ' sensitive areas, the goals formulated are developmentally oriented. It is felt that an attack on reaching these goals through a land development plan will ' encourage orderly and thoughtful development in Richlands. ' It is the desire of the people of Richlands for their Town to reach self- sufficiency. In order to attain this desired state, the following goals must ' be pursued. For clarification, some frequently used terms are defined as follows• ' goal ---------- a desired future condition objective -----a task or course of action to be performed policy -------- a commitment to action to reach a goal Goal: Provide convenient, reliable medical care for all the citizens of Richlands ' Objective -- organize citizen committee to recruit doctors to locate in Richlands ' Goal: Develop potential for industrial development Objectives -- work with Onslow County Development Commission and the economic developer with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources in finding industries interested in locating in the area ' -- identify sites available for industrial development L� Goal: Increase commercial activity Objectives -- renovate vacant buildings in downtown area for use as retail stores -- establish a downtown beautification council composed of citizens, merchants, and town officials to check and correct the deterioration of the central business district -- small businesses which desire to locate in Richlands or improve -10- ' existing facilities should seek aid of Small Business Administra- tion if the necessary money cannot be obtained elsewhere. Goal: Provide recreation facilities for every age group ' Objectives -- a recreation committee should be organized to investigate methods of achieving adequate recreational facilities , ' -- revitalize use of community building -- cooperate with local school officials in organizing a summer recreation program and use of school recreation facilities -- allocate money in Town's budget to acquire land for the ' establishment of a park and playground -- apply for Federal grants to assist Town in creating recreational ' facilities -- seek assistance of recreation consultant with the Department of ' Natural and Economic Resources Goal: Develop vacant land within city limits rather than the fringe areas Objectives -- provide municipal services _to all areas within the corporate limits..' before furnishing these services outside the limits -- reexamine the Town's Zoning Ordinance to determine if it encourages growth within the town limits. D. Methods for Securing Public Participation The goals and objectives formulated for tFe Town of Richlands were the ' result of the desires and wishes expressed by the citizens of Richlands. Brochures, newsletters, personal letters, and articles in the Jacksonville newspaper "The ' Daily News", were employed to inform local citizens about the Coastal Area Manage- 0ent Act program. Major input for formulating the goals and objectives was gathered ' from the 75 returned questionnaires out of the 473 questionnaires sent to all water users in the Town. A sample questionnaire which was sent to the citizens appears ' on the following page. Three public hearings, held July 9, 1975, July 29, 1975, and August 12, 1975, ' were announced well in advance and.an attempt was made to inform all local citizens ;f the meetings. Actual attendance at these meetings was limited to a few (5 to 6) ' interested citizens. However, those attending were instrumental'in formulating the Town's goals and objectives. Open discussion at the public meetings about the ' direction the citizens desired the Town to develop, was the basis for determining the goals and objectives. The Town Council and the Mayor of Richlands were involved ' in the land use plan from the very beginning. The project planner -met with the, Town Council each month during the time period in which the plan was being prepared. Personal conversations with the Mayor were helpful in the plan preparation. In ' general, the actual number of people participating in the land use plan was not great, but significant input was received from those who did participate. I 1 -12- CITIZEN OPINION SURVEY 1 1 1 F FOR THE TOWN OF RICHLANDS Richlands is preparing a land use plan in order to comply with the requirements of the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974. One of the most important aspects of land use planning is that the plan adequately reflect citizen opinions and attitudes toward the use of the community's land --both public and private. The following survey -is intended to -give each citizen the opportunity to express his opinion on land use problems and issues. Your cooperation in answering the following questions will be appreciated. 1. Are you a permanent resident of Richlands? ( ) yes ( ) no 2. If not, how often do you live in Richlands? weekends summer months 3. Do you live within the town limits? ( ) yes ( ) no 4. What is your age? 5. Do you live in a ( ) single-family house ( ) duplex ( ) mobile home ( ) apartment 6. During the next five years would you like to see the population of Richlands? ( ) increase greatly ( ) increase slightly ( ) decrease greatly ( ) decrease slightly ( ) stay the same 7. During the next five years would you like to see the corporate limits of the town expanded? ( ) yes ( ) no 8. Which of the following type of development would you like to see mo.i or less of in Richlands? More Less single-family housing ( ) ( ) apartments ( ) ( ) mobile homes ( ) ( ) commercial ( ) ( ) industrial ( } ( ) public open space ( } ( ) public recreation facilities ( ) ( ) (playgrounds and parks) other (specify) _ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 li _ 2 9. For what reasons did you choose to live in Richlands? ( ) close to work ( ) pleasant surroundings ( ) low taxes ( ) reasonably priced land and house ( ) close to family and friend, ( ) other 10. In which of the following areas do you feel more public funds should be spent? More Less water and sewer ( ) ( ) garbage collection ( ) ( ) fire and police protection ( ) ( ) schools ( ) ( ) parks and recreational ( ) ( ) facilities and programs roads or public transit ( ) ( ) environmental protection ( ) ( ) industrial development ( ) ( ) town management ( ) ( ) other 11. What do you like most about Richlands? 12. What do you like least about Richlands? 13. Is there any particular area or type of area within the Town Limits or within one mile of the Town limits that you feel is unique or special and should be preserved or protected in its present state or form? 14. Please use the following space to make any additional comments you would like. Thank you for your help and cooperation. This questionnaire should be returned to the Town Hall no later than June•11. 1 IV. Constraints A. Land Potential 1. Physical Limitations Physical limitations for development can be defined as areas having con- ditions that would make development costly or create an undesirable effect if developed. Richlands is homogeneous enough to be able to say that development constraints are almost identical throughout the Town. Although these constraints are not severe or even likely to influence development patterns, they do warrant consideration. Primarily of concern are areas with soil limitations and sources of water supply. a. Soil Limitations Richlands is situated entirely in the Rains -Lynchburg -Goldsboro soil association. This association occurs in the broad interstream uplands of the Coastal Plans and the soil series are somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained with moderate permeability. The Goldsboro series has slight limitations for most non -industrial development. However, this would indicate the necessity of spot site tests of all sites expected to be developed to determine the exact restrictions present. Some general characteristics can be illustrated, though, through the use of the chart on:the following page. b. Water Supply Areas The source of potable water supplies to all users in Richlands is groundwater. Three wells with a total depth of 450 feet provide groundwater to serve a regional population of 2000 and one textile industry. Potable groundwater occurs in the Post -Miocene Aquifer and in upper zones of the Cretaceous System Aquifer. The Post -Miocene Aquifer is composed of unconsolidated sand which contains groundwater under water table conditions. MM-MIMM MEN, Soil Interpretations General Soil Map Onslow County, N. C. June, 1970 LIMITATIONS FOR SUITABILITY FOR Dwellings witF Recreation Sewerage Septic Tank Intensive Light jj Roads & General Soil Associations Systems Filter Fields Camp Sites Picnic Areas Play Areas Industries Streets ?I Agriculture Woods % in Soils Assoc. Fair RICHLANDS to Rains-Lyncnburg-Goldsboro Rains 2)5 20 Sev(Wt) Mod(Wt) - Sev Wt) - Sev M) Sev(Wt,Traf) Mod(Wt,Traf) Sev(Wt,Traf) Mod(Wt,Traf) Sev(Traf,Wt) Mod(Traf,Wt) Sev Wt, or Mod M,Cor� Sev Wt Mod M,TSC) Good Good 5 r 1 � of County Lynchburg Y Goldsboro 20 Sit Mod(Wt at Sit Sit Sit Mod(Cor) SLT Good Slopes 10% 2.5') Slopes 10% Slopes 6% Slopes 10% Slopes 6% Slopes 10% Slopes 2;V impose lim- impose lim- impose lim- impose lim- impose lim- impose sev. i-, as s�J. itations; itations; itations; itations; itations; 7i�►ita- 1'r:ta- 10-25%-Mod. 10-15%-Mod. 6-10%-Mod. 10-25%-Mod. 6-10%-Mod. tions 25%+-Sev. 15%+-Sev. 10%+-Sev. 250/,+-Sev. 10+-Sev. Abbreviations for Limiting Factors: Perc - Percolation rate Sh-Sw - Shrink -swell potention, R - Rock ER - Erosion, FL - Flood haYard, Prod - Productivity Wt - Water Table, Traf - Trafficability, Cor - Corrosion potention, AWC - Available water capacity, LFA - Low filtering action TSC - Traffic supporting capacity Abbreviations for degree of limitations: Sit. - Slight Mod. - Moderate Sev. - Severe Structures whose footings are in subsoil Refers to roads and streets that have subsoil for base Good Good Good ' Unconsolidated sand layers within the upper zones of the Cretaceous System Aquifer store groundwater under predominantly artesian conditions. ' Brackish groundwater under artesian conditions probably occurs in the middle and lower sand layers within the Cretaceous Aquifer System. The ,rater -table Post Miocene Aquifer exists from land surface to 30 feet ' below land surface (BLS). Cretaceous System Aquifers occur below the Post -Miocene Aquifer extending down to a probable depth of 1000 feet where basement is encountered. ' It is unclear if the Post -Miocene Aquifer is hydraulically connected to the upper portion of the Cretaceous System Aquifer. 1 The Post -Miocene Aquifer is recharged directly by rainfall infiltration. The upper zone of the.Cretaceous System Aquifer receives recharge from the updip ' area of the aquifer but under favorable hydraulic conditions would receive recharge -from the Post -Miocene Aquifer. Any activity of man which diminishes the quantity ' and quality of groundwater to the Post -Miocene Aquifer should be avoided, therefore, to protect the integrity of the Post -Miocene Aquifer and, perhaps, the upper zone ' of the Cretaceous System Aquifer. ' Three deep wells could provide, theoretically, 936,000 gallons per day capacity without further expansion of the well field. 2. Fragile Areas ' a. Historic Sites There are no areas in Richlands listed in the National Register of Historic Sites, however, there are two sites of historic significance in the Richlands planning area. These No sites are the Koonce House and the J. T. Shackleford ' Cemetary. The Bryant Shine Koonce House is located one mile east of Richlands on U. S. Highway 258. It is one of the oldest houses in the county and in early_ ' 1900 it was used as a school house. At present, it is privately owned and unoccupied. The second historic site is the J. T. Shackleford Cemetary which is 1 -14- ' located within the town limits of Richlands. This is the family cemetary of U.S. Senator Shackleford from Onslow County in 1880. ' i B. Capacity of Community Facilities ' 1. Water and Sewer System The exceptional quality of the water in Richlands has earned it the name of ' "The Town of Perfect Water". This water is supplied by three wells which is then stored in two overhead tanks. The two tanks have a combined storage capacity of ' 400,000.gallons. As of February 23, 1976, the water system had a maximum operating capacity of 928,000 gallons per day with an average use of 340,000 gallons per day. ' These figures indicate an excess availability of 588,550 gallons per day which is more than adequate for purposes of growth within the development framework estab- lished by the Town. There are no existing plans for expansion of the plant or the service area. Such expansion will be necessary to service any new areas developed for residential or industrial use. However, there is no reason to believe that ' Richlands can not remain "The Town of Perfect Water" with such a generous avail- ability of water even with a substantial increase in demand. The water and sewer systems serve the entire town. The sewer system is in ' adequate condition. There are no problems with infiltration. ' 2. Wastewater Treatment Plant ' Richlands presently operates a satisfactory wastewater treatment facility. Waste load projections indicate the present design capacity of the facility to be adequate until and beyond the year 1980. The plant is a,contact stabilization type facility with secondary treatment. 1 The system serves a population of 950 people and has a design flow of 210,000 gallons per day with an actual flow of 100,000 gallons per day. The plant has an ' operating efficiency of 90 to 95% and discharges into Mill Swamp, a class "C" stream. The wastewater treatment facility for Richlands is adequate to meet the 1 1 r I . I needs of the projected population growth of the planning area. Schools and Roads As is the case in most of Onslow County, Richlands' school children attend county schools. Even though the elementary and the high schools are in the Town of Richlands, they serve people from outside the planning jurisdiction as well as those in it. The overall adequacy of the Richlands schools has been analyzed by the Onslow County Planning Department and is under the jurisdiction of the Onslow County Board of Education, but it should remain apparent in the planning philosophy of Richlands that schools are an integral part of the community facilities network. Therefore, provision within the development plan should be made for improving and expanding the schools in proportion with the expected population increase. Richlands should make efforts to stay in close'contact with the Onslow County Superintendent of Schools to advise him of the affect of increased population on the area school facilities. The construction and maintenance of non -state numbered roads are the Town's _. responsibility. The quantity and quality of existing streets and roads are adequate for the Town's present needs. In areas designated for future growth in this plan, road construction will be required. The extent of development will determine the precise amount of road construction needed. 1 -16- I V. Estimated Mfiand ' A. Population and Economy No planning effort can be thought adequate without consideration for possible 1 population changes or desired growths. In Richlands, or in any small town, popula- tion projections are difficult to make confidently due to the lack of a substantial base number with which to work. Any number of occurrences, social or economic, would likely invalidate a projection. ' For Richlands, a geometric projection method is used which ilbistratps the - population change if Richlands continues to increase.its population at its present ' growth rate. Using every decade between 1910 and 1970 as base data, the popula- tion increase has been 14%) on -the average. The geometric population projection for 1980 using the average 14% increase would be 1066. ' If this trend continues, ten, twenty-five and fifty year projections would be 1131, 1328 and 1655. IRICHLAND'S POPULATION ' Year Population 1910 445 1920 548 ' 1930 503 1940 688 1950 877 1960 1079 ' 1970 935 Average for six decades GEOMETRIC POPULATION PROJECTION Year Population 1980 1066 1985 1131 ' 2000 1328 2025 1655 t -17— % Increase +23 -9 +36 +27 +23 -13 14% 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 This population projection would allow Richlands to grow while maintaining the small town atmosphere which the citizens wish to preserve. There are 226 acres of land available for residential development in the Town. Using a 6000 square foot minimum lot size, 226 acres would allow 1650 additional residential lots. This is more than enough land to accommodate the projected population increase. Seasonal population changes were not considered in Richlands' population projection over the next fifty.years. Richlands is located approximately 31 miles from the beach and it is not connected closely enough with the beach area for its population to be affected by sommer tourists. . The population projection for Richlands is based upon the assumption that the Town will continue to grow as it has in the past. A major change, such as the location of a large industry within or near the Town, may cause the projection to become invalid. a -18- ' B. Future Land Needs Richlands has shown interest in land use control in the past as evidenced ' by the existence of a Zoning Ordinance. However, if a Zoning Ordinance is to be of any value it must evolve from the goals and objectives established by the ' Town and from the capability of the land to support various uses. t The Town of Richlands is 50% (by acreage) developed. This affords the Town an excellent opportunity to witness sound development if guided by a land use plan. The Town may employ this undeveloped land to help gain self sufficiency ' over time, but the guides must be there now if any of the Town's goals are to be met. Richlands has 98.4 acres developed for residential use with a total of 327 ' dwelling units. This gives an average residential lot size of .3 acres. Realisti- cally speaking, the Town would reach full development within its town limits by a doubling of the population. The sewerage treatment plant is operating at about ' an average of 50% capacity; and since the Town is 50% developed by acreage, it is felt that a doubling of the population can occur and still allow the Town to ' maintain its character. Richlands' average household size is 2.8 persons per unit. Approximately doubling the population to 1800 people would therefore require 336 ' more units. Three hundred thirty six one-third acre lots would only require 112 acres of the 226 acres available for residential development. It is suggested ' that the remaining 114 acres be left in an undeveloped category. Residential lot sizes can also be left at a minimum of 12000 square feet in the future. The current six to eight thousand square foot minimum seems to be unwise in light of the potential pollution threat to crowded residential land use. Also, land immediately west of Highway 258 should be designated low density residential in order to discourage any- more strip commercial development. 1 At the present time, Richlands has 27.6 acres of commercial land which, relative to the population, is a significant amount. However, much of this acreage requires ' large tracts but only serves one need or are not used by the average citizen very I -19- ' often. Examples are the car and tractor dealerships. Also, the central business district has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it is no longer attractive to shoppers and prospective merchants. Vacant or dilapidated buildings in the central business district can and should be employed to add the spirit and new life that is needed in order to meet Richlands' development goals. The ' cooperative effort of merchants, town officials and citizens is required to renovate and revitalize the commercial activity of the central business district. An industrial development task force should also be created to investigate ways to attract industry to the town. Richlands is environmentally capable of enduring most light industries and since industrial development would assist job ' creation, there must, at least, be a representative from Richlands regularly in contact with the Onslow County Economic Development Commission. There are pre- sently 7.3 acres of land in town in industrial -use while the existing Zoning Ordinance has delegated approximately 60 acres for industry. This is probably an over estimation of land needed for industrial use in town, because most likely, ' any new industry would locate just out of town to avoid paying municipal taxes. However, there is no reason to expect any harm in delegating that much acreage. it The recreational deficiencies of Richlands would most probably be alleviated through local action and therefore more attention should be given to this problem as soon as possible at regular sessions of the Town Council. The 2.2 acres of recreation land in town now serve only for swimming and tennis leaving the schools as the only opportunity for field sports. It might be manageable to set up sports programs for the town with the schools, but it would probably be more desirable to develop a municipal park with such facilities. Ideally, locating near either the h -h school or the elementary school should be the best choice. Of course, property values would be a major factor affecting such an undertaking since the land would have to be purchased by the Town. The joint cooperation of the Recreation Committee and the Downtown Revitalization Committee is needed in establishing a mini -park in the central business district that is compatible with the renovation theme. Richlands should encourage commercial establishments providing recreational and entertainment services. Recreational activities with a profit motive behind them would be easier to manage than Town supported ones because of the vested interest of the r, proprietor. C. Community Facilities Demand The existing community facilities serving the Town of Richlands are con- sidered adequate to meet the needs of the Town's projected growth. Water and sewer lines will need to be extended as development occurs, however, this poses no foreseeable problem. The water system is operating below capacity as is the sewage treatment plant. Street construction will coincide with development of new areas within the Town. The population projection for Richlands is not expected to burden the Town through a sudden demand on community facilities. Growth will be gradual which will allow the Town to expand services as needed, thereby avoiding a sudden financial hardship on the townspeople. 1 1 11 11 VI. Land Classification The State guidelines for Local Planning in the Coastal Area unoer the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 require that a land classification may be prepared for all planning jurisdictions in the coastal area. There are five classes of land prescribed in the North Carolina Land Classification System: A. Developed - Land with a minimum density of 2000 people per square mile (3.124/acre) and containing public services able to support the present population. This land must be serviced by water and sewer systems and adequate road and educational systerns. B. Transition - Land where a minimum density of 2000 people per square mile is expected in the future and where minimum services will be required. Areas with severe development limitations or ones of significant special value would not be included in this category. C. Community - Existing low density land that doesn't require major public services. This class includes all new rural growth of lot sizes of 10 acres or less. Approximately one person per acre should be used as a guide in identifying this land. D. Rural - Land used for management and utilization of productive resources and where limited public services will be provided. Generally, large tracts of land not expected to develop more intensely than agriculturally would be considered in this category. E. Conservation - This last class identifies land to be maintained for its natural qualities and least desirable for development. These areas wouldn't be able to withstand development without lose of natural value, have severe limitations for development, or are too valuable to be endangered by it. Unfortunately, this system cannot be applied in some municipal cases. Richlands is a prime example. The Town is, of course, developed; however, the density is simply not high enough to reach the 3.124 persons per acre required for the developed class. Richlands' density in developed areas is only 2.1 persons per acre. Consequently, the land classification map is felt inappropriate and has been substituted by a future land use map. -23- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- --, ' 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 4 -x RICHLANDS NORTH CAROL I N A A N I LAND CLASS IFICAT ION/FI'TlJRE LA14D USE TRANSITION RESIDENTIAL COMMERC-IAL INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION �1 and UTILITIES GOVERNMENT and INSTITUTIONAL TURAL, ENTERTA.INM'ENT and RECREATION CONSEPVA. ION AGR CULTURE IiNDEVELOP 0 VII. Areas of Environmental Concern Areas of Environmental Concern include marshlands, beaches, sand dunes, navigable waters, national and state parks and areas of historic importance. None of these areas exist within the Town limits of Richlands. -24- �I 1 VIII. Implementation and Review In order to attain the goals formulated in this land use plan, the Town of Richlands must have a method to follow for implementing recommendations. The following steps indicate such a method: 1. Tne citizens of Richlands elect a Town Board; 2. The Town Board appoints a Planning Board; 3. The Planning Board is responsible for making recommendations, plans and policies to the Town Board on land use, recreation, housing and community facilities; 4. The Town Board considers the recommendations and plans of the Planning Board for adoption; 5. The recommendations and plans may be implemented through: a) ordinances such as: -- zoning -- subdivision -- housing code -- building code, and b) fiscal policy including: -- budgeting -- State grants -- Federal grants -- revenue sharing The plans and policies implemented by the Town Board need to be kept current. The tools for implementation should be updated periodically. Each year the plan should be re-examined and new recommendations made if needed. A thorough review of the entire plan should be made every five years. Included in the five year review should be new citizen and land use surveys and population projections. -25- ' IX. Summary The data necessary to compile this land use plan came from many sources and ' through the aid and cooperation of many people. The Mayor of Richlands, Dan Rand, contributed much time and effort towards the plan as did the Town Clerk, Alavia ' Wyrick. Norwood Baysden, Director of Public Works and Superintendent of Streets, Sanitation, Water and the Sewage Plant, ran a meter check on the Town's water plant to determine exactly how much water was used per day by the Town. Informa- tion on the sewage.treatment plant was obtained from the Water Quality Section of the Division of Environmental Management, North Carolina Department of ' Natural and Economic Resources, Wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. Rick Shiver, Regional Hydrologist, North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources, ' Wilmington, North Carolina supplied the information on the source of the water supply in Richlands. Population data was obtained.from Statistical Summary - Onslow ' County, NoCarolina prepared by the Onslow County Planning Department in May, .1972. Soil classification and historic places information came from An Appraisal ' for Outdoor Recreational Development in Onslow County, North Carolina, published by the Soil and Water Conservation District, May, 1974. Data necessary to prepare the existing land use map for Richlands was obtained from a field survey of the Town. The land use map aided in determining the acreage devoted to each land use category. -26- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 X. City -County Coordination City -County coordination in formulating the land use plans for Richlands and Onslow County was achieved through informal meetings between. the planners. A joint city -county public -hearing for the Towns of Richlands, Holly Ridge and Swansboro and Onslow County was held in the Superior Court Room of the Onslow County Courthouse on May 13, 1976. -27- 1 ' RESOLUTION TO ADOPT COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ACT LAND USE PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF RICHLANDS Whereas, the Town is a community within the jurisdiction ' of the Coastal Area Management Act and has chosen to pre- pare its own land use plan as required by the Act, and; Whereas, the plan has been prepared by the citizens of ' Richlands, now; Therefore, be it resolved by the Town Council of the Town ' of Richlands, That the Land Use Plan prepared under the Coastal Area Man- agement Act is hereby adopted for submission to the Coastal Resources Commission for their review and approval. L �' ' Dan Rand, Mayor May 4, 1976 1 Alavia Wyrick, Town Clerk