Washington’s City Council, during its meeting today, is scheduled to receive information about reducing the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction.

City officials have discussed relinquishing some of its extra-territorial jurisdiction for more than a year. Currently, that jurisdiction extends a mile and a half.

The extra-territorial jurisdiction, known as an ETJ, is a zoning overlay that allows the city to zone areas outside its city limits in order to plan for future growth. In North Carolina, the state gives municipalities far-reaching powers to control planning and growth for up to three miles beyond their municipal limits, or one mile for smaller towns. Areas included in an ETJ “must be based on existing or projected urban development and areas of critical concern for the city, as evidenced by officially-adopted plans for its development,” according to state law.

City staff, according to a memorandum from John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural resources, to the mayor and council members, will study four areas for possible removal from the ETJ. Those areas are the Whichard’s Beach and Sand Hole Road area, U.S. Highway 17 (north of the city) and Market Street Extension area, the Cherry Road to Corsica Road to CBH Lodge Road area and the Asbury Church Road and Mimosa Shores Road area.

“The adjustment will more accurately reflect the potential future growth patterns and utility service areas of the City of Washington,” according to Rodman.

In the memorandum, Rodman outlines a procedure to implement, if the council decides to pursue reducing the ETJ. That procedure includes the following four items:

• present an ETJ-reduction report to the council;
• the Planning Board conducts a hearing on the matter;
• the council conducts a hearing, followed by possible adoption of a resolution to reduce the ETJ;
• establish an effective date for the city to implement reduction of the ETJ.

Although there may be several reasons for the city to reduce its ETJ, remarks made by City Manager Bobby Roberson earlier this year could provide insight into one reason the city is looking at the issue.

“Because annexation laws have actually changed, I don’t anticipate us doing what is known as forced standard procedures regarding annexation. I’d like the Planning Board to look at reducing the ETJ. Specifically, I’m concerned about is we spend a tremendous amount of time over at Whichard’s Beach,” Roberson, a former council member, said during the council’s Feb. 22 meeting. “We’ve been over there for years and years. Whenever we have a flood, we have to go in and make inspections. Unfortunately, for us, we have to enforce the regulations for people who got a building permit, who said they just wanted to enclose it, then all of a sudden they have a room. They they’ll file for flood insurance and we have to go over there and tell them they’re in violation of the zoning ordinance. Otherwise, we get negative effects on our flood insurance (program).”

The city is working on improving its flood-insurance rating so its property owners could possible benefit from lower flood-insurance premiums.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. today in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “City Agendas.” Locate the appropriate agenda (by date)  under the “Washington City Council” heading, then click on that specific agenda listing.