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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 Land Use Plan Sketch Level Update-1995VILLAGE OF COFIELD LAND USE PLAN UPDATE 1994 1 i Herbert Smith, Sr. Cecil Combo Hugh Jones Dorothy Moore Charlie Carter, Jr. Horace Spivey VILLAGE OF COFIELD 1994 Land Use Plan Sketch Level Update Local Adoption Date: March 6, 1995 CRC Certification Date: March 24, 1995 Prepared For: Julia Whitaker, Mayor Barbara J. Archer, Town Clerk COMMISSIONERS Hermea Pugh, Sr. Prepared By: Cofield Land Use Plan Advisory Committee with Technical Assistance By: Horace Spivey, Sr. George Mitchell Billy Mizelle George Mitchell Verta James The Mid -East Commission P.O. Box 1787 Washington, North Carolina 27889 Jane Daughtridge, Planner -In -Charge Mark Johnson, Planner The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. INTRODUCTION This sketch level land use plan update is funded in part through a grant provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assist the Village of Cofield in complying with land use planning requirements of the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). The intended purpose of this update is: 1. to further define and refine local policies and issues; 2. to further examine and refine the land classification system and the land classification map; 3. to assess the effectiveness of the existing land use plan and its implementation; 4. to further explore implementation procedures; and 5. to promote a better understanding of the land use planning process. Because the preceding objectives reflect a continuing refinement of the original CAMA 1989 Plan, the original plan was utilized as a base for the updates. Much of the updated statistical information will come from the 1990 U.S. Census. The land use planning process gives local officials the opportunity to evaluate existing conditions, consider public opinion, formulate policy and develop implementation strategies. I GENERAL 1 I Cofield is a small community located in the northern Coastal Plain in the eastern part of Hertford County (Map 1). It developed around Sally Archer's Crossroad in the late 19th Century. In 1896, B.G. Williams' Timber Company requested a post office to serve the needs of the area. Shortly after the turn of the century, the name "Cofield" was chosen. In 1908, B.G. Williams and four others formed Cofield Manufacturing Company which was a general mercantile concern in the business of buying and selling lumber; manufacturing shingles; selling sash, doors, and blinds; as well as ginning seed cotton and grinding corn into meal. Cofield became an active shipping center and passenger train stop on the Norfolk and Carolina rail line. Goods and livestock to Winton and Harrellsville were shipped from the Cofield station. A one -room school for black children was located near the present site of Philippi Church. It was consolidated with C.S. Brown School in Winton in the early 1930s. By 1975, the Village had seven (7) stores, a post office, freight office (passenger train service was discontinued in 1954), blacksmith shop, community center, feed mill, and a garage. The Williams' sawmill closed its operation in 1955. The climate in Hertford County offers an average yearly temperature of 59.5°F, with an average high of 71° and a low of 48°. Extremes may range from 102° to 7°F. Total yearly average rainfall is 43.6 inches (or approximately 3.9 inches per month). Average snowfall total is 63 inches. About eighty-two days per year will have precipitation of 0.10 inches or more. COFIELD VICINITY MAP i MAP 1 unls 'J EXISTING CONDITIONS A. Population The Town's population has increased 27% since the 1970 U.S. Census. Hertford County's overall population trend has shown a steady -decrease since 1970. This is expected to continue over the next few years (Table 1). The Town's population projections for the year 2000 and 2005 are based on the percentage of Hertford County population living in Cofield in 1990 (1.81%). TABLE 1. POPULATION OF COFIELD AND HERTFORD COUNTY YEAR COFIELD CHANGE (%) HERTFORD COUNTY CHANGE (%) 1970 318 - 24,439 - 1980 465 46.2 23,368 4.4 1990 407 -12.0 22,523 -3.6 2000 400 -1.7 22,133 -1.7 2005 396 -1.0 21,892 -1.0 Source: N.C. State Data Center, Office of Budget and Management, Mid -East Commission Eighty-six percent (86.7%) of the population of Cofield is black, and fifty-four percent (54.7%) of the population is female. Average household size is 2.71 persons (1990), which is down from the estimated 339 persons per household in 1980. The age and sex structure of the population indicates a relatively balanced distribution pattern (Figure 1). Particularly the female age cohorts show nearly equal numbers of very young, teenagers, middle ages, and older adults. The female age cohort between 30 and 34 accounts for the largest group of females in Cofield. Young adults males between 20 and 24 are dramatically under represented. Attention should be given to the needs of all age groups in planning for the community and providing services. As indicated in Table #2 the median age for the region is increasing. Table #3 indicates that Hertford County population will continue to decrease, however the percentage of the total population represented by 45 and over will increase. 85.1 75-84 65-74 60-64 55-59 45-54 35-44 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 6-9 1-5 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Male _ Female Figure:l.Age and Sex Profile, Cofield, North Carolina (Source: 1990 Census of Population). mo 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Population of Hertford County Ahoskie Cofield Como Harrellsville Murfreesboro Winton 1970 ❑ 1980 ® 1990 TABLE 2 REGION Q MEDIAN AGES BY COUNTY County 1990 1992 1995 2000 2010 2020 Bertie 33.4 34.2 Beaufort 35.6 36.6 Hertford 33.5 343 Martin 34.6 35.5 Pitt 29.4 29.8 SOURCE: N.C. Office Of State Planning 35.4 37.2 40.0 41.8 37.7 39.8 42.5 44.7 353 36.9 38.9 39.5 39.4 38.7 42.1 443 30.4 31.6 333 34.5 TABLE 3 HERTFORD COUNTY POPULATION BY AGE COHORT Age Cohort 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005 0-4 1,711 1,645 1,654 1,535 1,521 5-18 5,789 4,942 4,673 4,855 4,494 19-44 8,301 8,244 8,027 7,263 6,883 45-64 4,748 4,406 4,588 5,103 5,603 65 and over 2,819 3,286 3,416 3,377 3,391 TOTAL 22,523 22,358 22,133 21,892 21,892 B. Housing According to the 1990 U.S. Census, the Town of Cofield has 188 year around dwelling units, thirty- seven (37) of which were vacant. Nearly fifty-four percent (54%) of the occupied dwellings use wood or fuel oil as primary sources of heating. Table 4 below shows the number of dwelling units that had public water and sewer for the six municipalities in Hertford County. Cofield, since the 1990 Census, has connected to Winton's wastewater treatment system. As of January 1994, 161 dwellings in Cofield have public water and sewer. 4 I Town TABLE 4 REGIONAL HOUSING UNITS BY TOWN # Units Public Public Water Sewer Cofield• 188 165 161 Ahoskie 1,897 1,889 1,874 Como 37 0 0 Harrellville 45 44 2 Murfreesboro Wintnn 941 '447 941 143 928 116 TOTAL 3,455 3,382 3,172 Source: 1990 U.S. CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING *As of January 1994, 161 of the dwellings have public water and sewer. TABLE 5 REGIONAL OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY TOWN # Of OWNER RENTER TOWN UNITS OCCUPIED OCCUPIED COFIELD 150 103. 47 AHOSKIE .. 1,897 866 855 COMO 37 17 11 HARRELLSVIi i.F. 45 40 29 MURFREESBORO 941 559 216 WINTON 347 159 90 TOTAL 3,417 1,744 1,248 Source: 1990 Census of Population And Housing. Table 5 shows the number of owner and renter occupied units for towns in Hertford County. All municipalities except Ahoskie have by far more owner occupied dwellings than rental units. Ahoskie has almost an even number of owner occupied and rental units. C. Economy Cofield had 146 persons sixteen years and older in the labor force in 1990, down from the estimated 186 in 1980. Of those employed, the majority are working in manufacturing of durable goods, retail trade, and the manufacturing of nondurable goods (Table 7). Most Cofield residents are employed in nearby communities such as Ahoskie, Winton, or Murfreesboro. The average travel time to work for Cofield's labor force is 29.5 minutes. According to the 1990 U.S. Census the average household income in 1990 was $12,500. No household listed income of $75,000 or more. Approximately forty percent (40.6%) of the population lived below the poverty level. Over sixty percent (60.6%) of female headed households live below the poverty level. 5 ' Only 43.9% of the population twenty-five and older are high school graduates. The Town's tax rate is $.40 per $100.00 real property valuation. Shopping for most durable goods and big -ticket items such as automobiles and appliances are available about seven miles away in Ahoskie or in the Tidewater Area of Virginia. TABLE 6 ' REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND PER CAPITA INCOME BY COUNTY PER CAPITA ' COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT INCOME HERTFORD 6.2% $9,016.00 BEAUFORT 6.1% $10,722.00 BERTIE 7.0% $8,392.00 MARTIN 7.2% $9,486.00 PITT 5.4% $11,642.00 SOURCE: 1990 U.S. CENSUS TABLE 7 PERSONS EMPLOYED BY INDUSTRY ' # OF % OF EMPLOYED: EMPLOYED EMPLOYMENT SECTOR PERSONS PERSONS Employed persons 16 and over 133 100% Agriculture, forestry, fisheries 6 5% Mining 0 - Construction 6 5% Manufacturing, nondurable goods 10 8% Manufacturing, durable goods 29 22% ' Transportation 6 5% Communications, public utilities 2 2% ' Wholesale trade Retail trade 2 33 2% 25% Finance, insurance, real estate 0 Business and repair services 3 2% ' Personal services 7 5% Entertainment, recreational 0 Health services 9 7% Educational services 13 10% Other professional services 4 3% Public administration 3 2% SOURCE: 1990 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING 6 Land Use The Town of Cofield municipal boundary takes the form of a circle which has a one mile radius from the center of town. Property immediately outside of the Town limits is used for agricultural and forests purposes. Residential land use is the dominant land use inside of town. The majority of the residential dwellings are located on the east side of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The Chowan River is one-half mile north of Town. A small business district in the center of Town includes grocery stores, video rental, repair shop, barber and beauty shop, Town Hall, fire department, and the Post Office. The land use trends in Cofield have been static for the past twenty years. However, with a sewer system to complement the water system, the area west of Town along the road to Winton has the potential to develop with residential uses. There is one industry in Cofield, Perdue Farms, which processes soybeans into feed. (See Map 2. Existing Land Use.) CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND REGUL(iTIONS Local Regulations The Village has not currently adopted local land use regulations. The Hertford County Building ' Inspector enforces the State Building Code and the Hertford County Health Department issues septic tank permits in the area. The local Code of Ordinances includes restrictions against Junk and Abandoned Vehicles and other nuisances, but no land use controls are in place. Transportation Plans The Statewide Planning Division Of Highways N. C. Department of Transportation with the cooperation of the Village of Cofield and the Federal Highway Administration U. S. Department of Transportation in 1992 prepared a thoroughfare plan for Cofield. The objective of this plan was to design a street system to enable people and goods to travel safely and economically with minimum negative affects on the environment. Factors such as population, land use and traffic were examined to determine Cofield's transportation needs. Transportation needs were projected up to the year 2020 based on existing data. Recommendations proposed by the plan include widening all roads to a width of at least 24 feet and paving all existing dirt roads. Priority for road paving was determined by the number of dwellings units on each road. ' Assessment of Village of Cofield 1989 Initial Land Use Plan Policies Cofield's land use policies were established in the 1989 Initial Land Use Plan Sketch Level. This section of the plan will make an assessment as to how well the Town implemented the policies of the 1989 plan. Just over half of the possible implementation strategies have been achieved in the past five years. A. ISSUE 1. DRAINAGE 1. Improve the drainage in Cofield in order to ease the problems with septic tanks, reduce the mosquito population and improve the overall aesthetics of the community. Seek advice from Hertford County Soil Conservation Service on developing a canal to reduce the amount of water in ditches. See if Powell Bill Funds can be applied towards this project. 7 �r rr rr it �r r� r r rr r� r r r r r r ire in it oWn o f C o f,i e I d NC 45 � � . Existing band Use 1994 i i Residential \ \ SR 1403 I I ® Public/Semi—Public I � � i Commercial IM Industrial i ---. Forest & A g r i c u I t u r a I 1 � I t •�® t Property Boundary Town Boundary 1 R a i l r o a d NC 45 / '— Power Line r � \ Natural Gas Line \ 0 l2A0 2110 rist - SR 1427 f THE PREPARATION OF THIS MAP WAS FINANCED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE NORTH CAROUNA _ COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THROUGH FUNDS PROVIDED BYTHECOASTALZONE MANAGEMENTACTOFIM SR 1403 ��.� AS AMENDED WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. LE71 + The Town got NCDOT to cut a few ditches to help with the drainage problems. A comprehensive ditching system has been put on hold until the Town gets all the sewer lines put in. The Town also adopted an ordinance requiring property owners to keep ditches on their property free of debris. i2. Develop for of ditches. a plan regular maintenance . Ask NCDOT to regularly clean ditches along State roads. + The Town was successful in getting NCDOT to clean ditches along State roads. See if "Summer Work Program" participants could be channeled into ditch maintenance jobs. " The "Summer Work Program" was altered so that this type of activity was no longer possible. . Seek volunteer help within the community. + The Town has organized volunteers in the community to keep ditches in the Town clean and free of debris. B. Issue 2: Sewer ' 1. Continue negotiations with Winton to try and persuade them to allow Cofield to tap on to their sewer system. + Cofield was successful in reaching an agreement with the Town of Winton for treatment of wastewater. C. Issue 3: Police Protection 1. Consult with County Sheriff's Department to see if additional patrols can be provided. + The Town currently has a contract with the Sheriff's Department to have deputies patrol the town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. 2. Ask Sheriff's Department to urge any new deputies to live in Cofield. - No deputies have moved to Cofield, but the Town still holds this as a goal. "Community 3. Form a Watch" organization. - The Town has not formed a "Community Watch" organization. 4. Find funding to hire a full time police officer. - The Town has not obtained funding for a full time police officer. D. Issue 4: Recreation 1. Develop a formal Recreation Plan for the Village, specifying regular activities. - The Town has not adopted a formal Recreational Plan or activities. Because it currently has 8 complete control over the all public recreational facilities, grants may be obtained to develop a formal program. 2. Appoint a Youth Committee to help plan and promote activities for school -age children. - No Youth Committee has been formed at this time. 1 E. Issue 5: Low Income Housine 1. Urge the Roanoke Chowan Housing Authority to consider Cofield as a project site in the near future. No low income housing has been constructed. 2. Encourage development by private investors. 1/2 No low income housing has been developed but the Town is still pursuing this option. F. Housing Conditions 1. Continue to commit local funds in conjunction with grant proposals to rehabilitate substandard housing. - The Town has not received a grant to do housing renovations. 2. Encourage the placement of permanent homes in the area. 1 + The Town continues to have this as a policy. 3. Encourage home maintenance programs to teach citizens how to keep their homes in good condition. - There has been no home maintenance program established in Cofield. G. Issue 7: Water 1. Investigate the cost of a high level water storage tank. 1/2 The Town does not have a high level storage tank, however after the sewer system is installed, this will be the Town's next major project. 2. Seek grants to extend water lines. - The Town has not received any grants to extend water lines outside its limits. 3. Consider possible water tap -on with Winton as a negotiation tool regarding the new sewer issue. - This was not done. The Village still provides local water. H. Increase Business and Industry 1. Appoint a committee to work with the Hertford County Industrial Development Commission to 9 actively seek business and industry. - No local committee has been formed to work with the Hertford County Industrial Development Commission to recruit businesses into the Cofield area. 2. Promote the availability of natural gas and possible rail transportation to solicit appropriate industries. + The Town continues to use the availability of natural gas as a major selling point when recruiting business. 3. Encourage support -type business and industry related to timber and agriculture. + The Town continues to support the location of these and other businesses in the Cofield area. I. Health Services 1. Seek physicians to live in the community. + There are no doctors currently living in Cofield but the Town continues to pursue these efforts. 2. Encourage greater use of Choanoke Public Transportation Authority to reach nearby health care facilities. + The Town continues to encourage residents to use the CPTA system. ' 3. Encourage use of Hertford County Home Care Services for home -bound patients in Cofield. + The Town does encourage home -bound patients to use the Hertford County Home Care Services. J. Fire Protection 1. Organize more frequent fund-raising activities to fund the purchase of special equipment needs. - The Fire Department did not hold any fund raisers for equipment. 2. Seek grants to supplement funding of additional equipment. + The Fire Department did apply for a grant for the volunteer fire department. However the submittal deadline was missed for 1994. Officers do plan to submit another application in 1995. 10 F I E PHYSICOL Rnv CULTURAL COMM tAINTS Constraints: Physical Limitations For Development A variety of physical factors determine the suitability of land for development. These include soil and subsoil conditions, topography, potential for flooding, and existing land uses in the surrounding area. Soil conditions determine the suitability of land for building construction and for in -ground sewage disposal system. The Cofield area contains three dominant soil types, Craven (CrA), Leaf Loam (LF) and Lenoir Loam (Ln). These soils are also found extensively outside of Town. All are poorly drained clay soils. Due to the high clay content these soils are characterized by having slow permeability and moderate to high shrink -swell ratios. The acidity levels of these soils are typically very high. The seasonal high water table is within OS foot to 2.5 feet of the surface. Although these soils are poorly suited for urban development more than half of Cofield's development has occurred on these loamy soils. In the past the costs associated with construction on these soils are usually higher due in part to failed septic systems and structure damage caused by the soil shrink -swell ratio. The soils are suited for crops such as corn, soybeans, tobacco, cotton, peanuts, and small grain. Because the topography of Cofield is relative flat, the slope of the land will not be a major problem for development. The majority of the soils have a slope between 04 percent. There are some areas of Winton and Craven soils that have greater slopes but they are typically confined to land adjacent to the creek. The overall flatness of the land reduces the possibility of soil erosion but increases the amount of time water remains on the land after a rain. Flood -prone areas may also limit development. The Flood Hazard Boundary Map prepared by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development identifies two small areas along the creeks in the northern portion of the jurisdiction as flood hazard areas. Manmade hazards do not appear to be a significant development constraint. (Soil data taken from Soil Survey of Hertford County North Carolina, prepared.by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.) Fragile Areas. The State has not designated any area in Cofield as Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's) as defined by the State Coastal Area Management Act. According to the State Division of Parks and Recreation (Natural Heritage Program) there is no record of any rare or endangered species, rare natural communities or geologic features within a one -mile radius of the Town. The Town does however have land adjacent to creeks in its northern portions that may prove to be wetlands. Wetland areas are likely to pose a slight limitation to development in the area. As more is learned about the functions of wetlands, the vital role they play in the protection of water quality and the survival of certain animal and plant species become increasingly apparent. Inland wetlands furnish vital life -cycle habitat and food for fish and wildlife. Wetlands have been proven to remove pollutants from degraded waters. At the same time, wetlands absorb flood -volumes so that flood waters and surges are moderated and property in downstream areas is protected. Within wetlands, it has been found that undisturbed riparian vegetation can help filter pollutants (including pesticides and soils) that are often swept off adjacent lands by stormwater runoff. Finally, wetlands serve to recharge vital groundwater supplies. In 1977, Congress amended the Clean Water Act to regulate the alteration of wetlands areas under section 404(b) of the Act; a permit is now required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before certain inland wetlands areas are filled. According to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources no properties in Cofield are currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, but Philippi Church is considered by local residents to be an historical structure. Also, there are no known archaeological sites within the Cofield planning area, albeit no archeological surveys have been conducted in the area. Both prehistoric and historic period sites can be expected here. Areas considered archaeologically sensitive lie north of the developed area along the creeks and branches of Hare's Mill Pond. 11 - -- -- MAP 3A :�. .I ICI. k �'ie:;-�;r�•� � ' , , • , `'- yr: 7 . '+� • y � �•, � \` jet .�y-�.'• ;j. i C �� � • � �r t ,i 1 COFIELD ZONE MAP Zone A: Special Flood Hazard Areas inundated by the 100-year flood, determined by approximate methods; no base flood elevations shown or flood hazard factors determined. THE PREPARATION OF THIS MAP WAS FINANCED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THROUGH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THECOASTALZONE MANAGEMENTACTOF 147E AS AMENDED WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. Areas of Resource Potential. Areas having the following characteristics are considered as "areas of ' resource potential": mineral sites, publicly owned forests, fish and gamelands, privately owned wildlife sanctuaries. No such areas have been identified in the Cofield region. However the Town does have a public park and contains areas with prime farmland. These types of areas are also considered areas of ' resource potential. Two of the eight soil types in the Cofield area are considered prime farmland soils by the Soil Conservation Service. The Craven Soils that are considered prime farmland include CrA and CrB. As ' noted on Map 3A about fifty percent (50%) of the soils in Cofield are CrA or Crb. The following characteristics are associated with prime farmland soils: * prime farmland is one of several types of important farmland soils defined by the ' U.S.D.A. * it is of major importance in providing the nation's short and long range needs for ' food and fiber. * the acreage for high -quality farmland is limited; the U.S.D.A. recognizes that government at local, state and federal levels, as well as individuals, must encourage and facilitate the wise use of our ' nation's prime farmland. * prime farmland soils are those soils that are best suited to produce food, feed, forage and fiber; ' prime farmland soils have properties that are favorable for the economic production of sustained high yields of crops. * prime farmland soils produce the highest yields with minimal inputs of energy and economic resources, and farming these soils result in the least damage to the environment. Nationally there has been a trend to develop prime farmland for urban purposes. The loss of such land ' pushes agricultural uses on marginal lands, which generally require more investments to cultivate. CarrRg Capacity tThe carrying capacity of a town may be determined by an examination of water and sewer systems, schools, landfill, police and fire protection, public administration and transportation system. The potential ' limitations public services may place on future growth must be examined in light of current services capacity and growth projections. As illustrated in Table 1 the population of Cofield declined by twelve percent (12%) between 1980 and 1990. The Town's population is projected to stabilize over the next five years. Projected population ' growth should not exceed the ability of local government to provide for additional demand. Current water supply and police, fire and refuse services all should be adequate to meet the demand expected over the next five years. The capacity of Cofield to provide local services is summarized below. ' Water. The Town of Cofield operates a water system consisting of two deep wells. There are currently 161 water customers. A full-time water operator is employed by the Village to maintain ' the facility. Pumping capacity is 288,000 gpd; usage is 25-30,000 gpd and the system also supports fire hydrants. This service adequately provides for current needs as well as all realistic expectations for future growth. The Town is interested in the possibility of selling water to Hertford County for a ' countywide water system. Sewer. The Town of Winton has agreed to treat up to 40,000 gallons of water daily from Cofield. ' Initially Winton will treat about 25,000 gallons per day from Cofield. The Winton wastewater 12 ' treatment system has the capacity to treat 235,000 gallons per day. ' Solid Waste. Garbage collection for the Village is provided twice weekly by two paid employees (one full-time, one part-time). Current demand and moderate growth can be adequately accommodated. All solid waste is deposited in the Regional Landfill located in Bertie County. The Regional Landfill was designed to operate for the next twenty years. Drainage. There are no storm sewers in Cofield. Drainage occurs based on land elevation or artificial trenching. The Town through a Mosquito Control Grant from the Soil and Water Conservation Service completed a ditching project last year. Elevations are low, ranging from 10 to 14 feet above sea level. The northern section of the Town limits is dominated by branches of Hare's Mill Pond, a tributary of the Chowan River. Much of the developed area of the Village drains southward into creeks and branches which flow to the Wiccacon River through Hoggard Swamp. Once the new sewer lines are completely installed, the Town will begin a new ditching project. ' Transportation. The Village is centered around the intersection of State Highway 45 and S.R. 1403. East of this area is another intersection at Philippi Church where Highway 45 meets S.R. 1427. Carolina Virginia Rail Line roughly parallels S.R. 1403 to the Perdue Plant just north of Town where it terminates. Street maintenance is largely performed by the Village. There is one motor grader for ' road maintenance purposes. North Carolina Department of Transportation maintains only three (3) streets (Railroad Street, Hill Street, and Hertford Street) and these have recently been paved. The Town paved Downs Street and Hilton Street with "Powell Bill" funding. ' Police. Cofield has no police department. The Town contracts with the Hertford County Sheriff's Department to provide fourteen hours per week of police protection. A deputy usually will patrol the Town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These or any others on duty would respond to a call. 7 1 Fire. Fire protection is provided by a twenty-two men volunteer fire department. The Town owns. three fire vehicles; (2) trucks and one equipment van. One truck is a 1971 Ford Tanker with 1,300 gallon capacity which pumps 350 gpm. The second truck is a 1972 Ford Tanker with a pumping capacity of 750 gpm. Schools. Hertford County utilizes a newly consolidated school system. Cofield school children attend C.S. Brown Elementary School in Winton for grades K-5. Hertford County Middle School in Murfreesboro handles grades 6-8, and Hertford County High School in Ahoskie serves as the senior high facility. Medical. There are no health facilities or physicians located in Cofield. Hertford County Health Clinic is located three miles west in Winton. Major medical care needs are addressed at Roanoke- Chowan Hospital, six miles away in Ahoskie. Serious cases are transferred to Greenville or to Norfolk,, Virginia. As the population ages, access to medical care will become more and more important. Recreation. The Village of Cofield has no recreation plan. There is a recreation center used by the Town with indoor and outdoor play area, including playground equipment, baseball diamond, an outdoor basketball goal, games, and a kitchen facility. There is an eight (8) member Recreation Committee which administers the center. These facilities can adequately serve present and anticipated needs. The Town is currently in the process of acquiring these facilities in order to qualify for State grants. Mail. The U.S. Postal Service maintains a Post Office on S.R. 1403 which rents 244 boxes to area residents. There is no door-to-door delivery at this time. Rural route boxes served by the substation number 158. 13 Public Administration. The Town has no local land use controls in place. County ordinances ' enforced in Cofield by the Hertford County Building Inspector include: subdivision and mobile home regulations. While these regulations have not been formally adopted by Cofield, they are enforced by mutual consent. Because of agreement with the Town of Winton for sewage treatment Town officials are making plans to adopt a zoning ordinance. Town Hall operates forty hours a week and employs a full-time clerk. I ISSUES, POLICY STATEMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES The Town of Cofield has made remarkable strides to address major issues cited in its initial land use plan. Some issues that were discussed in the previous plan but not resolved may be repeated in this plan. Because the Village is located inland of the county's water bodies, many of the issues required to be addressed by CAMA do not apply. Below is presented a list of policy statements on those CAMA required ' issues which do apply in this jurisdiction. A. RESOURCE PROTECTION iCofield does not have any outstanding resource waters, AECs, freshwater swamps and marshes, maritime forests, pocosins, marinas or floating homes, sound or estuarine islands, areas only five feet above mean high tide, sites for upland excavation for marina development, or marshes effected by ' bulkheading in its planning area. Because runoff in Cofield flows into the Chowan and Wiccacon Rivers, development will have an impact on surrounding water quality. There are large amounts of prime farmland in Cofield. These areas of prime farmland are not only important to the Town but are also important to the State and the nation for providing food. Agricultural production on these soils requires less chemical additives for high yields.: A reduction in chemical additives will reduce the amount. of. chemicals washing into ditches and streams.. , : No structures in Cofield are considered by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources as ' .. being historically significant. However areas along the creeks and branches of Hare's Mill Pond could in the future be classified as "fragile areas" because of the likely presence of prehistoric and historic artifacts: , Unmonitored development in and around these areas should be discouraged. The following is a listing of ' policy goals the Town has adopted to protect its natural resources. Included are strategies that the Town will attempt to implement over the next five years in an effort to achieve these policy objectives. ' 1. Constraints to Development: (a) Soils l(i) Applicability: Most of the soils in Cofield have severe limitations for development, the only exception is a small area of NoB soils located in the southern portion of the Town. Problems with failing septic tanks was the ' dominant factor in stimulating Town officials to pursue connecting on to Winton's wastewater treatment system. (ii) Alternatives: Cofield currently has an agreement with the Town of Winton for the treatment of wastewater. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to support the present partnership with the City of Winton for wastewater treatment. (iv) Strategy: The Town will closely monitor the amount of water being treated in order to negotiate an increase, if necessary. 14 7 (b) Floodprone Areas (i) Applicability: Cofield has been mapped for floodplain areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The only areas found to be in a flood hazard zone are located along two creeks in the northern portions of the Town. These areas were determined by FEMA to be in "Flood Zone X. "Flood Zone A" areas are special flood hazard areas inundated by the 100-year flood. There are no base flood elevations shown or flood hazard factors determined. (ii) Alternatives: The options include creation of an ordinance which limits development in these areas; appropriately classify these areas on the Land Classification Map; support for county, state, or federal restrictions on development in these areas; disregard any restrictions to development in these flood areas. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to discourage development in these flood prone areas so that the level of property lost or damage associated with flooding can be reduced. (iv) Strategy #1: Apply for a grant through CAMA to produce a zoning ordinance with a flood plain overlay district. (v) Strategy #2: Classify flood areas as "conservation" on the Flood Classification Map. (c) Steep Slopes (i) Applicability: According to the Hertford County Soil Survey, WT soils which are predominately located along the creeks have slopes between 12 and 60 percent. WT soils only accounts for about one percent of the soils in Cofield.. (ii) Alternatives:.. Alternatives are to rely on State and Federal regulations that restrict development in these areas; to rely on future local land use controls to limit development in these areas. (iii) Policy: Support the efforts of State and Federal agencies that would restrict development in these areas and also include provisions limiting development in any future local land use controls. (iv) Strategy: The implementation of strategies outlined in section "b" should adequately address this issue. (d) Septic Tank Use - SEE STATEMENT UNDER SOILS 2. Other Hazardous or Fragile Land Areas: (a) 404 Wetlands (i) Applicability: The Army Corps of Engineers regulates dredge and fill activities in 404 wetlands. There has been much discussion about designation methods for wetlands by citizens who feel that sites not essential to wetlands systems have, on occasion, been determined to meet the criteria for 404 wetlands. In Cofield the area along the creeks in the northern portion of Town are most likely be classified as 404 wetlands. (ii) Alternatives: The Town will not adopt any local regulations that are less restrictive than the State's. (iii) Policy: The Policy shall be to support all development which complies with federal and State controls. (iv) Strategy #1: Implementation shall occur by adopting local zoning and subdivision 15 u 3. 4. 4 regulations that would require developers to check with CAMA officials before development starts. (v) Strategy #2: Support the Army Corps of Engineers decisions on wetlands. Hurricane and Flood Evacuation Needs and Plans (i) Applicability: This topic is dealt with in the "Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post - Disaster Recovery and Evacuation Plans" section of the plan. Hertford County is not one of the State's designated hurricane counties. Protecting Potable Water Supply (i) Applicability: The Town has an adequate supply of water to meet future demands. However due to the area high water table, water quality is an issue. (ii) Alternatives: A policy to aggressively pursue the construction of a high level water storage tank could be adopted. A policy could also be adopted regarding protection of water from contaminates, such as pesticides, that may infiltrate the water supply. (iii) Policy. Cofield will support State standards regarding water quality. The Town will also support the development of local land use regulations that would improve water quality. (iv) Strategies: Adoption of local zoning regulations that would limit development in areas where water quality would be jeopardized. Support the application of pesticides strictly according to package directions. The Town will also pursue the construction of a high level above ground storage tank. Package Treatment.Plants (i) Applicability: Currently there are no package treatment plants for wastewater disposal in Cofield. Now that the Town has been connected to Winton wastewater treatment system there is no immediate need for a package treatment plant. (ii) Alternatives: The Town could support the use of package treatment plant or to discourage their use. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to discourage the development of any package treatment plants in the jurisdiction. (iv) Strategies: Establish a sewer extension policy to determine when and where sewer service will be extended. 6. Stormwater Runoff (i) Applicability: Stormwater runoff from agricultural practices and residential development if not closely monitored can have a negative impact on surface waters and other fragile areas. Runoff caused by phosphate or peat mining do not apply here. Runoff is somewhat limited due to the flat topography of the area. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include the initiation of a stormwater runoff program; encourage Best Management Practices for agricultural production; adopt local land use regulations that would restrict the density of development; disregard stormwater runoff at this time. (iii) Policies: The policy shall be to encourage the use of Best Management Practices and to address development densities in any future land use regulations. 16 (Iv) Strategies: Implementation shall occur through the adoption of a local zoning ordinance which limits development densities. Encourage local farmers to contact State agencies for information on Best Management Practices. 1 7. Industrial Impacts On Fragile Areas (i) Applicability: Currently there are two industries in the Cofield planning area, Perdue and Ready Mix Concrete. Neither of these facilities represent a major threat to fragile areas in Cofield's jurisdiction. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include regulating industrial uses; prohibiting industrial uses in fragile areas; not regulating industrial uses. (III) Policy: Actively recruit environmentally friendly industries to move into the Cofield area. Rely on State and Federal agencies such as the EPA to regulate and monitor local industries. Create local land use controls that would restrict ' the location and size of future industries. (iv) Strategies: Adopt a local zoning ordinance that create industrial zones in non - fragile areas. Support the enforcement of EPA regulations in the Cofield planning area. B. RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT Much of the land in Cofield is considered prime farmland by agricultural officials. The 1990 Census estimated about five percent (5%) of the Town's employed population works in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors of the economy .. . There are no navigable waters in Cofield::. The Chowan River. which separates Hertford and Gates counties is located outside of the Town planning area but is said to be a spawning and nursery area for ' herring, shad and other commercial fish.. Although the Chowan River is located outside of the planning area of Cofield local officials recognize that land use in the Town can have an impact on these important waters. Once the Town secures ownership of the municipal park and community building the Town plans ' to apply for a grant to make improvements to the facilities. Recreational services are becoming more and more important as community leaders look for ways of keeping the youth in the community involved in positive activities rather than idle mischief or criminal activity. ' Although there are no commercial forestry operations in Cofield some private land owners sell timber off their land for extra income. There are areas in the Cofield planning area under private ownership that could be used for commercial forestry. The Town will support such operations that do not ' have a negative impact on residential uses or environmental resources. Commercial forest lands, existing and potential mineral production, commercial and recreational fishing issues, off -road vehicles, and peat or phosphate mining issues do not apply here. ' 1. Productive Agricultural Lands (i) Applicability: Much of the undeveloped land in Cofield is considered prime farmland and should generally be used for agricultural purposes. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include not regulating the use any land use for agricultural purposes; support the use of BMPs; use prime farmland for agricultural purposes. (III) Policy: Promote the general use of this land for agricultural purposes and allow conversion to other uses on a case by case bases. (iv) Strategies: Implementation strategies will include the following; Classify agricultural areas ' outside of Town as Rural on the Town's Land Classification Map; Encourage farmers 17 1 outside of Town owning ten acres or more to apply for use -value of their property; Support State, Federal, and County policies and programs which encourage diversification of the local agricultural economy. 2. Residential, Commercial and Industrial land development impacts on any resources (1) Applicability: Because of an agreement with the Town of Winton to treat wastewater from Cofield, local officials expect development in and around Cofield to accelerate. This agreement allows Cofield to double the amount of wastewater Winton is currently treating. The expected increase in development in Cofield requires local leaders to seriously look at adopting land use regulations to control the kind and density of development in the area. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include developing zoning and subdivision regulations; allow market forces to determine development patterns; monitor development to determine any impact on natural resources. (iii) Policy: Encourage urban development that will not have a negative impact on natural resources. (iv) Strategies: Adopt local zoning regulations to control the location and densities of development. C. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Cofield is a small community, with a population of 407. There are few commercial establishments and one industry in the Cofield planning area. The Town supports expansion of its existing businesses and encourages the development of new businesses in the Cofield area. Local officials believe that the presence of new industrywill allow residents to.remain in Cofield instead of4eaving.the;area.to find..work:::;. .., elsewhere. An increase in the, number ofbusinesses will also add to the Town's tax base which would: . enable the Town to improve the level of public services provided. Although industry., is- desperately needed, new industrial development should not have a negative impact on the natural environment or on the area's cultural resources. Over the years Cofield has become predominantly a bedroom community. Cofield residents currently travel to other areas in Hertford County and Virginia to work, shop and recreate. Most residents however still like the intimate small town atmosphere that Cofield offers. While appreciating the small town environment residents would like to see growth in Cofield. Residents would like to have the option to work and shop in the community in which they live. The Town would support new commercial development which would service the needs of local residents. Because of the presence of a public wastewater treatment system new development is now possible. Residents would like to have employment opportunities in Town so that young people and young families would not have to move to find jobs. The Perdue facility is the only large scale employer in Cofield. A natural gas line runs across the eastern portion of the Town limits. The Town is willing to work with future developers to lands adjacent to the gas line. The Town will provide services to new developments to the extent feasible. Local officials are aware of the negative impact unplanned growth and development can have on natural resources and existing residential development. One of the goals of this plan is to identify issues associated with future growth. Local leaders would like to see growth that would enhance the quality of life of residents. The Town would like to see the deteriorated structures in Town demolished or redevelop and vacant lots developed. The Town supports pursuing State and Federal grants which will assist them in achieving economic and community improvements. The issues of Channel maintenance and beach access do not apply. The following is a list of policy objectives the Town has adopted to provide for community growth and for the economic development of the Town. Included are strategies that the Town will attempt to 18 implement over the next five years in a effort to achieve these goals. 1. Types and location of Industry Desired (1) Applicability: The Town feels that due to the availability of a public wastewater treatment facility, now is the time to try to attract industry to Cofield. However new industrial development should be guided as to reduces the possible negative effects it could have on natural and cultural resources. The Town support the recruitment of clean industries and industries that pay high wages. (ii) Alternatives: The Town could recruit industry without any regards to environmental compatibility; the Town could also through local land use regulations restrict industrial development to areas that are suitable for industrial uses. (iii) Policy. The Town shall support and encourage industrial development in the appropriate areas. (iv) Strategy: Adopt a local zoning ordinance with appropriate areas zoned for industrial uses. 2. Local Commitment to Providing Services (1) Applicability: Cofield has the desire and capability to provide water and sewer services to all areas in the Town limits. The Town is currently using only ten percent of the water its two wells are capable of pumping. The agreement with Winton will allow Cofield to almost double the amount of wastewater currently being treated. (ii) Alternatives: The Town could actively pursue, the extension of water. service . outside the .Town limits. (iii) Policy: The Town is committed to provide local services to support development.. (iv) Strategy: The Town will attempt to obtain CDBG funding to finance infrastructure extensions. 3. Types of Urban Growth patterns desired (i) Applicability. The development pattern of Cofield is not unlike the development pattern of most towns. The center of town has developed with a variety of mixed urban uses, while the outlying areas of town are rural dominated by agricultural uses. Although the center of town is characterized by urban uses there still exist scattered undeveloped lots and deteriorating structures in the area. The Town supports the location of new development requiring public services in the Town limits while outlying areas remaining predominately rural. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include to encourage development at any cost; encourage industrial development in areas away from existing residential uses. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to encourage a variety of development in the center of Town as well as in outlying areas. (iv) Strategy: The policy shall be implemented by adopting a zoning ordinance that strictly regulates commercial and other non-residential developments in and around existing residential uses. The Town should also adopt an utility extension policy that will encourage infill development. 4. Redevelopment of Developed Areas (i) Applicability: There are no structures in the planning area that need to relocated 19 11 due to erosion. The Town wishes to pursue Small Cities Community Development Block Grants to improve substandard housing in its planning area. When the public sewer system is in place, redevelopment in the Town limits can occur at higher densities than existing development densities. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include to support redevelopment as funding becomes available; eliminate blighted areas by enforcement of the county's minimum housing code. (111) Policy: The Town will pursue CDBG funding to redevelop blighted areas in Town. (iv) Strategies: Contract with the Mid -East Commission or the Choanoke Chowan Housing Authority to complete Federal and State grant applications. 5. Commitment to State and Federal Programs (i) Applicability: The Town is supportive of State and Federal Programs that improve the quality life of its citizens. The Town fully supports programs that provide the necessary financial resources to implement stated policy objectives. Town officials have reservations concerning the unfunded State and Federal mandates. The Town support elements of the Thoroughfare Plan For Cofield. Prepared by NCDOT. Road improvement recommendations consist mostly of up- grading existing roads. Because of the amount of prime farmland in the area, the Town recognizes the importance of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service and the Soil Conservation Service carrying out the Erosion Control program. Because public trust waters are not present in Cofield, public access is not an issue. The Town does not have dredging, port facilities, or military facilities therefore: issues relating to.them are not applicable.. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include complete support to all State. and Federal programs; limited support to these programs based local finances; oppose all State-. and Federal programs that are not accompanied with State and Federal funding. (iii) Policy: The Town shall generally be committed to State and Federal programs, as local funds allow. (iv) Strategies: The Town will continue to support policies of State and Federal agencies whenever possible. The Town will not adopt any future regulations that conflict with state or federal policies. 6. Energy Facility Siting and Development (i) Applicability: At this time there are no electrical generating plants in the Cofield area. There are State and Federal agencies which oversee the location and construction of these plants. The location of any such plant in the Cofield planning jurisdiction must adhere to all future land use regulations the Town may adopt. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) exploration does not apply to Cofield. Inshore exploration does not seem likely. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include prohibiting generating plant in all zoning districts; allow generating plants in specific zoning districts with very strict development standards. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to evaluate any proposal for a generating plant on a case -by -case basis, with special considerations to environmental impact. (iv) Strategies: The Town shall adopt zoning regulations that restrict the construction of generating plants to specific districts and require site plan approval. 20 7. Tourism (1) Applicability. Cofield is not a tourist designation point for visitors to North Carolina; therefore, no policy statement has been developed for this issue. 10. Types, densities, location of Anticipated residential development and Services Necessary to support such development. (1) Applicability. The Town realizes due to the availability of a public sewer system the need to adopt development density controls. Controlling the density of the development should be one of the primary concerns of any future land use I regulations. Town officials anticipate the area around Hwy 45 towards Winton to develop rather fast now that public sewer is available. (ii) Alternatives: Alternatives include directing development to specific areas; discourage high density development in general. (111) Policy: Encourage residential development of suitable densities in locations as to not adversely affect surrounding areas. (iv) Strategies: Implementation will occur through the adoption of local subdivision ' and zoning regulations to control the number of units per acre as well as the percentage of lot covered with an impervious surface. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The implementation of any planning policy requires the support of local citizens.. Thereforeit. is. vital for local residents to participate;in the -formation of these planning policies, in order for them to, enthusiastically supportthe implementation of strategies... ' Public participation in this land use plan update was accomplished by a seven -person land use planning committee appointed by the Town Board of Commissioners and a citizen survey. The first meeting of the land use planning committee was held in January of 1994. At that initial meeting a resolution adopting a citizen participation plan was passed. The citizen participation plan outlined the following seven methods to pursue public input in the development of the 1994 Land Use Plan Update• a. Representation by Town Board member on land use planning committee b. The approval of the final plan by the Town Board c. Conduct opinion survey d. Give news interviews of the Land Use Planning Committee activities e. All meetings should be open to the public f. Hold public meeting to explain the preliminary draft prior to submission to Division of Coastal ' Management g. Town Board will hold a public hearing before adoption of final plan 1 Continued public participation may occur through the formation of a planning board to oversee the application of future land use controls such as zoning and subdivision regulations. This planning board could be composed of members of the Town Board of Commissioners or an unelected body appointed by the governing board. If the planning board is appointed it should be representative of a cross-section of the Town's residents. All meetings concerning land use issues conducted by the planning and governing board should be open to the public. The time, date and location of such meeting should be listed in local newspaper and posted in Town Hall. The following is a listing of policy objectives the Town has adopted to facilitate continuing public 21 11 1 li 11 participation. Included are strategies that the Town will attempt to implement over the next five years in an attempt to achieve these goals. 1. Public Education (1) Applicability. In order for residents of Cofield to participate fully in the planning process they must be informed as to the role of planning in guiding future development. It will be the responsibility of the Town to give ordinary citizens the opportunity to learn the different elements of land use planning. (11) Alternatives: All planning board meetings may be open to the public. (iii) Policy: To encourage residents to attend all planning board and Town Board meetings. (iv) Strategies: To post meeting times and dates of the planning board and town board in Town Hall. To advertise public hearings in local papers as required by state law. 2. Continuing Public Participation (i) Applicability: Due to the fact that local land use regulations can be affected by State or Federal mandates it is important for municipalities to keep current with changing requirements. As new State and Federal mandates are formed local residents must be informed of these changes and help formulate new regulations to accommodate the changes. (ii) Alternative: Members of the Planning Board or Town Board could inform public of upcoming changes. (iii) Policy: The policy shall be to make regular efforts to draw more public participation in the planning process. (iv) Strategies: Planning Board members will speak to civic organizations in an effort to inform the. public of possible land use changes. . 3. Method of Obtaining Citizen Input (i) Applicability: During this plan update, several efforts were made to obtain citizen input. Articles regarding the land use planning process were printed in the local newspaper. Notices of meetings were posted in Town Hall. A citizen survey was conducted with 49 respondents which constitute twelve percent (12%) of the population. (ii) Alternatives: The Town can aggressively solicit public input from all its citizens or simply allow board members to serve as public representatives. The Town could also create special committees to address particular land use concerns. (iii) Policy: The Town policy will be to encourage the general public to have as much input as possible. (iv) Strategies: The Town Board will appoint planning board members to serve staggered terms. One hundred questionnaires were distributed. Response rate was approximately 49% and yielded the following information: Approximately eighty percent (80%) of the respondents have lived in Cofield fifteen (15) years or more. About seventy-three percent (73%) own their homes. Over fifty-seven percent (57%) of the respondents indicated that they were employed and only eighteen percent of those employed persons worked in Cofield. Nighty -four percent of the population would like to see the Town grow to some degree. Below is a summary of the survey results. 22 U TABLE 5. COFIELD CITIZEN SURVEY RESULTS (49 responding of 100 surveyed), March 1994.* 1. How long have you lived in Corield? Less than 3 years 1 3-5 years 2 6-10 years 6 11-14 years 1 15 or more 39 2. Do you own ( 36) or rent your home S L01? Is It a mobile home yes 7 no 36 ? 3. What Is your age group? 18-30 3 3140 11 41-50 7 51-60 17 61-70 6 over 70 5 4. Are you retired 12 . employed 28 . or unemployed 8 ? Do you work in Hertford County? 7 In Virginia 5 ? In Cofield 5 5. What is the most critical issue facing Cofield, In your opinion? 13 Sewer Service 2 Lack of Businesses 12 Drainage Problems 2 Lack of Health Care 11 Lack of Jobs 5 Lack of Recreation 6. How do you feel about growth in Cofield? Would you like to see it: Stay the same 3 , Grow a little 23 , or Grow a lot 23 ? 7. Would you be willing to pay more taxes for any of the following? YES NO MAYBE . RECREATION FACILITIES:' 20 5 17 RESCUE SQUAD 17 6 15 POLICE DEPARTMENT 17 9 16 SEWER SYSTEM 19 6 15 DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT 14 7 17 8. Please rank the following public services in Cofield: NO EXCELLENT FAIR, POOR OPINION GARBAGE COLLECTION 18 23 2 2 WATER SERVICE 17 27 1 1 FIRE DEPARTMENT 8 22 15 1 RECREATION 4 8 27 2 SEWER SERVICES 4 8 9 16 *Not all respondents answered all questions. 23 STORM IfflZM MITIGATION, POST DISASTER RECOVERY POLICIES In the preparation of this update the 1989 "Storm Hazard Mitigation, Post -disaster Recovery Policy" was submitted to the Hertford County Emergency Management Coordinator for review and no revision were noted. Therefore there has been no changes from the previous plan. Hertford County is not one of the thirteen (13) counties designated as "hurricane counties" by the State Emergency Management Office. It is considered a safe place during hurricanes and would act as host to nearby evacuating coastal counties. Cofield has no storm hazard mitigation policy of its own but would follow that of Hertford County as set forth in its Land Use Plan Update - 1990 (pp.57-61) in the event of disaster. High winds, wind erosion and flooding are potential risks for the Cofield area. The County identified three hazard areas in the Land Use Plan Update. None of them lie within the jurisdiction of Cofield. Post -disaster procedures would rely on "Annex H-Disaster Assistance Program Summary" of the Disaster Relief and Assistance Plan" for Hertford County, which notes services and assistance available to local governments. Hertford County's recovery plan is a three-phase program consisting of. 1. An initial "Emergency Period" in which damages would be assessed, public health and safety efforts would prevail, and qualifications for State and Federal assistance would take place. 2. A "Restoration Period" devoted to restoring community facilities, utilities, and essential businesses. 3. A "Replacement -Reconstruction Period" during which the community would be rebuilt. A copy of the Disaster Relief and Assistance Plan is available at the Hertford County Emergency Management Office in Winton. LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM The purpose of the land classification system is to provide a uniform way of looking at how the use of land interacts with environmentally sensitive areas and with the development needs of a particular locality. It is not a strict regulatory device in the sense of a zoning ordinance or zoning map. It represents a tool to aid in understanding the relationships between various land use categories and how local policy helps shape these relationships. Particular attention is focused on the intensity at which land is used and the level of services needed to support that intensity. The regulations for the Coastal Area Management Act state: "The land classification system is intended to be supported and complemented by existing zoning, subdivision, and other local management tools (if any) and these local tools should be consistent with the classification system as much as possible." (7B.0204)(a) proposed. The land classifications, along with a classification map, are intended to serve as a visual representation of the policies stated in the policy statement section of the report (see Map 4). Only three of the seven classes will be relevant to the land development policies of Cofield at this time. The three land classification categories presented here relate to a small, rural -oriented community with a need for services and a desire to grow. 24 A. Developed Developed lands are characterized by continued intense development and redevelopment of existing developed areas. Areas designated as developed are currently urban in character where minimal undeveloped land remains and have in place, are scheduled for the timely provision of, the usual municipal or public services. The area is also characterized by a mixture of residential, commercial and institutional uses of high to moderate densities. Public services provided for this area includes water, sewer, recreation facilities, streets maintenance, police protection. In some instances an area may not have all the traditional urban services in place, but must have the ability to provide such services in a timely fashion. B. Urban Transition Areas classified as "Urban Transition" have been determined suitable for future urban development and will be provided with the necessary services. These areas are located along the major transportation corridors of Cofield. Town officials believe that future growth is likely to occur along these corridors. Because of the presence of public sewer these areas will develop from the current low density development to higher density development. Once infill development occurs in the center of Town growth will be encouraged in these urban transition areas. These areas are generally free from physical limitations and can be readily served by urban services. Because of the availability of public sewer and the close proximity of major transportation routes these areas are capable of supporting developments such as residential, commercial, institutional, industrial. Urban services such as water, sewer, streets, police and fire protection will be made available at the time development occurs or shortly thereafter. C. Rural The."rural" class provides.for agriculture, forest management, mineral extraction,.and other allied:; ' uses traditionally associated with an agrarian region.. Noxious or hazardous Ian'd`uses may be appropriate here also if situated in a manner that minimizes their negative impact on natural resources or surrounding lands. Rural land may include the following uses: ' 1. Farmland 2. Forests 3. Mines 4. Energy generating plants ' 5. Refining plants 6. Airports 7. Sewage treatment facilities S. Fuel storage tanks 9. Very low density residential with on -site water and sewer. Most of Cofiel&s 2,000 acres will be classified as rural. These areas are found off the transportation routes beyond other defined classifications within the corporate boundary. 25 RELATIONSHIP OF POLICIES AND LAND CLASSIFICATION The CAMA guidelines require each local government preparing plans to discuss the manner in which the policies developed, shall apply to each of the land classes. In addition, each local plan shall describe the ' types of land uses which are appropriate in each class. The "Land Classification Map" should have a great impact on how future land use controls for Cofield develop. I. Developed In Cofield, as in most small towns, development concentrates in the center of town. The 1990 ' Census revealed a twelve percent (12%) decline in population from the 1980 Census. In the past, due to the lack of public sewer, the Town did not have to be concerned about growth pressures, because development was limited by the soil's ability to accommodate septic systems. However, future urban development pressure is a real possibility with the presence of public sewer. Local officials would like to encourage infiill development around the center of Town were urban services are readily available. Because of the relative close proximity of urban services the cost of providing services to future development in these areas will be low. This land classification is designed to accommodate all intensive land uses, including residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and community facilities. Urban Transition The purpose of this classification is to provide for future intensive urban development on lands that are suitable and that will be provided with the necessary urban services to support intense urban development. After infill development occurs in the Town center local officials would like to direct development.to areas along major•transportation corridors.! Residential development off of-N.C..45 towards Winton .will be encouraged by town officials:_ This land classification isdesigned to support _ a , mixture of land,uses°including residential, commercial;. industrial, institutional and other urban uses., ' Rural ' The purpose of the Rural land classification is to provide for agricultural, forestry, mineral extraction and other allied uses associated with agriculture. Other land uses, due to their noxious or hazardous nature and negative impacts on adjacent uses may also be appropriate here if sited in a manner that minimizes their negative effect on surrounding land uses or natural resources. The types of non- agricultural land uses that will be permitted in this area include generating plants, refining plants, airports, fuel storage tanks and other industrial type uses. Residential uses where dwellings are located on very large lots are also compatible with rural land classifications. The Town recognizes the importance of its farmland being used for agricultural purposes and at the same time appreciates the need of industrial development to produce more local jobs. 26 m = = = m m = = = = = = = r = r NC 45 t r� SR 1403 1 1 1 45/ � v SR 1427 SR 1403 MAP 4 Town of C o f 1 e I d LAND CLASSIFICATION MAP 1994 Urban Transition ❑ Rural Developed Property Boundary — —' Town Boundary Railroad Power Line Natural Gas Line 0 1200 2410 IEET THE PREPARATION OF THIS MAP WAS FINANCED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT PROVIDED BY TIIE NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THROUGH FUNDS PROVIDED BY TIIE COASTALZONE MANAGEMENTACCOF 1972. AS AMENDED WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND -ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.