Questions and Answers From Interviews With Royce Bennett

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[I'm a] County Commissioner working to improve Onslow communities: Health and Safety, Parks and Schools, Focused Growth and Development, Fiscally Responsible, keeping government accountable. Small business owner (Shepherd Shoppe Christian Book Store/Realtor), married 41 years, with children, grandchildren and parents living in Onslow. Church Deacon and former music director of Blue Creek Baptist Church. Chairman ONWASA, Founder/Vice-Chair, Onslow Strong (OSDRA), Salvation Army Board Chair. As a 12 year old junior Fire Fighter, I learned to support the Volunteer Fire Service. At age 16 I was a Certified EMT. I served 14 years as a Law Enforcement Officer. This is why I always support emergency services. Looking to the future- I will continue to work to keep taxes down and to ensure that essential services, parks and school will accommodate our growing communities. 

My core beliefs are founded in my Christian worldview. I have studied the Holy Bible since age seven. I read through the Bible every year. As a former Christian Book Store owner I read Christian writers extensively. John Maxwell, Phil Waldrep, Mark Lowrey, Tim LaHay just to name a few. As a Commissioner I consider all facts and all sides of an issue. I stay up on current events by reading, listening and watching news sources.

Control Spending: Provide a high-performing government with a debt management plan and long-term strategies to meet the needs of Onslow Citizens.

Create Prosperity: Growing business and industry, reducing regulation and government red tape.

Community Needs: Improving and expanding parks, recreation opportunities, emergency services, infrastructure and housing demand. 

Working to make ONSLOW the Community of Choice in Coastal North Carolina!

I have a proven record of responsive service to all. My door is always open. I care about the future of our families and the communities where they live, work and grow. I want to continue leading Onslow County with your needs as my guide . 

Q:  In unincorporated Hubert, residential and commercial development has

proceeded faster than road capacity, drainage, emergency response coverage,

and school infrastructure. What specific policies or enforceable mechanisms

would you support to ensure that infrastructure is constructed before or

concurrent with new re-zonings or major development approvals, rather than

promised after the fact?

A:  Onslow’s Horizon 2040 Comprehensive Land-Use Plan was developed with participation

by residents across our county, inside and outside city limits and USMC properties, to

guide all types of development.

In considering the explosive growth of our county’s population, Onslow Commissioners

have developed a ten-year capital plan that includes building for future schools and

emergency services capacity.

Onslow’s seats on the NCDOT Transportation Advisory Committee allow us to provide a

local perspective and encourage road improvements where needed. As you likely know,

NC Dept. of Transportation controls development and repair of our roads. Counties are

not allowed, by law, to have “county road departments” in this state.

As chairman of the ONWASA Board of Directors, I am proud to report that the

Authority’s ten-year capital improvement plan anticipates growth that may occur in

Hubert and other neighborhoods and provides - ahead of time - for future water and

sewer needs.

Stormwater management – “drainage”, is a function of the NC Division of Water Quality.

All development plans that affect stormwater in Onslow are automatically referred to

NCDEQ. Onslow Commissioners recently adopted a resolution requiring county

facilities and county-funded facilities to consider stormwater management alternatives in

future construction. I believe that this proactive approach to stormwater management

will encourage private developers and other businesses, home builders, including

owner-builders, to utilize alternative stormwater management systems.

Please come to the grand reopening of Onslow Enrichment Center – 4024 Richlands

Highway, where Senior Services, Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water

Conservation District offices will be relocated. You’ll see several stormwater

management features, including utilization of runoff for irrigation of the adjacent

Discovery Gardens. Watch for news of the Open House this coming Springtime.

Q:  Residents of unincorporated Hubert cannot vote in municipal elections yet aredirectly affected by county zoning and land-use decisions. How should resident

consent or meaningful representation be incorporated into rezoning decisions that

significantly alter density, land use, or community character in unincorporated areas?

A:  You’re right. Residents who live outside city limits, in unincorporated Onslow, do not

vote in “city” (municipal) elections, regardless of zip code; rather, they have elected to be

represented by County Commissioners and other public office holders. Two of your

seven Onslow commissioners live in the Hubert/Swansboro area. But no matter their

residence, Onslow Commissioners must be responsive to the needs of all communities.

Whether from Hubert or any other communities outside “city limits”, I hope all residents

will consider helping guide Onslow by serving as citizen volunteers on the County’s

Planning Board, Board of Adjustment or the many other governing boards and

committees. Re-zoning and major development applications are advertised and

approved by these boards at open public meetings, after which those documented

decisions go before Onslow Commissioners.

Meetings of your Board of County Commissioners are open to everyone, and public

comment is appreciated. If you can’t attend in person, the meetings are livestreamed on

the local G10 TV channel, via the county’s website, and on Facebook, with opportunities

to submit written comments.

I encourage all interested community members to voice their concerns, ideas or

recommendations at public meetings and/or directly with Onslow Commissioners. I

welcome the opportunity to meet with you – my door is always open. Give me a call --

Let’s Talk Onslow! 910-389-9638

State law allows municipalities, such as the Town of Swansboro, to extend

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) over zoning, subdivision regulations, and building codes

beyond city limits. Swansboro’s ETJ land use decisions may affect Hubert, even though

it lies beyond the boundary. State legislation keeps counties from having any control

over ETJs. I believe this should change, requiring mutual city-county agreement

involving land use in ETJs, and allowing for affected landowners to have a say.

Q:  When developers obtain rezoning or approvals based on stated commitments—such

as traffic mitigation, buffering, environmental protections, or infrastructure

improvements—what accountability measures should apply if those commitments

are later modified, delayed, or not fulfilled?

A:  It is the job of Onslow’s Planning and Development Department to ensure that builders

and developers abide by the conditions enumerated in their permits, including any State

requirements. When issues are identified during the inspection process, correction isrequired before development can continue. In some cases, security bonds are required

to assure compliance.

Any changes or modification in commitments must be approved by all parties involved.

These are public records, open to everyone.

In NC, counties are not allowed to require compensation or construction to address

future impacts.

Q:   Traffic impact analyses are typically funded by project applicants. Should the County

require independent or third-party verification of traffic studies for developments that

materially affect major corridors such as NC-24, Sandridge Road, Riggs Road, or

Queens Creek Road?

A:   Traffic studies are required by the NCDOT for all major developments on a state road –

which means roads outside of cities, even those within sub-divisions if they are state

maintained. Vendors who complete these studies are approved by the DOT and paid for

by the developer. State law does not allow Counties to have a role in vendor selection

for NCDOT. Any other independent review would be the burden of the taxpayers, not the

applicant.

Q:   Residents frequently observe active land disturbance without visible permit boards or

erosion controls. What changes would you support to ensure consistent, proactive

enforcement of land-disturbance and erosion-control requirements in unincorporated

areas?

A:   State regulations require a soil and erosion permit from NCDEQ when a lot of one-acre

or more is cleared. When a developer obtains a county permit, part of the process is to

first ensure that the appropriate DEQ permits are already in place.

Citizens who are concerned about land clearing may verify permits by contacting Onslow

County Planning and Permitting or NC Division of Water Quality.

When county inspectors determine that land is disturbed in violation of permitting (or lack

of permitting), they report these violations to the appropriate authority.

Residents may contact code enforcement / inspectors at 910-455-3661 ext. 3. Hubert

United has a good record of reporting potential land use violations.

Violators may be assessed penalties and/or required to perform damage remediation.

Q:   How should the County define and protect rural character in unincorporated

communities while balancing development pressures from surrounding

municipalities?

A:   The Horizon 2040 Comprehensive Land-Use Plan is intended to guide development and

preserve rural areas while still allowing development where appropriate. The Plan

designates urban growth as well as rural areas.

Our county’s Volunteer Agricultural District accords protection and preservation of

enrolled agricultural lands and activities and is reflected on Onslow’s GIS maps.

Rural landscapes and land uses contribute to Onslow’s unique character, and are part of

why folks visit, work and live here. Preservation of individual property rights must always

be respected.

Critical areas such as unstable slopes, waterways, shorelines or native wetlands are

protected by multiple Federal, State and local regulations.

Q:  At what point does incremental commercial rezoning along major corridors

constitute overdevelopment, and how should cumulative impacts be evaluated

before approvals are granted?

A:   We must all care about respecting the rights of private property owners while balancing

the need for commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential areas’ growth in our

communities, and ensuring essential services for healthy and safe neighborhoods.

We need jobs for new graduates and newcomers, and we need more workforce and

affordable housing and supporting businesses and services.

Onslow’s Land-Use Plan and Zoning ordinances (Horizon 2040) guide decisions and

control over-development.

Cumulative impacts are always part of the consideration and are addressed within legal

restraints. State laws prohibit counties from requiring mitigation efforts for future impacts.

Q:   Should the County require formal, written findings for zoning, land-use, and

enforcement decisions affecting unincorporated communities, and if so, how would

that improve public trust and accountability?

A:   All meetings of the Board of Adjustment, Planning Board and Board of Commissioners

are open to the public, with public comment allowed, and meetings are fully

documented; minutes are recorded and available to the public.

In addition, most Commissioner meetings are live-streamed, video recorded and

produced on the county website and Facebook page. Everyone is welcome to attend,

comment and/or watch all proceedings.

Whenever you have a question, want to share an idea, or propose a solution – I’d

appreciate hearing from you! Give me a call – 910-389-9638. Let’s talk Onslow!

Q:   When development proceeds without sufficient infrastructure funding, existing

residents often bear the cost. What policies would you support to prevent this cost

shift from developers to taxpayers?

A:    Our State restricts local government’s ability to shift costs to developers.

Counties CANNOT by law charge for or directly require contributions to support

infrastructure or assess “impact fees”.

However, for water/sewer (such as ONWASA), “system development fees” (formerly

called “Tap Fees”) are charged to help offset the costs. Developers are required to

install infrastructure and deed it to the utility after construction. Similar processes are

used by electric utilities – the developer is required to build the infrastructure and deed it

over to the utility. Most roadways constructed in business or residential developments

must meet State DOT requirements, after which the State assumes responsibility for

maintenance.

I will continue to advocate for changes in State law to allow local governments to recoup

more of our infrastructure expenses.

When Onslow tax assessors re-evaluate property values (which they’re doing this year)

those properties that were previously assessed at a prior (unimproved) value will be

raised to reflect their higher (improved) market value. This equalizes the costs of

government services across all properties.

Q:   If Hubert remains unincorporated over the next decade or longer, what is the

County’s long-term strategy to ensure infrastructure adequacy, land-use stability, and

quality of life for residents?

A:   These issues are important to me – not just as your Onslow Commissioner, but also as a

father and grandfather and small business owner who cares about the future of where

we live.

I am committed to continuing to plan to support the future growth of Onslow

communities. Onslow’s Comprehensive Land-Use Plan (Horizon 2040), along with

Capitol Improvement Plans, are updated at regular intervals to meet community needs.

I will continue to work to improve quality-of-life issues. For example, Onslow residents

have indicated in all studies that they want additional recreational opportunities. I am

working to site, fund and develop parks, playing fields and other recreational

opportunities for Onslow communities, including the Hubert area.

I am determined to establish a permanent funding source for our Volunteer Fire

Departments, and, specific to the Hubert area, to build a permanent ambulance station in the northeastern section of Onslow, and expand capacity of the Bear Creek Fire

Department.