1 CRC Alio | DV DIIOAV Iiniir^? Iu - uwum^ UUllb|\ The state's Coastal Resources Commission bent its rules last Thursday to grant a variance request from the N.C. Baptist Assembly for construction of a 32,500 square foot conference center within an area of environmental concern. "It's a unique situation," Office of Coastal Management Director David Owens said afterward. "They're trying to comply with the spirit and intent of the regulations. They said it was a good project and the Commission agreed." The 250-acrc assembly is located on the eastern tip of Oak Island, on the grounds of what was formerly Fort Caswell. It has been owned by the Baptist State Convention since 1949 and is used as a retreat and learning center. In January Brunswick County denied the assemb'y a minor CAMA permit for the project because it was found inconsistent with both CRC regulations and the county's land use plan. CAMA regulations permit only residential structures of four units or less or non-residential structures of less than 5,000 square feet within the inlet hazard area. The county's land use plan discourages high intensity uses and large structures within the 100-year flood plain, erosion prone areas and other locations susceptible to hurricane and flooding hazards. Cha I lenaer Education i An improved educational system is the key to economic revival in eastern North Carolina, according to 14th District N.C. House candidate Glen Peterson. Peterson released his education platform last week, saying improvement of the system must begin with teachers. "Education provides the opportunity to chance the pattern of the past, a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty and teenage pregnancy," said Peterson. He noted that currently one in five North Carolinians is considered functionally illiterate. "Capable workers who are literate and have job skills provide the basis for higher-wage industries," he said. He recommended several approaches for improving the public education system, including recruitmerit of bright college students to teach in the state, particularly in the eastern section, providing scholarships keyed to teaching in subjects and geographic areas where there are critical needs. Peterson, an attorney for both the Brunswick County Board of Education and Brunswick Community College, also hacks further reduction of class, expanding on efforts begun fhrnnoK tha cfnto'c nnui Rocip I?Hiioq. kilt WUgll VliW JM1VI. O IIVII WUJ1V- 1-lUUV.U tion Plan. "It is currently set at 2G per class, Easter S Levi Action Slacks ?PI Coosa ?Sizes 30-42 Sansabelt ?Sizes 32-44 _ 46-50 Bugle Boy ? Charcoal*Ti Slate Blue *NOW OPEN ON < wij^lpwjfWjiwjjwygjsM ae HULJilBMHlAkaMZS * ^PlInHMill u Mws Variance However, leet Thurs^av tho Office* of Coastal Management staff concurred with the Assembly's view thai uie proposed development was appropriate. That recommendation, said Owens, was based on the stable nature of the adjacent Cape Fear River Inlet and the Assembly's plans to use the center to replace three existing dormitories that stand closer to the water than the facility intended to replace them. The dormitories were built before the regulations were adopted and will be relocated elsewhere on the Assembly's grounds, outside the hazard areas. To build the conference center?part of a long-range development plan for the Assembly, "they'll have to apply again for a permit and meet all the other permit conditions," said Owens. The Assembly was represented at the Thursday morning hearing by its attorney, Jim frevatte of Southport. While some of the state's inlets may shift as much as 1,000 feet in a matter of weeks, studies of Cape Fear Inlet in 1974 and 1978 showed that it is "very stable" with lttle movement since 1938 and little movement expecpted in the future. In fact, aerial photographs made in conjunction with the 1974 study show "significant accretion" or buiiding up of the Assembly's property at the site of the proposed construction between 1949 and 1972. Outlines I _ ?r -icmorm but allows for an increase to 29," he said. "Let's make class size definite without any option for increase, and work toward reducing elementary class size to 18 per teacher." He said he would also vote to speed up the process of putting more guidance counselors in high schools and elementary schools and would examine the balance of administrators and clerical staff. The state should also look at possible full-time employment of adult bus drivers?an approach now being taken on a limited basis in Brunswick County, with drivers used in support roles in the schools during the day. . This dual role creates full-time jobs that pay enough to attract drivers, he said. Peterson's platform also includes advocacy for higher salaries and better benefits for teachers, including: increased pay; dental plan for teachers: "cafeteria" style benefits plans; and improvements in the Career Ladder program such as insuring that evaluators are from the teacher's subject area and creation nf 9 revicoH ovalliottnn inrlrnmnnl be sure the process is fair before it is implemented statewide. He also supports increased funding for the state's community colleges to retrain adults for jobs. Peterson is challenging incumbent Rep. David E. Redwine of Ocean Isle Beach in the May primarv. | Specials eated & Plain Fronts \ / i __ x_ 900 TER' DELUXE 22 RIM FIRE 16900 THE BRUNSWICK BEACOI ?w Conventioi M>AV tL. *1 I- ? wntvuuu vTvt uiv ncuauuo L3 IIU II1U1C than six feet wide. Pate said the sLx-feet width may result in some degradation of the marsh, but not its destruction, such GE VHS HQ TABLE MODEL VCR MOtm * Mn 2-Heod WAS $369 NOW $329 SAVE $40 20" o.?o??. Remote Control Color TV XMtlttl 4n WAS $379 NOW $339 SAVE $40 Opt>on? ~T | c-r,' n L _ H .# 2b .. ? flemote Control Color TV WAS $599 NOW $529 SAVE $70 spaa J(.H< IM.tJ ^ \nit m.iai? |nli'il?*?? iitniVi" IIIjiL ifljw HI M ?I?mi? v*iih Mimlim SrpirJli' Imulrf i ? !>i? jiiiI *-iiuur mnrr Kriiinijlili- luitnri ipjir^ jiiiI thraiiiit' lilllltrl IhimIi liMii|iri.iliin^lM^ mil ! mji 111 In ? /? K(*nio\ahlr *Ii.Iiii< li.i*Vrt \? 1 pi%?-i 1*1 irui|ii*riIi'% I ihAihii . 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