You may have seen New Hanover County Commissioner Rick Catlin discussing potential "nonattainment" in New Hanover County. Here's what that would mean to you:

The Clean Air Act requires that EPA set national air quality standards for certain pollutants.  One of those pollutants is Sulfur Dioxide (S02).  In June 2010, EPA strengthened the primary national standard for sulfur dioxide.  This change was brought about as a result of scientific studies that provided strong evidence for a link between short term exposures to S02 and adverse respiratory outcomes http://www.epa.gov/air/sulfurdioxide. In revising this standard, EPA believes that they will improve public health, especially for children, the elderly, and people with asthma - which are the groups most susceptible to the health problems associated with breathing S02. In North Carolina, the new standard has a particularly significant effect on New Hanover County, because S02 monitoring data conducted between 2008-2010 shows that levels of S02 in the County exceed the new standard.  New Hanover County is the only area in North Carolina where monitoring results exceed the new standard.  

The City of Wilmington is undertaking an ongoing CBD preservation/teardown ordinance discussion. This item was initially presented at the February Planning Commission meeting. At that meeting in February, BASE suggested that the Planning Commission hold a work session to understand the proposal prior to taking action. That work session was held and illustrated a number of potential complications with the ordinance as proposed.

The proposal reflects a good faith effort by an ad hoc group. The upside is that it intends to provide incentives for preservation. BASE remains concerned regarding the impacts on property rights downtown. Unfortunately, one of the proposal's major benefits (Transfer of Development Rights) is not legal in North Carolina and should be removed from the proposal. That said, it appears that this draft could be a step in the right direction, provided several changes are made before moving forward. To their credit, City Planning Staff has made significant revisions and clarifications to get a draft document before for consideration. However, there are additional issues which staff has outlined and identified as "considerations." These should be resolved, in addition to the changes requested below, prior to moving forward.