North Carolina Statewide Joint Land Use Study
APA Federal Planning Division Outstanding Collaborative Planning Project Award, 2017
North Carolina is host to several military installations and facilities for each branch of the Armed Forces – Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Coast Guard. The State’s defense sector employs more than 416,000 people and accounts for more than $66 billion in annual economic impact, making this industry sector the second largest in the state.
Because the military footprint associated with operations necessary to ensuring global mission readiness covers a vast majority of the State’s geography – approximately 85 percent, the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission (NCMAC) selected Matrix Design Group to conduct a Statewide Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) with the aim of protecting and enhancing the State’s defense industry.
Working closely with the NCMAC, Matrix planners and military experts performed a thorough review of existing policies and regulations along with compatibility issues and identified for each installation, and then drafted a set of common goals and objectives. From these, a set of recommendations was developed to encourage communication, data sharing, and compatible land use planning without overregulation. A key recommendation was to Implement a statewide GIS database / mapping tool to improve understanding and enhance coordination between the military and jurisdictions, special interest groups, the development community, and the public.
Matrix conducted a robust engagement program to facilitate consensus-building and solutions across multiple branches of the military, local governments, communities, and stakeholders throughout the state. The NC Statewide JLUS has become a catalyst for productive collaboration between divergent stakeholders who, prior to the project, did not have a relationship. The JLUS has been instrumental in fostering communication, sound land use planning, and broad public awareness of the military’s economic value to the State.
Services Included:
- GIS
- Compatibility Planning / Joint Land Use Study
- General / Comprehensive Planning
- Public Engagement & Facilitation