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Public meeting for UDO proposals in Hampstead Sept. 26 By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The Pender County Planning Department is seeking public input on specific provisions in the county’s proposed Unified Development Ordnance (UDO). A MEETING IS PLANNED FOR 3EPT 26 at the Pender County Hampstead Government !NNEX BEGINNING AT p.m. Planning Director Kyle Breuer says the meeting deals with aspects of the ordinance specific to the Hampstead and easter n Pender County area. “The UDO deals with what future development might look like regarding residential and commercial development. We have a commercial development overlay that will be set up to provide design criteria for sites along the commercial corridor,� Breuer said. “The UDO also deals with residential density and where they should be located.� The proposed UDO in-
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cludes a Resource Conservation Area designation that deals with development along streams and waterways. “These are areas in desIGNATED AND YEAR flood plains, areas around a stream and wetlands that will be designated on a particular tract of land,� said Breuer. Beyond the current limiting factors for development in flood plain areas, Breuer says the Resource Conservation Areas deals also with environmental issues and preservation as well as the hazards of building in a flood-prone area. “After a storm we want to rebound as quickly as possible. We know we are going to get storms, so how can we implement measures that help recover. It comes down to efforts that need to be under taken by our citizens, business owners and government to recover from an event.� The meeting will begin AT P M AT THE (AMPstead Government Annex.
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Mr. Boo, spokesman for Boo Boo Healing Salve, sports a red bow tie at Poplar Grove’s Summer Harvest Festival Saturday as he greets visitors. All proceeds from the sale of the salve, goes to support animal rescue at Poplar Grove. The salve is produced locally by Coastal Tide Soap.
State: adopt new flood damage ordinance or else Pender County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Oct. 21 on the state-backed flood damage prevention ordinance. But apparently the new ordinance is a done deal, even before County Commissioners vote on it. The local board is required to rubber stamp the or-
dinance or face possible consequences. When the proposed ordinance came out, public meetings were held to show the changes to Pender residents. The state went though the appeals process and now the changes are set. “If the public, through our meeting or through written comments to your (Breuer) department ex-
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By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
press a level of concern, wouldn’t that provide another step of public input?� Piepmeyer asked. “I’m not necessarily going to vote for this if I have landowners come to me as say they are not for it.� Breuer said the time for public comment had been cut off by the state. If commissioners do not pass the ordinance, the county will be in jeopardy of losing
status in the national flood insurance program. “The state has told us they will not accept appeals to the map,� Breuer said. Delays in the adoption of the ordinance have be caused by 26 appeals from Pender County landowners to specific provisions of the ordinance that are reviewed individually by the state. Commissioners are expected to adopt the ordinance in October for a December implementation. “The 47 flood panels in
the map deal with western Pender County. After the public hearing the maps will become effective,� Pender County Planning Director Kyle Breuer told Commissioners at the board’s Monday meeting. The new ordinance reflects changing land conditions and is pushed by the state and federal governments. The bottom line is those governments fund flood relief and mitigation, and both want a say flood maps and development. “Everybody needs to be
award that this is being driven by the federal and state governments and we are caught in the middle by making sure it is communicated locally and that we have instruments in place to make what is being dictated to us happen,� said Commissioner David Piepmeyer. “It’s critical that we understand this and we don’t rush through it.� Breuer says the flood maps that will be changing in December are onlyfor
Continued on page 2A
Candidate forums scheduled From Staff Reports attend. the opportunity to answer With municipal elec“I think it is important each question. “This is not a debate, tions in Pender County to have a forum where coming in November, the voters and see and hear but a forum where voters Post & Voice is again spon- the candidates voice their can submit questions that Push Mowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers soring Candidate Forums opinions and ideas,â€? said are important to them and Trimmers & Chainsaws in three municipalities. Post & Voice Publisher hear what the candidates The scheduled forums are: Andy Pettigrew, who will have to say,â€? Pettigrew s 4OPSAIL "EACH n 3EPT serve as moderator of the said. “The way we have 7-9 p.m. at the Assembly forums. conducted these forums Building. The format will be iden- seems to be well received s "URGAW n /CT P M tical to previous forums, by both candidates and with each candidate giv- voters. I try to keep this as at the Depot. s 3URF #ITY n /CT P M en an open statement of informal as possible while at the Welcome Center. three minutes and closing maintaining the structure All candidates are in- statement of two minutes. of the forum. My goal is vited to attend and par- Questions will be submit- for voters to hear the canticipate in their respective ted by voters attending didates and be informed forums. Members of the the forum to the modera- on the issues affecting media are also welcome to tor. Candidates will have their community.â€?
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Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Pender County Master Gardener Mary Blinkoff talks with visitors at the group’s booth during the Poplar Grove Summer Harvest Festival Saturday.
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