(A) Intent. The Maritime Forest Environmental District (MFED) is established to conserve the natural resources and environment located within the town collectively known as the Maritime Forest. The MFED is created to require that any development be compatible with the environmentally-sensitive setting of Nags Head Woods Maritime Forest. Specifically, the MFED is designed to:
(1) Conserve the integrity of the natural canopy of the area and protect features, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Components of the groundwater storage and recharge system which are necessary for growth and maintenance of maritime forest vegetation. Such components include ponds, lowlands, marshes, bay forests and wetlands;
(b) Vegetation acting as soil stabilizers or which provides significant storm or salt protection value, including dune ridge plant communities and scrub forests;
(2) Permit very low density residential development of those portions of the district suitable for residential use and to encourage open space and limited recreational use of portions not suitable for residential use.
(B) Basis.
(1) The Nags Head Woods is an irreplaceable maritime forest. It is one of the few remaining maritime forests in North Carolina and consists of ecologically important marshland, pine hammocks, bay forest, ridge forest, hardwood and pine forests, ponds and dunes.
(2) Each part of this natural system is important to the survival of the whole system. Guidelines must be established to protect the fragile nature of the ecosystem and prevent the possibility of imbalance. The Maritime Forest is integral and vital for the groundwater replenishment cycle of the Outer Banks.
(Ord. 91-08, passed 11-18-91; Am. Ord. 01-02, passed 2-28-01; Am. Ord. 18-4, passed 6-14-21)