(a) Findings. It ishereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that amongNorth Carolina's most valuable resources are its coastal lands and waters. Thecoastal area, and in particular the estuaries, are among the most biologicallyproductive regions of this State and of the nation. Coastal and estuarinewaters and marshlands provide almost ninety percent (90%) of the mostproductive sport fisheries on the east coast of the United States. NorthCarolina's coastal area has an extremely high recreational and esthetic valuewhich should be preserved and enhanced.
In recent years the coastalarea has been subjected to increasing pressures which are the result of theoften‑conflicting needs of a society expanding in industrial development,in population, and in the recreational aspirations of its citizens. Unlessthese pressures are controlled by coordinated management, the very features ofthe coast which make it economically, esthetically, and ecologically rich willbe destroyed. The General Assembly therefore finds that an immediate andpressing need exists to establish a comprehensive plan for the protection,preservation, orderly development, and management of the coastal area of NorthCarolina.
In the implementation of thecoastal area management plan, the public's opportunity to enjoy the physical,esthetic, cultural, and recreational qualities of the natural shorelines of theState shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible; water resources shallbe managed in order to preserve and enhance water quality and to provideoptimum utilization of water resources; land resources shall be managed inorder to guide growth and development and to minimize damage to the naturalenvironment; and private property rights shall be preserved in accord with theConstitution of this State and of the United States.
(b) Goals. The goalsof the coastal area management system to be created pursuant to this Articleare as follows:
(1) To provide a managementsystem capable of preserving and managing the natural ecological conditions ofthe estuarine system, the barrier dune system, and the beaches, so as tosafeguard and perpetuate their natural productivity and their biological,economic and esthetic values;
(2) To insure that thedevelopment or preservation of the land and water resources of the coastal areaproceeds in a manner consistent with the capability of the land and water fordevelopment, use, or preservation based on ecological considerations;
(3) To insure theorderly and balanced use and preservation of our coastal resources on behalf ofthe people of North Carolina and the nation;
(4) To establishpolicies, guidelines and standards for:
a. Protection,preservation, and conservation of natural resources including but not limitedto water use, scenic vistas, and fish and wildlife; and management oftransitional or intensely developed areas and areas especially suited tointensive use or development, as well as areas of significant natural value;
b. The economicdevelopment of the coastal area, including but not limited to construction,location and design of industries, port facilities, commercial establishmentsand other developments;
c. Recreation andtourist facilities and parklands;
d. Transportation andcirculation patterns for the coastal area including major thoroughfares,transportation routes, navigation channels and harbors, and other publicutilities and facilities;
e. Preservation andenhancement of the historic, cultural, and scientific aspects of the coastalarea;
f. Protection ofpresent common‑law and statutory public rights in the lands and waters ofthe coastal area;
g. Any other purposesdeemed necessary or appropriate to effectuate the policy of this Article. (1973,c. 1284, s. 1; 1975, c. 452, s. 5; 1981, c. 932, s. 2.1.)
(a) Findings. It ishereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that amongNorth Carolina's most valuable resources are its coastal lands and waters. Thecoastal area, and in particular the estuaries, are among the most biologicallyproductive regions of this State and of the nation. Coastal and estuarinewaters and marshlands provide almost ninety percent (90%) of the mostproductive sport fisheries on the east coast of the United States. NorthCarolina's coastal area has an extremely high recreational and esthetic valuewhich should be preserved and enhanced.
In recent years the coastalarea has been subjected to increasing pressures which are the result of theoften‑conflicting needs of a society expanding in industrial development,in population, and in the recreational aspirations of its citizens. Unlessthese pressures are controlled by coordinated management, the very features ofthe coast which make it economically, esthetically, and ecologically rich willbe destroyed. The General Assembly therefore finds that an immediate andpressing need exists to establish a comprehensive plan for the protection,preservation, orderly development, and management of the coastal area of NorthCarolina.
In the implementation of thecoastal area management plan, the public's opportunity to enjoy the physical,esthetic, cultural, and recreational qualities of the natural shorelines of theState shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible; water resources shallbe managed in order to preserve and enhance water quality and to provideoptimum utilization of water resources; land resources shall be managed inorder to guide growth and development and to minimize damage to the naturalenvironment; and private property rights shall be preserved in accord with theConstitution of this State and of the United States.
(b) Goals. The goalsof the coastal area management system to be created pursuant to this Articleare as follows:
(1) To provide a managementsystem capable of preserving and managing the natural ecological conditions ofthe estuarine system, the barrier dune system, and the beaches, so as tosafeguard and perpetuate their natural productivity and their biological,economic and esthetic values;
(2) To insure that thedevelopment or preservation of the land and water resources of the coastal areaproceeds in a manner consistent with the capability of the land and water fordevelopment, use, or preservation based on ecological considerations;
(3) To insure theorderly and balanced use and preservation of our coastal resources on behalf ofthe people of North Carolina and the nation;
(4) To establishpolicies, guidelines and standards for:
a. Protection,preservation, and conservation of natural resources including but not limitedto water use, scenic vistas, and fish and wildlife; and management oftransitional or intensely developed areas and areas especially suited tointensive use or development, as well as areas of significant natural value;
b. The economicdevelopment of the coastal area, including but not limited to construction,location and design of industries, port facilities, commercial establishmentsand other developments;
c. Recreation andtourist facilities and parklands;
d. Transportation andcirculation patterns for the coastal area including major thoroughfares,transportation routes, navigation channels and harbors, and other publicutilities and facilities;
e. Preservation andenhancement of the historic, cultural, and scientific aspects of the coastalarea;
f. Protection ofpresent common‑law and statutory public rights in the lands and waters ofthe coastal area;
g. Any other purposesdeemed necessary or appropriate to effectuate the policy of this Article. (1973,c. 1284, s. 1; 1975, c. 452, s. 5; 1981, c. 932, s. 2.1.)
(a) Findings. It ishereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that amongNorth Carolina's most valuable resources are its coastal lands and waters. Thecoastal area, and in particular the estuaries, are among the most biologicallyproductive regions of this State and of the nation. Coastal and estuarinewaters and marshlands provide almost ninety percent (90%) of the mostproductive sport fisheries on the east coast of the United States. NorthCarolina's coastal area has an extremely high recreational and esthetic valuewhich should be preserved and enhanced.
In recent years the coastalarea has been subjected to increasing pressures which are the result of theoften‑conflicting needs of a society expanding in industrial development,in population, and in the recreational aspirations of its citizens. Unlessthese pressures are controlled by coordinated management, the very features ofthe coast which make it economically, esthetically, and ecologically rich willbe destroyed. The General Assembly therefore finds that an immediate andpressing need exists to establish a comprehensive plan for the protection,preservation, orderly development, and management of the coastal area of NorthCarolina.
In the implementation of thecoastal area management plan, the public's opportunity to enjoy the physical,esthetic, cultural, and recreational qualities of the natural shorelines of theState shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible; water resources shallbe managed in order to preserve and enhance water quality and to provideoptimum utilization of water resources; land resources shall be managed inorder to guide growth and development and to minimize damage to the naturalenvironment; and private property rights shall be preserved in accord with theConstitution of this State and of the United States.
(b) Goals. The goalsof the coastal area management system to be created pursuant to this Articleare as follows:
(1) To provide a managementsystem capable of preserving and managing the natural ecological conditions ofthe estuarine system, the barrier dune system, and the beaches, so as tosafeguard and perpetuate their natural productivity and their biological,economic and esthetic values;
(2) To insure that thedevelopment or preservation of the land and water resources of the coastal areaproceeds in a manner consistent with the capability of the land and water fordevelopment, use, or preservation based on ecological considerations;
(3) To insure theorderly and balanced use and preservation of our coastal resources on behalf ofthe people of North Carolina and the nation;
(4) To establishpolicies, guidelines and standards for:
a. Protection,preservation, and conservation of natural resources including but not limitedto water use, scenic vistas, and fish and wildlife; and management oftransitional or intensely developed areas and areas especially suited tointensive use or development, as well as areas of significant natural value;
b. The economicdevelopment of the coastal area, including but not limited to construction,location and design of industries, port facilities, commercial establishmentsand other developments;
c. Recreation andtourist facilities and parklands;
d. Transportation andcirculation patterns for the coastal area including major thoroughfares,transportation routes, navigation channels and harbors, and other publicutilities and facilities;
e. Preservation andenhancement of the historic, cultural, and scientific aspects of the coastalarea;
f. Protection ofpresent common‑law and statutory public rights in the lands and waters ofthe coastal area;
g. Any other purposesdeemed necessary or appropriate to effectuate the policy of this Article. (1973,c. 1284, s. 1; 1975, c. 452, s. 5; 1981, c. 932, s. 2.1.)
