2016 Perquimans County ISR

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PERQUIMANS COUNTY
PLANNING & ZONING

TO: Charlan Owens, District Planner, DCM
FROM: Rhonda Repanshek, County Planner
CC: Frank Heath, County Manager
DATE: March 17, 2022
SUBJECT: Perquimans County LUP Implementation Status Report

Answers are given in bold italic font at the end of each action below. Perquimans County Action
Plan and Schedule is found at Exhibit X-A, page X-15 in the Perquimans County CAMA LUP:

PERQUIMANS COUNTY ACTION PLAN AND SCHEDULE
Perquimans County developed the following action plan and schedule to implement the
land use plan:

a. Public Access Implementation Actions

Review through the subdivision plat and site plan review and approval process, proposed
waterfront land development projects to ensure consistency with public access goals and
policies.
Ongoing : Two waterfront subdivisions are being processed through major subdivision reviews
and both were required to replat their water access lots to comply with subdivision
regulations. One developer agreed to build a boardwalk prior to the first residential zoning
permit approval.

Seek funding from DCM for a grant to prepare a shoreline access plan.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2018: No grant was applied for, but the County Manager has been
attending meetings of the Harbor Town Ferry Project and the County is partnering with the
Town of Hertford by providing a one-half match ($60,000) to build a retaining wall as part of
Hertford’s waterfront renovation. The Board of County Commissioners has also unanimously
approved a resolution supporting the relocation and preservation of the S-Bridge Truss which
will be part of the Town’s shoreline access.

Initiate implementation of the recommendations of the shoreline access plan, seeking
funding approval for recommended acquisitions/improvements and developing specific
criteria and standards for the provision of public shoreline access.
Begin: 2018 Complete: 2020 See previous question’s answer.

b. Land Use Compatibility Implementation Actions

Amend the subdivision regulations as necessary, including but not limited to standards
for minor subdivisions in historic agricultural areas, provision of public water accesses,
Phone:[phone]

Perquimans Planning
P.O. Box 45 / 104 Dobbs St
Hertford, NC 27944

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and enhanced erosion and sediment control standards.
Begin: 2016 Complete: 2017 Subdivision regulations were updated to reflect NCGS Ch. 160D
regulations. Currently staff is rewriting the subdivision review process for a future text
amendment that will add a step to the process to give the Boards more supervision/control of
major subdivision infrastructure plans.

Amend the zoning ordinance as necessary, including but not limited to clustering of
development, provision of public water accesses, enhanced erosion and sediment control
standards, additional overlays, and sediment control standards, additional overlays, and
develop enhanced highway corridor overlay provisions including access controls, the
identification of transitional areas, and mapping of the overlay boundary, particularly
along U.S. 17.
Begin: 2016 Complete: 2017 Our Zoning ordinance was updated September 7, 2021 to reflect
NCGS Ch. 160D regulations.

Develop residential development design guidelines and standards.
Begin: 2018 Complete: 2019 This is not being pursued at this time. The state continues to
create additional restrictions on what local government can do with residential development.

Develop commercial and industrial building and development design guidelines and
standards.
Begin: 2018 Complete: 2019 Research has started.

Undertake a study to identify prime agricultural areas within the County.
Begin: 2018 Complete: 2019 A study is not being pursued at this time however, Voluntary
Agriculture Districts continue to increase through cooperation with the local Cooperative
Extension office and their acceptance of applications.

Develop, in cooperation with NCDOT, requirements for regulating vehicular access to
State roadways, and amend the County’s zoning and subdivision ordinances accordingly.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2017 County staff follows NCDOT requirements regarding new
development access.

Work with Hertford and Winfall, as applicable, to develop coordinated land use and
development regulations as applicable for areas of common interest such as within the
Hertford ETJ and along U.S. 17.
Begin: 2016 Complete: 2017 No special regulations are being pursued at this time, however
the Towns and County continuously work together as needed for areas of common interest.

Study and/or adopt text amendments to the zoning ordinance and/or subdivision
regulations concerning:
□ stormwater and drainage management standards;
X family/private subdivisions, and other related lot and road requirements; studying now
□ new placement of residence on nonconforming lot;
 wind energy devices;
□ rural commercial initiative;
X manufactured home regulations; edited slightly when updated for Ch. 160D in 2021
X planned unit development conditional use (PUD[CU]) district; CZ now, took out PUD per NCGS
Ch. 160D
□ public sewage disposal systems, individual septic systems, and “appropriate
certification” to support rezoning requests;
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□ North Carolina Fire Code recommendations pertaining to road, water system, and
fire hydrant standards;
□ final plats under bond;
□ court ordered subdivisions; and,
 design standards.
Begin: 2015 Complete: 2016

c. Infrastructure Carrying Capacity and Provision of Facilities and Services
Implementation Actions

Develop, in cooperation with NCDOT, a thoroughfare plan.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2018 Future I-87 meetings are attended by the County Manager.

Develop a capital improvements plan.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2017 New ideas are discussed informally but, no formal plan has been
pursued.

Support efforts to develop a blue ways/greenways trail system in and through the County.
Ongoing A Blueways map is prominently displayed in the Planning office and instigates many
discussions about the routes and conveniences along each.

Work with Hertford to clarify and determine service provision responsibilities within the
Hertford ETJ, establishing formal utility service area boundaries and agreements and to
develop coordinated land use and development regulations within such areas.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2017 No new responsibilities have been discussed in the last two years.

Work with Hertford and Winfall to correct problems associated with public water and
wastewater systems.
Ongoing This is ongoing as needed.

Review future proposed water system extensions for consistency with the goals and
policies of the land use plan.
Ongoing Potable water options are being discussed with a neighboring county to supply the
southern half of the county with more water.

d. Natural Hazard Areas Implementation Actions

Review the zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, and flood damage prevention
regulations to determine if more specific location and density regulations regarding
development or redevelopment activities within identified flood hazard areas and storm
surge areas are warranted. Issues to be addressed include restrictions on land uses that
utilize or store hazardous materials on-site, establishment of riparian buffers, increasing
the minimum freeboard floor height above base flood elevations, etc.
Ongoing No new regulations were created in the last 2 years regarding this subject.

Avoid zoning areas susceptible to storm surge for high density residential or intensive
nonresidential uses.
Ongoing This is ongoing as needed.

Consider seeking Federal or State grant funding to acquire land in the most hazardous
areas to minimize future property damage and loss of life.
Ongoing County considers this on an as needed basis.
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Consider the feasibility of relocating or modifying affected public facilities if any portion
of such facilities is significantly damaged by a major storm event to prevent the
reoccurrence of storm damage.
Ongoing No public facilities have been damaged by a major storm event.

Coordinate the review and approval of development plans for major subdivisions, multifamily
developments, and large public and institutional uses located within identified
natural hazard areas with emergency service providers.
Ongoing Emergency Service staff is on the Technical Review Committee and submit comments
regarding individual major subdivisions as applications are presented.

Continue enforcement of the State Building Code provisions regarding wind resistance
requirements and participation on the National Flood Insurance Program.
Ongoing This is ongoing with the Building Inspections Department.

e. Water Quality Implementation Actions

Seek assistance in developing a multi-jurisdictional storm water management plan.
Begin: 2016 Complete: 2017 This is not being pursued at this time.

Review the zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance to determine if revisions are
needed to include additional measures, such as riparian buffers and impervious surface
limitations, to control stormwater discharges.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2018 No additional measures are considered necessary currently.

Consider the adoption of a wellhead protection ordinance to regulate land uses within
areas that replenish groundwater supply.
Begin: 2017 Complete: 2018 No wellhead ordinance is being considered at this time.

Continue to require, through its subdivision ordinance, adequate stormwater drainage
systems for new developments.
Ongoing Engineer reports are reviewed when needed.

Continue to promote the use of best management practices to minimize the degradation
of water quality resulting from stormwater runoff.
Ongoing This is continuously ongoing in conjunction with the Soil and Water Conservation
office and County Water Department when applicable.

Continue to coordinate the approval of land development projects with the applicable
State agencies.
Ongoing Currently subdivision regulations are being researched to consider edits that allow
Planning Board review of State agency permits at a later stage of the major subdivision review
process.

f. Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) Implementation Strategies

Review the zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance to determine if revisions are
need to include additional protective measures for AEC.
Begin: 2016 Complete: 2017 This is part of the research being undertaken currently.

g. Local Areas of Concern Implementation Actions
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Promote development in the Commerce Centre.
Ongoing East Coast Marine Properties bought an additional 10 acres in the Commerce Centre
in 2021 that was combined with approximately 10 acres they already owned. The marine
basin project is still moving forward; Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized the
Chairman and County Manager to execute an Agreement with Moffatt & Nichol Engineering to
provide engineering services on the marine basin project (Jan. 2022).

Continue public participation program.
Ongoing