07 Oct 2014
DOE to set higher standards for water heaters
The Department of Energy has made amendments to energy conservation standards on residential water heaters to go into effect on April 16, 2015. Energy output of water heaters are measured by an Energy Factor (EF) rating calculated by the DOE. The higher the EF, the more efficient the heater. The standards for EF ratings have
02 Oct 2014
ONSLOW COUNTY PLANNING BEGINS PROCESS OF AMENDING UDO
In September, the Onslow County Planning Board and Board of Adjustment had a joint work session to discuss the Unified Development Ordinance. According to County Planning Staff, the intent is to begin the process of potential ordinance changes this fall, with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2015. Some of the focus areas identified and
02 Oct 2014
Plan NHC Update: September 2014
Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC): Staff is pleased to announce the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) held its first meeting on September 4th. The first meeting was designed to gather input from members on what they hoped to achieve during the CAC process as well as a brief report from each theme committee representative. The next meeting
30 Sep 2014
Comprehensive Transportation Plan Public Meeting
NCDOT and Pender County will hold a public meeting to request input on the draft Pender County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, that primarily covers areas of Pender County West of US HWY 17 and North of NC HWY 210, including all Pender County’s Municipalities. The meeting will be held on October 7, 2014 from 4:30 pm
26 Sep 2014
Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) update
The N.C. Department of Transportation today released the final scores for division and regional projects, based on criteria contained in the Strategic Mobility Formula, a project prioritization process established last year by the new Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law . STI was created to make more efficient use of available funds, allowing for more local input and
26 Sep 2014
Update on gravel legislation
Senate Bill 734 was signed into law on 9/18/2014 and is now Session Law 2014-120 . The section that pertains to gravel begins on Page 31. In brief, the session law amends the definition of “built-upon area” such that “gravel” is no longer excluded from being considered “built-upon area.” The bill also prohibits the Environmental Management
23 Sep 2014
BASE and WRAR Host Successful Town Hall Meeting with NCDOI Commissioner Wayne Goodwin
BASE and the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS hosted a Town Hall meeting with NC Department of Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Monday afternoon. Goodwin spoke to a packed room about homeowner’s insurance and rate making in North Carolina. State and local elected officials attended, including: Rep. Rick Catlin, Rep. Ted Davis, Jr., Sen. Michael Lee,
16 Sep 2014
BASE Supports Wilmington Transportation Bond
When you go to the election booth in November, if you’re a resident of the City of Wilmington, you’ll have the opportunity to vote in support of a transportation bond which will go a long way toward supporting the needs of the community. The BASE Board of Directors voted unanimously in September to support the
12 Sep 2014
PRELIMINARY FLOOD MAPS OUT FOR BRUNSWICK, NEW HANOVER, PENDER
In September, 2000, North Carolina, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, began remapping the state’s floodplains using advanced digital floodpain mapping technology. Since then, flood maps for all 100 counties have been revised and are scheduled to be updated, on average, every five years. The NC Floodplain Mapping Program has recently released Preliminary
10 Sep 2014
US House Approves Bill to Stop Waters of US Rule Expansion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives passed the Regulatory Overreach Protection Act (H.R. 5078) which prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing new rules that would expand federal regulatory authority. The bill passed by a margin of 262-152 Having been at the Capitol this week working on this issue, BASE would like