2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update ProcessThe Pitt County Planning Board served as the citizen steering committee for the developmentof the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update. The process of developing the update involved aseries of reports and forums conducted over approximately eighteen months from early 2010to late 2011.During the planning process, draft reports were presented to the Planning Board for reviewand comment. In late February and early March 2011, the Planning Board and staff held aseries of four public forums in several locations in the County. Citizens had the opportunity toreview reports and maps and to comment on land development issues and concerns. InSeptember and October 2011, the Planning Board and staff held a second series of five publicforums to gather citizen comments on the completed draft plan.The Planning Board held a public hearing on October 19, 2011 and voted unanimously torecommend approval of the draft plan to the Pitt County Board of Commissioners. OnDecember 5, 2011, the Board of Commissioners held a final public hearing and votedunanimously to approve the update to the Pitt County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.Planning PhasesThe land use planning process consisted of at least three distinct phases. The first phasewas the preparation of an inventory and analysis of historic demographic and economicdata and existing physical conditions that influence growth and development (Appendix A).Studying recent trends in population growth and the economy helped County leaders andcitizens understand how these forces impact growth and development.Appendix A identifies and maps natural physical conditions (hydrology - streams and rivers,floodplains and wetlands; soils; critical natural areas) and man-made physical conditions(private development – commercial, industrial, institutional and residential housing; andpublic infrastructure - water, sewer and transportation facilities; natural gas and electricityservice areas). County leaders relied on this background information to help plan for andproject where growth was most likely to occur.The second phase of the process involved developing draft goals, objectives andimplementation strategies for future growth (Section 2). Goals and objectives establishoverall direction for future growth while implementation strategies specify incrementalactions that County leaders and staff can take to ensure that plan goals and objectives areaccomplished. Implementation strategies specify how existing ordinances may need to berevised and if new ordinances should be considered.The final phase of the land use planning process involved the development of a future landuse map (Section 3). The future land use map delineates where different types of land usesare most appropriate by incorporating the physical features of the land with the goals andobjectives of the plan.2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan IntroductionPitt County, North Carolina 1-4