The Town of Oak Island, located in Brunswick County along the southern coast of North Carolina, has officially adopted and received certification for its updated CAMA Land Use Plan. The plan is called Charting the Course 2045. This adoption follows review by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management and the Coastal Resources Commission. As a result, this milestone concludes more than a year of planning and public engagement. It reinforces the essential role CAMA Land Use Planning plays in guiding growth, protecting coastal resources, and strengthening long-term community resilience.
What’s happening in Oak Island
Oak Island’s planning process was rooted in community input and long-range thinking. Over the course of a year, the Town gathered more than 2,000 open-ended survey responses and hosted open houses attended by over 100 residents. That feedback directly shaped the plan’s goals, priorities, and action items.
The certified plan provides a clear framework to guide future development, public investment, and environmental stewardship. Key elements include an emphasis on nature-based solutions where feasible, targeted stormwater improvements, and a proposed 7.5-mile greenway that would help create a nearly 14-mile multimodal network across the island.
The plan also introduces a modern Future Land Use Map, including a Commercial Core Character Area along Oak Island Drive in both the Long Beach and Yaupon areas. This area is intended to improve the aesthetics, function, and cohesion of commercial development. Moreover, a concurrent streetscape master plan for Oak Island Drive was completed as part of this effort. It focused on pedestrian safety and corridor aesthetics. Implementation is tied to the Commercial Core vision.
“This plan was not developed to satisfy a requirement or sketch an abstract vision,” said Greg Feldman, AICP, Planning Project Manager at WithersRavenel. “It was built through sustained community input and long-range thinking, translating thousands of resident voices into clear, actionable guidance that will shape every future decision about growth, investment, and environmental stewardship in Oak Island.”
Why CAMA Land Use Planning is important
Coastal areas are susceptible to a diverse and evolving array of natural hazards. The past is not always a reliable guide for the future. Therefore, proactive, resiliency-focused planning is essential. CAMA Land Use Plans provide coastal communities with the tools to anticipate, respond to, and adapt to these challenges. They also preserve local character, protect natural resources, and support long-term economic and financial stability.
Under the Coastal Area Management Act, North Carolina requires coastal local governments to maintain a current, certified CAMA Land Use Plan. This is necessary in order to continue issuing local CAMA permits for development activities that impact coastal resources. More than a regulatory obligation, a certified plan becomes a critical decision-making tool. It supports development reviews, infrastructure planning, funding pursuits, and coordination between local and state priorities.
“A land use plan is not paperwork on a shelf,” Greg states. “It’s the roadmap for every decision that shapes your community’s future. Updating it is how we take control of growth, protect our resources, and make our shared vision real.”
For Oak Island, certification means the Town is positioned to move confidently from planning into implementation.
Do you want Greg and the WithersRavenel Design + Planning team to assist you with CAMA Land Use Planning or Comprehensive Planning? Reach out to him at 919-678-3815 or gfeldman@withersravenel.com.
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