    [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                        TOWN OF AHOSKIE
                                                                  ND USE PLAN

                           HD
                           211,
                            A46                                                                COASTAL ZONE
                           T69
                           1987                                                           INFORMATION CENTER

                                  T 0 W N 0 F A H 0 S K I E

                               1 9 8 7    L A N D     U S E   P L A N

                       Adopted by the Ahoskie Town Council Novembe r 9, 1987
                 Certified by  the Coastal Resources Commission December 4, 1987

                Prepared for:

                      Ahoskie Town Council

                       Clarence Newsome
                       Ange1a Early
                       Chester Rawls
                       0. S. Suiter, Jr.
                       Charles Hughes

                      Mitchell S. McLean, Mayor
                      Robert C. Elliott, Town Manager

                Prepared ..,b.y,:

                      Ahoskie Planning Board

                       R.  P. Martin
                       Alvin  Newsome                   US Department of Commerce
                       G. Thomas Bazemore           NOAA Coastal Services Center Library
                       Henry Bazemore                    2234 South Hobson Avenue
                       Vernon Baker                      Charleston, SC 29405-2413
                       Louis Mizelle,   Jr.
                       Henry Jones
                       Casey Jones
                       Dennis Deloatch
                       Don Ferguson,

                Planning assistance provided by:

                      Mid-East Commission
                      1 Harding Square
                      Washington, NC P7889
                      (919) 946-8043

                      Robert J. Paciocco, Planner-in-Charge
                      Libby Anderson, Technical Assistant

                Preparation financed in part by:

                      A grant provided by the North Carolina.Coastal Management
                      Program, through funds provided by the Coastal Zone Manage-
                      ment Act of 1972, as amendedp which is administered by the
                      Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National
                      Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

                                                TOWN OF-AHOSKIE

                                              1997 LAND USE PLAN

                    CONTENTS

                                                                                  PAGE

                    I.    BACKGROUND

                          A.    Population  .................................        2
                          B.    Housing  ....................................        5
                          C.    Economy  .....................................       5

                    II.   LAND  USE

                          A.    Existing Conditions   ......                         9
                          B.    Recent Development; Future Growth       ..........  13
                          C.    Land Use Concerns    ..........................     15
                          D.    Development Controls    .......................     16
                          E.    Devel.opment Constraints   ....................     21

                    III.  POLICY OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION

                          A.    Resource Protection ... .....                       3e
                          a.    Resource Production and Management       .........  43
                          C.    Economic and Community Development       ........... 47
                          D.-   Storm Hazards  .........................      ..... 52
                          E.    Public Participation    .......................     57

                    IV.   LAND  CLASSIFICATION

                          A.    Purpose  .....................................      59
                          0.    Classification Scheme     ......................    60
                          C.    Intergovernmental Coordination      .............   63
                    Appendix A - State and Federal Regul'atory Devices

                    Appendix B - Agencies Coordinating Storm Preparedness

                    Appendix C - Ahoskie Land Use Pla      'nning Program;
                                     Schedule of Meetings

                    Appendix 1)  - Media R5@jeases

                    BibIliagraphy

                                               ILLUSTRATIONS

                  Figure

                     I             North Carolina  Counties  .................. 9.5
                     2             Hertford County Land Use 1986   .............. E3.6
                     3             Regional Population 1960-1985   ............ 8.7
                     4             Population Age Structure   ................. B.e
                     5             Per Capita Income 1970-1984   .............. 8.9
                     6             Unemployment Rate 1976-1986   .............. e.io

                   Map

                   1               Existing Land Use  ........................ 37.3
                   2               Land Use Constraints  ...................... 37.4
                   3               Ahoskie Area Soils  ....................... 37.5
                   4               Land Classification  ...................... 63.2

                                                   TABLES

                    1               Regional Population   .......................   e.1

                    2               County Population   .........................   8.1

                    3               Population Age St  ructure igeo   ............. e.1
                    4               Housing  Characteristics igeo    ............... 8.2
                    5               Hertford County Employment 1980     ........... 8.2

                    6               County Labor Force   ........................   8.3

                    7               Retail Sales  ..............................    e.3

                    8               Manufacturing Firms  ...............  ......... 8.4

                    9               Building Permits 19E30-1986   ................ 37.1

                   10               Soil Characteristics    ...................... 37.1

                   11               Future Regional Population    ................ 37.2

                   12-              County Population Age Structure 1985-1995.37.2

                   13               School Enrollment .... .....................   37.2

                                             TOWN OF AHOSKIE

                                              LAND USE PLAN

                                                  1987

                  1.   BACKGROUND

                       From a small crossroad community developed around a church,

                  Ahoskie has grown to become a regional commercial and employment

                  center.     Ahoskieo originally known as Ahotskey, is now the

                  largest community in   Hertford County.     The Town's name is of

                  Indian origin, and the area's native residents, perhaps a

                  mix of     the Cherokee     and Tuscaroran     tribest were called

                  "Ahoskians."    References as early as 1719 have been found to the

                  Ahotskey area, however the name was not changed to the current

                  "Ahoskie" until 1994.

                        The Town is young in comparison with other communitles in

                  the region; many were incorporated in the eighteenth century.

                  Ahoskie was not incorporated as a town until la93, more than

                  one hundred years after the incorporation of the neighboring

                  towns of Murfreesbo   ro and Winton. Both Murfreesboro and Winton

                 .developed as port       communities    along   navigable waterways.

                  Murfreesboro is located on the banks of the Meherrin River;

                  Winton on the banks of the Chowan.        In contrastq Ahosk   ie de-

                  veloped around the railroad which         still passes through the

                  center of the Town.

                       Althcugh water resources did not play a major role in

                  the economic development of the Town, the community is bounded

                  on all sides by creeks and swampland.          Ahoskie Creek flows

                  along the Town's.western and southern boundaries.       Horse Swamp

                  borders the Town on the north and White Oak Swamp lies just

                  beyond the Town's eastern boundary.

                       With construction of the rail     road in    the late 1800's,

                  Ahoskie grew from a small farming community to become the

                  commercial and employm ent center of the County. 'The Town has a

                  number of large manufacturing firms and several           commercial

                  retail centers. The Roanoke Chowan, Hospital is located within

                  the Town's incorporated area.     In addition, the, Town offers a

                  variety of cultural and recreational    opportunities.     The com-

                  munity has two county clubs, a public   recreation center, several

                  movie theatres, and a cultural center.

                  A.   Population

                       Ahoskie is one of seven incorporated areas in Hertford

                  County which occupies 362 square miles of northeastern North

                  Carolina (Figure 1, pg. 8.5).     The.County is rural in nature.

                  Together, undeveloped forest and farmland account for over 93% of

                  all land in the County (Figure 2p pg. 8.6). Urban areas comprise

                  only 2% of all land while rural developed areas account:for about

                  5%.

                                                   2

                        In 19115, Hertford County had       alm ost 24  000 residents,

                   ranking number four in population in the five county region,

                   (Figure 3, pg. 8.7).     The County has grown slightly since 1980,
                   increasing.in popula@ion by just over 2% between 1980 and 1        985

                   (Table 1, pg. E3.1).    Recent growth compensates to some extent,

                   for the population decline noted during the period 1970-1980 when

                   the County lost about 1% of its 1970 population. In contrast,

                   during this same period, the region as.a whole grew by 9% and the

                   popula tion statewide increased almost 16%.

                         Ahoskie is     the largest community in Hertford County

                   (Table 2v pg. 8.1). In 1985 the Town's population was reported
                   at almost 5,000 persons. The Town's population d    eclined' slightly

                   between 1970 and 1980.      Since 1980 however, local population

                   appears to have increased and today, one of every five persons

                   that lives in Hertford County lives within the Town of Ahoskie.

                   The population of Ahoskie is almost twice that of Murfreesboro,

                   the second largest community in the County.

                         Following the national trendp the population of the Town

                   is aging      (Figure 4, pg.. 8.8).        In 1970, 11% of the local

                   population was 65  years and older (Table 3, pg. 8.1).       By 1980,,.

                   16% of all persons living in Ahoskie was over 65. Population

                   figures show that the Town has a greater share of the senior

                   population than found on the average for the County or state.

                   About 12% of all County residents are over 65, and for the state

                                                     3

                  as a whole, only about 10Y. of the population is over 65. At th       0

                  same time, the percentage of the population under 20 years is

                  declining.      in 1980, about 30% of the population was 19 or

                  younger, down 10% from 1970.

                         More older persons and less young people- means changing

                  needs in the areas of housing, education, and social services.

                  The  senior population will demand alternative types of housing.

                  As seniors move to multifamily units and congregate settings,

                  many large, old single-family homes will become available.           As

                  increasing numbers of seniors 11age in place", the demand for

                  home services will also increase.       Declining numbers of young

                  persons means declining school enrollment and a need for flexi-

                  bility in classroom scheduling and capital improvements.

                         In contrast to  other areas of the state, the Town is not

                  subject to seasonal    changes in population. At one time, migrant

                  workers in the area   increased the local population. during summer

                  months;     The number of workers in the Ahoskie area was large

                  enough that the Town provided a summer recreation program for the

                  workers' children.     Due to lack of demandq the program has been

                  discontinued and local of    .ficials believe few if any migrant

                  workers now visit the -Ahoskie area.       Tourists account for some

                  fluxuation in the daytime population. Hertford County as a whole

                  realized    over    three   million    dollars    in tourist-related

                  expenditures in 1985. Most tourists in the area are day visitors

                  however and their impact on local service demand is minimal.

                                                     4

                  B. Housing

                        The Town's 1980. popu-la   tion was housed among about 1,800

                  dwelling units (Table 4, pg. 8.2). About 2.7 persons reside in

                  every household, a slightly lower figure than the average for the

                  County where 3.1 persons occupy every household.          One-in-four

                  households    were   single-person    households-typically elderly

                  persons living alone.    About 84% of all dwellings in the Town

                  are single-family units, about average for the County. Almost

                  half of all dwelling units (46%) are rental units.      In contrast,

                  countywide, only about 30% of all dwell        ings are renta   units

                  and for th.9 five-county region, about 32% of all units are

                  renter-occupied.

                       The Town has many large older single-family homes in its

                  downtown area. In general, the housing stoc    k is in good condi-

                  tion; in    1972 the Town adopted a housing code to ensure that

                  local residences meet minimum health and safety standards.

                  Although most residential dwellings in the area.Were built before

                  1950, some new construction has ocurred. Between 1980 and 1985,

                  85 build ing permits were issued for single-family dwellings and

                  92 permits were -issued for multifamily units.

                  C.  Economy

                        About one in four employed County res-idents work in

                  manufacturing enterprises (Table 5, pg. 8.2). Fifteen percent of

                                                    5

                  all employed persons work in wholesale and retail trade; 10% work

                  in educational services.         Although agricultural operati     ons

                  utilize over 25% of the County's land area, only 5% of the

                  County population reported employment in 1980 in agricultural,

                  forest, fishery, or mining enterprises.

                         County per capita income has risen. continuously since

                  1970, through lagging the increase noted for         the state as a

                  whole  (Figure 5, pg. 8.9).      Jn 1984, the per capita income of

                  County residents was $8,342. In contrast, statewide, per capita

                  income was $10,e52.

                         The County labor force has grown slowly al'ong with total

                  population. Employment growt   h has lagged growth in the labor

                  force and    so until recently, the County unemployment rate has

                  been increasing (Tab  le 6, pg. 8.3, Figure 6, pg. 8.10).          The

                  unemployment rate in 1986. was 7.8% in Hertford County and 5.3%

                  statewide, down from.9.1% and 6.7% in 1984 respectively. .

                         Hertford County ranked third in the five county. region in

                  retail sales in 1986 (Table 7p pg. 8.3). Sales in Hertford

                  County were about 50% that of sales in Beaufort County.         Retail

                  sales in urbanizing Pitt County greatly exceeded sales in

                  Hertford County and were two and one-half times greater than

                  sales in Beaufort County in 1985.

                         Manufacturing firms in Ahoskie provide much of the County's

                  manufact'uring employment noted in Table 5.        Commercial enter-

                                                    6

                  prises in Ahoskie are responsible for a major portion of the

                  total sales in the County.       There are fifteen manufacturing

                  firms located within Ahoskie (Table 8, pg. e.4). Kerr Glass is
                  new to Ahoskie. When fully'operational, the    plant is expected to

                  employ about 250 persons, making it the largest employer in

                  Ahoskie. As.of January 1987, about 50% of the plant's machinery

                  was in place and about 100 workers were employed at the facility.

                  Local officials view Kerr's location in the building formerly

                  occupied by West Point Pepperell as one of the Town's major

                  accomplishments in 1986.    Kerr's decision to locate in Ahoskie

                  can be attributed   in part to the efforts and cooperation of a

                  number of groups including the Town, the County, and the Indus-

                  trial Development Commission. Currently the community's largest

                  employers are Parker Brothers, a printing firm; Bennett Box

                  Company; and Georgia Pacific.      In addition, the Ahoskie Chamber

                  of Commerce lists over 170 organizations as members.         Members

                  include retail operations, restauran'ts, and professional offices.

                        The Town is also home to the Regional Small Business

                  Incubator Facility.    The facility, which opened in 1986, is.

                  designed to provide low-cost rental and support services to new

                  or small businesses  tio help them survive the first two years of

                  operation.    Designed as a tool to promote economic growth and

                  development in the northeastern part of the state, the facility

                  will serve Bertie, Gates, Hertford, and Northhampton counties.

                                                   7

                   prises in Ahoskie are responsible         for a major portion of the

                   total sales in the County.        There   are fifteen manufacturing

                   firms located within Ahoskie (Table 89 pg. 8.4). Kerr Glass is

                   new to Ahoskie. When fully operationalg the plant is expected to

                   employ about 250 persons, making it thelargest employer in

                   Ahoskie.  As of January 19879 about 50% of the plant'5 machinery

                   was in place and about 100 workers were employed at the facility.

                   Local officials view Kerr's location in the building formerly

                   occupied by West Point Pepperell as          one of the Town's major

                   accomplishments in 1986.     Kerr' s decision to locate in Ahoskie

                   can be attributed in part to the efforts and,cooperation of a

                   number of groups including the Town, the County, and the Indus-

                   trial Development Commission. Currently the community's largest

                   employers are Parker Brotherss -a printing firm; Bennett Box

                   Company; and Georgia Pacific.      In addition, the Ahoskie Chamber

                   of Commerce lists over 170 organizations as members.           Members

                   include retail operations, restaurantsq and professional      offices.

                         The Town is     also home to the Regional Small         Business
                   Incubator Facility.    The facility, which opened in           1986,"is

                   designed to provide   low-cost rental and support services to new

                   or small businesses to help them survive the first two years of

                   operation.   Designed as a tool to promote economic growth and
                   development 1:6 the.northeastern part of the state, the facility

                   will serve Bertie, Gatest Hertford, and Northfiampton counties.

                                                     7

                  Economic development locally will be promoted by the Ahoskie

                  Industrial Development Committee.    The committee7 appointed in

                  January 1987s will work in conjqnction with the Hertford County

                  Industrial Developmen t Commission to stimulate new industrial

                  development in the Ahoskie area.

                  Implications

                        Although the     Town has    experienced relatively little

                  change in population in recent years, the need for sound land

                  use' planning    is not    diminished.     Every new residential,

                  commercial, and industrial  development affects the land and the

                  quality of life in the Town.          Poorly planned or managed

                  development can have irreversible effects on the Town's natural

                  and culltural    resources.    The Town is the population and

                  employment center of the County and welcomes new development.

                  The Town is fortunate to have'in place many of the tools typical-

                  ly used to guide land development.         The Town should use its

                  zoning and subdivision ordinances, its housing codeq and its

                  utilities extension policy to thei r full advantage.    As the Town

                  growst planners must be aware that industry, businessesp employ-

                  ers and employers alikeg appreciate the local amenities that stem

                  from proper lan d and services planning.

        Table 1
        REGIONAL POPULATION

        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       % Change % Change
        County                  1960      1970         1980      1985     70-80     80-85

        ------------------------------------------------       -------------------------
        Beaufort            36,014      35,980      40,355     43,260      12.2%      7.2%
        Bertie              24,350      20,528      21,024     21,341       2.4%      1.5%
        HERTFORD             .22,718    23,529      23,368     23,924      -0.7%      2.4%
        Martin              27,139      24,730      25,948     26,653       4.9%      2.7%
        Pitt                69,942      73,900      83,651     95,862      13.2%     14.6%
        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Region              180,163    178,667      194,346    211,040      8.8%      8.6%
        ------------
        State            4,556,155 5,082,059 5,881,766 6,253,951           15.7%      6.3%

        Source: U.S. Census; N.C. Office of State Budget and Management

        Table 2
        COUNTY POPULATION

        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Change    Change
                                1960      1970         1980      1985     70-80     80-85

                      --------------------------------------------------------------
        AHOSKIE              4,583        5',105     4,887       4,936     -4.3%      1.0%
        Cofield                 n/a        318         465        534      46.2%     14.8%
        Como                    n/a        211           89         92    -57.8%      3.4%
        Harrellsville           171        165         151        150      -8.5%     -0.7%
        Murfreesboro         2,643        3,508      3,007       2,798    -14.3%     -7.0%
        Winton                  835        917         825        845     -10.0%      2.4%

        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Uninco rp. area     14,486      13,305      13,944     14,569       4.8%      4.5%

        Total County        22,718      23,529      23,368     23,924      -0.7%      2.4%

        n/a= not available
        Source: Office of State Budget and Management

        Table 3
        POPULATION  AGE   STRUCTURE
        ---------- --- ---------------------------------------------        -------------
                                    1970                    1980          County    State
                                No.           %        No.           %    (1980)    (1980)
        -------------------------------------------     7 ------------------------------
        0-4 years               377        7.4%        358        7.3%      7.3%      6.9%
        5-19 years           1,617        31.7%      1,127       23.1%     27.8%     25.5%
        20-24years              275        5.4%        383        7.8%      8.7%      9.8%
        25-44 years          1,158        22.7%      1,144       23.4%     23.8%     28.0%
        45-64 years          1,131        22.2%      1,101       22.5%     20.3%     19.6%
        65  and older           547       10.7%        774       15.8%     12.1%     10.2%
        -- --- -----        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total                5,105        100.0%     4,887       100.0%   100.0%    100.0%
      ISource: U.S. CensuS

         Table 4
         HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS 1980
         -----------------------------    7 ---------------------------------------------
                                          Ahoskie             County             Region
                                                                       %

         ------------  7 --------------------------------------------------------------
         Total,Households          1,756          -     7,499          -    67,46.0
         Single-person Hshlds         433       24.7%   1,518       20.2%   14,083      20.9%
         Total Housing Units       1,840          -     8,150          -    73,810          -
         Singlc@-family Units      1,551        84.3%   6,699       82.2%   57,853      78.4%
         Vacant Units                   83       4.5%     651        8.0%    6,348         8.6%
         Rente'r Occupied             847       46.0%   2,420       29.7%   23,782      32.2%
         Condominium Units              35        -          40      0.5%      412        0.6%
         Units w/out plumbing           88       4.8%     220        2.7%    7,722      10.5%
         ----------------------------------------       7---------------------------------
         Persons/household            2.7                 3.1                  3.0
         Median Value unit        $30,900             $30,862
         Median Rent                $105                  $90

         Source: U.S. Census

         Table 5
         HERTFORD  COUNTY EMPLOYMENT 1980
         ----------------  I-------------------------------------------------
                                              Number of        % Total       State
         Employment Sector                     Employees    Employment            %
         -----------------------------------------------------         7-----------
         Manufacturing                              2,937          25.9%       32.0%
         Wholesale & Retail Trade                   1,712          15.1%       18.0%
         Educational Services                       1,155          10.2%       8.3%
         Airiculture, Forestry,                       599           5.3%       3.6%
           Fisheries, Mining
         Construction                                 594           5..2%      6.1%
         Health Services                              543           4.8%       6.0%
         Personal, Entertainment,                     413           3.6%       3.7%
           Recreational Services
         Public Administration                        359           3.2%       4.0%
         Finance, Insurance, Real     Estate,         301           2.6%       6.9%
           Business, Repair Services
         Transportation, C   ommunications,           308           2.7%       6.0%
           Other Public Utilities
         Other Professional and                       211           1.9%       3.2%
           Related Services
         Not reported                               2,228          19.6%       2.3%
         -----------------------------------------------------------------
         Total,                                     11,360-        100.0%    100.0%

         Source: N.C. Statistical Abstract,        Fifth Edition, 1984

                                                    8.2

            Tab] e 6
               '
               " I, I              - E
               11-11- LA@-1,C)R Ff-)RG

                                         Labor         Total       Unemployment Rate
                         Year            Force Employed              County          State

                         1976          11,360        10,690              5.9%          6.2%
                                                ---------------------------------

                         1977          12,020        11,140              7.3%          5.9%
                         19 7 8        11,610        i 0 , 19 10         6 . 0 't      4 . 3'@-t
                         1979          11 j 850      11 *. Clio          7 . 1 %-'     4.
                         1980          12,310        11,360              7.7%          6.5%
                         1981          11,770        10,850              7.8%          6.4%
                         19-82         11,740        10,780              8.2%          9.0%
                         1983          11,700                            9.3%          8.9%
                         1984          11,830        10,750              9.1%          6.7%
                         1985            9,750         9,020             7.5%          5.4%
                         19,@86          9,670         8,920             7.8%          5.3%
            ------------------------------------------------------------

            Source: Office of State Budget and Management;
                         updated by Employment Security Commission

            Table 7
            RETAIL SALES ($,000's)

            -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       County
            Fiscal Year Beaufort             Bertie HERTFORD          Martin           Pitt
            ------   1975---135,562      --- 36,101 --- 76,279    --- 73,027--278,382-
                     1976      159,530       40,880        87,539     82,899      318,493
                     1977      177,795       43,819     100,540       93,249      349,637
                     1978      191,566       46,491     102,848       93,359      372,759
                     1979      219,683       52,440     108,696       97,633      426,912
                     1980      223j745       50,996     120,   747   103,241      462,937
                     1981      254,858       54,336     123,021      109,607      516,284
                     1982      258,037       57,818     133,807      114,041      542,045
                     1983      249,857       59,865     141,145      116,978      578,843
                     1984      277,511       81,667     162,367      123,998      694,144
                     1985      289,045       64,487     166,839      125,435      7351,826
                     1986      314,513       62,199     169,259      137,241      831,083
            -----------------------------------------                    7--------------
            Chg. 75-85            113.2%        78.6%        90.6%       71.8%        164.3%

            Source: Office of State Budget and Management                      (1975--84)
                         and N.C. Department of Revenue (1985,                 1986)

                                                                8.3

           Table 8
           MANUFACTURING FIRMS as of 2/1/87

             ----------------------------------------------------------
           -Firm      I              Product              Employment Range
             ----------------------------------------------------------
           Bennett Box Co.           Boxes                145-155
           Brittenham Rebuilding     Rebuilt auto parts   5-10
           Carolina Billets          Smelting aluminum    60-70
           Commercial Ready Mix      Concrete             5-10
           Southern States           Fertilizer           5-10
           Fabco, Inc.               Paneling             50-100
           Freeman.Metal Works       Caskets              50-60
           Georgia Pacific           Lumber products      90-100
           Kerr Glass                Injection molding    245-255 (1)
           H.T. Jones Co.            Lumber products      50-100
           Lucas Machine &  Welding  Metal products       5-10'
           Parker Brothers           Printing             140-150
           Perdue, Inc.              Grain processing     10-20
           Pierce Printing  Co.      Printing             10-20
           Ramsey Lumber             Lumber products      50-100
           Rose Bro. Paving Co.      Paving products      10-20
           --------------------------------   7 --------------------------

           (1) when fully operational
           Source: "Hertford County Land Use Plan Update 1986",
                     Mid-East Commission, 1986, Updated by the
                     Ahoskie. Planning Board

                                                 8.4

                                                                                                                                                                     Figure

                                                                                                                                                       N. C. Counties
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                                                             JACKSON           -Vat. w                                                                  -ILI OOMl*T
                                                                                             FOLK                      ""ON
                                C.44O.'t            ACOX                  AAkS,                               L9.9                                                                                                                  LENOIR         SUL.K.
                                                                          VAk.A                                                    t""PIDUA                        C..On              .091     OBERLAND   JAMISON      OUPLIN                                  P..L;CO
                                                                                                                                                U.,O    ANSON                                                                                JONES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          OVILD.
                                                                                                                                                                             LA 0                                                                          ATLAty
                                                                                                                                                                                so ONIC310"       @LADEN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             PINOILA

                                                                                                                                                                                                COLUMBUS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ZAII 14

                                                 Source: Office of State BUdget and Management

                                                                 Figure 2

                                                             Herf ord County

                                                                Land Use 1986

                           Crop/posture (26.3%)

                          Urban (2.3%)

                   Rural developed (4.5%)

                                                                                                   Forest (66.9%)

                      Source:   Office of State Budget and Management

                                                                  Figure- :3
                                                       Regional Population
                                                                  1960-1985
                            100
                                                                                                        P itt

                            90 -

                            80 -

                            7 0

                            60 -
                     W
                     'U
                     C:
                     EO     50 -

                     0
                                                                                                        Beaufort--
                            40 -                                                        B

                                13

                            30                                                                      Martin

                                                                                                        HERTFORD
                            20
                                                                                                    Bertie

                            10

                              0

                              1960          1965          1970          1975          1980           1985

                                SOUrce:  U.S. CenSLIS; Office of StatL- BUdget and Mana'g'ernent

                                                                             Figure 4
                                                          Population Age Structure
                                                                               Ahoskie
                              2.0

                              1.9

                              1. T
                                                      31.7%

                              1.5

                              1.4 -

                              1.3 -
                              1.2 -                         23.1%                         22.7%23.47.       22.27,.22.5%
                         C    1.1
                              1.0
             @O          3
             00          0    0.9
                        -C
                              0.8 -                                                                                                 15.8%

                              0.7 -
                              0.6 -                                                                                           10.7.

                              0.5 -
                              0.4    7.4% 7.37.                                7.8%
                                                                         5.4%
                              0.3

                              0.2

                              0.1

                              0.0
                                     0-4 years        5-113 years      20-24 years       25-44    years    45-64 years       65 and older

                                                                        1970                     1980

                                SC'LtrcL-:         Cel-ISLIS

                                                               FigUre. 5
                                                     Per %.Rapita Income
                                                              1970-1984
                           14

                           13-

                           12

                           1                                                                          10,852

                           10-                                                                   g,8

                           9 -                                                         8,655

                    c

                    U)     8 -
                    :3                                                                                  342
                    0                                                       .7,10
                                                                                                 7,737
                           7 -                                                          P49 1

                           6 -                                   5,77
                           5                          .4,860                 898
                                            4,241                4,824
                           4 -
                                                      4,125

                           3 -              3,461

                           2 -

                            1970       1972       1974      1976       1978       1980      1982       1984
                                                                                                 g8

                                                                            5,

                                        0    Hertford County                             State

                          Source: Office of State DUdget and Management

                                                           Figure 6
                                                 Unemployment 'Rate
                                                           1976-1986
                      10.0% -

                      9.0% -

                                                                                                    County

                      7.0%

                      6.0%

                 C
                 4)                                                                                 S t a t e
                 E    5.0%
                 I
                 0
                 E    4.0%
                 C

                      3.0%

                      2.0%

                      1.0%

                      0.0%
                          1976   1977   1978   1979   1980   1981   1982    1983   1984   1985   1986

                                                              Year

                      Source: Office of State Budget and Management, and
                               Employment Security CommiSsion

                   11. LAND USE

                   A.   Existing Conditions

                        The.. Town limits encompasses an area of@about 2.6 square

                   miles.   Including the satellite annexation at the intersection

                   of N. C. 561 and State Route 1108 - the site of the Ramada Inn -

                   and the area within the one-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction)

                   the Ahoskie planning area covers. about 10 square miles of

                   Hertford County. As shown on the Map of Existing Land Use (pg.

                   37.3), the Town is bisected into eastern and western halves by

                   the Seaboard Coast rail line, and into northern and southern

                   halves by N. C. 561 end Memorial Drive.

                         The Town developed around the railroad and most industrial

                   uses and the older commercial and residential areas are found

                   near the railroad.       The Town's National Registe      r Historic

                   District is located in the area of the Main Street/Railroad

                   Street intersection,     and encompasses a      number of historic

                   commercial buildings. Several large old homes of local signi-

                   ficance are found on Catherine Creek Road just south of the

                   eastern spur of the rail   line.

                         Industrial uses cluster in the northern hal-f of the Town

                   along the rail line.         Bennett Box Company, located at the

                   southern end of Railroad Street, is the largest industrial

                   concern with the Town. As part of its box fabricating operation@
                   the company has a lumber' yard and sawmi        11 on-site.      South

                   of Bennett Box along Railroad Street are a number of other

                                                     9

                   industrial and warehousing operations. Industrial uses extend
                   souih along Railroad    Street to First Street and then east along

                   the rail spur to Catherine Creek Road. At one time the railroad

                   continued east beyond the extraterritorial limits. An industrial

                   area developed here around the rail line at the eastern edge of

                   the Town,and in the extraterritorial area to the east.                Just

                   within the Town's eastern limit is the Southern States farm

                   supply operation, and Georgia Pacific has a large lumber opera-

                   tion in the eastern extraterritorial area along N. C. 561.

                   Recent industrial development has occurred in the southern half

                   of the planning area. Two large industrial concerns have located

                   near the rail line at its intersection with State Route (S. R.)

                   1105.     Carolina Bullets has located just within the Town's

                   one-mile  jurisdictional limit    and Kerr Glass opened in the old
                   West Point Pepperell@plant across the road from Carolina Bi        I Ilets.

                   As S. R. 1105 is the extraterritorial boundary in that areaq

                   Kerr Glass is currently not within the Town's planning jUrisdic-

                   tion,

                          The Town has eight railroad crossings within its city

                   limits.    The railroad has historically been viewed as one of the

                   community's major assets and in general, the rail line presents

                   no major. land use concerns.        Maintenance of the rail crossings

                   has, at times, become a concern. Six of the crossings have been

                   reconstructed within the last two     years and the Town has contact-

                   ed rail officials to request refurbishment of the remaining two.

                                                      10

                        Most of the area within th,e Town limits has been develop-

                  ed'and much of that development is residential in.nature.         At

                  the same time, Ahoskie is the Lommercial center of Hertford

                  County so the Town has within its planning limits more commercial

                  and industrial development than other communities in the area.-

                  The-Town'5 first commercial area developed along Main Street near

                  the railroad, and     the area along Main Street between Church

                  Street and First Street continues to be commercial in nature.

                  Typical of communities nat  ionwide, recent commerical development

                  has occurred in areas outside downtown.     In Ahoskie, commercial

                  development has occurred along the Town's major thoroughfares and

                  much recent development is highway-related:      drive-thru restau-

                  rants, gas stations, and convenience stores. U. S. 13, from its

                  intersection with N. C. 561 west to Peachtree Street, is lined

                  with commercial uses. The Newmarket shopping plaza    is located on

                  U. S. 13 just inside the Town limits on the east.       Along N. C.

                  11/42 to the south, another commercial area has developed where

                  .the highway crosses Ahoskie Creek. Comm ercial uses here include

                  a feed and fertilizer distributor@ a supermarket, a furniture

                  storet and a gas station.     Scattered commercial uses are found

                  throughout the rest of the planning area. Several small commer-

                  cial areaslare found in the northern half of the region along

                  U. S. 13/N. C. 11 and S. R. 1415 to the north.

                          Residential uses developed along the railroad in conjunc-

                    tion with the commerci   al and industrial growth of the early

                    1900's.   The western half of     iTown is primarily residential in

                    nature and a large residential    area is also found in      the north-

                    east portion of the Town.           There are also several proposed

                    subdivisions in Town including Isaac Terrace and Vernon Place.

                    Residential development has occurred in the extraterritorial

                    areaq primarily in strip fashion along existing roadsy although

                    some subdivision has occurred.        The two major areas of subdivi-

                    sion are along N. C. 561 - Colonial Acres, And off N. C. 11/42 in

                    the southwest portion of the planning area         the Morris subdivi-

                    sion. Nei,ther area is currently.served with      Town water or sewer.

                          The western half of Town also holds Ahoskie's major

                    institutional u ses.    Roanoke-Chowan Hospital is located at the

                    intersection of Memorial Drive and Academy Street.               Ahoskie

                    Graded School and Ahoskie Middle School are located at the

                    western terminus of Main Street, and Ahoskie High School is

                    located on N. C. 561 just within the Town@s western limit.
                    Just ins'ide the extraterritorial limit in the southwest is a

                    regional office of the State Department of Transportationg and a

                    state highway patrol office is found off N. C. 11/42 on S. R.

                    1107.

                          Although over 80% of all residential units are single-

                    family dwellings, the Town has a number of multifamily develop-

                                                      12

                  ments including the Parkwood Apartments (located just west of

                  the grade school off Talmadge         Street), and Peachtree Court

                  Apartments and Pierce Avenue Apartments, both located in the

                  southeast corner of the Town.

                         Most of the extraterritorial area remains undeveloped.

                  The major portion of this area has been cleared and much of it is

                  used for agricultural purposes. Agricultural uses are especially

                  prominent in the southern half of the planning area. Scattered

                  areas of woodland are found between cleared land.

                  B.- Recent Development; Future Growth

                         The Town's population has in    creased only slightly since

                  1980- growing by about 50 people between 1980 and 1985. Yet

                  considerable residential development has occurred over the past

                  six years.    Between   1980 and 1986 over 175 building permits for

                  residential units were issued. Slightly more than half of these

                  permits were for multifamily unitsp the remainder. were for

                  single-family dwellings (Table 9, pg. 3).      The apparent discre-

                  pancy between residential development and population growth can

                  be accounted for by noting that household size is decreasing. In

                  Ahoskie 'and elsewhere, families are smaller now that they were

                  ten years-ago; percentage-wise there are more elderly people and

                  many  of those persons live alone.       As a result.9 more units are

                  now necessary to house even a population which has shown little

                  growth.

                                                    13

                         For the     most, parts recent  construction has.been scatter-
                   ed throughout the planning area and no pattern to'new development,

                   is evident,.   Comparing residential uses in 19el with those in

                   19b7, the major chan(Je is found in the southwest corner of Town

                   off S. R. 1107 where the Morris subdivision has been expanded and

                   a new S. R. 1209 created.        Another limited area of new resi-

                   dential development is noted in the area of Woodland Street in

                   the southwest corner, of Town,        New construction is also noted

                   along S. R. 1130 in the northwest region of the extraterritorial

                   area.   Future residential development is likely to follow the

                   pattern established over the past decade: scattered development

                   throughout the planning        area    and   expansion     of' existing

                   subdivisions.

                          Industrial development sin     ce .1981 has occurred in the

                   southern extraterritorial area along S. R. 1105.                Carolina

                   Billets has constructed a new facility on S..R. 1105 across from

                   the former West Point   Pepperell plant - now home of Kerr Glass.

                   Although no plans for additional industrial development.in the

                   region have been announced, the area along S. R. 1105 can easily

                   accommodate new construction.        In contrast   to industrial areas

                   within Town, most of the area is undeveloped and is well away

                   from residential and commercial uses.           The area is served by

                   railroad and is close to U. S. 13 and N. C.          42.    Natural gas

                   service is available and the Town (with assistance from the

                                                     14

                   County), is currently extending water service to the Kerr Glass

                   facility. Undeveloped industrial-land is also available along U.

                   S_13/N. C. 42 in the eastern portion of the planning area.

                         Commercial development is likely to continue al      ong major

                   highways, although the Town welcomes new commercial enterprises

                   into its downtown. A new 1059000 square foot shopping center is
                   curr'ently being constructed on a 20-acre parcel on U. S. 13/N. C.

                   42 across from the Southern States operation.

                         No annexation has occurred in recent years as the capacity

                   of the Town's wastewater treatment system prohibited new con-

                   nections.    Construction of the new facility will begin in 1987

                   and the Town is now contemplating annexation of several areas.

                   Most of @the areas being considered are residential in nature -

                   the Colonial Acres subdivision on N. C. 561; the Morris       subdivi-

                   sion on south N. C..42; an area just outside Town on         U. S. 13

                   north; and the Catherine Heights   subdivision on S. R. 1415.      The

                   only commercial area under consideration for annexation is along

                   U. S. 13 south  to Fr eeman Metal workso and along N. C. 561 to the

                   Georgia Pacific plant.     Should all areas under consideration be

                   annexed   the Town's population would increase by about 500

                   persons.

                   C.  Land U'@se Concerns

                         The current pattern of de      velopment in the Town presents

                   no major land use concerns and new development in the next five

                                                    15

                   years should present no ma   jor land  use problems.    The area is

                   growing very slowly and the nature and,location of new develop-

                   ment will be controlled by the Town's zoning and subdivision

                   regulations. Although residential areas adjoin -industrial areas

                   the areas in which any new industrial development will occur.

                   The Town is fortunate   that development has not occurred near

                   sensitive natural areas.       The area between U. S. 13/N.C. 42

                   contains an extensive area of wetlands, but remains undeveloped.

                   Except where it crosses under U. S. 13/N. C. 42, no development

                   has occurred near.Ahoskie Creeki the Town's only Area of Environ-

                   mental Concern.

                   D. Development Controls,

                         Land development in the Town is controlled by a variety

                   of local,.state, and federal regulations.       Plans and policies

                   enacted by the Town, the County, and various state agencies

                   influence local land use decisions as well.
                     1. Re'gulatory Mechanisms.

                         Local ordinances controlling land use are described below.

                   State and federal regulations that control local land uses are

                   listed in Appendix A.

                        The Ahoskie Zoning Ordinance was most recently revised in
                        1982.

                        Subdivision Regulations were first adopted in the early
                        1970's and revised in 1982.

                                                   16

                        Mobile Home     Park Regulalions are included in the Town's
                        zoning ordinance.

                        Floodplain Regulations are included in the Zoning Ordinance.

                        The State Building Code is enforced by the. Town's Building
                        Inspector.

                        A Housing Code was adopted in 1972.

                        Septic Tank Regulations       are enforced in extraterritorial
                        area; over 99% of all lots in-Town are serviced by public
                        sewer.       The County Health Department administers the
                        state's environmental health code, Chapter 130A of the
                        General Statutes.

                        A Historic District Ordinance was proposed in the early
                        1980's but not adopted.

                        A Nuisance Ordinance in effect.

                     2. Development Plans

                         Local plans that control development decisions include

                   the Town's 1981 CAMA Land Use Plan Update and the Hertford

                   County Dis:aster Relief and Assistance Plan.         No transportation

                   projects are scheduled for the Ahoskie area according to the

                   State's Transportation Improvement         Program     (TIP) (December

                   1986).     Local recreation needs are addressed by the Town's

                   Recreation Department in conjunction with Town's Recreation

                   Committee.     The Town recently completed construction of a new

                   recreation center.       According to local off      icials, the new

                   recreational facility and the two newly-lighted tennis courts and

                   ballfield next-door are well utilized by local residents.

                        The Town is currently administering two Community Develop-

                   ment Block Grants (CDBG)- for community revitalization projects.

                                                      17

                  The first grant has facilitated sidewalk and gutter improvements

                  an Main Street and housing improvements in the residential area

                  surrounding Main Street.       The grant also contains money for

                  facade renovations in the downtown area. About $80,000 has been

                  set aside to help property owners underwrite interest costs on

                  commercial loans used for facade improvements in the Town's

                  downtown commercial district. Local officials observe that this

                  aspect of the CDBG program has generated little local intent.

                  The second grant contains money for housing r.ehabilitation and

                  clearance in the North Catherine Street area, as well as for

                  two "local action projects" such as drainage and sidewalk

                  improvements.    The County is currently administering a CDBG

                  grant for improvements in the Catherine Heights area. Plans

                  call for construction of a wastewater      collection system, water

                  distribution system, and street and drainage improvements.

                        Although Ahoskie has not officially adopted a Capital'

                  Improvement Programg the Town has been pJanning for the new

                  sewage treatment facility for a number of years. The Town has

                  beeh setting aside money for the facility for about ten years

                  and now plans to finance its share of the project'costs with

                  these accumulated funds.

                    3.  Development Policies

                        Hertford County has a utilities extension policy in which

                  the  Town participates.      Typically, the County will pay for

                                                   is

                  extension of local utilities, and upon completion of the project,

                  operation and management become the responsibility of the Town.

                       In 1981 the Town adopted a number of policy objectives in

                  the areas     of resource protection, resou     rce production and

                  management@ and economic and community development to guide land

                  development in the Ahoskie area for the next five years. As a

                  first step in updating the Town's. 1981 land use plan, planners

                  evaluated how far the Town had come in achieving the goals set

                  in 1981.      By evaluating the objectives. and implementation

                  actions of the 1981 programg planners hoped to make the Town's

                  1987 Land use plan a more effective document.

                       On a scale of A to F, planners rated the effectiveness of

                  the Town"s 1981   plan an A-. Virtua.11y all of the implementation

                  strategies outlined under each policy objective were acted-on.

                  The Town has, as specified in the 1981 plang continued to

                  participate in the Federal Flood Insurance Program, reviewed

                  reports analyzing the condition of the area's groundwater supply,

                  and utilized its zoning and subdivision ordinances to control

                  land development.      As recommended in the 1981 plan, the      Town.

                  appkied for, and received, funds for housing rehabilitation,

                  str eet and sidewalk i,-mprovements, and downtown revitalization.

                       Many of the planning goals outlined in the Town's 1981 plan

                  hav e been incorporated in the 19137 update.      Protecting fragil  e

                  natural areas, protection of groundwater supply, and protection

                                                   19

                of agricultural  land have all been made important policy goalT;

                of the 1987 planning program, as they    were in the 1991 plan.

                Similarly, several of the i mplementation strategi'es outlined in

                the l9ei plan have again been recommended for action in the

                1987 plan.    The Town will continue to apply for funding for

                community development projects and to use its regulatory tools -

                zoning, subdivision, and housing regulations - to guide develop-

                ment in the area. The Town's 1987 plan has however outlined

                several new action-items for local consideration, including

                adoption of a historic district ordinance and development of a.

                -farmer's market. A completing listing of the policy objectives

                and implementation strategie!@, the Town had adopted to guide

                development in the Ahoskie area through 1992 is found in C hapter

                                              20

                 E.    Development Constraints

                    1. Land Suitability

                       Within the Town's corporate limits, there are few factor-@

                 constraining land development; in the extraterritorial are&*@.

                 development limitations     are more   numerous     Constraints can b   e

                 classified into one of three categories:         physical limitations,

                 fragile areas, and areas of resource potential.

                       Physical.Limitations for Development. A variety of         factors

                 determine the suitability of land for development.                  These
                 include soil and subsoil conditions, topography, potential foi-

                 flooding, and existing land uses in the development area.

                       The Aho5kie area has several flood-prone areas."                The

                 Federal Insurance Adminis'tration (FIA) has defined the Zone 01

                 floodplain as those areas which have a 1% or greater chance of

                 flooding   i n  any  year      I n communities such as Ahoskie which

                 participate fn the National Flood Insurance Program, the lowest

                 floor of residential buildings must be elevated at or above base

                 flood level as determined by FIA; non-residential structures can

                 be flood-proofed instead.         As noted on the Map of Land Use

                 Constraints (pg. 37.4), most of the planning region's floodpronp

                 areas are in the extraterritorial jurisdiction. Only two small

                 areas of Zone A floodplain have been identified w.ithin the Town.

                 These are found at the Town's eastern boundary in the Newsome

                 Street area. Outside of Town in the southern extraterritorial

                                                   21

                 jurisdi'ction, floodplain borders Ahoskie Creek, widening,to ford'I

                 a large flood-prone area east and west of S. R. 1001.        To the

                 east of Town, a flood-prone area is found adjoining W        hiteoak

                 Swamp; to the north, a Zone-A floodplain has been delineate@

                 adjoining Horse Swamp.

                      The presence of poor soils and steep slopes also limit the

                 development of land resources.      Soil conditions determine the

                 suitability of the land for in-ground sewage disposal systems.

                 Before land can be build-upon the stability, bearing capacity,

                 and erodibility of the soil must also be considered, The major

                 soils found 1:'r) the Ahoskie region are listed in Table 10 (pg.

                 37.1). Within the Town, soil type CsA is most prevalent.. This is

                 the Craven-Urban land complex. Much of the original soil in this

                 area has been cut, filled, graded, paved, or otherwise altered.

                 As shown on the Ahoskie Area Soils Map (pg. 37.5), soil types LF,

                 B8, and the Craven-type A and 9 soils are the common soils of the

                 extraterritorial area. A large area of Leaf loam soil (LF) is

                 found east of the Town on either side of the Whiteoak Swamp.

                 This soil has severe limitations for building and for the siting

                 of septic systems.    As shown in Table 10, nine of the other ten

                 soils in the area also have severe limitations for in-ground

                 septic systems.   As most new development in the extraterritorial

                 area will be served by in-ground systems, poor soils may prove to

                 be a major development limitation in many places in the planning

                 area.

                                                 22

                      Steep slopes will not limit deve   lopment as they might in

                 other places in the County.            The terrain varies from flat

                 flood-prone areas to gently rolling hills.           Similarly, no

                 man-made hazards that might limit future development have        been

                 identified in the Aho5kie area.

                      The Town obtains its water from groundwater resources.

                 The extensive groundwater reservoirs of the state's Coastal

                 Plain region were considered a relatively unlimited source of

                 water supply until recent years. Northeastern North Carolina

                 and southeastern Virginia share an aquifer syste.m.           Studies

                 have documented that groundwater levels have been declining for

                 a number of years. The largest declines have been noted       in the

                 groundwater layer serving a large portion of Hertford County and

                 are attributed to relatively large water withdrawals in southern

                 Virginia.

                      The area's aquifer system can be divided in three hydrogeo-

                 logic units:     the Cretaceaus aquifer system; the Teritiary

                 aquifer system; and the water-table aquifer. The Cretaceaus

                 aquifer provides Hertford County with much of its groundwater and

                 is the aquifer in which the largest water level declines have

                 been noted. The water-tab.le aquifer recharges the underlying'

                 artesian aquifer units.     In the Ahoskie areaq this layer lies

                 close to the surface in many soils and is       very vulnerable to

                 pollution fr1om septic tanksg industrial and mun        icipal waste

                 disposal, landfills, and agricultural activities.

                                                 23

                       In an effort to protect public water suppliesq many communi-

                 ties  :are now regulating development in the recharge area of

                 public wells. In Ahoskie, the Town's four public wells are

                 located in areas which are already highly developed. The Town

                 has a well off McKinely Street just east of the rail          line, and

                 another just east of the railroad.south off Myers Street. A

                 third well is located off Odom Street in the southeastern c        orner

                 of Town, and the fourth well is in the western half of the

                 community on Pembroke Avenue.

                       Fraoile Areas,    The Ahoskie area is rich in both.natural

                 and cultural resources.         The extent and location of these

                 resources should be considered as development decisions are made.

                       The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA) established

                 the Coastal Resources -Commission (CRC) and specified that the

                 CRC iden tify and designate "areas of environmental concern" -

                 AECs.    AECs are areas with natural or cultural resources which

                 are of statewide concern. Unregulated developing in AECs has a

                 high probability      of causing irreversible damage to public

                 health, property, and the natural environment.          Thus, the CRC

                 developed guidelines for development @in AECs.         Four categories

                 of AECs have been developed:         the estuarine system; the ocean

                 hazard system; public water supplies; and natural and cultural

                 resource areas. According to the guidelines established by the

                 CRC, most projects in AECs require a CAMA pe@Fmit. "Minor"

                                                   24

                 development permits (generally projects altering less than 2C

                 acres oi- involving structures less than 60,000 square feet!

                 issued,by a local permit officer.        "Major.' development permits_z@

                 are issued by the State Division of Coastal Management.

                      Ahoskie Creek is the planning region's only Area of Environ-

                 mental Concern.     Ahoskie Creek is considered a publi          c trust

                 area.    Public trust areas are defined as waters and submerged

                 lands in the coastal region where the public has traditionally

                 had the right of use, including the right of navigation.            Thus,

                 all navigable waterways in Hertford Countyq including Ahoskie
                 Creek, are considered publ'ic trust AECs. Public trust areas are'

                 included in the category of estuarine system AECs. Other natural

                 areas included in this category are:              estuarine (brackish)

                 waters, estuarine shorelines, and coastal wetlands.

                      Aside from Ahoskie Creekp no unique or sensitive natural

                 areas have been identified in.the planning region.            The North

                 Carolina Natural Heritage Program has no record of any endangered

                 species or habitats, or rare geologic areas within the planning

                 area. The Town does however have several cultural features of

                 note including a National Register Historic District which

                 contains over fifteen historic commercial buildings.

                      The Town's Historic District encompasses an area of about

                 two square blocks in downtown Ahoskie. The District includes

                 business properties fronting on two of the Town's earliest

                                                   25

                 commercial streets - Main Street and Railroad Stre       et   as well

                 as properties fronting on Mitchell Street north of Railroad

                 Street.   Ahoskie developed as a railroad town in the late 1800's

                 and the intersection of Main Street and the railroad became the

                 primary business location.'     Structures in the historic district

                 represent several periods of construction, from the early 1900s

                 to 1940, and are oriented to Main Street and the railroad at

                 their intersection.     The modest one-, two-, and three-story

                 brick buildings provided facilities for retail trade, hotels,

                 banks, entertainment, and governmental services.         Most of the

                 buildings are typical commercial buildings with brick facades

                 above storefronts, creating a cohesive streetscape, representing

                 Ahoskie's major historic,al periods of development.           A brief

                 description of the district's 18 historic properties follows.

                 In-formation on the Town's historic resources was compiled from a
                 1984 report by Philip Letsinger entitled, "Nomination to' National

                 Register of Historic Places; Anoskie, North Carolina".

                      (former) United States Post Office          201 W. Main Street.
                           The former Post Office, completed in 1940, is consider-
                           ed one of the "pivotal" (most significant) buildings
                           in the District.        It is an important example of
                           contemporary federal agency architectural design and
                           construction at the close of the depression period. The
                           Post Office was moved to its present location in 1975
                           and now functions as the Town Hall.      Postal work area.s
                           have been remodeled for offices and a Council room.

                      Mitchell Hotel      131-135 W. Main Street.         The Mitchell
                           Hotel, built in 1910, was Aho5kie's second "modern''
                           hostelry.     It was a three-story brick building with
                           hotel rooms on the upper floors, the hotel lobby and
                           dining room on the west side of the first floor anu

                                                  26

                           Mitche 11's drugstore and soda fountain on the aft"'t
                           side of the first floor.       By 1915, the name h *ad been
                           changed to Manhattan Hotel and then in th       late 1920s
                           it was changed back to Mitchell Hotel.

                      Mitchell Hotel Annex     127-129 W. Main Street. A     1923 map
                           shows a one-story brick building divided          into two
                           storefronts.    The second floor was added in 1925 as an
                           annex to the adjacent Mitchell Hotel building.

                      Commercial Building 123-125 W. Main Street. This one-story
                           brick commercial building was built some time between
                           1906, when a*fire destroyed all the frame buildings in
                           this block, and 1923.     The facade is divided into two
                           storefronts by brick pilasters which extend above
                           the parapet.

                      Farmers - Atlantic Bank 119 W. Main Street - near-junction
                           with Mitchell Street. This three-story brick building
                           in a classic temple form, is considered one of the most'
                           important buildings in the District.         The bank was
                           constructed in 191E3 and was Ahoskie's most e@pensive
                           building up until that time. Two fluted brick columns
                           frame the building's recessed entry.

                      Richard Theater 117 W. Main Street. Jesse Richard Garrett,
                           "The Builder of Ahoskie", had this theatre built in
                           1927.   Ornate cast metal seat ends carry the initial
                           "F@" in tribute to the builder, its namesake.           The
                           ornate ticket booth originally was free-standing at the
                           face of the building with the, entry doors just behind.
                           Ornate playbil-1 casesq mirrors and light fixtures
                           completed the setting for the lobby of "Eastern North
                           Carolina's Finest." The Gallery Theater, Incorporated,,
                           has acquired owner3hip of the building for community
                           us e.

                      Hotel Comfort    111-115 W. Main Street.      The building was
                           constructed in 1906 after a fire destroyed the frame
                           building on this site which housed the post office.
                           Sho-rtly after the fire, Arnold Bazemore@ postmaster at
                           the timeg built this two-story brick building with a
                           store and post offi,ce on the left side, the hotel
                           lobby and dining room on the right, and twelve hotel
                           rooms upstairs.

                      J. T. Parker and J. W. Powell Buildings         105 and 109 W.
                           Main Street. J. T.'Parker and J. W. Powell built these
                           two adjoining two-s,tory brick stores about 1910. In

                                                 27

                           the 1920s, the J.    N. Vann hardware store was located
                           in the former Parker store at number 109, and the
                           Hertford Herald moved from their building on South
                           Railroad Street to the former Powell store at number
                           105.
                                                                                      L
                      R. J. Baker Building     101 W. Main Street. This two-story
                           brick commercial building was built about 1910. The
                           east storefront was leased to the Post Office for ten'
                           years beginning in 1912; the west storefront was used
                           as a barbershop.     The second floor was used for both
                           living quarters and offices.

                      Hertford Herald Building 102-104 S. Railroad Street.          The
                           building was started in '1910 and completed in 1915
                           when purchased by J. R. Parker and James Vinson. the
                           offices of the Herald was located here until the late
                           1920's.

                      Commercial Buildings 100 Block N. Railroad Street.        A fire
                           in 1925 destr'oyed the frame warehouses and livery
                           stables in this portion of the block enabli          ng the
                           various owners to rebuild the commercial buildings ir-L
                           this simple but harmonious manner.        The two earliest
                           storefronts are the simplest in design while the
                           remainder of the block has a slightly more ornate
                           design. These     commercial buildings have served a
                           variety of retailq service, and office uses.         One of
                           the earliest use was for a candy store called the Sugar
                           Bow@l in the southernmost storefront.         The original
                           storefronts generally had recessed center entries with
                           doub-le doors flanked by large display windows and the
                           brick wall above gave indirect light to the interiors
                           of the store spaces.i One prism glass transom is still
                           evident on the southernmost storefront.        Most of the
                           interiors still retain the original pressed metal
                           ceilings and border's although some have been obscured
                           by new lowered ceilings.

                      W. D. Newsome Building       119 N. Railroad Street.         This
                           building was built'in 1905 following thefires of 1901
                           and 1902 which destroyed most of the earlier frame
                           structures.    W. D. Newsome, the original owner of this
                           building was a black educator in Hertford County and
                           served in the North Carolina House of Representatives
                           from 1870 to 1872. Jim Odom and Jim Hill had a store
                           in the building about 1910, and the Masons moved
                           upstairs for their lodge meetings at that time.          The
                           upstairs hall was 'also used for the first movie
                           theater in Ahoskie.

                                                  28

                       Garrett Hotel W. Main Street and N. Railroad Street. J. R.
                             Garrett considered plans for a new hotel in 19209 but
                             his plans were delayed by the depression in t,he fall of
                             1920.     In the early 1920s, Ahoskie was,becoming a
                             regional  trade center, and the Chamber of Commerce
                             mounted   a campaign to have a new hotel built in
                             Ahoskie.    In 1923,'Garrett made plans -for the hotel
                             which he then financed and constructed. The hotel was
                             leased to J. Haywood Dukes and the "leading hostelry of
                             all this Northeastern era" formally opened in July
                             1926. The three-story L-shaped building fronts on both
                             North Railroad Street and West Main Street, with the
                             hotel entrance on North Railroad Street.            Except for
                             the hotel entry, the ground floor storefronts were
                             rented for other businesses. The North Railroad Street
                             section     incorporates     two earlier two-story brick
                             commercial buildings, one of which was the Fletcher
                             Powell Building reputed to be the first brick store in
                             Ahoskie (ca. 1901).

                       Bank'of Aho5kie      N. Railroad Street at Main Street.            The
                             Bank of Ahoskie, the oldest bank in Ahoskie, had this
                             building constructed in 1925. It is considered one of
                             the most important buildings in the District. Part of
                             the construction boom of the mid-1920s, the new Bank
                             of Ahoskie was the cornerstone of the newly built
                             business block on West Main and North Railroad Streets.
                             The bank's main entrance, like that of the Garrett
                             Hotel, faces Railroad Street which had become the
                             Town's center, rather than Main Street. The two-stor,@
                             building is designed in the Beaux-Arts style and face(j
                             with cut limestone.,      The main floor was double height
                             with a high ceiling banking room lighted by the five
                             round arched windows along Main Street. The bank's
                             main entrance is recessed under the              tall arched
                             opening facing North Railroad Street.

                       Sawyer-Brome Furniture       Company      126 W. Main Street at N.
                             Mitchell Street. Constructed in 1924, this             is also
                             considered one of the District's pivotal buildings.
                             The Main Street facade incorporates decorative glazed
                             terra cotta, the only example of its use in Ahoskie.
                             Fires in 1925 destroyed all the frame buildings in
                             this blockq leaving only this new building and two
                             earlier brick buildings on North Railroad Street.

                       E. L_ Garrett Building        110-122 N. Mitchell Street. The
                             first floor storefronts of this 1938 building have
                             been adapted to a- variety of uses since the building

                                                     29

                           was built.    The second floor, faced with cl  inker brick
                           and roofed with a gable roof instead of the more
                           typical flat roof, housed a roller skating rink when
                           the building was initially opened.

                      M. H. Mitchell Furniture Company Annex           North Mitchell
                           Street.     M. H. Mitchell built this building in the
                           late 1940s as an annex to his furniture store which
                           fronted on North Railroad Street. The Building's large
                           gl ass display windows, recessed       entry, and plain
                           second story are typical of commercial structures
                           built in the late 1940s.

                      E. J. Gerock Department Store     102 East Main Street.       The
                           Roanoke-Chowan Times noted in an October 1910 edition
                           that "Mr. E. J. Gerock is having a large brick store,
                           that, when     completed, will be perhaps, the most'
                           handsome in town."     The Main Street facade of th(-,,
                           building, completed in 1910, is divided into three
                           sections with pilasters which extend above the front
                           parapet wall.

                      The State Department of Cultural Resources has condGcted an

                inventory of archaeological sites in Hertford County.                No

                recorded sites have been found in the Ahoskie area but state

                officials believe that there is a high probability for encounter-

                ing archaeological sites along the first and second terraces of

                Ahoskie Creek.

                      Areas of Resource Potential.      Much of the planning area,

                outside the City limits is currently used for agricultural

                purposes. According to the U. S. Department of Agricultural,

                some of that land is prime farmland. Agricultural officials

                have observed that prime farmland will be of major importance in

                providing the nation's short and long range needs for food and

                                                 30

                 timber.   Thus, conservation of prime farmland has become a

                 national objective and is an important state agricultural goal

                 as well.

                      Prime farmland is defined by its current use (urban, oi-

                 built-up areas cannot be considered prime farmlandl and by the

                 soils that comprise it. In Ahoskie area the AtA, CaA, CaB, CrA,

                 Cr9, GoA, @nd NoA soils are considered prime farmland soils.

                 These soils have properties that are favorable for the production

                 of sustained high yields of crops. According to agricultural

                 officials, these soils produce the highest yields with minimal

                 inputs of energy and economic resources, and farming these soils

                 results in the least damage to the environment. As shown on the

                 Ahoskie Area Soils Map, the region contains a fairly extensive

                 area of the Craven soils in the western extraterritorial area.

                      Areas of resource potential also include state parks,

                 forest and wildlife preserves; private game preserves; and areas

                 of valuable mineral deposits. The Ahoskie planning area contains

                 no public or private natural resource areas and no known mineral

                 deposits.

                   2. Facili ty Limitations

                      As a community grows, service demands increase. More police

                 and fire protection may be needed; additional c          lassrooms or

                 schools may be necessary.     Demand for, public water and sewer

                                                  31

                  service   incr,eases.     Planning for future service d'emands helps

                  to avoid shortfalls in the provision of public services. Develop--

                  ment can be severely constrained when the demand for vital

                  services such as water and sewer, exceeds supply.

                       Population growth in Ahoskie and throughout Hertford County

                  has been slow in recent years.               Between 1970 and 1985, the

                  County grew by less than 2%.         Most growth durinb this period

                  occurred in outlying areas. outside of towns; during this same

                  period, Ahoskie lost about 3% of its population.               Since 1980,

                  the Town has grown slightly, and in 1985 state officials esti-

                  mated the Town had just less than 5,000 residents.

                       The Office of State Budget and Management forecasts slow

                  growth for the County as a whole.            Between 1985 and 1990, the

                  popula tion of the County is expected to increase by about 4%

                  (Table 11, pg. 37.2).        Between 1990 and 1995, the population is

                  expected to increase by another 2%. Growth will be well-distri-

                  buted throughout the County. Should development follow the trend

                  noted over the past 15 years, the majority of new development,

                  will occur in outlying areas outside of incorporated places.,

                  As menl.ioned   earlier    i n Section    BI   the  Town    is considerincil

                  annexation of several residential areas and one commerci,,al area

                  as well.    The population in all areas being considered totals

                  about 500 persons.       Assuming these annexations are carried out

                  and assuming the existing population of the Town will increase by

                                                      32

                1% (the   rate noted between 1980 and 1985)9 the Town will have a

                population of  about 6,000 persons in 1,990.     Unless a major nevi'

                industry locates in the area, it is unlikely the Town's popula-

                tion wi'll exceed 7,000 persons by  1995.

                     The trends in population change noted in the pas@ decade

                will continue through the 1990's: percentage-wise, Ahoskie and

                all Hertford County will have more older persons and less young

                persons than it has in the past. In 1985, about 21% of the

                County's population was under nineteen years of age (Table 12,

                pg. 37.2).    That percentage is expected to decline to about 29%

                by 1995. In contrast, the percentage of the population         65 and,

                older is expected to increase from 13.7% of the County's popula--

                tion in 19e5, to 16.4% by 1995.

                     Water Se rvice. Almost all properties within t-he corporate

                limits are serviced with public water.            Water mains extend

                outside of Town along N. C. 561 west to.the Ramada Inn; for a

                short distance north along Catherine Creek Road (S. R. 1415);

                north along U. S. 13 to the Maola plant; and along U. S. 13

                south to the Freeman Metal Works. The Town plans to extend a 16

                inch water main to the Kerr Glass facility on S. R..1105. System

                extensions are b  eing financed by state and County funds but are

                being administered by local officials.

                     Ahoskie is fortunate in thatit is a water-rich community.

                The Town's four wells have a capacity of between 1.e and 2

                                                 33

                 million gallons per day (gpd).               Water demand now averages

                 550,000 gpd.      Storage capacity is        (300,000    gpd       almost a

                 two-day  supply.     As part of system       improvements to serve Kerr

                 Glass, the Town plans to construct another deep-well.               At some

                 future date, the Town's storage capacity may have to-be in-

                 creased. Water supply however, should not limit growth in the!

                 forseeable future.

                       Sewer Service.      The avea serviced by the Town's municipal

                 waste treatment system is similar to that serviced            by its water

                 system.     Almost all properties within the corporate limits are

                 serviced by public sewer. Sewer lines extend outside of Town to

                 Ahoskie's satellite annexation at the Ramada Inn; along U. S.

                 13 north to the Maola plant; and extend for a short distance

                 north along Catherine Creek road.

                       The Town currently operates a trickling filter treatment

                 system which discharges into Ahoskie Creek. The Town is in the

                 final stages of constructing a land application system to avoid

                 discharging municipal waste into the nutrient-sensitive Ahoskie

                 Creek.     In December 1996, the Town purchased almost 470 acres

                 south of S. R. 1105 for use as spray fields.

                       The capacity of the Town's current t             reatment plant is

                 800,000 gpd.        The new system will be designed to handle 1.2

                 million gpd.       Current demand on the system is 800,000 gpd

                 however the system has a probJem with infiltration of water from

                                                      34

                outside the 5ystem, Thus, system demand is somewhat weathe       r-de-

                pendent and in rainy periods, demand often exceeds plant cap@-

                city.

                     The Town has received grant assistance to help correct

                infiltratibn problems. Officials hope that corrective actions

                will reduce demand to about 600,000 gpd. Given system         improve-

                ments, the Town's treatment system should accommodate increased

                demand from     proposed annexation      and projected population.

                Should infilt ration problems be remedied as anticipated, system

                demand could almost double and still be accommodated by the

                Town's new treatment system.

                     Public Schools. The capacity of County schools will not:

                constrain development in the foreseeable future. As noted in

                Table 13 (pg. 37.2), except for the Ahoskie Graded School, all.

                schools are currently being used well below capacity.

                     Consoli@dation of Ahoskie and Murfreesboro High Schools has

                been proposed in the past. Proponents note that a large consoli--

                dated school would increase          the quality of education-in the

                County by offering an expanded curriculum and increasing social.'

                and athletic opportunities,         In May 19117 the County Board of

                Education announced tentative plans to consolidate the County

                High Schools. and the Middle Schools.          Officials  plan to use

                Ahoskie High School as the County's central high school and the

                Murfreesboro High School as the consolidated middle school. The

                                                 35

                curren t Ahoskie Middle School and a portion of what: is novi

                Murfreesboro Middle School will be closed.      The plan will take

                effect in the fall of 19ee.

                     Protecti ve Services.     The Town funds a 17-person police

                department. With about one officer for every 300 residents, for

                a town of its size, police protection in Ahoskie would appear-

                above-average. The police department maintains 12 vehicles.

                     Four full-time firemen and 28 volunteers provide the Town

                with fire protection.     The Town currently owns two pumpers and

                has Purchased a new 1,250 gallon per minute pumpe     r; delivery of

                the new eng,ine is scheduled for October 1987. By 1989, the Town

                hopes to have constructed a new public service building to house

                both its police and fire  departments.

                     Recreation.    In 1975 the Town cpened a recreation center or,

                the west end of Main Street  near the Middle School.      the center

                maintains a    large inventory of excerise equipment, has a room

                for arts and  crafts, and a kitchen facility as well.' Adjoining

                the center is a large playground area, two lighted tennis courts

                and a soccer field. The town maintains three ballfields in back

                of the High School on land leased from the County School Depart-

                ment; two of these fields are lighted.       In addition,   the Town

                assists the County in maintaining four unlite tennis courts at

                the High School.

                     Solid Waste. Residential waste is. collected twice weekly.

                The Town's commercial container truck operates six days per

                                                 36

                 week and services commercial operations as needed'. Ref        use is

                 currently disposed at the Hertford County landfill9 located

                 about three miles from Winton. The landfill is nearing capacity

                 and the County is currently studying disposal alternatives.

                      Roads.    Lack of service by a major interstate hiL;hway is

                 often cited as one of the major factors that has limited growth

                 in northeastern North Carolina.          It is unlikely that this

                 situation will change in the foreseeable future given the

                 current lack of federal funding.

                      No major state highway improvements are scheduled for the

                 Ahoskie area according to the official state transpor           tation

                 plans.   Several bridges are to be replaced in the surrounding

                 area however, on east N. C. 561 over Ahoskie Creek; on S. R. 1425

                 between Ahoskie and Como over Flat Swamp; and on S. R. 1427 over

                 the Wiccacon River.

                 Implications

                      Given the slow rate of growth anticipated in the next five

                 years, the capacity of the local public facilities will be

                 adequate to meet future demands.           Water storage capacity is

                 likely to be the greatest limitation to future growth in the

                 long run; for the next five yearsq storage capacity appears

                 adequate to serve projected demand.

                                                  37

                Table 9
                BUILDING PERMITS 1980-1986

                ----------------------------------------
                                    Single-              Multi- Commercial/
                       Year           Family              Family              Industrial

                ----------------------------------------
                       1980                    19                   0                         17
                       1981                    22                  60                         19
                       1982                       7                 2                         12
                       1983                       9                 8                            9
                       1984                    10                   6                         23
                       1985                    15                  14                         10
                       1986                    .3                   2                            5
                ----------------------------------------
                     Total                     85                  92                         95

                Source: Ahoskie Building Inspector

                TZ b 14 e 10
                1.T1 CHARACTERISITii.,i

                                               --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                ----------------------

                                                                                     Limitations for:

                                                                                  ----------------------
                                               Sail!                              Buildings w/o Septic Runoff                        Depth to High
                Code                           Type                 S 1 o pe      Basements              Tanks Potential Water Table (ft)
                AtA_* ---- Altavista-fine-sandy-loam--0-2%-----Severe                     ----------    Severe --- Moderate      ---------     1. 5---2. 5-
                BB          Bibb                                    Ox            Severe                Severe       Moderate                  0.5 -.1.5
                0 . 0       Ponn2au loamy         sand              0-6%          Slight             Moderate                Lcw                 5 -    5. r!
                     W
                CaA         Caroline f         n- sandy loam        0-2y          Moderate              Severe       Moderate                         > 6.0
                CaB         Caroline fine         sand- loam        2 - 66 X      Moderate              Severe       Moderate                         > 6.0
                L'i B       Cone@Ne lloam,        sand              0-5%          Severe                Slight               Low                      > 6.0
                CrA  +      Craven fine sandy loam                  0-!%          Moderate              Severe       Moderate                  2.0    - 7.0
                C r B*      Craven fine sandy loaa                  1-4i          Moderate              Severe       Moderate                  2. 0   - '3. 0
                C sA        Craven-Urban 1--nd complex              0-277         Moderate              Severe       Moderate                  2. 0   - 3. 0
                G oA *      Goldsboro fine sand,,          loam     0 - 2 7       Moderate              Severe           Slight                2. 0   - 3.
                ILF         Leaf loam                               0-1           Severe                Severe             High                0.5    - 1.5
                Ln          Lenior loam                             0-1           Severe                Severe             High                1.0    - 2.5
                L kit       Lynchburg fine sandy loam               0%            Severe                Severe       Moderate                  0.5      1.5
                N G.A       Norfol", loamy fine sand                0-2%          Slight             Moderate            Slight                4.0      6.0
                Ro          i%oanol'2 loam                                        Severe                Severe             High                0.0      1.0
                RUA         Pumford loamy sand                      C,            Slight                Slight           Slight                       > 6.0
                Ce          Seabrook loamv sand                     Ox            Severe                -^ever e     Moderate                  2. 0   - 4.0
                TaB         Tarboro sand                            0-,Z-,        Severe                Severe               Low                      k 6.0
                U'j
                     U      Udorthents, sandy                       07                (1)                  (1)               (1)                        (l')
                                                                                          L
                WN          Wilbanks si-Ity clay loam               0",           Vouar   3             Severe             High                0.0    - 1.0

                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     indicates Pri -..- liarmland su,441
                       soil chariC@.rj@+ir= Yary;              cn-sitle investigation needed
                Source:     Soil CUr@kie- -of Hertford County, U.S.D.A., S.C.S., July 1984
                                                       L                I

             Table 11
             FUTURE REGIONAL POPULATION

             ------------------------------------------------          -------------------
                                                                        % Change % Change
             County                   1985        1990          1995@      8.5-90      90-95
             ------------------------------------------------------------------
             Beaufort              43,260      47,314        50,702           9.4%       7.2%
             Bertie                21,341      21,760        21,895           2.0%       0.6%
             HERTFORD              23,924      24,833        25,280           3.8%       1.8%
             Martin                26,653      26,463        26,406          -0.7%       -0.2%
             Pitt                  95,862      101,823       107,409          6.2%       5.5%

             ------------------------------------------------------------------
             Region               211,040      222,193      231,692           5.3%       4.3%

             State             6,253,951 6,597,922 6,930,994                  5.5%       5.0%

             Source:     N.C.  Office of State Budget and Management, 1986

             Table 12
             COUNTY POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE 1985-1995

             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1985                      1990                    1995
                                       No.            %          No.             %       No.           %

             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             0-4 years              1,728          7.2%       1,786           7.2%     1,664         6.6%
             5-19 years             5,784         24.2%       5,830          23.5%     5,530        21.9%
             ')0-44 years           8,504         35.5%       8,660          34.9%       8834
             45-64 years            4,634         19.4%       4,705          18.9%     5,100        20.2%
             65 and older           3,274         13.7%       3,852          15.5%     4,i52        16.4%

             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Total                 23,924         100.0%     24,833         100.0% 25,280          1.00.0%

             Source:     N.C. Office of State Budget and Management, 1986

             Table 13
             SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

                                ------      ---------- --------       -------- --
             School ----------  Grades   --- Enrollment-Capacity--Enrollmt-as
                                Taught        86-87                   % Capacity

             Ahoskie Graded        K-3             695            800           87%
                               ----    ----------    --------------------------

             R.L. Vann             4-5             345        1,100             31%
             Ahoskie Middle        6-8             595            950           63%
             Ahoskie High          9-12            780        1,150             68%
             ----------------------------------------------------------
             Total                                2,415       4,000             60%

             Source: "Hertford County Land Use          Plan  Update 1987",
                        and Hertford County School officials

                                                     37.2

                                                                                                     EXISTING
                                                                                                 LAND \us

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             GIL

                                                                                                                                                              %

                                                                                                                                         ........ . .

                                                                                                                                                                                          X.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    ...........  ...... ......... ........
                                                                                          Residential

                                                                                           Commercial
                                                                                           Industrial                   @r-,

                                                                                                                                                                 lwi;::

                                                                                   gg
                                                                                            Institutional
                                                                                  Dlwa
                                                                                                                                        -T

                                                                                           Undeveloped
                                                                                                                                                                                     @A

                                                                                                        37.3
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Prepared by Mid-Ea3t Cosoisnion
                                                                                                                                                                                                        Washington, North Carolina
                                                                                                                                                                                                        J- 9   87

                                                                                               LAN D USE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  X"I
                                                                                      CONSTIIAIN1,TS----.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               _R1.11- AW'@'-

                                                                                                                                                                                            >

                                                                                                                                                                        A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  %X      N

                                                                                                                                                                                        HLI

                                                                                      Historic,-,@,Di@trict
                                                                                                                                                                                                .. ..........
                                                                          EM AEC
                Source:
                N.C. Dept of
                Cultural Resources;
                U.S. Dept. of                                                        T'loodplal

                Hazard Boundry Maps                                                                         1-yel           S    r
                Housing and Urban
                Development, Flood
                                                                          Fe] Public                        w I i tv"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      V_
                                                                          L.1 _j
                                                                                     Archaelogically 7@                                                    We,:         Ar: ea)
                                                                                                                                                             @\" N"

                                                                                                  37.4                                                                                             Prepared bY Mid-East C-ission
                                                                                                                                                                                                   We 3hington. North C.1-li--
                                                                                                                                                                                                   June  987

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  AHOSKIE AREA                                           S 0 1 L

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               The preparation of this map was financed in                                                                                                                      rA
               part through a grant provided by the North
                 arolina,            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                                                                                                                                                           Prepared by Mid-East Commis
               Coastal           Resource             Management,                 National                          37.5                                                                                           Washington, North Carolina
               Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.                                                                                                                                                             June 1987

                111. POLICY OBJECTIVES

                A.   Resource Pro-tection

                     The Town is located in the heart of Hertford County. The

                360 square miles of the Count y is rich in natural resources. The

                Chowan River borders the County on the east. To the north, the

                Meherrin River flows eastward to join the Chowan.           Numerous

                creeks, streams, and wetlands drain the County and provide food

                and shelter for numerous fish and wildlife species.          Ahoskie

                Creek, a sensitive Area of Environmental Concerno flows through

                the southern half of the planning area.

                     The Town acknowledges that the County's natural resources,

                particularly,its land and water resources, are the reason that

                many people have chosen to live, work, and recreate in the County

                and within Ahoskie itself. 'To a very great extent,      residential

                avid commercial development, in fact, the general quality of life

                in the Count y and in Ahoskie depends on maintaining the quality*

                of the area's land and water resources.     The Town supports all.

                local, state, and interstate efforts to preserve and enhance the'

                quality of the County's valuab,le water resources and its produc-

                tive agricultural land.

                     Creeks, freshwater  wetlands and swamps, and limited areas of

                woodlands are the major natural areas found in the Ahoskie

                planning region.      The Town will not support development that

                significantly degrades the quality of its surface waters and

                                                38

                wetlands or has adverse effects on their      use as habitat for   fish

                and wildli-fe. Most of the region's creeks and wetlands are

                floodplain areas. The Town will not support development in areas

                with natural hazards un  less su ch development fully complies.with

                all applicable development controls.

                      The Town     encourages new development and welcomes new

                industrial and commercial concerns.          The Town supports all
                development that protects natural areas and in turn,'enh          ances

                the quality of life for local residents.        It is important that

                natural and cultural resources be protected from the impacts of

                development during construction and over the long term.

                      Non-point pollution has been identified as being a major

                contributor. to     water quality degradation in the Albemarle

                estuarine system.     Both urban -developed land and undeveloped

                agricultural land contribute to the non-point problem. Run-off

                from urbanized areas often contains dirt, oilv grease and othei@

                pollutants that may adversely effect water quality. Agricultural

                run-off may contribute sediments, fertilizersy and pesticides,

                that have harmful effects on riverine and estuarine systems.

                The Town supports measures to control both urban and agricultural

                run-off.    The Town supports expansion of*state programs, such as

                the Agricultural Cost Share Program, which will help local

                governments and     private landowners in addressing the non-point

                problem. The Town will work with developers of large residential
                and industrial projects to insure that land develooment will not

                                                  39

                have negative impacts on water quality.       Innovative stormwater

                control measures will be'encouraged. The Town's zoning ordinance

                will ensure that high density development occurs in areas served

                with municipal stormwater controls.     The Town recently received

                funding for improvements to its municipal stormwater system.

                     Groundwater resources supply Ahoskie residents with water.

                Planners and local officials have only recently begun to under-

                stand the sensitivity of this valuable resource.              Reports

                indicate that in recent years there have been substantial

                declines in the level of underground reserves.              Moreover,

                environmental officials realize that groundwater resources across

                the state are threatened 'by the more than 37,0,00 underground

                storage tanks that are estimated to have leaks.            New local

                development should not have negative impacts on local groundwater

                quantity and quality.    The Town will not support development

                locally and in other areas that may cause future shortfalls in

                groundwater supply or pose severe risks to the quality of

                underground waters.

                     Following is a listing of policy       objectives the Town has

                adopted to protect its natural resources.     Included are strate-

                gies that the Town will attempt to implement over the next five

                years inan effort to achieve    these policy goals.

                  preserve and protect local water resources and wetland areas

                          encourage developers to leave a 75 ft. open space,
                          buffer between     development and water or wetland;
                          consider requiring buffers in subdivision regulations.

                                                40

                           encoura ge developers to design projects so that runoff
                           from project site! is      minimized; consider setting
                           maximum runoff standards in subdivision regulations.

                           support use of. private package treatment plants only
                           if proponents demonstrate that@ connecting to municipal
                           sewer system is infeasible.

                           classify land within 75 feet of creeks and swamps as
                           Conservation on the Land       Classification Map; for
                           planning purposes, ithe Town will consider these Areas
                           of Environmental Concern.    All development within the
                           Conservation zone should be for low density, low impact
                           uses. Passive recre@tional developments- pathsq trails
                           or picnic areaso @and Conservation-type uses such as
                           designated open s9ace or wildlife areas, would be
                           -appropriate uses for, the 75 buffer area.

                  preserve and protect Areas    f Environmental Concern

                           support development in AECs only if such development
                           meets the management iobjectives in 15 NCAC 7H.0203 and
                           the use standards in 15 NCAC 7H.020e.

                           classify land adjoining Ahoskie Creek up to 75 feet
                           from its banks as Conservation on the Land Classifica--.
                           tion map; water and sewer service will not be provided
                           in this area but may extend through this area to serv@
                           development in the extraterritorial area.

                  prote ct the Town's present and future water supply

                           support strict enTlOrcement of regulations controlling
                           underground storage@tanks; in areas where the water
                           table is highq su    [pport projects which propose above-
                           ground storage; c nsider starting        a local permit
                           program for locatio@, of underground tanks.

                           support establishm nt     of a state fund to assist
                           communities in re@oving leaking underground storage
                           tanks and i.n cleanir@Ig up affected water supplies.
                           oppose addil         groundwater withdrawals by, large
                           water consumers inj Virginia;      oppose proposals to
                           withdraw surface water from Lake Gaston for out-of-
                           state consumption.

                           support state efforts to develop a groundwater manage-
                           ment program for northeastern North Carolina.

                                                 41

                  protect th e Town's historic and cultural resources

                           reactivate the Ahoskie Preservation Commission; review
                           and revise the inventory of the          Town's historic
                           properties.

                           adopt a Historic District Ordinance and include the
                           Town's historic commercial downtown buildings in 8
                           Historic   District;    consider giving properties of
                           special importance a local historic property de5igna--
                           tion.

                           do not    support proposals that may have negative
                           impacts on historic or archaeologic resources; consider
                           amending subdivision regulations to require identifica-
                           tion of historic and archaeologic resources as part of
                           subdivision review.

                  discourage development on land which is not physically suitable
                  for development

                           continue participating in the Federal Flood Insurance
                           Program and enforce the Town's Floodplain Ordinance.

                           support strict enforcement of the state's Environmental.
                           Health Code regarding the siting of in-ground septic
                           systems in unsewered areas.

                           in areas experiencing septic failures outside of Town@
                           investigate the possibility of servicing with sewers.

                                                 42

                B.   Resource Product ion-and Management

                     Ahoskie is located in the center of Hertford County, in the

                heart of rural northeastern North Carolina. Directly or in-

                directlyp many residents are involved in the development of the

                County's natural resources.     Crop and pastureland-accounts for

                26% of all land in the County.       Woodland, much of which is

                used as commercial forestland9 accounts.for 67% of a     11 land in

                Hertford County.

                     Agricultural lands are one of County's prime resource areas.

                Much of the County's farmland is considered prime farmland by

                agricultural officials.     In  19B4, 479300 acres, of land was

                harvested for crops, with the County ranking 34th in the state

                for total harvested cropland.      The County ranked 29th in the

                state in the amount of corn@bushels sold in 1984, ranked fourth

                in the poundage of peanuts produced.

                     Most of the land within Ahoskie's Town limits has been

                developed for urban uses, however most     of the land outside of

                Town is used for agriculture.     The Town encourages the use of
                adjoin@ing rural areas for     @agricultural production and will

                support all efforts to ensure the viability of the County's

                agricultural economy.      The Town is especially concerned with

                preserving areas with prime farmland soils.      At the same time@

                agricultural uses should not have negative impacts on sensitive

                areas such as Ahoskie Creek or on historic or archaeologic

                                                43

                resources.     The Town supports diversification of the local

                agricultural economy.      Produce and fruit farms, and retail

                operations that market these products - roadside stands and

                farmers markets - are encouraged and will be supported.

                     The County has 151,700 acres of forestland. Much of this is

                used for commercial forestry activities.       The Ahoskie area has

                several lumber mills and wood/paper processing operations. The

                Town supports the presence of the lumbering industry in the area

                and enc ourages expansion of commercial forestry and wood process-

                ing operations if these will have no significant impacts on
                residentia'l areas and local natural resources.       In all cases,

                the Town de   sires that cleared areas be replanted as       soon as

                possible.
                     The streams and creeks in the Ahoskie area are not larg@

                enough to support commercial fishing activities. Recreation       a 1,

                fishing does occur on a limited scale in the Ahoskie area. At

                one time, commercial fishing was an important economic activity

                in the County as a whole.    The Town supports state and federal

                efforts to improve the quality of the region's fisheries.

                Improving both the recreational and commercial fisheries is

                encouraged and will be supported.

                     There are currently no areas in or around Ahoskie where

                mining or other mineral production activities are taking place.

                The Town will support mining and quarrying activities only if

                                                44

                those acti vities can be shown to have no adverse impacts on the

                Town's agricultural and water resources.

                     Following is a listing of policy objectives the Town has

                adopted to protect and manage its productive natural resources.

                Included are' strategies that the Town     will attempt to implement-

                over the next five years in an effort to achieve these po         licy'

                goals..

                  protect  and enhance agricultural  uses in the Ahoskie area

                           classify agricultural areas outside of Town as Rural on
                           the Town's Land Classification Map.

                           to the extent feasiblet continue to design betterment
                           systems for public improvements that avoid imposition
                           of costs on agricultural property whose agricultural
                           use will no t benefit from those improvements.

                           consider starting a local farmers market in downtown
                           Ahoskie; work with other area towns to develop markets
                           in every community in which all County farmers could,
                           participate.

                           support educational efforts and state and federal
                           programs   which    encourage    diversification of the
                           County's agricultural economy.

                           enc ourage farmers owning parcels of 10 or more acres
                           to apply for use-value assessment.'

                  preserve areas of prime farmland

                           adopt a policy to preserve prime agricultural land.
                           Submit proposals for public projects to the Soil
                           Conservation Service (SCS) for review. Do not under-
                           take projects which in the opinion of the SCS, will
                           have adverse impacts on important areas of prime
                           agricultural land.

                           support development of a comprehensive state program
                           for farmland preservation.       Support legislation that
                           proposes to study      farmland    preservation programs
                           existing in other areas and to develop appropriate
                           programs and techniques for use in North Carolina.

                                                 45

                  ensure efficient, environmentally sound agricultural production

                          support use of Best Management Practices for agricul-
                          tural land use and production.

                          work with the SCS to encourage participation in the
                          state's Agricultural Cost Share Program.

                          support the Conservation Provisions of the 1985 Farm
                          Bill:

                                conservation reserve
                                conservation compliance
                                sodbuster
                                swampbuster

                  provide  for  development that preser  .ves the area's productive
                  natural resources

                          support industrial proposals only if project demon-
                          strates that prime agricultural lands and.air and water
                          quality will be preserved.

                          work with proponents of new and expanding industrial
                          concerns to ensure that project is consistent the
                          objectives of the Town's Land Use Plan.

                                                 46

                 C.   Economic and Community Development

                      Ahoskie is the population and employment center of Hertford

                 County.    More people live in Ahoskie    than any other community in

                 the area. Since the end of 19th century, residents from all

                 parts of Hertford County and from adjoining counties, have come

                 to Ahoskie to work and to shop.         The Town values its position

                 as leading the County in residential, commercial, and industrial

                 development, and intends to focus efforts on programs that

                 strengthen and enhance this position.

                      The Town supports expansion of          existing industries and

                 welcomes new commercial and industrial       concerns to the Ahoskie

                 area.     Howevery new indust    rial   development should not have

                 negative impacts on the natural environment or the area's

                 historic and cultural resources.        New commercial and industrial

                 development s,hou Id enhance the   quality of    life for   local resi-.

                 dents.

                      The Town encourages the location of "clean" non-polluting

                 industries, and those that provide both technical and profession-

                 al positions. Garment-fabricating operations, non-water consump-

                 tive food processing firms, textile milling plants, printing

                 firms, and electronic manufacturing or assembly plants would be

                 appropriate new industries for the Ahoskie area.               The Town

                 supports the location of commercial. enterprises - both large

                 retail operations., and small         owner-operated commercia'I and

                                                   47

               service firms.    New tourist-oriented ape  rations would be viewed

               as an asset to the area.      The Town has a number of vacant

               commercial and     industrial buildings.      The Town encourages

               new or expanding firms to I.ocate in existing structures, rather

               than to invest in new construction.          The Town is especially

               concerned with revitalizing its commercial downtown area.

                    Land within the Town has@ been developed for urban uses,

               primarily residential in nature. Outside of Town, the area is

               rural; agricultural uses predominate. The Town appreciates this

               pattern of development,       To that end and to provide for the

               efficient delivery of public services, the Town will encourage

               new development demanding urban services to locate within the

               city limits a r in areas already provided with local services.

               In general, outlying areas will be reserved for agricultural and

               low density residential uses.    When new development cannot be

               accommodated within     serviced areas9 the Town will support.,

               their development in appropriate locations outside of Town       and

               when feasiblev will provide public services.

                    The Town will discourage the use of private package-sewage
               treatment facilities. Instead,1   new large residential develop-
               ments and industrial concerns will be encouraged to 'locate

               within the service area of the    Town's sewage treatment plant.

               Given scheduled improvements,    to the facility, there should
               adequate capacity to accommoda  Ite new demand generated over the

               next five to ten years.

                                               48

                    The Town is committed to mainta       ining and enhancing the

               quality of life in Ahoskie.    The Town supports  reuse of existing

               structures and redevelopment   in, areas were reuse is not feasible.
                                               I
               The Town supports improving   it's existing housing stock, as shown

               by its current participation in the Community Development Block

               Grant Programg     and supports     new residential co    nstruction,

               especially development that will serve the housing needs of the-

               elderly and of low and moderate income groups.

                    The Town values local natural resources such as Ahoskie.
               Creek, and regional resourcesi such as the Chowan River, r;:or the

               recreational and aesthetic amenities they supply.           The Town

               supports state and federal programs that will assist the Town in

               attaining its objectives for @protecting and managing these and

               other resourcesq and tor assisting in efforts for community
               development. These include bu@ are not limited to public access

               programs9  programs for conser   ing prime farmland and preserving

               water quality,     highway imp    vement   programs5 economic and

               community development programs, and programs which assist in

               preserving historic and archaeologic resources.

                    Following is a listing of policy objectives the Town has

               adopted to provide for community growth and for the economic

               development of the Town. Incl ded are strategies       that the Town
               will attempt to implement ov@r the next five years in an effort

               to achieve these policy goals.

                                                49

                 support expansion of existing industry and recruitment of new
                 industrial and commercial enterprises

                         support the Ahoskie Industrial Development Advisory
                         Committee and the Hertford County Industrial Develop-
                         ment Commission in their efforts to recruit industry
                         to the Ahoskie area.

                         support the Regional Small Business Incubator Facility
                         in Ahoskie; work with Facility tenants to find appro-
                         priate locations for tenants in Ahoskie when operations
                         move from incubator facility.

                         work with    developers to provide water and sewer
                         service for project5 in unserviced areas in accordance
                         with the Town's Land Classification Map.

                         solicit technical assistance from groups such as the
                         Small Business Center at Roanoke-Chowan College, the
                         Mid-East Commission5    and Northeast North Carolina
                         Tomorrow, which can provide information and staff
                         assistance for new and small businesses and economic
                         development projects. Promote these group's within the
                         business community.

                  provide for the orderly growth of      areas within Ahoskie and
                  within the one-mile planning jurisdiction

                         conduct an annexation feasibility study to determine.
                         suitable areas in which to initiate annexation proceed-
                         ings.    Give priority to developed       areas already
                         provided with public'services.

                         on the Town's Land tlassification Map, classify areas
                         within a one-mile radius of Ahoskie according to
                         the guidelines of '15 NCAC 78.0200. Developed areas
                         within the Town will be-classified Urban. Developed
                         areas outside of Town which are currently or are
                         expected to be served by water and/or sewer will be
                         classified Transition.      Agricultural and forest land
                         will be classified Rural.        Areas of Environmental
                         Concern and @other; sensitive      natural or cultural
                         resource areas will be classified Conservation.

                         revise the Town's subdivision regulations.

                 preserve and enhance the quality of life in Ahoskie

                         support expansion of academic and cultural programs
                         at Roanoke-Chowan Technical College.

                                               50

                          support   social and cultural events/programs at the
                          Gallery Theatre in downtown Ahoskie.

                          review and revise sign provisions of the'Town's zoning
                          ordinance as local government authority in the area of
                          sign regulation changes; strictly enforce sign regula-
                          tions.

                  provide for adequate housing  for all community residents

                          continue to     apply for funding for local housing
                          improvements under the Community Development Block
                          Grant Program.

                          support development  'of low and moderate income housing
                          in the Ahoskie area.!

                  promote and enhance tourism and recreational   opportunities

                          reactive the Ahoskie,Preservation Commission; develop a
                          walking tour of down'@own Ahoskie focusing on the Town's
                          historic commercial buildings.
                                               I
                          participate in regional efforts to promote. tourism in
                          northeastern North Carolina; encourage development of
                          tourist - related services such as "bed and breakfast"
                          establishments.

                          support efforts to increase recreational access to
                          Ahoskie Creek. Seek assistance from the state Office
                          of Water Resources under their Civil Works Project.
                          Program.     Consider projects     which serve multiple
                          purposes      stream restoration, navigational i',tiprove-
                          ments, and recreational uses.

                                                51

                D.   Storm Hazards

                     North Caro-lina is well-known for the hurricanes and tropical
                storms that batter its coastl,ine and the tornados that ravage-
                inland ar-eas.     Typicallyq the bulk of hurricane storm damage

                occurs in coastal areas howeverg hurricanes and tropical storms,

                have caused  severe damage in inland areas in the past." Thus,

                even inland counties and their local municipalities must effec-

                tively plan for storm hazards.         This section summarizes the

                actions Hertford County and the Town of Ahoskie have under-

                taken to protect residents and resources from the damaging

                effects of hurricanes and-other major storm events.

                  1. Hazard Areas

                      In the Ahoskie region, areas adjoining Ahoskie Creek and

                areas subject to flooding in the northern and eastern portions

                of the planning region are those areas most threate  ned by a major

                storm event.     As shown on the Map of Land Use Constraints,

                Ahoskie Creek is an Area of Environmental Concern.      This sensi-

                tive area is severely threatened by damage due to flooding,

                erosiong wave actiong and high winds.    The creek is the center

                of a Zone A floodplain as defined by the Federal Insurance

                Administration. Floodplain areas also border Whiteoak Swamp in

                the eastern half of the planning area and Horse Swamp in the

                nor thern extraterritorial area. Flood-prone areas are moderately

                threatened by damaging forces such as high winds and flooding,.

                and to a lesser extent, by erosion and wave action.

                                                52

                     The Town is fortunate in that a      11 areas in the community

                severely threatened by damage from storms are basically undeve-

                loped. As shown on the Map of Existing Land Use, there has been

                no development in the area of either Horse or Whiteoak Swamps.

                The major por tion of the shoreline of Ahoskie Creek is also

                undeveloped, although a small strip of commercial development

                has occurred near the creek where N. C. .11/42 crosses over the

                streambed.

                  2. Evacuation and Reconstruction

                     In 1980, Hertford County adopted a p         lan to guide the

                actions of various local officials in the event of a major storm

                occurence in the County. Ahoskie is under the jurisdiction of

                this plan, (the Hertford County Hu-rricane Evacuation and Shelter

                Plan,) which was revised in January of 1987.         Two groups have

                been formed to implement     the plan.   A Control Group exercises
                overall direction and control'!of hurricane evacuation operations

                and reconstruction activities    mmediately after the storm event.

                This group   is composed of th     chair man of the Board of County

                Commissioners, the mayors of     11 municipalities in the County

                (including Ahoskie), and the ounty Emergency Management Coordi-

                nator. A Support Group provides personnel and material resouces

                for the actions requested by the Control Group. The Support

                Group also provides direction to personnel engaged in operations,,

                and provides data and recommendations to the Control Group. This

                                                 53

                group has 26 members i ncluding Ahoskie's Town Manager, the Chief

                of Police,    the Chief of the Ahoskie Fire Department, and the

                president of the Ahoskie Rescue Squad.

                     The Evacuation Plan details the duties and responsibilities

                of each member of the Control and Support Group as a storm event

                unfolds.   Five levels of increasing preparedness (Conditions

                4-0) are outlined; a "Reentry" stage constitutes a sixth. The

                plan identifies eight "potential problem areas"      which would be

                evacuated during Condition 1.         The Edgewood Drive area of

                Ahoskie has been identified as an area where storm damage could

                be especially severe. Residents of this area would be evacuated

                during Condition 1, earl y in the storm event. Evacuees would be

                moved to   either the Ahoskie Graded School on North Talmage

                Avenue or to Ahoskie High School of N. C. 561.

                     Reentry into affected areas will be   directed by the    Control

                Group. - Upon reentryg the County Tax Assessorg a member of the.

                Support Group @ will assemble personnel and conduct a,,damage

                assessment. Should damage from a storm be especially severe, the

                County has the authority to impose a temporary moratorium

                on all development in the area.       Such a measure would be used

                only if damage to a particular area is very serious and if

                redevelopment of the area-in the same manner would pose residents

                with simi lar health and safety problems in the future.

                     After emergency operations to restore public health and

                safety and initial damage assessment are completed, the Town

                                                 54

                Counci.1 will assume responsibi lity for ensuring orderly repair
                                                i
                and rebuilding in the Town.       The Planning Boar@d y4ill act as an

                advisory group. CAMA permitting officers will be included in

                redevelopment planning for areas where CAMA permits would be

                necessary.     Th e Town advocates the following schedule for,

                staging and permitting repairs and construction in the Town:

                first priority - replacement of essential services such as      power,

                waterg sewerg telephone, and roadways; second priority - minor

                repairs; third priority - major repairs; fourth priority - new

                development. All repairs and new development will be in conform-

                ance with applicable state and local           development controls

                including the state building code and the Town's zoning ordinance

                  including local floodplain regulations.

                  3. Coordinating Agencies.

                       The state and federal agencies involved in coordinating

                local storm hazard mitigationl and hurricane prepardness activi-

                ties are listed in Appendix B.

                  4. Policy Objectives

                       The Town acknowledges that the Ahoskie area is subject to
                storms that threaten the health, safety, and           welfare of its
                residents and the integrity      f   its natural and cultural re-

                sources.    In an effort to pi   n for such natural storm disasters

                and to safeguard local residents, resources, and'property, the
                Town has adopted the followingistorm hazard policy objectives.

                                                 55

                         reduce the potential for storm damage

                              enforce the Town's floodplain ordinance.
                              enforce the     state building code in all new
                              construction.
                              enforce the Town's housing code.

                         protect natural *areas sensitive      to storm hazards

                              classify AECs and flood-prone areas as Conserva-
                              tion on the Town's Land Classification Map.

                         increase public awareness of the need for hurricane
                         preparation

                              support the "preparedness" program the County
                              Office of Emergency Management con   ducts in local
                              schools.
                              participate in the storm evacuation exercise held
                              each year by the Office of Emergency  Management.

                                               56

                E. Public   Participation

                      The preparation of Ahoskie's Land Use    Plan was the responsi-

                bility of the Ahoskie Planning Board.             A workshop session

                introducing Board members to the planning process 'was held in

                November of 19116 and the group agreed to     meet monthly to work on

                the plan. Two meetings were held in June of 1907 as @the Board

                began finalizing important policy objectives. Appendix C notes

                meeting dates and participants,.
                       At their first meeting,1 the Planning Board agreed that

                soliciting public input wou      Id be an important goal of the

                planning pr:ocess.     The Board considered conducting a public
                survey.    Ultimately the grouplagreed that since the Town was not

                facing any major development issues, their efforts would be
                better spent in other action@. Instead of seeking public input

                through a survey, the Board decided to utilizo the media to

                encourage attendance at Planning Board meetings and to inform'

                residents of the work the group was involved in.            Notice s of

                all Board meetings were submitted to a local radio station,

                (WBCG) for broadcast. Similarly@ all meetings were advertised in

                the Hertford County News-Herald, and articles summarizing the

                information and issues discussed at each Board meeting were

                submitted to the paper for@        publication. Copies of all radio

                public service announcements       and articles submitted to, or

                appearing in the News-Herald are included in Appendix D.

                                                  57

                     The Planning Board and Town Council will be the primary

                groups through which public input will be accepted as the

                planning program continues over the next five years.                The

                Planning Board will continue to meet monthly to assist the

                Counci 1 in implementing the       strategies for attaining policy

                objectives on resource protection, production, and economic and

                community development proposed in the 1987 Land Use Plan.

                Following the example of the current planning program, solicitinc
                                                                                      4-

                public input will be a primary goal of all future planning.

                endeavors,

                     The Planning Board and the Council recognize the importance

                of keeping the citizenry informed of current planning concerns

                and of receiving the comments and concerns of local residents.

                Thus, the,Town has adopted the following policy objectives:

                           solicit citizen input in all planning decisions

                                advertise all Council and Planning Board meetings
                                in the News-Herald: emphasize that citizens are,
                                invited and' encouraged to attend all meetings
                                dealing with planning issues.

                           apprise the public of planning issues as they develop

                                report important planning and community develop-
                                ment issues, decisions, and developments to the
                                News-Herald; propose feature articles for espe-
                                cially important issues.

                                                  58

                IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION

                A.   Purpose

                     Ahoskie has adopted a system of land classification and an

                official Land Classification Map to assist local officials in

                attaining policy objectives in the areas of resource protection

                and production, and economic and community development.             Five

                broad categories of land     classification have been developed and

                are delineated on the Town's Map of Land Classification (pg.

                63.2).    The map sets out a proposed development pattern for the

                Ahoskie planning region.       Based on this classification scheme,

                the Town has designated areas it believes are appropriate to

                accommodate additional growth and development, and areas it

                believes would be better left in their natural condition. The

                classifications reflect propo5ed future land uses and attempt to

                link land use, policy objectivesq and implementation actions.

                Exhibit 1 (pg. 63.1) highlights the, relationship between the

                Town's policy objectives. in the areas of resource protection,

                resource management, and economic and community development, and

                the Town's land classification scheme.         As showno most of the

                policies dealing with resource protection and management will

                effect areas classified as       :Rural.    The bulk of the impact of

                economic and community development policy actions will be felt in

                the Developed and Transition classes.           At the same time, the

                impact of some policy actions such as those dealing with growth

                                                  59

                management is sues will have   an effect in all land classes. The

                Map of Land Classification is  similar to that adopted   by the Town

                in 1981, however several minor modifications have been made to

                the 19ei classificiation scheme to reflect changes that have,

                occurred over the past five y ears,

                B.   Classification Scheme

                     The Town's land classification scheme is based on the
                guidelines for land classifica@ion outlined in the     .Coastal Area

                Management Act's Land Use Planging Guidelines.

                  1. Developed

                     The Developed classification encompasses all land within the

                corporate limits of the Town.      On the 1981 Land Classification,

                Map, both Transition and Developed areas we@-e shown within the

                corporate limits. In 19E31, the: classification pattern reflected
                existing land uses:        TransiItion areas within Town were open

                undeveloped land; Developed arF- @as were areas where development of

                some type (residential, commercial, or industrial) had occurred.

                     In its 1987 Land Use        'Plan, the Town  stated that it will

                encourage new development to locate within the city limits

                whenever possible.    By applyl  ng the Developed classification to
                all areas within Town, local 07  1'ficials are attemptinAg to facili-
                tat e this pattern of devel      pment.    Similarly, the Developed

                classification reflects the ex sting pattern of service provis-

                ion as all areas within the      city limits are serviced by public

                water and sewer.

                                                 '60

                2. Transit  ion

                    Transition areas adjoin the Developed area and border the

               major highways entering the community.      Services extend in the

               Transition area however no areas designated Transition are

               serviced throughout by either public water or public 5ewer,

                    As shown on the Map of Land Classification, Transition

               areas adjoin 'U. S. 13 as it enters the Town from the east and as

               it exits the Town on the north.      In the western half of the

               planning regiong Transitiion areas are found along.N. C. 42 and

               N. C. 561. A smal.1 Transition area borders the Town limits on

               S. R. 1101 and while a larger area is found along S. R. 1415.

                    The Town's 1981 Classificiation map showed a small area

               along U. S. 13 south, just within the extraterritorial boundary,

               in the Community classification.     This area along Highway 13 is

               already fairly intensely developed.     Most of this development

               has been for industrial and commercial uses rather than resident-

               ial uses, and local planners expect this type of strip commerc   ial

               develoment to continue over the next several years. Thusq to

               reflect existing and future land uses9 consistent with state

               planning guidelines, the area along U. S. 13 east of Ahoskie has

               been classifi ed Transition.   The Transition classification also

               has been applied to Ahoskie's satellite annexation at thejunction

               of N. C. 561 and N. C. 11.

                                               61

                 3. Community

                    Two small areas outside of Town adjoining the one-mile

               extraterritorial boundary are shown in the Community classifica-

               tion. one small Community area is found along S. R. 1415 to the

               north; another larger area is found at the junction of U. S. 13
               and S. R. 1 130. These designaiions-reflect the low to moderate

               density residential development that has occurred in both these

               areas. Some commercial development is found in the area along

               U. S. 13.       Neither area classified Community is served with

               public water or sewer. The Town supports continued development

               of these areas, howeverp it is unlikely that services will be

               extended to these outlying areas in the next five years.

                4. Rural

                    The Rural Classification encompasses most of the land

               outside of Town,       These are areas of scattered residential

               development, farmlandq and woodland. Agricultural uses predomi-

               nate in the Rural area. The Town supports agricultural activi-

               ties in outlying Rural areas and has outlined a number actions

               that wil-1 be taken over the next five years to encourage and

               enhance agricultural activity in the extraterritorial region.

                 5. Conservation

                    The Conservation Class designates areas in the Ahoskie

               planning region the Town believes should be kept in their natural

               condition. These are unusuall    y sensitive  natural resources and

                                                62

                include Ahoskie Creek, an Area of Environmental Concern. As'

                shown on the Map of Land Classificationg the Conservation c         lass

                encompasses Ahoskie Creek east of N. C. 42, and extends inland-

                75 feet from both its banks. The 1987 Classification Map also

                notes several additional Conservation areas: the area of Ahoskie

                Creek west of N. C. 42, and the land 75 feet along either side

                of Whiteoak Swamp and Horse Swamp.            The Town recognizes the

                sensitivity  of these natural areas and       values them for their

                importance   as wetlands @rather than for development.            In an

                effort to direct new development to other more appropriate        areas,
                within the planning regiong these water and wetland areas have

                been designated Conservation.

                C.    Intergovernmental Coordination

                     The Town's Land Classific@ation Map has been designed to

                guide the actions of private developers and of public agencies at

                all leve ls of gove rnment, in activities affecting land develop-

                ment in the Ahoskie region. The plan was developed so that the

                planning objectives set forth.1n the Ahoskie Land 'Use Plan will

                enhance the land use goals of neighboring communities, the

                Cou nty, and the coastal regi.on as a whole.       The Town will work

                with the various public groups noted in this plan to ensure that

                the planning objectives and policy actions adopted as part of

                this planning effort will be implemented as the Town develops

                over the next five years.

                                                  63

                                                      EXHIBIT I

                         RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICY OBJECTIVES AND LAND CLASSIFICATION

                                                                  Land Classification

             Policy Obiectives               Developed Transition     Community   Rural Conservation

             Resource Protection
                protec't water resources                                             X"          x
                preserve AECs                                                                    x
                protect water   supply            x           x             x
                protect historic
                 resources                        x
                provide for environ-
                 mentally sound develop-
                 ment                                                       x        x           x

             Resource Production

                protect agricultural uses                                   x        x
                preserve prime farmland                                     x        x
                ensure environmentally
                 sound agricultural
                 production                                                 x        x
                preserve productive
                 resources                                                  x        x

             Economic and    Community
               Development

                support  industrial
                 growth                           x           x
                provide  for orderly
                 growth                           x           x             x        x           x
                preserve quality of
                 life                             x           x             x
                provide for adequate
                 housing                          x           x             x
                promote tourism                   x           x             x                    x

                                                         63.1

                                                                                                                     LAN D\
                                                                                     CLASSIFICATION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      JI

                                                                                                                                                                            A

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 L

                                                                                                                                                                   .1  ...........-
                                                                                                                                                                       ...........
                                                                                      Developed

                                                                                     Tra'am.'sition

                                                                           r777771
                                                                                      Communi ty
                                                                           LA

                                                                                                                                      %
                                                                                       Rural
                                                                           F

                                                                                       Conservation

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Prepared by Mid-E@t Co=ission
                                                                                                      63.2                                                                                            W. hi ngt.n. Norsh Carolina
                                                                                                                                                                                                      June 19 7

                                                 Appendix A

                                         STATE REGULATORY DEVICES

                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               Agency                       Licenses and Permits

                  -----------------------------------------------------------------
                  Department of Natural Resources               Permits to discharge to
                  and Community Development                     surface waters or operate
                  Division of Environmental                     wastewater treatment
                  Management                                      plants or oil discharge
                                                                permits; NPDES Permits,
                                                                (G. S. 143-215).

                                                                Permits for septic tanks
                                                                to be used for industrial
                                                                purposes (G. S. 143-215.
                                                                3).

                                                                Permits    for withdrawal
                                                                of    surface    or ground
                                                                waters in capacity pse
                                                                areas (G. S. 143-215.15@).

                                                                Permits for air pollution
                                                                abatement facilities and
                                                                sources (G. S. .143-215.)
                                                                ioe).

                                                                Permits for     construction
                                                                of complex sources; e. g.
                                                                park,ing lots, subdivis-
                                                                ions,     stadiums,      etc.
                                                                (G.S. 143-215.109).

                                                                Permits for construction
                                                                of a well over 100,000
                                                                gallcns/day        (,G.    S.
                                                                e7-ee).

                                               -----------------------------------------
                 -------------------------
                 Department of Natural Resources                Permits to dredge and/or
                 and Community Development         I          . fill in estuarine waters,
                 Division of Parks and Recreation               tidelands, etc.       (G. S.
                                                                113-229).

                 -------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Department of Natural Resources                Permits      to    undertake
                 and Community Development                      development in Areas of
                 Division of Coastal Management                 Environmental         Concern
                                                                (G. S. 113A-118).

               ------------------------------------------------------ ------------
                         Agency                        Licenses and Permits

               ..............   ----------------------------------------------------

                                                             NOTE:   Minor developmen-t
                                                             permits are     issued by
                                                             local government.

               Department of Natural Resources               Permits to alter.or to
               and Community Development                     construct a dam (G. S.
               Division of Land Resources                    143-215.66).

                                                       -     Permits to mine (G. S.
                                                             74-51).

                                                       -     Permits    to   drill    an
                                                             explanatory oil or gas
                                                             well (G. S. 113-391).

                                                       -     Permits      to     conduct
                                                             geographical exploration
                                                                 S. 113-391).

                                                       -     Sedimentation      eros i o n
                                                             control plans     for any
                                                             land disturbing activity
                                                             of over one contiguous
                                                             acre (G. S. 113A-54).

               Department of Natural Resources@              Permits to construct an
               and Community Development                     oil refinery.

                                                   -----------------------------------
               Department-of-Administration                  Easements to fill where
                                                             lands are proposed to be
                                                             raised above the normal
                                                             high   water     mark    of
                                                             navigable     waters     by
                                                             filling    (G.   S. 146.6
               ------------------------------------------    (c)) ------  -------------
               Department of Human Resources                 Approval    to operate a
                                                             solid    waste     disposal
                                                             site. or facility (G. S.
                                                             130-166.16).

                                                             Approval for construction
                                                             of   any    public     water
                                                             facility that furnishes
                                                             water to     ten or mor    e
                                                             residences      (G.      S.
                                                             130-160.1)

                                   FEDERAL REGULATORY DEVICES

              -------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Agency                        Li censes and Permits

              ------------------------------------------------------------------
              Army Corps of Engineers                  Permits required under
              (Department of Defense)                  Section   9   and 10 of the
                                                       Rivers and Harbors of 1999;
                                                       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.

              -----------------------------------------------------------------
              Coast Guard                              Permits for bridges, cause-
              (Department of                           ways, pipelines over navigable
              Transportation)                          waters;   required under the
                                                       General Bridge Act of 1946
                                                       and the Rivers and Harbors
                                                       Act of legg.

              Geological Survey                        Permits required for off-share
              Bureau of Land Management                drilling.
              (Department of Interior)                 Approvals   of   OCS pipeline
                                                       corridor rights-of-ways.

              -----------------------------   -------------------------------------

              Nuclear.Regulatory Commission            Licenses for siting, construc-
                                                       tion and operation of nuclear
                                                       power plants; required under
                                                       the Atomic Energy Act of.1954
                                                       and Title II of the Energy
                                                       Reorganization Act of 1974.

              Federal  Energy  Regulatory              Permits    for     construction,
              Commission                               operation and maintenance o@
                                                       interstate pipeline facilities
                                                       required   under the Naturai
                                                       Gas Act of 1939.

              -------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Agency                    Licenses and Permits
              -------------------------------------------------------------------
              Federal Energy Regulatory              Orders of Interconnection of
              Commission                             electric transmission facili-
                                                     ties under Section 202 (b) of
                                                     the Federal Power Act.

                                                     Permission      required      for
                                                     abandonment of     natural    gas
                                                     pipeline      and     associated
                                                     facilities under Section 7C
                                                     (b) of the Natural Gas Act of
                                                     1938.

                                            Appendix B

                             AGENCIES COORDINATING STORM PREPAREDNESS

               N. C. Division of Coastal Management
                   State Office:      Division of Coastal Management
                                      Department    of  Natural Resources and
                                      Community Development
                                      P. 0. Box 27687
                                      Raleigh, NC 27611
                                      (919) 733-2293

                   Field Office:      Division of Coastal Management
                                      Department of Natural Resources and
                                      Community Development
                                      108 South Water Street
                                      Elizabeth Cityp NC 27909
                                      (919) 3oe-1558

               N. C. Division of Emergency Management
               (now includes National Flood Insurance Program Information)

                   State Office:      Division of Emergency Management
                                      Department of Crime Control and Public
                                      Safety
                                      116 West Jones Street
                                      Raleigh, NC 27611
                                      (919) 733-3867

                 Regional Office:     Area Emergency Management Coordinator
                                      N. C. Division of Emergency Management
                                      Beaufort County Courthouse
                                      Washington, NC 27889
                                      (919) 946-2773

               Federal Emergency Management Agency

                      National Office:    Federal Emergency Management Agency
                                          500,C Street, S. W.
                                          Washingtong D. C. 20472

                                          Public Information - (202) 287-0300
                                          Publications        - (202) 287-0689

                      Regional Office:    Federal Emergency Management Agency
                                          Region IV
                                          1375 Peachtree Street, N. E.
                                          Atlantap Georgia 30309

                                          Public Information - (404) 881-2000
                                          Disaster Assistance
                                            Program           - (404) Bel-3641

                                          Flood Insurance
                                            Program              (404) 881-2391

                                            Appendix C

                                 AHOSKIE LAND USE PLANNING PROGRAM

                                       SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

                November 19, 1986         Planning Board  Introductory Workshop

                January 15, 1987          Planning Board

                February 19, 1987         Planning Board

                March 26, 1987            Planning Board

                April 16, 1987            Planning Board

                May 21, 1997              Planning Board

                June 9, 1qe7              Planning Board

                June 18, 1987             Planning Board

                July 14, 1987             Planning Board  and Town Council.
                                          Approval of Preliminary Plan.

                October 22, 1987          Planning Board

                November 10, 19e7         Town Council Public Hearing and adoption
                                          of final plan.

                                           Appendix D

                                         MEDIA RELEASES

                    Planning commission Begins Update of Land Use Plan

                  The Ahoskie Planning Commission met on Thursday,.October 23
              to begin work on updating the town's Land Use Plan.       The Plan
              was originally prepared 10 years ago and updated in 1981 in
              accordance with the requirements of the Coastal Area Management
              Act. The time has now come to update the  document once again.

                  Bob Paciocco, Executive Director of   the Mid-East Commission
              and Planner-in-Charge of the project,     met with the Pla"nning
              Commission to introduce the members to the planning process.
              Paciocco impressed upon them -the purpose. of the Plan and the
              importance of their role in tho process.

                  Ruth Leggett, Coastal Land Use Planner for the Coastal
              Management Division of the N. C.0 Dept. of Natural Resources and
              Community Development, discussed the history of the plans and
              the new emphases that this Plan.will address.    The new sections
              will deal with water quality and storm hazard mitigation. Ms.
              Leggett also explained the general outline for the Plan.and what
              it will include.

                  Special emphasis was placed on the importance of public
              participation throughout the update process.      Notices will be
              placed in the NEWS HERALD so the public will know when meetings
              will be held and what will be' discussed during the meetings.
              All meetings will be open to    the public and citizens will have
              an opportunity to comment on.the issues being considered.

                 .Regular Plannirg Commission  meetings will be     held on the
              third Thursday of each month beginning in December.    The meeting
              for November has been rescheduled for Mondayp December 1 at 7:00
              pm in the Town Hall.

                                                                         THE NEWS HERALD

                                                                                      I
                                                             WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986

                                                                  AHOSKIE, NORTH CAROLINA

                                               LandUse Plan v
                                                                                                          pdate
                                               under way in Aftoskie
                                               MOME - Vie Plamung Com-                   rent planning prograf!@
                                               mission of the Mid-East Commission          The updated Land..Use P an will
                                               is workkmg ona an     .update. of the     serve as agutde to difict growth and'
                                               Town Use Plan t6r Ahoskle. - ' -          development in Ur _tqwq over a five.
                                               %oiiie'. of the . rn'ajoir-"; tasks.      year kooq, The.oft!fial plan.was
                                               .established as priori tf es at a *Dec. I prepared. accordog!@.#* guidelines
                                               meeting, are the confirinkion of          set forth ldthe-StaWs Cbkstal Area
                                               Ahoskie Creek's status as auAreiof        Management Act (CAMA). .*17f".".. * @
                                               .Environmental Concern, p6dudng           *.-CAMK specifles"tbat i!4ch'of the
                                               a current invesitory of historic strfic-  statels' 2o coastal, counties prepare
                                               bxles and reviewing current pro-          land use 'Plans and that these plans
                                               granu foi downtown revitflization.        be updated every five yeam
                                               At the Ineeting. the commission           ". MunicipalftiM ''iuch as Ahoside,
                                               also assessed development policies        have the oPdq`1i'-of:'PreParing Such
                                               contained in Ahe town's current           Plans. Staff frot_q the 11(id-East CDm-
                                               (1981) Land Use Plan. This was the mission will &iAdi'Planning                Com-
                                               second meeting In-p series that wiH       -inission 'members' with technical
                                               be held to upda4lhe plan in ac-           assistance In Me update Process.'
                                               cordance with state guidellneL -       '  `11- The next Plannii1g:Xanuidnion
                                               With the assistance of Bob Pacloc- '      I'meeting wW bewheld at 7 p.m.. Jan. 15
                                               co. executive director of thi Mid-        -in L%e.;7to**-MH.-.At thismeetingl.
                                               East Commission,' the Planning.. Commission members,will review
                                               Commission reviewed tbe:poHefes           -*. q@@t statistics on local population
                                               on land development In the 1981           ahd,. economy.. and discuss.their
                                               Plan. determined if these planning        'relevance to local land use planning.
                                               objectives had been achieved and '-.,Town officials eiicourage the
                                               discussed their relevance -to the cur.    public toaittend the meeting.

                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                     FOR MORE INFORMATION: Libby Anderson 946-8044

                          PLANNING COMMISSION ASSESSES LOCAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

                     AHOSKIE - Confirming Ahoskie Creek's status as an Area of

                     Environmental Concern, producing a current inventory of historic

                     structures, and reviewing current programs for downtown revital-

                     ization will be some of the major tasks facing the Planning

                     Commission as it updates the Town's Land Use Plan. .

                           The Planning Commission met on Monday, D    ecember I to a5se5s

                     development policies contained in the Town's current (1991) Land

                     Use Pla n.   The meeting was the second in a series of meetiiigs

                     that will be held to update the Plan in accordance with State

                     Guidelines. With the assistance of Mr. Bob Paciocco, Executive

                     Director of the Mid-East Commis5ionq the Planning Commission

                     reviewed the policies on land development in the 1981 Plan,

                     determined if these planning objectives had been achieved           and

                     discussed their relevance to the current planning program. Fhe

                     Commission concluded that three items in, the 1981 Plan needed

                     particular attention:       Ahoskie   Creek's status as an Area of

                     Environmental Concern, the inventory of local historic building5,

                     and the pol.icy on downtown revitalization.

                           The updated Land Use' Plan will serve as a guide to direct

                     growth and development in the Town over the five years.             'Fhe

                     original plan was prepared according to the guidelines set fo       -th

                     in the State's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA).         CAMA spe(:i-

                     fies that each of the State's 20 coastal counties prepare land'

                                                   -2-

                  ,use plans and that these plans be updated every five years.

                   Municipalities such as Ahoskie, have the option of preparing

                   such plans.      Staff from the Mid-East Commission will provide

                   Planning Commission members with technical assistance in the

                   update process.

                         The next Planning Commission meeting will be held on

                   Thursday, January 15, at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.          At this

                   meeting, Commission members will review current statistics on

                   local population and economy, and discuss their relevance to

                   local land use planning. The public is encouraged to    attend.

                                     PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                  FOR MORE INFORMATION:    Libby Anderson - 946-8043

                        The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, January

                  15 to continue its work in updating the Town's Land Use Plan.

                  The Agenda for Thursday's meeting will involve a review of

                  current socioeconomic conditions in the Town.   The meeting will

                  be held at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. The public is invited and

                  encouraged to attend.

                                                             the             News                   Serala

                                                           For Hartford County anct The Roanoke-Chowen Area

                                                                       W*dnwday, Ja        nuarv 14. 1W

                                                   Socioeconomic statistics
                                                   to be discussed in Ahoskie

                                                     AHOSKIE - The Ahoskle Plann-            part of the state's Coastal Area
                                                   ing Board will meet Jan.' 15 to           Management Act (CAMA). The
                                                   discuss current socioeconomic con-        town's CAMA Land Use Plan when
                                                   ditions in the town. Population. hous-    completed. will be used to guide
                                                   ing and economic data will be             growth and development in Ahoskie
                                                   reviewed.                                 over the next five years.        I
                                                    The meeting Is the second Ifi a            Thursday's meeting will be held In
                                                   series of meetings that will be held      the Town Hall at 7 p.m. Th   'Is and all
                                                   in 1987 to revise the town's current.     other meetings to be held as part of
                                                   plan prepared over five years ago.        the planning process are open to the
                                                     The plan will be updated ac-            public. All interested citizens are en-
                                                   cording to the guidelines set out as      couraged to attend.

                                              Planning board toldgrowth needed
                                                                                                                  -0
                                                                                  awo keep youth here
                                                                                  L

                                                                      AHOSKIE - Members of the                    although Hertford County is fourth           "Since 1980 however, local popula-
                                                                    Ahoskie Planning Board were told              in terms of total population in the        tion appears to have increased and
                                                                    last week that new jobs are needed            five-county region of Beaufort,* Ber-      today, one of every five persons that
                                                                    so young people growing up In the             tie. Hertford, Martin and Pitt Coun-       lives-in the county lives within the
                                                                    town can remain and find employ-              ties, It is second In term., -,- popula-   town of Ahoskie," Anderson said.
                                                                    ment.                                         tion density @ pers@ -, per square           She pointed out that, following the
                                                                      Libby Anderson of the Mid-East              mile - exceeded only by Pitt Coun-         national trend, the population of the
                                                                    icommission spoke to the board of             I.Y.                                       town is aging. in 1970, 11 percent of
                                                                    this and a number of other Issues             At the same. time, Ahoskie is the          the local population was 65 years
                                                                    regarding population and employ-              largest community in the county. In        and older. By 1980, 16 percent of all
                                          C                         ment growth in the area at the first          1985, according to Anderson, the           persons living in Ahoskie was over
                                                                    of three meetings scheduled to up-            town's population was reported at          65.
                                                                    date the Land Use Plan for the town.          5,000. ne 1980 census, showed a              "Population figures show that the
                                                                      Board members noted that                    decline from 1970.                         town has a greater share of the

                                                                    senior population than found on the           percent in educational services.         the board members quickly pointed
                                                                    average for the county or state,"             "Athough agricultural operotions         out to her the company had announc-
                                                                    Anderson said. "About 12 percent of           utilize over 25 percent of the coun-'    ed Its plans to close the Ahoskle
                                                                    all county residents are oer 65, and          ty's land area, only five percent of     plant, putting about 150 people out of
                                                                    the state as a whole, only about 10           the county population reported           work.
                                          C                         percent bf the population is over 65.,,       employment in 1980 In agricultural,        She also mentioned the Regional
                                                 C                    On the other end of the spectrum,           forest, fishery and mining enter-        Small -Business Incubator Facility,
                                                                    Anderson pointed out that the                 prises," she said.                       which opened in 1986, and explained
                                                                    percentage of the population under            Hertford County ranked third In          its purpose. The facility, she noted,
                                         0                          20 years of age is declining. In 1980,        the five-county Mid-East region In       will serve Bertle, Gates, Hertford
                                         t                          about 30 percent of the population            retail sales for 1985. Sales of $166,839 and Northampton counties and "is
                                         41)
                                         X                          was 19 or younger, down 10 percent            during 1985 put Hertford County In       designed as a tool for economic
                                                                    from 1970.                                    third place. in 1975, retail sales in    growth and development in the nor-
                                                                      The town, she noted, is not subject         the county were $76,279. This would      theastern part of the state.
                                                                    to seasonal changes'In population.            Indicate an increase of 90.6 percent       Al  'Newsome, chairman of the
                                                                    "Although some migrant farm                   over the 10-year period. Commercial      -planning board, told Anderstm,
                                                                    workers find employment in the                enterprises, she said, are responsf-'    "During the 1980s, we have lost plant
                                                                    area, their impact on service de-             ble for a major portion of the sales In  after plant and many of our people
                                                                    mand and -the local economy is                the county.                              have to commute to work. I have to
                                                                    minimal," she said.                           Anderson told board members              drive 60 miles to my job."
                                                                      She did say that. tourists account          there are 17 manufacturing firms           Newsome also said that while he
                                                                    for some fluxuation In the daytime            located within Ahoskie which             was not being critical of the county
                                                                    Population. Anderson said the coun-           employ between 850 and 1,110 per.        Industrial developer department, "I
                                                                    ty, as a whole, realized over three           sons.                                    haven't seen anything come out of
                                                                    million dollars In tourist-related ex-        Specific companies she named In-         that office In several years."
                                                                    penditures In 1995.                      .    cluded Parker Brothers, Bennett            Anderson remarked, "The impor-
                                                                      As far as the economy is concern-           Box Company and Georgia-Pacific.         tant thing you have to remember is
                                                                    ed, Anderson said about one In every          When she mentioned that Blue Bell        that Hertford County is not the first
                                                                    four residents work in manufactuing           had recently been purchased' byL         one this had happened to. Thingi will
                                                                    enterprises, 15 percent work in               Vanity Fair and company officials
                                                                    wholesale and retail trade and lo             had said there would be no change,           (See PLANNING, Page 12A)

                                                                                                                                                       (FromPageIA),
                                                                    Plahbi ng. boardlold.,
                                                                                                              '@Wtural    mources.   As';                                      for'
                                                                    change again and the next time we                                           ti)wn     The'LandUsePlan         all towns In I
                                                                    meet,. 1, hope to talk about proper       grows, planners must be aware that        the county Is being updated In ac-
                                                                  ..Ianduse.";,                               businesses,.. employers and               cordancewith the guidelines of the
                                                                      Although the town has "experienc-       em ployees alike. appreciate the          state's Coastal Area Management
                                                                    ed relatively little change in popula-    local amenities that stem from pro-       Act. The next meeting, which is also
                                                                    tion in recent. years, the need for .     per land and services planning," she      open to the public,.wil.1 be held at 7
                                                                  ,..sound land use planning is not           'concluded.                               p.m. Feb. 19.
                                                                    diminished. Every new residential.
                                                                    commercial and Industrial develop-
                                                                    !nent affects the land and the qualitX
                                                                  .-4f life in the town," she said.
                                                                      "'Poorly `planned or managed
                                                                    ilevelopment can have Irreversible
                                                                    effects on thp town's natural and

                                         PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Libby Anderson - 946-8043

                        The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, February 19,

                   to continue its work in updating the Town's Land Use Plan. The agenda

                   for Thursday's meeting will include a review of current land uses in the

                   Town. The meeting will be held at 7 pm in the Town Hall. The public

                   is invited and encouraged to attend.

                                                     the. News .1era 16

                                                  For Hartford County and The Roan6ke-Chowan Area

                                                                 Monday, February 16,1987

                                                                      Ldcal lahd uses
                                                                      to be'reviewed

                                                                        AHOSKIE - A review of current
                                                                      land uses in the town and a discus-
                                                                      sion of land use concerns will be
                                                                      some of the-Items included on the
                                                                      planning board's February 19 agen-
                                                                      da.
                                                                        The board will meet at 7 p.m. in
                                                                      the town hall to continue its work In
                                                                      updating the town's Land Use Plan.
                                                                      The town's current plant was
                                                                      prepared in 1981 and Is now being
                                                                      revised by the board according to
                                                                      the guidelines of the state's Coastal
                                                                      Area Management Act (CAMA).
                                                                        At the board's January meeting,
                                                                      statistics on population, housing,
                                                                      and economy were reviewed. This
                                                                      month the board will discuss current
                                                                      land uses In Ahoskie, giving par-
                                                                      ticular attention to changes that
                                                                      have occurred since 1981, and to
                                                                      Identifying conflicts in existing or
                                                                      future land use.
                                                                        Thursday's meeting is open to the
                                                                      public and all Interested persons are
                                                                      invited to attend.

                                                          Zhe' Netusa7mleralb

                                                        For Hertford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                       Monday, February 23,1987

                                 No current land use problems.
                                   AHOSKIE - Ahoskie planners             the. vicinity of Carolina Billets and    members observed that although the
                                 have concurred that there are cur-       Kerr Glass.                              Town has a National Register
                                 rently no major land use problems In       Current land use concerns were         Historic District, no local historic
                                 the Town and looking ahead, agree        also addressed, andplanners agreed       district ordinance has been adopted.
                                 that development in the next five        that the Town has grown in an order-     Planners will consider recommen-
                                 years is likely to present no major      ly fashion. No major problems in ex-     ding that the Town develop such an
                                 land use concerns.                       isting uses were noted or anticipated    ordinance at a later meeting. " ,
                                   The Board's observations were          as a result of future growth. , ,          The Planning Board will continue
                                 made at its meeting last week, the         Future growth in Ahoskie will be       its work on Ahoskie's Land Use Plan
                                 third in a series the. group will hold   Influenced by various local and state    at Its next meeting March 19.
                                 as it updates the Town's land use        regulations that control land use.       Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the
                                 plan.                                    The Board reviewed a listing of local    Town Hall. All meetings are open to
                                   the focus of Thursday's meeting        land use regulations which Included      the public and tfie board members
                                 was a review of.current land uses.       the To%6's zoning ordinance and          encourage interested citizens to at-
                                 Special emphasis was' given to           subdivision regulations. Board           tend.
                                 noting changes In land use since 1981
                                 when the Town's current land use
                                 plan was completed.
                                   The Board compared a 1981 land
                                 use map with   the results of a   field
                                 survey 'done    last week. Several
                                 areas- were identified where
                                 development    had occurred since
                                 1981 including the Carolina Bfllets
                                 plant on S.R. 1105, and expansion of
                                 'the Morris subdivision in the
                                 Zsouthwest portion of the - extrater..
                                 ritorial area.
                                   The Board also discussed areas
                                 .where development in the next five
                                 years might occur, noting especially
                                 the shopping plaza proposed for. a
                                 parcel on U.S. 13 south across from
                                 the Southern States plant. Although
                                 no plans for new industrial develop-
                                 ment have been, announced, plan-
                                 ners agreed that industrial growth
                                 could easily be accommodated in the
                                 southern extraterritorial areas in

                                                             Zhe Velus-lieralb

                                                           For Hertford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                                 Friday, April 3,1987

                                                           Ahoskie land use'
                                                           problems identified
                                                            The major physical factor               the Gallery Theatre), 1927, Hertford
                                                           1imiting future land development in      Herald Building, 1915: Commercial
                                                           the Ahoskie area is poor soils.          Buildings, 100 block Rialr6ad St.:
                                                           This was determined by the               Newsome Bulding, 1905; Sawyer-
                                                           Ahoskie Planning Board' at its           Brome Furniture Company, 1924;
                                                           March meeting. It was pointed out        Gerock Department Store,            1910;
                                                           that many soils found in and around      Mitchell Hotel, 1910: Mitchell      Hotel
                                                           Ahoskie have severe limitations for      Annex, 1920's: Hotel Comfort.       1936;
                                                           building construction and the siting     Parker and Powell Buildings,        1910:
                                                           of septic systems.                       Baker Building, 1910; Garrett Hotel,
                                                           As most of Ahoskie's extrater-           1926: Bank of Ahoskie. 1925; Garrett
                                                           ritorial area is unsewered. finding      Building, 1938; and Mitchell Fur-
                                                           areas that will accommodate in-          niture Company Annex, late 1940's.
                                                           ground treatment systems is likely
                                                           to be one of the greatest challenges
                                                           developers. face, a Mid-East study
                                                           shows.
                                                           The March meeting was the fourth
                                                           in a series the board has held to up-
                                                           date the Town's Land Use Plan, in
                                                           accordance with the guidelines of
                                                           the State's Coastal Area Manage-
                                                           ment Act (CAMA). State guidelines
                                                           specify . that. constraintS to land
                                                           development be identified.
                                                           In addition to poor soils, planners
                                                           noted that flood-prone areas adjoin-
                                                           ing Ahoskie Creek and Wbiteoak and
                                                           Hoses Swamps might limit devel*
                                                           ment in these areas. Also, Ahoskie
                                                           Creek is considered an Area of En-
                                                           vironmental Concern. by the state,
                                                           according to Mid-East officials.
                                                           Planners also reviewed the town's
                                                           inventory of historic buildings,
                                                           noting that future development in
                                                           the Historic District should be com-
                                                           patible with the architectural
                                                           character of existing buildings.
                                                           These include the followin.4
                                                           Former U.S. Post office...circa
                                                           1940; Commercial Buildings, 123-125
                                                           Main Street, 1915; Farmers-Atlantic
                                                           Bank, 1918: Richard Theatre (now

                   Mid-East Commission

                   P. 0. Box 1787

                   Washington, NC 27889

                   FOR IMMEDIATE@RELEASE

                   FOR MORE INFORMATION   Libby Anderson   946-8043

                                      PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

                        The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, April 16 to
                   continue its work in updating the Town's land use plan. The Planning
                   Board meets at 7:00 pm in the Ahoskie Town Hall. All interested
                   persons are invited to attend.

                                                                                             jura
                                                       The Nets-`.

                                                    For Hertford County and.The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                   Wednesday, Apri.1 15, 1987

                                                                       01anning Board
                                                                       sets meeting
                                                                        AHOSKIE -- The Ahoskie Planning
                                                                       Board will meet April 16 to continue
                                                                       J,ts work on the town's land use
                                                                       plan.
                                                                       : On the agenda will be a discussion
                                                                       of facility constraints to local land
                                                                       development. The Planning Board is
                                                                       currently updating Ahoskie's 1981
                                                                       land use plan according to the
                                                                       guidelines of the State's Coastal
                                                                       Area Management Act (CAMA).
                                                                       ..'The Planning Board meets at 7
                                                                       p.m. in the Town Hall. All
                                                                       interested persons are encouraged to
                                                                       attend.

                                                            Zhie Neiv%-3eralb

                                                         For Hertford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                             Wednesday, April 29,1987

                                                                             Population
                                                                             forecasted
                                                                             to grow slowly

                                                                             AHOSIUE - Local public services
                                                                             should easily be able to meet new
                                                                             service demands in the next five-10
                                                                             years Ahoskie planners concurred at
                                                                             their meeting Thursday.
                                                                             The town's population is forecast
                                                                             to grow slowly between now and 1995
                                                                             and the capacity of necessary ser-
                                                                             vices @. such as water, sewer and
                                                                             schools should be adequate to pro-
                                                                             vide for increased demand.
                                                                             Ahoskie planners are updating the
                                                                             town's land use plan. Thursday's
                                                                             meeting focused on a review of
                                                                             public facilities capacity in light of
                                                                             projected population growth.
                                                                             Planners noted that the town grew
                                                                             about 1 percent between 1980 and
                                                                             1985 and it is likely that the popula-
                                                                             tion will increase another I percent
                                                                             by 1990. In addition, the town is con-
                                                                             sidering annexation of several
                                                                             residential areas which would add
                                                                             an additional 500 persons to the local
                                                                             population.
                                                                             By 1990, Ahoskie is projected to
                                                                             have slightly more than 6,000
                                                                             residents,, and by 1995, somewhat
                                                                             less than 7,000 persons should be liv-
                                                                             ing In the town.
                                                                             The tom@,n is in good shape in terms
                                                                             of public iservices, planners noted.
                                                                             Water. d@mand is currently well
                                                                             Wow estimated supply. Once im-
                                                                             provements in the wastewater treat-
                                                                             ment system are compi      eted, de-
                                                                             mand on'the system could almost
                                                                             double and be accommodated
                                                                             without, further system im-
                                                                             Provements.
                                                                             Current enrollment       in ail local
                                                                             schools is' below school capacity and
                                                                             it .  Ilk ly that enrollment will
                                                                               IS I
                                                                             decline ;lightly over the         next
                                                                             decade.
                                                                             The Planning Board will continue
                                                                             Its work on the land use plan at its
                                                                             next meeting May 21. Meetings are
                                                                             held at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. All
                                                                             interested citizens are welcome to
                                                                             attend.

                      Mid-EdSt Commission
                      P. 0. Box 1787
                      Washington, NC 27889

                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      FOR MORE INFORMATION   Libby Anderson    946-8043

                                        PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

                      The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, March 26 to continue
                      its work in updating the Town's land use plan. Included on Thursday's
                      dgerida will be a review of constraints to local land development.
                      Thursday's meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7:00 pm. All
                      interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

    										THE NEWS-HERALD

                                                      For Hartford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                        Monday. March 23, 1987

                                                                       Development
                                                                       constraints
                                                                       to be reviewed
                                                                         AHOSKIE --The Ahoskie Planning
                                                                       Board will meet March 26 to continue
                                                                       its work in updating the town's land
                                                                       use plan.
                                                                        Thursday's agenda will include a
                                                                       review of physical limitations to
                                                                       local development. Planners will
                                                                       discuss how poor soils, the presence
                                                                       or floodplains and areas of
                                                                       environmental concern will constrain
                                                                       development in  some places in the
                                                                       community.

                                                                         This will be the fourth is a series
                                                                       of meetings the Board will hold this
                                                                       year as it updates the town's land use
                                                                       plan in accordance with the
                                                                       guidelines or the state's Coastal Areas
                                                                       Management Act (CAMA).
                                                                         Planning Board meetings are held
                                                                       at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. All
                                                                       Meetings are open to the public.

                                            For Hartford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                           Monday, Mav 18, 1967

                                                        Ahoskie, Winton
                                                        Planning Boards
                                                        set meetings
                                                          The Ahoskie Planning Board will
                                                        meet at 7 p.m. May 21 and the
                                                        Winton@Planning Board will meet
                                                        at 7 O.m. May 19 in their
                                                        respective town halls to continue
                                                        formulating policy objectives for
                                                        their land use plans.

            Mid-East Commission
            P. 0. Drawer 1787
            Washingtong NC 27889

            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            FOR MORE INFORMATION    Libby Anderson   946-0043

                               Public Service Announcement

            The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, June 9 to
            continue its work in updating the Town's land use plan.        The
            Board will begin to formulate policies on resource protection@
            productiong and economic and-community development.      Tuesday's
            meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7:00 pm. All inte-
            rested citizens are encouraged to attend.

                                                  The News-  Herald

                                                 For Hertford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                  Monday, June 8,1987

                                                              Ahoskie Planners
                                                              to meet
                                                                AHOSKIE -- The Ahoskie
                                                              Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m.
                                                              June 9 at the town Hall to continue
                                                              its work in updating the Town's
                                                              land use plan.
                                                                Planners will begin formulating
                                                              policy statements on resource
                                                              protection, production,         and
                                                              economic      and community
                                                              development.

                                                         Thle'. Views Neralb
                                                        For Hertford County and The' Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                                       Wednesday, June 17,1987

                                                        Ahoskie Planning Board
                                                        recommends objectives
                                                        AHOSKIE - The Ahoskie Plann-            Other policy objectives proposed
                                                        ing Board has finished drafting plan- were: to support industrial growth;
                                                        ning objectives for inclusion in the  to prbvide for adequate housing; and
                                                        Town's 1987 Land Use Plan.            to promote and enhance tourism and
                                                        The Board has been working since      recreational opportunities.
                                                        December to update the Town's 1981      The Board will meet again June 18
                                                        Land Use Plan in accordance with      to continue its work on the land use
                                                        the guidelines of the state's Coastal plan. The Board meets at 7 p.m. in
                                                        Area Management Act (CAMA).           the Town Hall.
                                                        The Board recommended that the
                                                        Town adopt four policy objectives in
                                                        the area of resource management:
                                                        to protect and enhance agricultural
                                                        uses in the Ahoskie area; to
                                                        preserve areas of prime farmland:
                                                        to ensure efficient. environmentally
                                                        sound agricultural production, and
                                                        to provide for development that
                                                        preserves the area's productive
                                                        naturalresources.
                                                        The group suggested that the
                                                        -Town contact Agricultural Exten-
                                                        sion Service agents and discuss the
                                                        possibility of starting a farmers
                                                        market in Ahoskie.
                                                        Planners emphasized 'that both
                                                        home-gardeners and large farming
                                                        operations would be welcome to sell
                                                        farm products at the market which
                                                        would serve local residents and
                                                        those who work and shop in the
                                                        Ahoskie area.
                                                        Five policies objectives in the area
                                                        of economic and community
                                                        development were proposed. To pro-
                                                        vide for the orderly growth of the
                                                        Ahoskie area, planners suggested
                                                        that the Town's subdivision regula-
                                                        tions be revised.
                                                        To enhance the quality of life in
                                                        Ahoskie. planners recornmended
                                                        that the sign provisions of the zoning
                                                        ordinance be reviewed abd that the.
                                                        Town restrict the placement of
                                                        billboards within the corporate
                                                        limits and in the extraterritorial
                                                        area.

                Mid-East Com@missin
                P. 0. Box 2787
                Washington, NC 27889
                June 129 1987

                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                FOR MORE INFORMATION  Libby Anderson   946-8043

                                  Public Service Announcement

                     The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, June IS
                to complete its work on thel Town's Land Use Plan.     The Board
                meets at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall. All interested persons are
                encouraged to attend.

                 Mid-East Commission
                 P. 0. Box 1787
                 Washington, NC 27889
                 June 12, 1987

                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 FOR MORE INFORMATION    Libby Anderson   946-8043

                            Ahoskie Planners  to Finalize Land Use Plan

                 Ahoskie - The Ahoskie Planning Board will meet on Thursday, JuAe
                 18 to complete its work on the Town's Land Use Plan       The Board
                 has be'en working since December to update the Town"s 1981 Land
                 Use Plan in accordance with the guidelines of the state's
                 Coastal Area Management Act.

                 At Thursday's meeting, planners will review policies on public
                 participation and storm hazard mitigation.    The group   will also
                 review the current Land Classification Map and discuss what
                 changesp if any* should be made in light of information the
                 group has learned over the last six months.

                 The Board meets at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.        All interested
                 citizens are encouraged to attend.

                                                          The News-Herald
                                               For Hertford County and The Roanoke-Chowan Area

                                                        Monday, June 29.1987

               Planners complete lanad				planners finalized the policy objec-	recommended that the preliminary
               classification plan map				tives that set out the Town's plann-	plan be submitted to the Town Coun-
               they proposed a new Land				ing goals for the next five years		cil for approval. Subsequent to Coun-
    	     Classifications Map for the Town at		Land Classificaton mpa is designed		cil approval. the preliminary plan
    	     their meeting June 18.                     to assist the Town in achieving these	will then be submitted to several
    	     	  Developing a land classifacation		policy objectives.				state agencies for their review and
    	     map for Ahoskie was the final step		The map will serve as a guide for		comment. A public hearing on the
    	     necessary to complete the Town's		land development in the Ahoskie		plan and final adoption of the revis-
    	     1987 Land Use Plan.				area. It is hoped that both public and	ed draft is expected in early fall.
               	 The Board has been working since		private agencies involved in			   The Town's 1987 Preliminary Land
    	     November to update Ahoskie's Land		development activities will utilze		Use Plan will be presented to the
    	     Use Plan in accordande with the		the map in making important deci-		Council at the July 14 meeting. All
    	     guidelines of the State's Coastal		sions in the area of land develop-		interested persons are enouraged
    		Area Management Act (CAMA).			ment.							to attend the meeting which begins
    		   At a meeting earlier this month.		   At Thursday's meeting, the Board		at 10 a.m. in the Ahoskie Town Hall.

                Mid-East Commission
                P. 0. Box 1787
                Washington, NC 27889
                July 69 1987

                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                FOR MORE INFORMATION  Libby Anderson   946-8043

                                  Public Service Announcement

                The Ahoskie Town Council will meet Tuesdayq July 14 to review
                the Town's,preliminary Land Use Plan.    All interested persons
                are encouraged to attend the Council meeting which begins at
                10:00;@am in the Ahoskie Town Hall.

                Mid-East Commission
                P. O..Box 1787
                Washington, NC 27889
                July 69 1987

                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Anderson     946-8043

                              Ahaskie Council to Review Land Use Plan

                The Ahoskie Town Council will meet on Tuesday, July 14, to
                review the Town's preliminary Land Use Plan.             The Ahoskie
                Planning Board has been working since December to update the
                Town's comprehensive Land Use Plan in accordance with the
                guidelines of the state's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA).
                The plan sets out a number of policy objectives in the areas of
                resource protection, production, and economic and community
                development, and outlines a land classification scheme for
                Ahoskie and the surrounding area.       The Planning Board will ask
                for Council approval of the preliminary plan at Tuesday's
                meeting.     The draft plan will then be sent to various state
                agencies for their review and comment.       All interested persons
                are encouraged to attend Tuesday's meeting which begins at 10:00
                am in the Ahoskie To wn Hall,

                                                                       The News-Herald                         Friday, October 9, 1987                        9

                                                                                                 NOTICEOF PUBLIC HEARING
                                                                                                 TOWN OF AHOSKIE CITIZENS
                                                                                                 The T W. Of Ahoskle will receive
                                                                                              public c;m'      t on the Town's I"?
                                                                                                           men
                                                                                              CAM,A Land Use Plan Update on
                                                                                              Tuesday, November 10, at 10:00 a.m.
                                                                                              In the Ahaskle To" Hall    . The Plan
                                                                                              outlines poll les.on land use and
                                                                                              developmentc that the Town will
                                                                                              follow over the  next five years and
                                                                                              classifies land In the Town and Its
                                                                                              extraterritorial Jurisdiction and ac'
                                                                                              cording to the guidelines of the
                                                                                              state's Coastal Area Management
                                                                                              Act (CAMA). Copies of the plan are
                                                                                              available for review at the Ahoskle
                                                                                              Town Hall between 8:00 a.m. and
                                                                                              4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday,
                                                                                                 The Honorable MITCH-ELL
                                                                                              MCLEAN, Mayor, Town of AoctW

                                            BIBLIOGRAPHY

                 Ahoskie Area Chamber of Commerceg "Commuity Information Ahoskie."

                 Ahoskie Area Chamber of Comme'rceg "Whence Came the Name Ahoskie."

                 Hertford County Office   of Emergency Management, "Hertford County
                      Hurricane Evacuation and Shelter Plan."         Wintong January.
                      1987.

                 Letsinger, Philip S. Nominat4on to National Register of Historic
                      Placesq Ahoskie Histori6 Direct, Ahoskie, North Carolina.
                      Raleight June 1984.
                 News-Heraldy! "Entertain  .mentp New Industry Highlight 1986." 31
                      December 1986.

                 News Herald, "Officials Look at Past, Future." 2 January 1987.

                 North Carolina Department of Commerceg 1985-86 Directory Manufac-
                       turing Firms. Raleigh, 1984.
                 North Carolina Department     @of Commerce, Division of Travel and
                       Tourism, "1985 North Carolina Travel Study."      Raleigh, May
                       1986.

                 North  Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of
                       Archives and Historyf orrespondence, 28 January 1987.

                 North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community
                      Developmenty Division of Parks and Recreation, Correspond-
                      ence, I December 1986.

                 North Carolina Department of Transportation, Transportation
                       Improvement Program. December 1986.

                 Office of State Budget and Management, Profile North Carolina
                       Counties. Raleigh, Seventh Edition 1986.

                 Office of'State Budget and Management, Profile North Carolina
                      Counties.. Raleigh, Sixth Ed.ition 1981.

                 Office of State Budget and Management, "North Carolina Municipal'
                       Population 1985." Raleighq September 1986.

                 Office of State Budget and Management, Statistical Abstract North
                       Carolina State Government. Raleigh, Fifth Edition 1984.

                  U. S. Department  of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil
                        Survey of Hertford County North    Carolina-. July 1984.

                  U. S. Department of Commercep Bureau     of the Censust 1970 Census
                        of Population.        Washingtong  D. C. Government Printing
                        Officep March 1983.

                  U. S. Department of Commerceo Bureau     of the Census, 1970 Census
                        of Population.        Washingtong  D. C. Government Printing
                        Officep October 1983.

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