15A NCAC 07L .0507. MINIMUM CAMA LAND USE PLANNING AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

(a)  Each year DCM shall develop a list of local governments with whom DCM shall initiate a scoping process during the upcoming five years and the year in which DENR expects to have funds available for each local government desiring to seek DENR funding.

(b)  To receive funding from DENR, counties shall, at a minimum, prepare a CAMA Core land use plan, as described in 15A NCAC 07B.

(c)  To receive funding under this grant program for CAMA Core land use plan development, municipalities must have AECs within their jurisdiction and meet the population and growth rate thresholds as shown in Figure 1.  To receive funding under this grant program, municipalities with Ocean Hazard AECs must, at a minimum, prepare a CAMA Core land use plan.  Additionally, municipalities with non-Ocean Hazard AECs shall at a minimum prepare a CAMA Core land use plan if they meet the population and growth rate thresholds as shown in Figure 1.  Municipalities with only non-Ocean Hazard AECs that are at or below the population and growth rate thresholds shown in Figure 1 may prepare a CAMA Core land use plan or a Workbook Plan as described in 15A NCAC 07B.  In addition, community characteristics other than those listed in Figure 1, such as extent of growth and resource protection issues (such as water quality concerns) being addressed by the municipality, shall be considered during the scoping process described in 15A NCAC 07L .0505 when determining the final planning option to be funded.

(d)  Municipalities that do not meet the minimum plan-making authority of G.S. 113A-110(c) or those with no AECs within their planning jurisdiction shall not be funded for individual plans except under special circumstances and if funds are available.  Examples of special circumstances include:  the existence of non-AEC fragile areas (such as federally regulated wetlands, historic and cultural resources, critical wildlife habitats and scenic areas), land use compatibility problems or unexpected growth pressures, such as the relocation of major industry to the area.

(e)  Figure 1 illustrates the criteria DENR shall use to determine the minimum types of plans that shall be expected and funded for municipalities.

 

Figure 1:  PRESUMED MINIMUM FUNDING FOR MUNICIPAL CAMA LAND USE PLANS

		AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (AECs)
POPULATION	GROWTH RATE*	OCEAN HAZARD AREAS	NON-OCEAN HAZARD AREAS**	AECs NOT PRESENT  OR DO NOT MEET 113A-110 (c) ***
≥ 5,000	N/A
≥ 2,500	HIGH
>1,000 and < 2,500	HIGH
<1,000	HIGH
≥ 2,500	MODERATE
< 2,500	MODERATE
≥ 2,500	LOW
< 2,500	LOW

 

Core Plan                              Core or Workbook plan- to be determined in                                No Funding

the scoping process

 

(f)  CAMA Land Use Plans shall be funded as follows:

(1)           The North Carolina Department of Commerce's Tier designations, as outlined by the Lee Act (G.S. 105-129.3), shall be used to determine the economic status of counties.  Counties designated as Tier 1 and Tier 2 shall be considered economically distressed.  Economically distressed counties that prepare a CAMA Core land use plan shall be funded at no more than 75 percent of the project costs, although lower percentages of funding may be provided.  Counties that prepare a CAMA Core land use plan and do not have a Tier 1 or Tier 2 designation shall be funded at no more than 65 percent of the project cost, although lower percentages of funding may be provided.

(2)           Municipalities preparing CAMA Core land use plans shall be funded at no more than 60 percent of the project cost, although lower percentages of funding may be provided.

(3)           Counties and municipalities preparing CAMA Advanced Core land use plans, as described in 15A NCAC 07B, shall be funded at no more than 75 percent, except for Tier 1 and Tier 2 designated counties preparing CAMA Advanced Core land use plans.  If so designated, these County plans shall be funded at no more than 85 percent, although lower funding percentages may be provided.  Eligibility for funding to prepare a CAMA Advanced Core land use plan shall be determined during the scoping process and shall be based on the level of planning proposed by the local government.  To be considered for funding to prepare a CAMA Advanced Core land use plan, the proposal must demonstrably maintain or improve local environmental conditions and advance the local government towards implementation of its currently certified CAMA land use plan.

(4)           Municipalities preparing CAMA Workbook land use plans may receive no more than three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) for map preparation only.

(5)           Local governments that choose to combine individual plans into joint or regional plans shall be eligible for funding not to exceed the amount that would have been provided for individual plans.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113A‑112; 113A‑124;

Eff. August 1, 2002.