Public hearings scheduled in August and September will allow public comment on proposed changes to North Carolina’s oceanfront development rules.

The proposed changes would incorporate the most recent average annual long-term erosion rate data into the state’s formula for determining setback distances for oceanfront construction. North Carolina’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) evaluates erosion rates about every five to ten years. The last update went into effect in 2003; the state seeks to update the regulations to use erosion data from 2011.

The setback regulations themselves will not change, just the data used to calculate the setbacks, said Ken Richardson, senior environmental specialist with DCM.

Setbacks are measured from the first line of stable natural vegetation. For structures of less than 5,000 square feet, the setback distance is determined by multiplying the average annual erosion rate by 30. The setback factor increases incrementally with structure size, reaching a maximum setback of 90 times the erosion rate for structures 100,000 square feet and larger.

The new data will present no change for oceanfront construction in many areas.

“In many places, the erosion rate stayed about the same [from 2003 to 2011] and in some cases decreased,” Richardson said. “Where you do see increases in the rates is usually around the inlets.”

Maps of the proposed oceanfront erosion rates are on DCM's website at http://dcm2.enr.state.nc.us/maps/erosion_rates_2011.htm.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission has scheduled a public hearing in each county that borders the ocean. Hearings for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties are as follows:
 
5 p.m. Aug. 28 – New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington
5 p.m. Aug. 29 – Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center, 75A Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach
3 p.m. Sept. 13 – Surf City Town Hall, 241 North New River Drive, Surf City

Anyone may submit written comments about the proposal to Braxton Davis, Division of Coastal Management, 400 Commerce Ave., Morehead City, NC 28557 or by email to [email protected]. The deadline for written comments is Oct. 1.

If adopted by the Coastal Resources Commission at its November meeting and approved by the state Rules Review Commission later this year, the updated erosion rates would become part of coastal development rules in early 2013.