Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Coastal Diversity Task Force Proposed by NC Sea Grant

North Carolina Sea Grant proposed today that the state set up a Waterfront Access Task Force to collaborate with the NC Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center to help our state keep its coastal heritage in the face of ever-increasing development pressure. Historic fish houses on the Outer Banks, community boat docks and piers, and every other open piece of land along the NC coast have been falling like dominoes to new real estate development for years and many are starting to worry that in a few decades our coast will be nothing more than luxury homes. North Carolina fishermen have been especially concerned because of the loss of access to great fishing waters as docks, ramps, and piers have vanished. Some of the new proposals for the General Assembly include property tax breaks for owners so that land is taxed on its use value rather than it's highest value. North Carolina farmers currently are taxed with this model. Other ideas include water access easement tax incentives to those who give up development rights on parts of their land. We are exited to see folks working to preserve the character of the coast and Outer Banks and we hope that some useful compromises can be reached. More on the proposed task force is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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