Download the Spring 2007 Newsletter.

2007 Coastal Local Governments Winter Meeting

Local government leaders from coastal North Carolina came away from the North Carolina Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association Winter Meeting supplied with considerable information about the challenges facing the state’s ocean resources. But the local officials also came away with many questions about where the financial resources will come from to face those challenges.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was the site of the February 22 and 23 meeting, with Mayor Joan Lamson of Pine Knoll Shores and NCBIWA Executive Director Mayor Harry Simmons opening the two days of presentations from scientists, engineers and state officials.

The local leaders paid particular attention to regulatory changes anticipated from the various divisions of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources sure to affect development in their coastal counties and municipalities. The group heard from Dr. Jeff Warren of the NC Division of Coastal Management on the future of vegetation lines and state-mandated building setbacks and an alternative view from Spencer Rogers of NC Sea Grant with the legal considerations of those requirements reviewed by Mack Paul of the law firm Kennedy Covington.

Tom Reeder of the NC Division of Water Quality discussed upcoming changes to coastal stormwater management and control requirements before the conference wrapped up with a panel discussion on the possible impacts of the proposed new state stormwater rules. Sitting on that panel were Dave Inscoe of the Carteret Economic Development Council, John Langdon, Carteret County manager, Randy Martin, Morehead City manager, home builder Joe Tarasco and NC Coastal Federation director Todd Miller.

Tom Jarrett of Coastal Planning and Engineering’s presentation urging state regulators to take a new look at the benefits of terminal groins to forestall erosion, especially in areas abutting inlets, was also a subject of much conversation.

Other presentations focused on abandoned vessels and debris in coastal waterways (Judy Hills of the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments), waterfront access (Dr. Michael Voiland, study committee chair from NC Sea Grant), the state and federal funding environment (John Morris of the NC Division of Water Resources and Paul Ordal of the Washington lobbying firm Marlowe and Co.), coastal insurance issues (Rodney Kemp of Chalk and Gibbs in Morehead City), and coastal governments and sea level rise (Dr. Courtney Hackney, chairman of the NC Coastal Resources Commission).

NCBIWA chairman Rick Catlin offered comments concerning the organization’s goals and strategies, asking attendees to come to a decision about funding the remaining components of an economic study of the value of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in the state.

Informal discussions on meeting topics continued at a networking reception at the aquarium Thursday night hosted by the towns of Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach, Indian Beach, and Emerald Isle.

Sponsors of the annual meeting also included Progress Energy, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Kennedy Covington, Coastal Science and Engineering, Coastal Planning and Engineering, Inc., Kirkman Whitford Brady and Berryman, Chalk and Gibbs, Coastal Transplants, Emerald Isle Realty, First Citizens Bank, Local Government Federal Credit Union, Marlowe and Company, LLC, Sound Bank, Town of Oak Island.

Comments Off