Steering Barrier Island Communities toward a more sustainable future /.

Report in draft format June 13, 2001.

Contents : Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Long term redesign and redevelopment strategy for survival and prosperity -- Chapter 3. Plan Component One: A Community vision -- Chapter 4. Plan Component Two : A physical design for the redevelopment of a barrier Island Community -- Chapter 5. Component three: an action program to guide redevelopment of the community over time -- Chapter 6. Resources of local officials.

This book proposes a fresh strategy for North Carolina beach communitis coping with the dilemma of their barrier island location. The dilemma is one of facing the future under the circumstances where the community is already largely developed, with hugh public and private investment already in place, dependent on the so-called beach economy, and located in a very fragile and hazardous location. The strategy proposed here calls for a virtual sea change of direction from current policy, but not abandonment of the island. It suggests that a barrier island community can redesign itself and redevelop itself over the intermediate to long run in a way that provides a sustainable future on the island. In that way, barrier islands can maintain their beach economy and quality of life. But it will require a strong vision, political courage, and match perserverance.