m M
STAFF PHOTO BY EIIC CARLSON
GLEN HARBECK, planning consultant, makes changes in the first draft of an updated land classif
ication map of Brunswick County during Wednesday's planning board meeting. Suggesting the modifi
cations are hoard members (from left) John Barbee, Jerry Jones, Thomas Gray and John Thompson.
Planning Board Begins Work
On New Land Use Map
BY KRIC CARLSON
The Brunswick County Planning Board Wednesday
goi its first look at a working draft of an updated land
classification map that will help guide land use planning
in the unincorporated areas of the county for the next
decade.
The land use classification map, part of the county's
Coastal Area Management Act land use plan, establishes
zones of current and cxpectcd use for county land. State
law requires the map to be updated every five years.
While the map shows no major changes in the land
use districts outlined in the 1987 version, the "transition
al" classification has been further divided into "urban"
and "limited" transitional categories. Planners say the
state-mandated change is a welcome one, giving a more
realistic picture of development trends and service goals.
On the old map, land was classcd as transitional if it
was expected to bccomc an urban area where such ser
vices as central water and sewer systems were in place
or planned for the near future.
Under the new plan, land would be classcd urban
transitional if it was assumed to be a future urban area
with full services in place or expected within five to 10
years and where typical lot sizes arc smaller than 15,000
square feel. Most of these areas arc in the Lcland,
Navassa and Bclvillc areas and outside Southport,
Calabash and Sunset Beach, where sewer systems exist
or arc planned.
Limited transitional areas typically have larger lots
that may be served by a water system, but won't have
centralized sewer service in the near future.
'This new approach is more realistic as far as ac
countability for what can be done, while still reflecting
what people want to develop," said county planning di
rector John Harvey. "I feel a lot more comfortable with
this than with our 1987 version."
Under the old plan, areas were classed transitional
becausc of their location and density even though they
were unlikely to get full urban services in the near fu
ture.
The combined transitional classifications on the new
map cover less area than the old transitional class did on
the 1987 map. Glenn Harbeck of Wilmington, planning
consultant for the CAMA update, said the cutback re
flects an attempt to make the map give a more accurate
picture of what services can actually be provided in the
near future.
"When you look at the old map and figure the cost
of extending water and sewer scrvice into all the transi
tional areas, you quickly realize that it would be eco
nomically impossible," Harbeck said. "If the land use
plan is going to be credible, we've got to recognize the
cost of providing services."
In aill there are seven land classifications used on the
map. The "developed" zones include urban areas with
high population density and a full range of municipal
scrviccs, most of which arc already within town limits.
The "community" designation includes rural mixed-use
areas without sewer service. "Rural" zones encompass
agricultural and forest lands.
Another new classification is the "rural with service"
zone. These tend to be areas of very low population den
sity where a central water service may be provided to
avoid health problems. The Sunset Harbor area is being
considered for this designation.
Areas of environmental concern or lands that have
natural, scenic, or recreational significance arc classed
"conservation." Development in these areas is discour
aged.
Board member John Thompson expressed concern
that additional lands, particularly wetland areas along
roadsides, should be included in the "conservation" cate
gory. Harbcck said the map showed only the larger areas
and that there may be other small pockets of land under
each classification.
The 1987 map was "pretty accurate" in predicting
growth in the county, Harbcck said. The new map is
likely to show a continuation of the trend toward rapid
growth between Shalloue and the South Carolina line
and along the Intracoastal Waterway. More larger
planned unit developments and golf course communities
also arc expected, he said.
Harbcck emphasized that the map presented to the
planning board was a first working copy and not "etched
in stone." Several changes were made by the board
members Wednesday night. Once the map gets prelimi
nary approval from the planning board it will be made
available for public comment before final adoption.
In other business the planning board:
?Gave preliminary approval to a plat for the Courtyards
at St. James, a 54-unit planned development on 13.4
acres proposed by Homer E. Wright, Jr., Inc., as part of
St. James Plantation, golf and residential community on
N.C. 211. The plan calls for clusters of four units on
10,800-squarc-foot lots served by common driveways.
Harvey said County Engineer Robert Tucker had ex
pressed concern that roads shown on the plat might need
to be modified to allow access by emergency vehicles.
Wright said he would make the requested changes.
?Heard a report from Harvey on his discussion with
County Attorney David Clegg regarding a request to
modify a requirement in the subdivision ordinance that
prohibits selling lots in developments until all streets
and drainage lines are in placc. Some say the law puts
too great a financial burden on developers of very large
tracts who need to begin selling lots to help pay for the
improvements. Clegg recommended that instead of
modifying the law, the board should handle such situa
tions on a case-by-case basis, Harvey said.
?Swore in Holden Beach building contractor Thomas
Gray as a new member of the board. He replaces
Alfonza Roach, who resigned.
Budget Talks Nearing Close
(Continued From Page 1-A)
used for a town park or nature trail.
New Health Plan
Town board members agreed last
Wednesday to change health insur
ance plans next fiscal year, opting
for a program that will save the town
S8.500.
Parker said Holden Beach would
have paid 537,400 in premiums next
fiscal year if it stuck with the exist
ing plan. The new plan will cost
S28,9(X).
Under the new program, employ
ees will be able to save money on
most types of care if they use a doc
tor or facility that's part of a network.
The new "health care plus" plan
doesn't provide as much coverage as
the existing plan for hospital stays.
Overtime Questioned
Also last week, commissioners
questioned the need for S6.000 in the
water fund budget for overtime.
Parker said public works em
ployees work overtime when ihey
need to repair broken water lines af
ter hours or empty trash cans on the
bcach on weekends.
Town board members suggested
the manager consider shifting sched
ules or giving "comp time" instead
of overtime to save money.
All Holden Beach employees are
eligible for overtime except the man
ager and police chief. But commis
sioners want to change that policy to
exempt all department heads from
overtime pay.
Town board members also raised
questions last week about the need
for 15 employees at Holden Beach.
Commissioners Jim Fournier and
David Sandifer said there's a public
perception that government has too
many unnecessary positions.
"People do remember three years
ago when there were less people,"
Dissatisfied with
- "?4 rates ?
CD ?r 1
Ca"
lR A rau
? ? today ?
Richard C. Glenn
P j Box 2865
Shallotte, NC 28459
(919)754-6771
SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.
1 8 Resort Plaza
Shallotte
Member NASD/SIPC
Sandifer said. "They don'i sec the
town growing at a tremendous rate."
Parker hasn't proposed any new
positions in the 1992-93 budget, but
said the town could use more em
ployees.
"I think the public has an erro
neous impression that there is a lot of
fat in government when actually the
opposite is the case," he said.
The comment drew a chuckle
from Foumicr, who said he can re
member when the town had one
maintenance worker. Now Holden
Beach has a public works depart
ment with four employees.
New Paint Job
The proposed water fund budget
for next year includes $28,000 to re
move exterior rust spots and paint
the water tank.
Parker said the tank was last
painted during the 1986-87 fiscal
year, and paint jobs usually last
about six years on the beach.
Town officials hope to get finan
cial help from Brunswick County and
the Lockwood Folly development,
which benefit from the water tank.
Vision Cable, which has equip
ment on the tank, also must help
meet routine maintenance costs under
its service contract with the town.
Parker said the company has giv
en $1 ,000 per year in the past toward
water tank maintenance costs.
The manager said the town will
probably need to paint the inside of
the tank in another two years. That
cost about $42,000 the last time ii
was done.
School Board Pleading Its
Case With Commissioners
Members of the Brunswick County Board of
Education are hoping they can persuade county commis
sioners to allocate to the schools more money than was
included in a proposed budget presented last week.
The draft budget presented to commissioners reflect
ed 5337,541 in cuts from the $8.2 million request sub
mitted by the school system.
Tuesday afternoon Chairman Donna Baxter and
Superintendent P. R. Hankins were to meet with Kelly
Holden, chairman of the Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners to plead the schools' case. County
Manager David Clegg was to sit in if his schedule al
lowed.
In its recessed meeting of May 20, the school board
discussed implications of the cut and dccidcd to seek an
opportunity to explain the importance of its budget re
quests.
Ms. Baxter said, "We understand they have to consid
er everyone, but education should come first. If we don't
teach the kids better, they'll be using lots more of all
those social services."
Among the big tickct items in the school budget was a
new central office to replace the overcrowded, antiquat
ed building north of Southport on N.C. 133.
"We need a new building, but 1 don't have any trou
ble giving that up," Baxter said. "But the folks in the
north end want a new school and they need it, and we
need computers for our classrooms; that's important."
Of the coming meeting, Baxter commented, "We're
willing to listen to what they have to say."
Also on the minds of board members Wednesday was
the approaching retirement of Superintendent PR.
Hankins, who had announced his plans at the end of the
May 18 board meeting. They launched a search for ap
plicants, with a deadline of June 5. Hankins will leave
his post on Sept. 30.
The board devoted most of its Wednesday session to
an executive meeting on personnel, on which no action
was taken.
Baxter said the decisions on principals and other per
sonnel will be completed at the next board meeting.
A New Edae In Hurricane Readiness
(Continued From Page 1-A)
The program can display maps of
areas likely to see flooding caused
by storms of different magnitudes
and forward motion.
With a touch of a button, Logan's
map goes from a category 3 storm to
a category 5. The bright blue area,
which at first extends just north of
the Intracoastal Waterway, now cov
ers most of the land between U.S. 17
and the sea. That's the type of flood
ing the area might expect from a di
rect hit by a severe hurricane.
"1 think one of the big lessons of
Hurricane Hugo, at least for the gen
eral public, was realizing just how
far a storm like that will inundate an
area," said Logan.
Hurricane Hugo was a category 3
storm that came ashore just north of
Charleston, causing a 6-foot storm
surge here. It was the costliest storm
ever to hit the North Carolina coast.
But it wasn't the strongest. In 1954,
Hurricane Hazel made landfall in
the vicinity of Shalloltc Point as a
category 4 storm. Storm tides 18
feet above normal were recorded at
Calabash.
Logan said the public seems to be
more aware of the threat a hurricane
can pose. Few problems were en
countered in evacuating the
Brunswick Islands before Hugo hit.
As head of all emergency ser
vices in the county, Logan has to be
gin preparing for a possible hurri
cane strike at the first formation of a
tropical storm, even one a thousand
miles away. He begins by monitor
ing the storm's early progress and
consulting with associates at the
National Hurricane Center in Coral
Gables, Fla. Using data from hun
dreds of past storms, they consider
the chances that the next one might
strengthen and come this way.
When a hurricane gets within 48
hours of a possible Branswick
County landfall, Logan starts mak
ing calls. He instructs school person
nel to prepare their gymnasiums and
cafeterias, which serve as official
Red Cross hurricane shelters.
Highs In Low
80s Expected
Warm days and cool nights are in
the forecast for the Shallotte area.
The outlook calls for near-normal
temperatures, ranging from the low
60s at night into the low 80s during
the daytime, with about three-quar
ters of an inch of rainfall, Shallotte
Point meteorologist Jackson Canady
said Tuesday.
For the period May 19 through
25, he recorded a maximum high of
93 degrees on May 24 and a mini
mum low of 49 degrees on May 22.
A daily average high of 84 de
grees combined with a nightly aver
age low of 57 degrees for a daily av
erage temperature of 70 degrees,
which Canady said was about 2 de
grees below average for this time of
year.
He measured .76 inch of rainfall
at his home.
THE BRUN$W1CK$RAC0N
Established Nov. 1, 1962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallotte, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
One Year $10.36
Six Months S5.55
ELSEWHERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $14.80
Six Months $7.90
ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A.
One Year $15.95
Six Months $8.35
Second class postage paid at
Shallotte, N.C. 28459. USPS 777
780. Postmaster, send address
changes to:
P.O. Box 2558,
Shallotte, N.C. 28459-2558
He checks with the county garage
to ensure that all emergency vehi
cles arc properly serviced. Fuel stor
age tanks arc filled to capacity.
Batteries are charged. The supply of
spare tires is checked, a lesson
learned from Hurricane Diana in
1984, when debris caused numerous
blowouts.
Trucks are sent out to retrieve all
heavy equipment that might be do
ing work around the county. Chain
saws are sharpened for the in
evitable downed trees.
Logan also calls officials in the
beach municipalities to determine
whether there is heavier than normal
tourist visitation. Such information
can be vital in determining when to
recommend evacuation, a decision
that needs to be made sometime be
tween 36 hours and 24 hours before
anticipated landfall.
After further consultation with the
National Weather Service, the
Hurricane Center and his own com
puter models, Logan may decide
that evacuation is necessary. If so,
he will make that recommendation
to the county board of commission
ers, who have the final authority ei
ther to call for evacuation or delay.
The board seems to trust Logan's
judgment.
"I've never had one denied," he
said.
If approved, Logan then passes
his recommendation on to municipal
officials who direct their own emer
gency personnel to alert residents
and visitors. He also gives the infor
mation to the Emergency Broadcast
System.
When local winds reach hurricanc
force of 74 mph, Logan will pull his
personnel back to the command
post. There they will ride out the
storm like everyone else.
When the storm stops, a new
phase begins. Logan also coordi
nates fire and rescue operations, re
lief efforts and law enforcement un
der the authority of the county com
missioners.
"That's when the real work be
gins," he said.
Up to 30 emergency phones can
be set up in the operation center.
Backup staff will be assigned to the
new 91 1 system to hand'e incoming
calls and dispatch police and emer
gency vehicles throughout the coun
ty
As in past storms, damage assess
ments must be made before resi
dents can be allowed back to proper
ty on the Brunswick Islands. While
these operations arc performed by
beach municipalities, Logan's office
will coordinate law enforcement op
erations. Boats from the Coast
Guard, the N.C. Division of Marine
Fisheries and the N.C. Wildlife
Commission will patrol the water
way to prevent looting.
Logan feels the county's hurri
cane preparedness is at a higher lev
el than ever before. Yet he expects
to learn still more from each new
storm.
"In the end you just have to pre
pare for the worst and hope for the
best," he said.
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New Patients Welcome
Accepts assignment
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Convenientto
The Brunswick Hospital
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO
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POST OFFICE BOX 2558
SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28459
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ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: Sr. Citizen
In Brunswick County 06.30 0jf30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 .32
Postage Charge 3.68 3.68
TOTAL 10.36 9.30
Elsewhere in North Carolina 06.30 05.30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 .32
Postage Charge 8.18 8.18
TOTAL 14.86 13.80
Outside North Carolina 06.30 05.30
Postage Charge 9.65 9.65
TOTAL 15.95 14.95
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