2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

Water Supply Watershed Protection (Map A-7)A portion of northwest Pitt County has been designated as being within the Tar River WS IVWater Supply Watershed. This water supply watershed drains into the Tar River justupstream of the water supply intake for the City of Greenville. The Tar River Watershed isprotected by a local ordinance adopted under the authority and at the direction of theState of North Carolina. There are 42,796 acres of protected watershed within theCounty’s planning jurisdiction.Pitt County water supply watershed protections establish a maximum density and percentof impervious surface coverage area for development within the protected and criticalareas of the watershed. The purpose of these development limitations is to reduce thenumber of pollutants entering the river upstream of the water intake. These protectionsare intended to reduce the cost for water treatment necessary to bring the raw river waterup to drinking water standards.The adoption of the Pitt County Zoning Ordinance in 2003 created a Water SupplyWatershed Overlay District which establishes additional zoning regulations fordevelopment with the Water Supply Watershed Overlay District. The regulations of thisdistrict essentially mirrors the regulations of the Water Supply Watershed Ordinanceadopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 1993.Wetlands (Map A-7)Wetlands are an essential component of the natural ecosystem of the environment.Wetland areas serve to protect water quality and are also important animal habitats.Wetland areas need to be identified and considered in land use planning to ensure thatthese fragile environments are not destroyed by inappropriate development.Historically, those areas with the best soils have been cleared by farmers for row crops andthose areas with less suitable hydric soils have been allowed to remain in or return to treecover. To ascertain the probability of wetland conditions, a map has been created byoverlaying digital information on hydric soils and vegetative cover.2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Appendix A: Inventory and AnalysisPitt County, North Carolina A-81