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4. Housing Analysis
4.1 Housing Inventory
Table 4.1 shows the inventory breakdown of housing in Northampton County since the 2000
Census.
Table 4.1
Housing Units, Northampton County (includes Towns)
Single Family Mobile Home Multi-Family TOTAL
Units % Units % Unit % Units
2000 Housing
Units', 2
5,288 80.8 891 13.6 368 5.6 6,547
2005 housing Units
5,816 81.5 950 13.3 371 5.2 7,137
2010- 2014 ACS Housing Units
5,905 80.6 761 10.3 656 8.9 7,322
1 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, 2000, Census of Population and Housing 2 Mobile Home total for 2000 includes 12 other living unit types reported, including boats, RVs, and vans. Source: US Census Bureau Data 2011, American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate 2010-2014 ACS estimates are period estimates that describe the average characteristics of population and housing over a period of data collection.
Table 4.2 below shows the breakdown in housing types from the 2016 reassessment by the Northampton County Commissioner of Revenue.
Table 4.2
Housing Types
Item Description Quantity 1 Single-Family 5,789
2 Double-wide Mobile Homes 511
3 Single-wide Mobile Homes 757
4 Duplex 113
5 Garden Apartments 13
6 Walk-up Apartments 7
7 Condos 166
8 Townhouses 4
9 Multi-Family 42 Source: Northampton County Commissioner of Revenue
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Housing is available in a wide variety of sizes and ages. Many houses reflect the historic prosperity of the area and coastal cottage charm.
Historic Eastern Shore House
Additional general housing characteristics for Northampton County are presented in Table 5.3. This table characterizes the housing stock in terms of ownership and vacancy.
The County’s total housing units over the period covered in Table 4.3 increased from 19% from 6,132 to 7,322, while renter occupied units decreased 22% and vacant units increased 183%. As of 2014, vacant units represented 29% of the total housing uni ts of which 47% were seasonal. The increase in vacant units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use coupled with their increasing cost and the County’s limited number of subsidized and affordable housing units resulted in a rental market with limited opportunities for low to moderate income families. An affordability gap exists between what households can afford and what homes sell for. The median value of owner occupied homes in Northampton County declined 23% from $211,700 in 2009 to $162,500 in 2014. County Median Household income, however, over the same period declined 4.9% from $36,450 to $34,656 while the state’s median income increased 7.4% from $60,316 to $64,792. It should be noted that Northampton County’s median income as a percent of the state’s median income decreased from 60% to 53% over the period.
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Table 4.3
Housing Characteristics
1980 1990 2000 2010 2014 (ACS)
2016 (ACS)
Total Housing Units 6,132 6,183 6,547 7,301 7,322 7,342
Total Occupied Units 5,394 5,129 5,321 5,323 5,237 5,075
Owner Occupied units 3,378 3,372 3,655 3,553 3,662 3,412
Owner Percent of Occupied Units
62% 65% 68% 66% 72% 67.23%
Percent of Total Housing Units
55% 54% 55% 49% 50% 46.47%
Renter Occupied Units 2,016 1,757 1,666 1,770 1,575 1,663
Renter Percent of Occupied Units
37% 34% 31% 33% 30% 32.76%
Percent of Total Housing Units
32% 28% 25% 24% 22% 22.65%
Vacant Units 738 1,054 1,226 1,978 2,085 2,267
For seasonal, recreational or occasional use
344 488 1,007 980 969
Percent of Total Housing Units
12% 17% 18% 27% 29% 30.87%
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Table 4.4 Median Income
Year Virginia Northampton County
2016 $39,348
2014 $64,792 $34,656
2013 $63,907 $33,635
2012 $63,636 $34,304
2011 $63,302 $36,965
2010 $1,406 $35,760
2009 $60,316 $36,450 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
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Figure 4.1
Source, U.S. Census, Selected Housing Characteristics, 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Table 4.5 shows the distribution of owner occupied housing stock by value of housing units from the 2010-2014 American Community Survey. The median value is $162,500 per unit.
Table 4.5
Values of Owner Occupied Housing Units, 2010-2014 ACS
Less than $50,000
$50-99,000
$100-149,000
$150-199,000
$200-299,000
$300-499,000
$500- 1 million
Above $1million
Units 429 675 602 439 453 630 365 69
Source: U.S. Census, Selected Housing Characteristics, 2010-2014 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Figure 4.2
S o u r c e : U . S . C e n s u s , M e d i a n V a l u e o f O w n e r O c c u p i e d H o m e s 2 0 10 - 2 0 1 4 A C S 5 - Y e a r E s t i m a t e s
50%
21.50%
28.50%
Owner occupied Renter occupied Vacant housing Units
Occupancy By Housing Type
$211,700 $199,600 $206,600
$172,700 $168,800 $162,500
$-
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Median Value of Owner Occupied Housing
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Figure 4.3
S ou rce : U.S . C en su s, M ed ian V a lu e o f Ow ner Occu p ied H omes 201 0 -20 14 A CS 5 Y ea r Est im a tes
4.2 Distribution of Housing
There are approximately 211 square miles of land in Northampton County. Only a small portion of the unincorporated area of Northampton County is used for residential purposes. The U. S. Census Bureau has designated the County as “Rural” and has estimated that the overall housing unit density per square mile of land area was about 34.5 in 2010.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2113 2014
Northampton $211,700.00 $199,600.00 $206,600.00 $172,700.00 $168,800.00 $162,500
Accomack $145,400.00 $149,400.00 $153,400.00 $153,800.00 $153,600.00 $152,500
Dorchester $289,300.00 $289,100.00 $279,600.00 $268,500.00 $253,400.00 $188,100
Isle of Wight $237,700.00 $256,900.00 $219,300.00 $227,800.00 $238,500.00 $245,400
Mathews $242,800.00 $248,100.00 $254,700.00 $260,300.00 $247,400.00 $263,700
Middlesex $242,800.00 $218,100.00 $254,700.00 $260,300.00 $247,100.00 $241,600
Worcester $289,200.00 $289,100.00 $279,600.00 $268,500.00 $253,400.00 $242,000
$211,700.00
$199,600.00 $206,600.00
$172,700.00 $168,800.00
$162,500
$145,400.00 $149,400.00
$153,400.00 $153,800.00 $153,600.00 $152,500
$289,300.00
$289,100.00 $279,600.00
$268,500.00
$253,400.00
$188,100
$237,700.00 $256,900.00
$219,300.00
$227,800.00
$238,500.00
$245,400
$242,800.00
$218,100.00
$254,700.00
$260,300.00 $247,100.00
$241,600
$289,200.00
$289,100.00
$279,600.00
$268,500.00 $253,400.00
$242,000
$125,000.00
$150,000.00
$175,000.00
$200,000.00
$225,000.00
$250,000.00
$275,000.00
$300,000.00
$325,000.00
COMPARATIVE MEDIAN VALUE OF HOMES
Northampton Accomack Dorchester Isle of Wight Mathews Middlesex Worcester
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Single-family structures continue to be the predominant housing type in the County . Homeownership still represents just over two-thirds of all occupied housing units in the County with 49% of the total housing units being owner occupied. Table 4.6 shows the population and housing densities per square mile and the population and housing unit changes since 1980. While the population decreased 5.4 percent between 2000 and 2010, the number of housing units increased 11.5 percent. Table 4.7 shows the housing units within the towns since 1980.
Table 4.6
Population, Housing Units, Land Area, and Density; Percent Change from 1980-2010
Population
Housing Units
Land Area (sq.
mile)
Average per square mile of land
Percent Change
Population density
Housing unit density
Population Housing Units
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010
12,389 7,301 211 58.5 34.5 10.7 0.2 -5.4 0.8 5.9 11.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
Northampton County’s housing is typical of rural areas with abundant open space dotted with
villages and towns.
Table 4.7
Housing Units within Towns
1980 1990 2000 2010 2010-2014 ACS
Belle Haven* 57 49 35 42 217 Cape Charles 701 689 740 958 936 Cheriton 297 246 239 239 276 Eastville 98 94 75 79 104 Exmore 559 528 524 769 793 Nassawadox 251 227 207 239 317
Denotes NH County portion of Belle Haven
Source, U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Census 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2010-2014 ACS 5-Year Estimates
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4.3 Rental Housing
Of the 5,323 housing units occupied by the total population of Northampton County in 2010, 1,770, or 33 percent, were renter-occupied. The 2010-2014 ACS reports 5,237 occupied housing units with 1,575 or 30 percent of those renter-occupied. There are two methods for calculating rental costs. One is “contract rent”, which is a set monthly price for the housing unit, and the second is “gross rent”, which adds on to the contract rent the estimated cost of such things as utilities, insurance and taxes. The median gross monthly rent has increased as shown in Table 4.8.
Table 4.8
Monthly Contract and Gross Rent 1980 1990 2000 2010 2010-2014
ACS Contract Rent
$65.00 $151.00 $260.00 $469.00 $479.00
Gross Rent $155.00 $260.00 $383.00 $668.00 $680.00 Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau 1980,1990,2000,2010, 2010-2014 ACS 5-Year Estimates
Over a 44 year period contract rents have increased more than 7 times their level in 1980 (637%) while gross rents have increased just over 4 times their 1980 level (339%). The gap between contract and gross rent during the period increased from $90 to $199 or 121%.
Table 4.9
Gross Rent as a Percentage of Median Household Income
% of income paid for rent:
Less than 15%
15-19.9%
20-24.9%
25-29.9%
30-34.9%
35% and above
# of Units 264 110 98 201 147 441
% of renters 20.9% 8.7% 7.8% 15.9% 11.7% 35% U.S. Depart of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Selected Housing Characteristic, 2010-2014 ACS 5 Year Estimates.
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Figure 4.4
U.S. Census, Selected Housing Characteristics, 2010-2014 ACS 5-Year Estimates
4.4 Building Permits Issued
As shown in Table 4.11, the County experienced a surge in single-family dwelling building
permit activity during 2002-2004. There was a diminution of that trend in 2005 that continued
downward until it bottomed out in 2009. Single-family building permits were level for the next
two years, increased 62 percent the following year, and then declined for two years ending with
a slight uptick to 30 in 2015; having been as high as 126 in 2004.
20.90%
8.70% 7.80%
15.90%
11.70%
35%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
Less than 15% 15%-19.9% 20%-24.9% 25%-29.9% 30%-34.9% 35% or more
Gross Rent as a Percentage of Income
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Table 4.10 Building Permits Issued 2001-2015
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Commercial 8 9 5 9 6 3 7 8 0 4 4 2 14 12 6
Single Family 71 120 117 126 94 77 75 31 18 27 26 42 33 27 30
Mobile Home
18 14 15 11 1 3 10 0 4 2 2 0 6 3 5
Multi-Family 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Total New Residential
92 134 132 137 95 80 85 50 22 29 29 42 39 30 35
Total New Construction
100 143 137 146 101 83 92 58 22 33 33 44 53 42 41
Source: Northampton County Building Department
Figure 4.5
Source: U.S. Census, Selected Housing Characteristics. ACS 2010-2014 5-Year Estimates
5,905
162
75
124
63
56
174
761
0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000
1 unit, detached
1 Unit, attached
2 Units
3 or 4 Units
5-9 Units
10 to 19 units
20 or more Units
Mobile homes
Boat, RV, Van,… Housing by Structure Type
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Figure 4.6
Source: Northampton County
Figure 4.7
Source: Northampton County
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Single Family Building Permits 1990-2014
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Series1 $91, $51, $61, $67, $74, $100 $103 $80, $81, $63, $149 $189 $281 $130 $148 $217 $221 $214 $172 $229 $246 $173 $216 $247 $234
$91,040
$51,760
$61,081
$67,443
$74,607
$100,873$103,805
$80,656
$81,142 $63,682
$149,517
$189,103
$281,711
$130,393
$148,653
$217,378$221,377
$214,194
$172,249
$229,572
$246,780
$173,722
$216,398
$247,165
$234,986
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
Average Value of Building Permit
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4.5 Housing Conditions 4.5.1 Cost
The median value of owner-occupied homes has increased significantly since 1990. In 1990 the median value was $47,700 and it increased 65 percent by 2000 to $78,700 (1990, 2000 U.S. Census). The 2010-2014 American Community Survey (ACS) estimate was $162,500, an increase of 106 percent from 2000. While some of the rise in this measure of value may be attributed to increasing construction costs, both labor and materials, some due to the size of and amenities associated with new homes being constructed by new residents with greater wealth, and some may be due to the national trend of high-end real estate speculative investment during the decade. Table 4.11 below shows the rise and fall of the average sale price of property in Northampton County from 1996 to 2015. After a dramatic spike in the mid-2000s, the average sale price in the County in 2015 returned to just under $3,000 above its level in 1999. Following the 2008 financial crisis the County’s average sale price dropped 53 percent from $141,752 to $66,633, trended up for the next three years and was $82,355 in 2012. After decreasing 10% in 2013 the average improved 24% to $97,333 in 2014.
Housing Stock, Occohannock Neck
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Table 4.11
Total Sales and Average Sale Price 1996-2015
Total sales Average sale Price # Transactions
1996 $20,027,821 $40,055 500
1997 $26,769,389 $45,448 589
1998 34,470,919 $53,360 646
1999 $57,012,232 $76,629 744
2000 $50,639,277 $64,508 785
2001 $72,772,597 $92,233 789
2002 $89,151,056 $94,539 943
2003 $133,330,958 $121,874 1094
2004 $195,231,460 $158,853 1229
2005 $226,566,864 $104,840 2161
2006 $102,350,490 $150,294 681
2007 $86,147,279 $123,597 697
2008 $75,270,474 $141,752 531
2009 $65,767,554 $66,633 987
2010 $55,894,600 $77,309 723
2011 $57,944,162 $78,302 740
2012 $64,814,097 $82,355 787
2013 $66,519,751 $74,407 894
2014 $69,984,499 $97,333 719
2015 $63,069,503 $79,333 795
Source: Eastern Shore Association of Realtors
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Figure 4.8
Source: Eastern Shore Association of Realtors
The high value real estate constructed in the County over the past decade has added value to the County’s tax base. Table 4.12 shows the values of residential property for the last four reassessments in Northampton County.
Table 4.12
Residential Reassessment Values 2004, 2008, 2013 & 2016
2004 2008 2013 2016
Residential Value
$858,590,100 $2,030,412,900 $1,644,540,300 $1,481,724,050
Average Per Unit
$75,620 $159,800 $127,149 $106,805
Source: Northampton County Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office
500 589 646744 785 789
9431094
1229
2161
681 697531
987
723 740 787
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 20012
Tran
sact
ion
s
Year
Number of Property Transactions in Northampton County (1996-
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Figure 4.9
Source: datausa.io/profile/geo/northampton-county-va/#economy
Figure 4.10
Source, datausa.io/profile/geo/northampton-county-va/#economy
4.5.2 Substandard Housing There are a number of variables which can indicate that a dwelling unit is substandard, and it is common practice to use "lacking complete plumbing facilities" to approximate the number of substandard units. Table 4.13 indicates a significant decline in such units since 1990, with approximately 98 percent of all housing units now having complete facilities. This result is likely
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2013 2014
Median Housing Value 2013-2014
050
100150200250300350400450
Number of Housing Values 2013 v 2014
2013 2014
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due to the success of various state and federal programs locally administered by the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission to address this problem. The most current data can be reviewed in the Indoor Plumbing Needs on the Eastern Shore of Virginia document: http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Eastern-Shore-IPR-Report_DRAFT-FINAL_2015.11.03b_2-up.pdf.
Table 4.13
Housing Units Lacking Facilities 1990 2000 2010 2014 (ACS)
Lacking Complete Kitchen Facilities 488 171 142 38
Lacking Complete Plumbing Facilities 753 245 112 52
Source: US Census Bureau
4.5.3 Age of Housing Stock
Age of the housing stock is another indicator of the condition of the housing inventory. According to the Accomack-Northampton Regional Housing Assessment completed in June 2002, housing that is 40 years old or over is considered to have a high potential for deficiency. Based on 2010-2014 ACS, roughly 43 percent of the County’s housing stock was constructed prior to 1969, with about 23 percent having been constructed in 1939 or earlier. Unless these units have been maintained over time, it is likely that substantial maintenance is necessary. This conclusion must also take into account the fact that approximately 41 percent of the housing units in the County have been built since 1980.
Table 4.14
Age of Housing Units
Before 1939 1940- 1949
1950- 1959
1960- 1969
1970- 1979
1980- 1989
1990- 1999
2000- 2009
2010 or later
Units 1,707 532 528 374 1,134 937 722 1,353 35
NHCO 23.3% 7.3% 7.2% 5.1% 15.5% 12.8% 9.9% 18.5% 0.5%
US 13.3% 5.4% 10.8% 11% 15.8% 13.8% 13.9% 14.9% 1.0%
Source: 2010-2014 American Community Survey
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Figure 4.11
Source: U.S. Census 2010-2014 ACS 5-Year Estimates
4.5.4 Vacancy Rates Based on the 2010-2014 ACS figures, 29 percent, or approximately one-third of the County’s housing stock, is vacant, compared to a statewide vacancy rate of about 11 percent. Subtracting the number of units reportedly held for seasonal use the vacancy rate is about 22 percent. A value of 1.01 or more persons per room is the standard for measuring overcrowded living conditions. In 2000 about 3 percent of all occupied housing units were overcrowded (2000 Census). The percentage of overcrowded living in 2010 has decreased to 1.5 percent of all occupied dwelling units (2010 Census) and 1.3 percent in 2014.
4.6 Affordable Housing
VA Code § 15.2-2201 defines "Affordable housing" as: housing that is affordable to households with incomes at or below the area median income, provided that the occupant pays no more than thirty percent of his gross income for gross housing costs, including utilities, calculated as either a monthly mortgage or monthly rents, including utilities.
0
5
10
15
20
25
Before 1939 1940-1949 1950-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 2010 or later
Year House Built (%)
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The availability of affordable housing is a
continuing challenge facing Northampton County and is a critical issue in its long-term economic health, since lack of adequate housing is a deterrent to economic growth if employees are unable to find suitable, affordable living accommodations. Singlewide mobile homes account for over 10.3 percent of housing in Northampton County, down from 13.6 percent in 2000. The mobile home is often referred to as a low-cost housing option. This is not true in all cases. Mobile homes, particularly singlewide trailers, are actually much more expensive than site built homes. Other types of manufactured homes such as modular homes that are put together on site and affixed to a foundation maintain their value and appearance to a much greater extent. Table 4.15 shows that while similar size site built homes cost more initially, they offer a lower interest rate and shorter depreciation period than singlewide mobile homes. Some local banks will not write a mortgage for a singlewide mobile home, rather the mobile home is financed more like vehicles. The result is that the average annual cost of ownership for a singlewide mobile home is higher than site built even though the original cost appears to be lower.
Table 4.15
Comparison of Mobile Home to Site Built Cost
1,000 square foot home on a site but not included land
Manufactured Site Built
Cost of Home $ 55,000 $70,000
Down Payment $ 5,500 $7,000
Monthly Payment $ 459.59 $442.17
New Roads Community, Exmore
Single Wide Mobile Home
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Annual Depreciation $ 2,200.00 $348.25
Residual Value $ 11,000 $63,350
20 Year Cost to Own $148,801.60 $56,735.80
Net Annual Cost $7,440.08 $2,836.79
Notes:
Depreciation 4.3% 0.5%
Interest Rate 8.0% 4.5%
Mortgage Term 20 years 20 years
Down Payment 10% 10%
Sources: NADA, Northampton County home builders and mobile home sales dealer
Northampton County Tax Commissioner; closing costs excluded
This example deals with the case of home ownership but extends to the rental market in terms of costs that are recovered when units are rented. It should also be noted that old mobile homes can be bought for less since they depreciate at a faster rate, but the cost to relocate can exceed the cost of acquisition. Table 4.9 indicates that about 54 percent of County rentals meet the Va code definition of affordable housing. Table 4.9 indicates a yearly contract rent amount of $5,748 or $479 per month, which falls short of the Fair Market Rent (FMR) figures established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. A little over 46 percent of County renters are paying more than the recommended 30% of their Median Household Income (MHI) on housing. The disparity between the cost of available housing and the Median Household Income might indicate the need for more affordable housing for extremely low income, very-low income, low income as well as moderate income households. Poverty among groups identified in Section 2.8, Table 2.6 might indicate the cohorts most in need of adequate, affordable housing. Virtually all of these households will require subsidized housing. Currently, only 8% of occupied housing units in the County are subsidized units versus over 46 percent of the population paying in excess of 30% of their income in housing cost (Table 4.17).
Table 4.16
Fair Market Rent, FY14
Efficiency One-Bedroom Two-Bedroom Three-Bedroom Four-Bedroom
Final FY 2014 FMR $520 $523 $708 $882 $1,192 Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Table 4.17
Monthly Cost of Rent and Percentage of Renters Paying Each Cost
Monthly Rent
<$200 $200-$299
$300-$499
$500-$749
$750-$999
$1,000-$1,499
$1,500+
# of Renters
44 170 247 428 350 130 29
% of Renters
3.1% 12.2% 17.7% 33.6% 25.0% 9.3% 2.1%
U.S. Depart of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Selected Housing Characteristic, 2010-2014 ACS 5 Year Estimates.
Table 4.18 Rents as a Percentage of Income
Rents as a Percentage of Income 1980 1990 2000 2010 2010-2014
ACS Median
Household Income
$9,930.00 $18,117.00 $28,405.00 $36,965.00 $34,656
Contract Rent Yearly
$780.00 $1,812.00 $3,120.00 $5,628.00 $5,748
Percentage of Income
7.85% 10% 10.98% 14.95% 16.56%
Gross Rent Yearly $1,860.00 $3,120.00 $4,596.00 $8,016.00 $8,160
Percentage of Income
18.73% 16.18% 16.25% 21.68% 23.55%
Source: U.S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Median Gross Rent 2010-2014
Based on 2000 data for specified renter-occupied units, approximately 31 percent of renters in the County were paying 30 percent or greater of their household income in rent. The number of renters paying more than 30 percent of their household income in the County has increased 15 percentage points to 46 percent according to the 2010-2014 ACS data. Exmore, Nassawadox, Cheriton, Eastville area, Bayview and Cape Charles all have multi-family subsidized rental units, which are income, age and/or disability restricted. Table 4.18 shows the type of units available for these apartments.
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Table 4.19
Subsidized Housing in Northampton County
Income Restricted
Total Units
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
Senior Disabled Other Location
Exmore Village 1 X 36 36 X X Exmore
Exmore Village 2 X 65 65 X Exmore
Peter Cartwright Manor (Exmore)
X 47 47 X Exmore
AP’s Freedom Apt. (Exmore)
X 15 15 X X Exmore
Virginia Street X 10 3 7 Exmore
New Roads Village Apts.
X 16 4 8 4 Exmore
Crispus Attucks X 23 Exmore
Dogwood View Apts.
X 24 24 Develop-mentally disabled
Nassawadox
Sunnyside Village X 16 11 4 1 Cheriton
Seabreeze X 28 14 14 X Cape
Charles
Heritage Acres VI (Cape Charles)
X 93 93 X Cape
Charles
Culls Woods Apts. X 16 10 6 County
William Hughes Apts.
X 34 3 12 15 farm
workers County
Source: Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission
The County’s Community Housing Committee produced a report, endorsed by the Board of Supervisors in early 2006, which includes discussion of the existing housing inventory, distribution, rental housing, condition of existing housing, plumbing, age of existing units, crowding and mobile homes. The Report reflects conditions in the County at that time. The report, Northampton County Affordable Housing Committee Report January 2005, is on file in the County’s Development Department office. The Committee has since been disbanded by the Board. Findings by the Committee indicated a direct correlation between the identified poverty
cohorts and those most in need of affordable, often subsidized housing. Adequate rental
housing was identified as a primary need for single heads of households with children.
Inadequate housing among the elderly was identified primarily in owner-occupied homes.
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The County has 423 subsidized residential housing units restricted to low income, elderly,
disabled and/or agricultural workers. The County does not have residential units specifically
designated for homeless, mental health or addiction rehab or recovery. Heritage Hall in
Nassawadox provides nursing home residential living arrangements for elderly and disabled.
4.7 Factors that may Influence Future Housing Trends
Hospital relocation – See Section 6.11 Hospital/Health Services in Part II Section 6
Community Facilities & Services
Zoning change – See Section 154.145 (G)(2) Height and Bulk Regulations
Flooding and Sea level Rise – See Part II Section Environment & Natural Resources
Section 5.2
CBBT Toll Change – See Part II Section 7 Transportation Section 7.5.8 Chesapeake Bay
Bridge Tunnel
Aging of Population – See Part II Section 2 Population & Demographics
Declining Population – See Part II section 2 Population & Demographics
Increasing tourism market - See Part II Section 3 Economic Analysis Section 3.6 Tourism
William Hughes Apartments, Eastville
EastEastville
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Summary
The County’s population has declined since the last Census, but the number of housing units has increased— indicating an increase of vacation, resort rental or second homes which are not occupied year round, but which add to the real estate tax base.
The number of renter-occupied units has decreased since the last Census and the monthly rents have increased. This might indicate a shortage of affordable rental units.
There has been a significant decrease in the value of homes since the last Census with little to no impact on the disparity between Median Household Income and median home value.
There is a segment of County population whose income will not allow them access even to "affordable" housing. The need for housing for low, very low, and extremely low income households will continue to be a challenge. Although there are more than 400 income assisted rental units in the County, there may be a need for more low cost subsidized rental units for population cohorts identified in Section 2.8.
Moderate cost rental units are needed for workforce housing, for both year round and seasonal workers.
There are thousands of available residential building lots in the County, in the towns, in subdivisions and in other areas of the County. They are available at all price points.
Impacts of the hospital relocation and the possibility of changing housing demands should be carefully considered in terms of an increase in the cost of County services as a result of residential development.
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5. Environmental Data and Analysis
5.1 Introduction
Natural features and conditions of the land are both impacted by and have an effect on
settlement patterns. The features of topography, soils, geology, water, and vegetation
establish the basic suitability and capacity of the land for development, influencing overall land
use patterns, economic opportunity, quality of life and the cost of public facilities and services.
When land use is not planned to consider impacts to natural resources, the environment can be
at risk for permanent alteration and diminution of resources.
The most obvious and noticeable influence on Northampton County’s environment is that it is
a long, narrow peninsula between two major water bodies; the Atlantic Ocean and the
Chesapeake Bay. Northampton County’s fertile soils, extensive marshes and productive
waters have provided the foundation for an agricultural economy and a seafood industry that
has spanned centuries and supported the inhabitants since the dawn of human occupation.
The following section details the most significant baseline data on current and historical
environmental and ecological conditions in Northampton County and associated near shore
Atlantic waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
5.2 Climate
The climate of Northampton County is classified as temperate with mild winters and warm, humid summers. Latitude, topography, prevailing winds, and the proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean all exert an influence on the climate.
The County generally lies near the mean path of both winter storm tracks and warm moist tropical air from the southwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico during the summer and early fall.
The average temperatures, as recorded from Weather Station Oyster 1 W, are 77.9 degrees F in July and 38.1 degrees F in January. The average annual temperature is 58.6 degrees F, see Table 5.1.
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Table 5.1
Average Temperature in Northampton County
Fahrenheit Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
Minimum
31.8 33 38.3 48 55.8 66.4 71.5 69.7 63.3 53 44.3 35.4 50.9
Average
Maximum
46 47.9 54.8 65.1 73.9 82.9 87.3 85.2 79.7 69.9 60.1 50.1 66.9
24-Hour
Average
38.9 40.5 46.6 56.6 64.9 74.7 79.4 77.5 71.5 61.5 52.2 42.8 58.9
Source: Eastville, VA NORTHAMPTON COUNTY 1981-2010 Summary of Monthly Normals. Eastville is located at about 37.388 Degrees North
and 75.974 Degrees West at Height about 10 feet above Sea Level.
Rainfall, derived from cyclonic weather systems in fall, winter and spring months and from local
convection and thunderstorms in summer months, is distributed evenly throughout the year.
Precipitation averages about 46 inches per year according to NOAA’s National Centers for
Environmental Information. The average snowfall is about 8 inches. There is an average of
230.5 frost-free days per year. The average first frost is November 15 and the average last frost
is March 20.
Prevailing winds are southerly at an average velocity of 10 miles per hour. The Eastern Shore is
vulnerable to hurricanes; at least 10 hurricanes caused destruction in this region since 1901.
During hurricane periods, coastal lagoons receive a great influx of sediments from wash-over.
When storms are of unusual severity, new inlets may be formed or existing ones may be closed.
The hurricane season begins in June and extends through November 30.
Northeasterly storms, which occur primarily during the fall and winter, are a more significant
cause of erosion along the coastal area than the summer hurricanes. Typical "nor’easters” are
accompanied by heavy rain and strong northeast winds which may cause unusually high tides
and seas, and flooding of exposed coastal and low lying areas. Durations of these storms are
variable, but usually persist for two to five days.
5.2.1 Sea Level Rise
The Mid-Atlantic region has the second highest rate of sea level rise in the United States,
according to NOAA. Sea levels are rising due to the combined impacts of climate change and
land subsidence; the land mass in the Mid-Atlantic is sinking at a rate of approximately 0.1 inch
per year. In Virginia, the impacts of sea level rise were analyzed in a January 2013 report by the
Virginia Institute for Marine Sciences (VIMS) at the College of William and Mary entitled
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“Recurrent Flooding Study for Tidewater Virginia.” Recurrent flooding is caused by both the
rising sea level and the stronger, more frequent precipitation events and storm surges
associated with climate change. Areas that currently experience regular flooding will be flooded
more frequently and experience longer periods of inundation. Areas that currently see little or
no flooding may begin to experience flooding more often. In Northampton County, the Barrier
Islands, intertidal areas and marshes, as well as any development in the inundation areas, will
be impacted.
Figure 5.1 below shows the most recent version of relative sea-level rise curves for the Eastern
Shore based on the same methodology used in the VIMS study with adjustments based on the
annual local subsidence rate for Wachapreague of 1.6mm/year.
The lowest or “historic” scenario is a projection of observed long-term rates of sea-level rise
going back more than a century and incorporates no acceleration. The “low” scenario is based
on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment model using conservative
assumptions about future greenhouse gas emission (the B1 scenario). The “high” scenario is
based on the upper end of projections from semi-empirical models using statistical
relationships in global observations of sea level and air temperature. The “highest” scenario is
based on estimated consequences from climate change combined with the maximum possible
contribution from ice-sheet loss and glacial melting.
Figure 5.1
Source: VIMS,
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Source: A-NPDC 2015 Transportation Infrastructure Inundation Vulnerability Assessment, (TIIVA), May 2015; http://www.a-npdc.org/accomack-northampton-
planning-district-commission/transportation-planning/plans-projects/
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VIMS identified the locations on the Eastern Shore where recurrent flooding is currently a
problem and could be expected to increase in a 20 to 50 year time frame under projected
climate change and land subsidence scenarios. The estimated rate of sea level rise for
Northampton County used in the VIMS study is 1.5 feet over the next 20 to 50 years. The
report concludes that of 132,032
acres of Northampton County, .46
percent more land acreage and 44
additional miles of road could be
flooded over the next 20 to 50 years
due to sea level rise with
accompanying 3 foot storm surges.
Of this additional area, only .01
percent is currently developed with
housing or commercial structures.
As of January, 2016, there were 572 National Flood Insurance Program policies in the County, with 334
of those being in the unincorporated portions of the County. There have only been 102 claims since
1978, only 87 in the unincorporated portions of the County. A total of 24 homes in Northampton County
have been documented as having been elevated out of the floodplain. With changes to the Flood
Insurance Rate Map delineations of the Special Flood Hazard Areas, there are 139 fewer buildings
insured in 2016 than in 2011, while this could indicate less buildings being in high hazard areas,
insurance is important for the resiliency of a community to rebound following a natural disaster (Source:
A-NPDC 2018).
Flooding in Bayford
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Figure 5.2
Source: VIMS Recurrent Flooding Study, page 65
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Figure 5.3
Source: VIMS Recurrent Flooding Study, page 73
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Figure 5.4
Source: VIMS Recurrent Flooding Study, page 79
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Further data on the potential impacts to Northampton County from sea level rise will be
available when more detailed mapping is complete. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), an
optical remote sensing technology, has been used to obtain high accuracy elevation data for
the Eastern Shore. LiDAR data can be used to update flood insurance maps, hazard mitigation
plans, update storm water management plans, document sea level rise and to plan for future
development. NOAA’s Coastal Service Center has included
the Eastern Shore on its Sea Level Rise Coastal Flooding
Impact Viewer. The viewer displays potential future sea
levels, provides one foot increment sea level rise simulations
at the local level, shows areas of uncertainty or low
confidence, and overlays social and economic impacts due to
sea level rise. The link for the viewer is:
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slrviewer/
5.3 Topography
There are three noticeable topographic corridors running the length of the County. The first is
the bayside corridor which faces the Chesapeake Bay with a varied coastline consisting of 25-
foot bluffs, 50-foot dunes to flat sandy beaches, and marshlands at and below sea level. The
entire Bay coast is incised with a complex system of creeks. The middle ridge is the high ground
between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean where elevations range between 25 to 50
feet above sea level. This ridge is visible on topographic maps and is obvious to the naked eye in
many places as a pronounced bluff along both the bayside and seaside corridors of the County.
Furthermore, this ridge approximates the boundaries between the Atlantic Ocean and
Chesapeake Bay drainage basins. The seaside of the mainland drops down from the ridgeline 25
foot contour to land that is inundated at high tide and emergent at low tide. There is an
extensive tidal marsh system between the fast-land on the seaside coast and the barrier islands
off the coast with a few deep water channels leading to the Atlantic.
Historically, most of the development in the County was located within the central ridge-corridor. In recent decades, the Bay side has experienced more development because of the many creeks and extensive waterfront land along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary creeks. Five large creek basins, each with deep water access and unique characteristics are located within the Bay drainage area. Most of the development pressures during the last two decades have been near this waterfront and this trend is continuing.
5.4 Soils
Soil types are important in that they have a significant influence on agriculture as well as
residential and industrial development. The percentage of the County's total land area in prime
LiDAR example
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or unique soil types has influenced agricultural practices and productivity, making it a
significant factor in land use decisions. The ability of soils to absorb septic wastes and their
suitability for buildings and roads is one factor that impacts development.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, and Soil Survey of
Northampton County provides data on soil classifications, suitability, fertility, and other
relevant features (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm). It is on file and
can be reviewed in the Northampton County Planning & Zoning Department. Figure 5.5 shows
the soils types that are present in Northampton County. Table 5.2 lists the soil symbol, the
name, and the percent of occurrence in the County.
Table 5.2
Soil Types & Percentage of Occurrence
Map symbol Soil Name %
AsE Assateague sand, 2 to 50 percent slopes 0.3
AtD Assateague fine sand, 2 to 35 percent slopes, rarely flooded 0.1
BeB Beaches, 0 to 10 percent slopes 1.2
BhB Bojac loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes 3.8
BkA Bojac sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 17.3
BoA Bojac fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 19.1
CaA Camocca fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded 0.8
ChA Chincoteague silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded 24.4
DrA Dragston fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 1.1
FhB Fisherman fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes, occasionally flooded 1.2
FmD Fisherman-Assateague complex, 0 to 35 percent slopes, rarely flooded 0.3
FrB Fisherman-Camocca complex, 0 to 6 percent slopes, frequently flooded 1.1
MaA Magotha fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes frequently flooded 1.3
MoD Molena loamy sand, 6 to 35 percent slopes 3.0
MuA Munden sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 10.4
NmA Nimmo sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 9.2
PoA Polawana loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded 0.8
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SeA Seabrook loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes 0.1
UPD Udorthents and Udipsamments soils, 0 to 30 percent slopes 0.2
W Water 4.3
5.4.1 Septic Suitability & Soil Types
Generally, soils with good septic suitability are the Bojac soils. Those soils that have fair septic
suitability are Munden soils. Other soils present in the County are more hydric (high moisture
content) and are generally categorized as being poor in septic suitability. Figure 5.5 shows the
occurrence of the soil types divided into the three categories according to their septic
suitability.
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Figure 5.5
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Figure 5.6
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5.4.2 Agricultural Land Use & Soil Types
Northampton County is well-endowed with excellent soils for agriculture. Those soils present in
the County that are well suited to agriculture are the upland soils of Bojac and Munden. They
are moderately to excessively well-drained. As shown in the table 6.3 below, there are several
soil types in the County that are classified as “Prime Farmland.” Prime farmland is a soil
classification of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that identifies soil that has major
importance in meeting the Nation's short- and long-range needs for food and fiber. Because
the supply of high-quality farmland is limited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes
that responsible levels of government, as well as individuals, should encourage and facilitate
the wise use of our Nation's prime farmland.
Prime farmland, as defined by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, is land that has
the best combination of physical and
chemical characteristics for producing food,
feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is
available for these uses. It could be
cultivated land, pastureland, forestland, or
other land, but it is not urban or built-up land
or water areas. The soil quality, growing
season, and moisture supply are those
needed for the soil to economically produce
sustained high yields of crops when proper management, including water management, and
acceptable farming methods are applied. In general, prime farmland has an adequate and
dependable supply of moisture from precipitation or irrigation, a favorable temperature and
growing season, acceptable acidity or alkalinity, an acceptable salt and sodium content, and few
or no rocks. The water supply is dependable and of adequate quality. Prime farmland is
permeable to water and air. It is not excessively erodible or saturated with water for long
periods, and it either is not frequently flooded during the growing season or is protected from
flooding. Slope ranges mainly from 0 to 6 percent (7 C.F.R. Section 657.5.). Sometimes farmers
also sow a portion of their crops in the lower lying areas where the presence of hydric soils such
as Nimmo and Dragston are present; this is to safeguard against total crop failure in the event
of extreme drought, which does occasionally occur in this area. In total, about 75% of the land
in the Northampton County is classified as Prime Farmland as shown in Figure 5.7.
Prime Soils
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Table 5.3
Prime Farmland Soils
Map
Symbol
Map Unit Name Farmland
Classification
AsE Assateague sand, 2 to 50 percent slopes Not prime
AtD Assateague fine sand, 2 to 35 percent slopes, rarely flooded Not prime
BeB Beaches, 0 to 10 percent slopes Not prime
BhB Bojac loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes Prime
BkA Bojac sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Prime
BoA Bojac fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Prime
CaA Camocca fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded Not prime
ChA Chincoteague silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded Not prime
DrA Dragston fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Prime if
drained
FhB Fisherman fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes, occasionally flooded Not prime
FmD Fisherman-Assateague complex, 0 to 35 percent slopes, rarely flooded Not prime
FrB Fisherman-Camocca complex, 0 to 6 percent slopes, frequently flooded Not prime
MaA Magotha fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded Not prime
MoD Molena loamy sand, 6 to 35 percent slopes Not prime
MuA Munden sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Prime
NmA Nimmo sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes Prime if
drained
PoA Polawana loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded Not prime
SeA Seabrook loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes Not prime
UPD Udorthents and Udipsamments soils, 0 to 30 percent slopes Not prime
W Water, less than 40 acres Not prime
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Figure 5.7
5.4.3 Hydric Soils
There is a significant part of the County's land area where hydric soils are present. As would be
expected, this area includes the tidal marshes and the barrier islands. On the upland portion of
the County, hydric soils are concentrated along a north to south axis, from Exmore to
Machipongo. Another sizeable block of hydric soils is located on Occohannock Neck. It is
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estimated that 13,312 acres (about 9.2%) in the County are occupied by these soil types
unsuitable for conventional septic systems.
Hydric soils are of particular importance in rural counties such as Northampton because septic
systems have been and will continue to be a prevailing method of residential waste disposal
unless more public systems are developed. To function properly, septic systems require an
adequate vertical separation between the septic absorption area and the seasonally high water
table. Determining the suitability of a septic system site is a responsibility and function of the
State Health Department. They conduct an on-the-ground inspection (soil borings) and issue
the required permit if the site is found suitable. Hydric soils are shown as those being of poor
septic suitability on Figure 5.5. With new technology, there are a variety of alternatives to
conventional septic systems that provide adequate treatment where public sewers are not
available, and where a conventional septic system would not be desirable due to inadequacy of
available soils or other reasons.
5.4.4 Tidal Wetland Soils & Sandy Beach Soils
The soils making up the tidal wetland areas are Chincoteague and Magotha soils. They occur
between the mainland and the barrier islands in the zone between low tide and the lines of the
spring and storm tides. Salt water frequently floods these soils.
The soils making up the sandy beaches are the Fisherman, Beaches, Camocca, and Assateague
soils. They are present on the barrier islands and on the southern tip of the mainland. They
make up the dunes and the tidal marshes adjacent to the ocean. They consist of sandy material
subject to erosion and accretion. These barrier islands will continue to erode and shift, possibly
impacting the sensitive aquaculture growing grounds and tidal salt marshes located between
them and the mainland. Also these barrier islands act as natural living shorelines that help
deflect intense wave actions during storm events.
5.5 Carolina Bays
Carolina Bays are prominent geomorphic features on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. They are
wet, shallow, elliptical depressions that occur along the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Florida to
New Jersey. Carolina Bays on the Eastern Shore are present from sea level to the highest
elevations on the peninsula but most are found along the central spine of the peninsula. There
are over 700 Bays on the Eastern Shore. Figure 5.8 shows the Carolina Bays along the center of
the County in the Machipongo area. Complete mapping of the Carolina Bays on the Eastern
Shore can be found here: (http://cintos.org/SaginawManifold/Planforms/VA_bays/index.html).
The structure of a Carolina Bay is marked by a pronounced rim that is usually circular or
ellipsoidal in shape. Aerial photographs depict the rim as higher elevation and lighter in color
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than the interior. The soil type inside the bay is Nimmo, which is indicative of wet, poorly-
drained soils. Occasionally the bay rims, which are well drained, are used for building sites,
roads, and cemeteries. All bays have been drained by ditching through the rims and were then
developed or farmed. Carolina Bays are believed to be important areas for groundwater
recharge. A better understanding of the hydrology of this system is an important piece in
effectively preserving our ground water resource.
Figure 5.8
Source - http://cintos.org/SaginawManifold/Planforms/VA_bays/index.html
5.6 Forest Land
Where forested lands exist, they complement the other components of Northampton County's
unique environment by providing habitat for wildlife and opportunities for hunting and other
recreational activities. The forested areas in the lower Delmarva are significant for the survival
of Neotropical migratory songbirds that utilize the forests for resting and foraging during the
fall migration. Forests also function as natural buffers and windbreaks. Forests serve as the
most effective filtering agents for sediments and pollutants that might run off into surface
waters and they protect groundwater recharge areas as well as preventing erosion on steep
Carolina Bays
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slopes. In view of these benefits, the retention and restoration of forested areas warrant
consideration in land use planning and establishment of related regulations.
Within the County there are approximately 30,000 acres of forestland. Loblolly pine is the
predominant forest type. The three other types of forest present are pine/hardwood,
hardwood, and bottomland hardwood. Climate change is expected to impact the forest
ecosystems of the Virginia Eastern Shore due to increased spread of disease, invasive species
and changes to ideal growth ranges of various plants. (See, Southern Forests Futures Project,
May 2011. http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/)
The timber industry within the County is of modest economic scope. The Virginia Department of Forestry ranked Northampton County at number 77 in the state, with an average annual timber sales value of $557,906 from 1987-2001. Recent years have varied widely: $222,800 in 2010; $550,080 in 2009; and $214,423 in 2008. There are no operating sawmills within the County nor any secondary processors. There is presently only a minimal amount of clearing of forestland for agriculture purposes. Periodically, blocks of timber are harvested as they become mature. “Intensive forest management, such as site preparation (mechanical and chemical) for new stand establishment, has not been widely practiced in the County due to the prolific nature of the native loblolly pine seed source. Mid –rotation practices, such as commercial thinning, have not been widely practiced, principally because of a lack of market outlets (ex. pulpwood/chip buyers) for the small diameter logs such practices generate1”.
5.7 Ecological Communities, Flora and Fauna
5.7.1 Ecological Communities
Northampton County supports a variety of flora and fauna that are ecologically significant (i.e.,
unique and/or critical to species survival) and arise from a combination of factors, including
location along the Atlantic seaboard, island biogeography, and location within a major
migratory bird flyway. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Division
of Natural Heritage, characterizes the habitat of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and
animal species, unique or exemplary natural communities, and significant geologic formations
as “Natural Heritage Resources”.
Northampton County is currently home to 60 distinct types of Natural Heritage Resources with
178 total occurrences throughout the County (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/).
In addition, DCR has identified 33 terrestrial and aquatic conservation sites as areas necessary
for the survival of the identified Natural Heritage Resources.
Northampton County supports a number of Maritime Zone Natural Communities that are
identified as globally rare and imperiled Natural Heritage Resources. These are identified as:
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1. Maritime Dune Grasslands. Coastal grasslands that include saltmeadow cordgrass, American beachgrass, bitter seabeach grass and beach panic grass.
2. Maritime Dune Woodlands. Deciduous, coniferous and broadleaf evergreen woodlands that occur on back dunes protected from regular salt spray. Important as Delmarva Migratory Bird Stopover Habitat.
3. Maritime Upland Forests. Evergreen or mixed coastal forests of sheltered Oceanside or bayside dunes and sand flats protected from salt spray. Dominated by Loblolly
4. Pine; sometimes associated with Southern red oak, black cherry, water oak, sassafras, southern wax myrtle and blueberry. Sparse herbaceous layer.
5. Maritime Dune Scrub. Occupies the somewhat protected maritime back dunes and leeward dune slopes, generally along the inland edges of dune systems in zones sheltered from constant ocean salt spray. Dominant species include Northern bayberry, groundsel-bush, and stunted individuals of loblolly pine, persimmon and black cherry. Important as Delmarva Migratory Bird Stopover Habitat.
6. Maritime Wet Grasslands. These are confined to the barrier beaches and encompass swales and low hollows between secondary dunes. The primary influence is fresh water from rain, but may be flooded from ocean surges. The vegetation is primarily saltmeadow cordgrass, rushes and sedges; with all types uncommon to rare and existing in fragile environments.
At least five rare plants have been identified in the County along the dunal and maritime
communities described above. These are: seabeach needlegrass, beach heather, yaupon holly,
sea oats, and Virginia Beach pinweed.
5.7.2. Landbird Migratory Concentration Area
Science has confirmed what recreational birdwatchers have long known; that the southern
portions of Northampton County experience a large increase in the number of species and
individual birds from approximately mid-August to mid-November of each year. From a global
perspective, the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, entirely within Northampton County’s
jurisdiction, is of vital biological significance to avian biodiversity. Northampton County’s
scrub/shrubland and maritime forests provide a crucial stopover, feeding and staging area for
many of North America’s breeding
songbirds such as warblers, hummingbirds,
orioles, vireos, and thrushes, in addition to
hawks, owls, woodcocks, and other birds
on their southbound migration journey.
From vast breeding grounds in the eastern
U.S. and much of Canada, migrating birds
funnel through the relatively small
landmass of the Delmarva Peninsula where
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they are completely dependent on this area’s food and shelter in order to replenish their
resources before they fly across the Chesapeake Bay, or even directly over the ocean, to
continue on their migration route. Many of these migrants spend the winter months in the
tropical forests of Central and South America, hence the name “neotropical migrants.” About
70% of all birds breeding in North American forests are Neotropical migrants and an estimated
5 to 6 million Neotropical migrants funnel through Northampton County on their journey
southward.
Substantial research has concluded that Neotropical migrant songbirds become concentrated
within the lower 10 km of the Delmarva Peninsula, particularly along the wooded bayside
corridor, and entirely within Northampton County.1 Furthermore, the majority of migrants
select habitat with the most dense understory vegetation. Additional fieldwork demonstrated
that during a two-week period of peak Neotropical migration, bayside woodlots experienced a
40% decline in insect mass. These studies demonstrate that Neotropical migrants are utilizing
the “southern tip” of the Delmarva for rest and refueling before continuing on the long
migratory journey. For Neotropical migrants, the dense understory not only supplies abundant
nourishment but also provides ample cover for protection from migrating raptors. It is
important to note that there is a direct relationship between understory density and quantity of
food supply. Reduction in existing habitat has a direct correlation to loss of food supply – and a
direct per capita (i.e. bird) reduction in food availability.2 For some avian species, Northampton
County is the last feeding stop before a non-stop flight to the Caribbean or South America.
Reduction in food availability would undoubtedly result in large proportions of Neotropical
migrants failing to obtain food supplies in amounts sufficient to meet their nutritional
requirements for a long-distance migration. Thus, significant loss of migratory songbird
stopover habitat in Northampton County could lead to severe declines in breeding songbird
populations throughout the New England states and Canada.
Another major category of birds utilizing the uplands of Northampton County are the
temperate migrants – birds that migrate on a more limited scale, never leaving North America
and often spending the entire winter on the Delmarva Peninsula and dependent upon the fruit
and seed-bearing vegetation. Although fewer in number of species than Neotropical migrants;
the temperate migrants outnumber the Neotropical migrants by a ratio of 2 to 1 in sheer
abundance. In addition, large numbers of both diurnal and nocturnal raptor species are known
to utilize the Delmarva Peninsula during the autumn southward migration, taking advantage of
1 Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Landbird Migration on the Lower Delmarva Peninsula, by Dr. Bryan D. Watts and Sarah E. Mabey.
Sponsored by: DEQ, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (“DCR”), and Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries (“DGIF”), September 1993.
2.
Migratory Birds, Near Southern Tip
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the migrant songbird populations as a food supply. Figure 5.9 shows migratory bird stopover
habitat, conservation sites, and preserves.
Figure 5.9
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5.7.3 Threatened and Endangered Species
Threatened and Endangered Species are designated by federal or state government, and are
afforded special legal protections that regulate any taking, harassing or altering the habitat of
these species. In Northampton County, the following species are listed as either threatened or
endangered and regulated by either the U.S. government or the Commonwealth of Virginia:
1. Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle: Federal and state threatened species found along sandy beaches of the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Population threatened by shoreline development without seasonal restrictions, some types of beach stabilization, recreational use and associated disturbance, pesticides and natural weather events.
2. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle: state and federally endangered species. 3. Loggerhead Sea Turtle: federally endangered and state threatened species 4. Green Sea Turtle: federal and state threatened species. 5. Leatherback sea turtle: federal and state endangered species. 6. Delmarva Fox Squirrel: state and federal endangered species. 7. Right Whale: federal and state endangered species. 8. Humpback Whale: federal and state endangered species. 9. Piping Plover: federal and state threatened species 10. Wilson’s Plover: state endangered species 11. Peregrine Falcon: state threatened species 12. Gull-billed Tern: state threatened species 13. Bald Eagle: state threatened species, and also protected by the federal Bald and
Golden Protection Act. Threats to this species include human disturbance of nest sites, habitat loss, biocide contamination, decreasing food supply and illegal shooting.
5.7.4. Other Fauna
The barrier islands system within Northampton County includes the barrier islands, the coastal
bays and salt marshes, and mainland marshes and watersheds, all of which support some of the
largest nesting populations of colonial waterbirds along the east coast, such as herons, egrets,
gulls, terns, and skimmers. Several non-colonial waterbird species also utilize the area for
nesting and feeding, including oystercatchers, willets, rails and the threatened piping plover.
The extensive coastal salt marshes, bays, barrier beaches and interdunal ponds provide high
value migration, wintering and breeding habitat for both large numbers and a wide variety of
waterfowl species. Large numbers of migratory shorebirds utilize the tidal mud flats and
beaches of the islands, marshes and bays – species that include significant proportions of
hemispheric populations of whimbrels, dunlins, black-bellied plovers, dowitchers, and red
knots. The marine waters and marsh system also provide critical feeding, spawning and nursery
habitat for many commercial and recreational species of shellfish and finfish.
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Although core areas of the barrier islands are protected, many avian species are declining and
experiencing nest failure. Declining species include Common Terns, Least Terns, Gull-billed
Terns, Black Skimmers, Black Ducks, migrant Canada Geese and several herons. These species
are threatened by:
1. Offsite activities (particularly mainland development) resulting in degradation of water quality (nutrient overload, sedimentation, toxics), loss of food supply and reduction in habitat;
2. Severe weather events; 3. Competition and displacement from nesting habitat by aggressive avian
species or mammalian and avian predators and direct predation from same; 4. Direct human disturbance from increased recreational use of barrier
islands, bays and marshes 5. Diminished habitat due to erosion and shifting of costal barrier islands
Numerous waterfowl winter within Northampton County’s bayside creeks, Chesapeake flats,
and seaside marshes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated in their 1971-1974 Atlantic
Winter Flyway Survey that the Eastern Shore waterfowl density was 27.3 birds per square mile
compared to the state waterfowl density of 1.5 birds per square mile. The average count on
the Eastern Shore represents 31% of the state count.
The only large game in the County is the Virginia white-tailed deer. Small game is plentiful and
hunting for cottontail rabbit and gray squirrel is a popular activity. Mourning dove, turkey and
woodcock are the most frequently hunted upland game birds. Other wildlife are found, such as
opossum, weasel, skunk, muskrat, red and gray fox, raccoon, river otter, coyote, and mink.
5.8 Water Resources
Northampton County is surrounded by salt water and has no fresh water streams of
significance. There are about one dozen tidal creeks in Northampton County and those are
largely supplied from groundwater flows, with some contribution from surface water runoff,
precipitation and tidal inflow. The majority of drinking water needs in the County are met
through withdrawals from fresh groundwater wells. Surface waters are not an important
source of drinking water but they do provide some irrigation water and are important to
shellfish, finfish and other wildlife.
5.8.1 Groundwater Resources
The fresh and salt water resources found within the underground geologic layers of
Northampton County are referred to as “aquifers.” The aquifers are comprised of sand, gravel
and shell material, which are permeable, and the confining units, which are comprised of clay
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and silt, and are less permeable and more restrictive of downward groundwater movement. In
Northampton County, the unconfined, fresh, water table aquifer is the Columbia aquifer (also
called the surficial aquifer and water table aquifer), which is typically 60 to 80 feet thick. This
aquifer is used primarily for private on-site domestic wells and agricultural irrigation. The
confined aquifers, in order of increasing depth, are: Yorktown-Eastover (includes upper, middle
and lower Yorktown aquifers), St. Mary’s Choptank aquifer, Brighteast aquifer, and Potomac
aquifers. Fresh groundwater generally occurs only in the upper 300 feet of ground, and at
shallower depths along the coastlines of the Eastern Shore, and is limited to the Columbia and
Yorktown-Eastover aquifers.
Annual precipitation of about 434 inches per year provides the recharge to the Eastern Shore
aquifers. Only about 12% (6 inches per year) of the precipitation actually recharges the shallow
Columbia aquifer. Most of the water that makes it to the Columbia aquifer flows from the
middle of the peninsula towards the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean where about 84%
is taken up by plants and 15% directly discharge fresh water to our tidal creeks and bays.
The clay confining layers that separate the Columbia aquifer from the Yorktown-Eastover
aquifer system serve to protect the aquifer from many of the water quality threats. But the
clay confining units also act to impede the amount and rate of recharge to the deep Yorktown-
Eastover aquifer system. Only about 1% of the precipitation that recharges the Columbia
aquifer contributes to the recharge of the deeper confined aquifer.
Figure 5.10 shows the aquifer area ranked in order of recharge value for the Columbia aquifer,
“5” being of highest value and “1” being of least value. The aquifers on the Eastern Shore are
strongly influenced by geology, rainfall, and groundwater use.
Groundwater quality is generally good in the deep Yorktown-Eastover aquifer system, though
localized problems with high iron content have been encountered. While high concentrations of
iron are thought to be more prevalent in shallow wells, water quality analyses of well water in
the County do not support this conclusion. Nitrate levels tend to be higher in shallow wells,
principally a result of fertilizer application on the land. While nitrate may be higher in the
shallow wells, only a small percentage of the shallow groundwater exceed the drinking water
Maximum Contaminant Level. Wells associated with the deep Yorktown-Eastover aquifer
system did not indicate pollution problems. However, high salt levels in Yorktown-Eastover
aquifer wells are common in areas near the Bay and Seaside. In some cases, the salt levels can
exceed drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels.
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Figure 5.10
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The Yorktown-Eastover aquifer can range in depth from 80 to 600 feet below the land surface,
though most wells are pumping from layers between 150 and 300 feet deep. The amount of
water available from the Yorktown-Eastover aquifer is location dependent. In general, fresh
groundwater becomes scarcer:
1. with greater depth,
2. closer to the Bay and Seaside, and
3. further south, toward the tip of the County.
The shallow Columbia aquifer is used to a lesser extent. This source is especially amenable to
agricultural use since there is not the need for low nitrate levels as it is for drinking water.
Some of the highest yields per minute found on the Shore have come from the Columbia
aquifer. Unfortunately, the continued use of this source for drinking water supply is limited in
many localized areas due to nitrate contamination from agricultural runoff and septic system
failure. Close monitoring of septic systems is needed to prevent long-term health hazards from
occurring.
5.8.2 Ground water Management
Groundwater resources in Northampton County are vulnerable to impacts from saltwater
intrusion, impairment to groundwater recharge, over withdrawals, well to well interference,
and contamination from activities occurring on the land (e.g., poorly operated sewage
management, leaking underground storage tanks, chemical spills.) A number of local, state and
federal authorities have studied and regulated the fresh groundwater resources of the entire
Eastern Shore over the past several decades in order to both understand and prevent the loss
of the valuable groundwater resources.
On a federal level, the Columbia and Yorktown-Eastover Multi-Aquifer System was designated
as a “sole source aquifer” pursuant to Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1997, meaning that the aquifer supplies
more than 50% of the water needs for the communities with the boundaries, there are no
viable alternative sources of sufficient supply, and if contamination were to occur, it would
pose a significant public hazard and a serious financial burden to the communities within the
aquifer service area (See, 62 FR 17187, April 9, 1997.). Federal funding may be withheld from
any project that threatens a designated sole-source aquifer.
The Virginia Ground Water Act of 1973 established the duty of the Virginia State Water Control
Board to manage groundwater resources and designate Ground Water Management Areas that
were considered to be at risk for overdrawing, contamination, or well interference. The Eastern
Shore of Virginia, including Northampton County, was designated as a "Ground Water
Management Area" in 1976, and became subject to additional water withdrawal regulations
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under Virginia’s Groundwater Management Act of 1992. These regulations prohibit any
withdrawals of groundwater at a rate greater than 300,000 gallons per month for purposes of
agricultural, industrial, commercial and municipal uses, without a permit from the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality.
At the request of Accomack and Northampton Counties, in 1990 the bi-county Eastern Shore of
Virginia Groundwater Study Committee was formed to oversee the development of a Ground
Water Management Plan. On May 5, 1992 the Committee adopted the Groundwater Supply
Protection and Management Plan for the Eastern Shore of Virginia (http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/05/ESVAGroundwaterResourceProtectionAndPreservationPlan2013compress.pd
f). The plan includes a detailed analysis of Eastern Shore groundwater resources and issues and
makes recommendations for the protection and management of the groundwater. This plan
recommended the protection of open spaces and undeveloped land in the spine recharge area
through creation of an
overlay protection
district. The Plan was
updated in 2013.
Another study,
Technical Analysis and
Justification for Ground
Water Ordinances on
the Eastern Shore of
Virginia, was
completed in January
2001 by Malcolm Pirnie for the Accomack-Northampton County Planning District Commission
(A-NPDC).
The report is on file in the Northampton County Planning, Permitting, and Enforcement
Department.
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), working cooperatively with the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission
(ANPDC), developed an upgraded computer simulation model of the Eastern Shore ground
water system. Information on this new model is provided in the USGS report SIR 2009-5066.
The DEQ is currently using this model to assess the impact of pumping from additional
proposed withdrawals. The DEQ analyzes the effect each proposed withdrawal will have on
future water levels and salinity before any new application is approved, and they will continue
to update the model with the most recent withdrawal data. The ANPDC has also utilized this
Eastern Shore aquifer system
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tool for ground water resources planning: Northampton County Water Supply Plan, (http://www.a-
npdc.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/05/ESVAGroundwaterResourceProtectionAndPreservationPlan2013compress.pd
f).
5.9 Shoreline, Wetlands, & Barrier Islands
5.9.1 Shoreline
According to the most recent figures supplied by VIMS, Northampton County has 1,916 miles of
shoreline when digitized around outer edge of all marshes. The measurement only along the
marsh/upland interface would equal 688 miles.5.9.2 Wetlands, Dunes, and Marshes
The seaside shoreline grades quite gradually into vast tidal marshes and shallow bays which
extend seaward to the barrier islands. Old dune lines are absent and streams are narrow and
generally without significant embankments. The immediate shoreline is almost continually
fringed with broad marsh, making access to open water difficult except where natural deep
water or maintained channels exist. Between this seaside shoreline and the barrier islands is a
maze of tidal flats, salt marshes, and shallow bays, which constitutes generally one of the finest,
most pristine aquatic ecosystems of its kind. Ecologically these areas are extremely rich,
supporting a vast array of marine, avian, and terrestrial life. The visual quality of these areas is
another of their chief attributes.
Sand dunes, both primary and secondary, are very valuable resources. Primary and secondary
dunes are the first line of defense against the sea. When storms occur, dunes act as flexible
barriers to high tides and waves. Dunes also act as sand reservoirs to help keep shorelines
intact. In addition to providing valuable and inexpensive protection from storms, the dunes
provide aesthetic value and serve as wildlife habitats where vegetated.
The County has adopted a wetlands ordinance and established a Wetlands Board. The Board's
primary function is to review and pass judgment on applications for permits dealing with
proposals that may impact on wetlands. The image below shows the jurisdictional boundaries
for the Wetlands Board.
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Figure 5.11 shows the wetlands present in Northampton County that are listed with the
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI).
Figure 5.11
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5.9.3 Barrier Islands
Northampton County's barrier islands
are among its most important and
unique natural resources. For
centuries, they played a major role in
the history, economy, and culture of
the area. Although there once were
small fishing villages and hunting lodges
on the islands, today they are
uninhabited. Most of the islands are
included in the Virginia Coast Reserve,
which is an island and salt marsh
preserve owned by The Nature
Conservancy of Arlington, Virginia. The
Virginia Coast Reserve has been
designated an International Biosphere
Reserve by the United Nations in
recognition of the importance and
fragility of the ecosystem. Northampton County's islands, together with contiguous islands in
neighboring Accomack County, represent the last undeveloped barrier island system on the
Atlantic Coast.
There are twelve barrier islands in Northampton County. Hog, Rogue, Cobb, Little Cobb, Ship
Shoal, Godwin, Myrtle, Mink, and Smith Islands are mostly owned by The Nature Conservancy.
The Commonwealth of Virginia owns Mockhorn and Wreck Islands. Fisherman’s Island, on the
tip of the peninsula, is owned by the Federal government and is part of the Eastern Shore
National Wildlife Refuge. The Nature Conservancy has specific rules regarding the use of the
islands they own. Most of the islands are open to the public for low-impact, non-commercial,
recreational day use (hiking, bird watching and fishing). Motorized vehicles, pets, and overnight
camping activities are prohibited. There are also seasonal restrictions to protect nesting birds.
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The barrier islands play a number of important
roles in Northampton County including: protection
from storms as buffers to dissipate the energy of
the ocean; economic benefits including
commercial and recreational fishing; recreation
including fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming,
hiking, boating, and bird watching; and nature
study as an educational resource, increasing
awareness of the importance and rarity of the
island system, and protection of threatened species,
offering sanctuary to many species of birds, mammals, and reptiles that are threatened or
endangered. The islands are dynamic in nature; migrating westward over the past 160 years.
Because the Virginia Coast Reserve is gaining national and international attention as one of
America's last remaining intact barrier island systems, Northampton County benefits through
research and educational programs centered around the island system. The University of
Virginia has established a National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research Center in
Northampton County and established its headquarters in the Village of Oyster.
Most of the barrier islands are included either in the Virginia Coast Reserve, the Federal
National Wildlife System, or the Virginia Natural Areas Program, but even limited development
on any of the islands would drastically alter the system scientifically and aesthetically. In
managing the barrier island system, biological diversity has been the priority. It is important to
recognize that the island system functions as an interdependent whole. The system includes
related natural communities of beaches, dunes, upland forest, extensive salt marshes, bays,
creeks, guts, unvegetated wetlands, mainland salt marshes, and any seaside mainland which is
part of the watershed.5.9.4 Chesapeake Bay Preservation
In the 1960’s, a decline in the Bay’s water quality and productivity was noted. A massive effort
to avert further decline was spearheaded by the Chesapeake Bay Commission. A combined
major Federal, multi -state, and citizen effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay to its earlier
productiveness has been underway for several decades. As a result, Virginia enacted the
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. This Act created a Local Assistance Board, charged with
developing regulations that provide for the protection of water quality and shoreline habitat.
The adopted regulations (promulgated July 1, 1989) are used by local governments in granting,
denying, or modifying requests to rezone, subdivide, or otherwise consider development of
shoreline areas designated as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. In Northampton County,
these criteria are also applied to the seaside areas.
Barrier Islands
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Northampton County has established resource protection areas and resource management
areas in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. Figures 5.11 A and B show
cross-sections of the protection areas. Please see these two links for the Water Quality
Implementation Plan for the Gulf, Barlow, Mattawoman, Jacobus, and Hungars Creek:
http://deq.state.va.us/Portals/0/DEQ/Water/TMDL/ImplementationPlans/Mattawoman_TMDL_IP_Tech
nical.pdf), the Total Maximum Daily Loads, and the VDEQ page:
http://deq.state.va.us/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL.aspx (A-NPDC 2017).
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Figure 5.12A
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Figure 5.12B
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5.9.5 Priority Conservation Areas
A collaborative effort between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF),
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation – Division of Natural Heritage (DCR-DNH),
and Virginia Commonwealth University – Center for Environmental Studies (VCU - CES) was
completed in 2009 that combined conservation information and priorities into a single data set
called Priority Conservation Areas (PCA). The PCA is defined as “lands and surface waters
identified as important for conservation of Virginia’s wildlife, plants and natural communities.
The identified lands/waters can be used to prioritize areas for preservation, protection or
specific management action.” The data set was developed to guide localities in conservation
planning. Figure 5.13 shows the PCA.
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Figure 5.13
5.9.6 Land Conservation Opportunities
There are several opportunities for land preservation in Northampton County. The use of the
term “land protection” in this section is not limited to land being the reason for protection in
and of itself. Specific motives for protection are defined by the agencies and organizations
administering each program. Each is geared towards different aspects of protection. Some of
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the more common examples include farmland preservation, habitat protection, open space
preservation, water quality protection, and historic preservation. Some programs are aimed at
perpetual protection and others target specific timeframes.
There are several programs at the Federal level. The USDA website is a good resource for this
information. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has some programs
available as well. Some examples of federal programs are as follows:
Farm & Rangeland Protection Program (FRRP)
Fish & Wildlife Services
National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA)
The Commonwealth of Virginia has several agencies and programs available. The Department
of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are
good resources for information. The following list shows some of what is available through the
state:
Cost Share Programs through DCR
Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF)
State Parks programs
Virginia Department of Forestry programs
Northampton County has five Natural Area Preserves protecting significant habitats. The
Virginia Natural Area Preserves System was established in the late 1980's to protect some of
the most significant natural areas in the Commonwealth. A site becomes a component of the
preserve system once it is dedicated as a natural area preserve by the Director of the
Department of Conservation & Recreation. Natural area dedication works in much the same
way as a conservation easement by placing legally binding restrictions on future activities on a
property. The Natural Area Preserve System includes examples of some of the rarest natural
communities and rare species habitats in Virginia (DCR). The five Natural Area Preserves
include:
Cape Charles
Magothy Bay
Savage Neck Dunes
Pickett’s Harbor
Wreck Island
In the private sector there are several organizations with hundreds of programs available.
Following is a list of some of the more popular ones:
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The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
Ducks Unlimited (DU)
Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust (VESLT)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)
Northampton County has some conservation tools that can be utilized as well. There is a
Conservation District designated in the County’s Zoning Ordinance. The County also has an
overlay district created for Historic Preservation, but it is not currently being used and has no
areas designated for protection or preservation. One conservation tool which is currently in
use in the County is the Agriculture/Forestal District (AFD) designation. Each AFD, as it is
applied for and approved by the Board of Supervisors, becomes its own district with specific
terms and conditions. The County also has a Purchase of Development Rights Program, which
allows landowners to sell the development rights of their property.
Figure 5.14 shows land in the County which is currently protected and/or located within an
AFD. As of October 2016, there were approximately 37,736 acres in the AFD program and
12,495 acres in preservation or conservation easements.
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Figure 5.14
5.9.7 Northampton County Natural Heritage Resources
Natural heritage resources as defined by the Virginia Department of Conservation and
Recreation – Division of Natural Heritage (DCR) are the habitat of rare, threatened, or
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endangered plant and animal species, unique or exemplary natural communities, and
significant geologic formations such as caves and karst features. Northampton County is
currently home to 63 distinct types of natural heritage resources with 182 total occurrences
throughout the county (Table I: Natural Heritage Resources). In addition, DCR has identified 27
terrestrial conservation sites as areas necessary for their survival and has 5 Natural Area
Preserves within its boundaries (Table II: Conservation Sites and Natural Area Preserves).
DCR identifies and protects natural heritage resources statewide and maintains a
comprehensive database of all documented occurrences of natural heritage resources in
Virginia. DCR has developed conservation sites that contain known populations of natural
heritage resources and include adjacent or surrounding habitat vital for their protection.
Conservation sites do not represent protected lands. They are recommended for protection and
stewardship because of the natural heritage resources and habitat they support, but are not
currently under any official protection designation. Conservation sites can be used to screen
development projects for potential impacts to natural heritage resources, aid local and regional
planning, identify targets for acquisitions and easements, and guide priorities for restoration
activities.
The Northeastern beach tiger beetle historically ranged from coastal Massachusetts to Cape
May County, New Jersey, with a disjunct population occurring along shorelines of the
Chesapeake Bay. Currently, only the Chesapeake Bay populations (including the Virginia
occurrences) and one occurrence in Massachusetts remain (NatureServe, 2009). Along the
Chesapeake Bay, this species inhabits wide, highly dynamic, sandy beaches with back beach
vegetation. Adults are most active in the summer, actively hunting for insects along the beach
(NatureServe, 2009). The larvae live in burrows in the sand where they sit and wait for passing
prey to feed on. Larvae are present on the beaches year round, though they hibernate
beginning in early fall (NatureServe, 2009). This species is currently classified as threatened by
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Virginia Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services (VDACS).
Northeastern beach tiger beetle,
Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis, Photo by S.R.
Roble © 2003
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Threats to the northeastern beach tiger beetle include shoreline development, beach
stabilization, high recreational use, pesticides, and natural events including winter beach
erosion, flood tides, and hurricanes (Knisley, 1991). Disturbance to dynamic, sandy beaches in
areas where they occur may detrimentally impact tiger beetles through habitat degradation
and individual mortality.
The Northern harrier is a slender bird of prey that breeds throughout the northern parts of the
northern hemisphere in Canada, the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia (Bazuin, 1991).
Marsh Hawk is a disused common name for the American form. Northern harriers hunt small
mammals and birds, surprising them as they drift low over fields and marshes they inhabit.
While Northern harriers are common in Virginia during the winter, they rarely breed this far
south, with only a few nesting locations known each summer in the coastal plain. There are
scattered, non-breeding summer records from across the state.
In the early 20th century, hunting posed a great threat to the Northern harrier (Bazuin, 1991).
Later, it suffered from the effects of DDT, a widely used pesticide, which resulted in the
thinning of its egg shells and thus failed reproduction (NatureServe, 2009). Current threats to
the Northern harrier include human disturbances to nesting birds and destruction of breeding
habitats, including the alterations of wetlands and the conversion of grasslands from native
grasses to monotypic farmland (Bazuin, 1991; NatureServe, 2009).
Maritime Zone Communities
These are ecological community groups with distributions and vegetation controlled by oceanic
influences (e.g., deep sand deposits, salt spray, and maritime microclimates). In Virginia, these
are confined to narrow zones along both flanks of the Eastern Shore, the western shore of the
Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic shore in extreme southeastern Virginia.
Maritime Dune Grassland
Photo by I.T. Wilson © 2004
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Maritime Dune Grasslands
These coastal grassland communities of ocean- and bay-fronting dunes are greatly influenced
by storm surge activity. Communities of this group are characterized by a few well-adapted
herbaceous species and exhibit zonation that is likely related to gradients of salt spray and soil
moisture. Maritime Dune Grasslands occur along the Atlantic coast of the United States from
New York south to South Carolina. The dominant plants in Virginia stands are saltmeadow
cordgrass, American beachgrass bitter seabeach grass, and beach panic grass.
Maritime Dune Woodlands
These deciduous, coniferous, and broadleaf evergreen woodlands occur on back dunes
protected from regular salt spray. Similar communities occur along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
from New Jersey to Texas. Compared to maritime upland forests, these woodlands are more
localized and restricted to xeric dune systems. Loblolly pine dominates the canopy, but
hardwoods such as Southern red oak, Water oak and American holly are frequent. Tall shrubs,
low shrubs and herbaceous cover are sparse.
Maritime Upland Forests
This group contains species-poor evergreen and mixed coastal forests of sheltered, oceanside
and bayside dunes and sand flats generally protected from salt spray. Similar forests occur
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Delaware to Texas.
Pine-dominated maritime forests are distributed along the length of the outer Coastal Plain
maritime zone and barrier islands in Virginia, including the western shore of the Chesapeake
Bay. This community is dominated by Loblolly pine which can be the sole canopy component, or
can be associated with Southern red oak, Black cherry Water oak and Sassafras. A tall shrub
layer when present is composed of Southern wax myrtle and Blueberry. Vines and lianas are
nearly always in abundance but there is a sparse herbaceous layer.
Maritime Dune Scrub
The shrublands of this group occupy somewhat protected maritime back dunes and leeward
dune slopes, generally along the inland edges of dune systems in zones sheltered from constant
ocean salt spray. Maritime Dune Scrub occurs along the Atlantic coast of the United States from
New Jersey south to Florida. The vegetation is characterized by several tree, shrub and dwarf
shrub species. Dominant scrubby species include Northern bayberry, Groundsel-bush, and
stunted individuals of Loblolly pine, Persimmon, and Black cherry.
Maritime Interdune Swale / Pond
In Virginia, Interdune Swale/Pond are confined to the barrier beaches of the Eastern Shore
(Accomack and Northampton Counties) and southeastern Virginia (City of Virginia Beach).
Encompassing swales and low hollows between secondary dunes, habitats are characterized by
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perched water tables and shallow, seasonal or temporary flooding. The swales are
predominantly influenced by fresh water from rainstorms, but some may be periodically
flooded by salt water from ocean storm surges. Typically, occurrences are densely vegetated by
one or more species of grasses such as saltmeadow cordgrass; rushes; or sedges. All types
within the group are uncommon to rare, small-patch communities existing in fragile settings
(Fleming et al, 2017).
Sea-beach knotweed is a lustrous perennial with bluish-green, fleshy leaves with reddish brown
nutlets on erect branches (Beal, 1977). This globally rare species occurs from Massachusetts to
the Carolinas on sand dunes and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Virginia
has nine current occurrences of the species and four historic occurrences.
Potential Threats to Natural Heritage Resources:
Due to its orientation and geographic position, the lowest reach of the Delmarva Peninsula in
southern Northampton County (“Southern Tip”) represents a significant bottleneck for birds
migrating along the Atlantic Coast during the fall months. Large numbers of migrants that reach
the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay “fall out” and utilize habitats near the southern tip of the
peninsula. The area is important for raptors and passerines that breed in northeastern North
America and winter in the Caribbean as well as for temperate migrants that winter in the
southeastern United States. An estimated 10 million passerines and 80,000 diurnal raptors
migrate through this area between August and December, including many species of
conservation concern.
The single greatest threat to this area and its bird species is the ongoing conversion of habitat
to residential and commercial development. Interest in the area from developers and potential
homeowners has led to a rise in land valuations and subdivision of privately owned land for
development. Alteration of the local hydrology by land disturbance and ditching can change or
eliminate habitat. Fragmentation of forests and the introduction of invasives, both flora and
fauna, can have a direct effect on the survival of many native plants, migratory bird species, and
the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel.
Threats to the barrier islands along Northampton’s Atlantic coast, and to the Maritime Zone Communities are incompatible development, and recreational activities; overfishing, invasive species; incompatible agricultural and forestry practices and sea-level rise. (Section 5.9.7 Source:DCR)
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Summary:
The environment and natural resources of Northampton County are greatly influenced by its location as a peninsula surrounded by two significant water bodies: the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Northampton County lies within one of the most important migratory flyways in the world, supporting globally significant populations of shorebirds, songbirds and raptors during the annual fall migration. These avian resources provide an opportunity for an expanded tourism season based on bird watching.
A number of ecologically significant flora and fauna are supported within Northampton County, in addition to thirteen species designated as threatened or endangered.
Northampton County supports a number of Maritime Zone Natural Communities identified as globally rare and imperiled Natural Heritage Resources.
Northampton County has excellent soils for agricultural crop production, including several types classified as Prime Farmland.
Tidewater Virginia, including Northampton County, has one of the highest levels of sea level rise in the United States.
The barrier islands system provides prime nesting and feeding habitat for numerous waterfowl species, habitat for various mammals and reptiles, recreational opportunities, scientific research opportunities, and provides some level of protection from the effects of storms.
Ground water is the sole source of drinking water in Northampton County, and the county has been designated by the Virginia State Water Control Board as a “Ground Water Management Area.” and by the EPA as a sole source aquifer.
Northampton County has established Resource Protection Areas on the bayside and seaside consistent with standards in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.
State agencies have mapped Priority Conservation Areas within Northampton County to
prioritize areas for preservation, protection, or specific management action.
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6. Community Facilities & Services
6.1 Introduction
Community facilities and services are the improvements, infrastructure, and programs made
available to an area to serve the general public. They include both facilities owned by the
public, but also those owned and operated by private enterprise for the benefit of the
community. The following pages describe existing facilities, infrastructure, and services in
Northampton County.
The Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) total operating budget for Northampton County is $25,763,594. Included in the sections below are allocations from the County’s FY17 operating budget to sectors that provide community services and/or facilities.
6.2 Arts & Culture Resources
Many visual, graphic, and performing artists have made Northampton County their home.
Local and regional performing artists appear regularly at various private venues described
below. Arts Enter and the historic Palace Theater in Cape Charles provide art, dance, and
theater instruction for children and adults. Now a venue for the nationally known Virginia Arts
Festival, the theater presents performances by regional, national, and international artists. The
Cape Charles Historical Society regularly hosts traveling exhibitions from regional and national
institutions. Eastern Shore’s Own (ESO) in Belle Haven presents year round education programs
in the arts, dance, culinary arts, yoga, and science for both children and adults. It is the site of
the annual Shore Made Music Festival and Craft Beer Festival. The Barrier Islands Center, a
museum and cultural center presenting the history of the Barrier Island communities and
lifesaving stations, is located in the old Almshouse Farm in Machipongo. It presents regional
and national arts exhibitions and other events all year.
The Arts Council of the Eastern Shore (ACES) presents an annual program of regional and
national performance art at various sites on the Shore. The Eastern Shore Art League presents
an annual member’s show, a student show and offers post-secondary arts scholarships. The
Artisans Guild-Eastern Shore of Virginia offers mentoring and professional development to its
working members. The Guild holds an annual three-day Open Studio Tour every year over
Thanksgiving Weekend. Local fiction and non-fiction writers, many nationally known, hold
readings and book signings at County libraries and cultural events. “A Walk Through Eastville –
A Walk Through History” provides tourists with a self-guided tour featuring Eastville area
history and architecture.
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6.3 Churches
There are approximately 45 churches in Northampton County, with most denominations represented. In a county with a modest population, churches are a catalyst for many community services and programs such as AA, serving as polling places, Food Banks, thrift shops, and others.
6.4 Communications
Telephone service is provided by Verizon and other companies offering cellular and digital service.
Four major television networks from the Hampton Roads metro area and one public television station from Portsmouth cover the County. Charter Communications offers 35 channels. Dish-satellite systems are heavily used and offer hundreds of channels.
There are several radio stations serving the area. Numerous AM and FM stations in the Hampton Roads metro area also serve Northampton County.
The Eastern Shore News, The Eastern Shore Post, and The Virginian-Pilot are newspapers serving the County. Publications from other areas such as Norfolk, Newport News, and Richmond also cover the County. Various other local publications are available online. The Eastern Shore Broadband Authority is a public authority that was created by Accomack and Northampton Counties to construct the backbone of the fiber optic network. Other service providers are able to use the broadband network to connect to end users. There are several service providers in Northampton County that provide internet, phone, and TV options. The main providers are Verizon, Chesapeake Bay Communications, Eastern Shore Communications, ShoreDSL, NeuBeam, and Charter. Northampton County established a County-wide Emergency Alert Program, Everbridge, in 2012. The program provides critical information related to severe weather, road closures, missing persons, and evacuations. Citizens are able to sign up on the County EMS website to receive notifications via text message, phone (cell, home or business), or email (http://northampton-ems.org/).
6.5 Electric Utilities
The County’s electric power is supplied by the Accomack-Northampton Electric Cooperative
(ANEC). This company is capable of supplying services to meet demands expected from future
projected population growth. The transmission line is owned, managed, and operated by Old
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Dominion Electric Cooperation (ODEC). A new transmission line has been constructed between
Tasley and Exmore substations to increase reliable service to customers south of Tasley.
6.6 Propane Gas
Propane gas is available from local companies but no natural gas is available. These vendors are
capable of supplying services to meet demands expected from future projected population
growth.
6.7 Water & Wastewater Facilities
6.7.1 Public Water Systems
Cape Charles, Eastville, Exmore, Bayview, Riverside Hospital and the County Complex presently
maintain public water systems. These systems serve about 25 percent of the total County
population. All town systems draw water from deep wells that tap the Yorktown-Eastover
aquifer system. Water quality is reported to be good and no treatment is administered in
Eastville or Exmore. Each town system utilizes elevated storage tanks and pressure
maintenance. The remaining 75 percent of County residents and businesses rely on self-
supplied wells for their water supply.
Bayview
The Bayview Community water system began operating in 2003. The permitted volume is not to exceed 300,000 gallons per month for three consecutive months. The system has two wells which withdraw approximately 8,000 gallons of water per day (GPD). There is a 15,000 gallon storage capacity for the system. The County’s Public Works Department now owns the Bayview water system.
Cape Charles
Cape Charles’ original system was built in 1930 and was replaced in its entirety in 1992 and is the largest. The water supply comes from two wells which withdraw approximately 130,000 GPD. The water supply is stored in an award winning tower with a capacity of 300,000 gallons. Included in the public water system is a treatment plant capable of processing 940,000 gallons a day with an onsite laboratory and treatment facilities for iron and manganese removal, water softening, pH adjustment, fluoridation, and disinfection.
Eastville
The smallest municipal system is Eastville and it was built in 1946. Eastville operates a municipal water supply system drawn from wells. The water tank has a storage capacity of 75,000 gallons, and average usage is 51,000 GPD.
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Exmore
The Exmore system was installed in 1940 and expanded in 1967. The water tank has a storage
capacity of 200,000 gallons, and average usage is 100,000 GPD. The town also serves the
adjacent town of Belle Haven.
6.7.2 Municipal (Public) Wastewater Treatment Systems
Cape Charles’ wastewater facility serves all residents and businesses in Cape Charles. The
system was designed and permitted to treat 250,000 GPD and could be expanded to 500,000
GPD at a relatively low cost. Average daily flows are approximately 150,000 GPD. Treatment at
the facility presently consists of secondary biologic decomposition of waste matter and includes
ultraviolet light disinfection. Sludge from the facility is transferred to the County landfill for
transport off site. The current plan is to send reuse water to Bay Creek for golf course irrigation.
Exmore has two systems, the Downtown System and the New Roads drain-field system. The
Downtown System was installed in 2006 and serves 250 taps with an additional 240 available
taps. The permit capacity for this system is 60,000 GPD. The existing operational capacity is
25,000 – 30,000 GPD with an average operational capacity of 27,000 GPD. The New Roads
system was permitted in 2000 and is strictly for residential use and permitted for 50,000 GPD.
The town expects to begin replacement of the system within 24 -36 months and extend service
to every parcel within town limits.
The Bayview wastewater collection and treatment system was placed in service in 2003 at the
same time as the water system and it currently serves 74 units. The current system capacity is
97 units. In December of 2009 the County took over the responsibility of this system and in
2012 fully acquired it.
6.7.3 Private Wastewater Treatment (Septic Systems)
Approximately 15% of the year-round housing units in the County are served by public sewer.
Almost all remaining units are served by septic tank and drainfield systems, with only a few
cesspools or pit privies remaining. The sandy nature of Eastern Shore top soils coupled with
typically high water tables may allow septic tank drainfield effluent to rapidly reach
groundwater aquifers without adequate treatment. The County has a 5 year requirement for
septic tank pump out.
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6.8 Solid Waste Management The County is required to have a Solid Waste Management Plan in accordance with State Code
and the Virginia Waste Management Act. The County employs the services of Draper Aden
Associates to assist in solid waste planning. The County’s Solid Waste Management Plan was
updated on May 28, 2013. The FY17 budget for Solid Waste is $1,517,991 and includes
collection, disposal, and recycling services.
6.8.1 Collection
The County collects all residential waste from its six waste collection sites through a third party.
The waste collection
sites are located in
Wardtown, Hare Valley,
Birdsnest, Eastville,
Bayview, and Cheapside.
In addition, waste is
collected from nine (9)
non-public sites
including each of the
school facilities, courthouse, Indiantown Park, and the Health Department.
6.8.2 Disposal
Northampton County operates a transfer station near the community of Oyster. In addition to
regular household waste, construction debris, yard waste, and bulk household items are also
accepted. The waste is transported by a third party vendor to the King and Queen Landfill for
disposal. In accordance with state regulations, the Northampton County Landfill was closed and
capped in 2009.
6.8.3 Recycling
Recycling services are also offered at the County’s waste collection centers through a single
stream contract with Tidewater Fiber Corporation (TFC). “Single stream” means that all
acceptable recyclables are collected in the same container and then separated at the final
disposal site. Plastic (number 1 and number 2), paper, cardboard, glass, and metal are
acceptable products. Additionally, the County continues to accept used motor oil, scrap metal,
and batteries for recycling purposes.
Hare Valley Waste Collection site
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6.9 Emergency Services & Law Enforcement
The Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center serves the Counties of Accomack and Northampton, excluding the Town of Chincoteague (which has its own 9-1-1 Center). All 9-1-1 calls are received by the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center (located in Accomac, VA). Law enforcement calls are transferred to local Sheriff's Offices or the Virginia State Police for processing and dispatching. Fire and emergency medical services calls are processed and dispatched directly to fire and EMS agencies. In addition to receiving wire-line 9-1-1 calls, the Communications Center also serves as an answering point for cellular and other wireless 9-1-1 calls.
The Emergency Operations Plan for Northampton County was rewritten in 2011 and adopted by
the Board of Supervisors in 2012. Interagency cooperation and frequent updating is intended to
provide the greatest possible protection to life and property from natural disasters and hazards.
“The Northampton County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides education and guidance
for the County and responding partners and follows federal- and state-level guidance for
developing response plans. The EOP describes the unique challenges posed by all disaster
situations within Northampton County that may necessitate specific leadership decisions,
response actions, and communication mechanisms, with the intent to limit the impact of a
disaster, preserve continuity of essential government functions, and minimize social disruption
and economic losses.”
6.9.1 Fire Services
Volunteer fire departments are based in each incorporated town (except Belle Haven): Cape
Charles, Cheriton, Eastville, Nassawadox, and Exmore. The County provides some funding, while
the major portion must be obtained by the individual companies from bingo, fund raising
projects, grants, and appeals to the public. The County allocated $206,438 for Fire response
services for FY17.
6.9.2 Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services are provided by a combination system of volunteer and paid
providers.
Three volunteer rescue squads serve the County. Volunteer EMS stations are located in Bayview,
Nassawadox, and Exmore. Northampton County provides funding for twenty-five full-time and
fifteen part-time EMS positions. The County provides three types of coverage. The first is 6:00
AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, consistently staffing two (2) ambulances, one in the
south at Cape Charles Rescue Service and one in the north at Community Fire Company in
Nassawadox. The second is for nights, weekends, and holidays with one staffed ambulance at
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the centrally located Machipongo station. The third type is supervisory personnel for an
Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicle that provide 24/7 coverage at the Machipongo station.
Table 6.1 below shows the total calls and response times from 2010 through 2015.
Table 6.1
EMS Response Data
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total Calls 2803 2759 2758 2654 2860 2786
Average Response
Time Day (minutes)
9.72 9.37 9.42 9.40 8.88 9.42
Average Response
Time Night/Weekend
(minutes)
13.70 12.24 11.47 11.5 10.55 10.43
Maximum Response
Time (minutes)
45 50 44 55 39 42
Source: Northampton County EMS Department
Several private ambulance companies offer ambulance service throughout the entire Eastern
Shore. Sentara Nightingale Air Ambulance Service based in Norfolk offers air ambulance
transportation to Eastern Shore citizens. The FY17 budget for Emergency Services is $1,927,688,
7.4% of the total operating budget. This includes $1,634,257 for EMS operations, $282,021 for
911 Emergency Services and $11,410 for the Eastern Shore Emergency Services The relocation
of the hospital from Nassawadox (and particularly the emergency services) to Onley(18 miles
North in Accomack County), has increased the workload of Northampton’s EMS. Additional
rolling stock (an ambulance) and staff (two full time employees) have been added. A new
building to house the EMS is being added to the current EMS facility near Machipongo.
The total number of calls, average response times, and maximum response times have
remained flat over the last five years, as shown in Table 6.1. The weekend response time has
improved over the same, reflecting the addition of paid EMTs. Monitoring these established
times will indicate the need for additional resources.
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6.9.3 Public Safety & Law Enforcement
The Northampton County Sheriff’s Department and County jail are located just outside the town of Eastville. In addition to the Sheriff and Major, there are 20 law enforcement deputies,
40 jail deputies, and 6 communications officers. The jail also employs 8 persons for medical and kitchen staff. The County’s FY17 contribution to Law Enforcement is $ 6,503,730, 25% of the total operating budget. This amount includes $2,307,176 for the Sherriff’s Office, $295,453 for the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, $23,719 for Victim Witness, $35,580 for Judicial Court Services, and $3,706,375 for the Eastern Shore Regional Jail. The County allocated $100,958 for Animal Control for FY17 and $34,469 for the Accomack-Northampton Animal
Control Facility.
The towns of Cape Charles, Eastville and Exmore also maintain small police forces. The town’s officers are dispatched through the Sheriff’s Office in Eastville and remain in radio contact with the Eastville dispatcher. The Town of Cape Charles presently employs five officers. The Town of Exmore employs seven full-time officers. The Town of Eastville employs two officers. Cheriton employs four County deputies on a part-time basis.
Northampton County also benefits from services provided by the Virginia State Police. The local headquarters is located near the Town of Melfa in Accomack County. The Melfa office has 22 assigned officers and equipment that can be requested as needed. The State Police also offer technical support to the County officers and present safety programs to schools, churches, civic organizations and other groups that request their services. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police Department employs 39 officers whose duties are not only to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth, but also to render services to the patrons crossing the facility.
Also contributing to the public safety are personnel of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. There are three officers in the County who are responsible for enforcing all laws relative to the taking of wildlife as represented in the Code of Virginia and Regulations of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Also, these officers are the chief enforcers of Virginia's boating safety laws. Boat safety and boating safety laws are also taught, and enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Charles and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Currently there is one National Wildlife Refuge officer with law enforcement authority. This officer is authorized to protect U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service property and enforce wildlife and public use laws and regulations in the local area or as directed.
County Courthouse, Eastville
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The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has 15 officers assigned to the Eastern Shore, 7 of which are in Northampton County. This number may fluctuate depending on activity. These officers are responsible for
6.10 Government Services
The County of Northampton has a five-member Board of Supervisors with a County
Administrator overseeing the day-to-day operations and the implementation of policy adopted
by the Board of Supervisors. The County’s primary campus houses the court house, Social
Services building, jail and sheriff’s offices, and Juvenile Court services building. The old court
house has been renovated to house various administrative offices. The FY17 budget for the
Board of Supervisors and Administration is $45,898 and $363,851, respectively.
Northampton County implements a range of programs and services dealing with land
management. For FY17, the allocation for land management was $832,502 or 3% of the total
operating budget. The majority of this amount was for Planning and Zoning ($587,111) which
includes $72,575 for Code Compliance. $75,302 went to the Extension Service, $32,518 went
to the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission and $28,783 went to the Soil &
Water Conservation Service. The remainder went towards Johnson Grass Control ($20,650),
Planning Commission ($6,180), Wetlands Board ($2,102) and the Eastern Shore Resource
Conservation & Development Council ($7,281).
Northampton County provides plan review and inspection for building construction in
accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The County allocated $137,873
to implement this program for FY17.
6.11 Hospital/Health Services
The Virginia State Department of Health in Richmond oversees the area’s health planning
services. Through its Eastern Virginia Regional Office, the State Department of Health is
mandated to increase accessibility, acceptability, continuity, and quality of health care service.
In addition, the Office monitors and evaluates the costs of health care to restrain cost increases
and to insure that services are not duplicated. For FY17, Northampton County contributed
$385,049 to the Health Department. The ratio of patients to physicians in Northampton County
in 2014 was 825:1 (Prior to the relocation of the hospital to Accomack County) compared to a
ratio 1,345:1 in Virginia and a ratio of 1,051:1 in the US overall (Source: CountyRankings.org).
Approximately 50 private health care providers including physicians, dentists, and chiropractors
provide care to citizens of the Eastern Shore. The majority of the offices are currently
concentrated in the Nassawadox area.
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Northampton County was federally designated as a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) in 1978.
A MUA is defined as a region that has a relative or absolute deficiency of health care resources–
e.g., hospital beds, equipment and/or medical personnel. On the Index of Medical Underservice
(IMU), where 0 represents completely underserved and 100 represents best served,
Northampton County rates 59.7 (Health Resources Administration). Clinics serving rural areas
designated as MUAs are eligible for certification as Rural Health Clinics by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid services.
Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems, Inc.
Eastern Shore Rural Health provides care to residents of Northampton County under the
authority of the Rural Health Clinic Services Act (PL 95-21, as amended).
The Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems, Inc., (ESRHS) was established in 1976 with a Rural
Health Initiative grant and is the only grant funded provider. There are currently two ESRHS
locations in Northampton County, one in Bayview and one in Franktown. The Franktown
location was initially established as a pediatric center
and added adult services in 2003. The Bayview location
opened in 1985 and expanded in 1994. ESRHS plans to
build a new facility in Eastville that will combine the
Franktown and Bayview offices into a central location.
The new facility will offer extended and Saturday hours.
ESRHS provides primary health care to all ages of
citizens, including family medicine, internal medicine,
pediatrics (Franktown) and general dentistry
(Franktown). Dental services are provided by 6 ESRHS
dentists and two dental hygienists who rotate through
ESRHS units. Staffing and hours of the centers are in Table 6.2.
Table 6.2
Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems
Location Hours Physicians Physicians'
Assistant
Nurse
Practitioner
Patient visits per
month
Franktown M-F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 3 1 2 1608
Bayview M 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM T-F
8:00AM - 5:00 PM
1 1 1 678
Franktown Community Health Center, Near
Nassawadox
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ESRHS accepts all major private health insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. In addition services
can be obtained on a sliding scale to qualified individuals based on income and family size.
Eastern Shore Health District
The Eastern Shore Health District provides Health and Clinical services, Food and Environmental
Safety, and Emergency Preparedness and response services to the citizens of Northampton
County.
Public Health
Some health and clinical services are provided on a sliding fee scale. School immunizations are
provided free of charge. Health services provided include a Maternity Clinic; a Resource
Mothers Program to assist pregnant and parenting teens, a Family Planning Clinic; a Life
Matters Program, providing comprehensive breast health care to women age 18 to 63 years old
and symptomatic men via funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tidewater Affiliate;
Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, providing supplemental food for financially and
nutritionally eligible pregnant women, breast feeding women and children up to age five;
immunizations; investigations and support related to communicable disease exposures;
community health education; the Ryan White program, providing medication for the treatment
of HIV/AIDS for eligible individuals; and Nursing Home Preadmission screening.
Food and Environmental Safety
The Environmental Health Division manages programs such as a Beach Monitoring Program,
Lead Poisoning Prevention, Mold Information, Marina Sanitation Program, Migrant Labor Camp
Sanitation Program, Rabies Prevention and Control, Swimming Pool/Tourist Establishment
Sanitation Program, Restaurant/Food Safety Program, Restaurant inspections, and sewage and
water safety programs.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
The Eastern Shore Health District responds to emergencies impacting public health through
preparation, education and rapid intervention in collaboration with local EMS, Ready Virginia,
US Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and the Virginia Department of Emergency
Management.
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Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
Shore Memorial Hospital was purchased by Riverside Health Systems in 2009 and is now known
as Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital. In February 2017, the hospital relocated to a new 52 bed
facility in Onley in neighboring Accomack County. The new facility will include Shore Cancer
Center as well as an additional medical building. They also operate a physician practice in Cape
Charles. The plans for the Nassawadox campus have not been clarified at the time of this
writing. Riverside has stated that they plan to leave an urgent care center in what is currently
the cancer center, but details pertaining to hours, and scope of operation have not been
presented.
Heritage Hall
Heritage Hall was built in 1981 and was extensively renovated in 2011. Services include
rehabilitation services, with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
provided seven days a week, in addition to the provision of long term care. Heritage Hall has
145 beds and employs 130 staff members. They manage the only Alzheimer’s unit on the
Eastern Shore, with 20 beds. An activity bus takes patients on outings such as visits to area
restaurants, fishing, and shopping. Citizens expressed concerns on the lack of facilities available
for assisted living
Mental Health Services
The Eastern Shore Community Services Board (ESCSB) was formed in 1971 and is comprised of 9 local citizens appointed by the Board of Supervisors of both Counties. Its mission is to provide services, supports, prevention and education regarding mental health, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and substance use issues to the people of the Eastern Shore of Virginia utilizing a person centered, coordinated care delivery model. The Administration and Emergency Service Offices are located in Nassawadox. The County contributed $65,941 to the ESCSB for FY 16. Mental Health services are provided via private psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, as well as mental health professionals employed by the Eastern Shore Community Services Board (ESCSB). The Shore has no inpatient beds for psychiatric or substance use needs and therefore the individuals, in need of those services, are required to travel across the Bay or to Maryland in order to receive these needed services. ESCSB strive to provide a comprehensive level of care to those who are in need of our services. These services range from housing and day programs for those with developmental disabilities to substance abuse prevention and treatment to mental health counseling as well as crisis intervention services. Mental Health outpatient and case management services offer psychological and psychiatric evaluation for adults, adolescents and children, as well as family, group and marital counseling.
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Substance abuse services include counseling, aftercare, family education, Suboxone treatment for those struggling with Opiate addiction, as well as referrals and coordination of care for detox and inpatient services out of our locality. ESCSB have partnered with Eastern Shore Rural Health by co-locating 2 clinicians as well as 1 child Psychiatrist, part time, in the Franktown center. Emergency on-call services are available on a 24-hour basis for those in need of Emergency Services due to being a threat to themselves or others. The ESCSB began a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Program in 2016 as well as have been able to pair with Riverside Shore Memorial to have a CIT Assessment Site, a location in the ER where Police Officers can bring individuals in need to be evaluated when in a crisis. Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs, such as the Clubhouse and Mental Health Skill building services, provide rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill individuals recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Day Support and Case Management Services are provided for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their families in our Exmore location. Programs are coordinated to support individuals in creating “a life like yours and mine” while supporting them to reach their potential with an ultimate goal of independent living. The Dogwood View Apartments in Nassawadox was constructed in 1990 and has 20 units. The project has successfully allowed adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to live, successfully, with minimum supports. Northampton County also contributes to the Social Services Department’s Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) Program, a program for at-risk youth and their families. In FY16, the County allocated $145,000 towards this program.
Senior Services
A senior center is managed at the offices of Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging on Bayside
Road near Exmore for people more than 60 years old. Programs provided for clientele include
exercise, tai chi, speakers, field trips, crafts, and more.
6.12 Libraries
Library services for Northampton County residents are provided by the Eastern Shore Public Library. This regional library system is responsible for serving Northampton and Accomack Counties with a branch in Nassawadox, and the main branch in the Town of Accomac in Accomack County with plans to relocate to Parksley. There is also an affiliated library located in Cape Charles. The library is an active participant in the interlibrary loan system. The County
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contributed $127,559 to the Eastern Shore Public Library for FY17.
The Cape Charles Memorial Library located in Cape Charles was the first memorial library to be
established in Virginia, dedicated in 1927 to the memory of local men who died in WWI. It has
recently moved into a larger, newly renovated building in town. The County contributed
$20,000 to the Cape Charles Public Library for FY17.
6.13 Parks & Recreation
6.13.1 Indiantown Park
This 52-acre area is the headquarters for the
Northampton County Parks and Recreation
Department. There is a full-time director,
several part-time personnel, basketball
softball and disc golf league officials, fitness,
aerobic and gymnastic instructors, and a
summer play camp director and aides.
The Park has a picnic shelter, a soccer field, a playground, a lighted softball field, a 36-hole disc
golf course, and a two-mile nature trail. A recreation building houses the Department offices,
restrooms, and a large multi-purpose room available to civic, church, and County organizations,
as well as to individuals for a small fee. The Park was recently renovated with building
upgrades, new stone parking area, playground equipment, new lighting for the softball field,
signage and landscaping. The Department offers a wide variety of activities including basketball,
tennis, softball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, gymnastics, and aerobics. By utilizing facilities at
several public schools as well as those at Indiantown Park, leagues are organized on a year-
round basis. Various recreation programs are offered: summer play camp, runs, disc golf
tournaments; children's parties for Christmas, Halloween, and Easter; food, toy, and clothes
drives; and planned bus trips off the Shore. A small fee is charged for many of the programs.
For FY17, the County allocated $236,953 for Parks and Recreation.
There is an Advisory Board appointed by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors that
meets monthly for hearing public comment and planning for the future of recreation and parks
in the County. A private, non-profit foundation called Friends of Northampton County Parks
and Recreation was founded in 2014 that consist of a volunteer Board of Directors, meeting
monthly, with the mission of fundraising for improving the parks and recreation facilities for
Northampton County. Their immediate goal is to establish a public aquatics facility for
swimming instruction and recreation.
Indiantown Park, Eastville
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6.13.2 Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
In 1984, the Department of the Interior, Fish, and Wildlife Service acquired the Air Force Base
at the southern tip of the County just north of the bridge-tunnel. The site formerly included
Fort John Custis. The 653 acres of land is at the end of the East Coast Migratory Flyway; thus,
it is an important habitat for wildlife, including several endangered species. School, scout,
and conservation groups and the general public are invited to use the facilities, including a
small but excellent museum. Scheduled tours are conducted to nearby Fisherman's Island
from October to the beginning of March for nature walks and bird watching. Displays and
informative material at the Welcome Center highlight the Refuge and the ecosystems of both
bayside and seaside, as well as areas of environmental and historical interest in both
Northampton and Accomack Counties. A USS Missouri gun barrel is on display at the refuge.
This 120 ton gun barrel is similar to the barrel formerly in the bunker at the former Fort John
Custis. It was on the USS Missouri at the time of the signing of the Japanese surrender on
September 2, 1945.
The Southern Tip Hike & Bike Trail is a 2.5 mile paved trail along the old railroad bed that
connects the Refuge to Kiptopeke State Park. Phase II of the trail has been approved from
Cedar Grove Drive to Capeville Drive but has yet to be completed. There are plans to extend
the trail further north to the Cape Charles area.
6.13.3 Kiptopeke State Park
Kiptopeke State Park is located along the Chesapeake
Bay in the southern part of the County. Kiptopeke
offers two beaches for public use with a modest
entrance fee. The north beach is designated as a
swimming area with no boats, fishing, or pets
allowed. The south beach allows dogs on leashes and
also allows fishing. Amenities adjacent to the beach
include kayak rentals, bathrooms with outdoor
showers, and a store selling bait, floatation devices, and ice cream. The beaches are connected
to the campsite areas by boardwalks and 5.1 miles of nature trails.
6.13.4 Town Facilities
Cape Charles has a large, Central Park offering landscaped grounds, evening lighting and a
children’s playground. It is the site of community and regional events and activities. The Town
also has a newly renovated public library, a public fishing pier (no license required), a boat
Kiptopeke State Park
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launch, public beach and a town harbor. A public bathroom is located next to the beach and in
the town park. Golfing opportunities are found at Bay Creek Resort with both an Arnold Palmer
and a Jack Nicklaus designed course.
Eastville has a large, well-maintained park in the center of town. A picnic spot is located next to
the County “time capsule” monument, and the property has been the site of community events
and fund raisers. A court garden is located next to the historic Courthouse Green area.
The Randy Custis Memorial Park in Nassawadox has multiple baseball diamonds, soccer fields
and other athletic fields for organized team sports as well as a children’s play center sponsored
by Northampton Little League. There is also a town children’s playground.
Exmore has a children’s playground, a gazebo, and a picnic park.
6.13.5 Boat Ramps & Beach Access
Three public beaches are located on the bayside
of Northampton County, one in Cape Charles and
two in Kiptopeke State Park. Recreational boating
and fishing are very popular sports on the Eastern
Shore. Boat ramps within Northampton County
include: Cape Charles (town harbor with 51 slips),
Kings Creek (privately owned with 125 slips),
Oyster (County owned with 10 slips), Willis Wharf
(County owned with 50 slips), Morley's Wharf
(County owned), Red Bank (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries), Wise Point Boat
Ramp (Fish and Wildlife Services), and Kiptopeke State Park.
Recreational finfish in this area include striped bass, spot, croaker, gray and speckled trout,
channel bass, black drum, flounder, cobia, and bluefish. There are public fishing piers at the
Morley’s Wharf boat ramp, Cape Charles, and Kiptopeke State Park. For FY17, $26,180 was
allocated to boat ramps and harbors.
6.14 Schools & Education
6.14.1 Elementary & Secondary Education
Northampton County Schools consists of two elementary schools constructed in 1993 and one
comprehensive high school for grades 7-12 with an on-campus careers and technical center.
Northampton High School is organized on a hybrid-modified block instructional model. This
instructional model provides the flexibility to structure class time to meet students’ individual
Willis Wharf
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needs. Students may enroll in college courses at the Eastern Shore Community College or
through Virtual Advanced Placements School. Students may enroll in the following ESCC Dual
Enrollment courses: Calculus, US Government, Psychology, English Comp I and English Comp II,
Early Childhood Education, Health Care Tech and Welding. Cultural events such as student
concerts and student art exhibits are generally held several times a year.
As well, students at Northampton High School are able to take a variety of Career and Technical
courses which could lead to industry certifications. Included among the student’s options are:
Agriculture Production, Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Culinary Arts, Marketing and
various business offerings. Advanced Placement Courses and Honors Courses are offered and
include AP Statistics, AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Psychology Honors English and
Honors Biology.
In 2013, over 82% of graduates went on to further their education in institutions of higher
education and the military. Graduating students may be awarded the following diplomas:
Advanced, Standard, Modified Standard, Special, GED/ISAEP and Certificate of Completion.
Northampton County offers a universal Pre-Kindergarten program at both local elementary
schools. The Pre-K program is a free, full day, traditional school year program that provides
children with opportunities for social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional and physical development.
Admissions are open to all children living in the County regardless of religion, race, national
origin, at-risk, or economic status. Each class has a maximum of 18 students and is taught by a
certified teacher and a teaching assistant. The program follows the Virginia standards for
universal Pre-Kindergarten, as well as literacy and mathematics programs adopted by the
district.
Gifted education is offered K-12. Potentially gifted students are identified at an early age.
Academic programs and competitions as well as the Governor’s School Programs challenge
students beyond the classroom. Extracurricular and many athletic activities are also offered to
provide enrichment beyond the regular classroom setting.
Special Education is available to students with disabilities who are provided services according
to the student’s Individualized Education Plan. Speech therapists, learning disabilities teachers,
teachers of emotionally disturbed, an occupational therapist, and a school psychologist serve as
resource personnel in the provision of a comprehensive program of services for students with
handicapping conditions.
Northampton County Public Schools operates an annual summer Migrant Education Program
for approximately 100 students over a period of four (4) weeks beginning in early July and
ending in early August.
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All Northampton County schools have wireless Internet. Promethean Boards, response
systems/clickers, Elmo document camera, iPads, iPods and a variety of other technology
devices are used daily to engage students in the delivery of the instructional content.
Technology training is provided to teachers in support of the effective use and integration of
technology in the classroom. In addition to textbooks, a great variety of supplemental
instructional materials are provided by the Division.
The Northampton County Public School System is accredited by AdvancEd which provides
accreditation under the seals of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and
School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council
on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For the 2014-2015 school year,
Kiptopeke received an Accreditation Denied rating, Occohannock Elementary and Northampton
Middle School were Partially Accredited: Improving School-Pass Rate, and Northampton High
School was Fully Accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. Accreditation Denied
rating is given to a school if it fails to meet the requirements to be rated fully or provisionally
accredited for four consecutive years. Partially Accredited: Improving School-Pass Rate rating is
given to a school that is not fully accredited and do not qualify for a rating of Partially
Accredited: Approaching Benchmark-Pass Rate, but the school is making acceptable progress
towards full accreditation. Fully Accredited is earned by a school when students achieve an
adjusted pass rate of 75 percent in third-grade and fifth-grade English, 70 percent in
mathematics and 50 percent in third-grade science and history/social science. Otherwise, the
student results must meet the adjusted pass rate of 70 percent in each of the four core
academic areas – English, mathematics, science and history/social science. School capacity and
enrollment information by school based on Fall Enrollment are provided Tables 6.3 and 6.4.
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Table 6.3 School Enrollment by School
School Capacit
y
2007-
08
2008-
09
2009-
10
2010-
11
2011-
12
2012-
13
2013-
14
2014-
15
Kiptopeke
Elementary
550 481 616 581 589 534 493 490 480
Occohannoc
k Elementary
550 494 588 592 610 552 531 497 474
Northampto
n Middle
School
600 390 N/A N/A N/A N/A 256 265 253
Northampto
n High
School
800 553 638 626 601 723 697 433 444
Source: Northampton County Public Schools
Table 6.4 School Enrollment by Grade
Grade 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
PK-3 701 686 656 647 670 630 600 592
4-7 536 518 517 552 546 523 518 485
PK-7 1237 1204 1173 1199 1216 1153 1118 1077
8-9 267 269 254 253 249 240 257 263
10-12 414 369 372 348 344 328 310 311
Total PK-
12
1918 1842 1799 1800 1809 1721 1685 1651
Source: Northampton County Public Schools
For the 2012-13 school year, 33 students who live in Accomack County applied to attend
Northampton County schools and 28 students who live in Northampton County applied to
attend Accomack County schools.
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The Northampton County School Board Policies and Regulations provide a basis for the
operation of the schools. The School Board employs approximately 175 professional staff
persons for program coordination and implementation. At the present time, 99% of the
Division’s teachers and administrators are endorsed in their assigned field, and in 2012,
approximately 40% had graduate/doctoral degrees.
School support services include health, dental, transportation, food services, operation and
maintenance of facilities, instructional assistants, and clerical. Approximately 140 employees
are involved in providing these services. Pupil transportation is provided with 38 school buses
with 4 of those buses being handicapped accessible. In addition, buses are available for
approved field trips, certain after-school activities, and scheduled athletic contests.
As in all rural counties, the educational budget represents the single largest budgetary
commitment of the County government; 33% or $8,607,077 of the County’s FY17 operational
budget is transferred to the Public School system.
Northampton County benefits from the school division’s participation in the Hampton Roads
Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc (HRETA). Eighteen (18) school divisions
currently comprise the HRETA, the parent corporation that owns the assets of WHRO. WHRO
convenes over 40 regional educational planning/leadership meetings each year, involving local
school board representatives, superintendents, key instructional leaders, and technology staff.
WHRO provides online educational resources for student education and for professional
development of teachers, workforce development and quality children’s programming 24 hours
per day. Northampton County invested $4,892 in WHRO in 2011-2012 with a direct return on
investment of $711,920.
6.14.2 Higher Education
The Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC) near Melfa serves residents of both Northampton
and Accomack Counties. It occupies a 43,000 square foot building on 115 acres. It has the
capacity for 500 full-time students and enrollment averages approximately 450. ESCC is
accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
and its degree programs are approved by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. It is
a two-year institution offering transfer and occupational-technical certificate programs and a
variety of credit and non-credit courses for residents of the two Counties. For FY17,
Northampton County allocated $131,723 to ESCC.
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The Business Development and Workforce Training Center opened in January 2009. The 20,000
square foot facility enhances the effort to establish links between the College and the business
community as well as individuals who need training and professional development in order to
advance in their careers. The Division collaborates with business, local and regional
government, social service agencies, and economic development authorities, as well as the
College’s academic departments to fulfill the educational component of community and
economic development initiatives. A broad range of cost effective education and training
services are available to individuals, as well as business, industry, government and professional
organizations.
The college operates an Adult Basic Education Program in cooperation with both County school
systems and the Eastern Shore Literacy Council (ESLC). These classes and free one-to-one
tutoring by professionally trained volunteers are designed to serve the basic education needs of
the 30% of the Northampton County adult population with less than eight years of schooling.
Individuals may obtain their General Educational Development (GED) degree through the Adult
Basic Education Program.
6.14.3 Private Schools
There are currently four private schools located in the County, Broadwater Academy, Shore
Christian Academy, Franktown Montessori, and Cape Charles Christian School. Broadwater
Academy is a private, coeducational, college preparatory school located in Exmore, Virginia. A
campus of approximately 120 acres provides space for four classroom buildings, gymnasium,
library, cafeteria, and fine arts space for the school's 334 students in grades pre-kindergarten
through 12. The curriculum is academically oriented and 97% of graduates go on to college and
universities. The school serves Accomack and Northampton Counties as well as the
southernmost county of Maryland. It is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent
Schools. Broadwater accepts students regardless of race, creed, or national original. A limited
amount of scholarship aid is available.
Shore Christian Academy started in 2004 and is located in Exmore. It is an extension of Exmore
Baptist Church. The academic program is centered on the A Beka curriculum, which integrates
the Christian principles into the classroom. The school currently has 71 students enrolled and is
planning to construct a new facility to accommodate all grade levels.
The Montessori Children’s House of Franktown (MCHF) was started in 2007 and is located at
Franktown United Methodist Church (FUMC). MCHF focuses on the principles of Dr. Maria
Montessori where the emphasis is on developing the child’s unique potential. Currently, MCHF
has 41 students enrolled. MCHF is building two new classrooms adjacent to FUMC. MCHF holds
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certification from the Association Montessori Internationale, the most stringent level of
accreditation that follows Dr. Montessori’s principles and practices.
Cape Charles Christian School (CCCS) opened in 2009 and currently enrolls 43 students. CCCS
aims to educate and develop students in a non-denominational Christian setting. CCCS offers
pre-K through eighth grade and is located on Tazewell Avenue in Cape Charles.
Summary
Northampton has numerous cultural and artistic venues throughout the County, attracting artists and providing entertainment for residents and tourists.
Communication systems include telephone, numerous radio and television stations, newspapers, DSL and broadband.
Private wells are the predominant source of water in Northampton County, with public water systems serving Cape Charles, Eastville, Bayview and Exmore.
There are two municipal wastewater treatment systems in the County.
Disposal and recycling is managed through waste collection centers in six locations.
Emergency Medical services are provided through a combination of paid and volunteer staff from locations in Bayview, Machipongo, Nassawadox and Exmore. Sentara provides a Nightingale Air Ambulance service when needed.
Fire Service is provided by volunteer staff with fire departments located in each incorporated town.
Public safety and law enforcement is provided by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department; officers in the towns of Cape Charles, Exmore and Eastville; State Police, Virginia Marine Police, National Wildlife Refuge Officers, and back up by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police Department.
A Regional Jail is located at the County complex near Eastville.
Primary health care and dentistry is provided in the County through a combination of primary care physicians and private dentists, Eastern Shore Rural Health, and the Eastern Shore Health District.
Long Term care and Rehabilitation services are provided at Heritage Hall in Nassawadox.
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Mental Health and developmentally disabled services are provided with a network including private practitioners, and the Community Services Board.
An active Parks and Recreation Department includes facilities at Indiantown Park with many planned programs.
Access to the natural beauty of the County and protection for flora and fauna is provided at the Eastern Shore Wildlife refuge and Kiptopeke State Park.
Parks, beaches, boat ramps, golfing, baseball facilities, and bicycle and walking trails are available for public use.
The school system includes public and private schools for K-12 and access to classes at Eastern Shore Community College.
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7 Transportation 7.1 Introduction
Northampton County contains some of the most scenic roadways in the state. Its meandering
secondary roads lined with green fields and pristine waterways have made the county a mecca for
motorists and cyclers of all ages. Route 600 has been designated a Virginia Byway and offers travelers
a unique scenic tour through woods, farm fields and coastal areas. Along the way are historic sites,
game refuges and other attractions. Aside from automobiles and bikes, other means of transportation
in the county include, pedestrian, marine, and air travel.
Transportation planning for Northampton County is a joint effort among the State, the County,
and the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, as well as transportation
agencies such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Commission and the Accomack-
Northampton Transportation District Commission. While Northampton County’s major
transportation system is the State Highway System maintained by the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT); the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT), Bay Coast Railroad, and
Shore Transit and Rideshare (STAR) also provide essential transportation services. These
systems combine with bicycle, pedestrian, marine, and air transportation facilities to form a
multi-modal transportation system.
Since the Northampton County Comprehensive Plan was updated in 2009, two major
transportation studies and planning efforts have been completed: The 2035 Regional Long
Range Transportation Plan (2011) and the Eastern Shore of Virginia Bicycle Plan.
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7.2 Land Use Planning & Transportation
VDOT is responsible for most highway planning, construction, and maintenance in rural Virginia.
VDOT only addresses transportation issues within its right-of-way and does not manage or
regulate land use adjacent to state highways. However, VDOT and local governments
recognized the growing need to coordinate land use planning and transportation planning.
Effective July 1, 2008, VDOT developed the “Access Management Regulations; Principal
Arterials (24 VA C30 – 72)” that impacts land use planning and development by mandating
roadway improvements deemed necessary through traffic impact analysis, land use permitting,
and secondary street acceptance requirements, which became effective on October 14, 2009.
The following sections discuss the relationship between land use planning and transportation
and identify the need for close cooperation between Northampton County and VDOT.
In June 2002, the County Board of Supervisors approved various recommendations made by
VDOT’s consultant in the Route 13/Wallops Island Access Management Study, including
adoption of access management guidelines and the establishment of a highway corridor overlay
district. The County adopted a Highway Corridor Overlay District in 2004 as shown in Figure 7.1
below.
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Figure 7.1 Highway Corridor Overlay District
Source: Northampton County GIS
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7.2.1 Existing Land Use, Zoning, and Future Development Capacity
Existing land use and future development capacity are major considerations for maintaining
and planning the Northampton County road system. U.S. Census data, existing traffic data, and
land use data provide points of reference for future decisions about the County’s
transportation and land use planning and management.
The 2010 U.S. Census reported that Northampton County had a population of 12,389. This is a
5.4% decrease from the 2000 Census. There were a total of 7,301 housing units in 2010, an
11.52% percent increase over 6,547 in 2000. Only 5,323 of those units were occupied in 2010
versus 5,493 in 2000 representing a 3 percent drop in occupied units. Vacant housing units rose
from 1,054 in 2000 to an estimated 2,267 units in 2016, a 115 percent increase. 31% of existing
housing is currently vacant. Vacant units are either rentals, for sale, seasonal second homes or
possibly abandoned (See Table 4.3 Housing Data Part II). The average number of persons per
year-round household was 2.32 in 2013.
Based on gross zoning capacity, without considering other regulatory constraints such as septic
capacity, the current County zoning allows for an additional 9,757 dwelling units. If the County
were to build-out to the maximum allowed zoning capacity, at the same ratio of 3:1 year-round
to seasonal homes (see Table 4.3 Housing Data Part II) and 2.32 persons per year-round home,
there would be a year-round population of 53,229 (this includes Town build out). This is more
than four times Northampton County’s 2010 population. The possibility of steady population
growth over time would have a major impact on the County’s transportation system.
Although traffic planning is partially based on population growth, a unique situation exists on
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. U. S. Route 13 is a major route from the northeast to beaches in
Virginia and North Carolina.
7.3 Existing Traffic
Figure 8.2 shows the latest VDOT annual average daily traffic (AADT) data for Northampton
County’s state roads. Since VDOT does not do traffic counts on all roads every year, most of
these data are from 2010 or earlier. The major factors in traffic generation are population,
trips-per-day per housing unit, and through-traffic on U.S. Route 13.
According to the 2010 Census, 11% (9.1% national average) of Northampton County’s occupied
housing units have no vehicle available, 37.6% (33.8% national average) have one vehicle
available, 33.6% (37.6% national average) have two vehicles available, and 17.8% (19.9%
national average) have 3 or more vehicles available. This is a total of 8,043 vehicles for 5,088
housing units for an average of 1.6 vehicles per household.
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Figure 8.2 shows most roads in Northampton County have less than 1000 AADT. The
exceptions are U.S. Route 13, Business Route 13, and Routes 183, 184, 606, 639, and 642. The
higher AADT on these roads reflects the denser development and commercial activity near
Exmore, Nassawadox, Eastville, Cheriton, and Cape Charles. The analysis also showed that
housing units closer to towns and commercial centers had more trips-per-day than homes in
more remote locations. Residents living far from towns and commercial areas seem to prefer
making less frequent trips due to the longer distances. These numbers for trips-per-day per
household were used to estimate future traffic based on several population scenarios.
An analysis of the 2002 existing traffic data and occupied housing unit data showed that
Northampton County has an average of 5-7 trips per household per day. This is lower than the
10 trips-per-day generally used by VDOT to estimate traffic generated by residential
development. An analysis of the 2010 traffic data and occupied housing unit data showed that
Northampton County has an average of 5.66 trips per household per day. This number is lower
than the national average of 6.65 vehicle trips per household per day.
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Figure 7.2 Existing Traffic
Source: VDOT AADT Data; Northampton County GIS
7.4 Estimated Future Traffic
In the long term, traffic growth in Northampton County will depend upon population growth,
the location of new development, and through-traffic growth on U.S. Route 13. VDOT
estimates regarding future traffic growth are not consistent with our population projections.
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7.5 Existing Highway System
Northampton County’s existing highway system consists of Primary and Secondary state roads.
Primary roads consist of two to six-lane roads that connect cities and town with each other and
with interstates. In 2010, there were 286.94 miles of state roads in the County, including 47.6
miles of Primary roads and 237.48 miles of Secondary roads. Primary roads are identified with
numbers less than “600” and Secondary roads have numbers “600” or higher. U.S. Route 13,
Business Route 13, Routes 178, 183, and 184 are the County’s Primary state roads. All other
state roads are Secondary. There are 93.27 miles of Secondary Roads in the 600 series (see
Table 8.1). All of the County’s Primary and Secondary roads are hard-surfaced.
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Figure 7.3 Primary and Secondary Roads
Source: VDOT; Northampton County GIS (Not to Scale)
7.5.1 Main Road Network
The Main Road Network, consisting of Primary and Secondary roads, is Northampton County’s
most essential transportation system, and its capacity must be maintained and improved as
needed. Land development proposals impacting the Main Road Network should be carefully
reviewed for traffic and safety impacts, as well as impacts on the County’s environment and
existing communities. Even with 100 percent population growth, most of Northampton
County’s roads would still be under capacity for two-lane roads.
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Table 7.1 Primary and Secondary Roads Annual Average Daily Traffic Volume
ROUTE
#
LOCATIONS LENGTH 2002
AADT
2010
AADT
2016
AADT
2002-
2010 %
Change
2010-
2016 %
Change
25%
GROWTH
50%
GROWTH
100%
GROWTH
North to South
PRIMARY
1 13 Maryland State to Accomack County
Line
0 19000 19000 19000 0% 0%
0
2 13 Accomack/Northampton County line 0 17000 18000 19000 6% 5% 23750 28500 38000
3 13 Accomack County Line to SCL Exmore 1.21 16500 17000 17800 3% 5% 22250 26700 35600
4 13 SCL Exmore to SCL Nassawadox 4.86 15750 15750 17250 0% 9% 21566 25875 34500
5 13 SCL Nasswadox to SCL Eastville 9.42 13600 13400 14800 -1% 10% 18500 22200 29600
6 13 SCL Eastville to SMCL Cheriton 4.63 12800 13400 15200 5% 13% 19000 22800 30400
7 13 SMCL Cheriton to CBBT 10.98 11675 11600 13500 -1% 15% 16875 20250 27000
8 13 CBBT to Virginia Beach * see notes 19.14 9300 8800 8800 -6% 0% 11000 13200 17600
9 Bus 13 Exmore 2.14 2300 2400 2500 4% -4% 3125 3750 5000
10 Bus 13 Eastville 2.71 2100 1550 1800 -30% 15% 2250 2700 3600
11 Bus 13 Cheriton 1.59 2600 2100 2300 -21% 9% 2875 3450 4600
Subtotal 58.68
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12 183 Bus Rt. 13 to 613 (Occohannock Neck Rd.) 7.45 3400 3200 3300 -6% 3% 4125 4950 6600
13 184 Route 13 to 1105 (Fig St.); 184=Stone Rd 1.99 4100 3000 3333 -31% 11% 6666 5000 6666
14 600 Accomack County Line(ACL) to Dead End of 600
(Seaside Rd.), Rt. 13, and CBBT
32.5 454 416 424
-9% 2% 530 636 848
15 601 Accomack County Line to 600; 601=County Line
Road
0.56 280 930 1000
107% 7% 1250 1500 2000
16 602 183 (Occohannock Neck Rd.) to end of 602
(Cemetery Rd.)
1.22 595 1200 650
67% 59% 650 975 1300
17 603 Bus Rt. 13 to Dead End of 603 (Willis Wharf Rd.) 2.41 906 940 902 4% -4% 1128 1353 1804
18 652 US Rt. 13 to Rt. 183; 652=Broadwater Rd/Cathey
Ave.
1.6 650 790 990
19% 20% 1237 1485 1980
19 604 618(Bayside Rd.) to 600; 604= Oakland Dr. 0.8 985 1533 1800 36% 15% 2250 2700 3600
20 613 Rt. 183 to Dead End 613 (Occohannock Neck Rd.) 2.5 227 279 230 20% 43% 288 345 460
21 618 Rt 13 through Johnsontown/Bayside/ Hadlock to 618
Dead End
11.07 556 432 447
-29% 51% 559 671 894
22 606 183 to 600; 606= Rogers Dr.; Wardtown Rd. 5.49 590 790 750 33% -5% 938 1125 1500
23 609 618 to 600; 609= Franktown Rd. 1.3 926 980 918 6% -7% 1148 1377 1836
24 610 606 to 618; 610= Short St. .94 190 340 370 57% 8% 463 555 740
25 617 Dead End 617(Bayford Rd.) to Dead End 617 (Red
Bank Rd.)
6.21 308 488 502
45% 3% 628 753 1004
26 619 609 to 1515(Peacock Ln.-Vaucluse); 619=Bayside
Rd., Cabarrus Dr., and Giddens Rd.
7.9 600 676 721 12% 6% 901 1082 1442
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27 627 618 to Dead End 627(Box Tree Dr.) 2.31 223 413 403 60% -2% 504 605 806
28 628 600(Seaside Rd.) to Dead End 628(Wilsonia Neck Dr.) 4.3 167 357 357 73% 0% 446 536 714
29 631 Dead End 631(Willow Oak) to Dead End
613(Indiantown Rd.)
2.3 850 633 660
-29% 4% 825 990 1320
30 634 Dead End 634 (Savage Neck Dr.) to Rt. 13 1.85 617 454 497 -30% 9% 621 746 994
31 680 WCL Cheriton Rt. 13 to Dead End of 680 (Townfield
Dr.) **see notes
1.83 750 583 677
-25% 15% 846 1016 1354
32 639 Bus Rt. 13 to Dead End 639 (Sunnyside Rd.) 2.84 1435 1215 1188 -17% -2% 1485 1782 2376
33 642 600 to ECL Cape Charles; 642=Seaview, Old Cape
Charles Rd, Bayville Dr., and Parsons Circle
34.04 880 848 922
-4% 8% 1155 1383 1844
34 684 Rt 13 to 641(Culls Dr.) 1.99 685 615 635 -11% 3% 794 953 1270
35 624 645(Arlington Rd.) to Dead End 624(Capeville Dr.) 2.1 227 283 278 22% -2% 348 417 556
36 645 600 to Dead End of 645 (Arlington Rd.) 3.72 333 333 310 0% -7% 388 465 620
Subtotal 133.77
TOTAL MILES 192.43
Source: VDOT; http://www.virginiadot.org/info/ct-TrafficCounts.asp
Note: *These columns represent VDOT’s population increase scenarios using Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) counts.
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These projections can be used to measure how busy a section of road may be in the future.
Table 7.1 contains the new data for traffic on the County’s Main Road Network. The State
maintains 287 miles of roads in the County; about one-half of that road mileage is designated
as the County’s Main Road Network and includes both Primary and Secondary roads. Between
2002 and 2010 annual average daily traffic (AADT) increased on 48 miles of those roads,
between 2010 and 2016, this number increased to 121. Between 2002 and 2010 traffic
decreased on 142 miles, between 2010 and 2016 this number dropped to 17. Traffic stayed
constant for 9 miles from 2002-2010 and stayed constant for 23 miles from 2010-2016.
VDOT recommends roads with 2,000 AADT and over should have paved shoulders to improve
safety and accommodate bicycles. In addition to paved shoulders, roads with higher traffic may
need right and left turn lanes, center turn lanes, and even four lanes in some cases.
7.5.2 Context Sensitive Solutions
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) is a Federal Highway Administration initiative to improve
transportation facilities while protecting the surrounding communities and environment.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to transportation, CSS allows design flexibility and goes
beyond just trying to move cars and trucks faster. With Northampton County’s scenic rural
landscape and historic towns, CSS offers an opportunity to meet the transportation needs of
the population without destroying the assets that make the County unique.
VDOT adopted CSS into its planning process to be initiated no later than the Project Scoping
stage (IIM-LD-235 August 23, 2006) ensuring that road planning will include this initiative.
7.5.3 Accidents
An analysis of the latest Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) data, 2012 through
2016, shows that Northampton County had an average of 218 crashes per year. There was an
average of 3 fatalities per year, with 19 percent of the fatalities alcohol-related. Over the five-
year period (2012-2016) Northampton County’s death rate per 1000 drivers averaged 0.23,
down from 0.62 for the previous five years (2004-2008). The State death rate per 1000 drivers
for these time periods averaged 0.15 and 0.28, respectively. Table 8.2 below shows the details.
The DMV and VDOT have more detailed accident data. More detailed analysis of this data could
provide the County and VDOT with information to further identify accident trends and correct
any deficiencies at trouble spots.
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Table 7.2 Crash Data
Total Alcohol-Related
Licensed
Drivers
Year Crashes Fatalities Injuries Crashes Fatalities Injuries
2012 228 0 108 22 0 18 8,587
2013 226 1 133 27 0 25 8,570
2014 201 3 111 23 2 15
2015 214 3 107 17 1 11
2016 223 9 107 17 0 18
5 year
total 2012-16 1092 16 566 106 3 87
5 year
total 2009-13 1,191 10 667 110 1 76 43,139
5 year
total 2004-08 1,344 27 781 132 16 89 43,287
Source: Virginia DMV
7.5.4 U.S. Route 13
U.S. Route 13 is Northampton County’s major transportation facility, and the only four-lane
road in the County. On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, U.S. Route 13 extends for 69 miles from
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel through Northampton County (32 miles) and Accomack
County (37 miles) to the Virginia-Maryland state line. U.S. Route 13 links the Eastern Shore of
Virginia with Maryland to the north and Hampton Roads to the south. Along with the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, U.S. Route 13 also provides an alternative to Interstate 95 for
traffic traveling between the Northeast, Tidewater Virginia, coastal North Carolina, and points
south. In 2002 VDOT completed the Wallops Island/U.S. Route 13 Access Management Plan,
which made recommendations for physical improvements and implementation of local
government access management regulations.
More recently in 2016 VHB (Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, an engineering firm in Williamsburg), prepared
The Eastern Shore Safety Study for VDOT
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(http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/rte_13_study.asp). This study includes a
comparison with the 2002 study along with recommendations and action plan with site specific
improvements to be made.
According to VHB in the 2016 Eastern Shore Safety Study, “The 2002 study included access
management and safety improvement recommendations, some of which were implemented
since the 2002 study. As a result, VDOT requested that VHB assess the current safety conditions
of the corridors and determine if the implemented modifications improved safety.”
In May 2012, VDOT presented its analysis of Route 13 accidents in Northampton County
covering the years 2008 through 2010. The study area was 30.81 miles from Wise Point Lane
intersection at Mile Point 74.90 to the Accomack County line at Mile Point 105.70.
A total of 391 crashes occurred in this stretch of four-lane, divided roadway, resulting in 196
injuries and 11 fatalities including one pedestrian. A hot-spot analysis was performed using a
one-mile increment (see Figure 7.4). Only one location exceeded the critical crash density of 24
crashes per mile (the average plus two standard deviation), and one location met the critical
crash density. Both of these locations are intersections where rear end and angle crashes are
more prevalent. The first segment (MP 99.90 to 100.89) includes the intersection with Rogers
Drive (Route 606) in Nassawadox. The second segment (MP 102.90 to 103.89) includes
intersections with Broadwater Road (Route 652), Oakland Drive (Route 604), and Main Street
(Business 13) in Exmore.
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Figure 7.4 Hot Spots (numbers represent mile-post locations)
In general, the most common types of crashes, Fixed Object Off Road and Deer and Other
Animal crashes are fairly evenly spread along the alignment. Where crash spikes occur, there
are an abundance of rear end and angle crashes. This indicates they are relatively busy
intersections.
Table 7.3 Crash Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled
Overall Injury Fatal
Route 13 Study Segment Rate (MP 74.90
to MP 105.70) 99 49.4 2.8
Statewide Average Primary Rate (Four-
lane, Divided, Partial Control of Access) 91 54 0.6
Source: VDOT
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It can be seen from this comparison that overall crash rates are only slightly higher than the
statewide average for roads of this type. The injury rate is slightly less, but the fatal crash rate
is significantly higher than for roads of this type in the Commonwealth.
The Counties, in conjunction with the A-NPDC Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) (http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acc_Nor-Rural-Long-Range-Transportation-Plan.pdf) established the following goals:
1. Plan, build, and maintain a safe, efficient, and well-drained highway system that preserves the Eastern Shore’s natural resources and existing communities by working closely with VDOT to coordinate land use planning and transportation planning.
2. Improve safety and maintain traffic capacity on US 13.
3. Improve the Eastern Shore’s main roadway network by enhancing safety and capacity.
4. Improve the Eastern Shore’s multimodal transportation system by coordinating planning
and supporting funding for highways, public transit, human services transportation,
bicycle and pedestrian facilities, ports, the railroad, and the airports.
5. Support economic development and tourism initiatives.
(http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acc_Nor-Rural-Long-Range-Transportation-
Plan.pdf)
Adjacent Highway Development. The U.S. Route 13 Access Management Plan includes an
inventory of existing roadway access points to assess their impact on safety and traffic capacity.
In addition, in July 2008, The Code of Virginia (§33.1-13, 33.1-197, §33.1-198, §33.1-198.1 and
§33.1-199) was amended to give VDOT authority to regulate entrances to highways under its
Access Management Regulations, 24 VAC 30-72. When the number of driveways on a 55 MPH
highway exceeds 10 per mile, or an average of approximately one driveway per 500 feet, a
safety problem exists. In 2000, there were a total of 431 in Northampton County. There were
155 driveways along the northbound side of U.S. Route 13 in Northampton County and 276 on
the southbound side. With a length of 32 miles, the northbound driveway average is 4.8 per
mile and the southbound average is 8.6 per mile. In several areas, such as Treherneville and
Birdsnest, the number exceeds 10 driveways per mile. In these areas, VDOT recommended
building local access roads to improve safety. In the long run, it is more cost efficient to require
driveway consolidation for new development than to retrofit costly access roads at public
expense. If additional or increased development areas are contemplated along Rt. 13, the
Future Land Use Map (FLUM) should indicate possible secondary road access to developed
areas, consolidation of entrance points and/or new frontage roads.
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Local vs. Through-Traffic. Roads serving local traffic need to provide safe travel at lower
speeds to facilitate access to adjacent residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Roads
serving through-traffic need to provide safe travel at the highest possible speed. U.S. Route 13
currently handles both local and through-traffic, creating an inevitable transportation conflict.
Farm vehicles and bicycles also use U.S. Route 13. In order for U.S. Route 13 to serve both local
and through-traffic functions, VDOT and the County need to work together to better manage
access to adjacent land uses.
Highway Aesthetics. Over the past few decades, Northampton County has enjoyed an
abundance of scenic open space along U.S. Route 13. The County’s well-kept farms and forests,
and community efforts to landscape the highway with crape myrtle trees, have added to
Northampton County’s appeal to residents, visitors, and travelers. However, in the future,
these scenic assets cannot be taken for granted. Adequate land use regulations requiring
attractive landscaping, signs, structures and lighting are needed if the County wants to protect, maintain and improve the highway’s scenic image, particularly in support of the tourism
industry.
7.5.5 Route 183
Route 183 is a major two-lane road that runs southwest from Exmore through Occohannock
Neck to Silver Beach. Even with increasing residential development on Occohannock Neck,
additional part-time or seasonal homes and the YMCA Camp Silver Beach, traffic, on Route 183
declined 12% between 2002 and 2010. The Eastern Shore of Virginia bicycle plan recommends
paved shoulders to safely accommodate bicycles along Route 183. Turn lanes may also be
needed as traffic grows.
7.5.6 Business Route 13
Northampton County’s three sections of Business Route 13 are located in Exmore, Eastville, and
Cheriton. These are the old sections of U.S. Route 13 that were bypassed and now provide local
access through these towns. The following is a summary of each of these segments.
Exmore. Business Route 13 is completely within the Town of Exmore’s jurisdiction. The
Eastern Shore of Virginia Bicycle Plan recommends paved shoulders and wide lanes to safely
accommodate bicycles along Business Route 13 in Exmore. The Town of Exmore is improving
pedestrian access along Business Route 13 in Downtown Exmore.
Eastville. Although the Town of Eastville has expanded their boundaries, traffic from
residential expansion is not expected to increase. Safe access to the Northampton County
Administration Complex, Northampton High School, and the new County Convenience Center
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are important issues for Business Route 13 in Eastville. The Eastern Shore of Virginia Bicycle
Plan recommends paved shoulders and wide lanes to safely accommodate bicycles along
Business Route 13 in and outside the Town of Eastville.
Cheriton. Approximately half of Business Route 13 is within the Town of Cheriton’s
jurisdiction and half is within Northampton County. Since Cheriton has experienced a decline in
population, traffic from residential expansion is not expected to increase. Even if annual traffic
increases on Rt. 13, it will likely continue to by-pass Business Route 13 in the town. The Eastern
Shore of Virginia Bicycle Plan recommends paved shoulders and wide lanes to safely
accommodate bicycles along Business Route 13 in Cheriton, and a shared use path south of
Town that follows Route 184 and connects to the Town of Cape Charles.
7.5.7 Route 184
Route 184 runs west from U.S. Route 13 to Cape Charles. Due to potential land development
and seasonal activity in and around Cape Charles, traffic on Route 184 could increase. Route
184 is one of only two roads in and out of Cape Charles. The other road is Route 642. The
development capacity estimate shows that the Town of Cape Charles has 609 existing
residential units and is zoned for 2,579 additional units; the town’s year-round population
decreased 11% between 2000 and 2010. The Eastern Shore of Virginia Bicycle Plan
recommends a shared use path along the Route 184 corridor from Cape Charles to Cheriton.
Route 184 should also have paved shoulders and turn lanes to accommodate future traffic.
A new harbor access road is in the construction phase to connect the Cape Charles Harbor to
Route 184 for easier access to Route 13. The projected completion date for this road is 2018
7.5.8 Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) is a 20 mile long bridge and tunnel complex that links the Eastern Shore of Virginia with the Hampton Roads region to the south. The CBBT is overseen by an 11-member commission appointed by the Governor of Virginia. The CBBT is a toll facility with a $13.00 one-way toll for cars and an $18.00, 24-hour round trip toll. An EZPass is required for the 24-hour discount rate. Since opening on April 15, 1964, the CBBT has attracted an increasing number of vehicles. Due to increasing traffic and accidents, the CBBT constructed parallel trestles which opened on April 19, 1999. The entire facility is now four lanes, except for the two mile-long, two-lane tunnels. In March 2004, a feasibility study was completed that called for constructing parallel tunnels by 2020. The feasibility study is based on a projected growth of 51,000 vehicles per year. The tunnels are needed for long-term maintenance, safety, and future traffic capacity. The CBBT Commission approved construction of the two new tunnels. Construction began in 2017 and completion is predicted in 2022.
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In fiscal year 2015, there were 3,664,220 vehicles that crossed the bridge and in fiscal year 2016
there were 3,906,923 vehicles, which is an increase of 242,703 from FY15. For its fiscal year
ending June 30, 2016, CBBT reported 346,635 heavy trucks crossed the bridge tunnel, which
constituted 8.9% of its traffic. In addition, 14,970 buses crossed the CBBT which constituted
0.39% of its traffic. In fiscal year 2013, the average annual daily traffic volume was 9,556
compared to the average annual daily traffic volume in fiscal year 2014 of 9,728.
The CBBT Commission recently approved a new $5 commuter rate for users who make 30 one-
way trips across the bay within 30 days and that use the EZPass system. The Commission
anticipates an additional 900 trips per month or 10,800 per year and 30 additional customers.
7.5.9 Highway System Maintenance and Improvements
The most notable recent improvements in the Northampton County highway system have been associated with the major thoroughfares, such as installation of mileposts and raised reflective pavement markers on U.S. Route 13. In addition, two median crossovers have been closed and others recommended for closure, rumble strips and lane reflectors have been installed on parts of Rt. 13 as per recommendations from the Wallops Island/Route 13 Access Management Study (http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/hampton_roads/Eastern_Shore_Route_13_Route_175_Safety_Corridor_Study_Comment_Form.pdf).
Highway improvement priorities are continually reviewed, as the Northampton County Secondary System Six-Year Plan is updated on an annual basis. This plan should be referred to as the official local highway improvement and maintenance plan. The plan is on file in the Northampton County Administration Office in Eastville or can be found here: http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/allProjects.aspx. VDOT has greatly reduced funding state-wide for localities’ Six Year Plans. A list of Northampton County’s six-year improvements can be found in Table 7.4.
Table 7.4
7.5.10 Rural Addition Program & Revenue Sharing
The Code of Virginia authorizes counties to recommend roads to VDOT to be taken into the Secondary Highway System as rural additions. Streets added to the State system must be constructed to VDOT’s standards for the traffic served. Part of a local government’s Secondary road allocation goes to this purpose. In addition, the State and County are allowed to provide 50 percent matching funds for upgrade or construction of roads or streets that qualify. This
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program is referred to by many as revenue sharing. Northampton County has not participated in this program in the past.
Northampton County also has an opportunity to add new roads to the VDOT system by
mapping new roads on an Official County Map and requiring construction of the new roads to
VDOT standards as development occurs. Standards for road construction are located in VDOT’s
Subdivision Street Requirements. If additional or increased development areas are
contemplated along Rt. 13, then the Future Land Use Map should indicate secondary road
access to developed areas, consolidation of entrance points, and/or new frontage roads.
7.5.11 Access Roads
VDOT Access Roads programs provide for the construction, improvement, or maintenance of roads serving new or expanding airports, economic development sites, and recreational sites (See http://www.virginiadot.org/business/local-assistance-access-programs.asp). In the past, Northampton County has utilized VDOT funding for construction of access roads to industrial facilities. This is a valuable tool that provides incentives for economic and industrial development. VDOT also has funds available for road access to recreational facilities.
7.5.12 Drainage
Due to the relatively flat topography and the high seasonal water table in Northampton County,
drainage is an important issue. The State Highway System provides the most comprehensive
and well-maintained drainage system in the County. However, VDOT is limited to constructing
and maintaining drainage ditches that are within the state right-of-way and ditches that are
within easements owned by the state.
The County relies on VDOT for the maintenance of ditches along state maintained roadways,
but is responsible for maintenance of all ditches along county roads and between properties
that drain state ditches. Often the process of securing property owner signatures to service
ditches that run through multiple properties proves challenging and delays maintenance (A-
NPDC Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016 Chapter 10 Page 8). The entire Hazard Mitigation Plan can
be found at: http://a-npdc.org/wordpress/hazardplan.pdf.
Local officials (A-NPDC Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016 Chapter 10 Page 17); (http://www.a-
npdc.org/accomack-northampton-planning-district-commission/coastal-resources/hazard-
mitigation-planning/) identified various areas in the unincorporated portions of the County that
have stormwater flooding problems. These areas include, but are not limited to:
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• Village of Hare Valley • Village of Weirwood • Village of Cheapside - Between Arlington and
Rt. 13, septic systems and private wells • Village of Townsend • Village of Johnsontown (ANPCD
Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016, Capter 10, Page 17)
7.5.13 Flooding of Roadways
A Report submitted to the Virginia General Assembly January 2013 titled “RECURRENT
FLOODING STUDY FOR TIDEWATER VIRGINIA” noted that 44 miles of roadways in Northampton
County are flood prone because of tidal surges, lack of storm water management or insufficient
drainage. The Report further notes that the County is ahead of many other flood prone areas
of Tidewater in identifying the problem areas and beginning to plan for ways to address the
problems. The Report states: “In more rural areas, the initial step might be to regulate new
development to keep it away from floodplains.”
The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission completed the Transportation
Infrastructure Inundation Vulnerability Assessment (TIIVA)
(http://coastalresilience.org/resources/) in January, 2015. The project identified areas most
vulnerable to inundation as result of coastal flooding and elevated sea-levels on the Eastern
Shore. Using Virginia’s accepted sea-level rise projections and NOAA’s sea level rise model, the
assessment provided critical long-term planning information including not only which roads are
vulnerable to inundation but which communities may have access limited or become
disconnected altogether by inundation of primary access routes.
The project was completed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation to
support and enhance the agency’s long-term transportation planning of transportation
infrastructure in the region. The project was completed with funding from NOAA and the
Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program. The map below is from the report and shows
lower Northampton County and the roads that will be impacted at various sea-level rise
scenarios.
Of the County’s 502 miles of roads, two miles (0.4%) is projected to be inundated with one foot
of sea-level rise (SLR) (estimated year 2025-2050), 16 miles (3.2%) with two feet (within 2045-
2090), and 26 (5.2%) with three feet (sometime after 2060) (Eastern Shore of Virginia
Transportation Infrastructure Inundation Vulnerability Assessment (TIIVA), 2014). Even small
amounts of SLR make rare floods more common by adding to tides and storm surge. With three
feet of SLR, there are many communities and economically critical facilities (including various
working waterfront areas) that would be disconnected, inaccessible, or have the majority of the
roads inundated. Without significant engineering solutions in the coming years, it should be
expected that the livelihood and safety of communities and the integrity of these roadways in
the County will largely decline.
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Founded in 2010, the Eastern Shore Climate Adaptation Working Group, coordinated by the
Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, is addressing this challenge through
education, outreach, and providing information to local communities to plan for sea-level rise,
recurrent flooding, and storm surge. These efforts achieved a major new milestone: The U.S.
Department of Interior awarded $1.96 million from the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Fund
to The Nature Conservancy and Climate Adaptation Working Group partners to equip coastal
communities with the tools and information urgently needed to reduce the risks posed by
climate-related hazards and enhance the area’s natural resilience. This will be accomplished
through two major initiatives:
1. The Coastal Resilience tool incorporates the best available science, data, and state-of-the-art
analytical tools for assessing risks of coastal hazards on people, the economy, and the
ecosystems of the Eastern Shore using local information. This tool enables identification of
nature-based solutions like oyster and wetland restoration to mitigate risk and enhances
resilience.
2. Demonstrate Nature-Based Solutions. The Nature Conservancy and partners are restoring a
total of five oyster reefs demonstrating and quantifying how natural infrastructure can dampen
wave energy and mitigate coastal erosion. Three of these reefs will be restored along eroded
roads at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and two will be built fronting marsh near the
Village of Oyster” (www.coastalresilience.org (ANPDC Brochure)).
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Source: A-NPDC Transportation Infrastructure Inundation Vulnerability Assessment
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7.6 Air Transportation
There is no scheduled or chartered air service available in Northampton County. The nearest
domestic and international air service is Norfolk International Airport located in Norfolk,
Virginia. There is domestic service available at Ocean City/Salisbury Airport in Wicomico
County, Maryland as well. Charter services are available at Accomack County Airport in Melfa.
Northampton County has nine airstrips and two private heliports offering safe landing and take-
off facilities for business, recreational, visitors, and emergencies. They are registered with the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and are shown on the State and Federal flight charts
covering the area. Table 7.5 lists the airports and their location.
Table 7.5 Northampton County Airstrips/Heliports
NAME LOCATION
Campbell Field Rt 617, Weirwood
Eagle’s Nest Chesapeake
Page Scott Farm US Route 13, Dalby's
John Bull Farm Route 600, Townsend
Cherrystone Airstrip Cherrystone
Mears Field Eastville
Starbase Dalby’s
Machipongo Machipongo
Point Farm Heliport Cape Charles
Airduce Heliport Cheriton
7.7 Rail Transportation
Rail service in Northampton County began in 1884 with completion of the New York,
Philadelphia, and Norfolk Railroad (NYP&N) main line from Wilmington, DE to Cape Charles.
Major terminals were built at Cape Charles to transport passengers and freight to and from
Norfolk via steamboat. The rail line, under the management of Canonie Atlantic Company and
since January 2006, has been continuously upgrading its track and marine facilities (see Section
Campbell Field Airport, Weirwood
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7.10.1) to provide its shippers with efficient and economical service. Due to these efforts, more
customers are now using the rail service. The railroad has seen an increase of 20% carloads in
Fiscal Year 2013.
Currently, the Cape Charles Division (Cape Charles to Pocomoke City, Md.) has 13 on-line
customers and ships freight products such as grain, LP gas, chemicals, cement, stone and
fertilizers. Little Creek Division (Va. Beach and Norfolk) have 5 on-line customers and ships
paper, plastic pellets, grit, scrap steel and stone. The railroad reports that it handles between
1,500 - 2,000 carloads per year which is equivalent to 6-8,000 trucks per year that are kept off
the highway system.
7.8 Motor Freight Service & Parcel Service
Motor freight service is provided by numerous interstate carriers. Several local growers and seafood producers ship their own products and carry products for other farmers on a limited basis. Parcel delivery service is provided by United States Postal Service, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service.
7.9 Public Transit
Public transit in Northampton County is provided by STAR Transit, Greyhound, and private taxi
companies. Greyhound offers interstate bus service which stops in Exmore. Several human
services agencies also provide transportation services for their clients. The primary agencies
offering transportation services are the Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging/Community Action
Agency, which transport clients to the senior centers, and the Eastern Shore Community
Services Board, which transport clients to therapy sessions and medication management
appointments.
STAR Transit
STAR Transit is operated under the authority of the Accomack-Northampton Transportation
District Commission. STAR Transit is supported by Federal grants through the Virginia
Department of Rail and Public Transportation, as well as passenger fares, local government
contributions, and private donations. STAR Transit operates four routes on the Eastern Shore of
Virginia. In 2003 STAR Transit carried 43,269 riders. This number increased by 49% in 2011 to
64,810 riders and in 2012 it increased an additional 15% to 74,452 riders. Ridership increased
even more with 85,099 riders in 2015 and 89,168 riders in 2016.
Drivers operate color-coded routes in Northampton County with morning, mid-day, and late
afternoon departure times:
Red Northbound: Cape Charles to Onley (Wal-Mart)
Gold Loop Southbound: Chincoteague to Onley (Wal-Mart)
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Purple Southbound: Onancock to Cape Charles
Blue Loop Northbound: Wal-Mart (Onley) to Bloxom Corner Mart to Parksley
Yellow Route Lower Northampton County
While STAR Transit provides basic public transit, it does not offer a demand-response service in
Northampton County, as it does in Accomack County. STAR Transit is considering a demand-
response service from Nassawadox to Painter when feasible.
7.10 Marine Transportation & Harbors
Northampton County’s primary marine transportation uses are barge transport, seafood harvesting, and recreational boating. These transportation activities are centered at the harbors of Cape Charles, Oyster, Willis Wharf, and at several marinas and boat ramps. Figure 7.2 shows public boat ramps and water access trails in Northampton County. The bi-county Regional Navigable Waterways Committee works with the USCG, USACE, VMRC, & A-NPDC towards ensuring the safety and navigability of our waterways. In 2016, the Regional Dredging Needs Assessment was completed by A-NPDC. The report can be found here: http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/RDNA_2016.pdf
BAYSIDE
7.10.1 John Smith Water Trail
In December of 2006, Congress designated the
historic routes of John Smith’s explorations as the
first historic national water trail. The trail includes parts of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia,
Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia and is approximately 3,000 miles long. A
portion of the trail runs along the part of the Seaside in Magothy Bay and then along the entire
Bayside of Northampton County. The paddling routes, the John Smith Water Trail and the
Seaside Water trail are shown on Figure 7.5.
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Figure 7.5 Water Access
Source: Northampton County GIS
7.10.2 Cape Charles Harbor
Cape Charles Harbor is the primary marine transportation facility in Northampton County. The harbor is accessed by the Cape Charles Harbor Federal Project Channel. As the Southern
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terminus of the Bay Coast Railroad, the railroad cars were historically transported via car float to Little Creek for delivery to the Norfolk Southern Railway. The Town of Cape Charles operates a Color-coded routes modern marina with 96 full time and transient slips in Cape Charles Harbor, and installed new bulk-heading, restrooms, and a bath house. The inner harbor can accommodate a vessel up to 180 feet in length with a draft larger than 7 feet or a vessel up to 400 feet if the draft is less than 7 feet. The channel depth is expected to be maintained at 18 feet. In addition, there is approximately 1,000 feet of seawall tie-up. Services include gasoline and diesel fuel, water, ice, and electricity. A seasonal waterfront restaurant opened in 2012. Two double boat ramps owned by the Town have been renovated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The harbor is also a commercial fishing port and home to a U.S. Coast Guard Station. A portion of the harbor is maintained as an emergency ferry landing, which can be used to transport vehicles if the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is damaged and has to be closed for repairs. The channel into the harbor and the docking area on the South side were dredged to 18 feet in 2016. The area at the floating docks was dredged to 14 feet at the same time. Three new break waters have been installed at the entrance of the harbor with help from funding coming from the Virginia Port Authority. There are plans for a fourth breakwater and increasing the height of the jetty on the northern border of the harbor. There are also plans to install a wave attenuator west of the dock area. A full service yacht center has a 75 metric ton boat lift capable of lifting boats with beams up to 25.5 feet. It is a full service marina offering storage, fuel and repairs.
Cape Charles Town Harbor
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7.10.3 King’s Creek A separate marina is accessible from the Chesapeake Bay via Cherrystone Inlet. The marina has
recently been rebuilt and expanded into a luxury marina with 224 slips, commercial space,
rental properties, event space, and a restaurant.
7.10.4 Kiptopeke State Park Boat Ramp
Kiptopeke State Park on the Chesapeake Bay has a fishing pier and a boat ramp with 4-5 foot
depth at mean low water and parking for 70 boat trailers. There are restrooms and showers
available as well.
7.10.5 Nassawadox Creek
Nassawadox Creek serves commercial fishing and recreational vessels with a boat ramp at
Bayford. The creek is no longer maintained by navigation by the Army Corps of Engineers
because of silting. The Coast Guard no longer maintains buoys or channel markers for this
creek.
7.10.6 Occohannock Creek
Occohannock Creek is accessed via the Occohannock Creek Federal Project Channel. The
channel and creek serve commercial fishing and recreational vessels. Northampton County
owns and maintains the Morley’s Wharf Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier on Occohannock Creek.
SEASIDE
7.10.7 Oyster Harbor
Oyster Harbor is located east of Cheriton in the unincorporated village of Oyster. The harbor is
approximately eight acres in size, is 1,100 feet long, and has a 5-foot deep turning basin. Oyster
Harbor is part of the Oyster Federal Project Channel. Access from the Atlantic Ocean is via the
7-mile Sand Shoal Channel, which has a minimum depth of 24 feet and a width varying from
200 to 1,500 feet. Dredging frequency is approximately five years. Small commercial fishing,
research and recreational vessels use this harbor extensively. Northampton County owns and
maintains the boat ramp at Oyster.
7.10.8 Red Bank Boat Ramp
Owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Red Bank
offers two boat ramps located between “L” shaped end docks with a straight dock center and
parking lot. Updates to the landing were made in 2017.
7.10.9 Willis Wharf Harbor
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Willis Wharf Harbor is located east of Exmore in the unincorporated village of Willis Wharf.
Access to Willis Wharf Harbor is from the Atlantic Ocean via the Great Machipongo Federal
Project Channel. Willis Wharf Harbor is six feet deep at mean low water and has 51 boat slips,
fishing charters, a kayak launch, parking lot, a public boat ramp, and a restaurant within walking
distance. Northampton County built the harbor in 1985 and continues to own and maintain it.
Willis Wharf is the home of several clam aquaculture and shellfish harvesting businesses.
7.10.10 Waterway Coast of Virginia
The Waterway Coast of Virginia (WCV) runs 95 miles from Chincoteague Island south through
the Eastern Shore seaside to the Chesapeake Bay. Also referred to as the Virginia Inside
Passage, the WCV is a marked channel that winds its way through the bays and marshes of the
seaside. In Northampton County, the WCV begins near Hog Island and ends at Fisherman
Island. The Coast Guard no longer maintains most of the WCV.
7.10.11 Wise Point Boat Ramp, Waterway Coast of Virginia
Located on the Virginia Inside Passage, the Wise
Point boat Ramp provides access to the Atlantic
Ocean and Chesapeake Bay for fishing, hunting,
wildlife observation and photography. Ramp
amenities include 21 parking spaces, twin 16-foot
wide boat ramps, floating courtesy pier, and
restrooms. A separate kayak launch has additional
parking (boaters consult nautical charts for
navigation).
7.10.12 Seaside Water Trail
The Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program, established in 1986 through Executive
Order, is a network of Virginia state agencies and local governments, that administers
enforceable laws, regulations and policies that protect our coastal resources and fosters
sustainable development.
In 2006 the Coastal Zone Management’s Seaside Heritage Program created the Seaside Water
Trail, an internet guide to 38 paddling routes on the seaside from the Eastern Shore National
Wildlife Refuge to Chincoteague. See Figure 7.5 above.
(http://deq.state.va.us/Programs/CoastalZoneManagement/CZMIssuesInitiatives/SeasideWate
rTrail.aspx)
Wise Point Boat Ramp
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7.11 Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities
7.11.1 Bicycle-Golf Cart Facilities
There is a shared-use path from the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge(ESVNWR) north to Cedar Grove Road along the railroad right-of-way contiguous to U.S. Route 13. ESVNWR plans to continue this path north from Cedar Grove Road to Capeville Road on the railroad right-of-way along U.S. Route 13.
There are a number of bicycle events, including the annual Between the Waters Bike Tour every October, which take advantage of the Shore’s flat topography and rural scenery. In the Town of Cape Charles bicycles and golf carts are a popular means of transport—rentals are available. The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC), in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), has created a Bicycle Plan to identify current facilities and specify where additional bicycle facilities are needed. The Eastern Shore is eager to provide more viable bicycling options for its citizens and the tourists that it seeks to attract to the area. The updated 2014 Bike Plan is intended to provide a framework for A-NPDC and VDOT to set goals and targets, inventory existing facilities, determine priorities, and improve conditions that support multi-modal transportation options and address the needs of Eastern Shore bicyclists (http://www.a-npdc.org/accomack-northampton-planning-district-
commission/transportation-planning/plans-projects/)
Needs/Next Steps
To implement the updated Bicycle Plan, the following steps are recommended:
Adoption of the 2014 Bicycle Plan by both counties and incorporated towns;
Formation of a new Bicycle Committee consisting of stakeholders (ESVBA Bicycle Committee, Tourism Commission, Health Department, County Sheriffs, Town Police, Healthy Communities, Bay Coast Railroad, The Nature Conservancy, Road Scholars, bike event planners, A-NPDC, others) who collaborate to implement specific recommendations;
Include bicycle facilities in Highway Corridor Overlay District Designations;
Research possible funding opportunities to develop bicycle facilities;
Explore “trail with rail” feasibility with Bay Coast Railroad;
Coordinate with VDOT to narrow roads, re-stripe or add new striping for bike lanes;
Research how to estimate projects costs; Develop a website for bicycling on the ESVA.
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Source: http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Bike-Plan-FINAL-DRAFT_4-September-
2014_MinimumSize.pdf
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Source: http://www.a-npdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Bike-Plan-FINAL-DRAFT_4-September-
2014_MinimumSize.pdf
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7.11.2 Walking Trails
Trails along the bayside are located at Kiptopeke State Park, Indiantown Park, and Savage Neck Dunes—on the seaside at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, and Brownsville.
7.11.3 Pedestrian Facilities
Sidewalks and multiple use paths help tie communities together and provide safe pedestrian
travel. Northampton County does not have land use authority over incorporated towns. The
County has few, if any pedestrian walkways, sidewalks or footpaths outside of the incorporated
towns.
7.12 Scenic Byways
Virginia’s Scenic Byways program provides local governments with the opportunity to nominate
roads for Scenic Byway designation. As specified in the Code of Virginia, Section 33.1-62
through 33.1-66, “Virginia Byway” means those highways designated by the Commonwealth
Transportation Board. A Virginia Byway designation recognizes a road corridor with aesthetic
or cultural value near areas of historic, natural, or recreational significance. All Virginia Byways
are included on the Virginia Scenic Roads Map which encourages travel to interesting
destinations away from high-traffic corridors and stimulates local economies by attracting
visitors to lesser-known destinations (http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/prog-byways-map-
printable.asp). A Virginia Byway designation does not limit road improvements or adjacent land
use, but a byway designation may be used by local governments to limit outdoor advertising
signs.
Northampton County currently has a Scenic Byway designation on Route 600 from the Accomack County line to U.S. Route 13 near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Other roads in Northampton County may qualify for Scenic Road designation.
7.13 Rest Areas
There are no VDOT maintained rest areas in Northampton County, but the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge Tunnel maintains a rest area on the northbound side of U.S. Route 13 across from the
Eastern Shore toll plaza. Northampton County and the CBBT Commission worked with the
Eastern Shore Tourism Commission to build a Visitor/Welcome Center within the rest area in
2009. It is staffed by volunteers daily during the tourist season. In 2012, 110,107 visitors came
into the Welcome Center and in 2013 there were 106,237 visitors. The Exmore Rotary Club
maintains a roadside picnic area on the west side of Route 13, just south of Exmore.
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7.14 Adopt-A-Highway
Out of the 287 miles of state maintained roads in Northampton County 111 miles (37%), are in
the VDOT Adopt-A-Highway program. Volunteers apply to VDOT for Adopt-A-Highway
designations, which are authorized by VDOT permit. Northampton County also works with
local volunteers to conduct regular litter clean-ups throughout the County.
7.15 Historical Markers
In 1926 the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that resulted in the identification and
marking of historic sites throughout the Commonwealth. VDOT is now responsible for installing
and maintaining the historical markers. New historical markers are approved by the Virginia
Historic Landmarks Commission. Funding from local
governments and private organizations is used to pay for new
historical markers as well as replacement markers. There are
15 Virginia State Historical Markers for Northampton County.
Table 7.6 identifies each marker, its identification code, and its
location.
Table 7.6 Virginia Historical Markers
Marker
No.
Marker Name Marker Location
WY-10 Old Courthouse Route 13, at Eastville
WY-11 Three Northampton Landmarks Route 13, 2.8 miles south of Nassawadox
WY-11-a Peter Jacob Carter Bethel Baptist Church, 7638 Bayside Road, Route 618
WY-2 Site of Tidewater Institute Route 636, 0.75 miles east of Route 13
WY-3 Salem Methodist Church Route 13, at Route 636, just south of Eastville
WY-4 Cape Charles Cape Charles Historical Museum
WY-5 Custis Tomb at Arlington Route 13, south of Cape Charles
Historic Marker
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WY-6 Stratton Manor Route 13, 3 miles north of Cape Charles
WY-7 Towne Fields Route 13, at Business Route 13 junction, at Cheriton
WY-17 Accomack Indian Settlement On Business Route 13 in Eastville, junction of Courthouse and
Willow Oak
WY-72 Northampton High School North side of Young Drive proximate to former high school
building located at 7247 Young Street, Machipongo, VA
WY-73 Cape Charles Colored School
“Rosenwald School”
Intersection of Bayshore Road and Old Cape Charles Road
(County Road 641), Cape Charles
WY-8 Home of the First Settler Route 13, south of Eastville
WY-9 Gingaskin Indian Reservation Route 13, 1 mile south of Eastville
Z1 Northampton County County line
Source: DCR - Department of Historic Resources
For more information see www.markerhistory.com
Summary:
The issue of access onto roads becomes more critical with increased traffic, as does the need for traffic control devices such as traffic signals. The addition of paved shoulders and center turn lanes could help maintain traffic capacity under high traffic conditions. Access management requirements on main roads would also help maintain safety and road capacity. If Northampton County’s population migrates, it will need to monitor the impact of future development and population growth on the road system and plan for needed improvements.
The reported seasonal fluctuations of average daily traffic counts on the CBBT affect the volume of Route 13 traffic.
VDOT will require that Comprehensive Plans conform to VTrans-the 2035 Virginia
Surface Transportation Plan, and that the Comprehensive Plans be internally consistent
with regard to transportation and land use planning.
Traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries in the County were down markedly for measured
periods between 2002 and 2011. On Route 13 the crash rates are only slightly higher
than for similar type roads in the Commonwealth, but fatalities from those crashes were
higher than the state rate.
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VDOT considers more than 10 access driveways per mile on 55 mph highways like Route
13 to be a safety problem. Sections of Route 13 have more than 10 driveways per mile.
VDOT recommends building or requiring local access to consolidate driveways.
Average daily traffic volume on the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel increased
approximately 12.5% over a seven year period from 2010-2017.
Both the County’s 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and a 2013 study presented to
the General Assembly, “Recurrent Flooding Study for Tidewater Virginia” warned of the
possibility of increased roadway flooding and insufficient drainage, and recommended a
drainage survey and the regulation of development in flood prone areas.
The John Smith Water Trail on the bayside, the Seaside Water Trail, and the added
capacity of the two marinas in Cape Charles are valuable additions to marine-oriented
recreational tourism.
Bicycling, both town and County, add to recreation and tourism.
Care must be taken to assure continued waterfront access for commercial watermen.