By Michelle Saxton
Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island and Lea Island could be affected by a bill that passed the U.S. House earlier this month to remove from coastal protection zones some areas under development so they can get flood insurance.
Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., sponsored House Resolution 3572, which would revise the boundaries of certain Coastal Barrier Resources System units.
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 aimed to identify areas of undeveloped land on coastal barriers that were prone to damage by natural disasters and to prevent such land from harmful development, McIntyre has said. To discourage development in those areas homeowners within the zones are ineligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.
But when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mapped the zones in the 7th Congressional District, areas already under development at the time were mistakenly included, McIntyre said, such as units L07, L08, and L09 – in Lea Island, Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island.
The bill, which most recently was with the U.S. Senate, would update the zones to remove 127 acres and about 30 homes from those zones, McIntyre said.
“Our bill makes these changes and will provide financial relief to North Carolina’s coastal homeowners and ensure protection of some of the state’s most precious natural resources,” McIntyre said in a Dec. 9 email. “It’s imperative that we protect these natural areas and keep them pristine for generations to come.”
Coastal Barrier Resources Act zones are meant to discourage development in environmentally sensitive areas — such as places that are low-lying or near inlets — by barring those areas from federal flood insurance, said Wrightsville Beach Town Manager Tim Owens.
Some local officials raised concerns after boundaries were changed several years ago, Owens said, adding that while to his knowledge those changes had yet to take effect, McIntyre’s bill would correct the areas of concern.
“This law would be a pre-emptive strike to correct those maps,” Owens said Dec. 9.
North Carolina released preliminary maps earlier this year showing changes similar to those in the federal bill, and Owens said no matter how the issue is settled it should be OK.
“Either way it looks favorable for Wrightsville Beach that we’re not bringing in either developable or already developed property into the CBRA zone,” Owens said.
The U.S. House voted 410 to 7 to pass the bill on Dec. 2.
Besides North Carolina, the bill would affect areas in Florida, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
It also would add protections to about 891 acres of undeveloped coastal barrier areas, McIntyre said.
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., was pleased with the House vote and was working with the committee of jurisdiction to see if the bill can move forward before Congress adjourns, his press secretary, Rachel Hicks, said Dec. 5.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has sponsored the bill on the Senate side, McIntyre said, adding they are working to ensure quick passage of the legislation.
McIntyre, co-chairman of the Congressional Waterways Caucus, said he has worked with constituents, homeowners, business owners, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers to craft the bill.
McIntyre announced at the beginning of the year he would retire at the end of this term — his ninth in Congress. The Robeson County native said then he had yet to determine what he would do next but wanted to continue helping North Carolina in the public or private sector.
Republican David Rouzer, a Johnston County native and former state senator, will succeed McIntyre and take office next month.
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