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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Use Plan-1976C. Development Standards Applicable to all AEC's 1. No development should be allowed in any Areas of Environmental Concern which would result in a violation of any rules, regulations, or laws of the State of North Carolina, the Federal government or any county or town government in which the development takes place. 2. No development should be allowed in any AEC which would have a substantial likelihood of causing pollution of the waters of the State to the extent that such waters would be closed to the taking of shellfish under standards set by the Commission for Health Services pursuant to G.S. 130-169.01. 1�j <�J WATE INTRA-COASTAL I L EF 1 L D. Implementation Major public actions needed to implement the Land Development Plan are listed below. Through the years, as goals and objectives are met or as changes are needed, these actions should be modified and new actions begun to meet the needs of the community. IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES 1. Complete the water system. 2. Enforce building code, zoning ordinance and other codes and ordinances to insure proper and safe development. 3. Encourage public participation in government decisions through the use of informal meetings, newsletters, etc. 4. Study existing tax structure and rate to determine the ability to finance needed services, i.e., policies, public works, water and sewer systems, fire protection. 5. Institute a capital budgeting process, seeking advisory technical help from available sources, to plan and budget for equipment and facility expansion to meet the public need. NEAR -TERM PRIORITIES (1976-1979) 1. Continue code enforcement and qualify for permit letting under C.A.M.A. 2. Establish a Recreation Commission and plan for a community center for local residents. 3. Continue to review levels of public services and upgrade as needed. 4. Maintain contact and communication with residents and property owners through monthly newsletters (include with water bill) and public meetings to discuss town action. 5. Conduct feasibility study for wastewater treatment system. EASTERN LAKE ter. i .../ it 4 IMMEDIATE -TERM PRIORITIES (1979-1983) 1. Construct a wastewater treatment system. 2. As facilities permit, revise policy concerning development of town houses and condominium complexes. 3. Continue enforcement procedures of the Coastal Area Management Act. LONG-TERM PRIORITIES (1983-1995) 1. Continue reviews and updating of the Land Development Plan. 2. Continue code enforcement with review and revision as necessary to protect the environment and the development of Sunset Beach. 3. Continue public participation program. 4. Upgrade services as needed for future development. 01, CONCLUSION Sunset Beach began its land use planning in September of 1973. The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 mandated that land use planning in the coastal area be consistent with guidelines adopted by the Coastal Resources Commission. The Sunset Beach Planning Board, with assistance from its planning advisor, has attempted to develop such a plan utilizing as much public input as could be gathered. Planning is an ongoing process; changes occur, causing a need for reevaluation of needs and desires. The Town Board and Planners want to hear from people, because the plan affects each and every citizen and landowner in Sunset Beach. BEAC N TH NORTH CAROLINA 400 0 400 800 1200 feet ti JULY 1974 EXISTING LAID USE URBAN AND BUILT—UP RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL r4)VFRNWNT AM T NST T TI IT T nNAI SUNSET H NORTH CAROLINA 400 r) 400 800 i200 feet JULY 1974 ERRITORIAL BOUNDgR Y �.b - • -�-�•^` / '��� / ��! i; i ill Ag WIN . I�� ��'./'. (�: �: '�•�I�. L .IO111�!�/I� �I�:� �! I � C� 1.-��t,/P �-`!�� :�1 ��/� ��`�P,P,Ir�./i/�,/- , _ i �`I), � . � . � � .1 +' : C � L' � .' 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L., _ //�// �I • • t INTRA-COASTAL - - WQTERWA Y LAND CLASSIFICATION TRANSITION COM UN I TY RURAL R CONSERVATION ATLANTIC OCEAN •ainlnj jeau ayl uI inaao of Alalll si auou 'Allunwwoa ayl jo ainleu ay1 uaAIS pue aaeld ualel sey uojlanjlsuoa 9uisno4 aAIlelnaads ou jo alllll •jaseyajnd aAioadsoid ay1 Aq palaeiluoa si awoy yaea 'si leyl-1aej1 -uoa Aq paianjlsuoa AllejauaS si yaeag lasunS ul SulsnoH 'S96 L Aq 000`£-00S'Z of aseajaul of palaadxa sI `008'L lnoge le palewllsa Mou'uopelndod leuoseas ayl •jean( jai suosiad 149la jo aSejane ue-bL6L ul OK 01 OL6L ul 90L wojj uollelndod wauewiad ay1 ul aseajaui ue of paingpae aq uea leyl eaje 9uluueld ay1 ulyllM laedwl Wanas Aue aq of jeadde iou saop aiayl •uollaaiojd ailj pue aallod jallaq joj paau ay1 si lueljodwl oslV -Sullied alenbape jo 1:)el pue 'aaueualulew wails 'ivawaajojua Suluoz apnlaul sanssl asn puel jaylO •luawuoJInua uolleaen a se yaeaq ayl saas jauMo aaluasge ayi al!4m `IUaWUOJIAUa SuiAeld pue Sui)joM 'SUTAII punoi-jean( a se yaeaq ayl aas sluaplsaj ay1 'AlsnoingO •4U*!wla4M1ano yaeaq adAi-AIlwej ayi Jonej sJauMo aaluasge al!gm `yaeaq adA1-AIlwej a weM sluaplsai luauewiad ayl jo jley ueyl avow AINSIls AluO •siaumo Aliadoid aaluasge pue sluaplsai luauewiad yloq 41jM anssl asn puel jofew a si yaeaq adAi-AIlwej a j0 luawdolanap IelaJawwoa aney of jaylayM 'Alunoa ay1 wojj jaieM aseyajnd pue saull uolingljlslp Ilelsul 01 yaeag lasunS joj Ilea sueld ayl •JaleM jo AJanllap Joj alep wjIj ou si aja41 lnq 'weJSoJd jaleM AjunoD 13imsunig ay1 jo II aseyd ul aledlallied 01 palnpayas si uMo1 ayl -� jessaaau si waisAs jaleM �(llunwwoa e'umol jo lied puelsl ay1 uo (•1j •bs 000'S) azls 10l hews ayl uanlD •sjuei alldas pue sham lenplAlpul uo Alai isnw luawdolanap luasaJd •aaueljodlul isow jo si walsAs jaleM allgnd a jo pel •luawdolanap ainlnj ujaauoa sanssl asn puel jofew ay 1ey1 palealpul aney sSullaaw allgnd ayl pue AaAjns ayl •iawwns ayl ul uana aJay apl of ysni pue allsny ou si ajayl „•Ile 1! woij Aeme„ aq of alll oqm asoyl ioj sawoy uolleaen lawuuns 411m Allunwwoa lamb a si yaeag lasunS sanssl asn puel iolew •v •yaeaq ayi uo salllwej £S ayi jo aSeluaajad jlej e sluasaidai llaunoD "01 a41 pue PJeoe Suluueld ayl yloq �q papualle Sullaaw Aue'llews si I uollelndod s,uMol ayl asneaa8 � -jewwns slyl uI ja1el paluasaid aq IIIM yalyM sasn puel pasodoid pue uJaauoD Ieluawu01IAu3 jo seaJV algegojd jo suoissnaslp aiaM sSullaaw asayl uI papnlaul •aauepualle pooS pey yalyM sSullaaw allgnd IeJanas le passnaslp pue paluasaid aiaM padolanap snyl sanllaafgo pue sleoS ayl •pauinlai ajaM saiieuuollsanb ay1 jo %0L 1nogV •uMo1 ay1 jo ainlnj aylioj sleos ulelJaa ysllgelsa of pue'yaea9 lasunS joj pajjajaid Aayl luawdolanap jo asinoa ayl 01 se sMain "41 aulwJalap 01 siaumo Aijadoid aaluasge pue sluaplsai luauewiad of luas seM aiieuuojlsanb Aanjns slyl 'AanjnS luawdolanaQ puel a uodn paseq seM ueld lelllul a41 pua slyl of •suazjlla Ieaol jo saiisap pue spaau ayl 1aaljaj lsnw 1! anjlaajja aq o1 ueld Aue j03 S3111AI1JV NOI1Vdl:)IIHVd 3118f1d •suopelnSaj fuel alldas PUP saaueulpio uollaalojd aunp 'apoa Suluolllpuoa ile pue Supeay 'Sulgwnld 'apoa lealjlaala :apnlaul suollelnSaj paajoj -ua-AlunoD •uollalpslmf leuolljjalejlxa pue 'apoD Sulplln8 alelS 'D•N 'saaueulpJo aauejnsw pool] 'saaueulpio Suluoz :apnlaul suollelnSai paajojua uMol •luawdolanap IeDJawwoa io lelluaplsaj jaylla SuiAjlaads slueuanoa paap of laafgns ale slol Ile pue uollejodioaui of johd s,096L Tea pue s,OS6L alel ayl ul palleld pue papinlpgns seM uMol ayl jo lsow •suoll -elnSaj pue sueld anlsualxa jaylej sey lnq :luawdolanap le1ol PUP uollelndod ul Ilews sl'£961. uI paiejodjoaul'yaea8 lasunS suolleingab pue `sal:)llod 'sueld ;uaiin] •> •luawdolanap Sullslxa 41IM 1alljuoa ul u011eJS1UJ ollaafgns aje yalyM jo yloq'lalul pew ie pue lalul sggnlle lslxa Op luawuoJInua leinleu ayl pue puel ayl jo asn s,uew uaaMlaq swalgoJd •uMo1 ay1 ulyllM salllunwwoa oMl aleaja o1 se uolysej e yans uI pajaisnla ale sasn lelajawwoa pue lelluaplsaj ayl :sasn apew-uew of palelai swalgojd Allllglledwoa asn puel lue:)ipuSls ou ale aiayl •luawdolanap IelluaplsaJ Joj papinlpgns si yalyM jo lsow puel padolanapun jo sajae 09£ lnoge pue uMo1 ayl ulyllM jaieM pue puelysjew 'yaeaq jo sajae 0061L awos ale ajayl OOL OK 6b 69 S L W b9 aSe;uaWad aSeai:)v allgnd-Isenb pue allgnd lelaiawwoD lelluaplsa-1 asn :padolanap aje sajae 0bL yalyM jo 'sllwll aiejodjoa ayi ulyllM puel jo saKae 006'L Alalewlxoidde aje ajayl asn puel Sul;slx3 '8 Conservation and protection of the waters and marshland which occupy over 1400 acres in Sunset Beach is an issue of major importance and one which affects every citizen and property owner in the community. The value of the marshland and waters both economically and ecologically is extremely high. The CAMA requires that development be "consistant with the capability of the land and water for development" ... based on ecological considerations. Simply stated, development cannot exceed the ability of the land and waters to accommodate it without destroying the natural environment. For Sunset Beach this means if full development of the area for residential land use is desired, some type of central sewage treatment system will be required. Initial planning for the needs of the area will soon be underway but it will be some time before sufficient information or expected needs and probable costs are available. Current trends in funding of sewerage systems indicate that the major portion of the system's cost will have to be paid by the town. B. Alternatives for Development As indicated in the issues section, several alternatives were posed: development as a family -type beach with sufficient commercial uses to serve the community; development as a "resort -commercial" beach; high density development; or no increase in the current rate of development. Each of these alternatives has certain costs associated with it - economic, ecologic, and social costs. But there are also benefits to be gained from each. Some examples of each are given below: Alternative Cost Benefit 1. Low density family $ per unit of ser- quiet, uncrowded, beach vices is highest natural environ- (water, sewer, etc.) ment protected better 2. Resort-Commer- higher level of $ per unit of ser- cial Beach services needed vices is lower sooner, environ- mental quality of beach degraded 3. High density higher level of ser- $ per unit of ser- vices needed vices is lower sooner 4. Current develop- $ per unit of ser- Time span for ment rate vices is higher needed services is longer There are, of course, other costs and benefits to be derived from the alternatives listed, and under normal circumstances these should be considered when determining which alternative to pursue. As was mentioned in the section of Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations, most of the land in Sunset Beach is subject to restrictive covenants with regards to type and amount of development. For this reason the only alternative available at this time is to continue the current development rate. C. Land Use Goals Objectives, and Standards The goals and objectives formulated as a result of the surveys and public meetings are guides to the future of Sunset Beach. They should be reviewed annually and progress noted. If conditions and attitudes change, these goals and objectives may need to be modified or changed to meet community needs and priorities. GOAL To create desirable living areas which will harmonize with the natural surroundings. OBJECTIVES 1. Continue to maintain adequate beach access areas for all future residential development. 2. Prevent destruction of the existing sand dunes and vegetation by strict enforcement of the County Dune Protection Ordinance. 3. Establish a water and sewer system a soon as possible. 4. Maintain eligibility in Federal Flood Insurance Program by adopting and enforcing the necessary codes and ordinances. 5. Qualify as a local permit -letting agency under the Coastal Area Management Act. GOAL Promote sufficient commercial activity to strengthen the tax base and insure orderly growth. OBJECTIVES 1. Encourage conveneince-type stores to locate in Sunset Beach. 2. Group commercial activities in existing areas of commercial uses by proper zoning. 3. Insure adequate vehicular ingress and egress and sufficient parking at such commercial uses. GOAL Supply adequate community facilities for all future development. •Allunwwoa leiluapisai jawwns a ueyl jayio aq IIIM yaeag lasunS leyl alealpw of al11ll sI ajayl •seaee walsea4vou pue walsea ay1 ul Apsow inq'Apuaaal Mann pajej sey AiunoD 1:)imsunig jo Aujouoaa ayl -1aaM ayl Aq sJollsln jawwns of paluai aje sawoy ay1 jo AueW •sjeaA Maj lsel ayl ul jean( jad sawoy 9L lnoge paSeJane sey uojlanjlsuoa awoy puoaaS -Ilan se aaeld salel Sulyslj lelaiawwoa awos .aped 1josai jawwns ay1 si yaeag lasunS jo Awouoaa ayl •aldoad 009L si uollelndod dead jawwns palewllsa ayl •0bl seM uollejlslulwpV jo luawliedad .D.N ayl Aq palewllsa uollelndod luauewiad bL6L ayl •snsuaD •S•n ayl 01 Su1pjoaae'80L seM OL6L ul yaeag lasunS jo uollelndod aq l AW00033 pue uollelndod •V SNO1110NOJ 1N3S3Hd 10 NOI1dIH:)S34 a!Ignd ay wjojul ja11aq o1 wjoj algepeaj ajow a ui paluasaid si pue ueld leyl jo Ajewwns a si luawnaop slyl -Apnls PUP MaIAW Joj IleH uMo.l le algellene sI ueld Mau ayl -D21D ay1 jo sluawaalnbai ayl y1IM lualslsuoa aq o1 palepdn pue paslAW uaaq sey ueld lelllul ayl 'D?1D ayl Aq paldope sivawajinbaj ay1 jo'lle 1ou inq'awos passaippe pue VWVD ay1 jo uolledlallue ul do uMeipseM'jauueld leuolssajoid a wojj aauelslsse qi!m pieog Suluueld yaea8 lasunS ayl Aq pajedaid weld lelllul slyl weld asn puel a dolanap 01 unSaq Apeajle pey yaea8 lasunS jo umol ayl `bL6L uI ov luawaSeuew lelseoD ayl jo ivaw1:)eua of lohd •sluawdolanap Jofew joj sllwjad anisi IIIM uolsslwwoD ayl 1nq sluawdolanap Joulw joj sllwjad anssl 01 sluawuJaA0S leaol Smolle 1;uawa3iolu3 pue Sul nal ;lwiad 'inoj lied 's,D3V paleuSlsap ayl ul luawdolanap Joj sllwjad jo aauenssl ay1 ul sapinS se pasn aq IIIM sueld asn puel leaol ayl paysllgelsa ale s,D3V asayl aauO •(s,D3V) ujaauoD leluawuoJIAu3 jo seajv aleuSlsap pue ldope o1 Alljoylne ayl D21D ay san1S'uJa3u0, le;uawuoJlAu3 fo seaiv'aajy1 lied •saullapinS ay y1IM lualslsuoa ueld asn puel umo sll ajedaid of Allllglsuodsai ay 1uawuJaA0S Ieaol 01 alesalap 0101 sueld asn puel leaol joj saullapinS ajedaid of DND ayl jo Aluoylne ayl saysllgelsa IsassaaoJd Suluueld 'Oml lied •sialeM pue spuel lelseoa ino jo luawdolanap pue'uop:)aloid 'asn ayi joj spiepuels pue 'saullapinS 'salallod ysllgelsa of •b uolleu ayl pue eulloJeD 41JON jo aldoad ayl jo jleyaq uo saajnosai lelseoa ino jo uolleAJasaid pue asn paaueleq pue Aliapio ayl ainsul of '£ salllllgedea ja1eM pue puel ayi y1jM lualslsuoa si saainosai jaleM pue puel ay1 jo uollenJasaid jo luawdolanap ay1 ieyl ainsul of •Z sayaeaq ay pue saunp ayl 'sahenlsa ay jo suollpuoa lealSoloaa lernleu ayl SulSeuew PUP SUTAJasaid jo algedea walsAs luawaSeuew e apinoid of .L :aje ov ayl uI palms sleoS ayl -eaje lelseoa ay1 ul panlonul s1uawuJaA0S Ieaol ayl woJj saaUlwou jo 1sII a woJj JouJanoD ayl Aq paiulodde ale pue ease lelseoa Aiunoa-0Z ay jo sluaplsai Ile aie sjagwaw asogm (D21D) uolsslwwoD saajnosaN lelseoD jagwaw-SL ay saysllgelsa IsleoD pue u01;ez1ueSJO'auo lied •weiSoid luawa§euew aA1sua4aidwoa e jo laadse auo 41jM Sulleap yaea 'sijed jnoj uI si laV ayl •eullojeD y1JoN jo eaje lelseoD ay jo luawaSeuew pue'luawdolanap AIJaPJO'uolleAJasaid'uollaalojd ay joj ueld anlsuayaadwoa a ysllgelsa of slslxa paau Sulssaid pue alelpaiuwl ue wyl spin j ajojajayl AlgwassV lejauaD ayl paAoilsap aq IIIM you AllealSoloaa pue'AIleahayisa'AIlealwouoaa 1! alew yalyM lseoa ayl jo sainleaj Ajan ayl 'luawaSeuew paleulpjooa Aq palloiluoa ale sainssaid asayl ssalun •suazilla s1l jo suogejldse Ieuolleajaaj ayl uI pue 'uollelndod uI 'luawdolanap lehlsnpul uI Suipuedxa Alapos a jo spaau SUIlalljuoa ualjo ayl jo 1lnsaj ay ale yalyM samssaid 9uiseajaui 01 palaafgns uaaq sey ease lelseoa ay1 sjeaA luaaaj ul • • • sialeM pue spuel lelseoa slI ale saajnosal algenleA lsow s,eU1I0JeD 41JON Suowe leyl • :pajelaap AlgwassV lejauaD ay (VWVD) OV ayl Sulssed ul '(VWVD) bL61, jo laV luawaSeuew eajv lelseoD ayl passed 'anoge passajdxa slulod -Main ay1 SulzluSoaaj'AlgwassV lejauaD eullojeD 41JON ayl eaje ay1 jo Aineaq a41 hods AllejauaS pue ajayMAJana Ja11II pue ysea aneal 'saunp pues ayi ssoJae dwei1'Al.lea do 1aS'alel do Am o4m aldoad jo ssew ay1 Aq ualojq sI „yaeaq jno„ jo apnlllos pue lamb ay1 uagm awls a si 1! siaylo Ilps 01 puV •yaeaq aql le Am a pue'pooj pooS'JayleaM pooS ayl Aofua pue xelaJ 01 awll a sl 1! siaylo of •ssaulsnq pooS Jo awll a si „uoseas„ ayl awos of •yaeaq algeAofua pue ueap 'ajes a Joj apinoid of papaau aalnJas allgnd jo slanal paseaJaul PUP :spualjj Mau awos pue spualij plo awos :slsljnol jo xnljul `salllAllae leuolleajaaj paseajaul :slsaialul lelaiawwoa aq) ioj slljauaq alwouoaa-sSuiyl luajajjlp Auew ueaw suoseas asayl 'yaea8 lasuns jo sluaplsai luauewiad ay10l •yaeojdde jauuwns pue Surds se salels Auew 1nog8noj41 paapul pue eullojeD y110N 1no4Snojy1 pjeay uollsaSSns e si siyl „i yaeaq ay101 OS s,lal„ OBJECTIVES 1. Complete planned water system as soon as possible and begin planning for sewer system. 2. Expand and upgrade all Town services as needed for future development. 3. Actively seek and apply for any and all Federal and State grants to assist in providing needed services to the citizens of Sunset Beach. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Residential areas should: - Have public water and sewer service within corporate limits - For new development, have minimum lot sizes where community/public water and sewer service is unavailable-20,000 square feet; if either water and sewer facilities are available, but not both-15,000 square feet. - Be bound but not crossed by major streets. - Construct utilities including electric and telephone lines underground; where the groundwater table prohibits underground electricwires, utility polesshould follow rear property lines. - Not locate in flood prone areas; or, in the case of beach communities, be above minimum building elevation and floodproofed as determined by HUD -Federal Insurance Administration. Commercial areas should: - Locate near intersections of major streets to better serve trade areas. - Not be permitted to develop in strips, but rather in compact, grouped, functional units. - Provide adequate off-street parking with designated entrances and exists. - Provide adequate off-street parking with designated entrances and exists. - Have adequate space; neighborhood shopping centers should range from 3 to 6 acres in size while community shopping centers should be from 10 to 30 acres in size. - Have compatible signs which do not obstruct sight. Recreation areas should: - Be located so as to be available to a wide range of people. - Provide a variety of activities to interest more than one segment of the population. - Be compatible with surrounding land uses. CONTSTRAINTS A. Land Potential 1. PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS -Sunset Beach has no man-made hazard areas such as airports, etc.; but there are two natural hazard areas: coastal flood plains, which are subject to flooding from hurricanes and high tides, and coastal inlet areas, which are subject to erosion and movement. The ocean shoreline at Sunset Beach, rather than eroding, is accreting at about seven feet per year. Soils information for Sunset Beach indicates that on the mainland the soil has slight limitations for septictanks, with some possibility of contamination of shallow wells located too near to septic tanks. Soils on the island are rated severe for septic tanks, with low filtering action likely to cause contamination of water supplies as the density of development increases. Sunset Beach currently has no public water supply. Each individual home has a private well drawing water from a rather shallow (10' - 20') groundwater supply. Natural rainfall is the primary source of recharge to the water supply. 2. FRAGILE AREAS -Areas within Sunset Beach which could be destroyed or damaged by inappropriate development include: Coastal Wetlands Sand Dunes Ocean Beaches and Shorelines Estuarine Waters Public Trust Waters Each of these areas is described in the Areas of Environmental Concern section below. B. Capacity of Community Facilities Sunset Beach provides police protection, garbage pickup, and some administrative services at Town Hall. A volunteer fire department provides fire protection. There are no water and sewer services provided; however, implementation of the water project is expected to provide water service to the developed section of town within the near future. ESTIMATED DEMAND A. Population and Economy Permanent population projections for small towns, particularly those with no long-term historical data, are very difficult to make. Based upon recent trends in population and NOI1JfIOOblNl A home building records, the estimated permanent population for 1985 is around 220, with the seasonal peak probably reaching 2,500-3,000. Trends that seem to point to continued economic improvement in Sunset Beach are the growth of recreation - oriented activities and the number of people who have indicated an intention to retire and live at Sunset Beach. Many of the absentee property owners interviewed expressed the intent to live at the beach someday. B. Future Land Needs Based upon the population and home building trend in recent years, Sunset Beach can reasonably expect construction of about 160 new homes by 1985 for a total of around 400 houses for the permanent population of about 220. Using current land use percentages as a base, the new construction should require about 45 acres of residential land, and about 5 acres of commercial land, or 50 acres of land for new development. With over 300 acres of subdivided land available now, the community should be able to accommodate the projected increase without damage to any sensitive areas, particularly if an adequate water system can be provided. C. Community Facilities Demand In July of 1973 the town received plans and cost estimates for the construction of a water distribution system. The cost estimate was $360,000 including administrative costs. A recent check with the engineers indicated that these costs are still in line at this time and should hold if the project can be implemented this year. Unfortunately, Brunswick County, which is to supply the water, cannot at this time provide a firm date as to when water will be available in the Sunset Beach Area. The County has recently engaged an engineering firm to undertake studies and develop the plans for the sewerage disposal needs of the Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle, Calabash area. No date has been set for completion of the study which would be required in order for the county to receive State and Federal' funds for sewerage collection and treatment facilities. The town should be able to absorb the projected ten-year growth without a sewerage system; however, plans and specifications should be prepared and cost estimates kept current so the citizens will be aware of these items. PLAN DESCRIPTION A. Land Classification System The North Carolina Land Classification System contains five classes of land: 1. DEVELOPED -Lands where existing population density is moderate to high and where there are a variety of land uses which have the necessary public services. 2. TRANSITION -Lands where local government plans to accommodate moderate to high density development during the following ten-year period and where necessary public services will be provided to accommodate that growth. 3. COMMUNITY -Lands where low density development is grouped in existing settlements or will occur in such settlements during the following ten-year period and which will not require extensive public services now or in the future. 4. RURAL -Lands where highest use is for agriculture, forestry, mining, water supply, etc., based on their natural resources potential. Also, lands for future needs not currently recog- nized. 5. CONSERVATION -Fragile, hazard and other lands which help maintain the healthy natural environment necessary to provide for public health, safety, or welfare. These five classes provide a framework to be used by the town to identify the general use of all lands within the corporate limits. Such a system presents an opportunity for Sunset Beach to provide for its needs as well as to consider those of the whole state. Also, it is a statement of policy on where and to what density we want growth to occur, and where we want to conserve the beach's natural resources by guiding growth. Applying this classification system to Sunset Beach (see accompanying map), land falls into four categories: transition, community, rural, and conservation. All lands identified as potential Areas of Environmental Concern are shown as conservation. Transition lands are those where the town intends to provide necessary public services to serve existing and projected development. B. Potential Areas of Environmental Concern The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 requires that local land use plans give special attention to the protection and appropriate development of fragile lands to be known as Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's). All local governments may suggest these areas and the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) will have the final responsibility to study and identify Areas of Environmental Concern. The following AEC's are under study in Sunset Beach: 1. COASTAL WETLANDS: a. Low Tidal Marshland Description: Low tidal marshland exists primarily below the mean high water line and is subject to inundation by the normal rise and fall of lunar tides. It can be readily identified by one plant species, salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina Alterni- flora) which grows as the dominant vegetative species. Appropriate Land Uses: 1. Utility easements and facilities where restoration of low marsh conditions will occur upon completion of the project; 2. Elevated walkways and piers to navigational channels; 3. Access routes for marina facilities. b. High Coastal Marshland Description: High coastal marshland is all other marshland which is not low tidal marshland and exists between the upper limits of Sparina Alterniflora and those land areas reached by the occasional flooding of the tides. Appropriate Land Uses: 1. Elevated walkway and piers to navigational channels; 2. Access for marina facilities where such facilities are de- veloped landward of the high marsh boundary; 3. Public utility easements and facilities where natural high marsh conditions will be restored upon completion of the projects; 4. Ports, docks, marine facilities and channels when such are located and constructed specifically for the public's use. 2. ESTUARINE WATERS: Description: Estuarine waters are brackish waters which are contained within the boundary of Sunset Beach either in sounds, bays, rivers or tributaries. Appropriate Uses: 1. Elevated piers and boat docks except in maintained navigable channels; 2. Public utility easements and facilities where the natural conditions will be restored upon completion of the project; 3. The dredging and maintenance of access channels except in productive shellfish beds. 3. PUBLIC TRUST AREAS: Description: Public trust areas are waterways and lands under or flowed by tidal waters or navigable waters, to which the public may have rights of access or public trust rights; and areas which the State of North Carolina may be authorized to preserve, conserve, or protect under Article XIV, Section 5 of the N.C. Constitution. They include: All waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder from the mean high water mark to the seaward limit of State jurisdiction; all natural bodies of water subject to measurable lunar tides and lands thereunder to the mean high water mark; all navigable natural bodies of water and lands thereunder to the mean or ordinary high water mark as the case may be, except privately owned lakes having no public access; all waters in artifically created bodies of water in which exists significant public fishing resources or other public resources, which are accessible to the public by navigation from bodies of water in which the public has rights of navigation; all waters in artificially created bodies of water in which the public has acquired rights by prescription, custom, usage, dedication or any other means. Appropriate Land Uses: 1. Fishing piers in both ocean and estuarine waters; 2. Access for marina facilities; 3. Public utility easement; 4. Dredging and maintenance of navigation channels; 5. Bulkheads, groins and jetties. 4. EXCESSIVE EROSION AREAS, COASTAL INLET LANDS: Description: Coastal inlet lands are zones of natural migration or those areas adjacent to those water channels across the outer banks which connect the ocean with the estuarine waters. This natural zone of migration covers all areas that are expected to be eroded by future inlets and inlet movement based on existing data and studies. Appropriate Land Uses: 1. Conservation activities; 2. Boat landings; 3. Small temporary structure for education and recreation purposes; 4. Docks and public access easement; 5. Continuation of present Land Uses under existing sub- divisions within this area. 5. COASTAL FLOOD PLAINS: Description: Coastal flood plains are defined as the land areas adjacent to coastal sounds, estuaries or the ocean which are prone to flooding from storms with an annual probability of one percent or greater (100years flood). These areas are analogous to the 100-year statistical flood level on a river. These areas are delineated and identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with flood insurance studies prepared for the Federal Insurance Administration. 'bL6L i0 lid luawa9euetN eaJV lelseoD eull`eJ 41JON ayl Jo sluawaimbaj ayl slaaw pue eu110je:) yuoN Jo ams ay pue `uoissiwwoJ leuo,Sab suield Ielseo' aq1 'uoilensiuiwpd auaydsowld pue aiueaa0 1euoileN ay Aq lied w paaueuij sem ljodai siyl SUMMARY of the SUNSET BEACH LAND USE PLAN Prepared by the CITY COUNCIL and CITIZENS of the Town of Sunset North Carolina 1976 Beach Appropriate Land Uses: All acceptable land uses and developments must meet stringent engineering standards which will maintain the structures, integrity, stability and safety during a 100 year storm. All forms of development can be undertaken as long as it conforms with the standards set forth in the Federal Insurance Administration Code of Federal Regulations. Title 24, Chapter 10, Subchapter B. The Code puts forth specific requirements which must be met to maintain safety during the flood surge of a 100 year storm. All developments which do not meet these specific Federal requirements will not be acceptable land uses. 6. OCEAN BEACHES: Description: Ocean beaches and shorelands are defined as land areas without vegetative covering, consisting of uncon- solidated soil material that extends landward from the mean low tide to a point where any one or combination of the following occur: (1) vegetation or (2) a distinct change in predominant soil particle size or (3) a change in slope or elevation which alters the physiographic land form. Appropriate Land Uses: 1. Fishing piers which are elevated enough to allow lateral access along the beach front; 2. Utility maintenance; 3. Conservation measures when such measures are in the public interest. 7. COASTAL DUNE LANES: Description: Coastal dune lands are defined as ridges or mounds of loose windblown material, usually sand, which begin at the landward margin of the frontal dune and extend inland as one or more series of sand mounds and trough areas until it reaches either a line of estuarine water encroachment or inland soil types. They can be barren, partially or completely vegetated with grasses or woody vegetation. Appropriate Land Uses: Acceptable land uses must be those developments that can be safely undertaken utilizing recognized engineering practices such as the use of pilings to decrease destruction of dunes and thus limit the chance of flood damage. Also sound site preparation and site maintenance techniques must be used to minimize unnecessary damage of the dunes from wind and waters should the development be allowed. Appropriate land uses are limited to the following: 1) Residential 3) Governmental 2) Commercial 4) Recreational All allowable land uses should be designed so as to limit as much as possible the removal of the natural vegetation. a. Man -Made Dune Lands E Description: The subcategory man-made dune lands are artifical extensions of natural coastal dune lands which are usually made to increase the landward margin of the barrier island as a result from reclamation and deposition of dredge spoil and bar materials. Appropriate Land Use: 1. Single and multi -family residential; 2. Commercial; 3. Governmental; 4. Recreational. b. Frontal Dunes Description: The subcategory frontal dunes are primary sand dune ridges which align themselves parallel to the ocean beaches. They begin on the ocean side at the mean high tide line of the ocean beach and extend over the first dune ridge to the lowest elevation in the depression behind it commonly called the dune trough. This is the fore dune and does not include any slopes of the adjacent landward dune. However, in areas where the frontal dune has experienced erosion and is less than 15 feet in height (from mean sea level to crest of dune) a 120 foot set back area should be so delineated starting from the ocean mean high water line extending towards the mainland. (The 120-foot buffer zone allows adequate space for the establishment of an artificial frontal dune if such a decision is made in the future. The 15-foot minimum safe height of a dune is mentioned in the "Sand Dune Protection Ordinance of Brunswick County". The 120-foot setback is derived from acceptable engineering data from the Army Corps of Engineers which utilizes a 1:5 slope on the windward side of a dune and 1:3 slope on the leeward side, thus establishing the minimum base area necessary to artificially build a frontal dune 15 feet high). Appropriate Land Uses: The frontal dunes should be considered unsuitable for all development which would alter their natural functions. Appropriate land uses shall be limited to the following: 1. Elevated fishing pier; 2. Elevated pedestrian walkways for public access; 3. Conservation activities. All of these allowable land uses should not damage or destroy the existing vegetation on the frontal dune.