CAMA Land Use Plan-1985

i19qs�
•
•
TRENT WOODS
CAMA
LAND USE PLAN
PROPERTY OF
DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE

•
•
COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ACT
LAND USE PLAN
MAY, 1976
UPDATED JUNE, 1980
UPDATED DECEMBER, 1985
TOWN OF TRENT WOODS
P. 0. BOX 188
NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA
28560
Trent Woods Town Board Adoption - January 9, 1986
N.C. Coastal Resources Commission Adoption - February 7, 1986
Prepared with the assistance of
Dexter G. Moore, Moore and Associates
Urban Planners - Project Designers
3305 Winstead Road, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27801
The preparation of this document was financed in part through
a grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

•
0
(`�C.afun of 'Trent oohs
P. O. Box 188
912 Country Club Drive
NEW BERN, N.C. 28560
MAYOR:
LEROY H. PRICE
COMMISSIONERS:
DAVID L CORDES
CARROLL G. IPOCK. 11
J. DOUGLAS JONES
January 11, 1986
Mr. Daniel V. Besse, Chairman
Coastal Resources Commission
P.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Dear Mr. Besse:
CHIEF OF POLICE:
TONY F. SMITH
TOWN CLERK • TAX COLLECTOR
DOROTHY H. HARRISON
The Town of Trent Woods held a Public Hearing on January
9, 1986 for the purpose of considering the adoption of the
1985 Trent Woods CAMA Land Use Plan Update.
After a discussion of the proposed update, the Town
Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the update and
authorized it to be submitted to the Coastal Resources
Commission for certification. Please present this update to
the Coastal Resources Commission for certification.
The Coastal Resources Commission staff was very helpful
in the preparation of this update. Please express the town's
appreciation to your staff for their assistance.
Sincerely,
Leroy H. Price
Mayor

•
Count► of Craven
Board of Commissioners
George B. Nelson,,7Chairman
Gerald L. Anderson, Y icc-Chairman
Grover C. Lancaster, Jr.
John B. Willis
W. J. Wynne, Jr.
June 17, 1980
Mr. George R. Scott, Chairman
Trent Woods Planning Board
P.O. Box 188
New Bern, North Carolina 28560
Dear Mr. Scott;
Henry E.Dicl,, County Manager
Tyler B. llarris, Clerk to Board
James R. Sugg, County Attorney.
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Craven
met in regular mid monthly session in the Commissioner's
Room of the County Courthouse in the City of New Bern,
North Carolina on June 16, 1980 at 2:00 p.m.
Commissioner Willis made the motion for the authorization
of Trent Woods to handle the responsibility of operating
its own CAMA Land Development Plan. Commissioner Lancaster
seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
If we can be of further assistance, do not hesitate
to call us.
cc: Donald Baumgardner
TBH/kn
P. 0. Box 1425
New Bern, North Carolina 28560 —3-
638-1424
Sincerely,
�G�/liGt'�_
TYL R B. HARRIS, Clerk
Board of Conunissioners
for the County of Craven

11
•
•
I. INTRODUCTION
-4-

PREFACE
The coastal areas of North Carolina provide a tremendous
natural resource to the citizens of North Carolina. The area
provides both recreational benefits and food production from
our coastal waters. In some areas adjacent to our coastal
waters, there is a danger that pollution from overdevelopment
may significantly damage the food production capacity of
nearby waters. This potential problem was the major reason
that the Coastal Area Management Act was ratified by the
North Carolina General Assembly in 1974. The purpose of the
Coastal Area Management Act is "to insure the orderly balance
of use and preservation of our coastal resources on behalf of
the people of North Carolina and the nation." The Coastal
Resources Commission was created to insure that the purpose
of the state law is followed.
Land Use Plans have been developed by most local
governments within the twenty coastal counties and are the
administrative tools for carrying out the provisions of the
law. These plans cannot survive unless they represent the
views of local citizens. For this reason, the Coastal
Resources Commission has required that a public participation
program be the foundation of the Land Use Plan. The
following is the Coastal Area Management Act Land Use Plan
for the Town of Trent Woods.
•
-5-

•
TOWN OFFICIALS
Trent Woods Board of Commissioners
Leroy H. Price, Mayor
David L. Cordes J. Douglas Jones
Carroll G. Ipock, II
Trent Woods Planning Board
0 George R. Scott, Chairman'
DeWitt L. Darden John G.Dunn
Stewart H. Smith
Dorothy H. Harrison, Town Clerk
James Lee Davis, Town Attorney
0

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. Introduction
Preface
5
Town Officials
6
Table of Contents
7
Summary of Data Collected
11
II. Present Conditions
Population and Economy
14
Housing .
16
Existing Land Use
17
III. Current Plans, Policies and Regulations
Transportation Plan
22
Community Facilities Plan
22
Utilities Extension Policies
22
Recreation and Open Space Plan
22
Land Use Plans
23
Development Objectives, Policies and Standards
24
Zoning Ordinances
24
Subdivision Regulations
27
Other Local Regulations
27
Federal and State Regulations
28
IV. Physical Limitations for Development
Flood Hazard Areas
32
Soils
35
Water Supply Area
36
Steep Slopes
36
Areas of Environmental Concern
37
Areas With Resource Potential
40
Man -Made Hazards
41
V. Capacity of Community Facilities
Water and Sewer Service 43
Primary Roads 45
VI. Estimated Demand
• Population 47
Future Land Needs 48
Community Facility Demand 48
VII. Policy Statements
Resource Protection 52
Resource Production and Management 55
-7-

Economic and Community Development 55
Hazard Mitigation Policy 58
Evacuation Plan 62
Post -Disaster Reconstruction Plan 63
VIII. Land Classification
Conservation 67
Transition 68
IX. Intergovernmental Coordination and Implementation 72
X. Trent Woods, New Bern and Craven County Plan 74
Relationship
XI. Public Participation 75
XII. Appendix - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SLOSH 81
Data
•
•

LIST OF TABLES
Table
Title
Page
1
History of Population Growth
15
2
Building Permits
16
3
Median Income
16
4
Housing Data
17
5
Existing Land Use
18
6
Undeveloped Land
19
7
Recorded Flood
35
8
Soil Distribution
36
9
Future Population
47
10
Land Use Needs
48
11
Estimated Property Value
60
12
Property Value Below 100 Year Flood Level
61
•
-9-

•
•
LIST OF MAPS
Map Title
1 Existing Land Use
2 Storm Hazard Map
3 Land Classification
4 SLOSH Map
LIST OF CHARTS
Chart Title
1 Peak Flood Elevation
2 Population Projection
-10-
Page
20
65
70
82
Page
34
47

SUMMARY OF DATA COLLECTED
The Town of Trent Woods is located adjacent to the City
of New Bern. Its existence is the result of the construction
in 1922 of the New Bern Golf and Country Club. Originally a
high income area, the Town's current population is largely
middle income. However, the single family, low density
residential development pattern has continued and as
evidenced by the response received from the public
participation program is still the desired development
pattern. As a result of this public participation program,.
the Town Board has reaffirmed its development policy of
encouraging only low density residential development,
neighborhood commercial and supporting industrial development
at other locations within Craven County. Currently, there is
only one industry, a family -owned boat repair facility, and
five commercial enterprises. Except for the few persons
employed in these businesses, all others employed work
outside of the Town of Trent Woods.
Few urban services are desired by the citizens of Trent
Woods. Fire protection is provided by volunteers, and police
protection is provided by the Town. The Town provides street
lights and a central water system. Land use planning, zoning
and subdivision regulations have been implemented in order to
coordinate private development with desired growth patterns.
These desired development patterns are consistent with
the standards of the North Carolina Coastal Area Management
0 Act. All of the land within the Town is classified either as
-11-

•
•
transition or conservation. The conservation area includes
eight acres of wetland, the estuarine waters of Trent River,
the estuarine shoreline and the public trust areas of all
navigable waters. It is the desire of town officials to
protect each of the conservation areas from inconsistent
development.
As a part of the 1985 update, data is presented which
will assist in the analysis of the effect of a major
hurricane on the Town of Trent Woods.
-12-

•
•
•
II. PRESENT CONDITIONS
-13-

POPULATION AND ECONOMY
In 1922 the New Bern Golf and Country Club was con-
structed approximately two miles west of New Bern on the
banks of the beautiful Trent River. This facility provided
the incentive for construction of a high quality residential
area adjacent to the golf course. In the middle 1950's the
area began to experience tremendous growth. As the area
continued to grow, the people living within the area realized
that at some point in time the Country Club area would be
within the City of New Bern. Desiring to be responsible for
their own governmental management, the people living within
this area decided to incorporate. Thus the Town of Trent
Woods was formed in 1959. Currently the town has 2,663 acres
within its planning authority which includes the extra-
territorial planning area.
The town's climate is warm in summer and generally mild
in winter. The average annual temperature is 63 degrees.
The average annual precipitation is 56 inches. The Trent
River, the generally high elevation, and the good soils of
the area are the town's primary natural resources. The river
provides a tremendous recreational benefit. The high
elevation prevents almost all areas of the town from flooding
and the sandy soils provide excellent support for building
foundations and road construction.
Almost all of the employed town residents work outside
the planning area. Most have incomes much higher that the
Craven County median. These people are employed in industry,
-14-

government, finance and service within driving distance of
the town. Employment within the town's planning area is
available only at a few locations: Carolina Telephone, the
New Bern Golf and Country Club, Matthews Boat and Cabinet
Shop, Bangert Elementary School, three curb markets, and a
night club. The employment provided by the above businesses
do not have a major impact on the town's economy. Town
officials are not encouraging employment generating.
activities. A history of the population growth in Trent
Woods is illustrated by the following table.
Table 1
HISTORY OF TRENT WOODS POPULATION GROWTH
1960 1970 1980 1985
512 719 .1177 *1600
Source: U. S. Census
Estimated
The rate of population growth from 1960 to 1970 was 40
percent. From 1970 to 1980 the growth rate was 64 percent.
The number of dwelling units in the planning area as of
January 1985 was 1329. With the average number of persons
per household at 2.72 persons, the estimated population of
the town and its planning area is 3,615 persons.
Because of the small size of Trent Woods, population
projections are not available from the N.C. Department of
Administration. An analysis of the local building permit
records for the years of 1974 thru 1984 indicate a decisive
trend of continued growth.
Building permits have been issued within the town and
its planning area since March 1974. Table 2 indicates the
-15-

number of permits issued. Lower interest rates account for
the major increase in building permits in 1984.
Table 2
TRENT WOODS BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED
March 20, 1974 through December 30, 1984
Year Units Year Units
1974 18 1980 19
1975 41 1981 41
1976 54 1982 22
1977 60 1983 55
1978 55 1984 179
1979 43 Total 597
Source: Building Permit Records
The residents of Trent Woods enjoy a high standard of
living. As stated earlier, most employed residents work
outside of Trent Woods. Table 3 shows the 1979 Trent Woods
median income. That median income is more that twice that of
both Craven County and the State of North Carolina.
Table 3
TRENT WOODS 1979 MEDIAN INCOME
1979 Median Percent Difference
Family Income From State
Trent Woods $362483 +110.0 Percent
Craven County 152765 -9.3 Percent
State 172376-----------
Source: U. S. Census, 1980
HOUSING
The quality of housing in Trent Woods is very high. For
example, the average housing value was listed in the 1980
census as $79,507. Many homes are valued above $150,000.
The average age of these homes is 15-20 years. Deteriorated
-16-

•
structures are non-existent. Table 4 is a good indicator of
current housing conditions.
Table 4
TRENT WOODS HOUSING DATA
1980
Number of Housing Units 444
Number of Occupied Units 443
Incomplete Plumbing 0
Owner Occupancy Rate 97.5%
Average Unit Size (Rooms) 6.9
Average Unit Value $78,507
Source: U. S. Census, 1980
EXISTING LAND USE
Within the town's planning area, there are 1,329 homes,
one elementary school, a yacht club, a country club and golf
course, three curb markets, a night club, a cabinet and boat
shop, two mobile home parks, a fire station and the Town
Hall. Matthews Boat and Cabinet Shop is located adjacent to
a residential area and is the.only industrial development
within the town.
In past years the industry did not present any
incompatibility problem. However, residential development
has encroached to the southern boundary of the industrial
property. There are no other incompatibility land use
problems within the town.
Trent Woods has almost 1000 acres of undeveloped land
within its planning area. Of this total, almost all is
reserved for single-family residential. However, Fifty-four
acres are reserved for multi -family and thirty-one acres are
reserved for commercial. See Table 5.
-17-

Table 5
EXISTING LAND USE
1985
Land Use
Acres
Percent
Residential
1420
53.3
' Commercial
23
0.9
Institutional
74
2.8
Recreational
150
5.6
' Industrial
6
0.2
Transportation,
Communication &
Utilities
4
0.2
Undeveloped
986
37.0
Total
2663
100.0
•
The land area which will experience change over the next
five years is the undeveloped land. Growth in population is
occurring. Over the past five years, slightly more than 100
acres have changed from undeveloped to residential use.
As discussed in the Conservation section of this plan,
there are four areas of environmental concern: An eight
acre wetlands tract, the estuarine areas of Trent River, the
estuarine shoreline of Trent River, and the public trust
areas of all navigable waters within the town. These areas
will only be allowed to develop to the standards of the North
Carolina Coastal Area Management Act. There are no other
areas of environmental concern within the town or its
planning area.
The town's present zoning is based on the purpose of
providing low density high quality housing. The current
zoning will allow the following use of undeveloped land. See
Table 6.
am

F9
u
•
Table 6
UNDEVELOPED LAND
1985
Zoned Acreage
Residential 954
Institutional 1
Commercial 31
Industrial 0
Total 986
Of the residential acreage, eight acres are wetlands and
cannot be developed.
Based upon the rate of growth discussed in Section VI of
this update, the undeveloped land will accommodate growth
into the 21st. century.
-19-

Ur - Residen.-ial
°•� �. -� Uc - Commercial
COW
� 5'""0'"° 9 - Institutional
Uc:
Uc U Ur 'IJ ` Ue - Recreational
Uc Ur � `
szs '� Uc Uv Ui - Industrial
Ur \
ur3L UV rUr r. I Uv - Undeveloped
UcCR fop
•!'
.. ,...., ....... Ur :ev gr ry
1 UV UV s
Ug UV ;: Ug
r ,
Ur - �� • UvUr
T lug
jg
__ryUr "k\ .q Ue I UV
Uv
U
:OOt2J r Ur g
L
S»1Po
ax-
Ian
Ur
Q� ` T RrN! L,2`'� J JL 1 ' y� Ur /
Ur
goo
a — "sow _ LiN�r
I
i
The preparation of this document was fir>Anced in part through a grant provided f
MAP 1
by the North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program, through funds provided f EXISTING LAND USE
by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered TOWN OF TRENT WOODS
by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and 1 inch = 2000 feet
Atmospheric Administration.

•
•
.7
III. CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
-21-

Trent Woods is a small, new town which does not plan to
accommodate major growth. Future plans for development are
to provide those basic services which will maintain the high
quality of life that currently exist within Trent Woods.
TRANSPORTATION PLAN
The town does not have a Transportation Plan. However,
it is included in the 1978 Transportation Plan for the City
of New Bern. All streets in the town are adequate for
current growth plans; consequently, the town plans not to
increase the capacity of its street system.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN
The town's only community facilities are a water system
and a street lighting system. The town is included in the
New Bern EPA 201 Sewage Treatment Facility plan for future
sewer service. Because of the current funding level of EPA,
the near future implementation of that plan within Trent
Woods is doubtful. There are no other community facilities
plans for Trent Woods.
UTILITIES EXTENSION POLICY
Trent Woods has a public water system. It is the town's
policy to extend those lines within its planning area upon
request if financial participation is provided by those
requesting service.
RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE
Current town policy is to consider public recreation as
lands become available for that purpose. Currently, there is
not any public recreation land in the town.
-22-

LAND USE PLANS
The town's Land Use Plan evolved from a land use policy.
That policy is to encourage low density residential
development, to discourage new mobile home parks, to
encourage only neighborhood commercial uses and to encourage
new industrial development outside of Trent Woods in other
locations within Craven County.
The major land use issue for the town i.s to maintain the
high quality of development. Past growth and economic trends
for the town have been favorable. All development to date
has been high quality, low density residential. Zoning
regulations have been written in such a way as to insure that
this trend will continue in the foreseeable future.
Adequate housing and other services are not issues
within the town. Police protection and public water service
are provided by the town, fire protection is provided by West
of New Bern Volunteer Fire Department, garbage collection is
provided by private contracts and sewer service is provided
by individual septic tanks on large lots and in good soil.
High quality residential living is the primary attraction for
people desiring to live within the Trent Woods planning area.
Important natural and environmental resources within the
town are good soils, high elevation, and Trent River
recreation. Low density has been a major factor in the
protection of these important resources. There are not any
cultural and historic resources within the town or its
planning area.
-23-

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND STANDARDS
The alternatives for development of Trent Woods were
presented to the citizens through a questionnaire in the
development of the 1985 CAMA Land.Use Plan update. Citizens
were asked what they liked best about Trent Woods. The
public was also asked what they liked least about Trent
Woods. A key part of the questionnaire stated current
development objectives. All of the twenty-six responses
agreed with current development policy. In response to the
questionnaire and other considerations, the town has
reaffirmed the following development policy.
The Town of Trent Woods will continue to encourage low
density residential development.
The Town of Trent Woods will continue to encourage only
neighborhood commercial.
The Town of Trent Woods will continue to support
industrial development within designated industrial
areas of Craven County.
The Town of Trent Woods will continue to discourage
expansion of existing mobile home parks.
The above policy is being implemented through its Zoning
Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The Town of Trent Woods adopted its Zoning Ordinance
on January 4, 1973. The Zoning Ordinance divides the town
into eight districts for regulating uses and one overlay
district for protecting wetlands. The districts and the
purpose of each are as follows:
Residential 20S (R-20S) A single family residential
district which allows single family dwellings.
-24-

Residential 20 (R-20) - A residential district which
allows single family, two family and multifamily
dwellings.
Residential 15S (R-15S) - A singly family residential
district which allows single family dwellings.
Residential 15 (R-15) - A residential district allowing
single family, two family and multifamily dwellings.
Mobile Home (MH) - A mobile home district which allows
mobile homes.
Institutional (Inst) - A district which allows
institutional uses such as offices and country clubs.
Industrial (Ind) - An industrial district having limited
contact with the general public and which allows only
light industrial uses, not emitting offensive noise,
smoke, odors, or fumes.
Commercial (Com) - A commercial district which allows
retail trade.
Wetlands (W) - An overlay district which may overlay any
of the above district for the purpose of protecting
wetlands as per the standards of the North Carolina
Coastal Area Management Act.
Twenty thousand (20,000) square feet are required for
each lot within the Residential 20S district. The net
density, including streets, is 1.89 units per lot.
The Residential 20 district is designed to accommodate
multifamily housing. The land area required within this
district is as follows:
First dwelling unit 20,000 square feet
Each additional unit 7,000 square feet
These land area requirements allow a net density of 6.04
units on a ten acre tract. With exception of the type of
dwelling unit and density, all requirements of the
Residential 20 district are identical to the 20S district.
The minimum lot area in the Residential 15S district is
-25-

15,000 square feet. The net density of the Residential 15S
district, including streets, is 2.42 units per acre.
The Residential 15 district is designed to accommodate
multifamily housing. The land area required within this
district is as follows:
First dwelling unit 15,000 square feet
Each additional unit 6,000 square feet
These land area requirements allow a net density of 7.11
units on a ten acre tract. With the exception of the type of
dwelling unit and density, all requirements of the
Residential 15 district are identical to the 15S district.
The Mobile Home district requires 5,000 square feet per
lot and a minimum distance between between mobile homes of 20
feet.
Offices and the country club are the primary uses
allowed in the Institutional district. It does not allow
residential uses as are allowed in some other zoning
ordinances.
The Industrial 'district allows only industrial uses and
the Commercial district allows only commercial uses.
The ordinance is short, designed by the governing board
specifically for the town. If a proposed used is not listed
in the table of permitted uses, it is not allowed. If the
proposed use is not listed in the table but is considered
reasonable by the governing body, the town will consider an
amendment to the table of permitted uses to allow the use.
No conflicts were found between this ordinance and
and state enabling legislation.
-26-

•
•
•
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
The Subdivision Regulation, adopted on September 25,
1983 and written using enabling legislation as a direct
reference, was also reviewed. The Subdivision Regulations
have been amended to reference all new development to the
North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act for consistence
with designated Areas of Environmental Concern.
OTHER LOCAL REGULATIONS
The only other local regulations adopted by the town are
the North Carolina State Building Code and nuisance
regulations as allowed by state law. The town does not have
a local flood ordinance, septic tank regulation, historic
district regulation, dune protection ordinance, sedimentation
code, or an environmental impact statement ordinance.
FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS
The following is a list of federal and state agencies
which have jurisdiction within the coastal area.
Agency
FEDERAL LICENSES AND PERMITS
1980
Licenses and Permits
Army Corps of Engineers -- Permits required under Section 9
and 10 of the Rivers and Harbors
Act of 1899; permits to construct
in navigable waters.
Permits required under Section 103
of the Marine Protection, Research
and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
Permits required under Section 404
of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972; permits to
undertake dredging and/or filling
activities.
-27-

Coast Guard -------------- Permits for bridges, causeways,
pipelines over navigable waters
required under the General Bridge
Act of 1946 and the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899.
Deep water port permits.
Geological Survey -------- Permits required for off -shore
Bureau of Land Management drilling.
Approvals of OCS pipeline corridor
rights -of -way.
Nuclear Regulatory ------- Licenses for siting, construction
Commission and operation of nuclear power
plants required under the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954 and Title II of
1974.
Federal Energy ----------- Permits for construction, oper-
Regulatory Commission ation and maintenance of inter-
state pipelines facilities requir-
ed under the Natural Gas Act of
1938.
Permission required for abandon-
ment of natural gas pipeline and
associated facilities under the
Natural Gas Act of 1938.
Licenses for non-federal hydro-
electric projects and transmission
lines under the Federal Power Act.
STATE LICENSES AND PERMITS
1980
Department of Natural ---- Permits to discharge to surface
Resources and Community water or operate wastewater
Development - Division treatment plants or oil discharge
of Environmental Mange- permits, NPDES Permits, (G.S. 143-
ment 215).
Permits for septic tanks - The
Division issues permits for septic
tank systems of all sizes,
providing the waste treatment
facilities serve industrial
process water flow or are
community owned. The Attorney
General has ruled that due to the
language of the statute such
systems owned by the State or
190

•
•
C�
Federal government are under
Health Department jurisdiction,
while those owned by cities,
counties and any other
organization unit (such as a
sanitary district and those system
regulated by the N.C. Utilities
Commission), are to be permitted
by the Division of Environmental
Management.
Permits for withdrawal of surface
or ground waters in ca acity use
areas (G.S. 143-215.155.
Permits for air pollution abate-
ment facilities and sources (G.S.
143-215.108).
Permits for construction of com-
plex sources; e.g. parking lots,
subdivision stadiums, etc. (G.S.
143-215.109j.
Permits for construction of a well
over 100,000 gal/day (G.S. 87-88).
Department of Natural ---- Permits to dredge and/or fill in
Resources and Community esturaine waters, tidelands, etc.
Development - Division (G.S.113-229)
of Coastal Management
Permits to undertake development
in Areas of Environmental Concern
(G.S. 113A-118). Note: Minor
development permits are issued by
local government.
Department of Natural ---- Permits to alter or construct a
Resources and Community dam (G.S. 143-215.66).
Development - Division
of Land Resources Permits to mine (G.S. 74-51).
Permits to drill an exploratory
oil or gas well (G.S. 113-381).
Permits to conduct geogra hical
exploration (G.S. 113-3915.
Sedimentation erosion control
plans for any land disturbing
activities over one contiguous
acre (G.S. 113A-54).
Department of Natural ---- Permits to construct an oil
-29-

•
•
Resources and Community refinery.
Development - Secretary
of NRCD
Department of Admin- ---- Easements to fill where lands are
istration proposed to be raised above the
normal high water mark of nav-
igable waters (G.S. 146.6(c)).
Department of Human ------ Approval to operated a solid waste
Resources disposal site or facility (G.S.
130-166.16).
Approval for construction of any
public water supply facility that
furnishes water to ten or more
residences (G.S. 130-160.1)
The above list of federal licenses and state permits was
provided by the North Carolina Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development as a part of the 1980
update.
-30-

C:
•
IV. PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT
-31-

FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
Trent Woods is located on the Trent River approximately two
and one-half miles upstream from its intersection with the
Neuse River. The town has approximately three miles of
frontage along the Trent River. Tide records for the Trent
River are not available and a Flood Plain Report has not been
prepared for the town. The southern limit of the report by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for New Bern is within one
mile of the town. Because of the proximity of the New Bern
report, data presented in that report is thought generally
applicable to Trent Woods as well.
Tide gauge records have been recorded in the Neuse River
estuary at various times since 1895. Since October, 1956,
the U.S.Geological Survey has maintained a recording tide
gauge at New Bern. A review of those records indicates that
tidal effects which occur in New Bern are due mainly to
atmospheric pressure and winds. Stream flow or normal
gravitational effects of the moon have little effect on the
Trent River level at Trent Woods.
The greatest flood known to have occurred in the Trent
Woods area during recent history occurred on September 19,
1955. Floodwaters from hurricane Ione rose to 10.6 feet
above mean sea level. Accompanying this flood were winds up
to 80 miles per hour and a rainfall of 20.04 inches in 24
hours. Another great flood struck the Trent Woods area in
1933. Local information indicates that the water accompanied
by high winds and waves reached 7.7 feet above sea level.
-32-

Other large floods occurred in the Trent Woods area in
September, 1960; August, 1955; October, 1954; and September,
1913. The August, 1955, flood was only two feet lower and
one month earlier than the Ione flood.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a study to
determine the Intermediate Regional Flood for the New Bern
area. This flood is known as the "100 year flood". An
analysis by the Corps indicated that the Intermediate
Regional Flood would be about 1.4 feet higher than the
hurricane Ione flood tide of 1955.
Tide flood duration usually varies from about ten to
twenty hours. Hurricane associated rainfall usually occurs
within a period of twelve hours.
0 A flood barrier project was authorized by Congress in
the Flood Control Act of 1965. The barrier has the potential
of reducing the 100 year flood level from 12.0 to 5.8 feet.
Because of the long time delay, it is unlikely that funds
will ever be appropriated to construct the barrier on the
Neuse River, approximately 18 miles below New Bern. See
Chart 1 for the Peak Flood Elevations. See Table 7 for a
complete list of recorded floods.
Man-made flood hazard areas do not exist within the
Trent Woods planning area.
•
-33-

•
•
RAINFALL FLOODS TIDE FLOODS
15 ,
STANDARD PROJECT FLOOD
W 14
� 13
a
W
N 1 2--INTERMEDIATE REGIONAL FLOOD
z "100 YEAR FLOOD"
W 11
SEPT. 1955 TIDE FLOOD(RECORD
W FLOOD SINCE 1900- ESTIMATED
a STANDARD PROJECT FLOOD 1 FREQUENCY OF OCCURENCE IS
ONCE IN 50 YEARS.)
9
W
w
INTERMEDIATE REGIONAL FLOOD
8
z
z
7
0
a
6
W
J
W
5
NOTE: RAINFALL FLOOD HEIGHTS
N
ARE FOR AREAS SOUTH OF
W
ATL. 9 E.C. RAILIRaY FILL.
4
ASSUMING NO CONCURRENT
ccc
HIGH -TIDE TYPE FLOOD.
3
o
0
0
�
-
2
i
O
STD. PROJECT FLOOD REDUCED
BY NEUSE RIVER BA[..IIER PROJ.
INT. REGIONAL FLOOD REDUCED
BY NEUSE RIVER -BARRIER PROJ.
SEPT. 1955 TIDE FLOOD REDUCED
BY NEUSE RIVER BARRIER PROD.
0
MEAN SEA LEVEL
CHART 3
CORPS OF ENGINEERS , U.S. ARMY
WILMINGTON.NORTH ,CAROLINA , DISTRICT
PEAK FLOOD
ELEVATIONS
AT
NEW BERN AND VICINITY. N.C.
MAY.1969
-34-

Table 7 Recorded Floods
New Bern Area
Neuse
River Maximum
Crest 24-Hour Total
Elev. Rainfall Rainfall
` No. Date of Flood (feet) (inches) (inches)
1 Sept. 19, 1955; Ione
10.6
20.04
2 Aug. 12, 1955; Connie
8.6
8.62
12.98
3 Sept. 18, 1933
7.7
.',
..
4 Sept. 3, 1913
7.7
5 Aug. 17, 1955; Diane
7.4
4.44
6.82
6 Sept. 12, 1950; Donna
6.4
4.23
4.51
7 Oct. 15, 1954; Hazel
6.2
1.76
1.92
No record
Source: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Less than five percent of
the town and its
planning area
is lower than 20 feet above mean sea
level. Consequently,
the town would experience only
minor
flooding in
the event of
a 100 year flood.
SOILS
Most of Trent Woods has excellent soils for develop-
ment. Sixty-two percent of the town's soils are sandy;
thus, septic tanks on large lots work well in these soils.
Within the Lakeland Sand, however, there is a possible hazard
of horizontal water movement from drain fields to private
water supplies. This is one of the reasons that the town
_ constructed a public water system. While the hazard of
contamination of drinking water no longer exists, the town
still maintain low density. Low density and good soils are
keys to adequate treatment of wastewater using septic tanks.
See Table 8 for a distribution of soils within the town's
planning area.
-35-

Table 8
Soil
Distribution
Trent Woods Planning Area
Percent
Development
'
Soil Number
Soil Name
Acres
of Town
Suitability
371
Kenansville
1,405
52.8
Good
78
Lakeland
326
12.3
Good
365
Norfolk
48
1.9
Good
352
Kalmia
44
1.8
Good
37
Conetoe
33
1.2
Good
410
Goldsboro
18
0.6
Good
544
Altavista
17
0.6
Good
35
State
13
0.4
Gbod
Subtotal
1,904
71.6
Good
460
Pactolus
43
1.6
Fair
Subtotal
43
1.6
Fair
870
Torhunta
295
11.1
Poor
BJ
Johnston
210
8.6
Poor
402
Johns
72
2.7
Poor
417
Lynchburg
35
1.3
Poor
582
Leon
30
1.1
Poor
830
Rains
20
0.7
Poor
891
Murville
19
0.7
Poor
893
Caperss
9
0.3
Poor
836
Pantego
6
0.3
Poor
Subtotal
716
26.8
Poor
Total
2,663
100.0
WATER
SUPPLY
AREAS
The Town
of Trent Woods has a
public water
system
connected to
the City of New Bern
system. The water supply
is the Tuscolossa
aquifer via deep
wells located
18 miles
west of Trent
Woods. Not all of the
planning area
is served
by this system.
Those homes not served
receive
their water
from private
individual shallow wells.
STEEP SLOPES
There are
no slopes greater than
12% within
the Town of
Trent Woods.
-36-

AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
A key element within the Coastal Area Management Act is
the identification of fragile areas and designation of these
areas as Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC). Of the AEC
areas identified in the Coastal Resources regulations, Trent.
Woods has only Coastal Wetlands, Estuarine Waters, Estuarine
Shorelines and Public Trust Areas. The Public Trust Areas
overlay the Estuarine Waters and include all navigable waters
within the town's planning area. None of the following AEC
areas are within the town's planning area: Ocean Hazard
Categories, Public Water Supply Categories, Fragile Coastal
Natural Categories, and Cultural Resources Categories.
Coastal Wetlands Areas of Environmental Concern - The
0 town has approximately eight acres of Coastal Wetlands.
These high tidal marshlands are adjacent to the Trent River.
Marsh grasses within the area include salt marsh Cordgrass
(Spartina alterniflora) and Black Needlerush (Juncus
roemerianus). This marshland type contributes to the
detritus supply necessary to the highly productive estuarine
system essential to North Carolina's economically valuable
commercial and sports fisheries, and also stabilizes the
shoreline against erosion.
The higher marshes offer quality wildlife and
waterfowl habitat depending on the biological and physical
conditions of the marsh. The vegetative diversity in the
higher marshes usually supports a greater diversity of
is
wildlife types than the limited habitat of the lower tidal
-37-

marsh. This marshland type also serves as an important
deterrent to shoreline erosion, especially in those marshes
containing heavily rooted species. The dense system of
rhizomes and roots of Juncus roemerianum is highly resistant
to erosion. In addition, the higher marshes are effective
sediment traps.
Appropriate land uses within these areas include utility
easements, fishing piers, docks and similar uses not
involving excavation or fill.
Estuarine Waters Area of Environmental Concern - The
Estuarine Waters include all waters from the mouth of Wilson
Creek downstream to and including the areas of the Atlantic
Ocean under the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina.
Estuaries are among the most productive natural environments
of North Carolina. They not only support valuable commercial
and sports fisheries, but are also utilized for commercial
navigation, recreation, and aesthetic purposes. Species
dependent upon estuaries, such as menhaden, shrimp, flounder,
oysters and crabs; make up over 90 percent of the total value
of North Carolina's commercial catch. These species must
spend all or some part of their life cycle in the estuary.
The high level of commercial and sports fisheries and the
aesthetic appeal of coastal North Carolina is dependent upon
the protection and sustained quality of our estuarine areas.
Appropriate uses within this area are those that preserve the
estuarine waters in order to safeguard and perpetuate their
biological, economic and aesthetic values.
MKM

Highest
priority
will be allocated
to the conservation
of estuarine
waters.
The development of
navigational
channels, the use of bulkheads to prevent erosion, and the
building of piers where no other feasible alternative exists
are examples of uses appropriate within estuarine waters,
provided that such uses will not be detrimental to the
biological and physical estuarine functions and public trust
rights. Projects which would directly or indirectly block or
impair existing navigational channels, increase shoreline
erosion, deposit spoils below mean high tide, cause adverse
water circulation patterns, violate water quality standards,
or cause degradation of shellfish waters are generally
considered incompatible with the management of estuarine
waters.
Estuarine Shorelines Area of Environmental Concern -
Estuarine Shorelines are those non -ocean shorelines which
are especially vulnerable to erosion, flooding, or other
adverse effects of wind and water and are intimately
connected to the estuary. This area extends on shore for a
distance of 75 feet from mean high water level or normal
water level along the estuarine waters of Trent River.
Development within estuarine shorelines influences the
quality of estuarine life and is subject to the damaging
processes of shore front erosion and flooding.
Public Trust Waters Area of Environmental Concern - All
waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder from
the mean high water mark to the seaward limit of state
-39-

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 high water mark or ordinary high water
mark, except privately owned lakes to which the public has no
right of access; all waters in artificially created bodies of
water in which exist 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 artificially created bodies of
water in which the public has acquired rights by
prescription, custom, usage, dedication or any other means.
Included in Public Trust Waters are areas such as 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 North Carolina
Constitution. Within the Town of Trent Woods and its
planning area, these areas are all navigable waters of Trent
River and its tributaries.
There are no other Areas of Environmental Concern
within the town or its planning area.
AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL
With the exception of a small acreage of productive
agricultural land, which is classified as undeveloped
residential within the town's zoning ordinance, there are not
-40-

•
•
any areas within the town's planning area which have resource
potential as defined by the Coastal Resources Commission
planning guidelines.
MAN-MADE HAZARDS
There are no man-made hazards to development within the
town or its planning area. Cherry Point Marine Air Base is
located twenty miles east of Trent Woods. Very few military
aircraft fly over the Town of Trent Woods.
-41-

•
•
•
V. CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
-42-

9 Water System CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Based on information from the City of New Bern, New Bern
has a reserve capacity for approximately 10,000 additional
people. Over the next fifteen years, to the year 2000, the
estimated growth within the Trent Woods planning area is
expected to be approximately 2,400 people. (See Table 9 on
page 47).
Water is purchased by Trent Woods for resale to its
customers. The Town of Trent Woods provides water throughout
the town and at some locations within its planning area.
Based upon the reserve capacity of the City of New Bern,
there is sufficient water supply for full development of the
Town of Trent -Woods. Political negotiations early in the
21st. century between Trent Woods and New Bern will determine
the future availability of reserve capacity to support growth
in Trent Woods.
Sewage System
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 201 Sewage
Treatment Plan has been prepared for the New Bern area. The
alternatives for service of this area are as follows:
1. Expansion of the New Bern Sewage Treatment Plant to
serve adjacent areas. Cost = $20,320,000+. Trent
Woods local cost $1,000,000+.
2. Construction of a new plant in Bridgeton, Trent
Woods and James City. Cost = $20,230,000+. Trent
Woods local cost $1,000,000+.
3. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Trent Woods and
James City. New plant in Bridgeton cost =
$20,300,000+. Trent Woods local cost = $190002000+.
-43-

4. Expansion of the New Bern Plant to serve Trent Woods
and Bridgeton. New plant in James City. Cost =
$20,210,000+. Trent Woods local cost = $1,000,000+.
5. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Bridgeton. New
plant to serve Trent Woods and James City. Cost =
$20,300,000+. Trent Woods local cost = $1,0001000+.
6. Identical to alternative 5, except that new plant to
serve Trent Woods and James City be located in James
City. Cost = $20,350,000+. Trent Woods local cost
= $110002000+
7. Construction of a new plant in Bridgeton and Trent
Woods -James City. Cost= $20,400,000+. Trent Woods
local cost = $11000,000+
8. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Trent Woods.
New plant to be constructed in Bridgeton and James
City. Cost = $20,180,000+. Trent Woods local cost
= $1,0002000+.
All of the above values are in 1975 dollars. The town
prefers alternative 8.
There is considerable interest by the residents and town
officials to construct a sewage system. Neither a detailed
feasibility study for a sewer system has not been prepared `
nor the actual cost of a sewer system has not been
determined. A future bond referendum may be necessary held
for the construction of a system. Package sewer treatment
plants is also an option for treatment of sewage in Trent
Woods. The town will allow such plants if approved by the
appropriate state agency.
There is some difference in the population estimates and
projection as shown in the Land Use Plan and the EPA 201
Sewage Treatment Plan. The 1985 population for Trent Woods
is considerably less than the 4,140 persons listed in the 201
plan. The -estimates and projection shown in the 201 plan
-44-

include other areas outside of the Town of Trent Woods
planning jurisdiction.
The Town of Trent Woods has four Areas of Environmental
Concern: an eight (8) acre wetland area, estuarine waters of
Trent River, estuarine shorelines along Trent River, and
It public trust areas. Should installation of the 201 project
•
ever occur, these areas will be protected from any damage
during the construction period and thereafter.
Roads
A11 streets within the town are designated as local
except for Chelsea Drive, Country Club Road and Highland
Avenue. Those streets are designated as thoroughfares in the
City of New Bern Thoroughfare Plan. Projected traffic in
1995 for Chelsea Drive, Country Club Road and Highland Avenue
is 5300, 2700 and 1100 vehicles per day (VPD), respectively.
According to the Thoroughfare Plan, these existing streets
are currently constructed to accommodate 8200 VPD. Existing
traffic for Chelsea Drive is 2900 VPD or 35% of existing
capacity, Country Club Road is 1900 VPD or 23% of existing
capacity, and Highland Avenue is 2700 VPD or 33% of existing
capacity.
-45-

•
•
•
VI. ESTIMATED,DEMAND
-46-

•
•
•
POPULATION
The following population projection is based the growth
trends as listed in the town's buildingpermit files.
Chart 2
POPULATION 5500
PROJECTION
1980
4500
TO
2000 4000
TOWN
3500
OF
o
In 3000
TRENT
w
WOODS
2500
2000
i500
1000
500
1960
I
II
I
TOW1 AND P
ANNIN
I
AREA POPULATION
;
( ��(
I
I
_
TOWN POPUL
TION
I
�
I
I
i
1970 1980 1990 2000
Table 9 FUTURE POPULATION
POPULATION
PROJECTION
DESIRED FUTURE POPULATION
1975
22394
1975
21394
1980
39051
1980
39051
1985
32614
1985
39614
1990
41224
1990
42224
2000
4,834
2000
41834
Source: Estimate based on
building permits
-47-

The 1995 population projection is approximately the same
as the citizens of the town indicated that they believed was
a reasonable population for the town planning area.
Because Trent Woods is a residential area of permanent
residents, there is not a seasonal population fluctuation.
The population and economic growth trends of Trent Woods
indicate an even steady growth.
FUTURE LAND NEEDS
Trent Woods has long considered its purpose to provide
high quality housing. The demand has been and will continue
to be housing. Because of the close proximity to New Bern,
less than one mile, goods and services are not provided in
Trent Woods. Thirty-one acres of undeveloped land has been
zoned for commercial use and will be developed at a later
date. The town's only industry is a family business which
employs only five people.
Table 10
LAND USE NEEDS
TRENT WOODS PLANNING AREA
1985 - 2000
Residential
Year Acreage
1985 1420
1990 1520
2000 1620
Commercial acreage needs are so small, it is not listed in
the above table.
COMMUNITY FACILITY DEMAND
Density allowed by the Zoning Ordinance is extremely
low. The R-20S zoning district, of which over 70% of the
OWC

town is zoned, only allows 1.89 dwelling units per acre. In
areas where public water is provided, the zoning district is
R-15S which only allows 2.42 dwelling units.per acre. One
small area of less than 10 acres is zoned R-20 which allows
multi -family at a density of less than 7 dwelling units per
acre. Because of these low densities, the need for community
facilities is not great.
Water System
.As stated earlier in this plan, the Town purchases water
from the City of New Bern. Present consumption is 98,000
GPD. By the year 2000, the consumption is expected to
increase to 348,000 GPD (assuming full connection of the town
and its planning area). Based upon data from the City of New
Bern, the town's water supplier, the existing City of. New
Bern system has sufficient reserve capacity to support future
water needs thru the year 2000.
Sewage System
Low density and good soil allow for efficient septic
tank operation in most areas of the town. Town officials
became interested in public sewer service through discussions
with the engineers in preparation of the EPA 201 plan.
Within the public participation plan, a great deal of comment
evolved concerning the desire to have a sewer system. Based
on information from the county health officer, there has been
no evidence of pollution of the estuarine waters either
within the town or its planning area. With all of the water-
front property currently developed and future development at
-49-

•
such a low density, it is unlikely that full development will
require the installation of a public sewer system. The
future of a public sewer system rests with the uncertain
fate of the New Bern Regional EPA 201 Sewer Treatment Plan.
Package Treatment plants offer a potential source of
sewage treatment. The town will allow package treatment
plants within the town if approved by the appropriate
federal, state and county agencies.
Park Land and River Access
Development over the next ten years will impact on
facilities such as park land and river access. While the
growth expected will not require the installation of a
public park, consideration is being given to the concept
while vacant land still exists. Three large public accesses
exist adjacent to Trent Woods. The closest public access is
within one mile of the town and the farthest is approximately
three miles from the town. These accesses are considered
adequate for the town's river recreational needs.
-50-

•
•
•
VII. POLICY STATEMENTS.
-51-

0 RESOURCE PROTECTION
Within the Town of Trent Woods and its planning areas,
Areas of Environmental Concern exist. These are Coastal
Wetlands, Estuarine Waters, Estuarine Shoreline and Public
Trust Areas. There are no other Areas of Environmental
Concern areas within the town or its planning area as
currently defined by the Coastal Resources Commission.
The Coastal Wetlands is discussed in detail within the
Physical Limitation section of this report. Because of the
fact that the wetlands area is small, only approximately
eight acres, only limited use of this area should occur. In
addition to the eight acres, there may be other small
wetland areas at other locations along Trent River and its
tributaries. The town believes limited use such as piers and
boat docks would be reasonable but not commercial marinas.
While there is some biological benefit to Trent River due to
the existence of the eight acre marsh area, no commercial
fishing and only limited sports fishing occurs within the
town along Trent River. While this small area has little
impact, the cumulative effect of many marsh grass areas have
significant impact on marine life within the Pamlico Sound.
Town officials have zoned the area as.wetlands and will
protect it under the Zoning Ordinance. Town officials also
believe the State of North Carolina has a responsibility to
protect the area as well.
The Estuarine
Waters
are also
discussed in detail within
the Fragile Areas
section
of this
report. The waters are
-52-

extremely
important to
the Town
of
Trent Woods. The
recreation
and scenic
value is -the
primary reason the golf
club 16cated on the Trent in 1922. Since that time, the
estuarine waters have been used by the residents of the town
for recreation purposes. The waters of the Trent River
provide excellent boating and bathing activities. The
development along the banks of these waters has been for
boat houses and docks. Boat storage is the only commercial
activity on the Trent River within Trent Woods. The town
believes that the only appropriate uses of estuarine waters
within the town and its planning area are piers, boat docks,
and boat storage for the purpose of providing access to the
estuarine waters. The town receives tremendous benefits from
these waters and is very much interested in these waters
being protected, not only for the recreational and scenic
value but also for the value that these waters provide our
commercial and sports fishing. Town, state, and federal
protection is needed. The town protects the river through
zoning, the state protects the water quality and the federal
government keeps the channel marked and navigable.
The Estuarine Shorelines are discussed in detail within
the Physical Limitation section of the report. The prime use
of this area by the citizens of Trent Woods is for
recreation. The town supports the protection of this area
for the benefit of the citizens of Trent Woods. However,
this use must be balanced with the need to protect the
estuarine shoreline for environmental purposes. Consistent
-53-

with this need, appropriate uses within this area are those
uses which substantially preserve natural barriers to
erosion.
The only other Area of Environmental Concern within the
town is the Public Trust Waters. These waters are defined as
all navigable waters within the town and its planning area.
The Public Trust Waters are discussed in detail within the
Fragile Areas section of this plan. Reasonable land uses are
identical to those consistent with the intent of the
Estuarine Waters and are important to the town for the same
reasons. Town, state, and federal protection are necessary
for the protection of these areas.
The town's policy is to not allow the development of
Areas of Environmental Concern except as allowed by CAMA.
Implementation is accomplished through state regulations and
the town's zoning and subdivision ordinances.
Soils are another constraint to development. While 71%
of the town has soils that are suitable for development, the
town's policy is to discourage development in areas where
soil conditions are not suitable for the installation of
septic tanks. An alternate considered policy was to allow
such development, but was dismissed as inappropriate.
Implementation is accomplished through the authority of the
Craven County Department of Environmental Services. Soils
which cannot support development are checked by the county
sanitarian. Septic tanks are not allowed in soils which will
not allow proper septic tank installation.
-54-

Very little land area within the town is subject to
0
flooding. The 100 year flood elevation is 12 feet above mean
sea level and over 98% of the homes are above this elevation.
Flooding within the town was not extensive during the major
hurricanes of the 1950's.
There are no specific local resource development issues
other than AEC's within the town. The town does not have
fresh water swamps or marshes, maritime forests, cultural and
historic resources or man-made hazards.
RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
Resource production and management within the Town of
Trent Woods is limited to recreation resources of Trent
River. The importance of Trent River has been discussed
within the AEC section.
The
town's policy
is to protect from
incompatible development
this
recreational
resource for both
water sports and recreational fishing. This policy is
implemented by CAMA and the Zoning Ordinance. Within the
town there are no significant productive agricultural lands,
commercial forests, existing and potential mineral production
areas, or commercial fishing areas.
Storm water runoff does not degrade water quality within
Trent Woods. Because of the low density and high sand
content of the soils within Trent Woods, storm water runoff
associated with continued growth is not expected to degrade
water quality in the future.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Town of Trent Woods supports the industrial
-55-

•
•
development program of Craven County. This program has not
designated any future industrial sites within Trent Woods or
its extraterritorial planning areas. The town's purpose for
being is to provide areas for high quality residential
development. Major industrial development within the town
and its planning area is regarded as inappropriate by the
Town Board of Commissioners. The one industrial area
designated in the town's Zoning Ordinance is a small family
business which began in the 1930's. The town did not desire
to consider alternatives to this policy. This policy is
implemented through the Zoning Ordinance.
The Town Board's policy is to provide services for
residential, institutional, and neighborhood business. Two
alternatives to this policy are (1) not to provide any
service or (2) to provide limited services to developing
areas. Because of the sandy soil conditions and in future
decades the possibles contamination of wells from septic
tanks, the first of these alternatives was rejected. In
order to implement this policy, a water system was
constructed in 1980. The town is also interested in
constructing a sewer system. 'In considering financing
sources, the Town Board has concluded that a sewer system can
only be installed as a part of the implementation of the New
Bern Regional EPA 201 Plan. Financing for the 201 plan does
not appear likely in the near future.
Package Treatment plants offer a potential source of
sewage treatment. The town will allow package treatment
-56-

plants within the town if approved by the appropriate
0 federal, state and county agencies.
Policy for future development is to continue to
encourage low density residential development, neighborhood
commercial near the fire station, industrial development in
other areas of Craven County and to discourage expansion of
existing mobile home parks. Because of major interest
expressed by the citizens in the questionnaire that this
policy should continue, the Board decided not to consider any
alternatives to this existing policy. This policy is
implemented by the Zoning Ordinance.
Redevelopment of existing areas is not an issue within
Trent Woods. Development of the area began in 1922 and there
are not any deteriorated areas within the town.
Redevelopment of existing areas may be an issue if storm
damage should cause major destruction. Should this occur,
the town will allow redevelopment and/or reconstruction on
existing recorded lots.
Because of the "smallness" of the Town of Trent Woods,
there has been only limited involvement with state and
federal programs. With the exception of LEAA, FmHA, EPA and
CAMA, the town has not participated in any state or federal
programs.
Since the town's existence, the U.S. Coast Guard has
maintained channel markers in Trent River. Erosion is not
occurring. Therefore, the location of the channel has not
changed. Neither beaches nor beach maintenance exist within
-57-

the town.
0 As stated previously, the Town of Trent Woods does not
desire to have major industrial development within its
planning jurisdiction. An energy facility is therefore
deemed inappropriate. This policy will be implemented
through the Zoning Ordinance.
The current Zoning Ordinance does not currently allow
additional commercial marinas. Any request which might be
received for a commercial marina will be reviewed as a part
of the standard rezoning process. All homes within the town
must be constructed to the North Carolina State Building
Code. Floating homes are not allowed under this code and are
therefore deemed to be not allowed in the jurisdiction of the
Town of Trent Woods.
Waterfront access is important to the town. Currently
there exist three large public boating access areas near the
town and many private boating accesses. The Town Board has
determined that the existing boating access facilities on
Trent River are adequate for the town's needs. It is the
town's policy to review on a case by case basis any areas
which may be offered to the town for waterfront access.
HAZARD MITIGATION POLICY
Trent Woods is located thirty miles inland from the
Atlantic Ocean. Because of the distance from the ocean and
the narrowness of the river at Trent Woods, only 1/4 of a
mile, wave action and erosion is not a problem. High winds
0 and flooding are the two problems Trent Woods should expect

•
to be associated with hurricanes.
The North Carolina Building Code requires that buildings
be designed to withstand wind velocities of 100 miles per
hour. While winds of this speed have not been experienced
since the 1950's, during that time winds of those velocities
were common. Between September of 1954 and October of 1955
Trent Woods experienced three hurricanes with wind velocities
at or near 100 miles per hour.
Flood levels during these hurricanes were also a
problem. On September 192 1955, Hurricane Ione created the
highest flood on record. Trent River crested at 10.6 feet
above sea level. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
determined that the 100 year flood level for Trent Woods is
12 feet above sea level.
All of the town is effected by high winds. A portion of
the town is effected by flooding. The map on page 65
shows the areas of the town subject to damage by hurricanes.
Within Trent Woods' planning area there are 1326 homes
and 14 commercial structures. The 1980 census lists the
average value for each home at $79,507. The average
estimated value for commercial structures is $150,000.
Based on this data, Table 11 list the estimated value of
property within the town's planning area.
-59-

Table 11
Estimated Property Value
Trent Woods Planning Area
Average
Number
Type
Value
Units
Total Value
Residential Units
$799507
1329
$105,6649803
Commercial Bldgs
41502000
14
221002000
Government Bldgs
902000
2
180,000
Total
1345
$10729442803
All structures within the town's planning area have been
constructed to the standards of the North Carolina State
Building Code. During the hurricanes of the 1950's, there
was little structural damage. However, there was major
damage to roofs, porches, windows, siding and accessory
buildings. Assuming a wind damage of 10% of the total
property value, the total estimated wind damage value would
be almost 11 million dollars for the town's planning area.
While rainfall is heavy during hurricanes, rising water
caused by wind tides in the Trent River presents the only
flooding threat to the town. Due to the relative high
elevation of the town, Trent Shores and Wilson Point are the
only areas within the town's planning area effected by
flooding.
All of the land use in these area are single family
residential. The value of these thirty-two residential
structures is shown in Table 12.
�J

•
•
Table 12
Property Values
Located
on Lots below 100-Year Flood
Level
Trent
Woods Planning Area January,
1985
Trent Shores Subdivision
Tax Number
Improvements
Total Value
8/46/10
$ 619760
$ 702506
8/46/15
582840
64,900
8/46/16
502900
582180
8/46/17
672550
74,150
8/46/18
54,700
592450
8/46/22
432360
54,240
8/46/25
53,560
692380
8/46/26
26,370
34,600
8/46/28
332260
412170
8/46/31
622910
829600
8/46/32
48,440
80,730
8/46/44
609770
682830
8/47/1
352000
65,243
8/47/3
35,090
659923
8/47/5
81,210
1012610
8/47/6
452500
96,050
8/47/9
472900
81,454
8/47/13
639880
94,260
8/47/17
462050
78,138
8/47/18
45,730
962646
8/47/19
552500
66,820
8/47/20
53,270
77,756
Trent Shores Subtotal
$1,131,550
$125822636-
Wilson Point Subdivision
Tax Number Improvements
8/53/6
$ 44,510
8/53/7
55,140
8/53/8
78,040
8/53/9
94,800
8/53/10A
292670
8/53/12
392330
8/53/13
292860
8/53/34
85,620
8/53/36
47,750
8/53/39
38,980
Wilson Point Subtotal $ 543,700
Total $11675,250
-61-
Total Value
$ 112,190
93,490
1262300
132,620
79,100
66,860
56,982
1099020
59,850
63,580
$ 899,992
$2,4822628

The above values are based on the Craven County tax value as
of January, 1985. These values will increase as a result of
the county reevaluation, currently underway.
The total improvement tax value for the Trent Shores and
Wilson Point Subdivisions is $1,675,250. Assuming an average
flood damage of 30% of the improvement tax value for a 100
year flood, the flood damage could be as high as 1/2 million
dollars. There are additional recorded lots within the areas
subject to flooding by a 100 year storm. It is the town's
policy to issue permits for construction, if requested, on
these recorded lots.
Mitigation needs for Trent Woods are for wind and flood
damage. The town will continue to require that structures be
built to the 100 mile per hour wind velocity standards
listed in section 1205, Volume I of the North Carolina State
Building Code. Modular and mobile homes should continue to
be anchored according to the.hurricane zone standards listed
in Appendix A, State of North Carolina Regulations for Mobile
Homes and Modular Homes.
EVACUATION PLAN
Both Trent Woods and Craven County have adopted the
Disaster Plan prepared by the Craven County Office of
Emergency Services. In the event that evacuation is
determined to be necessary, it will be implemented by that
Office with the assistance of the Trent Woods Police
Department. The Craven County evacuation plan has been
evaluated by the town and found to be appropriate. The time
-62-

0
•
required for evacuation from the areas of the town subject to
flooding does not exceed the standard warning time provided
by the National Weather Service.
POST -DISASTER RECONSTRUCTION PLAN
Immediate clean-up is the most pressing need after a
hurricane. The town's responsibility deals with health,
safety and public welfare. As a part of the immediate clean-
up activity, any materials causing a hazard to the citizens
will be removed. The town will also check its water system
for contamination. If any contamination is found, the town
will take immediate steps to prevent the contamination from
adversely affecting its citizens and correct the problem.
The town also has responsibility for clean-up of its
streets. This activity will be performed by either the
hiring of temporary employees or contracting with -local
persons that have the capacity to accomplish this task.
Restoring electrical service will be necessary.
Carolina Power and Light and the City of New Bern has
responsibility for this service.
Reconstruction over a longer period will be a major
problem for those persons sustaining major property damage.
Because of the small size of the town, the Town Board of
Commissioners will serve as the Recovery Task Force. The
Town Board will oversee the repair of the town's streets and
any other public facility sustaining damage. It is the
town's policy to repair these public facilities as quickly as
possible.
-63-

•
•
It is also the town's policy not to implement -a
temporary moratoria. This policy will allow all private
property to repaired or rebuilt as quickly as possible.
Building permits will be issued as requested by the town's
citizens. Development standards for repairs and/or
reconstruction are the Zoning Ordinance and the North
Carolina State Building Code.
There are no public facilities other than streets and
water lines within the areas subject to flooding. Therefore,
the town does not plan to relocate any public facilities.
-64-

(�J
ro•:r
80
`
i
,a .
'-•o �q � � �tr '; � ''� � y� lan
8J 10, n I
^ ..
im
000
LA
U!J
1
'RENT%///J/ i
41,
Lill
�'284 !22i . .
12
� T /VENT ,1 1
1 �'!j4'!t-44
r ,
woo
♦ L
The preparation of this cumeiit as financed in part ough a g t provide
by the North Carolina stal Zo gement ram, rough f s provided �' ..� R!✓ER
by the Coastal Zone Management Act 1972, as amended, which is a nistered
by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
®
Area subject to flooding MAP 2
�r/ - STORM HAZARD MAP
during a 100 year storm F. TOWN OF TRENT WOODS
u 1 inch = 2000 feet

•
VIII. LAND CLASSIFICATION
•
•

LAND CLASSIFICATION
The Land Use Plan is made up of several important
elements: (1) the development policy of the Town of Trent
Woods, (2) the planning guidelines of the Coastal Resources .
Commission, and (3) spatial distribution of various existing
land uses of the town.
The state's Land Use Planning Guidelines for Coastal
North Carolina requires that lands within the jurisdiction of
a local government be classified as Developed, Transition,
Community, Rural and Conservation. Within the town, there
are two classes: Conservation and Transition. The planning
guidelines state that:
"Conservation:
Purpose. The purpose of the conservation class is to provide
for the effective long-term management and protection of
significant, limited or irreplaceable areas. Management is
needed due to the natural, cultural, recreational, scenic or
natural productive values of both local and more than local
concern.
Description and Characteristics. Areas meeting the intent of
this classification include: AEC's, including but not limited
to public trust waters, estuarine waters, coastal wetlands
etc. as identified in 15 NCAC 7H; other similar lands,
environmentally significant because'of their natural role in
the integrity of the coastal region and including but not
limited to bottom land hardwoods, pocosins, swamp forests,
areas that have a high probability of providing wildlife
habitat, forest lands that are essentially undeveloped and
lands which otherwise contain significant productive,
natural, scenic, gultural or recreation resources."
Within the Town of Trent Woods, the conservation areas
are the eight acre wetlands area south of Trent Shores Drive,
the estuarine waters of Trent River, the esturine shoreline,
and the public trust areas of all navigable waters.
0 Concerning the Transition classification, the planning
-67-

0
guidelines state that:
"Transition:
Purpose. The purpose of the transition class is to provide
for future intense urban development on lands that are
suitable and that will be provided with the necessary urban
services to support intense urban development.
Description and characteristics. Areas meeting the intent of
the transition classification are presently being developed
for urban purposes or will be developed in the next five to
ten years to accommodate anticipated population and urban
growth. These areas are in, or will be in a "transition"
state of development going from lower intensity uses to
higher intensity uses and as such will eventually require
urban services.
Areas classified transition will provide lands for intensive
urban growth when lands in the developed class are not
available. Transition lands must be able to support urban
development by being generally free of physical limitations
and be served or readily served by urban services. Urban
development includes mixed land uses such as residential,
commercial, institutional, industrial and other uses at or
approaching high to moderate densities. Urban services
include water, sewer, streets and roads, police and fire
protection that will be made available at the time
development occurs or soon thereafter. Permanent population
density in this class will be approaching 2,000 persons per
square mile and the seasonal population may swell
significantly.
In choosing land for the transition class, such land should
not include: Areas with severe physical limitations which
would make the provision of urban services difficult or
impossible, lands which meet the definition of conservation,
lands of special value (unless no other alternative exists)
such as productive and unique agricultural lands, forest
lands, potentially valuable mineral deposits, water supply
watersheds, scenic and tourist resources including
archaeological sites, habitat for important wildlife species,
areas subject to frequent flooding, areas important for
environmental or scientific values, lands where urban .
development might destroy or damage natural systems or
processes of more than local concern, or lands where intense
development might result in undue risk to life and property
from natural or existing manmade hazards."
Within the Trent Woods planning area, there are
0 approximately.3,600 persons living on 1,420 acres of
.:

developed residential land. the average density of the area
is 2.54 persons per acre, or 1,625 persons per square mile.
All of Trent Woods and its planning area is of an urban
character. Water service was installed in 1980. Sewer
service is expected to follow. For these reasons, Trent
Woods, including its planning area, is classified as
transition.
r�

DAP
COI
•-.--�-". -� �. j M4'V_rr • _•----ram-'"'- �\\
,�� it �� �•�-4 it .� , � /
I f
40
- - - --�
vO 7
rRENr7`.7: i zss�
`--� � ' 1 %z`sp i•
The preparation of this document rt r a grant p , ided `
by the North Carolina Coastal Zo• `gement Program, th funds pr ide L
1
by the Coastal Zone Management, ct o 2, as amended whi s admini ered
by the Office of Ocean and Coa tat Resou Management Nationa Oceanic, and R/vfR
Atmospheric Administration.
C� Transitions
j MAP 3
® Conservation
LAND CLASSIFICATION
TOWN OF TRENT WOODS
`� 1 inch = 2000 feet

•
U
•
IX. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
-71-

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
Craven County, New Bern and Trent Woods are the three
local units of government which are involved in the
development of Trent Woods and the implementation of this
plan.
Craven County provides assistance with the development
of an evacuation plan under the Office of Emergency Services,
building inspection through the Craven County Building
Inspection office, and septic tank review and approval
through the Craven County Health Department.
New Bern provides assistance with the development of
Trent Woods by providing water for the town's water system.
Water is purchased by Trent Woods from New Bern and resold to
its citizens. New Bern is also cooperating with Trent Woods
in the improvement of Trent Road. This road was substandard
in width and in very poor condition. Being the dividing line
between the City of New Bern and the Town of Trent Woods,
both New Bern and Trent Woods are participating in Trent
Road's widening and resurfacing.
-72-

•
C.
X. TRENT WOODS, NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY
PLAN RELATIONSHIPS
-73-

TRENT WOODS, NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY PLAN RELATIONSHIP
The Trent Woods Land Use plan is but a small part of the
Craven County Land Use Plan. Communication has been
maintained with Craven County and the City of New Bern in
order to ensure conformity with the county plan. All of the
land within Craven County and New Bern adjacent to Trent
Woods is classified as Transition, the same classification as
Trent Woods.
-74-

•
•
•
XI. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
-75-

The town's Board of Commissioners is responsible for
directing the town's public participation program. The
purpose of the program was two -fold. It served as the
key element in goals and objectives determination and made
people aware of the overall purpose of the Coastal Area
Management Act. Efforts were made to solicit participation
from as many people as possible in the town's land use
planning process.
The town developed a questionnaire and mailed it to
ten percent (10%) of all water users. Of the 50
questionnaires mailed, 26 or 52% were returned. On the first
page of the questionnaire, a brief description was given of
the Coastal Area Management Act. From the results obtained
from the public participation program, the Town Board decided
its development
to reaffirm current policies.
Public education and continual participation in planning
matters are encouraged through regular meetings at the Trent
Woods Town Hall. As a part of this update, the Town
discussed the plan at five public meetings. Two of these
meetings were attended by the Planning Board. The update was
adopted at a public hearing. All Town Board and Planning
Board meeting are regularly scheduled and public attendance
is encouraged. The system of public participation has worked
well in the past and will be continued.
CITIZEN'S OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE
In 1974, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the
Coastal Area Management Act which is applicable only to the
twenty eastern counties of North Carolina. It requires that
Land Use Plans be prepared for guiding future growth in all
-76-

effected cities, towns and counties. Trent Woods is one of
those effected towns.
The Act gives the Coastal Resources Commission or Craven
County the authority to prepare a Land Use Plan for Trent
Woods. The Act also requires that any new development within
Tent Woods be consistent with the Land Use Plan.
The Town Board of Commissioners considers the planning
required by the Coastal Management Act an opportunity for the
town to development its own long range Land Use Plans and
Policies consistent with the desires of its citizens. For
this reason, the Trent Woods Town Board has chosen to develop
its own Land Use Plan rather than have it prepared by someone
else.
The current Land Use Plan was developed in 1975, updated
in 1980 and must be updated again in 1985. It is important
that the Board obtain the views of the community before any
policy revisions are made. Accordingly, the questionnaire
below is to be used as a main source of information for this
update.
You were selected at random to participate in this
survey. Please express your views by answering the
• questionnaire and returning it to the Town Hall. Also,
public meetings will be held on this update at the Town Hall
in the near future. You are invited to attend these meetings
and express your views. If you have any questions concerning
this questionnaire, please contact the Town Hall.
Thank you for your assistance.
Agree
Disagree
No
Opinion
1. The Town has approximately 2,600 people
in its planning area. When it is fully
developed the current zoning density
will allow approximately 5,000 people.
This is a reasonable population for the
Town's planning area. 91% 9% 0%
2. The Town should discourage industry
from locating in its planning area. 96% 4% 0%
3. The Town should encourage only
neighborhood commercial areas
in its planning area. 96% 4% 0%
4. The Town should continue to encourage
low density residential development. 100% 0% 0%
5.•The area in the Town currently zoned
-77-

•
•
for condominium development should
be buffered from single family units. 96% 0% 4%
6. The Town should expend funds for public
recreation areas. 52% 39%
7. Fire protection is adequate for the
Town's planning area. 91% 0%
8 The Town needs a public sewage system
which will eliminate the need for
septic tanks. 83% 13%
9. The Town Zoning Ordinance requires low
density residential throughout the
Town except near the fire station. In
this area, neighborhood commercial,
condominiums and apartments are allowed.
Condominiums and apartments are also
allowed near Bangart School. This
zoning pattern is appropriate for
Trent Woods. 39% 61%
10. The Town should allow more mobile
homes in its planning area. 0% 100%
11. The Town has a good zoning ordinance. 78% 18%
12. The Coastal Area Management requires
that development in the coastal counties
be consistent with Land Use Plans.
Under these plans some people are not
going to have complete freedom of what
they do with their property. In the
long run, the Coastal Area Management
Act is going to benefit Coastal North
Carolina. 78% 18%
13. The Town's current development policy is
to encourage low density residential, to
discourage new mobile parks, to encourage
only neighborhood commercial and to dis-
courage industry from locating within
its planning area. This development
policy is valid and should continue in
the foreseeable future. 100%
9%
9%
4%
0%
0%
4%
4%
0% 0%
14. The Town's 24-hour police protection
program has been an asset to the Town. 91% 9%
15. Town zoning allows a density of approxi-
mately two (2) homes per acre. This
density is too low and should be in-
creased. 13% 87%
0%
0%
-78-

16. The Town should develop policies which
will encourage people not to build in
areas subject flooding by hurricanes. .74% 17% 9%
17. The Town should continue the policy -
of surveying public attitude on major
Town questions. 100% 0% 0%
18. The Town has installed a sufficient
number of street lights to provide
for the town's needs. 70% 26% 4%
19. What do you like best about Trent Woods?
20. What do you like least about Trent Woods?
21. What does Trent Woods need that it does not now have?
22. Do you have any comments or concerns not adequately
covered by this questionnaire?
Name
Address
The following are questionnaire comments received. The
number listed after each comment indicates the number of
times that comment was repeated.
19. What do you like best about Trent Woods?
Beauty - 5
Quiet - 11
Clean - 2
Good location - 12
Friendly neighborhoods - 4
Single family housing - 1
20. What do you like least about Trent Woods?
Not enough street lights - 2
No public sewer - 4
Roads not wide enough - 1
Unleashed dogs - 7
No designated bike and running lanes - 1
Fast traffic on Country Club Road - 1
High water rates - 1
People burning trash - 1
Lack of 24 hour police protection - 1
&AM

Having to call sheriff to get police - 1
Mobile homes -1
21. What does Trent Woods need that it does not now have?
Public sewer system - 8
Dog control law enforced - 7
Designated exercise lanes - 1
Garbage and trash pick-up - 1
Post office - 1
Mail box - 2
Better drainage system - 1
More street lights - 2
Major roads wider - 1
Better 24 hour police protection - 1
22. Do you have any comments or concerns not adequately
cover by this questionnaire?
No direct way for fire trucks to reach Wedgewood Drive.
Need a drop box for payment of water bill.
Need more involvement of residents in town meeting.
Too many limbs hanging over power lines that could cause
trouble in wind storms.
Mail box needed
Dogs are a real problem.
No apartment or condominiums near schools.
M

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
_ WILMING10N DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
P.O. BOX 1890
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28402-1890
IN REPLY REFER TO November 27, 1985
Flood Plain Management
Services Branch
Mr. Dexter Moore
3305 Winstead Road
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27801
Dear Mr. Moore:
This is in reply to your telephone request of November 22,
1985, for SLOSH information at Trent Woods in Craven County, North
Carolina.
Enclosed is a copy of the MEOW (Maximum Envelope Of Water)
map of the SLOSH results. This map represents a composite of the
results of approximately 300 SLOSH runs of hypothetical storms
approaching the area from five different directions and for five
different hurricane intensities. Because of the lead time
involved and the erratic nature of hurricanes, we eliminated the
consideration of direction and mapped the inundation limits of the
category 2, 3, and 5 intensities. Enclosed are copies of the
Saffir/Simpson hurricane intensity scale and our news letters
which should help explain what SLOSH is and some of the other
terminology.
If we can be of further assistance in this or any other flood
plain matter, please contact us.
Enclosures
•
Sincerely,
� :V—
K. B. Old, Jr., P.
Chief, Flood Plain Management
Services Branch
-81-

•
1]
S L 0 S H M A P
Trent Woods Portion of Craven County
Prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Mote: This map was drawn from a
colored map furnished by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Fifteen foot contour area inundated by a category 4 & 3 storm.
- Twelve foot contour area inundated by a category 3 storm.
- Eight foot contour area inundated by a category 1 & 2 storm.
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program, through funds provided
by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered
by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
-82-

•
3.0 Background
w 3.1 SAFFIR/SIMPSON SCALE
Hurricanes, the greatest storms on Earth, are tropical cyclones in which
winds reach a constant speed of at least 74 miles per hour (mph) and may gust to
200 mph. On the average their spiral clouds cover an area several hundred miles
in diameter. The spirals are heavy cloud bands from which torrential rains
fall. Tornado activity may be generated in these spiral cloud bands. They are
unique in that the vortex or eye of the hurricane is deceptively calm and almost
free of clouds with very light winds and warm temperatures. Outside the eye,
their counterclockwise winds bring destruction and death to coastlines and
islands in their erratic path.
The Saffir/Simpson Scale is used by the National Hurricane Center to give
public officials a continuing assessment of the potential for wind and storm -
surge damage. Scale numbers are made available to public officials within 72
hours of storm landfall. Scale assessments are revised regularly as new
observations are made.
0 TABLE 3-1
SAFFIR/SIMPSON SCALE
SCALE
CENTRAL
PRESSURE
WINDS
STORM *
NUMBER
MILLIBARS
INCHES
(MPH)
TIDE(FT)
DAMAGE
1
>980
>28.94
74-95
4-5
Minimal
2
965-979
28.50-28.91
96-110
5-7
Moderate
3
945-964
27.91-28.47
111-130
7-10
Extensive
4
920-944
27.17-27.88
131-155
9-13
Extreme
5
<920
<27.17
155 +
15 +
Catastrophic
* Adjusted
to Dade
County using the
1983 U.S. Army
Corps of
Engineers
Technical
Data Report - (includes astronomical high
tide).
•
The Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale was developed by Mr. Herbert Saffir,Consulting
Engineer, Dade County, Florida and Dr. Robert H. Simpson, Simpson Weather Associates,
Charlottesville, Virginia
IM

•
•
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
HURRICANE EVACUATION
STUDY
NEWSLETTER
Number 2 September 1985
This is the second in a series of
newsletters designed to keep you informed
on the progress of the Eastern North
_
Carolina. Hurricane Evacuation Study. We
hope that by keeping you up-to-date on
our progress, you will be able to help
produce emergency plans that meet your
hurricane evacuation needs. Please give
us your suggestions.
On the last page of this newsletter is
,1
a list of names of people to contact if
_
you have any questions or comments about
any of the information contained in this
\
newsletter.
STUDY EFFORT COMPLETES FIRST YEAR
June marked the end of the first year
-
of our evacuation study effort. A great
�..
deal of work has been completed in this
_
_
past year, a summary of which is pre-
_...._ --
sented in this newsletter. A much more
detailed briefing on the results of all
work efforts was given at four Disaster
_
Preparedness Committee meetings held in
1 -
June at Jacksonville, Washington, Roanoke
'
Island, and Elizabeth City. At those
meetings, the Corps of Engineers gave an
overview of the study methodologies. and
progress to date. This was followed by
- �-
presentations of the results of the
a�v -
Hazards Analysis and the Behavioral
Analysis by representatives of The
t
National Hurricane Center and Hazards
Management Group, Inc., respectively. We
hope that you were able to attend one of
those very informative review meetings.
1
—84—
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA • FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 0 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

SPOTLIGHT.... THE HUMAN FACTOR OF
IF HURRICANE RESPONSE
Because a hurricane can affect the
lives of thousands, the way people react
to hurricane threats is important in
determining response requirements for
coastal areas. Since evacuation is a
primary form of response to hurricanes,
critical items to measure are those human
response factors that affect the time
needed for evacuation.
To identify the type of human response
information required, legs examine the
portion of evacuation time most affected
by human behavior -- the time required
for threatened individuals to leave home
and reach safe destinations. This
"clearance time", as it is often called,
begins when the first evacuating vehicle
enters the roadway and ends when the last
vehicle reaches its destination. It
includes the time required by evacuees to
secure their homes and prepare to leave
(mobilization time); the time evacuees
spend traveling along the road network
(travel time); and the time spent by
evacuees waiting along the road network
0 due to traffic congestion (queuing delay
time) .
Human behavior affects these components
of clearance time by influencing the
number, timing, and duration of evacua-
tion trips on the road network. The
number of evacuation trips is affected by
the percentage of people in risk areas
who evacuate ( that is, how many would
leave or stay), and how many vehicles
these evacuees use. The timing of when
people make the decision to leave and the
total number of vehicles used affect both
the delays experienced entering the road
network and the level of traffic conges-
tion encountered during the evacuation.
The duration of evacuation trips depends
upon the level of traffic congestion and
the evacuees destination, varying greatly
with the type of refuge evacuees seek
(public shelter, motel, home of a friend
or relative) and the location of the
refuge ( local or out of town) .
Clearance times also vary considerably
with different threat situations, and
with respect to what people believe they
should do, based on information received
from official sources.
For these reasons, information on
probable responses to hurricanes has been
collected from existing behavioral
studies and on -site sample surveys. From
an analysis of this data, predictions
have been made as to what people can be
expected to do in a variety of situa-
tions. These predictions -- along with
hazard, population, and traffic engineer-
ing data -- form the basis for computing
clearance times.
Behavioral information is valuable to
all agencies supporting an evacuation.
For example, knowing how conditions will
vary the demand on public shelters is
useful for determining the adequacy of
existing facilities, if additional
shelters are needed, and for estimating
manpower required for shelter management.
Local and State officials can also gain
valuable insight into what motivates or
deters people's response to evacuation
information, which is helpful in emer-
gency decision -making and public aware-
ness efforts. For example, if the Be-
havioral Analysis shows that a low
percentage of people will evacuate from
high or moderate risk areas, then ex-
panded public awareness efforts may be
necessary to let these people know of
their potential risk. On the other hand,
if the results of interviews with persons
living in low risk areas show that those
people intend to evacuate in large
numbers, then public awareness efforts
aimed at reducing that response rate may
be required in order to avoid unnecessary
highway congestion and demand on
sheltering resources.
-85-

•
Thus, the benefit of knowing what
people intend to do in hurricane situa-
tions'goes beyond just defining input for
subsequent tasks of the hurricane evacua-
tion study. It provides direction for
pursuing possible ways to improve human
response in future hurricane threats.
HAZARD ANALYSIS
The National Hurricane Center has
completed the SPLASH and SLOSH computer
modeling of the coastal areas of North
Carolina. Based on the results of that
modeling, the Corps of Engineers com-
pleted an evaluation of the hurricane
vulnerability of those coastal areas. The
findings were presented to State Division
of Emergency Management officials at two
meetings in March and April. At those
meetings, decisions were made by State
officials that reduced the 25 original
hurricane parameter combinations (5 ap-
proach directions combined with 5 Saffir/
Simpson intensity categories) to 3 evacu-
ation decision -making situations. Consid-
eration of approach direction was elimi-
nated, and the 5 intensity categories
were grouped into categories 1 & 2, 3,
and 4 &.5. The basis for these decisions
was explained at the June Disaster
Preparedness Committee meetings.
Areas exposed to freshwater flooding
from rainfall runoff have been identified
by the county Emergency Management
Coordinators and located on maps. While
usually not life threatening in coastal
areas, rainfall flooding accompanying a
hurricane can render low lying roadways
or intersections useless for evacuation.
Knowing what roads may be affected is
critical in developing feasible
evacuation road networks.
VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS
Most of the work effort devoted to this
task centered on assembling and evaluat-
ing information needed to determine the
number of persons at risk.
Surge heights from the hurricane surge
analysis described in the previous
section were mapped on 1:250,000 scale
maps. Then flooded areas that will result
from those surge heights were delineated
on topographic maps. The surge height and
flooded area maps were reviewed with the
18 county Emergency Management Coord-
inators at the recent Disaster Prepared-
ness Committee meetings. Copies of the
flooded area maps have been furnished to
the respective county coordinators for
use this hurricane season.
Evacuation scenarios and evacuation
zones were also discussed at those
meetings. These are important components
for calculating evacuation times and will
be closely coordinated with emergency
management officials. Each evacuation
scenario will define a level of threat,
or risk area to be evacuated, according:
to the 3 combinations of storm intensity
categories 'described in the previous
section. From this, the population -at -
risk will be identified, forming the
basis for calculating clearance times.
Evacuation zones will subdivide these
risk areas into smaller units. to help
transportation planners model traffic
movements more accurately.
Population data from the 1980 Census
were obtained and assembled. This infor-
mation, which included data on the number•
of vehicles and dwelling units (by type),
was the basis for making 1986 population
projections. In addition, seasonal and
non -seasonal tourist population figures
were assembled from a number of private
and public sources.
3
-86-

Lists of hospitals, nursing homes, and
other institutions were obtained from
State of North Carolina Department of
Human Resources officials and were
located on topographic maps. Those
facilities lying in areas of risk will
have floor elevations established by
field surveys and their evacuation needs
assessed.
.BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS
Hazards Management Group, Inc., under
contract with the Corps of Engineers, has
completed the Behavioral Analysis for the
evacuation study. A preliminary draft of
the Behavioral Analysis Report, finished
in January, was reviewed by Federal
Emergency Management Agency, State
Division of Emergency Management, and
Corps of Engineers officials. Based on
comments received, a final draft of the
report was completed in April and was
reviewed by those same agencies, along
with all 18 county Emergency Management
Coordinators, prior to the June Disaster
Preparedness Committee meetings. The
report was approved by the Corps of
Engineers in July.
The report's conclusions and recommen-
dations were presented at the June
meetings. Here are the major findings
that governed the development of be-
havioral predictions:
0
Factors that will influence the
number of people evacuating and when they
will leave are where people live within a
risk area, their perception of the hur-
ricane's threat, and, most importantly,
what they are told to do by public
officials.
f The type of refuge the evacuees will
seek and its location will depend upon
the severity of the storm, whether the
person lives in a high or low risk'area,
availability of safe refuge, evacuee's
income, and the amount of response time
available.
SHELTER ANALYSIS
The Corps of Engineers has obtained
existing public shelter inventories for
all study area counties from the county
Emergency Management Coordinators. These
facilities have been located on topo-
graphic maps. Those vulnerable to flood-
ing will have first floor elevations
determined by field surveys.
TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS
Work on this element of the evacuation
study is scheduled to begin in September
and a great deal of administrative work
has been completed. Since most of the
work will be done by a transportation
consultant, a scope of work is being
prepared describing the specific tasks
and services needed to complete the
analysis. The Corps of Engineers began
advertising for interested firms in early
July, and the firm that will. do the
analysis will be selected soon. Repre-
sentatives from that firm will meet with
county Emergency Management Coordinators
and other interested parties to explain
the study procedure and gather needed
information. The Transportation Analysis
will take several months to complete.
Conclusions drawn from the analysis will
be presented at another series of Dis-
aster Preparedness Committee meetings.
"z

10
FUTURE PLANS/ACTIVITIES
At the conclusion of the Transportation
0 Analysis, the Technical Data Report,
describing how the study Was performed
and giving the study results, will be
finalized. The N.C. State Division of
Emergency Management, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and Corps of Engineers
will then assist the county Emergency
Management Coordinators with preparing
evacuation plans, and the study effort
will culminate with a hurricane evacua-
tion exercise conducted by the N.C.
Division of Emergency Management. Prod-
ucts of completed study analyses are
presently available to Emergency Man-
agement officials for interim evacuation
planning.
All information, comments or questions
Disaster Preparedness Committee members
or other interested parties may have can
be directed to the following individuals.
i1
Allan E. McDuffie, Project Manager
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District
Post Office Box 1890
Wilmington, NC 28402-1890
Telephone [phone]
Kenneth B. Old, Jr., Chief
Flood Plain Management Services Branch
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Wilmington District
Post Office Box 1890
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-1890
Telephone [phone]
William G . Massey, Community Planner
Federal Emergency Management Agency
1371 Peachtree Street, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Telephone [phone]
Joseph F Myers, Director
N. C. Division of Emergency Management
116 West Jones Street .
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Telephone [phone]
Bob W. Buchanan
N. C. Division of Emergency Management
116 West Jones Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Telephone [phone]
Doug Hoell
Beaufort Court House
112 W. 2nd Street
Box 962
Washington, NC 27889
Telephone [phone]
Buddy Jackson
Wallace Town Hall
Box 339
Wallace, NC 28466
Telephone [phone]