Land development plan for Belhaven

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

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1976 @,j Ey LELHAVENj IN CONFORMANCE 1,11TH THE
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MFORMATIC)XI,

"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."

LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR BELHA-1%,7EN

Prepared by

BELHAVEN PLANNING BOARD

C. G. Tinker
George R. Ebron, Jr.
Christine Taylor
James W. Joyner, Vice-Chairman
G. T. Swinson
W. R. Edwards
Dr. Charles Johnson, Chairman

for

The Citizens of Belhaven

To be Implemented By

BELHAVEN ALDERMEN (Incumbants in 197S) BELHAVEN TOWN COUNCIL 1976

Axson.Smith, Mayor Dr. C. 0. Boyette, Mayor
Frank Ambrose, Jr. Frank Ambrose, Jr.
Jimmy Hodges W. Wavery Bond
William D. Logan W. P. O'Neal, Jr.
W. P. O'Neal, Jr. W. H. Snell

Technical assistance provided by the

North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources
Division of Comunity Assistance

John Crew, Planner
Debra H. Ingalls, Secretary
Mary E. Noe,.Secretary
Patricia N. Sheppard, Secretary
Mike Yount, Draftsman
Danny Smith, Draftsman

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cross-index of data items
in Belhaven Table of Con-
tents as required by
variance request procedure
PAGE NUMBER

1. Introduction
Purpose of the plan, history of CAMA planning effort, etc.
II. Description of Present Conditions
A. Population and Economy (brief analysis 15-28, 52-62
B. Existing Land Use 63-77
1. Legible map of existing land uses '68
2. Analysis
a. significant compatibility problems 63-77
b. problems from unplanned development with implications for
future use 63-77
c. areas experiencing or likely to experience major land use change 63-77
C. Current Plans, Policies, and Regulations
1. Plans and Policies 78-83
a. transportation plans 73
b. community facilities plans 78
c. utilities extension policies 80-81
d. open space policies 82
e. recreation policies 82
f. prior land-use plans 78
g. prior land use policies 78-83
2. Local regulations
a. zoning ordinances 83
b. subdivision regulations 83
c. floodway ordinances 83
d. building codes 83
e. Septic tank regulations 80
f. historic districts regulations 83
g. nuisance regulations 83
h. dune protection ordinances 83
i. sedimentation codes 83
j. environmental impact statement ordinances 83
3. Federal and State Regulations 83
III. Public Participation Activities 5-12
A. Identification and analysis of major land use issues 5-12
1. The impact of population and economic trends 96-103
2. The provision of adequate housing and other services 29-51
3. The conservation of productive natural resources 5-12
4. The protection of important natural environments S-12
S. The protection of cultural and historic resources 5-12
B. Alternatives considered in the development of the objectives, policies,
and standards 6-8
C. Land use objectives, policies and standards for dealing with each
identified major issue 5-12
D. A brief description of the process used to determine objectives, policies
49 and standards, emphasizing public participation S-12

PAGE NUMBER

E. A detailed statement outlining the methods employed in securing public
participation, and the degree of participation achieved and the results
obtained S-12
IV. Constraints
A. Land potential
1. Physical Limitations 84
a. hazard areas 84
b. soil limitations 85,88
c. water supply areas 87
d. steep slopes 87
2. Fragile Areas
a. Coastal wetlands 89
b. outer banks sand dunes 89
c. ocean beaches and shorelines 89
d. estuarine waters 89
e. public trust waters 89
f. complex natural areas 89
g. areas sustaining remnant species 90
h. areas containing unique geologic formations 90
i. registered natural landmarks 90
j. archeologic and historic sites 90
3. Areas with Resource Potential
a. productive agricultural lands 91
b. potentially valuable mineral sites .91
c. publicly-owned lands and other non-intensive outdoor recreation
lands 91
d. privately-owned wildlife sanctuaries 91
B. Capacity of Community Facilities
1. Identification of existing water and sewer service areas 92,94
2. Design capacity of existing water treatment plant, sewer treatment
plant, schools, and primary roads 92-9S
3. The percent utilization of water and sewer plants, schools@and
and primary roads 92-95
V. Estimated Demand
A. Population and Economy
1. Population 96-100
a. ten-year population projection 98
b. considerations taken into account in preparing ten-year projection
(seasonal populations, local objectives, and social and economic
change) 96-100
c. S, 10, 2S, and SO year projections 98
d. relationship of long-term projections to desires of the people 96-100
e. relationship of the capabilities of the land 97-108
f. examination of seasonal population and economic impacts 97
2. Economy
Identification of major trends and factors in economy 102
B. Future Land Needs
Use of the ten-year population projection to determine land demand for
land classification 104-109
C. Community Facilities Demand
1. Ten-year population projection used to determine facilities demand 102
2. Consideration of the type and cost of services needed to accommodate
projected population 102

PAGE NUMBER

3. Consideration of the ability of the local economy to finance service
expansion 102
VI. Plan Description
A. Description of the Land Classification System 116
B. Projected population growth allocation to Transition, Community, and
Rural Land classes, based upon local objectives 104-109,116
C. Gross population densities used to allocate Transition and Community
classifications 104-109-116
D. A legible Land Classification Map which is consistent with local
objectives, policies and standards 118
VII. Potential Areas of Environmental Concern 110
VIII. Summary
A. Discussion of the manner of data assembly, analysis, and a statement of
major conclusions 1-12
B. Discussion of the application of the data to the plan's formulation 5-12
IX. City-County Plan Relationship Defined 5-12

PREFACE

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
FORMAT OF THE PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
GOATS AND OBJECTIVES . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
INTRODUCTION.

HISTORICAL SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
GBOGRAPHICAL SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PRESENT CONDITIONS

POPULATION, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Distribution . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is
Age of Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Racial Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Sex Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 29
Housing Unit Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Tenure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Public Assisted Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Household Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Household Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Housing Value and Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Age of Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Major Deficiencies . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . .. 42
Housing Structural Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Housing Conditions 1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Housing Conditions 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Housing Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Economic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2

EXISTING LAND USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Residential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Conventional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Mobile Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Industrial . . . . . . . * * * . * ' * * * * * 71
1 @i @1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Cultural Entertainment iec'rea on
Transportation, Communication, Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Government and Institutional . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 73
Streets and Highways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Vacant Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Forest Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7S
Wetland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

CURRENT PLANS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS

Plans and Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Local Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Federal and State Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
CONSTRAINTS

LAND POTENTIAL

Physical Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Hazard Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Areas With Soil Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Sources of Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Steep Slopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Fragile Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 89
Frontal Dunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Beaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Prime Wildlife Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Scenic and Prominent High Points . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Complex Natural Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Estuarine Water . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 89
Public Trust Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Fragile Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . go
Areas Sustaining Pemnant Species . . . . . . . . . . . . go
Registered Natural Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . go
Areas Containing Unique Geologic Formations . . . . . . go
Stream Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . go

Areas with Resource Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Archeologic and Historic Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Productive and Unique Agriculture Lands . . . . . . . . 91
Mineral Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9'
Publicly-owned Forests, Parks, Fish, and Gamelands and
Other Nonintensive Outdoor Recreation Lands . . . . 91
Privately-owned Wildlife Sanctuaries . . . . . . . . . . 91

CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Water and Sewer Service Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Public Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Primary Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9S

ESTIMATED DEMAND

POPULATION PROJECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Seasonal Population Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
HOUSING PROJECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

FUTURE LAND NEEDS

Residential . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

COMMUNITY FACILITIES DEMAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . log,

POTENTIAL AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Coastal Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 110
Estuarine Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Public Trust Navigable Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Coastal Flood Plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 115

LAND CLASSIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1147
APPENDIX

HOUSING CONDITION DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

COUNTY AND REGIONAL DOCUMENTS CONCERNING BELHAVEN . . . . . . . . . . . 126

ORDINANCE REGULATION WATER AND SEWER PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

STREAM CLASSIFICATION DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NUMBER ITEM

1 Population Distribution Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2 Summary of Population Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3 Population Change By Age Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4 Minor Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . ... 21
5 Elderly Population Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6. Median Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
7 Population Changes By Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8 Population Distribution By Age and Race . . . . . . . . . 25
9 Population Changes By Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
10 Population By Age and Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
11 Family Income . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
12 Housing Unit Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
13 Year-Round Housing Unit Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
14 Housing Unit Change By Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
15 Housing Distribution By Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
16 Housing Tenure and Vacancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
17 Tenure by Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
18 Overcrowding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
19 Housing Value and Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
20 Housing Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 40
21 Housing Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
22 Incomplete Plumbing Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
23 Housing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4S
24 Estimated Housing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
25 Housing Distribution By Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

TABLE NUMBER ITEM

26 Major Employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

27 Persons 14 and Older By Industry . . . . . . . . . . 55

28 Persons 14 and Older By Occupation . . . .. . . . . . S6

29 Number of Fishermen & Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . 57
30 Pounds and Value of Fish Landed . . . . . . . . . . 58

31@ Travel Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

32 Families and Unrelated Individuals By Income . . . . 61

33 Land Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

34 Existing Land Use By Acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

35 County and Township Population Projections.. 98

36 Belhaven Population Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

.37 Belhaven Population Projections . . . . . . . . . . 100

LIST OF MAPS

MAP
NUMBER ITEM

1 Regional Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

2 Belhaven Planning Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

3 Existing Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

4 Soil Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

5 Water and Sewer System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

6 Existing Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

7 Flood Hazard Areas and Public Waters 112

8 Land Classification . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 118

PREFACE

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The coastal area of North Carolina is a very important area of the state for

agricultural food production,, sport and commercial fishing d f ther expansion
I , an ux

of commerce, industry, and recreation. To facilitate the acconnodation of all of

these land uses., the General Assembly passed the Coastal Area Management Act in

July, 1974. This act requires that all coastal counties and towns develop a land.

use plan to direct future growth. This plan will function as a guide, a blueprint

for future growth and development. Under the requirements of the act., towns were

given the opportunity of either doing the planning themselves or having the county

do it for them. Belhaven chose to do its own planning. Since the town has extra-

territorial jurisdiction beyond the town limits for one mile, the plan will also

include this area.

The Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 mandates the Belhaven Land Use Plan.

MRMAT OF THE PLAN

The plan is organized into four major sections. Section I contains data on

present and past conditions in the area and an analysis of those conditions.

Physical, social, economic, and population data was analyzed in this section.

Land constraints were addressed in Section II. Limitations to development, such

as hazardous areas, fragile areas., and availability and adequacy of basic com-

munity facilities were all considered. Section III determined future needs and

demands which were in part determined by local goals. The last section identifies

and recommends methods of implementation available to the planning area.

The data sources used in this document were statistical reports such as the

U.S. Census., state and local plans which deal with various functional work for the

area and existing plans drafted by consultants. All primary data is credited.

Occasional.1y, due to the lack of data availability or the incompatibility of data

from one report period to the next, interpolations were necessary. Similarly., a

field windshield survey was conducted by Natural & Economic Resources personnel to

provide as accurate a land use inventory as possible.

Population projections in this document were computed by using a method the

North Carolina Department of Administration used to compute projections for the

coastal counties and townships as required by the Coastal Area Management Act.

Thus, to assure consistency with county plans and other state plans involving

population projections, the Belhaven plan utilized this data.

The Coastal Resources Commission provided the guidelines used to direct this

document. In the Commission's document "State Guidelines for Local Planning in the

Coastal Area under the Coastal Area Management Act of 1974", a definitive list of

required data and procedures was outlined. These guidelines mandate the data and

procedures contained in this document.

METHODOLOGY

Webster defines a plan as a method devised for achieving an end and planning

as the act or process of making or carrying out plant which includes the establish-

ment of goals and procedures. Therefore, the task of preparing a Land Development

Plan for the Belhaven area must of necessity include some statements of a-desired

end or goal. Chronologically the planning process must include an inventory of

current conditions, an assessment of past conditions and changes that have occurred,

and statements of future desires.

Land use planning has long been characterized by the writing of a lengthy

document which is the end result of many unrelated efforts. Usually the writing

has been a rather isolated responsibility of local officials and hired planning

staff with little or no involvement of the public. This traditional approach

Websterts New Collegiate Dictionary, 1974.

is a static technique which has generally proven to be unworkable since change

rapidly makes such plans obsolete or because it hasn't involved the public and, thus,

is too inflexible to respond to the needs of local citizens. Recognition of these

inadequacies prompted the development of the process contained in this report. This

is an ongoing process of information gathering, evaluation, public involvement, and

adjustments to facilitate land use in the Belhaven area. Local officials must be

aware, however, that the recommendations contained herein provide only a framework

for decision making.

One must keep in mind that, due to external constraints such as advanced tech-

nology, the plan must be continually reevaluated. For example, any plan produced

before the advent of the airplane would necessitate an update due to changed demands

as a result of the advanced technology. To this end, the Coastal Resources Com-

mission requires a review every five years.

In devising the plan, account was taken of the social, physical, economic, and

demographic factors which affect Belhaven. Similarly, local citizens were greatly

involved in the goal formation process. This process revolved around an area-wide

questionnaire used to categorize local concerns and desires. Later, a series of

public meetings were held to provide additional input into goal formation.

Since all the activities of this plan are related to providing information prior

to the making of decisions, local elected officials should find great utility in the

recommendations contained herein. This document can provide the factual data necessary

for intelligent decisions; it cannot, however, provide the aggressive leadership vital

in order to make this plan a useful tool to guide future development in the Belhaven

area.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The goal formation process is the most important prerequisite to the development

and implementation of effective plans. Goals represent desired states of affairs and

reflect fundamental values. Similarly, goals tend to address problem issues. Because

goals are ideals, they tend to be restated at higher levels as knowledge and values

change. Goals, then are a consensus of major values, a statement of a desired end

at a particular time and are subject to change. In order to make goals attainable,

there must be some linkage between the goal and the activity necessary to attain it.

This approach maintains the goal but identifies a specific level of objectives which

relate to both the goal and the activity. Objectives, then are statements of intent

and course s of action to reach goals. A summary of the steps revolving around goal
development should be in three phases: (1) problem identification, which relates
directly to (2) goal formation which is achieved by (3) objectives which outline

courses of action.

For the most part, governments have carried out activities with,the assumption
0 that they were accomplishing goals, whether written or not. A great disparity, how-

ever, has been between problems and goals as identified by local officials and problems

and goals as perceived by the citizens at large. Citizens'preferences should not be

accepted as mandates due largely to the lack of knowledge generally available only

to those in decision making roles. It is, however, equally undesirable to establish

goals and policies as the relatively isolated function of the planning staff or elected

officials. In order to effectively bridge the gap between the decision makers and

the citizens, some compromise is in order. In fact, The National Goals Research

Staff has found that

it ... participation by citizens in the analysis and decisions of public

issues is needed in the forming of goals. The attention or lack of

attention which policy makers give to the attitudes and values held

by substantial segments of society is likely to be reflected in the
0 acceptance according to various programs." -1//

I/ National Goals Research Staff, Toward Balanced Growth: Quantity With Quality,
Washington D.C., U.S. Goverment Printing Office, 1970. Also see, President's Com-
mission on National Goals, Goals for Americans, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1960. 4

The Coastal Resources Commission recognizes that public participation is vital

to the success of any land use planning effort, and therefore, has required consider-

able public involvement in the process. In an effort to bridge the gap between

problems and goals as perceived by the decision makers and problems and goals as

perceived by the citizens of the Belhaven area, the Belhaven Planning Board

initiated a process which maximized opportunities for local citizens' involvement.

In order to not initially inject its biases into the public participation and

goal formation process the Planning Board decided to poll area residents to get

ideas on their concerns and perceived needs. Thus, in February, 1975 the Planning

Board conducted an area-wide survey designed to obtain input on three major areas;

community problem identification, spending of public moneys, and environmental

issues, The survey, in questionnaire form, was distributed and collected by

Planning Board members on a Sunday at mid-day in an effort to maximize participation.

(More people are traditionally at home then than any other time except night and

generally tend to be less responsive at night than during the day.) There were 947

questionnaires distributed, one to each household and the return collected was 240;

a 24% response rate.

The findings of this questionnaire identified a wide-range of issues, from

those directly related to land use issues per se to the more general related to

community well-being and some unrelated to either, but nonetheless, still issues of

public concern such as adequate police and fire protection.

Once the questionnaires were tabulated (by computer programmed to cross-relate

certain issues) the Planning Board began to see patterns emerge. For example,

questions were asked concerning environmental issues such as pollution of the areats

streams. The overwhelming response to this question was "we don't want it, it',s

bad." Similarly, questions were asked concerning trade-offs which would affect

pollution of streams. Hypothetical situations were posed such as an industry

which produced goods but as a by-product of production, it also polluted streams.

Then the question was asked, "would you be willing to pay higher prices for these

goods if the cost of stopping pollution resulted in higher priced go ods?" Again,

the concensus was "yes". This showed that the residents would be-willing to make

.a conscience decision which would affect pollution, and this decision would

necessitate some direct cost to them. By asking several questions related to the

same issue a more valid response was insured. The implication of this technique

was to show what value respondents placed on specific issues.

Alternatives Considered

Once all the responses were tabulated they were ranked by frequency, that is

the number of times the question was responded to. The assumption then made was

there would be some correlation between rank and magnitude of problem; i.e., the.

higher the rank the more severe the problem. Further, the-responses were then

ranked by category; economic growth, land use controls, environmental issues, etc.

This presented the Planning Board with a voluminous list (close to one hundred) of

ranked problem areas; areas where public moeny should be spent and environmental

issues. ObviOUSlY, the town could not realistically expect to address all these

issues due to manpower constraints, the sheer number of issues and financial

limitations, but by having ranked the issues the Board could determine which issues

had the greatest.value, hence, which issues should have priority in attention. By

considering many such issues the Board made concessions and compromises, thus

giving considerable attention to the alternatives available. At this point the

Board continued to involve the public in order to further consider alterna-

tives and further refine and validate the issues raised in the questionnaire. The

findings and rankings of all issues identified through the questionnaire were sent

through the March, 1975 electric bills to all electricity subscribers in the area.

(Belhaven serves all but 5 or 6 houses in the planning area with electricity

service.) This mail-out informed all of the local concerns and also invited all

residents to attend a public meeting designed to address these identified issues.

At this first meeting, heads of approximately 50 households were present and

considerable input was provided and many valid alternatives considered. As a

result of this meeting the Planning Board was in a position to delete certain

issues since apparently these issues had less value than originally invisioned..

This resulted in further refinement of community issues and concerns. The major

significance of this meeting was the alternatives considered and the new issues

identified.

After this first public meeting the Planning Board met several times to

discuss the events and issues which transpired due to the questionnaire and first

public meeting. At these meetings the Planning Board discussed at great lengths

the implications of the problems and interest areas identified. After con'siderable

compromising and considerable attention to alternatives available to the community,

the Planning Board devised a further refined list of the findings of the

questionnaires, further validated by the citizen input from the first public

meeting.and validated by the Planning Board's revision and refinement due to this

process. The Planning Board then again mailed out the revised findings through the

electricity bills now supplemented by changes resulting from this first public

meeting and resulting citizen involvement and again invited area residents to a

second public meeting,

At the second public meeting, again those present voiced their concerns.

(Again there were over 50 heads of households present, not necessarily the same

present at the first meeting.) These concerns and alternatives presented were again

considered by the Planning Board and provided considerable input and after this'

second public meeting the Planning Board again met several times to discuss the

events, alternatives, and issues raised. (It is significant to note that at both

public meetings many of the same issues and alternatives were brought up.

Similarly, these concerns were in many cases the same as those identified from the

questionnaire.) At these meetings the Planning Board again went through the process

of considering and weighing alternatives which resulted in a more valid list of,

issues and concerns. Again compromises and trade-offs were made and alternatives

given considerable attention. As a result of this refinement process the Planning

Board now had a new list of issues, problems and concerns which gave considerable

weight to both citizen involvement and the alternatives available to the community.

After the second revisions were made, the Planning Board again met several times

to make a final determination on the concerns, isues and alternatives identified to

that point.
The following is a brief summary of the major concerns of the residents of
the Belhaven area as identified by the questionnaire--public hearing refinement

process.
A majority of Belhaven area residents indicate the following are the ten most

serious problems confronting the community:

1. Industrial development 6. Drugs
2. Employment opportunities 7. Adequate housing
3. Unemployment Assistance to the poor
Recreation facilities 8. Medical facilities
4. Transportation facilities Tourist facilities
5. Youth counseling 9. Community decisions
10. Community planning

A majority of Belhaven area residents feel more public money should be spent
in these areas:

1. New employment opportunities 6. Recreation facilities
2. Assistance to the old & poor 7. Community colleges & technicial
3. Control drugs institutes
Special education 8. Industrial development
4. Health & medical Crime prevention
S. Job training for adults 9. Retirement benefits
10. Control organized crime

Area residents also feel that there should be some controls on pollution from

agriculture, industry and that there should also be controls on mobile homes, yet

many feel that a person should be able to do anything he wants with his land. Others

feel that we should plan development to leave something for future growth, yet others

feel growth should occur at a fast pace, while others feel the town needs more people.

Many feel the town needs new industry and it will improve the quality of life, 'yet

many feel some industries aren't worth the problems they bring.

A majority of Belhaven area residents want to live in or near a small town, but

away from downtown. A majority said they would either never leave or be reluctant to

leave Belhaven.

A majority of area residents think the following are very important in selecting

a place to live:

1. A good place to raise children S. The quality of water.and air
2. The quality of schools 6. The friendliness of the community
3. The quality of medical facilities 7. Religious worship
4. Job opportunities 8. Recreation facilities

After refining,the issues and problems as far as practical, by virtue of the

questionnaire, public meetings, and Planning Board meetings, the Planning Board then

began writing goals and objectives to address those issues identified. Again, alter-

natives presented during the public meetings were considered during this process, so

that the resulting goals and objectives represent fundamental values of the local

citizens. The goals and objectives developed and contained here is an articulation of

the Belhaven area citizens' needs., values and involvement in local planning and thus

when programs are devised to attain these goals, local citizen acceptance should be

assured. Throughout the planning process the county was informed of the process

underway in Belhaven. The town discussed the implications of this process to both

the town and county. Periodically an assessment of the inter-dependencies was made

and this resulted in assurance that there were no conflicts between the town and

county plans.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Econmic Growth and Development

Goal: To obtain orderly and quality devel opment of the economic sector
of the town.
Objectives:'
- provide adequate employment opportunities for all area residents
- strive to lower the unemployment rate
- provide adequate industrial development
- encourage the continued development of tourist facilities
- provide for greater accessibility to existing and proposed commercial,
industrial, and institutional uses by providing adequate transportation
facilities including off street parking
- revitalize the central business district and other commercial sectors
of the community
- provide the necessary municipal resources and community facilities to
adequately serve selected non-polluting industrial development
- provide adequate adult job traiiiing to enhance any industrial labor
needs
- provide town jobs to neighborhood youth corps- this would be at no
cost to the town

Health & Welfare

Goal: To provide adequate health and welfare services to all in the community.
Objectives:
- develop programs which will adequately identify the existing health,
medical and welfare needs of the town
- provide necessary youth counseling services
- provide financial and service assistance to those elderly and poor
who are incapable of adequately providing these services for themselves
- provide adequate medical facilities to all community residents
- provide adequate clearance of lead drainage ditches in town on a regularly
scheduled basis
- provide proper operation of the sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate
bad odors
- control stray dog problems by periodically enacting a leash law
- strive to eliminate all drug problems
- provide adequate crime prevention services
- provide adequate garbage collection in all areas of the town for both
health and eyesore reasons

Housin--

Goal: To preserve and enhance existing residential neighborhoods and insure
the orderly development of new residential areas.
Objectives:
- maintain a standard housing supply through enforcement of building,
housing, subdivision and zoning regulations
- eliminate substandard deteriorating and eyesore dwellings through
area-wide code enforcement and rehabilitation programs
- encourage the initiation of social services for private and.federally
sponsored housing development where needed
- encourage diversity in housing types and environment through the use
of open space, recreation space and other such community facilities
- enhance and preserve existing neighborhoods through the upgrading of
community services and facilities and by discouraging blighting
influences
- determine the currentness of the existing mobile home ordinance and
make necessary changes to ensure quality mobile home development

Governmental

Goal: To obtain more efficient and affective governmental services according
to acceptable cost-benefit considerations.
Objectives:
- encourage intergovernmental cooperation to eliminate inefficient and
ineffective duplication, to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and
to develop agreements on overall objectives
- maximize the use of federal, state, local and other financial resources
in order to enhance community services and.facilities
- employ innovative management techniques to improve efficiency and
effectiveness in governmental activities
- encourage more professional attitude from local government employees
through closer work supervision
- ascertain currentness and legality of existing town ordinances and
enforce them to help alleviate such problems as abandoned vehicles and
abandoned houses
- cooperate with local public and private agencies in adult education,
job improvement and related programs
- maintain close liaison with area institutions of higher learning con-
cerning their development programs and encourage students and staff to
participate in local government activities
- encourage widespread participation in community decisions by providing
adequate educational and public involvement programs

Social, Cultural, and Recreational

Goal: To provide, preserve and enhance the social, cultural, and recreational
facilities of the community.
Objectives-
provide for the acquisition and development of land and faCil4tieS to
meet the open space, recreational, cultural and park needs of all citizens

- develop recreational and cultural activities and programs for all
age groups
- cooperate with various local private agencies in the development of
town-wide recreational and cultural programs
- cooperate with other local governments in the area in developing
recreational and cultural facilities
- strive to retain the small town atmosphere by allowing only selective
and wise land development
- provide a social and cultural atmosphere conducive to raising children
- explore the possibilities of acquiring the property around Wynnls-Gut
to be used as a town park. This would also necessitate cleaning the
Gut up by removing sunken boats, piers and other trash

General Environment

Goal: To provide a physical environment that is livable, aesthetically
pleasing, healthful, and blight free.
Obje ctives:
- encourage activities that will retain the good fishing in the area
- promote the quiet, small town atmosphere
- continue activities that minimize pollution
- encourage activities that result in making Belhaven a good place to
raise children
- provide adequate maintenance of existing drainage ditches on a regular-
ly scheduled basis
- enforce existing ordinances which would require the cleaning up of
vacant lots, abandoned buildings and the removal of vacant automobiles
- explore the possibility of acquiring Wynn's Gut to be used as a town
park- if acquisition is not possible then enforce or enact ordinanceo
to require the removal of sunken boats, abandoned piers and other trash
- provide proper operation of the sewage treatment plant in order to
eliminate bad odors
- provide adequate garbage collection in all areas of the town for health
and eyesore reasons
- enforce existing ordinances which would ensure quality mobile home
develnpment
- enact a periodic leash law to eliminate stray dog problcms

INTRODUCTION

HISTORICAL SETTING

Belhaven, originally called Jackts Neck, then Belport, began to thrive during

the early 1900ts. During this era, lumbering was booming under the direction of

John Wilkinson. The town, at the confl-ftence of Pantego Creek and Pungo River,

furnished an excellent harbor. Fish, oysters, crabs, and shrimp were and still

are important to the local economy, and several fish processing plants operate

year-round. Due to the proximity to the rivers and forests, Belhaven has long

served sportsmen who come to hunt, fish, and boat. With the opening of the inland

waterway, the town became a provisioning and rest area; and with the advent of

pleasure boating, tourism has become important. The town has an excellent water-

front and a very compact business section suxround6d by residences.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

Belhaven is located in the central section of the Coastal Plains of North

Carolina. The town is lo cated on the North side of the confluence of Pantego

Creek and Pu:rig@-) Rivar. The general topography in the area is flat. According to

the U.S. Geologic Survey topographic map of the area, the highest elevation is less

than 10 feet. The town serves as a regional center for eastern Beaufort County,

Hyde County, and parts of Washington and Tyrrell County.

The town is served by one major U.S. highway, U.S. 264,and N.C. 92. These

roads provide both North, South, East, and West road access to points throughout

eastern North Carolina. The town also lies on the Intracoastal Waterway which provides

a north-south route to both state and national shipping.

Belhaven has a mild climate. The average annual temperature in 1973 was 63.5

degrees Fahrenheit, and the annual average precipitation in 1973 was 46 inches.

Summer winds are generally from the east or southeast and winter winds are generally

northeast or northwest.
13

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PRESENT CONDITIONS

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Population

One of the most important considerations in land use planning is the evaluation

of the population characteristics of the area. Factors such as size, composition, and

distribution are important in their effect on the type and extent of future land

development. These factors introduce quantitative considerations to population

trends and assist in determining residential space requirements.

As stated elsewhere, the Belhaven planning area includes not only the corporate

limits, but a one-mile extraterritorial area outside of the town limits. In contrast,

the only readily available data on population is compiled only by town, township and

county. Due to data limitations, it is impossible to obtain an actual count of people

living in the planning area outside the corporate limits. The 1975 windshield survey

revealed 73 houses in this one-mile area. When the factor of 2.9 persons per house
(the 1970 persons per household rate) is applied to these houses the result is 212

persons. This is a reasonable estimate of the population in the one-mile'area.

Population Distribution

Table 1 shows population changes for all towns, townships, and the county

during the 1960 decade. Belhaven's population declined by 4.3%. HoweverP o Ither towns in

the county also showed declines during the decade. In fact, of the ten towns in the

county, only three showed increases during this decade. It is also interesting to note

that Belhaven, the second largest town in the county, declined in population at less

than half the rate of the largest town in the county.

Table 2 shows the town's population during the past 30 years. The greatest

positive population change occurred between 1940 and 1950 when the town registered a

7.1% increase. However, since 1950 there has been a slight but steady decrease.

Although a decrease is observed, the percent of the county population residing in the

town has not changed significantly over the 30 years which would indicate a somewhat

stable population.

Age of Population

Shifts in the age of a community can have serious implic ations in that demands

for community services, goods, housing, entertainment, medical facilities, and other

facilities will also need to shift to adequately meet new and different demands.

Table 3 shows changes in population ages during the 1960 decade. It is interesting

to note that significant changes occurred primarily in three groups. As shown in

Tables 3 and 4. minor populations, those persons 21 years and under decrease

significantly. Similarly, as shown in Table 3, those between ages 25 and 54, the

prime employment years, also decreased sharply. Significant also, is the change

in the older ages. In categories 55 years and older, large increases were noted.

Table 5 shows elderly population changes for the decade for the county, township,

and town. Table 6 shows median age for the state, county, township, and town in

1970. This reveals that in population terms Belhaven is,older than the others.

The significance of Belhavents population shifts are evident from the-existing

information. Since there were decreases in the young groups (those who will shortly
be of child bearing age), since the prime employment age groups are decreasing, and

sirce the elderly are increasing, it is realistic for Pelhaven to expect continued

population decreases in the future unless the current trend is changed. Similarly,

as the population age shifts from younger to older groups service demands will shift

correspondingly to the needs of the older inhabitants.

Racial Composition

About 54% of the town's 1970 population was non-white, compared to 51% in 1960

as shown in Table 7. This compares to the township's 1970 population composition

of 49% non-whites and the 1960 ratio of 51%. In 1970 and 1960 respectively, the

county's rate of non-whites was 33% and 37%. Thus, the town's racial mix is and has

been more similar to the township's than the county as a whole. Similarly, the popu-

lation lost during the decade included more whites than non-whites. From Table 7 it

can be seen that Belhaven lost whites at a greater rate than either the township or

county. The rate of loss of non-whites was considerably less than either the town-

ship or county. 16

Table 8 puts into perspective the age and race composition in Belhaven in 1970.

In age categories less than 25 years old, there are more non-whites than whites.

The distribution in prime employment years is about evenly split. In the elderly

and near elderly age groups there are slightly more whites than non-whites.

Sex Composition

As.shown in Table 9, in 1970 the town's population was 52% female compared to

48% male. These rates were also 52% and 48% in 1960 despite a population loss in both

groups during the decade. Between 1960 and 1970 the town lost 68 women and 59 men, a

combined loss of 127 people.

Table 10 reveals sex composition by age categories for 1970.* It is interesting

to note that slightly more minor males than females are in Belhaven. In prime employ-

ment age categories, age 25-54 females constitute a slightly greater percentage, and

in the elderly and near elderly groups females again outnumber males by approximately

nine (9) percent.
0 Income

As shown in Table 11., the median family income for Beau-fort County in 1970 was

$6,435 which ranked.58th in the state.County ranges in North Carolina that year ranged

from $10,136 to $4,307. The average was $7,774. In 1970 the state of North Carolina

ranked low.in the nation thus ranking all county residents low in the nation.

As shown in Table 11, Bea ufort County and the Town of Washington, the only place

in the county for which income figures were compiled, had significantly greater percent-

ages of families below the poverty level than the state. Similarly, in 1970 the county

had fewer families with incomes over $15,000.

Since neither the U.S. Bureau of Census nor any other census agency documents

incomes for places less than 2,500 population, certain assumptions must be made regarding

incomes in Belhaven. All indications are that Belhaven is probably similar to the

county in income, thus, in 1970 approximately 25% of Belhaven families, 175 families,

had incomes less than poverty level.

TABLE 1 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

Beaufort County, Townships, Towns
1960-1970

Population Change:. 1960-1970
1960 1970 Number Percent

Beaufort County 36,014 35,980 -34 -0.1
Bath Township 3,323 3,237 -86 -2.6
Bath Town 346 231 -115 -33.2
Chocowinituy Township 4,628 4,661 33 0.7
Chocowinity Town 580 566 -14 -2.4
Long Acre Township 5,318 6,976 1,658 31.2
Pinetown Town 215 278 63 29.3
Wa'shington Park Town 574 517 -57 -9.9
Pantego Township 51377 15 126 -251 -4.7
Belhaven Town 2,386 2,259 -1*23 -4.3
Pantego Town 262 218 -44 -16.8
Richland Township 2,462 3,626 1,164 4.7
Aurora Town 449 620 171 38.1
Edward Town 112 115- 3 2.7
South Creek Town 82 73 - 9 -11.0
Washington Township 13,906 12,354 -1,552 -11.2
Washington City 9,939 8,961 -978 -9.8

Source: U. S. Census of Population, 1970.

TABLE 2 SUMMARY OF POPULATION TRENDS

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1940w-1970

Year Change: 1940-1970
1970 'umber Percent
Area 1940 1950 lc,)6o 11

35,980 1.2
Beaufort County 36,431 36,01-4 -451
Pantego Township 5,935 5,713 5,377 5,126 -809 -13.6
Belhaven Town 2,360 2,528 2,386 2,259 -101 - 4.3

Percent of County
Population Residing 6.5 6.8 6.6 6.3 - -
in Belhaven

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

TABLE 3 POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUP

Belhaven Town
1960-1970

Year Change: 1960-197
Age Group 1960 1970 Number Percent

Under 5 247 1083 - 64 -25.9
5 14 579 478 -101 -Y1 .4
15 24 279 353 '114 26.5
25 34 224 21"' - 12- - 5.3
35 -44 4 243 236 - 7 - 2.9
45 54 302 236 - 66 -21.9
55 64 241 257 16 6.6
65 and over 271 304 34 12.5
All ages 2,368 21259 -109 - 4.6

Source: U. S. Census of Population, 1960; Spec *ial Census
Tapes, Regional Development Institute, East Carolina
University, 1970.

TABLE 4 MINOR POPULATION

BelLhaven Town
1970

Minor Population
Total Percent
Population Number of Total

2,259 925 40.9%

Minor population is defined as those persons under
21 years of age.

Source: U. S. Census, Special Census Tapes, Regional Development
Institute, East Carolina University, 1970.

TABLE 5 ELDERLY POPULATION CHANGES

Persons 65 Years Old And Over

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1960-1970

Year Change: 1960-1970
Area 1960 1970 Number Percent
Beaufort County 3,054 3,768 714 23.4
Pantego Township 544 687 143 26.3
Belhaven Town 271 305 34 12.5

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

TABLE 6 MEDIAN AGE

The State, Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1970

The Beaufort Pantego Town of
0 State County Township Belhaven
26.5 29.0 29.6 30.0

Source: U. S. Census of Population, 1970

TABLE 7 POPULATION CHANGES BY RACE

Beaufort County, Pantego.Township, Belhaven Town
196o - 1970

Change: 1960 1970
1c)60 1970 Number Percent,
Non Non Non Non
Area Total White White Total White- White White White White White

Beaufort County 361014 22,724 1--@ 290 35,980 24,010 11,970 1,286 -1,320 5.7
11 -9.9
Pantego Township 5,377 2,647 2,730 5,126 2,602 2,524 -45 -2o6 -1.7 -7.5
Belhaven Town 2,386 1,159 1,227 2,259 1,036 1,223 -123 -4 -10.6 -0.3

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

TABLE 8 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY AGE AND RACE

Belhaven Town
1970

White Non-White
Percent Percent
of of
Age Gro All Ages Number Total Number Total

Under 5 183 76 41.5 107 58.5
5 1-4 478 164 34.3 314 65-.7
15 24 353 144 40.8 209 59.2
25 34 2121 114 53.8 98 46.2
35 44 236. 104 44.1 132 55.9
45 54 236 133 56.4 103 43.6
55 64 257 1-40 54.5 117 45.5
65 and over 304 161 53.0 143 47.0

Source: Special Census Tapes, Regional Development Institute, East Carolina
University, 1970.

TAB LE 9 POPUIATION CHANGES BY SEX

Town Of Belhaven
1960 and 1970

Year Change: 1960 1970
1960 1970 Number Percent
Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

2,386 1,154 1,232 2@259 1,095 1,164 47 -59 -68 -5.3 -5.1 -5.5

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

TABLE 10 POPULATION BY AGE AND SEX

Belhaven Town
1970

Sex
Percent Percent
of of
Age Grou All Ages Malc Total Female Total
Under 5 183 99 54.1 84 .9
5 - 14 478 257 53.8 221 46.2
15 - 24 353 1082 51.6 171 48.4
25 - 34 21" 98 46.2 114, 53.8
35 - 44 236 116 49.2 1210 50.8
45 - 54 .236 47.5 124 52.5
55 - 64 257 105 40.9 152 59.1
65 and over 304 126 41.4 178 58.6

TOTAL 21259 1.,095 48.5 1,164 51.5

Source: Special Census Tapes, Regional Development Institulbe, East Carolina
University, 1970.

TABLE 11 FAMILY INCOME

The State, Beaufort County, Town of Washington
1970

All Families

Percent With Incomes-of
Median Less Than $15,QOO
Area Income Poverty Level or More

The State $7,774 16.3 11.5
Beaufort County 6,435 24.9 6.9
Washington Town 6,563 25.1 10.4

Source: U. S. Census of Population, 1970.

HOUSING

Invento

In 1970 the town of Belhaven had 774 year-round housing units. In 1975 this

number had increased to 901 units, a 16% gain. In 1975 there were approximately,

73 units in the one-mile area, bringing the current total number of units in the

pl anning area to 974. Due to data limitations., it is impossible to determine the

number of units in the one-mile area in 1970. In 1960 the town had 721 year-round

units, thus during the 1960 decade, housing increased by 7.3% despite a population

loss of over 100 people. Although this seems contradictory, the forces underly ing

are consistent with changes that*have occurred. Briefly, upward mobile families

continue to trade up to newer housing, while the major population loss came from

the breakup of larger families--parents remaining behind and the young migrating out

of the area.

Table 12 shows housing unit changes for the town, township, and county during

the 1960's.

Housing Unit Types

Single family housing remains by far the preferred housing type in the area as
shown in Table 13. In 1970 within the town limits over 92%6 of all housing was
single family compared to only 3.9% for multi"family. At this same time, mobile
homes accounted for slightly over 3% of the housing stock. Between 1970 and 1975

a marked shift in housing variety occurred. While the net change in single-family
housing declined by less than 1%, mobile homes increased sharply by over 458% as

shown.in Table 14.

Interestingly, the number increase in mobile homes occurred more frequently in
Enumeration District 1 as shown in Table 14. (Enumeration Districts are geographic sub-
areas of the Town used by U. S. Census personnel for statistical tabulation purposes.
Enumeration District 1 is bound by West Main Street, King Street, Pantego Street, U.S.
264 Alternate and the town boundary to the north and west. Enumeration District 2 is
the rema inder of the town.) Mobile homes provide an affordable first home for many
young couples and families in the interim period when they are building cash reserves
for purchase of conventional housing. Rising land costs, construction costs,
and material inflation may cause even more persons to choose this alternative

during the late 1970ts.. especially the young, the elderly, and the poor.

Experiences elsewhere, however, have shown mobile homes to be a temporary solution

.to providing decent housing in a suitable living environment.

Tablel5 displays housing type distribution in 1975 and shows that in proportion

to conventional housing, more mobile homes are located in the one-mile area than in

town and that within the town limits proportionately more mobile homes are located

in Enumeration District 1.

Household Tenure

Tenure refers to owner and renter occupied housing units. Table16 shows tenure

rates in 1970 for the town, township, and county. The 774 year-round units are 63%

owner occupied, 26% renter occupied, and 11% vacant.

Owner occupancy in Belhaven is similar to that in other small eastern North

Carolina towns. Similarly, most rental units in Belhaven are single-family housing

as would be expected.

Household tenure by race is summarized in Table 17. Surprisingly, whites

occupy 54% of both owner occupied and renter occupied units. Non-whites

occupy 461o of both owner and renter occupied units. These figures correspond to.

racial population ratios.

The vacancy rate in Belhaven is slightly higher than would be expected on a

market with'roughly a 63-26 tenure split. This excessive vacancy nay be a function

of absentee ownership, dilapidation, and abandonment or other variables. From

the available data, however, it is impossible to reach firm conclusions, except

to say there is some softness in the market.

Public Assisted Housing-

According to the Mid-East Housing Authority, there is one housing project in Belhaven
under their auspices. This project is located off of Old County Road in the northwest
section of town. The project contains 45 units and was opened in May of 1975. It is
currently full of tenants, and a waiting list has already been established. Eligibility
requirements for admittance are based on a sliding scale which considers income, number
in the family, and other criteria.
There are no immediate plans to expand the project in Belhaven, although a need
in the future is perceived. 30

Household Size

There is a national trend toward smaller household size. This is a critical

determinant of future housing need. Over the 1960 decade, household size in Belhaven

decreased from 3.29 persons per household to 2.9 persons per household.

Household Densit

Overcrowding occurs when there is more than one person per room per housing
unit. In 1970, 9 0 units or 13% of the total occupied housing stock in Belhaven

were overcrowded. Interestingly, the overcrowding rate in Belhaven in 1960 was

also 13%. This rate was higher than either the township or county rate for that

year ah shown in Tablel8. Since overcrowding accelerates housing deterioration

through greater wear and abuse, a lower density will enable the housing stock to

endure more years of use.

Housing Value and Rent

Many variables determine housing value and rents. Location, size, site design,

qublity of construction, construction materials, availability of utilities and

sewers, and market demand are but a few.

In 1970 the average value for Belhaven units was $8,839 compared to the state's
median for owner occupied units of $11,600. Table19 summarizes housing value in Bel-'

haven in 1970. There are two ranges of value of housing that have a high correlation
to poor' or deteriorating conditions. These rangesare less than $5,000 and $5,000
to $9,999. Based on this standard, Table 20 reveals that 316 units or approximately

4.1% of all units in Belhaven fall into these catagories. The lowest value catagory
contains about 21% of the total units. These figures are comparable for the county

rates of 4616 and 18% respectively.

The apartment boom which swept the nation during the last decade did not have

such an impact on Belhaven. The majority of rental housing in the town is single-

family units. Units renting for less than $60 per month account for 64% of all units.

Similarly, 42 units or 21% of all units have no cash rent. Table 21 summarizes rents

for the area in 1970.
31

TABLE 12 HOUSING UNIT CHANGE

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belliaven Town
1960 - 1970

All Year Round
Housing Units Change: 1960-10,70
Per
Area 1960 1970 Number Cent

Beaufort County 11-084 12)583 1,199 10.5
Pantego Township 1,680 l/ 1,757 77 4.5
Belhaven Town 721 774 53 7.3

This figure computed from available census data.

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1960 and 1970.

TABLE 13' YEAR-ROUND HOUSING UNIT TYPE

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, BelIiaven Town
1970

Singlc Family Multi-Family Mobilo Home
All Per Per Per
Area Units Number Cent Number Cent Number Cent

Beaufort County 12,583 10,922 86.8 746 5.9 915 7.3
Pantego Township 1,757 1,638 93.2 26 1.5 93 5.3
Belhaven Town 774 716 . 92.5 30 3.9 28 3.6

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

TABLE 14 HOUSING UNIT CHANGE BY TYPE

BeDiaven Town and Enumeration Diotricts
1WO-1975

Change: lq7 0 lc)7,5,
1970 1q75 All Units Conventional Units Mobile Homes
All Vonventional Mobile All Conventional Mobile Per Per Per
Area Units Units Homes Units Units Homes Number Cent Number Cent Number Cent

774 746 28 901 744 1@6 127 16 -2 1 12-1 8
BelIiaven Town .4 -0.3 458.1

Enumeration District 1 365 346 19 450 346 104 85 23.3 0 0 85 447.4

Enumeration District 2 365 356 9 451 398 53 86 23.6 42 11.8 44 488.8

Source: Special Census Tapes, Regional Development Institute, East CarolLna University, 1970; Natural Economic Resources Windshield Survey, 1975..

TABLE 15 HOUSING DISTRIBUTION BY TYPE

Belhaven Planning Area, One Mile Area, Belhaven Town, Enumeration Districts

1975

Conventional
Area All Units Units Mobile Homes

Belhaven Planning Area 974 792 182
One Mile Area 73 48 25
Belhaven Town 901 744 157
Enumeration District 1 450 .346 104
Enumeration District 2 451 398 53

Source: Windshi@--ld Survey, Natural.and Economic Resources, 1975.

TABLE 1:6 HOUSING TENM AND VACANCY

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1970

Tenure Vacancy
Total Owner Per Renter. Per Per
Area Units Occupied Cent Occupied Cent Number Cent
Beaufort County 12,583 7,484 59.5 3,546 2 8.2 i,553 12.3
Pantego Township 1,757 1,164 66.2 .384 21.9 209 11.9
Belhaven Town 774 488 63.0 202 26.1 84 10.9

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

TABLE 17 TENURE BY RACE

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1970

All Units Owner Occupied Renter Occupied
White Non-White White Non-White White Non-White
Per per Per Per Per Per
Area Number Cent. Number Cent Number Cent Number Cent Number Cent Number Cent
Beaufort County 8@016 72.7 3,009 27.-3 5,894 78.8 1,585 21.2 2,122 59.8 1,424 40.2
Pantego Township 898 58.o 650 42.0 695 59.7 469 40.3 203 52.9 181 47.1
Belhaven Town 370 53.7 319 46.3 262 53.7 226 46.3 108 53.7 013 46.3

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

TABLE 28 OVERCROWDING

Beaufort County, Pantego TownshiR, Belhaven Town
1970

Total Total Percent of
Total Occupied Over All Occupied
Area Housing Housin Crowdin Units

Beaufort County 13,015 12,583 1,184 9.4
Pantego Township 1,757 1,164 172 14.8
Belhaven Town 774 690 90 13.1

Overcrowding is defined as more than 1.01 persons per room.

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

TABLE 19 HOUSING VALUE AND RENT
Belhaven Town and Enumeration Districts
11)70

Average Black Average Average Black
Area Monthly R Monthly Rent Value Average Value
Belhaven Town $41 $35 $8,839 $6,549
Enumeration District 1 314 31 5,971
Enumeration District 2 '38 11 83 7,1,'-',8
48 4

Source: Special Census Tapes, Regional Development Institute, East Carolina
University, 1970.

TABLE 2,0 HOUSING VALUE

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1970

Value Beaufort Coun Pantego Townshi Belhaven Town

Less than $5,000 869 271 162
f 5@000 - $9,999 1,459 257 154
$10,000 - $14,999 1,026 194 66
$15,000 - $19,999 691 87 38
$20,000 - $24,999 446 47 14
$25,000 cr more 534 18 17

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

TABLE 21' HOUSING RENT

Beaufort County, Pantego Township, Belhaven Town
1970

Rent Beaufort Count Pantego Townshi Belhaven Town

Less than $40 1,084 49 87
$ 40 - $ 59 684 49 41
$ 60 - $ 79 440 6o 28
$ 80 - $ 99 72 46 1
$100 - $149 140 25 1
$150 or more 52 0
No cash rent 522 42

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

Age of Housin

A housing unit begins to deteriorate from the day construction is completed.

if it is well built with high quality materials, proper maintenance will reduce the

deterioration process to a minimum. Conversely, poor construction coupled with little

or no maintenance will result in rapid deterioration. An average structure, given.

reasonable maintenance, will deteriorate at a fairly predictable rate over a life

time of approximately 60 years. A typical structure will deteriorate very slowly

for the first 5 years.and reach a maximum rate at about 30 years. From 40 years on,

the rate is constant for the remaining life of the structure.

Thus,, the majority of structural condition housing problems will undoubtedly

come from housing over 30 years old, or housing constructed prior to 1939. While there

is no readily available information that specifically addresses housing age in Belhavem,

there is data available for Beaufort County. In 1970 approximately 411o of all housing

in Beau-fort County was built prior to 10,39. This compares favorably with-age of

housing in other eastern North Carolina counties, If this rate is applied to Belhaven,

then 317 units in the town limits are approaching the age where deterioration will

affect the structural condition of the unit. Since few houses were built during the

depression years, the majority of these units were constructed before 1929 giving

an average age of about 46 years. It is evident that a substantial portion of

housing in Belhaven has reached a point where deterioration is a serious problem.

Major Deficiencies

According to the 1970 Special Census, about 2% of all housing units in Belhaven

had no toilets, and an additional 111o lacked some or all plumbing facilities, which
means approximately 39% of all housing in the area lacks plumbing which is considered

essential to adequate, modern housing. This rate is slightly higher than the town-

ship or county as shown in Table 22.

Housing Structural Conditions

Information on the structural condition of housing has been collected in each

decennial census since 1940. This was obtained by unskilled enumerators observing
42

TABLE 22 INCOMPLETE PLUMBING FACILITIES

Beaufort County, Pantego Townshilp, Belhaven Town
1970

Lacking some
All. Year-Round or AlT Plumbing No
Area Housing Units Facilities Toilet

Beaufort County 12,583 3,368 2,377
Pantego Township 1,757 642
Belhaven Town 774 304 217

Source: U. S. Census of Housing, 1@)70. Special Census Tapes, East
Carolina University.

and rating the physical condition of each housing unit. Post census surveys, how-

ever, have proved this technique inadequate. In 1960 alone, as a n.ational Content

Evaluation Survey disclosed, more than one million dilapidated units were wrongly

shown as being in a better condition. Therefore, the Bu-teau of the Census did not

colle6t housing conditions information in 1970 by direct observation. However, in

response to the urgent requests of many governments who need this data, the Census

Bureau will tabulate and publish statistics on structural condition and plumbing as
a single classification (substandard) for certain governmental units. This number

will be the sum of units that do not have complete private plumbing facilities and

an estimated number of units with complete private plumbing facilities that would

have been rated as dilapidated in 1970. Although useful, this data will be of

limited value in determining the condition of structures which are deteriorating and

savable through some form of treatment.

No method of determining structural conditions is a comparable substitute for

direct examination of each housing unit by trained personnel. The time and costs

involved in a complete survey are quite high but are justifiable for a

town such as Belhaven. I n fact, the Neighborhood Analysis done for Belhaven in

August 1969 provides the only recorded evaluation of housin@y_ co-ndi.tions in the

town. It should, however, be interpreted carefully as housing conditions apparently

were determined strictly by external visual appearance and, thus represents a minimum

.representation. of structural conditions. In the absence of an individual unit 1970

U.S. Census Survey, the limited 1970 special census and the Neighborhood Anglysis

provides tho only comprehensive data, although it.is imperative that the limitations

of this data be fully recognized and understood.

Housing Conditions - 1960

In 1960 there were 721 housing units in Belhaven. Of these, 373 (51.7%) were

sound; 140 (19.5%) were deteriorating, and 208 (28.8%) were dilapidated. Combined,

approximately 348 units or 48.3% of all units in Belhaven were deficient. These

deficiencies ranged from minor to completely dilapidated. Tablo 23 summarizes

h6using conditions in 1960 in Belhaven and Beaufort Coiz-ity. It is interpstina to
44

TABLE -23 HOUSING CONDITIONS

Beaufort County, Belhaven Town
1960

Deteriorating
Area All Units Sound & Dilapidated Deteriorating Dilapidated
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent- Number Percent
Beaufort County 119384 61746 59.3% 4,638 40.7% 2.,874 25.2% 11764 15.5%
Belhaven Town 721 373 51.7% 348 48.3% 140 19.5% 208 28.8% LO

Source: U.S. Census of Housing, 1960.

note that, whi-13 Belhaven hnusing comprised 6.3% of the total housing stock in the

county in 1960, it accounted for 7.5% of all county deteriorating and dilapidated

units.

Housing Conditions - 197

.Housing conditions constantly change, both with respect to the physical con-

ditions of the properties and the social-economic shifts in the population. Many

units which were deteriorated or dilapidated in 1960 have been demolished or other-

wise removed from the market. Similarly, those units remaining from 1960 ar-- tan

years older, and many which were sound have deteriorated or become dilapidated.

As mentioned earlier, a Neigtborhood Analysis was completed for Belhaven in

August, 1969 and provides the only housing structural condition iniformatLon for the

decade since, in 1970, the U.S. Census did not compile housing condition data on

places with'less than 2,500 population.

In order for the Neighborhood Analysis to be useful, an examination of its

definition of housing conditions must be compared with definitions of conditions

contained in the 1960 U.S. Census data. After careful review, it was determined that

the Neighborhood Analysis definitions were not absolutely compatible with the 1960

census definitions and, thus, the changes that appeared to occur between 1960 and

1970 must be viewed very cautiously and viewed as a minimal indicator of 1970

housing conditions.

Briefly, the 1960 U.S. Census identified housing in three conditions; sound,

deteriorating, and dilapidated. These definitions are contained in the appendix of

this document. Similarly, the 1969 Neighborhood Analysis identified housing in four

conditions; sound, minor repair, major repair, and dilapidated. These definitions are

also contained in the appendix. Apparently, the author of the Neighborhood Analysis,

recognizing the limitations of the 1960 census, attempted to break deteriorating

housing into two sub-categories, minor repair and major repair. Table @4 shows

estimated housing conditions in Belhaven, according to the Neighborhood Analysis.

Due to definition incompatibill.ty, it is impossible to compare all cate-

gorical conditions from 1960 to 1970, however, it is possible to compare sound housing
46

TABLE 24 ESTIMATED HOUSING CONDITIONS

Belhaven
1970 V

Minor Major
Area All Units Sound Re-pair Re-pair Dilapidated
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Belhaven 714 422 59.1% 162 22.7% 84 11.8% 46 6.4%

Actually represents August., 1969 figures.

This figure does not include 37 mobile homes located in Belhaven at the time this
survey took place. If these were added to the housing stock, the total would be
751 rather than 714.

Source: Neighborhood Analysis, Department of Natural & Economic Resources, August, 1969.

versusunsound housing for the decade. As shown, about 52% of all housing in Belhaven

was sound in 1960 compared to 59% in 1970. Thus, it is estimated that currpntly about

41% of the housing in the town have minor or major deficiencies, which would -requiro

more, than normal maintenance to correct. Again, this figure must be interpreted as a

very conservative estimate due to limitatiors of existing data. The significance

is that a substantial portion of the population is ill-housed.

Many of the 130 housing units having major deficiencies are probably beyond

remedial action. The opportunity to save many of them has been lost, and the only

alternative is public or private demolition. It is also probable that many of th ese

are vacant units. A determination as to the feasibility of saving the 162 housing

ua-iits with minor deficiencies will have to be made on a house by house basis because

the problems of.-h6u8ing rehabilitation a:@e iinlike those faced in claarance projects.

Acquisition costs coupled with rehabilitation costs can easily exceed potential market

value. Many factors si-inh Ps quality of initial construction, addition of the basic

structural components, extent of damage, age, a-ad locat!-)n must be careful ly weighed

to determine if rehabilitation treatment is practical. Obviously, many of these

housing ii-ailus will lint ho suitable for rehabilitation treatment, although code enforce-

ment may extend their useful life. Units with minor deficionc!(@s, hnw-iver, ar-1 1-n-por-

tant from two standpoints which deserve careful attention. First, they provide hous-

ing for a substantial portion of the town's low and moderate income families. And

secondly, these units are likely to deteriorate and becoma dilapidated in a relatively

short time.

In 1975 staff of the North Carolina Department of Natural & Economic Resources

conducted a windshiold survey of housing type in Belhaven. Table 25 reveals the

findings of that survey. It is interesting to note that while conventional housing
is the preferred type, mobile homes constitute about 19% of all housing. A@ain,-Table 14

shows changes in housing types by preference from 1970 to 1975. The phenomenal

increase in mobile homes is very evident.
0 Housing Need

Housing need is defined as how much housing is required to place each family and

individual iTi standard and decent housing units. Housing demand is directly related to
48

TABLE @5 HOUSING DISTRIBUTION BY TYPE

Belhaven Planning Area, One-Mile Area, Belhaven Town, Enumeration Districts
1975

Conventional $tructures Mobile Homes
All 70 of 70 of
Area Structures Number Total Number Total

Belhaven Planning Area 974 792 81.3% 182 18.7%
One-Mile Area 73 43 65.8% 25 34.2%
Belhaven Town 901 744 82.6% 157 17.41.
Enumer0ion District 1 450 346 76.9% 104 23.1%
Enumeration District 2 451 398 88.21. 53 11.8%

Source: Windshield Survey, Natural & Economic Resources, 1975.

TABLE HOUSING DISTRIBUTION BY TYPE

Belhaven Planning Area, One-Mile Area, Belhaven Town, Enumeration Districts
12_7@

Conventional $tructures Mobile Homes
All 70 of 70 of
Area Structures Number Total Number Total

Belhaven Planning Area 974 792 81.3% 182 18.7%
One-Mile Area 73 43 65.8% 25 34.2%
Belhaven Town 901 744 82.6% 157 17.4%
EnumerbLtion District 1 450 346 76.9% 104 23.1%
Enumeration District 2 451 398 88.2% 53 11.8%

Source.- Windshield Survey, Natural & Economic Resources., 1975.

many variables such as existing housing stock, new construction, demolition, and

abandonment.

Choice in the housing market is constrained primarily by income. Income largely

determines who can buy or rent what, when and where. Using standard multipliers of

20% of annual income for rental, and 2 times income for sales housing, gives parameters

on housing budget potentials. (Though it is noted that about one-third of the families

in the United States pay more than this for rental and sales housing, to do so requires

trade-offs from other needs; for example, expenditures for housing maintenance, health

and medical needs, clothing, recreation, etc.) For example, a family earning $7@000

annually could usually afford to purchase a new house priced at $1/+,000 or rent a $117

a month apartment. Even extending the multipliers to 25% of annual income for rental
and 2.5 times income for sales housing only increases the budget range to'$17,500 for

housing purchase and $146 for monthly rental.

Since little if any "new" sales housing is being built at a price of $15,000,

and most is priced from just under $20,000 and above, about 350 of the town's families

have been effectively priced out of the new house market. Likewise, any new apartments

would probably command rentals greater than the budget potential of the majority of

the townts families.

The U. S. Census does not compile income data for places less than 2,500 popu-

lation. Data is tabulated, however, by county and places greater than 2,500. In

Beaufort County in 1970 there were 5,160 families with annual incomes less than $7,000,

which r*epresents 54.7% of all families. Similarly, in the town of Washington there

were 1,206 families with annual incomes less than $7,000 representing 52.8% of all

families. If the assumption is made that incomes of families in Belhaven is similar

to incomes of families in Beaufort Ccanty and Washington, it is reasonable to assume

that at least 50% of the families in Belhaven have annual incomes less than $7,000.

This means that about 350 Belhaven families probably cannot affort either new sales

or rental housing.

These families must seek and live in the older houses. Housing in this

market gradually filters dow n as upwardly mobile families leave older housing

for newer units. As the units move down, they are characterized by increased

age and deterioration.

People most severly restricted in the selection of housing are those with

incoines legs than poverty level. Again, data limitations necessitate an estimate

of these people for Belhaven. In 1970 approximately 25% of all Beaufort Cou nty

families were below poverty level compared to slightly over 25% for the town.of

Washington. If these rates are applicable to Belhaven, then approximately 175

Belhaven families are so affected. Public assisted housing provides shelter

for approximately 45 of these households leaving 130 households with the most

immediate need for adequate housing.

The elderly population forms a significant part of the low income housing

market, and with the present increase in persons in this age group--over 12% in

the last decade--small efficiency and one-bedroom housing with low rents/cost will

be needed to accommodate this growth.

Summa.ry

Approximately 130 houses in Belhaven requires immediate replacement because

of their substandard or dilapidated condition. An additional 99 units require

some rehabilitation which would consist of adding additional rooms to alleviate

overcrowding. This means that 229 units or 29.6% of the existing housing stock

in Belhaven is substandard.

ECONONIC ENVIRONMENT

An analysis of an areals economy can be a helpful tool in land use planning for

shifts in local economies can result in shifts in land use demands. Economic analysis

can be accomplished in one of several methods which vary considerably in sophistica-

tion..based primarily on the availability of economic data to analyze.

There are several information categories which are necessary in order to accurately

identify the economy of a community. The most fundamental of these is the division

of employment into categorical type, per capita and family incomes, retail sales

figures, information about resource availability and utilization as an indicator of

growth.potential, and commuting patterns of the labor force.

With the aforementioned information a distinction between an area's two economic
activities, basic I/ versus non-basic 4 can be made. The rationale behind making this

distinction is that exported goods and services introduce outside income into the area

which produces multiplier effects in the supporting sector to further increase total
area income. It is thus necessary to compare the basic/non-basic employment ratio in

order to obtain indications of the potential for further economic growth. Briefly,

a high proportion of basic activities to non-basic activities generally indicates the

potential for additional economic growth, particularly in the non-basic sector.

Similarly, an increase in the ratio of basic to total employment may indicate the

beginning of a new growth cycle, while a decrease in the ratio may indicate the leveling

off of a previously high growth cycle. Generally the national trend is for greater

growth in the non-basic sector as income levels rise. Also this trend is usually down-

ward as areas are urbanized and the levels of services demanded increase.

For-purposes of this report, basic economic activities are defined as those which
sell goods or services outside the area thus injecting income into the area as a result
of these exports.

2/ Non-b@asic economic activities are herein defined as those which produce goods or
services primarily for consumption within the area under consideration.

As mentioned earlier, there are several economic data categories which are

necessary prerequi.-ites to a meaningful economic analysis. Unfortunately, the

various state and federal agencies which periodically collect and tabulate economic

information do not provide it consistently for places less than 2,500 population.

Some limited data is tabulated on the township level and other data on the county

level. Thus, the statistical information contained in this section must be weighed

very carefully by the reader or erroneous assumptions may result.

Belhaven's geographic location has been a prime factor in influencing the town's

economy. Since the town is in a predominantly rural area with excellent water re-

sources available nearby, it is understandable that the local basic economic activities

revolve predominantly around farming, commercial fishing, and lumbering, and to a

lesser extent, manufacturing and tourism. The predominant non-basic activities

appear to be retail and wholesale trade and other personal services.

Due to existing data limitations, it is impossible to categorize local employment

into either basic or non-basic. However, the employment figures in Table 26do provide

limited indications of economic activities in the town. It can be seen from Table 0-6

that the major employers in Belhaven are involved in activities which do provide out-

side income and are, thus, predominantly basic activities.

Tables 27and 28provide rough indications of employment in Pantego Township in

1970. These tables put into perspective major employment categories in the area and

thus, give some indication of economic activities.

Since commercial fishing has a noticeableim.pact on the local economy, it is
meaningful to consider the information in tables 29 and 30. While these figures are for

all of Beaufort County, they do provide general indices of the importance of fishing

activities in the area over the past several years.

In 1965, Belhaven was the most important crab port in the state of North Carolina

in volume of products and value of products sold. While information is not readily

available in 1975 to make the same statement, suffice it to say that Belhaven is

still one of the most significant crab ports in North Carol-ima. Similarly, fish,

oysters, and shrimp are landed in Belhaven in sufficient quantities to merit the town's

TABLE 26 MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Belhaven Town
1974-75

Firm Product Employmen

Baker's Crab House Seafood 46
Belhaven Fish, Oyster Seafood 94
Belhaven Manufacturing Company Ladies Wear 80
Blue Channel Crab Processing 155
Coastal Lumber Company Lumber 57
Kamlar Corporation Pine Bark Processing 40
Younce and Ralph Lumber. Lumber 47
Town of Belhaven Local Government -39

558

Soin,ce: North Carolina Department of Natural & Economic Resources, Community
Audit, 1974-75.

TABLE 27 PERSONS 14 AND OLDER BY INDUSTRY

Pantego Townshi
1970

Industry Number persons

Construction 121
Manufacturing 427.
Durable Goods 180
Transportation 46
Communication, Utilities 31
Sanitation Service
Wholesale and Retail 357
Finance, Insurance, Business 51
and Repair
Other Professional Service 114
Educational Services 131
Public Administration .15
Other Industrial 373

TOTAL 1,846

Sourcet U.S. Census, Fifth Count Tapes, 1970.

TABLE 28 PERSONS 14 AND OIDER BY OCCUPATION

Pantego Township

Occu-patio Number Persons

Professionall Technical & Kindred 137
Farm and Farm Managers 85
Managers, Officials, and Pro 11.8
Clerical and Kindred 141
Sales Workers li7
Craftsmen, Foremen, etc. 242
Operators and Kindred 370
Service (includlng household) 227
Farm Laborers and Farmers 96
Laborers except farm and mine) .133

TOTAL @1,666

Source: U.S. Census, Fifth Count Tapes, 1970.

TABLE 29 NUMBER OF FISHERMEN & VESSELS

Beaufort Coun
1961-7

Change: 1961-1971
Fishermen: 1961 1971 Number Percent
On Vessel 80 104 24 30%
On Boat & Shore
Regular 224 60 -164 -73%
Casual 96 92 - 4 - 4%

Total 400 256 -144' -36%

Vessels:
Motor 38 49 11 29%

Boats:
Motor 191 150 -41 -21%
Other 64 --

Total 293 199 -94 -32%

Source: North Carolina Fisheries Data, North Carolina
Agricultural Extension Service, 1974.

TABLE 30 POUNDS AND VALUE OF FISH LANDED
SELECTED SPECIES

Beaufort Count
1960 and W73

Change: 1960-73
Species 1960 1973 Number Percent

Shrimp 251,500 305,700 54,200 21.5%
Blue Crabs 3,482,700 1,51-4,100 -1,968,600 -56.5%
Oysters 56,900 43,700 113@200 -23-V,
Other Shellfish ----- 200 ----- -----

Total Shellfish 3,791,100 1,558,000 -2,233,100 -58.9%

Flounder 35,400 493.%400 458,000 1,293.7%
Croaker 13,100 175,700 162,6oo 1,241.2%
Grey Trout 4,400 55,500 51,1()0 1,161.3%
Striped Bass 34,300 73,900 39,600 115.4%
'Spot 42@800 79,100 36,300 84.8%
Other Fish 290,900 536,000 245,100 84.2%

Total Fish 420,900 1,413,600 992,700 235.0%

TOTAL 4,212,000 2,971,6oo -1,240,400 -29.4%

Total Value of Fish $320,799 $773,498 $4521699 141.1

Source: North Carol-tna Fisheries Data, North Carolina Agricultural
Extension Service, 1974.

being noted as a significant producer of these foods.

Table3l reveals travel expenditures in Beaufort County in recent years. Again,

while not applicable per se to the study area, they do provide a rough indication of

the relative importance of the activity in the area.

Perhaps the most meaningful economic statistical information available relates

to incomes. Incomes provide crude measures of overall welfare and prosperity.

Generally, in industrial societies, standard of living increases with personal incomes.

As mentioned elsewhere in this document, the State of North Carolina ranks low nationally

in family and per capita incomes. Similarly, Beaufort County ranks low in the state,

indicating a generally low income for Belhaven area residents. Table32 reveals in-

comes of families and unrelated individuals in Pantego Township and should provide

rudimentary indications of incomes for Belhaven.

As revealed by theland use survey conducted by the@Department of Natural &

Economic Resources personnel in February, there are 72.6 acres of commercial and

industrial land in the planning area. Similarly, in the planning area there are 153

structures devoted to commercial uses and 3 devoted to industrial uses. The existing

land use map shows the location and distribution of these land uses.

Currently there are some planned commercial activities which, if materialized,

would have an economic impact on the Belhaven area. One is a proposed marina and

boat facility to be located on Pantego Creek east of the highway 92 bridge. This

facility would provide accommodations for many boats, and plans also include motel

and restaurant facilities.

Another proposed venture is the construction of a shoe manufacturing plant within

the planning area. In fact, the company, Blue Ridge Shoe Company, had made public

anouncements in 1974 that the facility would be under construction very soon, but due

to the current national economic slump the facility has not yet materialized. Tentative

plans called for a plant of about 60,000 square feet to employ approximately 300 per-

sons.

TABLE 31 TRAVEL MENDITURES,

Beaufort Coun
1973-197

Change: 1973-7
Area 1974 Number Percent

Beaufort County $5,487,550 $6,356,923 $869,373 15.8

l/ Travel expenditures are defined as the dollar amount spent. by travelers
and/or tourists during the year. The travel industry expericnced a
sharp decline during the early months of 1974 due to a shortage of
gasoline. Expenditures during January and February were substantially
below 1,973 levels. Slight increases were reported during March and
April. By May the ill effects of the energy crisis had ended and the
travel industry showed positive signs of a healt-hy recovery.

Source: "Highlights of the lc)7/+ North Caral.ina Travel Survey".
North Carol5ma Dept. of Natural & Economic Resources, 1974.

TABLE 32 FAMILIES AND UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS I//BY INCOME

Pantego Townshi
1970

Unrelated
Incorne Total Families Individuals.!/

Under $1,000 224 64. 160
$1@000 - $1,999 256 163 93
$2@000 - $2@999 201 171 30
$3,000 - $3,999 112 93 19
$4,000 - $4,999 100 95 5
$5,000 - $5,999 129 115 14
$6@000 - $6,999 107 107 -
$7,000 - $7,999 98 82 16
$8,000 - $8@999 112'2 117 5
$9,000 - $9,999 74 74 -
$101000 - $11,999 1-33 133 -
$121000 - $14,999 78 78 -
$15,000 - $24,999 43 43 -
$25,000 - over $50,000 - -

Fourteen years old and older.

Source: U.S. Census, Fifth Count Tapes, 1970.

The last facility was to be the location of a textile manufacturing firm in

Belhaven. Again, apparently due to the national cconomic slump, the facility has

not yet materialized.

In summary, the existing economic activities in Belhaven appear to be fairly

evehly distributed between basic and non-basic. In the basic sector, manufacturing

and seafood processing are predominant activities. The non-basic activities revolve

around retail and support services. Apparently additional industrial expansion is

forthcoming, and this should provide jobs and additional upgrading of local incomes.
In addition, the concensus of opinion in the area is that empioyment opportunities

would help stabilize the out migrating population.

EXISTING LAND USE

Before intelligent decisions can be made directing future land,use in a com-

munity, there must be some inventory of present land uses. This inventory should

include a quantification of land use and an examination of the geographic location and

distribution of the land use. This section will provide the inventory which is basic

to any future land use plan.

The guidelines under which Belhaven is operating requires several land uses to

be considered. To this end, the following land uses are examined: residential

commercial, industrial, cultural-entertainment-recreation, transportation-comunication-

utility, government-institutional, agricultural, forest, and wetlands.

General Information

The Belhaven planning area includes the land within the town limits and the area

outside the town to a distance of one mile. The total area encompasses slightly

over six square miles. Map 2'shows the planning area and Table 33 identifies land
acreages in the planning area. It can be seen that approximately 72% of the total

planning area is outside the corporate limits. Within the planning area approDdmately

514 acresjor only 13% of the total areaare developed for urban purposes. The vast

majority, 811o of all developed land, is within the town limits. Most of the developed

land is fairly evenly distributed throughout the town limits'with major concentrations

centering on the transportation routes.

The majority of land which is not developed for urban purposes is devoted

primarily to forests, agriculture or wetlands. Most, 87%, of these lands are in the

one mile area surrounding the town. Similarly, some lands suitable for urban

purposes are presently vacant. About 67% of these lands are in the corporate limits.

Incorporated Area

Approximately 1.7 square miles of land area are within the corporate limits.

Of this area, approxinately 38% is presently devoted to urban-type use.

TABLE 33 LAND AREA

Belhaven Planninp: Area
1975

Acres Square
Area of Land Miles

Belhaven Planning Area 31858.88 6.03

One-mile Area 21772.89 4.33

Belhaven Corporate Limits 1.,085-99 1.70

Source: North Carolina Department of Natural & Economic Resources, 1975.

AREA

L I 1r

J/ 2
INI
79,

424
ISLDICTIO

An additional 28% could presently support urban uses but is vacant.

These vacant tracts are distributed fairly evenly throughout the town with concen-

trations occurring predominantly in the residential districts. The remaining 34%

is presently in non-u-rban uses such as forests, agriculture or wetlands. Historical-

ly, these non-urban land uses have been encroached upon at times of urban expansion.

The primary location of non-urban. land uses is in town but adjacent to the town

limits concentrated in the north, east and southwest sections of town. Map 3

will clarify these observations.

Extraterritorial Area

The majority of the 4.3 square miles of landsin the one-mile area are devoted

to non-urban uses. The limited development that has occurred occupies only 97

acresi about 3.5% of the total land. These developed lands are adjacent to or

have access from either U.S. 264 Business or By-Pass. Actually, 66 acres or 68%

of the total urban developed land in the one-mile areaare devoted to streets, roads,

highways or railroads. Twenty-four acres, about 25%,are used for residential

purposes., and most of the remaining is used for comme rcial purposes. Map 3

will make these observations clear.

URBAN LAND USES

Residential Iand Use

Table 34shows acreages of land use by catagory for the planning area. It

can be seen thatof 226 acres of resident land use, 89% is located in the town.

Similarly, only /+l acres (18% of all residential land)Areoccupied by mobile homes.
Interestingly enough, most (87%) mobile home acreage is within the town limits.

Map 3 the existing land use map, shows that within the town limits con-

ventional residential land occurs in a rather continuous pattern in the south-

eastern sections bound generally by Pantego Creek and the Pungo River. There

TABLE 34 EXISTING LAND USE BY ACRE

Belhaven Planning Area
1975

Acres of Lanl
One-
Land Use In Ci Mile Area Total

Residential 201.75 24.75 226.50
Conventional 165.75 19.25 185-00
Mobile Home 36.00, 5.50 41.50
Commercial 40.25 6.oo 46.25
Industrial 26.25 26.25
Transportation 4.50 4.50
Government 1.00 1.00
Cultural 38.50 .25 38.75
Streets, Highway, Railroad 105.00 66.oo 171.00
Urban 417.25 97.QO 514.25
Vacant 300.75 148.75 449.50

Forest 2.75 536.22 538.97
Agricultural 130.04 951.22 [email protected]
Wetland 235.20 11039.70 11274-90
Non-Urban 367.99 21527.1-4 21895-13

TOTAL 11085.99 [email protected] 3p858.88

Source: North Carolina Department of Natural & Economic Resources, 1975
Windshield Survey.

are, however, mobile homes located in this section, and vacant develoable land is

located here too.

Another major residential area is bound by Pamlico Street, Old County Road, Lee

Street, and Main Street, with the exclusion of the central business district area

and the area around the schools. Within this section are scattered commercial and

recreational uses, but the predominant use is residential. Similarly, mobile homes

occur here more frequently and in a more dispersed pattern than in other sections.

Throughout this section significant vacant tracts could be developed for urban uses.

Many of these vacant tracts, particularly those in the vicinity of Lee,, Washington,

and King Streets, should be developed only for residential or other low intensity

uses to retain the residential nature of the section.

North of Old County Road in the vicinity of Duke, George, and Gum Streets,

conventional residential use predominate but there are also significant mobile home

use. Similarly, vacant land is very prevalent as is non-urban land.

Between Lee Street and U.S. 264 By-Pass the residential uses are predominantly

conventional, but mobile homes are also dispersed throughout the section. Significantly,

perhaps 50%o of land in this section is vacant and efforts should be made to reserve

it for low density uses.

West of U.S..264 By-Pass to the town limits the predominant land use is

conventional residential followed closely by mobile home use. Again, in this section,

perhaps half of the land is vacant but could support urban development.

Outside of the town limits residential lands occur along U.S. 264 Business.

These lands are very dispersed throughout the area with concentrations located along

Campbell Lane. These residential lands are about evenly divided, conventional and

mobile homes.

The only other residential lands in the one-mile area occur along U.S. 264 as

it enters the planning area from the west and along Old Country road which is south of,

but also parallels U.S. 264. These areas are predominantly 'conventional houses,

but several mobile homes are here also. Significant vacant and non-urban

lands are also in this section.

The section of this document devoted to housing conditions will perhaps add

insight to residential land use in the planning area. At present, the most

significant residential land use problems revolve around inadequate set backs,

both front and side yards; deteriorating housing; vacant and abandoned lots; the

indiscriminate mixing of conventional housing and mobile homes; and the encroachment

of non-residential uses into residential areas. Areas which have potential for

additional residential expansion are the vacant lands inside the town limits*and

the area along 264 Business north of town since this area already has the basic

water system in place. It would be desirable, however, to direct additional

residential development inside the'corporate limits on existing vacant lands or to

remove abandoned and deteriorating structures and replace them with standard housing.

Since within the corporate limits the basic service facilities (water, sewer, fire

protection, etc.) are already in existence the difficulties encountered would be

much less than elsewhere

Commercial Land

Commercial land uses are those which support retail or personal services trade.

Within the planning area there are 46 acres of commercial land, 87% of which is inside

the town limits. Several concentrations of commercial land are as follows:

the downtown or Central Business District, the area along Pantego St. from Pamlico to

Railroad St., the area along U.S. 264 By-Pass from Main St. north to the town limits

and the area along U.S. 264 from the one-mile area to Cemetery Road.

The most significant of these areas is the Central Business District. The

Central Business District is a compact area which provides comparative shopping within

easy walking distance. However, there are problems here. The lack of off-street

parking, the proliferation of vacant buildings, the general old and poor condition

of buildings in the Central Business District., the visual clutter and frequent

occurrance of trash and litter all distract from the Central Business Districtfs

function. Wynn's Gut, with tremendous potential for accenting the Central Business

District, is presently a liability. Trash, sunken boats., and deteriorating piers

and pilings are present. The Central Business District is also expanding, and thus,

encroaching on the residential areas to the east, particularly along Water Street. If

this co ntinues, the result will be a fu:@ther degradatibn of 'the quality - of 'the residential

area., a distinct liability to the community. The Central Business District in

Belhaven is in a unique situation. It still functions as the retail shopping

district for the area. There is no major competition from other retail areas such as

shopping centers, This condition is very desirable and should be preserved since

a com=ity the size of Belhaven most likely can suppQrt only one retail nucle'us.

The area along 264 By-Pass has some scattered commercial land use fronting on

264 as it enters the planning area from the west and along the By-Pass.

Thus,-U. S. 264 is beginning to show signs of strip commercial development, a

definite liability to the community. When strip development occurs, many problems

result such as increased traffic congestion and probability of accidents, increased

visual clutter from advertising signs, additional demands on city service facilities,

and by the nature of the uses located in stripped areas, ultimate abandonment and

deteriorating structures. For these reasons, strip commercial development should

be discouraged along 264.

An examination of the existing land use map will reveal the location of

commercial lands.

Industrial Lands

Industrial lands are devoted to the manufacturing of products, processing of

resources., or storage and sale of bulky items. About 26 acres of land in the

planning area are devoted to these activities. No concentrations of indus-

trial activities are in the planning area and in fact,, few industrial uses exist.

The feed mill on Main Street, the fish and crab processors on Water Street, and

the garment manufacturers on Pamlico Street are the primary ones.

By their nature, industrial uses often generate undesirable by-products such

as noises, odors, shipping and receiving vehicle traffic, and visual degradation

due to storage of bulky items. For these reasons, it is generally accepted as a

national standard to separate industrial land uses from other less intensive uses

because of these undesirable side effects. In Belhaven efforts should be directed

toward "softening" these side effects in already existing industrial areas by

buffering and other techniques and directing future industrial uses to more suitable

sites which would help eliminate the aforementioned land use conflicts. If, for

example, the industrial uses on Water Street continue to expand to the east, the

residential nature of that area will be downgraded.

Map 3 shows the location and distribution of industrial uses in the planning

area.

Cultural, Entertainment and Recreational Uses

These land uses include schools, parks, churches, museums, and other public

and quasi-public uses. In the planning area there are about 39 acres of land devoted

to these activities, practically all of which is within the corporate limits.

Map 3 reveals the location and distribution of these uses. It is interesting

to note that these uses would be used by people during leisure times and would

revolve around either recreation or self-betterment through cultural enrichment.

Due to these criteria, these uses should be readily available, that is distributed,

to the community. As shown by Map 3 these uses are fairly evenly dispersed

throughout the town. There are, however, limitations on the types of activities

available. Most of the recreation facilities are associated with the public schools.

There are very limited town sponsored recreation areas. The community

has a museum and a library,. and the remaining areas in this category are devoted

almost exclusively to churches and cemeteries.

Because of the wide dispersal of these land uses the impact resulting from

them is minimal, with the possible exception of noise and traffic generation during

peak use periods.

Transportation, Conmmication, and Utilities Land Use

In Belhaven these land uses revolve around public transportation such as

railroad facilities, telephone communication facilities, and utility facilities

such as water and sewer treatment plants. As shown on Table 34,.these uses occupy

less than 5 acres in the planning area, and all are within the corporate limits.

The only significant land use problem resulting from these uses is the odor

created by the sewage treatment facility and occasional auto-train confli-cts.

Location and distribution of those uses are shown on the existing Land Use Map.

Government and Institutional Land Use

In Belhaven these land uses are devoted to the town offices, police depart-

ment., and the fire station. Map 3 reveals that only about one acre of land is

used for these purposes, and no apparent land use conflicts result.

Streets and FlighK;a@s

Approximately 171 acres of land in the planning area are used for these.pur-

poses, 60% of which are within the corporate limits. These land uses provide

vehicle transportation routes within the planning area and routes ccnnecting the

comnunity to the remainder of the state and nation. Map 3 depicts the location

of these land uses.

No serious land use conflicts have resulted from these uses,, however,

at times, traffic flow is hampered by the nmnber of east-west access intersections,

excessive intersection angles,, and dead end streets. Similarly, at times, auto

traffic is effectively halted. when a train makes its appearance. The section

of this document dealing with streets and highway capacities gives traffic counts and

volumes where available,

Vacant lands

In this document, vacant lands are defined as those capable of supporting

urban-type development, but at present,, not devoted to urban use. As showh in

Table 34,these lands constitute about 12% of the total planning area and about

28% of the lands within the corporate limits. Since development potential is in part

dependent upon the availability of vacant land, the Belhaven area presently has

no shortage. In fact., all potential development for the area for the

next decade could easily be accommodated within the city if growth was so con-

fined and the land used fully.

. As shown on Map 3. there are substantial vacant acres on the fringe

but within town. Similarly, many vacant developable tracts are scattered through-

out town. In addition, close to 150 acres of vacant land are within the extra-

territorial area. as..shown on MaP3.

If the community experiences growth in the future, several issues revolving

around vacant land must be resolved. Historically, there has been "plenty of land"

in the Belhaven area and the location of different land uses has been determined

primarily by land prices. Similarly, a tremendous amount of non-
urban land is readily converted to urban use by the provision of basic urban ser-

vices. This means that any development in the area would likely be attracted to

non-urban lands rather than vacant urban land because of:

1) cheaper prices
2) many of the vacant acres are rather small and., hence marginally
developable
3) access roads are available
4) the tax advantage of locating outside of town (the area with the
greatest a-mount of non-urban land) are favorable
5) utilities can be extended to these areas easily.

The encroachment potential is great for non-urban lands and the community

should consider carefully the wisdom of accommodating development in these areas

when considerable vacant land, (which already has basic services and which would
not necessitate additional demands on other community facilities) is available.

NON-URBAN LAND USE

These are defined as the less intensive type uses such as farming and

forestry. These areas lack essential service facilities such as water and sewer

so impera'tive to urban development. In the planning area about 75% of the total
land is in non-urban useland within the corporate limits approximately 341o of

the total land area is devoted to non-urban uses. Map 3 will reveal the

distribution of these lands.

Forests

A total of 14% of the planning area's land is presently under forest cover,,

and less than one percent of this is within the town limits. The most extensive

areas of forest lands are at the periphery of the one-mile area north and west

of town and to the east in the vicinity of Lower Dowry Creek. Map 3 will

clarify this observation. Within the town limits the only area that could qualify

as a forest covered area is adjacent to Tooley's Creek at the extreme east of town

off of Tooley St.

Presently, no land use compatibility problems exist with forest lands.

The potential for urban-type development in the forest areas is a threat due to

minimal land use controls.

AEri-caltural Lands

As shown on Map there are almost 1,100 acres of agricultural land
within the planning area. The majority, 88%, is located in the one-mile area.
All agricultural lands are either currently devoted to crop production or have
75

crop production as their primary function. These lands form a wide "belt" extending

practically unbroken from south of U. S. 264 to the west of town in a northeast

direction all the way to the Pungo River. These agricultural lands are bisected'

only by U.S. 264 By-Pass and Business.

It is interesting to note that most agricultural lands exclusively abut the

corporate limit line outside of town. The significance is that land use within

the town is devoted primarily to urban-type land uses and the distinction is very

obvious when one views these less intensive land uses outside of town. Within

town the most significant agricultural lands abut the town limits between 264 By-Pass

and 264 Business. M4P 3 will reveal these observations.

Presently, no apparent land useconflicts occur with agricultural land except

for the traditional urban or higher intensity encroachments during times of

increased urban development. Again, Map 3 will reveal the distribution of urban-

type development in predominantly agricultural land use areas.

Wetlands

Significant areas within the planning area are characterized by high water

tables, water saturated soils, periodic flooding, and the predominant vegetative

cover is Spartina and Juncus marsh grasses and other bog type plants.

Map 3 shows the location and extent of these lands. As shown, about 82% of

all wetlands are within the extraterritorial area, and the most significant dis-

tribution is south of Pantego Creek, north of Pantego Creek to the west of town,

northeast of town along the Pungo River, and upstream along Lower Dowry Creek. As

shown, these wetlands are subdivided into low tidal P. arsh lands and other coastal

marsh lands. The low tidal marsh lands are distinguished from other coastal marsh
(but nonetheless still wetlands) by the proliferation of Spartina and related

vegetative cover and some level of tidal flooding.

Within the town limits, predominant wetlands are located west of Highway 92

along Pantego Creek, in the vicinity of Tooleyts and Battalina Creek, and in less

concentrated areas east of highway 92, and south of Main St. in the vicinity of the

feed mill. 76

Historically in eastern North Carolina wetlands have been drained and altered

to "make" land useable for other purposes. Conversely., certain types of wetlands

are known to be more productive than the best of farm lands, and they also serve

as a natural'. filter to rejuvenate and to cleanse water. For these and other

reasons., many state and federal agencies are now charged with permit issuing

responsibilities before wetlands can be significantly altered.

In the Belhaven planning area., encroachment has occurred on wetlands particu-

larly along Pantego Creek east of highway 92 and to the w6st in the vicini@y-of Batt@@lina a,

Tooley Creek. By comparing aerial photographs taken in the late 1950's with those

taken ixf recent years., it can be seen that some wetlands have disappeared. The

most significant land use conflicts are the drainage and hence destt@uction'

of wetlands for the purpose of converting them to higher intensity uses. If

Belhaven expands its urban development in the future, significant consideration should

be given to directing it away from the remaining wetlands in the planning area,

Current Plans

Belhaven currently has.four planning related documents that have direct

relevance to land development in the Belhaven area. In addition,

numerous county and regional documents, to a limited degree, address

Belhaven development issues. A list of the county and regional documents

is included in the Appendix, and the following is a summary of each of

the current Belhaven area planning reports.

Commmity Development Information, Belhaven, North Carolina Greenville, East

Carolina University Regional Development Institute, 1966.

Includes inventory and analysis of population, economy, employment, land

use, community facilities, and othercomponents which affect town development.

Community Facilities Plan and Public Improvements Program, Belhaven, Nort

Carolina Raleigh, Division of Community Planning., 1969.

Inventories and analyzes the adequacy of existing public facilities and
0 services and determines needs for the next 20 year period. Makes'specific

recommendations on providing needed public facilities and improvements for the

design,year.

Iand Development Plan, Belhaven, North Carolina, InventoEZ and Prospects

Raleigh, Division of Community Planning, 1967.

Deals with the population and economy of the Belhaven area in terms of

existing conditions, trends, and anticipated changes. The purpose is to

provide information which will be useful for public officials in making land

development decisions.

Neighborhood Analysis, Belhaven, North Carolina Raleigh, Division of

Community Planning.. 1969.

Inventories and analyzes social conditions, population, economy., housing,

commercial and other facilities in Belhaven. Recommendations are included
which, if implemented, would provide for an upgrading in the quality of life

in Belhaven.

Current Policies

Policies are defined as statements of intent and courses of action which

are followed to reach a desired goal. The Town of Belhaven has,during the past,

adopted various policies which affect land development. Some of these policies

are written and apparently some are not written. Due to the changing nature of

town development, town needs and activities, changes in elected officials, and

changes in technology,, town policies continually change to adapt to these cir-
cumstances. Similarly, policies in some areas are not as well defined as in

others. Thus, it is sometimes very difficult to make definitive statements

about policies.

For these and other reasons the policies identified here are those that are writt,

(i.e., those that can be readily identified) and those that do have a direct

impact upon land development. Thus, policies considered here will be those concerned

with water and sewer provisions, both iri and out of town; electricity provi'sibns,

provision of streets and sidewalks, and recreation facilities.

Due to the ambiguity of and difficulties involved in identifying un-

written policies, they were omitted from this inventory and analysis.

Water and Sewer Policies

In town service

The town of Belhaven has an ordinance which mandates both water and sewer

pr ovision. The sequence of events necessary to acquire water or sewer service follow.

For in town services the applicant must submit a form to the town manager requesting

service, and the town manager must determine if all regulations pertaining to

the system are to be complied with. Once this has been accomplished, a con-

nection permit will be issued. A connection fee is paid by the applicant

prior to connection and a service fee for water use. Apparently the town will

assume all cost of providing infrastructure if it is not available.

Outside town service

The following is the out of town policy.

"All extensions of water or sanitary sewer service outside the

corporate limits shall be approved by the Board of Aldermen, and such

extensions shall be paid for entirely by the property owner or owners

benefitting from such extension. All extensions shall become the sole

property of the Town of Belhaven and under its jursidiction and control

regardless of the location of such extension or the manner in which the

extension is financed.it

The Appendix contains a copy of the current ordinance regulating water and

sewer service of the town. It also explains the septic tank installation

requirements within the planning area.

Electricity Polic

The town buys electricity wholesale from Virginia Electric and Power Company

and sells it to area residents. The North Carolina Utility Commission has set

aside districts in North Carolina and authorizes the electric companies to pro-

vide service only in these districts. This, to some degree, affects the town's

policies and practices regarding electricity servicesp particularly, out of town

service.

Currently there is no specific policy designation refer.Cingper" se to

electrIc service. The town's electricity ordinance states...

"A deposit of ten dollars shall be required on all resid,,nces

of all persons whether owners or occupants who apply for electric

light current and twenty dollars on all business places."

Similarly, the town periodically revises the ser-Ode rates to reflect changes

in rates from VEPOO.

There is no specific mention of policy regarding out of town extension.

Apparently the town will provide electric services to any one requesting

service as long as the extension is within Belhaven's service area.

Sidewalks and Streets Polic

The town in the past provided sidewalks only on a request basis, however,

no installations have been made in the past two years. The apparent policy is the

town will install the sidewalks and assess all cost to the abutting property owners.

Continuing maintenance is provided at town cost.

Town streets are initially constructed with Powell Bill funds and continuing

maintenance is provided at town cost. Dirt street paving is also provided by

Powell Bill funds In October of each year when Powell Bill funds are received,

the Town Aldermen determine which dirt streets will be paved and which existing

paved streets will be resurfaced. This decision is based in part on available

funds, condition of streets and street usage. There is no other definitive policy

addressing streets.

Open Space and Recreation Policies

The town currently has an advisory recreation commission. No apparent policies

directly address open space and recreation facilities per se. There ar e however, in

the current subdivision regulations statements which.indirectly address these issues.

Included in the minimum design standards are these statements of general policy:
Section XI, 1 (C)

"On the event that a proposed park, playground, school or other public

facilities shown on the Land Development Plan of Belhaven, is located in

whole or in part in a proposed subdivision, the Planning Board shall

request the subdivider to reserve such open spaces for a period not to

exceed 12 months from the date of submission of preliminary plat."

This statement mandates written open space and recreation policy for the town.

Local Regulations

Belhaven currently has a mayor-town aldermen-city manager form of goverry

ment. The town provides water and sewer facilities, electricity, and other

municipal services including garbage pick-up and police and fire protection,

Regulations currently listed as being enforced are:

Building and Plumbing Inspections
Electric Inspections
State Building Code
Zoning Ordinance
Mobile Home and Trailer Park Ordinance
Building and Plumbing Regulations
Fire District Regulations
Subdivision Regulations
Flood Zone Insurance Requirements

The town enforces the various codes and regulations directly through the town

manager's office. It appears that many external conditions such as backlog of

existing maintenance conditions, great demands on the town manager@ s time for

daily activities, the lack of adequate service department staff, personnel and

equipment; the lack of adequate records of past activities, and the uncertainty

of the legal status of some of the current regulations all affect the implementation

of the existing regulations.

The town has no historic districts and thus no historic district regulations.

There are no dunes within the planning area, hence no dune protection ordinances.

There is no environmental impact statement in effect within the planning

jurisdiction.

Federal and State Regulations

This list has been compiled by the N. C. Department of Natural & Economic

Resources Office and is available in the Northeastern Field Office in Washington,

PHYSICAL L=TATIONS

Hazard Areas

Man-made

The old air strip north of town is no longer being used, thus, there is

no longer a hazard from this facility.

Several oil and petroleum product storage areas are located within

the planning area. There are two oil and gas storage areas on Water Street,

three on Main Street, and one on King Street. All of these facilities have

housing or other structures sufficiently close to be threatened in case of

fire or explosion.

There are no other existing man-made hazards in the planning area.

Natural

The Belhaven area, due to its elevation and location on the river, is

subject to frequent flooding. To minimize the negative cost of flooding, the

town is presently enrolled in a federally sponsored flood insurance program

which subsidizes insurance rates on structures in the flood hazard areas. Map 1

in the Appendix shows the flood hazard areas in the.town.

Areas with Soil Limitations

In July, 1975, a reconnaissance soils investigation was made in the

Belhaven area by soil representatives from the U. S. Department of Agriculture

Soil Conservation Service. The puxpose of this survey was to determine areas

with soil limitations that would affect urban-type development.

Approximately 30 sites were investigated along major roads., streets, and

farm paths within the area delineated on the map provided. The soil at each

site was examined to a depth of 4 feet using a handsoils auger. A large

scale aerial photo from thetown managerTs office was used for reference and

for photo interpretation.

Three major soi I associations or conditions were observed and located

on Map 4 by using the aerial photo for interpretation. These soil associations

and their evaluation are as follows:

1. Organic muck and marsh association. This area is south of Belhaven

across Pantego Creek. These soils are very poorly drained to ponded,

they are flooded at regular intervals, and the muck layers are un-

stable for any type of development. This area is generally unsuited

for development, as,the limitations are obvious from observation.

2. Marsh association. These areas are north of Pantego Creek adjacent

to the waterways. The limitations and restrictions for development

in these areas are also obvious from general observation.

3. Torhunta-Pocomoke and associated soils. These types of soils comprise

the majority of the mineral soils in and around Belhaven. They are

mostly very poorly and poorly drained soils with water tables at

approximately 2 to 3 feet below the surface. Textures are generally

loamy sand and sandy loam to about 3 feet. Below this depth there

are stratified sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam layers. Organic matter

in surface layers are generally high and may range to 15 or 20 percent

in some places.

The major limiting factors affecting urban and industrial development

for these soil types arewetness and the high probability of flooding.

Because of this, these soils have a severe rating for such uses as

septic tank absorption fields, sanitary landfills, dwellings, small

commercial buildings, and local roads and streets. Water control

measures would increase the degree of suitability of these soils

for some of the above uses.

Some small areas (est. 1-3 acres in size) of somewhat better drained soils

were observed within this 3 s6-f--ls area. Limitations for some of the stated uses

in these areas would be necessary' to rate these soils for any given use. Site

investigation should be carried out to determine appropriate uses on each parcel of

land prior to development.

Map 1+ shows the generalized soil conditions in the planning area based on

the aforementioned investigation.

Sources of Water Supp

The town of Belhaven is presently operating two deep wells which utilize

subsurface water. The town has been operating these wells for several years

and water quality and quantity appears adequate to serve any additional develop-

ment in the area.

There is some potential for increased,ground water use in the area with

the proposed phosphate mining complex to be located near the mouth of the Pungo

River. Ground water consumption by North Carolina Phosphate could lower ground

water levels in the area sufficiently to necessitate deeper wells.

The predominant land use adjacent to these wells is agricultural and forests.

Some scattered single family housing in the vicinity is on septic
tanks; however, these units are not concentrated enough to negatively affect the

water quality. Similarly, the wells are sufficiently deep to minimize surface

contamination.

Steep SloDes

There are no sites in the planning area where the predominant slope exceeds

twelve percent.

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Fragile Areas

Wetlands

'The most continuous uninterrupted
Wetlands are found within the planning area.

areas are located south of Pantego Creek and north of Pantego Creek but west of the

N. C. 92 bridge. Other wetland areas are located around Battalina Creek, Tooley's

Creek and Lower Dowry Creek, The land area of wetlands within the planning area is

approximately 1,275 acres, The section on existing land use also addresses wetlands.

Frontal Dunes

There are no frontal dunes in the planning area,

Beaches

Some small, isolated, undeveloped beaches exist in the planning area. These ar,

located in a dispersed pattern throughout the wetland areas.

Prime Wildlife Habitat

These areas are located throughout the wetland areas and provide harbor for

various migratory water birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. These

wetlands also serve as nursery habitat for various fishes.

Scenic and Prominent High Points

There are no scenic and prominent high points in the planning area.

Complex Natural Areas

There are no complex natural areas in the planning area,

Estuarine Water

The Pungo River has a certain amount of salinity, and thus qualifies as

estuarine water, Map 7 shows all water bodies and their tributaries. The vast

majority of Pantego Creek (that portion west of North-South line which approximates

the breakwater) is classified as inland water.

Public Trust Waters

All the surface water in the planning area is either an estuarine water or a

tributary to the estuarine water or public trust waters or its tributaries. Map 7

shows that all surface water within the planning area not classified as estuarine

water is classified as public trust waters.

Fragile Areas

There are no other fragile areas within the planning area,

Areas Sustaining Remnant Species

There are no areas sustaining remnant species within the planning area.

Registered Natural-Landmarks

There are no registered natural landmarks within the planning area.

Areas Containing Unique.Geologic Formations.

There are no unique geologic formations within the planning area.

Stream Classification

Pungo River and its tributaries, Battalina Creek and Tooly's Creek are

classified as SB streams according to the N. C. Department of Natural & Economic

Resources, Division of Water Quality. This classification designates best usage

of this water as bathing and other uses except shellfishing for market purposes.

This classification also allows certain amounts of both domestic and industrial

discharge into these waters.

Pantego Creek and its tributaries, Shoemaker Creek and Wynn's Gut are

classified as SC waters. This classification designated the best usage of these

waters as fishing and other usage except bathing or shellfishing for market

purposes. This classification als o allows certain amounts of domestic and industrial

effluent discharge into these waters.

A thorough explanation of these stream classifications is in the Appendix,

AREAS WITH RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Archeologic and Historic Sites

There are no significant archeologic sites in the planning area.

The town hall building which also houses the town museum is an interesting

architectural building of early 1900 vintage. Perhaps this building, by virtue of

its unique design, should be preserved. Any historical significance is, however, of
only local interest.

Productive and Unique Agricultural Lands

Within the planning area, many acres of land are devoted to agricultural use.

These lands appear as productive as any in the area and consideration should be given

to directing urban-type development to sites other than within these type lands.

Mineral Sites

It is well known that extensive underground phosphate deposits are located

throughout eastern Beaufort County. In 1971 Dresser Minerals, a commercial mining

firm, identified marketable phosphate deposits underwater in Pantego Creek. Apparently

the decision was made not to extract these phosphates until a later date.

Publicly Owned Forests, Parks, Fish and Game Lands, and Other Non-Intensive
Outdoor Recreation Lands

The only significant public parks and recreation lands in the planning area are

adjacent to the public schools and the community beach and recreation area in the east

section of town.- No public fish or game lands are in the planning area.

Privately Owned Wildlife Sanctuaries

None of these facilities are within the planning area.

CAPACITY OF CONMUNITY FACILITIES

Water Sygtei@

Belhaven has a municipal owned water treatment and distribution system. The

town has two 811 wells with a combined capacity of 1,000,000 gallons per day. Cur-

rently the water treatment plant has a capacity of 504,000 gallons per day. Present

peak consumption is 230,000 gallons per day with a surplus of 274,000 gallons per

day over present consumption. There are two elevated storage tanks with a combined

capacity of 275,000 gallons. There are no proposed expansions of the present

system other than individual tap ons,nor is there any planned development which

would significantly affect the water capability of Belhaven. Map 5 shows the

existing water system for Belhaven.

Sewer System

Belhaven owns its sewer collection and treatment facilities. The existing

treatment facility has a capacity of 500,000 gallons per day and the level of

treatment is secondary. Peak flow to date is 400,000 gallons per day with a surplus

capacity of 100,000 gallons per day above peak. There are no proposed expansion

plans of the present system other than individual tap,ons, nor is there any planned

development which would significantly affect the sewer capability of Belhaven.

However, seasonal demands placed on the sewer system do overload the capability.

These demands are usually during summer months when seafood processing is high.

Map 5 shows the existing sewer system for the town.

Public Schools

The Belhaven area is served by the North Carolina Public School System

and a private institution. The public system is comprised of two facilities

which provide kindergarten through grade 12. Currently both facilities

appear adequate in structural condition and space, however, there is need

for more diverse type classroom space. The following table shows public

school facilities in the planning area.

BELHAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1975

Belhaven ElementaEy School Grades kindergarten through 6

1 classroom building 8 classrooms and 1 library - built 1@63
1 classroom building 12 classrooms - built 1938 - renovated 1960
1 cafitorum, (combination cafeteria & auditorium) - built 1975

3 Buildings 20 Classrooms

This school has a professional staff of 19 and had a 1974-75 enrollment of U4
students. The school has adequate space for 600 students. There are no expansions
or renovations in progress and none planned for the imediate future. Generally,
this facility is presently adequate in space and structural condition.

John A. Wilkinson High School - Grades 7 through 12

1 classroom building - 7 classrooms and 1 auditorium - Built 1938
1 classroom building - 9 classrooms - built 1953
1 classroom building - 6 classrooms - built 1953
1 special education building - 1 classroom
1 occupational education building (includes a shop and a classroom).
1 cafeteria
1 gymnasium - built 1965

7 Buildings 23 Classrooms

This school has a professional staff of 23 and had a 1974-75 enrollment of 478
s@udents. The school has adequate space for 690 students. There are no expansions
or renovations in.progress, however, an addition to the existing gym is planned
within the next five years. Generally, this facility is adequate ill space and
structurally, however, more diverse type classroom space is needed.

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A CITY LIMI-r

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Primary Roads

Belhaven is served by several primary roads which are U.S. 264 Business,

U.S. 264 Bypass,, and N.C. 92. In addition, U.S. 264 Business also serves as

Main Street and Pamlico Street for part of its length. Pavement widths for

these roads are: N.C. 92, eighteen feet; Main Street, varies from twenty-four

to fifty feet; Pamlico Street, twenty-four to fifty feet; and U.S. 264 Bypass,

twenty-four feet.

The following table gives the design capacity, traffic count, a nd percent

utilization of these roads.

Maximum %
Road Design Capacit Vehicles Per D Utilized-

U.S. 264 Bypass 7,500 VPD 1.6oo - 2,300 VPD 30.6%

U.S. 264 Business

Main Street 10,,000 VPD 3,300 - 41300 VPD 43.0%

Pamlico Street 7,500 VPD 11200 - 2000 VPD 30.6%

N.C. 92 59000 VPD 1,6oo - 21300 VPD 46.0%

Vehicles Per Day

Source: North Carolina Department of Transportation, 1975.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has no immediate plans to

increase capacity of these roads, nor are there plans to serve Belhaven with

any new roads as the aforementioned ones appear adequate.

ESTIMATED DEMAND

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Under the Coastal Area Management Act guidelines the North Carolina Department

of Administration, Office of State Planning, was charged with the responsibilits,

of making population projections for all coastal counties. The Department of

Administration also made projections for each township within the counties. Table 35

shows population projections for Beaufort County and townships through the year

2000. These county projections utilize a method which considers past population

characteristics and trends, birth rates, death rates, migration rates, and other

variables. The method used is considered relidble by demographers, hence, the

population projections shoull give reasonable indications of future population

for the area.

Unfortunately, the Department of Administration could not provide population

projections for places due to the time required to compute them for all. the

towns in all twenty coastal counties. Thus, projections for places must be

computed by the local government itself. The method employed in computing Belhaven's

population projection is the same used to compute the township population for

Beaufort County, thus insuring compatibility with the remainder of the county.

Briefly, the method involves comparing the townships population with the towns

population for a thirty-year period and determining the percent o f the town

pop ulation residing in the township each decade. (That is every ten years when

the U.S. Census documents are produced). Similarly, over the thirty-year period

an average rate of percent of town population residing in the township was deter-

mined. This rate was then applied to the township projections through the year

2000. This method makes the basic assumption that short term future population

changes will be more similar to short term past changes than any other changes.',

Since Belhaven did not increase its population through increased geographic

size, annexation'. the projections are realistic and provide reasonable estimates

of future populations.

Seasonal Population Changes

Seasonal population changes are those which affect the town during certain

months. Examples of seasonal population changes are the i nflux 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

town's stable population. These increases have not traditionall y, however, played

an overly important role in the Belhaven area. The major implication to the town

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, a s services

increase, so does the cost of providing these services.

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. Due to the suspected limited increases, however, it is not

assumed that the increased demand for services will place any significant burden

on the town's capability of providing adequate services, This assumption is

valid when one considers that Belhaven presently has a surplus service capability.

Table 36 compares the town's and township's population for the last three

decades, and Table 37 shows projected populations for Belhaven based on the

aforementioned method. As shown by Table 37, Belhaven is proje cted to lose

approximately 228 people over the 30 year period from 1970 to 2000. (It is

interesting to note that from 1940 to 1970 the town lost by actual count over

100 people.) When this anticipated population loss is weighed in comparison with

the population age distribution changes which have occurred in Belhaven in the past

it.is realistic. As mentioned in the population section of this document, the age

distribution changes reveal that Belhaven's population is older, has lost signifi-

cantly from the prime employment age groups and has lost from prime child bearing

age groups which all point to a natural decrease in population.

TABLE 3 5 POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Beaufort County and Townships
1970 - 2000

Change: 1970-2000
lQ7 1980 2000 Number Percent
1222

Beaufort County 35,980 36,800 38,500 39,400 3,420- 9.5%
Bath Township 3,237 2@940 21810 21610 -627 -19.41o
!Chocowinity Township 4,661 4,780 5,000 5,090 429 9.2%
.8 840 10 050 01074 4-4-11-
Long Acre Township 6,976 7,56o 2
Pantego Township 5,126 4,960 4,910 4,720 -406 -7.9%
Richland Township 3,626 3,130 2,940 21680 -946 -26.1%
Washington Township 121,354 13,420 14@010 14t250 1,896 15.3%

These are actual U.S. Census of Population figures for the year 1970
rather than a projection.

*Source: North Carolina Department of Administration, Office of State
Planning, based on OBERS Study.

TABLE 36 POPULATION TRENDS

Pantego Township and Belhaven
1940 - lc,170

1950 i2LO 1970

Pantego Township 5,935 51713 51377 5@126

Belhaven Town 2,36o 2,528 2,386 2P25@

Percent of Total 39.8 44.2 44.4 44.4

Source: U.S. Census of Population, 1950 and 1970.

TABLE 37 POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Belhaven Town
1980 - 2000

1980 1990 2000

21134 2.,113 2,031

Source: North Carolina Department of Natural & Economic Resources, based
on Department of Administration projections for Beau-fort County
and Pantego Township.

100

Housing Projections

The housing inventory section of this document identified that about

30% of all housing in Belhaven is substandard. This means that a minimum

of 229 units must be significantly modified or replaced.to provide adequate

shelter. Public assisted housing provides shelter for 45 households and

thus has a limited effect on the current housing stock.

The section of this document dealing with future land needs will put

future housing demands in perspective.

101

Economic Projections

Due to data limitations there is no method to accurately make traditional

economic projections for the study area. There are, however, current conditions or

activities that will have some economic impact on the area. While these conditions

or activities may not be quantifiable, they do provide crude indicators of potential

economic activity.

One of these activities is seasonal pouulation increases. While these

increases have not traditionally played an overly important role in Belhaven's

economy, they do impact the area. The town's location on the intercoastal waterway,

the general increase in water oriented recreational activities, and the proposed

Swan Quarter to Ocracoke ferry will certainly have some seasonal/economic impact.

If these amenities continue to draw seasonal populations to the area, the major

implications for the town will be increased demands on services related activities

such as waste disposal and increased water usage.

The marine on Pantego Creek is presently underway. This facility will have

boat slips, a motel and restaurant when complete. This facility will certainly

have some economic impact in terms of tourist and and seasonal trade. Since it will

bring outside money into the area, it will be predominantly a basic activity, and

it may also serve as a catalyst for generating additional economic activity in other

services and support areas,

As mentioned elsewhere, the Blue Ridge Shoe Company owns property in Belhaven

and in 1973 made a public announcement that a manufacturing plant with a potential

employment of about 300 was to be opened. Apparently shortly after that announcement

the national economy prompted the company to postpone the opening. To date the town

has been assured that the next expansion the company makes will be in Belhaven.

Again due to data limitations there is no method available for projecting quantita-

tively the impact this would have but a development of this magnitude would certainly

have major positive economic ramifications.

102

Last, the textile firm, National Spinning, had tentative plans of developing

a manufacturing facility in Belhaven. This company also presently owne property

in the study area and obviously any manufacturing developing would have a

considerable economic impact on the community.

103

Future Land Needs-

The Coastal Area Management Act Guidelines suggest a model for determining

allocation of populatIon growth to land use. These standards in the model are

designed primarily for counties and do not directly address towns.

Forthis reason, a different method has been devised to deal with land

needs for Belhaven. Briefly, this system takes into account the local
zoning1 districts and compares vacant land and existing lower intensity dev-

elopment with the current zoning pattern. The following needs assessment by

zoning district will clarify this method.

Residential Land Needs

Land zoned for residential purposes comprises about 785 acres, 72% of the

total land within the town limits. Of this total land zoned for residential

use, about 225 acres (29%) is vacant. By comparing th e existing land use

map (Map 3) with the current zoning district map (Map 6)

this observation can be made. However, not all of the vacant 225 acres of

land is readily developable. Factors such as inadequate lot size or configuration,

conflicting land use and physical limitations render approximately 20% of the

existing vacant land useable. This means that about 45 acres are not suitable

for residential development leaving 180 acres of suitable vacant residential

land with viable development potential. Similarly there are some non-conforming

Although the current zoning ordinance states that zoning shall be applied
in the extraterritorial area, the current zoning map does not reflect it.
Hence, this assessment will address only the zoning within corporate limits.

104

hRFA

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uses in the residential district. According to the current zoning ordinance when

these non-conforming uses are discontinued for a specific time period then the

only future use of that property can be for residential purposes. Thus,

additional residential land may be presently available in the form of existing

non-conforming uses.

If the average lot size for residential use in Belhaven is approximately

one quarter acre (10,890 square feet or a lot slightly larger than 100 feet

by 100 feet) the town can presently support an additional 720 new houses, if all

the existing vacant developable residential land is utilized to its maximum.

Since the average household size in Belhaven is 2.9 persons per house the

town could adequately support an increase of almost 2,100 people within the

existing residential zoning district.

This means that the town does not need additional residentially zoned

land to accommodate any estimated population increase. Since the area within

the corporate limits is presently served with essential water and sewer

facility,efforts should be made to direct any additional residential development

within the: corporate limits to minimize cost of providing these and other

services.

1U. S. Census of Housing, 1970.

106

Industrial Land Needs

Belhaven presently has about 250 acres of land zoned for industrial

purposes. The existing zoning map will show the location of these lands. This

is approximately 23% of all land in the town limits. Of the total land zoned for

industrial uses, about 63 acres (25% of all industrial ioned land) is presently

vacant. Similarly, considerable amounts of land presently zoned for industrial

purposes is being used for less intensive (non-industrial) uses. Approximately

35% of all industrially zoned land (88 acres) is in less intensive land uses.

This means that there are presently about 150 acres (or over 6.5 million square

feet) of potentially developable industrial land in the town limits. To put

this figure in perspective an industry the size of Belhaven Fish and Oyster

Company occupies about 2 acres or 87,000 square feet of land. This figure includes

parking facilities also. Thus, Belhaven has the land capability of supporting the

equivalent of 75 industries the size of the Belhaven Fish and Oyster Company

within the present industrial zone. This means that the town presently has

adequate vacant developable industrially zoned land to accommodate future potential

industrial use.

Due to the nature of various industrial land uses,. the community should

weigh very carefully site selection for industrial uses. An attempt to

segregate industrial uses incompatible with adjacent uses should be made. For

example, industries which produce harmful by-products should be directed to

industrially zoned land where the impact of the by-produce will be minimized.

107

Commercial Land Needs

Belhaven's zoning ordinanc e designates commercial land uses to the

business district. Uses such as trade, commercial services, office and

institutional business uses and similar commercial uses are to be located

within this district.

Belhaven presently has about 52 acres of land zoned for business purposes.

The existing land use map shows the extent of this district. Of the total zoned

for business purposes about 15 acres (29% of all so zoned) is presently vacant.

Throughout the district there are vacant buildings that could support business

uses.

Currently in the business district there are residential uses, hence there

appears to be a potential for accommodating additional commercial land uses

within the present business zone by converting the residential uses to business

uses as the need arises.

It is estimated that there are presently at least 20 acres (over 871,000 square

feet) of usable commercial land in Belhaven. To put this figure in perspective

A comparison is in order. A commercial use occupying a building with a dimension

of 65 f eet by 65 f eet (approximately the size of Dawson's Wholesale) would occupy

4,225 square feet of floor space. Hence, Belhaven presently has the land capability

of supporting the equivalent of over 200 such commercial uses with the same floor

-Lspace requirements within the present business zone. This'means the.community

'appears to have adequate,developable public lands to accommodate any foreseeable

commercial development.

108

Community Facilities Demand

The Guidelines for the Coastal Area Management Act require that

consideration be given to)new facilities which will be required by projected

population growth. Even though projections for Belhaven show population

declines, there is pending development which could require additional

community facilities services and this section considers the development in,

this light.

The new marina currently being developed needs municipal water and sewer

services. Engineers working for the town have computed that a 6-inch water-

main will be necessary to provide adequate water service over the next

eight to ten years. No figures are available showing gallon consumption.

However, apparently the city's capability is deemed adequate to supply water

service during the next ten years.

Engineers have computed that the waste water discharge from the marina

will be a maximum of 25,000 gallons per day during the next eight to ten

years. At present the town's sewagetreatment capability has a surplus of

approximately 100,000 gpd above peak. As mentioned earlier, however, during

peak months of fish and crab processing this surplus is inadequate due to

over-burdening the system. This means that with the additional burden of the

25,000gpd generated by the marina the potential for ineffective treatment is

much greater than at present.

At present the town is in the process of having a water and sewer study

done for the area. When this is completed it should adequately provide

information concerning water and waste water facilities in the area. The

study should also provide direction to the community for acquiring additional

treatment capability.

109

Potential Areas of Environmental Concern

The amended Guidelines (those of 8/18/75) for local planning under the
Coastal Area Management Act require that local government give careful atten-
tion to those areas within its jurisdiction which are environmentally fragile.
The guidelines further state that the local government should identify
areas it deems worthy of consideration as Areas of Environmental Concern and

submit these interim areas of environmental concern to the Coastal Resources

Commission for review. Further, the Coastal Resources Conmission directs
local government to consider as interim AEC those categories and descriptions
which are included in the guidelines.
Based on the criteria contained in the guidelines there are four potential
AEC categorial areas which are applicable to Belhaven. These are:
1) Coastal Wetlands
2) Estuarine Waters
3) Public trust navigable waters
4) Coastal Flood Plains
Each of these categories is addressed as follows.

Coastal Wetlands
According to the guidelines, coastal wetlands are defined as "any salt
mar sh Or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides,
including wind tides (whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland areas
through natural or artificial watercourses), provided this shall not include
hurricane or tropical storm tides. Salt marshland or other marsh shall be
those areas upon which grow some, but not necessarily all, of the following
salt marsh and marsh plant species: Smooth or salt water Cordgrass (Spartina
alterniflora ; Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus ; Glasswort (Salicornia
SPP.); Salt Grass (Distichlis Spicata); Sea Lavender (Limonium spp.); Bulrush
(Scirpus spp.); Saw Grass (Cladium Jamaicense); Cat-Tail (Typha spp.); Salt-
Meadow Grass (Spartina Patens ; and Salt Reed Grass (Spartina cynosuroides)."
Included in this statutory definition of wetlands is "such contiguous land as
the Secretary of NER reasonably deems necessary to affect by any such order
in carrying out the purposes of this Section." (G.S. 113-230 (a))

110

The definition further divides. all wetlands into two sub-categories; low tidal

marshlands, defined as those consisting primarily of Spartina alterniflora and

usually subject to inundation by the normal rise and fall of lunar tides, and

other coastal marshland defined as all other marshland which is not low tidal

marshland and which contains the definition of all coastal wetlands,

There are areas in the planning area that do have some of the aforementioned

vegetative cover including the spartinas which by definition should be categorized

as other coastal marshland. However, in these other marshlands there are also

pine and hardwood trees, shrubs and various other types of vegetative cover.

The guidelines further suggest the following as appropriate uses within all

wetland areas, These marshes should be considered unsuitable for all development

which will alter their natural functions. Examples of acceptable land uses may

include utility easements, fishing piers, docks, certain agricultural uses except

when excavation or filling affecting estuarine or navigable waters is involved,

and such other uses which do not significantly alter the natural functions of the

marsh. Inappropriate land uses include, but are not limited to the following

examples: restaurants and businesses, residences, apartments, motels, hotels, and

trailer parks, parking lots and offices, spoil and dump sites, wastewater lagoons,

public and private roads and highways, and factories,

Apparently the intent.here is to distinguish between spartina marshes and all
other marshes. (author's note)

p1c

ZIA

Estuarine Waters

According to the proposed revised guidelines (8/18/75) estuarine waters
are defined as "all the water of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary of
North Carolina and all the waters of the bays, sounds, rivers, and tribu-
taries thereto seaward of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters
and inland fishing waters, as set forth in an agreement adopted by the Wild-
life Resources Commission and the Department of Conservation and Development
filed with the Secretary of State entitled 'Boundary Lines, North Carolina
Commercial Fishing Inland Fishing Waters, revised March 1, 1965,111 or as it
may be subsequently revised by the Legislature.
When applying this definition to the Belhaven Planning Area it can be
seen that only the Pungo River is estuarine and all of Pantego Creek west
of a line which approximates the breakwater (the line which separates inland
and coastal fishing waters) is defined as inland. Map 7 shows all
estuarine waters in the planning area.
The guidelines further state the following as appropriate uses.
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 other feasible alter-
native 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 degradation
of shellfish waters are generally considered incompatible with the management

of estuarine waters.

113

Public Trust Navigable Waters

As stated in the guidelines of 8/18/75 public trust navigable waters are
characterized as those areas which the public has rights in including naviga-
tion and recreation. By definition, navigable means "capable of being navi-
gated in its natural condition by the ordinary modes of navigation including
modes of navigation used for recreational purposes. The natural condition
of a body of water for purposes of determining navigability shall be the
condition of the body of water at mean high water or ordinary high water
as the case may be, andthe condition of the body of water without man-made
obstructions and without temporary natural obstructions. Temporary natural
conditions such as water level fluctuation and temporary natural obstructions
which do not permanently or totally prevent navigation do not make an other-
wise navigable stream non-navigable."
As applicable to the Belhaven Planning Area this means that all of Pantego
Creek and its tributaries including Wynn's Gut, are public trust waters.
All of Fungo River and its tributaries including Tooleys' and Battalina Creek
are also navigable and hence are included under this definition.
Map 7 shows public trust navigable waters within the planning area.
The guidelines suggest the following as appropriate uses. Any land use
which interferes with the public right of navigation, 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, 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.

114

Coastal Flood Plains

As defined in the guidelines of 8/18/75 coastal flood plains are "the
land areas adjacent to coastal sounds, estuarine or the ocean which are
prone to flooding from storms with an annual probability of one percent or
greater (100 year storm). These areas are analogous to the 100 year flood
plain on a river. Information necessary to identify these areas will be
supplied by the State Geologist. //
The guidelines, in addressing appropriate land uses in these flood
plains continue, "it is reasonable to allow a certain degree of development
if it is carefully controlled and meets stringent engineering standards for
stability, integrity and safety during a 100 year storm. The land use plan
may allow development activities, and if such development is undertaken, as

a minimum it must conform with the standards of the Federal Insurance Adminis-

tration for coastal high hazard areas and safety during the flood surge from
a 100 year storm."
Belhaven is currently participating in the Federal Insurance Administra-
tion flood insurance program and as such the entire town, that area within
the corporate limits, has been designated as in a flood plain. Map 7
shows'-this designation.
Even though the guidelines necessitate floodplain areas /being included
as Areas of Environmental Concern there is some question if it is realistic
as it applys to Belhaven. For example, under this criteria any proposed
development within the town limits would be required to go through the AEC
permit letting system prior to any development actually taking place.
Conversely, under the existing flood insurance program any housing structure
to be built must go through the already existing flood insurance permit letting
system. If Areas of Environmental Concern permits are required in addition
to flood insurance permits, it appears an unnecessary duplication of effort
is required. Similarly, there is concern about the realism of designating the
entire town of Belhaven as being in an Area of Environmental Concern.
For these reasons, very careful consideration should be given to requiring
designating the flood plain areas in Belhaven as Areas of Environmental Concern.

115

Land Classification

The guidelines of the Coastal Area Management Act require that each
level of government identify the general allowable land uses within its
jurisdiction. To assist in this effort, the guidelines suggest a land
classification system which categorizes lands as either developed, transition,
community, rural or conservation. These categories are defined as follows:

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.
Transition - Lands where local government plans to
accommodate moderate to high density development during
the following ten year period and where necessary 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 now or

in the future.

Rural - Lands whose highest use is for agriculture, fore stry,
mining, water supply, etc., based on their natural resources
potential. Also, lands for future needs not currently
recognized.
Conservation - Fragile, hazard and other lands necessary to
maintain a healthy natural environment and necessary to provide
for the public health, safety, or welfare.

The classification system applied to the Belhaven Planning Area is shown on

Map 8.
To further explain the classification system, the reader should review
the sections on existing land use and future land needs. Those sections
identified that there is considerable vacant developable land presently.within
the planning area that has essential facilities to accommodate any future

116

development. For this reason all potentially developable land within the
town limits (that which has essential facilities) is defined as Transition.
The Community Classification shown on Map 8 acknowledges the existence
of this low density development north of.town which has water services.
The Rural Classification, by definition, is applicable to those pre-
dominantly@ agricultural lands in the planning area.
The Conservation Classification reflects the physical limitations to
development in the marshlands within the planning area.

117

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PLAN INPLEMENTATION

This document is the cumulative results of many days of effort by the officials

of the Town of Belhaven and the town residents. It should, therefore represent the

desires, aspirations and needs as perceived by those who participated.-

This document constitutes, then, only a statement of policy for future

development and does not provide the legal means to implement the recommendations

contained here. Ordinances and programs must be utilized if the community is to

achieve the direction set forth in this document. Similarly, aggressive leadership

from town officials and acceptance and support from citizens of the area is also

necessary. Perhaps most important of all is using the plan as a standard when

making daily decisions about land development. If all of these activities are

engaged in the plan can be an effective guidance tool

Plan Adoption

In order to be used.as a standard for development, the plan must first be

recognized and adopted as policy. After adoption, regulatory ordinances and other

control devices-must direct all public and private land development issues to.

conform to the standards contained here.

Zoning

Zoning insures that the various land uses of the town are properly situated

in relation to one another, providing adequate space for each type of development.

It involves the simple division of land into designated districts of differkng use

and allows for the control of development density in each area so that property can

be adequately serviced by facilities such as streets, schools, recreation facilities,

utilities systems, and other public services. This directs new growth into

appropriate areas and protects existing property by preventing the mixing of

119

incompatible uses which can depreciate property values and damage the overall

quality of the town. In addition, a zoning ordinance regulates height and bulk of

buildings, the area of a lot which may be occupied, the size of required open spaces,

and the use of buildings and land for agricultural, commercial, industrial,

residential, and other purposes. It will serve as the primary tool for implementation

of the Land Use Plan and should conform to the various recommendations and objectives

found therein. This relationship is very important since the Land Development Plan

represents town policy and what is considered to be the best use of the land.

Belhaven currently enforces zoning regulations. An effort should be made to

insure that Land Use Plan policy is reflected in the zoning ordinance.

This will assure that land development in the area will conform to the plan.

Subdivision Regulations

A subdivision control ordinance is another method of implementing the concepts

of the Land Use Plan.- Subdivision control enables a jurisdiction to guide new

development by setting minimum standards of street -design and construction, by

controlling the shape of lots and by determining what improvements in the form of

utilities and drainage shall be required. A developer is required to submit a plat

for approval to the agent of the local Jurisdiction anytime the subdivision of land

is to occur. Before the plat is approved, it should be reviewed by the local

highway engineer, and planning board. In reviewing the submitted plan, the

town should determine whether the proposed streets and their alignment generally

conform to those proposed in the Plan and to existing streets. This process insures

that the developer of new areas will provide streets that will be placed where they

will function in the best possible manner. A subdivision control ordinance is a

very essential part of the total planning process whereby orderly growth occurs

within the town.

120

Efforts should be made to insure the present subdivision regulations are

reflected in the Land Use Plan. This will result in land development

consistant with the plan.

Housing-Related Codes

The purpose of housing-related codes is to protect the.health, safety, and

welfare of the individuals by establishing minimum construction standards for all

types of structures. Housing-related codes include the following: building codes,

housing codes, electrical codes, plumbing codes, utility codes, and fire codes.

In addition, zoning and subdivision ordinance can be used to establish certain

types of construction standards.

The Town of Belhaven should make sure that all its housing type codes address

land use plan standards.

Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinances

The adoption of a sediment and erosion control ordinance would provide the legal

means by which the water quality of the streams in the planning area can be protected

from sediment pollution resulting from development adjacent to streams. The

extensive removal of vegetative cover should be controlled, thereby preventing erosion

of the soil and resulting sedimentation in water bodies. If large scale vegetative

removal is allowed, the disturbed soils should be stabilized by planting temporary

vegetative cover or by some other soil protective measure. These controls should

reflect the land use plan standards.

Capital Improvements Programming

The capital improvement program for the town is very important in that it will

indicate all new public facility improvements, their priority, projected revenues

and expenditures, and their location and timing for construction. Each year this

program is updated to maintain a five-year lead time to insure that the most needed

facilities receive the earliest consideration.

121

In addition to providing services to areas already developed, the town can

directly influence areas of new growth by directing public services into these

areas. Thus, the extension of public services is an important method for encouraging

growth in areas predetermined suitable for such growth. Since the Land Use Plan

indicates projected growth in the planning area, it is necessary that the development

of a capital improvements program be coordinated with the Land Use Plan.,

Employment of a Full-Time Planning Staff

The hiring of a planning staff is another tool by which the community can

implement its Land Use Plan. Such personnel would provide the town with the

expertise upon which to base decisions regarding the orderly development of the

town. Inaddition, the planning staff would provide assistance in the decision-
making process revolving around all ordinance enforcement.-@ Belhaven has.been provided

planning staff capabilities in the past through consultafits.

122@

HOUSING CONDITION DEFINITIONS

The U.S. Census of Housing, 1960, defines housing structural conditions as

follows:

Sound housing is defined as that which.has no defects, or only slight

defects which normally are corrected during the course of regular maintenance.

Examples of slight defects are: lack of paint; slight damage to porch or

steps; slight wearing away of mortar between bricks or other masonry, small

cracks in walls, plaster or chimney; cracked windows; slight wear on floors,

doorsills, doorframes, window sills, or window frames; and broken gutters

or downspouts.

Deteriorating housing needs more repair than would be providod in the

course of regular maintenance. Such housing has one or more defects of an

intermediate natuxe that must be corrected if the unit is to continue to

provide safe and adequate shelter. Examples of intermediate defecits are:

holes, open cra6ks, rotted, loose, or missing materials over a small area

of the foundation, walls, roof, floors, or ceilings; shaky or unsafe porch,

steps, or railings; several broken or missing windowpanes; some rotted or

loose window frames or sashes that are no longer rainproof or windproof;

broken or loose stair treads, or broken, loose, or missing risers, balusters,

or railings of inside or outside stairs; deep wear on doorsills, doorframes*,

outside or inside steps or floors; missing bricks or cracks in the chimney

which are not serious enough to be a fire hazard; and makeshift chimney such

as a stovepipe or other uninsulated pipa loading directly from the stove to

the outside through a hole in the roof, wall, or window. Such defects are

signs of neglect which lead to serious structural deterioration or damage

if not corrected.

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Dilapidated housing does not provide safe and adequate shelter and

in its present condition endangers the health, safety, or well-being of the

occupants. Such housing has one or more critical defects; or has a combina-

tion of intermediate defects in sufficient number or extent to require

considerable repair or rebuilding; or is of inadequate original construction.

The defects are either so critical or so widespread that the struc ture

should be extensively repaired, rebuilt, or torn down.

Critical defects result from continued neglect or lack of repair,

or indicate serious damage to the structure. Examples of critical defects

are: holes, open cracks, or rotted, loose, or missing material (clapboard

siding, shingles, bricks, concrete, tile, plaster, or floorboards) over a

large area of the foundation, outside walls, roof, chimney, or inside

walls, floors, or ceilings; substantial sagging of floors, walls, or-roof;

and extensive damage by storm, fire, or flood.

To be classified as dilapidated on the basis of intermediate defects

a housing unit must have such defects in sufficient number or extent that

it no longer provides safe and adequate shelter. No set number of intermediate

defects is required.

Inadequate original construction includes: shacks, huts, or tents;

structures with makeshift walls or roofs, or built of packing boses, scrap

lumber, or tin; structures lacking foundations (walls rest directly on the

ground); structures with dirt floors; and cellars, sheds, barns, garages, or

other places not originally intended for living quarters and inadequately

converted to such use.

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The August, 1969, Neighborhood Analysis, Belhaven, North Carolina, defines

housing structural conditions as follows:

Sound Housing indicates no visible exterior defects.

Minor Repair indicates only blight defects such as the need for paint or

slight damage to the porch steps.

Major Repair indicates one or mote defects of an immediate nature that

must be corrected if the unit is to continue to provide safe and adequate

shelter.

Dilapidated indicates the structure does not provide safe and adequate

shelter and in its present condition endangers the health, safety, and

welfare of the occupants: such housing has one or more critical defects

or a combination of intermediate defects; the defects are either so

critical.or so widespread that the structure should be extensively repaired,

rebuilt, or totally destroyed.

12S

COUNTY AND REGIONAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LAND USE

The following are the most important county or regional documents which would have
some affect on Land Use in the Belhaven area.

Economic Potential Study, Beaufort Count , Washington, N. C. Department of Conserva-
tion and Development, 1967.

This document provided an economic analysis of Beaufort County and projected future
economical activity. This provided the county with an inventory of economic conditions.

Land Potential Study, Beaufort Coun , Washington, N. C. Department of Conservation
and Development, 1967.

This document analyzed existing land use in the county and projected land use into
the future. Specific land use controls were recommended which if implemented would
have an'impact on county land use.

Region Q Water Resource Management, Washington, Mid East Economic Development
Commission, 1975.

This document analyzes regional water and sewer use and needs and makes specific
recommendations concErning future systems. 411 counties and towns in Region Q are
included.

Initial Housing Element, Washington, Mid East Economic Development Commission, 1971.

This document inventories housing in the region and makes recommendations to solve
housing problems.

An Examination of the Population and Socio-Economic Base in the Mid East Region,
Washington, Mid East Commission, 1974.

This document analyz-.6s population, social and economic activity in the region,
identifies trends and makes projections.

126

Water and Sewer Ordinances

CHAPTER Q

MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES

ARTICLE I

WATER AND SEWER

Section 1. PERTINENT PROVISIONS PART OF CONTRACTS.
All pertinent provisions of this chapter are hereby made a part of the terms and
conditions whereby the Town furnishes sewer or water service to any person, or
whereby'the Town makes any sewer or water connections or performs.any work of any
kind in connection with the furnishing of sewer or water services.

Section 2. WHERE MAINS WILL BE LAID WITHOUT ASSESSMENT. Water mains will
tot her'eafter be laid in any streets without assessment therefor except in those
streets where the Board may order increased size water mains for additional water
distribution or fire protection.

Section 3. LATERALS TO BE LAID ONLY TO INSIDE OF CURB. Water laterals laid
as a part of any water main improved, shall be laid only to the' inside of the curb
unless in the resolution ordering the improvement, the Board specifically directs
otherwise.

Section 4. EXTENTION OF LATERALS. After laterals are laid from water mains
to the inside of the curb, no such lateral shall be extended to the property line
until the owner or occupant of the property to be served thereby applies therefor.

Section 5. CONNECTIONS TO BE MADE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER MAINS READY FOR
USE. Within thirty days after the time when any water main in any street is completed
and ready for use, the owner of every abutting lot whereon water is supplied for any
human use shall cause such lot to be connected with such water main; and within
thirty days after the time when any sewer main in any street is completed and ready
for use, if a water main has also been installed in such street, the owner of any
abutting lot having thereon improvements for human occupancy, shall cause a water
closet and sink to be installed and to be connected with such sewer main, and shall
cause all other sewer facilities within such improvements, if any, to be connected
with such sewer main; provided, however, that the owner of the premises shall be
notified in writing by the Board of the installation of such water main or the in-
stallation of such sanitary sewer, and shall be allowed thirty days after such
written notice within which to make the required connection or connections.

Section 6. CONNECTIONS TO BE MADE ONLY BY TOWN. The construction of laterals
for the connection of water pipes on any lot with water pipes in any street, and
the necessary excavations therefor shall be done only by the Town.

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Section 7. CONNECTIONS TO BE MADE ONLY UPON APPLICATION. No connection shall
be made to any water lateral except after the written application therefor has been
approved by the Plumbing Inspector.

Section 8. APPLICATION FOR CONNECTIONS. Every application for a sewer or water
connection shall state the name of the owner of the lot; the name of the street on
which such lot is situated; the number of the house, if there is one on the lot, or,
if not, a description of the location of the lot; the number and kind of connections
desired; and the character of surface of the abutting street. Every such application
shall be signed by the person making the application, shall be accompanied by the
proper fee for making the connection applied for, and shall be filed with the Clerk.

Section 9. CONSTRUCTION OF CONNECTIONS. Upon approval of any application for
water connection., the Town shall do the excavation, lay the pipe, install a meter
w1B re necessary, make the connection to the main, fill the excavation and replace
the surface of the street.

Section 10. SEWER CONNECTIONS TO BE MADE WHERE OPENINGS PROVIDED. Every sewer
connection made directly to a main shall be made at the Y provided for the lot to be
served; but if no such Y has been provided for such lot, then such connection may be
made directly to the main at any convenient point. Work to be done by the user at
his expense but under the supervision of the Plumbing Inspector.
Section 11. SEPARATE C(VNECTION REQUIRED. Every house or building abutting any
water or sewer main and requiimig a water or sewer connection shall be separately and
indendently connected, except in those cases where laterals have already been laid in
macadam or improved streets from such main without provisions-being made for such
house or building, in which case the connection may be made to an existing lateral.
If such house or building is on macadam or improved street where laterals have not
been laid, the connection may be made to any convenient lateral. When two or more
houses or units are connected with the same water lateral, a separate meter shall be
provided for each such house or unit.

Section 12. MAINTENANCE OF METERS. All meters shall be kept in good repair
and working order by the Town and at the expense of the user.

Section 13. DISCHARGE INTO SEWERS. No person shall pour, throw, or discharge
any substance, either solid or liquid, into any sanitary or storm sewer at any man-
hole or at any opening therein other than a sewer connection; nor shall any person
discharge into any sanitary or storm sewer any substance likely to obstruct,or to
cause undue injurty to the same or aiy substance of such high causticity or of a suffi-
ciently acid nature to interfere materially with the equipment used in connection
therewith.

Section 1 . INJURY TO SEWERS PROHIBITED. No person shall obstruct, bread,
remove, or otherwise injure any portion of any manhole, flush-tank, or other part
of any public sanitary or storm sewer.

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ARTICLE V

AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE EXTENSION OF WATER AND SANITARY SEWER SERVICE WITHIN
AND OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF BELHAVEN.

Be it Ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Belhaven as follows:

Section 1. APPLICATION FOR AND APPROVAL OF EXTENSIONS REQUIRED.

A. From and after the effective date of this Ordinance, any property owner, or
owners, desiring water or sanitary sewer service shall apply in writing to the Board
of Aldermen requesting the extension of water or sanitary sewer service or both., No
request for the extension of services shall be considered unless submitted in writing
in accordance with the requirements of this Ordinance.

B.- The Town may require the applicantto submit as part of the written appli-
cation such information, plans, or other data as may be required to adequately
determine if the requirements of this Ordinance are to be met.

C. When application is made for water and sewer extensions to serve an area
or development project that is planned as part of a larger project or subdivision,
all of which is not to be developed at the time application is made, the owner or
owners sh311 submit plans in sufficient detail in order to determine the size and type
facilities which will be necessary to serve the entire development or subdivision
when completed.

D. No extension to the water or sanitary sewer system of the Town of Belhaven
shall be made and no application shall be approved except in accordance with the
requirements of this Ordinance.

Section 2. GENERAL EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS.

All extensions of either water or sanitary sewer service shall be governed by
the following:

(a) The minimum distance for any extension of a water main or sanitary sewer
main shall be determined by the Board of Aldermen. In general., -L@he minimum distance
for extensions shall be one platted block, or in the case of water mains from main
line valve to valve and in the case of sanitary sewer extension from manhole to
manhole.

(b) The size of water mains and sanitary sewer mains to be installed and the
other required system facilities shall be determined by the Board of Aldermen in
accordance with the recognized stardards and accepted engineering practices and
design.

Section 3. FINANCING EXTENSIONS WITHIN CORORATE LIMITS.

A. Extensions to Approved Subdivisions or Developed Property.
(1) When application is 'received requesting the extension of water or sanitary
sewer service or both to serve property within the corporate limits which is developed
or has been previously approved as a subdivision, or where streets have previously been

129

dedicated and accepted by the Town, and where such area is not part of a new sub-
division which has not been approved by the Town, the Town Clerk or other person
desigm ted by the Board of Aldermen shall estimate the cost of the project and
present the application for such extension, the estimated cost and other required in-
formation to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. If the application is
approved by the Board of Aldermen and subject to the availability of funds, the Town
will install or have installed by contract under its supervision the extensions
which have been approved, and such extension shall be financed in accordance with
this subsection.

(2) When an approved water or sanitary sewer extension project has been com-
pleted and the total cost thereof has been determined, seventy-five percent of the
total cost of.such water or sanitary sewer extension or both shall be assessed
against the property owners whose property abuts upon such extension at an equal
rate per front foot in accordance with and under the autliority granted to the Town
by G.S. 160-241 through G.S. 160-248. The remaining twenty-five percent of the total
cost of such extensions shall be borne by the Town from funds appropriated for this
purpose.

(3) Any property owner or owners shall have the opportunity to pay his or
their proportionate share of the cost of such extensions after the assessment roll
is confirmed rather than paying his or their share in equal annual installments with
interest as required by the statute.

B. Extensions to Proposed Development or Subdivisions.
(1) When' an application is received requesting the extension of water or sani-
tary sewer service or both to proposed development or subdivisions within the cor-
porate limits which have not been approved by the Board of Aldermen, the Town Clerk
or other person designated by the Board of Alderment, the Town Clerk or other person
designated by the Board of Aldermen shall estimate the cost of the project and present
the application for such extension, the estimated cost and other required information
to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration. If the application is approved,
and subject to the availability of funds, the Town will install or have installed by
contract under its supervision such extensions which shall be financed in accordance
with this subsection.

(2) Prior to the Beginning of any construction, the property owner or owners
shall advance to the Town funds in an amount equal to seventy-five percent of the
total estimated cost of the proposed extensions. Upon receipt of such funds, a
written contract shall be entered into by and between the Town of Belhaven and the
Property owner or ownrs, under which the Town will use such funds upon the following
terms and condition:

(a) The funds shall be deposited in a special account of the Town for which a
separate accounting will be made.
(b) At the time construction of the extension is completed and the total cost
thereof is determined, if the amount deposited exceeds seventy-five percent of the
total cost, that portion in excess of the amount deposited will be refunded to the
owner or owners without interest. If the amount deposited is less than seventy-five
percent of the total cost, the owner or owners shall pay such additional amount to
the Town and this condition shall be a part of the written contract.

130

(c) In lieu of depositing funds, the owner or owners may provide a surety bond
or some other form of security that will insure payment to the Town of the owner or
owners proportionate share of the cost of extension in accordance with this Ordinance.

(d) No refund or reimbursement of funds shall be made to the owner or owners
who pay seventy-five percent of the total cost of extension under the requirements of
this subsection except as provided for in paragraph (b) above.

C. FACILITIES EXCLUDED IN DETERMINING OWNERS SHARE OF COST.

(1) When the Town of Belhaven determines that it is advisable to install
larger size facilities than are necessary to serve the property requesting such
extension, the difference in the cost of the larger size facilities over and above
the cost of the facilities required to serve the property requesting such extension
shall be paid for by the Town of Belhaven and excluded from the total cost to be
shared by the Property owner and the Town as provided for herein.

(2) Fire hydrants, pumping stations, outfall lines, and other facilities in-
stalled for general public use shall be paid for by the Town of Belhaven and ex-
cluded from the total cost to be shared by the Property owner and the Town as pro-
vided for herein.

D. EXCEPTIONS AUTHORIZED.

(1) Nothing in this Ordinance shall prevent the Board of Aldermen from extend-
ing water or sanitary sewer mains or both within the corporate limits on-their own
motion without receipt of an application from property owners, and to assess the cost
of such extensions in accordance with subsection A of Section 3 of this Ordinance when,
in the opinion of the Board of Aldermen, the general public interest demands such
extension of service.

(2) Nothing in this Ordinance shall require payments or assessments for the
extension of water or sanitary sewer mains or both, which are to be extended by
William C. Olsen and Associates Engineers and Architects, Raleigh, North Carolina
under contract number 414 for water and 401 for sewer, and included under EDA number
03-1-00051P and HUD number PFL NC 89.

Section FINANCING EXTENSIONS OUTSIDE CORPORATE LIMITS.

A. All applications for water and sewer extensions outside the corporate limits
shall be made in the same manner and under the same requirements as provided for in
Sections 1 and 2 of this Ordinance.

B. If an application is approved by the Board of Aldermen, the owner or owners
shall be required to pay for the entire cost of all extensions. Provided, the Town may
participate to the extent agreed upon by the Boae of Aldermen in the cost of larger
size mains which are in excess of the size mains required to serve the project. No
reimbursement shall be made upon annexation and all water and sewer lines connected %
to the Town system and located outside the corporate limits shall become the property
of the Town at the time such facilities are connected.

Q. Prior to the beginning of any construction, the owner or owners shall deposit
with the Town funds in an amount equal to the total estimated cost of such extensions.

131

Upon receipt of such funds, a written contract shall be entered into by and between
the Town of Belhaven and the property owner or owners in accordance with the require-
ments of this Ordinance. Such contract shall provide that in the event the amount of
the total funds deposited exceeds the amount of the total extension cost when com-
pleted that portion in excess of the total extension cost will be refunded to the
owner or owners without interest. Such contract shall also provide that if the amount
deposited is less than the total cost, the owner or owners shall pay such additional
amount to the Town of Belhaven.

D. In lieu of depositing funds the owner or owners may execute 4 surety bond
guaranteeing payment for such extension or the owner or owners may have such extension
work performed under private contract with the approval of the Board of Aldermen,
provided, the work is to be performed in accordance with all construction requirements
of the Town of Belhaven and subject to inspection and approval of the Town.

E. In the event the property for which application has been made for water or
sewer service is contiguous to the corporate limits and the owner or owners of such
property agree to annexation and in the event such property is annexed to the Town of
Belhaven, extensions may be made to such property and the cost thereof financed in
accordance with the requirements of Section 3A or 3B of this Ordinance, whichever is
applicable.

Section 5. SPECIFICATIONS, OWNERSHIP.

Any water mains or sanitary sewer mains extended under the provisions of this
Ordinance shall be installed and constructed in accordance with the approved plans,
specifications and othe requirements of the Town of Belhaven. All facilities in-
stalled under the provisions of this Ordinance, whether within or outside the corporate
limits shall become the sole property of the Town of Belhaven and under its juris-
diction and control for any and all purposes whatsoever at the time such facilities are
connected to the Town system. When required, the property owner or owners shall grant
to the Town such utility easements as the Town may require. In addition, a deed to
the Town for water and/or sewer facilities installed which are located outside the
corporate limits, the cost of which is borne by individual property owners, shall be
executed prior to the time any extensions provided for in this Ordinance are connected
to the Town systems.

Section 6. ADDITIONAL SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMIrT.

The Board of Aldermen may in its discretion as a condition under which water
or sewer service or both will be extended, require the owner or owners of a proposed
subdividDn to enter into an agreement to improve the proposed streets therein at their
own expense and in accordance with the ordinances then in force governing the
acceptance of public streets for the Town of Belhaven. If required, this section shall
apply to'subdivisions which are located either within or outside the corporate limits
of the Town of Belhaven.

Section 7. CONFLICTING ORDINANCES REPEALED.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this
Ordinance are hereby repealed.

Section 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the 6th day
of March, 1968.

132

Stream Classification

Class SB Waters,

(1) Best usage of waters: Bathing and any other usage except shellfishing for
market purposes.

(2) Conditions related to best usage: The waters, under proper sanitary super-
vision by the controlling health authorities, will meet accepted sanitary
standards of water quality for outdoor bathing places and will be considered
satisfactory for bathing purposes.

(3) Quality standards applicable to class SB waters.

(a) Floating solids; settleable solids; sludge deposits: None attributable
to sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes.

(b) Sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes: None which are not effectively
treated to the satisfaction of the commission. In determining the degree
of treatment required fur such waters when discharged into waters to be
used for bathing, the commission will take into consideration quantity
and quality of the sewage and wastes involved and the proximity of such
discharges to the waters in this class.

(c) 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.

(d) Dissolved oxygen: Not less than 5.0 mg/l, except that swamp waters may
have a minimum of 4.0 mg/l.

(e) 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 make the waters unsafe or unsuitable for bathing,
injurious to fish or shellfish, or adversely affect the palatability of
same, or impair the waters for any other best usage established for this
class.

(f) Organisms of coliform. group: (Applicable only during the months of May
through September. During the Class "SC" waters shall apply." Fecal
coliforms not to exceed a log mean of 200/100 ml (either MPN or MF count)
based on at least five consecutive samples examined during any.30-day
period and not to exceed 400/100 ml in more than 20% of the samples
examined during such period, (Not applicable during or immediately
following periods of rainfall).

(g) Temperature: Shall not be increased above the natural water temperature
by more than 1.50F. during the months of June, July, and August nor more
than 4.OOF. during other months and in no case to exceed 90 F., due to
the discharge of heated liquids.

133

Class SC Waters.

(1) Best usage of waters: Fishing and any other usage except bathing or shell-
fishing 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.

(3) Quality standards applicable to class SC waters.

(a) Floating solids; setteable 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 unsuitable for
fish, shellfish, 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 minimum
of 4,3.

(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 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 1,000/100 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.)

(f) Temperature: Shall not be increased above the natural water temperature
by more than 1.5 0F during the months of June, July ' and August nor more
than 4.OOF during other months, and in no case to exceed 900F, due to
the discharge of heated liquids.

SOURCE: N. C. Administration Code, Title IS, Department of Natural & Economic
Resources, Chapter 2, Environmental Management, Subchapter 2B, SURFACE
WATER STANDARDS, MONITORING, Section .0200, CLASSIFICATIONS AND WATER
QUALITY STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO SURFACE WATERS IN NORTH CAROLINA. (Copies
of this Stream Monitoring regulation can be obtained in the Northeastern
Field Office, Washington, North Carolina.)

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