2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

motorists, maintain roadside views of the rural countryside to enhance the attractivenessof the area for residents and visitors, protect property values, protect the public investmentin highways and promote the overall economic welfare of the County. The ordinance setsstandards for construction and maintenance of signs including height, size, setbacks andspacing between signs. The ordinance also provides for the maintenance ofnonconforming existing signs for the reasonable life of the sign. This ordinance is enforcedonly within the County planning jurisdiction.Pitt County Zoning OrdinanceIn August 2003, Pitt County adopted its first countywide zoning ordinance, which becameeffective on November 3, 2003. The zoning ordinance regulates development of all landwithin the County by establishing zoning districts, permitted uses, standard lot sizes andbuilding setbacks. This ordinance is enforced only within the County Planning jurisdiction.Riparian Buffer Protection OrdinanceIn 2007, Pitt County was granted authority by the Division of Water Quality to locallyenforce riparian buffer regulations. The Riparian Buffer Protection Ordinance requiresbuffers for intermittent or perennial streams, lakes, ponds, and estuarine waters that areshown on the most recent version of either the Pitt County Soil Survey or USGStopographic map, and that exist on the ground. These rules require protection andmaintenance up to 50 feet of the riparian area along the banks of waterways in both theNeuse and Tar-Pamlico basins. Riparian buffer regulations are currently enforced withinthe County planning jurisdiction and the Town of Winterville.Shooting Range RegulationsPitt County adopted Shooting Range Regulations in 1992 to regulate the establishmentand operation of outdoor shooting range facilities. At that time, the County noted thatnoise and public safety concerns warranted careful review of such recreational and trainingcomplexes to minimize adverse effects on adjoining properties. The regulations setstandards for the permitting, registration and compliance of new shooting range facilitiesincluding performance standards, development requirements, operational requirementsand a procedure for securing approval. Existing shooting ranges were given one year tocome into compliance with the new regulations. The County enforces these regulationsonly within the County planning jurisdiction.Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control OrdinanceThe purpose of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance (SESC) is to regulateland-disturbing activities to control accelerated erosion of soil and loss of sediment.Controlling erosion and sedimentation reduces the loss of valuable topsoil and reduces thelikelihood of water pollution and damage to watercourses.In 2000, the Pitt County Board of Commissioners amended the County’s Soil Erosion andSedimentation Control Ordinance (SESC) to incorporate revisions to reduce soil erosion.Revisions to the SESC included a reduction in the amount of time that disturbed soil areascan be exposed to erosion, the imposition of new civil penalty assessments for violations,2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Appendix A: Inventory and AnalysisPitt County, North Carolina A-49