Town of Chocowinity 1987 land use plan adopted by the Chocowinity Town Council February 2, 1988, certified by the Coastal Resources Commission February 5, 1988 : prepared for Chocowinity Town Council

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

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.I TOWN OF CHOCOWINITY
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11 1987 LAND USE PLAN
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T 0 W N 0 F C H 0 C 0 W I N I T Y

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

Adopted by the Chocowinity Town Council February 2, 1988
Certified by the Coastal Resources Commission February 1988

Prepared for:

Chocowinity Town Council

H. E. Cole
M. L. Dunbar
James Mobley, Jr.
Daden Wolfe, Jr.

Charles A. Williamson, Mayor
Juanita Baytala, Town Clerk

Prepared by:

-Chocowinity Planning Board

William Albritton
Howard Corley
Tommy Elks
Louise Hill
Plum Mills

Planning assistance provided by-

Mid-East Commission
I Harding square
Washington, NC 27889
(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 Ma@nage-
ment Act of 3,972, as amended, which is administered by the
...Office of OceZLn and Coastal Resource Management, National
oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

TOWN OF CHOCOWINITY

1987 LAND USE PLAN

CONTENTS
I. BACKGROUND PAGE

-A. Population .................................. 3
-B. Housing .................................... 5
-C. Economy .................................... 6

II. -LAND USE

A. Existing Conditions ........................ 9
B. Recent Development; Future Growth.@ ........ 11
C. Land Use Concerns .......................... 13
D. Development Controls ....................... 14
E. Development Constraints .................... 18

III. POLICY OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION

A. Resource Protection ........................ 31
B. Resource Production and Management ......... 36
C. Economic and Community Development ......... 40
D. Storm HaZards .............................. 45
E. Public P2Lrticipation ....................... 50

IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION

Purpose .................................... 54
B. Classification Scheme ...................... 55
C. Intergovernmental Coordination ............. 58

Appendix A - state and Federal Regulatory Devices

Appendix B - Agencies coordinating Storm Preparedness

Appendix c - Media Releases

Bibliography

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure

I - North Carolina Counties ..................... 8.5
2 Beaufort County Land Use 1986 ............... 8.6
3 Regional Population 1960-1985 ............... 8.7
4 Population Age Structure 1980 ............... 8.8
5 Per Capita Income 1970-1984 ................. 8.9
6-., Unemployment Rate 1976-1986 ................. 8.10

Map

1 Existing Land Use ........................... 30.3
2 Land Use Constraints ........................ 30.4
3 Chocowinity Area Soils ...................... 30.5
4 Land Classification ......................... 59.2

TABLES

I Regional Population ............................... 8.1

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

3 Population Age Structure 1980 .................... 8.1

4 Housing Characteristics 1980 ..................... 8.2

5 Beaufort County Employment 1980 .................. 8.2

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

7 Retail Sales ..................................... 8.3
8 Major Area Employers .............................. 8.4

9 Soil Characteristics ............................. 30.1

10 Future Regional Population ....................... 30.2

County Population Age Structure .................. 30.2

TOWN OF CHOCOWINITY

LAND USE PLAN

1987

I. BACKGROUND

The Chocowinity area was inhabited by native Americans,,

probably of the Tuscaroran tribe, well before the American

Revolution. Early residents of European origin may have come

from the Bath area, Historians believe the earl y pattern of

movement in the County involved a river crossing near Bath and

then migration upstream on the south side of the river. Many

early settle ments in Beaufort County developed as port communi-

ties-along the river and where incorporated as cities and towns

in the eighteenth century. In contrast, Chocowinity developed as

a crossroads community. The Town was originally called Godley's

Crossroads and was not incorporated as a Town until 1959. Its

present name is Indian in origin, stemming from the Indian name

"Choca-wa-na-teth" which means "Fish from many waters.

In 1773, Parson Nathaniel Blount had a chapel built in

Godley's Cross roads. A large one-room school was built nearby

and was called 11the Big White School House." In 1879 a boarding

school was established in the Town. Trinity School, named for

Trinity Church (the former Blount's Chapel) educationed young men
and women in-religious studies until its closing in 1908.

The Town developed as a crossroads community at the

intersection of tvro roads and transportation routes still have

majot impacts on the Town. U. S. 17, a major north/south route

in eastern North Carolina, and N. C. 33, intersect in the Town.

Two Norfolk Southern rail lines meet in the railroad switching

yard found at the Marsden Railroad Station.

The Town appears oriented more towards land-related rather

than water-related activities. Land use activities within the

Town-do have an E!ffect on local water resources however as the

Town and its extraterritorial area is drained by the Pamlico

River watershed. The center of Town is located a little over two

miles from ChocoArinity Bay, and less three miles f rom the

Pamlico River itself. Extensive areas of wetlands are found in

the extraterritorial area to the north and. just outside the

one-mile planning limit to the east. Maple Branch has its

origin in the southern half of the Town, flowing southeast to

join Chocowinity creek as it empties into Chocowinity Bay.

Crawford and Sidney Creeks flow through wetland areas in the

northeastern extraterritorial area, and chapel Branch flows along

the extraterritorial boundary on the west.

A Population

Chocowinity is one of seven incorporated areas in Beaufort

County. The County itself occupies about 827 square miles of

eastern coastal North Carolina and is the eighth largest county

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

Together, forest and farmland account for 92% of all land in the'

County (Figure 2, pg. 8.6). Most of this acreage is forest-

land.(340,500 acres, 64% of total). Rural developed areas -

residential areas beyond city and town limits, crossroad com-

munities, and the like - account for 31,200 acres (6% of total),

while urban area account for only 12,000,acres (2% total).

Beaufort County is the second most populus county in the

five-county region. In 1985, the County had over 43,000 resi-

dents almost twice the population of Martin County which rates

number three in population, but less than half the population of

Pitt County which ranks number one (Figure 3, pg. 8.7). The

County is growing. Between 1970 and 1980 Beaufort County grew by

12%, and in the five year period between 1980 and 1985, the

County grew by over 7% (Table 1, pg. 8.1). Population growth is

well, above that noted for either Bertie, Martin, or Hertford

counties. At the same time, the County's growth rate is about

half that of urbanizing Pitt County.

Chocowinity is the third largest and fastest growing

incorporated community in the County (Table 2, pg. .8.2).

Although the Town has less than half the population of Belhaven,

and less than one-tenth the population of Washington, Chocowinity

has been growing faster these larger communities in recent years.

Between 1970 and 1980, Chocowinity grew by almost 14%. Should

the rate of growth noted between 1980 and 1985 continue, by

1990, the population.of the Town may be over 1,000 persons.

In 1980, about 12% of Chocowinity's population was over 65

years age, about average for the County and slightly higher than

the statewide average (Table 3, pg. 8.1; Figure 4, pg. 8.8). At

the same time, those under five years of age comprised only 5% of

the population while countywide, those under five years comprised

8% of the population.

Demographers note that.the population nationwide is aging.

Although figures for Chocowinity are not available, it is

assumed that the age structure of Town is following the trend

observed state and countywide. In Beaufort County between 1970

and 1985, these 65 and older increased from 11% to 14% of the

population. Between 1980 and 1985, the senior population in the

City-,of Washington almost doubled, from 11% to 20% of the

County's total population.

Tourism is an important component of the County's economy:
Beaufort County realized almost ten million dollars in tourism-

related expenditures in 1984. Tourists may effect the daytime

population of the Town, especially in summer months, but in

general, tourists have.a minimal effect on service demand. In

fact, in Chocowinity, it is likely that the changes in the Town's

24-hour population have a greater impact on service demand than

seasonal changes in population. Over 700 persons are employed

locally. If three-fourths of these workers lived outside

Chocowinity, the Town's population would increase over 60% each'

workday due to the influx workers.

B. HOUSing

The Town's '1980 population was housed among about 275

dwelling units (Table 4, pg. 8.2). About 2.6 persons reside in

every household, a slightly lower figure than the average for

the county where 2.8 persons occupy every household.

Permits for building in Chocowinity are issued by the

County's building inspection department and so data on recent

housing starts in Chocowinity itself are unavailable. However,

as noted in Table (pg. 8.1) the Town grew by 184 persons

between 1980 and 1985. Given a persons per household rate of

2.6, it is estimated that about 70 dwelling units were construct-

ed within the city limits during this period. As of July 1985

then, the Town had about 345 dwelling units. About one-in-four

households in the Town are single-person households - typically

elderly persons living alone. About 80% of all dwellings in the

Town are single-family units, about average for the county and

the region. over 30% of all dwellings in the Town are rental

units, while for Beaufort County as a whole, about 25% of all

units are renter occupied.

C. Economy

About one-in-four persons in the County are employed by,

manufacturing firims (Table 5, pg. 8.2).. Eighteen percent are

employed in wholesale and related trade, and 11% are employed in

agricultural, forestry, fisheries or mining operations.

In general, although employment, income and retail sales

have-grown in recent years, the county laggs the increase in

economic indicators noted statewide. Median family income in

the County doubled between 1969 and 1979, but in 1979, median

family income in Beaufort County was $2,300 les s than median

income statewide. Per capita income in 1984 was 85% that of per

capita income statewide (Figure 5, pg. 8.9). County employment

has fluxuated, but in general, appears to be increasing (Table

6, pg. 8.3). However the rate of unemployment in Beaufort County

was almost 2% greater than unemployment statewide (Figure 6, pg.

8.10). Retail sales have grown and in 1985 the County generated

almost three million dollars in retail sales (Table 7, pg. 8.3).

Sales in Beaufort; county were almost twice that of sales in

Bertie, Hertford, and Martin Counties though only two-thirds

sales in Pitt County.

Washington is the commercial center of the County, however

Chocowinity has a number of commercial enterprises and is home

to ofte of the largest manufacturing firms in the County. Many

of the commercial, operations are highway-related uses- gas

stations, convenience stores and motels. In early 1987, two new

restaurants were opened in the Town; one involved new construc-,

tion; the other reopened a restaurant operation in an existing

building.

The Town has six manufacturing firms and several other

large employers as well (Table 8, pg. 8.4). The largest local

employer is the Singer Furniture Company. The plant employs

about 600 persons in its 450,000 square foot plant. Three of the

Town.',s six manufacturing firms are water-related enterprises:

two firms are boatbuilders; the other is a seafood processor.

Implications

Chocowinity is growing. New people are moving into the

Town and the surrounding countyside. The population is-aging:

the Town has more older people and less younger people than it

did ten years ago. The Town has a number of land use concerns:

a major highway divides the Town; the community is home to a

maJor manufacturing firm; a proposed new sewer system is likely

to ready many areas inside and outside the Town for development.

AS Chocowinity continues to grow, the need for proper land

use planning increaSES. The Town already has in place some of

the tools necessary to guide land development and is considering

adopting more. The Town has a zoning ordinance which can help

officials control new construction along its major thoroughfare.

The Town has no housing code nor any subdivision regulations,

but in the past has considered both. As a result of its land

use planning program, in January 1988 the Town will begin the

process of developing a subdivision ordinance. Local officials

agree that this plan represents a major local effort to prepare

the community for the changes it is likely to experience over the

next ten years.

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,d24 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; Office of State Budget and Management

Table 2
COUNTY POPULATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
% Change % Change
1960 1970 1980 1985 70-80 80-85
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aurora 449 620 698 719 12.6% 3.0%
-Bath 346 231 207 237 -10.4% 14.5%.
Belhaven 2,386 2,259 2,430 2,496 7.6% 2.7%
CHOCOWINITY 580 566 644 828 13.8% 28.6%
Pantego 262 218 185 181 -15.1% -2.2%
Washington 9,939 8,961 8,418 9,419 -6.1% 11.9%
Washington Pk NA 517 514 553 -0.6% 7.6%

Unincorp. area 22,052 22,608 27,259 28,827 20.6% 5.8%
--------------------------------------------

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Total County 36,014 35,980 40P355 43,260 12.2% 7.2%

NA= not available
Source: Office of State Budget and Management

Table 3
POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE 1980

Chocowinity County State
----------------------------------------------------------
No. %
--------------------------------------------------------
0-4 years 31 4.8% 7.8% 6.9%
5-17 years 138 21.4% 21.9% 25.5%
18-24 years 75 11.6% 10.9% 9.8%
25-44 years 171 26.6% 25.8% 28.0%
45-64 years 149 23.1% 20.7% 19.6%
65 and older 80 12.4% 12.8% 10.2%
-- --- ----- ----- -----
Total 644 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Source: U.S. Census

8.1

Table 4
HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS 1980

------- ---------------- ----
Chocowinity County Region
% % it %

--------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
Total Households 252 - 14,253 - 67,460
Single-person H5hlds 60 23.8% 3,021 21.2% 14,083 20.9%
Total Housing Units 275 - 15,792 - 73,810 -
Single-family Units 213 77.5% 12,501 79.2% 57,853 78.4%
Vacant Units 23 8.4% 1,539 9.7% 6,348 8.6%
Renter Occupied 86 31.3% 3,786 24.0% 23,782 52.2%
Condominium Units 0 0.0% 70 0.4% 412 0.6%
Units w/out plumbing .26 9.5% 1,544 9.8% 7,722 10.5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons/household 2.6 2.8 3.0
Median Value unit $24,342 $31,200 -
Mean Rent $120 $101

Source: U.S. Census

'Table 5
BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYMENT 1980

-- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of % Total State
Employment Sector Employees Employment %
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturing 4,699 24.0% 32.0%
Wholesale & Retail Trade 3,459 17.6% 18.0%
Agriculture, Forestry, 2,123 10.8% 3.6%
Fisheries, Mining
Educational Services 11099 5.6% 8.3%
Construction 1,048 5.3% 6.1%
Health Services 876 4.5% 6.0%
Public Administration 645 3.3% 4.0%
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, 839 4.3% 6.9%
Business, Repair Services
Transportation, Communications, 675 3.4% 6.0%
Other Public Utilities
Personal, Entertainment, 621 3.2% 3.7%
Recreational Services
Other Professional and 400 2.0% 3.2%
Related Services
Not reported 3,136 16.0% 2.3%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Total 19,620 100.0% 100.0%

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

8.2

Table 6
LABOR FORCE

----------------------------------------------------
Labor Total Unemployment Rate
Year Force Employment County, State
---- ------ ------ ---- ----
1976 18,760 17,610 6.1% 6.2%
1977 19,170 18,090 5.6% 5.9%
1978 20,310 19,450 4.2% 4.3%
1979 19,710 18,760 4.8% 4.8%
1980 20,750 19,620 5.4% 6 .5%
1981 21,870 20,470 6.4% 6.4%
19812 21,550 19,310 10.4% 9.0%
1983 20,720 18,520 10.6% 8. 9%
1984 21,000 19,430 7.5% 6.7%
1985 19,320 18,130 6.2% 5.4%
1986 19,490 17,870 8.3% 5.3%

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

Table 7
RETAIL SALES ($,000's)
- ------------------------------- County
Fi5cal Year BEAUFORT Bertie Hertford Martin Pitt

----------------------------------------------------------
1975 1.35,562 36,101 76,279 73,027 278,38-2
1976 1.59,530 40,880 87,539 82,899 318,493
1977 1.77,795 43,819 100,540 93,249 349,637
1973 1.91,566 46,491 102,848 93,359 372,759
1979 219,683 52,440 108,696 97,633 426,912
1980 22,23,745 50,996 120,747 103,241 462,937
1981 12'54,858 54,336 123,021 109,607 516,284
1182 '4158,037 57,11111 133,807 114,041 542,045
'49,857 59,865 141,145 116,978 578,843
1983 2
1984 '277,511 61,667 162,367 123,998 694,144
1985 289,045 64,487 166,839 125,435 735,826
1966 1314,513 62,199 169,259 137,241 831,083
----------------------------------------------------------
Chg. 75785 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
MAJOR AREA EMPLOYERS as of 4/87
- ------ ---- --------- -- -- ----
Firm Name Product/Service Employment Range
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chocowinity sch ools Public education 110-120
Food King Supermarket 35-40
Fountain Power Boats Power boats 20-50
Osprey Seafood Seafood products 50-100
Outer Banks Industry Metal fabric. 20-50
Privateer Manufact. Boats 20-50
Singer Company Furniture 550-600
Skats Restaurant 25-30
Tidewater Equipment Logging equipmt 20-50
WITN-TV Communications 70-80
-----------------------------------------------------------

Source: 1985-86 Directory of N.C. Manufacturing Firms,
updated by Mid-East Commi55ion

8.4

Figure

N. C. Counties

Washington
Ap

.0ca Swj.& *.A ESSEN Plam
'.QKAw IIAIGM 'I ..c

WILIKKI
41.
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In @t.w 1.0060 ..w
"Ec"t" *."a ...4 wotccwe
.&I.Afto4 @VIPIQI

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6 oftag MwILL AFAW*l LEE .8141. Is-
.AIVIOOD A.Kc
"garo" LINCMAP c.R.1114.2 -14, ow-t
't-cm
AC s-16"
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'g.D9A

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avame

Figure 2

Beaufort County

Land Use 1986

Crop/posture (27.5%')

Urban (2.3%)

Rural developed (5.9@%) Forest (64.3%)

Source: Office of State Budget and Management

Figure 3

Regional Population
1960-1985
100 -

Pitt

90 -

80 -

FO r-h 70
c 0
0,0
:r, c:
0 0
60 -

0
0

50 -

BEAUFORT
40 -

30 -
Martin
Hertford
20 Bertie

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985

Year

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

Figure 4
Population Age Structure
1980
30.0% -

28.0% -
26.0% - 7z

24.0%

22.0%
777,,0
20.0% -

18.0% -

16.0% -
FO
CO
14.0% -

12.0% -

10.0% -

8.0% -
6.0% - X
7-1
4.07.-
2.0% - X
0.0% Z4 -
0-4 years 5-17 years 18-24 years 25-44 years 45-64 years 65 and older

Year
Chocowinity r@@\ County State

Source: U.S. Census

Figure 5
Per Capita Income
14 - 1970-1984

13 -

12
11 - 10,852
10 - g, a
E
0
F0 v LO 9 - 8.655
%.D C -0
C P187
0 a
4@ 8 -
8,232
0 7,10 854
r
7 -

6 - 5,77
6,355
5 - 4,860
140241 5,068

4 4,378
$803
3

2
1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986
Z41 Year
0 Beaufort County + State

Source: Office of State Budget and Management

FigUre 6
Unemployment Rate
12.0% 1976-1986

11.0% -

10.0%

8.0% - County

C
4) 7.0%
E
90 >% .
1-- 0 6.0%
CD
E
0 State
C 5.0% -
D

4.0% -

3.0% -

2.0%

1.0%

0.0%
197@ 1977 1978 1979 1980 19BI 19B2 19B3 1984 1985 1986

k
Year

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

II. LAND USE

A. -Existing conditions

The Town encompasses an areas of about one and a quarter

square miles. Including the extraterritorial area, the

Chocowinity planning area covers more than five square miles of

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

30.3), the planning- area is eliptical in shape. U. S. 17 bisects

the area into northern and southern halves. N. C. 33 intersects

U. S. 17 in the center of Town and divides the area into eastern

and western halves.

Most of the area within the City limits has been developed.

Most development is residential in nature, however there are also

many commercial and industrial uses for a community of 830

persons. U. S. 17 eastward from the intersection of N. C. 33 is

primarily commercial in nature although some residential dwell-

ings are found interspersed among commercial operations. Many

businesses have taken advantage of their highway location and

have large parking lots fronting the roadway and fairly large

on-premise signs. Along the highway are retail operations: a

mobile home sales lot, gas stations; service enterprises: a dry

cleaning establishment, and a bank; and the headquarters of

WITN-TV is also located along the roadway. In addition, several

large commercial enterprises are found along N. C. 33 to the

north. Just north of the railroad tracks is a Red and White

Grocery; f.urther north along N. C. 33 is a Food King supermarket,

a Family Dollar Store and an antique store. A number of other

commercial areas are found in scattered locations throughout the

planning area.

The Town has a large industrial area adjoining the rail

line-east of N. C. 33. Norfolk Southern Railroad has a switching

yard and rail station here, and singer Furniture has a large,

manufacturing operation just north of the rail yard between the

railroad and Mill Road.

-A considerable amount of residential development has

occurred outside of Town to the south off N. C. 33. A large

residential area has developed in the southwest corner of

the planning area along S. R. 1136 and S. R. 1149. There are a

number of mobile home developments. Several of these are within

the*lfown limits: one on North End Avenue; another along N. C.

33 across from the Red and White food store. The largest mobile

development in Town is the Modern Aire Trailer Park on S. R. 1142

south of U. S. 17. The Crawford Mobile Home Park is in the

extraterritorial area on Gray Road (S. R. 1136), and-the Harris

Acres development is found just within the extraterritorial area

off U. S. 17. The Elks Mobile Home Park, a large mobile home

subdivision, is on S. R. 1143 just west of the railroad line.

Most residences are single-family dwellings; the U. S. Census
noted that about three-quarters of all dwellings in the T4:;wn in
1980'-were single-family units. The planning area does contain

one multifamily development located in the Town's extraterritor-

ial area. The Mid-East Regional Housing Authority has construct-

ed Barnes Court, a 20-unit development, northwest of Town off N.

C. 33.

There are a number of institutional areas in the planning

area. There are! several churches located both inside and.
outside the Town limits. The Town Hall, fire department and the

U. S. Post Office are all found on U. S. 17 in the east half of

Town. On U. S. 17 just west of its intersection with N. C. 33 is

chocowinity High School (serving grades 5 through 12), and the

Chocowinity Primary School is located in the extraterritorial

area on S. R. 1136.

Over ninety percent of the extraterritorial area is un-

developed. Much of this land has been cleared for agricul-

tural and the planning area still contains many active farms.

wooded areas are found scattered between cleared fields and much

of the area south of S. R. 1136 and adjoining N. C. 33 to the

south is wooded.

B. Recent Development and Future Growth

There have been few changes in land use since 1981.

Scattered residential development has occurred along existing

roads. Subdivision has been limited to mobile home park develop-

ment: both the Harris Acres mobile development and the mobile

home-park adjoining Evergreen Estates on S. R. 1143 have been

developed since 1981. The Food King supermarket on N. C. 33 and

the Skats restaurant on U. S. 17 are examples of recent commer-

cial construction. Ther e is currently a proposal for construc-

tion of a shopping plaza on vacant land adjoining the Food King

store. Multifamily townhouses are also to be constructed as,

part of this project. Currently the Town offices are located in

the fire station. Town officials would like to construct a Town

Hall-building on Town-owned land Just north of the fire station

and develop a parking area between the proposed Town Hall and the

fire station. Similarly, the Town would like to acquire vacant

land to the rear of' the fire station for recreational purposes.

Assuming adequate funding, a playground, tennis courts and a

ballfield would be constructed.

Local development has been severely limited by lack of

septic alternatives. The Town has no public sewer system and

poor soils make the siting of in-ground systems difficult. To

meet regulatory g,uidelines, some developers in recent years

have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to install or

expand in-ground systems. Should the Town obtain funding for

construction of a sewage treatment system, it is likely that

both residential and commercial development will increase.
With U. S. 17 bisecting the community, the Town would appear
attractive for new, commercial development. Similarly, the.area

appears ripe for residential development, being only about 25

miles from the growing Greenville area and just across the river

from the City of Washington. Until a public system is construct-

ed however, growth will be fairly slow, constrained by poor

conditions for in-ground septic systems.

C. Land Use Concerns

Problems with failing septic systems are a continuing

concern in Chocowinity. many areas, especially in the center of

Town, have experienced severe problems with septic failures;

some of these problems are on-going. Future commercial and

industrial development and even large-scale residential develop-

ment-will be limited by the lack of public sewage; construction

of many new large in-ground systems is likely to be cost-prohibi-

tive. The Town is currently seeking funding to assist in con-

struction of a public treatment system. Until septic alterna-

tives are developed, the rate of local development will be slow,

and the Town must deal as best it can with the continued failure

of in-ground systems.

U. S. 17 is a major north/south route in eastern N orth

Carolina. The highway divides the Town into distinct northern

and southern halves. It is. difficult to cross the heavily-

travelled four lane highway by foot. The highway is a major

truck route. Large logging trucks and trucks carrying industrial

chemicals create noise; public safety is a concern. should an

accident occur. The highway has also attracted strip commercial

development. Many of the business along the highway have large

parking lots fronting the roadway. There have been a number of

accidents from vehicles entering and exiting the many driveways

along the highway and many signs have been erected both on and,

off-premise. The Town is currently concerned with an area just

outside its extraterritorial boundary to the east where a number

of large billboards have been constructed. This area appears

to be outside the planning jurisdiction of both the Town and the

city of Washington and so no sign controls are in effect.

Local officials are also concerned over the possibil ity of

rail accidents at the Norfolk Southern rail yard. The Norfolk

southern line serves a number of industrial areas including the

Texasgulf plant nEar Aurora. Some of the trains carry hazardous

materials. A chemical spill could contaminate land and water

resources. Should an accident occur, public health and safety
coula be threatened by risk of explosion or fire.

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 and use decisions as well.

1. Regulatory Controls

Local ordinances controlling land use decisions are de-

scribed below. State and federal regulations that control land

uses are listed in Appendix A.

The Chocowinilty Zoning ordinance was adopted in 1982.

Subdivision Ilegulations are currently being developed by
--the Planning Board.

@Mobile Home Park Regulations are included in the zoning
ordinance.

Floodplain Regulations have not been adopted locally
although floodplain regulations are enforced in the extra-
territorial area. The Town itself has never been mapped by
the Federal Insurance Administraiton.

Septic Tank Regulations in effect are those promulgated by
the state a enforced y the County Health Department.

.A Noise Ordinance has been adopted locally.

The State Building Code is enforced by the County Building
Inspector.

A Housing Code has not been adopted locally.

2. Development Plans

-The state's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists@

one project currently underway that may effect development in

the Chocowinity area. The state is now widening U. S. 264 from

the City of Greenville to the City of Washington from two to

four"lanes. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall

of 1987. Completion of the project may increase the likelihood

of residential development in western Beaufort County. , The

Greenville area is growing. Some officials suggest the

Washington area may become a bedroom community of Greenville as

many people working in Greenville may,choose to live in Beaufort

County, now a 30-minute drive on a new four-lane toad.

The Town has no official Capital Improvement Plan, although

local officials are now considering devising one. The Town has

however, been setting money aside for a sewage treatment system

and is willing to commit $200,000 as its share of project costs.

The-Town is applying for community Development Block Grant

(CDBG) funds for housing improvements. The Town's Recreation

Committee prepares local Recreation Plansi The Town currently

maintains a playground on land leased from the High School and

the Committee operates a summer recreation program there. The

committee would like to expand recreational opportunities by

acquiring vacant land in back of the Town's fire station.

Facilities to be provided would include playground equipment,

tennis courts and a ballfield. Reconstruction in the event of

a natural disaster would be directed by the County's storm plan

Before the Storm irL Beaufort County: Avoiding Harm's Way.

3. Development Policies

-The Town has no official Utilities Extension Policy. The
Town*has an unofficial policy not to extent water service if by
doing, water demand, will exceed 50% of total production.
The Town's .1981 Land Use Plan contains the major policies
used to guide land development in the Town over the last@ five

years. As a first step in preparing the Town's 1987 land use

plan, planners evaluated how far the Town had come in achieving

the goals set in 1981. By evaluating the objectives and imple-

ment ation actions of the 1981 program, planners hoped to make the

Townis 1987 plan a more effective document.

The 1981 plan set out 13 development objectives and outlined

a five-year action program containing 16 items. Planners noted

that the Town had taken action on most of the items in its

five-year program and concurred that the Town's most important

development objectives had been achieved. As suggested in the

1981 plan, Chocowinity assisted the County in preparing its

hurricane evacuation plan and now participates in the County's

flood insurance program. The Town has applied for, though not

received, funds for community development through the state's

Community Development Block Grant program. The Town has contin-

ued to support plans for a local wastewater treatment system and

is currently in the final stages of securing assistance in

funding construction. two items appearing in the 1981 action

program will be part of the Town's 1988 planning program:

development of subdivision regulations and an annexation feasi-

bility study.

E. Development Constraints

1. Land Suitability

,Several physical factors constrain land development in the

Chocowinity area. Physical constraints can be 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 soils and subsoil conditions, topography, potential for

flooding, and existing land uses in.the development area.

As shown on the Map of Land Use Constraints (pg. 30.4),

there are several areas outside of Town subject to flooding. The

Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) has defined the Zone A

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

flooding in any year. In communities such as Chocowinity which

participate in 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. Most of'the extraterritorial area

east of Town toward the river has been identified as Zone-A

floodplain. A long narrow flood-prone area is found outside of

Town adjoining Chapel Branch west of S. R. 1157 and S. R. 1143.
TO- the 96uth of Town, floodplain adjoins Maple Branch and its
tribi@@A`fVi Mid a fairly large flood-prone area is found south
of S. R. 1136 adjoining Chocowinity Creek. Over 95% of the

area's Zone-A floodplain is found outside the Town's corporate

limits. The only flood-prone area in Town is found along Maple

Brah@4,h in'the area of Chocowinity High School.

The presence of poor soils can also limit the development

of land resources. Soil conditions determine the suitability of

the land for in-ground sewage disposal systems. Before land,

ca n be build-on the stability, bearing capacity, and erodibility

of the soil must also be considered. The major soils found in

the Chocowinity area are listed in Table 9 (pg. 30.1).

As shown on the Chocowinity Area Soils Map (pg. 30.5), much

of the planning area is comprised of the Craven-type soils 5A and

5B. These are moderately well-drained soils on uplands. These

soils are highly acidic and permeability is slow. Leaf loam (85)

is another common soil type in the Chocowinity area. This is a

nearly level, poorly drained soil on uplands. Like the Craven

soils, Leaf loam soils are very strongly acidic and have a very

slow permeability. All three of these soil types are poorly

suited to urban uses due to their slow permeability and wetness.

In fact., slow Permeability and wetness are characteristic of many

soils in the area. As shown in Table 9, ten of the area's 16

soil types have severe limitations for building construction,

primarily due to their wetness. The slow permeability or
"tightness" of the area's soils makes the siting of in-ground

sewage treatment systems difficult. According to the Soil

Conservation Service, only three of the area's sixteen soils

types are considered suitable for in-ground systems; the remain-

ing thirteen have been identified as having severe limitations

for septic tank absorption fields. Failing septic systems have

been.a common problem in the Town. Installation of new systems,

capable of treating waste from commercial or other high-demand

uses, have been a major expense in recent development projects.

Until a public treatment plant is constructed or an alternative

to traditional in-ground technology is developed, poor soils will

be the major constraint to development in the Chocowinity area.

The area has no steep slopes that-might constrain develop-

ment.- The terrain varies from flat, flood-prone areas to gently

rolling hills. The only man-made hazard that might impose

development constraints is the Norfolk Southern rail line. An
accid-ent involving a train carrying hazardous materials poses

severe risks to development that occurs near the rail line or

the switching yard.

many communities are now adopting regulations to control
development in the rechange area of public water supply wells. A
considerable amount of devel'opment has already occurred near one

of the Town's two public wells. Residential uses surround the

T64W.,S Well off Edgewood Drive. The area around the Town's other
Wil bff Rughos street is undeveloped. The well is about 200

yards from the rail line. Officials have
expressed concern

over.possible contamination to water supply in the event of a

rail accident.

Fragile Areas. Wetland areas border the planning area on

the north and east. Wetland areas in the northern extraterritor-

ial area are swamp wetlands under the jurisdiction of the U. S.

Army Corps of Engineers. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

specifies that before any dredging or filling activity can be

initiated in freshwater wetland areas, a permit is necessary

from the Corps. Wetland areas are also found adjoining

Cho66winity and Sidney Creeks, in the eastern extraterritorial

area. Most of these wetlands, especially those upstream, are

freshwater wetlands under jurisdiction of the Corps. In down-

stream areas, pockets of coastal wetlands are found. Coastal

wetlands are considered Areas of Environmental Concern, and

development activities in these fragile areas is regulated by

the state Division of Coastal Management. As most of the

wetlands within the Town's one-mile jurisdiction are in upstream

areas site specific investigation is necessary to determine

the extent and location of these coastal wetlands.

The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program has identified

the lower part of Chocowinity Creek, north of N. C. 33, as being

one of five areas in Beaufort County containing unique natural

communities or rare geologic features. According to state

naturalists, the area is an important transition area from creek

to water marsh which ultimately widens into estuary at

the Pamlico River.

The Chocowinity area also holds two structures noted for

their historic and/or architectural significance. The state

Department of Cultural Resources has identified Trinity Episcopal

Church and the Colonial James Reading Grist House as being'

important historic structures in the Chocowinity area. Trinity

Church is located on the south side of N. C. 33, one-quarter

mile west of its junction with U. S. 17. The Church is thought

to be the fifth oldest church in North Carolina. It was built

for Nathaniel Blount in 1773 on his return from England and

ordination into the Anglican ministry. The church was construct-

ed in a simple colonial style and features a fan-shaped window

over-the front. Blount served as rector of the church for 43

years. To protect the structure from vandalism, the church was

moved from its original location outside of Town on N. C. 33 to

inside the city limits in 1938. State officials have no record

of any archaeological sites in the Chocowinity area, however a

complete survey of the region has never been conducted. The

Grist House is located on the north side of S. R. 1143, one mile

north of its junction with N. C. 37. At one time, another local
building, the Bright House, was listed on the state's inventory
of' filsfa5ric @@@t'thds building no longer exists.

Areas of Resource Potential. State forests and parks,

private game preserves, and areas underlain with valuable mineral

deposits are considered areas of resource potential. No such

areas have been identified in the Chocowinity region. However, a

very large portion of the land in the extraterritorial jurisdic-

tion is comprised of prime farmland soils. In the Chocowinity

area, soil types AtA, CrA, CrB, GoA, and StA are considered

prime farmland soils, and areas containing these soils are

considered areas of resource potential. Prime farmland soils

pr oduce the highest yields with minimal inputs of energy and

economic resources. Farming these soils usually results in the

least damage to the environment. Agronomists note that prime

farmland is of major importance in providing the nation's short

and long range needs for food and fiber. Yet the acreage of

high-quality farmland is limited and so preservation of prime

farmland has become an important objective national agricultural

objective. Agricultural officials are attempting to discourage

development on prime farmland. The Farmers Home Administration

will-not loan money for projects where building will occur on

areas of prime farmland. Agricultural planners agree that

development should be directed to areas of non-prime soils and
that areas of prime farmland are best reserved for agricultural

pUtp6seg.

2. Facility Limitations

As a community grows, service demands increase. More

police and fire protection may be needed; additional classrooms

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

service increases. Planning for future service demands 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.

Chocowinity has been growing in recent years, at a faster
pace tfian any other community in Beaufort County. Between 1970

and 1985, Beaufort county grew by over 20%. most of that growth

occurred in areas outside of cities and towns; most incorporated

communities grew very little during that period. Between 1970

and 1980, four of the County's seven incorporated areas lost

population. In contrast, between 1970 and 1985, the Town of

Chocowinity grew by almost 30%.

The Town will continue. to grow over the next decade.

Beaufort County as a whole is expected to grow by over 17%

between' 1985 and 1995, growing over 9% between 1985 and 1990
(Table'10, pg. 30.2). Growth in Beaufort County is expected to

be greater than any county in the region over the next decade.

While Pitt County is projected to grow by 12% by 1995, and the

State as a whole by 10%, demographers predict Beaufort County
wiii gr64 i5k

The population of Chocowinity will grow over the ne xt ten

years but.to a very great extent, the rate of growth is contin-

gent on the construction of a local wastewater treatment system.

The rate of growth noted between 1980 and 1985 is likely to

continue through 1990. Under this scenario, the Town will grow

by about 30% between 1985 and 1990 and have a population of about

1,080 persons by 1990. Based on County population forecasts, the

rate of population growth should slow between 1990 and 1995.

Assuming a 20% increase in the Town's population during this

period, by 1995, the Town would have a population of 1,300

persons. Construction of a wastewater treatment system and

annexation of residential areas in the extraterritorial jurisdic-

tions would increase the rate.of population growth. Annexation

could add 100 persons to future population estimates. Sewer

construction could add many more. Development of many lots in

Town and in the extraterritori al area is severely constrained by

soils, unsuitable for septic systems. Installation of a public

sewer system, would open these areas for development. Increased

local development could then increase the growth rate up to 50%
from''projections based on historic trends. Should the Town have

a sewage treatment, system in operation by 1990, by 1995 the Town

could, have a population of almost 1,500 persons.

The trends in population change noted in the past decade

will continue through the 19901s: percentage-wise, Chocow inity

and all Beaufort County will have more older persons and less

young persons than in, the past. In 1985, 30% of the County's

population was under.nineteen years of age. That percentage is

expected to decline slightly to about 28.5% by 1995 (Table 11,

pg. 30.2). In contrast, the percentage of the population 65 and

older is expected to increase slightly from 13.5% in 1985, to

14.5% by 1995.

Water Service. Over 99% of all properties within the

corporate limits are serviced with public water. Many residents

in the extraterritorial area are also served by the Town's

system. Water mains have been extended east and west of Town

along N. C. 33 and south of N. C. 1178 to the Mid-East Regional

Housing Authority Project. On N. C. 33 water mains extend west

to S. R. 1143 and. north to serve the Evergreen Estates sub-

division. On N. C. 33 to the east, water service extends to

Gray Road (S. R. 1143) and then south to Chocowinity Primary

School" In-town improvements to the system are scheduled as the

Town plans to loop the system in the area of Mill Street and

Moore Lane.
The capacity of the Town's two wells total 375,000 gallons

per day (gpd). Dermand now averages 157,000 gpd. The Town has

two storage tanks; storage capacity totals 225,000 gallons

about a one-and-a-half day supply.

The Town appears to have an adequate supply of water to

serve demand through 1995, even given pro3ected development

pressures. Assuming an increase in residential demand of 100
gpd per capita, in 1990, water demand could increase to 182,000

gpd and by 1995, to 204,000 gpd. Even should the population
reach 1,500 persons by 1995, water demand would be 224,000 gpdf

well under the Town's 375,000 gpd supply. At the same time,

location of a new water-consumptive industry could dramatically

increase demand. Should such an industry propose to locate in

the area, the Town. should begin a study to locate a new well

site and plan for expansion of its storage capacity.

Sewer Service. The Town is currently applying for funds to

assist in the construction of a public wastewater treatment

system.

-Public Schools. Chocowinity pupils attend Beaufort County

Schools located irL Chocowinity. Chocowinity Primary School (the

Gray Road School) serves grades K-4. Enrollment in the school

year 186-187 was 430 students, about 93% of the school's capa-

city. Chocowinity High School serves students in grades 5-12.

Enrollment in 186-187 (705 pupil s) slightly exceeded the design

capacity of school and trailers are being used to extend school

facilities. In November 1986 County voters approved a school

bond issue which includes money for expansion at Ch ocowinity

Primary School. Education officials plan to add four classrooms

to the existing school. When completed, the fifth grade which is

.now housed at the High School, will be moved to 'the Primary

School@ The High School is then expected to have adequate

capacity to serve grades 6-12 for the next five years and the

trailers now at the Eiigh school will be removed. Construction is

expected to be completed by the fall of 1989.

Protective Services. The Town employs one full-time

policeperson. This individual works a rotating shift with the

schedule determined by expected demand. Calls are dispatched

through the County sheriff's Department, however the officer can

also be accessed from the Town Hall. The County Sheriff's

Department provides backup assistance as necessary and covers

the area when the local officer is off-duty. The need for

increased police protection has been identified as an important

local 'concern. Officials are now examining how increased

protection can best be provided.

Fire prot.ectiOrL is currently provided by a volunteer

department. The Chocowinity Volunteer Fire Department maintains

three volunteer fire stations: one located within the town

limits at the Town Hall, one at Blounts Creek, and the third.at

Wilmar: As of December 1987 the department has a membership of

30 persons. The Department maintains an inventory of 11 pieces

of fire-fighting equipment; five pieces are located in the

Chocowinity station. The Chocowinity Rescue Squad i s located in

the Blounts Creek station.

Public Administration. The Town employs a full-time Clerk

and a full-time Engineer. The Maintenance Supervisor (a full-

time position) oversees a part-time maintenance assistant.

Roads. Lack of service by a major interstate highway 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

limited federal funding available for highway construction.

Highway facilities in the chocowinity area will be able to

accommodate the increased demand projected for the next decade.

Completion of the U. S. 264 project between Greenville and

Washington will help facilitate movement between the

Washington/Chocowinity area and the regional employment center

of Greenville.

U. S. 17, the major north-south route in the area, is

two-lane for most of its length. Within Chocowinity however,

the road widens to four-lanes. Entering the highway from

unsignalized intersections can be hazardous and a number of acci-

dents have occurred within the planning area. Although local

officials have expressed their concerns to state transportation

officials, no plans for signalization have been announced.

Implications

The Town is expected to grow at a fairly rapid rate over

the text decade. The Town is fortunate in that the most impor-

tant and most expensive of the services it now provides - public

water - is likely to be able to meet the demands of the next

decade without major improvements. Public schools and highway

capacity also appear suitable to serve local needs for the next

five years. In areas such as police, fire, and public admini-

stration, the Town realizes additional personnel and equipment

may be needed to service demand as the community grows.The Town

anticipates constructing a public wastewater system. In design-

ing the system, local officials and engineers should consider the

population forecasts developed for the County and the Town,

leaving sufficient capacity for new residential and industrial

growth. Water storage capacity is likely to be the greatest

limitation to future growth in the long run. For the next five

years however, storage capacity appears adequate to serve

projected demand.

Table 9
SOIL CHARACTERISITICS

------------------------------------------
----------------------------- -------------------- L-i-m-i-t-ations for:

---------------------
Sail Buildings w/o Septic Runoff Depth to High
Code Type Slope Basements Tanks Potential Water Table (ft)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Altayista fine sandy loan OX-2Z Severe Severe Moderate 1.5 - 2.5
47 Bonneau loamy sand 0-6Z Slight Moderate Low 3.5 - 5.0
5A Craven fine sandy loam 0-1% Moderate Severe Moderate 2.0 - 3.0
5B Craven fine sandy ioam 1-4% Moderate Severe Moderate 2.0 - 3.0
5C Craven fine sandy loam 4-8% Moderate Severe Moderate 2.0 - 3.0'
37 Conetoe loamy sand 0-5X Severe Slight Low ) 6.0
910 loroyan 01 Severe Severe High 1 +1 - 0.5
4A, 6A7* Goldsboro fine sandy loam 0-2% Moderate Severe Slight 2.0 - 3.0
85 Leaf loam 0% Severe Severe High 0.5 - 1.5
52 Leqior laon 0% Severe Severe High 1.5 - 2.5
99 Muckalee loam 0% Severe Severe High 0.5 - 1.5
44 Lynchburg fine sandy, loam OX Severe Severe Moderate 0.5 - 1.5
84 Rains fine sandy loam 0% Severe Severe Moderate 0.0 - 1.0
2A State sandy loam 0-3% Slight Moderate Slight 4.0 - 6.0
7 Tarboro sand 0-5Z Severe Severe Low ( 6.0
86 Tomotley fine sandy loam 0% Severe Severe High 2.0 - 4.0
----------------------------- I-------------------------------------------------------------------
* indicates prime farmland soil
Source: Soil Survey Maps & Interpretations, Beaufort County, N.C., U.S.D.A., S.C.S., July 1984

30.1

Table 10
FUTURE REGIONAL POPULATION

-----------------------------------------------------------------
% Change % Change
Courfty 1.1385 1990 1995 85-90 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 26,1353 26,463 26,406 @-0.7% -0.2%
95,1362 101,823 107,409 6.2% 5.5%
Pitt

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 11
COUNTY POPULATION A(--IE STRUCTURE 1985-1995

1985 1990 1995
No. No. % No. %
0-4-years -------- 3,305 ------- 7.6%-----3,646 -------- 7.7% --- 3,733 ------ 7.4%
5-19 years 9,814 22.7% -10,478 22.1% 10,768 21.2%
20-44 years 15,693 36.3% 16,977 35.9% 17,947 35.4%
45-64 years 8,612 19.9% 9,474 20.0% 10,946 21.6%
65 and older 5,B36 13.5% 6,739 14.2% 7,308 14.4%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 43,260 100.0% 47,314 100.0% 50,702 100.0%

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

30.2

TOWN OF
Extraterritorial J r1Sd1,t,.
on CHOCOWINITY
NORTH CAROLINA

sc"[ 10 poll
am"

'EXISTING
M.@
10
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U S,E

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Carol in& Coastal P,.grat
th-sh f-d. p-id.d by th. C...t.1 ti..
.1 lhg.?Z, as -.nd.d, h on
Undevel6p-ed ftep%edby id-.FI CcMdasion i: d.i.i r.d bY offi.0 of oo..n and
-tal source ft..g .... t. ef.ti ... I
WSMM.@.:h Camlina
F-1 198, oc

TOWN OF
Extraterritorial Jurl8d,
CHOCOW1 N ITY
NORTH CAROLINA
J* I

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CONSTRAINTS

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a.,

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M,
Public Well
aiL
'5A
Floodplain

Till
V! Ri
Man-made Hazard 4f
Historic Structure "aam"""'"""seem"""'emseemses, The preparation of this map%
grotlinrouSh a grant
C Coastal H...
'c.Sh'f..d. the Coastal Zone
th, provided by
J1 Mfl! 11, Uniq'ue Natural Area FreWed by &,e Md-Eau Ccamt i ,,t. of ll,@. .. amended. hi.h
is i. .... by ,he Of f L- .1 0 ... e, and
Nox@h 'Camlim". C ... t.1 ' R. _ Me N.ti ...I
July 1987 Oceanic and Atmospharlo Administration.

CHOCOWIN
ITY AREA SOILS

41
V

TV,
44
614

-TV Y

7' 0
41.
44
52

(.A
&A
T-@

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6
51
Approximte Scal 1 inch 2,000 feet
e:
4
.Source: U.S. Soil Comervation Service

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g
56
@7 RA

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-*-%
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@6:- ik.';
5A
A

.4
of this map was financed in 5A 6A
ce r sa
The preparation SA
part through a grant provided by the North
Program,
Carolina Coastal
Management A
through funds provided by the Coastal Zone
Management Act . of 1972, as amended, which
is administered by the Office of Ocean and
Resource
Coastal Management, National r
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.*

58 58
.CA

A21

30.5

III. POLICY STATEMENTS

A. Resource Protection

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

827 square miles of the County is rich in natural resources. The

Town is less than three miles from the Pamlico River, the

County's most valuable natural, aesthetic, and economic resource.

Coastal wetlands border the County's estuarine waters, freshwater

swamps and marshes are found adjoining inland waters and in

low-lying inland areas. Freshwater wetlands comprise a large

portion of the Town's northern extraterritorial jurisdiction.

The Town acknowledges that the County's natural resources,

particularly its water resources, are the reason that many

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

within Chocowinity itself. To a very great extent, residential

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

in the County and in Chocowinity depends on maintaining the

quality of the area's ground and surface 'waters. The Town

supports all local, state, and interstate efforts to preserve and

enhance the quality of the area's valuable water resources.

Streams,,creeks, freshwater wetlands, and limited areas of

coastal wetlands are the m .ajor natural areas found in the

Chocowinity planning region. The Town will not support develop-

ment that significantly degrades the quality of these surface

waters and wetlands or has adverse effects on their use as

habitat for fish and wildlife. The Town also has natural hazard

floodplain areas. The Town will not support development in areas

with natural hazards unless such 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, enhances

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.

Groundwater resources supply Chocowinity residents with

water. Planners and local officials have only recently begun to

understand the sensitivity of this valuable resource. Reports

indicate that in recent years there have been substantial

declines in the level of underground reserves. Groundwater

resources across the state are threatened by the more than

37,000 underground storage tanks that officials estimate may

have-leaks. New local development should not have negative

impacts on local groundwater quantity and quality. The Town

will not support development and activities 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 goals the Town has adopted

to protect its natural resources. Included are strategies that

the Town will attempt to implement over the next five years in

an effort to achieve these policy goals.

preserve and protect local water resources and wetland areas

encourage! developers to leave a 100 ft. open space
buffer between development and water or wetland;
consider requiring buffers in subdivision regulations.

encourage! 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 plant design and a plan for plant maintenance is
approved by the State Department of Environmental
Management (DEM).

classify wetland areas as Conservation on the Land
Classification Map; for planning purposes, the Town
will consider its.inland wetlands as Areas of Environ-
mental Concern.

continue efforts to obtain necessary funding and
permits for construction of a public wastewater
treatment, system.

consider alternatives to a surface water discharge
system in, design of the Town's wastewater treatment
plant. Investigate the possibility of using a land
application system in conjunction with agricultural
uses in the extraterritorial area.

protect and enhance water quality in the Pamlico River and its
tributaries

support the Environmental Protection Agency's
Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study.

support education efforts and enforcement of the ban
on phosphate - containing laundry detergents.

support expansion of the Agricultural Cost Share
Program to include the counties of the upper Tar
drainage area.
pfbf-6dt the Town's present and future water supply

support state and federal programs that regulate
underground storage of hazardous materials. support,
regulations that require tightness-testing for existing
tanks and construction standards for new tanks.
Immediate removal of leaking tanks should be required.

Support establishment of a state fund to stop tank
leaks and to clean up affected water supplies.

support groundwater monitoring by the DEM. Review
information on local groundwater levels. should
significant declines in groundwater levels be noted,
urge DEM to limit withdrawals. Municipal uses should
be given priority over industrial uses.

support state mapping of groundwater resources and.
recharge areas; support efforts to develop a ground-
water management program for the state.

protect unique natural and cultural resource areas

classify the area within 100 feet of Chocowinity Creek
north of N. C. 33 as Conservation on the Land Classifi-
cation Map.

investigELte having Trinity Episcopal Church placed on
the National Register of Historic places.

discourage development in areas where land is not physically
suitable for deVE!lopment

support enforcement of the County"s floodplain ordin-
ance in the extraterritorial jurisdiction.

support strict enforcement of the State's Environmental
Health Code regarding the siting of in-ground septic
systems; continue strict enforcement in unsewered
outlying areas after a public waste treatment system is
constructed.

encourage County Health officials, state environmental
officials, and Soil Conservation Service (SCS) offic-
ials to* work together to identify and develop alterna-
tives to traditional in-ground septic systems.

use the SCS's detailed soil survey to identify areas
of poorest soils for septic systems; in subdivision
regulations, require large lots in areas of poorest
soils unless lot will be serviced by sewer.

iifdgerVe Mid lotbtect Areas of Environmental Concern

Prohibit development in coastal wetland AECs that does
not meet the management objectives of 15 NCAC 7H.0203.
Any development in these areas must meet the use
standards in 15 NCAC 7H.0208. The location, design,

and construction of any project in an AEC must give
highest 'priority to conservation of these sensitive
natural areas.

classify AECs as Conservation on the Town's Land
Classification Map.

B. Resource Production and Management

of Chocowinity's manufacturing, retail, and service

enterprises are directly or indirectly involved with resource

development. A considerable number of local residents rely on

the area's natural resources - its water, land, and mineral

resources - for their livelihood.

Agricultural lands are one of County's prime productive

resource areas., Much of the County's farmland and about one-

quarter of the farinland in the chocowinity area is considered

prime farmland by agricultural officials. In 1984, 128,600

acre s of land was harvested for crops, with the County ranking

7th in the state for total harvested cropland. The County

ranked 18th in the state in the poundage of peanuts produced

in 1984, ranked fifth in the amount of corn bushels produced,

and ranked second in the bushels of soy beans produced.

Most of the land within Chocowinity's Town limits has

been developed for urban uses., however a large portion of the

land-outside of Town is used for agriculture. The Town encour-

ages the use of rural areas for agricultural production and will

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

agricultural economy. The Town is especially concerned with

'preserving are .as with prime farmland soils. At the same time,

agritultural uses should not have negative impacts on local

natural resources such as Chocowinity Creek and associated

wetlands, or on resources. of statewide concern such as the

Pamlico River and its tributaries. The Town supports diversi-

fication of the local agricultural economy. Truck (produce)

farm-s, and farming for fish and shellfish (aquaculture) are

enco uraged and will be supported.

-Much of the Town's wooded area is used for commercial

forestry operations. Silvacultural activity is especially

evident in areas east of Chocowinity. The Town supports the

presence of the lumbering industry in the area and encourages

expansion of commercial forestry and wood processing operations

if these will have no significant impacts on residential areas

and local natural res.ources., In all cases, cleared areas should

be replanted as soon as possible.

The streams and creeks in the Chocowinity area are not

large enough to support commercial fishing activities. However,

commercial and recreational fishing are both very important in

the County as a whole. In 1985 over 5 million pounds of seafood

was caught by commercial fishing operations in Beaufort County.

The County ranked sixth out of the 20 coastal counties in seafood

landings and seventh in the number of commercial licenses

issued. A commercial seafood processor is located just outside

Cho cowinity's planning jurisdiction to the north. The Town

supports local, 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 the Chocowinity planning

region where mining or other mineral production activities are

taking place. However, over 4,000 acres of land to the east of

Chocowinity is devoted to mining activities. The effects of

phosphate mining on the County's natural resources has been a

concern for a number of years. That concern appears to be

increasing as reports of stresses on the river increase. The

Town will support new or expanding mining activities in the area

only'if that activity can be shown not to have long term negative

impacts on the area's land, air, and water resources.

Following is a listing of policy goals 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 policy goals.

protect and enhance agricultural uses in the Chocowinity area

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

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

to the extent feasible, design betterment systems
for public improvements that avoid imposition of costs
on agricultural property whose agricultural use will
not benefit from those improvements.

support educational efforts and state and federal
programs which encourage diversification of the local
agricultural economy.

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

preserve areas of prime farmland

use the County's detailed Soil Survey to id entify
areas of prime farmland; to the extent feasible,
direct development to other areas and reserve these
soils for agricultural uses.

support state and federal efforts to preserve areas of
prime farmland.

support development of a state comprehensive program
for farmland preservation.
ensure efficient, environmentally sound agricultural production

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

work with the Soil Conservation service 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

discourage development that will have adverse impacts on the
area's productive natural resources

support mining activity only if project demonstrates
that prime agricultural lands and air and water quality
will be preserved.

require identification of prime farmland soils in
subdivision regulations; in subdivision review, suggest
that areas of prime farmland be left a's open space.

C. Economic and Community Development

Chocowinity is a small community, but for a town of its

size, it has a large employment base: between workers at Singer

Furniture and in various other enterprises in Town, over 900

persons work in ChocoWinity. The Town supports expansion of its

existing industries and commercial enterprises and welcomes new

indu strial and commercial firms into the area. The Town supports

the County's efforts to attract new industry into the region.

However, new industrial development should not have negative

impacts on the natural environment or on the area's historic and

cultural resources. New commercial and industrial development

should enhance the quality of life for local residents.

enterprises servicing the needs of residents and

local workers would be appropriate types of new commercial

development. There are currently several vacant buildings in the

city limits and thE! Town encourages reuse of these commercial

structures. Tourist and recreational enterprises would be a

welcome addition to the Town. Industrial development which would

provide both technical and professional positions would be

appropriate for the Chocowinity area. The Town will provide

services to new industrial development when possible and will

seek assistance from the County when-necessary.

Most of the land within the town limits has already been
developed. The Town supports redevelopment of parcels when

dilapidated structures can be removed and replaced by higher and

better uses. To ]?rovide for the efficient delivery of services,

the Town encourages new industry to locate in the city limits.

When.new development cannot be accommodated within the Town, the

Town will support development in appropriate locations outside of

Town and when feasible, will provide public services. As plans

for sewer construction progress, the Town moves into a favorable

position to plan for new industrial development. The Town would

appreciate contact from developers c onsidering projects in the

Chocowinity area so that adequate capacity can be reserved in

design of the Town's wastewater treatment system.

The Town is committed to maintaining and enhancing the

quality of life in Chocowinity. The Town supports improvements

to existing housing stock, and supports new construction as well,

especially development that will serve the housing needs of the

elderly and of low and moderate income groups.

The Town values regional resources such as the Pamlico River

and its tributaries f or the recreational and aesth etic amenities

they supply. The Town supports state and federal programs that

will assist the community in attaining its objectives for

protecting and managing these and other resources, and for

assisting in community development efforts. These include, but

are not limited tc, public access programs, programs for conserv-
ing prime farmland. and preserving water quality, highway improve-

ment programs, economic and community development programs, water

and sewer improvement programs, and programs which assist in

preserving historic and archaeologic resources.

Chocowinity is now at a crossroads. Beaufort County is

expected to grow at a greater rate over the next ten years than

it has in several decades. Growth forecasts for Chocowinity are

especially strong. The Town is likely to have a public sewer

system in operation within five years. Residential, commercial,

and industrial development is then likely to increase.,

Following is a listing of policy objectives the Town has

adopted to provide for community growth and for the economic

development of the Town. Included are strategies that the Town

will attempt to implement over the next five years in an effort

to achieve these policy goals.
.support expansion of existing industry and recruitment of
new industrial and commercial enterprises

work with existing industrial firms and enterprises
interested in locating in the area to ensure that the
proposed se'wage treatment plant has capacity for future
industrial expansion.

support groups such as the Mid-East Commission, the
Regional Development Institute, and the Small Business
Institute at East Carolina University, which provide
assistance to new and small businesses and to economic
develOPME@nt projects.

encourage reuse, or redevelopment if appropriate, of
vacant commercial parcels in the downtown area.

for the orderly growth of areas within Chocowinity
and land outside of Town I

review the Town's zoning ordinance to ensure regula-
tions arE! adequate to control increasing development

over the next five years; give special attention to
signage, landscaping, and use regulations along U. S.
17; revise ordinance as necessary.

develop and adopt subdivision regulations.

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

extend the Town's extraterritorial boundary along U. S.
17 to meet Washington's one-mile extraterritorial
boundary..

'provide for adequate housing for all community residents

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

consider developing and adopting a housing code.

preserve and enhance the quality of life in Chocowinity

develop a public facilities complex. Acquire land
adjoining the fire station; construct a new Town Hall
and devE!lop recreational facilities that include a
playground, tennis court, and ballfield.

work with the county to develop an emergency prepared-
ness plan. for accidents involving hazardous or explos-
ive substances on U. S. 17 or on the Norfolk-Southern
rail line.

contact state transportation officials to discuss the
feasibility of installing traffic controls at desig-
nated locations along U. S. 17.

formulate capital outlay plan so that a new Town well
can be constructed within' the next five 'years if
necessary.

-promote and enhance tourism opportunities

participate in regional efforts to promote 'tourism in
eastern North Carolina.

support location of tourist and recreational services
along U. S. 17; encourage high-quality proposals;
consider revising landscaping, setback, parking, and
signage requirements in zoning ordinance.
support the co'ncept of initiating a pad dlewheel
showboat to tour the North Carolina coast; work with
proponents to ensure that Washington will be a stop-
ping-point along proposed route.

D. Storm Hazards

North Carolina is well-known for the hurricanes and tropical

storms that batter its coastline and the tornados that ravage

inland areas. Typically, the bulk of hurricane storm damage

occurs in coastal areas. Hurricanes and tropical storms have

however, caused severe damage in estuarine and inland areas in

the Past, as evidenced in Beaufort county. The storm of 1913

raised the water level of the Pamlico River to a height of 10

feet in the City of Washington, inundating the community and

surrounding area. Similar storms in 1933 and 1938 caused

considerable damage to waterfront communities, and major storms

occurred in 1954, 1,955, 1960, and 1970.

,.-In 1984 the County adopted a, storm hazard mitigation

plan, Before the Storm in Beaufort County: Avoiding Harm's

Way. The plan provides information on areas in the County at

risk' from storm damage, outlines policies on storm hazard

mitigation', presents a detailed plan for evacuation of the County

should a storm event occur, and includes a reconstruction plan to

guide rebuilding after the storm. Chocowinity is under the

authority of this plan. The County's storm hazard mitigation

plan was the source of the following information on storm

hazards, evacuation procedures, and the policies on reconstruc-

tion which the Town will follow after a storm disaster. A

complete copy of this plan is available for review at the

Beaufort County Department of Emergency Management, 112 W. Second

Street in Washington.

1.. Hazard Areas

The flooding, wave action, and erosion associated with

hurricanes and other major storms severely threaten three

categories of land in the County: Areas of Environmental

Concern, areas subject to flooding, and areas with highly

erodible soils. Two types of AECs are found in the Chocowinity

area:.. public trust areas (navigable waterways), and coastal

wetlands - found in the area of Chocowinity Creek, north of the

N. C. 33 bridge. Flood-prone areas, as shown on the map of Land

.Use Constraints, are found adjoining Chocowinity Creek, Maple

Branch, and Chapel. Branch, and in the wetlands bordering U. S.

17 in the northern 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.

Areas with highly erodible soils in the County are shown in

Exhibit 1. As noted, a major portion of the Chocowinity area

contains soils suseptible to erosion.
-The Town is fortunate in that most areas in the community

severely threatened by damage from storms are undeveloped.

Comparing the Map of Existing Land Use with areas subject to
flooding as delineated on the Map of Land Use Constraints, most
development in Chocowinity has occurred on high ground, away

from creeks and wetland areas. Although the County's hurricane

plan identifies over 6,000 structures at risk from storm damage

in the County as a whole, only one structure in the Chocowinity

area-is noted as being threatened by storm damage.

Hazards from flooding, wave action, and erosion are limited

primarily to land adjoining streams and creeks and to waterfront

areas, however the Chocowinity area and the entire County is

threatened by the high winds associated with a major storm event.

As noted in the County's hurricane plan, the County is suscept-

ible to annual extreme fastest wind speeds of between 120 and 130

miles per hour. (The annual extreme designation means that

there is an one Percent or greater chance of that speed being

equalled in any one year.)

2. Evacuation and Reconstruction

Exhibit 2 outlines the evacuation routes that County

residents, workers, and visitors would utilize in the event of a

storm disaster. Capacity analyses contained in the County's

evacuation plan indicates that these routes are adequate for

evacuation purposes unless the routes are inhibited at critical

"surge inundation points" as described in Exhibit 3. Prelimin-

ary.evacuation times at selected inundation points appear in the

County's 1984 evacuation plan. Subsequent to adoption of the

County's plan, emergency management officials began working to

develop more precise estimates. Revised estimates of evacuation

times are expected to be issued in August 1987 and will be

available through the County's Department of Emergency Manage-

ment.

Rebuilding in chocowinity after a major storm occurrence

will- be guided by the Beaufort County Disaster Relief and

Assistance Plan which was adopted in September of 1982. Those

sections of the plan most pertinent to post-disaster reconstruc-

tion are Annex F - Beaufort County Damage Assessment Plan; Annex

G - Disaster Assistance Center Plan; Annex H - Disaster Assist-

ance Program Summary; and Annex J - Beaufort County Plan for

Temporary Housing. The County's storm hazard mitigation plan
note's that the damage assessment procedures outlined in Annex F -

purpose, organization, concept of operation and articulation of

responsibilities appear adequate to serve local needs after a

storm disaster.

The County has outlined a schedule for staging and permit-

ting repairs following a major storm event. Chocowinity will

foilo'w this schedule as detailed below:

repair and rebuild essential services such as electri-
city, water and sewer - first.

repair other public facilities as nec essary for
shelter.

use a triag e (or worst damage last). approach to
staging the reconstruction effort. Those properties
with little damage should be permitted immediately, if
they comply with permit requirements already. Next,
those with moderate damage meeting permit requirements,
followed by those with moderate damage requiring
permit decisions. Those with extensive damage requir-

ing permit decisions or demolition decisions should
receive 'treatment last since their work would more
likely interfere with the reconstruction of essential
public ultilities and facilities.

The County has the authority to impose a temporary morator-

ium on all development in the area should damage from a storm be

especially severe. The Town advocates use of such a moratorium-

is damage to a particular area is very serious and if redevelop-

ment of the area in the same manner would pose area residents

with similar health and safety problems in the future.

The County's Recovery Task Force will oversee the recon-

struction process throughout the county and address any policy

questions that might arise. The Task Force will work with state

and federal representatives such as the Interagency Regional

Hazard Mitigation Team and the Section 406 Hazard Mitigation

Survey and Planning Teams. The local Recovery Task Force will

provide information and guidance to state and federal recovery

efforts and play an advocacy role in decisions regarding state

and -federal disaster assistance. members of the County's

Recovery Task Force include the County Commissioners, the County

Engineer and Building Inspectors, the, County manager, the

managers and engineers of each municipality, (in the case of
Chocowinity, the Mayor and the Town Engineer), the County

Emergency Management coordinator, and the Director of the County

Health Department.

All repairs and new development done as part of reconstruc-
tion efforts will be done in accordance with applicable state

land use regulations and the Town's development controls. The

Board of County Commissioners will direct implementation of

the policies and procedures outlined in the County's reconstruc-

tion plan. The Town Council will assume responsibility for

ensuring that this plan is carried out in an orderly manner in

Chocowinity. The Planning Board will act as an advisory group

to the Council in a matters affecting land use andredevelopment.

3. Coordinating Agencies

IThe state and federal agencies involved in coordinating

local storm hazard mitigation and hurricane preparedness activi-

ties are listed in Appendix B.

4. Policy Objectives

The County acknowledges that the Chocowinity area is

subject to storms that threaten the health, safety, and welfare

of its residents and the integrity of the area's natural and

cultural resources. In an effort to plan for such natural storm

disasters and to safeguard local residents, resources, and

property, the Town has adopted the following policy objectives.

reduce the potential for storm damage

support enforcement of the County's floodplain ordin-
ance in the extraterritorial'area.
enforce the state building code in all new construc-
tion.
consider adopting a housing code.
consider adopting subdivision regulations that include
special provisions for development within wetland and
flood-prone areas.

protect natural areas sensitive to storm hazards

classify Chocowinity Creek north of the N. C. 33
bridge as conservation on the Town's Land Classifica-
tion Map.

increase public awareness of the need for hurricane prepara-
.tion

support the "preparedness" program state and local-
emergency management officials conduct in local
schools.

work with state officials to plan and conduct an
area-wide hurricane evacuation exercise.

ExMbit I

V.-f

:;Z1.

At&

ERODIBLE SOIUS

Key Areas with
particularly erodible
soils and. water table
between 18" & 24",
sout'ce: E. H. Karnowski,
District ASCA
for sire specific locations, see maps in Soil Conserva
tion
Service office, 102 E. 2nd St. Washington

51.1

IIIIIIIII = M

Exhibit 2

f4NETC%M
.jj ACM
SR 16 12

32 TEGO* EECHVILLE
264

264
WAS@I BLJ
92
33
MIN .0 Nam $a SMMI USTM
264
(*CHOCO 92 PO
L
119 4@6 AN
3
10
r 92
@44f IGHT
0 EEK

CO BEACH

HICKORY

N
Ila
HURRICANE EVACUATION 33 EWL
ROUTES AND SHELTERS 0 rO j CRE3
BEAUFORT. COUNTY UROR 33
NORTH CAROLINA
for description of shelter sites @ and
evacuation route@;, see following pages
5/110/84
@,c

Source: Before the Stonn -in Beaufort County:
Avoiding Harm's Way, June 1984

EXHIBIT 2

BEAUFORT COUNTY
HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTES AND SHELTERS

AREA, ROUTES SHELTER

1 West end of Washington take nearest route to Eastern Elementary
15th Street, then east on 15th Street. East School, 264 East
end of Washington take nearest route to and Hudnell Street
Charlotte Streets north on Charlotte to 264, (shelters also noted
east on 264. at 7 and 8)

2 Washington Park and east of Washington Park Beaufort County
to Broad Creek, take Brick Kiln Road to 264, Community College
west on 264. Bunyan

Upper Goose Creeks Duck Creeks west Side of Beaufort County
Bath Creek take nearest route to 264 then Community College
west on 264. Bunyan

3 East side Bath Creek, St. Clair Creek, North Bath High School
Creek, Pamlico Beach, Wright Creek, Jordan
Creek, take 92 to Bath.

4 Pungo Creek nearest route to 264, 264 east Pantego Jr. High
to Pantego. L.eechville, Belhaven take 264 School
west to Pantego.

5 Whichards Beach S. R, 1166 to U. S" 17, Chocowinity High
U. S. 17 south to Chocowinity. Chocowinity School
Bay to Blounts Creek Bay, nearest route to 33,
then 33 west to Chocowinity.

6 Hickory Point S. R. 1946 to 1942) 1942 to Aurora High School
1940Y 1940 to Aurora. South Creek, Spring
Creek 1912 to Aurora, Campbell Creek west
on 33.

Township 4 (Goose Creek Island) Pamlico Aurora High School
County, take State Road 33 to Aurora. If
Aurora shelter is filled then continue on
33 to Chocowinity.

7 Take nearest route to Pinetown. Pinetown Elementary
School

51,3

EXHIBIT 3

SURGE INUNDATION POINTS

Evacuation Area Maior Evacuation Routes Critical Points

Belhaven U. S. 264 By-Pass Stretch of 264 .25 miles on
either side of lowe r Dowery
Creek culvert near intersection
of SR 1709.

Portion I mile east of the
intersection with N. C. 99 in
Belhaven, to that intersection.

Business 264 Portion inside Belhaven.

U. S. 264 By-Pass Portion 1.5 miles on either
side of Cuckolds Creek Bridge
toward Pantego.

N. C. 99 From intersection with 264 in
Belhaven to Sidney Crossroads,
over the Pantego Creek Bridge,
the Pungo Creek Bridge.

Ransomville N. C. 99 Portion from Pungo Creek
Bridge to Sidney Crossroads,
over the Jack Creek Bridge.

Portion from the St. Clair
Creek Bridge to a point
approximately I mile east of
SR 1734 (to Bayview).

The Back and Bath Creek
Bridges at Bath.

Bunyan/River S. 13. 1300 Portion of State Road 1300
Road area that feeds 264, and all State
Roads that feed SR 1300, from
Broad Creek to Washington
(through Washington Park)
across Runyons Creek Bridge on
Park Drive in Washington.

U. S. 264 Portion .25 miles on either
sIide of Runyons Creek Bridge.

51.4

Evacualion Area @ja Lor Evacuation Routes Critical Points

Washington U. S. 264 Area inside the flood hazard
area inside Washington (that
iss the area from an imaginary
line drawn from the intersec-
tion of Oak Drive & Hillcrest
Drive due west to where it
would intersect U. S. 17, south
to and including the Pamlico
River Bridge (lower half of
city).

South Creek N. C. 33 From the Pamlico County line
to Campbell Crossroads,
including crossing the Smith
Creek Bridqe and the Campbell
Creek Bridge.

Chocowinity N. C. 33 From the Chocowinity city
limits to the Pamlico River
Bridge.

S. R. 1166 Entire road from Oak Point to
U. S. 17 intersection, and all
feeder roads.

51.5

AREA ROUTES SHELTERS

8 Residents from eastern area of County Chocowinity Primary
(southside of river) take nearest route School
to 33 then hest to Chocowinity.

9 Overflow Partego/Belhaven area. Beaufort County
Elementary School
10 These shelters will not be utilized Wilkinson High
in a hurricane threat to Beaufort School and Belhaven.
County due to rising water. May be Elementary School
used as needed for other disasters.

51.6

E Public Participation

The preparation of Chocowinity's Land Use Plan was the

resp6n@ibility of the Chocowinity Planning Board. The Planning

Board, a five-person group appointed. by the Town Council,

represents a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and interests. A

workshop session introducing Board members to the planning

process was held in December of 1986 and the group then agreed to

meet monthly to work on the plan. Exhibit 4 presents a schedule

of public meetings held as part of the land use planning program.

At their first meeting, the Planning Board agreed that

soliciting public input would be an important goal of the

planning process. The Town's 1981 Land use Plan recommended

that the Town conduct a public survey every five years to

provide citizen input for subsequent land use Plan updates.

The Planning Board considered preparing a citizen questionnaire,

but given the time, expense, and effort involved in conducting a

valid survey, the Board decided their efforts would be better

spent in other actions. Instead of seeking public input through

a survey, the Board decided to utilize the me dia to encourage

attendance at Planning Board meetings and to inform residents of

the work the group was involved in. Notices of all Board

meetings were submitted to four local radio stations for broad-

cast: WKJA, WWGN, WITN-TV, and WDLX. Similarly, all meetings

were advertised in the Washington Daily News, 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 Daily News are incl uded in Appendix C.

'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

Council 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, soliciting

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 Daily News; emphasize that citizens are
invited -and encouraged to attend all meetings
dealing with planning issues. (Appendix C
contains examples used in 1987 planning program).

apprise the public of planning issues as they develop

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

EXHIBIT 4

CHOCOWINITY LAND USE PLANNING PROGRAM

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

Dece@mber 11, 1986 Planning Board Introductory Workshop

January 8, 1987 Planning Board

February 12, 1987 Planning Board

March 12, 1987 Planning Board

April 9, 1987 Planning Board

May 14, 1987 Planning Board

iune 45 1987 Planning Board

July 99 1987 Planning Board

August 13, 19e7 Planning Board

Sept ember 1, 1987 Planning Board and Town Council.
Approval of Preliminary Plan.

December 4, 1987 Coastal Resources Commission approves
official review comments on plan.

December 10, 1987 Planning Board

53.1

IV. LAND CLASSIFICATION

A* Purpose

-Chocowinity 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,

resource production, and economic and community development.

Four-broad categories of land classification have been developed

and are delineated on the Town's Map of Land Classification,

(pg. 59.2). The map sets out a proposed development pattern for

the Chocowinity 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 a rural condition. The classi-

fications reflect proposed future land uses and attempt to link

land use, policy objectives, and implementation actions.

Plahfiers began developing a 1987 Classification map by examining

the Classification Map in the 1981 plan. The Board then identi-

fied those areas where expansion of existing development is

anticipated and discussed a number of specific development

proposals. Although many of these proposals are still very

tentative, by discussing specific projects in relation to land

classifications, planners became aware of the importance of the

Classification Map in outlining an overall development pattern of

the community. Moreover given the attention given to developing

the Classification Map, planners are likely to review the map

before granting future zoning changes and ensure that the zoning

map 6volves consistent with the land classification scheme.

B. Classification Scheme

The Town's land classification scheme is based on the

guidelines for land classification outlined in the Coastal Area

Management Act's Land Use Planning Guidelines. The general

characteristics of each class are outlined in Exhibit 5.

1. Developed

The Developed classification encompasses all land within the

corporate limits of the Town. In its 1987 Land Use Plan, the

Town stated that it will encourage new development to locate

within the city limits whenever possible. By applying the

Developed classification to all areas within Town, local offici-

als are attempting to facilitate this pattern of development.

At the same time, the Developed classification reflects the

existing pattern of service provision, as all areas within the

city_limits are serviced by public water, and are likely to

be serviced with sewer upon completion of the proposed wastewater

treatment system. Developed areas comprise, primarly areas

zoned Mobi le Home 'Residential, R-2 (medium density-residential),

B-1 (general business), B-2 (highway business), and Ll (light

industry).

on the 1981 Land Classification Map, the Jones Circle area,

although within thE@ Town boundaries, was classified Transition.

This- area is now almost completely developed and is provided

with all local services. As a result, this area appears as

Developed on the 1S187 Map of Land Classification.

2. Transition

Transition areas adjoin the Developed area and delineate

areas of existing or anticipated high density development

outside of the Irown's corporate limits. Public water extends

to service some areas of some Transition zones, however no area

designated Transition is currently serviced throughout with

public water, nor is water service anticipated in all Transition

areas within the next five years. When the Town's wastewater

treatment system is completed, it is likely that some Transition

areas, especially those closest to Town, will be tied into the

system. However, development within the corporate limits will be

given priority for sewer service. Requests for extension

outside of Town will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

As shown on the Map of Land Classification, Transition
areas adjoin U. S. 17 as' it enters the Town from the north

and as it exits the Town on the south. A large area classified

Transition extends west from U. S. 17 to S. R. 1157. On the

Town's 1981 classification map, this area was designated rural.

Since 1981, a large mobile home park, Harris Acres, has been

developed in the southern corner of this area. The park is

currently being extended west across the rail line and local

officials expect that it will be extended further westward,

almost to S. R. 1157. Town officials have also been approached

by developers considering constructing a shopping plaza in this

area- along U. S. 17, north of Harris Acres. Local planners

support development of this area for residential and commerical

uses, so this portion of the extraterritorial area appears as

Transition on the Town's 1987 classification map. Areas designa-

ted Transition will be given priority for requests for rezoning

to higher densities.

The Evergreen Estates subdivision and the mobile home park

that adjoins it on S. R. 1143 are also denoted in Transition

designation. In 1981, the Transition area generally followed the

existing pattern of development in patchwork fashion. To

simplify the classification scheme, the Transition area has been

extended south from Evergreen Estates south along Chapel Branch

to N. C. 33.

3. Rural

The Rural Classification encompasses most of the land

outside of Town. Most of the Rural area is currently zoned R-1,

low density residential. These are areas of scattered residen-

tial- development, farmland, and woodland. Agricultural uses

predominate in the Rural area. The Town supports agricultural

and silvacultural activities in outlying Rural areas and has

outlined a number actions that will be taken over the next five

years to encourage and enhance these activities in the extrater-

ritorial region.

4.-.Conservation

The Conservation designation has been applied to land within

.400 feet of Chocowinity creek, beginning 300 feet north of the

N. C. 33 bridge, extending south to the extraterritorial bound-

ary. The North Carolina Natural Hertiage Program has identified

this portion of Chocowinity Creek as a unique natural area. The

Town acknowledges the importance of the creek as a local resource

and also as a contributing factor to the sensitive regional

estuarine resources. In an effort to keep the creek and its.

shoreline in as natural a condition as possible, the Town has

classified this area of the creek Conservation.

C. IntergovernmerLtal Coordination

The Town's Land Class,ification Map has been designed to

guide the actions of private developers and of public agencies at

all levels of government, in activities affecting land develop-

ment in the Chocowinity region. Many of the planning objectives

set forth in the Town's Land Use Plan will enhance the land use

goals of neighboring communities, the County, and the coastal

region as a whole. The Town will work with the various public

groups noted in this plan to ensure that the policy objectives

and actions adopted as part of this planning effort will be

implemented as the Town develops over the next five years.

EXHIBIT 5

LAND CLASSIFICATION

Developed Purpose - provide for continued intensive develop-
Class- ment '
Land Uses - mixed: residential, commercialg indus-
trial
Services - usually all urban services provided:
watero sewer, police, fire, etc.
Density - 3 or more dwelling units(du)/acre
Lot Sizes - usually small, in some areas averaging
as little as 15,000 sq. ft.

Trans.i.tion Purpose - provide for future intensive development
Class Land Uses - mixed
Services - water and sewer both usually present or-
anticipated; police and fire protection
usually provided
Density - usually 3 or more du/acre
Lot Sizes - usually small, many times averaging
20,000 sq. ft.
Comment - usually adjoins Developed Class

Rural Purpose - agriculture and very low density residen-
Class tial
Land Uses - farming, forestry% residential
Services - none
Density - generally greater than 1 du/acre
Lot Sizes - not applicable

Conservation Purpose - resource protection
Class Land Uses - AECs and other sensitive natural areas
Services - none
Comment - land basically to remain undeveloped or
developed only under controlled condi-
tions

59.1

TOWN OF
Extraterritorial 'rut.,
------- -------- 8dictio,,
. .... CHOCOW1 N ITY
NORTH CAROLINA

40P

J#
J#
Is
@j
J#
LAND

CLASSIFICATION

imits

1J.S

-v_

1Af

%%
%
Developed %

ti n
Trans o

Rural Th.
CbrOlina Co.st.1 M_ t Progr-
th,*,gh 1-d, p-id,d b, ath, to ... I Z-
..t 0, . i@h
Prepared 17Y the rdd-East Cmnds3ion Act of 1972, s am- od;..h
Consery@fion is #dministered by the Office f c -d
Washington . North Carolliv Manag-ent. National
July 1 987
... ph-lc Ad.i@i,tr.tk

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 use
areas (G. S. 143-215.15.

Permits for air pollution
abatement facilities and
sources (G. S. 143-215.)
108).

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

Permits for construction
of a well over 100,000
gallons/day (G. S.
87-88).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Natural Resources Permits to dredge and/or
and Community Development 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 development
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).

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

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

- Sedimentation erosion
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 more
residences (G. S.
130-160.1)

FEDERAL REOULOTORY DEVICES

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Licenses and Permits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Corps of Engineers Permits required under
(Department of Defense) Section 9 and 10 of the
Rivers and Harbors of 1899;
permi ts to construct i n
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 1899.

Geological Survey Permits required for off-shore
Bureau of Land Management drilling.
IDepartment 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. 1
Federal-Energy-Reguliatory ------------ Permits ---- for----construction,'
Commission operation and maintenance of
interstate pipeline facilities
required under the Natural
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 requined fol
abandonment of natural gas
pipeline and associated
facilities under Section 7C
(b) of the Natural Gas Act of
193e.

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 276e7
Raleigh, NC 27611
(919) 733-2293

Field Office: Division of Coastal Management
Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development
1424 Carolina Avenue
P. 0. Box 1507
Washingtonp NC 27889
(919) 946-6491

N. C. Division of Emergency Management
(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
Washingtong NC 27889
(919) 946-2773

Federal Emergency Management Agency

National Office: Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street,, S. W.
Washington, 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.
Atlanta@ Georgia 30309

Public Information - (404) B81-2000
I
Disaster. Assistance
Program - (404) eel-3641

Flood Insurance
Program (404) 881-2391

Appendix C

Media Releases

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13,1986 - PAGE 5

Choco Begins Update
OfIts Plan On Land Use

Water quality, storm hazard troduce members to the plan-
mitigation and the influence U.S. ning process. He presented an
17 has on the town of Chocowin- outline of the plan and stressed
ity are! three issues that will be that it is an important tool for
given special attention as the community growth since it
town holds a series of meetings directs the actions of state and
on itsLand Use Plan, the first of federal agencies in permitting
which was Dec. 11. and funding decisions.
The plan will be updated in Many other types of plans are
accordance with the guidelines merely advisory in nature.
of the state's Coastal Area Man- . Regular Planning Board meet-
agement Act (CAMA). Adopted ings to update the plan will be
in 1974, CAMA specifies that ev- held on the second Tuesday of
ery. five years the state@s 20 coas- every month. They are open to
tal counties must prepare land the public, and all interested
use plans to serve as guides for citizens are encouraged to
growth and development. . attend.
Bob Paciocco, executive direc- The next meeting is scheduled
tor of the Mid-East Commission, for Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the town
met with Planning Board to in- hall.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Libby Anderson - 946-8043

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet an Thursday,

January 8 to begin work on the Town's Land Use Plan. The

meeting will be held at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall. The public is

inivited and encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1986 - PAGE 5

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

The Planning Board of Choco-
winity will meet Thursday, Jan.
8, to review Chocowinity's land
use plan. The meeting is the first
in a series to be held in 1987 to
update the plan. The planning
board will meet at 7:30 in the
town hall. All interested people
are encouraged to attend.

WASRINGTIDN DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14.1987

Chocowinit'
Y,
Lpo'ks'.`.,, Toward`
Ne*xt 5 Years
CHOCOWINITY-Ten of 13 Of
Chocowinity's planning objec-
in 1981 have been
=Prp!= planners have de-
termined.
The Planning Board met
Thursday to review the Town's
1981 Land Use Plan and discuss
the planning goals developed six
years ago. The board then evalu-
ated the progress the town had '
made toward achieving those
goals. Of We three actions the
plan proposed that have.not been
Implemented, planners, agreed
two no longer mattered.
Thursday's meeting was the'
second in a series of monthly
meetings that will be held in 1987
to update Chocowinity's Land
Use Plan. The plan is being up.
dated in accordance with the
guidelines of the StaWs Coastal
Area Management Act,
The updated plan, will guide
development in the town over
the next five years. .
The town's proposed sewer
construction, is expected to in-
crease the potential for develop.
ment.
The Planning Board's next
meeting is scheduled for Thurs-
day, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RE-LEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Libby Anderson - 946-0043

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday,

February 12 to continue its work in updating the Town's Land Use

Plan. The Agenda for Thursday's meeting will include a review

of current socioeconomic conditions in the Town. The meeting

will be held at 7:30 pm -in the Town Hall. The public is invited

and encouraged -to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1987 - PAGE 5

Choco@s Planners
To Meet Thursday
For 2nd Hearing
CHOCOWINITY - The Cho-
cowinity% Planning Board will
meet Thursday, Fev. 12, to dis-
cuss current socioeconomic con-
ditions in the town.
Topics of'discussion will in.,
clude population, housing and
economic data. The meeting @ is
the second.in a series of public
meetings held in preparation for
the town's land use plan update.
The plan will be updated
according to the guidelines of the
Coastal Area Management Act.
The update is conducted every
five years.
The meeting will be in the
Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. It is open
to the public.

PAGE 2 - WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 .1987

Chocowinity
Expects 1,000
Population
CHOCOWINITY-Chocowin-'
ity has the highest percentage of
growth of any community in
Beaufort County, the town's
Planning Board noted at its Feb.
12 meeting.
In recent years Chocowinity's
growth rate has been twice as fast
as the two larger towns in the
county, Belhaven and Washing-
ton, according to the board.
Chocowinty's population grew
by almost 30 percent between
1980 and 1985, while Washington
grew by 12 percent and Belhaven
by 3 percent. Chocowinity could
have more than 1,000 residents
by 1990 if this rate of growth con-
tinues.
The February meeting was the
second in a series the board will
hold this year as it updates the
town's land use plan. The plan is
being updated according to
guidelines of the state's Coastal
Area Management Act (CAMA).
The next meeting, scheduled
for March 12 at 7.30 p.m. in the
Town Hall, current land uses will
be reviewed with special atten-
@ion given to identitring conflicts
in existing uses.
All meetings are open to the
public, and interested citizens
are encouraged to attend.

Public Service Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Libby Anderson - 946-8043

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday,

March 12, to continue its 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 7:30 pm in the Town Hall. The public is invited and

encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1987 PAGE 5.

Local Land Uses
Will Be Reviewed
At Thursday Meet

CHOCOWINITY - The Cho-
cowinity Planning Board will re-
view the town's land uses and
concerns during a meeting sche-
dulid for Thursday, March 12, at
7:30 p.m.,
The meeting will be one in a
series aimed at updating the
town's land use plan, which was
last prepared in 1981. The revi-
sion will be conducted under the
Coastal Area Management Act.
At a meeting last month, the
board reviewed statistics on
Population, housing and eco-
nomy. This month's meeting win
focus on the changes that have
occurred in the town since 1981
and on the. conflicts in existing
and planned land uses.
The meeting will be held in the
Town Hall. The public is encour-,
aged to attend.

WASHINGMN DAILY NEWS, TUESDAY, MARCH 17,1987 - PAGE 5

link Roads
Sewage, IN, eeds,1
To Town S'.' Plans' List
P
Lack of septic tank alterna. plant
tives, roads and. the Norfolk- Planners said if the town could
Southern rail yard were identl- provide sewage treatment that
fled as -the three major land use the town would Probably grow.
concerns in Chocowinity by the 'Officials said that it will then
town's Planning Board at a meet- be important that the town have
ing March 12. a comprehensive set of develop-
Ever), five years local govern; ment controls in place to guide
ments, are required to review ex- new development.
isting land uses and develop a Highway U.S. 17 divides Cho-
plan for land use for the next five cowinity int,6 two distinct halves,
years. I said planners. The highway is
Planners noted that the lack of heavily traveled and is a, major
public @sewage treatment facili- north-south truck route. Many
ties is lbe town's most serious trucks carry hazardous materials
land use concern. Poor soils in and plannirs said they were con-
many areas of the community cerned over public health and
make tristallation of In-ground safety should an accident occur.
systems that meet health depart- Planners were also concerned
ment requirements. costly. The about'rail traffic that passes
sewage problems is the town's through; the Norfolk-Southern
greatest limitation to growth, rail yard. Planners said a rail acci-
planners said. dent risks fire or explosion and it
Many commercial or industrial was noted that a chemical spill
concerr's are unwilling to front could pollute local water sup-
the cost of expensive in-ground plies.
systems, said planners. The plan- The Planning Board'o meeting
ners also said the town should try wai the third in a series of meet-
'to obtain funds for constructon ings that will be held this year as
of sewage treatment systems. the board updates the town's
There are tentative plans for the Land Use Plan. The board meets
town to tie in with the City of again April 9 at 7:30 p.m. at town
Washington's sewage treatment hall. The public is invited.

M i d-Ea51 Commission
P. 0. Box 1787
Washingtono NC 27EI89

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION Libby Anderson 946-8043

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday., April 9 to

contin ue its work in updating the Town's land use plan. Included

on Th-ursday's agenda will be a review of constraints to local

land development. Thursday's meeting will be held in the Town

Hall- at 7:30 pm. All interested citizens are encouraged to

attend.

PAGE 10 - WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 9,1987

Chocowin ity Panel To Discuss
CM4A Land Use Plan Update
The Chocowinity Planning in a series of meetings the board
13oard will meet at 7:30 tonight at will hold this year as it updates
the Town Hall to continue its the land use plan in accordance
@vork in updating the town's land with guidelines of the state's
use plan. Coastal Area Management Act
Tonight's agenda includes a re- (CAMA.). At previous meetings
view of physical limitations to statistics on population and eco-
iocal development. Planners will nomy were discussed. Last
4iscuss how poor soils, the pre- month the board reviewed local
sence of flood plains and aquifer land uses and discussed poten-
hLreas might constrain develop- tial changes in land uses during
inent in some places in the com- the next five years. I
inunity. The meeting is open to the
ThE@ meeting will be the fourth public.

WASHINGrdN DAILY NEWS, MONDAY, APRIL 20,1987 - PAGE 5

Po* or, S'o'ils [Amit Growth
For ' Tow.n, S.ay. Planners
Poor soils pose the greatest winity dreek, Chapel Branch,
limitation to growth and de- Maple Branch, and an extensive
velopment in Chocowinity, said flood-prone area along U.S. 17
the tomi's Planning Board. north towards Washington.
Over 910 percent of the town has Between 30 and 40 percent of
soils that have severe limitations the planning region is made up of
for the siting of septic tank sys- prime farmland soils, noted plan-
tems, said the board as it met re- ners who said agricultural offi-
cently toupdate the town's Land cials are trying to preserve areas
Use Plan. of prime farmland and, that
In most respects said the when possible, these areas
board, Chocowinity is "ripe for should be reserved for fanning.
development," but until a public According to state officials, the
sewage Ireatment system is con- planning region has at least two
structed or feasible alternatives important historic buildings (the
to septic tanks are developed, Col. James Reading Grist house
growth will be slow, said the and Trinity Church) and one uni-
planners. que natural area - Chocowinity
In addition to poor soils, said Creek from the N.C. 33 bridge to
the planners, the presence of Choco Bay.
flood-prone areas may also pose The Planning Board will con-,
a limitation to development. tinue its work on the Land Use
There are several - floodplain Plan at a May 14 meeting at 7 p.m.
areas in Chocowinity's ex- in the town hall. The meeting is
traterritorial area: along Ch oco- open to the public.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Anderson - 946-8043

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday, May 14 to

continue its work in updating the Town's land use plan. The

Board will begin to formulate policy on resource protection

Thursday's meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7:30 pm.

All interested citizens are encourged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13,1987 - PAGE 5

CHOCO PLANNING BOARD
The Chocowinity Planning
Board will meet Thursday at 7:30
p.m. in the Town Hall. The board
will meet to continue its work on
'the town's Land Use Plan. The
board is updating Chocowinity's
Land Use Plan in accordance
with the guidelines of the state's
Coastal Area Management Act.
Planners will review the ability
of the town's.public facilities to
meet service demands over the
next five years. The board will
also begin formulating policy
statements on resource protec-
tion. All interested persons aFe
invited.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, MAY 21,1987 - PAGE 5

Chlocowlim4y Planning Board
Develops Policy Statements
The Chocowinity Planning capacity appear adequate- to
Board has begun developing serve residential demand over
policy statements on land de- the next decade, they said.
veloprnent issues. But they cautioned that a new
Planners have agreed that pre- well would be needed by 1995 if
serving local creeks and wetland the town wished to serve new inr
areas would be a goal for the dustrial demand.
town over the next five years. The board identified protect-
The board has met five times ing water quality. in the Pamlico
this yeax update the Land Use River, present and future water
Plan in accordance with the supply and historic resources as
Coastal Area Management Act. important goals for the next five
Chocowinity is expected to ex- years.
perience a population increase The planners also agreed that
over the next 10 years. By 1990, the town should discourage de-
the town is expected to have velopment on lands that are un-
1,000 residents. And by 1995, it is suitable for construction.
expected to have 1,500 residents. The board will continue'its
Planners noted that rapid work on the Land Use Plan at its
growth,depends on construction June 4 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the
of a wastewater treatment facil- Town Hall. All interested per-
ity. Water supply and school sons are invited.

Mid-East Commission
P* 0. Drawer 17117
WashIngton, NC 27889

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Anderson - 946-eO43

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday, June 4 to
continue its work 'In updating the Town's land use plan. The
Board will begin to formulate policy on resource management and
economic and community development.- Thursday's meeting will be
held-in the Town Hall at 7:"30 pm. All interested citizens are
encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNES .DAY, JUNE.3,1987 PAGE 5'

CHOCO PLANNING BOARD
The Chocowinity Planning
Board will meet Thursday at 7:30
p.m. in the Town Hall. The board
will continue its work on the
town's Land Use Plan. Planners
will begin formulating policy
statements on resource produc.
tion and economic and commun.
ity development.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Andersdn - 946-8043

Chocowinity Planners Meet

The Chocowinity Planning Board met Thursday, June 4 to
continue working on the Town's land use plan. Planners have
been meeting since December reviewing data on land useq con-
straints to development, and socioeconomic statisticso in an
effort to update the Town's 1981 comprehensive land use plan.
On Thursday, the Board began drafting policy statements on
resource management and economic and community development
issues.

The Board has recommended that the Town adopt five policy
goals in the area of economic and community development. As a
first objective, planners suggested that the Town adopt a policy
to support expansion of existing industry and recruitment of new
industrial and commercial enterprises. Planners noted that as
plans for a municipal sewer system progress, the Town is moving
into a very favorable position to plan for new industrial and
residential development. The Board emphasized the importance of
designing the new wastewater system with adequate capacity to
acc.ommodate additional industrial and residential development
over the next decade.

The Town has grown considerably in recent years and develop-
ment is likely to increase to an even greater extend as a result
of sewer construction. Thus, planners urged that the Town adopt
a -0olicy to provide for the orderly growth of areas in and
surrounding Chocowinity. To achieve this objective, planners
suggested that the Town revise the existing zoning ordinancep
adopt subdivision regulations, and conduct an annexation feasibi-
lity study. Other community development policies the Board
recommended where providing for adequate housing, preserving
and'enhancing the quality of life in Chocowinityq and promoting
and enhancing tourism opportunities.

The'Board will continue its work on the land use plan at
its next meeting, Thursday, July 9. The Board meets at 7:30 pm
in the Ch6cowinity Town Hall. All interested persons are encour-
aged to attend.

Mid-East Commission
P. 0. Box 1797
Washington, NC 27889
June 30, 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Anderson 946-8043

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday, July
9 to review the Town's Land Classification Map. The Board meets
at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall. All interested persons are encour-
aged to attend.

WASHING-TON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY,. JULY 8,1987 - PAGE 5

CHOCOWINITY PLANNERS
The Chocowinity Planning
Board will meet Thursday at 7:30
p.m. in the Town Hall to continue
its work on updating the town's
land-use plan. Planners will re-
view the town's land classifica-
tion map and determine what
changes should be made in the
map. Interested persons are in-
vited.

Mid- East Commission
P. 0. Box 1787
Washington, NC 27889
July 20, 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION - Libby Anderson 946-8043

Chocowinity Planners Recommend Land Classification Scheme

-The Chocowinity Planning Board proposed several major
changes to the Towin's current Land Classification Map at its
July 9 meeting. The Land Classification Map shows all land in
the Town and its eXtraterritorial area classified into one of
four categories: Developed, Transitiong Ruralp and Conservation.
Developed land encompasses all -land within the Town limits.
Transition land denotes areas where growth is occurring or will
be encouraged. Rural areas are areas where farming and forestry
uses predominate. The Conservation designation has been given to
land within 100 feet of Chocowinity Creek north of the Route 33
bridge, in an effort to limit development along the creek bank.

The Planning Board has been meeting. since December to
update Chocow'inity's Land Use Plan. The Land Classification Map
represents the final step in the update process and the Board
will review the draft plan in completed from at its August
'r@peting. The Board's August meeting is scheduled for Thursdayq
A'upust 13 at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall. All interested persons
are.encouraged to attend.

Mid-Ea6t Commission
P. 0. Box 1878
Washington, NC 27Be9
August 10, 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION Libby Anderson 946-8043

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet an Thursdayj. August 13
to review the final draft of the Town's 19e7 land use plan.
Thursday's meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7:30 pm.
All interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,1987 - PAGE 5A

CHOCO PLANNING BOABD
The Chocowinity Planning
Board will meet Thursday at 7:30
P.M. inthe Town Hall to review
the final draft of the town's 1987
Land Use Plan. All interested
persons are invited to attend.

Mid-Ea5t Commission
P. 0. Box 17B7
Washington, NC 27389
August 17, 19e7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION Libby Anderson 946-8043

Chocowinity Council to Review Land Use Plan

Chocowi6ity planners ended eight months of work Thursday
night when they voted to submit the Town's updated land use
plan to the Town Council for approval. The Planning Board has
been-meeting since December to update the Town's land use plan in
accordance with the guidelines of the state's Coastal Area
Management Act (CAMA). CAMA regulations require that all
coastal counties prepare comprehensive land use plans; municipal-
ities such as Chocowinity have the option of preparing land use
plans. State guidelines specify that land use plans be updated
every five years; the Beaufort County Commissioners recently
approved the County's draft land use plan update.

Chocowinity's land use plan outlines policy -objectives
covering topics such as resource protectiong resource production
and managementg and economic and community development. Planners
have recommended a variety of activities the Town could take to
achieve its planning objectives. The Board has identified six
actions of special importance: construction of a wastewater
treatment-system; adoption of subdivision regulations, extending
the extraterritorial limit along U. S. 17 northp adopting a
housing code; annexation of outlying areas; and developing a
Town office-recreation complex near the present fire station.

Planners will ask the Town Council to approve the draft
land use plan at the Council's September meeting. Copies of the
plan can be obtained from the Mid-East.Commission in Washington.
Interested persons are invited to attend the Council meeting
September I at 7:30 pm in the Chocowinity Town Hall.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1987 - PAGE 5A

Clhocowu'lity Planning Board
Completes Land Use Plan
The Choco winity Planning The plan, which the board has
Board has completed prepara- been working on since Decem-
tion of an updated land use plan. ber, outlines policy objectives in
areas of resource protection, re-
source production and manage-
ment, and economic and com-
munity development.
The plan also identifies con-
struction of a wastewater treat-
rr@ent system, adoption of subdi-
vision regulations, extension of
the extraterritorial limit along
U.S. 17 north, adopting a housing
code, annexation of outside areas
and development of an office-
recreation complex near the fire
station as necessary or important
objectives.
The planning board will sub-
mit the plan to the Chocowinity
Town Board of Commissioners
in September for approval.

Mid-East Commission
P. 0. Box 17e7
Washington, NC 27eeg
August 26, 1qe7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION Libby Anderson 946-8043

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Town Council will meet Tuesday, September I to
review the Town,s preliminary Land Use Plan. All interested
persons are encouraged to attend the Council meeting which
begins at 7::30 pm in the Chocowinity Town Hall.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28,1987 - PAGE 5

Chocowinity"s Town Board
To Discuss Land Use Plan
The Chocowinity Town Board The plan is being updated to
of Commissioners will review conform with the Coastal Area
the town's preliminary land use Management Act. The plan re-
plan, developed by the Planning commends several planning con-
Board over the last eight months, trols for the next five years in-
at Tuesday's meeting. cluding adoption of subdivision
The commissioners can recom- regulations, annexing property,
mend changes in the plan. When housing rehabilitaion and de-
approved by the board, it will be velopment of a town office and
sent to state officials for review. recreation complex.
In the late fall, a public hearing The meeting will be held at 7:30
will be held and the board will p.m. Tuesday at the Chocowinity
adopt a final land use plan. Town Hall.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,1987 - PAGE 9

Chocowinity Coun6l"Okays
Preliminary Land Use Plan
CHOCOWINITY - The Cho- . commends to attain policy goals:
cowinity Town Council has extension of the one-mile ex.
approved a Draft Land Use Plan traterritorial planning ) urisdic-
for the community at its Septem- tion, adoption of subdivision reg-
ber 1 meeting. ulations, annexation of several
The Council had requested last developed areas outside of town,
fall that the Planning Board be- and developing a town. office-
gin updating Chocowinity's 1981 recreation complex.
Land Use Plan. The Planning Chocowinity's Preliminary
Board has been working on the Land Use Plan will now be sub-
update since December, follow- mitted to officials of the state for
ing the guidelines of the state's review. A public hearing and fin-
Coastal Area Management Act. al adoption of the plan by the
Technical assistance was pro- Town Council is inticipated for
vided by the Mid-East Commis- late fall.
sion of Washington.. _@__.Copies.of_ ChQCowjnity's_Pre-
The! town's 1987 Preliminary liminary Land Use Plan are on
Land Use Plan includes file with the town clerk and are
:strategies the Planning Board re- . available for review.

Mid-East Commission
P. 0. Box 1787
Washingtono NC 27889
.December 79 1987

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION Libby Anderson 946-8043

Public Service Announcement

The Chocowinity Planning Board will meet on Thursday, December
10 to review the final revisions to the Town's 1987 land use
plan. Thursday's meeting will be held in the Town Hall at 7:30
pm.. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1987 - PAGE 9A

CHOCOW[Nrff LAND PLAN
The Chocowinity Planning
Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. to-
day to discuss final revisions to
the town's 1987 Land Use Plan
required under the Coastal Area".
Manajeffient Act. A draft plan
was complit6d in September.
The meeting is open to the.
public.

WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31,1987 - PAGE 13

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN OF CHOCOWINITY CITIZENS
The Town of Chocowinity will receive public
comment on the Town's 1987 CAMA Land Use
Plan Update on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30
pm in the Chocowinity Town Hall. The plan
outlines policies on land use and development
that the Town will follow over the next five
years and classifies land in the Town according
to the guidelines of the state's Coastal Area
Management Act (CAMA). Copies of the plan
are availabe for review at the Chocowinity
Town Hall from 8:30 am to noon and from
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
The Honorable Charles A. Williamson, Mayor
Town of Chocowinity
12-21 Itc

PAGE 12 - WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30,1988
Chocouinity's Land Use Plan
To Reach CRC On Thursday
RALEIGH - The Coastal Re- public hearing on the proposed ble changes in the commission's
sources Commission (CRC) will designation of the Buxton bylaws related to contested case
discuss Chocowinity's land use Woods as an area of enviroranen- procedures and review public
topics and review contested tal concern (AEC) and review comments on a proposed rule
cases at its meeting Feb. 4-5 in land use plan updates for change that would make the
Beaufort. Washington County, Chocowin- AEC nomination timetable con-
ity and Atlantic Beach, and the sistent with the Administrative
During the session Thursday draft plan update for Dare Procedures Act. Placing signs in
morning, the commission will County. public waters and revisions of
consider a permit appeal to allow the civil penalty schedule will
construction of a pier in Carteret The committee will also hear also be considered.
County. Requests to reduce civil reports on plans for Beach On Friday, the CRC will hear
penalties for two violations in Sweep '88, a coastwide cleanup reports from the committees and
Carteret County will also lie con- to be held Sept. 24, and Emerald an update on the red'tide.
sidered. At 1:30 p.m. the commis- Isle's stormwater planning pro- The Coastal Resources Com-
sion will hold concurrent; com- ject. mission will meet at the Duke
mittee meetings. The Implementation and Stan- University Marine laboratory on
The Planning and Special dards Committee will hear a sta- Pivers Island in Beaufort. All ses-
Issues Committee will discuss tus report on updating the ocean- sions begin at 9 a.m. and are open
the comments made during a front erosion rates, discuss possi- to the public.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mid-East Commission, Chocowinity CAMA Land Use Plan Update 1981.
Washington, NC, 19ei.

Mid-East Commissiong "December Newsletterg" December 19e6.

North Carolina Department of Commerceg 1985-86 Directory Manu-
facturing Firms. Raleighp 1984.

North Caroli'na Department of Commerce, Division of Travel and
Tourism, "19B5 North Carolina Travel Study." Raleigh, May
1986.

North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of
Archi*ves and History, Correspondence, 28 January 1987.

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community
Developmento Division of Parks and Recreation, Correspond-
encep 1 December 1986.

Office of, State Budget and Management, Profile North Carolina
Counties. Ralleight Seventh Edition 11986.

Office of State Budget and Managem ent, Profile North Carolina
- Counties. Raleigh, Sixth Edition 1981.

Office of State Budget and Managementq "North Carolina Municipal
Population 19185." Raleigh, September 1986.

Office of State Budget and Management@ Statistical Abstract
North Carolina State Government. Raleigh, Fifth Edition
1984.

Planning and Design Associatesq Before the Storm in Beaufort
County: Avoiding Harm's Way. Raleighp June 1984.

U. S. Department of Agriculturev Soil Conservation Service,
- Beaufort County North Carolina Soil Survey Maps and
Interpretations. Julyj 19E34..

U. S; Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Serviceo Soil
- Survey of Hertford County North Carolina. July 1984.

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 1980 Census
of Population. Washington, D. C. Government Printing
Office, October 1983.

Washington-Beaufort Bicentennial Commission, WashinQton and the
Pamlico. Raleigh, 1976.

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