A Regional Sustainability InitiativeJon Parsons, P.E.

Executive Director

Charlotte

Triad(Greensboro)

Triangle(Raleigh)Mountains

Coast

The “Eco-Crescent”

Finance

Tourism

Creative & Knowledge-based

• Furniture

• Agriculture

• Textiles

But 1 “industry” remains strong….

The 3 traditional business sectors in the Sandhills are under stress.

Fort Bragg’s Impact on the Sandhills

Active Duty – 53,000

Reserve Components – 9,500

Temp Duty Students – 3,100

Mobilized Soldiers Assigned – 2,700

Civilian Employees – 8,800

Contractors – 3,500

Active Duty Family – 63,000

Retirees & Family – 98,500

TOTAL Population = 242,100 OR

35% of the Sandhills TOTAL

Threats to Fort Bragg’s Mission:

• Endangered species – the Red Cockaded Woodpecker

• Incompatible development

Private Lands Initiative

Joint Land Use Study(Regional Land Use Advisory

Commission – RLUAC)

AmmoDump!

Sandhills AreaLand Trust

Urban Growth Pattern

1930s1950s1970s1990s2000

Regional Land Use AdvisoryCommission (RLUAC)

Purpose- Promote a regional perspective on land use

- Provide forum for noise/accident potential problems and mitigations

- Foster compatible land uses

- Foster increased economic development related to military

Joint Land Use Study - Completed in 2003, it addressed parcels in a 1 mile buffer zone

surrounding the Installation

- Identified “critical” and “important” civilian parcels for conservation to ensure compatible land use in the 1 mile buffer zone

Threats to Fort Bragg’s Mission:

• Endangered species (RCW)

• Incompatible development

Population growth, resource scarcity & degradation

Private Lands Initiative

Joint Land Use Study – RLUAC

Fort Bragg BRAC Regional Task Force

Montgomery(27,153)(33,211)(+22%)

Moore(79,342)

(111,856)(+41%)

Lee(50,146)(66,238)(+32%)

Harnett(99,628)

(163,176)(+64%)

Cumberland(310,850)(371,446)(+19%)

Hoke(38,626)(73,854)(+91%)

Scotland(36,864)(39,976)(+8%)

Richmond(46,452)(46,938)(+1%)

Estimated Population2005 – 690,0002030 – 940,000

250,000 new residents

County Name(2004 population)(2030 estimate)

(% growth)

BRAC 2005: Add another 40,000-50,000!

BRAC Regional Task Force

PurposeTo coordinate the community planning effort for the shortfalls and requirements in the counties and municipalities affected by BRAC actions at Fort Bragg & Pope AFB

ScopeServe as the liaison between the military; the affected communities; the local & state government agencies impacted; and the federal agencies providing economic assistance to the region.

BRAC RTF Planning CommitteesHousing Workforce DevelopmentSchools Business & Defense ContractorsTransportation Infrastructure: Public Works/Safety/RecreationMedical Compatible DevelopmentArts & Culture Meeting & Convention Facilities

Sustainable SandhillsPurpose and Structure

PurposePromote and implement

sustainable practices and projects in the Sandhills.

Sustainable Sandhills Teams

1. Water Quality and Quantity2. Materials Use & Waste3. Energy Use4. Air Quality5. Sustainable Land Use

Sustainable Fort Bragg Goal Teams

1. Water Use2. Water Quality3. Waste Reduction4. Green Purchasing5. Green Building6. Energy Conservation7. Air Quality - Commuting8. Air Quality – Alt Fuels9. Land - Compatible Use10. Land – Training

5 Community Resource Teams

WATER

MATERIALS USE

ENERGY USE

AIR

Sustainable LAND USE

Sustainable Land Use Team

USEPA Grant award 3 years (7/05 – 7/08)

$265,000

Develop a GIS-basedSustainable Land Use Toolkit for the REGION

“Painless” public workshops!

Sustainable Land Use

What is it?

?

Break the Problem Down!

Concentrate on 5 distinct Land UsesDevelopment – Industrial, Commercial, ResidentialConservation – Working Lands, Natural Lands

Suitability MapsAssets & Constraints

Development ASSETS

ASSET LIST • In or near city limit• Near public water• Near public sewer• Appropriate parcel size• Near primary roads• Near active rail service• Influence of Fort Bragg• Near schools

Mount Gilead, Industrial Park

38 Acres

Town of Troy, Business Center - 55 Acres

AmmoDump!

Development Constraints

CONSTRAINT LIST

• Too near Ft. Bragg

• Steep slope

• Wet soils (hydric)

• Flood zones

• Wetlands

• Septic suitability

1 of 5 “Suitability Maps”

Red - most suitableOrange - suitableYellow - less suitableGreens - least suitable

Commercial Development

Add the primary roads

Commercial Development

Red - most suitableOrange - suitableYellow - less suitableGreens - least suitable

1 of 5 “Suitability Maps”

What’s next?

• Overlay 5 maps into ONE

• Add special places –

historic, cultural, recreation

• Add statistics/reporting tools

• Highlight opportunities for

sustainable land use

What’s next?

Alternative Futures

3 development scenarios 1. Business as usual

2. Incremental change

3. “Deep” change

Variable impacts on• Air quality• Water quality & quantity• Traffic, health, income….

Collaborative Planning EffortA THREE-WAY STREET!!

BRAC RTF: Comprehensive Growth Management Plan

- Major socio-economic study to identify requirements caused by BRAC growth in 11 county region (OEA)

RLUAC: Joint Land Use Study UPDATE

- Expand area of study from 1 mile to 5 mile zone (OEA)

Sustainable Sandhills: Expand Scope of EPA grant

- Add “alternative futures” module (EPA request)

- Expand region from 8 to 11 counties (OEA)

- Incorporate new socio-economic data from BRAC-RTF study into the EPA’s GIS-based project (OEA)

Sustainable Land Use

Think of the region like a quiltWe’re simply organizing the pieces

So what’ll it be???

A crazy quilt?

Or sustainable future?

A Regional Sustainability InitiativeJon Parsons, P.E.

Executive Directorwww.sustainablesandhills.org

jonparsons@sustainablesandhills.org 910-484-9098