Mariner’s Bay, next to Bogue Field, would be used for flight training

Score a mini-victory for Cherry Point flight training.

The North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund agreed Monday to put $1.1 million toward purchasing a 12.1 acre coastal tract which Marines think is important to military aircraft operations.

Members agreed to let the Coastal Land Trust use part of $3 million already allocated for protecting Cherry Point to help buy Mariner’s Bay property next to Bogue Field.

The auxiliary field is used by Marine aviators, particularly those from Cherry Point and New River Air Station, and proposed development of the land has been opposed by MCAS Cherry Point and NAVAIR Depot advocacy group ACT since July.

The $2.85 million parcel is owned by The Pendergraph Companies of Raleigh, which is in negotiations for sale to the military even though Carteret County Planning Board approved proposed duplexes and triplexes on five lots and development of six other lots on N.C. 24 for commercial use.

“We asked Clean Water Management if we could add Mariners Bay to the list of land to buy from the $3 million,” said Janice Allen, Coastal Land Trust director who attended the Raleigh meeting in support of the proposal presented by CWMTF staff.

While not totally approved, she said, “We can go back to them once the price is determined,” she said. “The military will be looking for some money and we may go back to CWMTF in March to see if we can make up any difference.”

“The Clean Water Trust has been very supportive of the military when it is a good clean water project,” said Bill Rogers, Cherry Point natural resources manager, who also attended.

Coastal Land Trust, with the aid of CWMTF, the state and private individuals, is acquiring about 2,000 acres in the region for environmental protection and buffer to base encroachment.

Marine Corps officials gathered county officials in August for a flyover of the property, which in the flight path for military aircraft touch-and-go landing practice, to demonstrate the 116-decibel aircraft noise level from 325 feet above.

The land is in a high noise and accident potential area defined by the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zones adopted by Craven and Carteret counties in 2004.

“I think this is a significant victory for ACT and for Cherry Point in protecting a very vital training facility against encroachment,” said Frank Sheffield, speaking for ACT. “Preservation of Bogue as a training field is critical to Cherry Point’s future.”

Sue Book can be reached at (252) 635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.