Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 22, 1994, edition 1 / Page 6
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Counselor Opens Office Professional counselor Nancy Wood gets help officially opening her Brunswick County office at 107 East 8th Street, Southport. Pictured (from left) are Wayne Berry, Nancy Wood, Bill Wood, Southport Mayor Norman Holden, Bob Gray and Marvin Fullwood. Wood offers private counseling for individu als, couples and adolescents. Woccamaw River Study Group Seeking Answers From Locals , Consultants BY SUSAN USHER A coalition of state agencies at tempting to address concerns about the Waccamaw River Basin is hiring consultants to help with three as pects of the study, but also wants help from local residents. The study was prompted by local residents' concerns regarding fluctu ations in water level and water qual ity, an apparent decline in the fish ery, sediment and blockages in the river, and related land use changes. "TTiat's all difficult to get a handle on in a basin that's 1,000 square miles in size and you're working with only a little money," said John Sutherland of the state Water Resources Division planning sec tion. Sutherland and Jeff Bruton want to hear from local residents with in formation about where problems are occurring on the river such as debris blockages and heavy sedimentation, locations of ditches that carry water out of the river basins and documen tation of problems with the fishery. Sutherland said available data from as far back as 1939 shows that water flows in the river do vary widely from year to year and month to month, but that basic records alone don't show "entirely what's happening." A hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey has been commissioned to determine if the flows fluctuate more rapidly now than in the past, and do the flows drop to lower levels than in the past. He will compare rainfall and flow data in the Waccamaw River Basin and in the Lumber River Basin. If the flow has changed, the steer ing committee will propose installa tion of additional gauges and several water control structures to obtain a better understanding of the flow pat terns and how structure might affect them. In a second study, state university system researchers will collect and review existing fishery data taken by agencies such as the Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Environmental Management and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences since the 1960s, analyze it for trends in the recreational or sport fishery. "A decline in the sport fishery was one of the big concerns ex pressed," said Sutherland. "None of the studies have been as large in !?u>pe to cover ihe entire drainage In Waccamaw River itself, water quality is not a problem except for concentrations of heavy metals reflected in mercury contamination of several predator species , large-mouth bass and blackfish. basin. II there is not enough data they will develop a system for col lecting data needed to fill the gaps." Maintaining water quality in Lake Waccamaw is another concern the state plans to address using a univer sity researcher. Sewer lines at times have overflowed into canals on the northwest side of the lake, but that problem has been mostly fixed with routing of a line around the swamp area and away from the canals. But one pump station is still located in the area. The study will look at the broader issue of general stormwater runoff as a factor possibly contribut ing to a decline in water quality. In Waccamaw River itself, water quality is not a problem except for concentrations of heavy metals re flected in mercury contamination of several predator species, large mouth bass and blackfish. "There doesn't appear to be any real bacter ial problem," he said. Two other needed studies are pending, one by the Soil Conserv ation Service will address sedimen tation in the river, both accumula tion and bedload movement. Using mainly data from local counties, the other will examine land use changes that have occurred in the basin over time such as conver sion of lands to new uses and drainage activity. "We don't know yet how to tackle these," Sutherland said. "We don't know yet the specific questions we want to answer. We hope to get go ing on them in two or three months." The next public meeting on the study will most likely be held in late February. The study is a joint effort of the state Divisions of Environ mental Management, Forest Re sources, Parks and Recreation, Soil and Water Conservation and Water Jimmy Marshall Brunswick Square, Hwy. 17 S., Shallotte 754-8400 JIJIL Woodmen '/^ of the World Life Insurance Society Home Office: Omaha. Pkbraaftia Resources, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, with sup port from several federal agencies. Bruton can be contacted at 919 715-0387. J Commissioners Told Zoning Prohibits Use Of Family's Land BY ERIC CARLSON They say no man is an island. Bui the Nichols family of Southport feels their tiny subdivision on the Cape Fear River has been turned in to a useless island condemned to oblivion by the Brunswick County Zoning Ordinance. Ths! was the message county commissioners heard Monday night from 17 relatives who want their lit tle piece of family land in Brunswick County's giant heavy manufacturing zone re-designated to allow residential construction. "They told us at the planning board meeting that we were an is land in 20,000 acres," said Ted Applegate, who subdivided the property in 1990 to allow family members to live together there. "Well, we're an island that's stay ing. We're not moving," he said. The land in question is a small cluster of eight lots located just off the river among large tracts con trolled by the Pfizer Chemical Corporation, Brunswick Nuclear Plant, the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point, the Archer Daniels Midland Corporation and other in dustrial interests. In keeping with the primary usage of property there, the entire area was zoned H-M for heavy manufactur ing, County Planner Wade Home told the commissioners Monday. Under the H-M designation, no new homes can be built or located in the zone. Any existing residence is considered a non-conforming use of the property and cannot be expand ed. If destroyed by fire or natural JIT Timothy P. Gibble, M.D. Internal Medicine Board Certified An internist specializes in all aspects of adult medical care, from a common cold, stomach or skin problems to chronic illness to inten sive care. Internists provide preventive and acute care and many outpatient and inpa tient medical needs. Also, they provide diag nostic services and referrals to subspecial ists, if necessary. Susan Gibble, PA-C Physician Assistant Certified A physician assistant provides care through assessing, diagnosing, prescribing medica tions and treatment, ordering diagnostic test ing and offering educational needs, always under supervision of a physician. 3 Medical Center Dr. Supply. NC 28462 On the Brunswick Hospital Campus T Ofllce (910)754-8921 New patients welcome Costwlse & Medicare Assignment "wtk mnet kcow A Very Special Announcement... Carolina Eye Associates Is Proud to Offer Fellowship Trained Specialized Eye Care in Myrtle Beach & Brunswick County ? ? ? Shawn F. Riley. M.D. Fellowship Trained & Specialitioa h Glaucoma Surgery Laser Treatment of Glaucoma Cataract Surgery & Diseases cfnt Anterior Eye Igor Wetlro, M.D. Fellowship Trained & Specialmng In. . Diabetic Eye Disease Macular Degeneration Diseases & Disorders of the Retina & Vitreous To Mail Am Appointment, PUau Call 754-5434 Brunswick Center or ToB-Free (800) 422- 1564 CAROLINA EYE ASSOCIATES The lye Surgery Specialists Brunswick Hospital (910) 754-5434 or (800) 422-7564 Myrtle Beach. 1115 48th Ave N. f 121 (803) 44^6478 or (800) 75*6478 Brunswidt County, dupe) Hil, Ouriotte, Fayeflevflle. Grwmfe, Jjctaonvile, Kimapofo, Ijuiiiburj, Lumber ton. Myrtle Beach. RneharS, Raleifh. Smford, Swansboro, Wilmington disaster, the homes cannot be re built. Dawn Nichols Weikle told the board that her 82-year-old grand mother inherited the land in 1942 af ter promising never to sell it to any one outside the family. "Her dream is to have her family ?tea i her." w'eikie said. "A iot of women her age are in nursing homes and she does not want to be. She won't have to with her family there." Pietra Nichols told the commis sioners that the property has been in her family since the 1920s, long be fore industrial users began moving into the area. "How can we be nonconforming when we were here first?" she asked. Lowell Nichols, a native of Southport. said he always planned to return to the family land after retir ing from his civil service career. "It has always been my intention to build a retirement home on this little piece of property. It's always been my mother's dream to have her family move home," he said. "Now you say I can't and I'm angry. Any law that deprives people of their le gal and moral rights is a bad law." Wally Nichols said the family did not realize they were in a heavy manufacturing zone until his brother applied for permits to build a home and was told he couldn't. He said the county was made aware of the Nichols' intentions several years r ago ? betore zoning ? wnen tne fam ily followed the planning depart ment's advice to subdivide the prop erty. Home cautioned that for the board to create a new residential zone in the middle of a large indus trial tract would constitute illegal spot zoning. Commissioner Jerry Jones, who is also a member of the planning board, said that group learned of the Nichols' problems and voted unani mously to recommend that the com missioners rezone the property resi dential. "I believe I made that motion," Jones said. "But I don't want to see us wind up in court. VAfe've been there enough." Home said the planning depart ment has asked officials in other counties about the problem. "They suggested that we not spot zone," he said. "Our opinion is if we re-zone this property it will be spot zoning. I don't want to see us pursue that and end up in court." Home said the zoning law could be amended to allow some residen tial development in heavy manufac turing zones as "a special use" ex ception. He suggested that the board schedule a public hearing at which the planning staff will present alter natives for dealing with the Nichols property. The commissioners voted unani mously to set a public hearing for Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. LCA*4~Ct, E. Second Street ? Ocean lele Beach ? 579-0535 ^ ' ngle GolT) !" Loca/'s Appreciation "1 I Winter Special I , | Our "Famous" 14 Pound Cheeseburger j * Complete w/Frles! 1 1 n" !: (Valid 11 am-2 pm daily) Present Coupon Exp 1 2/31/94 ? MB MB MB MB ?? ?? MM Hi MM -~-l flj ( Only 'Prime i I (Turf) "nChKt6S *9b!i! * Party ? From ?* '<& r* I AImo Complete Packages Avalli Including Overnight >mmodatlons .? 5 Toast l~v"ipi< I 'pcludh j Accor table Lunch Chr
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 22, 1994, edition 1
6
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