04-07-06: Building Moratorium Debated In Coastal Carteret County

Building moratorium debated in coastal Carteret County

MOREHEAD CITY, NC — Coastal Carteret County should enact a one-year building moratorium to better plan for growth and environmental protections, speakers said Thursday during a public hearing.

"Moratoria have been used throughout the state to provide citizens time to address these issues, develop stronger guidelines to protect their resources and build community support for a shared vision," said Gerry Barrett, co-chairman of the group Down East Tomorrow. "Down East deserves the same opportunity."

The group wants officials to approve a one-year moratorium on certain sewage treatment plants, marinas with more than 10 slips, major subdivisions of more than five lots, condominiums, and commercial buildings of more than 7,000 square feet.

The Carteret County Board of Commissioners is considering the moratorium.

Representatives from the North Carolina Coastal Federation said current stormwater management rules don't adequately protect high quality waters.

One Raleigh developer questioned the argument that the area was experiencing large-scale growth.

Pendergraph Companies plans to develop a 14-acre site on Harkers Island. Pendergraph's Michael Weaver said current development proposals would use only 1 percent of the area's total acreage. Company officials also complained that the rules could change months after it bought land to develop.