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Aldermen pause burn‑permit renewals, weigh air‑curtain tech after smoke complaints
Summary
Faced with repeated complaints about smoke from land‑clearing burns, New Bern aldermen directed staff to pause renewal of permits in problematic cases while exploring air‑curtain (fan) burning technology, hearing both residents' complaints and developers' warnings that bans raise housing costs.
After multiple resident complaints about smoke from land‑clearing burns, the New Bern Board of Aldermen gave staff direction on July 14 to pause renewals of burning permits tied to problematic practices and to investigate lower‑smoke options such as air‑curtain or forced‑air trench burning.
Aldermen recounted emails and calls from residents who said smoke from a nearby development reduced outdoor air quality and interfered with daily life. The fire chief and fire marshal described equipment that introduces air to burns to raise temperature and reduce visible smoke; during the meeting a staff presenter summarized research claiming reductions in smoke visibility and contaminants of roughly 98% if equipment is used and loaded properly.
Developers’ representatives told the board a blanket ban or indefinite pause would increase development costs because chipping, grinding or hauling debris is more expensive than permitted controlled burning. Eric Remington, representing a developer, urged targeted enforcement of existing rules rather than a wholesale stop to permits. Engineer John Thomas described air‑curtain equipment and said, if properly operated, it can “remove probably better than 90%” of smoke and recommended a short demonstration period so a near‑expiring permit could finish under mitigation measures.
City legal counsel and the manager said staff already exercise discretion on permits and that there is no absolute right to a burn permit; the manager said he would pause renewals in cases where prior burning practices had produced complaints while staff consult peer cities, manufacturers, and fire departments about operational details and monitoring.
Board members asked whether a demonstration permit could be issued and revoked immediately if smoke nuisances recur; staff confirmed revocation is possible. The city also discussed requiring additional permit conditions, larger buffer distances, or demonstration that developers can source or rent appropriate equipment, and asked the fire chief to coordinate outreach to departments that have used the technology.
Next steps: staff will compile findings from peer jurisdictions and manufacturers, potentially arrange a field demonstration of air‑curtain equipment, and return with recommended permit conditions or ordinance language if necessary.
