Northampton County, Virginia

Chesapeake Bay Act

The Virginia General Assembly enacted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act in 1988. The Act is a critical element of Virginia's multifaceted response to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The Bay Act established a cooperative relationship between the Commonwealth and local governments and is aimed at reducing and preventing nonpoint source pollution. The Bay Act, like many other environmental protection programs, is an extension of the public trust doctrine. The beds of Virginia's streams, rivers and estuaries and the waters above them are held and managed by the Commonwealth for the benefit of all Virginians.

Northampton County has adopted zoning overlay district known as the Chesapeake/Atlantic Preservation District (CAP) to incorporate into county zoning water quality protection measures consistent with the state's Bay Act Regulations. Because of Northampton's proximity to the fragile Atlantic Ocean marine marshlands, Bay Act protection regulations have been extended to the County's seaside area as well. The Regulations address non-point source pollution by identifying and protecting certain lands called Chesapeake/Atlantic Preservation Areas.

The lands that make up Chesapeake/Atlantic Preservation Areas are those that have the potential to impact water quality most directly. Generally, there are two types of land features: those that protect and benefit water quality directly (Resource Protection Areas, or RPAs) and those that, without proper management, have the potential to damage water quality (Resource Management Areas, or RMAs). By carefully managing land uses within these areas, Northampton County can help reduce the water quality impacts of nonpoint source pollution and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and Seaside marshes.

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Wetlands Board

The Northampton County Wetlands Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month to administer the Northampton County Wetlands and Coastal Primary Sand Dune Ordinances adopted to preserve and prevent the despoilation and destruction of wetlands and coastal pimrary sand dunes and beaches within the County. These meetings are opened to the public during which the Board conducts public hearings in accordance with Virginia Code requirements. The Board also conducts site evaluations for all applica- tions prior to the public meetings. Board members are appointed by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors.

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Links:

Link to Virginia Institute of Marine Science

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission

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Board Members

Marshall Cox, Sr.
6428 Rocky Lane
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-678-5941
Term expires 6/30/2014

Robert H. Meyers
7516 Prettyman Circle
Exmore, VA 23350
757-442-3814
Term expries 6/30/2011

John E. Chubb, Jr.
P.O. Box 836
Eastville, VA 23347
757-678-5469
Term expires 6/30/2012

Nancy Wells Drury
P.O. Box 209
Jamesville, VA 23398
757-442-4905
Term expires 6/30/2011

Dorothy “Dot” Field
7179 Batchelers Branch Drive
Exmore, VA 23350
757-678-6208
Term expries 6/30/2011

Mark Gates
6203 Salt Works Road
Exmore, VA 23350
757-442-2806
Term expires 6/30/2013

Bowdoin Lusk
P.O. Box 8
Cheriton, VA 23316
757-331-4375
Term expires 6/30/2010

(updated 10-20-2009)

Northampton County Wetlands Board Public Hearings

Meeting Minutes

 

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