Planning for Green Growth: A Case Study of Gates County, North Carolina
Abstract
In the United States, most discussion surrounding sustainable development has focused
on urban areas, but the implementation of sustainable design principles in rural regions
is equally important. Gates County, a rural jurisdiction in northeastern North Carolina,
is a community proud of its history, agricultural way of life, and unique environmental
attributes that include ecologically valuable wetlands, forests, and waterways. With
a low median household income and a high poverty rate, however, the region is also
in need of economic growth. County residents have been largely united in their opposition
to a U.S. Navy proposal to build an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in the area, and
citizens have responded by considering alternative development that would be less
environmentally and socially damaging. Citizens and decision makers are therefore
faced with the challenge of planning ways in which they can develop sustainably, balancing
the needs for economic growth, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.
This study identifies residents’ views and opinions of sustainable development, the
current strengths and weaknesses of Gates County, and the areas in which growth would
be most valuable. Citizens have identified tourism and the establishment of local
businesses as vital to green growth and have expressed a strong desire for citizen
participation throughout the planning process. When analyzed in light of sustainable
development principles and case studies of other rural communities that have overcome
similar challenges, these opinions provide insight into how county planners, officials,
and residents can satisfy their need for sustained economic improvement while simultaneously
ensuring that their environmental and societal resources will persist through future
generations. Recommendations are provided as to how Gates County can combine business
development, renewable energy, stormwater management, and land use regulations with
citizen participation and education to create a comprehensive plan for a sustainable
future. While these suggestions are tailored specifically to Gates County, they are
designed to serve as a model that can be implemented in other rural areas as well.
Type
Master's projectSubject
sustainabilitysustainable development
environmental planning
community
North Carolina
Gates County
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3711Citation
Cohen, Brian (2011). Planning for Green Growth: A Case Study of Gates County, North Carolina. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3711.Collections
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