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The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and the Division of Water Quality are proposing amendments to Coastal Stormwater Rules that would affect ALL LAND in twenty coastal counties including Dare, Currituck, Bertie, Camden, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington, and others.  Although these rules are similar to the Phase II rules that New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow Counties were mandated to follow as of July 1, 2007, they are actually MORE RESTRICTIVE and will have TREMENDOUS IMPACT on any development or redevelopment activities.

These proposed rules include:

• Lowering the threshold for permitting from 1 acre of land disturbance to 10,000 square feet.
• Extending the existing 30-foot vegetative setback to 50 feet.
• Reducing the threshold within 1/2 mile of shellfishing (SA) waters from 25% to 12% impervious surface density (built upon area).
• Any project over 12% lot coverage will need a structurally engineered stormwater system on site to control and treat stormwater runoff based on the one-year 24-hour storm calculations.
• Reducing the threshold for development activities beyond 1/2 mile SA waters from 30% to 24%.  Any development projects will require the structurally engineered stormwater system as described above.
• Prohibits the use of all wetland impervious surface calculations for projects covered under these rules.