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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />CHAPTER 1 <br />CREATING SUSTAINABLE <br />COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA <br /> <br />In the aftennath of an unprecedented series of major disasters, a statewide dialogue is taking place in Ciorth <br />Carolina among state and local officials, business leaders, educators, emironmentalists, lenders, agricultul'.tl <br />officials, and the public at large - on the range of issues associated with the redevelopment of communities <br />across eastern North Carolina, How can a community achieve a balanced approach to community <br />development and redet'elopment that promotes economic and social goals, while achieving the goals of <br />bazard mitigation and the conservati01/ of IUltural resources? <br /> <br />FOSTERING A DIALOGUE ON SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES <br /> <br />In many respects, the post-disaster dialogue is centering nn the quality of life in the state, particularly in rural <br />communities, The disaster has put a spotlight on the difficult plight of the small fanner in Ciorth Carolina, the <br />decline of once dominant agricultul'.tl sectors such as tobacco, the advance of agri.business and the atten- <br />dant emironmental problems posed by fanning at this scale, Communities such as the City of Kinston and <br />Lenoir Connty are examining ways to re~italize the dO\~lltown business district as an integral part of that <br />community's redevelopment stmtegy. Housing relocation options are being explored that couple flood <br />hazard protection with in-filling and other "smart grO\,1It" principles. Electric and water utility owners and <br />operalors are discussing sw.!tegies to make their utilities more resistant to flooding and high \lind, and <br />thereby ensuring their functionality in the next disaster, <br /> <br />The concept of sustainable development is increasingly under discussion, which recognizes the limits of the <br />earth's resources, and importance of managing development in a manner that does not compromise the <br /> <br />5 <br />