JULY-AUGUST HEARINGS SET ON BUFFER RULE IN COASTAL WATERS

JULY-AUGUST HEARINGS SET ON BUFFER RULE IN COASTAL WATERS

Don Reuter, 919-715-4112
Date: July 6, 1999

RALEIGH -- A series of public hearings in coastal communities will begin July 13 on a proposal by the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) that would require a 30-foot shoreline buffer for all navigable coastal waters.

The proposal, endorsed by CRC at its March 1999 meeting, is aimed at protecting water quality by setting a 30-foot setback from the water’s edge to trap sediments and pollutants and absorb nutrients from surface runoff. The commission said buffers also promote flood and erosion control and help protect coastal habitats for wildlife and fish.

The hearings will begin in Bertie, Beaufort and Brunswick counties on July 13 and continue in coastal counties through Aug. 6. The CRC has set one night meeting and one daytime meeting in each of the coastal counties and a hearing in Raleigh to gather public comments. The deadline for written comments is September 6, 1999. (A list of dates and locations for the hearings is attached.)

The proposed 30-foot rule would apply to all lands along estuarine waters and public trust waters in the 20 coastal counties. Public trust waters are those waters that are considered navigable. Only water-dependent structures (piers, boat ramps, erosion control structures) would be allowed in the buffer. Each of those would require a permit from the Division of Coastal Management.

The 30-foot buffer rule would not affect oceanfront property, which already has an established setback rule.

Any new development or changes to existing development in coastal waters would be required to conform to the new 30-foot buffer requirement. The proposed rules carry no provisions for exemptions or exceptions. Property owners who cannot meet the required buffer could seek a variance from the CRC.

The CRC will consider the public comments made during the hearings when it meets in September and November. If the CRC adopts the rule and it is approved by the Rules Review Commission and receives no objections from the General Assembly, the buffer rule would become effective in August 2000.

Last March, the CRC turned other water quality protection issues over to a “stakeholder working group” and hired an independent facilitator to direct a broad look at coastal water quality. It will develop proposals that keep pace with other major water quality measures now underway or planned for the state’s river basins in Eastern North Carolina.

For more information on the public hearings, contact Mike Lopazanski in the Division of Coastal Management in Raleigh at (919) 733-2293.

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CRC PUBLIC HEARINGS; MORNING SERIES

Wednesday, July 21, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Pasquotank County: K.E. White Center, 1840 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City.

Monday, August 2, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Bertie County: Bertie County Superior Courthouse, Courtroom 2, 104 Dundee Street, Windsor.

Camden County: Camden County High School Library, 103 US 158 West, Camden.

Craven County: Craven County Chamber of Commerce, 316 S. Front Street, New Bern.

Pender County: Pender County Courthouse, Courtroom 2, 2nd floor, 100 Wright Street, Burgaw.

Tuesday, August 3, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Gates County: Gates County Extension Auditorium, 112 Court Street, Gatesville.

Washington County: County Courthouse, County Commissioners Room, 120 Adams Street, Plymouth..

Pamlico County: Pamlico Courthouse Annex, 202 Main Street, Bayboro.

New Hanover County: DENR Regional Office, 127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington..

Wednesday, August 4, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Perquimans County: Perquimans Courthouse Annex Building, 110 North Church Street, Hertford.

Tyrrell County: County Finance Building, Conference Room, 108 South Water Street, Columbia.

Carteret County: Carteret Community College Auditorium, 3505 Arendell, Morehead City.

Brunswick County: Brunswick County Government Center, Commissioners Chambers, Bolivia.

Thursday, August 5, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Currituck County: Old Courthouse, 153 Courthouse Road, Barko.

Hyde County: Hyde County Courthouse, 20 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter.

Beaufort County: Beaufort County District Courthouse, Room 218, 112 West 2nd Street, Washington.

Onslow County: Onslow County Library, Conference Room, 58 Doris Avenue East, Jacksonville.

Friday, August 6, 1999, 10:00 a.m.

Dare County: Nags Head Board Room, 5401 South Croatan Highway, Nags Head.

Hertford County: County Commissioners Room, Office Bldg. #1, 704 North King Street, Winton.

Chowan County: Chowan County Courthouse, Commissioners Room, 2nd Floor, Edenton.

CRC PUBLIC HEARING; EVENING SERIES

Bertie County: July 13, 7:00pm, Bertie County Superior Courthouse, 104 Dundee Street, Windsor.

Beaufort County: July 13, 7:00pm, Beaufort County District Courthouse, 112 West 2nd Street, Washington.

Brunswick County: July 13, 7:00pm, Government Center, Public Assembly Bldg, County Commissioners Chambers, 45 Courthouse Drive, Bolivia.

Craven County: July 14, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 302 Broad Street, New Bern.

Hertford County: July 14, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 701 North King Street, Winton NC,

Washington County: July 14, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 120 Adams Street, Plymouth.

Pamlico County: July 14, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 202 Main Street, Bayboro.

New Hanover County: July 14, 7:00pm, Judicial Building, 314 Princess Street, Wilmington.

Onslow County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, Court Room 1, Summer Sill Bldg., 109 Old Bridge Street, Jacksonville.

Gates County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 202 Court Street, Gatesville.

Carteret County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, Courthouse Square, Beaufort.

Chowan County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 101 South Broad Street, Edenton.

Hyde County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 20 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter.

Pender County: July 15, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 100 Wright Street, Burgaw.

Tyrrell County: July 19, 7:00pm, Tyrrell County Finance Building, Conference Room, 108 South Water Street, Columbia.

Perquimans County: July 19, 7:00pm, County Courthouse Annex, 110 North Church Street, Hertford.

Currituck County: July 19, 7:00pm, Currituck Middle School, 4263 Caratoke Highway, Barko.

Dare County: July 20, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, Grand Jury Room, 300 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Manteo. 27954

Camden County: July 20, 7:00pm, County Courthouse, 117 North NC 343, Camden.

Raleigh: July 20, 7:00pm, 430 North Salisbury Street, Dobbs Building, Room 2115, Raleigh.

Pasquotank County: July 22, 7:00pm County Courthouse, Court Room A, 206 East Main Street, Elizabeth City.

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