Washington land use plan

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

CITY OF WASHINGTON

LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

MAY 1976

J,pf-,rnTAKElN BY THE CITY OF WASHINGTON IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE
@.AROLINA COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1974.
211
XV2
VV37

."The preparation of this report was financially assisted by a
grant from the State of North Carolina, the National-Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and the Coastal Plains Regional
Commission."

WASHINGTON

LAND USE PLAN

MANDATED BY

STATE GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL
PLANNING IN THE.COASTAL AREA
UNDER THE COASTAL AREA
MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1974

U DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA
COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
2234 SOUTH HOEFSON AVENUE
CHARLEFTON -OC 29405-2413

MAY 21, 1976

WASHING70N CW LAND USE PLAN

Washington, North Carolina.

March 21, 1976-

Prepared By

WASHINGTON PLANNING BOARD

James P. Blanton, Chairman
Blake C. Lewis, Jr.., Vice Chairman
William Roach
Leon Randolph, Jr.
William Lurvey
Thomas E. Umphlett
Thomas M. Singleton, Jr.
Henry C. Humphreys
Judy Hayes
George C. Bailey

For

THE'CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON

To Be Implemented By

WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL

Richard Tripp, Mayor
Louis T. Randolph, Mayor Pro Tem
A. N, Sawyer
Carlotta Mordecai,
Joe Hickmdn

PROJECT STAFF

George L. Nichols, Project Planner
Marian Alligood, Secretary
Debra Ingalls, Secretary
Patricia'Sheppard, Secretary
Danny Smith, Draftsman

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction 1
Purpose of the plan, history of CAMA planning effort, etc. .3
Description of Present Conditions 17
A. Population and Economy (brief-analy8is) 18
B. Existing Land Use
1. Legible map of existing land uses 33
2. Analysis 34
a. significant compatibility problems 41
b. problems from unpl:anned,development with implica-
tions for future land use 41
C. areas experiencing or likely to experience major
land use change 43
C., Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations 47
Plans and Policies 48
a. transportation plans 48
b. community facilities plans 52
C. utilities extension policies 52
d. open space policies 53
e. recreation policies 53
f. prior land use plans 53
g. prior land use policies 55
2. Local Regulations 5S
a. zoning ordinances 55
b. subdivision regulations 55
C. floodway ordinances 57
d. building codes 59
e. septic tank regulations 60
f. historic districts regulations 60
g. nuisance regulations 60
h. dune protection ordinances 61
i . sedimentation codes 61
j. environmental impact statement ordinances 61
3. Federal and State Regulations 62
Public Participation Activities .66
A. Identification and analysis of major land use issues 67
1. The impact of population and economic trends 7S
2. The provision of adequate housing and other services 76
3. The conservation of productive natural resources 76
4@. The protection of important natural environments 76
5. The protection of cultural and historic resources 77
B.. Alternatives considered in the development of the objectives,
policies, and standards. 78
C. Land use objectives, policies and standards for dealing
with each identified major issue. 68-74
D. A brief description of the process used to determine 79
objectives, policies and standards, emphasizing public
participation
E. A detailed statement outlining the.methods employed in
securing public participation, and the degree of
participation achieved and the results obtained 80

IV. Constraints 82
A. Land Potential 83
1. Physical Limitations 83
a. hazard areas 83
b. soil limitations 88
C. water supply areas .98
d. steep slopes 98
2. Fragile Areas 98
a. coastal wetlands 98
b. outer banks sand dunes 98
c. ocean beaches and shorelines 98
d. estuarine waters 98
e. public trust waters 101
f. complex natural areas 101
g. areas sustaining remnant species 101
h. areas containing unique geologic formations 103
i. registered natural landmarks 103
3- archeologic and historic sites 103
3. Areas with Resource Potential 103
a. productive agricultural lands 103
b. potentially valuable mineral sites 103
C. publicly-owned lands and other non-intensive .109
outdoor recreation lands
d. privately-owned wildlife sanctuaries 104
B. Capacity of Community Facilities 105
1. Identification of existing water and sewer service
areas 105
2. Design capacity of existing water treatment plant,
sewer treatment plant, schools, and primary roads 107
3. The percent utilization of water and sewer plants,
schools, and primary roads 108
V. Estimated Demand 122
A. Population and Economy 123
1. Population 123
'a. ten-year population projection 123
b. considerations taken into account in preparing
ten-year projection (seasonal populations,
local objectives, social and economic charfge) 123
C. 5, 10, 25, and 50 year projections 124
d. relationship of long-term projections to desires
of the people 124
e. relationship of the capabilities of the land 13S
f. examination of seasonal population and economic
impacts 124
2. Economy 128
Identification of major trends and factors in economy
B. Future Land Needs 129
Use of the ten-year population projection to determine
land demand for land classification
C. Community Facilities Demand 131
1. Ten-year population projection used to determin .e
facilities demand
2. Consideration of the type and cost of services needed
to accommodate projected population
3. Consideration of the ability of the local economy to
finance service expansion

VI. Plan Description 138
A. Description of the Land Classification System 140
B. Projected population growth allocation to Transition,
Community, and Rural Land classes, based upon local
objectives
C. Gross.population densities used to allocate Transition
and Community classifications- 143
D. A legible Land Classification Map which is.consistent
with local objectives, policies and standards 139
VII. Areas of Environmental Concern 14S
VIII. Summary .151
A. Discussion of the manner of data assembly, analysis, and,
a statement of major conclusions IS2
B. Discussion of the application of the data to the plan's
formulation 159
Ix. City-County Plan Relationship Defined 160
X Appendix 163-A
A. Stream classification 164-A

LIST OF TABLES
ale Nmber Description Page

1 'POPULATION TRENDS) BEAUFORT COUNTY, 1900-1970 20
2 POPULATION TRENDS, CITY OF WASHINGTON@ 1900-1970 21

3 POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUP AND RACE, CITY OF
WASHINGTON, 1960-1970 22

4 POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE.GROUPS, SEX AND RACE:
1950-1960, CITY OF WASHINGTON 23

5 POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUPS, SEX AND RACE:
CITY OF WASHINGTON, 1960-1970 24

6 YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED, CITY OF WASHINGTON,
1960 and 1970 25

7 CHANGE IN OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES, CITY OF
WASHINGTON, 1970 26

8 INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION, CITY OF WASHINGTON, 1960' 28

9 INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION, CITY OF WASHINGTON, 1970 29
00 MALE .EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION, CITY-OF WASHINGTON,
196-0-1970 30

11 FEMALE S\lPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION, CITY OF WASHINGTON,
1960-1970 31

12 CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS, CITY OF
WASHINGTON 47

13 LIMITATIONS OF SOIL ASSOCIATIONS ... BEAUFORT
COUNTY, 1971 90

14 WATER AND SEWER PLANTS, CITY OF WASHINGTON 107

is PRIMARY ROADS, WASHINGTON PLANNING AREA 109

16 POPULATION PROJECTIONS, CITY OF WASHINGTON AND
EXTRATERRITORIAL AREA, 1980-2020 125

17 POPULATION TRENDS, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY
OF WASHINGTON, 1940-1970 126

18 POPULATION PROJECTIONS, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND
TOWNSHIPS, 1970@2000 127

9 REQUIRED FI RE FLOW 134

LIST OF MAPS

Map Number Description Page

Map I Regional Setting 2

Map 2 Washington Planning Area 4

Map 3 Existing Land Use 33

Map 4 Flood Hazard Area 86

Map 5 Soil Associations 89

Map 6 Water Supply Area 100

Map 7 Stream Classification 102

'Map 8 Water and Sewer Service Area 106

Map 9 Land Classification 139

INTRODUCTION

PART I

Elizabeth City
Ahoskie

Williamston
CD

Greenville
WASHINGTON

-o@

New Bern

MAP I
REGIONAL SETTIN

PURPOSE OF PLAN

North Carolina's coastal area is considered one of the most important regions

for food production, sport and co:mmercial fishing, future expansion of commerce,

industry and recreation. Pursuant to the orderly gro wth and protection of im-
portant natural resources of this area, the 104 General Assembly passed the

Coastal Area @bnagement Act of 1974 (CAMA).

CAMA is a state law that require s all local governments in Coastal North

Carolina counties and towns to develop a land use plan for their future growth.

This land use plan will be considered the official guide for the future develop-

ment of Washington and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The plan allocates

various land uses to specific areas so as to correct inadequacies in past land

development patterns and to assure appropriately related future development.

Goals and objectives are also stated in this plan. To accomplish the goals

and objectives of this plan, the adoption of imp lementation programs is a neces-

sity. Legal tools such as Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision Regulations will

adhere to the plan. In addition, capital improvement programs as well as short

and long-range financial plans should serve to carry out plan objectives.,

Utilization of this plan will result in more cost effective use of public

funds and a higher quality of life for Washingtonians.

GENERAL APPROACH

This plan assesses present land use patterns and problems within the Planning

Area and sets forth recommendations for alleviating those problems. It analyzes

possible future land development problems and needs, and recommends procedures for

avoiding such'problens . @bre importantly, this document provides a policy guide

for use by the Planning Board, the City Manager, and City Council for making

day-to-day decisions bearing on land development and services.

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STUDY AREA, DEFINED

Reference will be made to the Study Area or the Washington Planning Area.

Ihis Study Area consists of the City of Washington and its extraterritorial

zoning andIplanning jurisdiction which extends one and me-half (1k) miles in

all directions. The Washington City Council has legal authority to guide future

growth and development through the administration.of.zoning and subdivision regu-

lations, as well as through extension of municipal services. Thus, this land
use plan.considers the-land area contiguous to Washington, since most 'new devel-

opment is projected to occur there due to its undeveloped character. Map 2_
depicts the Washington Planning Area.

AUTHORITY TO PLAN

North Carolina CODE, Part 1 of Article 19,' provides the enabling legislation

for the cities and towns within the State to create or designate one or more plan-

ning agencies. In part, Section 160A-361 of Article 19 states:

"Any city may by ordinance create or designate one or more
agencies to perform the following duties:

(1) Make.studies of the area within its jurisdiction

and surrounding areas;

(2) Determine objectives to be sought in the development

of the study area;

(3) Prepare and adopt plans for achieving these objectives;

(4) Develop and reconmnd policies, ordinances, administra-

tive procedures, and other means for carrying out plans

in a coordinated and efficient manner;

(5) Advise the council concerning the use and amendment of

means for carrying out plans;

(6) Exercise any functions in the administration and enforce-

ment of various means for carrying out plans that the

council may direct;
5

(7) Perform any other related duties that the council may

direct...

Article 19 further provides that the planning agency may prepare a zoning

plan, including both text and maps showing the various zoning districts. Pur-
suant to Section 160A-'383 of that same Article, those zoning' regulations are to

be made in accordance with a conprehensive plan and designed to lessen street

congestion, to secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers; to promote

health and general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the

overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentrations of population; and to facili-

tate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks

and other public requirements.

PLAN FORMAT11

1his land use plan is divided into ten major_p arts. PART I, the Introduction,

is designed to provide the reader with a brief plan coverage, and a general his-

toric and geographic description of the Washington Planning Area. PART II is a

descrip#on of present conditions in the area. It contains background data on the

physical, urban and built-up characteristics of the environment. PART III consists

of public participation activities. These activities are discussed in the con-

text of citizen identified major land use issues and problem . PART IV discusses,

land-use development constraints. PART V addresses estimated population and eco-

nomic demands. 'Future land needs and commity facilities demands are included.

PART VI is the land use plan description. It discusses the land classification

system. Areas of environmental concern are addressed in PART VII. PART VIII is

As mandated by Subchapter 70 - "Generally Applicable.Standards of Review for
Land Use Plans and Synopsis.

designed to summarize the content of the plan with statements of major conclusions.

The final part, PART IX, defines the city-county plan relationship,

HISTORIC SETTING
"THE CITY AND THE RIVER'al

On March 24, 1663, Charles II of England gave eight Englishmen a Proprietary
Charter granting to them all territory lying between 31 and 36 degrees @orth lati-

tude, extending westward to the South Seas (Pacific Ocean). Charles II gave them

this enormous grant of land to repay them for helping to restorehim to his throne

after the civil wars following th e fall of Charles I.

The land that is now Washington was granted by these Lord-Proprietors on

July 30, 1726 to Christopher Dudley. This grant.coi @tained the area from Jack's

Creek to Union Alley, north to Fifteenth Street and to where Twelfth Street and

Charlotte Street would intersect if Charlotte Street were extended. On October 16,

1729, Thomas Bonner purchased this 337 acres of land. His son James eventually

recieved all this land.

Washington was actually founded in the fall of 1775 when Jams Bomerheld a

lottery to dispose of lots in his proposed town. It is referred to here as a pro-

posed town because it was-not approved by.either the General Assembly or the Pro-

vincial Congress due to the confusion of the approaching Revolutionary War. The

town was.first known as the "Town at the Forks of the Tar River." It consisted of

30 acres of Bonner's farm divided into 60 lots, six streets and an alley, the streets

being Water, Main, Second, Third, Market and Bonner. Union Alley ma*rked the Western

YUnpublished project paper by Glenn Woolard G&y 3, 1975)0 pp. 2-13.

boundary and was the axis around which future expansion occurred: Thomas Res-

pess later laid out additional lots.to the west of Union Alley which doubled the

size of the town.

Ihe first record of the town being named.Washington did not appear until

1776. Therefore, the year 1776 is accepted as the year that Washington was founded.

It was also the first town in the United States to be named Washington and i@ the
basis of the town's present motto of "The Original Washington Since 1776.1'

The-Pamlico River hasplayed a major role in the town's development. Even

before itbecame a town, the river enabled Washington to become a center of com-

merce. In 1758 James Bonner sold lot number one of his future town to Aquila Sugg,

a merchant from Edgecombe County. The lot consisted of 105 feet offrontage on

the river and back 210 feet from the river. Sugg purchased some more lots and erect-

ed a wharf, warehouse, and other buildings. From these facilities he shipped naval

stores and other produce brought*down the Tar River on flat-bottom barges. Vessels

bringing goods upstream preferred to come to.Sugg's wharf'instead of Bath, because

.Washington was 20 miles further inland. The merchants of Bath probably encouraged

Bonner to start his town without the Assembly's approval. Thus, this advantageous

location for water commerce and transportation was a key factor in the town's

being established.

Before the Revolutionary War, Washington's early merchants established a

profitable business by exporting naval stores to Great Britain. These exports

gave Washington a thriving initial economy., because Great Britain badly needed

naval stores to maintain its navy. When the First Continental Congress cut off

trade with Great Britain, Washington's thriving economic base was lost tempora-

rily. The merchants faced bankruptcy. Merchandise piled up on the wharves and

in the warehouses.. The growth of the infant town was threatened.

The merchants, however, adjusted to these new circumstances and the new

town again flourished. Two major factors made this revitalization of the e conomy

possible. First, the Continental Army's and the Militia's urgent need for food

and supplies provided a new market for,the plantations which used Washington as a

port. Second, the shallow inlets and shifting channels of Pamlico Sound were no

longer a handicap to shipping. Small vessels carrying supplies to and from New

England and the non-British West Indies could slip through the inlets and escape
from the larger British men-of-war. With a growing demand f@r sailing schooners

and brigs, ship builders in Washington also prospered. As other ports were either

captured or blockaded, Washington's importance increased.

After the Revolutionary War, Washington continued to grow and prosper as a
port. In 1782, Thomas Respess began to sell the lots to the 'west of Union Alley.

In less than six months, he had sold 35 of his 52 lots. This area was kmown as

Respess Town. Respess sold the reminder ofhis land to John Gladden. Gladden

developed this area to the north of Respess Town as Gladden Town. This expansion

again doubled the size of the town.

In 1785, Washington became the county seat of Beaufort County and has -remained

the county seat throughout its history. The county seat was transferred from Bath

to Washington, because Washington was becoming the commercial center for the county,

and it could better accommodate the people participating in the courts. This gave
the town's citizens more prestige and also resulted in more people traveling to

Washington from various places in Beaufort County.

With a sound economic base, the town's physical boundaries continued to expand.

Hadrianus Van Norden laid out Van Norden Town on the land extending from Respess

Town to present Washington Street and north to Sixth Street. James Banner added

land from his farm as far north as Sixth Street. This was called Banner's New Part

as distinguished from the original town (60 lots) known as Bonner's Old Part.

Land east of Bonner Street known as Pungo Town was later opened for development.
Although the town was thriving, it faced two m.ajor crises in the mid 1800's

the first in the loss of human lives and'-the second in the near destruction of the

whole town. Wsquitoes carrying yellow fever were brought in on a vessel-from

the West Indies. The epidemic of yellow-fever was theworst in.Washington's his-

tory. The future and present labor force of the town paid its toll with as many

as seven deaths in a single day.

The second crisis occurred during the Civil War when the Yankees burned half

of the town including most of its churches. A second fire resulted when a

Washingtonian" family, upon hearing rumors that th e Yankees were returning, piled

their valuable papers outside and set fire to them so the Yankees could not get

them. The fire went out of control and burned the second half of the town. Reed

vividly describes the conditions of the town after the Civil War in the following

quotation:

Thoze who had te6t the gay, puzpaous and thAiving town oJ Wazhington,

with a poputation oJ oveA 1,600, came home to a zhett-xiddted, bukned-

out Aetetono4 a town, peopted by Jew mou than 500 haAd-eyed, gxim-

vizag.ed men and women, and a zcatteting oJ hottow-eyed, hunguy ckitdken.

They at.6o came home to gkinding poveAty and back-buaking tabok that Jew,

i6 any, in BeaujbAt County had Aeamed o6 beJou the wa,%.

Having survived these hardships and others, the town's growth and economy was

again bolstered by its location on the Pamlico River. The town's growth in the re-

mainder of the nineteenth century was typical of most cities of its size. In-

fluenced by a changing tec1mology and culture; paved streets, electric lights, a
gas plant, telephone lines, better schools and more churches were gradually added

to the town. By 1889 it had reached its peak as a port. @bre than one-half of the

state's commerce was passing through the Washington Port, and the city rated only

second to Wilmington in shipping. The waterfront was covered with numerous ware-

houses, wharves, ind:ustrial. buildings and shipyards. The thriving commercial

activity along the waterfront was the core of, the town Is economy.

At the turn of the century, this relation between the town and the river was

drastically changed due to several technological factors. With the building of

railroads and hard surface overland roads, the advent of modern trucking lines and

the industrial development taking place inside the United States, Washington's

shipping industry began to decline. Washington gradually diminished in importance

as a business and distribution center. An economic downturn followed.

During this period the waterfront was gradually becoming a blighted scar of

the past in the.central business district. -The wharf was still in use about 40

years ago. There was some loading and unloading at nights. The noise distrubed

the patients in the Riverview Hospital and some of the doctors who were on the city

board wanted to do away with the wharf. Several years later the wharf began to be

done away with a little bit at the time . In 1950, one steamboat line was still

carrying freight out of the nearly deserted port (waterfront area). By 1951,

there were only a few barges, tug boats and sailboats coming up the Pamlico River

to Washington. The former commercial waterfront was now only a harbor for old

wharf rats as big as small puppies. The accumulation of rats along the deserted

waterfront was a definite environmental problem. These rats spread into various

portions of town especially in the lower income areas. Eve-ryone burned wood except

those in the high income class who burned coal. There were usually rats around

the wood piles. At this tire people not living on Wn Street still raised chickens.

.They had to build coups raised up off the ground to keep the rats from killing their

chickens and eating the eggs. The rats also accumulated around the poorer kept

open drainage ditches.

Little growth occurred in Washington until the end of World War II. At this

tim , the citizen leaders began to work for new economic development. A shirt

factory was the first industry acquired, and the conmmity was so excited that it

constructed a plant for the industry. A truck body manufacturer and a garment

manufacturer were home developed industries. A synthetic yard plant was also

acquired. This industrial development continued at a steady pace with an electri-

cal appliance industry, a textile dyeing operation and a filter making industry
coming to Washington. Me most recent ones acquired are a boat manufacturer and

a valve manufacturer.

Four public housing projects and four urban renewal projects have made the

greatest change in Washington's landscape in the past decade. In 1961, the City

Council recognized a need for these program . The Council appointed a Citizens

Connittee to investigate the possibility of establishing such programs in Washing-

ton. The Committee toured other cities to view existing programs and made in-

quiTies throughout the state. After a positive recomendation from the Committee,

the City Council appointed Boards of Coffunissioners for a Washington Housing

Authority and for a Redevelopment Comission.

Of these projects, the Downtown-Waterfrant Urban Renewal Project has re-

sulted in a dramatic change of the waterfront in the central business district.

The political process behind the plan being approved will be briefly outlined.

Me plan was first approved by the Cormissioners of the Redevelopment Comission.

A public hearing was held and there were no objections to the plan. The plan

was then approved by the City Planning Conmission and finally by the City Council.

From a list of eight-objectives there were two over-riding objectives. One

was to redevelop the waterfront so the City and Comercial center would again relate

to the river, and the river would enhance the setting of the city and the Central

Business District. Another objective was to rehabilitate and revive the Central

Business District as the commercial center of the city.

The project area consisted of 45 acres and 169 structures. Seventy-five per-

cent of the buildings were found to have deficiencies. In addition, there were

some very important environmental deficiencies: 1) Detrimental and incompatible

land uses - The old run down buildings along the waterfront formerly used in water

COMMTce -related activities no longer had such a -relation to the town or the -river.

There were unsightly and depressed land values in the Central Business District.

2) Obsolete bui lding types - some buildings, 50 years or older, had been adapted

many times for changing needs but were not designed for their present uses.

3) Overcrowding - The waterfront had been.-developed in a time with few zoning and

building codes, resulting in a haphazard arrangement of structures. There was@

also poor vehicular circulation, inadequate open space for recreational uses and

inadequate storm drainage facilities.

In executing the'project the entire Downtown waterfront area was cleared of

abandoned warehouses, -rotting pier pilings, deadend streets, and dilapidated build-

ings. A 1900 foot steel bulkhead was constructed and backfilled with sand pumped

from the river. This created about five acres of land on which Stewart Parkway was

constructed. On the strip of land between the bulkhead and the parkway are a line
of Japanese Cherry trees and other shrubbery and several benches. This provides a

park-like area for the public and also an attractive visual approach for people

entering Washington on U. S. Highway 17. The bulkhead has free water and metered

electricity to accommodate overnight docking. On the cleared land, 350 free.off-

.street parking spaces were built. Some of the cleared land was also sold for the

Fass Brothers Restaurant and the Page office b uilding.

During this same time period, a peripheral shopping center, Washington Square,

was developed. Since 1963 the city had substantially increased its corporate

limits to the north. Therefore, it was felt that the Central Business District

could no longer effectively serve the entire planning area. Washington Square

was opened in 1972. It was meant to relieve a little of the past saturation

in the Central Business District; however, the shopping center's conpetition

for the shopper's dollar became a threat to the economic status of the Central

Business District.

During late 1973, Main Street and Market Street were also renovated in an
effort to c.reate a semi-mall atmosphere in the downtown area. Sidewalis were

widened,, and some on-street parking was removed and replaced with planters and

benches. Irproved street lighting was installed. The once shoddy looking dark

alleys leading from the streets to the parking lots were paved, lighted, and

decorated.

The Down-town-Waterfront urban -renewal project has successfully accented

the natural scenic advantages of the Pamlico River and also created a semi-

mall.atmosphere. Sore of the downtown merchants also took it upon themselves to

renovate the fronts of their stores to give them a more modem appearance. All

these physical changes are serving to provide the downtown area with a more

pleasant water oriented shopping area.

Thus, from the founding of Washington to the present, the relation between

the town and the river has undergone a drastic change. From the town's infancy

and on through the 18001s, the town had a definite economic relationship with the

TlVer as a thriving port. With the turn of the century, the waterfront began to

deteriorate primarily due to the advent of modem transportation. It was not until

the late 1960's that the blighting scar of the once thriving waterfront was re-

moved. The town is now trying to establish a new relationship with the river

to again revive the downtown economic status. The river will continue to play

an important -role in the development of Washington, but it is doubtful if the

downtown waterfront area will ever be as an important marketing center as it was

in-the 18001s. The emphasis now being placed on the river is for recreation, a

scenic ride down the Pamlico to lure industrial prospects to Washington.

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
Beaufort County is located'in the.central coastal section of North Carolina

and lies entirely within the Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic province. Its

approximately 831 square-mile land area is bound on the North by Martin and Wash-

ington Counties, on the east by Hyde County and Pamlico Sound, on the, south by

Pamlico and Craven Counties, and on the west by Pitt County. The coun ty is

divided almostin half by the Pamlico River which runs east and west through the

county.
Washington, the county seat, is located in-the extreme western portion o'f

Beaufort County and along the north bank of the Pamlico River at its confluence

with the Tar River. Approximately 105 miles west is the City of Raleigh, the

State Capital; and 135 miles north is the City of Norfolk, Virginia, and the Ports
3/
of Haropton Roads.-

Beaufort is the eighth largest county in North Carolina and has a total land

area of 831 square miles, or 531,840 acres, At its widest points, the county ex-

tends approximately 35 miles north to south. The county is divided almost equally

into northern and southern sections by the Pamlico River.

Although Beaufort County's surface is low and gene-rally level, there are un-

dulating and gently rolling areas near the streams in the western and southern parts

of the county. The highest point in the county is along its southern border and

City of Washington and Beaufort County: An Economic Study, Virginia Electric
and Power Company (May, 1964), p. 1.

is 67 feet above sea level. Elevations along the extreme eastern part of the

county, in the vicinity of Belhaven and Leechville, range from 2 to 5 feet above
sea level.i/

In the City of Washington and its planning area the elevations run from
about three feet above sea level at Kennedy's Creek to 46 feet above in Enumera-

tion District 31. The downtown area varies from approximately 5 to 10 feet above

sea level in elevation. Me U. S. Axmy Corps of Engineers has designated all
land below 10 feet as part of the Washington flood plain zone. The la@d generally

rises from the river increasing in elevation to the North. The sh arpest varia-

tions occur in the southwestern part of the extraterritorial jurisdiction in

Enumeration District 36 where the land varies in elevation from 36 to 46 feet.

The climate of Washington, North Carolina is relatively,. mild. The man tem-
peraiure for the area is 620 F. The average rainfall for the area is 49.7 inches

per year. The average snowfall is less than three inches per year. An indica-

tion of the mildness of the climate can be found in the mean temperature of the

traditionally harshest winter months; December, January, and February, which is
45.30 F. The average growing season is favorable for most crops. 1he average

frost free season extends from April to October, providing the farmers of the

area with a producing season of 214 days.

YIbid., p. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT CONDITIONS

PART Il

POPUL ATION
The City of Washington experienced substantial growth from 1900 until*1960.@@

During this time the City showed a growth of +48.2% compared to a rate of +26.7%

for Beaufort County. While the City showed a gain from 1950 Census to the 1960

Census, the rate of growth during the Fifties was the lowest since the 1910's;

Beaufort County on the other hand had,a net decline in population. This is evli@

dence of two migration streams, one.coming from rural areas to the City, the

second leaving the County entirely when economic opportunities were not to be

found in the City of Washington. However, the 1970 Census showed a different

flow. While the County as a whole experienced another decline of -.9%,.the City

felt a sharp -9.8% decline. The migration waves during this decade were (1) out

of the County and (2) out of the City, a.reflection of its exceedingly poor housing

conditions, and a displacement of families during urban renewal. The City's

decline is even more pronounced when natural population increase from 1960 through

1970 is taken into account:

1960 Population . . . . . . . . 9939
Natural increase (births over deaths) . . . 800*
Expected 1970 population . . . ... . . . . 10739
Actual 1970 population . . . . . . . . . . 8961
Net outmigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1778

Outmigration in the 1960's occurred mainly in the below 14 age group and the

24-45 age group. The over-5S categories showed major gains.

In the future the City will have more demands made on it by the middle aged

and elderly. A significant increase in the elderly population and a maj'or decrease

in those under 24 has implications in programming in the recreation department, and

a slackening impact on the school system. Fewer working age people will be avail-

able for industries that might wish to locate here or to expand their operations.

*Source: N. C. State Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services

There will be a greater need for delivery of service to the elderly in -the areasil

of housing, health care, and recreation.

TABLE .1

POPULATION TRENDS
BEAUFORT COUNTY
1900 1970

YEAR COUNTY NUMBER CHANGE PERCENTAGE.CHANGE

1900 26,404
1910 30,877 4,473 + 16.9%
1920 31@024 147 + ..5%
1930 35,026 4*,002 + 12.0%
1940 36,431 1,405 + 4.0%
1950 37,134 703 + 1.9%
1960 36,014 -1,120 - 3.11
1970 35,980 - 34 - .9%

Source: U. S. Census of Population

TABLE 2

POPULATION TRENDS
CITY OF WASHINGTON
1900 - 1970

YEAR CITY NUMBER CHANGE PERCENTAGE CHANGE

1900 4,842
1910 6,211 1)369 28.3%
1920 6,314 103 1.7%
1930 7,03S 721 11.4%
1940 8,S69 13,534 21.8%
1950 9,698 1,129 13.2%
1960 9,939 241 2.5%
1970 8,961 978 9.8%

Source: U. S. Census of Population

TABLE 3

POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUP AND RACE-
CITY OF WASHIVGT79-
1960 1970-

1960 1970 CHANGE 1960-1970 NUMBER PERCENTAGE
AGE GROUP WHITE NONWHITE WHITE NONWHITE WHITE NONWHITE WHITE -NONWHITE

All S66 S91. 401 335 -165 -256 -29.2 -43.3
Under 5
S-14 1,166 1,028 830 864 -366 -164 -28.8 -15.S
1S-24 782 488 844 697 + 62 +209 7.9 +42.8
25-34 753 426 56S .27.2 -188 -154 25.0 .-36.2
35-44 798 424 Sol 373 -207 - 51 -26.0 -12.0
45-54 763 432 6S9 410 -104 -122 -13.6 - 5.1
55-64 S21 308 660 401 +139 + 93 +26.7 +30.2
65 & over 599 294 704 35S +10S + 61 +17.5 +20.7

Source: U. S. Census of Population

TAO 4

POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUPS, SEX AND RACE: 1950-1960
FOR
CITY OF WASHINGTON

WHITE MALES CHANGE WHITE FEMALES CHANGE
1950 1960
AGE Num. er PERCENTAGE 19so 1960 Tu--mber PERCENTAGE

Under 5 360 302 - 58 -16.1 346 264 - 82 -23.7
1S-24 474 611 +137 +63.S 388 555 +167 +96.6
25-34 461 347 -114 - 2.4 S13 406 -106 -29.8
35-44 411 360 - 51 -12.4 443 438 - 5 - 1.1
45-54 28S 351 + 66 +23.2 340 412 + 72 +21.2
S5-64 224 229 + 5 + 2.2 251 292 + 41 +16.3
65 & Over 162 230 + 68 +42.0 247 369 +122 +49.4
TOTAL 2,746 2,782 + 36 + 1.3 3,b64 3,166 +102 + 3.3

NON WHITE MALES CHANGE NON WHITE FEMALES CHANGE
AGE 1950 1960 Number PERCENTAGE 1950 1960 Number PERCENTAGE

Under 5 222 297 + 75 +33.8 237 294 + 57 +24.1
S-14 401 487 + 86 +44.0 368 441 +173 +93.8
15-24 329 251 - 78 -50.4 378 237 -141 -74.6
25-34 245 197 - 48 -19.6 311 229 -. 82 -26.4
35-44 2SS 178 - 77 -30.2 287 246 - 41 -14.3
45-54 166 184 + 18 +10.8 216 248 + 32 +14.8
SS-64 108 144 + 36 +33.3, 115 164 +-49 @+42. 6
65 & Over ill 123 + 12 +10.8, 139 240 + 32 +23.0

Total 1,837 1,861 + 214 + 1.3 2, 051 2,130 + 79 + 3.9

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population

T*
POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUPS, SEX AND RACE: 1960-1970
FOR
CITY OF WASHINGTON

WHITE MALES CHANGE CHANGE WHITE FEMALES CHANGE CHANGE
AGE 1960 1970 NUMBER PERCENTAGE F960-1970 NUMBER PERCENTAGE

Under S 302 215 - 87 -28.8 264 186 - 78 -29.S
5-14 611 419 -192 .-31.3 555 411 -144 -2S.9
14-24. 352 387 +35 + 9.9 430 4S7 + 27 + 6.3
25-34 347 276 -71 -20.5 406 289 -117 -28.8
35-44 360 278 -82 -22.8 438 313 -12S .-28.5
4S-54 3S1 285 -66 -18.8 412 374 - 38 - 9.2
55-64 229 274 4S +19.7 292 386 + 94 +32.2
65 & Over 230 252 +22 + 9.6 369 452 + 83 +22.S

TOTAL 2,782 2,386 -396 -14.2 3,166 2,868 -298 9.4

NON WHITE MALES CHANGE CHANGE NON WHITE FEMALES CHANGE CHANGE
AGE 1960 1970 NUMBER PERCENTAGE -1960 1970 NUMBER PERCENTAGE

Under 5 297 17S -122 -41.1 294 160 -134 -45.6
5-14 487 441 -46 - 9.4 441 423 - 18 - 4.1
1S-24 251 336 +85 +33.9 237 361 +124 +S2.3
25-34 197 121, -76 -38.-6 229 151 - 78 -34.1
35-44 178 153 -25 -14.0 246 220 - 26 -10.6
45-54 184 179 - 5 - 2.7 .248 231 - 17 - 6.9
55-64 144 172 +28 +19.4 164 229 + '65 +39.6
65 & Over 123 161 +38 +30.9 240 194 46 -19.2

TOTAL 1,861 1,738- -123 6.6 2,130 1,969 -161

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

The decade of the Sixties witnessed a change in.the number of years.of

school completed with a substantial drop-off both in the number of people who

had completed no.schooling and in the number that had finished only elementary

school through the 8th grade. A greater percentage went on to complete high

school and four years of college.

TABLE 6 YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED
CITY OF WASHINGTON
1960 and 1970

TOTAL 1960 1970 NUMBER CHANGE PERCENTAGE CHANGE

Male and-Female 25 yrs & over 5,347 4,995 -352 - 6.6

No School years completed 286 128 -158 -55. 2

Elementary: 1 - 4 yrs. 731 639 - 92 -12.6
5 - 7 yrs. 1,200 881 -319 -26.6
8 yrs. 529 484 - 4S - 8.S

High School: I - 3 yrs. 931 1,001 + 70 + 7. 5
4 yrs. 941 1,147 +206 +21.9

College:, 1 3 yrs 434 361 - 73 +16.8
4 or more 29S 354 + 59 +20.0

Median School years completed 8.9 10.1 +1.2 +13.5

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population, 1960, 1970.

ECONOMY

Agricultural employment in Beaufort County has steadily declined since 1940,

and by 1960 represented only 27 percent of total employment, 11 percent in 1970.

The primary reason for this decline lies with the continued growth of mechanization.

and automation on the county's farms. Although over 1700 males left agricultural

employment between 1950 and 1960, nonagricultural male employmont-increased'by only

13 persons during the same period within the county.

A concerted cooperation effort on the part of business, civic, and local

governmental leaders to attract an increased industrial base met with success during

the sixties. Four significant plants located in the area: Hamilton Beach in 196S,

a Division of Scovill Manufacturing which manufactures household appliances; Flanders

Filters, Inc. in 1969, a manufacturer of filters for a variety of industrial uses;

Seacrest Marine in 1971, a manufacturer of boats; and Atwood & Morrill in 1972, a

valve manufacturer.

By the 1970 Census the industrial composition of the City of Washington.was

predominately wholesale and retail trade with 26.3 percent of the total number of

persons empl oyed, followed by manufacturing with 21.8 percent of total number of

persons employed (see tables 7 &8).

Most occupational categories showed significant gains during the Sixties as

follows:

TABLE 7 CHANGE IN OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES

Male Female

Growth private household workers clerical and kindred
clerical and kindred operatives
service workers professional, technical
operatives and kindred kindred
professional, technical & kindred
farmers and farm managers
craftsmen, foremen & kindred
No
Change laborers except farm

Decline farm laborers and farm foremen managers and administrators
managers and administrators sales workers
sales workers private household workers
26

Males and females both felt declines in the numbers of jobs available in

sales and.as managers and administrators. Farm laborer possibilities'again declined

for men, and laborers except farm laborers showed no change. Private household

employment declined for women, yet increased for men.

TMLE 8

INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION
1960

INDUSTRY NUMBER EMPLOYED PERCENT OF TOTAL

Agriculture, forestry., and fisheries 97 2.7
Construction 243 6.9
Manufacturing
Durable 232 6.6
Nondurable 427 12.1
Transportation, communications, and other public utilities 162 4.6
Wholesale and retail trade 945 26.7
Finance, insurance, and real estate 170 4.8
Business and repair services 82 2.3
Professional and related services 399 11.3
Public administration 136 3.8
Personal services 538 15.2
Entertainment and recretaion services 21 .06
No report 86 2.4
00
Total employed 16 years and over 3,538

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population

TABLE 9

INDUSTRIAL COMPOSITION.
1970

INDUSTRY NUMBER EMPLOYED, PERCENT OF TOTAL

Construction 237 6.7
Manufacturing
Durable 2S4
Undurable 517 14.6
Transportation 52 1.5
Communications, utilities, and sanitary services 136 3.8
Wholesale and retail trade 932 2& 3
Finance, insurance, business and repair services 184 S.2
Professional and related services S52 15.6
Public administration 110 3.1
Other industries 567 16.0

Total employed 16 years and over 3,541

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population

TA)3L*
MALE EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION
Occupation
Number as % Number as %
Male 1960 1970 Number Change Percent Change of Total 1960 of Total 1970

Total employed 16 years old and over 2,097 3,541 1,444 68.9
Professional, technical, and kindred 141 325 184 +130.5 6.7 9.2
Manager and administratorsl 298 276 - 22' - 7.4 14.2 7.3
Sales workers 241 233 - 8 - 3.3 ll.S 6.6
Clerical and kindred 57 488 + 431 +756.1 2.7 13.8
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred 3S4 512 + 158 + 44.6 .16.9 14.5
Operatives and kindred2 480 1,300 + 820 +170.8 22.9 36.7
Laborers except farm3 2SS 2SS 0 0 12.2 7.2
Farmers and farm managers 19 30 11 + S7.9 .1 .1
Farm laborers and farm foremen 42 6 - 36 - 8S.7 2.0 .002
Service workers 129 422 + 293 +227.1 6.2 11.9
Private household workers 16 272 + 256 +1600 .1 7.7
Occupation not reported 65 x - 65 - 100 3.1, 0

1. 1960 Census titles this category "Managers, officers, and Proprietors except Farm."
2. 1970 Census broke this category into "Operatives except Transport" and "Transport Equipment Operatives."
3. 1960 Census titles: "Laborers except Farm and Mine."

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population, 1960 and 1970.

TABLE 11 FEMALE EMPLOYM]Wr BY OCCUPATION

Occupation

Number as % Number as %
Female 1960 .1970 NUMBER CHANGE PERCENT CHANGE of Total 1960 of Total 1970
Total employed 16 years old and over 13,441 1,574 +133 + 9.2 x x
Professional, technical, anq kindred 156 157 + 1 + .06 10.8 10.0
Managers and administrators 60 20 - 40 -66.6 4.2 1.3
Sales workers 116 89 - 27 -23.2 8.0 5.7
Clerical and kindred 2 265 426 +161 +60.7 18.4 27.0
Operatives, including transport 194 300 +106 +54.6 13.5 '19.1
Service workers, except private household 251 280 + 29 +11.5 17.4 17.8
Private household workers 333 256 - 77 -23.1 23.1 16.3
Other occupations3 .33 46 X x 2.3 2.9
No report 33 0 x x 2.3 x

1. 1960 Title: '%nagers, Officers, and Proprietors, excluding farm."
2. 1960 Title: "Operatives and Kindred."
3. 1960 Census listed 8 Craftsmen, Foremen, and Kindred, 13 Farm Laborers and Foremen, and 12 Laborers comprising
2.3% of occupations for women. 1970 Census does not indicate composition of the "other" category.

SOURCE: U. S. Census of Population, 1960 and 1970.

Unemployment

Unemployment in the City of Washington varies seasonally. In general, the
winter months December, January and Pebruary have the highest rates of unemploy-

ment. In 1973, the insured unemployment high was 5.6% in December, while January,

1974, had an unemployment rate of 4.6%, February had a rate of 3.9%.

There are several reasons for seasonal variations in employment for this area.

Business for the seafood industry and its subsidiaries is very slow during the

winter months (fishermen, packers, etc.). Several major employers in the area

close for inventory for approximately 2 to 3 weeks during the winter, style changes

or production changes occur then necessitating,plant shutdowns, and agricultural

activity is extremely slow.

The following'is a breakdown of unemployment rates from January, 1974

to October, 1,975.

Insured Unemployment_
Beaufort County

January 1974 4.6%
Feburary 1974 3.9%
March 1974 4.5%
April 1974 3.9%
May 1974 1.4%
June 1974 2.1%
July 1974 1.1%
August 1974 .9%
September 1974 1.1%
October 1974 1.4%
November 1974 2.3%
December 1974 8.5%

January 1975 13.1%
February 1975 14.0%
March 1975 14.S%
April 1975 12.2%
May 197S 6.9%
June 1975 5.5%
July 1975 4.7%
August 1975 4.0%
September 1975 3.7%
October 1975 3.7%

SOURCE: N. C. Employment Security Commission

EXISTINGIAND USE MAP

EXISTING LAND USE

This section will analyze the existing land use patterns in the Washington

Planning Area as depicted on Map 3 . An analysis of existing land.use patterns

is a necessary component of any land use plan since decisions regarding future

development cannot be made intelligently without a prior understanding of existing

development. However, before looking at-the urban and built-up characteristics of

the Washington Planning Area, let us examine the land's physical characteristics.

Physical Characteristics of Area Land

-Beaufort County is underlain by,a wedge of Tertiary and Cretaceous sediments

which are 1,000 to 2,000 feet thick. The formations are covered nearly everywhere

by the Pleistocene terrace deposits. These terraces are the outstanding physio-

.graphical features of this area and form irregular belts-extending in a general

northeast-southwest direction. The underlying rocks dip in a general eastward

direction and consist of alternating layers of surficial sands and clays of Quaternary

age and ranging from 10 to 30 feet in thickness.
Beds of blue clay, marl, shells, and shall limestone that constitute the York-

town formation, lie beneath these surficial deposits and range from 40 feet thick in

the western part.of the county-to 200 feet in the countyls'eastern extremity. This

Yorktown formation is underlain by layers of phosphatic sand that are separated by

one or more, indurated shell beds. This unit of phosphatic sand and indurated shell

beds ranges from a few feet to more than 120 feet in thickness. Individual beds of

phosphatic sand are as much as 20 feet thick.
Analyses of recent core samplings indicate that there are more than 10 billion

tons of.phosphate ore in the county and that it is economically feasible to mine.

These deposits are found beneath an area covering approximately 700 square miles.

The phosphate deposits in the Aurora area are found between.80 to 100 feet below the

surface and range from 40 to 50 feet in thickness.

Underlying these deposits are shell limestones and interlayered calcareous

sands of the Castle Hayne limestone of late Eocene Age. This formation is about

60 feet thick near the western border of the county and perhaps as much as 2SO

feet thick.along the eastern border of the county. The Beaufort formation of Paleo-

cene agej composed of agrillaceous sand. Glauconitic sand, and marl, underlies the

Castle Hayne limestone throughout most of the county. Few data-are available con-

cerning the thickness of the Beaufort formation. Two miles north of Washington,

the formation is 35 feet thick and, according to limited data, the formation thickens

rapidly and is buried progressively deeper towards the east. Underlying the Beaufort

formation are glauconitic sands and micaceous clays of the Peedee formation of late

Cretaceous Age. No data regarding the total thickness of this formation is Beaufort

County are available. One mile west of Washington, the top ofthe Peedee was pene-

trated at a depth of 158 feet below sea level. In eastern Beaufort County, extrap-

olated data indicate that the top of the Peedee formation lies about 700 to 800 feet
below sea level. Beneath the Peedee formation are older Cretaceous sediments. 5

Surface Water

Beaufort County is drained by relatively slow-moving streams that flow into the

Pamlico and Pungo Rivers. These, in turn, empty into Pamlico Sound. Although the

construction of deep drainage ditches has made much swampland available for agricultural

purposes, there still remains much swamp area in the county. These reclaimed swamplands

are among the most fertile in the state.

The chemical character of surface waters is influenced in varying degrees by geo-

chemical processes, rainfall, run-off, winds, tides, and stream pollution. Hurricane

winds in 1955 forced salt water up the Tar River for a di stance of approximately 10

miles upstream from Washington. Sea water remained at advanced points on the Tar River

SIbid@., p. 12.

during mostof 195S (water year) due to the combination of prevailing winds and low

rainfall in the watershed area.

Streams in North Carolina's Coastal Plain physiographical province carry sedi-

ments consisting of sand, clay, and limestone, and marl. The color of the waters in

these streams varies with the season and river discharge. Generally, the higher colors

occur during periods of relatively heavy rainfall (late summer and early fall) when
colored water and decaying organic 'matter are flushed from the swampy areas.6

Pamlico River - The largest body of water in the Washington Planning Area is

the Tar-Pamlico Estuary. This river flows past Washington, one side forming the city

limits. The Pamlico River is a large coastal river with physical,chemicaland bio-

logical characteristics usually associated with an estuary. Except for a gradual

increase in salinity gradent increasing to the east (in the direction of the Pamlico

Sound) there is little variation in chemical and physical characteristics throughout

its length. The river is relatively shallow and contains a spotty distribution of

aquatic vegetation. The direction of water movement is subject to the vagaries of

wind.

Pantego Creek - is a large brackish water stream. At the point where the sample

was taken the creek cover has been destroyed and a heavy layer of silt covers the

bottom. This area is now a poor fishing area.

Runyon Creek - This is a small turbid stream which appears to have been dredged.

This stream drains a large portion of the eastern part of Washington.

Cherry Run - is a small black water stream of the lower coastal plain. This

stream has been deqlared a floodway by the Corps of Engineers. Cherry Run drains a

large portion of the western side of town.

61bid., p. 12.

Ground Water

With the exception ofthe supply for the town of Washington, all public and private

water supplies in Beaufort County are obtained from wells. Surficial sands of Quat-

ernary age and near-surface sand and shell beds of the Yorktown formation furnish

water to shallow dug wells and driven wells that extend to a depth of 30 feet. A

Yield of.2 to 30 gpm can be expected from shallow wells in this material. Such wells

are commonplace throughout the entire county. In central and eastern Beaufort County,

drilled wells obtain water from lenticular sands and shell beds in the Yorktown for-

mation and from shell limestones and calcareous sands in the underlying Castle Hayne

limestone. These wells range in depth,from 100 to 300 feet and yield as much as 300

gpm. The depth of.an individual well is largely determined by the area in.which it

is drilled, by the.quantity and quality of water desired, and@by individual driller's

preference. Several wells in central Beaufort County obtain water from the Beaufort

formation. However, this aquifer is seldom utilized in the eastern and central sections

of the county because of the abundance of water in overlying aquifers. Water below a

depth of 30 to 50 feet in this area is under artesian pressure and flowing wells are

very common. Much of the land is only a few feet above sea level and the piezometric

surface is generally within 15 feet of land surface or higher. In western Beaufort

County, water is obtained from the Castle Hayne limestone, the Beaufort formation,

and less commonly from the Peedee formation. The relative thinness of the Castle Hayne

limestone in this part of the county limits its value as an aquifer. Where large

quantities of water are desired, wells must tap. the Beaufort and Peedee formations or,

if tapping the Castle Hayne limestone, must be of large diameter. Yields of several

hundred gallons per minute may be expected from deep wells in this area.

The chemical quality of ground water in Beaufort County is notuniform. Water

from the surficial sands contains objectionable iron and is generally corrosive.

Water from the shell beds and impure limestone layers of the Yorktown formation is

moderately hard. Water from the shell limestone layers and calcareous sand layers -of

of the Castle Hayne limestone is moderately hard to very hard and may contain

objectionable amounts of hydrogen sulfide, particularly in the eastern sections

of the county. Most of the water from the Beaufort and Peedee formations is soft,

but,may be hard if the water is emanating from calcareous strata. At Washington

and Belhaven, several wells yield waters relatively high in chloride. Available

data indicate that the chloride probably results from a lateral.infiltration of

brackish surface water,into the aquifer as the wells are pu-nped. Relocation of
supply wells at a greater distance frombrackish surface waters in these @reas

would result in a lower incidence of chloride content.

Large supplies of ground water are available throughout the county from

aquifers of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Age. Present use of ground waterin the county
is only a small amount of the tot al water available.7

7Ibid., pp. 10-11.

,,URBAN AND BUILT-UP LAM CHARACTERISTICS"

Residential Use

Since 1960 residential development has occurred throughout the area.

Most development has taken place in the northern and eastern portions of the

planning area, particularly in-the area of the airport to Fifteenth Street,

and along U. S. Highway 264 from John Small Extension tothe edge of the

Planning Area. Recent subdivision developments indicate that future develop-

ment will continue in this direction. The western portion has experienced

moderate residential growth while the southern portion has experienced light

residential development. As pointed out in the 1970 Plan, the southern area

Is largely floodplain and swampland. These areas pose severe limitations for

residential development.

Commercial Use

The primary retail development in the CBD is located within a relatively

compact area extending westward along West Main Street for approximately two

and one-half blocks from the Main Street-Market Street intersection. Effort

should be made to keep this development in a compact area since it functions

more efficiently in this arrangement.

Of all the outlying commercial areas in the planning area, only one can be

described as a "planned neighborhood shopping center". The Washington Square

Shopping Center is a small shopping center located on Fifteenth Street between

Washington Street and U. S. Highway 17.

There are several highway business areas located in the Washington Planning

Area. The most easily recognized highway business area is located along U. S.

Highway 17 between Ninth Street and Fifteenth. This is also the fastest

-developing strip commercial area in the city. Another area which is easily
0 recognized is located north of the Tar and Pamlico River along Highway 17.

Probably the poorest example of a highway business area is l6cated on

Highway 17 from Main Street to the Fifth Street intersection because of inadequate

parking, incompatible mixture of uses and dilapidation of some structures.

Other major commercial districts are located along West Fifth Street from

Hackney Avenue to Wilson Street and along John Small Avenue from Eighth Street

to Highway 264 intersection. These areas have developed with relatively low

traffic generating secondary retail uses. Yet, caution should be taken as.

future development occurs to protect surrounding residential areas from*

excessive strip development.

Industrial Use

One concentration of industrial activity in the planning area is in the

western portion of the city along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad westof

Hackney Avenue. The wholesale development along Hackney Avenue helps to serve

as a buffer between the industrial activities and the residential uses to the

east.

A second major concentration of industrial activity is developing in the

eastern portion of the city next to Runyon's Creek along Fifth Street. The

expansion possibilities are limited for this area. Due to the existing inter-

mixture of industrial and residential uses in this area, the major land use

planning effort should be devoted to the establishment of well defined limits

for the expansion of industrial activities.

In addition to the two areas mentioned previously, the Hamilton Beach

Corporation has established a manufacturing plant on 39.S acres of land within

the planning area. It is located on N.C. Road 1509 just off of U. S. Highway

17 North. The surrounding area should begin to develop in the future due to

the present plant location and easily accessible transportation facilities.

There has been an intermixture of land uses within the industrial

districts in the Washington Planning Area in the past. Although this inter-

mixture still exists, there has been an effort made toward the prevention of

incompatible land uses within the-City of Washington through enforcement of

the city's land use controls such as zoning regulations.

Agricultural

Essentially, little agricultural activity is conducted within Washington's

city limits. The majority is conducted in the northern portion of the one and

one-half mile area. All agricultural lands are either currently devoted to

crop production or have crop production as their primary function.

Forestland

The most extensive areas of forestland are located in the southern

portion of Washington's one and one-half mile area, These lands lie

adjacent to the Pamlico and Tar Rivers.

Floodplain

The susceptibility of areas to frequent flooding during periods of heavy

.or prolonged precipitation is an important factor in determining the location

of future development in the Washington Planning Area. The construction 'of

private and public structures in floodplains presents the potential loss of

lives and property. Map 4 delineates Washington's flood hazard areas.

Compatibility Problems and Future Implications

Several land use compatibility problems have resulted in the Washington

Planning Area. Some of these problems have since been addressed by strict

code enforcement. Nevertheless, the following are the most frequently

cited land compatibility problems in the area.

1. A large amount of residential development has been allowed on small

lots with inadequate frontage.

2. Many existing vacant lots set aside for residential development are

too small for pleasant living conditions.

3, Substandard housing conditions were created because of poor platting

practices, the intermixing of incompatible uses with housing and inadequate

building and housing code enforcement.

4. Many public facilities have been developed on sites too small for

expansion.

S. In the past, not enough land has been allocated for recreational

purposes.

6. Strip and spot commercial uses have not been effectively.regulated

in the past, consequently, inefficient land use patterns have been created,

the traffic-carrying capacity of major streets has been decreased, and in some

cases, property values have decreased.

7. Residential and manufacturing uses, not appropriate for a downtown

location, located in the Central Business District.

8. Land set aside for industrial use in the past has not been suitable

for industrial development.

9. Some potential industrial sites have been eliminated in the past by

spotty development and the subdivision of large tracts of land into smaller

haphazardly arranged tracts.

As stated in problem #6 above, spot and strip commercial uses have

resulted in inefficient land use patterns which have' created traffic problems. As

future development occurs caution should be taken to protect the Washington

community from strip development. Usually, strip development places

additional demands on city service facilities, and by the nature of the uses

located in the stripped area, ultimate abandonment and deterioratibn of

structures occurs.

Strict enforcement of land use controls will alleviate many present

problems from developing in the future.

AREAS EXPERIENCING OR LIKLEY TO EXPERIENCE
MAJOR LAND USE CHANGE

Washington's urban renewal area is experiencing and will continue to

experience major land use changes during this planning period. Urban renewal

began in Washington, North Carolina, in 1961 with the formulation by the City

Council of a Citizens' Committee to investigate the possibility of establishing

an urban renewal program in the city.

It was widely accepted at that time that about SO percent of.all

the houses in the City limits were substandard and needed substantial repairs

or demolition. After an extensive study by the Citizens' Committee, the City

Coun cil formulated the Redevelopment Commission charging it with the respon-

sibility of moving forward with an urban renewal program.

The Redevelopment Commission, in conjunction with the City, drew up a

master plan'of the City outlining the areas that needed treatment. It was

agreed that this plan of attack would begin in the eastern part of the City

and progress westwardly to the areas which contained the worst housing condi-

tions. There were several reasons for this plan, including gaining urban

renewal experience before proceeding to the worst sections of town, taking

advantage of rehabilitation aide to prevent the eastern.part of the City from

becoming a slum, and taking advantage of non-cash credits which accrued to the

City as,a result of work already done in the eastern section.

In December, 1962, the East End Urban Renewal Plan was formally launched.

This 42S-acre area combined slum clearance with rehabilitation. At the time,

the project area comprised approximately one-third of the corporate City limits.

The project met with considerable success, About 20 acres of slums were leveled

and cleared land devoted to parks, recreation, and private development. Families

were located in the new public housing area built to serve this relocation need.

Many streets and sidewalks were paved, new utility lines were instal led, and

much work, including two new bridges, was done to the Jack's Creek storm

drainage basin. Many houses were upgraded through the rehabilitation program.

Urban Renewal Project No. 2 was the Washington Heights Area, which was

situated along the easternmost border of the City. This 45-acre area was

totally cleared of deplorable housing, .some of which had no electricity or,

inside toilet facilities. It was devoted to a 30-acre elementary-'school site,

a 10-acre park, and 5 acres'for a portion of a public'housing project in this

area, It is now one of the most attractive sections.in town. It has a school

campus excelled by none in this part of the State.

The third project, the Downtown-Waterfront Area, was undertaken at a.

time when the City was contemplating cleaning up a run-down, dilapidated water-

front containing many abandoned warehouses, dead end streets, decrepid wharfs,

rotting pilings, and other run-down buildings. The intent of this plan, is

so far as possible, was to create a shopping center out of the downtown area

by constructing new parking lots, to rehabilitate stores,, and to better'the

automobile access to the downtown area.

This project is now drawing to completion.@ The waterfront area in

Washington is a favorite spot for.visitors. One can travel along Stewart

Parkway and view the Pamlico River. The Parkway is lined with cherry trees

and other shrubs and landscaping. The latter development induced the City

Council to remove all off-street parking meters in the CBD. Many stores

have been renovated to include rear entrances to the parking lots. The

Waterfront area is often frequented by passing yachtsmen who tie up temporarily

along the bulkhead area. The Main and Market Streets areas have been converted

into a Semi-Mall with landscaping, more and better lights, and improved acces.s
by way of numerous alleys from business districts to off'-street parking. This
project has resulted in an out-of-State seafood restaurant being built in the
project area, as well as a new office building and a wholesale seafood estab-

lishment. Open space has been preserved along the waterfront for the

benefit of the public for the years to come.

With the final 'Completion of the East End and Washington Heights projects,

and kith the virtual completion of the Downtown project, the Redevelopment

Commis.sion and the City turned its attention to the West End area which

contained the worst slums in the city. A master plan of the 170-acre project

was developed, This was a Gene ral Neighborhood Renewal Plan study. The area

was carved into three logical projects - West End 1, 2, and 3. West End 1

got underway early in 1970. This 40-acre project cleared the substandard

houses and left the homes that could be rehabilitated through the urban renewal

program. It is interesting to 'know that all the homeowners in the area who

were displaced continued to be homeowners after they were relocated. Other
families were moved to available housing units.

Streets have been paved in the project area, and the bulk of the land

was devoted to a new 82-unit low-rent housing project. However, some lots

are being made available for private residential development. West End I

was completed by early 1975.

Some areas are experiencing commercial growth, One such area is

developing along Highway 17 South across the Pamlico River. Limited

commercial activity is expected to continue in this area. However, any

commercial development not presently zoned in this area should be cautioned

in order to safeguard the area from excessive strip development.

The eastern portion of the Planning Area is expected to develop

residentially with supporting commercial and institutional services, As a

matter of fact, a substantial portion of this area is under study for

annexation. Continued development of these areas is encouraged.

TABLE 12 CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES,_ AND @U-GULATYNS
Date Completed
1) Population and Economy 1963
2) -Comunity Facilities Plan 1963
3) Land Use Plan 1963
4) Public Improvements Program 196S
5) Zoning Ordinance 1971
6). Subdivision Regulations 1965.
.7) Flood Plain Information on Pamlico River at
Washington, N. C. 196S
8) Park and Recreation Study 1967
9) Neighborhood Analysis 1967
10) Capital Improvements Budget 1969
.11) Minimum Housing Element 1969
12) Updating of Land Development Plan 1970
13) Initial Housing Element .1970
14) Updating and Revision of Zoning Ordinance 1971
1S) Annexation Report 1971
16) Comprehensive Water and Sewer Study 1971
17) Community Facilities Update 1972
18) Housing Element Update 1972
19) Proposed Water and Sewer Extension 1972
20) City of Washington Reconnaissance Study 1972
21) Zoning Revised 7 June 1973 1973
22) Capital Improvements Budget 1974
23) Annexation Study 1974
24) Washington Thoroughfare Plan 1962
25) Washington Thoroughfare Plan Update 1970

SOURCE: Washington City Hall

CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

Plans and Policies

a) "Transportation Plans"

The following transportation description is taken from the Washington

Land Development Plan dated 1970.

A thoroughfare plan was completed and presented to the city in.August,

1962, by the Advanced Planning Department of the North Carolina State Highway

Cormission. The system of major thoroughfares supplemented by a number of

minor thoroughfares will remain practically the same as those proposed in the

1962 Land Development Plan.

In August, 1970, a revised thoroughfare plan was presented to the City

of Washington and subsequently adopted by resolution. The major differences

between the 1970 plan and the 1962 plan are as follows.

Proposed Highway 264 Relocation
U. S. Highway 264 has been proposed to be rerouted from Greenville to

Washington by redesignation of N. C. 33 as U. S. 264. It is further proposed

,that U. S. 264 by-pass the City of Washington to the north. This by-pass

will be a limited access road with interchanges at three intersections;

U. S. 17, Market Street Extension, and SR 1507.

Brick Kiln Road

This thoroughfare is recommended to be extended from River Road north

to the Intersection of SR 1SO1 and SR 1507, This road would then provide

direct access to proposed U. S. 264 from the River Road and Washington Park.

Right-of-way acquisition should begin about the time right-of-way acquisition

for proposed U. S. 264 by-pass is complete.

West Third Street

It is now felt that West Third Street should not be extended as a minor
thoroughfare to SR 1403. Therefore, it is recommended that Third Street extend

only to Plymouth Street. Consequently, Plymouth Street to West Fifth Street

will become a part of the Thoroughfare Plan as a connector 'street from.Third

to the main thoroughfare at Fifth Street. No right-of-w ay acquisition is

thereby needed and the moving of traffic in this area is still accomplished.

Washington Street
Washington Street will remain a minor thoroughfar6 from Bridge Street tb

15th Street, However, a minor thoroughfare along the boundaries of the air-

port might hamper future airport developmentand create a possible indirect

safety hazard. Therefore, it is recommended that Washington Street not be

extended to Ntrket Street Extension from lSth Street.

Reed Drive

Reed Drive is proposed as a minor thoroughfare in the Sma llwood area of

Washington. The right-of-way has been acquired, and this area is being

developed at this time.

The outer loop system will begin at River'Road and the Brick Kiln Road

and proceed along the Brick Kiln Road and proposed Brick Kiln Road to the

intersection of SR 1SOl and SR 1507. As proposed, the loop from this point

will consist of SR.lSOl and SR 1S06 following a proposed route to SR 1S09.

State Road 1509 will be utilized as part of the outer loop and it is proposed

that it continue across U. S. 17 to,, at present, an unspecified point where it

will fork, with the western fork connecting to N. C. 33 and the eastern fork

tying in With SR 1403.

This proposal deviates somewhat from the 1962 Thoroughfare Plan and at

this time no effort has been made to acquireright-of-way at any point along

this route.

The 1962 Thoroughfare Plan proposed approximately three and one half

miles of new right-of-way. This mileage wa s broken down into the following:

1. An extension of 3rd Street west to Clark's Neck Road.
Approximately .8 mile,

2. An extension of 15th Street. west to the Whispering Pines
Road. Approximately .6 mile.

3. An extension of Washington Street north to Market Street
Extended. Approximately .9 mile.

4. An extension of Avon Avenue west to Market Street Extended.
Approximately .8 mile.

S. An extension of Hudnell Street to Twelfth Street. Approx-
imately .4 mile.

Since 1962 only the extension of Hudnell Street for a distance of approx-

imately .4 mile to Twelfth Street has been completed, This extension connects

Pennsylvania Avenue, U. S. 264, and Highland Drive.

The small amount of implementation over the past eight years is more a

result of a change of city policy and needs, rather,than general apathy by the

city administration or physical construction which may have interfered with the

implementation of the 1962 plan. The City of Washington has an extensive

program to upgrade existing streets to make them more functional and to provide

better traffic circulation. New streets and parking areas, not mentioned in

the 1962 Plan, have been constructed and are in constant use (e.g .... Stewart
Parkway and the Waterfront Parking Areas).

Development ju st west of the city has not been as great as was expected

in 1962,, and it is not now anticipated that this area will develop during the

planning period to the extent that a new road connecting Third Street and

Clark Neck's Road will be justified. This propose d road, if@constructed,.would

not only be costly because of topog raphy and drainage conditions, but would

also duplicate the functions of the Old Pactolus Road. Therefore, this

proposed road is not felt to be needed during the planning period and is

eliminated in the 1970 Proposed Thoroughfare Plan.

.The 1962 proposal, extending 15th Street to Whispering Pines Road, is

still needed to handle the expected traffic when the comercial development

along 15th Street is completed. This extensio n would eliminate some of the

traffic congestion expected.along Hackney Avenue and Bridge Street. Much of

this traffic congestion will be created by the Washington Square Shopping

Center. It is recoimended that the city acquire the right-of-way for this

extension within the next two years,

Because of the potential of the Warren Airport and its future value to

the city, it is recomended that the 1962 proposal of extending Washington

Street to @hrket Street Extended be eliminated in the 1970 Plan. It is felt

that the completion of this street would open the airport area to urban-type

development and create possible safety hazards. It is the desire of the City

to keep the Warren Airport area as unencumbered and as free of development as

possible.

No action has been taken on the proposed extension of Avon Street to

Market Street Extended because this area remains in agricultural use. The City

should be able to implement this segment of the Thoroughfare Plan as this area

is developed. When this area does begin to develop, the pl ans for this area

should be presented to the Washington Planning Board for their study and approval.

By means of land use controls, now in effect for the city, the planning board

will be able to guide this development to coincide with the objectives of the

Thoroughfare.Plan. At this time, there is no need for this proposed street.

However, as the city continues to grow in that direction, there wi 11 be a need

.and therefore, it shall remain as part of the 1970 plan.

It is also recommended that the city begin to.take steps to acquire

right-of-way connecting Brick Kiln Road with the Slate Stone Road. Although

this acquisition is not felt to be immediate, action should be taken during

the early portion of the planning period. (This link will provide easy

access to proposed new U. S. 264,)

b) Community Facilities Plans

Washington.adopted a Comunity Facilities Plan in 1963. This plan
inventoried and studied existing public facilities and services in Washington

for the purpose of determining the adequacy or inadequacy of thepresen t

activities in meeting present and future needs before the demands became

acute and the cost unreasonable. The Community Facilities Plan was updated

in 1970.

c) Utilities Extension Policies

The City of Washington owns and operates the electrical distribution

system for the City and a sizeable area of its environs. Service connections

are provided free to area residents. Others must guarantee revenue equal to

capital investment within a four year period.

d) Open Space Policies

Washington has no stated policy for preservation of open space.

6) Recreation Policy

Washington has a full-time Recreation Director. The current policy of the
Recreation Department is to enforce its Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan.

f) Previous Land Use Studies
The City of Washington has had prepared two major land use pians, the first

plan in 1963 by the Division of Community Planning of the Department of Conser-

vation and Development, the second plan by the Department of Local Affairs of

the Division of Community Planning in 1970.

The 1963 plan was deeply concerned with two major land use problems. The

first problem was the Central Business District and the need to keep it as the

location of the primary retail and civic activity. The 1963 plan in fact stated

that this was the "key element of the land use plan.-'.' The plan envisioned that

all property within the CBD would be used for commercial purposes. This,

however, has not been achieved and at the present time there is still residen-

tial usage within the CBD. The plan also stated need for Washington to take

advant age of its unique water front CBD and make it into an "exciting" shopping

area. The plan went on to state that there would be no need for a major

shopping center in Washington during the planning period because the CBD would

be able to provide all of the necessary retail outlets. The plan did call for,

however, the development of "planned neighborhood convenience centers" at the

intersection of major streets. The plan suggested that these areas should

have common off street parking and limited access along with buffers to protect

the surrounding residential areas.

Another aspect of the 1963 plan was it's suggestion that industry@be

concentrated along Hackney Avenue and south of N. C. 33. The reason for this

suggestion was that in this area there was plenty of transportational

facilities and a majority of the industry in Washington was already located

here.

Light industry, on the other hand, was proposed for the area east of

Hudnell Street. The major purpose in this was to give definite boundaries to

an area that already had developed into a light industrial zone.

The 1963 plan went into more detail suggesting development plans for

residential, commercial, thoroughfare plans and many other areas.

The 1970 plan built upon the basis of the 1963 plan and suggested improve-

ments in areas that were found to be lacking in the 1963 plan. For example,

the 1963 plan stated that "nc large scale shopping center will be required

during the planning period because the location of the CBD enables it to

serve the entire planning area." This proved to be a miscalculation because

the city substantially increased its corporate limits to the north, It was a
0 result of this increase that the 1970 plan stated "that a shopping center will
be required during the planning period". The 1970 report went on to suggest

that the "center should develop on the site of the present Washington Square

.Shopping Center."

While the 1963 plan called for the elimination of all non-commercial uses
within the CBD, the 1970 plan was more realistic by recognizing that this

would be a long, slow process.

While the 1963 plan called for neighborhood convenience shopping centers

with control over their development the 1970 plan suggested even tighter

control of these areas through the use of adequate common off-street parking

areas and by limiting access into these areas consistent with traffic volumes

on streets where they are located.

The proposed concentrations of industrial usag .e around the area west of

Hackney Avenue and south of NC 33 in the 1963 plan was reiterated in the 1970

plan. The 1970 plan suggested that the individual lots in this area should be

assembled into large tracts and made available to prospective industrialists.

g) Prior Land Use Policies

Prior to the adoption of the 1971 Zoning Ordinance there are no known

land use policies governing the Washington Planning Area.

LOCAL REGULATIONS

a) Zoning Ordinances

Washington adopted it's first Zoning Ordinance in 1971. This document

regulates structure and land use in Washington and the extraterritorial area,

A completely revised Zoning Ordinance was adopted in June, 1973.

b) Subdivision Regulations

The purpose of the City of Washington's subdivision regulations is "to

establish procedures and standards for the development and subdivision of land

within the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city in

order to promote' the public health, safety and general welfare of the community."

These reg ulations, in part, are designed to secure safety from fire, panic,

and other dangers, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the over-

crowding of land and a-void undue concentration of population, to facilitate

adequate transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks, playgrounds, and other

public requirements and to help conserve and protect the physical and.economic

resources of the city and its environs.

The city ordinance regulates lot sizes, block sizes, street widths,

easements, sanitary conditions, and the process and data required for plat

approval. The minimum lot size required by the city is regulated by the

zoning ordinance according to the zone the lots will be located in; however,

the subdivision ordinance places restrictions on areas that do not or will

not have city water and sewer. The ordinance requires that where city water

and sewer are not available and individual water supplies or sewage systems are

planned that the subdivider have the area investigated by the County Health

Department to determine if the area is suitable for this type of use. The

ordinance requires the areas tested by the Health Department have their lot

size increased as the result of the percolation test and subsoil investigations

dictate; however, no lot with individual systems is allowed to be less than

is,000 square feet. When only individual sewage systems are planned, the

ordinance requiresthat the minimum lot size by 10,000 square feet.

The subdiv ision regulations also require that corner lots "shall have an

extra width of 1S feet to permit adequate building setback from side streets."

Along with this every lot is required to front or abut on a public street.

The size of blocks are also regulated by the ordinance, The requirements

are that the blocks shall "not exceed 1,200 feet or be less than 400 feet and
shall have sufficient width, to provide for two tiers of lots of appropriate
depth." Pedestrian ways or crosswalks are required by the ordinance where,

the Planning Board deems them necessary.

The city also regulates street width and location under its subdivision

regulations, The streets are required to conform to the arrangement, width

and location indicated on any official plans or maps for the city. In areas

for which such plans have not been completed, the ordinance requires "that

the streets shall be designed and located in proper relation to existing and

proposed streets, to the topography, to the natural features, and to the

proposed use of the land." The streets must provide for the continuation or

,appropriate projection of principal streets in surrounding areas to provide
0 for reasonable means of ingress and egress for surrounding tracts. The street

grades are not.to be steeper than S% nor less than 1/4 of one percent on any

street without special permission from the Planning Board.

c) Floodway Ordinances (Flood Zoning Ordinance)

The City of Washington has adopted a flood zoning ordinance as required

by the Federal Flood Insurance Program to qualify for-flood insurance. The

ordinance declares that "in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare,

the regulations of the floodway zone, floodway fringe zone, and the high hazard
districts are intended to protect areas of the flood plain subject to and

necessary for flood waters." The ordinance states the specific intent of

these zones is to (1) restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health,

safety, or property in times of floods or cause excessive increases in flood

heights or' velocities; (2) require that uses vulnerable to floods, including

public facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damages

at thetime of initial construction; (3) protect individuals from buying lands

which are unsuited for intended purposes, due to flood hazard; (4) meet the

needs of the streams to carry flood waters and protect the creek channels and

flood plains from encroachment so that flood heights and flood damage will

not be appreciably increased. The ordinance is intended to permit only that

development within the floodplain which is appropriate in the light of t he

probability of flood damage and presents a reasonable social and economic use

of the land in relation to the hazards involved, The ordinance requires that

each zone have only that type of development in it that will not be endangered

in'the event of a flood. The regulations on each differ because each zone

was set up to deal with a different type of problem, The floodivay zone was

established to preserve the flood carrying capacity of the streams in the

city. The floodway fringe and high hazards zones were established above the

ten foot hazard mark or the flood-proofing of the structure.

The city Building Inspector is charged with the responsibility of adminis-

tering and enforcing the code, Any violation of the ordinance constitutes a

misdemeanor. The Building Inspector is required to give any person, firm,.or

corporation a "reasonable opportunity not to exceed 30 days" to correct

violations before pursuing other legal remedies.

A Certificate of Compliance shall be issued by the Building Inspector as

required by the city's zoning ordinance prior to the@use of any building,

structure, or land and prior to the change or extension of a non-conforming use.

To obtain a certificate of compliance, application must be made to the Building

Inspector with the following information.: plans drawn to scale showing the

nature., location, dimensions, and any existing or proposed elevations of a lot,

structures, fill, storage of materials and the location of the foregoing in

relation to the channel, the floodway zone, floodway fringe zone,.'high hazard

district and the flood protection elevation. Any existing or proposed

elevations must be tied to the City of Washington Datum or the United States

Geological Survey Benchmark. The builder may be required to submit certifi-

cation by a registered en i rchitect showing that the finished fill
,gineer or a

and building flood elevations, flood proofing and the flood protection

measures were compiled within the framework of the ordinance.

Special exceptions may be granted within the floodway, floodway fringe

zone and high hazard district by the Board of Adjustment as long as sufficient

evidence is presented that.the structure will be protected by flood proofing

or other means of flood protection elevation. An application for special

exceptions shall be made to the Planning Board. The Planning Board will then

forward the application along with a recommendation to the Board of Adjustment.

The Planning Board -and Board of Adjustment must base their decisions on

Article 3, Section 5 of the ordinance which is entitled 'Matters to be

to be Considered in Passing Upon Application" (for special exceptions). The

basic considerations that the Boards must take into account are (1) the

probability of materials. being. swept onto other lands or downstream to the

injury of others, (2) the proposed water supply system and sanitation systems

and the ability of these systems to prevent disease, contamination and

unsanitary conditions (3) the susceptability of the proposed facility to

flood damage and the effect of such damage on the individual owner, (4) the

importance of the service to the community (5) the availability of alternate

areas, (6) the compatibility of the proposed use with existing development

anticipated in the reasonable future, (7) the relationship of the proposed

use to the comprehensive plan and floodplain management program for the area,

(8) the safety of access to the property in times of flood for ordinary

and emergency vehicles, (9) the expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of

rise and sediment transport of the flood waters expected at the site, (10)

and such other factors which are relevant to the purpose of the ordinance.

The city's ordinance is a detailed document covering all aspects of

flood plain zoning. The city has taken appropriate measures to control future

development in the flood zone and has no desire to see any duplicate enforce-

ment mechanisms set up by the State of North Carolina under the provisions

of the Coastal Area Management Act.

d) Building Codes

The City of Washington enforces North Carolina State Building Codes in

addition to city building regulations. These codes set forth conditions and

identify dwellings which are unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation,

defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents and other calamities, lack

of ventilation, light and sanitary facilities., and due to other conditions

rendering such dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, and dangerous and detrimental

to the Ticalth, safety and otherwise inimical to the welfare of Washington

residents.

p) Septic Tank Regulations
The City of Washington provides municipal water and sewer to its
residents. Septic tank regulations are more applicable to the extraterritorial
area. These regulations are enforced by the Beaufort County Health Department--

f) Historic Districts Regulations
The City of Washington does not have historic district regulations.

g) Nuisance Regulations
The City of Washington has adopted a nuisance ordinance which defines a
nuisance and directs the steps to be taken if a nuisance occurs. A vacant
lot or a parcel of land is declared a nuisance.when anyone of the-'following

conditions exist:

1) "uncontrolled growth of noxious weeds or grass in excess of 18
inches or threatening to cause a hazard detrimental to public
health or safety"
@2) t1any accumulation of animal or vegetable matter that is offensive
by virtue or odors or vapors or by the inhabitance therein of
rats., mice, snakes or vermin of any kind which is or may be
dangerous or prejudicial to the public health."

3) "any accumulation of rubbish, trash, or junk causing or threaten-
ing to cause a fire hazard or causing or threatening to cause the
accumulation of stagnant water or causing or threatening to cause
the inhabitation therein of rats, mice, snakes, or vermin or any
kind which is dangerous or may be dangerous or prejudicial to the
public health."

4) It any condition detrimental to the public which violates the rules
and regulations of the county health department."
The ordinance places upon the City Manager, after he receives notification
from any person that such conditions exist, the responsibil Iity of ordering an

investigation by the appropriate city official. Once the investigation is

made and it is determined that there is a nuisance the City Manager is then

required to notify the owner', occupant, or person in possession of the

property in writing and "shall order the prompt abatement thereof within 10

days from the owner's receipt of such written notice." If the order is not

comp lied with the City Manager "shall cause such condition to be removed or

otherwise remidied!' by use of city personnel or an independent contractor.

A written notice to the owner, occupant, or person in possession of the

property shall be considered sufficient notice. The ordinance the n requires

th at the Tax Collector prepare a statement of charges (the actual cost

incurred plus a ten dollar administration fee) which is to be mailed to the

owner,.occupant, or .person in possession of the property with instructions

that the charges be paid within.30 days. The ordinance then states that if

the bill is not paid within this time period that a lien for the amount shall

be put on the land.

In actuality, liens are not being attached to the property for the

collection of weed control bills, due to the involv6d legal procedures

required, such as running legal advertisements, calling for a public hearing,

and the holding of a public hearing.

h)- Dune Protection Ordinances

Not applicable to the Washington Planning Area.

i) Sedimentation Codes

The City does not presently enforce sedimentation control. The State of

-North Carolina is currently enforcing sedimentation control within Beaufort

County.

j) Environmental Impact Statement Ordinances

While the city has no EIS ordinance, an EIS provision is included in

various land use control ordinances.

FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS

The State guidelines for preparation of these plans requir e that state and

federal regulations be listed and discussed. The N. C. Department of Natural

and Economic Resources was to prepare such a listing and discussion for

inclusion in the Coastal Area Management Act plans. However, these regulations

have not been presented to date. When available these regulations will be

presented for inclusion in the Washington Land Use Plan.

ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTIONS

Enforcement

The Washington City Inspector coordinates enforcerent of plans,

ordinances, and policies.. The City Inspector Office is well organized and

capable of continuing to provide effective enforcement of land use*controls.

The enforcement procedure concerning the city's subdivision regulations

is tied directly to the approval or rejection of the.subdivision plat. The

ordinance required that a preliminary plat be submitted to the City Manager
at least two weeks before consideration of the plat by the Planning Bo@rd.
The City Manager will make a recomendation to the Board after he has checked

to make sure the plat conforms to all city subdivision regulations. The

Planning Board may accept or reject the plat but the ordinance requires that

its reasons be stated in the minutes and recomendations "made-on the basis

of which the proposed subdivision could be approved." Once the plat is

approved or the necessary changes have been made the subdivider is required

to present the final plat within three months after the approval of the pre-

liminary plat. The City Council is empowered by the ordinance to either

accept (totally or conditionally) or reject the final plat. If approval is

given, the subdivision will have it recorded with the County Register of

Deeds. If the plat is denied, the City Council must state its reasons and

make recommendations concerning the needed changes. Unless a plat is

approved by the City Council no building permits will be issued and the plat

shall be considered null and void.

Inspections

The City of Washington has adopted ordinances regulating housing, zoning,

installation of electrical equipment, building practices, plumbing, and cooling

and heating systems. Many of these regulations have been adopted by the City

of Washington from state and national codes. The building code, plumbing

code (with a few exceptions), and the heating and cooling system code were

adopted from state codes while the electrical code was adopted from anational

code. These codes are detailed and form a rather extensive body of law.

The city ordinances provide for a building inspector and assistants as

he has need for them. The city presently employs two full-time inspectors;

one building inspector and one housing inspector. The building inspector is

responsible for determining violations of the zoning regulations, the building

-code, the electrical code, the plumbing code, and the heating and cooling

code. The housing inspector is mainly responsible for minimum housing inspect-

ions and assists the building inspector with his duties.

The building inspector is charged with the responsibility of enforcing

all state and local laws governing installations of electrical and cooling

systems under the electric code. In enforcing the building-code, the

inspector is required to "perform all the duties prescribed by the General

Statutes of North Carolina and all other applicable statutes." The city

plumbing code gives him general charge and supervision over all plumbing

.done in the city and requires him to make certain all plumbing conforms with
e the code. The Building Inspector is charged.with the responsibility of

administering and enforcing the zoning regulations adopted June 11, 1973.

All the,ordinances enforced by the Building Inspector follow the same

mechanics for enforcement and appeal with the exception of the zoning

ordinance. There are three basic steps in enforcement and appeal:

1. A written notice to the property owner or his agent
notifying him of the corrections that need to be made.

2. In the event the owner or his agent disagrees with the
inspector's interpretation of the code, appeal may be
made within 48 hours by filing.a written appeal with the
City Manager stating his objections.

3. The City,Manager's decision is final except for appeal to
the Superior Courtlof the County by a writ of certioriari.

The procedure followed in enforcing the zoning ordinance differs from

the enforcement of other ordinances in that any appeal from the Building

Inspector's decision may be taken to the Board of Adjustment, the decision

of which is final within the city government structure. However, one may

appeal to the Superior Court of the County ghrough a,.w-rit of certiorari. In

.all matters of appeal after a decision has been rendered at the highest

level provided by the ordinances, the matter is turned over to the city's

attorney to force compliance.

The Housing Inspector received his authority from the building inspector

who is allowed by ordinance to delegate the necessary authority to his

assistants. The city, in response to HUD guidelines, adopted the Minimum

Housing Code which recognizes that within the city there exists dwellings

that are not fit for human habitation.

The Housing Inspector's procedure for enforcement begins with the

receiving of at least five complaints against a structure or his spotting a

structure that does not meet standards. After a minimum housing inspection

of a dwelling is made and it is found to be substandard, the inspector

prepares a complaint and notice of hearing along with a check sheet specifying

the deficiencies. At the hearing the owner and/or his agent and interested

parties present evidence to the housing inspector relating to the dwelling

being discussed. After the hearing is held, the inspector makes a decision

as to wh ether the dwelling is dilapidated or deteriorated. If he decides

that the structure is deteriorated he prepares a written report stating his

reasons and issues an order for the owner to bring such dwelling into

compliance with the code. If the structure is dilapidated he follows the

same procedure and issues an order for the dwelling to be grought up to

standards or be demolished. The owner may appeal through the Housing Board

of Appeals by filing a notice of appeal with the housing inspector and the

Housing Board of Appeals within 10 days from the rendering of the order.

The appeal must state the objections of the owner and his grounds for appeal.

The Housing Board of Appeals. has the final decision unless the owner and/or

his agent desires to appeal to the superior court of the county by a writ of

certiorari.

The Bureau of Inspections and Community Development's inspection policy

is,greatly influenced by state and federal guidelines. These guidelines place

the burden on.the City of Washington for finding suitable lodging for anyone

who is living in a structure the city wishes to condemn or institute major

repairs on. As a direct result of the great expense involved in such an

operation and the shortage of adequate housing, the city makes a policy of not

starting procedures against any occupied dwelling. Since the adoption of the

new Minimum Housing Code in 1972 the city has demolished 68 houses and is in the

process of having 19 more destroyed. During the same period 260 houses were

repaired because of the enforcement authority granted in the code.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES

PART III

IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF MAJOR

LAND USE ISSUES

The City of Washington undertook an intensive citizen involvement program

in the Spring of 1974, The purpose of this program was to solicit local input

in (1) identifying area land use problems and issues, (2) help formulate goals

and objectives to address identified issues and problems and (3) to establish

an on-going communication process between officials and the public. Over the

past year Washingtonis Citizen Involvement Program has included: a citizen

attitude questionnaire, ward meetings, public.forums, civil group engagements

and establishment of a citizen "Hot-Line".

Following are results of these efforts.. Problems and issues are identified,

followed by goals and objectives. These long-range goals are mixed with

short and long-range objectives because area problems are varied. The object-

ives represent different problem-solving solutions local citizens have

proposed. They address their most pressing problems:- Growth,, Environment,

Housing, Public Safety, Streets and Transportation. This plan revolves

around these concerns because.local citizens have identified them as problems

which need solutions. It is their identification of these goals, standards,

and objectives which makes them important enough to pursue.

GROWTH

The City of Washington has experienced a, rapid population decline in the

past 15 years, from 9,939 in 1960 to 8,860 (est.) in 197.5. An urban fringe has

developed lacking municipal services. Additional land is needed for development,

particularly for residential areas for low and middle income families.

GOAL: To Promote Orderly Growth in the Washington Planning Area.

OBJECTIVE: To annex surrounding residential areas.

OBJECTIVE: To make provisions to extend municipal services to these Areas,
such as water and sewer lines, fire and police protection,
garbage and trash collection.

OBJECTIVE:. To seek a detailed soils map for the City of Washington and
and Beaufort County to provide information on soils limitations
on development.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS

The City of Washington has attempted to build a communications process which

the citizen can express his veiws and opinions of the City's needs and priorities

and the'City in turn can communicate progress on these ideas back to the citizens.

A responsive local government is essential to a viable democracy.

GOAL: To Maintain Effective Communication Between the Citizens and
Elected City Officials.

OBJECTIVE: To bring* about more citizen involvement through the,Human
Relations Council.

OBJECTIVE: To establish closer ties with the news media.

OBJECTIVE: To continue the city's public speaking panel for civic groups,
business groups, and the various other citizen involvement groups.

OBJECTIVE: To continue to publicize th e "hotline" telephone number which
encourages citizens to give their suggestions on improving living
conditions in the city.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Washingtonians strongly feel that plans for development must be balanced

with an appreciation of those unspoiled natural.areas which contribute to the

"livability" of our city. These areas should be respected in our future develop-

ment.

GOAL: To Discourage Development of Land Which is Unsuitable for Urban
Uses.

OBJECTIVE: To enforce strictly the flood zoning ordinance to insure that
new development within the flood zone is either flood proofed
and/or elevated above*the flood plain.

OBJECTIVE: To zone a historic district within the Central Business District
to preserve structures of historic significance and to insure that
new development will be aesthetically compatible with existing

structures.

OBJECTIVE: To zone the land adjacent to the Tranter's Creek watershed to
prevent damaging changes in water run-off patterns and to
prohibit septic tank infl,itration of surface water and under-
ground water supplies.

OBJECTIVE: To zone the marshland on the south side of the river to prohibit
any types of use that will change the character of the land.

OBJECTIVE: To annex areas that are adjacent to the river and that lack
sewerage systems to ensure that septic tank inflitration does
not downgrade the quality of the Pamlico River.

HOUSING

An aging, deteriorating housing stock is one of Washington's greatest problems,

as identified through public meetings, a citizen's survey, and a survey of physical

conditions. Standard housing for members of all economic groups is the first

@requirement for decent, living.

GOAL: To Provide An Environment In Which Residents May Have The Opportunity
to Secure Adequate and Safe Housing.

OBJECTIVE: To demolish all dilapidated housing units.

OBJECTIVE: To upgrade all substandard housing to meet minimum housing
codes or else have the structures demolished.

OBJECTIVE: To create a local rehabilitation loan program with the cooperation
of savings and loan institutions and banks, making use of
Community Development Revenue Sharing funds,

RECREATION AND PARKS

The 1974 Citizen Survey revealed that 50 percent of respondents never used

park and recreation facilities. The non-users were primarily elderly and middle

aged. Also, in a number of public meetings you pointed.out that the city and

county do not fully exploit water based recreational potential.

GOAL: To Provide a Variety of Recreational Opportunities for All Groups.

OBJECTIVE: To plan for the renovation of the old Armory into a recreation

center.

OBJECTIVE: To demolish Charlotte Street Recreation Center and replace it
with the renovated facilities of the old Armory.

OBJECTIVE: To complete the Jack's Creek park *project.

OBJECTIVE: To provide more "free play" time at recreation centers and.to
allow activities to develop without structuring them into
organizations.

OBJECTIVE: To make better use of the Pamlico and Tar Rivers for recreational
purposes by increasing city-owned waterfront property to insure
areas for public access, and by providing for additional free city
boat ramps and docking facilities,

OBJECTIVE: To encourage more elderly and middle aged participation in
recreational programs.

OBJECTIVE: To develop neighborhood play areas within easy walking distance
of all Washingtonians.

OBJECTIVE: To study possibilities of developing a system of bike path.s.
OBJECTIVE: to encourage commercial recreation such as bowling, putt-putt golf,
skating rinks.

OBJECTIVE: To coordinate City-County activities to eliminate needless
duplication of per sonnel, facilities, and programs.

PUBLIC SAFETY

A high degree of concern.in public safety was expressed in the 1974 Citizen

Survey. It was felt that additional public safety measures are needed that

address dog control, loitering, visual barriers, and increased car patrol.

GOAL: To Provide The Most Effective and Efficient Means of Public Safety,
OBJECTIVE: To concentrate patrolling in areas that report greatest incidence
of serious crime.

OBJECTIVE: To improve street lighting to promote a greater sense of security
at night.

OBJECTIVE: To empower police to control loitering on public property through
enactment of a local ordinance,

OBJECTIVE: To enact a 24-hour leash law to prevent dogs running at large.

OBJECTIVI, To consolidate City-County rescue squad efforts.

OBJECTIVE: To remove visual barriers from street intersections to lessen the
possibility of traffic accidents.

STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION

Washington has numerous unpaved streets and paved streets that lack curb and

guttering. Movement of traffic and water run-off patterns will be improved

through increased attention to street paving and maintenance programs.

GOAL: To Provide a Highly Functional Internal Street System.

OBJECTIVE: To pave, curb, and gutter the remaining dirt streets.

OBJECTIVE: To curb and gutter ribbon streets.

OBJECTIVE: To allow traffic to flow evenly through sychronization of street
lights.

STANDARDS

The development of land within Washington should be undertaken in accordance

with sound resource management principles in order to make the most economic use

of public funds invested in services and to enhance private investment in the

long term future of Washington. The following standards.will guide the location

of development in appropriate areas and identify certain measures necessary to

insure safety and,convenience for residents of and visitors to Washington.

A. General Standards

1) Development should be located on stable, well-drained soils with a

relatively low water table.

2) Structures should be located on the development site to avoid the

destruction of natural vegetation wherever possible.

3) Structures should be located on site to avoid the alteration of natural

land form and drainage where possible.

4) Development should be located to minimize intefference with established
patterns of surrounding land use and to prevent conflict between

incompatible uses of land,

5) Development should be located to avoid the destruction or irretrievable

alteration of fragile or valuable natural or cultural resources.

6).Devel opment should not occur in areas where there is a demonstrated

danger of the loss of life or property due to natural or man-made

processes.

7) Development in areas subject to flooding should be designed and located

to minimize the damage caused by such flooding.

8) Development should be located and timed to make the most efficient and

economical use of existing or proposed public services including water,

sewer, solid waste disposal, public safety, schools, libraries and social

services.

B-. Residential Standards

1) Permanent neighborhoods should be located in sheltered areas protected

from encroachment by major transportation routes and incompatible

commercial development.

2) Permanent neighborhoods should maintain low density levels and large
amounts of useable open space to preserve privacy and aesthetic

appeal.

3) Residential development which requires septic tanks for sewage disposal

should follow current health requirements as to soil type, height of

water table and area to prevent pollution of ground water supply,

aquifer recharge areas or estuarine waters.

4) Development which results in residential densities over 3 families per

acre should be served by public or community sewage disposal systems.

C. Commercial Standards

1) General commercial activities and business require locations adjacent

to major thoroughfares. The uncontrolled development of commercial

sites at scattered locations along highways does not promote good

business, is inconvenient for shoppers, promotes inefficient use of

valuable developable-land, creates dangerous traffic conflicts at each

driveway entrance, and seriously impairs the capacity and function of

the highway. Therefore, commercial developm..ent should be concentrated

in groups of complementary uses where possible.

2) Small commercial enterprises of less than one acre are encouraged to

locate where suitable sites exist among existing commercial uses in

order to take advantage of combined drawing power and to increase

customer convenience.

3) Large scale commercial developments involving one acre or more are

encouraged to concentrate complementary uses on sites large enough to

provide ample parking, controlled access to highways, and suitable

buffering for adjacent residential use,

4) Convenience retail facilities designed and limited to serve neighbor-

hood level trade areas.only may be appropriate adjacent to some

residential neighborhoods if properly buffered to minimize impact on

adjacent residences.

5.1 Water related commercial activity such as marinas and piers should be

located in naturally protected areas as near deep water as possible

where the least amount of alteration of vital marsh and estuarine

bottom is required.

D. Industrial Standards

1) Industries should be encouraged to locate in the Industrial District

in the Planning Area.

2) Industries locating in the Washington Planning,Area should be required

to provide an assessment of the impact of primary and secondary develop-

ment caused by industry and should use the best available technology

to avoid pollution of the water and air during construction and in

.production.

IMPACT OF POPULATION AND ECONOMIC TRENDS.

An examination of area population characteristics found in Part IT of

this plan will reveal that the most significant population changes have

occurred in the elderly population and the-under S age group. The SS and

over age g.rouphas steadily increased while the under S has decreased.

Changes in both age groups are apparently of a national trend reflecting

better me dical care and health facilities, and no longer a need nor a

desire for large families.,

What are the implications of these population changes? An increasingly

older population will require specialized demands on health care and other

community services. A decreasing Iunder S population represents possible

future under utilization of school facilities and school personnel, When the

under S population reaches school agej unless significant in-migration of

school age children replenishes the losses which have already occurred,
alternatives in anticipated school needs will be required. Personnel'shifts

and facility re-organization may necessitate efficient school operations,

Economically, an increasing old population represents a larger percent-

age of residents on a fixed income. This means that persons on fixed

incomes will more immediat ely reflect fluxuations in the national economy.

In the past,agricultural,related activities accounted for most of

Washington's economy. However, today manufacturing, wholesale and retail

trade account for Washington's major economic activity. As of 1969,

Washingtonians earned an average income of $2,168 annually.

The area's economic outlook is encouraging. Several phosphate operations

are expected to expand in the county. However, since these plans are not

final, the exact impact upon Washington economy cannot be made. Continued

economic and industrial development is needed to meet future employment needs.,

PROVISION OF ADEQUATE HOUSING

Washington continues to have areas of substandard housing. In 1974-a

housing survey was conducted by the city. A total of 2,722 houses were

surveyed. Housing conditions were as follows: (a) SS percent standard,
(b) 42 percent substandard and (c) 3 percentdilapidated. The worst housing

conditions arefound in the western section of the city. This section is

mostly populated with Black residents.

Today Washington has an average household Population of 3.26.' As popula-

tion estimates are realized, overcrowding will increase, It is essential that

implementation of the existing housing plan continues. Added housing stock

and other housing improvement will remain high among Washington's priorities.

CONSERVATION OF PRODUCTIVE NATURAL RESOURCES

The Pamlico River and its waters are considered the most productive
0 natural resources the Washington Planning Area has to offer area citizens.
Washingtonians have varied strong feelings concerning the protection of

their natural areas as evident in their environmental goals and objectives.

PROTECTION.OF IMPORTANT NATURAL ENVIROPMENTS
Washington citizens seek to encourage wise development of their land and

water environment in such a matter that would attract people to the area and

not destroy its natural state.

Their objectives "to zone the marshland on the south side of the river

to prohibit any types of use that will change the character of the land,

and to annex areas that are adjacent to the river and that lack sewerage

systems to ensure that septic tank infiltration does not downgrade the quality

of the Pamlico River 11 are some of the ways area residents feel would better

conserve and protect their environment.

PROTECTION OF CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES

The "Original Washington" has played an important part in the development

of Beaufort County and the surrounding areas. The preservation of the Old

Beaufort County Courthouse and Bank of Washington are evident of the city's

past cultural contribution to the area. These two buildings are listed on

the National Register of Historic Places. Delineation of a historic district

is under study also. These cultural and historic resources are a significant

asset to the city and should be protected from unplanned and uncontrolled

growth.

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Citizen participation meetings were held with the intention of encouraging

the maximum amount of citizen dialogue on municipal problems, including specific

issues concerning land use planning. The principle land use questions raised

were the desirable future population growth, the rate of growth, the impact of

future growth on community facilities, needed improvements in municipal service

delivery,and protection of the environment and of historic sites.

Wa shingtonians tend to be proud of their historic heritage, their city's

relationship to the river, and feel Comfortable in a small town environment.

These concerns showed up consistently in their remarks. Washingtonians want a

small town setting and are highly concerned about maintaining the river for rec-

reation and fishing uses. Citizens consistently called for protection of their

heritage through the creation of a historic zone.

A great. deal of effort was devoted to determining needed improvements in

municipal service delivery and in community facilities. A great deal of effort

was spent in prioritizing "municipal concerns" and Washington's goals are arranged

approximately in decending order.of frequency that a concern was mentioned.

Public libraries, courtesy of city officials, and fire safety were not salient

issues to local citizens, and so did not appear in goal statements. Citizen

participation in governmental affairs tended to gather little support as a matter

of greatest, or second greatest, municipal concern. In this case, however, muni-

cipal policy is strongly oriented to city responsiveness and communication with

citizens,, and so much attention was devoted to developing goal statements

on this matter.

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND STANDARDS PROCESS

The citizen participation process depended on public meetings, a citizen

survey, and presentations to civic groups as the three principle methods of

encouraging city-citizen dialogue. A conscientious effort was made to record

the items brought up at the meetings, and the citizen survey was used as the

primary tool in ordering municipal concerns in a priority ranking. Also con-

sidered were the prioritie's of the City's management staff and the City Coun-

cil, who had been working together in the Community Development Revenue Sharing

program to define municipal needs and in setting an annual budget.

The goals, objectives, and standards were compiled and written up by a

member of the City's staff who had been involved in the citizen participation

process for both CDRS and CAMA. These statements werethen circulated to the

City Manager, the City Council, and the Planning Board. The Planning Board

in particular has worked to refine the goal statements.

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION METHODS AND RESULTS

Since early spring of 1974, the City of Washington has developed a program

to draw citizens into the decision making process; (1) in the preparation of

the budget for both fiscal years 1974-75 and for 197S-76, with the Human

Relations Council as the "vehicle" for program suggestions; (2) in the

preparation of the "hold harmless" and the discretionary applicatiQns for

Community Development Revenue Sharing; (3) through a series of "Workshops on
Local Government" on the structure and function of the local government;

(4) through the completion of a random survey of 268 households within the

corporate limits of Washington concerning the needs created.by urban living;

and (5) through meetings with civic groups to explore land use issues in depth.

Although the meetings held on Community Development Revenue Sharing,

th6 annual city budget, and the Coastal Area Management Act has slightly

different orientations, they1were similar in attempting to involve the citizens

in the local governmental process. The citizens' survey was a direct attempt'

to go to the houses of a randomly selected group of households (10% of all

households within the city limits) to gather the responses of an adult member'

of the household to a series of questions on municipal problems (see: Larry

Mazer and Kenneth Andrews, "A Municipality Surveys its Citizens," Popular

Government, Volume 41, Number I (Summer 1975), 29.)

The workshops on local. goverment were instructional in nature: a member

of the city staff would present a brief explanation of his area of responsibi-

lity, such as the operation of a division or department of the city. Attendees

were encouraged to ask questions to improve their understanding of the city's

responsibilities and methods.of operation.

Other than the@State provided pamphlets,'postetso:nd public service

announcements over radio and television, the city released at least one news

article per month to the local newspaper qj)ecAfici11v licrtai.ning to the Coastal

Area Management Act. 'I'he particular route chosen to encourage pubric input into

the land use planning process were presentations to civic and church groups.

The slide shows on CAMA were used to acquaint,the group with the basics of

land use issues with a discussion afterwards on what relationship

Washingtonians desired in the future toward. the land and the water.

The City administration has not been entirely satisfied with the level of

response to its participation efforts. While a great deal of time and money

was spent in publicizing the various meetings, the number of participants

was hardly overwhelming at any single meeting. The variety of methods and

the large number of meetings give citizens a great deal of opportunity to

voice their views and concerns,

It is difficult to estimate what percentage of the adult population

participated in the process, perhaps 20% is the most believable figure.

Taking into account that the public participation efforts have been an

on-going process for two years, a 20%,respQnse is disappointing.

CONSTRAINT8

SECTION IV

JAM) PUITNI'TAI,

.The Washington Planning Area has both man-made and natural hazard areas.

Man-made hazard areas consist of tank farms, Warren Airfield, and fertilizer

storAg7e facilities while natural hazard areas consist of floodplain lands.

Man-Made Hazard Areas

Tank Farms - There are four tank farms within the city and three within

its mile and a half jurisdiction. These storage facilities contain approx-

imately 1 1/4 million gallons of fuel oil.
Of the four within the city two are located in the east end of town, in

industrial zones surrounded by residential.usage. The remaining two facilities

in the city are in the west end, one in a B-3 zone surrounded by residential

uses, the other in a 1-2 zone surrounded by commercial, industrial and some
ecattered residential usage.

The tank farms within the city limits are all relatively close to

residential areas. This unfortunate situation came into being prior to the

adoption of the zoning ordinance. From the standpoint of safety, the two tank

farms in the east end present the greatest potential of danger, since they are

surrounded by predominantely residential land use. Three farms are adjacent

to major thoroughfares (Fifth Street, Park Drive). One tank farm is located on

Runyon Creek near the point it runs into the Pamlico. The location pattern

of the tank farms within the city limits is quite unfortunate due to the

proximity to major thoroughfares, resdiential areas, and the river.

Outside the city limits, one tank farm on River Road is located in an area

that is mainly commercial with some residential use to the north. The other

tank farms are on a major thoroughfare, Highway 17, in close proximity to the*
0

to the llmnllco River. 'llic qurrounding land is comiiierciA ;iiid i@oodlmid.

There are certain saf oty procedure.-, rcquired by law for tank Cinns, such

as retaining walls, check valves, and fire extinguishers. The City should

ascertain whether existing law provides adequate protection to the surrounding

land uses.

Inside City Limits

1) Greene Oil Company, 423 Hackney Avenue

a. five tanks
b. 74,000 gallon capacity
c. Safety features: 181 long 21 high retaining wall that can hold up
to 40,000 gallons

2) H. G. Winfield, 1000 Park Drive

a. five 1S,000 gallon tanks, one 30,000 gallon tank
0
b. 10S,000 gallon capacity
c. Safety features: no retaining walls

3) F. Ray Moore Oil Company, 304 New Bern Street

a. four tanks
b. 120,000 gallon capacity
c. Safety features: retaining wall

4) E. P. Rhodes Distributor, 1051 E. 4th Street

a. six 14,5.00 gallon tanks, two 20,000 gallon tanks
b. 127,000 gallon capacity

S) Waters Oil Company, 810 N. Charlotte Street

a. eleven 16,000 gallon tanks, one 2S8,000 gallon tanks, one
58,000 gallon tank, one IS8,000 gallon tank
b. 640,000 gallon capacity

Outside City Limits

1) Taylor Oil Company, 805 River Road

a. four 20,000 gallon tanks, one 8,000 gallon tank
b. 88,000 gallon capacity
c. Safety, features: no retaining wall, security pop-off valve

2) J. H. Pinkham EXXON Products, Highway 17 South

a. five tanks
b. 120,000 gallon capacity
.c. Safety features: check valves on tanks

Warren Field

Warren Field is a small airport capable of handling planes up to the size

of small jets. The area is classified in 1-2 zone with special restrictions to

protect flight lanes.

The 1962 thoroughfare plan for the City recommended that Washington Street

be extended to Market Street extension. The 1970 plan, however, recommended that

this action not be taken to prevent opening the airport vicinity to urban develop-

ment. It now appears that with the location of a new N. C. State Amory in the

immediate vicinity, in conjunction with an expansion of the airport now underway,'

urbanizing tendencies are already underway.

Fertilizer Outlets

Four fertilizer outlets are found in the west end of town, namely Royster

Fertilizers, Smith Douglas Fertilizer, Talley Brothers Warehouse, and W. B.

Gerard and Sons,

Smith Douglas warehouse stores approximately 19 tons of fertilizers and

fertilizer materials and 160 tons of farm chemicals. Farm chemicals are

pesticides at field strength stored as liquids in containers ranging from one

quart to 55 gallons, or as dry material in containers of one to fifty pounds.

Any direct contact with these materials could be hazardous. In the event of a

.fire, toxic fumes would be given off.

Talley Brothers generally stores forty pounds of nitrogen soda, forty of

ammonia nitrate, and forty of calcium nitrate. Herbicides and insecticides are

not stocked but are ordered when needed.

The other outlets carry much the same inventory.

Extraterritoria imits =mow --aft
0 =mom

<3 00
Paritico P4vet

MAP 4
2tor
VVASHINGT N.

FLOOD HAZARD A

TAKEN FROM PRELIMINARY
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDRY MAP
86 FOR CITY OF WASHINGTON

Natural Hazard Areas:

Flood Plain

"Washington has been subjected to flooding by hurricane-produced wind

tides of sufficient height to cause appreciable damage at least seven times

during this century including five times since Hurricane Hazel in 1954."

Any type of storm is likely to raise the water level. However, to date the

highest tidal flooding on record was the tropical storm of September 3, 19133,

'which produced an elevation of 10 feet above the normal water level. Based

on studies conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers, a severe storm reasonably

characteristic of the region could produce a storm tide of 14 feet above

mean.sea level if the hurricane moved on an east-west direction along the

Pamlico River.

Map 4 depicts Washington's flood hazard areas.

The City, with the help of the State, has tried to take steps to reduce
the flood hazard. A combination street and dike has been constructed across
Jack's Creek which drains 65% of the town. The dike was designed to protect
the area from flood tides up to 6.5 feet in height. Four 13,000 gallon per
minute pumps operate automatically when the waters behind the dike rise to sea
level, and shut off when the water level drops below 1_5 feet below mean sea

level.

Floods in the area are caused predominantly by storm tides. Though any
type of storm may cause the water level of the Tar-Pamlico to rise, only a
tropicalstorm will cause a sufficient increase for serious flooding to occur.

'Ili--se subtropical storms occur mostly in August, September, and October. I'he
highest recorded tidal flooding occurred in 1913 when a subtropical storm
producedIflood waters of 10 feet., The most expensive storm thata data are
available on was Ione, which in 1956 produced floods of 7.8 feet in elevation
and caused $637,000.00 in damages.
The Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the one hundred year flood
level for Washington is ten feet. Any area which is below this elevation has
been designated as a flood zone. Approximately 90% of the city lies in the

flood zone.

Washington has a flood zone, floodways, and a coastal high hazard zone.
The floodways consist of Runyon Creek, Cherry Run, Lawson's Creek, and Jack's
Creek. The designation of Floodway means that these streams will be required
to provide for passage of the base flood without significantly increasing the
water surface level above that of the pre-floodway condition,

.Coastal high hazard areas are those areas where critical wave action is
probable. The boundaries of these areas are set where the effective water depth
will no longer sustain a cri tical wave (a wave three feet or above in height)
or where the critical wave will be dissipated by impact with natural or man

made barriers.

General Soil Characteristics

'Basic to a study of long rangeplanning is a knowledge of the types of structure

of the soils within the planning area. Soil should be suitable for both construction

and septic fields. The.inability for a soil to handle septic tank absorption fields

can create a severe public health problem. Some communities have severe sanitary

problems because lots are too small and the corwded conditions cause the septic tanks

to function improperly. Load bearing capacity must be considered before a new road
is pl.anned or before an area is designed for an industrual site. Soils are also con-

side-red with regard to suitability for camp sites, picnic areas, intensive play areas,

general agriculture, woodland, and pas.tureland. (See Rap 5 and Table 13)
Beaufort County lies within the Coastal Plain Soil Province, and the soils are

derived from unconsolidated sands and clays of sedimentary origin composed of materials

brought down from the Piedmont Plateau and Applachian Mountain regions and deposited

on the sen floor in ancient times. These sediments have been more or less modified

SOILS LIMITATION TABLE

SOIL MAP

by drainage, oxidation, erosion, and the decay of plants, since their elevation is

above water. The percolating rain water has carried much of the finer material

down from the surface, and, this, together with the action of the streams and

erosion, has resulted in.the subsoils having a generally heavier texture than the

surface soils. The red and yellow colors in many of the soils are due largely to

the oxidation of the iron-beating minerals contained in the soil. The dar.k-grey

and.black colors are the result of the decay of varying quantities of organic

matter. The mottling in some of the subsoils are due largely to imperfect drainage

conditions, the subsoil being saturated at such frequent intervals that the iron-

bearing minerals in the soil have been only partly oxidized., The elevation and

drainage in different parts of the County have caused considerable difference in

the soils.

All of these factors acting upon the original material have produced a number

of different soil and varied soil conditions. Th e soils are grouped broadly into

soil series, the soils of each series being similar in origin, color of the surface

soil, color and structure of the subsoil, and in topography and drainage. The soil

series are divided into soil types on the basis of texture. Seven soil series

including fourteen soil types are recognized in Beaufort County. Each soil series

is named for the major soil series within the association. Five soil series are

found within the City of Washington and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and are

as follows:

Lakeland Chipley: This soil association is excessively to somewhat poorly

drained, with sandy-soils occuring on nearly level gently sloping terrain. This

association occupies about S% of the County. The areas are narrow and long. They

are mainly along the Pamlico River; from Bonnerton south along N. C. Highway 306 to

the Pamlico County line; from Acre Station north along N. C. Highway 32 to the

Washington County line; and from Pinetown north along State Road S06.

Lakeland soils make up about 45 percent of the association. They are

excessively drained sands more than 60 inches thick. The Lakeland soils occur

on the higher ridges within the association.

Chipley soils make up about 35 percent of the association. They are some-

what poorly drained sands more than 60 inches thick. The Chipley soils occur

on the lower ridges within the association.

The rest of this association is made up of Maxton, Dragston and Osier

soils.

About half of this association is cultivated or pastured, and the remainder

is forested. The soils in this association are fairly well suited for the

production of tobacco, peanuts, corn, soybeans, small grain, and pasture. Below

average yields are obtained from corn and soybeans. Coastal Bermuda pasture is

fairly well adapted to the Lakeland. However, Ladino clover and Fescue pastures

are not as well suited on the Lakeland soils. They are easily tilled and respond

well to lime and fertilizer.

The major hazard in this association is two-fold. The Lakeland soils are

susceeptible to wind erosion, are very low in fertility, and are droughty.

The Chipley soils have a wetness hazard.

The major soils in this association have only moderate limitation for

septic tanks filter fields, foundation footings for large buildings (three

stories or less), camp sites, and picnic areas. Nearby water supply may be

contaminated in the Lakeland soils. This association is one of the best sources

of sand for the building trade.

LYNCHBURG-GOLDSBORO-DUNBAR: This association consists of moderately well

drained to somewhat poorly drained soils occurring on nearly level to gently

sloping terrain. These soils have a sandy surface and a friable sandy clay

loam to a firm sandy clay subsoil. This association occupies about 7 percent

of the County. The area is small and occurs throughout the County. A Large

area is in the southwest part of the County along N. C. Highway 102, State

Toads 1152 and 1154, and south along U.S. Highway 17 to the Craven County

line.

Lynchburg soils make up about 35 percent of the association. They are

somewhat poorly drained soils having a friable sandy clay loam textured subsoil

with its clay content varying from 18 to 35 percent. Color of the subsoil is

yellowish brown to brownish yellow, with gray mottlings appearing throughout

the subsoil. Permeability is moderate.

Goldsboro soils make up about 25 percent of the association. they are

moderately well drained soils having a friable sandy clay loam texture subsoil

with its clay content varying from 18 to 35 percent. Color of the subsoil

ranges from yellow to yellowish brown, having gray mottlings appearing 20 to

30 inches from the surface. Permeability is moderate.

Dunbar soils make up about 20 percent of the association. They are somewhat

poorly drained soils having a firm sandy clay textured subsoil with its clay

content varying from 35 to 45 percent. Color of the subsoil varies from brown-

ish yellow to olive yellow, with gray mottlings appearing throughout the sub-

soil. Permeability is moderately slow.

The rest of the association is made up of minor amounts of Duplin, Dragston,

Craven, Lenoir, Coxville, and Rain soils.

Over half of this association is cultivated or pastured, and the remainder

is forested. The moderately well drained soils in this association are well

adapted to growing tobacco, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and pasture. The somewhat

poorly drained soils are not as well adapted to tobacco and peanuts, but are

better for the growing of corn, soybeans, small grain, and pasture. Soils in

this association are easily tilled and respond well to lime and fertilizer.

The major hazard in this association is wetness.

The major soils in this association have a moderate to severe limitation

for septic tank absorption fields, and slight to moderate limitation for camp.

sites', picnic areas, and intensive play areas.

LENOIR-CRAVEN-BLADEN:. This association consists of moderately well to

poorly drained soils occurring on nearly level to strongly sloping ridges

(0-15 percent). These soils have a medium textured surface and a very firm

clayey subsoil. The association occupies about 20 percent of the County.

Three large areas are located in the County. One area is located in the north-

west part of the County; another area is east and northeast.of Washington; and

the third area starts at the Pitt County line going east along U. S. Highway

264 to Chocowinity and to Cox's Cross Roads.

Lenoir soils make up about 40 percent of the association. They are some-

what poorly drained soils having a yellowish very firm clayey subsoil with gray

mottlings throughout the subsoil. Clay content in the subsoil is more than

45 percent, Permeability is slow.

Craven soils make up 3S percent of the association. They are moderately

well drained soils having a yellowish very firm clayey subsoil with gray

mottlings appearing 20 to 30 inches from the surface. Clay content is more than

.45 percent. Permeability is slow. The Craven soils occur on the stronger

sloping ridges in the association.

Bladen soils make up about 15 percent of-the association. They are poorly

drained soils having a gray very firm subsoil. Clay content is more than 45

percent. Permeabili ty is slow. Bladen soils occupy the nearly level or

depressed areas in the association.

The rest of the association is made up of minor amounts of Duplin, Dunbar,

Coxville,, Othello, and Rains soils.

94.

A lit tle over half of this association is cultivated or pasture, and the

remainder is forested. The soils in this association are suited for the produc-

tion of tobacco, peanuts, corn, soybeans, small grain, and pasture. The somewhat

poorly drained soils are better suited for the growing 'of corn, soybeans, small

grain, and pasture. The soils in this association are fairly easily tilled and

respond well to lime and fertilizer. The major hazard in this association is

erosion on the stronger slopes and wetness on the nearly level slopes or

depressions,

The major soils in.this association have a moderate to severe limitation

for septic tank absorption fields, public sewerage system, camp sites, picnic
areas, a@d intensive play areas.

BLADEN-PORTSMOUTH-BAYBORO: This association consists of poorly to very

poorly drained soils occuring on nearly level or slight depressions-, Surface

texture ranges from fine sandy loam to mucky loam. The subsoils range from

friable sandy clay loam to very firm clay, This association occupies about 50

percent of the County. There are two large .areas located in the County. One

is northeast of Washington in the J & IV Swamp and eastward and then southwardly

to the Pamlico River only to have other small areas of different associations

cut it by way of ridges and streams. The other large area is located South of

the Pamlico River; East of U. S. Highway 17, eastwardly along the Craven County

line to the Pamlico County line; thence northeasterly to Goose Creek.

Bladen soils make up about 30 percent of this association. They are poorly

drained soils having a gray very firm clayey subsoil with its clay content more
than 45 percent. Permeability is slow.

Portsmouth soils make up about 20 percent of this association. They are

poorly drained soils having a black surface and a gray friable sandy clay loam

subsoil. Clay content varies from 18 to 35 percent. Permeability is moderate.

Bayboro soils make.up about 17 percent of this association. They are
40Y poorly drained soils, having a black surface and a gray very firm clayey
subsoil. Clay content is more than 4S percent. Permeability is slow.

The rest of this association is cultivated or.pastured, the remainder is

forested. The soils in this association are suited for the production of corn,

soybeans, small grain,. and pasture. They are easily tilled and respond well to

lime and to fertilizer, The major hazard in this association is wetness..
The major soils in this association have a severe limitation for septic

tank absorption fields, public sewerage system, camp sites, picnic areas, and

intensive play areas.

SIVAMP-ALLUVIAL-WET: This association consists of poorly drained to very

poorly drained soils on nearly level to slight depressions having a surface

texture range from loamy sand to loam. Texture of the subsurface layers ranges

from loamy sand to clay. This association comprises about 2 percent of the
'Rounty. -It occurs throughout the County in narrow long strips, mostly along

the major streams and drainage ways

Swamp soil makes up about SO percent of the association. They are poorly

to very poorly drained; soil.materials are mixed alluvial deposits ranging from

loamy sand to clay. They are under water most of the time.

Alluvial land, wet soils make up about 40 percent of the association. They

are poorly drained; soil materials are mixed alluvial deposits ranging from

loamy sand to clay. They are flooded part of the time, Alluvial land, wet

soils are usually located in the smaller drainage ways or between the swamp

soils and soils of higher elevation.

The remainder of the association is composed of minor amounts of Bladen,

Hyde, Bayboro,.Portsmouth, and Marshland soils.
0

Almost all of this association is forested, mostly hardwood or cypress.
Osoils in this association'are not well suited for cultivation because of the

high water table and flooding hazard. They are principally used for wildlife.

The major soils in this association have a severe limitation for septic tank

absorption fields, public sewerage system, camp sites, picnic areas, and in-

tensive play areas.

Summary

Analytically considering the soils in their natural state in Beaufort

.County, only the Lakeland-Chipley soil series will give fair support to septic

tank absorption fields. This is a meager 5 percent of the County area. The
Lynchburg-Goldsboro-Dunbar soils series is poorly suited for septic fields.

This soil is but 7 percent of the County area. All other soil series are

unfit for septic fields unless proper treatment is applied.

Significantly, only the same 12 percent of the County is recommended by the

soil characteristics to be presently suitable for urban and light industrial

development. The p roblem soils of the County can, of course, be intensively

developed through major earth work, proper drainage, and pile-supported

foundations. A prime example of this renewal of land is the Texas Gulf

Sulfur-.Lee Creek Mining Complex. The complex was developed on the Lenior7Craven-

Bladen soil series and it is.j today, the County's most attractive industrial

site.

it should also be noted that in a particular soil series are found isolated

soil types that can and will support such items as septic field. A soil always

occurs in its customary location such as ridges, slopes, low areas, etc.

Therefore, within a particular soil series which, for example, is poorly drained,

there will occur a property of the terrain which is unique to that area, such

as a ridge. On a ridge will occur a completely different soil series
characteristics) from the soil series that is surrounding it.8

It is recommended that the City of Washington contract with the U, S.

Soil Conservation Service for a detailed soil survey, which would provide

valuable information, measurements, and interpretations of such significant

data as; porosity and percolation rates, drainage, ponding, flooding, run-off,

depths to bedrock and water tables, bearing strength, shrinkage, and swelling',

corrosion, frost action, erosion, etc. Without such a study Washington does

not have a realistic interpretation of urban land-use suitability. In turn,

improper construction and development in the future could occur causing
9
unnecessary costs to the City and the public.

Water Supply Areas

The provision of water and sewer services and facilities serves two

functions in the development of an area. They are: (1) meeting needs of

existing development; and (2) influencing-future growth, Meeting needs of

existing development usually receives primary consideration in planning.

However, the major importance of water and sewer systems in comprehensive

planning is their use as a tool for influencing growth patterns. An examina-

tion of existing water and sewer service areas will identify potential growth

areas.

The City of Washington supplies water to residents within its city limits

and to three industries within the extra-territorial area.

Washington's major water supply comes from Tranter's Creek which is located
8Comprehensive Water and Sewer Study: Beaufort County, IV, C, Rodman'Land,
Surveying and Civil Engineering (1971), pp. SI-61.
9Washington Park and Recreation Stu4y, N. C. State Department of Conserva-
tion and Development, Di ision of Community*Planning (Feb. 1967), p.. 29.

six miles northwest of the city. The secondary source of water is at Clark's

Neck. Since most of the watershed lies beyond the city's planning area,

county-city cooperation is imperative. Caution should be taken by preventing

high density residential growth and septic tank uses in these areas.

Map 6 shows Washington's major water supply areas.

Steep Slopes

The Washington Planning Area does not have slopes that exceed1twelve

percent.

FRAGILE AREAS

Inappropriate or poorly planned develop ment can easily damage or destroy

fragile environmental areas, These areas are as follows:

Coastal Wetlands

.Washington's coastal wetlands lie across the Pamlico River in the

sou thern portion of the extraterritorial area. This area is essentially

undeveloped and should remain so.

Outer Banks Sand Dunes

Not applicable in the Washington Planning Area.

Ocean Beachesand Shorelines

Not applicable in the Washington Plaruiing Area.

@Estuarine Waters

The part of the Pamlico River that flows within Washington's mile and a

half planning jurisdiction is considered an estuary. These estuary waters

can be protected by controlling development along the Public Trust Waters

of the Pamlico.

WASHIN6--r-qr,j
BEAUFORT COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA

MAP 6
WATER SUPPLY AREA'

(WATERSHED)

Public Trust Waters

The Pamlico and Tar Rivers which flow through the southern portion,of

the Washington Planning Area are identified as public trust waters, These

waters are also classified as "Class C and Class SCII waters according-to the

N. C. Stream Classification System.

Map 7 depicts these classes. "Class C11 water uses are limited, For

example, these waters may be used for fishing, boating, etc, However,

"Class C" waters are not to be used as a source of water supply for drinking,

culinary or food-processing pruposes. These waters are suitable for fish and

wildlife propagation. Similarly, "Class SCII waters are suitable for fishinc,

and other usages except bathing or shellfishing for market purposes. These

waters are also suitable for fishing and fish propagation.

Quality standards applicable to Class C and Class SC waters are found

in the Appendix.

Complex Natural Areas

The Coastal Resources Commission may determine that there are co .mplex

natural areas within the Washington Planning Area, Complex natural areas are

defined as lands that support native plant and animal communities and provide

habitat conditions or characteristics that have remained essentially unchanged

by human activity. Washingtonts extraterritorial jurisdiction south of the

river adjacent to the river may possibly meet the requirements of complex

natural area. If so, this area should remain essentially in the same state

it is today.

Areas Sustaining Remnant Species

No areas sustaining remnant species have been identified in the Study

Area.

101

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CLASS C

CLASS SC 102

Areas Containing Unique Geologic Formations

Areas containing unique geological formations have not been identified in

the Study Area.

Registered Natural Landmarks

There are no registered natural landmarks located in the Washington

Planning Area.

Archeologic and Historic Sites

Washington has 2 properties listed on the National Register of Historic

Places, the Bank of Washington and the old Beaufort County Courthouse. In

addition, the Division of Archives and History, N. C. State Department of

Cultural Resources, has put in motion a survey of historic property and has

tentatively delineated a historic district which is approximately equivalent

to the downtown section of the city. In order to keep maximum control of the

composition of this area in local hands, the City will propose to create a

historic zone, Any new development within the downtown will be required to

conform to the "nature" of the existing structures.

AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Productive Agricultural Lands

Lands devoted to agricultural purposes are primarily in Washington's

extraterritorial area. These lands will be encroached upon by future develop-

ment. Urban development should be directed to sites other than these

.productive agricultural lands.

Mineral Sites

Thereare no known mineral deposits in the Washington Planning Area.

103

Publicly-Owned Lands and Other Non-Intensive Outdoor Recreation Lands

Washington's parks and recreation areas comprise,approximately 50 acres.

The Recreation Department administers recreational activities at the following

sites:

1. Seventh Street Park

2. Charlotte Street Center

3. Kugler Field

4. Todd Maxwell Field

.5. Stewart Park

6, Oakdale Park

7. Washington Docking Facilities

8. JackIs Creek

9. Budge Street Center

10. Beebe Park

11, Carver's Landing

12, Haven's Garden

13. Water Tank Property Area

Privately Owned Wildlife Sanctuaries

There are no privately owned wildlife sanctuaries in the Washington

Planning.Area.

104

CAPACITY OF COMMNITY FACILITIES

Existing water and sewer service areas are shown on Map 8.

Water and Sewer Service

The City of Washington operates a water and sewage treatment plant under

the Department of Public Works.

The major water supply comes from Tranter's Creek. This creek is located

six miles northwest of the city, At this point, the creek has a minimum daily

flow of eight million gallons per day, The substation,has two pumps: one

1600 gpm, and one 1900-gpm. This assures that maximum capaci.ty of the cast

Iron pipe line to the substation can be utilized during peak periods or

whenever necessary (2100 gmp at 100 lbs, pressure is peak capacity.)

The secondary source of water is at Clark's Neck, where the city has a

1600 gpm pump. This water is not always useable, however, due to thehigh

salt.content of the water.

The water plant was constructed in 1955.and has a capacity of 2.2 million
gallons per day, The average daily demand on the plant is only 1.3 mgd which

allows a safety margin of approximately 25%.

The water is pumped from the reservoir by two electric pumps, one is a

1000 gpm pimq.) and the other is a 2000 gpm pump The water f lows through a

1211 main to a distributing system and el evated tank simultaneously. The

elevated tank has a capacity of 300,000 gallons and was built in 1939,

An additional 500,000 gallon elevated tank and a 500 gallon per minute

well was constructed in 1975 at Slatestone Hills. There will be a small water

treatment plant there also having a 500 gallon per minute capacity which will

serve primarily to remove the iron contentof the water. This new construc-

tion will give the City more down time to allow for needed maintenance at the
other plant,

105

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Extraterr

. . . .......

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V,
SEWER TFALLI

Painuco P,@ve"L

MAP 8 r to"
VVASHII%JGT N.
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SERVICE AR -AS

WATER.

SEWER

BOTH
106

The city's plant employs complete primary 'and secondary treatment of

sewage. Approximately 95% of the area within the city limits is presently

served by the system. The sludge from the sewer is pumped into drying basins

where it decomposes into lumps and is available for use as fertilizer, The

plant itself was constructed in 19S9 and the daily flow is approximately 1.1

to 1.3 million gallons. The plant is designed to process 2.2 mgd as a sec-

ondary treatment plant. At present, the plant's B. 0, D. level is around 79%.

Although there is no service to residents outside the city limits, service.

has been extended to three industries, The city bills these industries forthe

service at the rate of 7S% of the water bill,

Normally a system uses gravity for flow, but in Washington, the basically
flat topography requires that sewage be collected at several points and be

pumped to the treatment plant,

Table 14 shows water and sewer plants capacity figures and percent

utilized.

TABLE 14 WATER AND SEWER PLANTS

Date*Constructed Capacity Operating Level % of Capacity

Water Plant 19SS 1,3 mgd 75%

Sewer Plant 19S9 1.1-1.3 mgd 7S%

There is a total of 55 miles of water lines ranging in size from 2" to

16 The 2" lines are totally inadequate and are in the process of being

-replaced with 811 asbestos cement pipe. Virtually 100 percent of water usage

is metered.

In summary, the present water and sewer waste treatment facilities needs

upgrading in order to provide adequate service for future development and the

ten year (1985) projected population growth. Plans are underway for these

107

improvements. A 201 Facilities Study which is being coordinated by the City

of Washington will determine the most feasible methods of water and sewer

waste treatment.

Transportation (Primary Roads)

The provision and maintenance of an adequate and efficient transportation

system will be of'extreme importance to the future development of the Study

Area. A transportation system consisting of not only highways and streets,

but bus, rail, air, etc, as portions of the system.

Three major highways run through the Washington Planning Area, They are:

U.S. 17, U.S, 264, and Highway 33. U.S. 17 is part of the North Carolina

truck highway system which has the function of moving large volumes of inter-

state traffic through.local traffic. U.S. 264 is part of the truck feeder

system which carries moderate to high volumes of traffic over shorter

distances. N.C. 33 is part of the state rural collector system which carries

mainly local traffic.
Table gives the design capacity and percent utilization of primary

roads in the Study Area.

Primary Roads

The design capacity and percent of useage figures were developed from

data supplies by the N, C. Department of Transportation, The design capacity

data was derived from charts provided by Mr. T. L, Waters, @,Ianager of Planning

and Research, Department of Transportation, Raleigh.

Design capacity is based on land width, location, and the state average

for that type of road. The actual useage figures were compiled from traffic

counts furnished by the District Engineer of the Department of Transportation

for the Washington area. These figures are shown in Table 15.

108

TABLE 15 PRIMARY ROADS
Washington Planning Area

Roads Width Capacity Use %

Bridge (bet. River and Sth) 57 2S.,000 13,SOO S4%

Carolina 44 15,500 9oo 61%

Third 44

Hackney (Sth 17) 18 3500

ISth (Market-17) 48 18,000 61200 34%

isth (Market-264) 44 l

NC 33 (Hackney to Whispering
Pines Rd.) S2 18,000 9X0 SO%

NC 33 (Whispering Pines to
Mr Ed's) 68 18,000 61800 37%

Market (3rd-Sth)

Market (Sth-15th) 34 8,340 SP600 67%.

Sth-Pennsylvania 40 14100 9,80 69%

Highland Drive 48 8,340 3OO 41%

SOURCE: N. C. Department of Transportation

Other portions of the Washington transportation network inc lude rail,

trucking, bus, and air service.

Railroad service for the City of Washington is provided by the Seaboard

Coastline. From their terminal in Washington, Seaboard can connect with other

railroads servicing all areas of the United States and Canada.

At the present time Washington handles both incoming and outgoing traffic

of about 1200 cars per month. There is a daily (except Sunday) run of one
freight train. Washington has no passenger service.

109

Washington is served by two trucking lines; Barnes Truck Lines and Estes
*Express Lines, Incorporated, Barnes Truck Lines has its home base in Wilson,

N.C. and serves all eastern North Carolina. Estes Express Lines is a

Richmond, Virginia,based firm and services all of Virginia, North Carolina

and northern South Carolina.

Washington is.s.erved by Seashore Transportation Company and Carolina

Trailways Bus systems. Seashore is a local company based in New Bern with

its primary function being to serve the marine installations at Camp Lejeune

and Cherry Point. They also have direct.connections at Jacksonville, Raleigh,

.Rocky Mount to Trailways and Greyhound,

The Carolina Trailways Bus Service is a Raleigh, North Carolina base

company which is Associated with Trailways which has nationwide service,

A charter bus service is also available at the Washington Bus Station.

Warren Field is operated by the Airport Commission whose seven members

are appointed jointly by the City of Washington and Beaufort County, The air

field was built by the United States Government during World War 11, and sub-

sequently turned over to the City and County governments.

The air field has 3 runways. Two are 5,000 feet long and thus suitable

for small jets., One runway is lighted. There is a radio beacon installed in

1971 that transmits on a low frequency of 288 megahurts. There is no tower

but pilots can contact the airport office for informal advise on local weather

conditions. There are 6 closed T hangars and Do open T hangars. Charter planes

and crop dusting units are based at the air field.

The air field averages about 40 landings a day, The heaviest users are

local industries that have planes based there, such as National Spinning,

Hackney, and Green Oil Company. Hamilton Beach, Dixie Yarn, Texas Gulf,

Bethelehem Steel, American Synamid, and Weyerhaeuser use the field but do

110

do not have planes based there,

Washington does not have public transportation plans. Public transportation

is one of-the most costly services local government can provide. Although a
public transportation need may exist, the existing population may not be.able

to support a municipal transportation service, In summary, implementation

of local transportation plans will require the City Council and other governing

bodies within Washington to work closely with the N. C. State Department of

Transportation, and with Washington and Beaufort County Planning Boards. Only

through such coordination will safe, adequate and efficient transportation

systems be afforded the citizens, businesses, and industries within the area.

Schools

Total enrollment figures demonstrate the strain placed on the des-ign

capacity of the existing schools:

1974-75 School Year

Design _Capacity Enrollment % of Use

Eastern Elementary 936 7S9 98.1
John Cotton Tayloe Elementary 559 5S7 99.6
John Small Elementary 6SO 641 98.6
P. S. Jones Junior High 1,050 1@038 98,9
Washington High 1,072 843 78.6

Obviously four out of five schools are operating at capacity, although

average daily membership would fall below total enrollment and would.therefore

lessen the daily enrollment burden.

In addition to the public system there is a private school, Pamlico

Community School, with an approximate enrollment of 27S, which-has grades

K through 12.

City Hall

The present.facilitynow being utilized as City Hall is a two story
structure located on Market Street halfway between Main and Second Streets..

The building was originally constructed circa 1884 as a fire station but has

been renovated for use.as a City Hall, Additional office space for city

administration is provided in the "old county jail house" adjacent to present

city hall facility.

Police Protection

Residents are provided police protection by the Washington City Police

within city limits and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department is the extra-

territorial area. The Law Enforcement Center is located at Third and

Respess Streets.

Washington's Police Department has the following breakdown of personnel
,allocations for fiscal year 1975-76: one (1) Chief Police, two (2) Captains,
five (5) Sergeants, one (1) Sergeant-Detective, thirteen (13) Patrolmen, and

one (1) Records Clerk-Despatcher. A part-time patrolman enforces parking

regulations,

Fire and Rescue

The Washington Fire Department is manned by 19 full time firemen, 7 call

company firemen who are compensated on a monthly basis for their part-time
service-, and 30 volunteer firemen, The volunteers are divided into two pLmper
companies and one ladder company, each hav ing a. Captain and an Assistant Captain..

The volunteer firemen are provided with 40 to SO hours of training per year

in fire fighting techniques. The full-time firemen train three hours per week

and also train with the volunteers.

The department has a modern communication system which is linked with
Oother fire departments throughout the County. The department's internal

112

communication system'has 16 paging units.which the firemen and call company
Oersonnel carry attached to their belts, allowing the men to be called back
to the-station anytime by signal; 20 phone alerting systems link volunteer to

station, as do,2 way radios on all trucks.

Records are kept of the condition of the equipment, fire hoses, and fire

hydrants. All hose and every hydrant is tested every year, the hydrants for

water pressure.

The service area of the fire department includes the City of Washington

and neighboring residential development outside the City limits for which

Beaufort County has supplied a truck with a three minute water capacity and a

payment to allow the City to hire 2 firemen to man it. The ability to suppress

fires in the County, which lacks a water system, is virtually impossible from

point of view of a three.minute water supply.

Fire protection is offered by contract, renewable annually, to County
Oindustrial'and connercial establishments. The City of-Washington Park contracts

its fire service needs with the City of Washington at a nominal fee yet obtains

fire service protection equivalent to that received by the residents of

Washington.

The City has a mutual aid agreement with surrounding communities to render

aid in case of a large fire.

The rescue squad is composed of those firemen, call company personnel,

volunteers, and hospital staff who have completed the 81 hour Emergency Medical

Technician course, as required by State law, As of sunuer of 1974, 3S men had

received this training and passed the necessary exam. The training requirements

have placeda considerable burden on the time of those taking the E.H.T. course:

None received any compensation for the 81 hours. A fall off in "volunteerism"

n the community has placed an increasing burden on full-time personnel for

113

both fire and rescue service. The financial burden of continuing "adequatell
Wre and rescue services i .s considerable. Fortunately the County government
seems willing to cooperate in sharing these costs. Greater coordination of
hospitals in the county and their ambulance services with the same service
provided by the various cities is a matter of crucial concern for effective
service and efficient use of public expenditures.

Medical Facilities

Washington's medical needs are served by the Beaufort County Hospital.

This hospital, which was opened in.May of 19S8, has a staff of 24 physicians,

41 registered nurses,-78 licensed practical nurses with 181 beds (only 150

are in use) and IS bassinets. Beaufort County Hospital, like other similiar

institutions throughout the state, receives contributions from the Duke

Endowment Fund which is based on a formula taking into consideration the
&umber of medicaid patients and bad debt losses. This-figure amounts to 75@
per day for welfare and nonpaying patients. The hospital operates an ambu-

lance,service for which it receives a contribution from the county to under-

write loss. Other than these two contributions the hospital has been self

supporting since 1959.

In addition to its major function of caring for the sick, the hospital

operates-its own two year training school for X-Ray Technologist with two

-students per year. The hospital serves as a practical training center for the

School of Nursing and School of Laboratory Assis-tance.of Beaufort County

Technical Institute, as well as its association with medical training facilities

at East Carolina University.

114

Libraries
0 -There are three Libraries which serve the Washington Planning Area:'

(1) The Brown Library, (2) The Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library and (3)

The I.. B. Turner Library. The I. B. Turner Library is under the general suDervision

of the Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library and is a part of that system while

the Brown Library is for the city residents and is not affiliated with the

regional library system.

Brown Library

The Brown Library is the main library for the City of Washington and is

located on Van Norden Street between Main and Second Streets. Th e library was

constructed in 1953 from funds provided by the estate of George H. and Laura

E. Brown. The estate continues to contribute annually to its operation. The

library operates by receiving funds from the Brown Estate, the city, Bewafort
0ounty, gifts from private individuals, and overdue book fines.
In addition to the customary book service, the library has a large meeting

room, a career room for the high school students, an interlibrary loan service

and a movie projector and -projection room.

Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library

The Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library primarily serves the rural residents

of the counties included in its name. Due to the regional nature of the system

it is hard to evaluate its effects on Washington residents. The main library of

this system is-pTesently located in the old Beaufort County Courthouse. The

library which serves as base of operation for twelve branch libraries is stocked

with 51,000 volumes, ISOO records and 350 pieces of art. The primary function of

the main library is the operation of bookmobiles and administration of the tri-

unty system.

IThe I. B. Turner Library, located on W. Ninth Street, was once called the

I. B. Turner Library for Negroes. It is now a branch of the Beaufort-Hyde-

Martin Regional Library and is used extensively by local residents. The City

of Washington contributes approximately 50% of its yearly budget. The library

is mainly geared to kindergarten through grade school students. There are

story'hours, charts, records and pictures that help introduce students to

learning resources of the library.

Recreational Facilities

The City ofWashihgton has three main recreational buildings: Seventh

Street Recreation Center, Bridge Street Recreation Center, and Charlotte Street

Recreation Center. In addition, there is a small building adjoining Oakdale,

Cemetary which is used for arts and crafts classes.

Charlotte Street was constructed in 1934 and has received nominal repair

and maintenance since then: the building is structurally unsound and should

be demolished. Charlotte Street property adjoins the current N. C. National

Guard Armory, which the City and County will acquire jointly once the new

Amory has been completed. Extensive renovation may be necessary for conver-

sion of the facility to recreational uses.

Seventh Street Recreation Center, completed in 1972, is in the vicinity

of Washington High School and, so is conveniently located for students after

school hours. Seventh Street Recreation Center houses the administration of

the parks and recreation department.

Bridge Street Recreation Center was completed in 1962 and is found in

the predominantly black section of town.

The City has approximately 50 acres of parks, which is inadequate

according to NRPA standard,: approximately twice this acreage is needed for

a City Washington's size.

116

According to the City Recreation Director, Washington's existing

recreation plan is currently being implemented. The plan identifies potential

land to be used for recreational purposes and presents proposals for open

space and recreation areas which are substantiated by a more in-depth study

than can be'entertained in this plan. In November, 1969, a $22S,000 recreation

bond issue was passed by the voters of Washington. As a result of the bond's

passage, the city will be provided with a new gym at Bridge Street, renovation

of all present recreation areas, and a new central recreation facility. These
were all recommendations of the Park and Recreation Study. All indications are

that the city will continue to follow the recommendations of this study during

the pl anning period.

It is further recommended that the city obtain control of that area of

land south of the Pamlico River directly across from.the downtown waterfront

area for'open space and recreational purposes. This same area has been

identified as a potential regional park development.@ This area would

provide an ideal location for a municipal marina, for instance, and relieve

the congestion at the present municipal boat launching area on Runyon's

Creek. Not only would the city and its citizens benefit from a large recrea-
tional area in the city's "backyard,'! but the aesthetic value of-the river

would be maintained and would complement the aesthetic value of the city after

completion of the downtown waterfront urban renewal project.

The proposed park and recreational development along Jack's Creek is in

progress at.this time. This development will tie in to and complement the

.proposed new central recreational facility to be located between Fifth and

Seventh Street along Jack's Creek.

117

Sanitation

The Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department is responsible for

residential garbage collection, trash and limb collection, commercial refuse

through the dumpster container system, and the street sweeper.

This division consists.of -two residential garbage'trucks which collect

garbage behind the resident's house twice a week.

There are also two trash and limb trucks working the same schedule as the

garbage trucks.' These men only collect refuse that has been placed near the

street.

The front end loader, Dumpmaster type truck, is operated by one employee

working mostly at night with little supervision. There are a total of 217

dumpster containers throughout the City which this truck empties twice a week,
with the exception of those of schools and the hospital which are emptied three

times a week. The City has just recently purchased a new 31 cu. yd. Dumpmaster
*Uck.

The dumpster containers are available in four, six, and eight cubic yard

capacities. Businesses that do not generate enough re fuse to justify the use of

a four cubic yard container may share with another business. A business may

purchase contai ners from the city or rent.

All trash and garbage is dumped at the Beaufort County Landfill which started

its operation in February, 1974. Prior to this, the City operated a landfill of

its own.

The City must comply with State regulations concerning the covering of the

old dump during fiscal year 1975-76. This will require a major expenditure for

dirt, hauling it to the dump site, spreading it to a,depth of 611 and planting a

grass cover. The dump is leased and will one day revert back to its original
,I@ners. Decomposing organic matter yields me thane gas which would seep to the
118

surface through the ground cover and form potentially dangerous underground gas
Ockets. Tile future land use of such a site will be quite limited. The most

appropriate use will be open space with few or no buildings.

Storm Drainage

Providing an.adequate storm drainage system in Washington is made difficult

by the fact that the topography is very flat with few natural drainage outlets.

In order to compensate for this lack of elevation, Jack's Creek, the major outlet,
has been dammed and its water level maintained at approximately one foot below

sea level. When the water in the creek rises above this level four-13,000

gallons per minute pumps operates automatically to pump the excess water into the

Pamlico River. If the elevation of the Pamlico River becomes lower than the

elevation of Jack's Creek, water will flow by gravity into the river through

flood gates. This system is capable of handling a 2 inch per hour rainfall.

Approximately 7S percent of the town's area is dra ined by waterways feeding

into Jack's Creek. The remainder of the city drains into Kennedy's Creek,

Runyon's Creek or directly into the Tar and Pamlico Rivers. Waterways consist

mainly of open ditches with some storm sewer pipes carying water beneath the

streets.

Telephone and Telegraph

Telephone service in Beaufort County is provided by.the Carolina Telephone

and Telegraph Company and the Tri-County Telephone Membership Corporation. The

Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company maintains exchanges in Aurora, Bath,

Belhaven and Washington. The Tri-County Telephone Membership Corporation has

exchanges at Pike Road, Pinetown, and Sidney Cross Roads. Direct distant

diling is in use throughout the County. Carolina Telephone and Telegraph

services provide 11,601 telephones, while Tri-County Telephone Membership
Oompany serves 900 telephones in Beaufort.County.

119

Western Union provides telegraph service in.lVashington and Belhaven.

Electriciy

The City of Washington owns and operates the electrical distribution sys-

tem for the City and a sizable area of its environs. The system is regional in

scope in that its power lines extend along major highways in some areas for

twenty-five (25) miles. The system serves communities as-distant as Pinetown,

Terra Ceia, Bath, Bayview--on the east end, and Latham on the west end.

The system is under the supervision of the Director of Electric Utilities

who is responsible to the City Manager, Electric utilities is comprised of a

Distribution Department with two (2) line crews, one (1) underground service

crew, and a right-of-way crew, and lastly, a meter department. Electric

utilities employs thirty four (34) men on a full-time basis.

The Ci.ty purchases 12.S KV and 34.S KV power from Virginia Electric and

Power Company. The 12.5 KV energy is utilized at the delivery point.. The

34.S KV energy is transmitted across town and is converted to 12.5 KV power

for distribution.

The maximum capacity of the present bank of VEPCO transformers is

25,000 KVA for the 12.5 KV energy, and 20,000 KVA for the 34.5 KV energy.

The combined capacity is 4S,000 KVA for the entire system, excluding National

Spinning. National Spinning is being served on a separate 40,000 KVA trans-

former along with Belhaven,

The system reached a historic peak demand of 37,907 Kilowatts with a

monthly average of 32,000 Kw. The demand is expected to continue at an

accelerated rate of approximately 15%, subsequently requiring increases in

VEPCO's transformer capacity within the next year.

Under the present agreement with VEPCO, the City's load growth is to be

at 34.S KV. Provisions also include maintaining the existing 12.S KV trans-

120

formers within a ma@ximum load of 2S,000 KVA. By December 31, 1978, the City

has contracted with VEPCO to receive one voltage at 34.5 KV at which time all

conversion to 12.5 KV distribution must be accomplished by the City's own

transformers. If this agreed upon date is not complied with, VEPCO will apply

an additional monthly facility charge.

The conversion from 34.S KV to 12.5 KV distribution voltage is being

implemented in the following steps:

1) Spider Web 34.S KV to the substation on Pennsylvania Avenue and
provide capacity of 7,SOO KVA,

2) Spider Web 34.5 KV to'the substation on Fifth and Respess Streets
with capacity of 10,000 KVA.

3) Increase capacity at the Forest Hills substation.

4) Purchase 34.S KV/12.S KV in the power plant substation to complete
conversion for one voltage delivery from VEPCO at 34.S KV.

It is recommended.that an increased percentage of Electrical Revenue be

turned back into the system to increase the transformer capacity of the sub-

stations in addition to rebuilding feeder lines, increasing wire sizes,

improving voltage regulation, and converting the inadequate 2.4 KV distribution

lines to 12,S KV distribution.

This system has.had a doubling of load within the past five (S) years.

The deficiencies mentioned require correction for present load conditions

and future load growth.

121

ESTIMATED DEMAND

PART V

122

POPULATION

The method employed in computing Washington's Extraterritorial Area
Oulation project-ion is similar to the method used to project,the city's
population growth. That is, an extraterritorial housing count was multiplied

by the area's average household size. This gave the extraterritorial popula-

tion. By dividing the township population by the extraterritorial'population

the percent of total Planning Area population residing in Washington Township

was determined. This rate was then applied to the township projections through

the year 2020. Again, this method makes the basic assumption that short-term

future population changes will be more similar to short-term past changes.
Table 46 depicts conservative population projections. Annexations,

continued industrial growth, etc. will have a positive impact on future popula-

tion growth. However, due to a lack of knowledge, these variables cannot be

quantified at present.

- r Population Projection

As shown in Table 16 Washington's population is projected to increase

from its present 8,860 to 9,738 by the year 1985, The total Planning Area is

projected to contain a population of 13,441 by 198S.

Consideration s Taken Into Account In Preparing Ten-Year Projections

Seasonal population changes are those which affect the city during certain

months. Examples of seasonal pop ulation changes are the influx of migrant farm

workers and the influx of tourist and recreation oriented people. Traditionally

these are the only seasonal population changes that would have any affect on the

city's stable population. These increases are considered to have an impact in

the Washington Planning Area. The major implication to the City of these increases

is that there will be some level of increased services, such as water and sewer

services required to serve these people. Similarly, as services increase so
Oes the cost of providing these services.

123

Unfortunately there is no base data available to make a quantitative

assessment of seasonal population changes. Due to this lack the only valid

statement concerning seasonal population changes is that there are increases

and.these increases will result in some cost.

Relationship_ of Long-Term Projections to Desires of the People

I
The long term projections shown in Table 16 reflect local desires

to maintain a steady and orderly growth pattern in the Washington Planning

Area. Local residents also feel that these projections are consistent with

their resources to provide supporting services.

S.1 10, 2S__and 50 Year Projections

The City of Washington should experience a population growth of 12,300

by the year 2020 while the total Planning Area should reach 17,220. These

projections are shown in Table 16.

Examination of Seasonal Population and Economic Impacts

As the Planning Area increases in population and as society becomes more

leisure oriented, seasonal populations will play a significant role in the

Washington Planning Area. This becomes even more apparent when one considers

the abundant water-oriented recreational opportunities in and around the

Washington Planning Area.

Today tourist and,motorist travel along scenic Highway U. S, 17 con-

tributes-to the areals'economy. An investigation of several local motels

indicated that between June and August occupancy rates increased, One motel

cited a ninety-five (95) percent capacity during these months. I t is

assumed that these travelers and other vacationers contribute not only to

the city's motel businesses but also to gasoline, food, and similar businesses.
However, it is anticipated that this impact will be reduced with the completion
of I-9S within the next five to ten years.

124

TABLE' 16

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

City of Washington and Extraterritorial Area

1980 2020

1980 198S 1990 2000 2010 2020

Wash. 9,S28 9,738 9,947 10,117 113,12S 12@300
*a 13,lSl .13,441 13,730 13)965 IS,S7S 17,220

SOURCE: N. C. Department of Natural & Economic Resources, based on
Department of Administration projections for Beaufort County
and Washington Toivnship.

125

TABLE 17

POPULATION TRENDS

Washington Township and City of Washington
1940 - 1970

1940 1950 1960 1970

Washington Township 12,195 13@792 13,906 12@3S4

City of Washington 8.*569 9,698 9,939 8@961

Percent of Total 70.3 70,3 71.5 72.S

SOURCE: U. S, Census of Population, 19SO and 1970,

126

TABLE 18

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Beaufort Coun@L and Townships
1970-2000

I Change: 1970-2000
1970 1980 199-0 2000 Number Fe-rcent

Beaufort County 35,980 36P800 38,SOO 39,400 3,420 9.5%
Bath Township 3,237 2@940 2,810 2,610 - 627 -19.4%
Chocowinity Township 4,661 4@780 5,000 5,090 429. 9.2%
Long Acre Township 6,976 7@560 8)840 10,050 3,074 44.1%
Pantego TownsLp S,lM 4,960 4,910 45,720 - 406 7.9%
Richland Township 3,626 31130 2@940 2,680 - 946 -26.1%
Washington Township 12,3S4 13@420 14@010 1472SO lX6 15.3%

1These are' actual U. S. Census of Population figures for the year 1970
rather than a projection.

SOURCE:, N. C. Department of Administration, Office of State Planning,
based on OBERS, study.

127

ECONOMY

RmufactuTing, wholesale and -retail trade now couprise the major segments

of Washington's industrial corposition. As for future growth patterns, N. C.,
Phosphate has announced plans in the next few years to build a $220,000,000 plant

to exploit the cotmty's phosphate deposits used in the production of fertilizer.

Th is industry will potentially enploy 600 people. In addition, Texas Gulf is ex-

pected to add substantially to its operations around Aurora, and may increase its

payroll by 50% within four or five years; capital investment could double within

the same period.

F.M.C. (Food Machinery Coppany) may begin mining on property it owns on the

north side of the river. No one has yet made any kind of accurate prediction

when this might happen or on the number of people it might employ.

These statements relating to the phosphate industry are closely tied to the

market for fertilizer in the coming decades. Even should these plans materialize,

there is no strong reason.to suspect that their growth will increase the popula-

tion or industrial base of the city. In fact, substantial growth in the county

may accelerate the tendency for people to move out of the city into the county,

further weakening the city's population base.

Wholesale and -retail trade grew substantially in the sixties, but the work

force actually declined for both males and females. Therefore, a continuing

growth in sales may not necessarily lead to the employment of more people in that

area.

Any effort in the future to attract more industry should concentrate on high-

er paying industries that require a skilled work force.

128

FUTURE LAND NEEDS

The previous section of.this study briefly discussed future projections of

population and economic.changes which the city may experience. This section

will evaluate these changes as.they may affect the following activities:

Residential, commercial, and industrial land uses..

Residential Land Use

The aforementioned projections suggest that population increases are

anticipated in the Washington Planning Area. Vacant lands suitable for

residential purposes are limited within city limits. However, ample suitable

residential lands are found in the extraterritorial area. Furthermore, city

policy will be to annex urbanizing areas around its borders, and provide them

with municipal services such as water and sewer lines, police and fire

protection, etc.

Recent residential developments in the extraterritorial areas suggest

there are no problems associated with development in these areas. Generally,

soil conditions in projected growth areas are moderate.

A significant factor regarding new residential activity is the form which

this activity will take: multi-family units, single family units, and/or

mobile home units. It is assumed that most residential activity will be

allocated between the traditional single family house and mobile homes. Recent

developments in the North Market Street Extension area reflect a single family

unit trend while development in the Whichard Beach area reflects a mobile home

trend. While residential development is occurring in other parts of the

Planning Area, the aforementioned areas reflect a very noticeable trend. In

addition, if present economic conditions remain, it may also be assumed that

the trend toward mobile home development will continue and increase in the future.

129

Commercial Land

Commercial activity is broken into two categories, the Central Business

District (CBD) and outlying commercial areas.

In the CBD land presently being used for non-CBD uses will be.absorbed by

commercial expansion. Although the CBD area will continue to expand, it is

expected to be a slow process. There will still be non-CBD uses located in

the CBD area at the end of this planning period. As a result of CBD expansion,

additional buildings (those non-CBD uses) with adequate space to accommodate

future commercial development will be made.

Perhaps the greatest CBD asset is the potential to utilize its waterfront

location. As stated in the 1970 Land Development Plan, this location offers

certain unique advantages which, if properly exploited, could make this one of

the most exciting shopping areas of eastern Carolina. Full utilization will

require a complementing effort on the part of the downtown merchants to

capitalize on the potentialities the waterfront affords the,downtown shopping

area.

As residential areas develop in the future, it is recognized that

shopping areas will develop to serve these residential areas. The exact

location, of course, will be determined by the residential development.

Since most residential development is projected within the extraterritorial

area these commercial activities are also projected to occur in these areas,

It is recommended that shopping areas be developed as planned convenience

shopping centers, Ample suitable land is available for such development in

the extraterritorial area.

Industrial Land

Washington presently has approximately 1,S25 acres of land zoned for

industrial purposes (heavy, light, and limited). Developed industrial land

130

now co mprises approximately 1SO acres of all developed land in the planning
area. The most noticeable industrial area lies on the edge of the Planning
Area west of the City between the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and N. C.
Highway No. 33. Continued development is recommended in this area because of
the transportation facilities available, and suitable topography, Other developed
industrial areas are located north of U. S. Highway 17 and west of the airfield.
Light industrial activity has developed in these areas. In summary, the
Washington Planning Area has ample land to accommodate additional industrial

growth during this planning period,

COMMUNITY FACILITIES DEMAND

The Guidelines for Land Use Planning in the Coastal Area require that con-

sideration. be given of basic facilities needed to service estimated growth.

The future development and demand for community facilities is important to

any municipality due to the capital expenditures necessary to provide such ser-

vices. Since a 201 facilities plan is under study, this section does not use

ten-year population projections to determine sewer and water facilities demand.

However, it is noted that the present waste treatment facility is inadequate and

would not provide needed service demands in the future.

Sewer

As previously stated, the Department of Public Works is currently having a

201 Study done which will provide a detailed analysis of the sewer system and pro-

ject its needs.over a 20 yea r period. The present system has a design capacity of
2.2 million gallons per day and is operating at an average 75% of capacity.

During periods of heavy rainfall, the system operates at over 100% of its capacity

while during "normal" periods, it operates at around 80% of its capacity. The

recommendations of the 201 study will be the basis of Washington's future expansion

of its sewer system. These recommendations will take into account projected popu-

lation increases for the-next 20 years and how best to meet the needs of Washing-
ton and the surrounding area. 13,1

Water

The City of Washington is in the process of completing a new well and water

treatment plan. A new elevated tank capable of storing 500,000,gallons has re-

cently been completed. The well will have a capacity of about 600 gpm and the

treatment plant will have the same capacity. Before completion of this project

the city had a-system capable of producing 2.25 million gallons per day. With

the addition of the well and treatment plan, the city will be able to process

360,000 additional gallons per day.

Storm Drainage

The City of Washington lies in a very flat area and has few natural drainage

outlets, making the problem'of providing adequate storm drainage extremely diffi-

cult. Jack's Creek, which drains approximately 75% of the town, would need more

equipment than it presently has to handle the runoff of future developed areas

that drain into it. Ihere would be a need to install additional pumps with

approxinately.50% more capability on the dike at Jack's Creek. The area between

Brown Street and the purflps should be dredged to allow for more -retention room.

The city at present can handle the equivalent of 4 inches of rain per hour for a

20 minute period.

Refuse Collection and Disposal

Tlie City of Washington Sanitation Department has had to deal with a large

increase in the number of collections due to the opening of the public housing
project on 9th Street.' As a result, the additional population will require another

crew and packer.

Fire Protection

At the present time, the Fire Department has the necessary facilities to

serve the Washington Planning Area.

132

The department operates on response time. Any area that is not within ade-
quate range of the*station cannot .be considered to.have the necessary fire pro-

tection no matter how excellent the crew or equipment. To retain a class VI

insurance rating, it is necessary for the Washington Fire Department to have its

first pumper on the scene within 2 minutes. By 1985 Washington will have growm

by approximately 600 acres. A substation in the eastern annexed areas will cost

approximately $100,000. Additional staff and equipment mist be taken into

account.

The American Insurance Association sets requirements for the adequacy of

water systems. These requirements are based on averag@ conditions found in com-

munities of various sizes. Accordingly, the required fire flow is shown as

follows in Table -19

Presently, Washington with a 1975 population of 8,860 has two pumping
0 stations with a combined pumping capacity of 33 50 gpm. If population projections
are realized by 1985, Washington w ill have a population of 9,738 Thus, re-

quiring approximately 3000 gpm - meaning Washington's Fire Department will be

provided a more than adequate fire flow capacity.

Police Protection

As the town pursues its annexation objective, an increase in geographic

boundaries will occur necessitating additional patrol cars and personnel. Today,

Washington employs 22 patrolmen. A minimum of 2.0 uniformed officers per thou-

sand is recommended for police protection. The "2.0 uniformed officers per

thousand population" means that two uniformed officers for every thousand re sidents

should always be on duty. Thus, the present level of police employment should be

maintained and possibly increased during this planning period.

133

TABIE 19 REQUIRED FIRE FLOW

Required Fire Flow
for Average City, Duration,

Population 9PM mgd Hours

1,000 1,000 1.44 4

1,500 1,250 1.80 5

2,000 1,500 2.16 6

3,000 1,750 2.52 7

4,000 2,000 2.88 8

5,000 2,250 3.24- 9

6,000 2,500 3.60 10

10,000 3,000 4.32 10

13,000 31500 5.04 10

17,000 4,000 5.76 10

Source: Standard Schedule for Cities and Towns of the United States
with Reference to Their Fire Defenses and Physical Conditions
(New York: American Insurance Association (National Board of
Fire Underwriters), 1956 ed.)

134

CARRYING CAPACITY OF LAND

A specific issue regarding future growth and development concerns the

capability of land and water to sustain these changes, The carrying capacity
of an area means the amount of life a stable ecosystem can support. Although

an ambiguous definition, the issue requires that planning must take into

consideration the physical limits at which certain levels of human activity

lead to undesirable alterations in the environment. In the coastal area these

detrimental effects are caused particularly by sewage and waste water disposal.

The effects are noted in both ground and surface water quality; both then.

act as a physical limitation upon development. These physical limita tions are

fully developed in this land development plan under the topics of "constraints"

and "significant land use compatibility problems-which have implications for

future land use," The "estimated demand" section also notes these limitations.

The primary problem is caused by poor soil conditions, which are not

conducive to on-lot disposal techniques. 'Specifically, the problem is that

the soils in the Washington Planning Area either do not perk due to a high

water table.or, the soils perk too fast, not having an opportunity to remove

toxic wastes. Then these wastes are transmitted to adjacent bodies of water

,ultimately causing degradation of water quality. Although the present

conditions may not be causing serious water quality problems, the implications

are magnified by potential increases in both population and economic activity

in the Washington Planning Area. The City of Washington is located in a

"capacity use areW@-an area where ground water and surface water must be

monitored as required by the State of North Carolina. According to records kept

over the past few years, the p-eak daily usage figure was 1.9 million gallons per

'.day on August 5, 1975. On a per capita bas.is, this usage amounts to 214 GPD.

135

(This figure is inflated since we cannot account for the total number of

visitors in the area at that time, The National average is 150 GPD.)

The city's population projections are as follows: 1980-9,528; 1985-9,738;

1990-9,947; 2010-11,125; and 2020-1 2,300. Using the inflated per capita figure

of 214 GPD during the ten year planning period (1975-1985) we would be drawing

up additional 188,000 GPD during the periods of highest consumption, Total

draw-down would amoung to approximately 2.1 million GPD, well below the allow-

able 3 million. For the year 2020, the peak usage figure for a population of

121,300 would amount to 2.6 million GPD..

As previously noted, Washington presently obtains its.water supp ly from

the Tranterts Creek Watershed, Draw-down from the watershed area is expected

to drop accordingly following the projected opening (April, 1977) of a

500 GPM well east of Washington in the Slatestone Area, As a result the city

is moving from a total reliance on surface water-supplies to a partial reliance

on ground supplies.

136

GROWTH AND FACILITIES COSTS

The provision of adequate facilities and services to meet future growth

will be a major responsibility of city government. Therefore, the cost

implications of growth and'development must, be fully understood. It has been

determined that the city's present.wastewater collection and treatment system

does'not provide adequate service. As development and industrial growth occurs

service demands will increase resulting in both capital and personnel needs.

At the minimum an adequate waste treatment facility would cost.approximately
$1,000,000 in local matching funds. in addition, the city can expect an

increase in refuse collection and disposal. Additional personnel and capital

needs could amount to approximately $S1,000. By 1985 Washington will have

grown by approximately 600 acres. What effect will that have on present fire

protection capability? A fire sub-station in the eastern annexed areas will

be needed to provide efficient fire protection. A sub-station will cost

approximately $100,000. Additional staff and equipment must also be taken into

account. These needs and improvements will total over $1,ISI,000. The City

of Washington will probably not be able to finance all of these improvements.

Therefore, every possible federal, state, and local source should be

explored. For example, the city should seek revenue sharing money providing

these funds are available. Participation in the Federal Housing Program and

Comamity Development Program should continue, Other possible sources could

come from a city bond referendum and/or tax increases. A financial commitment

from city government and the city's people will be necessary.
In summary, the cost discussion contained herein has been to provide a"

insight into the future needs of the Washington Planning Area. The City

should remain cognizant.of the need for various community facilities and should

137

continue to maintain an up-to-date inventory Of the Factors, which generate

these needs. Specific functional plans, e. g., capital improvcmonts plans

and a capital improvements budget should prepared in order that the

adequate provision of community facilities may be provided,

138

PLAN DESCRIPTION

PART VI

139

LAND CLASSIFICATION MAP

140

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

The Land Classification System Map is a general graphic depiction of the

manner in which -future development in the Washington Planning Area is expected
to occur. Previous discussions have attempted to address, in specific details,

future land use demands and constraints.

The Land Classification System as outlined in the."State Guidelines For

Local Planning In The Coastal Area..." is divided into five,areas: developed,

transitional, commmity, rural, and conservation. The following is a general

description of each land classification.

a. Developed--Lands where existing population density is moderate to high and

where there are a variety of land uses which have the necessary public

services. These lands are delineated in "solid rust" on the Land Classi-

fication Map. All lands within Washington's city limits are classified as

Developed.

FUNCTION AND STANDARDS

Developed lands will provide the service and growth centers for the Planning Area.

They are intended to accommodate the greater portion of the necessary and natural

expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial activities. The needs of
Washington's permanent population for housing, recreation, commercial activity,

social and professional services will be met in these areas. The building inten-

sity in developed areas will allow the economic feasibility of a high level of pub-

lic and institutional services. Continued development and redevelopment is en-

courated to provide for the orderly growth in this area.

141

b Trans i tion--Lands where local government plants to accommodate modera.te to
high density development during the following ten year period and where neces-
sary public services will be provided to accommodate that growth. These lands
are delineated in "hatched rust" on the Land Classification Map. Washington's
transitional lands are located adjacent to developed lands bordering city
limits. Included in these transitional lands are areas currently under

study for annexation. Secondary transitional lands are shown in the southern

Dortion of the planning.area across the Pamlico._Aiver, Although commercial and

residential growth is expected in these areas, the city is not making a

commitment to extend municipal water and sew6r.

FUNCTION AND STANDARDS

Transition lands will provide for moderate intensity development in areas where

development will not significantly harm relatively tolerant natural 'resources.

These areas are designed to provide for residential expansion and growth and to

accommodate uses related to and compatible with -residential uses in the vicinity

of developed lands where utilities and comm-mity services can be most economically

and readily provided. Development and the -required services and utilities will be

at a generally less intense level than in developed lands.

C. Community--Lands where low density development is grouped in existing settle-
ment.s or will occur in such settlements during the following ten year period

and which will not require extensive public services now or in the future.

There are no lands classified as Community in the Washington Planning Area.

Neverthelesss the following functions and standards are provided in.the event

that areas may develop which meet the Community classification requirements.

FUNCTION AND STANDARDS

The commmity lands will provide for low intensity development opportunities at

levels that will protect the natural resources of the Planning Area and still allow

orderly growth and development. These areas will primarily provide residential

opportunities for peimanent residents. Public services and utilities-will not
be available in these areas at as high a level as in the developed and transi-

tional areas..

d. Rural--Lands whose highest use is for agriculture, forestry, mining, water

supply, etc., based on their natural resources potential. Also, lands for

future needs not currently recognized. These lands are delineated in

"white". These lands are located primarily in the northern portion of

the Planning Area.

FUNCTION AND STANDARDS

Rural lands'will'provi-de areas for the long term management of productive re-

sources within the Planning Area. Building construction, residential and related,

supporting development should occur only on large lots in relatively smiall clusters

on carefully selected sites. Public services and utilities in these areas will

be limited to support only those uses which are conpatible with the concept of

conservative resource utilization. The rural classification willalso provide

large areas within the Planning Area to serve as a buffer against inconpatible

uses of land to serve future land needs which cannot be anticipated.

e. Conservation--Fragile, hazard and other lands necessary to maintain a

healthy natural environment and necessary to provide for the public health,

safety, or welfare. Conservation lands are depicted in "Dot Green: on the

Land Classification Map. These are land areas with the Washington Planning

Area where development must be restricted because of an inherent incapability

of the land to support development because of fragility or hazardous conditions

or because the natural resources represent a greater value than that of devel-

opment.

143

FUNCTION AND STANDARDS

There is sufficient land suitable for development in the Planning Area to accom-

modate projected and desirable growth without infringing upon areas which are

unsuited for development. The classification of conservation lands will direct

development away from areas which cannot support intensive development, where

public services are not and should not be made available, and direct it in-

stead to more tolerant are-as where services can be supplied more economically.

These areas are also designated to identify characteristics which represent a

potential hazard to development such as flood and erosion. These hazard.factors

increase the public.and private cost required to support development.

PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH ALLOCATIONS

Projected population allocation to Transition and Rural land classes re-
flect local desires for orderly growth. Area residents feel that the most desir-

able residential areas lie within the extraterritorial area. The stated objective
"'to annex surrounding residential areas" also re-flects orderly growth desires.

@Ibst lands within the city are either developed, not for sale, or unsuitable for

development. Thus, leaving anticipated new residential growth to'occur in the

extraterritorial area.

GROSS POPULATION
By classifying land and allocating population densities the local govern-
ment can more efficiently budget and plan comunity facilities such as water
and sewer systems, roads, etc. The Planning Area's Land Classification System
depicted by Map is consistent with local desires and reflects local

conditions,
By 198S Beaufort County and the City of Washington should reach populations
of 38,460 and 9,738 repsectively. Washington, the county seat, is expected to

capture much of this growth.

144

Assuming these population projections are realized, Washington will have

increased from its present population of 8,860 to 9,738. This represents an

increase of 878 people, The majority of this growth is expected in the city's

transitional areas.

In conclusion, there are enough lands classified to accommodate

Washington's projected 10 year growth.,

145

POTENTIAL AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCER11

PART VII

146

eAREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

The major goal of the Coastal Area'Management Act is to create a

balance between growth and environmental protection. The Washington

Planning Area contains a number of fragile areas that would be destroyed

or seriously altered in nature if unplanned, uncontrolled development

should occur.

Watershed

The Tranter's Creek watershed provides the City with its source of

raw water supplies. Most of the watershed lies beyond the city's planning

area. With the help of the County, the City must safeguard its water

supply by preventing high,density residential growth and septic tank use

in these areas.

Estuarine Waters

The part of the Pamlico River north of the Railroad bridge that flows

within Washington's mile and a half planning jurisdiction is considered an

estuary. These estuary waters can be protected by controlling development

along the Public Trust Waters of the Pamlico,

Estuarine and River Erodible Areas

As applicable to the planning area, these waters are the Pamlico and Tar

Rivers. Estuarine and river erodible areas are considered to be that area

extending from the mean water level or the mean high water level along the

estuary, sounds and rivers a distance of 75 feet landward.

147

Complex Natural Areas

The Coastal Resources Commission may determine. that there are complex natural

areas within the Washington Planning Area. Complex natural areas are defined-as lands

that support native plant and animal communities and provide habitat conditions

or characteristics that have remained essentially unchanged by human activity.

Washington's extraterritorial jurisdiction south of the river adjacent to the

river may possibly meet the requirements of complex natural area. If so, this

area should remain essentially in the same state as it.is today.

Public Trust Navigable Waters

State Guidelines for Local Planning under CAMA state that 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 public 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.

The Pamlico & Tar Rivers, are considered Public Trust Navigable Waters. Navigable

has been defined as follows: capable of being navigated in its natural condition

by the ordinary modes of navigation including modes of navigation used for recrea-

tional purposes. The natural condition of a body of water for purposes of deter-

mining navigability shall be the condition of the body of water at mean high water

or ordinary high water as the case may be, and the condition of the body of water

without man-made obstructions and without temporary natural obstructions. Tem-

porary natural conditions such as water level fluctuation and temporary natural

obstructions which do not permanently or totally prevent navigation do not make

an otherwise navigable stream non-navigable.

Some factors considered in identifying Public Trust Navigable Waters were:

(1) the use,ofthe body of water by the public and (2) the length of time the public

148

has used the area. The.Pamlico and Tar R ivers meet the description of PublicTrust
Ovigable Waters and are thus identified as such..

APPROPRIATE LAND USES OF AEC's

1. Resource Areas Watersheds

"Ttante&'z Cteek"

Policy Objective. To insure the continued maintenance of water quality

and quantity of the surface water supply.

Appropriate Land Uses. Appropriate land uses shall be those consistent

with the above policy objective, i.e., uses with little or no discharge

of,pollutants which.would endanger ground water.

Estuarine Waters

"Pamtico RiveA"

Policy Objective. To preserve and manage estuarine waters so as to safe-

guard and perpetuate their biological, economic and aesthetic values,

Appropriate Land Uses. Appropriate uses shall be those consistene with the

above policy objective. Highest priority shall be allocated to the conservation

of estuarine waters. The development of navigational channels, the use of

bulkheads to prevent erosion, and the building of piers or wharfs where no

149

other feasible alternative exists are examples of land 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 degrada-

tion of shellfish waters are generally considered incompatible with the manage-

ment of estuarine waters.

4.. Complex Natural Area

"Pameico Rood Axeal'

Policy Objective. To preserve the natural conditions of the site so as to

safeguard its existence as an example of naturally occurring, relatively un-

disturbed plant and animal communities of major scientific or educational

value.

Appropriate Land Uses. Appropriate land uses shall be those consistent

with the above policy objective. Lands within the AEC shall not be planned

for uses or kinds of development that will unnecessarily jeopardize the natural

or primitive character of the natural area directly or indirectly through in-

creased accessibility. Additionally, lands adjacent to the complex natural

area should not be planned for additional development that would unnecessarily

endanger the recognized value of the AEC. The variability between kinds of com-

plex natural areas and between land uses adjacent to those natural areas means

that the range of permissible uses and intensity of use must be carefully

tailored to the individual area.

5. Public Trust Navigable Waters

"PamZico and TwL Riveu"

ISO

Policy Objective, To protect public rights for navigation and recreation and

to preserve and manage the public trust waters so as to safeguard and perpetuate

their biological, economic and aesthetic value.

Appropriate Uses. Appropriate uses shall be those consistent with the above

policy objective. Anyland use @7hich interferes with the public right of navi-

gation, or other public trust rights, which the public may be found to have in

these waters, shall not be allowed. The development of navigational channels,

drainage ditches, the use of bulkheads to prevent erosion, and the building of

piers or wharfs are examples of land uses appropriate within public trust

-waters provided that such land uses will not be detrimental to the biological

and physical 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 public

trust waters.

6. Estuarine and River Erodible Areas

"Pamlico and Tar River"

Policy Objective. To insure that development occurring within these areas is

compatible with the dynamic nature of the erodible land thus minimizing the

likelihood of significant loss of property.

Appropriate Land Uses. Appropriate land uses shall be those consistent with the

above policy objective. Permanent or substantial residential, commercial, insti-

tutional or industrial structures are not appropriate uses in estuarine and

sound and river erodible areas unless stabilization has been achieved along the
affected reach. Recreational, rural and conservation activities represent

appropriate land uses in those erodible areas where shoreline protective con-

struction has not been completed.

151

SUMMARY

PART VIII

152

DATA ASSEMBLY, ANALYSIS, AND STAMEM OF MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Data used in this pl an was obtained from several. major sources. These

sources are as follows:

1. Previous Studies

2. -Field Studies
3. Standard References suchas U. S. Census, N. C. Statistical
Abstract, etc.

4. A questionnaire
S. Ward meetings
6. Civil groups

An analysis of this data was conducted by the Washington City staff and

presented to the PI anning Board for consideration. Additional analysis was

performed by the Department of Natural and Economic Resources.

The analysis results were used as a basis for citizen dialogue at public

meetings, ward meetings, and civil group meetings. After identifying.these

major land use issues and problems, alternatives and different courses of

action to meet Washington's needs were explored. Again, with citizen input,

the following long-range goals were formulated:

GROWTH

To promote orderly growth in the Washington Planning Area.

ENVIRONMENTAL

To discourage development of land which-is unsuitable for urban uses.

HOUSING

To provid'e an environment in which residents may have the opportunity to
secure-adequate and safe housing.

153

RECREATION AND PARKS

To provide a variety of recreational opportunities for all groups.

PUBLIC SAFETY

To provide the most effective and efficient means of public safety.

STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION

To provide a highly functional internal street system.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS

To maintain effective communication between the citizens and elected city
officials.

Identification of'problems and issues constituted the first phase of

Washington's CAMA Land Use Planning Process. With phase one complete the

actual writing of the plan began. To this extent, analysis findings were

compared with. local knowledge and with Planning theory, principles, and

practices. The following major conclusions are the results of this process.

POPULATION

Washington's population dropped rapidly from 1960 to 1970, and has

continued to do so. However, by the year 1985 it should have increased from

itoday's 8,860 to 9,947. After 1985 the city is expected to experience a

population increase from 9,947 to 12,300 by the year 2020.

Washingtonians would like for their city to grow. However, this growth

must be orderly and must take into consideration the city Is ability to (1)

provide adequate municipal services and (2) the area's ability to provide

employment opportunities. (See Tables 2 and 16).

ECON94Y

Manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade accounted for Washington's

major economic activity. As of 1969, Washingtonians earned an average
income of $2,168 annually.
154

.The area's economic outlook is encouraging. Several phosphate operations

are expected to expand in the county. However, since these plans are not

final, the exact impact upon Washington economy cannot be made. Continued
economic and industrial development is needed to meet future employment needs..

HOUSING

In 1974 a housing survey was conducted by the city. A total of 2,722
houses were surveyed. Housing conditions were as follows: (a) 55 percent

standard, (b) 42 percent substandard and (c) 3 percent dilapidated. The worst

housing conditions are found in the western section of the city. This section

is mostly populated with Black residents.

Today Washington has an average household population of 3.26. As popula-

tion estimates are realized, overcrowding will increase. It is essential that

implementation of the existing housing plan continue. Added housing stock and

other housing improvement will remain high among Washington's priorities.

FUTURE LAND NEEDS

The Washington Planning Area has approximately 16,471 acres of land and
1,245 acres of water area. The majority of land within the city is developed

while most of the one-milearea remains vacant and in agricultural uses.

Undeveloped land located south of the Pamlico and Tar River is low lying and

not suitable for development. Nevertheless, Washington's future land needs can

adequately be provided in the town's one-mile area and in urbanizing "annexation"

areas.

C04UNITY FACILITIES

The future development and demand.for community facilities is important

to any municipality due to the capital expenditures necessary to provide

such services.

155

SEWER

The Department of Public Works is currently havinga 201 Study done which

will provide a detailed analysis of the sewer system and project'its needs over

a 20-year period. The present system has a design capacity of 2.2 million

gallons per day and is operating at an average 75% capacity. The recommenda-

tions of the 201 Study will be the basis of Washington's future expansion of

its sewer system. These recommendations will take into account projected

population increases for the next 20 years and how best to.meet the needs of

Washington and the surrounding area.

WATER

The City of Washington is in the process of completing a now well and

water treatment plant. A new elevated tank capable of storing 500,000 gallons

has recently been completed. The well will have a capacity of about SOO,gpm

and the treatment plant will have the same capacity. With the addition of the

well and treatment'plant the city will be able to process 360,000 additional

gallons per day, bringing the total capacity to approximately 2.6 million

gallons Der day.

STORM DRAINAGE

The City of Washington lies in a very flat area and has few natural

drainage outlets, making the problems of providing adequate storm drainage
extremely difficult and very expensive. Jack's Creek, which drains approx-

imately 75% of the town, will need more equipment than it presently has to

handle the run-off of future developed areas. There will be a need to install

additional pumps with apprioximately SO% more capability on the dike at
Jack's Creek. The area between Brown Street and the pumps should be dredged

,to allow for more retention room. Washington's present wastewater collection

156

and treatmQnt system does not provide adequate service. A "Section 201"

study scheduled for completion later this year will address the most

easible methods of wastewater treatment.

FUTURE LAND USE

The Beaufort County Land Use Plan recognizes the Washington Planning Area

as being the center of existing and future urban growth in the county. This

relationship is depicted,in the Washington Land Classification System.

The Coastal Resources Commission adopted a. simplified land classification

system for the coas tal area. This system consists of five classes:

a. Developed - Lands where existing population density is moderate to high

and where there are a variety of land uses which have the necessary public

services.

b. Transition Lands where local government plans to accommodate moderate to

high density development during the following ten year period and where nec-

essary public services will be provided to accommodate that growth.

Community - Lands where low density development is grouped in existing

settlements or will.occur in such settlements during the following ten year

period and which will not require extensive public services nor or in the

future.

d. Rural - Lands whose highest use is for agriculture, forestry, mining, water

supply, etc. based on their natural resources potential. Also, lands for future

needs not currently recognized.
e. Conservation - Fragile, hazard and'other lands necessary to provide for the

the public health, safety or welfare.

Map 9 shows the location and distribution of the Washington Land Classification

System.

157

Developed
The Beaufort County'Land Use Plan shows the area within the' corporate limits
of Washi ngton as developed and'transitional. In the Washington Land Use Plan

the area is shown as developed and transition.,

Transition

Transitional.lands are shown in eastern, southern and western portions of

the planning area. These areas are a vital part of Washington. They will

receive a full range of urban services and will likely be annexed and become

legally a part of Washington. These Transitional lands should be identified in

the 201 Facilities Study as growth areas.. Secondary, transitional lands are

shown in the southern portion of the Planning Area. These areas will not

receive municipal water and sewer.

RURAL

The northern portion of the Washington Planning-Area is shown as Rural.

Similarly, in the county plan these lands are classified as rural.

CONSERVATION

The southern portion of the Planning Area is shown as conservation. This

classification includes the Pamlico waters and the surrounding flood lands

which are ill-suited to urban development.

POTENTIAL ARE-AS OF ENVIROMENTAL CONCERN

The major goal of the Coastal Area Management Act is to create a balance

between growth and environmental protection. The Washington Planning Area

contains a number of fragile areas that would be destroyed or seriously altered
,in nature if unplanned, uncontrolled development should occur.

158

WATERSHED

The Tranter's Creek watershed provides the City with its source of raw

water supplies. Washington has both a primary and an auxiliary raw water

intake located on Tranter's Creek.

Tranter's Creek is the primary stream in the.watershed and is fed by

Turkey Swamp, Beargrass Swamp, P@inelog Branch, Meadow Branch, Great Branch,

Briery Swamp, Flaw Branch, lJorsepen Swamp, Poley Branch, Pea Branch, Pocosin

Branch, Aggie Run, Old Ford Swamp, Singleton Swamp, Latham Creek, Gun Swamp,

Snoad Branch, Maple Branch, Mitchell Branch, and Cherry Run. Most of the

watershed lies beyond the city's Planning Area. With the help of the County,

the City must safeguard its water supply by preventing high density residential

growth and septic tank use in these areas.

ESTUARINE WATERS

The part of the Pamlico River north of the Railroad bridge that flows

within Washington's mile and a half planning jurisdic tion is considered an

estuary. These estuary waters can be protected by controlling development

along the Public Trust Waters of the Pamlico..

COMPLEX NATURAL AREAS

The Coastal Resources Commission may determine that there are complex

natural areas within the Washington Planning Area. Complex natural areas are

defined as lands that support native plant and animal communities and provide

habitat conditions or characteristics that have remained essentially unchanged

by human activity. Washington's extraterritorial jurisdiction south of and

.adjacent to the river may possibly meet the requirements of complex natural

area. If so, this area should remain essentially in the same state it is

today.

PUBLIC TRUST WATERS

As applicable to the planning area these waters are the Pamlico and Tar

Rivers and their tributaries. These waters are also shown as public trust
navigable waters in the county plan.

APPLICATION OF DATA TO PLAN'S FOPI@ULATION

Once data was assembled and analyzed, then compared with local area
knowledge, the formulation of this plan began. The Planning Board utilized
the.d ata by using it as a catalyst to discuss issues and problems. The

results of this planning process is this document.

ESTUARINE AND RIVER ERODIBLE AREAS

"Estuarine and river erodible areas are considered to be that area extending

from the mean water level or the mean high water level along the estuary, sounds

and rivers of the 20-county area a distance of 75 feet landward." As applicable

to the planning area these waters are the Pamlico and Tar Rivers and their

tributaries. In research conducted by the Institute for Coastal and Marine

Resources at East Carolina University it was found that "estuarine and river

erodible areas" within the Washington Planning Area have not undergone

significant erosion during the past 25 years because much of the area has been

stabilized by bulkheading. It was felt that the main thrust of shoreline

erosion is found further downstream.

1.60

CITY-COUNTY RELATIONSHIP

PART IX

161

RELATIONSHIP DEFINED

The Washington and Beaufort County Plan relationship can be defined as "a

coordinated effort through effective land use planning to provide a balanced

growth that offers the best affordable working and living environment for all

Beaufort residents." This -relationship has been part of a continuous process

which has taken two forms: (1) complementing goals and objectives and(2) a com-

patible County-City Land Classification System.

Both County and City Plans address similar interest and citizen concerns.

The following are specific examples of County and City goals and objectives

relationship.

COUNTY GOAL: To ensure that reational development such as travel
trailer camps, second home developments, etc. will occur
in a manner that will protect the natural amenities that
attracted such development.

CITY GOAL: To discourage development of land which is unsuitable
for Urban Uses.

COUNTY GOAL: To guide growth in Beaufort County so that it occurs in a
slow, orderly manner.

CITY GOAL: To promote, orderly growth in the Washington Ptanning Area.

COUNTY OBJECTIVE: To zone growth "hot spot" such as around Washington to
ensure that future growth occurs in an orderly manner.

CITY OBJECTIVE:, To seek a detailed soils map for the City of Washington and
Beaufort County to provide information on soils limitations
on development.

COUNTY GOAL: To protect the quality and natural setting of the county's
waterways.

CITY OBJECTIVE: To annex areas that are adjacent to the river and that tack
sewerage to ensure that septic tank infiltration does not
downgrade the quality of the Pamlico River.

COUNTY GOAL: To ensure that recreational development such as travel trailer
camps, second home developments, etc. will occur in a manner
that will protect the natural amenities that attracted such
devetopment.

162

CITY OBJECTIVES: To coordinate City-County recreational activities to eliminate
needless duplication of personnel, facilities, and programs.

These are only a few examples of Washington and Beaufort County Plan relationship

in terns of complementing goals and objectives. For more specifics, the reader

is asked to consult the goals and objectives sections of individual plans. In

addition, examination of both Land Classification Maps and text will graphically

and verbally depict compatibility and relationship of the plans land classifica-

system.-

163

APPENDIX

164-a

STREAM CIASSIFICATION SYSTEM

*Name of Stream: Pamlico
,Class: C Sw

A. Class SC Waters

1) Best usage of waters: Fishing and any other usage except bathing or
shellfishing for market purposes.

2) Conditions related to best usage: The waters will be suitable for
fishing and fish propagation. Also suitable for other uses requiring
waters of lower quality.

Quality standards applicable to class SC,waters.

a. Floating solids; settleable solids, sludge deposits: only such
amounts attributable to sewage, industrial, wastes, or other wastes,
as will not, after reasonable opportunity for dilution and mixture
of same with the receiving waters, make the waters unsafe or unsuit-
able for fish, shellfish, and wildlifeP or impair the waters for
any other best usage established for this class,

b. pff: Shall be normal for the waters in the area, which generally
shall range between 6.0 and 8.5, except that swamp waters may have
a minimum of 4.3.

c. Dissolved oxygen: Not less than 5,0 mg/l, except that swamp waters
may have a minimum of 4.0 mg/l.

d. Toxic wastes; oils; deleterious substances; colored or other wastes;
Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination with other
substances or was 'tes as will not render the waters injurious to fish
and shellfish, adversely affect the palatability of same or impair
the waters for any other best usage.established for this class.

e, Organisms of coliform group: Fecal coliforms not to exceed a log
mean of 1,000/100ml (MPN or MF count) based upon at least five
consecutive samples examined during any 30-day period; nor exceed
2,00 ,0/100ml in more than 20% of the samples examined during such
period. (Not applicable during or immediately following periods of
rainfall.)

f. Temperature: Shall no@ be increased above the natural water tempera-
ture by more than 1.5 F. during the months of June, July, and
August no6 more than 4.ooF., during other months, and in no case to
exceed 90 F., due to the discharge of heated liquids.

Name of Stream: Tar

Class: C

165-a

B. Class C Waters

1) Best usage of waters: Fishing, boating, wading, and any other usage
except for bathing or as a source of water supply for drinking,
culinary or food-processing purposes.

2) Conditions related to best usage: The waters will be suitable for fish
and wildlife propagation. Also suitable for boating, wading, and other
uses requiring waters of lower quality.

3) Quality standards applicable to class C waters.

a. Floating solids; settleable solids; sludge deposits: Only such
amoinits attributable to sewage, industrial wastes.or other wastes
as will not, after reasonable opportunity for dilution and mixture
of same with the receiving waters, make the waters unsafe or un-
suitable for fish and wildlife, or impair the waters for any other
best usage established.for this class.

b. pH: Shall be normal for the waters in the area, which generally
shall range between 6.0 and 8.5, except that swamp waters may have
a low of 4.3

c. Dissolved oxygen: Not less than 6.0 mg/l for natural trout waters;
5.0 mg/l for put-and-take trout waters; not less than a daily
average of S.0 mg/I with a minimum.of not less than 4.0 mg/l for
fton-trout waters, except that swamp waters may have lower values if
caused by natural conditions.

d. Toxic wastes; oils; deleterious substances; colored or other wastes;
Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination with other
substances or wastes as will not render the waters injurious to fish
and wildlife or adversely affect the palatabl lity of same, or impair
the waters for any other best usage established for this class.

e. Organisms of coliform group: Fecal coliforms not to exceed a log,
mean of 1,000/100 ml (MPN or MF count) based upon at least five
consecutive samples examined during any 30-day period; nor exceed
2,000/100 ml in more than 20% of the samples examined during such
period. (Not applicable during or immediately following periods
of rainfall.)

0
f. Temperature:.Not to exceed S F. above the natural water temperature,
and in no cass to exceed 840F. for mountain and upper piedmont
waters and 90 F. for lower piedmont and coastal plain waters. The
temperature of natural trout waters shall not be significantly
increased0due to the discharge of heated liquids and shall not
exceed 68 F.; however, the tempe6ature of put-and-take trout waters
may be in8reased by as much as 3 F. but the maximum may not
exceed 70 F.

166-a

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