City of New Bern land development plan

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

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COASTAL ION CENTER
INFORMAT

I. H.E. Russell, City Clerk certify that this a true copy
of the New Bern Land Use Plan and Synopsis adopted by the
City of New Bern Board of Alderman on May 20, 1976 in ful-
fillment of the requirements of.the North Carolina Coastal
Area Management Act of 1974.

Title

Seal
Coastal Area Management Act

Land Use Plan

May, 1976

CITY OF NEW BERN

Founded 1710

P.O. Box 1129

NtW SCAA
NC 28560

Prepared with the assistance of
L Dexter G. Moore, Moore and Associates
Urban Planners Project Designers
New Bern, North Carolina

City of New Bern Board of Aldermen

Charles H. Kimbrell, Mayor

Mrs. Ella J. Bengel S. Gray Ingram
Tom 1. Davis Tim A. Montgomery
Ban B. Hurst

'City of New Bern Planning and Zoning,_ @oard
Mary B. McCotter, C4airman

William H. Bell, Jr Julius H. Jones
Guy Boyd, Jr. J. Alfred Mayo, Jr.
William H. Dove Mrs. Dale T.. Millns
0. E. Evans John Pugh, Sr.
Roland Hill Mrs. Mubern Snider
Mrs. C. J. Houston Johnny West
Junius P. Johnson Ledell Williams

J. C. Outlaw, City Manager
A. D. Ward, City Attorney

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

A
Public Officials

Introduction

Description of Present Conditions 3

Population 4

Economy 9

Housing 17

Existing Land Use 27
Current Plans, Policies and Regulations 32.

Transportation Plan 33

Community Facilities Plans 35

Utility Extension Policy 37

Open Space and Recreation Areas 39

Prior Land Use Plans 40

Prior Land Use Policies 41

Local Regulations 43
Zoning Ordinance 43
Federal and State Regulations 49
Public Participation Activities 50
Major Land Use Issues 51

Alternatives 54

Land Use Objectives, Policies and Standards 58
Public Participation 59

Constraints 64

Physical Limitations 65

Table of Contents continued

PAGE

Flood Hazard Area-Coastal Floodplains
(Potential AEC) 66

Soils 69

Water Supply Areas 71

Fragile Areas 71

Coastal Wetlands-Other.Coastal Marshlands
(Potential AEC) 71

Estuarine Waters (Potential AEC) 72

Public Trust Water (Potential AEC) 74

Historic Places (Potential AEC) 74

Areas with Resource Potential 78
Productive'Agricultural Land 78

Potentially Valuable Mineral Si@es 78

Public-Owned Lands .78

Privately-Owned Wildlife Sanctuaries 78
Capacity ofCommunity Facilities 79
Estimated Demand 84

Future Population 85

Future Economy 88

Future Industrial Space Requirements 88

Future Commercial Space Requirements 90
Community Facilities Demand 91

Plan Description 93

The Land Use Plan 94

Summary 100

City-County Plan Relationship 103

TABLE PAGE
A-1
1 Population 1920-1970 4

2 Population New Bern, Craven County,
and Township Eight 6

3 Percent distribution of population 1975 7
4 1970 Median family income 9

5 Percent of families earning less than
poverty level and above $15,000 per year 10
6 Industries with 25 or more employees 12

7 Labor force 14

8 Average weekly earnings per worker 15

@9 Rate of unemployment 15

10 Retail sales 15

11 Sur vey of housing conditions 17

12 Survey of housing conditions 18

13 Housing units 20

14 Social Indicators 21

15 General housing conditions 23

15A Existing land use 28

16 Thoroughfare System 34

17- Soils 69

18 National Registry of Historic Places 75

19 New Bern City Schools 81

20 Number of classroom trailers in use 82

21 Construction program 82

22 Thoroughfare capacity 83

23 Population projection 1975-2000 85

List of Tables continued

TABLE PAGE

24 Population projection based on
construction trends 86

25 Population projection based'on OBERS 87
26 Population projection range 87

27 Future industrial acreage needs 90

28 Future residential acreage needs 91

LIST OF CHARTS

CHART PAGE

1 Employment distribution for New Bern
area - 1940, 1950, 1960 and.1970 11A

2 Peak Flood Elevations 67B

LIST OF MAPS

MAP PAGE

Enumeration districts 19A

1A Existing Land Use 27A

2 1981 Traffic Volumes 33A

3 Street Design Requirements 33B

4 Thoroughfare 33C

5 Historic District 77A

6 Water and Service Area 79A

7 Land Classification Map 98A

INTRODUCTION

The coastal areas of North Carolina provide a tremen-

dous natural resource to the citizens of North Carolina.

The area provides both recreational benefits and food

production from our coastal waters. In some areas adjacent

to our coastal waters, there is a danger that pollution
from.overdevelopment may significantly damage the food pro-

duction capacity of nearby waters. This potential problem

was the major reason that the Coastal Area Management Act
was ratifie d by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1974.

The purpose of the Coastal Area Management Act is "to insure

the orderly balance of use and preservation of our coastal

resources on behalf of the people of North Carolina and the

nation." The Coastal Resources Commission was created to

insure that the purpose of the new state law is followed.

Land Use Plans have been developed by each local govern-
ment within the twenty coastal counties4nd will be the ad-

ministrative tool for carrying out the provisions of the law.

These plans cannot survive unless they represent the views

of the local citizens. For this reason, the Coastal Resources

Commission has required that a public Participation program

be the foundation of the Land Use Plan. The following is the
Coastal Ace& Management Act Land Use Plan for the City of

New Bern.

DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT CONDITIONS

POPUIATION

ALI The.City of New Bern was founded in eastern North Caro-
lina.in 1710 by Swiss and German colonists. Located at the

confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, the city provided

an excellent early harbor for colonial ships bringing commerce
from England and other old world countries. This good loca-

tion is the primary reason New Bern grew to such prominence

during the Colonial Period. It was the first major city in

North Carolina and was the second largest as late as 1860.

Until the turn.of the century, it had more people than,most

of North Carolina's present day large cities. Based on 1974

population estimates, New Bern currently ranks twentieth.

From 1900 to 1920, the city had a steady growth. One of its
largest increases was from 1910 to 1420, when it grew from

9,090 people to 12,198 people, an increase of 3,108 people.

A slight decrease occurred between 1920 and 1930 -'217 people-

and the same occurred between 1930 and 1940, a decrease of

166 persons, both of which can be attributed to movement

back to the farms following the crash of 1929 and the depres-
sion which persisted in the New Bern area until the 1940's.

Table I CITY OF NEW BERN

Population 1920 1970

Year Population

1920 12,198

1930 11,981

1940 11,815

1950 15,812*
1960 15,717

1970 14,660**
*Major Annexation
Source: U. S. Census
**This figure in incorrect and has'been challenged by the city
since 1970.

tince 1940, the City of New Bern has experienced the

same trend as most other cities in the United States. The

automobile has made it possible for population growth to take
place over a large area. Much of this growth hag taken place
on the fringes of the city. Although some of the growth has

taken place inside the city, most has-occurred just outside

the corporate limits. The Town of Trent Woods is in existence

because of this phenomenon. Trent Woods, a town of approximately

1,200 people, is located less than one mile from New Bern, and

is not the only development adjacent to New Bern. According

to official census information, the population of Township Eight,

adjacent to New Bern, had an increase from 3,140 persons to

6,456 persons between 1950 and 1970. Table 2 shows a comparison

of State, County, Township Eight, and City population.
In July, 1975, the North Carolina Department of Administra-

tion prepared estimates of the composition of New Bern's popula-

tion. Based on that estimate, sixty-four percent of the city"s

people are white, thirty-six percent are nonwhite;

Table 2 POPULATION BY DECADE FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN, CRAVEN
COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP EIGHT

NORTH CRAVEN TOWNSHIP 8 tHE CITY
CAROLINA COUNTY (excluding the . OF
City of New Bern) UEW BERN

1900 1,893,810 24,160 1,634 9,090

Increase for Decade, 16.5% 5.9% -11.6% 9.6%

1910 2.,206,387 25,594 1,444 9,961

Increase for Decade 16.0% 13.5% 7.9% 22.5%

1920 2,559,123 29,048 1,558 12,198

Increase for Decade 23.9% 5.6% 31.5% -1.3%

1930 3,170,276 30,665 2,049 11,981

Increase for Decade 12.7% 2.1% 23.1% -1.4%

1940 3,571,623 31,298 2,522 11,815

Increase for Decade 13.7% 56.0% 24.5% 33.8%

1950 4,061,929 48,823 3,140 15,812*
Increase for Decade @2.2% 20.4% 58-.2% -0.6%
@960 .4,556,155 58,773 4,969 15,717*
Increase for Decade 11.4% 6.4% 29.9% -6.7%

-1970 5,082,059 .62,554 6,456 14,660

'0art of Township 8 was annexed by the City of New Bern in 1945; additional parts
of Township.8 were annexed by the-City of New Bern between 1950 and 1960.

Table 3 PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION

New Bern - 1975 Estimate

White Nonwhite

Age Male Female Total Male Female Total Grand Total

0- 4 7.1 5.9 6.4 10.4 8.2 9.2 7.4

5- 9 7.5 6.3 6.8 10.5 7.6 8.9 7.6

10-14 8.0 7.9 7.9 10.3 9.8 10.0 8.7

15-19 9.0 7.9 8.4 11.6 9.1 10.2 9.1

20-24 9,8 8.7 9.2 9.9 9.6 9.7 9.4

25-29 8.5 7.7 8.1 5.2 6.0 5.6 7.2

30-34 6.6 5.5 6.0 3.9 4.8 4.4 5.4

35-39 5.7 5.0 5-3 3.3 4.0 3.7 4.7

40-44 5.1 4.7 4.9 3.9 4.5 4.2 4.6

45-49 6,2 5.7 6.0 4.8 5.8 5.4 5.8

50-54 6.2 6.6 6.4 4.9 5.4 5.2 5.9

55-59 6.0 6.1 6.0 5.4 4.8 5.0 5.7

60-64 4.1 6.0 5.1 5.0 6.0 5.6 5.3

65-69 4.3 5.3 4.9 3.7 4.6 4.2 4.6

70-74 2.6 3.8 3.2 3.5 4.9 4.3 3.6

75-79 1.5 2.7 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2

80-84 1.2 2.3 1.8 1.0 1.7 1.4 1.6

85+ 0.6 1.7 1.2 0.5 1.2 0.9 1.1

Source: North Carolina Department of Administration

Forty-six percent are male, fifty-four percent are female.
The age group having the greatest number of people is 20-24,
with a 9.4 percent of the total population. Forty-two
percent of the city's population are under twenty-five years
of age. Thirteen percent of the city's poeple are over
sixty-four years of age. Twenty percent of the total non-
white persons of the city are within the age group of 10-19.

Forty-three percent of the nonwhite persons of New Bern are

under twenty years of age.

The number of people shown in the North Carolina

Department of Administration's estimate is not presented

because it is based on the 1970 Census. That census is

considered erroneous and has been ehallenged by the city

since 1970. Because of this problem, a detailed presenta-

tion of the 1970 census data would serve only to mislead

the users of this plan. For this reason, additional popula-

tion data is not presented.

ECONOMY

The economic well-being of a community is largely

affected by the income of its people. New Bern has con-

tinued to have a steady increase in median family income.

In 1949, the median family income was $2,100, in 1959,.it
was $3,838. By 1970 it had risen to $7,338. The state's

median family income for 1970 was $7,754, $416 or 5.6%

more than the median family income of New Bern.

Although New Bern does not compare favorably to the

state average, the median family income is higher than in

most areas of central-eastern North Carolina. Table 4

illustrates this fact.

Table 4 1970 Median Percent Difference
Family income from New Bern

New Bern $7,338

Craven County $7,046 -4.0%

Jacksonville $8,225 +12.1%

Kinston $6,913 -5.8%

Goldsboro $6,256 -14.7%

Washington $6,563 -10.6%
Morehead City $7,188 -2.0%

Source: U. S. Census

Within the New Bern region, only Jacksonville has a higher

median family income.

The number of people living below the poverty level
and above $15,000 per year for New Bern is approximately
average when compared to other cities in central-eastern

North Carolina. The figures are shown on Table 5.

Table 5 PERCENT OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN THE
POVERTY LEVEL AND MORE THAN $15,000 PER YEAR

Poverty or less $15,000 or more

North Carolina 16.3% 11.5%

Craven County 18.7% 10.2%

New Bern 21.4% 10.6%

Jacksonville 11.9% 14.0%

Kinston 25.4% 11.6%

Goldsboro 24.7% 10.1%

Washington 25.1%. 10.4%

Morehead City 16.9% 10.1%

Source: U. S. Census

None of these cities, except Jacksonville and Morehead

City, compare favorably to the state average.

During the 1940's, manufacturing and personal ser-

vices were the largest employers. Each of these employed

twenty-four percent of the total labor force. In 1950,

retail trade was the largest employer, employing twenty-
one percent of the total workers. Retail trade was still

the leader in 1970 at 20 percent of the labor market. Mayi,,,-

fa@@turing at sixteen percent and personal service at

and one-half percent are still strong. These three

employers in 1970 employed over fifty percent of the

total labor force. Other strong employers are public

administration and professional services. Agriculture

employs only four percent of New Bern's total working

population.

The most stable employer in New Bern since 1940

has been retail trade. For retail trade, the percent-
age of labor market did not drop below nineteen percent

for the past thirty year period. Between 1940 and 1970,

personal service employment decreased eight and one-half

percent, and manufacturing employment decreased eight.

percent. For a comparison of each of these employers,

see Charti.

According to 1975 data from DNER, the New Bern area

has seventeen industries which employ twenty-five or

more employees. The total number of employees for these

industries is listed at 2,409. Of this total, 1,725 em-

ployees work for industries which have located in the

area since 1960. This fact clearly indicates that the

economy is stable, and industrial growth is taking place

within the New Bern economic area. Table 6 lists each

industry which employs twenty-five or more employees.

During the past ten years only 310 employees have been

affected by permanent plant closings within the New Bern

area.

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Table 6 NEW B,. A AREA
i1tt.1STRIES WITH 25 OR MORE EMPLOYEES

Year
Name o any Product E'stab1i'sh6d Employees
L _2 9 mz @ -
Texfi, Inc, Po1,yester Yarn .1972 758
Weyerhavus!z,@.,, Xnc. Wood Products 1969 379,

Stevenson Brick & Block Brick, Concrete Block 1946 25
Hatteras.Yacht Fiberglass Yachts 1968 221
Stanley Power Tools Electric Hand Tools 1965 265
Barbour Boat Works Shipbuilding, Rapairs 1933 60
Jay Apparel Company Women's Clothing 1954 75

Martin-Marietta Crushed Stone 37

Owen G. Dunn Printing 1903 28
Coca Cola Bottling Co. Beveragea 1929 75

Scott Lumber Company Dimensional Lumber 1943 52

Horner Veneer Plywood 1954 58
Maola Milk Dairy Products 1936 149

New Bern Oil, Fertilizer Fertilizer, Fuel Oil 1897 60

Pepsi.-Cola Bottling Co. Beverages 1971 65
Clark Boat [email protected] Fiberglass Sailboats 197V 49
Now Bern Garmer-t Co, Sewivig Operation 1974 '53
Total Z, 409

Source: N. C., Dtparrvent of Natural and Economic Resources. January 31, 1975

Because New Bern and Craven County have a common

economic area, it is beneficial to look at the Craven
County economic conditions. Within the county, non-
manufacturing is the largest employer with 8,200 jobs
listed. This totals forty percent of the total jobs in
the county. The next largest. employer is public adminis-.
tration. It accounts for 7,360 jobs or thirty-six percent.
These two categories have led in employment since the early

1960's. See Table 7.

New Bern And Craven County workers average weekly earn-

ings have increased more since 1963 than the average weekly

earnings of workers in adjacent counties. There has been

an eighty-nine percent increase in average weekly earnings

since that time, from $63.34 per week to $119.23 per week.

See Table a.

The rate of unemployment for Craven County is also

less than that of adjacent counties. The 1973 average was

2.6 percent. The 1975 average rate of unemployment was 7.2%.
Table 9 shows the unemployment rate since 1963.

The per capita income for Craven County is also higher

than that of adjacent counties. Craven County's per capita

income is seven percent below the state average.

New Bern has long been recognized as a regional shopping

area for Pamlico, Jones, and Craven Counties. Since the

early 1960's,,total retail sales have made large increases.

Table 7 EMPLOYMENT LABOR FORCE

Total Non- Public Rate of
Employment Manufacturing Manufacturing Administration Agricultural Other Unemployment

1963 17,900 2,080 5,100 5,230 3,280 2,210 5.1%
1964 18,290 2,210 5,400 5,270 2,990 2,420 4.6%
1965 19,390 2,370 6,470 5,430 2,550 2,570 4.5%
1966 20,140 2,480 6,920 5,760 2,440 2,540 3.5%
1967. 19,880 2,520 5,940 6,760 2,260 2,400 4.1Z
1968 20,680 2,440 6,210 7,550 2,040 2,440 3.7%
1969 21,500 6,690 7,560 1,970 2,500 4.1%
1970 18,800 2,800 7,300 7,160 1,900 2,460 5.0%
CA 1971 18,570 2,780 7,470 6,680 1,870 2,420 .5.5%
1972 19,950 3,440 7,420 7,640 1,810 2,580 3.9%
1973 20,480 3,380 8,200 7,360 N/A N/A 2.6%

6ource: Profile N. C. Counties, March, 1975

Table 8 AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS PER WORKER

Year Craven Carteret Pamlico Pitt Jones Beaufort Lenoir N.C.

1963 63.34 @$55.69 $35.10 $ 67.01 $52.98 $ 55.98 82.94 $ 76.36

1967 80.35 64.28 47-91 79.17 67.34 81.04 97.67 92.77

1971 108.19 89.80 58.46 104.56 80.86 105.88 117.74 12006

1973 119.23 97.55 79.20 119.16 88.25 114.27 .28.87 134.49

Source: Profile N. C. Counties, March 1915, N. C. Department of
Administration, Office of State Budget and Management,
Research and Development Section.

Table 9 RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Year Beaufort Carteret Craven Jones Lenoir Pamlico Pitt N.C.

1963 6.0 10.5@ 5.1 6.2 6.8 8.0 6.4 5.2

1967 4.3 6.6 4.1 3.5 4.8 7.3 5.1 3.4

1971 3.8 5.3 5.5 6.1 4.5 5.2 5.1 4.8

1973 3.2 4.3 2.6 5.9 4.2 6.8 4.1 3.5

Source: Profile North Carolina Counties

Table 10 RETAIL SALES

1963-64 1969-70 1973-74

Craven County 1,657,250 2,850,855 4,071,850

Percent Increase -- 72% 43%

North Carolina 161,049,132 273,161,758 420,987,113

Percent Increase 70% 54%

While inflation must be considered when comparing retail

.sale's from one period to another, it does not account totally-

for-an increase of almost three times as many sales from 1963-
.1964.to-1973-1974. The percentage of increase is about identical

to the percentage-of increase state wide. See Table 10 on the

preceeding page.

Economic statistics for the area indicate that New Bern

and Craven County's economy-is sound. Economic growth is

occurring and is expected to continue growing in the foresee-

able future.

HOUSING

According to a survey by city personnel in April of 1975,

there are a total of 5,420 housing units within the City of

New Bern. Of this total, 87.60 percent are in standard con-

dition. Six hundred and seventy-two of these units, 12.40

percent, are in substandard condition. Of these substandard

units, 249 units, or 4.59 percent of New Bern's total housing

stock, need replacement. Rehabilitation can bring the remain-
ing 423 units up to standard condition. See Table 11.

Table 11 SURVEY OF HOUSING CONDITIONS

April, 1975 City of.New Bern

Total Percent

Housing Units in City 5,420 100.00

Units in Standard Condition 4,748 87.60

Units in Substandard Condition 672 12.40

Units suitable for rehabilitation 423

Units needing replacement 240 ---
Source: Holdharmless Application-Community Development
Revenue Sharing. New Bern, N.C.

In settling a priority for a rehabilitation program,
attention should first be given to substandard occupied
units. In April, 1975, there were 257 occupied units in

substandard condition. At that same period, forty-six

standard units were vacant. The enforcement of a housing
code would have helped fill these forty-six standard units
while reducing--the total occupancy of. -sulFstandard
units. Tablel.2 gives a more detailed look at the figures.

Table 12 SURVEY OFIHOUSING CONDITIONS

April, 1975

Occupancy Status and
Condition of Housing Units Total

Occupied units: Total 4,969

Substandard 257

Standard 4,758

Vacant units: Total 461

Substandard 415

Standard 46

Total occupied and vacant units 5,420
Source: Holdharmless Application-Community Development,
New Bern, N. C.

In the April, 1975 survey, a card was prepared for

each ho using unit within the city. Each substandard unit
is marked on the card and recorded by street address. To
date, these units have not been mapped.

Because these substandard units have not yet been
mapped,.attention is directed to the 1970 census data for
a closer look at the location within the city which needs

improvements in housing.

There were nineteen enumeration districts within the*

city for.the 1970 census. Boundaries of these districts

are shown on Map 1. The total number of units in 1970

was.listed at 4,958, a slight difference between the 1975

survey by the City of New Bern. The total number of

housing units in each enumeration district is shown on

Table 13.

The districts which have the greatest percentage of

overcrowding are 21, 15, 24, and 14. The percents of

units which are overcrowded are 24.6, 13.7, 12.3, and

11.8 respectively. An overcrowded unit is defined as a

unit with more than 1.01 persons per room. The districts
with.the least overcrowding are 20, 23, 30, and 18. Each
of these have an overcrowding percent of 1.3, 2.4,, 3.1,

and 3.5 respectively. See Table 14.,

In order to compare the housing conditions within

the city by enumeration districts, a system for comparison

was devised. There are nineteen enumeration districts

within the city. For this comparison, enumeration dis-

trict 25 was eliminated because it does not have any

housing. District 16B was eliminated because of incomplete

data; the boundary for 16B was not shown on the enumera-

tion district map. Each of the remigining seventeen dis-

tricts was compared, based on a ranking system. For each

social indicator shown in Table 14, the score one was

I
assigned to the enumeration'district which has the least

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ENUMERATION DISTRICTS
MAP 1
lost 1970 CENSUS

all-

Table 13 CITY OF NEW BERN
Housing Units
1970

Enumeration Total Owner Total Renter
District Occu hics
pied Units Occupied Units Total U

13 240 125 365

14 156 J.66

15 110 95

16 246 46 292

16B .75 11 66

17 322 128 450

18 180 22

19 151 132 283

20 127 33 160

21 2 356 358

22 196 138

23 144 110

-7
24 52 265

25 0 0 0

26 95 134 229

27 170 195 365

28 55 221 276

29 69 165 234

30 110 1.16 22, 6

Total 2,500 2,458 4,958

Source: U. S. Census

Table 14 SOCIAL INDICATORS NEW BERNj NC

ENUMERATION DISTRICT 13 14 15 16 16B 17 18 19 20. 21

Overcrowding Index 4.109 11.801 13.658 5.136 4.000 3.465 4.593 1.250 24.581

Incomplete Plumbing 3.561 24.534 33.170. 1.027 .990 .353 .625 .837

Average Monthly Rent $68 $51 $50 $93 $88 $88 $122 $120 $72 $45
Average Rent/Room $12 $10 $8- $17 $17 $17 $21 $29 $15 $10

Average Value $12,667 $8,318 $10,757 $19,632 $X89325 $15p299 $21p467 $159518 $16g6O7

Owner-Occupancy Rate 65.753 48-447 53.658 84.246 87.209 71,555 89.108 53.356 79.375 .558
Vacancy. Rate 8.060 5.847 10.480 7.006 15.6H 4.255 1.884 1,736 9.604. 1.104

Average Unit Size 5.838 4.950 5.113 5.512 5.176 5,276 5,451 4,746 5.802 4.234

Long Vacancy 37.500 5.000 62.500 4.545 100-000 15.000. .16.666 --- 11.764@

Table 14 Continued SOCIAL INDICATORS NEW BZWj IC

ENUMERATION DISTRICT 22 23 24 25 '26 27 28 29 30
Overcrowding Index 9.580 2.362 12.302 7.860 6,027 6.159 6.410 3.097
Incomplete Plumbing 18.263 1.181 36.277 44.104 13.972 7.971 11.965 8,849
Average Monthly lent $51 $84 $44 $41 $5?. $48 $48 $64
Average Rent/Rom $10 $18 $9 $9 ;10 $U $11 $13
Average Value $101,461 $19,867 $9g979 $60656- $13,296. $180418 $1 2g431 $230083
Owner-Occupancy late 58.682 56.692 16.403 41.484 46.575 19.927 22.487 48.672

Vacancy Rate 6.442 7.971 12.912 10.894 12,679 17.857 13,970 8.870

Long :Vacancy 13.043 4.545 6.382 46. 462 35.049 21.666 2.631 18.181

Average Unit Size 5.182 5.728 4.673 4,640 5,576. 4,386 4,886 59520

housing defect. The score of seventeen was assigned to the
district which has the gre&i,,.eat defei-t. All districts in
between these two were scored in their respective order.

This system allows the tabulation of the total social

indicators. Based on this system, th,,-,, following enumera-
tion district scores were.obtained. (Table'15 ).. The

lower the tabulated score, the better the i:verall housing
conditions are fqr thit district. The system rates the

general conditions and should not be used for a detailed

comparison of one district with another.

Table 15 GENERAL HOUSING CONDITIONS
By Enumeration Districts

Enumeration District Comparative Score

18 17
17 31
19 31
16 34
23 36
70 37
30 50
13 55
22 73
21 74
27 78
14 80
28 80
29 87
15 93
26 103
24 110

The above comparative-system is based on data from.the 1970

U. S. Census.

The City of New Bern will receive funds totaling $1,892,000.
under the Community Development Revenue Sharing Program for
construction of facilities *ithin the City of New Bern.
These funds total $473,000 for FY 1975-1976. The major
focus of this program is to improve the quality of housing

in the city.

The Long-Term Objectives of this program are as follows:

The elimination of dilapidated housing units through urban rendval
and code enforcement. 'Those units which are now vacant may be re-
moved at.little cost through basic code enforcement. A portion of
the dilapidated units must,be removed through urban renewal, meaning
acquisitiotk,relocation and demolition. The New.Bern Housing Author-
ity is prepared to reserve spaces in public housing for those people
displaced through these activities.

The rehabilitation or elimination of substgndard housing units through-
out the city through the enforcement of minimum housing codes, private
compliance with assistance from local, state, and federal agencies in
the financing of rehabilitation projects and outright loans or grants
from the city for a project of thatnalture. Urban Renewal will in
some cases also be used as A tool to upgrade the quality of those.
housing units found to be substandard.

The elimination of all inadequate streets within the City of New
Bern and providing paved streets with adequate rights-of-way.
Curbing and gutters to pr6vide sufficient drainage. Priority
will be given to those areas of low and middle income families,
especially where urban renewal or strict code enforcement activities
are taking place.

Ilie elimination of.all inadequate sewer and water Lirmspresently
serving citizens of New Bern and the provision fok#deq'uate' sewer
and water lines to insure that every citizen of the city receives this,
service. Priority will be given to those areas of low and middle in-
come families, especially where urban renewal activities of strict
code enforcement are taking place.

The elimination of inadequately lighted areas of the city which would
benefit from improved lighting by adding street lights where neces-
sary to aid in the prevention of accidents and general public safety.
Priority will be given to those areas of low and middle income families,
especially where urban-renewal or strict code enforcement is taking
place.

-3'2.

The elimination of surface drainage problems wherever possible by
cleaning and maintaining open drainage ditches and by tiling those
drainage ditches where possible. Improved drainage would also aid
in eliminating flood control problems.

The provision of adequate and accessible recreational facilities and
services to all the citizens of New Bern through the expanding and
equipping of euisting facilities as'well.as the provision of,Additional
areas for recreational activities, primarily for the low and
middle income families and the senior citizens.

The elimination.of artificial barriers to those citizens of the City
of New Bern who are handicapped in some wky through the establishment
of a policy to-prevent the construction of barriers in the future and
the elimination (vhere possible) of barriers which are how existing.
Priority will be given to those public facilities or areas which are
found to be the greatest barriers or frequented most by handicapped
persons.

The preservation of Histor*c Sites, areas and features in the City of
New Bern through.cooperation with the Historical Society of New Bern
and th6 North Carolina Department of Cultrual Resourceas The city,
wharever possible, will be responsive to the use of publiq And private
funds for the restoration and maintenance of the Ristor*c Sites, areas
and featutes which are so such a part of New Bern.

The funds will be used in the following ways:

CURRENT SUBSEQU
EN UME RATION PROGRAM PROGRAM
rMEET & ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION DISTRICT.. YEAR YEARS

1. Acquisition, relocation & demolition
of blighted area south of New South
Front Street
.a. Property acquisition ED 24 $64,000 $128,000
b. Relocation ED 24 7,500 13,500
c. Demolition ED 24 6,000 7,000

2. Rehabilitation of substandard dwelling
north of'New South Front Street
through grants and/or loans
a. 100 houses @ $3,450 ED 24 --- 340,500

3. Paving, curb and gutter, sewer &
other improvements north of New
South Front Street
a. Engineering & Planning ED 24 87,450 147,050

Elimination barriers to the handicapped
a. Install elevator in City Hall 'ED 30 86,490 -0-

S. Improve city services
a. Expand street lighting ED's 21, 22,
23, 24, 28, 30 10,000 36,480

6. Expand & equip recreation center
a. Expansion
b. Equipment ED 22 64,600 -0-

7. Historic preservation
a. Renovate Attmore-Oliver House ED 28 20,000 101,280
b. Move James Davis House ED 28 7,000 -0-
c. Parking lot. ED 28 3,500 -0-

8. Se nior Citizens Center
a. Purchase, renovate, & equip ED 27 39,160 54,440

9. Planning & Administration ----- 47,300 142,200

This is a five-year program., It wil.1 do much to improve housing

quality in the City of New Bern.

The city, also has a public housing program which is not a part

of the Commitnity Development Program. The housing authority has

units within two sites, all are occupied.

EXISTING LAND USE

t Prior to the 1940's, the city was a compact unit with

the central business district as a focus.. Few residents

lived beyond walking distance of the central business dis-

trict. The water front of both the Neuse and Trent Rivers

provided harbors for the movement of goods. Commercial,
industrial and warehousing were the dominant land uses

adjacent to the water front areas. Since that time, the

automobile has allowed the New Bern growth area to spread

in all directions.

There is a total of 2,752 acres of land area within

the City of New Bern. In the city's extraterritorial
jurisdictional area, there are an additional 3,810 acres.

This gives a total of 6,562 acres of land within the city's

planning jurisdiction. Seventy-eight percent of the land

within the city is developed while only forty-nine percent

of the land in the extraterritorial area is developed.

See Table 15.

The largest existing land use classification within the

city is Residential. Fourteen hundred and forty-nine acres
are used for this purpose. The average density for this
area is 9.61 people per acre. The average number of dwelling
units per acre is 3.74. Within the extraterritorial juris-

dictional area, 642 acres are used for residential purposes.

Housing units for this area total 1,.075. The average density

is 1.67 dwelling units per Residential acre. The average

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CITY OF NEW BERN, N. C.
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Table 15 EXISTING LAND USE
NEW BERN PLANNING AREA

Inside. City 9xtraterritorial Area Total
Acres Percent Acres Fe*r'ceht Cct'ea Fercent.
Residential L449 53 642 @7 2091 32
Recreational 51 2 10 0.4 61 1
Institutional 255 9 21 0.6 276- 4
J Commercial 268 10 118 3 386 6
Industrial 90 3 255 7 345 5
Transportation,
Communication, and
Utilities --- --- 63 1 63 1
Undeveloped 639 '23 2*701 71 3340 51
Sub Total 2752 100% 3810 100% 6562 100%
Water Surface 4:16 416
Total 3168 6978

number of people per residential acre is 5.01.
Commercial development presents the major land use
problem for the City of New Bern. Ten percent, 268
acres, id devoted to commercial activity. More than
five percent of the total land area of a-city used for
commercial development is considered high.
Only 29 acres of the commercial development is within
the central business district. Most of the remaining 239
acres are developed as strip commercial and are located along
major traffic routes. With the exception of two and one-
half blocks, the entire length of U. S. Highway #70 through
New Bern is zoned for strip commercial. A similar develo-

ment pattern is emerging along U. S. Highway #17. Develop-
ment of.this type chokes the carrying capacity of major thru-

streets and creates hazardous traffic situations.

Once strip commercial becomes established upon a street,

it becomes very@difficult to contain. The major problem in

containing strip commercial is@that vested interest in the

development by usually influential people within a neighbor-

hood. One possible way of containing strip commercial is

buffering the area with transition zoning, such as institw@.

tional or multi-family from the adjacent single family areas.

Another technique is to extend the strip.commercial area to a
good natural boundary and to refuse the approval of rezoning

requests past that boundary.

Only ninety acres within-the city are devoted to indus-
trial activity. Within the extraterritorial area, 255,acres

are devoted to industrial uses. The four largest industries.

within the New Bern economic area are located outside the
city's planning jurisdiction.

Land devoted to Recreational uses for the city totals
fifty-one acres, or two percent of the city's,tota.1 land

area. Within the extraterritorial area there are an

additional tan acres. The need for additional recrea-

tional areas and facilities was a leading issue in the
city's public participation program.
Within the city, there are 639 acres of undeveloped

land. Two hundred and.forty-five acres of this total
are wetlands and cannot be developed. Forty-one acres

of the total undeveloped land are below the 100-year

flood level. Development can take place within this

area provided construction techniques are used which
minimize possible.flood damage. The remaining 598 acres
can be developed if consistent with.standard buildin@g,prac!"':

N
tices that are Applicable for soil.conditions typical

of the New Bern area.

For the sake of convenience, the acreage devoted to
streets and roads was not tabulated. Land use for commu-

nication and utilities made up the major portion of the

sixty-three acr es identified in this classification.

42,

Although not inctuded in the land use,calculations, the
New Bern City limit does include a portion of the Neuse and
Trent Rivers. Total acreage of water surface coverage is
416 acres. This raises the total planning area acreage for

Now Bern to 6,978 acres.

The area within the city's planning area most likely to
experience major-land use change is the undeveloped area east
of and along Race Track Road. Within the next ten years, this

area is likely to be developed with a combination of residentiAl

and commercial uses. The area west of Race Track Road will

likely be developed as a combination of residential and indus-

trial uses.
There are approximately 2,000 vacant lots within the city's
planning area.

CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND.REGULATIONS

Transportation Plan

A key consideration in any Land Use Plan is the Trans-

portation System. The City of New Bern had a Transportation
Plan pre pared in 1964. Currently the Department of Trans-

portation is updating the.1964 Plan.

The city's Plan is based on a minor and major thorough-
fare concept. Minor thoroughfares are the more important

streets in the city's system and perform the function of

collecting traffic from residential, commercial, or indus-

trial streets. These minor thoroughfares carry traffic to

major thoroughfares. The major thoroughfares are the heavy

traffic movers and carry traffic both within the city and

through the city. Although these streets do serve abutting
property, their main function is to carry traffic.

The Thoroughfare Plan for the city developed in 1964

is currently being updated. The Plan lists the following

streets a;s major thoroughfares:

1. U. S. Highway 17
2. U. S. Highway 70
3. Tryon Palace Drive-Pembroke Road
4. Oaks Road-National Avenue-Howard Street, Metcalf Street
5. Simmons Street
6. Glenburnie Road
7. First Street

Although all of the streets listed above are not currently
major thoroughfares, future'construction and alignments will

connect these streets in a logical fashion.

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Based on 1974 average annual 24-hour traffic flow data

from the Norht Carolina Department of Transportation, only

two of the city's thoroughfares are carrying traffic above

their design capacity. These two are Neuse Boulevard and

Oaks Road. Neuse Boulevard is over its design capacity

by 8,200 vehicles per day. Oaks Road is only 2,100 over

its design capacity per day. The capacity and vehicle

loads of each-of the city's thoroughfares-are shown'below.

THOROUGHFARE SYSTEM

Thoroughfare Design Capacity 1974 Vehicle Load*

East Front Street 36,000 16,390

Tryon Palace Drive-
Pembroke Road 5,000 1,900

Trent Boulevard 7,500 4,000

U. S. 17 South-
Simmons Street, 22,300 9,000

Broad Street-Neuse
Boulevard (U.S. 70)-
First Street 160300 24,500

Oaks Road-National
Avenue-Glenburnie Road 3,370 5,500

U. S. 17 North 18,200 9,500

*Annual average 24-hour traffic flow

A new U. S. Highway 70 is being constructed from Dover to

James City. When this new road is opened for traffic
it is

expected to reduce traffic considerably on Neuse Boulevard.

At that time, the daily vehicle load on Neuse Boulevard is

expected to be well within the streets' design capacity.

Community Facilities Plans

The City of New Bern had a Community Facility Report
prepared by the North Carolina Department of Conservation

and Development in the early 1960's. That report is out
of date and needs to be updated as a dynamic Community
Facility Plan.

New Bern.has excellent community facilities and public

services. Since it is the county seat of Craven County,
it has not only almost all of Craven County's
facilities and agencies, but it also has a large number of

joint county.offices and offices of State and Federal

Agencies that serve one or more of the adjacent Redevelopment

Counties.

The Craven County Hospital, a modern 179-bed hospital

located in New Bern, also serves as the principal hospital

facility for Jones and Pamlico County residents since

neither county has a hospital. The Craven County Hospital

is well staffed with approximately 42 medical doctors,

whose specialties cover practically all fields of medicine-

and 56 registered nurses. This hospital provides ambulance

service as a public service to Jones and Pamlico Counties.

A major expansion is under construction. The Neuse Mental

.Health Clinic in New Bern serves a four-county area which

includes Carteret, Craven, Jones., and Pamlico Counties.

The Craven Community College, at New Bern, offers its

full curriculum of vocational and post high school courses

5_1

to the residents of the adjacent Redevelopment Counties.

Constri.action has recently been completed on a new million

dollar,facility for Craven Community College which will
enhance its educational and training capabilities across
the board, As the student body grows, additional expan-

sions are planned.

The New Bern City School System consists of nine
elementary schools and two high schools,all fully accredited.

A recently constructed junior high school building, which

needs a gymnasium to be fully accredited, has a capacity

of 1,040 students,

The New Bern-Craven County Public Library is a Regional
Library serving Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret Counties.

The New Bern Fire Department responds to requests for

assistance from any of the adjacent counties under a mutual
agreement provided by North Carolina statutes, ihis Depart-

ment has three fire stations, twenty-four full-time firemen,

eighty active volunteer firemen, six pumpers, and one aerial

truck, It provides fire protection throughout the City of

New Bern and extends this service to a limited number of

subscribers in the city environs outside the city limits.

Ne're Bern has a Fire Instzr ance Rating of 5.'

The City of New Bern has excellent water and sewage

systems, Both have much greater design capacity than is

now being used to permit extension of these services as

needed for future growth. Water service has been extended.
approximately four miles south of the city limits; water
and sewer service have been extended approximately two miles
wear along Highway U.S. 70
The parks and recreation program for the City of New

Bern provide recreation services to all residents of the

city. Two new Recreation Centers are now under construction.
The Neuse and Trent Rivers also provide recreational activities
tor the people of New Bern.

Utility Expansion Pollcies

The city will extend utilities outside the city limits
at the expense of those desiring services. City policies
relative to providing water and sewer service, and fire pro-
tection, within a reasonable area outside of the city, have
contributed to its growth, and as the growth has occurred,
the city has annexed substantial areas. The last major

annexation occurred in 1969. The city is now considering

further annexation of areas which have become substantially

urbanized.

Under the policies to which reference is made above,
the city has extended water and sewer lines outside its

corporate limits, at the experine of the developer or the-

person or firm to be served. The location of these lines

has had a major impact on growth patterns. More stringent

regulations on the installation of septic tanks have made

these lines more important than ever and, of course, will

result in increased demand on the city to provide these

services.

Installation of these outside lines, at the expense
of the recipient of the service, has enabled thecity to
encourage more rapid development of the property oh the

perimeter of the municipality than would otherwise have

been possible.

In the late 1950's, the city stopped providing free
fire protection beyond the city limits, except for govern-
ment buildings and 2ertain other specified premises. There
was substituted a contractual arrangement, whereby commercial

firms and homeowners might contract with the city for fire

protection on an annual fee basis.

The contract fire protection has now been supplemented

by numerous rural fire departments, supported largely by

special tax levies through the county, so that better fire

protection is now available to all areas outside of the

city.

City policy with reference to utilities and fire pro-

tection has been a,major factor in the location of major

industries and large commercial firms within the extra-

territorial jurisdiction of the city.

The city plans to institute an annexation program,

within the near future, enabling it to bring into the city

much of the area which its policies havebeen responsible for

developing.

Open Space and Recreation Areas

The city is dedicated to the principle of providing
open space. The result of this policy can be found in
its recreational facilities. Existing parks are:

Glenburnie Park

Fort Totten

Pierce Park

Kafer Park

Tryon Village Playground

Trent Court Playground

Craven Terrace Playground

Jaycee Park

In addition to these parks, the city has four recreation

centers. These are':

West New Bern Recreation Center

D.E. Henderson Recreation Center

George Street Recreation Center

Cedar Street Recreation Center

'Consideration is being given to converting the George Street

Recreation Center into a senior citizens facility..

The city plans to increase its ppen space by adding
Lawson Creek Park, an area of 100 acres. Boat ramps
have already been installed at the.proposed park. Currently
the city is reserving funds for the parks development.

Prior Land Use Plans

In 1962, the North Carolina Department of Conservation

and Development prepared a Land Development Plan for the city
under a "701" grant. That plan indicated that the city was

growing steadily. It projected a population of 15,908 per-

sons by the year 1980.. In 1975, the North Carolina Department

of Administration estimated the population to be 16,710.

Growth has occurred slightly faster than expected in the

1962 Plan.

In 1962, forty-one percent of the city was developed

as residential. Today fifty-three percent of the city is

developed as residential. That Pl'an indicated that a high

percentage of the city was commercial. Today the percentage

of commercial land is still high, with a great deal of the

commercial acreage being strip commercial.

Future space requirements were also projected in the

1962 Plan. By 1980, the city would need 152 acres foi

industrial development. Today in the planning area, 345

acres are used for industrial purposes. The 1980 commer-

cial space needs were projected to be 128 acres. Today

386 acres are used for commercial purposes within the

planning area. A future Land Use Map was also presented

in the 1962 Plan. -The 1975 Existing Land Use map agrees

with the 1980 projection within the 1962 Land Development

Plan.

Prior Land Use Policies

Within the 1962 Plan, seven basic long-range planning
objectives were formulated to help guide New Bern's develop-
ment. The following 1962 Community Planning Objectives were
general enough to permit flexibility, yet specific. enough
for the purpose of giving direction to New Bern's Land Use

Planning program.

1. The integration of compatible land uses and the

separation of incompatible uses in order to promote the most

appropriate utilization of the land.

2. Economic development through the provision of adequate

space for industrial sites in proper locations with good accessi-

bility, adequate utilities, room for expansion, and proper

controls to allow for protection from any detrimental effects

of other land.uses.

3. Development of outlying commercial areas primarily

for convenience goods and highway services, with the central

business district continuing to serve the regional trade area.

4. Provision of well-designed residential neighborhoods,

free of scattered commercial and industrial uses, with good

residential-area design of lots and streets, convenient shop-

ping areas, ample local parks and playgrounds, and appropriate

community facilities.

5. An improved system of major streets and highways,

connecting the various land uses in such a way that both

people and goods can be moved rapidly and efficiently through-

out the urban area.

6. Encouragement of a concentric growth pattern away
from the city center in order to prevent "Leap Frog" develop-

ment which results in replanning and added costs for municipal

services.

7. Provision of adequate water system, sewerage system,

fire protection, police protection, refuse collection, et-

cetera, so that the urban area can receive the highest level

of municipal services with tconomy and efficiency.

In addition to the plans discussed in this section, a

Population and Economy study, a Neighborhood Analysis, a

Recreation plan, a Public Improvements-program, and a Develop-

ment plan was prepared for New Bern by the State in the early

1960's.

LOCAL REGULATIONS

Zoning Ordinance

The City of New Bern began enforcing zoning on June 2,

1.953. On March 5, 1968, the city adopted a new zoning ordi-

nance. With the exception of a few minor revisions, the

1968 ordinance is currently being enforced. The ordinance

is co,,Jified under the Code of Gener*al Ordinances of the

City of New Bern as Article II, Chapter I. The city is

divided into thirteen (13) districts with designations as

listed:

RA-15 Residential District

RA-10 Residential District

RA-10A Residential District

RA-8 Residential District

RA-6 Residential District

0 & I Office and Institutional District

B-1 Central Business District

B-2 Central Business District

B-3 Commercial District

B-4 Neighborhood Business District

B-4A Neighborhood Shopping Center District

I--1 Industrial District

1-2 Industrial District

With the exception of some "overlap," each di'strict

is mutuaily exclusive. The R-15 Residential district is

the least dense residential zone. It is restricted to

single family units and only requires 15,000 square feet

in each residential lot with a minimum lot width of 100

feet. The renting of one room is allowed in a residential

structure within the district, provided no external evidence

of such rental. is created. The disLrict also has a pro-

vision limiting the total roof area to not more than

thirty percent (30%) of the total lot area. The pro-

visions of this area appear reasonable and do not adversely

affect the existing development pattern for the city.

RA-10 is similar to t-he RA-15'except that it allows

two family dwellings on each lot. For each two family

unit, a lot area of'15,000 square fe.et is required. The

gross density allowed by the district is 3.6 units per

acre foi single family development and 5.0 units per acre

developed for duplex units. Most of the land within this

district has been developed as one family units. In

order to allow a reduction of lot size, thereby trying

to reduce the housing cost, and also to maintain the

high standards of the R.A-15 district, consideration

should be given to eliminating the two family unit

from the RA-10 district. If this is done, a person

could purchase a smaller lot which has enforcement of

a single family only through the city codes. The

city has an R-10A district which allows two family and
multi-family use.

The RA-10A district is identical to the RA-10 district

except that multi-family dwellings are allowed. The dis-

trict requires 10,000 square feet for the first unit and
5,000 square feet for each additional unit. The gross

density on a ten acre tract is eight and six-tenths units

per acre. The.district only requires one parking space

per dwelling.

Similar to the RA-10A district is the RA-8. It

allows single family and multi-family units. For each

dwelling unit, 8,000 feet is required for the first unit

and an additional 4,000 feet for each additional unit.

Single family development is allowed at a maximum of 4.5

units per acre. Multi-family is allowed at 10.8 units

per acre.

The RA-6 district allows single family, multi-family,

and mobile home parks. Each lot must' contain at least

6,000 square feet for the first dwelling unit and 2,000

square feet for each additional unit. The gross density

for a single family is permitted at 7.3 units per acre

and 22.5 units per acre for multi-family.

The 0 & 1, Office and Institutional District, was

established to permit residences, offices, and.clinics.

It is used as a buffer between residential and commercial

districts.

The B-1 Central Business District was established for

the purpose of acconunodating business-activity within the

CBD area. Multi-family units are allowed within the CBD.

When comparing the B-2 Central Business District with

the B-1 Central Business District, the purpose of the B-2

seems to overlap. The districts are different only in that

B-21allows mobile home parks but does not allow churches,

schools, multi-family, manufacturing, and sewing rooms.

Consideration should-be given to whether B-2 is or is

not needed.

The B-3 Commercial District is responsible for most

of the existing land use difficulties within the city's

planning area. Its purpose states' that B-3 is to be

located on the city's major radial highways. If B-3

is used in this mann.er,.priinary consideration must be

given to highway saf'ety. Without this consideration,

development within this district may betray the purpose
of zoning; namely, the health, safety, and welfare of

the City of New Bern.

B-4, Neighborhood Business District, was developed

to serve nearby residential areas. Mobile home parks

are allowed within the district. The uses herein also

overlap with other commercial districts.

Within the B-4A, Neighborhood Shopping Center

District, the uses listed are similar to the other

coi-.,miercial districts within the city. A. minimum

shopping center size required by this district is two

acres. in considering a requrest for a B-4 shopping dis-

trict, a plan review is required. The district also

provides that the property will revert to its former

zoning if construction is not begun within one year.

The I-1, Industrial District, is defined as a

light industrial district within the Ordinance; how-

ever, many of the permitted uses are heavy. An example

of these heavy uses are manufacturing of boats, grain

elevators, lumber yards, machine, and welding shops.

Mobile homes, parks, and retail businesses are allowed

in the I-1 district.

The 1-2, Industrial District is identical to the

I-1 district except that there are additional heavy

industrial uses allowed.

In summary, the residential districts seem reason-

able except for a few mirior provisions. The commercial
districts seem to overlap because there is very little

difference between each district.

Subdivision Regulation

The City's Subdivision-Ordinance was adopted on

January 1, 1962. The ordinance jurisdiciton includes

both the city and the extraterritorial area. The city

is currently setting up the mechanism for the extra-

territorial enforcement.

Several aullendments should be made to the subdivision

ordinance. These include:

1. Section 2 Jurisdiction. The section should be

revised to refer to the extraterritorial area

adopted by the city. It is not simply a one-

mile radius described in this section.

2. Section 8-A. Compliance with the official*plans.

G. S. 160A-372 allows cities to require.dedica-
tion of recreation areas s@rving residents of

the immediate neighborhood. School boards may

reserve school sites eighteen months rather than

twelve months as listed in the section.

3. Section 10-A (2) Definitions. The five acre

exemption plan regulation needs to be changed

to a ten acre exemption regulation.

4. Section 12-A. Design Standards. The regulation

requires that the street design of a proposed

subdivision should conform to the official plans

or maps for New Bern. The ordinance should

specify exactly which plans new subdivisions

should comply with.
5. Section 12-B (31). Design Standards.. This para-

graph allows a reduction in lot size from 20,000

to 10,000 square feet where water, but not sewerage

is available. In such areas, the County Health

Depart-ment has jurisdiction. The current regula-

tion does not allow a septic tank on a lot this small.

6. Section 12-B (7). Design Standards. This section

states that the depth and width of properties should

be such that a sufficient amount of off-street parking

be acquired for the development contemplatedby the

owner.. This section -needs to be more specific.

There may be other amendments necessary to the subdivision

regulations not listed-above. Most of the provisions of

the subdivision ordinance are reasonable and are to be

administered in a beneficial manner to. the City of New

Bern.
The city has also adopted the North Carolina State

Building Code. It has not yet adopted a local floodway

ordinance, a septic tank regulation, a historical district

regulation, a dune protection ordinance, a sedimentation

code, or an environmental impact statement ordinance.

FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS

This section has not yet been provided by the North

Carolina Department of Natural and Econimic Resources.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONACTIVITIES

MAJOR LAND USE ISSUES

Under the planning requirements of the State, an identi-
fication and analysis must be made of the following major land

use issues:

1. The impact of the population and economic trends.
2. The provision of adequate housing and other services.

3. The conservation of productive natural resources.

4. The protection of important natural environments.

5. The protection of cultural and historic resources.

In addition to these major'issues, the citizens, through the
city's public participation program identified the following

major issues.

6. The desire to expand job opportunity.

7. The desireto improve developed recreational facilities.

During the past, growth trends for the New Bern area have

been steady since the early 1700's. This growth has experienced

few growth explosions. The gradual growth trend is expected

to continue into the next quarter century. Because of the

desire for greater job opportunity, efforts are being made

to increase employment. Craven County has established an

industrial recruiting organization. The City of New Bern is

willing to cooperate with the County in providing necessary

services for industrial development.

Under normal conditions, a growth in population would

likely increase the number of people living in substandard

housing units. The city has taken steps to reverse this

expected trend. Under the Community Development Program,
100 substandard units,will be rehabilitated. This will re-

duce the current number of occupied substandard housing units.
The major productive natural resources are the city's

rivers-the Neuse River and the Trent River. These two rivers

provide a tremendous recreational benefit to the area. The

Neuse River is approximately a mile wide at New Bern ' and

is classified as "C" waters. Trent River, at New Bern, is

"C" waters. The city's sewage treatment plant discharges
effluent into the Neuse River. The present level of treat-

ment is approximately ninety percent. Based on current
discharge standards, the New Bern sewage treatment plant's
effluent quality is one of the highe.st in North Carolina.
Through large capital investments in the sewage plant,
the present quality of surface water will be maintained.

The plant bas a reserve capacity to serve approximately

10,000 additional persons.

Another productive natural resource within the plan-

ning.area is the limestone quarry located west of Glenburnie

Road. Work at the quarry began during the late 1-950's by

Superior Stone Company. That company recently sold the

quarry to the Martin-Marietta Company. Today, the quarry

covers almost 200 acres and is a center for limestone for

a three county area. Because the quarry Iis located in a

relatively undeveloped area, there has been little conflict

with adjacent property owners. The quarry is not a land use

planning issue.

The important natural environments within the New Bern

planning area are the Neuse and Trent Rivers and the upland

marsh areas. The protection of the Rivers was discussed in

the above productive natural resource section. The marsh

areas adjacent to the Neuse and Trent Rivers are being

protected by the State of North Carolina.

ALTFIRNATIVES

The.alternatives for development of New Bern were presented
to the citizens tbrough a questionnaire. In determining the
development alternatives, the question was asked as to wh at

is liked best about New Bern. Next, as to what is liked least

about New Bern. Public opinion.wa s also soli6ited concerning

job opportunity and ideal future size for the city. Attention

was also directed as to whether the city should encourage the

development of a "Williamsburg-Old Salem' commercial/residential

area. Alternatives for the development of.the Urban Renewal

area were also considered. Choices were also made in the desire

for commercial.development.

Although the answers to the questionnaire were varied,

trends in answer s, in most cases, were clear. When asked what

the citizens of New Bern liked best about New Bern, fourteen

percent liked the closeness to water recreation, and nine

percent liked the historical aspects of the area. Eight per-

cent liked the present size of the city. For the question,

"What is liked least about New Bern?" eleven percent complained

about the lack.of recreational facilities, eight percent about

the lack of adequate job opportunities. @To the question con-

cerning the needs of New Bern, twenty-two percent of those

responding asked for better recreational facilities, and an

additional eight percent specifically asked for swimming

pools. Eight percent felt that job opportunity

"7 0

INSIDE CITY RESIDENTS

413 Responses

of Total Responses

Liked most about New Bern 26% Natural resource recrea-
tion
15% Friendly people
10% Historical aspects
Liked least about New Bern 16% Lack of developed recrea-
tional facilities
11% Lack of jobs
Most needed at New Bern 41% Developed recreational
facilities
1@% Jobs
Ideal fully developed population 91% Should grow as necessary
3% Rema@p same size as now
6% Not exceed 28,000 (Average)
Satisfied wirh New Bern development 59% Yes
Satisfied with New Bern zoning 84% Yes
Liked most about downtown New Bern 40% Convenience in shopping
9% Waterfront
Liked least about downtown New Bern 33% Lack of parking
.16% Lack of,adequate shopping
Best use of downtown Urban Renewal
waterfront property 61% Recreation
38% Commercial
Adequate shopping in city 50% Yes
Prefer shopping in a major center
rather than scattered as currently
devuloped 73% Yes
Satisfied with New Bern neighborhood
development _,63% Yes
Satisfied with New Bern neighborhood
zoning 87% 'Yes
Objection to commercial area adjacent
to neighborhood 57% No
Objection to apartment project adjacent
to neighborhood 65% No
Objection to industrial area adjacent
to neighborhood 61% Yes
Objection to recreational facility
adjacent to neighborhood 89% No

EXTRATERROITORIAL JURISDICTION RESIDENTS

111 Responses

% of Total Responses

Liked most about New Bern 36% Natural resource recrea-
tion
10% Friendly people
10% Historical aspects.
Liked least about New Bern 21% Lack of developed recrea-
tional facilities
16% Lack of jobs
Most needed at New Bern 41% Developed recreatioaal
facilities
21% Jobs
Ideal fully developed population 86% Should grow as necessary
6% Remain same size as now
7% Not exceed 24,000 (Average)
Satisfied with New Bern development 63% Yes
Satisfied with New Bern zoning 85% Yes
Liked most about downtown New Bern 31% Shopping
16% Bicentennial park
Liked least about downtown New Bern 36% Lack of parking
13% Parking meters
Best use of downtown Urban Renewal
waterfront property 49% Cownercial
48% Recreation
Adequate shopping in city 51% No
Prefer shopping in a major center
rather than scattered as currently
developed 75% Yes
Satisfied with New Bern neighborhood
development 53% No
Satisfied which New Bern neighborhood
zoning 87% Yes
Objection to commmercial area adjacent
to neighborhood 53% No
Objection to apartment project adjacent
to neighborhood 54% Yes
Objection to industrial area adjacent
to neisliuorhood 57% Yes
Objection to recreational facility
adjacent to neighborhood 89% No
Based on those responses and experience in dealing with develop-

ment problems during the past, the city prepared the following

development objectives:

was the most pressing need. Another seven percent desired
more industry, and five percent isked for public trans-

portation.

An attempt was also made to determine the citizens'

opinions concerning a future ideal size for the City of

New Bern. Ninety-one percent-believed that New Bern
should grow as much as is necessary to meet the needs of

the people who wish to live and work here. Three percent

felt that the city should remain the size it is now, and

six percent felt that it should be allowed to grow, but

within specific limits. Concerning annexation eiehty-
four percent of the citizens of the city saw the need for

an annexation plan. Sixty-one percent of the residents of'

the extraterritorial area felt that the city should develop

an annexation plan.

The desire for jobs was also a major issue within the

questionnaire. When isked, "What does New Bern need that

it does not now have?",the second most asked for issue was

more industry and jobs. Seventy-six percent of the respon-
dents within the city felt that the city -does not have adequate

job opportunities. Ninety-seven percent stated that New

Bern should encourage quality industries to locate in

Craven County. Seventy-six percent of the respondents were

willing to use public funds to provide utilities for

attracting industry.

Regarding the location of shopping areas, Seventy-three

percent of the people responding to the city questionnaire

felt that shopping areas were too spread out over the city.
Although the downtown area was listed as a slightly lower

priority than the Berne Square and Neuse Boulevard areas,

shopping volume listed about even for all three areas. Only

fifty-nine percent of the respondents were satisfied with

the way the city has developed. The positive responses con-

cerning development within each neighborhood was higher..

Sixty-three percent were satisfied with the way their

neighborhood was developed. Eighty-seven percent were

satisfied with the way their neighborhood is zoned.

For a detailed look at the complete questionnaire

tabulation, see the Appendix.

LAND USE OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND STANDARDS

Based on the responses to the quesLionnaire, the Planning
and Zoning Board prepared the following development objective&,.

To promote the development of well-planned residential
areas with quick,.safe access to schools, work and shopping

-7 L4

areas, free from incompatible cormtercial uses, indus-
trial uses, excessive no-iiie, excessive thru traffic,
and unpleasant odors.

To encourage the development of commercial land in planned
commercial patterns rather than in hazardous highway strip
commercial development.
To expand the city's economic base by supporting programs
which will assist in the development of quality industry
within Nem-Bern's economic area.

To provide for a coordinated historical scheme for the
development and adaptive restoration of property within
the City's Historical District.

To encourage the development of the Urban Renewal Area in
such a way as to accommodat-,-2 commercial, recreat4onal,
and cultural activities.

To provide for a vital and dynamic park development program
with consideration given for advanced acquisition of open
space at locations which would have good pedestrian and
vehicular access to residential areas, prior to the,develop-
ment of residential-, commercial and industrial areas.

To develop a drainage program with the purpose of eliminating
damage due to floodLng within the city's planning area.

To develop a street construction program which will effectively
coordinate future development and street patterns with the
dity's thoroughfare plan.

To provide that new development throughout the city's planning
area be connected co the city's services wherever possible.

To work for the renewal of all deteriorated areas within the
city.

To provide for a system for adapted recreational use of exist-
ing surplus land and buildings currently owned or acquired
by the city in the future.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAM

The process used by the Planning and Zoning Board and

Board of Aldermen to determine the development objectives,

policies and standards was to give a thorough review of the

citizens desires expressed the the public participation

prog ram and apply these desires with past experiences to the
development of New Bern. This is the reason the objectives,
policies and standards are expanded slightly beyond the

issues presented by the citizens.

The City's Planning and Zoning Board, consisting of
fifteen member@, has the responsibility of directing the city

planning program. Four of these members are women and five

are black. The Planning Board has a woman chairperson.

Under its director, the Coastal Area Management Act's Pub-

lip Participation program was established. The purpose of

the program has been two-fold. It has served as the key

element in goals and objectives determination, and made

people aware of the overall purpose'of the Coastal Area

Management Act.

Efforts were made to solicit participation from as

many people as possible in the City's Land Use Planning

Process. The people contacted were from all age groups,

all income levels, and all ethnic groups living within the

city's planning area. By participating in the process,

people are more likely to support the implementation of

the plan.

Because of various 'Problems associated with public

hearings, only one such meeting was scheduled. Attendance

at the meeting was not good. The'Planning Board decided that

the best approach was to take its planning program directly

to the people.

In March, 1975, the following Civic clubs were written
requesting an invitation to discuss the City's Planning Pro-

gram under the Coastal Area Management Act.

Craven County Bar Association

Kiwanis Club

New Bern Board of Realtors

New Bern Business & Professional Women's Club

New Bern Civitan Club

New Bern Historical So&iety

New Bern Jaycees

New Bern Lions Club

New Bern Rotary Club

New Bern Woman's Club

Provisional League of Women Voters

Toast Masters Club

From those contacted, invitations were received

from the following:

Date Name 'Number

3/25/7@ New Bern Business & Professional 25
Women's Club

4/1 /75 New Bern Rotary Club 75
4/ 8 /75 Kiwanis Club 40
4/8 /75 Toast Masters Club 15
4/21/75 New Bern Lions Club 40

5/ 1 /75 New Bern Woman's Club 50

5/14/75 New Bern Historical Society 95

The date adjacent to each club is the date on which the

discussion of the city's program was held. The number adia-

cent to each club is the arproximate number of members in

attendance al: that Meeting. The total number of people

.attending these meetings was approximately 340. Either

the Mayor, the Planning Board Chairperson, or the city

officials were present at most of these meetings.

The city's questionnaire, developed by the Planning

Board and Board of Aldermen, has received wide spread dis-

tribution. Five thousand copies of the questionnaire were

printed and distributed through the public school system.

Of these 5,000 questionnaires distributed,'486 were returned

11'rom within the city's jurisdictional area, giving us a

return raLe of 9.7 peicent. Of the 486 returned questionnaires,

413 are from within the city and 73 are from the extraterri-

torial area. We also received 224 from people living within

the Town of Trent Woods and the county,.beyond the city's

jurisdictional area. An additional 120 completed question-

naires were obtained via interview of New Bern citizens by

students of the sociology classes of Craven Community

College. This g2-ves us a total of 606 completed question-

naires-533 from v7ithin the city, 73 from within the extra-

territorial area, excluding those from Trent Woods and

outside the City's PlanniTl@l area. Within the city there

are 4,238 housing units. The city has received returned

questionnaires from 12.6 percent of the homes in New Bern,

or approximately 1,850 people.

To date, at least 8,000 people have been made aware

that a planning program is under way in New Bern as a result

of our public participation efforts under the Coastal Area

Management Act. Each of these people were invited to partici-

pate. These people were contacted in the following way:

Civic Clubs 340

Teachers explaining and distributing
questionnaires 262

Students receiving instructions
concerning questionnaites 5,000

Parents receiving questionnaires- 2,000

Persons answering questionnaires 606

Interviewers from Craven Community
College 95

Total approximate involvement to date 8,303

This total is 56.8 percent of the total population of the City

of New Bern.

There is a great deal of difference between simply being
told about a progra .mIand taking an active part in the development
of said program, If it were not for apathy, the city would
have written responses from most of the people contacted.

Contacts have been made with 56.8 percent of the people of

New Bern. Written responses have been received from 12.7

percent of the households. These facts indicate that the

city has been successful in its Public Participation Program.

CONSTRAINTS

PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

The Coastal Resources Commission has not yet designated

the Areas of Environmental Concern. Because this designation
has not yet taken place, it is not known what areas within

the.city will be designated. Based on description within the
planning guidelines, the following areas within the cilty are
potential Areas of Environmental Concern.

Letter Code

Coastal Floodplains CF

Coastal Wetlands CW

Estuarine Waters EW

Public Trust Areas (Waters) PT

Historic Places HP

These areas are not mapped within this plan because the

boundaries are subjeci--. to change pending designation by the
Coastal Resources Commission. Each of the above potential

Areas of Environmental Concern are given a detailed descrip-

tion in this section. Appropriate land uses are also listed

for each.

Flood Hazard Area-Coastal Floodplains (Potential AEC)

The City of New Bern is l9cated at.the upper end of the

Neuse River estuary system. The city has approximately two

miles of frontage along the Neuse River and approximately
one mile'along the Trent River. Tide-puge records have been
recorded in the Neuse River estuary at various times since
1895. Since October, 1956, the U, S. qeological Survey has

maintained a recording tide-ga4ge at Pew Bern. A review of
these records indicates that tidal effects which occur in

New Bern are due, to.winds only. Stream flows or normal
gravitational effects of.the sun and Won have little effect

on the Neuse and Trent Rivers at New Born. Rainfall creates

some flooding problems within the Jac)@ Smith Creek watershed,
but these are 'not normally severe unless accompanied by a

wind tide.

The greatest flooding known to have occurred in New Bern
in history occurred on September 19, 1955, when Hurricane

Ione stalled in the area east of New Bern for a number of

hours. Waters in the Neuse and Trent Rivers'in the New Bern

area rose to'10.6 feet above average. Accompanying this flood
were winds of 80 miles per hour and a rainfall of 20.04 inches

during a period of approximately 24 hours', Ione caused

approximately Seven Million Dollars dama e in New Bern, most
9

of this damage within the Historic District. Photographs of

this flood, taken in the vicinity of the-intersection of

Middle Street and Tryon P41ace Drive (tl$en South Front

Street) appear on the following Pase.

The next highest wind tide was that which occurred dur-

ing the hurricane which struck during the night qf Septem-
ber 15. 1933. Local information reflects that the height

above average water in the rivers reached 7 fopt 8 inches,

and this also was accompanied by high winds and waves.
Other wind ti4ps which havq caused flooding the the City of

New Bern and surrounding area are shown in Table 16.

Table 16 HIGHEST SEVEN KNOWN TIDE FLOODS IN ORDER OF HAGNITUDE

Maxilaum Maximum
wind Tide 24-Hour
Order Elev. Rainfall Rainfall
No. Dgte of Flood (f eet) (inches) linches)

1 Sept. 19, 1955, Ione 10.6 20.04

2 Aug. 12. 1955, Connie 8.6 8.62 12.98

3 Sept. 15/16, 1933 708" (No record)

4 Sept. 3, 1913 7.7 (No record)

5 Aug. 17, 1955, Diane 7.4 4.44 6.82

6 Sept. 12, 1960, Donna 6.4 4.23 4.51

7 Oct. 15, 1954, Hazel 6.2 1.76 1.92

The U, S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a study

to determine the Intermediate Regional Flood for the New

Bern area. This flood is locally known as the "100-year

flood." An analysis by tho Corps stated that the Inter-
mediate Regional Flood of this type would be about 1.4

RAINFALL FLOODS TIDE FLOODS
_15-

-STANDARD PROJECT FLOOD
-14-
w

w
-1 2--INTERMEDIATE REGIONAL FLOOD
21100 YEAR FLOOD"

-SEPT 1955 TIDE FLOOD(RECORD
w FLOOD SINCE 1900- ESTIMATED
> _10- FREOUENCY OF OCCURENCE IS
0
STANDARD PROJECT FLOOD--- ONCE IN 50 YEARS. I
9-
w
w INTERMEDIATE REGIONAL FLOOD-o-
LL

-.16-STI). PROJECT FLOOD REDUCED
-7
z BY NEUSE RIVER BARRIER PROJ.
0
6 INT. REGIONAL FLOOD REDUCED
w BY NEUSE RIVER BARRIER PROJ.
-i -
w NOTE: RAINFALL FLOOD HEIGHTS 5 - VSEPT. 1955 TIDE FLOOD REDUCED
ARE FOR AREAS SOUTH OF BY NEUSE RIVER BARRIER PROJ.
ATL. & E.C. RAILWAY FILL, 4 -
w
ASSUMING NO CONCURRENT
HIGH -TIDE TYPE FLOOD.

0
0
-1
LL

0 MEAN SEA LEVEL

Chart 2
CORPS OF ENGI N EERS U.S. ARMY
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, DISTRICT
PEAK FLOOD
ELEVATIONS

AT
NEW BERN AND VICINITY. N.C.
MAY. 1969

feet higher than that created by Hurricane "Ione." See

Chart 2. The city disagrees with the conclusion reached
by, the Corps of Engineers, for local history and tradition
reflect that the Ione tide was the highest ever experienced

in the New Bern area, and that was created by an aberration

in storm behavior, coupled with the fact that severe rains

during the preceeding four to five weeks created a high water

table and rain-soaked ground before Ione appeared on the scene.

Flooding caused by wind tides usually lasts no more

than ten hours. Hurricane-associated rainfall usually occurs

within a period of twelve hours. Rainfall:type floods within
the Jack Smith Creek watershed are usually'of short duration

unless held in the'area by wind tides. The time would vary,

depending upon amount, duration, and intensity of the rainfall.
The Flood Hazard ar ea for New Bern containa@approximately

2,086 acres.

A flood-t-Alde barrier project was authorized for construc-

tion by Congress imthe Flood Control Act of 1965. This barrier,

to be constructed about eighteen miles below New Bern, would

reduce the."100-year flood" from 12.0 feet to 5..8 feet above

the mean sea level. To date, no funds have been appropriated

by,Congress for the barrier construction. Development is
appropriate within this area provided it is c.onsistent with the

requirements of the Federal Insurance Administration.

SOILS

The soils report for the City of New Bern is currently

being printed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service. It will

be released around May, 1976.. The soils shown in this Plan

were taken from a preliminary USDA soils report.

Table 17 SOILS

NEW BERN

Development
Soil Number Soil Name Suitability

544 (402) Altavista POOR

46 Augusta POOR

860 Bayboro POOR

738B Baymeade FAIR,

BE Belhaven POOR

811 Bibb POOR

CA Capers POOR

CA Carteret POOR

460 (460U).@@ Chipley FAIR

12 Corolla FAIR

558 Craven POOR

DA Dare POOR

11 Duckston POOR

455 (455U) Exum FAIR

1 Fripp FAIR

410 (410U) Goldsboro FAIR

877 (458) Grantham I` OOR

Johnston POOR
371B Kenansville GOOD
704B Kureb GOOD
78B Lakeland GOOD

Leaf POOR
6-4 Lenoir POOR
582 Leon POOR
417 .,Lynchburg POOR
891 Murville POOR
7 Newhan GOOD
352 Norfolk GOOD
415 Onslow FAIR
PA (98) Pamlico POOR
836 Pantego POOR
PO Ponzer POOR
816 Portsmouth POOR
830 Rains POOR,
89 Roanoke POOR
452 Seabrook FAIR
870 Torhunta POOR
552 Wahee POOR
722B Wando FAIR
8 Wasda POOR
The distribution of these soils is shown on the following
$oil maps.

Water Supply Areas

Water supply is provided to the City of New Bern. from
wells located in Cove City, approximately seventeen miles
west of New Bern. These wells pump an extremely high quality.

water from the Tuscalossa formation. The Tuscalossa formation

underliee the Castle Hayne and Black Creek formations in Craven,

Lenoir, Duplin, and eastern Wayne Counties. New Bern,. Kinston,

and La Grange each use water from this formation-. From the

wells in Cove City, water is gravity fed through.a thirty inch
main to the city's pumping station in west New Bern.

Steep Slopes

All of the land within the city'.s planning area is flat.

The elevation-ranges from sea level to twenty-five feet above

sea level.

FRAGILE AREAS

Coastal Wetlands-Other Coastal Marshlands (Potential AEC)

This marshland type contributes to the detritus supply

necessary to the highly productive estuarine system essential

to North Carolina's economically valuable commercial and

sports fisheries.

The higher marsh types offer quality wildlife and water-

fowl habitat depending on the biological and physical conditions

of the marsh. The vegetative diversity in the higher marshes

usually supports a greater diversity of wildlife types than

the limited habitat of th(- low tidal marsh. This marshland

cype d1so serves -n important deterrent to shorel-ire erosion

@specially in those marshes contained heavilty rooted species.

dense system of rhizomes and roots of Juncus roemerianus

are highly resistant to erosion. In addition, the higher

marshes are effective sediment traps.

The City of New Bern has approximately 245 acres of

Coastal Wetlands. These high tidal marshlands are adjacent

t-( the Neuse and Trent Rivers The largest area begins at

Lawson Creek and exten(@s 1.6 miles westward along the north

bank of the Trent River. It has 214 acres. The dominant

plant specie is Cordgrass (Spartina.alterniflora), The

second wetland area is on the west bank of the Neuse River,

east of the Woodrow community It contains thirty-one acres.

The dominant plant specie is Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora).

The boundaries of the above described areas as shown on the

Land Classification map were taken from photographs daLed

August 27, 1975. Both of these wetlands are classified as
Conservation. Appropriate land uses within the Wetlands

include utility easements, fishing piers, docks and othet

similar uses not involving excavation or fill.

Estuarine Wa,ters.(Potential AEC)

Within the city's jurisdiction there are 416 acres of

estuarine waters area. These waters include a portion of

both the Neuse and Trent Rivers. Estuaries are among tae

most productive natural environments of North Carolina. They
not only support valuable commercial and sports fisheries, but
are also utilized for commercial navigation, recreation, and
aesthetic purposes. Species dependent upon estuaries such as
menhaden, shrimp, flounder, oysters and crabs make up over

90 percent of the total value of North Carolina's commercial

catch. These species must spend all or &ome part of their
life cycle in the estuary. The high level of commercial
and sports fisheries and the aesthetic appeal of coastal

North Carolina is dependent upon the protection and sustained
quality of our estuarine waters. Appropriate uses within the

area are those that preserve the estuarine waters so as to

safeguard and perpetuate their biological, economic and

aesthetic values. Highest priority shall be allocated to the

conservation of estuarine waters.. The development of naviga-

tional channels,.the use of bulkheads to prevent erosion, and

the building of piers or wharfs where no other feasible alter-

native exists are examples of uses appropriate within estuarine

waters, provided that such land uses will not be detrimental

to the biological and physical estuarine functions and public
trust rights. Projects which would directly or indirectly
block or impair existing navigation channels, increase shoreline

erosion, deposit spoils below mean high tide, cause adverse

water circulation patterns, violate water quality standards,
or cause degradation of shellfish waters are generally considered

incompatible with the management of estuarine waters.

Public Trust Waters (Potential AEC)

All waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the lands thereunder

from the mean high water mark to the seaward limit of State

Jurisdiciton; all natural bodies of water subject to measurable

lunar tides and lands thereunder to the mean high water mark;

all navigable natural bodies of water and lands thereunder to

the mean high water mark or ordinary high waters mark as the

case may be, except privately owned lakes to which the public

has no right or access; all waters in artifically created

bodies of water in which exists significant public fishing

resources or other public resources, which are accessible to

the public by navigation from bodies of water in which the
public has rights of navigation; all waters in artifically

created bodies of water in which the public has acquired rights

by prescription, custom, usage, dedication or any other ans.

Included in public trust waters are areas such as water-
ways and lands under or flowed by tidal waters or navigable
waters, to which the public may have rights of access or
trust rights and areas which the State of North Carolina may
be authorized to preserve, conserve, or protect under Article

XIV, Section 5, of the North Carolina Constitution.

Historic Places (Potential AEC)

Historic places are defined as historic places that are

listed, or have been approved for listing by the North Carolina

Historical Commission, in the National Register of Historic

Places pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of

1966; historical, archaeological, and other places and properties

owned, managed, or assisted by the State of North Carolina pursu-
ant to G.S. 121; and properties or areas that are designated by,

the Secretary of the Interior as National Historic Landmarks.

Tryon Palace is but one of the historic structures located

within New Bern. Within the Guide to Historic New Bern, North

Carolina, "New Bern/Craven County American Revolution Bicentennial

Commission 1974," there are 139 structures which are architecur-

ally and/or historically significant.

Many of these structures are in the National Register of

Historic Places, February 5, 1975, The National Register list

is shown in Table 18

Table 18

NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES
New Bern, N.C.
February 5, 1975

Attmore-Oliver House Cedar Grove Cemetery
513 Broad Street Bounded by Queen, George,
Cypress, Howard and
Metcalf Streets

Baxter Clock Centenary Methodist Church
323 Pollock Street 209 New Street

Blades, W.B., House Christ Episcopal Church
602 Middle Street and Parrish House
328 Pollock Street

Bryan House and Office Coor-Bishop House
603-605 Pollock Street 501 East Front Street

Coor-Gaston House ases S. Mace House
421 Craven Street 518 Hancock Street

First Baptist Church Masonic Temple and Theater
NW corner of Middel 516 Hancock Street
Street and Church Alley

First Church of Christ, New Bern Academy Buildings
.Scientist 311-313 New Street and 517
406-408 Middle Street Hancock Street

First Presbyterian Church New Bern Municipal Building
N side of New Street be- @Pollock Street at Craven
tween Middle and Hancock Street
Streets

Gull Harbor Rhem-Waldrop House
514 East Front Street 701 Broad Street

Harvey Mansion St. Paul's Roman Catholic
219 Tryon Palace Drive Church
510 Middle Street

Hawks House Simpson-Oaksmith-Patterson
306 Hancock Street House
226 East Front Street

William Hollister House Slover-Bradham, House
613 Broad Street 201 Johnson Street

Thomas Jerkins House Eli Smallwood House
305 Johnson Street 524 East Front Street

Jones-Jarvis House *Stevenson HOuse
528 East Front Street 609-611 Pollock Street

Benjamin Smith House Isaac Taylor House
210.Hancock Street 228 Craven Street

Smith-Whitford House Tisdale-Jones House
@506 Craven Street 520 New Street

Edward R. Stanly Hose *Tryon Palace Reconstruction
502 Pollock Street on South side of Pollock
Street at intersection with
George Street

*John Wright Stanley House York-Gordon House
307 George Street 213 Hancock Street

New Bern.Historic District

*Owned or managed by the State of North Carolina

Because of the vast number of structures entered in the

National Register of Historic Places, central New Bern has
been designated in'. the Register as a historical district.

The Historic District is generally the area of New Bern from

Fleet Street eastward to Neuse River and Queen Street, south-

ward to Trent River. The area is specifically described as:

Beginning at Union Point, at the confluence of the
Neuse and Trent Rivers; going north then northwest along
the west shore of the Neuse River to and including Queen
Street; going southwest along Queen Street, taking in
land and buildings on the northwest side of the street,
to and.including Metcalf Street; going south along Met-
calf Street taking in land and.buildings on the west
side of the street, to and including Broad Street; going
we'st along Broad Street taking in land and buildings on
the north side of the street, to and including Fleet
Street; going south along Fleet Street taking in land
and buildings on the west side of the street to and in-
cluding Pollock Street; going east along Pollock Street,
taking in land and buildings on the south side of the
street to and including Eden Street; south along Eden
Street, taking in land and buildings on the west side
of the street, to the north shore of the Trent River;
east along the Trent River, following the various ir-
regularities of"the wharves and docks along the shore-
line, to the point of the beginning.

Map 4 shows the Historic District boundaries.

Appropriate land uses shall be those which will not

result in substantial irreversible damage to the historic

value of the historic area.

Within New.Bern's planning area there are no outer

banks and dunes, ocean beaches and shorelines, complex

natural areas, areas substaining remnant species, areas con-
taining unique geologic formations or registered national

landmarks.

J3,L
14

0000.00

00,

OL
6

a @Tt,
-A

IVA-
A

J'al

ALL

us Ala

Note: Historical Area from National HISTORIC
Registry of Historic Places.
DISTRICT

AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Productive agricultural lands

Agriculture production is not a major land use within

New Bern planning area. No more than 80 acres are used

for this purpose.

Potentially Valuable Mineral Sites

The City does have a valuable mineral site. Limestone

strip mining has been occurring since the middle 1950's.

Work at the uarry began during the late 1950's by Superior

Stone Company. That company recently sold the quarry to

the Martin-Marietta Company. Today, the quarry covers al-

most 200 acres and is a center for limestone for a three

county area. Because the quarry is located in a relatively

undeveloped area, there has beer.. little conflict with ad-

jacent property owners. The quarry is not a land use plann-

ing issue.

Public-Owned Lands and Other Non-Intensive Outdoor Recrea-
tion Lands

Public owned lands within New Bern are the recreational

areas previously described and local cemeteries.

Privately-Owned Wildlife Sanctuaries

The entire City is a wildlife sanctuary; however, to

date there has not been any land specifically designated

for that purpose.

CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Public water and sewer'service is available throughout

the entire City of New Bern. Service is also currently

available for portions of the extraterritorial planning area.

The service area is shown on Map 5. As development occurs

in other parts of the planALng area, water and sewer service

will be available in these areas also. The expense of pro-

viding service to new subdivisions will be the responsibility

of the development company. A combination of state and

federal funds, local.taxes and assessments will likely be

used to offset expenses for service to existing neighborhoods

in the extraterritorial'jurisdictional area.

The current design capacity of the.wells is six million
gallons per day. Theaverage daily flow is 3.7 million gal-

lo ns. Current storage capacity is 2.3 million gallons. One

million is in elevated storage tanks. An additional four
million gallons 'of ground water sj.-.orage is be-Ing planned.
The system currently serves over '7,000 commercial, industrial

and residential customers. The ciAs@-omers total approximately
16,000 people; 14,000 inside the ci-ly, and 2,000 outside the
city. Based on.current industrial, commercial and residen-
tial usage, the wells have a reserv-_ capaciil-v for an ad.,ji--

tional 10,000 people.

lop dool
Opp 4v-.

000 .000

AU
WATER AND SEWER
SERVIC.E AREA
Map,

Liu

*001.0's

17
Kos

The city's sewage treatment facility is located on the

Neuse River approximately one mile west of the city limits.
It has a design capacity of four million gallons per day.
The daily average flow ranges from 2.3 to 2.5 million gal-
lons. Although some minor improvements will.be necessary
in the near future, the plant has a reserve capacity for an

additional 7,000 people. The plant provides secondary treat-

ment and has a valid discharge permit until 1979.

An Environmental Protection Agency 201 Sewer Facility

Plan has been prepared for the New Bern growth area. The

plan indicates that New Bern plant is in excellent condi-

tion and does not need to be expanded to serve expected

New Bern growth. Expansion will benecessary; however, if

other governmental units connect'to the.New Bern plant.

The EPA 201 Plan lists eight4l ternatives for providing

sewer service to the New Bern growth area. They are as fol-

lows:

1. Expansion of the New Bern Sewage Treatment Plant
to serve adjacent areas. Cost = $209320,000+.
New Bern local Cost = $250,000+.

2. Construction of a new plant in Bridgeton, Trent
Woods and James City. Cost = $20,230,000+.
New Bern local Cost = $250,000+.

3. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Trent Woods
and James City. New plant in Bridgeton. Cost
$20,300,QOO+. New Bern local Cost = $250,000+.

4. Expansion of the New Bern Plant to serve Trent
Woods and Bridgeton. New plant in James City.
Cost = $20,210,000+. New B@rn local Cost
$250,000+.

5. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Bridgeton.
New plant to serve Trent Woods and James City.
Cost = @20,300,000+. New Bern local Cost
$250,000+.

6. Identical to alternative 5, except that new plant
to serve Trent Woods and James City be located in
James City. Cost = $20,350,000+. New Bern local
Cost = $250,000+.

7. Coastruction of new plant in Brid eton and Trent
Woods - James City Cost = $20,490,000+. New
Bern local Cost = @250,000+.

8. Expansion of New Bern Plant to serve Trent Woods.
New plant to be constructed in Bridgeton and James
City. Cost = $20,180,000+. New Bern local Cost
$250,000+.

A decision.has not yet been made as to the best alterna-

tives.

There are nine schools within the New Bern public

school system., Because the number of students vary at each

school on an annual basis, classroom trailers are moved from

school to school depending on current needs. Current en-

rollment is as follows:

Table 19 NEW BERN CITY SCHOOLS
1975-1976 Enrollment

Bangert 472 Trent Park 334
Oaks Road 389 Mar:shall 201
Central 312 Danyus 309
MacDonald 1,154 Barber 634
New Bern High 1,469

Classroom trailers are used at the following schools:

Table 20 NEW BERN CITY SCHOOLS
Number of Classroom Trailers in Use
1975-1976

Bangert 3
Marshall 1
Trent Park 3
New Bern High 6
Oaks Road 8 (to be discontinued at end of current
school year)
MacDonald 2
27

Many of those classroom trailers will be replaced with

permanent structures in the near future. The city's con-

struction program include the following major improvements.

Table 21 NEW BERN CITY SCHOOLS
Construction Program

PROJECT CONSTRUCTION DATE

12 ClassroomAddition to Oaks Road 8chool to
include toilet facilities and expansion of
Media Center 1975-76

Addition to site at Trent Park School 1975-76

Addition to site at Bangert School 1975-76

6 Classroom Addition to Trent Park School 1976-77

6 Classroom Addition to Bangert School 1976-77

Vocational and Physical Education Building
at MacDonald Junior High School 1977-78

The data received from local school officials indicates

that all schools except Danyus and Barber are operating at

above capacity.

Based on 1974 average annual 24 hour traffic flow-data

from the N.C. Department of Transportation, only two of the

city's thoroughfares are carrying traffic above their design

capacity. These two are Neuse Boulevard and Oaks Road.

Neuse Boulevard is over its design capacity by 8,200 vehicles
per day. Oaks Road is only 2,100 over its design capacity.
The capacity and vehicles load of each of the city's thorough-

fares is shown below.

Table 22

THOROUGHFARE DESIGN CAPACITY 1974 VEHICLES LOAD*

East Front Street 36,000 16,390

Tryon Palace Drive-
Pembroke Road 5,000 1,900

Trent Boulevard 7,500 4,000

U.S. 17 South-
.Simmons Street 22,300 9,000

Broad Street- Neuse
Boulevard (U.S. 70)-
First Street 16,300 24,500

Oaks Road-National
Avenue-Glenburnie
Road 3,370 5,500

U.S. 17 North 18,200 9,500

Average annual 24 hour traffic flow.

A new U.S. 70 is being constructed from Dover to James

City. When this new road is epened for traffic, it is ex-

pected to reduce traffic considerably on Neuse Boulevard.

At that time the daily vehicle load on Neuse Boulevard is

expected to be well within the street's design capacity.

ESTIMATED DEMAND

FUTURE POPULATION

The North Carolina Department of Administration pre-
pared the population projections for the City of New Bern.
These p.roj ections were based on erroneous census data and
shows a population decline for the city. The projection
does not agree with data compiled by the U.S. Department

-and local building permit records. For this
of Commerct

reason, the following N. C. Department of Administration

projection is not considered to be correct.

Table 23 Population Proj#ction 1975-2000

Year Population

1975 13,935

1980 13,175

1990 11,637

2000 9,,930

After the projection was made, the Department of Administra-
tion published the.Population Note #2, October, 1975. Within

this Note the 1974 population for the City of New Bern was

estimated to be 16,710 persons. Local recordd indicate that

this figure appd ars to be reasonable.

According to building permit records the average number

of new dwelling units constructed in the city in the past

fifteen years are 45.26 units per year. During the past five

years d emolition s have averaged 22.80 dwelling units per year.

Based on these records, the average net gain in dwelling units
per future five year periods are estimated to be 114 units
or 22.80 units per year. As a beginning point for a popula-
tion projection, the New Bern Public Works Department counted
4,967 ddelling units in May, 1975. The following projection

is based on the above statistics.

Table 24 Population Projection
Based on 1961 thru 1975 C mstruction Trend
Average Net Gain - 22.46 Housing Units Per Year

Occupied Units Population

1975 4,967* 16,710**

1980 5,081 17,072

1985 5,193 17,448

2000 5,530 18,581

2025 6,092 20,469

House count by Public Works, May, 1975.
Estimate by N.C. Dept. of Administration, 1974.

A comparison was ma de between the above projection and
the OBER's projection made by the N.C. Department of Natural

and Economic Resou rces for Craven County. A percentage was

obtained from the 1974 city population and the 1974 county@
projection. The 1974 percentage, plus five percent to allow
for future possible industrial growth, was then multiplied
by each entry in the county projection. This projection is

shown below.

Table 25 Population Projoction
Based on Craven County OBERS Projection
Craven County Projection by DNER

Craven Count y New Bern

1974 65,000* 16,710*

1980 71,200 21,858
1985 74,750 22,948

2000 81,000 24,867

2025 N/A 28,064

*Estimate by N.C. Department of Administration, 1974

By combining the projection based on local building

permit records and Craven County OBER's projections a pro-

jection range can be determined for New Bern.

Table 26 Population Projection
Based on 1961 thru 1975 Construction Trends
and Craven Counr@ OBER's Projections

Range

1980 17,072 - 21,858

1985 17,448 - 22,948

2000 18,581 - 24,867

2025 20,469 - 28,064

This population projection is consistent with the views

expressed by the citizens in the public participation pro-

gram, and is to be considered as the desired future popula-

tion.

Development which is occurring within the city's plan-

ing area is based on city services. The water system has

a reserve capacity for approximately 10,000 people. The

sewer plant can serve an additional 10,000 persons. Soil
conditions within the undeveloped areas of New,Bern s plann-
ing area will not prevent construction. (See the soils sec-

tion of this report). There are no seasonal population in-

creases.

FUTURE ECONOMY

As shown in Chapter One, the economy of New Bern is

growing. New Bern, as other cities, is experiencing a re-

bound from the national slump of 1974.. Craven County has

employed an industrial developer whose purpose is to re-

cruit industry to the area. With'a reserve capacity of

forty percent in the city's sewage treatment plant and ad-

ditional acreage with water and sewer service available..

the probability of new industry locating within New Bern's

economic area appears good. The economy of New Bern is ex-

pected to continue its current growth rate into the fore-

seeable future.

FUTURE INDUSTRIAL SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Only three percent, ninety acres, of the total land

area of the city is devoted to Industrial activity. With-

in the extraterritorial area, an additional 255 acres are

devoted to this purpose. Industrial development in the

New Bern economic area is less than most other cities of

162

relative size. The State average for employLient in indus-
try is over thirty percent of the total,work force. Within
the New Bern economic area, the employment in industry is
less than fifteen percent of the total employment.

Industrial employment in the planning area is increas-
ing at a greater rate than was predicted in the 1962 report*
That, report predicted that 2,028 persons would be employed

in industry by 1980. In January, 1975, industrial employment

was listed at 2,409, 381 employees more than the 1980 pre-

diction. The average increase for 1962 to 1975 has been
21.1"1 industrial employees per year. Most of this increase

was the re'sult of locations in the area of industries which

depend heavily on the national economy. The industries lo-

cated in the New Bern economic are& at a time when the

national market allowed a major industrial expansion. Cur-

rently, very little industrial expansion is taking place.

Industrial expansicn has slowed. This phenomenon makes it

very difficult to project the future land need for indus-

trial growth.

Even though industrial expansion has currently 'slowed,

it is not likely to become static. Table 27 shows the

future space need for industrial expansion based on a growth

rate of one-half, of that during the past eighteen. years.

*Land Development Plan, 1962, prepared by the Division of
C@ .t Service, N.C. Department of Natural and Economic
R=ceys.

in 1962, the number of industrial employees per acre
was 18.8. Currently, there are 7.0 employees for each acre

of industrial land.

Table 27 FUTURE INDUSTRIAL LAND USE
NEW BERN ECONOMIC AREA

Year Acres

1975 345
1980 353
1985 359
1990 366
1995 373
2000 380
2005 387
2010 394
2015 401
2020 4,08
2025 415

This shows an increase of only seventy acres for the next

fifty years. One industry locating-in New Bern could

easily use all of the seventy acres predicted to be neces-

sary dur-ing the next half-century. This fact indicates

the inherent problems of making specific projections for a

smal.l. area using short-term data.

FUTURE COMMERCIAL SPACE REQUIREMENTS

In the 1962 Plan by the Department of Natural and

Economic Resources, it was pointed out that New Bern had

a high percentage of its land allocated for commercial

use, The 1962 average of Kinston, Wilson,and Elizabeth

City of commercial land to total population otherwise have

been located within the city. Local builders have found a

good market in that area, The same market forces which ar,.

operating in the Trent Woods area exist in the west New

Bern area also. In recent years, very little undeveloped
land has been released for residential development. Recent
State regulations regarding septic tanks will make construc-

tion in west New Bern more attractive to local builders.

If present construction trends continue in the New Bern
planning area, there is currently enough land allocated for
residential use for the foreseeable future. The city's
residential area is continuing to grow to the west.

Tab1e 28 FUTURE RESIDENTIAL ACREAGE NEEDS

Year Population Projection Residential Acres*

1980 17,022-21,857 2,127-2,732

1985 17,448-22,948 2,181-2,868

2000 18,581-24,867 2,322-3,108

2025 20,469-28,064 2,558-3,508

@'-The above space requirement is based on the current developed
density of eight persons per acre,

COMMUNITY FACILITIES DEMAND

The city has a suf f icient reserve capacity within the

water and sewer system to accommodate expected growth during

tha next twenty-five years. Within the public participation

a desire for additional developed recreation facili-

ties was expressed. Two new recreational centers are under

construction and a major park is planned at Lawson Creek.

Interest is also growing the construction of municipal swim-

ming pools. The planned facilities are expected to provide

the additional developed recreational facility needed in

New Bern. The cost for swimming pools and improvements at

Lawson Creek has not yet been determined.

Because New Bern already has a reserve in its water and

sewage treatment capacity, the public cost to accommodate

growth during the next.ten years will not be large. The

city has a sufficient tax base to accomodate the additional

cost.

PLAN DESCRIPTION

112

THE LAND USE-PLJAN

The Land Use Plan is made up of several important
elements. The elements are.(l) the development objectives
of the City of New Bern, (2) the planning guidelines of
the Coastal Resources Commission, (3) the thoroughfare
plan of the.City of New Bern and (4) spatial distributions
of various existing land uses of the city.

The Coastal Area Management Act requires that lands

within the jurisdiction of a local government be classi-
fied as Developed, Transition, Community, Rural or Con-

servation. Within New Bern's planning area, only three of
these classes are present; Developed, Transition and Con-

servation. The definitions of eac*h of these three are as

follows:

Conservation--Fragile, hazardous and other lands

necessary to maintain a healthy natural environ-

ment and.that are necessary to provide for the

public health, safety, or welfare. The Conservation

class identifies land which should be maintained

essentially in its natural state and where very

limited or no public services are provided. Lands

to be placed@in the Conservation class are the least

desirable for development because:

1. They are too fragile to withstand,,develop-
.ment without losing their natural value;
and/or

2. They have severe or hazardous limitations
to development; and/or

3. Though they are not highly fragile or
hazardous, the natural resources they
present are too valuable to endanger
by development.

Such lands include:

1. Fragile areas

a. Wetlands

b. Steep slopes and prominent high points

c. Frontal dunes.

Beaches

e. Surface waters including
-Lakes. and ponds
-Rivers and streams
-Tidal waters below mean high water

f. Prime wildlife habitat

9. Unique natural areasand historic and
archaeological sites

2. Hazardous areas

a. Floodways

b. Ocean erosive areas

c. Inlet lands

d'. Estuarine erosive areas

3. Others

a. Publicly owned forest, park, fish and
game lands and other non-intensive outdoor
recreation lands

b. Privately owned sanctuaries, etc.,.which
are dedicated to preservation

C. Publicly owned water supply watershed areas

d. Undeveloped key parts of existing water-
supply watersheds

e. Potential water impoundment sites

Transition--Lands where local government plans to
accommodate moderate to high density development
during the following ten year period and where
neces.s.ary-public.services 'will be provided to

accommodate that growth. The Transition class
identifies lands where moderate tohigh density
..growth is to be.encouraged and where any such

growth thatis permitted by local regulation will
be providedwith the necessary public services.

Thearea to be designated as Transition must be no

greater. than.tha't require d to accommodate the esti-

mated county population growthat a minimum gross

density of 2,000 people per sqi4are mile. For ex-
ample.,, if the,.population*,increase for the following

ten.ye.ar period is projected to be .101000 people, and
it:is planned-that 8,000 of them will beaccommodated

in. the Transition area, then*.no more than four square
Miles of Transition area should be shown., In addition,

the minimum:.'services which will be -required are the

necessary waterand sewer facilities,, educati onal ser-

vices, and roads. Consideration must. be.given to the

cost.of public services in the Transit.ion,area. Local

government.is encouraged to estimate the,approximate

cost of providing public services where they do not

already exist.

Land to be classified Transition should be con-

sidered in the following order:
1. First priority is for lands which presently
have a gross population density of more than
2,000 people per square mile but do,not qualify
as Deve1p2pped2puse they1pck the necessary.
minimum public services. These areas may
not be expected to accommodate additional popu-
lation, but they will require funds for ser-
vices to avoid public health and safety problems.
2. Second priority is for lands that have all the
necessary public services in place, but which
lack the minimum gross population density of.
2,000 people per square mile needed to qualify
the area as Developed. These areas therefore
have not utilized the capacity of the existing
services.

3. Additional lands necessary to accommodate the
remainder of the estimaied Transition growth
for the ten year planning period.
In choosing lands for the Transition class, such

lands should not include:

1. Areas with severe physical limitations for de-
development with public services.
2. Lands which meet the definition of the Conser-
vation class.

3. Lands of special value such as the following
unless no other reasonable Alternative exists:
a. Productive and unique agricultural lands;

b. Productive forest lands;

c. Potentially valuable mineral deposits;

d. Potential aquifers and key parts of water
supply watersheds;

116

e.- Scenic and tourist resources;

f. Habitat for economi clally valuable wildlife
species;

9. Flood fringe lands;
h. Open coast flood hazard areas, exclusive
of ocean erosive areas;

i. Estuarine flood hazard areas, exclusive
of estuarine erosive areas.

Developed--The Developed class identifies developed

lands which Are presently provided with essential

public services. Consequently, it is distinguished

from areas where significant growth and/or new ser-
fice requirements will occur. Continued development

and redevelopment should be encouraged to provide for

the orderly growth in the area.,'

Developed lands are areas with a minimum gross pop-

ulation density of 2,000 people per square mile. At

a minimum, these lands contain existing public ser-

vices including water and sewer systems, educational

systems, and road systems -- all of which are able to

support the Present population and its accompanying

land uses included commercial, industrial, and insti-

tutional.

The extraterritorial planning area has lands in each

of these three classes. Developed areas include property

on both sides of U.S. 70 west from the city limits to the

extraterritorial limit boundary. Another development area

Is the land along Racetrack Road from Craven Community

TRANSITION

ERVArioN

TRANSITION

DEVELOPED
ooof

TRANSITION

DEVELOPED o

woo 4

TRANSITION

;01

2000 ..0 0 zoo. &000

Ole
doll

14 sow

LAND CLASSIFICATION

CITY OF NEW BERN, N.C.

OCTOBER 1975 MOORE -d ASSCCIATES

College to H.J.. McDonald Junior High. Conservation areas

are the.wetlands along the-Trent River southeast of Pembroke

Rolad,.(S.R. 1200).and,the lands along the Neuse River west of

the Woodrow Community.

In addition to the Land Classification, there are'three

other key parts in New Bern's Land Use Plan. These are the

Land Use Objectives, Policies and Standards, the selected
desired fully developed population.and the Thoroughfa re Plan.

Each of these elements have been discussed in-previous parts

of this plat".

SUMMARY

120

The Coastal Area Management Act's land use planning pro-
gram has not created new planning data. All of the data used
in this plan was obtained from existing sources. These
sources include the following:

Coastal Resources Commission
Planning Guidelines
Regulations dated January 22, 1976

City of New Bern
Public Participation program
Building permit records
Planning Board and Board of Aldermen minutes
Land Development Policy
Local Codes and Ordinances
EPA 201 plan

Craven County
Planning Department
Neuse River Council of Governments

State of North Carolina
DNER-Division of Community Assistance
Department of Administration

U.S. Government
U.S.D.A. - Soil Conservation Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Insurance Administration
Bureau of Census

The manner in which the data was assembled was as re-

quired in the "General Applicable Standards of Review for

Land Use Plans and Synopses."

Before a Land Use Plan can be prepared, a determination

of existing conditions must be made. This was the first step

in preparing the New Bern Plan. Planning standards from the

Coastal. Resources Commission were reviewed to determine the

purpose of the proposed Land Use Plan. The next step was

to organize a public participation program in order to deter-

mine citizens views concerning future development within

121

New Bern. While the public participation program was being

organized by city officials, technical planning data was

collected regarding existing development. Flood hazard

areas, wetlands, erosion areas, and soil conditions were

mapped. The distribution of these areas indicated which

areas are developable and which are not. Local development

codes and ordinances were also evaluated. The number of

vacant recorded lots was dtermined. The major conclusions

of the New Bern Plan are that the citizens desire greater

job opportunity and additional developed recreational fa-

cilites. The citizens also believed that New Bern should

be allowed to grow as necessary to accommodate the people

who desire to live here. The city has already made the

necessary investments for future growth by building in re-

serve capacity within both its water system and sewage treat-

ment facility.

The planning data collected for uses in this plan was

presented to the public in the public participation program

to the Planning Board at its regular meeting, and to the

Board fo Aldermen at its regular meetings in which the

Land Use Plan was discussed. Through a discussion as to

the effect that the data has on land use decisions and the

land Use Plan's development

122

CITY-COUNTY PLAN RELATIONSHIP

123

Aew Bern Land 'Use Plan is part cf the Craven County

Land Use Plan. Constant communication has been maintained

with the Craven County Planning Department, the City of

New Bern and the Neuse River Council of Goverranents in

order to ensure conformity'of the New Bern Plan.with the

County Plan. A coordination meeting was also held between

all local governments involved in CAMA Planning within the

County.

All of the land..area.adjacent to New Bern's planning

jurisdiction is classified as Transition or Rural and is

consistent with the classification of lands within*New

B,--rn's planning area.

C,3

LTI