The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) and Dare County Range (DCR) Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Policy Committee approved the Seymour Johnson AFB and DCR JLUS at a meeting on May 30, 2017. Goals of the JLUS included

• Promoting an orderly transition of community and military land use to ensure compatible activities and operations to the benefit of communities and the military;
• Protecting public health, safety, and welfare; and
• Maintaining operational capabilities of Seymour Johnson AFB and the DCR.

In June 2020, the Seymour Johnson AFB and DCR JLUS implementation project was awarded to Matrix Design Group by the State of North Carolina. The implementation project will develop tools, processes, and partnerships that will enable the stakeholders to put several of the key strategies and recommendations, identified in the completed JLUS, into effect. The following primary tasks are included in the JLUS implementation project:

Task 1 – Enhance the Seymour Johnson AFB and DCR project website to include additional emphasis on the DCR. In support of this initiative, a Dare County Range and Surrounding Airspace Resource Management Reference Guide will be developed and made available on the website.

Task 2 – Prepare a Dare County Range Informational Brochure. The purpose of the brochure is to provide education and information relative to the presence, mission, impacts, and economic value of Seymour Johnson AFB and DCR on the surrounding region.

Task 3 – Establish a Dare County Range Community Affairs Committee and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Dare County Range Community Affairs Committee will be a group consisting of business leaders, property owners, residents, and other stakeholders to educate and advocate for a collaborative approach for sustaining the missions at the DCR and maintaining the quality of life for residents. The MOUs will assist local jurisdictions with compatible development within areas of the DCR mission footprint.

Task 4 – Develop a Resource Asset Map. The GIS-based map will assist local jurisdictions with planning initiatives that are compatible with the Seymour Johnson AFB and DCR military operations in the region.

Task 5 – Update applicable future land use and zoning maps. Stakeholder jurisdiction future land use and zoning maps will be updated to reflect locations where height limitations for new development are required to prevent impacts to military aviation operations in the region.

Task 6 – Develop Military Land Use Compatibility Checklists. Tailored checklists for each of the stakeholder jurisdictions will be prepared to address specific issues related to military activities and compatible development in affected communities.

Task 7 – Develop a partnership with the North Carolina Sentinel Landscapes Program. The partnership will focus on protecting the interests of working lands, conservation, and national defense surrounding the DCR.