2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

• Strengthening of the Pitt County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance by restrictingspecific activities within flood hazard areas and requiring elevation of structures toprevent damage from flooding.• New Flood Insurance Rate Maps were adopted in 2004. The new maps provided ahigher level of detail and accuracy over previous versions.• In 2010, a new Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted that aims tomitigate negative impacts and reduce future damages to both human lives andproperty. The plan discourages land uses and development activities in areas that aremost susceptible to natural hazards.• Creation of local programs for the enforcement of stormwater regulations and riparianbuffers within the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse River Basins.• The County supported construction of high-water bridge crossings over the Tar Riverincluding a new bridge along US 17 Bypass in Beaufort County, and a new bridgelocated just north of Grimesland which replaced an older, less functional drawbridge.• The Pitt County Subdivision Ordinance was amended to require new subdivisiondevelopments to provide stub-outs to adjacent land that has potential for futuredevelopment. This allows for greater interconnectivity between developments.• In 2005, Alice F. Keene Park was established as the first Pitt County district park. Thepark contains softball and soccer fields, 1.25 miles of walking trails, and is the site of thePitt County Community Garden.• A Greenways Plan was adopted in 2006. The plan was a joint effort between the PittCounty Planning Department and the East Carolina University Planning Program, andwill utilize nearly 215 linear miles of trails, mostly along creeks and streams, forrecreational use, open space conservation, and some urban uses.• The County prepared a plan to allow for the utilization of previously flooded propertiesacquired through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The plan allows suchproperties to be leased by adjacent landowners and maintained as open space.Pitt County continues to be involved in several ongoing activities such as the bi-annualdevelopment of the NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and maintainsinvolvement with the Mid-East Rural Planning Organization (RPO) and the Greenville UrbanArea Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).Pitt County must continue to adapt and change in order to accommodate growth. Thequestions that must be answered include how and where will growth occur and what growthpolicies will best protect the public health, safety and welfare of both current and futuregenerations? Through a comprehensive re-evaluation of policies, procedures, and ordinances,the County will be prepared to meet the challenges of future growth.2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan IntroductionPitt County, North Carolina 1-3